Act III
Chapter 39 ━━ Life Is Harder

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It's like Shelley is weighed down by something, where she finds herself drowning in a pool of water. It is peaceful. Death is painless. Easy. 

Suddenly from the darkness, Jacob reaches out a hand and pulls her out. Life is harder. 

Waking up, Shelley finds herself in a guest room of Cullen residence. She sits on the bed when the memories of the whole Riley's situation flood into her like a Tsunami. 

Her hand immediately goes to her neck to find the bitten wound gone. No scar or any visible proof of a bitten mark. 

That's when she notices how her eyes are catching everything into my eyesight differently. Dust particles in the air, the textures and details of things in the room are absolutely clear. It is like her senses are improved by great lengths. She has a clearer view of the world. This is really different but amazing at the same time. 

"Hey." 

Shelley turns around to see Jacob leaning into the doorway with a lazy smile on his face, hands buried deep inside his pockets. She smiles back widely. "Hey." 

"How are you feeling?" 

"Wonderful." She claims honestly, getting out of the bed. For some reason, she feels taller. That's when she realises the truth, how she is able to see the world differently. "Am I a-" 

"-vampire now? Kind of, yes." Jacob replies, moving to her slowly before he stands straight right in front of her, taking me in his eyes. His hand reaches her face and strokes her cheek affectionately as she leans into the heat of his hand. "So beautiful." 

Shelley faces the full length mirror to observe the changes occurred during the transformation. Her first reaction is an unthinking pleasure. The alien creature in the glass is indisputably beautiful, every bit as beautiful as Rosalie. Maybe even beautiful if possible. 

Her shoulder length hair is now reaching her waist, quite curly and wavy. Skin is flawless and smooth, glistening subtly, luminous as a pearl. However, her eyes are still baby blue. 

She turns back to Jacob, who is still in his lovestruck state and embraces him, not realising her newly found strength as Jacob starts feeling uncomfortable in her super tight embrace. 

"I get it. You're a lot stronger." Jacob says, wrapping his arms around her, not really complaining about the tight hug as long as he has his imprint in his arms. 

"Mm-hmm." Shelley hums into his chest, closing her eyes and listening to the rhythmical beat of his heart. "I love you." 

"I love you." Jacob mumbles, placing a kiss on her head. 

Shelley takes a deep whiff of his scent, filling her nostrils to the deep end. Jacob's scent is overwhelming and mouthwatering. Pine and Sandalwood. The sweetest scent she has ever smelled. 

Unconsciously, Shelley's hand jets out, grabbing a fistful of Jacob's hair. She yanks him over, exposing his neck and grazing her sharp teeth into his russet skin, drawing blood. Then she buries her fangs into his flesh, savouring his sweet blood bringing satisfaction to her taste buds. 

"I think I love this version of you more." He groans and his head falls back granting her better access. "I definitely can get used to that." 

A few gulps of his blood is more than enough for Shelley to fulfil her hunger. She pulls back only to realise her actions. Guilt clouds her in whole whilst tears blurry her vision. "I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself." 

"It's alright. I always heal." Jacob assures with a smile. "I'm happy to offer you more if it helps you." 

Her arms reach up and tangle around his thick, strong neck. He lowers his face to hers and their lips meet, the moment she longed for. He places his hand on her waist and draws her closer, the kiss deeper, more passionate. Her body is begging for more. Craving for him. It's like his single touch is fueling the lust in her, burning her alive. 

As if reading her thoughts, Jacob speaks. "Shelley, Babe, slow down." 

"Do you not love me anymore?" Shelley whimpers as they pull apart. 

"I do. I do love you. But you're a newborn. Your emotions are heightened." Jacob explains, cupping her cheeks. "I'm not going to force you into anything again, you're not ready yet." 

"Oh." 

Jacob jumps into the bed and motions her to join him. "Come here. Lie down with me." 

She nods, then carefully lies on his chest and he wraps his arms around her. "What did I miss?" 

"You missed the funeral." 

"Esdras." The blonde says with a sad tone and Jacob rubs her back to comfort her. 

"I never liked him. But he sacrificed himself to keep you safe. I appreciate that." 

"How is Rose coping with that?" 

"Shells, Rosalie is… Uh…" Jacob trails off. 

Thinking that he means' Rose's dead, Shelley gasps with shock. "Did you kill her?" 

"No, no, no, I didn't kill her. What made you think I did?" Jacob replies and it makes her sigh in relief. 

"Because I know you." She says and looks at him to notice his glare, which makes her giggle. 

"Not funny." Jacob rolls his eyes, now drawing patterns on her back. "I was going to say, she went through some kind of a change." 

"What do you mean, 'change'?" 

"She is now human." 

"How?" 

"Carlisle gave a scientific talk which I didn't understand a bit. But…" Jacob looks at her with a grin. "…from what I gathered, you're a hybrid. Part of you is a vampire and the other part is still a Nymph. Your blood is a cure for vampirism. In short, you're incredible." 

After the reveal of her current supernatural identity, Jacob and Shelley walk out of the room with linked hands, into the living room to find the whole Cullen family there. They all turn to face the newborn hybrid. 

"Welcome to the family." Esme greets her first with the warmest smile and a tight embrace. 

"You look amazing, Shelley." Alice hugs her next with an excited look. 

"Shell." 

Shelley turns her gaze at her sister and smiles. "Bella. Hey!" 

"You look gorgeous." Bella says and starts getting closer. 

"I will keep my distance for now." The blonde says and her sister stops with a small frown. But soon it is replaced with a smile. 

"I understand. But I badly want to hug you right now." 

"Me too." Shelley says, only to notice the absence of a certain Cullen in the room. "Where is Eddie?" 

"He went to Alaska for a few days to clear out his head. He will be around when he's ready. But hey, look at this." Bella shows the diamond ring shining in her finger. "He proposed after we left the graduation party." 

"Oh my god. I'm so happy for you." Shelley exclaims with happiness as tears of happiness stroll down her face. "And I'm crying." 

"Heightened emotions. Remember?" Jacob reminds, wiping the tears before wrapping an arm around her. "Someone's been waiting to meet you." 

A new figure walks into the living room. Her eyes are now brown, skin doesn't look pale as before but still looks smooth. Mostly there is a heart beating in her rib cage. She looks alive and breathing. She looks human. 

"Rose." 

Rosalie nods with a bright smile. The brightest smile that can light up one's soul. She looks so innocent and pure. 

"She has blood in her veins. You can feel her warmth." Carlisle states. 

"I can feel it." Shelley confirms, feeling the warmth radiating off Rosalie's body. 

"You gave me a second chance in life." Rosalie says to the hybrid with honesty. She looks happy. "Thank you." 

"Glad to help you." Shelley smiles back, feeling her own heart flutter with happiness. 

"You're fed?" Carlisle questions, noticing something different in Shelley's behaviour. As a newborn, she's surprisingly holding her hunger at bay, even with two thumping hearts in the room with her. 

"It was Jake's blood." 

"You fed from him?" Jasper asks, pointing at the werewolf. 

"Yeah. Is it bad?"

"It is bad. Werewolf blood is disgusting." 

"No, it is not. Leah's blood is so intoxicating for me. My experience talking. Must be an imprint thing." Emmett claims and turns to the hybrid with a smirk. "Try having sex with your boy toy. You'll never get enough." 

"Emmett. No. Let's not go there." Shelley groans, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment and Emmett laughs at her reaction. 

Carlisle ran a few tests on Shelley's blood to figure out what makes her different from a typical vampire. She still has her human side, as a perk of being a Nymph. But her other half is a vampire, which obviously makes her a hybrid. She can survive with both blood and human food. Because of the bond between Jacob and her, Shelley's body finds Jacob's blood more intoxicating. A small amount of his blood is completely enough to shut down her hunger. 

Shelley's still trying to get used to her new vampire abilities and boy, it is hard. She called Charlie to let him know she wants more space and that she's with Renee. It's not fair for him, but until she controls her hunger, she's not going to take the risk and put his life in danger. 

On the other hand, all Renee knows is Shelley's at Charlie's home and way past the whole 'they're not my real parents' subject, which she truly is moved on. 

It doesn't take more than a week for Edward to come back to Forks. He is still secretly mourning for his brother, but he somehow manages to pull up a brave face and a matching smile. 

Bella and Edward are going to get married soon. It'll be beautiful Shelley's sure. They're yet to decide who is going to do the sacrifice and who is not in their relationship. If Edward is going to be human or Bella is going to be turned. Either way, they have a choice to bend their fate. 

Shelley is currently in the meadow with Alpha, who is running around like a maniac, enjoying the space. Some manchild he is. 

She takes a whiff of the scent of the blooming flowers, relaxing herself. Her skin isn't sparkling in the sunlight. But it is glowing like the moon at night. 

She turns back just as Jacob tackles her, turning in the air so she lands on him, even though he's still in his wolf form. Then he's standing over her with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, his tail wagging. When she looks up at him, he starts licking her face. 

Soon he gets off her though, moving to sit beside her instead. She sits up, dramatically gasping for air. Alpha licks her cheek in concern and as a way to apologise. 

"Get off me, you big bad puppy." Shelley glares at him. In response, he whines, rolls over into a submissive pose and doesn't move. That's when she changes from her glare to an awestruck smile. "Aww… You're cute." 

But that doesn't go much further when he shamelessly shifts back, very naked. 

"Jake!" Shelley exclaims, covering her eyes from his naked sight. 

"Still shy, I see." Jacob chuckles and soon he speaks again. "Open your eyes, prude. I'm all decent." 

He lays on the ground and she lays upon him, caging herself in his arms, stealing kisses then and there. "Your heart stopped beating for exactly five seconds and I thought I lost you again and this time, it felt real." 

"And I'm still alive. At least part of me is." She says, listening to his heart beat. He is warm and strong. But there's a glint of fear in his eyes. 

"I somehow always find a way to screw everything between us. That is never fair for you. I-I understand if you don't want me in your life anymore." Jacob mumbles the last part, mostly to himself. The pain in his voice is clearly audible. "You can find someone who's far better than me. I'll watch you being happy from afar even if it'll hurt me like hell." 

"I don't want perfection, Jake. I want you. Because nobody's ever loved anybody as much as I love you." She confirms to him, pouring her heart out. 

Jacob nods with a smile, understanding and leaning in for a kiss connecting their lips. And then they continued blissfully into this small but perfect piece of their imperfect story together.

THE END…