Page 85

Story: The Phantom Wolf

Although Pearl was enjoying the show of affection from her family, the tightness and magnitude of the hug was becoming slightly uncomfortable, and making breathing, a little more difficult.

"...guys ...can't breath..." Pearl gasped out.

Everyone let go of her in a flash, worried that they may have hurt her. But seeing her smiling form, their worries were instantly squashed. And a bunch of wide smiles returned to each of their faces.

Carlisle asked gently, "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good actually." Pearl sincerely responded, telling the truth.

"That's excellent dear." Esme exclaimed happily.

"Let me check you over first, just to be safe." Carlisle spoke hastily as Pearl moved to get up.

Pearl rolled her eyes somewhat dismissively, since she really did feel fine. But she obliged to Carlisle's request due to his obvious concern for her.

Apart from Bree and Carlisle, the coven left the room to return downstairs and await Bella's return from her first hunt. Emmet gave Pearl another quick hug before letting Rosalie drag him away.

Carlisle thoroughly looked Pearl over and also checked all of her pre-existing injuries as well.

The significant scarring on her left shoulder and right leg had faded quite a bit.

They were still visible, but less prominent.

However, Pearl did have new scarring going along her back and across her stomach.

When Carlisle examined the aforementioned areas, Pearl didn't even flinch.

The injuries were now fully healed over, no longer causing the hybrid any pain or discomfort.

Bree watched her mate with worried eyes the entire time. Truly hoping that she was okay, but the young vampire needed confirmation from Carlisle before she let herself believe anything.

After 10 minutes, Carlisle gave Pearl the all clear. Although her heart beat was much more quiet than it was originally, it remained at a steady beat and seemed healthy enough.

Bree sighed in relief when she heard the good news, which caused Pearl to smirk at her. Bree just rolled her eyes and looked away from the hybrid. Getting slightly annoyed at Pearl's lack of care for the seriousness of the situation.

Carlisle chuckled at their short interaction, then drew their attention with a simple suggestion. "Why don't we head downstairs and join the others?"

Bree nodded silently, while Pearl smiled and said "Sure."

Sitting in the living room, Pearl was informed by the family that Bella was a vampire now and had just gone hunting with Edward.

After hearing the news Pearl frowned slightly, but quickly covered it up with a smile.

She started wondering what had happened to Bella's baby, as nobody had mentioned it to her.

Picking up on her emotions, Jasper asked. "You okay?" While giving her a knowing look.

Understanding that she couldn't lie or brush it off. Pearl carefully asked the dreaded question. "What happened to Bella and Edward's baby?"

Esme immediately smiled at her, easing the hybrid's nerves. "They're okay. You, Bree and Bella, are the only ones that haven't met her yet." The matriarch explained.

'Her? So it's a girl.' Pearl inwardly smiled and nodded at the matriarch.

Although she wondered why Bree hadn't yet met the child, since her imprint had thought so hard for their existence.

Although Pearl didn't question why she had to wait.

The kid's literal mother, hadn't met her yet.

Pearl would meet the baby when Bella and Edward allowed it.

As if on cue, movement became apparent by the front door. The newly weds were back from their first hunting trip together.

Jacob came into the living room while holding Renesmee, and reluctantly, but carefully, handed the child to Rosalie's awaiting arms, and left to answer the door. Saying that he should test how well Bella would do with his presence before she sees her child. Since the kid is half human and all.

Carlisle and Jasper nodded to the shifter, showing him their support. As they to, wanted to make sure that Bella was in full control, before coming into contact with the half human.

Meanwhile, Bree and Pearl had fixated their gaze onto the child that was resting in Rosalie's arms.

To Pearl, the baby looked rather odd, not appearing like a new born baby, but certainly didn't look like a blood thirsty vampire.

She could see the vampiric qualities such as the natural alluring beauty, and the slight paleness of her skin.

But the baby's scent was strange to say the least. Not smelling like a human, but not smelling like a vampire either.

It was, unusual. The sound of the child's heartbeat was rather prominent and fast paced, it was easy to pick it up in a room full of vampires who lacked a heartbeat.

And since Pearl's own heart beat was a lot quieter now, the baby's heart seemed to drown out that of the older hybrid's one.

Overall, the young girl seemed to be a perfect mix of human and vampire.

What that would bring, was yet to be determined.

To Bree, she felt a large surge of pride and care flow through her as she gazed upon the baby.

She had helped protect this child, and the baby seemed perfect.

All of the fears surrounding what this baby could end up being, now seemed utterly ridiculous to Bree, now that the baby was in front of her, completely healthy and innocent.

She couldn't imagine the child being anything but a blessing to the vampire family.

Bree had already heard the name of the child, but due to Pearl being unconscious and/or missing, the last few days, the vampire shifter hybrid was left completely in the dark regarding the infants identity.

After a couple of minutes, Jacob, Edward and Bella walked into the living room. Pearl snapped her attention away from the child, and focused on the new born vampire Bella, instead. The family greeted Bella kindly. As Bella did the same to the others, but when Bella spotted Pearl, she froze.

"... Pearl?" She uttered hesitantly in disbelief.

Pearl stood up from the couch and faced Bella, letting a small smile slip onto her face, Pearl said. "Hey Bells. Gotta say, you look good as a vampire." She finished her sentence with a teasing smirk on her lips.

A wide grin spread onto the former humans face, and she rushed forwards in a millisecond and engulfed the hybrid in a strong hug.

Everyone froze at the new borns actions, still wary about her new found strength. But Pearl was unfazed and simply patted Bella's back, quietly suggesting, "Perhaps loosen your grip a little."

"Ah... right." Bella mumbled out embarrassed, and stepped away from the hybrid, letting her go.

Taking her gaze away from the child, Bree noticed Bella's close proximity to her mate, and immediately pulled Pearl away from her while snarling protectively.

Bella was taken aback by Bree's behaviour and backed off a little more. Edward went to his wife's side and explained the situation after reading Bree's mind. "Bella. Pearl has just woken up from her near death experience, so Bree is feeling quite protective of her at the moment."

"Oh... wait... Near death experience!" Bella shrieked.

"My heart stopped." Pearl said casually.

"What?!" The new born shouted out in shock.

"It's no big deal. It started again on its own." The hybrid brushed the topic aside and turned to look at the baby once again. Drawing Bella's attention to her own child.

Bella looked at the child in complete awe, and Rosalie carefully passed the baby over to her. When little Renesmee pressed her hand onto Bella's cheek, Bella gasped in surprise. Her reaction caused both Bree and Pearl to simultaneously raise an eyebrow at the interaction.

"What was that?" Bella questioned in an astonished voice.

"She showed you the first memory she has of you." Edward proudly stated, while looking at his child fondly.

"Showed me? How?" Bella asked.

"How do I hear thoughts? How does Alice see the future? How does Pearl turn into a literal ghost? She's gifted." Edward explained.

Bella smiled at her baby, clear love evident in her eyes, then she noticed her teeth and grew slightly worried. "How long was I out?" She asked in a concerned manner.

"Three days." Carlisle responded.

"But she's so..." Bella trailed off.

"Her growth rate is unprecedented." Carlisle spoke.

Bella looked over at Pearl and made eye contact with the hybrid. The clear fear now showing in her eyes.

Pearl wasn't a mind reader by any means, but it didn't take a genius to know what the new born vampire was thinking. The baby's growth was one of the concerns that Pearl had brought up to the former human when she was pregnant.

Pearl looked at Renesmee, then back to Bella, and gave the two a soft smile.

Bella returned the smile and focused her attention back onto Renesmee. Until Jacob interrupted and pulled the attention onto him.

"Okay, that's enough experimenting for now." Jacob commented.

"Jacob, she's doing fine." Edward replied.

"Yeah, but let's not push it." The shifter argued.

"Since when did you care about Renesmee?" Bella questioned while moving away from the approaching shifter.

'Renesmee, huh? That's a unique name.' Pearl commented in her head, mentally taking note of the name. Then started paying attention to the interaction again.

"Erm..." Jacob froze, unsure of how best to explain it.

Seeing Jake's uncomfortable form, Pearl noticed the far off look in his eyes and instantly figured out why he was acting weird.

'Oh he did not...' Pearl thought, while letting out a deafening growl directed towards the shifter.