Quiet Rage: Treaty Be Damned

Carlisle's POV –

There I stood frozen the sound of my own voice calling Edward's name reverberating in my head. He was gone. Not that I had expected any different. Edward was the fastest of us all and when he set his mind to something there was no stopping him. Resting my hands on my hips, I contemplated my next move yet before I was able to even begin to think the frenzied voices of my family that came from behind me.

"Carlisle?" Esme was the first to speak. All I could do was embrace her tightly, unsure of how or what to say to her – to any of them.

"Alice was right wasn't she?" Jasper asked.

"Alice?" I questioned turning to stare at my pixie of a daughter. "What did she see?" I turned back toward Jasper as I spoke.

"Jacob." Was all he said.

I hung my head and let out a rather heavy, yet unnecessary sigh. "Yes." I saw Jasper reach for Alice instantly when she let out an anguished gasp.

"Carlisle?" Esme's questioning eyes probed me for answers.

"What's going on?" Emmett's rough voice broke my momentary silence. "What was Edward shouting about?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Rosalie spouted with a snarky tone. "Bella of course." She rolled her eyes in a way only Rosalie could do. "What does his poor Bella have a hang nail?" she scoffed.

"Rosalie, stop!" I turned speaking to her with a stern voice. "That's enough. This isn't something to joke about. Jacob's been beating Bella and using our family as the leverage to do it." I hated the way I had to say it so matter of fact but there was no way to sugar coat something so horrific. Those around me suddenly fell silent.

I gauged the reaction of my family and wondering who if not all of them would follow Edward's lead and storm LaPush. It was Rosalie's wide eyed stare that worried me the most. I couldn't help wondering where her memory had taken her.

"What are you talking about, Carlisle?" Esme's soft voice pulled me back to the task at hand – explaining what Jacob had done to the girl who captured not only Edward's heart but the family's as well. "Where's Edward?" I could hear the panic in her tone as she asked me a question I was sure she already knew the answer for.

Taking my love's hand, I began at the beginning and for the next several minutes, which seemed more like hours, told those standing before me the recent events in Bella's life. I stressed how much Bella's love for Edward, for all of us, had carried her through. I tried to make them all understand just how difficult it had been for her. The secrets she carried weighed heavy on her until they finally broke her.

After I finished I pulled back watching the reaction of them all. It wasn't difficult to see what Emmett and Jasper wanted to do. The rigidness of their bodies and tightly fisted hands spoke volumes to me and I knew that like Edward they wanted to rip Jacob Black limb from limb. I wanted to do that as well. Glancing sideways at Esme, I could never imagine laying a hand on her, any woman for that matter. For that thought alone Jacob deserved to be horse whipped. However the logical side of me that always found a way to prevail knew that starting a war wouldn't serve anyone – least of all Bella. Whose greatest fear had been that something would happen to us because of her.

I felt Jasper's wave of calm waft over us as he did what he could to keep us under control. I could tell it was tough for him since he what he truly wanted to do was at war with what he knew he had to do.

"She's wanted to be with Edward all this time?" Emse asked no one in particular.

I answered her just the same. "Yes."

"She's allowed herself to be verbally and physically abused all in the name of keeping us safe?" she continued.

"Yes."

"Oh my," Esme gasped. Pulling her into my arms I allowed her to bury her face I my shoulder. "I said and thought such horrible things," she cried.

"You didn't know." I patted her softly. "None of us knew."

"I should have!" Alice said in angry voice. "What's wrong with me? Why didn't I try harder? What good is this gift," she stressed the word sarcastically, "if it doesn't allow me to see those most important to me?"

"Alice," My newest son, and Alice's love spoke softly, "you did try. You did everything in your power to see what was happening."

"It wasn't enough! I should have never stood in your and Edward's way weeks ago when you both wanted to storm LaPush. Maybe you could have stopped this….."

"Or made it worse," I interjected.

Alice turned her head with a swift fluid motion and narrowed her milky amber eyes at me. "What's worse than Bella getting beaten?" she shouted.

"Bella losing those that she loves." I countered. "That's what she feared the most. Jacob used her love for all us as his greatest weapon. What would she have left if one of us was lost and she felt it was all because of her?"

"Like that would ever happen!" Emmett's booming voice sliced through the silence my statement had left. "Those wolves won't know what hit them!" Emmett growled. "To hell with this treaty – Jacob Black is going DOWN! You with me?" I saw Emmett turn and look in Jasper's direction.

"Of course!"

Rosalie's POV –

I heard the voices of those around me. It was Emmett's thundering voice stood out above them all. He was egging Jasper on, saying things like 'to hell with the treaty' and 'Jacob Black is going down'.

My eyes darted been all the members of my family. Each one of them looked as shell shocked as I felt. There certainly was no love lost between Bella Swan and myself yet hearing the hell she had endured at the hands of someone supposing to love her struck a nerve deep within me.

The years had faded most of my human memories however that night in the alley was one that was still vivid – as if it had happened just yesterday. My body shivered involuntarily as the images of the man who was to be my husband and his friends surrounded me doing unspeakable things to me all while I was kicking and screaming beneath them only to leave me for dead. Absently, I wondered if Jacob had assaulted Bella in the way I had been. Had he stripped her of her dignity and left her feeling dirty and full of shame?

To think that I had been envious of Bella's humanity -- I had hated her for it. I would have given anything to have had her life. But now seeing how similar our existences truly were I would have cried if I could.

This mere mortal had allowed herself to be beaten, threatened, and abused in some vain attempt at keeping the likes of me safe. That was a thought I couldn't wrap my head around. I hadn't been so selfless when it came to protecting her from James. In fact if it hadn't been for Carlisle I wouldn't have helped even the little I had.

I thought about Jacob Black and a growl resonated from the back of my throat. I was filled with so much anger and rage not only at him but at the men who had assaulted and beat me. I still didn't like the idea of a human knowing our secret – being part of our life – but I was damned sure I couldn't stand idly by and let her be attacked for it.

Edward's POV –

The leaves and the branches were a blur as I ran at warp speed through the forest. As the surroundings whizzed by it still seemed as though I was in slow motion. I couldn't get to Bella fast enough.

I replayed Carlisle's recount of what had happened to Bella repeatedly in my mind. His voice was on some odd continuous loop in my head. The guilt over how all of my actions had led up to this was crushing. All of this had happened because of me – because I had been too weak to stay away from Bella in the very beginning. Why hadn't I just stayed in Denali that first time I ran away? Why had I come back at all? There would have never been any danger; no James; no fateful birthday party; no need for me to break her heart; no marriage to a werewolf – Bella would be safe and getting ready to graduate from high school. But NO – she was still very much in danger and it was me who once again put her smack in the middle of it.

It was oddly quiet in the forest. I wondered if sooner rather than later I would be hearing the blaring thoughts of my family as they came rushing after me. Would they dare try to stop me? Would they understand and support my decision? Did I risk hoping that they might even offer to help? None of that mattered though. I knew what I had to do and as LaPush came into view I didn't care if I died trying.

It was odd to me how peaceful the Quileute reservation looked as I approached it. It was hard to imagine the horrific things Carlisle spoke of happening to Bella took place in this quiet cottage lined village. But it was my thundering voice that broke the silence. "BELLA! BELLA!" I screamed. I had no idea where to even begin my search for her but I had to believe with all of my shouting it wouldn't take very long. "BELLA – BELLA, love where are you?" I bellowed.

From around the corner out stepped Sam Uley, his black eyes wide I'm sure at the sight of me. "What the hell are you doing here?" he barked.

"Where's Bella?" I countered with the same anger filled voice.

"Haven't you done enough damage already?" he questioned.

"Where's Bella!?" I felt my body begin to shake as my sudden stillness didn't allow escape for my pent up energy.

"Do you have a death wish Cullen? You're on Quileute lands."

"I don't care! Where's Bella? What's Jacob done with her?"

"What?" I think my question took Sam by surprise as he stared back at my somewhat in shock.

"Don't think that I won't find her!" My attempt to move by Sam was put to a stop as more of the pack joined the rank and file.

"Like hell you will!" A broad shouldered bronzed skinned male aligned himself with Sam.

"What are we waiting for?" another shouted. "He's on our land. He's broken the treaty!"

"I don't give a damn about your treaty! All I care about is Bella and getting her the hell away from Jacob!"

"You had your chance leech!" The young boy yelling at me I knew to be Embry, one of Jacob's lifelong friends.

"You broke her," Sam announced. "You have no idea what a mess she was that day I found her in the forest!"

Sam's words struck a nerve with me. I could tell by his thoughts that was exactly his intention. He wanted me to turn tail and leave – not a chance. "I never meant to hurt her. I never laid a hand on her! That's more than I can say for Jacob!" I hissed.

Once again Sam pulled back looking at me with questioning eyes as if he didn't believe what he was hearing. "What, what are you talking about?" he asked, yet his thoughts gave him away.

So Sam too had wondered if something was off between Bella and Jacob yet he hadn't done a single thing with his suspicions. I felt my body again quiver with rage at the fact that someone else could have intervened on Bella's behalf yet had sat by and done nothing.

"You know exactly what I am talking about!" I countered pointedly.

"Enough already!" a nameless, faceless pack member shouted over the continuing exchange between me and Sam. "What are we waiting for? He's on our land!"

Jacob's POV –

The commotion just beyond the walls caught my attention finally and I was able to pull myself together. Whipping my head around forcefully, I heard the raised voices of many of my pack mates outside and there was one voice that stood out but I wouldn't let myself believe it was who I thought it was.

"What the hell's… …?" I began shouting yet the sight of Edward Cullen silenced me. I was sure my eyes widened at the sight of him. Instantly I felt my body tremble as I contained my animal urges.

"WHERE'S BELLA?" He had the audacity to ask me. "WHERE IS SHE!?"

I scanned the members of my pack all perched and ready to spring into action at a moment's notice and I couldn't help but gloat a bit; Edward Cullen was a good as gone. "And Bella always said how smart you were," I laughed. "If she could see you now."

"WHERE IS SHE, JACOB?!" I heard the threatening growl in his voice but it only made me laugh even more. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER NOW? Haven't you hurt her enough already?"

"I think you've got that wrong. You're the one who hurt her, not me," I remarked confidently. I watched his fists clench as his sides and I wondered how long it would be before he tried to make his way passed me and the others. I couldn't help but egg him on. "You left her broken….."

"NO!" he cut me off, "that would be you who has done that! I have never laid a hand on Bella. I have done everything in my power to protect her. It's been you who's threatened and beat her because she doesn't love you. You've used her loyalty for my family as a way to hold on to her. How pathetic is that!"

Edward's sarcastic tone taunted me but I didn't give him the satisfaction. "What the hell are you talking about? Hurt Bella – me? I've never laid a hand on her."

"LIAR!" Edward hissed. "It's because of you that Bella ended up in the hospital twice!"

"She's my wife why would I hurt her?" I retorted.

"Because she doesn't want you!"

His truthful words sliced deeply and seeing red I gave the order to attack.

"NO!!! WAIT!" I saw Emily Uley rush forward putting herself between Cullen and the pack.

Emily's POV –

The thundering voices of Jacob and Edward resonated through the quiet village. I sat very still wondering how long it would before all of the residents of the reservation would make an appearance.

It was hard to believe that Edward Cullen dared to set foot on Quileute lands. Yet when I heard his accusations I fully understood what had brought him there. He was there to protect the woman that he loved.

I had known it would only be a matter of time before Bella and Edward found their way back to one another. While I didn't know if vampires imprinted the way werewolves did, what I did know was that Bella and Edward were as destined to be together as Sam and I were.

I should have told Sam my suspicions. He wouldn't have stood for what Jacob was doing – Alpha or not. Maybe I could have stopped this before it had gotten this far.

I heard Edward continue with his allegations as to the things that Jacob had done to Bella and it turned my stomach to hear Jacob emphatically deny them all under the guise of loving his wife. I felt the bile burn a path from stomach to my throat. Yet it was Jacob's words signaling attack that pushed me forward. I couldn't sit idly by and let those that I loved potentially be harmed all for Jacob's lies.

"STOP!!! NO!!! WAIT!!!" I took off running screaming at the top of my lungs in the hope that I could put myself between them all. "STOP!" I knew what could potentially happen to me by my putting myself in the middle of this war; I had the scars to prove how deadly a werewolf attack could be. "STOP!" I stretched out my arms spanning the distance between Edward and the wolf pack.

Suddenly the large black wolf I knew to be Sam fazed back and was at my side shielding my body with his own. "Emily what are you doing?" he asked me all the while never once taking his eyes off the encroaching pack.

"Sam!" Jacob no longer in wolf form shouted my husband's name. "Get out of the way!"

"NO!"

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!

"NO!" I felt Sam's strong arms encircle my waist. "You can't really think I wouldn't protect her."

"And by doing that you are protecting him!"

"I don't care," Sam announced.

"Tell them what you know Emily." Edward instructed me. "Tell them all what you have witnessed."

My eyes darted from Sam and Jacob then to Edward and all of the sudden I was scared. I had run headlong into the middle of this without really thinking and now there was no turning back.

"Emily?" Sam's soft voice prodded me.

"Tell them Emily!" I was sure that Edward was trying not to sound angry but I was well aware that that was difficult for him. "Tell them how Jacob's been hurting Bella."

Sam's POV –

Listening to the exchange between Emily and Edward, I felt like I had been sucked into black hole. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

There my wife stood confirming Edward Cullen's accusations against Jacob. I shot a stare of disbelief at Emily. Why hadn't she told me what she had seen? Why hadn't she trusted me with the truth? Didn't she know that I would have stood up for Bella?

My muscles were taut as the idea of Jacob abusing and threatening Bella settled deep within me. "Let him pass!" I said to the others as I cleared a path for Edward. He nodded and darted off in a mad dash.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK ARE YOU DOING!?!" Jacob growled angrily as I watched his eyes follow Cullen's flash.

"What the hell did you think you were doing hitting Bella!?!" I snarled back. "Do you get off on hitting women?!? "

"Like you are really any better?" Jacob shot back at me. "It's not like you've never hit a woman! All a person has to do is look at Emily's face to know that the great Sam Uley isn't perfect!"

For a moment I was dumbfounded. Did Jacob actually think that what he had done to Bella and what had happened to Emily were interchangeable? My eyes quickly shifted to Emily's beautiful yet scared face and felt my stomach lurch. The guilt all that still weighed heavy on me more times than not. "You can't be serious!" I finally announced. "You want me to believe that these two things are even remotely the same!"

"Aren't they?" Jacob shot back at me all of the sudden full of himself.

"HELL NO!" I growled. "Not even close." It was then that I felt Emily's gentle touch on my quivering flesh. She knew the burden I carried for what I had done to her so many years before. "What happened to Emily is nothing like what you have done to Bella. I was wild and unknowing then. I wasn't able to control myself – no one was there to teach me. You had me!"

"Oh yes the shining example!" Jacob scoffed.

I felt my rage begin to swell as I stood there knowing he was egging me on. The others in the pack had fazed back and now stood around us watching and waiting for what was to come next. They all were well aware of the remorse that I felt for the horrible thing I had done. "At least I feel some sort of repentance for my actions. Do you?"

"I have nothing to be repentant for. Bella married me. She couldn't have it both ways. She couldn't have him and me!"

"So Edward's right then – you beat her because she didn't choose you? You are pathetic!"

"ENOUGH!" Jacob yelled angrily and I knew that I hit a very rare nerve. "The treaty's been broken. We know what is expected of us," he said forcefully yet those around him made no move to follow his order. In fact the others in the pack fell in line behind me. "Quil, Embry?" Jacob's voice wavered for a moment when I saw him witness his lifelong friends fall in line with me as well.

"Appears you are on your own!" I declared.

Edward's POV –

'let him pass'

Sam's words didn't have a chance to settle in my head before I was off and running. I had no idea where Bella was but I allowed my instincts to take over and the overpowering scent of her blood filled my nostrils. It was that smell that pushed me forward with a quickening pace. I squashed my own fear trying not to think of what I might find.

"BELLA!" I screamed when the door I nearly ripped from the hinges gave way to the sight of a broken, bleeding and unconscious Bella in a heap in the corner of the room. Images of James and the ballet studio in Arizona bounced around my brain assaulting me continually. As much as I hated what James had done to Bella for him it had been nothing more than an elaborate game of cat and mouse. He had targeted Bella for the sheer sport of it, where as Jacob had professed his undying love for her.

I was unable to wrap my mind around how anyone who loved her could physically hurt her in such a way.

"Oh my love," I said with a raspy voice.

If I had been human I would have been fighting back inevitable tears. My eyes scanned her body that was filled with deep claw marks and gashes that dripped with her once fragrant blood and all I could focus on what getting her the help I knew she needed. Placing my fingers gentle against her neck, there was barely a tangible pulse beneath her stark white skin. She was slipping away and I knew it. Softly I allowed my lips to graze hers as I was gripped with a sudden paralyzing fear. "Please, love, hold on. Please hold on," I choked.

As tenderly as I could without doing any more damage to her already mangled body, I scooped her up in my rigid arms. Her head fell against my chest and the scent that only Bella had filled my senses. "I love you," I said quietly.

I walked out of the small cottage cradling Bella in my arms and was immediately hit by the bright sunshine. I didn't even bother to wonder what the sight of my sparkling hardened flesh said to the residents of LaPush. Right now I didn't care if the world knew what I was. All that mattered to me was getting Bella to Carlisle as quickly as I could.

The pack parted as I made my way through them. All of their thoughts inundated me when they finally got a good look at what Jacob had done. It was a sea of disbelief, anger and ultimate rage.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Jacob just on the fringe watching. I suppressed the deep urge within me that wanted to rip him limb from limb. There would be time for that later. "Thank you," I said to Sam. I knew what he had sacrificed in allowing me to enter the sanctity of LaPush.

"I'm sorry," he said to me. "I didn't know."

Time was of the essence and without looking back I sprinted forward with Bella against my chest praying to the God she said existed. It was my hope that he would listen to this soulless monster.

Jacob's POV –

I stood wide eyed at the edge of it all not believing what I was seeing. The pack – 'MY' pack parted like the Red Sea giving Edward Cullen a clear path to leave LaPush with Bella – 'my' wife.

To hear Sam telling the leech he was sorry and that he didn't know made my stomach lurch. But it was the sight of Bella's badly beaten body that brought the singeing bile to the back of my throat.

I watched the pack gather around Sam and it didn't take much for me to imagine what they were discussing. All of the sudden my position as Alpha seemed to mean very little. Systematically the things in my life that had meant the most were being stripped from me. I looked on as the pack huddled heads hung in deep discussion, Sam at the head of it all. I had lost it all – my position as head of the pack – Bella – my self- respect. Looking down at my hands, hands that I didn't even recognize, hands that had brought forth so much damage, I started to shake. And then did the only thing I knew how to do anymore. I ran.