Mark of the White Wolf
by Wizardtho
Chapter 1:
I was recovering in the hospital in Phoenix when it started. I knew it couldn't be James' or Edward's venom, because Carlisle had been checking me constantly to assure all of us that there was no lingering venom. He would lift my wrist when no humans were around, then deeply inhale along my skin to make sure he could not scent any venom. It had been 6 days since he had started his wrist sniffing, and 6 days with absolutely no scent of venom in my veins.
The thing was, once they had me stable and in my own room, things started to slowly change with me... to the point where Carlisle had gotten special permission to take over my case, so that no other doctors or nurses would notice what was happening. It was first noticed when one of the nurses came in to change the dressing on my wrist. The nurse said I must be a fast healer, as the wound was healing at an exceptional rate. Something about it piqued Carlisle's interest because I noticed him gazing at my wrist before his eyes widened.
As soon as the nurse left the room, Carlisle grabbed my wrist gently, then inhaled from my wrist to my elbow. He repeated the process three times, all the while I visibly watched Edward pale and become worried. Finally, Carlisle placed my arm carefully back on the bed, saying aloud, “I don't understand, but I don't detect even a hint of venom, Edward. Whatever is happening, it's not the change... at least not that I can determine right now. I will keep a close eye on her. I believe it would be prudent for me to find a way to take over Bella's case. It would not do well for whatever is happening to alert the nursing staff or doctors.”
Needless to say, Carlisle used his considerable vampire charm to somehow take over my case. There was more happening to me, though, and it quickly became evident that I was no longer just human. My temperature started slowly rising a degree at a time, and I became quicker to anger, snapping at people. Plus, the Cullen family all noticed my scent becoming spicier and deeper.
My scent had initially smelled 'off' to them because of my blood transfusion. Carlisle was stumped because it had gone back to normal after the first 24 hours in the hospital, then it all of a sudden started changing again on the third day. When my temperature rose to over 104 with me not showing any signs of sickness on the 5th day, Carlisle determined that it would be best to get me away from the public eye quickly.
That led us to the day of my hospital release... the 6th day after the accident. Carlisle tried convincing Charlie that I needed to be looked after for a few more weeks after we returned home, but Charlie refused to let me be released into Carlisle's care. It was weird, but he insisted that he had eons of vacation time saved up from the station, right after I mentioned that my nose was burning and my eyes were watering.
I focused on Charlie, noticing a hidden something in his look... something like he knew what was going on with me. I tried to surreptitiously ask Edward what Charlie was thinking, but he gave me the silent code that he couldn't catch Charlie's thoughts right now. I understood, because he had told me before that Charlie's thoughts were often like white noise to him.
We ended up flying together back to Seattle, but that was where Charlie told me to bid the Cullens goodbye, because we had a lot to work through. I felt absolutely horrible for the nasty things I had said to him when I left, so I didn't even try to argue. I hugged Edward, whispering that I'd call him as soon as the coast was clear. I caught his wince as he let me go, but in the next second, he gave me my favorite smile... only it didn't reach his eyes as it normally would.
As soon as we split from the Cullens, Charlie went to take my bag at the same time as I did, causing our hands to touch. Mine shot away from his much cooler one quickly, hoping he didn't feel how hot I was, but he just took my hand as he said sadly, “I had a feeling when I noticed the other changes, but this confirms it. Come on, Sweetheart... it looks like we have a lot to talk about.”
I was suddenly completely confused -as well as a bit agitated- that he didn't outright tell me he knew something this dramatic about me, so whisper/growled, “Dad?”
He shook his head, whispering in my ear, “It's not safe for me to tell you here, Bells, but I promise I will. Please try to calm down, because anger only makes it happen more quickly. It would be very bad for both of us for it to happen here… with all these people around.”
Taking several calming breaths, I nodded at Charlie, so he quickly guided me to the long-term parking lot. He tossed our bags in the back of the cruiser, then helped to get me settled in the front, saying tenderly, “If I'm right about the progression, you can remove your cast now, Sweetheart. I know it must be driving you crazy.”
I looked at him intently, then asked as I saw the complete truth in his eyes, “How? I...”
He gave me a soft smile, pushing a stray lock behind my ear, “Just use a small bit of your new strength, Bells, like you're trying to gently pry something apart. You'll be able to tear the cast into two sides. Just remember… slow and gentle, only using a fraction of what strength you normally would.”
I nodded, not really thinking it would work, but willing to try anyway. Turning to gain a good position, I did as he suggested, trying to tear the two sides of my cast away from each other. I had barely moved my hands outward an inch when the whole cast practically disintegrated in my hands.
Holy shit, it worked! How in the hell... how strong am I? What am I?
I looked up to Charlie as I dropped the crumbling plaster, my eyes searching his in complete bafflement. He kissed the top of my head in understanding, “Don't be afraid, Bells. I promise to help you understand as soon as we're safe. Please bear with me until I can explain, then I promise to tell you everything.”
I nodded, then brushed my hands clean as I whispered, “Okay, Dad. Can we... maybe get some food soon, please? I feel like I'm starving.”
He nodded while cupping my cheek, “I know, Bells. I promise it won't take long to get where we're going, and everything you need is there. An hour at most. Can you hang on for me that long?”
I groaned, my stomach echoing me, but nodded, “Please, let's just hurry then.” Charlie was around his side of the cruiser in no time, then once we were both buckled up, he quickly got us on the road.
I tried to block everything out as Charlie drove, but my senses were going crazy on me. I could smell Charlie's natural scent, which had always been calming, but also so many other things. Even when I tried to breathe through my mouth, so many scents were battering my senses that it was overwhelming. That didn't even include all of the changes happening to my hearing and sight.
I closed my eyes while trying to cover my ears, but Charlie must have seen because he gently pried my left hand from my ear. He whispered softly, “Here, Sweetheart. Try putting these in to see if it helps a bit. Keep your breathing slow and even, too. It'll be easier to sort through the scents that way, then eliminate the ones that aren't important. I promise we'll be there soon… I'll help you through all this.”
I immediately put the foam earplugs in my ears, then tried to slow my erratic breathing. It wasn't long before I felt Charlie slowing the cruiser, then the distinct feeling of driving off-road. When the car stopped several minutes later, I felt Charlie tap my hand gently, then his hand smoothing my hair. When I turned my head towards him, taking the left earplug out without opening my eyes, he whispered, “We're here, Bells. There are less things to process here, so it shouldn't be as hard on you to acclimate. Less noise than the city, no other people, and not nearly as many lights and things. Just us, the cabin, and nature. Try to open your eyes for me.”
I did, instantly looking around to take everything in. I could see past the car's hood that Charlie was telling the truth. Just a large stone and wood cabin surrounded by trees. Lots and lots of beautiful, strong trees, and owls and crickets and squirrels and deer. There were several more 'ands', but I instinctively inhaled, then groaned as my eyes snapped to something that smelled mouthwatering.
Oh, God... deer. Why did that smell so good? How am I even smelling deer from this distance?
My eyes shot to Charlie's when he chuckled, “Not that it wouldn't taste phenomenal, Bells, but you probably wouldn't take too well to hunting yet. Let's get you inside, then you can eat a big meal while I explain. The hunting will have to wait until you're a bit more prepared.”
I nodded, giving a slightly pained whimper as I took one more longing look at the deer, not understanding any of what I was feeling or wanting. I slowly got out of the cruiser, then followed Charlie into the cabin. It was decorated comfortably, with an open layout, causing me to relax at the soothing feeling it gave me.
Charlie noticed, smiling as he cupped my cheek, “I bought this place after your mom left with you, in case you were to ever need it. There was always the chance that you would go through the change, but she didn't want to believe it. You saw how she tried to ignore the signs in the hospital, then stopped coming all together when they became too apparent for her to ignore. This is the reason. Why don't you go back past the entry and stairs, so you can set your stuff in the master bedroom. It's the door before you get to the exercise room. My room's upstairs, with its own bathroom, so don't worry. I'll get some food heated while you settle in.”
With a silent nod, I did as directed, and retreated to the master bedroom, my head swirling in confusion.
I was recovering in the hospital in Phoenix when it started. I knew it couldn't be James' or Edward's venom, because Carlisle had been checking me constantly to assure all of us that there was no lingering venom. He would lift my wrist when no humans were around, then deeply inhale along my skin to make sure he could not scent any venom. It had been 6 days since he had started his wrist sniffing, and 6 days with absolutely no scent of venom in my veins.
The thing was, once they had me stable and in my own room, things started to slowly change with me... to the point where Carlisle had gotten special permission to take over my case, so that no other doctors or nurses would notice what was happening. It was first noticed when one of the nurses came in to change the dressing on my wrist. The nurse said I must be a fast healer, as the wound was healing at an exceptional rate. Something about it piqued Carlisle's interest because I noticed him gazing at my wrist before his eyes widened.
As soon as the nurse left the room, Carlisle grabbed my wrist gently, then inhaled from my wrist to my elbow. He repeated the process three times, all the while I visibly watched Edward pale and become worried. Finally, Carlisle placed my arm carefully back on the bed, saying aloud, “I don't understand, but I don't detect even a hint of venom, Edward. Whatever is happening, it's not the change... at least not that I can determine right now. I will keep a close eye on her. I believe it would be prudent for me to find a way to take over Bella's case. It would not do well for whatever is happening to alert the nursing staff or doctors.”
Needless to say, Carlisle used his considerable vampire charm to somehow take over my case. There was more happening to me, though, and it quickly became evident that I was no longer just human. My temperature started slowly rising a degree at a time, and I became quicker to anger, snapping at people. Plus, the Cullen family all noticed my scent becoming spicier and deeper.
My scent had initially smelled 'off' to them because of my blood transfusion. Carlisle was stumped because it had gone back to normal after the first 24 hours in the hospital, then it all of a sudden started changing again on the third day. When my temperature rose to over 104 with me not showing any signs of sickness on the 5th day, Carlisle determined that it would be best to get me away from the public eye quickly.
That led us to the day of my hospital release... the 6th day after the accident. Carlisle tried convincing Charlie that I needed to be looked after for a few more weeks after we returned home, but Charlie refused to let me be released into Carlisle's care. It was weird, but he insisted that he had eons of vacation time saved up from the station, right after I mentioned that my nose was burning and my eyes were watering.
I focused on Charlie, noticing a hidden something in his look... something like he knew what was going on with me. I tried to surreptitiously ask Edward what Charlie was thinking, but he gave me the silent code that he couldn't catch Charlie's thoughts right now. I understood, because he had told me before that Charlie's thoughts were often like white noise to him.
We ended up flying together back to Seattle, but that was where Charlie told me to bid the Cullens goodbye, because we had a lot to work through. I felt absolutely horrible for the nasty things I had said to him when I left, so I didn't even try to argue. I hugged Edward, whispering that I'd call him as soon as the coast was clear. I caught his wince as he let me go, but in the next second, he gave me my favorite smile... only it didn't reach his eyes as it normally would.
As soon as we split from the Cullens, Charlie went to take my bag at the same time as I did, causing our hands to touch. Mine shot away from his much cooler one quickly, hoping he didn't feel how hot I was, but he just took my hand as he said sadly, “I had a feeling when I noticed the other changes, but this confirms it. Come on, Sweetheart... it looks like we have a lot to talk about.”
I was suddenly completely confused -as well as a bit agitated- that he didn't outright tell me he knew something this dramatic about me, so whisper/growled, “Dad?”
He shook his head, whispering in my ear, “It's not safe for me to tell you here, Bells, but I promise I will. Please try to calm down, because anger only makes it happen more quickly. It would be very bad for both of us for it to happen here… with all these people around.”
Taking several calming breaths, I nodded at Charlie, so he quickly guided me to the long-term parking lot. He tossed our bags in the back of the cruiser, then helped to get me settled in the front, saying tenderly, “If I'm right about the progression, you can remove your cast now, Sweetheart. I know it must be driving you crazy.”
I looked at him intently, then asked as I saw the complete truth in his eyes, “How? I...”
He gave me a soft smile, pushing a stray lock behind my ear, “Just use a small bit of your new strength, Bells, like you're trying to gently pry something apart. You'll be able to tear the cast into two sides. Just remember… slow and gentle, only using a fraction of what strength you normally would.”
I nodded, not really thinking it would work, but willing to try anyway. Turning to gain a good position, I did as he suggested, trying to tear the two sides of my cast away from each other. I had barely moved my hands outward an inch when the whole cast practically disintegrated in my hands.
Holy shit, it worked! How in the hell... how strong am I? What am I?
I looked up to Charlie as I dropped the crumbling plaster, my eyes searching his in complete bafflement. He kissed the top of my head in understanding, “Don't be afraid, Bells. I promise to help you understand as soon as we're safe. Please bear with me until I can explain, then I promise to tell you everything.”
I nodded, then brushed my hands clean as I whispered, “Okay, Dad. Can we... maybe get some food soon, please? I feel like I'm starving.”
He nodded while cupping my cheek, “I know, Bells. I promise it won't take long to get where we're going, and everything you need is there. An hour at most. Can you hang on for me that long?”
I groaned, my stomach echoing me, but nodded, “Please, let's just hurry then.” Charlie was around his side of the cruiser in no time, then once we were both buckled up, he quickly got us on the road.
I tried to block everything out as Charlie drove, but my senses were going crazy on me. I could smell Charlie's natural scent, which had always been calming, but also so many other things. Even when I tried to breathe through my mouth, so many scents were battering my senses that it was overwhelming. That didn't even include all of the changes happening to my hearing and sight.
I closed my eyes while trying to cover my ears, but Charlie must have seen because he gently pried my left hand from my ear. He whispered softly, “Here, Sweetheart. Try putting these in to see if it helps a bit. Keep your breathing slow and even, too. It'll be easier to sort through the scents that way, then eliminate the ones that aren't important. I promise we'll be there soon… I'll help you through all this.”
I immediately put the foam earplugs in my ears, then tried to slow my erratic breathing. It wasn't long before I felt Charlie slowing the cruiser, then the distinct feeling of driving off-road. When the car stopped several minutes later, I felt Charlie tap my hand gently, then his hand smoothing my hair. When I turned my head towards him, taking the left earplug out without opening my eyes, he whispered, “We're here, Bells. There are less things to process here, so it shouldn't be as hard on you to acclimate. Less noise than the city, no other people, and not nearly as many lights and things. Just us, the cabin, and nature. Try to open your eyes for me.”
I did, instantly looking around to take everything in. I could see past the car's hood that Charlie was telling the truth. Just a large stone and wood cabin surrounded by trees. Lots and lots of beautiful, strong trees, and owls and crickets and squirrels and deer. There were several more 'ands', but I instinctively inhaled, then groaned as my eyes snapped to something that smelled mouthwatering.
Oh, God... deer. Why did that smell so good? How am I even smelling deer from this distance?
My eyes shot to Charlie's when he chuckled, “Not that it wouldn't taste phenomenal, Bells, but you probably wouldn't take too well to hunting yet. Let's get you inside, then you can eat a big meal while I explain. The hunting will have to wait until you're a bit more prepared.”
I nodded, giving a slightly pained whimper as I took one more longing look at the deer, not understanding any of what I was feeling or wanting. I slowly got out of the cruiser, then followed Charlie into the cabin. It was decorated comfortably, with an open layout, causing me to relax at the soothing feeling it gave me.
Charlie noticed, smiling as he cupped my cheek, “I bought this place after your mom left with you, in case you were to ever need it. There was always the chance that you would go through the change, but she didn't want to believe it. You saw how she tried to ignore the signs in the hospital, then stopped coming all together when they became too apparent for her to ignore. This is the reason. Why don't you go back past the entry and stairs, so you can set your stuff in the master bedroom. It's the door before you get to the exercise room. My room's upstairs, with its own bathroom, so don't worry. I'll get some food heated while you settle in.”
With a silent nod, I did as directed, and retreated to the master bedroom, my head swirling in confusion.