Yes, I'm back.
Thank you for reading the chapter.
As you already know, English isn't my first language.
Sorry if anything sounds a little strange. đ»
CHAPTER 20 â
> Swan House
Midnight
Rain tapped against Bella's window with endless patience.
Forks never really slept.
Wind dragged branches across the glass, the sky groaning in shades of gray and black, and the house was buried in that strange kind of silence that only exists when everyone is asleep except one person.
Bella sat on the floor beside her bed.
Barefoot.
Legs crossed.
With something strange lodged in her chest.
The book rested open across her knees.
Quileute Legends.
The cover was worn at the edges. Some pages bent. Others marked in pencil.
She'd flipped through it before.
Read it without understanding.
But tonight was different.
Tonight every word seemed to look back at her.
Bella swallowed and kept reading.
> The cold ones do not age.
Their skin is hard as stone.
They are beautiful so they may lure their prey.
Their eyes change with hunger.
The scent of blood calls to them.
Bella closed her eyes.
Edward.
His freezing skin.
The impossible speed.
The way he appeared without making a sound.
Golden eyes.
The changes in his voice whenever he was near her.
The intensity.
The danger.
She opened her eyes quickly and turned the page.
> Protective spirits took the form of animals.
They walk as men and fight as beasts.
Their blood answers when the cold ones come near.
The body changes to battle them.
A chill slid down her arms.
Logan.
His strength.
The truck stopping against a human hand.
The impossible healing.
The width of his shoulders.
How he seemed different every week.
Bigger.
Stronger.
More... something.
Her breathing slowed.
She remembered the parking lot.
Twisted metal.
Logan's body covering hers.
His arms around her.
The pressure of his chest.
The warm, damp, wild scent of him.
Nothing like Edward's clean, distant fragrance.
No.
Logan smelled like wet woods.
Fresh earth.
Something alive.
And dangerous.
Bella lowered her eyes to the page.
Her fingers trembled.
> Some carry a greater spirit inside them.
The stronger the threat... the fiercer the transformation.
"No..." she whispered.
But the word rang hollow.
Because yes.
Yes, it could be true.
She remembered the cafeteria.
How Logan reacted whenever he saw the Cullens.
The way his jaw locked.
How the air grew heavy.
How she herself felt near him.
Small.
Vulnerable.
As if some ancient part of her body understood something before her mind did.
Prey.
Bella shoved the book away.
She stood and crossed to the window.
Opened it an inch.
Cold air struck her face.
She needed to think.
Needed to deny it.
Needed to stop remembering things that suddenly made too much sense.
Edward reading minds.
Jacob talking at La Push with that half-smile, as if he meant more than he said.
The Cullens avoiding certain places.
Logan tensing whenever they were near.
Rosalie looking at him with rage...
and something close to fear.
Bella braced one hand on the frame.
Rain soaked her fingers.
"They all lied to me," she said quietly.
And that was what hurt the most.
Not the impossible.
Not monsters.
Not ancient secrets.
The lies.
She went back to the bed and picked up the book again.
Read until the words blurred.
Searched online.
Old forums.
Local stories.
Ridiculous archives.
The same legends repeated again and again.
Most of them sounded absurd.
But she had already seen absurd things.
The night passed without her noticing.
One.
Two.
Three in the morning.
Every memory returned differently now.
Edward's stare in the restaurant.
The way Logan had cornered her inside the truck just by stepping closer.
His deep voice.
His eyesâtoo dark, far too dark.
The heat that climbed through her body whenever he was near.
Bella dropped back onto the bed.
Stared at the ceiling.
She hadn't slept at all.
And now she knew one thing.
Logan would never tell her willingly.
She would have to make him.
An idea began to form slowly.
Simple.
Risky.
Butâ
Perfect.
She smiled faintly.
---
> 6:18 AM
Rain was still falling when her phone vibrated in her hands.
Bella had waited for the exact time.
Not too early.
Not too late.
She stared at the screen for a few seconds before typing.
Bella:
Want me to pick you up today?
She watched the message send.
Her heart beat too fast.
Not because of school.
She had no intention of going.
Five minutes later, his reply came.
Logan:
Won't your pale boyfriend get jealous?
Bella rolled her eyes.
Even now.
Bella:
Do you want a ride or not?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Returned.
Logan:
Yeah. Don't be late.
Bella smiled.
Caught.
Bella:
Twenty minutes.
---
Bella barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, images collided behind them.
Edward looking at her with restrained hunger.
Logan shielding her from twisted steel.
Rosalie trembling in front of him.
Jacob saying, They're just old stories.
And the book lying open on the floor like a threat.
---
She dressed quickly.
Jeans.
Gray jacket.
Hair half pulled back.
She moved downstairs as quietly as she could.
Charlie was drinking coffee in the kitchen.
He lifted an eyebrow when he saw her ready that early.
"Miracle."
"Don't start."
"Voluntary school attendance? Are you sick?"
Bella grabbed the truck keys.
"I have to pick up Logan."
Charlie glanced over the rim of his mug.
"Jimmy?"
"Yes."
"I like that kid."
Bella avoided answering.
"Yeah, you've mentioned that."
"Bella."
She turned at the door.
"Be careful. Roads are a little frozen."
She nodded and stepped outside.
Cold air hit her immediately.
The morning was gray, thick with fog.
Perfect.
She climbed into the truck and started the engine.
The entire drive there, a knot sat tight in her stomach.
She didn't know if she was nervous about uncovering monstersâ
or about being alone with Logan while knowing what she suspected.
---
She reached the apartment building.
Took the stairs faster than usual.
Stopped outside his door.
Drew in a breath.
Knocked twice.
Heavy footsteps sounded on the other side.
The door opened.
Logan stood there half-awake, hair messy, wearing a fitted black T-shirt.
He looked at her for a few seconds.
Then smiled crookedly.
"Is this a kidnapping, or do I get time to pick better clothes?"
Bella forgot what she'd meant to say for a second.
He looked...
far too good for someone who had just woken up.
Annoyed with herself, she crossed her arms.
"Five minutes."
"Bossy this morning."
"Five, Logan."
He studied her more carefully.
Noticed something in her face.
His smile shifted into curiosity.
"You didn't come for school."
Bella held his gaze.
"No."
Silence.
Something sharp passed between them.
Logan leaned one arm against the doorframe.
"So... is this a date?"
"Get dressed."
"Bella, if you wanted to be alone with me, all you had to do wasâ"
"Logan."
He laughed softly.
"Fine. Give me five minutes."
He turned and walked inside.
Bella stepped in after him before she could think better of it.
The apartment smelled like coffee, rain...
and him.
She closed the door slowly.
Her pulse jumped.
Today she was going to learn the truth.
And something told her Logan already knew it.
> Clearing in the Woods
The air smelled like wet earth.
Old leaves.
Fresh rain.
Bella shut the truck door and walked a few steps until she stood in front of him.
Logan had both hands shoved into the pockets of his black jacket.
Hair damp.
Face serious.
Nothing remained of the teasing smile.
A knot tightened in Bella's throat.
This silence in him was worse than any joke.
"Talk," she said.
Logan exhaled slowly.
"I'm not sure where to start."
"How about trying honesty for once in your life?"
He took the hit without moving.
Bella opened the book with stiff hands.
She read without looking down for long.
"The cold ones don't age. Their skin is hard and cold. They don't eat like we do."
She lifted her eyes.
"Edward."
She flipped the page sharply.
"Protective spirits take animal form. Their blood responds. Their bodies change."
She pointed at him with the book.
"You."
The forest went still.
Logan's jaw tightened, like even that hurt more than he expected.
"Bella..."
"No."
Her voice shook, but she didn't step back.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like this is hard for you."
She stared at him.
"Bellaâ"
"Start talking."
Her voice trembled again.
But she held her ground.
"Don't make me feel stupid a second time."
He watched her in silence.
And something in his expression shifted.
Pain.
Exhaustion.
"I never wanted that."
"Then what did you want?"
The answer took too long.
Far too long.
"For you to have a normal life."
Bella let out a dry laugh.
"Bad news. It's a little late for that."
Wind moved between them.
Lifted strands of her damp hair.
Logan looked at her like he was trying to memorize her.
"If I told you... you would've stayed away from me."
"You don't know that."
"Yes," he said quietly. "I do."
"No."
Bella stepped forward.
Too close.
"You decided that for me."
His throat moved as he swallowed.
"I was afraid."
Bella blinked.
She hadn't expected that.
"Of me?"
"Of losing you."
The air seemed to stop.
Her heart slammed hard against her ribs.
Anger.
Relief.
Confusion.
Something else.
"Show me," she whispered.
Logan didn't answer.
"Show me what you are."
"Bella..."
"Now."
He shook his head once.
"It might scare you."
"I'm tired of you deciding what gets to scare me."
Silence.
Then Logan took three slow steps back.
He slipped off his jacket and set it over a rock.
Rain darkened the black T-shirt stretched over his body.
Bella noticed the width of his shoulders.
The tension in every muscle.
The change in his breathing.
Deeper.
Heavier.
The woods went quiet.
Too quiet.
"Don't come near me while it happens," he said, voice low.
Bella didn't move.
Logan closed his eyes.
And the world seemed to hold its breath.
The first sound was a crack.
Then another.
Dry and sharp, like branches snapping from the inside out.
Bella stumbled back half a step on instinct.
Logan dropped to his knees.
His fingers dug into the mud.
His spine arched violently.
A brutal gasp tore from his throat.
Muscles swelled beneath his skin.
The seams of his shirt split at the shoulders.
His arms thickened.
Lengthened.
His back twisted with another sickening snap that Bella felt in her own bones.
"Logan..."
No answer.
Dark fur burst through skin.
Thick.
Deep brown.
His hands warped into enormous claws.
His body kept growing.
Taller.
Wider.
Impossible.
Bella couldn't breathe.
Where a boy had stood moments ago, something massive rose in his place.
A monstrous grizzly bear.
Magnificent.
Its huge back slick with rain and mud.
Muscles shifting beneath heavy fur.
Hot breath spilling in clouds.
And eyes.
Warm brown eyes.
Far too intelligent.
Watching her.
Knowing her.
Bella felt real fear.
Deep and primal.
As if every bone in her body recognized a predator.
Her legs wanted to run.
Something ancient screamed at her to move.
But she didn't.
Because Logan was still there.
The bear took one slow step back.
Giving her space.
As if it feared hurting her even now.
Bella swallowed hard.
Her heartbeat wild.
She stepped forward.
Then another.
Rain streamed down her face.
The bear stayed perfectly still.
Waiting.
"It's you..." she whispered.
A heavy breath rumbled from its chest.
Bella lifted a trembling hand.
Pressed it gently against the side of his neck.
The fur was thick.
Warm.
Alive.
A deep vibration rolled beneath her palm.
She couldn't tell if it was a growlâ
or relief.
Tears came without warning.
Not from fear.
From everything.
"You idiot," she murmured with a broken laugh. "All this time."
The enormous bear lowered his head slightly.
Bella rested her forehead against him.
Closed her eyes.
And for the first time since returning to Forksâ
everything felt real.
---
To be continued...