Everything In Between p.l.

Chapter 30

Jared elbowed her lightly, nodding at her empty plate. "Eat, champion. You can't win the throne and starve in it."

"Don't rush royalty," Pip shot back, smirking. "The queen eats last."

"You're lucky I'm not flipping this table," he threatened, holding up a fork like a weapon. "One day you're gonna sass me in front of a witness and I'll have proof."

"Try me," Pip said, plucking a roll off his plate with zero shame.

Paul gave a quiet laugh beside her, his shoulder brushing against hers. It grounded her in the storm inside her head. She leaned into the warmth without thinking.

At the head of the table, Sam cleared his throat. The conversation began to die off in waves. Embry stopped laughing. Seth looked up from his second helping. Emily set down her spoon, lips pursed.

"We've confirmed the Cullens are back in town," Sam said, voice steady. "Carlisle's car was spotted earlier today near the hospital. No sign of conflict yet, but it's safe to assume they're settling back in."

Pip felt her stomach tighten. She glanced sideways—and Paul was already looking at her. His dark eyes locked with hers across the table, asking a silent question.

Is Bella back?

Pip gave the faintest nod.

And then—

CRACK.

Her glass shattered in her hand.

Everyone jumped.

Water spilled across the table, shards of glass scattering over her plate, her lap, the wood floor.

"Shit—sorry," Pip gasped, drawing her hands back. A few faint cuts were already blooming along her palm, stinging but not bleeding much.

Jared reached for napkins. Emily stood quickly, already grabbing a towel. Paul grabbed Pip's wrist gently, inspecting her hand with furrowed brows, his thumb brushing just below a cut.

"I didn't mean to," she whispered.

"I know," Paul said softly, eyes never leaving hers. "It's okay."

But it wasn't okay. Not really.

Because she knew what came next.

Her hands still shaking, Pip stood up slowly and cleared her throat. "Actually... since I already ruined dinner, I might as well make things weirder."

The table went still.

Everyone looked up.

Pip's heart was thudding so hard it hurt, but she pressed on. "Something's... happening to me. Has been. Ever since I came back. I thought it was nothing at first, but it's not."

She glanced down at her still-stinging hand. "I broke my alarm clock this morning just hitting snooze. Ripped a cabinet door off without trying. I crushed that cup just now like it was paper. And earlier—" she hesitated, then glanced toward Paul, Jared, then Sam. "Earlier I may or may not have... punched Edward."

Silence.

Then Jared let out a cough that might have been a laugh.

"I'm sorry," Seth said. "Did you say you punched Edward Cullen?"

Pip held up her hand. "And I didn't even break this. Just... his jaw. Probably his pride too."

Embry snorted. Jared started laughing in earnest. But the tension hadn't lifted entirely.

Leah leaned forward, brow furrowed, arms crossed tightly across her chest. "You died, Pip. You came back stronger. Faster. That doesn't just happen. We don't know what you are now."

The words were a slap.

Pip flinched, but didn't back down. "I'm not a vampire."

"How do we know that?" Leah pressed, voice hard. "You could've been turned. What if you snap? What if something triggers it?"

"Hey—" Paul stood abruptly, knocking his chair back an inch. "Back off, Leah."

"Don't tell me to back off!" Leah barked. "I'm not going to sit here and pretend she's not a walking question mark! You all are just letting her sit here like nothing's wrong—"

"She died, Leah!" Paul exploded. "She died and she came back and none of us know why, but don't you dare treat her like she's a bomb waiting to go off."

"I'm protecting this pack—"

"She isn't the threat!"

"You are blinded by the imprint t–!"

"ENOUGH," Sam barked, his Alpha tone slicing through the heat like a whip.

The air went dead silent.

Leah and Paul froze, both breathing hard.

Sam's jaw was tight. His gaze swept across the table. "Leah. Outside. Now."

Leah glared at Paul for a beat longer, then shoved her chair back and stormed out the front door, slamming it behind her.

Sam turned to Pip and Paul. "You two. With me. Now."

Pip stood slowly, the adrenaline starting to wear off and leave something heavier behind. She glanced once at Jared—who gave her a quiet, reassuring nod—before following Paul and Sam into the hallway.

The house behind them remained quiet, save for the faint laughter of Seth trying to explain Candy Land to Embry all over again.

But something had changed.

And Pip could feel it.

Whatever was coming... this was just the beginning.

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a/n: 

DIVAS I LOVE PIP AND JARED. Also the long awaited moment, we are about to find out what Pip is :)))))))

love you!