Page 92

After following her imprint's scent for quite some time, Pearl reached the clearing where they had first met. The location of which the new born battle had taken place, and coincidentally, the place that they had been separated during the chase.

Bree was sitting cross legged in the middle of the clearing, fiddling with the grass and the small flowers that she was surrounded by.

Pearl was extremely cautious in her approach, and was awaiting Bree to yell at her to leave. The hybrid de-activated all aspects of her gift so that Bree could be aware of her presence.

Bree remained silent, not welcoming her mate's presence, but not out right rejecting it either.

Pearl took her lack of response as an invitation, so she sat down next to her.

She was careful not to sit too close to her imprint, as she wanted to respect her boundaries and still give her the space that she had previously asked for.

Hesitantly, Pearl started speaking, "Emmet told me what happened."

Bree didn't acknowledge or react to Pearl's words.

"He said that everyone thought I was dead and started grieving me." She continued.

Bree purposely returned all of her attention onto the strands of grass she was fiddling with, refusing to speak to the hybrid.

"I'm sorry you went through that." Pearl apologised whole heartedly.

Remaining silent, it didn't look like Bree was listening to a word that Pearl said.

Pearl waited for a while, unsure of what else to say. She eventually asked, "Why are you so pissed at me? What did i do to upset you? I need to know so that I can fix it."

Getting angry, Bree blurted out, "You can't fix it! Because you didn't do anything!"

"Then why are you so mad?" Pearl asked in a slightly frustrated tone.

"Because that's the problem!" Bree yelled.

"Huh?" Pearl made a sound of confusion. Not understanding what the issue was.

"You're acting like nothing happened! You're acting like you didn't almost die! Like you were in total control over what happened! Like it doesn't affect you, and that everything is totally fine!" Bree shouted.

'What the heck?' Pearl thought, completely caught off guard by Bree's outburst.

"You died Pearl! I felt you die! Our bond snapped, and it killed me!" Bree screamed, she sounded absolutely distraught.

'I could still feel the bond though? Well, I guess it was when I woke up that I felt it.' Pearl questioned in her head silently.

"I know that you're alive. I know that you're here, and safe. But I can't shake the thought of just how easily I lost you!" The vampire exclaimed, venom in her eyes. Tears that can never escape threatened to fall.

"Bree..." Pearl mumbled.

"And now you're back, but you're acting like nothing happened! You're constantly taking unnecessary risks! You jumped in front of an angry new born with no regard for your own safety!" She cried out.

"I didn't jump in front of Bella. I stopped Seth from getting hurt." The hybrid quietly corrected her.

Bree ignored her comment and continued shouting. "And what about the threatening, huh!? When you growled at Leah to not interfere! Don't think I didn't catch that! I've only just got you back, and you're already running head first into danger again! It's like you don't care what happens to you!"

Pearl looked to the ground, shame crossing her face.

Noticing her movement, Bree quickly realises that she just hit the nail on the head. "You don't, do you!" She screamed furiously.

The hybrid didn't bother trying to argue. What Bree had said was the truth. Comparing her own life to those of her family, to that of her imprint, she meant absolutely nothing in comparison.

"Pearl!" Bree screeched at her mate, wanting a verbal answer from her.

In a very quiet voice, Pearl slowly admitted, "... I would lay down my life for you. And everyone else in our family."

Bree glared at her, silently fuming. But underneath all of her anger, Bree was absolutely terrified. She couldn't go through that again. She can't loose Pearl. She won't!

After a moment, Pearl said, "I've told you this before, Bree. I would die for you. If that's what is needed of me."

Bree replied in a stern voice. "I don't need you to die for me, Pearl. I need you to live for me. A life without you in it, isn't worth living."

Pearl frowned, not sure of what to say.

The vampire sighed, then quietly said, "I need you in my life Pearl. So please, for my sake, stop taking so many unnecessary risks. Please?"

Turning to face Bree, Pearl looked at her apologetically. "Okay..." She replied softly.

"Okay?" Bree repeated unsure.

"Okay, I'll be more careful. I won't take risks if you don't think they are necessary. And I'm sorry I put you through so much pain and worry." The hybrid clarified.

Bree looked deep into Pearl's golden eyes and searched for any hint of dishonesty. Finding nothing but the truth, she let a small smile grace her lips.

"Apology accepted." She said kindly.

"So... are we good now?" Pearl hesitantly asked.

"Yeah, we're good now." Bree responded in affirmation.

Pearl smiled at Bree, then turned her head to look at the sky. The pair sat in silence for a while, finally relishing in the peaceful and comfortable atmosphere that they had created. The gentle breeze and Pearl's slow quiet heartbeat was the only things that were making any noise.

After some time had passed, Pearl broke the prolonging silence. "You were wrong about one thing."

"Oh? Which thing?" Bree inquired curiously.

"The part where you said that what happened didn't affect me." Pearl admitted softly.

Bree turned her body towards Pearl's and gazed at her.

Taking a moment before addressing the silent question, Pearl took in a deep breath to gather her nerves.

Until she was eventually able to share her thoughts out loud.

"When I was laying there beneath that tree, with Sam standing over me, all I could think was that I was gonna die, and I was never going to see you again.

I wasn't going to be able to say goodbye to you, or to the rest of our family.

And that I wouldn't be able to keep my promise.

That realisation, hurt. For the first time in my life, when someone or something called me a failure, I truly believed it. "

Shuffling closer, Bree laid her hand on top of Pearl's. Urging her to continue.

"Laying there, I realised just how close I was to death.

The thought of death doesn't really scare me.

The darkness will come for all of us eventually, so it's just a matter of accepting the inevitable.

What scared me, was the thought of everyone I was gonna leave behind.

I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave any of you.

And... well... I'm not sure if I believe in an afterlife, but if it exists, what would my dad say?

What would he think of me? Could he even bare to look at me?

I mean, I've become part of something that he absolutely hated.

So, would he hate me too? Leaving behind everyone I now care about, and being turned away by the only remaining biological family I can still hold in a somewhat high regard, is a crushing thought. .."

She paused, then ever so quietly added, "And the thought of being alone again, absolutely terrifies me..."

Venom returned to Bree's eyes during Pearl's explanation, and she wasted no time in pulling the hybrid in for a powerful hug.

Pearl wrapped her arms around her imprint, and laid her chin on Bree's head. Enjoying her comforting scent and presence.

Speaking slowly, Pearl continued. "It's not that what happened hasn't affected me. It has. I'd just rather not dwell on it. I can't change what happened, and neither can you. So, I'd just rather forget about it."

Bree mumbled into Pearl's chest. "I can't forget it, Pearl. It hurts too much."

Pearl replied softly. "Well, I'll be here for you. I'm not going anywhere. So if you need me, if you need to yell at me, to complain to me, or to cry to me, I'll be there. Just say the word, and I'll be there."

Bree buried her face deeper into Pearl's chest and hugged the hybrid tighter, before slowly nodding her head.

The two girls sat in each others embrace for another hour, neither of them muttered a single word. The imprinted pair had rekindled their bond, and it had been made stronger as a result.

Charlie Swan had just found out about the existence of shifters because of Jacob.

And he had spoken to his now, supernatural daughter, and had met his granddaughter.

He hadn't received all of the answers he wanted, but he had finally gotten confirmation that his daughter was okay and safe.

And that was all he could have asked for.