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Chapter 4

BPOV

Three weeks had passed since the night when I was attacked, Jasper was almost killed, and Rosalie was found. Jasper had not woken up yet and everyone except Alice had mostly given up hope that he ever would. Rosalie was doing very well and had been adopted into Edward's family lodge with Carlisle and Esme. Rosalie has been very quiet and keeping to herself most of the time, barely saying two words to Alice. Surprisingly, Alice has never once pressured Rosalie into talking to her about anything. I have learned Alice is a very patient and understanding person. We were getting along as if we had been close from the start. Alice was definitely the sister I had never had.

My father was another story altogether. Ever since Jasper was hurt, the Chief had been so distant with everyone. I understand he is worried but I am still here. I visit Jasper everyday with Alice. I have told him over and over how sorry I am.

Today, Alice, Jessica, Lauren, Angela, Rosalie, and I are in the field harvesting corn. It is no surprise to me that Emmett is also with us, helping. In fact, I don't think he has left Rosalie's side once since he found her. I think he likes her but I also think she is nowhere near ready for any potential mates. She is certainly carrying some emotional scars.

Edward and the rest of the warriors have been very busy keeping an extra close watch on our village. Carlisle is worried that whoever had Rosalie will want her back. Emmett swears he would rather die than let them take her back, so unless we want to loose Emmett we must protect Rosalie. Carlisle and Edward do not want to loose Emmett and neither do I. I wish Rosalie would tell us what happened and how she ended up in the river unconscious. Every time someone brings it up she starts screaming and shaking. I feel bad for her but I want to keep my boys out of harms way.

I had almost finished picking my row so I peered through the stalks over at Alice to see if she was about done. It looked like she was. I picked up my basket and went over to Alice.

"Alice, how about we go see if Rosalie is finished. Maybe if we get her alone she will tell us what happened," I said.

Alice looked like she was thinking and said, "Okay, Bells, I think you are right. Let us go talk to her."

I grabbed her hand with my basket in the other and headed off to find Rosalie. I heard Lauren and Jessica snickering about something as we passed them. Lauren had just finished saying, "not handle being a whore anymore, which is why she ran away."

I stopped dead in my tracks looked straight at Lauren and asked, "Is there something you would like to say to me, Lauren?"

Her smile vanished and she replied with a little bit of sarcasm, "Oh, I was just talking about some girl from another village. It is no one you know, Isabella."

"For your sake, Lauren, you better be telling me the truth. If I find out you were talking about, oh I do not know, say, Rosalie, you will regret it," I seethed out.

She nodded her head. Jessica and she started to actually do some work. I shook my head and continued over towards Rosalie. Alice and I found her sitting down on the ground crying into her hands. Emmett was there rubbing soft circles on her back trying to calm her down.

"Emmett, do you mind if we talk to Rosalie alone for a little while?" asked Alice.

Rosalie looked up at us, gave Emmett a small smile and nodded her head. Emmett kissed the top of her head, which she did not pull away from, and walked away to a different row.

"Come on Rose, how about we go back to my lodge to talk," I said affectionately.

Rosalie got up and followed Alice and I back to the village.

EPOV

I had been very busy patrolling the village boundaries with my father and the other warriors. I desperately wanted to talk to Isabella about that kiss but I had just not found the right time. She was either with Alice or Jasper lately and although I was glad that she was finally connecting with them, I missed her terribly. We also had no clue as to who had assaulted Isabella and almost killed Jasper. I wished with my entire being that I could find that man and rip him to shreds. I would find such pleasure in ending his life for what he had done to my love. Her bruises had all healed up nicely but she never went out alone anymore. I could tell a tiny part of her carefree existence was gone and that made me sad.

Someone bumped into me and about knocked me over. I expertly righted myself and in one motion twisted around so I was facing them. Tyler, one of the other warriors, stood in front of me trying to hold in his laughter.

I grimaced at him and asked, "Is our patrolling some kind of joke to you Tyler? If it is, you should go help the women harvest corn and leave the protection of the village to the real men."

Tyler full out laughed at me now and said, "Take a joke Edward. Loosen up man! No one is out here. You are not going to find out who attacked your precious Isabella."

"Tyler how would you feel if that happened to Angela?" I asked.

Realization dawned across his face and he said, "Hey Edward, I am sorry man, I am just getting antsy. I was trying to find something to do besides stand here. I will try to behave."

I shrugged looking down the falls to the river below. I could barely make out a figure running through the shallows of the river towards our location. I looked at the other men, holding a finger up to my lips. I crouched down low, stealthily climbing down the ledge. The other men followed my lead. Once we got to the bottom, we hid behind the trees waiting for the person to get closer. They were not even trying to be silent in their run. As he got closer, I could tell it was none other than James. What the hell is he doing out here by himself being so damn noisy?

I stepped out from behind the trees effectively stopping him where he ran and said, "James, would you like to explain why you are out here alone being so loud?"

Clearly out of breath he said, "Edward, have you not noticed I have been missing?"

Come to think of it, his mother had mentioned something about that to my father. My father and I had believed him to be upset from our confrontation over Isabella. We had thought he had just went off alone for awhile.

"We thought you wanted some time to yourself. Was that not true?" I asked.

James face lit up with anger and he yelled, "You are all a bunch of morons! I woke up almost a moon ago far down the river unconscious. It has taken me all this time to get back!"

It all made perfect sense. Someone who was out in the woods when Isabella was assaulted and Jasper attacked. What if he fell during the struggle with Jasper and hit his head and got carried down stream. He just found the wrong person!

I tried to keep my anger in check and asked, "James what were you doing out in the forest anyways? The last time anyone saw you was at the summer harvest festival. Is that the night it happened?"

James looked guiltily at me and said, "Yes that is the last night I remember before waking up down river."

Shaking with anger I asked, "Do you remember anything else about that night, like how you got out into the woods?"

James shook his head and said, "I saw Isabella walk out in the woods. I wanted to apologize for how I acted. I followed her out to the river. The last thing I remember is something or someone pushing me over the falls. After that it went dark."

What an idiot! He really must have lost his memory or he thinks playing dumb will save him. I was now radiating with venomous hostility. I would kill him! Forget the council. I lunged at him, knocking him to the ground. He had no time react as I hit him in the gut then the nose. I felt Tyler trying to pull me off him. I leaned up releasing my knife from its clutch and brought it down to his throat. By now he was gasping, pleading for his worthless life. Finally, with Ben's help, they lifted me off James, but not before I had given him a slight cut to his neck. Unfortunately, it was not life threatening.

"Edward, calm down! You know this is not how we are supposed to do things," Tyler breathed at me.

"Yeah man, we don't have any proof," Ben said.

I looked at them all in shock, and asked, "Did you guys here what he just said? He was in the right time and place. We have no other leads. Who else could it have been?"

Mike looked sorry and said, "We know, Edward, how about we just get him back to the village and figure this all out."

I cursed under my breath and headed back to the village to find my father. James would pay one way or another. I would make sure of it!

BPOV

Rosalie had finally cried herself to sleep on my furs. Alice was sitting next to her head, gently caressing her hair. I could not believe what Rosalie told us. I do not know if I would have been able to survive all that she had in the past two years.

We had just got back to the lodge and sat down.

"Okay, Rosalie, I am sure it is very hard but we need to know what happened so the warriors can be prepared for what is to come," Alice said.

Soft tears fell down Rosalie's cheeks as she said, "After they captured me from our village, it took many nights for us to reach their home."

Taking a shuddering breath she continued, "There home was unlike anything I had ever seen. Tall structures built out of stone, constructed into the side of mountains. I was meant to be a servant to the women, catering to their every whim and wish. I was treated less than a dog. At night I was tied outside. During the day I was routinely beat when I did not perform my tasks with perfection. Luckily for me, the men from that village found it disgusting to mate with an outsider. So my maidenhood was not taken. However there are plenty of humiliating things they did to me instead. If you do not mind I would prefer to no talk about that yet."

Alice and I nodded our heads in understanding.

"Early one morning, the Chief of the village's son, Alec, decided he wanted to have me anyway, in secret. He took me down the mountainside to a private cave. He told me no one knew about this cave except for him, so no one would come looking for us there. I was so afraid, Alice! He pushed me onto the ground and started to pull up my dress. I slowly reached around for his dagger. I took a firm hold of it, and drove it deep into his belly. Then, I pushed him off me to the side and plunged it into his stomach a few more times just to make sure he would not get up. He died with a look of complete and utter shock on his face. I quickly made my way out of there and went down the rest of the way off the mountain. I knew it was many days journey back to my village but I figured if I just followed the river I would be alright. I would sleep during the daylight hours and travel at night. When I got to the waterfall near your village it was dark, and I lost my footing and fell down the side of the waterfall. I was knocked unconscious and didn't wake up until I found myself in Esme's shelter with Emmet by my side."

After that her tears had flowed harder and she curled up into a ball falling asleep where she is right now.

Emmett peeked his head into the shelter and softly asked, "How is Rosalie doing?"

I looked up at him with a sad smile across my face and said, "She just now fell asleep. She has been through so much Emmett. I feel so heartbroken for her."

"I am sure she will tell me when she is ready. I was going to take her back to her bed, if you and Alice don't mind. Edward and the rest of the warriors are back. I think something big is going on. You might want to go see," Emmett finished.

I nodded and said, "Yes, Emmett, she would probably be more comfortable in her own bed, go ahead."

I looked at Alice and asked, "Would you like to come with me or help Emmett?"

Alice looked thoughtful and said, "I would like to help tuck in my sister. You go ahead Bells, I will catch up with you later."

I found Edward outside the council's lodge pacing back and forth. He kept shaking his head and pulling on his hair in frustration.

I took a few more steps and let my hand rest upon his shoulder. He stopped mid stride, snapped his head around and looked at me. He brought his arms out and wrapped them around my body pulling me close to him. He softly kissed the side of my head and took deep breaths of my hair.

"Oh, Isabella, you are exactly who I needed to see! Just having you here in my arms is so relaxing!" he sighed into my hair.

I smiled into his chest and said, "Shh Edward it is okay. Everything is fine. Just tell me what is wrong."

Edward leaned back, relaxing his hands on my shoulders and said, "Isabella, we caught your attacker today. He is in there right now with the council being questioned."

I gasped looking into Edwards eyes and started to shake.

Making sure I held his gaze I said, "I do not wish to see him. Please whoever it is just keep them away from me."

Edward nodded his head pulling me close to him once again and said, "You do not have to even ask my love. I will never let any harm come to you ever again."

I cringed at the endearment "my love" and quietly asked, "Edward can we talk about something?"

Edward sighed and said, "If it is about my feelings can it wait? I would really like to have that conversation in private where we will not be interrupted. I fear the council will be finished soon and I want to be here when they are."

I nodded my head into his chest and pulled away taking a step back. Edward looked a little sad by my withdrawing from the embrace but he quickly hid it.

"So, um, who is in there? Who was it Edward?" I softly asked.

Edward growled low in his throat and said, "James."

I do not know why that even surprised me but I still took a couple steps and sat down feeling woozy. Edward noticed and sat down beside me rubbing my arms up and down. I rested my head on his shoulder and just enjoyed the gentle comfort Edward offered.

Carlisle walked out from the council lodge shaking his head. Esme was beside him, resting her arm around his shoulders providing support no doubt. They walked up to us with frowns upon their faces.

Carlisle spoke first and said, "Son we believe you are right. There is just no other explanation. James is one talented actor that is for sure. However, the whole council except for his father, agrees he should be executed. He is too dangerous to be a part of our village anymore. It is not like the Chief did not warn him."

Esme nodded her head in agreement and said, "Yes, Edward, tomorrow when the sun is in the middle of the sky, you shall be the one to give him his end."

Carlisle spoke up and said, "As the future head warrior son, it is your right."

Edward hugged me tight to him then stood up nodding his head to his father.

"Of course father, I accept. James will never hurt another soul again," Edward said with conviction.

Carlisle smiled at his son and said, "Excellent."

He patted Edward on the back and walked away to his lodge. Esme leaned over kissing her son on his head and followed her husband.

Edward looked over at me and said, "Okay about that talk. I am ready now if you are."

I smiled at him and gestured for him to follow me. The sun was just starting to set behind the trees. It was a beautiful site and it was a shame that what I had to tell Edward would not be as beautiful as this sunset. We walked through the forest over to the falls sitting on one of our favorite logs.

I turned towards Edward, taking his hands in mine and spoke, "Edward, I wanted to talk to you about that kiss."

Before I could get anymore words out Edward had closed the distance between us, taking my chin in his hand bringing my lips to his. I had forgotten how warm his lips were. As he was about to part my lips with his tongue, I pulled back gasping for breath.

"Edward please let me finish," I quickly breathed out.

He leaned away a little, resting his hands in his lap and nodded his head for me to continue.

"Edward, you have always been there for me. I do not know what I would do with out you by my side. I love you Edward, but I am not in love with you. You are my brother, my best friend, but you are not my lover. I just do not have those kinds of feelings for you," I tried to explain.

I could see tears swimming in Edward's eyes. I felt very bad for being the cause of his pain but I could never lie to him. He was too important to me for me to ever lie to. Edward released a shaky breath as the tears started to fall down his face.

"Isabella, I am so very sorry to have kissed you and put you in this kind of position where you have to see me in such a state," he tried to calmly say.

He continued, "For the past two years, I have loved you not only like a sister, a friend, but also as someone who would like to be your mate. Although, it hurts that you do not reciprocate these feelings I have, I will wait until you do. As long as you have not chosen another as your mate, I will be here waiting, for you to choose me. I love you so very much! I would wait a lifetime for you!"

What he said touched me very deeply and I wished more than anything I could tell him I loved him like that as well. For now, all I could do was just be here for him like he is me.

I stood reaching out for his hand and asked, "Are you ready to go back to the village?"

He stood, taking my hand and we walked back to the village, not knowing we were being watched.

Unknown POV

What a fool! He would never have her! Although I failed in making her mine a few weeks ago, I would and soon. I had to finish off that fool brother of hers before he wakes and reveals my true identity.