what else are they hiding

Is it possible that there isn't anything sane or normal anymore?

Everything in my life had been upended, twisted into something unrecognizable, and now I found myself pulling up to a small house nestled at the edge of the treeline, the scent of damp earth thick in the air. The truck's engine rumbled beneath me, a steady and familiar hum, but everything else—everything beyond this moment—was foreign and strange.

Embry and Jared leaped off the side of my truck like wild animals, feet hitting the ground with effortless grace. Jared threw his head back and let out a mock howl, his laughter sharp and unbothered. The sound made me grimace, a physical reaction to the chaos of my morning. I rolled down the window, leaning out slightly.

"Hey, I think we should go back and see if Jacob's okay," I called, though my voice lacked conviction. I was met with nothing but laughter.

"I hope Paul sinks some teeth into him. Serves him right," Jared said with an easy grin, stretching his arms behind his head as if he didn't have a single concern in the world.

"No way," Embry countered, his tone lighter, more confident. "Jacob's a natural. Did you see him phase on the fly? I got five bucks that Paul doesn't even touch him."

I bit my lip. At least someone had faith in him.

They walked towards the house, the front door already open like an unspoken invitation. "Come on in, Mari," Embry said with a smirk. "We won't bite."

Jared shot me a sidelong glance and muttered, "Speak for yourself."

I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and exhaled through my nose. I already regretted my next move, but it was too late now.

I swung the truck door open, stepping out onto the gravel. A cold shiver ran down my spine, though I wasn't sure if it was the lingering nerves or the crisp morning air settling in my bones.

Jacob had to be okay. He had to be.

And maybe—just maybe—I should call Bella and tell her I wasn't dead. Yet.

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I followed after them, stepping across the worn wooden porch. I barely had a second to knock before Embry startled me by speaking again. "Oh, hey, about Emily—Sam's fiancée? Don't stare, it bugs Sam."

I blinked at him. "Why would I stare?"

He didn't answer, just pushed the door open and strode inside, Jared close behind him. My stomach twisted with unease, but I followed anyway, stepping into a home that smelled of cinnamon, fresh-baked bread, and something deeply familiar—something warm.

A voice, light and teasing, drifted in from the kitchen. "Are you guys hungry?" A soft chuckle followed. "Like I even need to ask."

I looked up just as a woman turned toward me, and in an instant, I understood the 'no staring' rule.

Long, jagged scars carved down the left side of her face, stark against the smoothness of the rest of her skin. They stretched from her hairline down past her chin, deep and permanent. But despite them, there was something undeniably beautiful about her, something strong and unwavering. She carried herself with grace, as if she had long since accepted whatever had happened to her.

"Who's this?" she asked, her voice warm but curious.

Embry beat me to answering. "Marianne Swan. Bella's sister. Who else?"

I exhaled sharply. Of course. Of course, even here, I wasn't just Marianne. I was always an extension of Bella.

Emily's lips curled slightly, an almost knowing expression passing over her features. "Hmm. So you're the vampire girl's sister?"

My entire body locked up. My pulse stuttered.

"Vampires?" The word felt foreign on my tongue, impossible and ridiculous all at once. I swallowed thickly, my throat suddenly dry.

Emily's eyes widened just a fraction, as if she had spoken before thinking.

"Vampires are real?" I repeated, turning to the boys now.

None of them would look at me. Embry suddenly found a very interesting spot on the floor. Jared busied himself with a muffin.

"Vampires are real," I said again, this time more to myself, as if saying it out loud would help me process it. "And my sister has something to do with them?" I let out a breath, long and slow, before muttering, "What has my world come to in the past hour?"

Emily, sensing my spiraling, busied herself with setting muffins on the table, pushing a plate toward me. "Would you like one?" she asked, her voice softer now, as if she knew I needed grounding.

I nodded, barely managing a "Thanks" before reaching for one.

Jared reached for another, but Emily smacked his hand away with practiced ease. "Save some for your brothers. And ladies first."

"Leave it to Jacob to find a way around Sam's gag order," Emily scoffed, shaking her head.

I frowned. "Erm... he didn't say anything to me. Like, at all."

Embry snorted, biting into his muffin. "That's a wolf thing. Alphas' orders get obeyed whether we want 'em to or not." He smirked. "Oh, and check it out! We can hear each other's thoughts."

Jared groaned. "Would you shut up? These are trade secrets, damn it! This chick is probably friends with vampires."

I stiffened. "I'm not friends with any vampires."

It came out awkward. Too defensive. Too unsure.

"At least, none that I'm aware of..."

Jared just shot me a look that said he wasn't convinced.

"Freaked out yet?" he asked, smirking around his food.

I didn't get the chance to answer.

"Jake's alright," a new voice interrupted.

Sam entered the room, moving with the quiet authority of someone who didn't need to command respect—it was just given to him. He went straight to Emily, pressing a soft kiss to her temple as if he hadn't just come back from dealing with an actual werewolf brawl.

My fingers twisted my rings, my muffin still untouched in my other hand. I glanced toward the door just as Jacob and Paul entered, walking side by side, shoving each other playfully. Paul was grinning ear to ear, looking none the worse for wear.

Jacob, on the other hand, looked straight at me.

His smile faltered. His eyes darkened, like he knew what was coming.

Paul dropped into a chair across from me, two muffins in hand, looking way too pleased with himself. "Sorry," he said with a grin before stuffing his face.

Jacob sighed heavily, running a hand through his already-messy hair. Then, with a tilt of his head, he gestured toward the door.

I didn't hesitate. I followed.

Because I needed answers.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

The air was crisp and damp, thick with the scent of salt and pine. The rhythmic crash of distant waves filled the silence between us, rolling in and out like a steady heartbeat. The sky had darkened into a deep blue, stars barely peeking through the stubborn cloud cover. Though the scenery was almost serene, the conversation at hand was anything but.

"So you're a werewolf?" The words left my mouth in a disbelieving scoff, as if saying them out loud would make them sound any less ridiculous. My hands slipped into the depths of my jacket pockets, fingers curling into the fabric in a feeble attempt to chase away the lingering cold. Though, honestly, I wasn't sure if it was the weather or the situation that sent shivers down my spine.

Jacob glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. Last time I checked."

Oh. Well. That was... direct.

I blinked up at him, waiting for more, but he just kept walking along the sodden sand, his posture relaxed like he'd just told me something as mundane as the weather forecast.

He must have sensed my irritation because, after a few moments of silence, he added, "A few lucky members of the tribe have the gene. It stays dormant until—" he hesitated, jaw tightening, "—a bloodsucker moves into town, and the fever sets in."

There it was again. Vampires. The word seemed to echo in my skull, reverberating against all logic and reason.

I swallowed, pressing my lips together. "Mono," I muttered dryly. "That's what this sounds like."

Jacob snorted. "Yeah. I wish."

My smirk faded. "So vampires," I said hesitantly, like the word might burn my tongue. "They're real?"

Jacob nodded. "Yeah. Your sister didn't tell you?"

I almost tripped over my own feet. "No," I said, voice cracking slightly. "So... is she like, friends with them?"

Jacob scoffed, a bitter sound that twisted his features. "You could say that."

I frowned. "Edward... was a vampire?"

Jacob's face darkened. "Yep."

My brain felt like it was short-circuiting. "And you knew? This whole time?" I sucked in a breath, my thoughts spiraling. "Does Bella know about... you?"

Jacob stopped walking, turning to face me fully. His expression softened, but his eyes held something unreadable. "Yeah. She's known for a while."

The words hit me harder than I expected. Bella and Jacob had this entire world, this massive, life-altering secret, and they hadn't even thought to include me in it. How long had they been keeping this from me? Had they ever intended to tell me? And more importantly, what would've happened if I'd gotten caught in the crossfire without knowing anything?

"So, what, you guys just didn't care how I would've felt?" My voice came out shakier than I wanted it to, but I didn't care.

Jacob ran a hand through his hair, letting out a slow sigh. "Mari, don't be like this. You weren't supposed to find out."

I barked out a laugh. "Oh, wow. Thanks, Jacob. Great to know I'm an afterthought." My arms crossed over my chest, a flimsy barrier against the ache creeping up my spine. "What would've happened if I got caught in the middle of all this? The reports on the radio—about the animal attacks—those people that died... was that you guys?"

Jacob's expression hardened. "Mari, we haven't killed anyone. And you wouldn't have been caught in the crosshairs. Bella's the one we have to worry about."

Of course. Bella, Bella, Bella.

Wait.

"If you're not killing anyone, and the Cullens are gone... then who is?" My fingers fiddled with the rings on my hand as I studied his face, waiting for an answer. "What's out there?"

Jacob hesitated. "The only thing we do kill. Vampires."

I exhaled sharply, rolling my eyes. "Oh, of course. That makes perfect sense."

Jacob smirked, but it faded as his gaze turned serious again. "We took out the one with dreads easily enough. His redheaded girlfriend is next."

My stomach clenched. "Wait. What?"

He nodded, hands slipping into the pockets of his shorts like he wasn't just casually talking about murder. "She was here. We chased her down to the Canadian border the other night. But she keeps coming back. We don't know what she's after."

I let out a slow breath, running a hand through my hair. "Probably Bella."

Jacob chuckled, shaking his head. "Wouldn't surprise me. She does have a way of attracting trouble."

I couldn't help but laugh along, but the sound was hollow. Everything I thought I knew about my life—about the world—had shattered within the span of an hour. Vampires were real. Werewolves were real. My sister had been dating a vampire, and my best friend turned into a giant dog at will.

What the hell had my life become?