Chapter 12

She links our arms together walking us towards the door, grabbing a new tanned leather jacket from the door handle. "It gets cold in the evenings. Mom wanted to make sure you had something for later." The stitching on the jacket is intricate, the emblem of a sun rising from behind the mountains… the same symbol Leah had sketched over the family tree and that I also recognize from my ring. I don't say anything, but just nod, throwing it on to see if it fits. "Perfect. Mom will be pleased to see you wearing it tonight." I grab my keys and we leave, walking with arms linked down the winding road to the main house. Just before entering, Leah pulls me back. "Oh! I almost forgot." I stop, giving her my attention. Happy conversations can be heard from inside the house. "Don't mention the witch stuff to anyone just yet. Witches and wolves kind of don't mesh very well… Quite a few wolves have some animosity against them, even though we do have a truce with them." Several questions arise in my mind, but I let them slide for now. The door opens, my father filling the small frame. "Bella!" His smile is more carefree, and he seems lighter and less troubled than he has been in years. "Hey Dad," I answer, smiling back at him. He takes my hand, asking me about the house and my day as we enter. Leah follows behind us. He takes my hand, giving it an encouraging squeeze when we enter the living room. Pop is seated in a comfortable recliner chair. His feet are propped up on a footstool and there is a warm afghan covering his lower body. He looks tired. Before acknowledging anyone else, I bend down by his side, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek and brushing my hand lightly across his brow and neck feeling for a fever. It is low, but there. My brows pinch slightly with worry. Pop takes my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze silently telling me he is OK. "I see her choice of profession falls as naturally to her as with my Alice." A new voice utters, causing everyone else to stop talking. I look up. A tall man with reddish brown hair and piercing blue eyes has just stood up from his spot on the couch across from me. He looks about my father's age. My wolf's ears perk up as she recognizes a dominating and forceful aura flowing from him. Even I can feel the strength of his wolf radiating from him in waves. This is Carlisle. I swallow, standing up shakily. He smiles welcomingly. His smile is warm but slightly unnerving. "Bella, I'd like you to meet Carlisle Cullen. Our Alpha," my father says, introducing us. Apparently, my father has been filled in on the information I have been given today. I reach out my hand to greet Carlisle, hoping I am doing the right thing. Carlisle's smile widens. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Cullen," I greet formally. He huffs a short laugh in response. "No need for formalities, Bella. Carlisle is just fine," he says, shaking my hand with a firm handshake. "Let me introduce my family. This is Rosalie, whom you've already met." Rose smiles reassuringly, stepping forward to give me a quick hug. "Her mate, Emmett," Carlisle continues. A large muscular man with a goofy smile steps forward. Surprisingly, he also envelops me in a tight hug. "Welcome home, Bells," he says before wrapping his arms around Rose's small waist. She looks calmer now somehow, more at ease than earlier. As though she had been missing a piece of herself earlier that day. The love they hold for one another is obvious for anyone to see, and their bond seems unbreakable. She is his queen and he is her protector. They fit together like two perfect pieces of a puzzle. "I'm Alice!" A delighted voice exclaims, and (surprise, surprise) I am yet again into another pair of unfamiliar arms. These are petite and feminine. A dazzling woman with bright green eyes and a bob hairstyle steps back quickly, keeping her arms on my shoulders. She is dressed to perfection in an elegant, bright-yellow jumpsuit and bright red lipstick. Nothing about this woman is understated. One of her shoulders is bare as the top drapes across her small figure delicately. Her arms are donned with several gold bangles and on her fingers, I can see multiple rings of different shapes and forms. She is shorter than I am, but I can see strength in her arms and stance. Her hair is interesting. I can see that she has highlighted it with subtle tones of pink and green. It suits her very well. "You're the nurse," I answer her with a smile. "I can't wait for you to start! Forks Gen is nice but small and we needed some new blood to liven the place up a bit!" she babbles. "Alice."