Page 31

The group of eight talk for a while and get acquainted with one another.

Bree was talking excitedly with Tanya and Carmen, as the three of them found out that they actually have similar interests.

And the two woman couldn't help but be drawn to Bree and her somewhat childish tendencies.

It was a breath of fresh air for the two.

Kate and Eleazar spent their time asking Pearl quite a few different questions about herself.

Kate being interested in her gift and Eleazar being interested in her strange anatomy.

Carlisle and Esme happily conversed with each other, joining in with the others when they got the chance to.

It was all going well, until Pearls ears picked up the distant sound of arguing over the crowd. 'Huh? I wonder what happened?' She thought. Listening closer, she was able to distinguish one of the voices. 'Is that, Bella?'

Pearl excused herself from the group and headed off in the direction of the argument. Eventually getting a fair distance away from the party, she spotted one Jacob Black yelling at Bella and Edward.

'What the? What the hell is going on?' Pearl thought, surprised.

She watched the three from a distance, wondering if she should get involved or not.

'They don't seem to know I'm here, and, if this is supposed to be private then, I should probably leave.

Plus, I don't want the other shifters knowing about me. Not yet at least.'

Before Pearl could make a decision, the argument came to a head with Jacob grabbing Bella and Bella yelling at him to let go. Edward got in between the two and pushed Jacob away, effectively separating them. Jacob then proceeded to lunge at Edward, and by then, Pearl's feet were already moving.

Pearl quickly places herself between the shifter and the vampire, successfully intercepting Jacobs tackle, throwing him a few metres away in the process.

Bella was quite surprised by her appearance but Edward appeared unfazed.

Even though Pearl's thoughts were hidden from him, she had not masked the noises she was making.

Edward heard her approach and could detect her strange heartbeat, so he already knew that Pearl was nearby.

Although, he was not expecting her to jump in and protect him from Jacob.

He was certainly grateful for it, but to say he wasn't surprised by her action would be a total lie.

"Pearl?!" Bella shouted in shock.

Jacob's train of thought was completely thrown off when he was knocked away from the vampire he hated so much.

He hadn't even seen another person approach.

Jacob quickly got up from the ground and looked at the woman who had stopped him.

Already angry at the situation, it took him a moment to fully recognise the girl that stood in front of him.

But once he did. All of his attention that was previously on Bella, went onto the girl.

"Pearl?" Jacob asked in disbelief.

Pearl sighed, then replied, "Hey, Jacob." Keeping her gaze cold and her face stoic, as she spoke. She was determined to not let her emotions show and get the best of her.

Jacob stared at her in shock, stunned into silence. At first, he was unable to find the words. But once he did, he erupted in anger.

"Where the fuck have you been?!" Jacob screamed. Shouting so many questions at Pearl that she couldn't keep up with them all, let alone get a word in.

'I guess we're gonna do this now, huh?' Pearl thought.

She let down her mental shield that was hiding her thoughts, allowing Edward to read her mind.

'Go take Bella back to the party and enjoy your reception.

I'll deal with this Edward.' Edward nodded his head towards Pearl and mouthed a thank you to her, before he gently started pulling Bella away, leading her back towards the party.

Jacob was too focused on Pearl to notice Bella and Edward had left. He continued to shout and berate her, demanding answers from the girl.

"Why the hell did you stop me from attacking that leech?!" Jacob yelled angrily. "Well?!" Finally pausing in his screams, allowing Pearl to answer.

"I left a while ago because I was asked to Jacob. And I figured that it would be best for everyone if I disappeared and stopped bothering people. I don't exactly, belong, on the reservation. At least, that's how everyone made me feel. And I certainly don't belong now." Pearl answered coldly.

"What the hell are you talking about?! You-" Jacob questioned with a raised voice. Pearl interrupted him, not having finished saying what she needed to.

"The only reason, I'm here in Forks, at the moment. Is because my imprint is here. And, she just so happens, to be apart of the Cullen Clan." Pearl finished in a condescending tone. No longer able to keep up a calm demeanour.

Jacob looked at her in shock, finally having stopped shouting.

He takes a good look at her. The current light they were in, made it difficult to notice much, but it became very clear to him that Pearl Clearwater had grown taller and was more muscular than before.

It was clear that she had changed. He put two and two together and realised that Pearl was the strange silver wolf from the clearing.

The one that the Cullens claimed, had ran off in another direction after the pack had left.

Jacob was beyond angry at this point. He was furious.

Jacob took a couple of steps forward and swung his closed fist at Pearl's face.

Pearl immediately jumped out of the way, then retaliated by hitting him hard in the stomach.

Jacob kneeled down slightly from the hit, recovering quickly, he lunged at Pearl.

Not being able to move out of the way in time, she was tackled to the ground.

They rolled around on the forest floor for a bit, trying to get the upper hand.

Tempers were flaring and it wasn't long before both shifters, burst into balls of fur.

Tearing the clothes from their bodies, the silver and brown wolves jumped away from each other. Snarling menacingly at their opponent.