The Phantom Wolf

Chapter 90 (Brotherly Advice)

*3rd Person POV*

Bree ran ahead in the forest for quite some time, with Pearl running behind her trying to get her attention. But the hybrid was being blatantly ignored by the young vampire.

"Oh come on Bree! Quit ignoring me!" Pearl shouted to her imprint.

Bree continued running until she reached a small field. Where she then turned around to face Pearl.

Thinking that Bree was finally going to converse with her, Pearl stopped in front of her imprint to speak. Except, she was unable to get a word out as Bree spoke very harshly towards her instantly after Pearl had stopped.

"Leave, Pearl. I don't want to talk to you right now."

"What?" Pearl questions, confused. Getting concerned, Pearl persists and asks, "What's wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen?"

Bree snarls at Pearl, silencing the hybrid immediately. "Just go away." Bree grits out between her teeth.

Pearl steps forward, worry and pain in her eyes. She starts speaking softly, hoping to comfort her obviously distressed imprint. "Bree I-"

Bree screams at her in anger, cutting Pearl off. "Just leave me the fuck alone!"

Instantly stepping back, Pearl gives Bree some more space. She looks at her imprint with a heartbroken expression, before obeying Bree's wishes and quickly runs back home.

Once Pearl was out of sight, Bree broke down into dry sobs. Clenching her fists tightly, Bree stared at the ground with venom pooling in her eyes as sounds of distress came from the young vampire.

*Time Skip*

Sitting on the couch next to Emmet, Pearl was getting absolutely annihilated in Smash Bros. The hybrid was unable to focus on the game she was supposed to be playing with her brother, because she couldn't tare her thoughts away from Bree and her well-being.

'What's going on with her?' Pearl wondered sadly.

Noticing Pearl's spaced off look that was paired with a deep frown, Emmet paused the game. As it was clear to him that something was on her mind.

'Did I do something wrong?' She questioned herself, thinking over everything that had happened since she woke up the second time.

Emmet cleared his throat to get Pearl's attention. Once her eyes laid on his figure, he asked her, "What's up?"

Pearl shrugged, not wanting to talk about it and burden him.

Emmet nudged her with his arm and persisted, "I'm serious Pearl. What's going on?"

Making eye contact with her adoptive brother, Pearl broke and decided to confide in him about her concerns and worries regarding Bree. "Bree's been acting really weird. She's like, been super cold to me, and she's actively avoiding me as well. I tried to talk to her about it earlier, but I barely got any words out before she practically bit my head off." Pearl rushed her words out. Desperately wanting some insight and answers that would explain Bree's actions.

Emmet hummed at first, then carefully said, "Well, she's gone through a lot as of late. I guess she's just trying to deal with it all."

"What do you mean?" Pearl inquired.

Emmet raised an eyebrow. "You died. We all thought you were dead. Bree felt the mate bond snap when your heart stopped beating." He said pointedly.

Pearl was silent while she slowly took in and registered the information. "... what?" She mumbled after a while. "You all thought I was dead?" She questioned quietly.

"You were. Your heart stopped. That's basically the definition of being dead." Emmet replied seriously.

Working up the courage, Pearl eventually asked, "What happened? When I was out there... what happened here, with all of you?"

Emmet frowned when he recalled those longs days. Pearl nudged his arm gently with her elbow, and gave him a pleading look.

"Please Emmet. I need to know." Pearl begged her big brother.

He sighed, and answered her question after taking a moment to compose himself. "Bree went into a catatonic like state because of the shock the loss of the mate bond caused. At least, that's what Carlisle says happened. She stayed with Jasper the whole time, she was practically glued to his side. He was trying to use his gift to help her, but to my knowledge, he wasn't able to do much." He spoke in a defeated tone.

Pearl looked distraught, and after a minute, she quietly questioned, "... and the rest of you?"

Emmet huffed, but still enlightened her. "We weren't much better. All of us just tried to distract ourselves as much as we could. And as soon as it was suggested to go and get more blood, I immediately volunteered. I wanted to beat the hell out of those mutts for what they did." He let out a low growl as he was speaking.

Pearl placed her hand on Emmet's arm, trying to comfort and calm him down, but being unable to find the right words to respond with. Emmet smiled softly at her, then continued speaking.

"Of course, Carlisle wanted to solve this as peacefully as possible. So I wasn't permitted to give them what they deserved, until they directly attacked and engaged with us. Even then, we were only supposed to use self defence." Emmet let out a sigh, and then muttered, "He didn't want to lose anyone else."

Pearl nodded her head sombrely, and whispered, "It makes sense. Carlisle will forever be the peacemaker. I can't blame him for wanting to avoid a fight."

Emmet made a noise of understanding, but still looked a bit resentful of Carlisle's decision.

After 5 minutes of silence, Pearl apologised under her breath. Emmet looked to her in surprise and waited for her to clarify.

Speaking softly, she said, "I'm sorry I put up you guys through that. All I wanted to do was try and help. I didn't mean to hurt you guys."

Emmet gave her a caring brotherly smile and spoke in a reassuring manner. "You don't have to apologise Pearl. You were protecting the family, we all know that. I'm just glad you're still alive." He said with relief in his tone, and pulled Pearl in for a strong hug, which she instantly reciprocated.

"I think if you are going to apologise to anyone though, it should be to Bree. She took your 'death', harder than anyone." Emmet informed the hybrid as they separated from the embrace.

Pearl nodded and made her way towards the door, before leaving through it, she spoke softly, "Thanks Emmet."

"Anytime Pearl." He responded with a big warm smile.

Pearl smiled back, and left to go and locate Bree, determined to talk to her and make this right.

As she left the property border while tracking Bree's scent, she missed Jacob Black pulling into the driveway with a goofy smile plastered on his face. As well as the thunderous look Edward gave him after reading his thoughts.