CHAPTER 16
Bella kept staring toward the place where Logan had disappeared.
He vanished into the darkness of Forks.
Taking with him the tense atmosphere that had formed around them…
Why? Why did she act like that with him?
Why did her body freeze the moment she saw him?
His expression… his face. She was sure she hurt him. She shouldn't have reacted like that. Not with him…
Bella looked down at the floor, the shadows around her swallowing her worry, consuming everything in their path.
She looked at Edward; his expression softened, the tension in his shoulders faded, and the pressure in the air no longer crushed her chest.
A weight she hadn't noticed lifted off her body.
—Jimmy… —she whispered—
Edward only looked at her, his face tightening for a second.
Today Logan Black had something strange… It was the first time in decades he felt so close to losing control.
Logan unsettled him, altered his senses, made him dangerous.
---
Memories flashed in Bella's mind—
the conversation with Jacob at the beach.
The story he told her about the Quileute and the Cullens.
More and more answers formed in her mind on their own.
But they were too stupid to fully believe.
Wolves and vampires?
Bella exhaled; her body went rigid, a shiver crawling down her spine.
Logan is normal…
She's known him since they were kids.
And at school he was always kind, funny, someone who made her feel safe…
But today—
Today she felt something dangerous in him.
The way he walked, the way he moved, his presence, his appearance—everything was different, and it left her completely confused.
And her body—
Her body simply forgot how to breathe…
---
Seconds later, the tension was cut when they saw Dr. Cullen step outside.
Edward was the first to speak.
—Carlisle, what happened here?—
Carlisle looked at both of them, offering a small smile as a greeting.
Then he spoke in a sorrowful tone…
—Waylon Forge… is dead. —He looked at Bella with a sad expression—
Edward stared into nothing for a moment, as if thinking, or listening to something.
—He was found lifeless in the woods —Carlisle continued—. I only came to examine the body…
Silence.
—He died? —Bella felt her stomach twist— How did he die?
She pressed her lips together; sadness crept across her pale face.
—It was an animal attack,— Carlisle added.
Bella tensed; something about that sounded like a lie. She glanced at Edward—his expression was strange…
—Was it the same one that attacked the security guard in Mason? —Bella asked, slightly shaken—
She sensed a subtle pressure in the air for a moment, and her body shivered.
—It's possible… —Carlisle offered no details—
She noticed the quick, subtle look Edward and Carlisle exchanged.
She felt a chill run through her…
They were hiding something.
And whatever it was, made her body feel horrible.
—Then… is that thing getting closer? —Bella asked, her voice tight—
Edward just looked at her.
—Waylon Forge always lived near town —Carlisle added.
Bella froze.
—So it is close… —she whispered.
A pressure suffocated the moment.
—Bella… you should go inside. Waylon was a friend of your father —Carlisle said, glancing at Edward.
—Okay… thank you —she replied, unsure— I guess I'll see you later…
Bella looked at Edward one last time before walking inside; before entering, she glanced back.
Carlisle and Edward were having a tense conversation…
She could feel the cold aura surrounding them…
an icy breath hitting her skin and making it tingle.
---
> Police Station (Inside)
Charlie's office was dark, the shadows seemed to hide everything; the place felt depressing…
Under the dim light of a small lamp, he sat staring at a pile of files.
He looked so sad, his eyes so tired…
It twisted Bella's stomach.
She had never seen Charlie like that, and she hated seeing him this way.
As she approached, her skin prickled and her heart began to race.
—Dad?.. —Bella stepped forward carefully—
She looked at Charlie, unsure what to do.
—Hey… —He gave her a small, tired smile—
Bella reached him, hesitated… then gave him a warm hug.
—I'm so sorry… Dad—
Charlie froze. He hadn't expected that, and his heart found a moment of comfort.
She wrapped her thin arms around his neck, hugging him from above, holding him with all the tenderness she could. She rested her cheek on his hair, just like he used to do with her when she was a child, letting their breaths blend together.
Charlie took a second to react. Then, with a tired but grateful movement, he lifted his rough hand and squeezed her forearm, the one resting across his chest.
—I've known him for thirty years… —Charlie said, staring into the darkness—
Silence wrapped around them.
—Bella… don't worry, I'll find this thing —Charlie said, trying to sound strong.
Bella stayed by his side quietly.
—In the meantime, keep this with you —Her father handed her a pepper spray— Do it… I'll feel better knowing you have it.
She accepted it and stayed with him in the darkness of that office.
---
After a moment of quiet, Charlie spoke.
—I think we should go home —he said, his mood slightly improved—
Bella walked out with her father toward the entrance of the station; just then, the police staff passed by carrying a body on a stretcher. Bella caught a glimpse by accident…
A pale, cold, lifeless skin…
And instantly she thought of Edward.
---
> Swan House
Bella lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She couldn't sleep. There was a deep uneasiness twisting inside her.
—Today was strange —she thought—
Logan, Waylon's death, her father, and Edward…
The way he saved her, the way he looked at her, the things he said—things she couldn't understand.
But why did it make her chest tighten?
Why did a shiver run through her every time she thought of him?
Her thoughts circled back to Logan…
The pieces kept rearranging themselves in her head. Logan had changed—
not subtly…
It was a change you could feel even in the air.
She looked at the book she bought in Port Angeles.
"Quileute Legends."
She stared at it for a long moment.
She couldn't let the day end like this.
She quickly grabbed her phone and searched her contacts for a name.
She needed to understand something…
────
To be continued
I wrote this chapter with a different feeling…
Yesterday, 12/10, was my birthday.
Almost no one remembered LOL.
But well… it's normal for someone insecure like me.
Have a great day! 🐻