Chapter 15

It was halfway through the movie when Alice decided she’d prefer for me to be able to talk with her, and I watched her pull out pajama shorts and a shirt and put it on the bed. “It is late after all.” She grinned at me and glanced at my pile of clothes, before patting her own. “Wear these.”

I couldn’t really say anything much, but I shifted part way and watched her eyes widen, while trying not to laugh. “Okay.” I managed a roughly growled word, thinking that the clothes smelled like Alice and that was no hardship. I didn’t let myself wonder why a vampire had pajamas, I just picked up the shirt with my clawed hand and held it over a chest that was furry and wide. It looked like a doll shirt up against me in my halfway form.

Alice’s laugh was beautiful as she watched me, and I grinned, ignoring that that could look like a threat to her. She just smiled back. “Or I could find Emmett’s shirt?”

“I’ll change.” I couldn’t really relax in this halfway form and I did want to spend more time with her. I waited for her to slip outside and close the door, before shifting back and holding the now, more reasonably sized shirt up. It would fit, mostly. I pulled it on and found myself tugging at the hem of it, but it was just short.

“Oh, you should have seen it Carlisle, she shifted part way and she almost reached my ceiling.” Alice sounded excited and I smiled as I pulled my own underwear back on. I wasn’t putting myself, sans underwear, into her shorts. That was just rude.

I wanted to hear what she thought of me, which was my only defense for shifting partly wolf again, just barely. It enhanced my ability to hear. It did some other things as well, but at least with full pants and shirt I didn’t look strange. I stared at the short red hair on my legs with distaste. I looked like I needed a shave. I used this to run faster from my shack to school, because at a human pace that shack was nowhere near a half hour from school.

“Maybe someday she’ll feel more comfortable with us, and I can see this. None of the werewolves we met last time we were here did anything like what I’m hearing about.” Carlisle spoke softer than Alice did, but it wasn’t a strain on my hearing, even from downstairs. I started to pull on the shorts as I listened in on their conversation. “She’s the descendant of one of the wolves that we worked the treaty out with.”

“Bet he didn’t expect that treaty to be taken so to heart.” Emmett’s teasing voice interrupted the conversation. “Diana Dances With Vampires.” He teased, and I did what I could to not laugh.

I looked at the three doors in the bedroom, and I knew which one lead to the hall. I made my way to the other two and opened one, but all I found was the largest walk in closet I could ever imagine. I stared for a moment, before closing it and trying door number two. It was a bathroom. They at least had them. Alice hopefully wouldn’t mind if I used it for what bathrooms were meant for. I took a sniff and found no evidence that vampires used toilets, but I really did need to go.

“God, you stink.” Rosalie’s voice carried just a bit easier than the others, and I frowned at her talking to Alice that way.

“I like how she smells.” Alice’s voice was cold in response. “Stop insulting her, she doesn’t do that to you.”

I found it a bit hard to sit down on the toilet at that moment, listening to the tension in the other room, but I couldn’t believe that Rosalie would actually hurt Alice if things escalated. I sat down slowly, but relaxing took a bit of time. Clearly they couldn’t remember I wasn’t human in some ways, or they’d know I was able to hear all of this.

“That wolf is going to get us killed, either by snapping or her old pack will object to her spending so much time with us and claim the treaty is void.” Rosalie was clearly a worrier, but I didn’t sense any danger like that. I took a moment to let the thought of the pack fill my mind, but I still didn’t feel imminent danger.

“She won’t snap.” Alice spoke firmly. I finished up and hoped that the toilet worked as I flushed it. It probably had never been flushed before.

“What about her pack?” Rosalie pushed and I hated to draw attention to the fact I could hear this, so I turned the water on to wash my hands, and just listened harder to hear over the water.

“What they do is not her fault, they drove her away.” Alice defended me and I just loved her more for that. I still had no idea how to tell her she was my mate, and I’d never love anyone else. It would just sound like blackmail, but even without my imprinting, if I’d gotten to know her like this, I think I would have fallen for her. Even as a human, she would have had to have impressed me. I dried my hands on the towel.

As I stepped back into her bedroom, Alice was walking in as well. I knew she’d been downstairs, but wasn’t sure if I should admit I’d heard that argument.

“Ready for the rest of the movie?” Alice smiled and hit play again. I watched her take her place on her bed again and moved to get back on it. I was pretty sure I didn’t have a license to cuddle in my human form, so I just sat back against the pillow and wall, not touching her, but wishing I could.

It was an old movie, and I had seen it before, so my mind wandered easily. “She’s after the wrong man, and I’m glad she’s waking up.” Alice muttered, about the movie and I focused on it again.

I stayed quiet for a little while, feeling the opportunity to bring up other important conversations, but unsure if I should just yet. “Humans aren’t very good at relationships.” I spoke softly, considering this. “They can’t tell who their mate really is, so it isn’t all their fault. Wolves do it better.”

The vampire next to me turned to give me a questioning stare. I felt jittery, as I struggled to decide if I should continue, but it was our first night we’d been alone together. That was too soon, wasn’t it? “Wild wolves select one mate and even if their mate dies, they never move on.” I told her, feeling a bit cowardly as I left out werewolves completely. “There is no divorce, no dating around, they just know.”

“Even vampires don’t have that.” Alice sighed softly, and I felt a bit confused at her tone, but I didn’t ask. I pretended to watch the movie.

We were halfway through the second movie when I closed my eyes, feeling the tired burning in my eyeballs. I took slow breaths, and sound faded in and out, telling me I was just seconds from falling asleep. Soft touches to my hair made me smile as I started to fade faster. “Sleep, I’ll watch over you.” Alice’s voice was so quiet I wasn’t sure I didn’t imagine it.

The sun light warmed my skin and I felt the soft bed underneath me. My eyes flew open, as I hadn’t slept as a human in months, and I didn’t own a bed. “It’s okay.” I heard Alice’s voice and I looked up, only to be stunned by her. The sunlight was streaming onto the bed and her skin seemed to sparkle. She smiled at me and I just stared, as the sunlight shimmered on her skin, making her look mythical and magical. “You fell asleep.” She leaned back and the sunlight no longer reached her.

“Ah,” I was still a bit startled by what sunlight really did to vampires. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.” Alice grinned at me. “Esme is busy making you breakfast. I think it might actually be enough for three werewolves, so good luck.”

I blushed, but it was nice that Esme cared. She just needed to learn how much a person could eat. Still, a real breakfast sounded great. I never had much for that, if anything at all. “I guess I should get up and get dressed then.” I said, as I sat up and ran a hand through my hair. It probably looked like hell.

Alice moved to the door. “I’m fixing your hair after you eat, so don’t even think of an excuse.” She grinned and slipped out and I sighed. It wouldn’t be bad, but I’d have to watch myself or she’d see I was one of those wolves I talked about last night.

I ran my fingers through my hair to clean it up a little and put the clothes on from yesterday, rather than go through the bags. The smell of pancakes and eggs reached me and I took a deep breath, ignoring the scent of vampires to enjoy it. I was getting better at filtering out that scent.

I was at the top of the stairs when I saw Esme stop her progress up them. The vampire was only two steps up. “I was coming to get you.” Esme smiled gently. “I made you breakfast.”

“It smells great.” I told her and watched her beam from the compliment. I had no idea how food smelled to them, but she seemed rather reassured by my comment.

Emmett’s voice was booming from the living room as I started down the stairs, and I stopped, my eyes widened as I heard his words. “You let that werewolf sleep in your bed all night, Alice, that’s downright cruel. What’s your husband going to do when it’s play time, plug his noise?” He laughed, but I felt dizzy and sick. My mate, MINE!, my heart cried out, and tears filled my eyes.

I raced past Esme, who looked concerned and I just couldn’t stay, I threw the door open and I ran. My heart was breaking, and I think I heard Jasper scream out in pain. I heard Esme yell after me and I heard thunder for some reason, but I shifted and the clothes I wore tore, as I built up more speed on four feet. I had no ideas how many bushes and trees were mowed down, because I felt the impact, but the tears in my eyes made it hard to see.

She wasn’t ever going to be mine.

Chapter 16

I barely remembered running back to the shack, and I didn’t have it in me to care if anyone saw a large wolf as I made it here. Part of that might have been the lack of a ‘feeling’ there was that type of trouble. I shifted at the doorway and made my way to the cushion in the corner I used for my bed, my legs barely lifting in the effort.

I hurt, my eyes ached. I collapsed on the bed and curled up, all in human form. My arms wrapped around me in a sad impression of comforting, and I rocked quickly on the ground. I could hear myself whimpering, but I couldn’t stop it. I had lost everything, my pack, my family, and now the vampire that held half my soul. I couldn’t imagine what else I could lose, I had nothing, no one.

The smell of vampire as the door opened caused me to growl. I watched the door open slowly and then the brunette head look around it at me, growling the entire time, until I saw her eyes. Esme’s eyes were sad and compassionate. “Diana.” Esme moved slowly, stepping into my shack, barely looking away from me, but her eyes saddened even more with the quick glance around. “Oh Diana. You live here.” She barely whispered.

I flinched as she rushed to me, and she ignored my warning growls to pull me into a hug. My body went rigid as her cold arms wrapped around me. Slowly I leaned into her shoulder and a shudder went through me, then another. “Shh darling.” Esme started to pet my hair and I clutched her to me, her scent lightly burning my nose, but I just tried not to breath too much.

“Why?” My voice was rough and teary. Why would I want someone I could never have? Why did this have to happen to me? I couldn’t speak more, to explain, because I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be understandable, breathing was getting hard and I instead spent a few moments trying to get some control over my pain.

“Oh Diana,” Esme’s voice was soft, gentle. It kind of reminded me of my own mom, which was a bad thought to have when I was barely able to not cry. “I never expected this.” Esme whispered while caressing my hair. “You fell for Alice, didn’t you?” I felt her shift and heard the soft sound of fabric on the floor, before she pulled my blanket around my shoulders, wrapping me up. I had forgotten I was naked, I spent lots of time that way. My face reddened as I pulled away from her and held the blanket tightly closed. I didn’t really want to answer her question, I felt like I’d have to explain if I did. Esme just watched me, clearly waiting for me to speak. I blushed harder and tugged at the blanket, trying to get it to cover me even more.

“I’m gonna get dressed,” I finally whispered, pulling away from her. I could hear her intake of breath when I pulled out my bag of clothes, making it so very clear that I did live in this broken down shack. I slipped into the other room, but the door wasn’t there anymore. I just moved out of sight and let the blanket drop, pulling on some jeans and a tshirt. I didn’t have shoes, so I didn’t bother with socks either. Dressed I stood there, out of Esme’s sight, praying for a miracle, that would make this not hurt so much.

Esme was standing in the middle of the room when I returned, her eyes taking in the sunlight that came through the walls. “I couldn’t get a job that would pay enough for me to live in a real place. This is closer to where the food supply is, I don’t have to hide that I hunt for my food here.” My head bowed in shame, knowing how nice her home was.

“Oh dear, you shouldn’t have to live like this.” Esme’s voice was so soft. I risked looking up at her, and her eyes were full of concern. “and I will talk with you about this, but not right now.” Esme sighed. “Emmett didn’t mean to be cruel. He didn’t know you had feelings for Alice.”

My back tensed up as the topic I most wanted to avoid came up yet again. Cool hands rested on my shoulders after a moment and I looked up. I had no idea what to say. Esme just pulled me into a hug and I found her scent less unpleasant than it had been, as I just let her hold me.

I stiffened a few minutes later as I heard branches and footsteps approaching my home. “Esme?” A worried sounding male voice spoke up. There were several vampires outside, I started to be able to scent them in the air that blew through my walls.

“Diana wouldn’t hurt her.” Alice’s voice made my heart ache, as she apparently defended me from some accusation.

“I wouldn’t you know.” I looked into Esme’s gentle eyes, thinking of the fact I was created to kill creatures like her. I could never do it. I wondered if even if I’d never met her if I could of. Esme’s compassion was always in her eyes, and I don’t think I would have ever been able to see a monster there.

Esme smiled softly at me and caressed my hair, before wiping tears off of my cheeks. “I wouldn’t have come alone if I thought you might.”

I stared at the wall, smelling vampires getting closer still, and smelling Alice. “I can’t do this.” I whispered to Esme, turning my eyes to plead with her. “Make them go away.”

“Emmett probably wants to apologize.” Esme tried to explain, but I turned to glare at the wall, and growled low and dangerously. “Diana.” Esme spoke a bit more sharply. I growled louder, shifting partly to get it deeper.

“Make them go away.” I hissed at Esme. Rosalie would probably say something cruel and I just couldn’t deal with that now.

Esme just stared at me for a bit too long, looking displeased, before nodding. She walked away from me, to the door and I waited, listening hard, as she left and I could hear whispers in the woods. A voice was rising, but they were trying to keep too quiet for me now.

The smell of vampires started to fade, but the sweet aroma of Alice was still there. I found myself breathing more quickly, my fists clenching helplessly, as I heard the footsteps on leaves, coming closer to the shack.

That’s also how I could tell that Esme was still outside, but she wasn’t coming closer, her scent didn’t fade like the others.

The door to the shack opened and Alice stood there, the sunlight framing her, and there was no smile on her face. She tilted her head and stared at me while stepping inside. “I saw this meadow, it was the house I couldn’t see.” She spoke quietly, glancing around for just a moment. Her voice became a whisper. “Did you smell Jasper on my bed?” My eyes widened as I thought about that. I hadn’t. “We are still rather close, but we split up months ago. Emmett is convinced it’s just a little lover’s spat, like he and Rose have, but I didn’t see myself with Jasper anymore.” Alice took a deep breath. “I’m sorry Emmett upset you. It isn’t widely known that Jasper and I divorced, we hadn’t wanted Esme to worry. We still pretend to be together at school, because Jasper wouldn’t handle it well if the girls there started to try and get close to him. He’s not as used to being around humans as the rest of us.”

“You’re,” I found myself stammering, “not married?” Alice gave me a sad smile and shook her head no. I felt dizzy, and had to start breathing again. I’d not even noticed myself stopping.

“I want to date you.” I spoke quickly, forcing myself to try and lay a claim before anyone else did, or before Jasper woke up and tried to fight for her. I couldn’t even understand giving her up, but then, I was incapable of that. I looked around at the shack, feeling shame. “I won’t always be poor.”

“You really aren’t like the other werewolves, are you?” Alice spoke softly. “Why would you even want to try?”

“Because, nothing else will ever make sense to me. Not like you do.” I spoke softly, aching to touch her, to show her I could be tender and gentle, as well as a warrior that could protect her if I needed to.

“Oh, that was a nice line.” Alice smiled at me. “Worthy of at least a date.” I smiled back, but it wasn’t a line. It was the absolute truth.

Chapter 17

“Can you come back to the house?” Alice asked softly, and I wanted to say yes, but I wasn’t so sure I was emotionally in control enough just yet. It had been a hard morning, and I didn’t want to change involuntarily again, not near Rosalie or Emmett, or Jasper. I had no idea how to respond to Jasper, but if he got territorial I might well try to kill him. My expression must have said no, because Alice seemed to deflate.

“I think it might be better for me to stay away today, maybe do some hunting.” I spoke softly, hoping she’d see I wasn’t rejecting her.

“I had plans for us today.” Alice protested and I grimaced.

I had that warning feeling that told me Alice’s plans for me weren’t a good idea. I suspected it would be because of me. “I can’t, not today.” I swallowed hard and looked away from her. “I promise to never hurt your family Alice, but in order for me to keep that promise, sometimes I need to just not be near them.”

I tensed up, when she moved, but my heart thumped in shock as she hugged me. I’d just said I could be a danger to the people she cared about and she hugged me. My eyes widened as I stared down at her dark hair and slowly I put my arms around her.

“You need to hunt.” She pulled back and I was mesmerized by her eyes staring at me. “I do understand.” I had the feeling she didn’t really. I just needed to calm down, but I just sighed at her willingness to try and understand. Hunting wasn’t as desperately important to me as it was to her, not in the same way.

My mouth moved before my brain even realized I was about to speak. “You’re so amazing.” I whispered, and then blushed once I realized what I’d said. Alice’s smile was somewhat reassuring that I wasn’t moving too fast.

“After you’ve hunted, I want to see you again.” Alice moved a step further away and I missed her already.

I felt awkward leaving, and I took my clothes off past the tree line so I wasn’t visible from my shack. Alice had stayed and I hadn’t known what to do or say as she encouraged me to go, clearly intending to stay herself. I felt embarrassed that I had nothing of any interest for her in my home, that she’d see the hole in the roof, or the floor. That shack never had a real bathroom, being too old for plumbing like that. The remains of the outhouse had been destroyed decades ago.

I shifted to wolf and as I moved further into the forest I could smell Esme. I glanced over to see her standing under a tree, staring at me. I felt a bit self conscious as she nodded to me, not coming closer, and then glanced back at the shack. I had the feeling Esme wasn’t sure who to go to, me or Alice.

I didn’t smell her as I moved further to try and find something to refill my stock of meat. I took in the sounds of the forest and slowly the tension I felt started to fade. I loved the woods, the lack of cars and buildings, the sounds of life. They made me feel like a part of nature, more so than I ever felt a part of humanity. This is what I needed, not the hunt per se.

I wasn’t sure how long it took me to find a decent sized catch, but I was carrying it home when I heard that I still had two vampires in my shack. “It just isn’t structurally sound, the only way to fix this place would be to tear it down and rebuild.” Esme’s voice sounded regretful and I found myself moving more quietly, listening harder.

“This just isn’t right. She had a home, she was going to graduate last year and then her pack did this to her.” Alice sounded frustrated. I carefully lowered the deer to the ground, and glanced around for the tree I put my clothes behind. “She told me she didn’t have much of a closet.” Alice’s voice was softer. “She doesn’t even have one at all.”

“Diana?” I heard my named called, and I knew they must have caught my scent. I pulled on my jeans and quickly tugged on a shirt. My feet were rather dirty as I walked barefoot up to my shack. Esme and Alice came out and it felt strange to have people welcoming me home. I did my best to not blush in shame, not wanting them to know I’d heard them talking about my shack.

“Did you have a nice hunt dear?” Esme asked so politely I almost felt like smiling, in spite of the awkwardness.

“It was alright.” I glanced over at my catch. “I think she still has some blood in her if anyone wants it.” I offered, then looked back at the vampires on my porch. They didn’t look too interested in cold blood. “I have to strip the meat and prepare it.”

They actually watched me prep the meat, watched me smoke it. I started to get the impression that I had two vampires because the rest of the coven hadn’t wanted to leave just one with me. At least I had the two I liked the best, but I felt awkward having them see the routines I did to survive in my rather rustic home.

Alice took over the smoking so slowly I was actually surprised when I found myself standing and just watching her. She was doing just fine with it, even though I was pretty sure she’d never done it before.

Esme’s soft stare and light jerk of her head to the side, was a clear summons and I felt a bit nervous following her out of sight of my home made smoking station. “Diana, I wanted to talk to you about your living conditions.” My back tensed up at her words and I looked away at the woods, rather than at her. “Even in the time I grew up in we didn’t live this,” Esme paused, “rustically.” I could hear her sigh and her voice grew softer. “I don’t like thinking of you living in this shack. It will fall over with a big gust of wind.”

“It’s a bit stronger than that.” I finally spoke as she left the silence for too long. I looked over at her and the compassion in her eyes was almost too much for me. I whispered as quietly as I could, hoping Alice couldn’t hear it. “I live most of my time as a wolf, it’s good enough for a dog house.”

“But why do you live like that? When we were here last your people were only wolves when they patrolled.” Esme at least spoke as quietly as I did. I sighed, it wasn’t that I wanted to be wolf all the time, it was just better for survival to do it. It wasn’t like I hadn’t learned more about being a wolf, I was a much better werewolf for this. “And I’ve seen better dog houses Diana.”

“I just need to get through this semester and I can look for a better job. I won’t be poor forever.” I spoke a little louder than I wanted to and I flinched, hoping Alice didn’t hear this. I wasn’t as good a mate prospect as I should be, but I was going to change that. I hope she understood that. “Next semester I just need to take one class, I can get a full time job somewhere and still do that.”

Esme’s arms startled me as I was pulled into another hug. “You can’t live here for that long. And where will you live after you get this job?” I growled softly at that question. I didn’t know. If I had to start buying all my meat rather than hunt it, well, the money I made would all go to the store and the town would notice I was buying way too much for one person.

“I’ll be okay. I’d know if I wasn’t.” I finally told Esme, staring her in the eye. “This is just temporary.” Esme looked like she really wanted to say something else, but she just nodded weakly, looking very unhappy. Once I’d earned my place in her pack, perhaps then I could accept the help she obviously wanted to offer, but until I was pack that was charity and I‘d never be an equal mate if I accepted charity from Alice’s coven, and it would endanger my ability to prove I would be a good wolf to have at their backs.

I could survive my personal hell hole however long it took to prove myself.

As we moved back toward Alice, I watched as Alice seemed to bounce in place, a huge smile on her face. At least I knew she hadn’t overheard Esme and I. “There’s going to be a storm on Tuesday. Didn’t you say you had Tuesday off?” Alice grinned at me and I had no idea why we’d want a storm. Slowly, hesitantly, I nodded to her question, wondering what Alice was thinking. Esme’s happy smile only confused me further.

……………………….

Chapter 18

Tuesday came quickly, and Rosalie looked very put out that I was in the jeep with them, heading to the clearing. Apparently they played baseball when there was thunder to cover up the sound, and I was nervous as I was taken along for the game. The other vehicle lead the way, and I stared out at the grey skies.

“If you wanted to play fetch with your dog Alice, you could have just played in the back yard, and not brought her to our game.” Rosalie muttered and I heard the goddess sitting next to me growl.

“This dog is going to kick your ass out there.” I glared as I spoke. This game was the first time in a long time I was going to be able to fully play, compete, and I was going to leave that blonde in my dust.

I was pretty sure this game was the vampire equivalent to pack fighting games. This was a pecking order contest and I was included. I stared out the window, praying to the ancestors I had that wouldn’t disown me for my desire, that I would prove to this coven that I was worthy to join them. I needed to show them how strong, how fast, how determined I was. This wasn’t the normal way to do this, but I was going to prove my worth tonight.

Perhaps this team approach to pecking order games was why I had such a hard time determining the ranking system in this family. Emmett was the only obvious one. He must be rather sad at baseball, which given his body was hard to believe, but size didn’t mean power.

The jeep stopped and I got out as quickly as I could, moving to hold a hand out to help steady Alice as she stepped down from the tall vehicle. Alice just smirked at me and let me pretend to help her. My vampire made a baseball outfit look good, but I felt awkward in the clothes she’d given me. At least they weren’t overly tight, so if I partially shifted to compete I’d be okay.

“Well, we actually have eight this time.” Carlisle smiled as we stood in a circle. “Diana, the rules are close to the same, but given some people’s tendency to cheat we split up the people with additional powers to try and make it a bit more fair. We also go with only two outs, because we do have a time limit with the storm.” I looked him sharply in the eye at the idea that my powers could be used for this game, and barely paid attention to the rest.

I wasn’t sure if I really could make my powers work in this situation, but the idea of what an advantage that would give me had me grinning. Apparently powers like mine were allowed. I did my best to stop grinning and give them all an innocent look. Alice chuckled at my attempt.

“My own powers are a bit compromised with Diana here.” Alice spoke up as things started to get more serious.

“But you still have them, I say they count.” Emmett teased, and I could tell he expected to be on my team when he said that, mine and not hers. Would they split up the psychics. I frowned as I realized they’d have to. From what they’ve said Edward and Jasper were the only other two with powers, they’d be split up as well. My eyes traveled over the group of vampires, trying my best to determine their ability by sight and feeling alone. I wanted to win, even against Alice, I wanted to win. Beating Alice might show her I was valuable.

Her powers were good for this, but if I could make mine work, mine would be better. I also needed to get used to using my full strength. I was at a disadvantage now, and I had to learn fast if I wanted to use this chance they were giving me.

Jasper gave me a strange look, which I ignored. The team was built around Alice and I, and I found myself with Jasper, Emmett, and Carlisle. That would make it harder to kick Emmett’s ass, but it was still possible to keep my promise to Rosalie.

I played catch long enough to get the idea how much effort to put into a throw, as we waited for the thunder to start. Carlisle helped me. I was going to put everything I had into the bat when I had a chance to do that, I wanted to see how far I could send a ball into orbit, but I needed more precision with a throw, because I was throwing at someone.

With humans, and when I was a human it took more people to make a team. I watched as Esme took the role of catcher, and Alice moved to become pitcher. Edward and Rosalie were both infield and outfield, taking half the meadow each. Our team was up to bat first and I did my best not to drool as Alice pitched to Carlisle. She was so confident and sexy, first announcing it was time and then throwing the ball with such pizzazz.

“Try to reign that in when I’m up to bat or I’ll have trouble concentrating. “ A cold, emotionless voice spoke very quietly nearly in my ear and I jerked away, turning to see Jasper watching me, almost studying me. I wasn’t really comfortable and I growled softly to get him to back away from me a bit more. The sound of the ball hitting the bat drew my attention back to the game and I watched as Carlisle started to run for the first base, as Edward raced after the ball.

The ball was high, and no human eye should be able to see it, as it went for the trees. Carlisle was rounding second when I heard the whizz of the ball being returned. I willed him to run faster or stay as I watched Rosalie catch the damn thing. He was out too quickly and I almost growled at him for being too greedy with the bases. He could have sat on third, but no, he wanted a home run. He just smiled and looked amused as he lost and I couldn’t even begin to understand that. He wasn’t taking this seriously? He could afford to I guess, perhaps being Alpha in this pack was a role he couldn’t be robbed of, but I had a lot riding on this game. His being Alpha, as I strongly suspected by now that he was, meant I couldn’t say anything and I did my best to swallow my irritation.

Emmett started to move toward the plate and I couldn’t stop myself. “You end up out and I’ll bite you.” I growled out at him. “Don’t showboat, just go as far as you can. Edward is fast and third base is better than out.” Emmett just grinned at me, but I could feel a few eyes staring at me. I ignored most of them and stared down Rosalie. She just punched her mitt and backed up, still staring at me, the threat in her eyes.

The ball took off into orbit and I felt a bit hopeful as I saw it, but then Emmett started to run and my heart sank back down again. He was fast, but Edward was moving so much faster and Rosalie was taking a space between third and home again. I felt the tell tale warning, light this time and as Emmett approached third I didn’t want to see what he’d do, I growled loudly. He stared at me and in that moment the sound of the ball hitting Rosalie’s glove could be heard. He stopped on third and wasn’t out.

“Alright, alright, man on third. Next batter up.” Carlisle finally filled the silence glancing at me. As I passed him, he subwhispered. “This is just a game, have fun.” I gave him a half smile and took the bat he held out for me. Just a game, I didn’t fully believe that for a minute, but I tried to relax my shoulders as I did a few practice swings of the bat.

I shifted partly, feeling the fur under my clothes and some of my face. It was to enhance my strength so I could compete. I looked at the pitcher and Alice’s smirk was so sexy, I struggled to ignore it and her form as she pitched. I was unsuccessful and the thud of the ball hitting Esme’s glove embarrassed me. “Strike one.” Esme spoke as she threw the ball back to Alice and I took a deep breath, and told myself to focus.

The ball had to be going several hundred miles per hour as it came towards me again, but I watched the ball and not Alice the entire pitch and the bat rang out as I slammed it into the ball.

I took off as fast as I could, the wind rushing past me as I rounded first and ran towards second. I could see Edward running into the tree line after my ball and I put on as much speed as I could, resisting the urge to stop and see how far that ball went before it came down where he could get it. Second base and I turned toward third. I could see Rosalie moving into place and I growled with my determination as I came up upon third.

Nothing was warning me to stop, but I had no idea if I’d actually get a warning for something like this, when I was so focused on just going fast. The whizz of the ball came towards me as Rosalie moved to be both in the way of me and to catch the ball. I ran faster at her, and as the ball came into the corner of my line of sight, as it approached her glove I leapt up into the air.

My body spun, as leapt over Rosalie, and I landed on home plate and watched a slightly stunned Rosalie catch the ball a second too late. Emmett was whopping, and I heard some laughter, even as Rosalie glared at me and stomped away, tossing the ball back to Alice. “Did I get some dust on you Rosalie?” I called out, rubbing it in, as I grinned.

The game went quickly, and I was grateful to not be the one to get our second out. Still we got it and switched quickly with the others. I had just learned how to throw with my strength, so I declined the offer to pitch. I stood in outfield with Emmett as Jasper pitched and Carlisle played catcher. From the sounds of the storm we wouldn’t be playing another inning after this one.

I wasn’t going to let them win then, every run they got would count if we didn’t have a chance to counter it with another inning. I stood with my hands on my knees in the field, staring at the batter, waiting for any hint to which way I should move.

Esme stepped up to bat and I should have known it, but she seemed so damned human, that I was a bit surprised at how hard she hit the ball. I watched Emmett catch it and rocket it to Carlisle just a bit too late, before shaking off the weird feeling I had that Esme wouldn’t play well in comparison. Everyone was just as strong as me if not stronger, and I focused harder as Alice stepped up to bat.

I needed to put her down, I told myself, even knowing she’d be happier winning. I needed to do this. As she swung I was already in motion, running into the woods while listening to the ball coming my way. I spun around when I felt the need and caught it. I could barely see Emmett in the distance, so I shifted so much the buttons on my baseball jersey strained and threw that ball with everything I had toward him and third base.

“Out.” Emmett called as I stepped out of the tree line and I felt a wave of pride at helping with our first out. Alice just grinned at me, very good naturedly, and finished walking off the field to wait for another turn at bat.

I felt the urge to move left on the field, so I went with it. If it wasn’t helpful it wouldn’t hurt. Rosalie let loose with a line drive right past Jasper and into my waiting hand. I rocketed the ball to Emmett on first base and she was out. Game Over! And first base too, how sad for a vampire to not even get past that. I grinned, teeth exposed, at Rosalie as she glared at me.

I had proven my worth today. They had to see that. I was fast, I was strong, and I could anticipate things. I would be a good pack mate to have, and while my original pack didn’t see that these vampires had to now, they just had to.

“Good game.” Edward told me and I looked over at him. His slightly confused look, the one he gave me while staring at me, reminded me to shield my thoughts again.

I almost did shield again, but then thought about how he’d been rather nice, and maybe he’d tell me something. ‘I did okay right? I mean, they’ll consider me won’t they?’ I mentally asked him.

‘Consider you for what?’ Edward’s eyes seemed to say, he looked confused.

‘Pack, I mean I know I’m not a vampire, but I’m just as strong and I’d be a valuable member of your pack. They will consider me won’t they?’ I didn’t like the pause in his visual response. ‘I could fight Emmett for it, I was willing, but I thought you guys did this by baseball instead.’

“Good game.” Alice spoke as she approached me and I had to pull my eyes from Edward. I smiled at her, liking the appreciative look I was getting. When I glanced back at Edward he was clearly mentally talking with Carlisle, so I reluctantly focused away from them. “Want to watch some movies in my room?”

“Sure.” I smiled as she took my hand to lead me back to the jeep. Pack decisions might take time, but I’d done well today. I had a shot, I was pretty sure. My stomach was a mess of nerves, and I felt a bit queasy with all that was riding on such a strange method of testing, but I had done well.