Better Than Revenge

A strange scent didn’t stop me from going for my morning run. I was up before anyone else, as usual, and went out into the La Push forest. I stripped my clothes and quickly phased into my wolf-skin. I loved the feel of my muscles stretched out and the cool wind through my thick fur. It was so relaxing.
And then Leah started yelling at me. *Is there a reason that you neglected to tell me about that scent from yesterday?*
I groaned. *My dad told you about that?*
*You bet your ass he did. I know that you don’t want Lizzy to know ‘cause she’ll freak but I’m part of your pack. You should be the one to let me know when this kinda stuff is going on. Why the hell did Jacob of all people have to tell me to keep an eye out?*
*I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,* I answered with an easy shrug.
Leah growled fiercely and I was glad that she was clear on the other side of La Push. Leah could get almost as furious as my mom. *It is kind of a big deal, Andrea. Vampires don’t come onto our land. Only the dangerous ones can actually slip into La Push without being noticed.*
*Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t keep you out of this kind of thing again. Hey, if you do pick up the scent can you let me know if you recognize it?*
*Of course. But it’s getting late so maybe you should head home to get ready for school.*
I reluctantly headed home so that I could get ready for seven grueling hours of school. The bright side though was that Arizona State had beaten U of A so my mom was in a good mood when I walked in ten minutes later than I should have. Instead of snapping at me, she arched her brown eyebrows and shook her head. “Hurry up, Drea. We wouldn’t want you to be late.”
I smiled widely and pecked her cheek. “Got it, Mom.”
School went by quickly as did cheer practice. Nessie and I climbed into my Jeep and drove over to Leah’s where my parents were already lounging with her and her husband Tony on the back porch. My mom, who had been an avid drinker during her early years, was already downing a Piña Colada wine cooler when we got there which was actually to be expected. Nessie and I exchanged pleasantries with everyone before settling down on a couple of the plastic lawn chairs.
After all the adults had a few rounds of drinks mom announced that it was time my dad upheld his end of the bet for the wildcats’ loss the night before. Dad groaned but stood up and started singing one of those stupid, annoying Justin Beiber songs. Mom laughed hysterically as she recorded it on her phone to upload it to her Facebook page- why old people had Facebook was beyond me. Mom had this habit of making dad do some embarrassing stuff that always ended up on the internet when it came to betting against her hometown team. When he was done, Dad took a dramatic bow and sat with the rest of us still laughing like crazy.
I stood to go get my dad another drink and Tony followed me into the kitchen to get something for Leah. Tony was tall with thick hair the color of wheat, very Roman features, and the brawny build of someone that worked out every day. He was born centuries ago but still looked like he was in his early 20s. “Leah told me that you were hiding the fact that there was a vampire in La Push,” he accused.
I rolled my coffee-colored eyes. “There aren’t any secrets in this town, are there?” I grumbled. “Renesmee and I only smelled it once so it’s probably not a big deal. But I’m being careful. I promise.”
He frowned. “At least let me take a look?”
I shook my head frantically. “Please, Tony, my parents baby me enough as it is and I don’t need my friends to start doing that too. I appreciate that you’re worried about me but you don’t have to freak out. I’ll let you know if I need help though. Promise.”
Tony frowned at me. “You are young, Andrea. I have been around for centuries and I experienced what my kind can really do. Some of us are very cruel and will not hesitate in killing you or torturing you. In fact, some enjoy it.”
I smiled reassuringly. “Got it. I doubt that I’ve got anything to worry about.”
My confidence lasted all through school and about halfway through the school’s football game. It was during our halftime routine when Nessie suddenly tensed up. I glanced at her but half a second later I knew what had made her so edgy. That sickly sweet scent burned my nose and I nearly lost my footing during my back flip. “It’s back,” I hissed under my breath so that only my cousin could hear.
“I know.” She actually sounded scared. I could relate to the tension that was radiating from her in droves; once wasn’t bad but twice, this time at a school event with my parents and Leah and Tony present, was too much of a coincidence. The moment that we were done and the band started to play Nessie and I rushed to wear everyone was sitting. The three non-humans were on high alert but my mom obvious had no clue about what was going on.
“Hey girls,” she greeted. “You did great.” That was probably the biggest compliment that we’d get from my anti-cheerleading mother but I didn’t have time to overthink on it.
“Is this one the same?” my dad asked quietly.
I nodded minutely so that my mom wouldn’t notice. “We didn’t smell it yesterday so I just assumed that everything was safe.”
“I know who it is,” Tony said quickly. “Drea, this is more than you can handle.”
“Who is it then?”
Now my mom noticed. “What are you guys all talking about?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously at us.
My dad draped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “It’s nothing, Lizzy. Just some wolf stuff.”
If it was possible, she looked even meaner. She grabbed his ear and pulled him down to her level. “Wolf stuff usually means vampires,” she chided. “So what is it this time?”
It was obvious that she wasn’t going to give up so maybe it was safer for everyone if we just let her into the loop. “Nessie and I smelled something a few days ago. We didn’t tell you because we didn’t think that it was a big deal.”
“And now?” she demanded.
We all hesitated. “We shouldn’t have hid it, Aunt Lizzy,” Renesmee finally said. “Whoever it was is back and their here right now.”
“You all knew and none of you told me?” she accused the other three that had been sitting with her. “Who is it?”
“Alec,” Tony admitted.
I frowned. The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t quite place it. “Alec? As in Alec and Jane?” my mom asked frantically. Jane was a name that I did know because she tried to kill my mom more than once. “Were any of you planning on telling me?”
“Mom, it was my fault. I asked them to let me handle it.”
She glared at me but I could see the hurt and worry buried deep in her chocolate eyes before she stormed from the stadium.