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Chapter 10
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Edward sat in the living room of the new Cullen house, staring into the trees. How dare that God forsaken, mangy, flea bitten mutt put his paws on Isabella?! His thoughts alone were enough to warrant his demise. He'd heard every word she'd spoken in the clinic to the alpha's mate. She'd dreamed of him. She loved him, he knew that now. And she'd stay with him after he found a way to make her his completely.
Alice flew into the room and wagged a finger in his face with an angry scowl on hers. "Don't you dare try it!" She hissed. "You do that and you're dead!"
"Ali.. Come here darlin'… what's he gone and done now?" Jasper cooed.
Alice calmed as she fell into Jasper's arms. "He wants Bella for his mate. Bella's not for him or I would have seen it."
"She's my mate!" He snarled.
"Someone's cranky… drink some bad blood last night?" Rosalie snickered.
Emmett did little to hide his smirk. His arms went around her waist before pulling her back to him. His lips moved to her neck as he watched Edward. He grinned when he heard the huff of disturbance. He finally moved to kiss her cheek.
"Now, now Rosie…" He cooed. "We mustn't tease him. He only wants her for the blood. She'd never live long enough for the change. Isn't that right, Eddie? Or don't you remember nearly killing her once already?"
"Why you insufferable, perverse, dimwitted, childish Neanderthal!" He hissed. Edward used his gifted speed to land a solid left hook to Emmett's cheek before anyone could stop him.
Emmett's mind cleared and the playful boy turned into a gruesome monster. Rosalie smirked. "You're in so much trouble." She chimed with glee.
It was after Emmett tackled Edward out of the open French doors that Esme and Carlisle returned. They appeared shocked to see flowers ripped from the garden beds, deep furrows in the grass and more broken tree limbs than they cared to count at the moment. Jasper shook his head and watched from the balcony with Rosalie to his left and Alice to his right as the two fought.
"What on Earth happened?!" Carlisle wondered.
"Edward started the physical fight. Emmett started the verbal conflict that led up to said fight." Jasper said in offer of an explanation with a shrug, wincing when Emmett launched Edward through the air, flying after him to land a hard punch to his gut.
Esme sighed. "That's enough you two."
It didn't help.
Edward used a large tree limb like a club and swung it at a smirking Emmett. He wasn't prepared to be tackled into the ground by Emmett, leaving a hole when the two stood. Edward glared at Emmett who'd already cleared his mind of anything other than the fight.
"Boys!" Carlisle yelled.
Emmett landed one more underhanded punch to Edward's stomach, sending him 100 yards back, before turning to Carlisle. "I said nothing that wasn't true." He shrugged.
"You lie!" Edward hissed before tackling him.
Rosalie rolled her eyes, Alice shook her head and Esme clicked her tongue. "Face it Edward, she's your singer, nothing more. You'd destroy her before you had a chance to turn her." Rosalie snapped.
Everyone froze at the hard look in Carlisle's usually gentle amber eyes. "Tell me I didn't hear you correct, Rosalie..."
"Carlisle, I-" Edward was silenced by a single look.
Rosalie smirked. "You heard me correct, Carlisle. Edward wants to change Bella… he thinks she's his mate."
Carlisle shook his head. "You'll stay away from Bella Swan, so help me Edward. She's been a friend to us and she's the only reason this family's not a heaping pile of ashes right now!" He hissed.
"Why would we be ash right now? We only just got back." Emmett wondered.
Edward's eyes widened. "Carlisle… no…"
"Edward crossed the treaty line two days ago in search of Bella. She persuaded the tribal elders to issue him an ultimatum and keep us out of it instead of killing us all."
"What's their ultimatum?" Esme asked, fear evident in her eyes.
"Edward stays with one of us at all times and we let the wolf pack patrol through Forks at their leisure and we live."
"Or?" Jasper pressed.
"We're treated like every other threat." Carlisle sighed.
"There's only five… six at the most… we can take 'em!" Emmett grinned trying to ease the tension with a joke. Rosalie gave him a small smile but not much else.
"There are nine… I asked as a courtesy." Carlisle corrected.
Edward growled. "How is this fair?! Isabella is mine! Those dogs have clouded her judgment!" He huffed.
Esme had finally had enough. "Edward, you will leave Bella alone! She's been good to us. I'll not see you make her life uncomfortable as repayment. Boys, you'll accompany Edward whenever he's not in the house. Girls, you'll see to it he's kept in your company inside the house. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a yard to fix." She snapped. Jasper and Emmett were quick to follow her.
Edward frowned. This put a damper in his plans. He'd have to bide his time now for the most opportune moment. He sighed and made his way to his room. He scowled when both of his so-called sisters followed after him.
"Whatever you're thinking, just know, if the wolves don't get to you first, I'll tear you apart limb from limb. Bella is the only person in a few decades to show us any sort of genuine kindness. I'll not see her cursed to a life of eternity." Rosalie hissed.
Edward rolled his eyes. "Alice, can you see her? I just wanted to know she is safe!"
"She's fine, Edward. I talked to her yesterday. Though, now I'll have to call her for not saying anything about you stalking her!"
Rosalie grinned.
"Bella! I just thought about calling you…"
"Alice… hi… um… I know it's a lot to ask.. But do you think you could come get Edward's things? He left some of his stuff in my room…"
Alice saw the smirk on Edward's lips. "What kind of things, Bella?" She asked.
Muffled shouting and a huff of indignant anger sounded before she heard a growl on the other end of the line. "Tell that son of a bitch if he comes near Bella, even thinks about her in the way these pictures suggest, he's ashes. You hear me, you fucking icicle?! Ashes!"
"Paul… Shh… come on, give me the phone… you'll break it otherwise… hey… look at me… hi... I'm alright." Alice heard the smile in Bella's voice and had to wonder at the sweet tone of it for a moment. "Are you there, Alice?"
"I'm here, and you have everyone's attention. What's he done?"
"You should come see this, rather than me tell you. Only you, and maybe Carlisle or Esme. The pack is riled up right now."
Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Ten minutes. We'll see her then."
Alice relayed the message and they left.
Edward growled when Esme told him to have a seat down in the living room in front of her. This would not be as easy to pull off as he thought.
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Edward ducked before the vase being hurled in his direction could make contact. He arched an eyebrow at Alice in question.
"You built her a shrine?! Are you insane?!" Alice screeched.
"Ali… come on darlin', calm down now." Jasper cooed.
A wave of peace washed over her and she sighed. "He built her a shrine Jasper! You should have seen some of the things he had pinned to it. It's a wonder we were even invited to see it at all."
"That bad huh?" Emmett whistled.
Carlisle stared at Edward before reaching into his jacket. His mind kept blank. With one button, Edward knew trouble had brewed. Major trouble. His plans would be ruined.
"You can't! they'll find out about Bella!" Edward hissed. He sighed in relief when Carlisle paused.
"Just picture her dead." Rosalie quipped having guessed who Carlisle intended to call. "You do that enough as it is."
Edward growled. "I'd picture you dead first." He sneered, earning a growl from Emmett.
"That's enough!" Esme growled. "No more fights."
Carlisle sighed. "It's either Italy or Alaska. The wolves will be keeping a constant watch on Bella as of now."
"She's mine!" Edward growled.
"Don't make me choose." Carlisle warned.
Edward frowned. He'd been overenthusiastic with the pictures, he could see that now. He thought for sure Bella would appreciate the effort. He sighed. "How long?"
"Until Bella Swan's life is spent."
Nothing but silence met the room. Six statues stared at a seventh. They watched the anger flash over through Edward's eyes as he stared at his maker. They all turned to their coven leader and saw his pain. It had nearly destroyed him to banish Edward- his first made son.
Jasper and Emmett watched Edward pace before storming up the stairs to his room in a flurry. They were hot on his heels but by the time they pushed past the door, Edward had gone.
"Fuck me." Emmett moaned.
Downstairs, Rosalie sighed. She dialed Bella's number and relayed the message that Edward had slipped past them. She needed to be warned. She hung up just as quick as she had called. This didn't bode well for the coven or the wolves. Edward was livid- not a good thing for a vampire to be.
"Carlisle?" Alice's voice sounded timid.
His coven gathered around him, each of them placing a hand on him as a gesture of comfort. Not even Jasper had the heart to change his emotions at the moment. He needed to grieve. One way or another, they had just lost Edward. He hadn't been willing to let go of his temptation and now the coven would suffer his loss.
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Author's Note:
Ok… so a little bit vampire centered… but it says a lot for the mental state of Edward… and just where the lines are divided in his family. He's all on his own now… slim pickings for a wolf pack… Lol.
