seventeen.
::the girl who cried wolf::

"the truth is spelt out in your eyes,
why don't you just reach out and
make it clear to me, what are you telling me?"
—5sos

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Bella walked into Althea's room seeing the girl laying on her bed reading. A few days had passed and the girls had fallen into a larger funk. Each one of them stayed locked away in their rooms the rest of the weekend before falling into the same routine again. Waking up in the morning and getting ready in silence before going to school and coming back home to lock themselves away. Althea had received a few texts and a couple calls from Paul, but every single one continued to be ignored by the girl. Ironic. The following week she had been wishing for him to reach out. And now that he was she wanted nothing to do with him. She wanted nothing to do with any single one of those guys who matched like they were in some kind of boyband.

"Hey, I'm going on a hike. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come with me?" Bella wondered. Althea looked to her sister, debating it for a couple of seconds before nodding her head. A hike. It couldn't hurt, could it?

"Sure, let me just put some sneakers on and throw on a hoodie."

Bella and Althea trekked through the woods up the side of the mountain. Althea had no idea where Bella was taking them, but she just liked being surrounded by nature. It was like she could finally breathe for a moment. Each girl had their own backpacks filled with a few snacks and water along with a blanket. Rather be prepared than unprepared this time out in the woods. There was a moment Bella had almost tripped over a fallen branch which had Althea giggling at her sister. A slight scowl on the older girl's face before she herself started to laugh.

"I know. I'm such a clutz," Bella said.

"You're Bambi. It's just who you are," Althea shrugged it off.

"We're almost there. I think you'll really like it. It's this field with flowers everywhere," Bella explained to Althea. Flowers? In March? The girl gave her a confused look. Sure some of the trees were gaining some green to them as the winter was finally slipping away. But it still wasn't spring yet, so she found it hard to believe that flowers would be in bloom yet.

A noise sounded in the distance which had both of the sisters looking around their surroundings.

"Is anybody there?" Bella called out. She couldn't be serious right now. Althea gave her a look in response.

"It's probably just a rabbit." Althea assured her, trying to stay a little calm.

Who calls out in the middle of woods to see who's there?

"Hello?"

Clearly Bella.

"Bella, it's a rabbit. It's not going to answer you back. Let's just keep going," Althea instructed her, ushering the girl to keep leading the way. Althea glanced back over her shoulder before following her sister. She only hoped it was just a rabbit.

"Hey, it's right up here," Bella said, walking a bit faster to the clearing to only come to a stop. Her face falling, taking in the dead brown field.

"Bells," Althea gave her a sad look.

"It was all right here."

"I'm sure it was. But it's still March. Spring is in a few weeks and I'm sure it'll all be back," Althea told Bella. Her hand on her shoulder while the girl had kneeled on the ground touching the dead grass.

"It was all I had left," Bella sadly let out. Althea furrowed her brows, suddenly feeling another presence with them. Her eyes moved from her sister to across the field to land on a man in the distance. Althea slightly froze, even from the distance she could see the piercing red eyes. Vampire. Bella had felt her sister's touch stiffen, looking up to a familiar man she knew.

"Bella," The man let out, a small smirk on his lips.

"Laurent," Bella said in surprise.

"You know who he is?" Althea questioned her sister. The man moved closer towards the two Swan girls.

"I didn't expect to find you here," Laurent began before looking over at Althea. "This must be your sister." Laurent glanced over the younger girl with a look of curiosity. He couldn't smell her blood like he could smell Bella's. It was a peculiar thing.

The way he looked at Althea made her want to vomit. She was slightly scared because she could already tell he was different from the Cullen's. Her mind screamed danger when she looked at the vampire.

"I went to visit the Cullens, but their house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of their pet?" Laurent questioned, beginning to circle the two girls.

"Yeah, you could say that," Bella commented.

"Do the Cullens visit often?" Laurent wondered. Althea didn't hesitate to lie, feeling like they were in a lot of danger as the warning sounds went through her head.

"Yeah, they come by often. Just needed a little time away. They didn't want to keep Bella from me since we still have to finish our senior year," Althea told him. The vampire couldn't even detect the lie the girl spewed out, unable to even hear her heart skip a beat.

"I'll tell them that you stopped by. But I probably shouldn't tell Edward, 'cause he's pretty protective when it comes to us," Bella stumbled over her own lies. Althea began to panic at how horrible the girl was playing it off.

"But, he's far away, isn't he?" Laurent asked, he too caught Bella's lie.

"Why are you here?" Bella couldn't help but wonder. The last thing she knew was that he was in Alaska.

"I came as a favor to Victoria," Laurent responded.

"Who the hell is Victoria?" Althea questioned, clearly in the dark still. When the Cullens left, she hadn't been told basically anything when it came to what the hell had happened last year. And clearly, this Victoria chick had something to do with it.

"Victoria?" Bella let out in shock. Realization came over her that Laurent was still conversing with the redheaded vampire.

"She asked me to see if you were still under the protection of the Cullens. Victoria feels it's only fair to kill Edward's mate, given he killed hers," Laurent informed Bella.

"Boohoo. I'm sure she can find another guy to fawn over," Althea couldn't hold her words back.

"Tsss, once she heard of your dear sister. She was quite excited at the idea that there were other ways to get to not just you, the girl who was the reason for James death. But the Cullens. Think of it as two birds, one stone. You're a thorne in the side of Victoria. So her getting rid of you and taking your sister out will leave Edward gutted with the loss of not one, but both of you. Along with the rest of the Cullens. It seems only fair to make them feel like how she felt," Laurent said, still circling them like prey.

"Edward would know who did it. And he'd come after you," Bella shouted.

"I don't think he will," Laurent shook his head. "After all, how much could you mean to him if he left you here all alone, unprotected."

"She's not alone. And she's not unprotected. Just because they might not be here right now doesn't mean they won't know. And I thought vampires were supposed to be smart with how old they were," Althea sneered, Laurent clicked his tongue in annoyance with the girl.

"Victoria will be upset with me killing you. But I can't help myself, you are so mouth-watering," Laurent told Bella.

"Please don't. I mean, you helped us," Bella tried to talk him out of it. The man was quick to come face to face with the two girls, shushing Bella.

"Don't be afraid, I'm doing you a kindness. Victoria plans on killing you slowly, painfully, but not before you watch your sister die. Whereas I will make it quick," Laurent whispered. His red eyes flashing over to Althea. His finger began to move down her cheek. "I do wonder what you will taste like. You're quite a mystery, one that I can't wait to solve." Althea looked at the vampire with so much hatred, her fright buried underneath it while she stared at his sickening red eyes. Her shoulders were shaking in anger while her breaths got heavier. Then the sound of a stick snapping caused the vampire to look off into the distance.

"I don't believe it," Laurent let out. Bella, who closed her eyes in fear, snapped her head in the direction of the sound. Althea quickly grabbing onto her sister and pulling her further away from the vampire. Her own eyes landed on the large black wolf that emerged from the treeline. Growling at the vampire and showing its teeth. While the wolf sized the vampire up, more wolves came into view. Althea didn't feel scared though, she felt relief. Their attention was only on the blood-sucking creature.

Laurent was quick to take off running with the wolves following closely in pursuit. A russet brown wolf along with a dark silver wolf came up on both sides of the sisters. Althea's eyes locked onto the silver one. A feeling of familiarity fell over her as she looked into the eyes. Ones she swore she knew. The wolf's eyes softened slightly at the girl before its attention was directed back on the vampire running away. Both of the wolves left the two girls' sides before charging off. They watched as Laurent smacked the black wolf across the field. Althea stepped forward near the black wolf, almost like she needed to protect it. But it was quick back to its feet and went back to dealing with the vampire.

"Althea, let's go!" Bella yelled at her sister, tugging her away. The two girls ran through the woods. The only thing on their mind was getting far away and back home.

"Dad, we saw them!" Bella rushed into the kitchen where her father and Harry Clearwater were. Althea stood back in the doorway. Her brain felt so clouded, everything that happened seemed hard to keep up with.

"Saw what?" Charlie asked, concerned at his eldest daughter's panic.

"In the woods. They aren't bears," Bella told him.

"What do you mean "in the woods"? Bella, what the hell were you doing out in the woods?" Charlie let out in defeat.

Hiking? Going to be a vampire snack?

Charlie's mind instantly went back to the last time Bella and Althea were in the woods months ago. The worry he felt when they couldn't find them.

"They're wolves. I mean, they're like huge wolves. Tell him, Al," Bella ushered to her sister. The girl stared at Bella before her eyes looked between Harry and Charlie. Lie. She shrugged slightly.

"I mean, maybe? I don't know, I'm still in shock. I don't know what I remember," Althea admitted to the older men. Somehow she felt like she shouldn't be saying anything about it. The wolves attacked the vampire that was going to kill them. They saved them. And besides if she said Bella was right, then it would be harder trying to leave out the topic of vampires in the mix of it all.

"Wolves?" Charlie questioned, not sure if he should be believing it. But clearly Bella wasn't faltering in answer so the man nodded in response.

"Alright, well. Harry, feel like going hunting? Get some of your guys together?" Charlie proposed.

"Sure, yeah, I'll just..." Harry hesitantly let out, heading to exit the kitchen. Him and Althea exchange a somewhat knowing look before the man makes his way out of the house.

"I should go to the station," Charlie announced.

"Yeah. Yeah you should," Bella agreed. Althea looked confused at her sister's sudden urgency to get their father out of the house too.

"Can you both just stay in the house?" Charlie asked his daughters who nodded in response.

🐺🐺🐺

Once Charlie had left, Bella had finally answered some of Althea's questions, specifically in regards to Laurent and Victoria. Especially after Bella came to the conclusion that the wolves probably were dead now and Laurent was running back to Victoria to tell her of Bella no longer being protected by the Cullens along with her spitfire of a sister. But Bella definitely had less confidence in the wolves compared to Althea. It was one vampire against five large ass wolves. That vampire was now a distant memory. And she was correct.

Althea had gone up into her room to try and unwind and process all the shit she had learned that day. While Bella went into her room, making sure the windows were also locked before she tried to take a nap.

The younger girl had been writing down a whole bunch of things in her notebook, trying her best to piece things together. Vampires along with wolves. Her hunch had been right all along from the moment she saw Edward save her sister. When Jacob thought she was childish for believing in the legends that they heard growing up. Vampires were real. And the shifters were too. The shifters were big wolves. It sent her down another rabbit hole connecting it to each and everyone of those boys. Jacob thought she was a comedian for thinking he might shift into a big wolf. But now that was a major possibility. After all, those wolves seemed so.... Familiar?

She heard something hitting her window. Making the girl quickly get up from her bed, stuffing her notebook into her desk. Walking over to the window, she peered out to see Jacob standing below. Shaking her head, the girl pulled her curtains together. Trying her best to ignore the boy who just days ago was saying they couldn't be friends anymore. And now she was close to figuring out this groundbreaking truth. She didn't need him distracting her from trying to understand it all. Even with the curtains closed on him, the boy continued to hit the window with pebbles.

Althea let out a groan before storming over to the window and unlocking it. Pushing it up to yell out to him.

"Go away!"

"No."

"What the hell are you even doing here? Do you know what time it is?" Althea whisper-shouted.

"Move over. I'm coming up," He instructed.

"What?" She let out but moved back. In a matter of seconds the boy seemed to scale the house, swinging into her room. Not normal. Althea looked over the boy who was still in cutoff shorts with no shirt.

"Do you not own a shirt all of the sudden? And what happened to never wanting to see me again?" Althea questioned, arms crossed over her chest.

Jacob sighed, "Look, I'm sorry, Thea."

He tried to move closer to her but her arms uncrossed and one of her hands laid on his chest to keep him at a distance. She couldn't ignore the warmth she felt radiating off of him though. It was just like how Paul felt like he was burning up. Jacob took a look around the room to see it was messy, all of their pictures on the floor. Althea scratched the back of her head once she realized he was taking it all in.

"Did you come here to explain, or just say sorry without meaning it?" Althea brought up.

"I wish I could explain. But I can't."

What?

Jacob walked past the girl to try and find the words. She was smart. If she read between the lines, maybe she'd understand. After all, she had brought it up a while ago before he even knew the truth. And he was still a little confused as to how she hung out with Sam and the pack without ever being told what they really were. There were still things he was in the dark about.

Something that Sam explained more to him before he was set off to be patrolling that night, which he obviously wasn't technically doing at that moment, was about imprinting. That it was a rare thing to say. And sometimes it isn't instantaneous. So Jacob wasn't as scared to look into Althea's eyes that night. Maybe, they still needed some time, was his thought.

Wrong.

But he would learn eventually.

"Have you ever had a secret you couldn't tell anyone? One that wasn't yours to share?" Jacob questioned Althea, the girl nodded. The truth about the Cullens was never hers to share therefore she never told anyone including him. "That's what it's like for me. But worse. You have no idea how tight I'm bound. I tell you everything, Thea. And I can't tell you this, it's painful. That's why I couldn't be near you because I knew I would tell you everything."

"I hate all of this, Jacob. I just wish I could understand. I get it's not your secret to tell, it just sucks. I lost you. I lost..." Althea trailed off.

Paul.

Jacob picked up one of their crinkled pictures. Slightly growing angry at how everything unfolded. He made Althea destroy it all. All the memories were too painful for her. And it was his fault.

"Deep down, you already know," Jacob began, Althea glanced up at him. A small lightbulb really went off in her head. He was referring to the legends.

"The legends," Althea breathed out.

"I wish I could just run away from this all but I'm in it for life. But if I could, I'd leave with you. Never look back. I can't though. Could you tell Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to turn out this way," Jacob looked to Althea with pleading eyes.

"Why can't you tell her? She's in the next room. She would want to see you, Jake," Althea tried to get the boy to go to Bella but he shook his head.

"I have to go. They're going to start wondering where I am," Jacob informed Althea. Jacob pulled the girl into a hug, trying to just soak it all in while he still could. Though in his arms she couldn't help but feel out of place. Uncomfortable.

"Please, if anyone could figure it out. You can. I know that you already got all the pieces. Use that smart and annoying brain to put it all together," Jacob encouraged. He pulled away from her and headed towards the window. She watched while he gracefully jumped and landed on his feet before running off into the woods, disappearing out of sight.

"Was that Jake? What does he mean by the legends? Like the story he told me about the cold ones?" Bella spoke up from Althea's doorway making the girl jump slightly. Althea looked back towards the window before closing it and locking it. Catching her own reflection in the glass before taking a breath. He had to have known Bella was outside the door the entire time. Jacob had somehow found multiple loopholes for himself without actually going against Sam's orders.