Chapter 12 | Unknown - Updated and longer?

NOTES | Alpha Orders | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'

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"Are we holding you up?" Eric smirked. A cackle fell from his lips at the look he received. "It might take me a little longer." His eyes danced with mirth.

Loveless glared at him softly. "Watch it."

He chuckled.

"Sorry! Mrs. Carlson wouldn't let me go!" Claire exclaimed. "I didn't think she needed to speak that long after the last class." She shook her head. "I thought it would be quick."

"Let's go!" Loveless exclaimed. Loveless paused as she listened to a group of girls passing by. Her eyes widened. He's here.

"Did you see his car!" "Car? Did you see the guy!" "Who cares about the car!"

Loveless smirked. James. "Later guys!" She squealed and made a beeline out of the school. She'd missed him. He was special. James and Vic both. They'd held her pieces together when no one else would - even when she couldn't.

The other students watched in shock and amazement as Loveless practically ran out of the school.

She grinned brightly as she spotted the elder male. She picked up more speed and launched herself at him. Loveless giggled and wrapped James up in a bear hug. "Oh, God I missed you!" Her arms around his neck - legs around his waist. There was a chance she wasn't going to let go either. "Seriously missed you," She whispered against his ear. The buzzing under her skin went quiet. The heat in her chest cooled and slowed to a dull thud. Peace. She'd only ever been able to feel this calm with one of them. Don't forget Paul, her mind whispered softly.

"Well," He grunted under the sudden force and let the car stabilize them both. James chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you too Lovely." He whispered in her ear. James squeezed her tight before placing her back on her own feet. "Small town? Everyone is staring." He cocked his head to the side. "Or is this the first time they ever heard you squeal?" James smirked at the looks he received. Yes, he was special.

Loveless pouted and smacked his chest softly. "Meanie!" There was no heat in her retort. There never was where James was concerned.

"Sometimes." James chuckled and pulled her into another hug. "But only to others." He winked at the brunette in front of him and held her tightly. "I can say I missed you too." He stared down at her for a moment. "Princess."

Loveless cooed and burrowed against his firm chest. "It's so boring without you in my life!" She smiled brightly. "As much as I'm willing to stay like this . . . Let's go."

James snorted. "Everything is lame if I'm not there." An overabundance of self-confidence was laced in his deep voice.

"Ha," She rolled her eyes. Loveless pulled back slightly, resting her head on his shoulder. "Vic?"

James pouted. "Still back home. Some loose ties to finish up first." His lips pursed. "Vic should be here late tonight or early tomorrow."

"Yes!" Loveless squealed. "So where are we going?"

James shrugged. "My place?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh," Loveless giggled and slapped his shoulder. She paused. "Your place? You're not renting?"

James smirked. "You'll have to wait. If I tell you everything and spoil it for Vic . . . I'll sleep on the couch till the end of my life."

Loveless giggled. True . . . but what could the surprise be?

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"Who is that?" She frowned as her eyes narrowed, she wanted to be closer. Bella frowned. Nicole was too intriguing. Why won't she just be my friend?

Edward twisted in the direction Bella was looking in. His brows furrowed. "I don't know." Why is she fixated on them like this?

Bella frowned. "You can't read him either?" What is going on? Is Edward becoming weak? Bella held back a sigh. Had she chosen the wrong one? Bella bit at her lower lip and did her best to figure out a way to get closer to Nicole.

"Really?" Emmett chuckled and smacked Edward on the back. "Losing your touch old man?" He couldn't help but smirk. And the flit of unhappiness that flashed across Bella's face . . . was almost worth it.

Edward glared. "Devon, can you get anything?" I am not weak brother! He held back a hiss as he linked with Emmett.

Devon looked up from his phone. He turned and stared at the male. His brows connected slightly as they furrowed. "There's a connection. A deep connection." His honey-colored eyes swirled as he forced his gift to work. Work 's brows furrowed. A disconnect.

"What does that mean?" Bella questioned. Her head cocked to the side as she leaned against Edward. She bit at her lower lip and studied the pair out of the corner of her eye.

Edward placed a hand on her lower back and guided her toward the car. "Not only can he manipulate emotions like Jasper and Jane . . . he can feel them. He can feel the emotional link between two people." He whispered in her ear as they walked. "He can sense the type of emotional link shared - if an emotional link is shared."

"Oh?" Bella glanced at Devon. "Can you tell what kind of emotional link they have?" Her big doe eyes glanced at the other male, imploring. She hadn't known Devon could do that.

Devon shook his head. "It's hard since I can't read her." His lips pursed as he glanced back at the couple. "All I can say is . . . He's not human." His honey eyes glowed under the sun. I need to drink tonight. He swallowed as venom dripped down his throat. He was weaker since switching to animal blood. He could tell it. But he preferred this life to the other. A twinge gripped him behind the sternum. That life was not for him. Neither was this one. But the Volturi refused because of his gift.

Bella's eyes widened. Not human? Her brows furrowed. That's impossible. "Then what is he?" Edward would have said something if he was a wolf. Were their other legends . . . another species?

Devon shrugged. "Don't know - Powerful. " His eyes narrowed as he tried once again to get a read on the male. "He's very powerful." The venom pooled in his mouth as forced his gift to work harder once more. Nothing. A brick wall. That kind of power . . . Not even- He cut the thought off.

"That cannot be." Edward frowned. "More so than the Volturi?" He shook his head. Impossible. He continued to sift through Devon's thoughts. "That doesn't make sense." His brows furrowed and his lips pursed. Edward shook his head once more. His honey-amber eyes glanced at the male across the parking lot once more. Was he really that strong?

Devon shrugged. "You don't feel him, Edward." The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he reached for the emotional link was more. His eyes shimmered as they connected with the link. "He's powerful." A tingling sensation sat low behind his eyes, he was afraid to touch the link. Devon had never been afraid to touch emotional links before. "And it isn't dormant power. It's all active." Devon's honeyed orbs swirled as he tapped into the link shared between the two once more. And once again falling short. "He's too powerful for me - if he's hiding something I wouldn't know." I can't touch their emotional link.

Can't. Edward frowned and turned towards Devon. 'Can't touch and won't touch are not the same.' He spoke bluntly as he reached out to Devon through the link.

"Don't speak on something you don't understand." Devon hissed in the vampiric tongue.

Bella pouted. That wasn't helpful. Well, slightly. Bella's head cocked to the side. I wonder just how powerful. . . If he's more powerful than the Volturi. . . She smiled and turned towards Edward. "I'm hungry Edward."

. . .

Edward stilled as he listened to the car that pulled up outside of Sue's Diner. This was where Bella had requested to eat. It was close to the wolves. One of the places she was able to meet Jacob - when he was able to meet her.

'He's able to meet her Buddy - Jacob chooses not to.' Emmett chimed in through their mind link. 'And we both know Bella asked to eat here 'cause she's hoping to run into Nicole again.'

Edward frowned and shoved Emmett's thoughts out of his head. He did his best not to think too long on Emmett's words, and the truth behind them. Edward had seen into Devon's thoughts on Jacob's and Bella's emotional link. He was not interested in Bella in any way - not anymore. His ear twitched as he easily picked up on the conversation between the two outside.

Loveless smiled brightly. "Let's go," She whined.

James chuckled. "Cool it!" He laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Pulling her flush against his side. "You've gotten curvier since our last bodily meeting." He wiggled his eyebrows. He smirked boyishly.

"Oh?" She grinned. Her arms wrapped around his waist. "I look good huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

James's grin morphed into a predator-like smile. "Good enough . . . better in my bed." He winked.

Bella frowned as she watched Edward freeze. His eyes widened as he glanced back at the other two. "What? What did you hear?" Her lips pursed. She crossed her arms and pouted as he replied with just talking. Then why did he freeze up like that? It was moments like this that Bella didn't like the skin of the vampires. At least if their skin was more human she could read the emotions and sense the differences in body temperature.

Rosalie's shoulders slumped. 'Here she goes.' Her eyes narrowed as Edward growled at her. Rosalie glared. 'You know I'm right!'

"Edward," Bella whined. Her hands fanned the air. "What did they say?" Her large eyes widened as she stared imploringly at the boy in front of her.

Edward heaved a human sigh. "They are just talking." His voice was even, tone measured. Why did it matter so much what they spoke of? 'Do you think feeding will help you sense the link?' Edward reached out to Devon as they sat at the diner's round table.

'Yes.' Devon breathed out humanly. He hoped.

Bella kept her frown off her lips as she twisted around to look at Edward. "Like brother sister talking?" She cocked her head to the side and waited for an answer.

"I don't talk to Alice like that," Emmett smirked. "That's way more intimate." He wiggled his eyebrows while sending a smoldering gaze towards Rosalie. "I can talk to you like that." He flashed a wide-all-teeth smile at his wife.

Rosalie chuckled and shook her head. She leaned closer and squeezed Emmett's upper thigh. "Yeah?" Her head tilted to the side in question.

Edward's face twisted as images passed through his brother and sister's minds. "Guys!" He shook his head. "I don't want to see that." His nose scrunched. This was the part of his gift that he hated. The only one he'd want those images from - he can't read at all.

"Sorry," Emmett smirked. He wasn't sorry.

Bella yanked on Edward's sleeve. "Pay attention! Are they together?" Her eyes were wide in fake innocence.

Edward shrugged. "It's hard to tell. We can't read their minds."

Bella gave a jerky nod. That was not the answer she wanted. "Okay," she let her shoulders drop as she leaned against Edward and munched on a fry. "I was hoping I could make friends with him . . . and then maybe Nicole would like me more." Bella blinked softly and sent Edward a gentle smile. "I'm still new to the friend-making - not that good at it."

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Loveless laughed brightly. "I like the outfit too. Vic chose it?"

"Yes." James smirked. "I do look good don't I?" He was dressed in black skinny jeans, a deep blue and white striped silk dress shirt - tucked in, a plain white belt, and Adidas canvas high dark blue and white shoes. It was the normal James look.

Loveless snorted. He was such an ego guy. "James~" She whined.

"Spoilsport." James heaved a sigh. "Fine, let's go get something to eat."

Loveless pursed her lips. "That's a sad excuse for a dinner . . . Forks is small - not that many restaurants." She shrugged. She stared up at the words Sue's Diner. Her eyes narrowed slightly. 5 minutes before the La Push limits. The diner looked better than the two they passed in Forks . . . But still. James had said he was staying at a place close to La Push for her. So it was better to come this way than stay in Forks.

James nodded. "Would you rather go to Port?"

"No, not this time." Loveless shook her head. "I'll wait till Vic and I drag you shopping." A wicked smile flashed across her lips. Shopping was her favorite kind of torture to wreak upon James.

James groaned. "Now that's just unfair." A pout covered his lips as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards the doors of the Diner. "YOU know Vic will tease me relentlessly."

"So?" Her head tilted to the side as she giggled. "I'll even help pick out the lingerie." A cackle fell from her lips at the look she received. "Today low life." Her blue eyes shimmered happily under the cloudy sky. "If you are good I won't let Vic tease you too much."

James arched an eyebrow. "Forgive me, my eminence." He bowed dramatically and opened the door.

"Yes," Loveless heaved a sigh as she smelled the food being cooked. "This time only low life." The food smelled pretty good. Maybe Sue did know what she was doing.

James snorted. An affectionate smile on his lips. Only Loveless. "Wow, Vic would rather wear pink than come in here," James smirked. He shook his head. It was going to be interesting with Vic here. "This might be too small of a town for Vic." He laughed at the thought. "Don't worry, we will take you with us." James winked at the brunette beside him. He looped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her against him.

"Finally." Loveless snorted. "I know!" She whispered. "You should have "kidnapped" me when you had the chance."

James chuckled and shook his. "I have money but that doesn't mean I want to be on the law's radar Lovely." He shook his head. "Alright. Either they haven't seen someone as good-looking as me . . . or it's you. "The mirth showed brightly in his eyes as he cast a sideways glance at the woman under his arm.

Loveless glared. "Most of them go to my school. They are like vultures!" She exclaimed while letting James steer her to a booth. She slid in and watched as James slid in across from her. If James wanted to eat here . . . she'd eat here.

"Okay, so who are the overly white people over there?" James questioned while obviously pointing at them. A smirk covered his lips as he caught squirming out of the corner of his eye. Good. They needed to know that he could see them and it was rude.

Loveless glanced over. Her nose scrunched. "That is Isabella Swan and her followers." She growled out. A sneer adorned her face as her lip curled up in disgust. She didn't bother to hide the disgust at all. Not a single micro-expression. Maybe they could finally understand she did not like them and she did not want to be friends.

James arched a brow. "Relation?" That kind of disgust came from experience. She hadn't been in that school long enough to gain that sort of dislike.

"Therapist - they've talked." Loveless snarled once more. "Isabella is named after her dear aunt Annabella." She sneered at both names, neither held any respect from her. The doctor was given the chance to earn it and it had been wasted away with the choices she made against Loveless's will.

James scowled. Bitch. "So, what is my Lovely going to eat?"

Loveless rolled her eyes. "A cheeseburger with fries, a Sprite, and a slice of apple pie." She grinned cheekily and waited for his approval.

"That's my girl." James smiled. There was ownership hinted in his tone, but mostly pride. She'd come very far. "I'd say soup and pie is also acceptable." James winked at her over the menu. His smile disappeared as he looked at the booth over her shoulder. "And the group of steroid-induced, overly tanned group over there is?"

Loveless frowned and twisted. She groaned and slouched as she turned. "Fucking Natives." She hissed. Her hands curled into fists. She couldn't get away. It was either Uley's goons or Bella and her posy.

"Um," James arched a brow once more. "Lovely . . . so are you."

Loveless scowled. "I'm less annoying - more tolerable. Besides I'm not one of them." She hissed. "I refuse to be one of them." A sneer covered her lips for a moment. They didn't get to claim her, not now and not ever. Sam had given up that right.

"Relation?" James questioned with a cock of his head.

"Uley." She sneered the word as if it had actually left a nauseatingly bitter taste on her tongue. And it did. This situation was caused by the Uley's. Sam was no better than his father.

James chuckled. "Be nice Lovely." He kept his voice soft. Their Wolfen. Vic needed to know this. And soon.

Loveless pouted. "I don't wanna~" She whined. She was tired of playing nice. It wasn't in her nature. And by Heavens! She shouldn't have to!

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Embry frowned. "Wow, she really doesn't like us."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "No shit." He snorted and rolled his eyes once more - stupid. He rubbed a hand over his face as he saw Bella look in his direction once more. It was beginning to suck - not even Sue's Diner was safe. He was going to need to speak with Paul and the Elders about including this on their land.

Embry scowled and glared at the other. "I mean, I know there was an extreme dislike . . . but damn. That was frigid - dry ice dipped in acid, frigid." Embry shoved a handful of fries in his mouth. "We don' even stan a chan!"

"She likes me!" Seth exclaimed. He grinned cutely and did a little dance.

The others rolled their eyes. "Don't talk with your mouth full." Jacob frowned as he pointed in Embry's direction. "Wrong." He shook his head. "She tolerates you."

"That's . . . Better than how she sees you!" Seth pouted. Meanie.

Embry rolled his eyes. "I wanna know why she eats full-course meals for him . . . so easily." He grabbed another handful of fries and smirked at Jacob before shoving them into his mouth. " Wh'l Pau has to br'be."

Paul growled. His hands clenched into fists as they began to shake. He breathed in through his nose, letting the scent of his imprint course through his veins. The shaking stopped. But the prickling feeling on his skin wouldn't go away.

"Boss . . .you gonna be okay?" Brady asked. His dark brown eyes caught every shiver as he shook.

Paul grunted out a reply - inhuman.

"Um," Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Dude, I've got just as good hearing as the next wolf . . . but even I didn't understand that."

Jared smirked. "He said he's fine." He was a Beta . . . for a reason. He had always been able to understand the Alpha. Which was a good thing.

Paul frowned. He didn't like how close they were. His wolf didn't like it either.

"Guys," He trailed off. There wasn't a good way to see it. No way to ease into it. But his wolf was restless - he needed to say it. Quil frowned. "There's something different about him."

Jared nodded. "You noticed too?"

"So," Paul begrudgingly tore his eyes away from his imprint and glared at his pack. "Speak."

Quil flinched slightly. It didn't have to be an alpha order for him to feel the force of the word. "I'm not sure, but . . ." His brows furrowed. "There's something off."

Jared nodded and noticed Paul began to shake more. "No, no. We don't mean like he'll hurt her, just off." Not human?

"I understand." He could feel it too. There was a chance he wasn't human. Paul relaxed slightly. His dark brown eyes went back to Loveless. He needed to have a meeting with the Elders. They needed to do more digging into the ancestral legends.

"Oh God," Embry groaned. "Bella is coming over." His shoulders rolled as the atmosphere changed. Why couldn't she tell that they didn't want her?

Jacob heaved a sigh and dropped his head onto the table. "Not here." He was stuck. Quil on one side and Jared on the other. They were too engrossed in food neither was going to move for him.

Quil snorted. "Like that is going to hide a 6-foot 7-inch werewolf." He muttered under his breath. "You need to fucking imprint already. I'm tired of her hanging around - she still thinks you love her." Quil shoved a fry in his mouth. "I'm about to bring you to every flipping mall around her or set up a damn booth."

Jacob kicked Embry as he laughed and shifted to glare at Quil. "I don't answer her messages and I don't go around her anymore." He pointed a finger in Quil's direction. "It's when one of you fuckers wants to come here for food!"

"Hey guys!" Bella smiled and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "You haven't been answering my calls Jakey . . . is everything okay?" She blinked innocently. She tilted her head to the side before sending a smile in everyone's direction.

Jacob heaved a small sigh. "I've been busy." He watched as she pouted. Jacob cocked his head to the side. I used to think that was cute. "What'cha need Bella?"

"I just wanted to know how much Nicole knows about the pack." Bella blinked innocently and smiled at a glaring Paul. She took a small step back. He scared her. "I didn't want to say anything I shouldn't."

"How is that your business. . . leech-lover." Paul sneered. "You shouldn't say anything period." He still wanted to fight Jacob every time Bella made mention of the fact that she knew.

Bella smiled tightly and changed gears. "I just thought we could share info."

The pack frowned.

"What info?" Jared - being of a fit body and more level-headed mind - questioned. James wasn't human.

Bella tsked.

Jacob frowned. "Either you tell us or you leave." His anger spiked. It was almost like he was back to before he phased for the first time. Edge and angry.

"Well," Bella returned to pouting. "You're not any fun." She heaved a dramatic sigh. "Her friend . . .?" She waited a beat but no one clarified anything for her. "He's not human." She smiled and wiggled her fingers in the form of a wave before sauntering back to her table. She knew when to exit. And the look Paul was sending her said to exit now.

Paul snarled deeply in the back of his throat. "I'm gonna rip that leech-loving, cock sucking, negrophilic bitch to pieces."

The pack flinched.

Jacob might be willing to help.