Chapter 3: Consequences

My heart was racing.

She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Her skin was pale and flawless, her long hair a deep, rich brown, and her eyes were liquid gold.

"Bella!" I cried, throwing myself into her cold, hard arms. "You're back!"

"Claire? What's wrong? Where's Quil?" She sniffed the air. "I thought I smelled him."

"We just had a terrible fight. I've really screwed things up."

"What happened?" Her voice was light and beautiful, like wind chimes or harp strings. It was usually enough to soothe me, but the pain I had caused Quil still lingered.

"I don't want to talk about it right now. What are you doing here? Where's Edward?"

I pulled away and searched the woods behind her. Bella was never without her husband.

"He's at Emily's. Jacob invited us over. We're kidnapping you after dinner and you're staying with us tonight."

"Really?" I flung myself at her again. "Oh Bella, that's exactly what I need!"

I clung to my friend, taking in her sweet floral scent. When I finally released her, her nose was scrunched up and pointed away from me.

"Oh, sorry," I apologized.

"I don't like to complain," she said quickly. "I mean, I used to really hate it when Edward and Alice told me I smelled. . ." She let her voice trail and shook her head. "I thought I'd be used to it by now, but I guess that's the price I pay to hang out with werewolves. Besides, it helps make you a little less appetizing." She winked at me.

"That reminds me. I overheard Jacob and Quil talking earlier tonight, and Quil made it sound like Jake used to have a crush on you or something." I couldn't imagine that. Jacob had imprinted on Leah when I was still very young. Anyone who saw them together knew it was impossible for him to love anyone else.

But Bella was beautiful, and funny, and she and Jacob were best friends.

Bella rolled her eyes. "That's a long story. Now come on, I can hear your stomach growling."

She took my hand and walked at my humanly pace through the woods.

"How was the hunt?" I asked. It was a morbid thing to inquire about, but the vampires' "vegetarian" diet fascinated me. I couldn't imagine tiny, pretty little Bella attacking wild beasts.

"Edward does all the hunting. I refuse to kill an animal unless it's already dying, and even then I make Edward put it out of its misery before I . . . ," she looked at me guiltily, "you know. Usually, though, Edward makes the kill and brings it back to me."

"Wow, that's kind of sweet, in a gruesome way."

"I was planning to visit Charlie and Sue tomorrow morning, if you're up for joining me."

"Yeah, I'd like that," I said sincerely.

I was nervous to go back in and face everyone after what had happened, but only Edward seemed to notice us as we walked in through the backdoor. Relief washed over his face when he saw his wife. Bella returned his smile and quickly joined him across the small room.

The women and children were crowded around the kitchen table while the men stood, eating from plates balanced on one hand. With the exception of my mother and sister, this small home held all the people I had ever loved: Sam and Emily, Jacob and Leah, Jared and Kim, Edward and Bella, Embry, Seth, and Paul.

And, of course, Quil.

My eyes locked on his for a brief moment before he looked away. He was leaning against the counter, wearing one of Sam's black shirts, and his jaw was set tight as he pretended to listen to a conversation that was taking place between Jacob and Embry.

I wondered, sadly, if I would ever see Quil's dimples again.

I sat down at the table and was quickly pulled into one of the many conversations going on simultaneously. The mountains of food I had helped Emily, Leah and Kim prepare vanished quickly, with Edward and Bella standing back, arms around each other, watching the scene with smiles on their perfect faces.

Edward leaned over and gently kissed the top of Bella's head. I looked away, embarrassed. Remembering that Bella hadn't denied Jacob's former crush on her, I looked over at him and saw that he wasn't paying any attention to her. He was twirling a lock of Leah's hair around his finger and watching his oldest son, William, tell a story while he animated it with his hands.

Jared shoved the last of his potato salad in his mouth and dropped his plate in the sink. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he turned to Edward.

"Hey, Edward, it's been pretty boring around here lately. How about you round up some bad bloodsuckers and give us something to chase?"

The women sighed and rolled their eyes. Like me, the men watched Edward to see what he would say.

Edward looked horrified.

"He's kidding," Bella said.

"Who's kidding?" Jared said. "I'm not kidding."

Paul reached out and slapped the back of Jared's head.

"We could just leave La Push and go looking for them," Seth suggested.

"No werewolf leaves La Push while he--"

"Or she," Leah interrupted.

"--can still phase," Sam finished.

I automatically looked at Quil. We locked eyes briefly before he turned away.

So that's why he hadn't offered to go to Canada with me. He couldn't leave La Push while he was still a werewolf.

"If there's no threat from . . . vampires," Kim said, looking at Edward and Bella, "why are there still werewolves? I mean, we went a long time without them, didn't we?"

Sam looked at Edward, who stood a little taller. Edward cleared his throat. "Apparently we--my family, that is--triggered the transformations when we came back to Forks. Even with the treaty, the transformations are triggered by the proximity of . . . our kind."

"So as long as you and Bella stay in Forks, there will be werewolves in La Push," Kim said.

"And as long as Charlie is alive," Bella declared, "Edward and I are staying."

"You really don't have to," Leah said. "He's with my mom now. They have each other, and us," she gestured to everyone in the small house, "so it's not like he's alone."

"We love Charlie," Seth agreed.

Bella's beautiful, inhuman eyes opened wide. "He's my dad. Edward and I have spent a lot of time and money creating a charade so we could stay."

"No one's asking you leave, Bells," Jacob said.

Leah narrowed her eyes at him before turning back to Bella. "It's just that, as long as you and Edward are here," she said, "the pack stays young while our families age. And for what? There's really no threat out there. There's only you and Edward."

Bella looked angry. Edward tightened his arms around her.

"Don't get me wrong," Leah said. "We love having you guys here, but you being here has consequences for us."

"And what consequence does it have for you, exactly?" Bella hissed. "You aren't aging."

Leah's eye twitched. "No, I just have my husband in my head every time we phase, but that's not something I'd expect you to empathize with."

She threw a glance at Edward and he growled, moving himself in front of Bella as if to protect her from a physical attack.

"Here's my question," Embry said, oblivious to the tension in the room. "If the vampires all left and we stopped phasing, could we still imprint? Because I gotta tell you, I have a hard time dating when I'm afraid I'm gonna imprint on my girlfriend's sister or mom or dog. It'd be really nice not to worry about that anymore."

Jared laughed, but he was the only one.

I noticed that several eyes went to Emily, and some to Leah. Leah looked at Sam.

I got the feeling I was missing something.

Emily stood and began clearing the table. "Edward and Bella are family. They stay as long as they want to."

Leah opened her mouth to say more, but Jacob quickly leaned over and kissed her.

"Personally," Kim said, "I like having a younger man." She winked at Jared and he puckered his lips, sending her an air kiss.

AN: I know this isn't much of a cliffhanger, but I have "fun" things in store for Claire. I'll post Chapter 4 soon. Please read and review. Thank you!