The Phantom Wolf

Chapter 76 (Hybrid's Drink Blood)

*3rd Person POV*

Two days have passed since Bree and Pearl left to retrieve food for the Cullens. Bella's condition had grown worse. No longer able to keep any solid food down, the supernatural group had grown increasingly worried. Not only for the human, but for their youngest member as well.

Bree hasn't spoken a word to anyone since the incident. In fact, she's barely responded at all. No matter what the family try, she has remained unresponsive and practically motionless.

The only thing Bree would do, of her own free will, was stick to Jasper's side like glue.

Out of everyone in the family, aside from Pearl, Bree had the strongest bond with the Texan vampire. As soon as the two met, they bonded over their shared struggles regarding human blood and their adaptation to the animal diet. Much how like Emmet adopted Pearl as his little sister, Jasper did the same thing, but with Bree instead. The two of them found comfort in the other's presence, and had learnt to count on each other for help.

So with everything Bree now felt, her immediate instinct was to stay by her brothers side.

Jasper did his best to help Bree. He used his gift to try and ease her emotional pain, but unfortunately, he wasn't able to do much. He still did his best to help, regardless of how useless his efforts may have seemed.

The coven sat down in a fairly open room. Bella had just admitted to feeling cold, so Jacob moved over to her and sat beside the human. Effectively using his body as a heater to warm her up. She smiled at his actions.

"Don't do that." Jacob says.

"What?" Bella weakly questions.

"Smile at me like I'm your favourite person in the world." He explains.

"You're one of them. It feels complete when you're here Jake." Bella exclaims quietly.

Suddenly Bella lurched forwards and emptied out what little was in her stomach, into Edward's already awaiting trashcan.

The coven watched Bella with sadness in their eyes. Bree was the only one who showed no reaction to what had just happened.

Esme piped up in a concerned tone. "We need to find a way to get some food into her system."

"If only I could see the foetus..." Alice says dejectedly.

"The baby." Rosalie interrupts in a stern but gentle tone.

Alice continues, "... maybe I could figure out what it wants."

The group sat in silence for a moment, trying to come up with a solution.

Edward looked over at Jacob and spoke up. "I think you might be right. Jacob just had an idea."

"It wasn't an idea. It was a snide comment." Said Jacob.

"What were you thinking?" Carlisle asked.

"That it's probably just looking for someone to sink its teeth into." Jacob replied.

The realisation hit them all at the same time. Many of the coven members had to swallow down some venom that had built up in their throats at the mention of blood.

"He's thirsty." Bella said in a tired voice.

"Of course. Pearl had to drink blood and eat human food to stay happy, and in control." Carlisle exclaimed, making the comparison between the two.

Upon hearing her mates name, Bree lifted her head off of Jasper's shoulder and faced the coven leader with expectant eyes.

Jasper quickly sent a glare to his father figure. Then he got up from the stool he was sitting on, and pulled Bree along with him by the hand. Jasper lead the young vampire out of the room.

Carlisle watched the two leave with an apologetic look on his face and sighed. Then, in a calm voice, he announced, "I have some O negative laid aside for Bella." Carlisle left the room to go and retrieve some.

At the mention of blood, Emmet turned his head towards where the blonde doctor last stood. Rosalie nodded towards her mate and gestured to the door that Jasper and Bree had left through earlier.

Emmet sighed and complied with the silent request. Rising from his seat, he walked out of the room to find the Texan and his other adopted sister.

A few minutes later Carlisle returned and started pouring blood into a styrofoam cup.

"Wait, wait, wait. You're gonna make her drink that?" Jacob asked in disbelief and disgust. Upon seeing what Carlisle was doing.

"It's the fastest way to test the theory." Carlisle replied.

"Only if you're comfortable with it." Edward told Bella.

"I'll try anything." Bella tiredly responded.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Jacob exclaimed as he moved away from Bella's side and shivered at the thought of what she was about to do.

Edward took the cup from Carlisle and brought it over to his wife. He gave it to her and she gingerly took a sip from it.

"It's good." Bella said. Everyone around her looked relieved. Except Jacob, he appeared utterly disgusted while he watched Bella drink the rest of the cup.

Over the next two days, Carlisle incorporated blood into Bella's diet. Because of it, Bella's condition was able to improve. Unfortunately, the amount of blood bags the vampires had in their possession was limited, and the number that they had on hand, was drastically running out.

When Edward took the last portion of blood to Bella, he overheard her conversation with Charlie. He could hear the frustration and worry in the chief's voice, as Bella announced that they were extending their 'trip' yet again.

After Bella hung up the phone, Edward approached her and sincerely apologised for leaving her alone to deal with all of this. After a small conversation, it was revealed to the couple that Edward could now hear their child's thoughts. For the first time since this baby's creation, the young couple felt true happiness and connection with each other.

Meanwhile, in another room, the situation regarding the now depleted blood supply was being discussed. Jacob, Carlisle and Esme had come to the conclusion that the two parental figures of the coven, plus Emmet, had to leave that night to not only hunt, but also to retrieve more blood for Bella. Jacob makes the decision to distract the Uley pack to give the Cullens a chance to escape.