Chapter 12
A/N: Thanks so much for reading! I am sad, though, only two reviews! And that last chapter was extra long, too. If you haven't taken the time yet, please let me know what you think of my story so far! I need motivation to keep posting…and trust me, you don't want to miss what is going to happen next!
Now, on with the story…
BPOV
Jacob was trying to comfort me, when all of a sudden he stopped mid-sentence and stood up. He was standing in front of me protectively, just like I'd been complaining about Edward always doing.
I was annoyed that obviously all males had this stupid overprotective gene. I put my hand on his shoulder, and was about to push him to the side, when I saw what had both him and Emmett frozen.
A white figure was standing at the edge of the tree line. It took me a moment to realize that I recognized those dark curls.
"Relax, guys, it's just Tally." I sat back down on the log.
Emmett relaxed immediately, but Jake's body was unmoving. I tugged on his wrist, to try to get him to turn back to me.
"Jake…Jake? Are you alright?"
Without taking his eyes off of Tally, he whispered to me.
"Who is that?"
I heard Emmett's laugh, and I turned to meet his gaze with confusion in my eyes.
"You better introduce those two, Bella...before Jake here has a heart attack."
"What?" I didn't understand Emmett's words at first, it took me a moment. But then I recognized the signs.
Jake's eyes were glazed over, his heartbeat was racing, the blood in his veins was nearly pulsing out of his neck, and he was panting.
I walked over to him and put my arms around my best friend.
"It's okay, Jacob. Just take a deep breath."
I watched, as I saw the air fill his lungs and his nose twitch. A smile crept over his face, and I knew he was memorizing her scent.
I couldn't believe it. It was an amazing thing to witness. Jacob was imprinting on Tally!
I motioned for Tally to come over and join us. I could tell she was hesitant as she looked at Jake with curiosity in her eyes.
As she got closer, Jake began to shake. It wasn't an uncontrollable tremble like when he is about to phase, but more like a shudder of anticipation was flowing through his muscles.
"Breathe, Jake."
I took a deep breath with him, curious of what he was smelling. Tally's scent was similar to my own, a freesia floral smell but it had a bit of something wild and adventurous mixed in.
I smiled at my two friends who were shyly looking at each other. I reached over for Tally's hand, and brought her even closer.
"Jake, this is Tally. She is a good friend of mine. I met her while I was in Italy. She used to be one of the guards for the Volturi."
I paused, letting them both have a moment to take all of this in.
"Tally, I'd like you to meet Jacob Black. He's a werewolf, and he's my best friend. I wouldn't be here introducing you two, if it weren't for him. He saved me from drowning a long time ago, not to mention other things, during the darkest time of my…"
The reason we were all out here suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. The pain of that awful hole in my chest almost made me crumble to my knees. I gasped for the air that I did not need to breathe.
Everyone's attention turned to focus on me. Emmett was behind me, holding me up so I wouldn't fall. Jacob was looking at me, eyes filled with concern for his best friend's sadness. He reached out to me, grabbed my arm, and helped me steady myself.
Tally was watching me slowly break apart and began to speak softly. "Isabella, that's why I came to find you guys. Edward is coming after you. He is tracking your scent. He looks pretty upset, and he was running very fast."
Emmett grabbed my outer shirt (thank goodness I was wearing an undershirt today) and ripped it off my shoulders.
"Jake, take these girls somewhere to hide, while I try to throw him off the trail with her scent. I don't think Edward is going to be rational enough to listen to reason at first. If he sees you here, he's definitely going to get the wrong idea!" Emmett took off running as fast as he could into the trees.
The horror of what Emmett had just said, hit me. Edward would see Jacob and immediately assume I was leaving him for my best friend. No matter how many times I have told him of my love for him, he has always been insecure when it came to Jake.
Oh, No! What am I going to do? It wasn't supposed to happen like this!
Jake grabbed both of our hands, and started running with us in the opposite direction. When I asked him where he was taking us, he just said, "My den."
EPOV
I had been running blind for miles, just following her scent. I was blind, because my mind was so consumed by rage that I couldn't hear anyone's thoughts.
The message that my love had written on the bathroom mirror continued to flash in front of my eyes. "I'll always love you."
Why is she running away from me? Why is Emmett with her?
I slowed my run, just enough to allow my mind to clear. I searched for my big brother's thoughts as I jogged through the forest. It took awhile, but finally I found myself close enough in range to hear him.
"It's okay, Bella. Just try to rest. Edward won't find us here. I'll protect you."
Protect her from me? What the hell is going on?
I circled around where they were at, knowing Emmett would catch my scent very soon. I could see him leaning forward, over my wife.
I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage inside me. I decided it would be bad to attack Emmett, for fear that Bella could get caught in the middle and get hurt. I would just grab my love, and take off.
I crouched down low, to give myself the most spring. My muscles quivered in anticipation.
As soon as Emmett caught my scent, he straightened up. That was the opening I needed. I sprang to my wife and grabbed her shirt and body…
What? This isn't her, it's just a bush with her shirt…where is she?
I turned to confront my brother who had stolen my wife, ran away with her, and now was obviously trying to hide her and keep her from me. A snarl ripped from my chest, and my mind started to fill with rage…suddenly a fowl and disgusting smell hit my nostrils.
Werewolf?
My hands were shaking as I brought my love's shirt up to my nose. I almost gagged from the intensity of the scent that was mixed in with hers.
He had been close enough to get his scent on her clothes?
I caught the scent faintly in the air, his mixed with hers. I forgot all about my stupid brother, and took off in the direction of my true love. I would do whatever it took to protect her, to save her from him. My only hope was I wouldn't arrive too late.
UMPH!!
I felt the weight of Emmett's hard body slamming into mine. We both went down, face first, into the hard earth. A cloud of dust surrounded us. Quickly, I flipped us over so I was on top of him. I pulled my arm back and shot it forward, my fist hitting the side of his jaw.
Emmett used his legs and flipped me over the top of his head. I landed on my back, and before I could get up, he was on top of me. I expected him to reciprocate the punch, and braced my face for the hit. Instead, he grabbed both of my arms and pinned them down above my head.
"Damnit, Edward, listen to me!"
I struggled against his arms that were restraining me. I tried to flip him as he had just done to me, but he was prepared for it and had planted both of his feet firmly in the ground on either side of me. I growled at him, too full of anger to speak.
"Calm down, little bro, I need to tell you something first. It's important. It's about your wife!"
I wanted nothing more than to rip his throat out. I didn't want to hear anything from him! I raised my head up as far as I could and snapped at him. More growls rumbled from deep inside my chest. I had to stay angry, if I let it go I was well aware of the emotion that would take its place. I didn't want to hurt, not just yet.
"Edward, listen to me! Bella is safe, but you won't get to see her until you calm down and hear what I have to say!"
Emmett ground his body into my chest, emphasizing his strength. I struggled against him at first, but soon realized I wasn't going anywhere until I gave him what he wanted.
My body froze except for my chest rising and lowering as I took long, deep breaths, and my eyes glared directly into his. I tried to make it look like I was listening to him.
"Edward, you are suffocating your wife with your strangling over protectiveness! She is a lot stronger than you give her credit for! She is one of us, Edward! You may not have taken the time to notice, but Bella is a vampire!
I took another long, deep breath and closed my eyes. If I had the use of my hand, I would have been pinching the bridge of my nose at this very moment. That action always seemed to help me keep my focus when I was frustrated.
I shook my head as an alternative, and clenched my fists.
"I know what she is, Emmett! I was the one that bit her, remember? Now, get off of me!"
He chuckles and shakes his head. "Not good enough, Edward. I'm not letting go of you until I am convinced you are hearing everything I am telling you."
I closed my eyes and tried once again to pull away from him. He just tightened his grip.
"Bro, Bella loves you with everything she is. This is killing her, but she didn't know what else to do. You were pushing her away and she didn't want to lose you."
My brow furrowed, as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. I was having a really hard time concentrating, though, with the scent of that werewolf filling the air around me.
BPOV
I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I can't believe I am actually hiding in a cave with a werewolf.
I was hiding from my true love, my husband, my Edward.
I put my head in my hands and whimpered, as I sunk to the floor. Why was I doing this?
"Bella?" Two voices, filled with concern, called out to me.
I just raised my head long enough to force a smile, and tried to reassure them, "I'm fine."
They knew better.
Immediately, I felt comforting arms holding me.
A voice I had come to trust, filled the air around me. "You had to do this, Bella. He's been acting crazy, lately!"
Hatred filled my eyes as I thought of the person responsible for all of this – Tanya.
Edward and I just couldn't get a break! Stupid danger magnet!!
We were enjoying Our First Year Together as a human (well, at least one of was human) married couple attending Dartmouth.
Jane and Alec used their powers on Edward and nearly killed him.
I finally get to be Superman, and save my true love, but not without sacrifice.
I wake up to find myself prisoner in the Volturi castle, a newborn, alone.
Somehow, miraculously, we were able to beat the odds (and the Volturi) to find our way back into each other's arms.
Edward destroyed Jane and you'd think after all we'd been through, we deserved some happy moments!
HA! YEAH, RIGHT!
One threat, Jane, gone.
A new threat, Tanya, appears.
Instantly, a memory flashes across my mind.
I clutch my sides and gasp as my brain replays the horrible scene of Tanya on top of the reason for my existence.
I can still hear his breath coming in short, quick gasps.
His eyes were glazed over, and he was panting!
I shook my head again.
STOP, BELLA! THIS ISN'T HELPING!
I closed my eyes to try to open a channel to my best friend and sister-in-law, Alice.
I needed advice.
Instinctively, my entire body stiffened and I froze right where I was.
Oh no! Tanya is not our biggest problem!
A/N: You know what I want! Review, Review, Review…Please!