Chapter Twenty One

Alice

As I expected, the conversation with Carlisle didn't go well. He was suspicious from the start, especially since Edward had told him that Bella was on the run from Jake. Well I guess it had been too good to last. "Alice, would you like to explain exactly what is going on with Bella? I know you know where she is and what she's doing."

I sat quietly deciding exactly how much he had worked out for himself.

"So, do I have to guess? Very well, I know that she stopped going out with Edward shortly after a certain vampire arrived in these parts. I think he saved her in Phoenix and I think he's been watching her ever since which is why Edwards silly plan to kidnap her went so horribly wrong for him. I think you're involved in whatever is happening in Forks. You know Charlie is going to be very angry and worried when he finds out Bella is gone. Do you think they can stay undetected indefinitely? Do you think Charlie won't be here asking awkward questions? Do you think the wolves wont be doing the same thing? What exactly would you like me to tell all these people Alice?"

I told Carlisle about Philadelphia and my visions of Bella and Jasper Whitlock.

"So you see Carlisle I had no choice. Allowing them to meet and fall in love was the only good outcome possible."

"And Charlie? How do you think he's going to react when he learns the truth."

"He won't. Who is going to tell him? There's only you, me, Jasper and Bella who know"

"Sam Uley?"

"He suspects but he can't prove anything and anyway Bella is old enough to make her own mind up. They are meant for each other Carlisle. You should have seen them together"

"I wish I had. Maybe I'd be as confident as you then. I have to speak to Charlie. You've set Edward and Jake on a collision course. They both think the other guilty. What do you think will happen when they eventually meet up?"

"They won't. Sam will call Jake back and he'll come looking for me"

"And this is a good thing because?"

"I know Jake's future too"

"You can't see the wolves, we all know that."

"Well that's not strictly true Carlisle. I can't see any of the wolves except for Jacob Black."

"And why is that Alice?"

"You're not going to like this bit Carlisle. I see Jake because he's my mate. He just doesn't know it yet. He couldn't see beyond Bella. Now she's out of the way he'll see me clearly and he will imprint on me."

Carlisle was too shocked to speak for a while. "Are you sure about this Alice? A wolf imprinting on a vampire?"

"Crazy I know but its the truth, and I can assure you that they are going to be as angry about this as the rest of our family will be."

Carlisle

For the first time since I met her I doubted Alice's visions. How could a wolf imprint on a vampire? They were implacable enemies. If she was wrong this was going to be a hell of a mess and if she was right it would be an even greater mess. I'd almost forgotten about Bella and Jasper in all the rest. Alice said they were mates and perhaps she was right, but what if she'd got it wrong? If so she'd put an innocent girl in the hands of a monster and there was little we could do about it. My family were no match for him alone and if he'd gone to his friends then the odds got substantially worse. I would have to try and establish contact with him somehow for my own peace of mind. If Alice was right about anything we'd soon find out. I had a meeting arranged with Sam for the following morning at the treaty line and Alice said Jake would be there so she was accompanying me.

Sam

I didn't trust Alice Cullen but I did trust Carlisle. Not once had he given us cause to regret the treaty between the Quileutes and the Vampires. If I looked him in the eye and asked about Bella I'd know if he was telling the truth. Jake came back, but only after an Alpha command and he wasn't happy at all. I told him of my suspicions but it only made matters worse. The thought of Bella with The Major was worse than her with Edward Cullen. He insisted on coming with me to the meeting and we took a few more wolves just for safety. When we got to the treaty line Carlisle was already there and standing beside him was Alice Cullen, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, after all this was her show.

Jake

I was furious with Sam, what if he were wrong, Bella could be counting on me to save her from Edward. Where was he? I'd expected to see him here if Sam were right in his theory. I concentrated on Carlisle or at least attempted to, but my gaze kept straying to Alice who was watching me and ignoring the others. I'd never noticed her before, she'd always been with Edward or in Bella's shadow. Suddenly my world stopped revolving, I could see nothing but her, I was falling into her golden eyes spinning faster and faster and forgetting all about the pack and Bella. She became the centre of my universe, I needed to be with her to hold her, to love her. Suddenly it didn't matter that she was my natural enemy, that she a vampire and I a wolf. I stepped forward across the treaty line and to her side. She smiled up at me as if she'd know all along and I took her hand in mine, the most natural thing in the world.

Sam

As I spoke to Carlisle I noticed Jake's eyes glaze over and I stopped talking. He stood gazing at Alice Cullen for at least a minute before walking forward. I tried to stop him but it was as if he didn't hear my words and to my amazement he took Alice's hand and kissed her gently on the lips. Carlisle looked at me gauging my reaction as I did his.

"I think we have a situation here Sam" he said watching as Alice reached up to touch Jake's face.

"Did you know about this Carlisle?"

I shook my head, "Only what Alice told me last night and I didn't believe her."

"You realize he's imprinted on your girl."

He nodded, "Yes Sam I think he has. Now what do we do?"

I didn't have the faintest idea, "We'll have to work on that problem but what about Bella Swan?"

"I don't know any more than you do but I suspect the same thing. She's gone off with The Major and I doubt there's much we can do about it, although I am trying to establish contact with him to see if she's OK."

I was distracted by the sight of Jake holding Alice close to him and stroking her back.

"What do we tell Charlie?"

"I think for now as little as possible. He'll probably think she's run off with Edward or The Major depending on whether he gets the letter Bella wrote and Alice hid."

"Why'd she do that?"

"She told me that they are mates and had to be together. For now we have a more immediate problem, neither family is going to be happy about this" Carlisle gestured to Jake and Alice.

"As soon as I find out anything I'll contact you Sam. So what do we do about this?"

I hadn't the faintest idea but we couldn't separate them, it just couldn't be done.

"Let them decide how to tell everyone and find a deep hole to hide in" I said with a wry smile.