Days after he asked Bella to be his girlfriend, Harald's life seemed to be complete.
He felt like he could climb the highest mountain without breaking a sweat !
All thanks to his girlfriend and soul-mate, Isabella Swan !
Bella loved him and he loved her… and they didn't care if they showed it a bit too much.
At Forks High School, when the news reached the other students, opinions about it were different : many of the boys were jealous at Harald for having Bella while the girls were upset that the dark brown haired young man had been taken by the new schoolgirl.
Jacob Black had been a bit upset himself as he loved Bella but he accepted it as he was friend with Harald. Yes their relationship grew a bit more since their meeting. Jacob and Harald acted like siblings would sometimes with the dark brown haired young man being the tallest.
Bella Swan, sadly, became even more popular at the school because she managed to 'tame' the Scary Guy as the boys called Harald… mainly because of his icy glares. Two girls among them soon became good friends to her.
Their names ?
Angela Weber and Jessica Stanley.
Angela was 6 feet tall young woman with light brown hair with streaks of honey and brown eyes.
Jessica, for her part, wasn't very tall (5 feet 1 in height) but she had voluminous curly dark brown hair and blue eyes. Of the two, she was a real chatterbox !
Harald, even if he didn't liked the latter of lot, decided that it wasn't his problem if his girlfriend wanted to befriend them. Beside, she also needed GIRL-friends and not just Jacob and him.
The Cullens, for their part, were still wondering about to think of these two. The Vampires knew what Harald might be but couldn't help but at least be happy for him. Alice had found the two really cute when they arrived at school hand in hand.
Heck Rosalie, who dislike Harald (because he was part Bear) admitted that it was pretty cute.
Emmett and Jasper had just shrugged, knowing that it would haven happened eventually seeing how close those two were.
Edward, him, was furious. He coveted Bella ever since he first saw her in the cafeteria but this...thing took her away from him ! He hadn't told his family about this as he knew what Carlisle would tell him
"Leave her alone Edward ! We do not want troubles with the Werebear especially if she is his chosen !"
But he refused to let her go !
Bella Swan was his ! HIS ! AND NO ONE ELSE !
Unfortunately for him, one of his 'siblings' had noticed his behavior and had been keeping a close eye on him. It was Alice Cullen, wife of Jasper, and the 'Seer' of the family. Indeed, the pixie-like Vampire had the power to the see future.
And she had seen Edward being killed by Harald after the former tried to force Bella to do something. This vision happened to him the moment she entered the school and see the look in Edward's eyes !
Alice, since that moment, decided to keep an eye on him… so this vision doesn't happen.
She loved her family and she didn't wanted to see it broken because of an obsessed brother… adoptive or not ! The best course of action was to warn the two targeted people… even if it meant creating a bigger tension between Harald and Edward.
She decided to wait for the right time to act… but first she had to at least tell Carlisle.
Thats bring us to present…
And to be more precise, at Cullen House during the middle of the evening…
Esme, Carlisle and Alice, along with Jasper and Rosalie were discussing the Seer's vision while Emmett and Edward went out to hunt.
"Are you sure of this Alice ?" The head of the family asked his adoptive daughter with pain and horror in his tone.
Esme looked ready to cry if she still could.
"Yes… And seeing how Edward watched Bella..." Alice replied softy before shivering at the souvenir of his possessive golden eyes.
"What are we going to do Carlisle ?" Jasper asked his adoptive father with some worry.
"Easy…We have to prevent it to happen but knocking some senses into Edward's head !" Rosalie said from her place.
She might be narcissistic and self-centered but she loyal to her family and would do anything to protect it.
"It would not work… Edward is too stubborn…" Jasper replied with a shrug and a sigh.
"Well then… we have no choice..." Carlisle inquired with a small sigh of worry.
"Which is ?" Esme asked her husband with a hint of concern and curiosity.
"We have to warn them…" Carlisle responded gravely and a silence followed his words.
"I will do it… I'm the least intimidating physically…"Alice volunteered with a determined tone in her voice.
"Are you sure ?" Esme asked her with maternal worry.
"She is indeed the best for the job… Harald might be terrifying but he seems to be reasonable..." Jasper said in defense of his wife.
"Maybe I can accompany you… just in case..." Rosalie inquired to her 'sister' who shook her head in response
"No maybe it is better if its only ONE of us..."
Carlisle and Esme nodded in agreement before dismissing their children when they felt Emmett and Edward returning back. The two parents glanced at one another, thinking about Alice's vision.
"Esme..."
"Yes dear ?"
"Maybe we should make a treaty with Harald Anderson…" Carlisle suggested to his wife who nodded in agreement.
At the same time, the dark brown haired young man we loves, was baking one his specialty : Honey Cake. It was one of the many cakes, Astrid would do for him when he lived with her and apparently it was Werebears Specialty.
Speaking of Astrid, she had been thrilled when he told her about him and Bella being together but had been disappointed by the fact he hadn't told her about… well them being soul-mates. To calm down his mother, he had promised to tell Bella soon seeing that was growing more and more suspicious of him and the Vampires.
Back to present, Harald was pulling cake out of the oven when he heard someone knocking at his door.
"I'M COMING !" he said loudly to whoever it was before quickly putting his cake down to rush toward the door.
When he opened it, he was stunned to see his girlfriend Bella standing there, smiling up at him.
"Sakna Swan ! What can I do for you on this fine evening ?" he asked her with a charming grin.
Bella grinned back mischievously at him before responding in a playful tone
"Maybe let me in Mister Anderson~"
It had become something of a game between them : he would purposely call her lady Swan and she would retaliate by calling him Mister Anderson… and just to annoy one another.
"Of course milady… Come enter my humble abode~" Harald playfully inquired her while stepping aside with a little bow.
Bella rolled her eyes at his behavior but play along with it as she haughtily responded
"Thank you noble sir..."
With that they both chuckled as the young woman entered the wooden house. Harald had barely the time to close the door before soft lips pressed against his : Bella had lunged at him to kiss him. Who was he to not respond in kind ?
They kissed for a full minute before pulling themselves away from one another to catch their breath
"What are you doing here love ? Not that I mind your presence of course~" Harald asked her with a raise-brow.
"Charlie allowed me to stay with you for the night… as long as we don't do anything stupid..." the young woman answered with a shrug.
The dark brown haired young man chuckled in amusement : leave it to Charlie to think he would do such things. But Harald could understand that the mustached Sheriff was worried for his daughter… Astrid would have probably done the same in this situation.
"Well then… 'Mi casa es tu casa' as the saying goes~" Harald replied with a grin which caused her to roll her eyes in fond amusement.
"My ! Thank you noble sir~" Bella retorted mockingly as she entered the living-room with a smirk on her heart-shaped face.
Chuckling, Harald then re-entered the kitchen where his cake was cooling a bit.
"Want some cake love ?!" he asked her loudly from the kitchen
"CAKE ?!" Bella's scream echoed from the living-room before she suddenly appeared right in front of him with stars in her chocolate eyes.
Blinking at how fast she came, he couldn't help the laugh of amusement from escaping his throat
"Well… Look like this is my answer~" he commented with a grin which caused Bella to realized what she did as she blushed madly in embarrassment.
Smirking, the dark brown haired young man cut two parts of the cake before handing one to his beloved soul-mate
"Here you go Sakna Swan~" he said to her with his charming smile.
"Thank you Mister Anderson~" Bella replied back with a playful grin of her own before the two slowly enjoyed the cake.
The second the young woman bite on her part, a loud humming sound erupted from her throat and Harald glanced at her with a raise-brow
"Sooooo goooooood~" Bella squealed softly in delight after she swallowed.
"Thank you milady… I aim to please..." Harald retorted with a soft smile, his ego boosted a bit at this point.
"Oh really ?" Bella inquired him with a strange glint in her eyes
"So you wouldn't mind answering some of my questions right ?"
Harald, who was savoring his cake, froze dead on the spot as those words reached his eyes and swallowed nervously as he glanced at his smirking girlfriend.
She got him.
The dark brown haired young man wanted to object but then thought about it. He could kill two birds with one stone : telling her of their true relationship AND telling her about Werebears, Vampires and Shifters.
The problem was HOW she would take the news… He was afraid that she would reject him forever and making sure to never see him again. Harald knew that he couldn't live if his soul-mate hated him.
Beside he made a promise to his mom to tell Bella everything.
Now he had to respect it… for the better or worse.
Taking a deep breath, the blue-green eyed young man slowly looked back at his girlfriend who was patiently waiting for an answer.
"Alright… What do you want to know ?"
Her face literally brightened at his question and Harald couldn't retain a smile from forming on his face at how happy she looked at the moment. However, she seemed to be thinking about WHICH question to ask him first.
"Well… How did you manage to stop than van ?" Bella asked him after a moment of thinking.
"Of course she would ask this..." Harald thought about this with a deep sigh
"Well here we go..."
"Well… This is a long story but first… Have you ever heard of Werebears ?" he asked in a serious tone.
00/(Time skip)/00
A few moments later, Bella was looking at her boyfriend with a look filled with disbelief and amazement once he finished his explanation. The two of them were in the living-room, seating on the sofa and drinking some coffees Harald prepared at one point.
"So let me get this straight : You are a Werebear..." the young woman inquired after a moment of stunned silence.
"Yes..." Harald responded calmly while drinking a bit of coffee.
"Vampires, Werewolves and Wizards exist..."
"Yes again..."
"So does many other fantastical creatures..."
"Hum hum..."
"Your people was kicked out of their home because they could turn into bears..."
"Indeed..."
"Your kind had been hunted by Wizards and Church members..."
"Yes..."
"Then they went in War with Werewolves and Vampires..."
"First the Wolves then the Vampires but yes again..."
"And since, you coexist in peace..."
"Kind off… but yes..."
"And you are saying two out your three enemies are here in Forks..."
"Yes..."
Bella staid silent as she putted her head between her hands, thinking about what she just learned. Her boyfriend wanted to comfort her but forced himself to stay where he was, knowing she needed time to proceed those new informations.
"The Cullens are really Vampires ?" the young woman asked him in a soft tone.
"Yes… But from what I heard, they feed on animal blood..." Harald responded to her calmly but in a gentle tone.
The look of confusion and disbelief she sent him caused him to chuckle a bit
"Yes I found it strange too… but so far, no ones dead in Forks..." the blue-green eyed young man replied to her.
"Who are the Wolves ?"
"Honestly… I don't know… I didn't have any more encounter with them during my patrols… But… I did smell the faint trace of wolf on your friend..."
Bella blinked at those words before asking with curiosity "Which one ?"
"Jacob..." Harald replied calmly while drinking a bit of coffee.
"WHAT ?!" Bella cried out in shock.
"I didn't say he IS a Wolf Bella… I just say I SMELT wolf on him… maybe he knows someone who IS actually one..." Harald explained gently to Bella who relaxed a bit.
Why did she reacted like that ?
Easy… because she didn't wanted to see her friends getting hurt. Jacob and Harald seemed to get along with if the former was a Werewolf, or Shifters as her boyfriend called them… She didn't want to think about it.
"You know… you are surprisingly calm about all of this..." Harald suddenly said to her with a hint of amazement in his tone.
"Give me a break ! I just learn of things many would think are impossible !" Bella mock-glared at him and he laughed in response.
"Harald ?" she suddenly called out for him in a unsure tone.
"Yes ?"
"There is another thing I want to ask you..." Now she looked really embarrassed.
"Go on..." he suddenly felt like something big was going to be said.
"You said something earlier about soul-mates… How do you know when someone is your… well… your one and only ?" Bella asked him in a soft tone as if she didn't wanted him to hear.
"Well… Its complicated to explain… but in short, you fell more drawn to this person… as if without him or her, you have no reasons to live anymore..." Harald explained in a soft tone of his own.
Bella's eyes widened a bit as she seemed to remember something "Does someone feel a shiver if we see our soul-mate ?"
After a long moment of silence, Harald's only answer was a soft "Yes..."
Another long silence followed after that. The dark brown haired young man's eyes were trying not to look at Bella, in fear of seeing anger or outrage in them.
"Harald ?" he heard her calling out for him in a serious tone.
"Yes ?"
" Look at me..." she ordered him in a gentle and firm tone.
Compiled to listen, Harald turned his head and was stunned to see her own face inches away from his.
Blue-green eyes met chocolate eyes as Bella asked in a curious tone
"Be trustful with me : are we soul-mates ?"
Harald hesitated to answer but seeing the kind look in those gorgeous chocolate eyes of hers… He knew he couldn't lie to her so he gathered all his courage to say.
"Yes..."
A second after those words left his lips, Bella lunged at him to kiss the hell out of him and Harald instantly returned the gesture. Both of them felt good on the inside after those revelations and none of them wanted to let go.
"Why didn't you told me earlier ?" she asked him gently once she pulled her lips away from his.
"I… I was afraid of your reaction… I was afraid you would never see me again..." Harald responded bashfully.
He received another kiss on the lips in response but it lasted a few seconds as Bella stared at him dead in the eyes.
"I'm shocked and surprised yes… But I am not THAT rude !" she replied to him in a firm tone.
"I am an idiot aren't I ?" Harald chuckled at those words as he shook his head in self-embarrassment.
"Yes you are Harald Anderson !" Bella playfully retorted to him before kissing him again on the lips.
They staid like this for a few seconds before they pulled away from one another.
"Harald… Can I see this forms of yours ?" Bella asked him with a bit of excitement and curiosity.
"Are you sure ?" her boyfriend asked her with some worry.
"Yes… I want to see the REAL you~" the young woman cooed back before kissing him on the lips.
"I don't want to scare you..."
"I won't be… because I know that, even if you are in another form, it is still you~"
Smiling tenderly at his soul-mate, Harald nodded his head at her and she released a soft squeal in response. Amused by her behavior, Harald led her outside, into the clearing in front of his house.
"All right… You should step aside… I will change into my Humanoid Bear Form first..."
Bella nodded as she stepped a few feet away from him, her eyes showing nothing but interest, curiosity and slight excitement.
Harald closed his eyes and barely a second later, his body started to shift.
Bella's eyes widened when she saw her boyfriend growing bigger and more muscular as fur started to appear on his skin. Barely a few seconds later, where previously stood her boyfriend now stood something else.
Harald was now almost 4 meters tall and mostly covered in dark brown fur… except the fur around its neck which was lighter in color. His head was entirely Bear-like as was his feet. His hands were clawed but they still looked human-like.
His body was even more muscular than it was in his human form and Bella couldn't retain a blush at the sight of those bulging muscles of his. His torso was also well definite !
Then she looked at where the eyes should be and was a bit pleased to see the familiar blue-green eyes she grew to love.
The young woman felt like an ant before this tall beast.
"Bella…" The Humanoid Bear called out to his girlfriend in a deep voice.
"Nice muscles..." the young woman commented as she looked at his arms.
"Thank you..." The Beast began to say in his deep voice before it turned lighter as he turned back into the young man she fell in love with.
"Now… My full form… Please don't be scared of me..." Harald gently inquired his girlfriend who gave him a peck on the lips.
"I wasn't afraid of your previous form… Why should I be afraid of this one ?" Bella asked him mischievously.
"You will see why… but first… Turn around… " her boyfriend retorted back with a grin.
"Why ?" She asked him with a curious raise-brow.
"It would be telling~" Harald answered back with a grin.
"Don't you dare stare at my butt !" Bella hissed at him with a mad blush on her face.
"I would never do such things !" Harald began to say in protest before smirking evilly as he added
"Well, not without your permission at least..."
"IDIOT !" Bella punched him on the chest as she turned around in embarrassment, not looking at her laughing boyfriend as her face was as red as a tomato.
Harald then quickly closed his eyes before gritting his teeth as hos body moved again. Bella, whose back was turned toward him, could clearly hear the sound of moving bones along with little pops that sent tiny shivers running through her body.
A few seconds later, the strange sounds stopped and silence followed. The young woman wanted to turn around but she waited her boyfriend's signal. She barely released a sigh that something gently pocked her… again and again.
"Hey what are yo-" Bella hissed in irritation as she turned around to give her boyfriend a piece of her mind… only to froze as she stared at the BIGGEST bear she had ever seen.
On its four legs, this ursine was already taller than her as he stood 8 feet tall ! Covered in dark brown fur, except the neck, the bear's blue-green eyes looked at her for a second before titling his head to the side, releasing a little growl.
"H-Harald ?" Bella called out softy in shock as she looked at the massive creature before her.
A nod came from the bear and the young woman slowly reached out for his head as if she wanted to touch him. Harald didn't moved and soon growled in pleasure when he felt her hand touching his fur.
Bella blinked at how soft it felt to the touch and soon she started to caress him… and to her joy, he seemed to enjoy it.
"Amazing..." she whispered softy to herself as she petted her boyfriend-turned-bear.
Suddenly, the massive Bear's muzzle lowered itself between her legs and ,before she had the time to yelp in surprise at the intrusion, he tossed his head back, sending her in the air.
"Oof! " The chocolate eyed young woman grunted when she fell on something soft but hard and looking down to see that she was on the Bear's back !
Slowly positioning herself correctly on the beast's furred back, she gave him a light slap which caused him to growl a bit in surprise and slight pain
"Don't EVER do this again !" Bella hissed at him in a serious tone and he growled softy back at her as if saying "Yes ma'am..."
Harald then left the clearing to enter the forest and Bella seemed to realized what he wanted to do : giving her a ride.
"You could have just asked you know..." she grumbled to him and in his eyes, she could clearly see the mischief in them which caused her to pout at him cutely.
Pressing her head against his warm fur, the young woman sighed at how soft it felt against her skin and simply enjoyed the incredible moment as they made their way through the forest with the sky slowly turning darker as the night approached.
When they returned, Bella, who had loved the ride, now had one idea passing in her head : becoming a Werebear.
00/(Time Skip)/00
Two days later, Bella was no more in his home…
However, Harald DID have visitors… but this time it was neither Bella or Charlie. But from people he never met before…
One of them, who was in a wheelchair, looked strangely like an older version of Jacob while the other was an inch taller than himself and was younger than his companion. He had copper skin, cropped black hair and brown eyes along rounded muscles.
"Yes ?" Harald greeted them in a calm but stern tone.
He had been slept pretty late last night because of schoolwork and was NOT in a good mood. It didn't help when one of his visitors literally REEKED of wolf ! Usually, he would have chased them away but he would never harm someone weaken than him…
And seeing that one of his visitors was in a wheelchair…
The older man glanced at his companion before asking "Are you Harald Anderson ?"
"I am… Who's asking ?"
"My name's Billy Black… I'm Jacob's father..." the wheel-chaired man responded in a somewhat nervous tone but tried his best to not show it too much.
"I figured… You look like him… but older..." Harald retorted with a tiny grin.
Billy chuckled a bit in amusement before his expression turned serious again when Harald asked them with narrowed eyes
"How did you find me and what do you want ?"
His tone was sharp and his eyes were firmly on the youngest of his visitors who tensed at his gaze.
"Charlie, your girlfriend's father, is my best friend… When he came to visit me the day before, he told me a lot about you… You made a good impression on him...Him and my son of course… " Billy explained to the dark brown haired young man before him.
Harald didn't respond but silently cursed Charlie for speaking about him to complete strangers ! Jacob, he could understand, but Charlie ?!
"Your point ?" Harald asked him with narrowed eyes.
The young man accompanying Billy (Sam) bristled at the sharp tone but before he could lunge at the younger man, Billy stopped him with a hand.
"I will be blunt… Are you a Werebear ?" Billy asked him with a hint of… hope ?
Harald and Sam both blinked at the unexpected question : the former was surprised by Billy's words while Sam looked at his elder with confusion and stupor.
"Yes I am...How do you know ?" The dark brown haired young man replied after a moment with an indifferent tone.
"I might not be a Shifter like Sam here… But I know the legend and story of my people very well Mr. Anderson..." Billy responded casually.
"I see… Now give me one GOOD reason to not kick the dog out of MY domain !" Harald asked the wheel-chaired man with a growl.
Sam gritted his teeth at the challenge, looking ready to transform right there and then but once again couldn't when Billy shot him a vicious glare that forced him to stand down. Nodding at his elder, Sam then looked back at the younger man with a scowl on his face.
Harald sneered back at him defiantly in response before looking back at Billy when the old man said those words
"Mr. Anderson, if I am here today, it is to possibly make a peace treaty with you to prevent bloodshed !"
Harald was stunned by those words as he didn't saw it coming but then his blue-green eyes narrowed again as he said back in a cold tone
"There is already a treaty between our kinds if I remember correctly..."
"There is indeed… But I still want peace between you Mister Anderson and us, Shifters..." Billy replied back with a sigh and a hopeful expression on his aged face.
Harald, however, staid firm as he replied in the same cold tone than earlier "And why should I ? Our kinds are enemies !"
"Mr. Anderson, I can see your point of view but not all Shifters took part in that fateful battle… Us, the Quileute Tribe, had staid out of this conflict but because we were Shifters, we have been included in the hatred… Not that I blame your kind… "
Harald was internally shocked by those revelations and seeing the look in the old man's face told him that he was telling the truth.
"What would I gain from all this ?" he asked his visitors with a firm expression on his face.
"The pack will not intrude in your territory and we will leave you be..." Billy casually responded before glaring at Sam when the young man tried to object.
The dark brown haired young man with blue-green eyes looked back and forth between the two people before him, unsure of what to say next. After a moment of silence, he released a deep sigh
"Very well… But I have a condition..."
Billy sighed in relief at those words and eagerly nodded his head, willing to hear him out.
"I want Jacob to be there for the peace treaty..."
Sam and Billy blinked in surprise at the unexpected request
"Why ?" the wheel-chaired old man asked him with a frown on his face.
"Because he is the only one of your kind I grew to tolerate at this point…" Harald replied with a shrug before adding
"For a mutt, he is a decent bloke…"
Sam bristled at the insult but Billy, once again, stopped him from doing something foolish.
"Very well Mr. Anderson… We will be back next Sunday for the treaty..."
Harald nodded firmly at them, not saying anything. He watched as the two intruders left his domain… with Sam giving him sharp glares from time to time. Not that it bothered him anyway.
However, he couldn't help but feeling that things were going to turn hectics in the future…
(To be continue…)