A/N: I'm back! I started a Masters program in October of '23 and man has that taken up a lot more of my time than I was expecting. I have about one more year of that, but I finally feel like I have more control over my life now, so I came back to writing again. What I learned though, was no more statements on updating quickly. I'll update as my mind lets me and won't add extra stress. Without further ado, here's the next chapter.
"Hey Hazel, did Peter say anything else about his gift? Or ask any other questions about me?" I have to see why Peter has been asking so much about my past. If he is connected with my past the way I am thinking he is, I need to run.
"Hmm" Hazel hummed thoughtfully, "He told me that his gift usually only activates when he or someone he is close to is in trouble" So he must be connected to them then, they probably didn't mean to leave me alive, and Jasper and Alice finding me would put them at risk if I spoke about it. Is he here to finish the job?
"What else did he say Hazel?" Jake asked while headbutting me towards a chair so he could lay in my lap.
"Hmm, I remember him saying something about wishing Jasper would have told him sooner that they left you behind, something about that putting a target on Collens back." Hazel laid down and pat the floor with her front paws, "He did ask if I knew about the scar you have, but I told him he should know more about it than me since him and Jasper have similar scars on their faces and hands. I also told him that all I know about the one on your neck is that is isn't from me"
So, he asked about my scar again. If he is connected to them, he must be playing the long con to try to keep me from realizing until it is too late. I need to protect Hazel and Jake at all costs, I can't put them in harm's way. "Thank you Hazel, Jake, do you remember the steps we took to protect ourselves after the incident occurred?"
"Incident?" Hazel asked.
"Yes, I remember. Keep the blinds closed, try to keep an eye out for strange activity outside the apartment, and if something suspicious occurs, listen in to convey if we are in danger. Also, have important things packed so that if we have to flee, you can quickly grab things, and we can go." Jake recited over Hazel. "But above all else, if we feel we are in danger, run and don't do anything that can put us in further danger."
Hazel looked between Jake and I and hesitantly asked, "Can I learn about the incident? I promise to keep it to myself! I just want to be included" Hazel looked at the ground afterwards and I realized that this likely made her feel as though we did not count her as family, the same way I felt whenever Him and Alice would have their barely verbal conversations around me.
"I'm sorry Hazel, I didn't think I would ever have to live like this again, so that's why I haven't said anything. It's a long and gruesome story, do you want all of the details or do you want the shortened version?" I asked, hoping she would say she wanted the shorter version. I don't know if I can go through the whole story all on my own, but I can't trust that the Cullen's weren't connected to it all and I definitely can't trust Peter isn't one of them.
"I think I can handle the whole story, if you can handle talking about it." Hazel said with a look of sadness, "It is obvious to me that this incident made a large impact on you, given that you and Jake have an emergency plan, and I want to protect you how I can, especially after you saved me."
"Okay," I took a deep breath, "I think I can handle telling you the whole story. I'll start with my senior year of high school, the year that He took me into the forest to dump me..."
"Who is he?" Hazel asked. Shit, I didn't think about the fact that I would need to explain further as to the people involved. With Jake I didn't have to, because he knew them, but I have to with Hazel.
"Sorry Hazel, I forget that you don't really know any of my past. Alice and Jasper are a part of a vampire coven. I met this coven when I moved to Washington my junior year of high school and fell in love with one of them." My voice was becoming quieter as I spoke. I haven't even thought of his name since the incident, I couldn't risk slipping back into dissociations. But it's time to face my fear, "His name is Edward" At this statement, Jake laid across my thighs, resting his head on my arm and wrapping his tail around my ankles, like a hug. "His family consisted of him, Jasper, Alice, their fake parents Carlisle and Esme, and their fake siblings, Emmett and Rosalie." Talking about Emmett hurt the most, he was always the nicest to me and did what he could to protect me. I took a breath and looked at Hazel and Jake. Jake already knows the story, but both were looking at me intently, listening to every word I spoke like it was gospel. "I dated Edward for about a year, we had a run in with another coven during this time, and an incident with Jasper when I cut myself around the entire coven. It was after this that Edward took me for a walk in the forest, dumped me, and left me there like the bastard he is." It felt surprisingly nice to call Edward a bastard. I put him on a pedestal for long that it felt as though I was finally taking him down a few notches, even if it wasn't to his face. Maybe I could survive telling the whole story.
