Chapter Twenty
As soon as the wet dog smell hits my nose I'm up and out the door, and it's a good thing I let my instincts take me.
No sooner am I over the porch and sliding through the gravel of the driveway is Edward getting in Jacob's face. I somehow slide between them, turn and push each one in the chest hard.
"Stop!" I bellow.
"They didn't come here for tea, Bella-they came for you." Edward's voice seeps with malice.
"I pretty much figured that out myself-"
"Bella, you have to listen to me, you-"
Edward lets out a growl and is racing back towards Jacob, and into my still outstretched hand.
"She doesn't have to listen to anything you say! Your words are lies and you have no right-!"
"I had every right! Charlie is like family to me!" Jacob snarls.
"What?" I lower my hand enough to see Jacob's face, and when his eyes meet mine it's like he's seeing me for the first time.
They show all of the hurt in the world, and he looks almost like a lost puppy. It's as though seeing me as a vampire, even if he can only tell I am such by the color of my eyes, physically hurts him.
"Tell her, Jacob, tell her what you did. And tell her the real reason why you did it-don't hide behind your lies and excuses. Be a man!" Edward doesn't yell, but his words are so strong that he might as well have. It's at this point that I notice the rest of the Cullen's had formed a half circle behind Edward, and their stances are anything but inviting.
"Like you have any idea how to be a man!" Jake spits his words so hard, I almost have to block my face from the hate.
"Someone needs to start explaining instead of throwing insults." It comes out harsh, but in order to clear my confusion and for them to ultimately start thinking clearly, it needs to make an impact. And, it does; for a moment there is nothing but anxious silence. Then Edward speaks, his voice calm, but his words seething.
"Tell her what you did and the real reason why you did it. And-" he quickly speaks before Jake can cut him off, "don't lie. I will know if you do." Jake takes a beat, looks at the wolves in pack form behind him, and then takes a deep breath.
"Fine, but you know, I don't know why I'm even bothering, it doesn't change anything!" He lets out a frustrated growl, and stiffens his arms to his shoulders. "Once the pack made me aware that you were back in town, I...I told Charlie.."
"Without even confirming it yourself?" I'm so taken aback by his confession it takes a moment for the anger to surface.
"I didn't have to see you for myself," he replies coldly, "I see my pack's thoughts, remember? Or did you just forget everything about the life you had when you became a blood sucker?"
"Excuse me? If you're going to be like that then you might want to remember that it was you and your pack that got me bit in the first place! If you're going to place blame on anyone for me turning, why don't you take a look in the mirror? And telling Charlie about my return wasn't your place!" It comes out in a huff, but I can see by the look of hurt on his face and an attempt at hiding a laugh by Edward, that I drove my point home.
"Bullshit it wasn't my place, Bella; since you left me and the rest of the tribe are the only family he's had! And, I stick by my pack- you being back means nothing but trouble, for everyone especially Charlie!" His words his my self consciousness, but I don't let it show.
"I was going to do this the nice way, Bella-"
"No you weren't-"
"Shut up!" Emmett's chime in from the back makes Jake's bark of an order come out that much stronger.
"You're coming with us, and you're leaving forever, one way or another." He grabs my hand but I twist out of his grip. I deliver a gracefully powerful kick to his face which, in turn, makes one of the wolves pounce on me. Edward struggles desperately to throw, who I believe to be Paul, off of me, but he gets tackled by a slightly smaller wolf. The rest of the Cullen's have entered the fray, but I can't focus on them; all I can feel is claws and teeth against my diamond hard skin.
For a creature who's supposed to be able to see what normal humans cannot, have incredible strength and speed, I am unable to use any of these "powers."
With each tear and swipe of a claw, the more perception I lose. Though I struggle with all of my strength, and push off with my feet in any direction I can, the wolf follows on top of me. I can feel the cracks forming on my skin's surface, and the pain is enough to make me wish for the venom I felt when I first turned.
That's it…
The voice floats lazily into my head, and I grab Paul's front right leg with as much strength as I can muster. He lets out an actual howl of pain, and then I bite.
The blood is disgusting and foul; think of wet dog in liquid form with a tinge of brussel sprouts. I get only a gulp full before he lurches away.
I move quickly to stand on unsteady feet. The blood from the werewolf is too hot and it's making my dead organs twist and churn. I double over on a tree with the pain, one hand clutching my stomach.
"Paul!" Leah, runs to the now human, and very naked, form of the man that's now sprawled out on the ground. She grabs his upper body and pulls it towards her.
"Did you just turn him, you filthy blood sucker?!" Her gaze shoots daggers, but I could care less as the pain in my abdomen increases.
"Bella," A worried Edward is at my side, embracing me and holding me upright at the same time.
The fighting has ceased as each side gathers around their injured comrad.
"Bella, what did you do?" Jake says in a sneer.
"I didn't turn him, I don't even think that's possible...I just-" I let out a pained cry, and Edward pulls me a little closer.
"He was killing her, it was her last resort. He's fine, just a little...diminished. Give him a few moments to re-up his red blood cells." Edward mutters softly, but everyone has no problem hearing him.
"Still, she bit him! That breaks the treaty!" Leah shouts.
"If we're talking technicalities then your pack broke it first by barging onto our part of the land and attempting harm on one of us." Carlisle speaks with authority, but Jake refuses to bend.
"She isn't one of your family, Carlisle. She has no business being here-"
"She is apart of our family, Jacob. Or, she will be as soon as our wedding-"
"You're getting married?" Jake interrupts Edward and his eyes that were only just moments ago cold, swing in the direction of pain and jealousy.
"You've gone about this all wrong, Jacob. Let us sit as mature adults and speak about things." Carlisle speaks again, but this time Jake is the one that's unable to respond due to interruption.
My stomach turns, and I let out a scream before losing all control of my body and letting it go limp in Edward's arms.
That's when the vomit comes.
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