Chapter Twenty Five

Charlie

I turned so fast I thought I might get whiplash. Standing in the doorway was the tiny fragile figure of Alice Cullen. I wasn't sure whether to be glad to see her or terrified to be consciously in the presence of a real vampire.

"Don't worry Charlie. I never hurt you before and I'm not about to start now. I told Annie all about us because I saw that I would need her help".

I looked confused again

"Something tells me I've missed something again" I said.

" I see things Charlie, things that will happen".

I chuckled,

" You're a fortune-teller as well as a vampire Alice?".

She laughed and I realized I'd missed her over the last couple of years.

"No Charlie. I see the future based on decisions that are made by people. I saw when Leah decided to offer Bella a way out of her predicament with the dog".

She saw my incomprehension,

"Jacob" she explained.

I nodded, now I got it.

"If you could see Bella's future how come you never saw what was happening with her?"

"I hadn't been looking for her future Charlie. Edward asked me not too and I foolishly agreed. But a few months ago I had a vision of her out of the blue and it was quite a shock. I knew she would end up with Leah in Alaska so I made my excuses and left the family. I came up here to Annie who I knew of through the Denali coven. I'm sorry you had to be involved Charlie but once I realized Bella would finish up in Alaska I knew we couldn't keep you out of it any longer. I am really sorry that we are responsible for what has happened".

I looked at Alice again in light of what I now knew. It made no difference, she was still the bubbly girl who had helped Bella after her "accident". I still didn't see her as a threat.

"I need to ask you something Alice. Who is with Bella now? And is she safe?"

Alice looked a little embarrassed and a little hurt at the same time.

"She's with Jasper and she is perfectly safe. He would give up his...well, his existence to keep her safe".

I knew she was about to say life and to be honest I could have understood that just as well.

"Just a minute" I had realized something. "Wasn't Jasper your boyfriend?"

She nodded with a sad smile.

"Something like that yes. Jasper and I had been together a long time Charlie but it was a relationship built on a lie".

She could see the confusion on my face so she explained.

"I met Jasper a long time ago Charlie, at a time when he was desperate. I had seen him coming and told him we were meant for each other. That he was my mate and we would be together always. It was a lie but one he needed to hear at that time. I knew I would be good for him and he needed to find the Cullens as did I. But I knew that we would only be together for a while, he had to be with me and the Cullens to find his real mate. When Bella came into our lives I knew she was the one, but Edward had fixated on her so I had to let things run their course. I think she knew that something wasn't quite right between her and Edward but she was dazzled by him and he adored her. I couldn't tell Jasper what was meant to be, he wouldn't have understood and Bella wouldn't have believed me so all I could do was watch and wait. Jacob Black was a complication I hadn't seen coming but everything would have been OK if Edward hadn't decided to make us all leave. That gave the dog a chance which he took full advantage of. I didn't see how badly she would take our leaving until it was too late. I think she was more affected by Jasper leaving than Edward but she wouldn't have understood that at the time. You must believe me Charlie, I never meant for her to get hurt".

She looked so desperate that all I could do was nod.

"I had to start a fight with Jasper to set him free. It was really difficult because he really believed he loved me and he did, just not enough. In the end I had to more or less kick him out knowing he would head up here because I'd seen it. Then I knew things were back on track. Jacobs obsession is a bit of a problem but Jasper will protect her now they are together. You see Charlie she is his mate, he will realize it eventually but in the meantime he couldn't hurt her and will protect her to his death. Jasper is a very intelligent, cunning, and loyal man. He will spend eternity making sure Bella is OK. She will never hurt again, that I can promise you. He just needs to get the dog off her back."

"What about you Alice? You gave up Jasper for Bella so what about your future?"

She smiled wistfully,

"Oh my future is mapped out too Charlie. I just need to find a way to let my mate know who he is. I will get my happy ending, just not with Jasper. You really don't have to worry about Bella any more Charlie, she'll get her happily ever after with him".

Jake

I made it to Joe's village, the weather was terrible but I was finally here. I made my way back to the cabin and risked a quick look through a chink in the curtains. I could see Charlie and Annie but there was someone else in the room. A Leech! The question was, which one? The scent was slightly too sweet to be Edward but I'd bet money on it being one of the Cullens. The wind was howling through the trees so loudly that even with my sensitive hearing I wasn't able to make out the voices. The important thing was that they were still here, so Bella hadn't come back yet. I guessed they expected her to come here, otherwise why would Charlie still be hanging around? I picked up a faint smell of Leah so she was here too and still under Charlie's protection. I wondered exactly how he planned on protecting her if I crashed through the window in wolf form. That would be a wake up call for him.

As they looked settled for a while I decided to follow Leah and see what she was up to. The trail didn't lead very far, she and Joe were sitting in the local bar nursing their drinks and speaking in low voices. Again I couldn't hear what they were saying but I got the impression Leah was trying to convince him of something. I wasn't sure what to do for the best, if I transformed I would need shelter and the likelihood was that Joe and the others would hear about my arrival. If I stayed in wolf form I would need to keep out of sight and might miss something but I would be safe.

Leah

I was doing my best to persuade Joe that I wasn't disappointed in him.

"I never wanted this Joe, its ruined my life. I just wanted to be a normal girl with normal friends and a normal life. Instead I'm a freak of nature. Can you really believe I wanted to spend the rest of my life as a wolf, fighting monsters? I'd give anything to be like Bella with my whole life ahead of me, marriage, babies, and all that."

Joe looked at me with a sad expression on his face.

"You are the most wonderful person I have ever met. You juggle your two lives and still have time to help others. I dread to think what would have happened to Bella if you hadn't come along, your humanity shines through in everything you do. I just wish I was as brave as you, I don't know how you can look at me with anything but disdain."

I grabbed his hand and squeezed.

"You will always be my hero Joe, enough arguing. I want to know what we do next".

He thought for a minute,

"Well what we should be doing is watching out for Jake. He mustn't find out where Bella is, we need to get to her first. I think we need to talk to my mother".

We finished our drinks and walked out hand in hand. My heart fit to burst with love for the man by my side.

When we got back to his mother's place there was a surprise waiting for us. An extra person in the house, a vampire. I gritted my teeth and tried to take shallow breaths, what was she doing here? Seeing the question on my face Annie walked over and put her arm around me.

"Its OK Leah, Alice is here as a friend. She wants to protect Bella, the same as us".

This made me laugh bitterly.

"Oh yeah she's done a good job of that so far. You seem to forget that its her family got Bella into this mess in the first place. Bella wouldn't need to be in hiding if her brother hadn't screwed up so badly. What next? Are the rest coming back? Just to rub it in a bit more".

I was furious that this 'freak' had been allowed in the house. Annie should have shown her the door when she first turned up, not sit down with her, all friends.

Charlie took my arm and looked into my eyes.

"Back off a little Leah until you've heard the full story. Alice came here to give us some information. She's trying to make up for what happened before".

"Oh yeah" I answered sarcastically "I just bet she is. That's all Bella needs, more of the Cullens. In case you forgot its their fault she's up here hiding out now. If her brother" I pointed at Alice "hadn't dumped Bella and the rest just walked away without a word she wouldn't have ended up so depressed that she lent on Jake for support. Then Jake wouldn't have fallen in love with her and become obsessed. Am I wrong?" I snapped, looking at Charlie.

He looked shamefaced,

"No you're not wrong Leah but I think Alice really feels sorry and wants to make amends."

"Oh that's great Chief Swan. What's she gonna do? Conjure up some new legs for your daughter?"

I was so mad it was making me cruel but I didn't care. Joe took my arm at this and tried to hush me. I shook my head at him

"No Joe, I'd love to know how she plans to make amends for what they've done."

Alice looked at me perplexed.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

I laughed sourly.

"Did you miss that bit out when you had your visions? How convenient."

I could see that she honestly didn't know about the accident.

"Well let me enlighten you Leech. Bella got so frightened of Jakes obsession that she ran. He and I were the ones that found her in the wreck of her truck, barely alive. She made it but there was only so much the doctors could do for her injuries. Your "best friend" lost the use of her legs for a while. Now she gets around on crutches and will for the rest of her life. I guess you really did a number on her between you. A broken heart and a broken body."

I spat the last sentence out as the tears started to flow. Joe put his arms around me and tried to wipe the tears away.

Alice stood with a shocked expression on her face.

"I never saw that, I hadn't been looking for Bella since we left Forks. I only saw her sitting here with Annie and then laying on the floor in the cabin."

At that my head shot up.

"What do you mean laying on the floor?"

She bit her lip then explained.

"I saw Bella laying unconscious on the floor of the Hunting Lodge, she was very sick and I needed to do something to change the future or she would die up there, alone. I made sure Jasper was at the right place at the right time."

"Just a minute. Are you saying she's trapped in that cabin with one of your family?"

I had started to shake, phasing would be so easy and I could rip her apart in seconds. Charlie walked forward and took my hands.

"Leah, I want you to calm down. I believe Alice when she says that Bella is safe. If I believe her then you can too. As soon as the weather picks up we'll all go get her together. Until then Annie has her under observation. If anything happens we will know about it. You have to calm down. If you turn wolf and Jake sees he will follow you. Do you really want to lead him to Bella?"

I looked at him and shook my head.

"I just want her to be safe Chief and I don't trust her kind."

I pointed a quivering finger at Alice.