A/N – Hello all! Just wanted to give thanks for all of the comments you have made, I love the fact that so many of you are really getting involved in the story – that's what it's all about!! Keep reading, keep reviewing, and keep the questions coming, they really help me move forward! ESx

Chapter 41 – The Storm

I lent against the side of my truck, waiting for Jake to arrive. Charlie had been called to help out at the station again, so it was an ideal opportunity for me to speak to Jake about…

Well, what he was.

I'd walked Charlie out to his car.

"Sorry about leaving you alone again, Bells. I've never known there to be so much trouble at work…."

His voice had trailed off.

"What kind of trouble" I had enquired, as Charlie opened the car door.

"We don't have a large police force Bella, because we're a small town, but lately… well, folk have been going missing. It's all hands on deck".

Folk had been going missing…

I nodded, "I understand dad, just be careful" I asked, as I lent in and gave him a quick peck on the side of his cheek.

Stubble.

He definitely needed a shave.

Charlie got in the car, "Maybe you could ask Alice over for that DVD? But you have a curfew Bells… just because she isn't a guy, doesn't mean I won't be watching you both…"

His voice trailed off, as if he was still trying to fully comprehend his own words.

"I've invited both Jake and Alice over dad"

Charlie whistled, "Brave girl Bells" as he winked at me, and pulled out of the drive.

Brave Girl…

I was going to sit with a werewolf and a vampire in my own living room…

I guess I was brave.

I'd sent Alice a text, asking her to join me, but I hadn't received a response. She was probably out hunting. I glanced down at my phone. Jake had answered immediately;

"I'll be right over"

But I still hadn't received anything back from Alice.

I hoped she was okay.

I flicked through the phone menu and read the text I had sent her again;

Alice; I know what he is… and I've invited him over. I'd like you to come too? I miss you. Bx

I returned the phone to my pocket and sighed.

This was going to be an interesting evening…

The sun, which had blazed all day, was now setting, yet I could still feel the heat.

I could hear the distant rumble of thunder, causing me to grimace.

This isn't what I needed, right now.

I knew my fear of storms was irrational, yet each time I heard that rumble…

I felt myself shiver.

As I patiently waited, I could hear the storm getting closer and closer. Looking up into the purple sky, I felt a drop of rain hit my cheek, running slowly down, leaving a trail, similar to the trail Alice's tear had left on her face…

Had she spoken to Carlisle about it? Did vampires cry? Alice had seemed as shocked as I was….

"Bella".

I jumped, and glanced up.

Jake had arrived.

I had been so engrossed in my thoughts, I hadn't heard him arrive, nor had I heard the rumble of thunder that was now right above me.

"Let's go inside, I hate storms, they freak me out" I heard myself say, as I ran towards the door, Jake close behind me.

Finally we were inside, as I walked into the living room and sat down.

Jake followed, but remained standing in front of me.

He smiled.

"Bella… you're… involved… with a vampire, yet it's a storm that freaks you out? You really are special".

With that he threw himself down on the couch opposite me, and smiled again.

Oh, so he was going to be cocky Jake tonight.

I smiled sweetly back, "Yeah, well, what can I say? I like to keep… interesting… company. I'd say you fall into that category too, don't you think?"

Jake seemed to flinch.

I carried on, "I know what you are Jake…"

Jake raised an eyebrow, "I bet she just couldn't wait to tell you".

I shook my head, "She didn't tell me, she merely pointed me to the right direction in my book".

Jake snorted, "Yeah, well I bet she had plenty more to say after you read it".

I lent back in my chair, "Actually, Alice left me to digest the information. I haven't spoken to her about it; I wanted to speak to you first".

Jake swallowed, "I… well, I appreciate that, thank you Bella".

I nodded again, "Lets not forget who asked her to tell me either, shall we?"

Jake sighed and held up both his hands, "Okay, I give in… you're right, I did ask her…"

His voice trailed off as he looked around the room, "Where is she? I thought you were both joined at the hip?"

I stood and wandered over to the window.

"She's busy" I replied, as my hand went back to my mobile, pulling it out to see if I had any missed messages.

I hadn't heard my phone beep… yet still I checked.

Nothing.

"Preying on some innocent animal no doubt" Jake muttered.

I turned on my heel, "Why don't you tell me about the innocent animals YOU pray on? I presume werewolves have to eat too?"

Jake looked… stunned.

"Bella, we're not… I mean, I'm not a werewolf…."

I frowned, "Then what are you?" I asked, my voice still displaying an edge to it.

Jake stood and walked across to me, "I'm a human, Bella, but I can change into a wolf…"

I watched as Jake's mind seemed to wander, as if he was trying to locate the rights words to say from his brain.

"You're a shape-shifter" I asked, and Jake nodded.

"You said 'we' before… are there more of you?" I asked again, as Jake turned to look out of the window.

The room was immediately lit by a slash of lightening as it forked across the sky.

I was talking to a human shape-shifter, and there was a storm outside.

My life had seriously taken a spooky path.

"There are others in the tribe that are like me, Bella. You need to know, it was a secret… I honestly couldn't tell you…"

The storm was starting to scare me, and to say I felt out of control would have been putting it mildly.

I found myself getting agitated, and without thinking I interrupted, "and now you can share your secret?" I asked, as I felt the palms of my hands go clammy.

I wanted Alice.

"Now you know, I can tell you everything" he continued, adding "Bella, are you okay? You've gone milky white… I won't harm you, I would never harm you, please believe that".

I walked and sat back down on the sofa.

"Jake, it's not you… it's this storm, like I said before… they scare me".

Jake was immediately by my side, taking a clammy hand in his I could feel the heat from his skin.

"It'll soon pass, I promise" he whispered, as he brought an arm around me.

That too was scorching hot.

"Jake, you're… boiling…"

Jake laughed, "Yeah, I know"

I swallowed hard. It was nice to have Jake smile and laugh, and I knew he was simply comforting me, but his closeness was making me feel claustrophobic.

I found myself moving out of his embrace.

"Sorry Jake, you're just… I'm just not used to having… you're making me feel humid" I replied, as Jake moved back.

"Humid? I thought you would prefer that to embracing an ice berg".

I immediately turned, "Quit the joking about Alice, okay? I happen to feel comfortable with her".

Jake stood, "Yeah, well you need to know Bella, I don't feel comfortable with her, or her family. Period. You want to know why I all of a sudden I can change into a wolf Bella? It's because of them…"

He spat the last word out, making the blood rush around my body.

He continued, "I haven't always been like this Bella, but since they arrived… it triggered something, some gene that certain members of the tribe have… and bam… wolf time…"

I stood, "You're saying you can change into a wolf, because of the Cullen's?" I asked.

Jake rolled his eyes, "Vampires, Bella… they turn up, and bam… the gene kicks in".

I shook my head, "Jake, you need to understand something, the Cullen's mean us no harm… no harm, are you listening to me? But there is another out there… I'm not sure who he is, but Carlisle tried to find him with Edward and Emmet… he's the one responsible for the missing people, Jake, not the Cullen's".

I watched as Jake's expression changed. He was trying to comprehend my words.

I carried on, "he was watching us, you, me and Alice in the woods… you said you could smell him… it wasn't Edward, Jake. It was the nomadic vampire…"

Jake turned his head towards the window, as if he was looking for something… either in his memories, or outside the house itself…

"I tried to locate him, but he vanished" Jake whispered, as he continued to frown hard.

"Carlisle couldn't find him either"

We both turned towards the voice.

Alice.

At that very moment, a crack of thunder seemed to make the entire house shake as a lightening bolt hit the tree outside.

I felt myself going weak, as everything around me started to spin.

I was going to pass out…

Alice was immediately by my side, lifting me up into her arms. At the same time Jake had crouched down near me, but he wasn't as quick as Alice who let out a protective growl.

"Hey, no need to get upset" I heard Jake say, as he backed off a little.

Alice looked down into my eyes and smiled.

I returned he smile, placing a hand on her cheek.

"I've missed you" I whispered, as the room was lit up again by the slashes of electrical energy from outside.

I started to shake as darkness engulfed me.