Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 28

She frowned in perplexity. "Someone pulled you out?"

"Yes. Jacob saved me."

I watched curiously as an enigmatic range of emotions flitted across her face. Something was bothering her—her imperfect vision? But I wasn't sure. Then she deliberately leaned in and sniffed Bella's shoulder.

"Don't be ridiculous," she muttered, sniffing at her some more.

I squinted at her. "What are you doing?"

She ignored my question. "Who was with you two out there just now?"

"Jacob Black," I replied. "He's a friend."

Alice nodded, seeming preoccupied.

"What?"

"I don't know," she said. "I'm not sure what it means."

"Well, I'm not dead, at least," Bella pointed out.

Alice and I both rolled our eyes.

"Edward was a fool to think you could survive alone. I've never seen anyone so prone to life-threatening idiocy," Alice muttered.

"I survived," Bella said.

Alice was thinking of something else. "So, if the currents were too much for you, how did this Jacob manage?"

"He lives on the Quileute reservation," I said, hoping she'd be able to catch my meaning.

Alice stared at me blankly.

"The Quileutes?" I prompted. "You know, the ones who can turn into wolves? Who Carlisle made the treaty with?"

Alice was gawking, now.

Whoops. Maybe she hadn't been with Carlisle at that point.

Alice recovered herself, blinking rapidly. "Well, I guess that explains the smell," she muttered. "But does it explain what I didn't see?" She frowned, her porcelain forehead creasing.

"The smell?" I repeated.

"You both smell awful," she said absently, still frowning. "A werewolf? Are you sure about that?"

"Very sure," I promised. "I guess you weren't with Carlisle the last time there were werewolves here in Forks?"

"No. I hadn't found him yet." Alice was still lost in thought. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she turned to stare at us with a shocked expression. "Your friend is a werewolf?"

Bella nodded sheepishly.

"How long has this been going on?"

"Not long," Bella said, her voice sounding defensive. "He's only been a werewolf for just a few weeks."

Alice glowered at her. "A young werewolf? Even worse! Edward was right—you're a magnet for danger. Weren't you supposed to be staying out of trouble?"

"There's nothing wrong with werewolves," Bella grumbled, stung by her critical tone.

"Until they lose their tempers." She shook her head sharply from side to side. "Leave it to you, Bella. Anyone else would be better off when the vampires left town. But you have to start hanging out with the first monsters you can find."

I scowled. I didn't want to argue with Alice, but I didn't like the way she was bashing Jacob or Bella at the moment. "Alice, the vampires didn't really leave—not all of them, anyway. That's the whole trouble. If it weren't for the werewolves, Victoria would have gotten Bella by now, and Laurent would have already killed me—"