It has been a couple of months since that night and in that time Emelia has grown close to Seth after accompanying Bella to quite a few trips in La Push. The young boy is the only one she talks to, and he's the only one who talks to her. Seth had asked about her sickness that night but Emelia simply brushed it off, truly stating it happens all the time. Today the two are visiting Sam's fiancée Emily at her home where they will wait for Jacob to arrive. Usually Emelia would have waited in the truck but Emily insisted she come in. Inside is most of the pack eating happily at the table. When the girls enter, the werewolves give Emelia a certain look and scrunch their noses, giving somewhat disgusted expressions. Seth tries to offer Emelia a smile which she returns gratefully.
"Would you girls like a cookie? There's plenty here." All eyes are on Emelia as she grabs one politely and eats it. Quickly she consumes it.
"Wow this is really good, thank you. Hey Bella are you eating yours?" Emelia only hovers for a second then seizes Bella's huge cookie. The older girl doesn't seem to mind and actually shows a small smile.
"Stop staring you boys! It's rude." Emily tells the pack off.
"Sorry we can't help it. It's weird." Emelia gives Embry a tired and annoyed expression.
"What's the problem anyway?" as Bella asks this, Emelia has walked to Seth at the table. She tapped his left shoulder but continued on. Seth turned to his left however Emelia snatched his cookie from the right side and ate it. Seth jumps up and runs after a smiling Emelia.
"Bella it's our natural instinct to kill vampires and she smells like one. We just feel uptight all the time and ready to attack." Quil explains a little quietly.
"Just because of her smell?"
"We know she's not a leech obviously but, we're just, on edge. Can't help it." Embry leans back in his chair although his posture doesn't come across as relaxed. Bella nods her head slowly as Sam rushes into the house. He only has to give the pack a nod and abruptly they're off, his expression saying everything; a vampire is on their land. Sam quickly kisses Emily then dashes into the forest.
"Ohhh they left me behind again?" Seth whines when he re-enters the room with Emelia to find only the two women and an empty table.
"Do they always do this? Sucks for you." Emelia pats his shoulder for comfort. Seth pouts, hangs his head and slump his shoulders. Bella smiles to herself and shakes her head.
"Didn't you want to show Bella something?" Emily asks as she washes the dishes. Seth's face lights up.
"Oh yeah! It's just upstairs, you'll love it Bella come on!" Seth drags Bella with him to the staircase as Seth yells back to Emelia: Won't take very long, be right back! Emily and Emelia begin to make small talk but Paul's booming voice interrupts them from outside.
"Hey Em, coming by ta say everything's going well and we'll be—
His voice cuts off as Emelia comes into sight and he freezes in the doorway. Suddenly his body shakes with tremors and his breathing becomes heavy. Fury consumes his expression and voice.
"What is she doing here?" Paul advances forward, closer towards Emelia. He sees her as a huge threat and his shudders are becoming more vicious. Emily freezes up and drops a plate that smashes to the ground as Emelia attempts to reason with Paul, carefully telling him to calm down. This is Paul's breaking point; the fact that Emelia is trying to 'protect' Emily and her telling him what to do. In his eyes, this girl is as bad as a rabid vampire. Paul begins to phase into his wolf form, his breaths coming deeper and hastier as his muscles spasm uncontrollably. As the milliseconds count down, Paul lurches forward and his heartbeat races, the transformation beginning to show on his body. Unfortunately, the young man doesn't realize that by attacking Emelia, Emily will also lose.
Emelia and Emily are standing too close together and the fact that Paul is soon to become a giant wolf the size of a horse doesn't help much, only adding to the small proximity of the room and space. The fear on Emily's face is undeniable as is the frenzy consuming Paul.
Paul's POV
All I can see is red. In a second my phase will be complete and my rage will be fulfilled. My mind races as my vision of the blonde becomes that of my wolf self. But suddenly the room is tumbling in circles and I hear the shattering of wood as air rushes by me. I hit the ground hard on my side but quickly regain my bearings. As I stand tall in my wolf outside a good 50 metres away I realise what just happened. I let out an aggressive growl as a sickening feeling washes over me mixed in with a fresh onslaught of fury that's multiplied than before, seriously intensified. Emelia is standing in the huge splintered hole where the door used to be. She threw me out here. She is no girl who smells like a vampire. The disgusting thing is one.
Third person POV
Without another moment's hesitation, Paul lunges forward towards the house with only one thought in his head; kill her. It is understandable for his reaction to be so hostile and over exaggerated because the poor guy was in such a foul mood to begin with. This only strengthens his violent behaviour towards Emelia, pushing him forward more. Knowing what danger Emily would be in if she chose to avoid Paul, Emelia's only option was to attack. With such speed that couldn't be seen to the human eye, Emelia springs forward to meet the wolf twice her size in battle.
Paul's POV
My adrenaline is on fire as my teeth lunge to her neck. Before I reach it I feel my ribs crack on both sides of my body as the bloodsucker digs her hands into it and thrusts me backwards. She used all her force and strength to send me flying into the cover of the forest and I let out a whine of pain as I tumble and hit the ground. Damn that thing. She knew exactly how to wound me. I can't even see or hear what it's doing at the house. I still see red and everything is blurred. There's pounding and throbbing in my ears. Even the pack's voices are numbed. But I push through it all for my anger hasn't decreased one bit. I'm coming for you leech.
Third person POV
Emelia is breathing harshly and staring into the forest with an alarmed expression. She turns around to see the shocked faces of Bella and Seth. Behind the two is Emily, holding her hand to her chest with a pained face. The 16 year old looks back at them with her eyes trying to inform a thousand things, but two words are being said as she shares the last time she will see them; I'm sorry.
Paul races from the trees and pounces to strike the broken teen. Once again she is too fast. Emelia avoids the assault and with vampire speed disappears from sight, her destination being the Cullen's home.
The pain and guilt of her secret coming to light has crushed the teenager. She never wanted her new friends to find out, especially in the firing line of a werewolf's company. Before Emelia even reaches the house, Alice has engulfed her in a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry." Alice says with great sadness. "I know you really liked them." Tears begin to fall from deep green eyes as the panic from her attack begins to take hold, not just the anguish of losing her friends.
"I thought you couldn't see them…" Emelia trails off. Carlisle and Esme have now joined the two; both look as if a deep sadness has been carved into their faces.
"I saw enough once you past their borders. I wish I could have seen this." Carlisle gently places a hand on the sobbing girl's shoulder, a guilty expression consuming him.
"Come inside child, I'm afraid we have reached the worst. We will help you while we can, as I have promised you." He says softly.
Bella's POV
I seek out Edward for answers. My feelings are so jumbled I can barely drive the distance to his home. I can't comprehend what had happened at Emily's house. I try to push my emotions aside and struggle to concentrate on what I remember; Seth showing me his tiny scar on his upper back that could only be seen in the right lighting, small chatter, something like glass smashing, then a sickening outburst of crushing wood. My brain can't remember descending the stairs for everything happened within seconds. I'm not sure of what followed was real, or not. The girl I considered to be my friend, pushed the giant wolf Paul into the cover of the forest. I swear she even cracked his ribs. His ribs! After that moment, nothing else processes. How could Emelia have done that? She's human...right?