AN...I know, I know! I'm sory this took so long to update, but BONUS..
I will be posting the next chapter tomorrow evening, and I am over
half way through the NEXT chapter.. *fingers crossed* I hope to have
this story completed before the month is out.
A big thank you to my wonderful pre-reader, Prettyflour. I sented you
two chappies instead of one. You rock my socks off, and I Flove you
very much!
Disclaimer.. I own nothing of Twilight. I just play with Stepehenie's
characters, and get them into big trouble!
Chapter 29
What Am I?
Bella POV
It took the better part of an hour for Leah and Jacob to teach me how to walk and run as the wolf. Edward had to communicate the one sided conversation. It was a complex mess, learning how Leah could hear Edward's thoughts, but he could no longer hear hers. Leah could hear Jacob's thoughts while in her wolf form, and he could hear hers, so since Edward could hear Jacob's thoughts, he was able to communicate with Leah telepathically, through Jacob. And me? Even as a wolf, I was a mental mute. What a mind-fuck!
Learning to walk and run as a wolf would most likely have been made easier had I allowed Leah and/or Rosalie to cut off my hair. Emmett laughed at me, calling me a "Wooly Weremath", seeing as my fur/hair was so long, and literally drug on the ground. Admittedly, it did make it more difficult to perpetuate motion, but I was resolute. I discovered quickly that I had better control of my phasing than even Jacob had. I was already able to phase back and forth on demand. Jacob and Leah kept reminding me that the true test would come the next time somebody pissed me off. Only then, they told me, would we truly see the depth of my control. (I had no doubts that I would maintain control, I could feel my dominance over the beast within.)
The run back to Forks became more of a race. I left Carlisle, Rosalie, and Emmett behind quickly, while maintaining pace rather easily with Jasper and Jacob. After a while, I decided to really push myself, and found that I was closing the gap between myself and Leah and Edward. I began to dig in with my hind paws, and really stretch out with the front. I was amazed to find that my mind could so easily keep up with the scenery that flew by, and that I had no reason for fear running into a tree. My mind seemed to be working at lightning speeds, while I coached myself into greater and faster speeds I was also keeping track of the path my feet would take. There was also an inner dialogue taking place somewhere inside of me.
Why am I just now becoming a wolf? Why didn't this happen when I first met the Cullens?
Yeah, then.. or why not when you learned about the wolves? Shouldn't proximity have cinched it?
Yes, but it is the vampire's proximity that brings out the wolf, not another wolf!
Good point, but you were always safe with the Cullens, and you knew it, maybe it is the fear of the unknown vampire that brought it about?
But he BIT me! He bit me before I phased, and I know he sucked out the venom… but maybe that had something to do with the change? Surely after so many bites, there had to be some sort of reaction. I think that it has something to do with all of the venom he pumped into me.
Yeah, well, by that logic, you should be on the floor, writhing in the fiery depths of a vampiric transformation, right?
I don't know... and why am I holding this.. argument/discussion?
You're asking me?
Damn, I am fucked.
I had spent enough time with the wolf-pack to know that phasing didn't affect their mental capacities. It didn't make their minds any faster. My mind was somehow faster, and capable of so much more. I began ticking off reasons why I thought this…
I am holding a conversation in my head… with myself and making faintly humorous and sound arguments for both sides.
I know that I am gaining on Edward and Leah, because I am processing things differently with my sense of smell, and I know that their trail is much fresher than it was a few miles back, therefore I am gaining.
Therefore, my sense of smell is stronger, and more defined.
My mind is processing my new sense of smell easily as I think other thoughts.
I am drawing from memory to coach myself on running faster. I am remembering conversations, both held and overheard about physical education… a topic I don't recall ever having paid any attention to… weird.
I am able to run in a coordinated fashion in spite of all of my hair that should be tangling around my feet, and causing me to trip, so some part of my mind is being mindful of both foot placement, and where my hair is in relation to my feet.
I am keeping track of my surroundings, and not running head-long into quickly approaching objects.
I am noticing woodland creatures and birds around me. Oooh, and the beautiful orchids.
I was finally close enough to Edward and Leah that I could hear their foot falls in the distance. I knew that if I was hearing them, chances were good that they were hearing me as well. I went all-out. My lungs and legs were burning with the strain, but I pressed harder, dug deeper, and strode longer. My tongue lolled out of my mouth as I concentrated on my speed, and as I blew past them, I could not contain my glee.
I finally slowed my pace, realizing that I was not truly sure where I was in relation to Forks. I stopped and fell onto my back in a fit of giggles and panting while Edward and Leah approached me, laughing right along with me.
"Wow, Bella! I never would have believed that you would enjoy reaching those speeds!" Edward's eyes were amazed, but his teasing was obvious in his voice.
I nodded my head. It was amazing to think that just over a year ago, I had nearly passed out after riding on Edward's back for the first time. Now, I was not only exhilarated at the speeds I had just been traveling, but it was ME that was running. I was in awe at the amount of change that can occur within so short a time frame.
I found myself looking at Leah hard. I stared into her eyes, searching for answers that I knew she could not provide for me right now. Was she my sister? Why could I not tie into her thoughts now that I was a wolf? Why had she imprinted on Edward? What about the importance of fertility with regards to a wolf imprint? I had heard discussions, and knew that this was the most commonly held theory regarding Sam's imprint on Emily, that she would be more capable genetically of producing a strong heir to the wolf gene, or some such non-sense. Seemed to me that Leah's already being a wolf should have cinched that claim. I internally shrugged off those thoughts, as somewhere in my mind, a panic began to set in. What if Jacob imprints on someone? What if I do? I have already given myself to him body and soul. I cannot imagine how empty it would make me feel if his heart suddenly belonged to anyone but me.
I had to shake off that train of thought. The others were catching up, including Jake. I could not afford to be thinking about such things. He was here beside me right now. He was mine right now, and that was all that mattered.
As Jake approached me, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth in a wolf-y grin, I touched my nose to his. When I looked into his eyes, I could truly see his beautiful soul. The man that I loved shined out from them, and wrapped me in his warmth. I tried to communicate with him through my eyes. I had no idea how much further we had to travel. He seemed to understand, and looked over at Edward.
"Jake wants to know what your question is. Are you asking how far we are from home?"
I nodded my head once. I appreciated just how well Jake knew me in that moment. He could read my eyes like a book.
"We have only about ten minutes of walking ahead of us, and we will be in La Push."
My head spun back to Edward in confusion and astonishment. All I could think for a moment was, Who the hell has been walking?
"Yes, Bella! We are that close to home now." Edward assured me.
I shook my head. Jacob nuzzled my neck, and whined. I knew that he wanted desperately to communicate with me. As I stared back at him, I tried to fill my eyes with what I was incapable of saying in this form. I tried to reassure him of my love and devotion with a glance. Something about him had always called to me. There had always been this invisible tether that held us together, in spite of many obstacles. Somewhere inside of my mind, a thought formed that began to grow and blossom. It radiated warmth and assurance throughout my heart.
Maybe, I thought, just maybe Jacob did imprint on me. Maybe he imprinted long before the wolf was involved. Maybe that day on the beach, the boy fell in love with the girl at first sight. And maybe, just maybe, it was strong enough even then to override the supernatural world around us.
Three heads turned towards me at once. Their eyes reflecting shock, amusement, and happiness. I cocked my head to one side.
Did I hear that right? Jacob's voice filled my mind. It's an interesting theory! I never thought of that. How are you doing this?
How did you do that? Edward's voice sounded perplexed.
Welcome to the pack! Leah's happy voice was filled with warmth and sincerity.
In truth, I was not sure exactly how I had done it. I knew that a part of my mind somewhere felt like it bent, and expanded. It was like using a muscle for the first time. It was one I didn't know existed. As quickly as the voices filled my head, they faded into silence.
"Bella, can you do that again?" Edward's eyes were bulging.
"Do what again? What did we miss?" Carlisle asked.
"The three of us just heard Bella's thoughts." Edward explained.
"Well, that is interesting indeed." Carlisle mused softly. "It appears that Bella's gift has begun to manifest."
"Bella, Jacob asked me to tell you that he is going to phase, and that he would like you to as well. He wants an open dialogue." Edward explained to me as Jacob trotted into some dense underbrush. I quickly followed suit, and slipped back into the shirt that Edward had given me.
"What do you mean my 'gift' has begun to manifest'?" I asked Carlisle as I stepped out from the thicket. Thistles and thorns dig at my skin and clung to me, but I hardly noticed. What I did notice was Jacob staring at my legs unabashedly with a smirk on his face.
"What do you think you're looking at, buddy? Eyes up here!' I tried to sound stern, and to hide my grin behind my hand which I pretended to be rubbing my nose with.
"Bella! While I do enjoy ogling you, that isn't what I was doing." Jacob stated flatly. "I was watching how quickly your scratches were healing."
"Oh!" I blushed. "I'm sorry. I just thought…" I decided not to finish that statement. It was obvious what I thought he had been up to.
Carlisle approached me swiftly. "May I?" He asked, reaching towards my leg. I nodded with a roll of my eyes, and a smile on my face. I knew the expression on his face. The doctor was in…
"Interesting." Carlisle reflected as he wiped some of the still fresh blood from my instantly healed thigh. He tested the viscosity and scent, rubbing it between his thumb and fingers, and smelling deeply. Then he held his fingers out toward Edward who also took in the scent. Both had an odd look in their eyes.
Leah stepped out from behind the same thicket, having phased back herself. She too was snagged on the thorns and thistles. As she approached Edward's side, he stooped and wiped some blood off of her leg, and mimicking Carlisle's actions he rubbed it between fingers and thumbs, and inhaled.
"Interesting." He cocked a brow at his father, nodding his head at a question only he had been privy to.
"Yeah, we all get that it is interesting. What we don't get is what, or why!" my tone dripped with sarcasm.
"Your blood has the viscosity and sweetness of venom, as does Leah's." Carlisle stated openly.
"Why would Leah's blood… who bit you?" I was worried and horrified as I looked at her. Edward hung his head, and Leah blushed as she reached for his hand while looking at her feet.
"Oh." I gasped. "OH! Wow! Um… so…. Yeah." I stuttered, and blushed a little bit myself. "Is that what Alice saw? Wait... Alice! She said that Jacob was going to be there, but it wasn't! It was… it was that bastard at the door! He took me. Why didn't she see him?"
"She didn't know him. None of us did. I think that her vision of your future went blank when he took you because his decision to take you turned you into a wolf. You know she can't see the wolves." Edward explained.
"But she has seen me!" Leah interjected.
"I think that is because you are no longer just a wolf. You are something other. Something entirely new and unheard of." Carlisle explained. "You and Bella both."
"And what exactly is that? How did I become a wolf though a vampire bite anyhow?" I seethed.
"I have done lots of testing of your blood, Bella. Your ability to block the mental powers of the Volturi and Edward has always intrigued me. I know that you had perfectly normal DNA structure. Twenty-three chromosomes. Vampires and werewolves both have 24 chromosomes. I suspect that as soon as a twenty-forth chromosome appeared in your system, it triggered the latent wolf gene. And as much as he tried to suck out the venom, he was not able to retrieve it all from your blood. Since you already had exposure to venom courtesy of James, your system didn't get thrown into anaphylaxis."
"Anaphylaxis? Why would venom throw me into an allergic reaction?"
"The wolves are allergic to our venom. Leah was lucky that we got medicine into her system in time." Carlisle's voice seemed strained.
"What's wrong Carlisle?" Leah grasped for Carlisle's hand with a look of concern on her face.
"I'm just grateful that I didn't lose two daughters to the same thing within the last forty-eight hours. I have been racking my brain, trying to find answers. I'm relieved that neither of you died, and so ashamed of the vile things that my kind did to you, Bella. And how the simple act of making love with Edward nearly ended you, Leah." Carlisle's compassion and despair seemed to have him at a breaking point.
"Carlisle, that son of a bitch was most certainly not 'your kind'." I used my fingers as quotation marks as I spoke. "You are the kindest, most compassionate, most honorable man I have ever known. The fact that he was a member of your species, does not make you anything like him!"
"Carlisle, I would go through it all again. I love Edward with my whole being. I have no regrets about making love to your son. I welcome whatever changes occur. I don't know what Bella and I can be classified as at this point, but I assure you…" she reached for my hand. "I know I speak for both of us when I say that we love you. We love this family, and we harbor no blame towards any of you."
~UUaAP~
Reviews are Welcome and Wanted!
You know you want to hit that button! *eg*
