The Phantom Wolf

Chapter 63 (Hurtful Words)

*3rd Person POV*

"What?" Bree said, questioning the hybrid.

"Why on earth would you guys think that my existence will have any sort of relation to this?" Pearl asked in disbelief.

"You're a hybrid. That's the best comparison we've got." Bree replied like it was obvious. Bella and Rosalie both nodded at her words.

"I'm a shifter. I was bitten by a vampire. I shouldn't be alive. And I'm hardly the most balanced person you've met." Pearl argued, in a frustrated tone. Hiding the hurt she was truly feeling.

"Pearl..." Bella quietly spoke, preparing to reason with her.

"No Bella. This is not the same situation. We have no idea what this child will even be like. And right now, you three, are the only ones that care about that. The rest of us are much more focused on the fact that you likely won't survive. Don't use my existence to justify your death." Pearl argued, in a deceptively calm voice. Masking her real emotions.

"She's not going to die!" Bree yelled at Pearl in frustration.

Pearl took a small step away from Bree. Surprised and hurt from being yelled at by her imprint.

"You need to have a bit more faith!" Bree argued, then continued with, "It will all work out if we're all on the same side!"

"But we're not, are we!?" Alice shouted. "You're all for the foetus' survival! You're completely neglecting Bella's chance at life!"

Pearl ignored Alice's outburst and replied to Bree, before Bree had a chance to yell at Alice. "This is hardly the time for a positive out look Bree. We need to be more realistic. Right now, this 'baby' is killing Bella."

"We don't know that!" Bree shouted angrily at both Pearl and Alice.

Pearl looked away from her imprint and muttered quietly. "It's pretty obvious, at this point."

Edward moved to stand beside Pearl and spoke. "Bella. Venom can't heal everything. What if your heart gives out because of that thing? What then? Vampire venom can't spread throughout the body without a beating heart."

"You don't know that they will kill me." Bella stated firmly.

"I can't see your future!" Alice screamed out in frustration.

"That is a pretty good indicator that you're gonna die. Unless for some reason, you wolf out and become a shifter." Jasper said. Taking a subtle jab at the shifter species for being immune to Alice's visions.

"Could Pearl being here be interfering with that?" Rosalie pointedly asked.

Alice quickly shook her head, denying it. "Pearl is a vampire too. I can see her future. It's just a little more fuzzy than others and a little harder to grasp onto, at first."

During this conversation, Bree glared at Pearl. She wanted the hybrid to defend them and support their idea. The fact that Pearl didn't agree with them was quite irritating for the young vampire.

Pearl kept her head down, lost in her thoughts. She couldn't believe it. They thought that her mere presence was enough to say everything would be fine? What happens if Bella does die? Or the baby has no control? Will she be blamed? Would they put that on her? Just for existing outside of the norm. And Bree fully supports and believes this. How could she think that this will be okay? No one knows anything about her anatomy. How could her body be used as a reason, an example? They're two very different circumstances. No similarities between them? Why? Why would Bella believe so strongly, that the baby will be similar to her? What gave Bella that idea?

Pearl's thoughts were interrupted by Rosalie's angry voice.

"It doesn't matter whether you can see Bella's future or not. Bella wants to keep her baby, and that is what she is going to do!" Rosalie declared.

"At the cost of her life?!" Edward yelled out.

"If that is what it takes." Bella quietly mumbled.

Edward stared at Bella in disbelief, then stormed out of the room, not saying another word. Esme and Carlisle quickly followed him out to make sure that he wouldn't do anything rash. Ever since Edward went to the Volturi to die, the two parental figures of the coven, had become much more attentive to their children's feelings. And right now, with the way Edward was acting, they believed that it would be safer for everyone, if he had someone to keep an eye on him.

Alice looked at Bella with a heartbroken expression, and soon left the living room through another door. Jasper went with her to comfort his mate.

Emmet moved to stand next to Pearl. Seeing her hunched shoulders and lowered chin, he knew that she was still upset and he wanted to help her however he could. He did understand his mate's passion for this child, but he too, found it difficult to understand their reasoning behind this.

Pearl took one last look at Bree, who mind you, was still glaring at her, then silently walked out of the living room towards her own bedroom. Emmet trailed behind her, and watched as a tear fell down her cheek when the two were out of sight.

Emmet pulled his hybrid sister into a strong hug, and let her cry silently onto his chest.