HellCat: Guardian Of The Gate
by wizardtho
Chapter 1:
It's funny that despite everyone's worrying, I never fell apart after Edward left me in the woods that day. Just the opposite, really. I thrived. So, okay... I found another group of mythical creatures to call family, namely the Quileute wolf pack, but what did you expect? The mythical beings of the world seem to flock to me whenever they're near.
Sam, the alpha, was actually there at the house when I returned. I hadn't known he was there when I came out of the woods, huffing, "Stupid deer-licking, mountain lion-sucking piece of shit. Leaves me in the woods, the one place he told me never to go alone. 'You're not good for me... I'm tired of pretending... I don't want you.' Well fuck you, Edward Cullen! You lying, sparkly-assed bottom feeder!"
I heard a gasp, then looked up to see Sam standing next to his truck. He came loping over toward me, then as soon as he reached me, he whisper demanded, "Bella? Are you harmed? Did he bite you?" He seemed to be scanning the visible surfaces of my skin as my eyes bugged out, but when he noticed them, he said, "Yes, I know about them and what they are. Now. Are. You. Bitten?"
He caught sight of my wrist just then. I unconsciously rubbed it as I said, "This is old... the venom was sucked out. I don't have any more than this one. I'll explain after you come in the house and tell me how you know what they are." He nodded stiffly, then followed me inside.
After Sam explained about how some of the Quileute tribe’s men turned into wolves when vampires were near, I did as promised. I explained the true story about Phoenix, along with how I was saved. Then I went on to explain about my birthday, what happened, and how Edward left me. He chuckled as he remembered my words. "Yeah, I caught your little tirade as you came out of the trees. Sparkly-assed bottom feeder? Really, Bella. Paul would love that one, along with the deer-licking, mountain lion-sucking piece of shit comment. You'd fit right in with us, if you ever wanted to hang."
I had laughed outright, then smiled and nodded as I said, "I think I'd like that, Sam." That was how I became an honorary member of the pack.
Everything was wonderful over the next several months, even though Paul seemed to take special notice of my suddenly blossoming curves. Sam noticed, too, but I was thankful when he and his imprint, Emily, took a protective stance over me about them. Though I was single, I didn't think I was ready to jump into another relationship quite yet. Emily agreed that I should take my time on that front, always letting me help her in the kitchen, which I was loving.
That all changed two days after graduation, while at Sam and Emily's bonfire. I got a call on my cell phone from an unrecognized number with a Jacksonville area code. I had been expecting Renee or Phil to call, since they were supposed to be flying to their newly acquired property in the Black Hills that day, but the unrecognized number baffled me. It was the Jacksonville Police Department, calling to let me know that Renee and Phil's plane went down just after taking off; neither one of them had made it. The scream that tore from my throat at the news instantly had everyone on alert, with Charlie rushing to me to find out what was wrong. I could only manage to choke out Renee's name before Charlie took the phone from me, while calling Sam over to tend to me.
The next two weeks were a blur. I thank God every day for Charlie being my rock through them. He had gotten the needed information from the officer, had Henry take over for him at the station until further notice, then booked two tickets to Jacksonville for us for the next morning... all within the first hour. He came right to me once all of the phone calls were done, to hold me tightly.
I could tell he was doing no better than me by his hitched and shuddered breathing, but he never said a word. He just held me until we were both calmed down. He also helped me pack the next morning, explaining to me that once we got done with the police station and got to the house, we would need to call their lawyer first thing before any arrangements were made.
Since Phil had gone major league soon after I moved in with Charlie, so the memorial service ended up being quite large; even though it was a private ceremony for only family, close friends, and Phil's team. It was a beautiful service, giving me the feeling that they both would have liked how it turned out.
Charlie stood by me through the service, talking with the lawyer, then planning out what to do with both properties. I knew I needed to see the Black Hills house before I could decide, but the lawyer assured me that I could easily keep both homes. I choked on my water when he told me that I was the beneficiary to both of their insurance policies, with them shockingly being worth over 10 million each. Then there was the astounding amount left in their respective bank accounts, the stocks and bonds they had invested in, as well as their vehicles. Since they owned everything outright, the little outstanding debt they had was easily taken care of out of only a small portion of one of the checking accounts.
It was so hard for me to think about or deal with what to do with all of their money during our two week stay. All I wanted was to give all of that up... to have Renee and Phil back... but again, Charlie came to my rescue. We had been taking a break from dealing with the lawyer, grabbing hotdogs from a vendor at a park down the street, when Charlie sighed and said, "Grab a spot on the bench with me, Bells."
I did, then two bites into our lunch, Charlie said, "Princess, I know you'd give all the money in the world up to have them back again... hell, I would too... but they were both trying to make sure you had stability if anything were to happen to them. As your dad, I can understand that. They didn't want you to struggle, so they took steps to make sure you had as many options open to you as possible. Look... I know you won't be ready to start college this coming fall, that you need to find your own path. I even understand that your path may not involve school down the road. This money gives you the security to do that. They would want you to follow your dreams… to make them real. Think of it as their last gift to you, and promise me you'll use it to find your way."
I had tears running down my cheeks by the time he was done. Oddly enough, they were tears of understanding, of acceptance. We ended up talking for over an hour about what I felt my next steps were going to be, then after talking over all of the options with him, I decided I really wanted to go see the Black Hills property. Charlie offered to take more time off to go with me, but I shook my head, "I'll take Sam or one of the boys with me, Dad. We can fly out early one morning, stay the night if needed, then fly back. It would help having one of them with me, so they could assess what needs to be done. I have no idea what condition the house or property is in."
Charlie smiled, then asked, "Do you think you'll keep it?"
I nodded, "If it's not a total shambles, I'd try to keep the house and fix it. They were both in love with the property, so I don't think I could give it up. If all else fails with the house, I'll have it torn down to start over, putting something around the same general size in it's place." Charlie smiled at me knowingly, then we agreed to talk to Sam when we got back home.
I was practically yanked from my truck, swarmed by the pack and imprints, before I even had the chance to shut off the engine the morning after our return to Forks. Sam’s eyes immediately scanned me in a protective once-over as he asked how I was doing, then he and Emily surrounded me in a very much needed hug.
After hugging everyone gathered, we all made our way inside. I told them everything that happened while Emily plied us all with mounds of food. When I got to the part about the Black Hills property, Sam agreed that it was a good idea to have one of them go with me. With a stern look from Sam, along with a promise from Paul to behave, it was set up that we would leave in a week's time.
Then it came time to tell them about the sudden wealth I found myself inheriting. Without getting into the financials, I did tell them that they left everything to me, including the houses and vehicles. Sam got worried, asking if they left any debt, so I smiled softly as I hugged him, "The only debt they had was paid off using a small amount out of one of the checking accounts, Sam. The houses and cars are owned outright, with me as the new owner. They left me more than enough to take care of both properties without having to worry about anything."
He looked at me skeptically, asking, "Really?"
I let out an incredulous laugh, then mumbled, "Umm... I could buy out all of Forks and La Push without batting an eyelash, Sam." With that, everyone's eyes went wide, but thankfully Sam quickly changed the subject.
The rest of that week flew by with tons of planning for the upcoming trip, getting paperwork in order, having everything transferred into my name, and spending as much time as I could with Charlie and the pack. I didn't know why, but I just had this feeling that once I got to the Black Hills house, I wouldn't want to leave. I think everyone else realised it too, because they seemed to be near me at every turn. I loved having them all close, but by the time Charlie dropped Paul and I off at the airport, I was ready for some peace. Quiet sounded really good, too.
I rented a Durango for the duration of our trip, which was thankfully waiting for us when we arrived in Rapid City. Paul was excited to see what we would find, so once we were securely inside the tall intricate iron gate (which was connected to a massive cobblestone wall that surrounded the property), Paul said, "I need to let the boys know we made it. Would you like a wolf-back ride around the perimeter? It would let you see if any repairs need to be done to this kick-ass wall."
I grinned, loving the idea, "That sounds great, Paul. It's been awhile since I've had the chance to ride. Since the gates are locked, maybe we can make a zig-zag through the property to get a feel for the layout. I'm sure you're ready to stretch your legs for a bit." I parked the Durango as Paul agreed that he was more than ready. He was already running toward the trees that lined the right side of the drive as I turned off the engine.
The property was massive, and luckily there were no weak spots on the inside of the perimeter wall. As we did the zig-zag, we made our way through fields and woods alike, passing abundant streams and lakes. We even found a waterfall that fell onto a large clear pond at the base of the mountain. That happened to be at the edge of one of the prettiest clearings we had seen. I felt the need to stop for a few minutes, just to take in the beauty of the space.
When we came upon another clearing not twenty minutes later, I was shocked to find I was looking at the back of a historic Gothic-style mansion. It was awe-inspiring, to say the least. Once I got down from Paul's back, he started yammering a mile a minute in his wolf form. I chuckled as I turned back toward him, "You know I don't understand a thing you're saying. Go phase, so you can tell me how awesome the place is in human form." He barked out a laugh, then dashed toward the trees.
I could already envision what to do with the back of the house, I was picturing a natural-style pool and spa that would connect from the back of the house to the forest beyond. With a pretty slate stone patio and pathway, plants and shrubs of all different colors, the pool would be able to blend seamlessly with the surroundings.
That's when Paul bounded out of the trees with the biggest grin, practically hooting, "This place rocks, Bella! Holy shit!"
I giggled at his excitement, "I know, right? I was figuring we'd stumble on an old run-down cabin or something, but this... this is incredible! I can't wait to see the inside now. Why don't we head up around to the front to have a look? Then you can go get the Durango while I call Charlie. He’s gonna worry if I wait too much longer to check in."
He agreed, then asked suddenly in a soft voice, "You were planning already, weren't you? You won't be staying in Forks."
Though I shrugged as we continued to walk, I could see that he wouldn't let this go. "Yeah, Paul. I was thinking about how a pool and spa would look in that open area, right off the back of the house... one that would blend the house with the surrounding nature. I've just... since we've been here, I've felt this sense of peace... of home. I can't really explain it, but I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be."
He nodded in thought, then said, "Alright, Hot Stuff. Let's go check out this huge ass new pad of yours, so I can see how much work needs to be done inside. I can already tell you'll need a handyman around here to help with the outside work, like downed tree limbs and things... the stone could use some repointing in spots, too." I reluctantly agreed about a minute before we reached the front door.
It's funny that despite everyone's worrying, I never fell apart after Edward left me in the woods that day. Just the opposite, really. I thrived. So, okay... I found another group of mythical creatures to call family, namely the Quileute wolf pack, but what did you expect? The mythical beings of the world seem to flock to me whenever they're near.
Sam, the alpha, was actually there at the house when I returned. I hadn't known he was there when I came out of the woods, huffing, "Stupid deer-licking, mountain lion-sucking piece of shit. Leaves me in the woods, the one place he told me never to go alone. 'You're not good for me... I'm tired of pretending... I don't want you.' Well fuck you, Edward Cullen! You lying, sparkly-assed bottom feeder!"
I heard a gasp, then looked up to see Sam standing next to his truck. He came loping over toward me, then as soon as he reached me, he whisper demanded, "Bella? Are you harmed? Did he bite you?" He seemed to be scanning the visible surfaces of my skin as my eyes bugged out, but when he noticed them, he said, "Yes, I know about them and what they are. Now. Are. You. Bitten?"
He caught sight of my wrist just then. I unconsciously rubbed it as I said, "This is old... the venom was sucked out. I don't have any more than this one. I'll explain after you come in the house and tell me how you know what they are." He nodded stiffly, then followed me inside.
After Sam explained about how some of the Quileute tribe’s men turned into wolves when vampires were near, I did as promised. I explained the true story about Phoenix, along with how I was saved. Then I went on to explain about my birthday, what happened, and how Edward left me. He chuckled as he remembered my words. "Yeah, I caught your little tirade as you came out of the trees. Sparkly-assed bottom feeder? Really, Bella. Paul would love that one, along with the deer-licking, mountain lion-sucking piece of shit comment. You'd fit right in with us, if you ever wanted to hang."
I had laughed outright, then smiled and nodded as I said, "I think I'd like that, Sam." That was how I became an honorary member of the pack.
Everything was wonderful over the next several months, even though Paul seemed to take special notice of my suddenly blossoming curves. Sam noticed, too, but I was thankful when he and his imprint, Emily, took a protective stance over me about them. Though I was single, I didn't think I was ready to jump into another relationship quite yet. Emily agreed that I should take my time on that front, always letting me help her in the kitchen, which I was loving.
That all changed two days after graduation, while at Sam and Emily's bonfire. I got a call on my cell phone from an unrecognized number with a Jacksonville area code. I had been expecting Renee or Phil to call, since they were supposed to be flying to their newly acquired property in the Black Hills that day, but the unrecognized number baffled me. It was the Jacksonville Police Department, calling to let me know that Renee and Phil's plane went down just after taking off; neither one of them had made it. The scream that tore from my throat at the news instantly had everyone on alert, with Charlie rushing to me to find out what was wrong. I could only manage to choke out Renee's name before Charlie took the phone from me, while calling Sam over to tend to me.
The next two weeks were a blur. I thank God every day for Charlie being my rock through them. He had gotten the needed information from the officer, had Henry take over for him at the station until further notice, then booked two tickets to Jacksonville for us for the next morning... all within the first hour. He came right to me once all of the phone calls were done, to hold me tightly.
I could tell he was doing no better than me by his hitched and shuddered breathing, but he never said a word. He just held me until we were both calmed down. He also helped me pack the next morning, explaining to me that once we got done with the police station and got to the house, we would need to call their lawyer first thing before any arrangements were made.
Since Phil had gone major league soon after I moved in with Charlie, so the memorial service ended up being quite large; even though it was a private ceremony for only family, close friends, and Phil's team. It was a beautiful service, giving me the feeling that they both would have liked how it turned out.
Charlie stood by me through the service, talking with the lawyer, then planning out what to do with both properties. I knew I needed to see the Black Hills house before I could decide, but the lawyer assured me that I could easily keep both homes. I choked on my water when he told me that I was the beneficiary to both of their insurance policies, with them shockingly being worth over 10 million each. Then there was the astounding amount left in their respective bank accounts, the stocks and bonds they had invested in, as well as their vehicles. Since they owned everything outright, the little outstanding debt they had was easily taken care of out of only a small portion of one of the checking accounts.
It was so hard for me to think about or deal with what to do with all of their money during our two week stay. All I wanted was to give all of that up... to have Renee and Phil back... but again, Charlie came to my rescue. We had been taking a break from dealing with the lawyer, grabbing hotdogs from a vendor at a park down the street, when Charlie sighed and said, "Grab a spot on the bench with me, Bells."
I did, then two bites into our lunch, Charlie said, "Princess, I know you'd give all the money in the world up to have them back again... hell, I would too... but they were both trying to make sure you had stability if anything were to happen to them. As your dad, I can understand that. They didn't want you to struggle, so they took steps to make sure you had as many options open to you as possible. Look... I know you won't be ready to start college this coming fall, that you need to find your own path. I even understand that your path may not involve school down the road. This money gives you the security to do that. They would want you to follow your dreams… to make them real. Think of it as their last gift to you, and promise me you'll use it to find your way."
I had tears running down my cheeks by the time he was done. Oddly enough, they were tears of understanding, of acceptance. We ended up talking for over an hour about what I felt my next steps were going to be, then after talking over all of the options with him, I decided I really wanted to go see the Black Hills property. Charlie offered to take more time off to go with me, but I shook my head, "I'll take Sam or one of the boys with me, Dad. We can fly out early one morning, stay the night if needed, then fly back. It would help having one of them with me, so they could assess what needs to be done. I have no idea what condition the house or property is in."
Charlie smiled, then asked, "Do you think you'll keep it?"
I nodded, "If it's not a total shambles, I'd try to keep the house and fix it. They were both in love with the property, so I don't think I could give it up. If all else fails with the house, I'll have it torn down to start over, putting something around the same general size in it's place." Charlie smiled at me knowingly, then we agreed to talk to Sam when we got back home.
I was practically yanked from my truck, swarmed by the pack and imprints, before I even had the chance to shut off the engine the morning after our return to Forks. Sam’s eyes immediately scanned me in a protective once-over as he asked how I was doing, then he and Emily surrounded me in a very much needed hug.
After hugging everyone gathered, we all made our way inside. I told them everything that happened while Emily plied us all with mounds of food. When I got to the part about the Black Hills property, Sam agreed that it was a good idea to have one of them go with me. With a stern look from Sam, along with a promise from Paul to behave, it was set up that we would leave in a week's time.
Then it came time to tell them about the sudden wealth I found myself inheriting. Without getting into the financials, I did tell them that they left everything to me, including the houses and vehicles. Sam got worried, asking if they left any debt, so I smiled softly as I hugged him, "The only debt they had was paid off using a small amount out of one of the checking accounts, Sam. The houses and cars are owned outright, with me as the new owner. They left me more than enough to take care of both properties without having to worry about anything."
He looked at me skeptically, asking, "Really?"
I let out an incredulous laugh, then mumbled, "Umm... I could buy out all of Forks and La Push without batting an eyelash, Sam." With that, everyone's eyes went wide, but thankfully Sam quickly changed the subject.
The rest of that week flew by with tons of planning for the upcoming trip, getting paperwork in order, having everything transferred into my name, and spending as much time as I could with Charlie and the pack. I didn't know why, but I just had this feeling that once I got to the Black Hills house, I wouldn't want to leave. I think everyone else realised it too, because they seemed to be near me at every turn. I loved having them all close, but by the time Charlie dropped Paul and I off at the airport, I was ready for some peace. Quiet sounded really good, too.
I rented a Durango for the duration of our trip, which was thankfully waiting for us when we arrived in Rapid City. Paul was excited to see what we would find, so once we were securely inside the tall intricate iron gate (which was connected to a massive cobblestone wall that surrounded the property), Paul said, "I need to let the boys know we made it. Would you like a wolf-back ride around the perimeter? It would let you see if any repairs need to be done to this kick-ass wall."
I grinned, loving the idea, "That sounds great, Paul. It's been awhile since I've had the chance to ride. Since the gates are locked, maybe we can make a zig-zag through the property to get a feel for the layout. I'm sure you're ready to stretch your legs for a bit." I parked the Durango as Paul agreed that he was more than ready. He was already running toward the trees that lined the right side of the drive as I turned off the engine.
The property was massive, and luckily there were no weak spots on the inside of the perimeter wall. As we did the zig-zag, we made our way through fields and woods alike, passing abundant streams and lakes. We even found a waterfall that fell onto a large clear pond at the base of the mountain. That happened to be at the edge of one of the prettiest clearings we had seen. I felt the need to stop for a few minutes, just to take in the beauty of the space.
When we came upon another clearing not twenty minutes later, I was shocked to find I was looking at the back of a historic Gothic-style mansion. It was awe-inspiring, to say the least. Once I got down from Paul's back, he started yammering a mile a minute in his wolf form. I chuckled as I turned back toward him, "You know I don't understand a thing you're saying. Go phase, so you can tell me how awesome the place is in human form." He barked out a laugh, then dashed toward the trees.
I could already envision what to do with the back of the house, I was picturing a natural-style pool and spa that would connect from the back of the house to the forest beyond. With a pretty slate stone patio and pathway, plants and shrubs of all different colors, the pool would be able to blend seamlessly with the surroundings.
That's when Paul bounded out of the trees with the biggest grin, practically hooting, "This place rocks, Bella! Holy shit!"
I giggled at his excitement, "I know, right? I was figuring we'd stumble on an old run-down cabin or something, but this... this is incredible! I can't wait to see the inside now. Why don't we head up around to the front to have a look? Then you can go get the Durango while I call Charlie. He’s gonna worry if I wait too much longer to check in."
He agreed, then asked suddenly in a soft voice, "You were planning already, weren't you? You won't be staying in Forks."
Though I shrugged as we continued to walk, I could see that he wouldn't let this go. "Yeah, Paul. I was thinking about how a pool and spa would look in that open area, right off the back of the house... one that would blend the house with the surrounding nature. I've just... since we've been here, I've felt this sense of peace... of home. I can't really explain it, but I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be."
He nodded in thought, then said, "Alright, Hot Stuff. Let's go check out this huge ass new pad of yours, so I can see how much work needs to be done inside. I can already tell you'll need a handyman around here to help with the outside work, like downed tree limbs and things... the stone could use some repointing in spots, too." I reluctantly agreed about a minute before we reached the front door.