I'm backkkk! I went through something extremely difficult these past few months, and had pulled myself away from everything I ever enjoyed doing. It's all good now, I've gotten help and I'm back and, hopefully better, than ever! Your reviews and support could never mean more to me now so please, let me know there's still some of you out there!
The room became tense, it seemed as though everyone had withdrawn from the present and instead found some sort of comfort in their own thoughts. No one spoke, or even suggested that this probably wouldn't be happening yet I still found myself harbouring the blame for what was about to take place.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my eyes tracing the grainy lines of the hardwood flooring.
"Brooke, you are one of us now. Venom or not, you are still a living being and you're our family. We always protect our family." Carlisle walked towards me, and rested his hand lightly on my chin, forcing me to stare directly into his warm toffee eyes.
"This wouldn't be happening if I would've simply done what I was told and stayed with Emily." I was attempting to argue but my voice was so pathetically quiet that it came out in a gentle tone.
"Sweetheart, there are so many what ifs in the world, that if you were to question them all you would waste your whole life wondering. The best we can do is live with what happens and make the best out of what we have," Esme said, pulling me into a hug.
"We need something that will make them stop, listen to reason," Edward said from his position on the stairway, his eyes closed and his fingers gently massaging his temples.
"We need to surprise them," Jasper answered.
Out of everyone here, Jasper had the most experience when it came to confrontation so of course, his input meant the most.
"I need to speak to them-" I voiced, but was abruptly cut off by seven different versions of 'No!'.
"Hear her out," Edward said.
I glanced quickly around the room, Emmett holding Rose tightly in his arms, Alice delicately laid across Jasper's lap at the bottom of the stairway, where Edward was seated just a few steps above them. Esme and Carlisle grasping each others hands like a life line just a few feet to my right. I was going to get them out of this mess no matter what.
Once I was satisfied that I would not be interrupted again I started to explain my idea.
"They know me, or well... they did. They're going to be shocked by my appearance, and to be perfectly honest they are my friends. I don't believe they will be able to destroy me if they understand that I'm still me, I'm still the Brooke they all were helping to protect just a few days ago," I said.
"But we can't just let you stand out there unprotected," Jasper argued, allowing his concern to flow throughout the room.
"Don't worry, Jasper. I still expect all of you to stand behind me, but in order for them to get the full affect they're going to have to see all of me when they first break through that clearing. It's the only way." I started to walk towards the door, brushing the invisible dust off of my dress as I went.
"Hell yes! Let's do this!" Emmett cried, pumping his fist into the air.
"It's the best option, Carlisle," Edward reasoned, rising from his position on the stairs to join me.
Everyone was silent once more as we waited to get the 'green light' from Carlisle.
He glanced at Esme, and then slowly his allowed his eyes to tour the room and examine each and everyone of us. Just seconds later, a solemn look passed his face and he cautiously nodded his head.
"We don't move to fight unless they don't stop," he stated. We all nodded in agreement and moved towards the door as one, while Esme lifted the metal barriers that once kept us safe.
I pulled open the front door and walked until my feet made the soft 'crunch' that notified me that I'd met the gravel driveway.
"If they don't stop, Brooke, then you make a run for it," Edward whispered so only I could hear.
"I will not abandon you. If you guys are going down because of me, then I will be going down with you," I said in a normal tone, reassuring the Cullen's of my commitment to protecting them as well.
As I stood just paces in front of them, I could feel my tender heart pounding at an even quicker pace than usual. I found my finger twisting the ring that sat on my middle finger of my right hand continuously, Bella had given it to me for my Eleventh Birthday.
I recalled Renee going on a rant once about picturing yourself in your happy place when you were down. So, in my mind I wasn't standing in front of the Cullen house about to fight for both my life and theirs. No, I was on the beach in La Push surprisingly surrounded by those that were at the moment on their way to end my life. The sun made my skin tingle as it's light covered my skin. The sand, coarse and rough underneath of my palms. I could taste the salt in the air and the soothing rush of waves as they coasted to shore surrounded me. Jake would grab my hand and pull me towards the water, while I fought him the whole way there laughing gleefully. The boys would be laughing in the background, encouraging him while the girls giggled from somewhere beyond my sight. Just before my feet would meet the water, he would pull me into his arms and for just a moment everything in the world would be right again. Everything around me would be painfully perfect and I would find my skin getting warm not because of the sun, but sprouting from somewhere inside of me.
"They're here," Alice said in a low voice.
Instantly my eyes shot open, and I wiped away all traces of what could never be. Cold shots of adrenaline pulsed throughout my body and I forced my eyes to look straight ahead, so that they would hopefully lock with the eyes of one of the wolves.
I was not disappointed, a russet wolf was the first one through the thick grass. His eyes boring straight into mine.
He's not going to stop, I thought to myself. My body tensed, and my arms shot up in front of me in a defensive barrier.
My eyes and teeth clenched simultaneously and I braced myself for impact. Yet instead of the ferocious growl I was expecting to hear, it was a sad whimper and the sounds of multiple paws sliding through the gravel due to an unexpected stop.
I heard Edward sigh in relief, and I lowered my arms slowly while opening my eyes.
Just steps away from me stood the russet wolf I had watched charge for me. Yet now, he stood frozen, his body lowered to the ground and if I was not mistaken he looked like someone had just told him his cat died. Behind him, stood a line of wolves much larger than I had expected. They on the other hand, looked dumbfounded... and a little shocked?
"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking from my attempt to hold back my tears. "Please... don't hurt them. They had nothing to do with- with this-" I waved my hands up and down my body "-if anything, the only thing they're guilty of is helping me when I needed it the most. I know every single one of you, and I understand that it is your duty to protect your people from the unknown, making it your job destroy me because, well I'm probably the most mysterious creation out here yet. I beg you though, if you're going to destroy me please, please leave the Cullens out of it. I will go in peace if that's what it takes."
I could hear Esme whimpering in the background, Carlisle's soft voice gently soothing her. I could literally feel Jasper's presence behind me- he had definitely moved closer. Emmett and Rose were silent, but I could only imaging they were still tensed for a fight.
The russet wolf, whom I still could not identify had sunken lower and lower to the ground as I spoke. It was as though my words were causing him physical pain. The black wolf retreated into the woods, only to come back as Sam Uley. I should of known, they wolves did all seem to revolve around him.
"It seems as though we're faced with a difficult situation here," Sam said, while I slowly started to walk backwards to join the Cullens.
"I see no difficult situation, Sam. He's imprinted on her, not only is that your sign that she is not a danger but if you were to destroy her now it would also be a breech of your own treaty," Edward declared with a smug grin on his face.
"Wipe that look off of your face, leech. I know that we can't touch her now, it would hurt him to much," Sam said viciously.
"He imprinted on her? Does that mean we're not going to fight?" Emmett so stupidly asked.
"If I understand correctly you're exactly right, Emmett. We will not be fighting today, or any other day I hope. I'd like to invite you inside to calmly discuss the situation, Sam and a few other if you'd like?" Carlisle stepped forward, resting his hand on my shoulder and gently pulling me closer.
Sam seemed to consider it for a moment, before he grudgingly flicked his head towards a few of the wolves and they retreated into the woods. Only two grey wolves, the russet wolf, a dark brown wolf, and Sam remained.
"I suppose we have no other option, do we?" Sam questioned.
My eyes locked once more with the russet wolf as I went through everything in my memory that was related to imprinting. It was then, that the night at Billy's that seemed to take place so long ago re-entered my mind. I gasped and fell back into Carlisle's chest.
"You mean, he's suppose to be my soul mate? Just like that, one minute he's out for my blood and the next minute he wants to love me forever?" I yelled, disgusted with the thought of some magical power having the ability to alter one's emotions so drastically.
The wolf's ears flattened and his eyes locked with mine. It was pathetic, but I regretted ever saying anything. I could feel the warmth spread through me- much like the one I had envisioned in my happy place only moments ago. All of the wolves that were still in their animal form retreated for the woods, including my imprinter. I had to stop myself from reaching towards him. This was ridiculous, I hated him... didn't I?
"They're coming back," Jasper said in an even tone. I wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure me, feeling my emotions, or simply trying to warn everyone else to not drop their positions.
Sure enough, they returned just seconds later. I recognized Leah, Paul, and Embry strolling towards Sam with their faces twisted into an ugly grimace. Then, a moment that I will have played over again and again in my mind took place.
He walked out, eyes locked on me. I didn't even notice the fact that he only wore a pair of torn shorts, or that his hair was frantically stuck up in various directions. I didn't even remember the fact that he had just been plotting my death earlier.
"Jake..." I whispered.
His eyes held an apologetic look, and he seemed ashamed of himself. Yet when he smiled that brilliant, heart-breaking smile I knew I was a goner. This, is where our real story begins.