Chapter 17. The Game

I heard their thoughts before I even turned into Bella's street, Billy Black and his son Jacob were at her house waiting for Charlie. I couldn't quite fathom what they were doing here, they had some nerve. If I had blood in my body it would be boiling right now.

"This is crossing the line" I was furious, I wanted Bella to understand what they were doing but I was so angry that I couldn't explain it to her. But there wasn't a need for much explanation, even in this irritated state Bella still surprised me with her logical thinking.

"He came to warn Charlie?" She sounded more horrified than angry. Billy's thoughts called me to attention "Charlie deserves to know, your kind need to stay away! Keep away from Bella do you hear me, I'll give her time to explain to Charlie, okay?" If I wasn't in my right mind I would have gone over there and told Billy Black just what I thought of him, but for Bella's sake I simply nodded towards him through narrowed eyes.

"Let me deal with this." Bella suggested, I thought it over, I was unsure to whether I would have the strength to not rip of Billy Black's head, Jacobs thoughts then came into view as he played out through his mind the previous conversation he had with his father, he had no idea what was going on and it was going to stay that way.

"That's probably best. Be careful, though. The child has no idea." He was innocent in all this.

" Jacob is not that much younger than I am," There was an edge to her words, she seemed to disapprove of my calling Jacob Black a child, that amused me somewhat, so I turned to look at her, as soon as I met her wide brown eyes my anger abruptly faded. Bella always seemed to placate me.

"Oh, I know," I assured her with a grin. Bella sighed and reached out for the door handle. I didn't want to have to be away from her, but it was necessary for now. But I wouldn't be gone for long. I needed the Blacks inside the house so I was safe to leave so I instructed her to do so,

"Get them inside, so I can leave. I'll be back around dusk." Surely they would be gone by then.

"Do you want my truck?" she offered, Rolling me eyes I suppressed a chuckle, I knew how fondly she felt about her truck and I did not want to upset her but this hunk of junk couldn't even go past 50.

"I could walk faster than this truck moves." I put the emphasis on walk as it was most definitely true.

"You don't have to leave" It pained me to hear, but I was a little glad that she would miss me nearly as much as I would miss her. I smiled at her glum expression, I didn't want to leave but I needed to, Charlie would be home soon and Bella had to prepare him for the meeting.

"Actually, I do. After you get rid of them" I threw a dark glance in the Blacks direction. "You still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend." I wasn't sure whether boyfriend would be the correct term for what I was, I felt like I was more but boyfriend would have to do. I was content with being Bella's boyfriend, for now. I grinned widely flashing all my teeth, teasing her.

"Thanks a lot." She groaned. I smiled at her and she beamed at me

"I'll be back soon," I promised, my eyes flickered back to the porch as I heard Billy's thoughts. He was shouting at me to go. I found it highly amusing now that my anger was batted. I thought about pushing my luck so I leaned in to kiss Bella just under the edge of her jaw. Being close to her, her scent was over powering but it was a little more manageable each time. I was surprised at my restraint. Bella's heart beat frantically in her chest, hearing this always made me joyful, I was the one who made her feel this way. Me and no other. I noticed her eyes flicker to the porch and I'm sure she saw how Billy Black was feeling his thought a tirade of, "Get off of her" "What is he doing" "I can't believe he would be so careless" "Don't forget about the treaty!"

"Soon," Bella said as she opened the door and stepped out into the rain, I could detect the stress she was putting on that one single word. Yes soon my love, I was too selfish to stay away from her. I watched as she half ran to the shelter of the porch and into the clutches of the Black's.