Bella Swann pulled her truck into the gravel driveway of Jacob Black's house, the familiar crunch of tires on stone signaling her arrival. It had become her daily routine: school, home for a quick meal or excuse, and then straight to Jacob's garage. She had grown fond of this little escape, where responsibilities and the constant presence of her father's watchful eyes melted away. Here, surrounded by the hum of engines and the smell of grease, she felt a freedom she rarely experienced.
Jacob was already outside when she arrived, tinkering with one of the bikes. He glanced up as her truck came to a stop, a grin spreading across his face.
"Right on time, Swan," he said, wiping his hands on a rag. "Thought you might bail on me today."
Bella rolled her eyes as she hopped out of the truck. "When have I ever bailed?"
Jacob smirked. "There's always a first time."
"Not today," Bella shot back, grabbing her helmet from the truck bed. She paused for a moment, looking at the two motorcycles parked side by side. "You know, I was thinking about bringing the bike home, but..."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "But what?"
Bella sighed. "Charlie would lose his mind. He already hates the idea of me riding, and if he saw that bike every day, he'd probably set it on fire."
Jacob laughed. "He's just looking out for you, Bella. Can't really blame the guy. These aren't exactly the safest rides."
Bella narrowed her eyes. "Don't start sounding like my dad."
Jacob held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Your secret's safe here. But you know, if you ever want to give Charlie a heart attack, just roll up to the house on that bike."
Bella chuckled at the thought but shook her head. "Maybe someday. For now, I'd rather not deal with the lecture."
Jacob handed Bella the keys to her motorcycle, and she mounted it with practiced ease. She felt a surge of excitement as she turned the ignition, the engine roaring to life beneath her.
"Ready?" Jacob called, already astride his own bike.
"Always," Bella replied, her voice filled with anticipation.
They rode through the forest trails, the wind whipping past them and the trees blurring into a green haze. Bella loved these moments—the rush of adrenaline, the sense of control, and the simple joy of being in the moment. Jacob was a natural on his bike, navigating the trails with ease, but Bella was quickly catching up.
They stopped at a clearing after an hour of riding, the sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled patterns on the ground. Bella pulled off her helmet, her hair slightly disheveled but her face glowing with exhilaration.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this," she said, grinning.
Jacob nodded appreciatively. "You're definitely improving. Just don't let it go to your head."
"Oh, please," Bella teased. "I'm already better than you."
Jacob laughed, the sound echoing through the clearing. "Keep dreaming, Swan."
When they returned to the garage, the sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Bella parked her bike next to Jacob's and leaned against the truck, catching her breath.
"You know," she began, "I really wish I could take it home. It's so much fun riding, but sneaking around is exhausting."
Jacob shrugged. "You could always try talking to Charlie. Who knows? Maybe he'll come around."
Bella snorted. "Yeah, right. My dad? He'd probably ground me for a month just for asking."
Jacob leaned against the truck beside her, his expression thoughtful. "Well, you've got a place here anytime you want to ride. No need to rush into anything."
Bella smiled, grateful for Jacob's easygoing nature. "Thanks, Jake. I mean it."
"Anytime, Swan," he replied, bumping her shoulder lightly with his own.
As Bella climbed into her truck to head home, she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. She wanted to share this part of her life with her dad, but she knew how he'd react. The motorcycle represented freedom to her, but to Charlie, it was just a dangerous toy.
The sound of the truck's engine broke the quiet of the evening as Bella drove away, leaving Jacob's house behind. She glanced in the rearview mirror, already looking forward to her next ride.
Bella parked her truck outside Jacob's house, the anticipation of their usual motorcycle adventure buzzing through her. She was surprised to find the house unusually quiet. No sound of tools clinking, no distant hum of Jacob's laughter—it was eerily still. She knocked on the door, waited, then knocked again. Nothing.
Confused, Bella walked over to the nearby house belonging to Sam Uley. Sam opened the door, his imposing frame filling the doorway. He raised an eyebrow at Bella's unexpected visit.
"Looking for Jake?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes," Bella replied. "I thought we were going to ride today, but there's no one home."
Sam nodded. "Billy and Jake went to Seattle early this morning. They had something to pick up."
Bella's shoulders slumped. "Oh. Did they say when they'd be back?"
"Not until late," Sam said. "Sorry, Bella."
Bella forced a small smile. "Thanks, Sam."
As she walked back to Jacob's house, her disappointment deepened. She had been looking forward to the thrill of the ride, the wind whipping past her, and the freedom it gave her. The thought of spending the day stuck in her room or aimlessly wandering around Forks was unbearable.
Bella hesitated by her truck, her eyes drifting toward the garage. An idea sparked in her mind. She didn't need Jacob to ride. She had been improving steadily, and she knew the trails well enough. A sense of rebellion and determination bubbled up inside her.
"Why not?" she muttered to herself.
She remembered Jacob mentioning where he kept the spare garage key—hidden in a hollowed-out piece of wood by the back door. Bella quickly found it, the cool metal in her hand feeling like a ticket to adventure. She unlocked the garage door, the scent of oil and grease hitting her as she stepped inside.
Bella approached her motorcycle, its polished surface gleaming in the dim light. Her fingers brushed against the handlebars as a mixture of excitement and nervousness surged through her. Could she really do this alone?
"Jake would probably kill me if he found out," she murmured, but the thought didn't deter her.
She grabbed her helmet from the workbench, pulled it on, and wheeled the bike out of the garage. After a deep breath, she straddled the motorcycle, her hands gripping the handlebars tightly.
"Alright, Bella," she whispered. "You've got this."
She turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. A grin spread across her face as she felt the familiar vibrations beneath her. Without a second thought, she twisted the throttle and took off down the driveway.
The forest trail was quiet, the morning sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled patterns on the ground. Bella rode confidently, her nerves fading with each passing second. The rush of adrenaline filled her as the motorcycle roared down the path, the wind tugging at her clothes.
"This is amazing," she thought, her heart racing.
She took the familiar turns with ease, the bike responding to her every movement. The sense of independence and freedom was intoxicating. For the first time, Bella felt like she didn't need anyone to hold her hand—she was in control.
As she rounded a particularly sharp corner, Bella's confidence wavered. She misjudged the angle and the bike wobbled dangerously. Her heart leaped into her throat as she fought to regain control, her foot brushing against the ground to steady herself. The motorcycle jerked but stayed upright.
"Okay, maybe I'm not that good yet," she muttered, her pulse pounding in her ears.
She slowed down slightly, her earlier confidence tempered with caution. The close call hadn't dampened her spirits entirely, but it was a reminder that she still had a lot to learn.
Bella's grip on the handlebars tightened as her motorcycle skidded to a halt. Her heart pounded wildly as she stared at the figure that had landed right in front of her. A pale, fiery-haired woman stood in the middle of the path, her piercing red eyes locked onto Bella. She exuded an aura of menace, and Bella's breath caught as recognition dawned.
"Victoria," Bella whispered, her voice barely audible over the roaring in her ears.
The vampire's lips curled into a sinister smile, her sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
"You know my name," Victoria said, her voice silky yet venomous. "That saves me the trouble of introductions."
Bella's instincts screamed at her to turn the bike around and flee, but her limbs felt frozen. She forced herself to stay calm, gripping the handlebars as though they were her lifeline.
"What do you want?" Bella managed to ask, though she already knew the answer.
Victoria's smile widened, and her expression turned cold. "Revenge," she hissed. "You're the reason my James is dead. You, your little group of blood-drinking pets. You've all taken something from me, and now I'll take something from you."
Bella's mind raced as she tried to think of a way out. Running wasn't an option—Victoria would catch her in seconds. Fighting wasn't even a consideration. Her only hope was to stall or reason with the vengeful vampire.
"It wasn't my fault," Bella said, her voice trembling. "I didn't kill James. I didn't even want any of this."
Victoria's eyes narrowed, her expression hardening. "But it's because of you he's gone. You brought this chaos into his life, and now you'll pay for it."
Bella felt a chill run down her spine as Victoria took a step closer. The vampire moved with predatory grace, her every motion deliberate and calculated. Bella's mind screamed for her to do something—anything—to escape.
As Victoria advanced, Bella suddenly twisted the throttle, the motorcycle roaring to life. She turned the bike sharply, the tires kicking up dirt and leaves as she sped away. The forest blurred around her as she pushed the bike to its limits, her heart hammering in her chest.
"You can't run from me, little girl!" Victoria's voice rang out, chilling and mocking. Bella glanced over her shoulder to see the vampire chasing after her, her movements unnaturally fast and fluid.
The trees whipped past Bella as she navigated the winding forest path, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She knew she couldn't outrun Victoria forever, but she had to try. The memory of Edward, the Cullens, and even Charlie flashed through her mind. She couldn't let them down.
Just as Bella's strength began to waver, a deafening roar echoed through the forest, followed by a blur of russet fur barreling into Victoria. Bella skidded to a stop, nearly toppling off the motorcycle, as she watched in stunned silence.
A massive wolf—Jacob—stood between her and Victoria, his fangs bared and a ferocious growl rumbling from deep within his chest. His eyes, glowing with a fierce determination, locked onto the vampire.
Victoria hissed, crouching low as if ready to attack. "Another one of you mutts," she sneered. "Always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
Jacob snarled in response, and within moments, two more wolves burst through the trees, flanking him. It was Sam and Paul, their massive forms towering over Bella's trembling figure. Victoria's confidence wavered as she realized she was outnumbered.
"This isn't over," Victoria spat, her eyes darting between the wolves. With one final hiss, she turned and disappeared into the forest, her movements swift and silent.
The wolves remained where they were, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of her return. After a tense moment, Jacob turned his gaze to Bella, his expression softening. He let out a low whine and nudged her gently with his massive head.
Bella slid off the motorcycle, her knees buckling beneath her. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaking. She reached out to place a trembling hand on Jacob's fur, the warmth of his presence grounding her.
Sam shifted back into his human form, his expression grim. "You need to stay out of the woods, Bella. It's too dangerous right now."
Paul nodded in agreement, his gaze stern. "If she comes back, we'll handle her. But you need to be more careful."
Bella nodded, her mind reeling from the encounter. "I—I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted to ride."
Jacob let out a soft growl, nudging her again as if to reassure her. Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'll get you back to safety. No more solo rides, understood?"
Bella nodded again, her throat tight with emotion. As the wolves escorted her back to Jacob's house, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude—and a newfound respect for the danger that lurked in the shadows of Forks.
Author's Note:
Enjoying the story?
Consider joining my to get early access to more chapters and exclusive fanfictions! Even as a free member you will get one extra chapter and you'll receive early access to chapters before they're posted elsewhere and various other fanfictions.Your support helps me create more content for you to enjoy!
Join here: (dot)com(slash)Beuwulf