Page 71

Less than two hours had gone by since they escaped the residence and started their hunt. Bree and Pearl were able to quench their thirst using their preys blood. Bree's eyes were now bright gold in colour, show-casing her fill and the strength that she now carried.

Dragging 2 dead deers towards Pearl's wolf, Bree dropped them at her feet, next to a dead bear's body that Pearl had caught.

The deers each had their necks snapped, so they hadn't lost any blood.

The bear had lost a little blood, since Pearl had given it a clean bite to the neck, which had killed it instantly, but had left an open wound behind.

Bree turns to Pearl with a worried look on her face. "Is this enough?" She asks.

Pearl thought it best to answer her imprint directly, so she shifted back into a vampire. Both girls ignored the clothing situation as best they could, since it was not the time to comment or worry about it.

"This is what we can carry safely." Pearl answers.

Bree nods her head and picked up the dead deer, expecting Pearl to shift back so that she could get back on her mate's back. But she becomes confused at Pearl's lack of movement.

Thinking that Pearl had heard something, she asks fearfully, "What is it?"

Pearl looked to her imprint with a serious expression on her face, and says. "Listen to me. When we run back. If at any point, I lay my ears flat against my head, I am telling you to run on ahead without me."

"What?!" Bree shouts in surprise and drops the deer. "No way!" She argues, using her hands to emphasise her wishes.

"Bree-" Pearl starts, but Bree cuts her off.

"Why on earth would I agree to that?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?

!" She shouts. "I mean that's crazy talk!

Going off on your own! We have no idea what would happen!

You could get hurt! Or worse, they could kill you!

What the hell do you mean by me running on ahead?

! I'm not going anywhere without you!" Bree rambles out in a panic.

"Bree!" Pearl yells at her to stop her tangent.

Bree fell silent from the shock of hearing Pearl raise her voice at her.

Sighing softly, Pearl continues. "Our family, needs blood.

We have to deliver this food to them. Bella's life, depends on it.

I am going to do my absolute best to get us back home.

But the fact is, that I cannot use my gift to cover so many things at once.

On our journey back, we will be visible.

They will see us. And they will see the animals. "

Bree stares at Pearl with wide eyes. Realising their current predicament, Bree is overcome by fear. And whispers, "What do we do?"

"If we cannot get through them together, I will clear a path for you." Pearl says in a serious voice, a powerful level of determination laced her words.

"What about you?" Bree asks fearfully.

"I will follow when I can." Pearl answers.

"But, you'd be alone against them!" Bree protests.

"I know." Pearl acknowledges in a calm manner.

"It's too risky! It would be a 5 vs 1! I know your strong, but even you will get overwhelmed by them! So why on earth would you risk it?!" Bree exclaims with worry.

"My job is to protect my family. A shifter is supposed to protect who they love, and that is exactly what I plan to do."

"We're already doing that, you don't need to go solo." Bree spoke softly, trying to reassure her mate.

"I'm not saying that it's going to happen. I'm just saying, that us separating is a possibility."

"No it isn't." Bree denies her statement. "Because I'm not leaving you. No matter if they can see us or not, we're are staying together."

"Bree. If we stay together, and are unable to get back.

What's going to happen to Bella? She's a human who is trapped in a house, full, of blood thirsty vampires.

Our family can only go so long without blood.

We both know, that if they don't feed soon, eventually someone is going to loose it.

And when that happens, is anyone going to be strong enough to actually stop them?

" Pearl asks, voicing her main concern to her imprint.

"They'll manage... we can just... hold on a little longer..." Bree speaks with uncertainty lacing her voice.

"Bree... when we left, you were no longer able to stand being around Bella's blood. You had to take a step back from her care for her safety." Pearl reminds her.

Bree looks to the ground, shame visible on her face.

"Hey... it's not your fault. You did your best. What I'm saying is, that they are all doing the best that they can as well, but eventually, it's going to get to the point, that no matter where they go, they won't be able to take a 'break'.

They'll be trapped in the house with Bella's blood, and we both know how badly that could end. "

"...I know that getting food back is a priority... but if we have to spilt up... then it's too risky. I won't be able to help you if you get in trouble." Bree says sadly.

"It is risky. But the danger lurks in not being able to fight back. If I can't outrun them, I'll have to fight them. There's no two ways about it..." Pearl says with a bit of frustration lacing her voice.

Bree makes eye contact with her mate and witnesses the fear and sadness in her golden eyes. Reaching for pearl's hand, she grabs it carefully and gives it a squeeze.

Pearl sighs and continues, "I would feel much better fighting them, if I knew that you were safe, and on your way back home. I won't be able to fight properly if your on my back."

"Then, if we have to fight, I'll help. They can't hurt me, so I'll be able to help." Bree says determinedly.

"Like I said before, I don't trust them.

If you were there, caught in the middle, all of my focus will be on protecting you.

Protecting myself, will come second." Pearl squeezes Bree's hand, then she looked into her imprint's eyes and states, "Getting food back to the house and our coven, is our priority.

If we need to separate in order to accomplish that goal, then that is what we must do.

You, will have the ability to run on ahead with the food, while I confront the pack.

Our family needs us Bree. We're the only ones who can do this. " She announces.

Bree stares at Pearl, fear and sadness visible of her face.

Venom pooling in her eyes, as she thought about what could happen to her mate if she fought with the pack.

Bree's mind drifted back to the night of Bella and Edward's wedding, and how hurt Pearl was when she returned.

Pearl fought three wolves, one after an other, and came back home with severe injuries.

What would happen to her if she fought five wolves, all at once? !

"Promise me that you will listen. If I signal you to go with my ears. Promise me that you will go. Promise me Bree." Pearl says firmly, but in a pleading voice as well. Breaking Bree from her thoughts.

"I won't promise that." Bree says, sadness and fear lacing her tone.

Pearl goes to speak but gets cut off by her imprint.

"Unless you promise me that you will come home too."

Pearl steps closer to Bree and places her hand on her imprint's cheek, staring into her eyes, Pearl says wholeheartedly, "I promise."

Bree nods, leaning into her touch, then wipes her eyes. Before saying somewhat reluctantly, "Then I promise to run on ahead if you give me the signal."

Seeing Bree's sadness and worry, Pearl says softly. "I am not willing to loose you Bree. You mean the world to me. So trust me, as I have trusted you. We will both, make it home." Leaning down, Pearl places a gentle kiss on Bree's forehead, then steps away to shift.

Bree nods at Pearl, her eyes now brimming with hope.

Pearl shifts into her silver wolf and picks up the dead bear by its neck.

Bree grabbed the two deer and climbed onto Pearl's back when the hybrid lowered herself down to the ground for her imprint.

The two stared off into the dark forest, facing the direction of their coven.

Determination crossed both of their faces, as they each took a deep breath in to calm their racing thoughts.

With one final exhale, Pearl's wolf took off into a rapid sprint. Entering the wooded area. Her deep blue eyes filled with resolve. As she mentally prepared herself, for another confrontation with the pack.