Touch The Soul | P. LAHOTE

John 4:18

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love"

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"Is your prejudice grounded in history or loyalty?" Mary asked as she followed behind Paul. It had been five days since she arrived at the rez and it was the only time of the week no wolf patrolled. Their treaty with the Cullens held true and allowed themselves a day of rest from dealing with Forks' 'vampire infestation' (as the pack referred to it and Mary noted).

"Is there a difference?" the wolf scoffed, his mind guarded against Mary's allure. However, in the week since her welcome, the vampire could sense a mysterious air surrounding Paul; it was a mystery she intended to solve. She quickly denied it was out of personal interest, more for the benefit of her report.

"To elaborate, hate rooted in loyalty disregards the history of your people, your prejudice towards cold ones based solely on your devotion to protecting the tribe against the current threat I present. But, hate rooted in history would be felt toward all cold ones, including the Cullens, based upon the legends told by the Quileutes- on generations of their experiences. Does your hate derive from your personal beliefs or those instilled by your people?" Mary carefully worded her query.

In the silence, the forest surrounding them whistled with a wind that gently caressed the trees, delicate and wistful like a lover's embrace. It was almost peaceful and was littered with traces of life. Unlike on Cullen land, the woodland surrounding the rez was full of animals of all kinds. Here they were free from the predator lurking over the territory line.

"Does it matter whether it's history or loyalty? Both lead to hate, justified I might add" Paul sharply pointed.

Mary contemplated the question, "Yes, it does matter. Your answer would explain the intolerance you display toward me"

"If that's all you wanted to know you could've got straight to the point-" the wolf huffed, "I despise you- you, because for however long you've lived you've killed thousands in cold blood"

"You assume I enjoy the act of killing to survive?"

"Don't all leeches" he shrugged, but this time his face turned back to capture Mary's expression, goading a response that would lead to an inevitable conflict. Yet, the emotion Paul caught marring the vampire's features was deep shame accented by rounded shoulders and a lowered head.

"Emily never told you," Mary quietly realized, almost to herself, her head bobbing delicately in an attempt to soothe herself. It was with a deep, unneeded sigh that Mary finally raised her beady, red eyes toward the man before her.

"Emily isn't one to gossip" Paul informed the vampire.

For less than a second, Mary captured a flash of his scrunched brow- almost drawn in a confusing show of pity. The wolf almost appeared warring with himself as he fought to keep his emotions buried beneath his hard and hot-headed disposition.

"No, it appears she does not. And to ameliorate your assumption of me... no, I do not take joy out of feeding as I do. I am enslaved to a bloodlust so palpable there are little words to describe it" Mary shamefully admitted and if her heart could beat, (pumping blood to flush her cheeks a bright red) it surely would've in that moment.

"Why do you do it then?" Paul couldn't help but ask, his tone still twisted with a sharp edge.

"You allow the Cullens to remain in Forks and only created the treaty due to their abnormal diet, correct?"