Chapter 1
Over 75 years ago my great grandfather had an encounter with vampires. His werewolf pack had only three at the time, but that wouldn't have stopped them from attacking the four vampires that stood before them.
However they claimed to be something different, vegetarians is what they called themselves. So our ancestors made a treaty with the so called Cullens. We would not expose them as long as they stayed off the Reservation and did not bite or kill anyone. And so the truce was made.
We have stood by our word over all these years and so had they. But now that the Cullens have returned could that change?
I am Bella Swan. I am seventeen years old and I have lived on the Quileute Reservation my entire life. My parents, Charlie and Sue Swan are two of the Elders for the descendants of the wolf pack along with Billy Black and Quil Ateara. The Elders have passed on the legends for generations and up until recently I hadn't believed in any of them.
Until now.
A few months ago I was embraced in my new life, a werewolf. I was the 2nd to change. As scary as it was because I had never dreamed it to be a possibility for me, it was nice to have the reassurances from Sam who walked me through it and showed me my new way of life.
But to everyone's surprise, especially mine, never in our history had there been a female wolf.
There were countless stories in our legends about war and hate, mistrust and betrayal, peace and unity between the two mythical bloodlines but I didn't believe much in them.
And up until a few months ago I hadn't even known that they existed.
Sam especially had a hard time swallowing them. His thoughts would creep into me when we were both out patrolling as well as his hatred for their kind. He had never met the Cullens which surprised me at the potency of his rage for them.
"It's in our blood Bella," he would say. "We exist to destroy them. They are damned." But weren't we also. I was currently running on four legs. If that wasn't a curse of damnation I didn't know what was. How do you hate so blindly at something you've never encountered?
I certainly wasn't fond of vampires by any means. In fact I was slightly intrigued as I had never met one. The curiosity was there as was the fear. But unlike Sam I didn't hate those when it wasn't warranted. And so far, it hadn't been.
I took off in a sprint on all fours as I patrolled the outer edge. The wind brushed up my fur like a soft caress, the stream beneath my paws was like a cushion between the rock bed that I ran over.
This life was a curse, not quite the blessing that Sam treated it as. The danger, the tempered rage that simmered below the surface, the mood swings, the undeniable pain that ripped through me anytime I transformed into my wolf self felt like a punishment but the freedom of running was exhilarating and almost made up for everything else.
I had dreams all the time about running and never stopping. To be somewhere else, to be someone else.
Sam interrupted my yearning for escape. "I still don't understand how you do that?"
I slowed down my pace as the edge of the border came into view. I gazed longingly at it. I had never been off the Reservation. I had lived my whole life here and probably would live the rest of it on my people's land without ever seeing the world.
I wondered how far I could get before someone came searching for me and how long I could make it on my own.
"You don't understand what?" I thought.
I could hear his labored breathing as he came to a stop beside me. His black fur coat was raised. I had to tilt my snout just to look up at him. He was a beast in size.
"How you are so much faster than me. That shouldn't be possible. I am bigger and older than you. I should be faster." And better. He didn't project that thought to me but I caught it anyway.
He couldn't hide anything in this form. Not from me. I smirked.
I could hear his teeth gritting when he spoke again. "That's another thing, why can't I hear you. You hear my every waking thought whether I want to share it or not." Ugh, that was painfully true. I can't even explain the amount of times I got nauseated at his thoughts of my sister. They were in love which was great. Hearing and seeing visually their time together was not. "But with you, nothing but silence. I only hear what you want me to."
And thank the heavens and whoever for that. I was glad to get something good out of all this. "Don't hate the player, hate the game." I tossed back. "I can't help that I was made a more special snowflake than you." I teased.
I could feel his grin. "The Elders assured me this had never happened before. You are indeed special. Quil thinks you're gifted."
"Great," I grumbled. "That is basically code word for freak. It wasn't enough for me to be the only female werewolf out of centuries of past generations but now I have abilities that no other werewolf possesses. This just keeps getting better and better."
"It can't be all bad, you get to spend your entire day with me. You lucky, lucky girl." His warm shoulder brushed mine as my eyes narrowed at his playful teasing. "Besides, soon it won't be just us. Jared and Paul could fry an egg on their foreheads. Their temperature is rising, I bet before the week is up they will be one of us."
I agreed, the rising temperature and flaring temper was a sure sign of impending transformation.
"And Jacob can't be that far off either," Sam said.
I paused. That was a touchy subject for me. Jacob was my best friend and I wouldn't want him to be damned to this like me.
Just thinking about him going through the pain and confusion I went through when I first turned made my stomach twist like a knife was in it. Those first few weeks were hard because I couldn't see Jacob or my family at first. The Elders thought that would be best since newly turned werewolves had a lot of pent up aggression that made it dangerous for others to be around when in that state. Also the fact that Jacob and my younger brother Seth didn't know about werewolves made it even more difficult to hang with them because newly turned wolves were notorious for turning out of the blue exposing us.
Luckily for me I got it under control way quicker than Sam because I had him there to coach me through it. Whereas he was the only wolf at the time when he turned and he had to figure it out on his own. At times he would have to run around as a wolf for weeks until he could calm down enough to change back.
I guess I could have had it worse. I could've been him.
Suddenly an insane roar sounded in my head as two wolves started growling and nipping at the other. I cringed at the sheer volume of it.
Jared and Paul had turned and were currently trying to kill each other. I could feel rage fueling an argument they were having minutes ago that ignited their transformation and their wolf blood was enticing them further.
Sam growled but neither Paul or Jared seemed capable of anything but rage as they attacked one another. Jared's claws raked down Paul's face causing him to retaliate by biting at his jugular.
I was watching the play by play through their thoughts like a horror movie. Jared almost crashed through the wall of his parents house as the fight made it's way outside. Sam was growling at them to stop as we ran through the forest to get to them but they listened to no avail. They had lost themselves to the madness.
"That's enough!" Sam ordered. Alpha's orders were obeyed whether you were willing or not. Jared and Paul broke apart, their heads down as they whined softly.
Sam sighed. "Bella, go let the Elders know what happened. I will meet you shortly. Wait for me there."
I nodded as he took off into the night toward Jared and Paul becoming one with the shadows.
I went to Quil Ateara's house where the meetings were usually held. He was one of the head Elders and called an emergency meeting. Since he had no kids it made it easier to keep things a secret and be able to talk in confidence without someone walking in and hearing something they shouldn't. He was sitting at the kitchen table huddled over books that looked as old and aged as him. He was practically like a grandfather to me to all of us and every memory I had of him, he was always reading those damn legend books.
I didn't know how he did it. I had never read them and was already tired of hearing about them but I guess as he was an Elder, it was his job to know them.
My dad and Billy were over by the fireplace discussing intently on something. They had been that way for the better part of the hour. I took a seat on the couch and waited for Sam to come in. He winked at me before sitting across from me, letting me know that Jared and Paul were calmed down now. I was relieved because those two seemed intent on killing one another
It hadn't been like that for me. Those two were going to have some rough days ahead. Sam had his hands full. He gestured behind him where my dad was still talking intently with Billy, his brow becoming more furrowed as the seconds ticked past. "That doesn't look good," Sam muttered.
I had to agree.
Quil cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention.
"Thank you all for coming. We have some news to discuss that could not wait," Quil addressed. "Billy, why don't you start."
"As we all know Jared and Paul have turned. It's not a shock since it is what we have all been expecting. The two were arguing all day and it triggered their transformation. Their parents knew it was coming. They had seen the signs for days. We will keep a close eye on them over the coming weeks and keep them out of school. Sam, their training now falls on you. You know what to do." He nodded.
"Is this concerning? That we have went years without anyone turning and now it seems to be triggering the whole reservation like a falling line of domino's." From the shared looks between the Elders and the concern look my dad stared at me with, I would say that was a resounding yes.
"The Cullen's return has set things in motion triggering the wolf gene in our bloodline. We must let nature take its course now. It's out of our hands. Those who are meant to turn, will turn," Quil said.
I swallowed hard. It wasn't fair to not have a choice in this. I didn't like fate deciding what my life would become and now it had a hold of us all in its grasp.
"There is more," Billy spoke, staring at me hard and with interest. I sat up straighter. "Charlie has done some digging and it appears a few of the Cullen children have enlisted at Forks High School."
I looked at my dad but he wouldn't meet my gaze as his jaw hardened further. He hadn't told me that.
"Is that a problem?" I asked. "The treaty is still intact. They know what will happen if they break it." An all out war. And we're just kids. How on earth did one prepare for that?
I just wanted to be a teenager, go to class, get grounded for staying out too late. Not be led into battle.
"It has us on edge, as well as the fact that they have increased in numbers." Sam stood, his hands balling into fists. I could see the tightly wound ball of rage just simmering below the surface.
"How many more?" he asked.
"There is seven now," Sam cursed. "The two of you are outnumbered. And with the new additions we have no idea if they will uphold the treaty made decades ago. We could be wiped out."
That seemed extreme.
"Have there been any killings since they've been back?" I asked.
"No, there have been no murders and no missing person's reports filed," my dad answered finally looking at me again. I nodded. He still had that pinched look in his eyes like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop and I didn't know why.
"That doesn't mean anything," Billy challenged. Quil having been quiet through all of this, pursed his lips.
"It means what it means," I argued. My dad shot me a look of censure to watch my tone. I sighed heavily.
Quil watched on in interest.
"What do you want us to do? Bella and I patrol everyday and once I get Jared and Paul under control they can help us take shifts but the Cullen's stench isn't getting anywhere near here."
"We know," Quil said. "They are steering clear of the reservation, of you. They may or may not know that you all are turning, maybe they think all the wolves have died out. Either way, them enlisting into a high school full of innocent and unprepared minors is concerning. Also the fact that we don't know the restraint of the new additions of their family. If one of them slipped and killed a human, would we know before they covered it up? What proof would we have from here, miles away on the Reservation?"
Sam growled. My brows narrowed. "What are you suggesting?" I wish they would just come out with it already.
My dad seemed to come alive off the wall. His voice was terse and tight with anxiety. He stared down Billy and Quil before they could speak as if in challenge. This is what had him on edge all night.
"We aren't suggesting anything. I have not agreed to this. I won't," he seethed.
"It's the only way. It has to be her," Billy spat. My interest piqued.
"I will not knowingly put my daughter at risk in that high school alone with five vampires to be your eyes and ears. NO, absolutely not."
"What?" I screeched at the same time as Sam said, "You want Bella to go to Forks?"
"Why me?" I asked, yet at the same time why not me. I was finally going to be getting off the reservation. Was I really sitting here arguing about it?
"It's too dangerous," Sam accused. My dad wholeheartedly agreed. "I'll do it, I'll go."
"You can't," Quil disagreed. "Sam, you're almost twenty, you will never pass as a seventeen year old. Jared and Paul just turned, they will be more of a liability than an asset over the next few months so it can't be them. Bella is the right choice. She will blend in, she is level headed and she will rise to the occasion to save us all. You are the one we need in this fight."
I took a deep breath and looked to my father. He stared back in defeat. "I don't like this. I don't like that you being there with them without more protection. I'm still not okay with that. But we need eyes on the inside. People could be in danger. And you are the only one calm enough that can do so without exposing us. What do you say kid?" My dad came over and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, holding me tightly to him. I could tell he was upset and asking me to do this was something he was going to have a hard time coming to terms with.
There was anxiety rushing toward me. Fear, absolutely. I didn't know the Cullens and though they hadn't broken the treaty didn't mean I wanted to share a class room with them day in and day out. Alone, with no back up. I felt a lot of weight on my shoulders. What if their faith in my control was misplaced? What if I exposed us? What if the Cullens were killing people? My witnessing that would cause a war that would send my brethren and myself to war. To an early grave.
And even more concerning was a feeling growing stronger in the pit of my stomach since it learned what the Elders had planned for me. It was expanding in me by the second as it took me over. I could feel my cheeks flush and my eyes widen.
It was freedom, intrigue and curiosity. I was finally going to experience the world and life off the Reservation. It was excitement. For the first time in my life, I was going to meet a vampire.
I bit my smirk to keep it at bay. "I'm in."
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Thanks so much for reading the first chapter. Will be updating weekly. Please feel free to vote or comment . See you in the next one.
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