Chapter 20

Brady

I caught a small scent, one that I instantly recognized as Kris, and I howled. Jacob and Seth appeared in my head.

What? What is it?

I caught her scent!

What? Let's go!

We dashed after her, following the scent. I heard somebody, maybe Edward, follow me in pursuit.

Wait... Seth slowed. Surprised, we all did, too.

What is it, Seth?

Brady should go alone. Kris needs to see him. If we all go, wouldn't she freak out and run?

He has a point, Jacob thought.

"Yes," Edward agreed.

Okay, so I'm going alone.

Go on. We'll be waiting.

Thank you.


Kris

I ran for a little more, and jumped out of the tree I was in. I noticed my clothes have become very dirty, and my stomach growled. I was weak with exhaustion.

The image of the wolf was fresh in my mind again. I was left to ponder why it was so important.

There was a longing, though, for that wolf. He was my wolf. I loved him. If only he were human...

A twig snapped. I looked up. Oh, no, Jeb had found me!

But no. As if it were a dream, or just wish-fulfillment, my wolf stepped out of the trees. I slowly got up, afraid he might disappear if I reached out to touch him.

The wolf whined, scared. Of what? Me?

"No..." I smiled, taking a cautious step. The wolf took a step towards me.

And then I was running. I ran and threw my arms around his neck.

"My wolf," I crooned. A name popped into my head. I connected the two, wondering why it was this name that seemed so special with the wolf. I said it out loud.

"Brady," I whispered.

If wolves could gasp, this one did. So did I.

In that instant, I remembered. Brady. All this time, my wolf was Brady! He was always there for me...

"Brady," I sobbed, burying my face in his huge animal shoulder. A second passed, and there was a breeze that was unnatural and yet so real. Brady's shoulder changed into that of a man's.

"Kris, shh, I'm here," Brady's warm, familiar voice whispered. His arms, gentle but strong, wrapped around me. I felt water hit the top of my head. Tears? He was crying for me?

"I'm scared," I sobbed harder. "My dad, he's out of jail. He tried killing me!"

"Your father?"

Brady sounded astonished. I hugged him tighter.

"Yeah. He treated me nice. He fed me, he helped my healing process when I got hurt from a bullet..."

"Your father's out there?"

"Yes, why?"

Brady backed away. Now I felt truly frightened.

Pure hatred tainted his expression. He was livid. He looked ready to kill someone.

"Brady-?"

"He's standing behind you," Brady hissed, pulling me behind him. I screamed.

Jeb was panting, his gun pointed straight at me.

"Who's this? I don't believe I approve of your boyfriend, Kristen," Jeb snarled.

"You're not my father!" I screamed at him.

"I'm your father and so much more, you stupid girl!"

"Don't talk to her like that!"

"Don't tell me what to do!"

Jeb pointed his gun at Brady and shot. I screamed and covered my eyes. I heard the bullet ricochet.

"Huh?" I asked, looking up.

Emmett! He was standing in front of Brady. There was a hole singed on the front of his shirt. Edward was there, too.

"Get Kristen out of here," he told Brady.

"No," Brady growled. "Her father's mine."

"No!" I screamed. Emmett and Edward faltered a little. Brady brushed past them, snarling at Jeb. Jeb chuckled and aimed.

"Don't stop him," Brady warned. "Or Kristen might get hurt."


Brady

It was like a horror movie. I was walking calmly towards her father. Kristen was screaming at me to stop.

"It's a pity you'll die without seeing Kristen die, first," her father chuckled darkly, aiming for my heart. I morphed into my wolf form, hoping that would scare him, but he didn't even blink.

"NOOOO!" Kristen screeched.

I heard the gunshot. I was bracing myself for the pain.

There was a sickening thuk, and a flash of black. Wide, light brown eyes.

"No!" Emmet yelled, a moment too late. I envied him.

I could only stare, soundless, as Kristen looked down slowly at where the bullet went clean through he chest. I heard her strangled gasps. Kristen looked at me again slowly. Her eys grew distant; cold. Her breath hitched, and then she was falling. My eyes were wide, shocked, as she dropped to the dirt floor.

No... No, no, NO!

Jeb laughed evilly and pointed the gun at me again.

"Say goodbye," he said.

"Goodbye," Kristen's voice said from behind him. Hands shot out from behind and grabbed his head. Startled, Jeb pulled back just as he pulled the trigger. The shot went wide into the sky.

We heard the snap and the thud as Jeb fell to the ground, dead. I looked at Kristen's body and back up to Kristen, who was clearly alive. I didn't know what to make of it. Dead Kristen, alive Kristen. Dead, alive. Dead, alive.

The live Kristen was panting, as if she ran a great distance.

"He. Will. Never. Hurt me. Again," she panted.

"What the *insert swear word here*," Emmett gasped.

Edward seemed unsurprised. I'm guessing he saw what was happening in her head.

Kristen approached me, looking in disgust at her own dead body lying at my feet.

"Brady?" she asked. She held up her hands. "Brady, I'm here, don't worry."

I was brain-dead at this point, but some part of me got me to phase. Kristen didn't even look at my body when she approached me. All she looked into was my eyes.

She hugged me. Still looking into her eyes, I bent down and kissed her. Right there.

"You're. Alive," I said, my mind slowly turning on.

"Yes, I'm here," she gasped. I kissed her again. Kristen wrapped her arms around my neck, securing me to her.

"I love you," I sighed, holding her tighter.

"I..."

I pulled away, noticing that she might not want this. Her eyes were surprised when she said it.

"I love you too," she said. I kissed her again, more passionately this time.

"Brady," Emmett cleared his throat from behind me.

"Yeah?" I asked, pulling away and turning around.

"I'll ask you to stop kissing my neice with lack of attire," he said with a straight face.

"Uncle Emmett!" Kristen yelled, tackling him. She hugged him tightly.

"Kristen Bear," Emmett laughed. Kristen giggled. I phased and lied down on the ground. I nodded toward my back.

"Okay," Kristen laughed, climbing on.

Hang on, I thought, as if she understood, and I stood up.

I knew we'd be okay.

AN: Hold up! This isn't the end, yet! I still have a couple of chapters felt in me before I do the epilogue! I mean, after all, Kristen still needs to get rid of you-know-who!