Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Finding Truth Behind Legends

By Wizardtho

Chapter 12:

BPOV

I must have been more tired than I thought. One second I’m settling on the couch with my fingers in Taha’s fur, and the next I’m dreaming of Edward finding me and Taha not being strong enough to fight him yet.

I wake with a start, shooting up into a sitting position on the couch as I cry out, “No!”

My eyes are automatically drawn to the bourbon-colored ones watching me, and I let out a relieved breath. The white wolf is here and safe, so I offer as I run my fingers through my hair, “I’m fine… bad dream. You do have the boys on alert for my ex, right? Did Jake tell Zander what he looks like?”

Taha nuzzles his head into my lap for a second as I get a feeling of comfort. When his head leaves my lap, he nods, pauses, then nods again. Yes, they know what Edward looks like and are watching out for him. 

I let out another breath, “Be careful, please. All of you. He can read minds, so anything you think of isn’t safe near him. If you think of me, the house, or even fighting tactics, he will have the information the moment one of you thinks of it. Knowing him, if he pursues me enough to find me, he won’t take no for an answer. Most likely, Alice found out the Volturi are coming, and that they’d be in big trouble for not having dealt with me one way or another. If Edward comes, there will be no avoiding a fight, because I won’t go back to him willingly.”

Taha nuzzles his head into my lap again, then seconds later, I startle slightly at a knock on the living room door. I sigh and stand when I see it’s Greg. Opening the door for him, he offers as he steps inside, “Morning, Bella. I heard your conversation through the link and just wanted to thank you for the intel. Telling us your ex has such an ability helps us. It lets us know to keep our minds away from you and Taha while on patrol. Speaking of, are you hungry yet?”

His last question is for Taha, who nods as I get a feeling of running and hunting. “Please take someone with you on your hunt, in case something happens.”

Greg promises, “I’ll be his hunting buddy this morning, Bella. Don’t worry. You want me to leave one of the boys in the house with you?”

I nod, “Yes, if you don’t mind. You can let whoever’s coming off patrol know that I’ll feed them breakfast, if you want. I just need a few minutes to wash my face and start a pot of coffee.”

Taha nuzzles into my side as I stand, then follows Greg out the door. I take the opportunity to quickly start the coffee pot, then retreat to my bathroom, to take care of my bladder and wash my face. I’m hoping it’ll wash away the last remnants of my bad dream, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. 

Stepping back into the entry from my bedroom, I see 3 pack members all joking around with each other through the garden windows. I make my way to the French doors next to the living room fireplace, then open them and call out with a chuckle, “If you want breakfast, you’d better get your tails in here and help me.” 

Seconds later, Aiden, Brad, and Devon file in, all saying, “Morning, Miss Bella.”

I point them toward the kitchen, promising, “Good morning, boys. Help me peel apples, and you’ll get pancakes with my special cinnamon apple sauce for your payment.”

Devon licks his lips, then his eyes go wide as he asks hopefully, “Does it taste anything like your apple pie, Miss Bella?”

With a chuckle, I nod, “It actually does taste quite similar. A bit saucier, and pancake instead of crust, but you get the point. My dad hates that I don’t eat them like regular pancakes, though.”

At their curious looks, I push the full bowl of apples to the center of the island, hand each one a paring knife, and whisper with a smirk, “I tear the pancakes with my fingers and dunk the pieces in the bowl of sauce until they’re smothered. That way every bite has apple cinnamony goodness.”

All three boys give me huge grins as they start peeling apples. With their help, it isn’t long before I’m dicing up the apples and starting the large saucepot on the stove. I let Devon keep an eye on the sauce as I send Brad into the dining room with plates and silverware to set the table for us. Aiden pulls the ingredients I need for the pancakes from the pantry and fridge, so that I can start on those after a few good sips of my coffee. 

Things move quickly, and soon I have the sauce resting on a cool burner as I flip the last round of pancakes on a hot burner. I laugh and shake my head at Brad’s corny joke, then point Devon to the sauce, “The bowls I just pulled out… fill one about a third of the way, then split the rest of the sauce between the other three bowls.” 

I place the last of the six-inch pancakes on the piled-high plate just as Devon finishes, and the boys follow me quickly to the dining room table. We all tuck in, and once I take the smallest bowl from Devon, I place a few pancakes on my plate. With a smirk, I tear a piece off my first pancake with my fingers, then eye the coyotes watching me, “Dig in, boys. Don’t let it go cold on you.”

I happily shove the torn piece of pancake into the sauce, then hum loudly as fluffy sweetness meets my tongue. It takes less than half a second before the guys follow suit, tearing into their pancakes and dipping them deep into their bowls. I laugh after swallowing my bite since the room is suddenly filled with echoing hums of delight, “Told ya. Sticky-sweet goodness in every bite this way.”

We are a bit over halfway done when Taha comes through the living room French doors, Greg right beyond him in human form. I grin after wiping my mouth and fingers, “Good hunt? No issues?”

I get a feeling of reassurance from Taha as Greg offers, “No problems at all. He did just as well as he had on our other shared hunts. I wouldn’t have even remembered he was hurt, if it weren’t for the scars. You did good, Little Coyote.”

I still look into Taha’s eyes as I ask, “No tugging, no excess stress to the area, no pinching or aching sensations?”

Though I feel another wave of reassurance from him, Taha also shakes his massive wolf head no as his eyes stay locked on mine. I finally let out a breath in relief as I let myself believe Taha is truly on the mend. 

Suddenly, my nightmare doesn’t seem as scary as it initially did, and I allow myself to relax slightly. I may even be able to tell Will I’m ready to take my spirit walk soon, if Taha keeps improving.

No sooner does the thought cross my mind, than there’s an eerie how on the wind. Greg orders, “Brad, you’re with me. Aiden, Devon… phase in. Stay here with Taha and Bella in case the vampire somehow makes it to the house.” 

All four coyotes are out the living room French doors and phasing as soon as Greg is finished speaking. I’m not surprised in the least to see shredded clothing falling to the grass, but I only make a mental note to get them picked up later as my worry for them takes over. The only thing keeping me from freaking out is feeling Taha’s heat practically surrounding me from where he’s standing just behind me.