Chapter 6

Threats From All Sides

I still didn't know what to do about Jacob.

It had been a couple of weeks since Carlisle explained to me about the Treaty between the Cullens and the Quileutes. I still had not been able to wrap my head around Jacob changing into a wolf. It was something I would have to see to believe. I contemplated calling Jacob just to talk. Not about the treaty but things that men talked about. Before I knew any of this, I thought Jacob and I could possibly be good friends. Knowing that he was the natural enemy of the love of my life, and her family, halted those calls every time. Jacob didn't know that I knew a piece of his tribal history, as I was not supposed to know. I didn't know if I would be able to look him in the eye and pretend I didn't know. The possibility of igniting a war loomed heavily within me.

Jacob never called me. I decided to call him. I would let him tell me himself when, or if, he was ever ready. If all went well, if the truce between the tribe and coven was stronger, than maybe, just maybe, I could gain a friend and a best man.

Bella wouldn't be back until later that evening. The night before Bella, Alice, Rosalie and Esme went hunting, which by day turned into a wedding preparation. The girls' weekend would end with one more hunting trip and then they were to return home. There was no better time than this to begin building a male bond.

It was late morning and I figured now was as good of a time as any to call. As the phone rang I became nervous, not really knowing what to say, but hoping it would come to me. After three rings someone answered the phone.

"Hello?" Jacob said. He seemed to be in a good mood.

"Hey Jacob, it's Edward. What going on man? Hadn't heard from you." I tried to be as light as possible. My voice did not betray me.

"What the hell do you want?" So much for Jacob being in a good mood.

"Just trying to see how you been. What the hell is your problem?"

"You and your leech fiancé and her family," Jacob was screaming into the phone. What did he mean by leech?

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't act stupid with me Eddie. I know everything about your precious Cullens. I know you know what they are. You tell your vampire friends to watch their backs. We are stronger than ever. I am the Alpha now. I will not hesitate to kill every last one of you. Don't fucking call me anymore. We have nothing to discuss." Jacob hung up the phone.

So Jacob, not only knew all of his tribe's history, he believed them, and accepted them. He claimed his heritage and by default Jacob had become my enemy. The tone he took towards my new family was full of hate. He made it pretty clear we had no reason to talk.

Unfortunately, Charlie didn't know any of this. Not what that Cullens were, not what the Quileute were and not what I was willing to do to stay with Bella for forever. Yet Charlie was expecting an invitation to my wedding to be sent to the Blacks. My new enemies.

So much for my best man.

"Alice, it's not like I'm going to be losing or gaining weight. One fitting would be enough." Bella screamed. The Cullen/Hale women were still outside but Bella and Alice's argument was loud enough for anyone to hear.

I had gone to the Cullen Estate to await the arrival of my love. Taking advantage of the fact I spent every walking moment with Bella, Alice took evening time to conduct wedding planning work. After the ladies trip, I knew there was going to be plenty of work to do tonight.

"Bella, perfection takes persistence and work. Don't be any more difficult than you have been already," I could just see Alice rolling her eyes.

"We better go help them. They took Rosalie's Escalade. There will be plenty of bags," Carlisle said walking to the doors. Carlisle was more than right. I could see this was going to be a bitter sweet night.

"Edward stay out of my head. I don't want you seeing Bella's dress until the wedding. No one else has seen it besides Bella to ensure its secrecy."

"Fine, Alice. What happened to our discussion about restriction?" I asked after my third trip outside to retrieve bags (and that's with the assistance of three strong vampires moving at lighting speed).

"Ooh, don't worry Edward. I have stayed within all of your restrictions. Bella and Esme saw to it. Hell, Bella even created a few extra ones." Alice was not very happy about that.

"Yes love, we forgot to tell Alice she couldn't buy silverware molded out of pure gold or enlaced with sapphire jewels," Bella said finally kissing me. I thought I was going to go crazy waiting on her lips to grace mine.

"Good thinking, dear. How could we forget?" I commented sarcastically to Bella while looking at Alice.

"You should have seen them. I thought they were going to tear each other's limbs off," Esme said taking her niche besides Carlisle.

"Planning Rosalie's weddings were more fun than this! You two have made it very clear that this will be your only wedding. You have to do it big for goodness sake!" Alice was seething.

The family collected in the living room where most of the bags had been placed. Emmett and Jasper were upset that the sudden flood of bags from David's Bridal didn't allow them to finish their Madden 2011 Tournament on the PlayStation 3. The site was a bit overwhelming for me as well. I didn't regret my decision to have Bella as my wife. I was just suddenly weary of the wedding planner. Bella and I had a month before the wedding. Bella was sitting with her hands on her face, unsuccessfully drowning out Alice's mumbling about benefits of rutching. I wondered if Bella would be opposed to eloping.

"Edward Anthony Swan! I would never forgive you!" I guess Alice had a vision.

"Whoa! Edward what did you do," Emmett asked.

"I didn't do anything. Well, I was going to ask Bella if she mind eloping," I said nervously to the others.

"Hey, I was going to ask you the same thing," Bella said turning to face me revealing her gorgeous smile. Everyone began to snicker at Alice's obvious dislike of Bella and me for the time being.

"It is not surprising Bella and Edward thoughts were along the same lines," Carlisle said through his laughs.

"One day, you people will learn to respect and admire my genius." Alice was livid, she wasn't very pixie-like at that moment. Bella and I doubled over in laughter. "Bella, Edward, I love you dearly, but I will not hesitate to end you both! Don't mess with the wedding planner!"

I was suddenly afraid of my favorite sister-in-law. Even Jasper's thoughts were trying to warn me to take Alive very seriously.

"Edward her anger is genuine. I wouldn't test her if I was you. Great, I hate it when Alice is this mad, it means I won't be getting any tonight. Damn it!

I tried to hide my laugher as to not upset Alice any further while mouthing to Jasper, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for thinking it, Alice. Bella and I are not going anywhere." Bella pouted a little. I rubbed her arm to comfort her and mouthed, "We'll survive." Bella rolled her eyes, not quite convinced.

"Look, I have taken care of everything. All I ask you two to do is smile, nod, and say 'I do' when the time calls for it," Alice was quickly shifting through material for the guest bags.

"We can do that," Bella and I said simultaneously.

"Okay, that is already getting old," Emmett joked.

Being on the same page, finishing each other's sentences, always being at one with Bella would never get old for me.

"Okay men! It's your turn to be fitted – upstairs you go!" Alice shuffled us towards the stairs.

In a blink of an eye, Emmett disappeared out the front door, Carlisle was out of the back door, and Jasper disappeared towards the kitchen. I stood standing at the base of the stairs: alone.

"Traitors! Every singe one of you!" I said, pinching my nose and speaking at a normal volume. I knew those cowards heard me where ever they were.

Everyone found it funny. Including Alice.