world we created, paul lahote

Chapter 09

It was safe to say Lucia was a ball of enthused energy once she settled into the bed of the truck, quite literally bouncing on her toes at the prospect of something so fictional being real. Seven-foot freaking werewolves. Could you believe that? It blew her mind at how something like this was hidden just beneath the noses of so many who knew of Sam and his pack.

Though, she was sympathetic when she learned the fact that the shift was unwilling and that it was seen as a curse to many. One moment, you could be a normal teenager, and the next, you're shifting into a ferocious wolf that towered over most. It was baffling in every sense of the word.

She had come to know both of the boys' names, and Jared was amused enough by Lucia's obvious intrigue to share with her the basics of shifting. He answered all her questions throughout the drive until they reached what Lucia could only assume was Emily's home.

Jared hopped out of the back of the car, his movements agile and swift. Embry followed suit, climbing out of the driver's seat and shutting the door behind him. The two werewolves--shifters, not werewolves--emitted a series of yips to alert Emily of their arrival.

Lucia mimicked Jared's actions, her sneakers landing on the gravel beneath her feet with a crunch. She had opted to wait for Bella, unsure of how her cousin would respond to the sudden changes though she assumed quite well. She couldn't believe how much Bella kept from Charlie. A secret so large that the worries about school and exams seemed small in comparison. Lucia shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket, her eyes fixated on the cabin, waiting for Bella to join her outside the truck.

"Hey, I think we should go back and see if Jacob's okay," Bella suggested as she rolled down the window.

"I hope Paul sinks some teeth in him. Serves him right," Jared stated, uncaring for how abnormal it sounded to the two girls. Bella responded with a frown while Lucia still attempted to wrap her head around the fact that the supernatural was real.

"No way, Jacob's a natural. You see him phase on the fly? I got five says Paul doesn't touch him," he retorted before he turned their attention back towards the two girls. "Come on in, guys. We won't bite."

Jared glanced at Embry with a scoff. "Speak for yourself."

Bella took a moment before stepping out of the truck and shutting the door behind her. She positioned herself beside Lucia, offering a small, albeit awkward, smile that conveyed reassurance. Lucia wasn't the least bit frazzled like her cousin. She would rather try her luck with the shifters than the vampires she found out her cousin loved. Yes, Jared told her. Edgar freaking Carson is a vampire.

"Oh, hey, about Emily, Sam's fiancée. Don't stare. It bugs Sam," Embry informed them as they approached the home, the shallow steps creaking quietly beneath their weight. The shifter didn't wait for their response before turning to enter the house.

"Why would we stare?"

With Bella leading the way, she entered the house first and paused by the door frame. Lucia gently nudged her forward so that she too could enter the house which was warm and inviting once she stepped inside--a true embodiment of what one could only describe as home. The cosy furniture, the soft lighting, and the personal touches scattered throughout created a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Lucia directed her gaze to the woman who had her back turned to them once she was done, the timing seemingly perfect as she turned, revealing jagged scars that lined the right side of her face. The scars started from her temple and traced their way down to her chin. It was a sight that made Lucia understand why it bothered Sam so much. After she watched Jacob and Paul shift before her eyes, the realisation hit her like a punch in the gut. Despite how magnificent they looked from afar, the shifters were just that: predators. This scar, the mark that marred the woman's pretty face, was undoubtedly Sam's doing.