When Dawn Breaks Chapter 21

"Oh hey Billy, Sam. What are you guys doing here?" Charlie asked when he answered the door the next morning.

"I invited them dad." Bella told him as she and Rosalie made their way to the hallway after having finished cleaning up breakfast. "They are a part of what I wanted to tell you."

"Oh,What part do they play? Are you in some kind of trouble?" Charlie asked concerned. "If you are I can help you Bella. I'm always on your side."

"Should we just get it over with now?" Bella whispered so that only Rosalie could hear. Seeing her nod Bella spoke at a regular tone. "Why don't we move this outside and I'll try to explain everything."

The group followed Bella towards the woods behind Charle's house. As they got to an area that was no longer on the trail Sam lifted Billy's wheelchair and carried him in it until they had made it far enough away from humans to allow for privacy. Feeling the tension coming from Bella, Rosalie squeezed the hand she was holding. Bella gave her a small smile as a reply.

"You guys didn't bring me out here to kill me did you? I feel like I should have brought my gun." Charlie joked nervously while looking around the isolated area they stopped at.

'No one is going to kill you dad." Bella told him. "We needed privacy for what I"m about to show you."

"Whatever it is, you know that I will love you no matter what, right?" Charlie inquired. "Nothing you can say or do will ever change that."

Bella took a deep breath to settle her nerves. "I guess I should just get to it then. I think showing you is easier than explaining to you. Just know that Billy, Sam and Rosalie will be able to answer any of your questions and please try to not freak out."

"Your making me a little nervous here Bells." Charlie said as he ran his hand through hair. He was about to say more when all of a sudden in the place that used to be Bella was a huge white tiger. Charlie started backing away from the tiger tripping over a log and landing on his back. "What the fuck?! Is that you Bella?"

"Now Charlie, there is no reason to freak out." Billy told him calmly. "That is still Bella. She is still the same person that you know and love."

"I thought you turned into a wolf," Charlie said standing up and dusting himself off. "Are you a tiger too?"

Billy smiled, he always suspected that Charlie knew of his shifter abilities. "No I'm not a tiger. My people turn into wolves. Sam here is the leader of the wolf pack for our tribe."

"OK, so if you guys are wolves how come Bella is a tiger? Are you a tiger to?" Charlie asked Rosalie.

"No, I'm not a shifter. I am Bella's imprint." Rosalie told him.

"Imprint? What is that?" Charlie asked.

"How about we all go back to your house and discuss this." Billy suggested.

"We'll follow after Bella changes." Rosalie said knowing Bella would need a minute to collect herself before facing Charlie again.

Charlie walked up to the tiger and reached his hand out to touch it's fur. Looking into it's eyes he remarked. "I don't care if you are a tiger, you are still my daughter."Bella bumped Charlie on the shoulder with her big head making him laugh. "Now I understand why you eat so much."

Bella waited until she and Rosalie were completely alone to change back. "That didn't go as bad as I thought it would."

"He's your father. He has never shown you anything but love. I didn't doubt for a second he wouldn't accept you." Rosalie said taking a minute to ogle Bella's naked body before handing her the backpack full of clothes she brought for her.

Bella pulled her shirt over her head."It may still not have sunk in yet. We still don't know exactly how he will act when he has the time to actually think it through."

"I think it will work out sweetheart. He's a good man who loves you more than anything."Rosalie pulled Bella into a hug. "He also has Billy to answer any questions he has and you heard him he already knew about the wolves and continued to visit the reservation and hang out with the tribe. I don't think you have anything to worry about."

Bella sighed. "I want to say you are right but I'm still nervous."

"The only way to know for sure is for us to go back to your house and talk to him." Rosalie gave Bella one last squeeze and released her, holding out her hand. "Come on they are waiting for us. Let's not keep them waiting."

Bella grabbed the offered hand. As they reached the house she stopped and took a deep breath before opening the front door. She followed Rosalie into the living room were Charlie was sitting in his recliner, Billy's chair next to him and Sam sitting on the couch. Giving an awkward smile to the group she sat down next to Sam as Rosalie sat down next to her and waited for someone to start the conversation.

Billy cleared his throat. "White Tiger we were just telling your father about our own shifting history. We waited for you to come to explain your own story to Charlie."

"Oh um yeah." Bella said as she shifted uncomfortably on her seat on the couch.”Well everyone pretty much knows my history except for you Dad but I am part of the Shurlong line of tiger shifters. I'm the first and only white tiger shifter to exist."

"Does your mother know you are a shifter?" Charlie asked.

Bella shook her head. "No, she doesn't know anything about shifters. Only males in our family who are direct descendants of the original Duke of Shurlong actually shift. Its been a well guarded secret for centuries. My grandparents didn't think Rene could be trusted with the knowledge."

"I can't say that I blame them for not telling her." Charlie said. "But you said only the male descendants can shift. How come you are able to and how come you are a white tiger?"

"If I may White Tiger?" Bella nodded for Billy to continue. "Your daughter is no ordinary shifter Charlie. Bella's birth has been foretold by many Native American shamans for centuries. The Great White Tiger is said to be the savior of all supernatural races."

Charlie looked at Bella with wide eyes. "You're supposed to be a savior to all supernatural races? What are you supposed to do to do that?"

"That we don't exactly know." Rosalie said. "There have been many interpretations of the visions but no one knows for sure what she will be saving us from. The consensus is that it will be many different situations not just one major one."

"Wow" Charlie ran a hand through his hair. "I want to say that I can't believe this but I saw you change into a white tiger. I mean I always knew you would do great things but I have to admit this scares me Bella."

"I understand. If you want me to move out and leave you alone I totally understand." Bella told him sadly as her worst fears were coming true.

Charlie jumped up from his chair. "What?! No I don't want you to leave. You don't scare me Bella. No what scares me is the fact that apparently the fate of so many rest on you. You are only 17 years old. You should be worrying about finishing high school not saving the people. You shouldn't be going through this by yourself."

"She isn't alone." Rosalie wrapped her arm around Bella pulling her closer. "She has not only my family but Billy, Sam and their tribe as friends."

"Are you a shifter also?" Charlie asked Rosalie.

"No. I"m not a shifter. I was a vampire, now I'm Bella's imprint." Before Charlie could ask Rosalie continued." An imprint is the shifter equivalent to a soul mate but in literal terms. Bella and I are bonded on a spiritual level. The changes to my appearance happened when we both accepted the bond. My eyes are now permanently this color along with the streak in my hair."

"So what does that mean exactly?" Charlie asked confused." How can you used to be a vampire?"

"I'm surprised you aren't more shocked to find out vampires exist." Sam said.

Charlie sighed. "I just saw my daughter turn into a giant white tiger. I've known about shifters for a long time. Vampires are the easiest to believe in this whole situation."

Rosalie laughed. "Well myself and my family are all vampires. When Bella and I cemented our bond Bella restarted my heart and the other changes occurred making me more human again. I've lost most of my vampire traits."

"So do you drink blood?" Charlie asked.

"My family and I only drink animal blood." Rosalie told him thinking it better to leave out that in reality she only drank Bella's blood. Even with how understanding Charlie was being she didn't think he would be happy with the fact that she lived off his daughter's blood.

"That's good. I feel better knowing humans aren't being hurt." Charlie said." But what did you mean that you are Bella's imprint?"

"It means that the two of them are meant to be together for the rest of their lives." Billy explained. "To the shifter community it is the equivalent to a human marriage."

Charlie shook his head. "Wait, you are married? Aren't you a little young to be married?"

"It's not something that I had a choice in. It happens as soon as you lock eyes with the person you imprint on."Bella told him. "I knew that I would never love anyone the way I love Rosalie the moment I looked into her eyes."

Rosalie gave Bella a sweet smile. "I felt the exact same way. The moment I saw Bella in the school parking lot all I could think of was how to tell her I loved her and hoping she could love me back."

"I've got to admit this is a lot to take in."Charlie said. "But no matter what Bella I'm here for you. This doesn't change how much I love your or how proud I am to be your father it just proves that you are more exceptional than I could ever image."

Bella felt tears threaten as she stood up and went to Charlie and pulled him up to give him a hug. "Thank you dad. I love you."

"I love you to Bells." Charlie told her sniffling. Charlie pulled back and looked at Billy. "I'm going to say sorry in advance my friend because I feel like I am going to be coming to you with a lot of questions."

Billy chuckled. "I don't mind Charlie. Not only are you a friend but you are the father of the Great White Tiger and I will do anything to help the White Tiger."

"Now that this is out of the way are there any other secrets you want to share with me?" Charlie asked.

Bella smiled brightly. "No other secrets I can think of."

"Good. Now how about we be order some lunch and we can hang out a bit before I have to go to work." Charlie looked at Rosalie. "Do you even eat human food?"

"No I don't but I'm fine with people eating around me." Rosalie told him. "I even cook for Bella sometimes."

"Well I'm glad you treat her well." Charlie said. "Because even though she can take care of herself my original warning is still valid. If you hurt her in any way there won't be a place on this earth that you can hide where I won't find you."

Rosalie tried to hold back her smirk as Bella hid her face in her hands. "I understand sir. I promise I would rather die than hurt Bella."

"Good now lets order some pizza." Charlie said going to the kitchen to get his phone.