Chapter 12

Kate

Luke must have filled the others in on what happened, and discussed with the others that I wasn't going to harm anyone, and that I wasn't to be harmed in any way, because as we waited for Luke to pull on his shorts and meet us again, I was left standing next to Adam, smiling awkwardly at the wolves towering around us. Adam seemed to be at ease enough, having fought alongside them, and was enjoying the thrill of befriending real werewolves.

Gerard lowered his head in peace as he stepped closer to me, the others hanging back nervously and unsure. I continued to hold his gaze, anxious of what he was going to do next. I realized with a shock that the other wolves did not smell very much to me either. However, they were more present to my senses than Luke was, and maybe that was because I didn't have as deep a connection with them as I had with Luke. We had still been tight, but just not as tight. It made more sense when I concentrated more on their smell, and found that there was in fact a slight scent to them once I focused hard enough. It was more like what Adam had described to me, a dirty dog smell, something horrendous and eye-watering. But if I paid no attention to it, it became something in the background, something almost completely unnoticeable.

Still, as Gerard approached, he lowered his head once more and stuck out his nose, his nostrils flaring subtly as he took in my scent. Curious, I thought, maybe it was the same for them. Gerard didn't seem to flinch at anything he had found.

Luke finally rejoined the group, finding me looking over at him, giving a small smile as Gerard continued to memorize my scent. I looked back to Gerard and held up my hand, inviting him. He took a step backwards, a reaction I would have expected out of him. He was the alpha, it was his duty to be protective and alert, and not to take things at face value. He had to remain cautious for his pack. If it were Kevin or Howard, they would have accepted my invitation.

Luke came to my side and put his hand on my arm. "Gerard would like to talk, but he prefers to move back to the border of our La Push territory. He'll feel safer if we're closer to home so we can know if anyone comes back."

I looked up at him and nodded, ready to have the wolves comfortable with me. I wanted to plead my case, reassure everyone, that they could trust me again. I may be bloodthirsty and as hard as a rock, but I was still Kate. I still remembered who I was, and I didn't plan on changing anytime soon. I wanted Luke to know that too.

We began to walk in the direction of La Push, the wolves following steadily in a semi-circle around us. Luke held my hand, like a burning glove, without ease, making me nervous how smoothly he accepted me back into his life. It was downright unnatural.

"How are you?" he whispered down to me, not that it mattered that he whispered—everyone here would already be able to hear.

"I'm fine," I responded. "But did you see what I just did?"

"Everyone saw it, Kate," Luke smiled.

"What was that?"

Luke smiled. "I suppose it's a vampire thing. From experience, we've seen some vampires with… outstanding abilities separate from the normal vampire abilities."

"Like superpowers?" I asked incredulously.

"Yeah, like superpowers. From the tame vampires we had met, we got to learn a little from them. They said the superpowers were unique to the vampire, depending on what their personality."

I hesitated before answering, trying to sort it out. "So I have a superpower—hitting people without touching them?"

"I don't think you hit her, I think she hit you," Luke noted. "It was like you produced an invisible wall."

I looked down at my feet, feeling myself smile. "That's cool."

Luke chuckled. "And thank you for saving my life."

"Oh, it was not a problem," I grinned.

Luke squeezed my hand affectionately, and I noticed his eyes brightened up at the littlest things I said, an expression that did not seem to have happened in a while.

"Why do you think that is?" I asked. "Why I produce a… shield."

Luke pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Maybe it's because you were always a protector, not a fighter. No offense, but you're not that good at it."

"Fighting? Please," I snorted. "I'll show you how it's done."

Luke chuckled quietly and squeezed my hand again. I squeezed it back, and he looked down at our hands, as if he was amazed that mine was actually there, that he was still trying to convince himself that I wasn't a trick of the light.

Luke stopped me when I assumed we had met the line of territory. Luke didn't look happy about it, but he kept me on the other side, Adam a few paces behind me, while the wolves stayed on their side.

Everyone waited while Gerard phased behind the trees. He came back a second later and approached carefully, holding my eyes every step of the way.

"Kate," he said, nodding.

I nodded back slowly, showcasing my friendliness. "Hello, Gerard."

"Things have changed," he said, his gruff voice announcing the situation.

"Yes, they have. Can I explain myself?" I asked.

"Kate, I assume there is no need for explaining. We see the gold in your eyes and we understand that you were forced into this—"

"Kicking and screaming," I added.

Gerard nodded.

"But I'd just like to say that I mean no harm to you—any of you. I've been practicing, trying to be around people while controlling my urge. I've been trying to be normal again."

"Kate, you will never be normal again. You've turned into a natural predator."

"That is true. But I believe I can change."

Gerard nodded skeptically. He would know more than anyone about vampires, how they function. He had years of experience over the others. Luke had told me he phased at twelve years old. The others phased at sixteen at the latest.

In my peripheral vision, I could see Luke giving Gerard a hard stare for talking to me like that. Adam fidgeted nervously behind me, and the other wolves were watching with care.

"We can't ask you to leave. Luke's connection with you has deemed that impossible," Gerard went on. "But we think—"

"I'd like permission to speak." Luke stepped forward. I glanced up at him curiously, and Gerard frowned unhappily at our hands still clasped together.

"Yes, Luke?"

"I know you well enough to predict what is going through your head without us both being phased," Luke stated, "so I'd like to stop you before you ban Kate from ever stepping foot in La Push again."

I glanced from Luke to Gerard, shocked.

"You understand as well as me that Kate would never harm anyone. Sure, her current state is a problem, but it could be overcome. I'd like you to reconsider, Gerard. You know Kate. Let her be here at La Push."

"I could stay away from the town," I offered, "but I'd like to be around Luke and everyone else, if they'd like."

Gerard sighed, frowning, unwilling to budge. "Luke, you know what you're asking."

"I do. And I know that if I don't get my way, I'm never going to step foot in La Push again."

My eyes widened. The other wolves stood straighter in surprise. Gerard looked at Luke coolly.

"So please. We can all work to keep Kate in line if that should be the case," Luke offered.

Gerard rubbed his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. "Luke…"

One of the wolves—Kevin—stepped forward and nudged Gerard in the back with his nose.

"We'll have to talk it over," Gerard said. He left us to phase back in the woods. When he came out again, the wolves all turned to look each other in the eyes, watching each other as they had silent conversations with each other.

"Shouldn't you be in there with them?" I asked.

Luke shook his head. "There's not much more I can say. They know my terms."

"Luke, don't do this," I sighed turning towards him. "If they decide no, you have to stay. We can still be together, but you have to stay with your brothers."

Luke shook his head defiantly. "I'm not leaving you."

"You won't have to. Just stay with them."

All Luke did was shake his head as he watched the wolves converse with each other. Howard and Kevin seemed to be leaning forward more, determined in whatever they were thinking. The smaller, newer wolf was pawing at the ground nervously, while Gerard remained calm in the center of it, listening to whatever the other wolves had to say.

However patiently I waited, it was irritating seeing the wolves have an entire conversation together without me hearing anything. I knew why they were still phased—it was a precaution, in case I attacked. I hated them needing to have that precaution. I hated Charlotte and Carrie for changing me, for taking away the ability for me to just exist without dealing with the urge to kill someone, for removing the casual ease I shared with the wolves, and for taking away our friendship. Why couldn't they just get over their little revenge kick and leave Luke and me alone forever?

Finally, the wolves broke up and Gerard retreated back to the woods and phased.

Gerard looked mildly unhappy when he returned, but delivered the news nonetheless. "We have decided that it would be okay for Kate to stay in La Push. Adam, however may not. We do not know him very well, and we don't understand his temperament."

I was annoyed when they mentioned temperament, as if he was a wild animal, but disregarded it. Adam didn't need to be in La Push.

"The wolves and I would like to memorize your scent, so that it would be better when we track other vampires."

I nodded. "That's understandable."

Gerard stood back as Kevin, Howard, and Peter trotted forward to get a sniff of me. Giggling, I held out my hand as they sniffed it, their giant wet noses grazing my skin, gushes of air coming out as they worked. None of them seemed to have smelt anything disgusting on me, just as Gerard hadn't. They were cautious, but their tails twitched happily behind them. Howard stayed behind after Peter and Kevin retreated, having personally memorized my scent. The new white wolf moved cautiously forward, unsure of what was going on.

I encouragingly held out my hand farther towards him, knowing he was incredibly nervous. Looking back at Luke, I asked, "What is his name?"

"Robert."

Robert took a brave stride forward and held out his nose to my hand.

"Hello, Robert, my name is Kate," I smiled.

Robert delicately sniffed my hand and retreated quickly afterwards. I didn't know much about the wolf, and I couldn't tell much while he was phased, rather than he was young and unsure of himself. Hopefully, I would have the time to get to know him.

Gerard stepped forward again. "Kate, we're trusting you now. One slip up, one slip up at all, and you understand what we'll be forced to do."

Luke began to speak up and step forward, his face angry and defiant, but I held him back, proud that I was actually able to. "I understand."