Edward and Bella were in trouble. How could this have happened? Alice should have seen something. They should have been warned. I squeezed my eyes shut. They would be alright. They had Seth with them. It didn't help that Collin and Brady kept whining like something was wrong.
"I need one of you to give me an update please." Emily looked into Collin's eyes, "Are they all okay so far?"
He nodded and then turned back to the woods. I knew that they both wanted to rush into the woods and help their friends and their brothers, but they couldn't. Sam had told them to stay here and that's what they had to do. I dug my nails into the palm of my hand to keep myself seated. I knew how they felt. I wanted to dash into the woods and help too. The only difference was that there was nothing I could do to help. I would get in the way and cause someone I loved to be hurt.
My leg started shaking and I fought to get it to stop. I couldn't sit still. I jumped off the picnic table and started pacing. I could see Emily wringing her hands in her lap. Collin slowly walked into the woods and returned in his human form.
"It's over, everyone is fine." He smiled over at us, "Sam is rounding everyone up. The physic one said that someone is coming and the wolves need to be gone by the time they get there."
It was that moment that I knew everything had shifted and someone wasn't coming back in one piece. Brady let a loud whine and the air went completely still. Emily stopped breathing and we waited to hear who had been hurt and how badly. The wails filled the air and I knew that it had been one of their own. One of the wolves was howling in horrible pain. Brady disappeared and was back in a flash still buttoning his pants, "It's Jacob. They missed one and when Leah tried to kill him he almost crushed her. Jacob knocked her out of the way, but was grabbed instead. They are bringing him to Billy's."
Emily grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her car. Her hands were shaking so badly that I almost offered to drive for her. She drove like a bat out of hell on the way there. I was sure that we wouldn't make it, but she slammed the brake right outside of Billy's house. She came close to hitting Charlie's cruiser. She burst into the house leaving me sitting in the car. I slowly stepped out, but stayed near it. I didn't want to be anywhere near that noise when it got here.
I watched as they carried him into the house. I had never even heard some of the words coming out of his mouth and I knew a lot. He didn't calm down at all. Emily came back out with Sam and they both looked horrible. I sighed and sank down on the ground. I knew that they weren't going to leave until they knew that he was alright. Seth sank down in front of me.
"He's going to be alright." I looked up into his eyes and nodded.
"I know. There's no way that someone with a mouth like that was going to die." I smiled when he laughed, "How are you? The ambush had been unexpected right?"
He looked at me with a curious look in his eye, "Did Collin tell you that?" He shook his head, "We were fine. Edward is a good fighter. He was taunting the red headed one to get her to attack. We really thought that she was going to run again."
I closed my eyes and sighed, "I am glad that it is over. Hopefully everyone can relax now."
He tossed a rock away from the house, "Well almost everyone can relax. Bella will have a lot on her plate, with the wedding and everything."
What did he say? "Edward and Bella are getting married?"
This question went unanswered. Carlisle's voice pulled me from that thought. I stood up to see him and Edward standing by the door talking to Sam and Billy. I could also see that Charlie wasn't too far off. That was going to be a complication. Charlie didn't know anything about anything. He didn't even suspect any of them. For a cop he was too trusting, but I guess he wouldn't come across these kinds of monsters on duty. I was also sure that they didn't go over these types in training.
Edward walked over to me and pulled me into a hug, "Are you alright, little one?"
I wrapped my arms around his waist, "I was here safe, what about you? Are you and Bella alright?"
He stepped back from me, but kept his arm on my shoulders, "We are both good. It was a little crazy there for a bit, but I couldn't have done it without Seth." I saw him shoot a look at Seth, "When Carlisle is finished here; we are going to take you home."
"It was really nice having you with me." Emily smiled, but the worry never left her eyes, "I would love for you to come back and stay sometime."
I nodded and smiled back at her. It had been fun staying here and the more time I spent with the others the more comfortable I would be. "I had a lot of fun, thank you." I walked over to her and hugged her, "He will be alright, don't worry."
Carlisle had stayed with Jacob, so Edward took me home. Bella was already gone by this time; Alice had said that she was heading toward Billy's house. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that place right now. If Seth knew that Bella was marrying Edward then Jacob had to know too. All the wolves had to know. It had to be hard to love someone that you could never really have.
Alice was in complete wedding mode and my growing was no longer being missed. Carlisle was baffled by it and he didn't know what to think. I was growing a lot faster than a normal kid and I confided in him that I wasn't really sure how old I was. I never celebrated a birthday and when you are young you really don't know anything about time. Seasons weren't marked with weather like in other places where I grew up.
He took measurements of me every day at the same time. I was now out of school and Carlisle wasn't sure if I would be able to go back. No one was sure what I would look like after the summer. I was starting to move to early teens now. Esme had mentioned something to Alice about puberty. I knew that meant that I would start changing. I was starting to look more like a woman and less like a little kid.
"I'm not sure how we are going to send you to school next year as a nine year old when you look like you are fourteen." He scratched his head and added, "I guess there is always home schooling."
I liked that idea, always being around the family. "You know that I would love that."
He shook his head, "There isn't much that they are teaching there anyway. You are a good learner."
The wedding plans were coming along great for everyone, but Bella. It seemed that being engaged was not welcome for her. She hated that Edward bought her a car and that it was very flashy. Apparently he had borrowed it from someone that he knew overseas. It was supposed to be indestructible. I thought it was funny.
Seth came around a lot. He and Edward had become friends after the whole fight on the mountain. There was some sort of respect there or something. I didn't mind him being around. It was nice having someone close to my own age around. I was excited about the wedding because some of the Cullen's friends were going to be there and I couldn't wait to meet them. I had heard a little about them, but not much. Carlisle had made the mistake of telling Bella about their mother and I could see that she was completely freaked out about it. It was something about baby vampires that couldn't control themselves. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to inflict that on a child, but who was I.
Alice had picked out an amazing dress for me, but once a week it had to be fitted. I was starting to worry about the growth. What if it didn't stop? What if by the time I was sixteen I looked like I was thirty? What if my lifespan was drastically short? Carlisle tried to reassure me, but he was thinking the same thing. I could tell.
The wedding was upon us and Bella was out of her mind. She had not slept the night before and Alice was not happy about it. I was dressed and waiting for guests at the front door, while Alice got Bella ready. Everyone looked great and seemed to be very happy. It was not hard to pick Tanya and her family out of the group though. Carlisle walked up to me when they got to the door and introduced me to all of them. I didn't know what to say, they were all stunning.
"It is very nice to meet you Samantha." Tanya's voice was like an angel. I smiled up at her and tried to pull words out, but nothing came. She smiled and they were ushered past me. I shook my head and turned to meet the next guest.
"Hey Seth," I looked past him and saw Billy and Sue Clearwater.
"Hey Samantha, you look great." He stood smiling at me and I couldn't help but notice how nice he looked also. He was not much older than me and when he smiled you could see it.
"Thanks. Hello, Billy, Bella will be happy that you came." I stepped back so they could get past with the wheel chair. Billy was a good friend to Charlie and couldn't have missed it even if he wanted to.
I greeted the rest of the guests that arrived and then found my seat. I hadn't seen Bella in her gown and I was itching to see. The music started and I craned my neck to see her at the top of the stairs. The look on her face was priceless. It was somewhere between contemplating running for it and fighting the urge to be sick. Besides the fear, she was stunning. She was easily the most beautiful person in the room and that was saying something.
I turned to see Edward's face as he caught sight of her and I was sure that it was awe. If he could have been crying, there would have been tears running down his face. He looked at her like this was the first time he was seeing her. Carlisle was beaming next to him, the very proud papa. This was truly a very happy occasion. The ceremony was beautiful and the kiss at the end was a bit much. Charlie cleared his throat to break them apart. They must have forgotten that there was a room full of people, because Bella was a new shade of red when she pulled herself away.
The reception was over the top as usual, but it was so much fun. I got to dance with everyone, Emmett being the most fun. Edward informed me that Seth wanted to dance with me, but was afraid to ask me. I wasn't sure how to take that so I pretended that he hadn't said anything. I stopped to grab a drink and that's when he approached me.
"This is really nice. I think that Bella and Edward will be really happy together." He had a way of making you smile. There was just something about him that brought it out.
"They are really happy. This is just the next step for them." I turned to scan the dance floor and realized that Bella was no longer on it.
A noise brought me up short and I realized that the party was being monitored from the woods. The wolves had come after all. Seth stared into the darkness.
"So the Cullens can't be trusted after all, huh?" He didn't look at me when I said this, "Did you really think that they would let something happen?"
He turned toward me, "They aren't here for the Cullens. They are here to make sure that Jacob doesn't do something that makes all of us look bad."
This took me by surprise. I scanned the guests again, but didn't see him. Bella was still missing and Edward was dancing with Rosalie over by the spot that Seth kept watching. "He's here right now? Bella is out there with him?" This made me nervous. There were too many opposing sides here and innocent bystanders.
He nodded and then tensed. "Jacob, keep it together." He mumbled this, but walked across the floor. I knew something had changed and started following him. I made it to the end of the floor when Emmett's arm circled me.
"What's happening?" I looked up at his face and new that something had set Jacob off. I could hear Seth's voice pleading with Jacob. He was desperate to calm him down. He didn't want a fight here.
Emmett's low voice wouldn't be heard by any of the other guests that were oblivious to the problem, "Jacob's angry and they are trying to calm him down."
I nodded and let him twirl me. We swayed close to that spot in case Emmett was needed, but Bella and Edward emerged onto the dance floor and Emmett left me for Bella. I made it Edward's side with just enough time to ask how Seth was.
"He's fine. He went back with the others." He disappeared onto the dance floor leaving me standing there.
Poor Jacob, it must be miserable for him.
The rest of the night went as planned. Edward and Bella left for their honeymoon and I was ushered up to bed. I had to admit that I was exhausted. I was still thinking about Seth when I fell asleep.