Sorry for posting a day late! The weekend kept me busy, and this chapter is a little longer than the others. Enjoy.

I also am making an AO3 account to post this story on as well. Should be up in the next few nights.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" Jacob asked. I could practically feel his concern bleed through the speaker. "You don't feel like it's too good to be true?"

"A little," I admitted, "but they do have more to lose here than Charlie or I do. It makes sense they would want as little trouble as possible." I had called him as soon as I woke up that morning to update him. I waited until after Charlie and I had time to talk about the meeting with the Denalis. We both settled on the same conclusions. The Denalis appeared genuine, and we had the secret advantage of the wolves. If we began to question their sincerity, the wolves would be a handy bargaining chip. At worst, we would simply move closer to Dr. Ford and go to Anchorage.

Jake hummed. He didn't seem convinced, but the reasoning satisfied him enough. "As long as they don't give you guys any trouble, that's what counts. How many of them are there?"

"She said five total."

"That's a couple less than us. That's good."

"Exactly how Charlie and I feel." I stretched out my legs and reclined in my bed. "We don't think it will come to that, though. They were pretty straight forward about their concerns—even gave me a free coffee."

"How polite."

I chuckled and glanced at the book on my nightstand. Tanya's final invitation resurfaced. "It's a little weird how insistent they are with it, though," I thought aloud. "I get that they would like some assurance a human won't screw up their entire enterprise up here, but I thought they would prefer to act as if I didn't exist, you know? I feel like this is more trouble on their part."

Jake hummed. "You have a point. It might be they're hoping to gain your trust—kind of an olive branch sort of thing, you know?"

"I guess, but still. It's weird."

"Oh, it definitely is weird, but I think we can agree it's useless to try and understand the motives of vampires. They're all a little weird in the brain."

I laughed. "Okay, good point." I tilted my head back against the pillow and closed my eyes. "How is everything down at the Rez, though? Are you still doing alright studying for your test?"

When the wolves first turned, they were forced to drop out of school until they could control their temper. That was the original plan, at least, until Victoria had started hanging around. After all the long day hunts and late-night shifts guarding both my house and their own land, the wolves had no time for school, and it caused the entire Pack to flunk out.

Slowly, since then, they all had been achieving their GEDs to one day apply for colleges in the future. None of the Council wanted the wolves to be permanently tied down by their responsibilities as the protectors while no threats were present. It would have been an incredibly unfair ask of them.

Jake's groan was so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. "I hate studying, Bella, and the books are just so boring. The others are trying to help me and Quil out, but holy shit is it hard to stay focused."

"They did warn you guys it was rough studying for."

"Yeah, but I didn't think they meant I would want to rip my hair out of my head and then glue it back on just to do it again."

I laughed. "You'll make it, Jake. You protected me from two killer vampires; you can pass your GED."

"Thanks." He paused. "I know you haven't been gone long, but it's so weird not to have you around all the time. I keep forgetting you're literally thousands of miles away, too. I almost went over to your place to ask to hang out yesterday."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Weird, right?"

"It is, but I honestly keep forgetting I'm up here sometimes, too. I woke up the other morning confused because I wasn't in my room." I shook my head and sighed. "I guess we'll just have to get used to it eventually. We still have over five months to go before I even know if I'm cleared to come back home."

"You will be, Bells." He said it with so much conviction it made me nearly believe him. Everyone else seemed to be convinced of the outcome except for me. "Then we can have a party on La Push and get drunk."

"I'm not buying you alcohol."

"That's fine. Sam will."

I snorted. "With how much money it would take to get all of you hammered? Yeah, I don't think so. He would go broke after the first dozen bottles."

"You're no fun."

"It's the burden of being the responsible adult of this duo."

"Which I appreciate because then I do whatever the hell I want."

"How thoughtful of you, Jake."

"Always." There was a slight pause and shuffle from his end of the line. "I have to get going, Bells, but I'll text you later. I'll tell the others what you told me, too."

"Thanks. Have fun prancing around the woods, Dog Boy."

"Thanks," he snorted.

The line ended with a beep, and I dropped my phone on the bed beside me. I stretched out my legs and arms and groaned as the muscles released a delicious amount of tension. There was a small crackle in my lower back that felt amazing.

I relaxed and let my head fall back to rest against the pillow. My eyes tracked the blades of the ceiling fan above my head. I folded my hands over my stomach and took in a deep breath to feel my belly expand with the air. I slowly released it and let my brain wander aimlessly for a minute.

I thought about Jacob and how much I missed him and the others. I had gotten so used to my little extended family being so close, and to be so far from them now was difficult. There were times I wanted nothing more than to call Jake or Leah to see if they were free to spend time together because I was lonely. I couldn't, though, because they were over two thousand miles away in Washington, and the thought made me feel even lonelier at times.

I had started to make friends up here, but the isolation had really started to hit during the last two weeks. I supposed that was a reason enough to be relieved about the agreement with the Denalis. I didn't have to continue my exile whenever I felt lonely or restless. I could go into town and at least be around people—maybe talk with Max or Jerry. It would be nice to build a little network of friends up here.

A sudden knock snapped me out of my thoughts. I sat up with a jolt as Charlie opened the door. "Sorry, but I'm about to head out for the day. I just wanted to say bye."

"No problem, Dad. I hope the morning shift goes well."

"Thanks, kiddo. See you later."

I heard his steps down the stairs before the front door shut a few minutes later. I laid in bed a while longer as I tried to decide what I wanted to do the rest of the day. There were very little options I had at my disposal, but I was determined to not stay in bed all day.

Well, I might as well take advantage of my new freedom in town. The thought was more exciting to me than I had expected it to be. I was out of bed and out the door quickly. Denali was a small town with not much to do in it, but it was better than being stuck at home all day.

I stopped by Stella's first. Max was at the counter, and he grinned as I stepped in. "Hey, Bella!"

"Hey, Max. How are you?"

He rolled his shoulder. "Can't complain. We're staying steady today, so that's nice. What about you?"

I shrugged as I approached the counter. My hands tucked into my pockets. "Can't complain much either. I'm just trying to fill the day."

"Fair enough." He jerked his chin up towards the menu over his head. "What would you like?"

I scanned over the options. "Caramel latte?"

"You got it. You want it for here or to go?"

"To go."

He punched in the order and nabbed the receipt from the machine before I could even take out my wallet. I blinked. "Uh, you forgot to tell me how much I owe you, Max."

He shook his head and tossed the receipt in the trash. "I didn't. Kate says you and your dad have unlimited store credit."

My jaw dropped. "What?" She had been serious about that? I had thought she was just trying to make a joke or something. I shook my head and dug into my bag for my wallet. "That's really not necessary, though. I can pay."

Max shook his head again with a soft smile. "Sorry, Bella, but I just work here. I would say to try and talk to Kate about it if it really bothers you, but I honestly don't think you'd get anywhere. She rarely changes her mind when she decides on something." He waved me off. "Go sit down, and I'll call you when it's done."

He left me to stand there like an idiot. I blinked dumbly before I slowly moved my legs towards the empty table nearby. As I sat, a prick of annoyance settled in my stomach. I suspected it was a gesture of friendship, but I had never been one that enjoyed freebies. I didn't like the feeling, and I couldn't quite place why, but it almost felt like a bribe.

They had absolutely no issue with two humans who knew of their secret (which broke their laws) staying in their town. Why would they feel the need to go out of their way for us, too? Granted, I was certain they could more than afford to lose the money on our meals but still. What other motive was there?

I frowned.

"Here's your latte, Bella." Max set down a cup on the counter. "Nice and hot for ya."

I pushed the thoughts aside to smile and retrieve the cup. "Thanks. I'll see you later, Max."

I tried not to think about the new arrangement as I left the café and made for the bookstore. It was a problem to consider at another time. For now, I just wanted to enjoy the coffee and look for a few more books. I knew the three I had bought the other day wouldn't last much longer—the first one was almost finished.

When I arrived at The Little Bookshop, I didn't see the Mercedes anywhere out front, but there was a BMW that appeared out of place compared to the other cars. I sucked on my bottom lip and momentarily questioned how badly I needed new books.

No, I thought. You're not going to let yourself run away like a coward. Put on your big girl pants, Swan. I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and gave myself a supportive pat on the back. Okay.

The bell dinged as I opened the door, and Jerry looked up from his book. A mischievous grin pulled on his lips. "Well, well, well…" He closed his book and leaned over the counter. "Look who's back for more. I told you this place is addictive."

I smiled. "How do you know it's the place and not the wonderful staff?"

He snorted so violently he sounded like a hog. "The staff? Please. If you had said Tanya, I might have believed ya, but we both know I'm a little out of your age range."

I chuckled and glanced down at the book. "What're you reading now?"

He held up the cover for me to see. "Just a little romance. We got a new shipment of them in a few weeks back, and one of the unspoken duties of my job is to vet them all. Obviously."

"I admire your dedication."

"Thank you." He dramatically placed his hand over his heart. "It's so fulfilling for someone to realize my true worth. Tanya never seems to understand just how much effort I put into my position."

I shook my head and started for the other side of the store I hadn't gotten the chance to explore my first visit. "I'm going to take a quick look around."

"Yell if you need anything."

I ducked between the shelves and started my search. I had to admit that I hadn't thought out stopping at the coffee stop before the bookstore. I was able to pick up the first book I wanted just fine, but I had to start putting down the coffee cup every time I wanted to look at another. After the fourth time, I decided to just chug the damn thing and tossed the cup in the trash where the tables were.

Once my extra hand was free, it was much easier to explore the shelves. Just like my first time in the store, I noted a few that looked interesting to buy at another time and tried to keep myself restrained on which books I actually chose. I knew from experience I would blow my entire bank account if I could.

I had started to look over a fifth book when my arm suddenly grew tired. I frowned, put the book back on the shelf, switched arms, and picked the book back up. I didn't make it all the way through the summary before my second arm got tired. I shifted the books again, confused. I had grabbed some larger books, but it shouldn't have been enough weight to make my arms so tired.

I decided against the book and continued down the shelves. I continuously had to switch back and forth between my arms, and my confusion grew each time I had to shuffle them. The largest book I had was around eight hundred pages, but the others were easily around three to four hundred pages. There was no reason my muscles should act like I had a fifty-pound weight in my hand.

My body was always tired the first few days after chemotherapy, but I had never struggled with muscle fatigue this long after it before. It was a new side-effect. It was only my first round of chemo, and I already had a new symptom. What would the second round be like? Or the third? Or the sixth?

I suddenly didn't feel like looking for books anymore.

Mood soured I made my way up to the counter. I paused when I noticed two new people at the desk talking with Jerry—a man and a woman. I would recognize their look anywhere. They must have been two other members of the coven here, and if I had to guess on the lack of blonde hair, I would assume they were Carmen and Eleazar.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose. I really wasn't in the mood to handle new faces. I briefly thought about going to the back of the store until they left, but I realized it was a silly idea. They probably already knew I was in the store. Plus, my arms had started to beg for relief, and I didn't want to drop all of them on the floor. That would be even worse than enduring a few minutes of small talk.

I bit the bullet and approached the counter. The man and woman's eyes moved towards me immediately, but I kept my own focused on Jerry as he smiled. "Nice haul."

I set the books on the counter with a thud. My arms instantly felt relief, and I discreetly tried to shake them out at my sides. "Yeah, I found a couple."

Jerry smirked as he began scanning them, and the woman of the pair smiled. "Hi, you must be Bella. My name is Carmen." She motioned to the man next to her. "This is my husband Eleazar."

I nodded stiffly. "Hi."

"How are you and your father settling in?" Eleazar asked. "I heard he was hired on at the station. I'm sure Jack and Sarah are happy to have the help."

I really wasn't in the mood for small talk, but I couldn't exactly be a bitch to them. Not in front of Jerry, at least, so I just shrugged and kept my eyes on the counter. "He needed something to keep him busy, anyway."

"Well, it's good to know you're both finding a place here."

I hummed and busied myself with pulling my wallet from my bag. I was about to fish out my card when I paused. Nervously, I glanced up at Jerry. "They aren't covered, are they?" I thought I saw Carmen and Eleazar smile from the corner of my eye.

Jerry shook his head. "Nah, but you do have a discount. Twenty percent, if that's okay with you?"

I sighed but handed my card over anyway. It was better than the full coverage at the café, but I still wasn't happy about the special treatment. I had done nothing to earn it from them, and I most definitely didn't want their charity or whatever the hell it was.

Jerry piled the books into a large bag, and I put away my wallet. He nudged the bag across the counter. "Let me know what you think of Yellow Sun. I haven't it made it to that one, yet."

I shot him a small smile. "I will." I picked up the bag and immediately felt my arm regret it. I bit my tongue to not let out a string of curse words; especially, as I sensed the vampires' gazes zero in on me.

"Are you alright, Bella?" Carmen asked.

I frowned. "What?"

"I noticed you shifting your books earlier. Are your arms sore?"

They had been watching me? I clenched my jaw and tightened my grip on the bag even though my arm had started to protest against the weight. "I'm fine. It's nothing."

She tilted her head and glanced towards my hand. "Are you certain? I would be more than happy to help you carry them."

"I'm fine." I felt my fingers start to slip on the bag, and I cursed the universe as I switched hands again. Why can't you go easy on me? Just for one day? One fucking day?

The woman chuckled and shook her head. "Come on. I need to get something from our car anyway." She held out her hand expectantly for the bag with a friendly smile.

I swallowed my protests as all three looked at me expectantly. I had promised not to cause drama for them, and they knew that. I hadn't realized it would bite me in my own ass. I handed over the bag with a gruff, "Thanks."

She smiled triumphantly. "Of course! Now, let's get you where you're going." She spun with the grace of a ballerina to the door. I weakly waved at Jerry as he said farewell and begrudgingly followed her out. Carmen held the door open for me as I passed and easily fell in step with me outside. "Where did you park?"

"The café."

She laughed softly in amusement. "I see why you thought the books would be covered. Tanya was tempted, I will admit, but I believe she knew you wouldn't appreciate the handout. Kate is…well, Kate. She means well."

"Right." I flexed my fingers at my sides and willed my legs to walk as quickly as allowed. She could keep up with me, of course, but I wanted to get the whole interaction over with immediately.

"They told us about your discussion." I tried really hard not to groan. "I thought you should know we all feel as they do. I understand why you would be uncertain of us, but I hope overtime that you realize we truly mean you no harm. In fact, we'd like to get to know you and your father."

I snorted. "Right."

She frowned. "I'm being genuine."

"I don't doubt you are," I said, "but the truth of the matter is harm goes wherever your kind is. It's just what you do."

Carmen was silent for a second. When I glanced from the corner of my eye, she looked contemplative. I didn't like it. "I'm sorry for whatever you had to go through."

I stopped. "Don't do that."

She turned. "Do what?"

"Pity me. Sympathize for me—whatever the fuck it is you're doing." I shook my head. "Just stop. I don't need that from you or anyone else. I've had enough of that in my life time, and I don't want any more of that bullshit."

I didn't like the look she gave me. It was calculating and had a glimmer to it that looked a lot like pity to me. She sighed and ducked her head. "I meant no offense, but I understand. Apologies."

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. "Why are you all so insistent to talk to me? Isn't it enough I agreed to keep your secret? Why can't you all just leave me alone?"

Her brows furrowed. "If you were in our position, would you not want to know you? To show that we are different?"

"I don't want to be shown that."

"And why not?"

"Because it doesn't matter," I snapped. "It doesn't matter how nice you are to me. It doesn't matter how many free meals you give me, how many bags you carry, or how many fucking times you say 'hello' to me. It doesn't change what you are. It doesn't change that at the end of the day I'm a liability for you. The balance of power will never be the same between us, and if you think having good manners makes up for it then maybe you've all been around stupid humans for too long."

I snatched the bag from her. Her fingers let it go easily as she stared at me in shock. Her lips moved like she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.

"Thanks for the help." I stormed down the sidewalk and didn't look back.

I would admit that a part of me did feel a little bad for snapping at Carmen. She had genuinely offered to help, I believed, and she hadn't exactly done anything to deserve me snapping at her. Still, I wasn't too happy with how persistent they were. I truly didn't understand why they weren't happy to simply pass us on the street.

I hadn't told Charlie exactly what happened, but he knew I had an encounter with one of the vampire locals that had pissed me off. Apparently, he had met the other sister while at work. She had been polite to him, but Charlie had little desire to interact with her. She had obviously picked up on it as she had dismissed herself, but Charlie was still unsettled by it.

I avoided the town for the next week. I kept myself busy with small tasks around the house (luckily with little random muscle fatigue), and I dove into the now decently sized stack of books on my dresser. I was able to finish both the book I was on and a second book. I knew my fast-paced reading meant I would have to go to the bookstore again sooner rather than later, but there was little else to do entertainment wise.

Video calls with the Pack did help break up the monotony a little bit. Leah and Jacob were my most frequent calls. Jake had generic news to give me about how everyone was doing along with funny stories of whatever had happened that week. Leah, however, had more in-depth updates that usually centered around complaining about the boys. While she and Emily had started to mend their relationship, she was still not overly close to her cousin and often felt outnumbered. She usually bitched me out about being gone before she asked how I was doing.

Neither Jake or Leah was happy to hear about my interaction with Carmen. They were both disturbed by the vampires not pretending I didn't exist like we all had wanted. Jake had offered to ask Sam about going up, but I turned him down. The Denalis were an annoyance, but I didn't exactly feel unsafe—uncomfortable for sure but not unsafe. The wolves would be a comfort, but they would also only add tension we didn't want.

Not yet, at least.

Another development occurred during my self-imposed isolation. My hair had started to fall out. It wasn't a dramatic loss by any means, but the extra strands on my comb made my heart sink. It was one of the things I hated most about chemo. My hair made me at least look a little normal. When I lost it, I looked like an alien—a skeleton, even. I was determined to keep it as long as I could. The hair loss would only get worse, I knew, but I didn't want to say goodbye to it, yet.

So, the first trip I took back into town was to the general store. It was the only place in town that a wide range of items, and while I had little hope to find what I wanted, I went to look anyway. I scanned every shelf in the place for any silk pillowcases or hair bonnets. It wouldn't let me keep my hair, but it would hopefully slow down the hair loss.

I was upset to see they didn't have anything I wanted and decided I would either need to go online or to another town—possibly Anchorage. I left the store emptyhanded and stood outside for a moment as I tried to decide what to do. I truthfully didn't feel like making the drive to Anchorage that day, and I knew if I ordered one it would probably get to town in the next few days. Perhaps that was my best bet.

After a minute, I let my feet carry me to the town's local park. It had a small jungle gym and set of swings with a few picnic tables off to the side. A quarter mile walking trail was paved around it in a winding pattern. A few benches were set along the trail, and I sat on the one closest to the jungle gym.

I sat still for a moment and just enjoyed the silence of the empty park. I couldn't even remember the last time I was in a park. It was nice to have it to myself for a while. I pulled out my phone and searched for silk pillow cases or hair bonnets. It took a little while, but I finally found a pillow case that had quick delivery.

I tucked my phone away after the order was complete and glanced around. There was no one around still. My eyes landed on the swing set. There were two pairs of swings. One was smaller and lower to the ground while the other was larger and higher up. I got up and went to the larger swings.

At first, I only let my feet push and pull against the ground just enough to provide a small rock. My hands wrapped around the chains, and I let my feet swing a little more. It wasn't hard to gain altitude and even less hard to maintain it. The chains creaked at every movement, and I remembered the old swing set at home. It had the worst hinges. My hands tightened around the chains.

The wind rushed past me as I felt the pull of gravity with each swing. I smiled. I repositioned my hands and waited for the swing to shoot forward. I flung my body off the seat and stumbled along the ground as a laugh tore from my chest. The swing continued to creak behind me.

I smiled and grabbed the chains to stop it. When the seat had steadied, I sat down in it again. This time, I simply moved the toe of my shoe along the dirt. I spelled out random words and drew small misshapen pictures.

I wasn't sure how much time passed, but it hadn't felt very long when a voice broke the long silence. "Hello, Bella."

I paused and swallowed my sigh. Not right now. "Do you guys have a radar for when I'm in town or something?"

She laughed. It sounded nice. "No, but your scent is hard to miss."

"I've been told that before."

She was silent for a moment. I heard her feet pad on the ground as she moved closer. "May I join you?" she asked. "I understand if you want to be alone."

I shrugged. I doubted my answer would really make much of a difference. "It's a free country." Her shoes scuffed the dirt, the hinges creaked, and I finally looked up. "What do you and your family want from me, Tanya?"

She chuckled. "I don't think you'd believe any answer I gave you."

"Probably not," I agreed.

She smiled softly. "I would like you to," she admitted. "I understand why you won't, but I would like that to be a possibility someday." She pushed her toe into the ground to sway. "Carmen told us about the bookstore. She wants to apologize for upsetting you."

I shrugged. "Accepted, I guess." I pursed my lips. "I'll admit she didn't deserve me snapping at her."

"Maybe not," she agreed, "but you were right about the imbalance of power between us. We haven't kept that in mind for you, and that's unfair to you and your father. I apologize."

I appreciated the acknowledgment, but I had little more to say on the matter. Not that day, at least. I was too tired for a fight or to talk about much else. I just wanted to sit silently in my swing, and I was glad Tanya appeared to sense it as we fell silent.

The moment was rather peaceful. The effects of loneliness had slowly worn me down over the last week. Even with the calls home and the tiny friendships I had budding here, I had only Charlie for a real companion. I loved my dad, but it wasn't healthy to rely on him for my entire social life. I needed more interaction, and while I didn't want to make it a habit with the Denalis, it was nice to be in the presence of someone else—to at least have the illusion of companionship.

It was a depressing thought.

I blinked and cleared my suddenly tight throat. "I need to go home." The chains rattled as I stood from the swing, and the second rattle of chains made me turn.

Tanya quirked the corner of her mouth and tucked her hands into her pockets. "I would like to accompany you, if that's alright?"

I wanted to protest, but I knew the words would have been halfhearted. I was lonelier than I wanted to admit, and I didn't want the companionship to end quite yet. Instead, I let her fall in step with me without complaint, and we walked back towards town in silence. It was pleasant, really, and a part of me wondered if maybe we could coexist as long as we didn't talk.

It was broken as we crossed town line. "May I ask you a question, Bella?"

No. "What?"

"Would it be so bad for us to be civil?"

"Yes."

She scoffed. "Why?"

"Because if I give you an inch of pleasantry, you'll try and steal a mile of it. I'd rather prevent that from happening by keeping things uncivil."

"I can assure you we wouldn't," she promised. "Whatever your boundaries are we will respect them." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Kate agreed to stop covering all of your purchases, and the others have agreed to give you and your father space."

I chuckled dryly in the back of my throat. "No offense, but your word doesn't mean much to me. Nor does your family finally learning the definition of personal space."

She pivoted on her foot and stepped in front of me. She held out her arms. "Then give me a chance to prove it," she pushed. "Give me a task you want done, or a book you want ordered, or whatever the hell you want, and I'll show you we're serious."

"And why the hell would I want to do that?"

She scowled and set her hands on her hips. "You really want to pretend like you'd rather continue this dynamic?"

"Of course not."

"Then let me prove it to you."

I snorted and shook my head. "There's nothing you could do, Tanya. Let it go, okay?" I stepped around her and continued down the sidewalk. Tom's truck slowly came into view.

"I'm sorry to say that this is one thing I cannot let go." She matched my pace to walk alongside me. "Not only because this current arrangement we have is horrid, but also for the benefit of my family. It's not right for us to constantly—"

I rounded on her immediately. "That's it. That right there is the problem." I poked my finger in her chest. "You're so focused on how you and your family are affected. You don't give a shit about me or Charlie. That's how I know you won't respect what I want, so don't try to bullshit me or yourself into thinking you will."

She tenderly pushed my hand away from her chest, and it made my stomach twist in a way I didn't like. "I do care about you, Bella." She sounded so honest—I hated it. "My family is a factor, yes, but you are a factor, too. I just want what is best for everyone involved."

"What's best for me is if you and your family fucked right off," I snapped. "I don't want you anywhere near me. Why can't you just accept that and leave us alone?"

Her face pinched in frustration. Her hands dragged through her hair like she was almost at her wit's end. "Because no matter how much you don't like it I can't. I can't just leave it there, Bella."

"You can't?"

She sighed. Her hands dropped to her sides in defeat. "No. I can't. I'm sorry, but I can't."

I laughed. I shook my head as tears burned my eyes again. "God, you're really all the same, aren't you? You don't care about anything other than yourselves, and you preach all this bullshit about valuing human life while actively not giving a fuck. Please, just stay the hell out of my life and let me die in peace."

I turned before she could speak—I didn't care to hear her response. I just wanted to go home and cry before Charlie got home. I rushed the rest of the way to Tom's truck. I unlocked the door and just barely opened it before a pale hand slammed it shut.

I jumped and spun to find Tanya hovering over me. Her face was set in stone in a way that unsettled me, and the tension that practically radiated from her made me even more uncomfortable. "What did you mean by that?"

"Fuck off." I pulled on the door; she slammed it again.

"What did you mean?" Her voice was tense and ragged. Her eyes, which had slowly started to darken, darted all over my face as a kind of panic took over hers. "What did you mean 'let you die?'"

"It doesn't mat—"

"Yes, it does!" The door dented under her hand. I jerked back at the sound and felt my heart stutter in my chest. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Her arm lowered. "I'm sorry, Bella, I didn't mean to…" Her eyes opened and met mine. I'd never seen someone beg so intensely with their eyes before. "Please. What did you mean?"

She looked on the verge of a breakdown. Her entire body was coiled as if it was ready to fall apart at a moment's notice—similar to how a building buckled just before it fell over. Her face screamed the same desperation as her eyes as she looked at me in a way that reminded me of Edward when he tried to read my mind and couldn't.

I had to look away from her. Did it really matter whether or not they knew? Part of me said that it did. They had no right to know about my condition—what did it matter to them? The other part, though, knew it was inevitable. The Denalis and the entire town would know soon whether I wanted them to or not. The hair in my comb that morning was a reminder of that.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose. Fuck it. "I have cancer," I said lowly. It all came automatically after so many clinical discussions. "Stage four endometrial that's metastasized in my cervix. It's inoperable."

I kept my eyes shut, but I heard the soft thud of her body against the metal. She didn't speak for a moment, and for a while I thought she wouldn't. "Tom's brother." I opened my eyes. She leaned her back against the door with her face in her hands. "I should have known. Your scent has always been off. His brother is an oncologist, isn't he?"

"Yeah."

Her hands dropped, and her head lulled to the side to finally look at me. I wasn't prepared to see the utter despair and remorse in her eyes. "I'm sorry." She pushed herself off the truck to stand straight. "I'm so sorry, Bella."

"Me too." I dragged my hand down my face. "Look. I don't really care about the whole treatment thing, okay? I'm tired of trying to cheat death after doing it so many times." The way her brows pinched told me to explain before she committed me. "I'm not saying I want to die, but…I can't really say I'll care much if I do."

The tips of her fingers barely brushed the back of my hand. "Plenty of other people would care."

I jerked away from the touch. "Why do you think I'm here?" I snapped. "Charlie and Renee jumped at the opportunity to send me up here. You think I was going to tell them no? That I really didn't want to suffer for six months just for the chance of more time? I's complete and utter bullshit that will only keep me from the dirt a little longer."

She winced like I had slapped her. "I'm sorry. I didn't…I'm sorry." She stepped back and looked at me with so much genuine sorrow it made my chest hurt. "I'm really sorry."

My body sagged as the fight suddenly drained out of me. I looked away from her as tears blurred my vision. I wasn't going to cry. Not right now. Not in front of her. "Can you please just let me get in my truck?" I asked quietly. "I'm tired."

Tanya wordlessly stepped aside. I didn't look at her as I climbed in and started the engine. I barely turned onto the road before the first sob tore from my throat.