Chapter Twenty Nine
Charlie
I sat beside Jake who was conscious and in a lot of pain trying to work out exactly what had happened here. I thought I'd seen Jakes body change into that of a wolf, just like the legends said and Harry had certainly been injured by something. Then Peter had grappled with the huge wolf causing the injuries that incapacitated Jake now but none of it was possible, men didn't turn into giant wolves except in fairy tales and legends and men certainly didn't wrestle giant wolves and incapacitate them so what the hell had really happened? I seemed to be the only one puzzled by these things, Bella had been annoyed not scared but what happened but how could that be? She had warned that Jake was more dangerous than Peter but what did she mean by that? One thing was for sure, I wasn't leaving this apartment until I got some answers, truthful answers. I heard voices out in the living room and then the door opened and Jasper came in looking angry more than anything.
"Chief Swan"
"Jasper."
He came over and looked down at the helpless Jake.
"He's got broken ribs, a broken arm and possibly internal bleeding but he'll be OK. Charlotte knows what she's talking about. I warned you Jake but you don't listen and now see what's happened."
I thought he was being harsh with the badly hurt boy on the bed but then he turned to me,
"I've contacted Carlisle who's still in Buffalo and he's coming over. He'll set up a morphine drip to help with the pain but Jakes own metabolism will heal him quickly enough."
"Shouldn't you be calling an ambulance? Admitting him to hospital or something?"
"No Chief, I don't think that would be a good idea for any of us, Bella included. The police will want to know what happened, there will be questions and what would you say as an eyewitness?"
He had me there, so I played for time,
"How's Harry?"
"Charlotte's dealing with his injuries, Carlisle may need to put some stitches in and give Harry some antibiotics. He'll be fine after a few days rest."
"Jasper, what happened out there?"
"I wasn't here Chief Swan"
"But you know what happened even so."
"Very well, I don't see how we can keep it secret from you now in any case. Jacob Black is a shape shifter, a wolf guardian and he became angry. He phased, became his wolf self and couldn't control it. Peter saved anyone else from getting hurt."
"How?"
"You saw how."
"Let's try again, how did a man wrestle a giant wolf to the ground and break its ribs?"
"Peter isn't a man Chief Swan"
"OK, what is he then? Another shape shifter? A bear? A buffalo? Shit what is going on? And why isn't Bella surprised by any of this?"
"Because she already knows our secret Chief Swan."
"Your secret? Which is?"
"They're vampires Charlie"
I looked down at Jake who had spoken in a pained whisper,
"Jake you sleep, you're sick."
Jake closed his eyes and I turned back to the young man at my side,
"So? I'm waiting"
"Jake just told you Chief, we're vampires. That's how Peter could take down a giant wolf."
"Vampires? Dracula? Fangs? Drinking blood, that kind of thing? Do I look stupid to you Jasper Hale?"
"No Chief Swan you look stunned and confused, even a little scared maybe, but not stupid. That's why I'm telling you this."
Bella
I washed up realising the smell of Harry's blood all over me must be a terrible temptation to Jasper and the others and when I came back in the room wearing fresh clothes I found Edward kneeling beside Harry who was lying on the couch now, all bandaged up.
"What are you doing here Edward? I thought I told you to keep the hell away from me"
"Jasper called, I came with Carlisle to help Bella, that's all. I didn't come to give you any grief and I'm sorry for the way I've behaved recently, it was wrong"
I was tempted to ask him who he was and what he'd done with the real Edward Cullen but he sounded sincere.
"Well thank you for your help Edward and I accept your apology as long as it's over now"
"Yes it is but if I could speak to you for just a couple of minutes please?"
I looked at Peter who was standing with Charlotte and appeared to be getting a real telling off but he must have heard Edwards question because he nodded.
"OK where?"
"Well we have some bloodstained towels and clothes, perhaps I could carry them down to the laundry for you."
I wasn't sure but with Peter and Jasper around I thought I'd be safe enough so I agreed and went for my stick, collecting up the bloodstained things and handing them to Edward in a plastic bag. His eyes had darkened but he just nodded,
"I'm fine I promise. Can I offer you my arm?"
"Its OK. I Have my stick"
Again he nodded and I followed him out more puzzled than ever. He didn't speak until we reached the laundry where he put the things in a machine and started it, coming to sit beside me on one of the benches. The room was empty except for us and his nearness made me feel uneasy,
"Bella I truly am sorry for upsetting you again, I realise I was totally out of order, please forgive me. I just wanted you to know that you wont see me again, I've found my mate at last."
He laughed a little awkwardly,
"Really? I hope she makes you very happy Edward"
He hesitated his eyes closing for a moment,
"It isn't a woman Bella."
"Oh, I see"
"Its...Carlisle. I guess we both tried to hide our feelings for too long"
"Carlisle?"
I was shocked,
"What about Esme?"
"She and he are divorced and Esme is remarried, to a very nice guy who thinks the world of her and we're both very happy for them"
"Do the others know? About you and Carlisle?"
"Alice I suppose and I think maybe Esme suspected a long time ago but the others? No, not yet. It only happened when we sat talking about my behaviour towards you. I suddenly realised I was hurting Carlisle and that hurt me. The rest just kind of fell into place after that. So you see I wont be bothering you again."
"Well, I guess if you aren't hurting anyone else then I wish you all the best, both of you"
"What about you Bella? I saw Jasper and his friends are here. Has he told you about Alice?"
"Alice?"
"Yes, she left him, she's found her mate so be careful. I think she might have pushed him in your direction to assuage her guilt, he's alone now and I don't think he does alone very well. You could do worse than make a good friend of my brother."
"Don't try matchmaking Edward, it doesn't suit you"
I got up and walked out, I didn't like the way he spoke about Jasper, as if assuming I might do a good Samaritan number on his brother. Why could no one see that Jasper was a real person with real feelings, emotions, and a need to be loved? It made me angry but I didn't believe that Alice had just cut Jasper adrift, she knew he and I were destined to be together, the thing I questioned was her motive for keeping it a secret so long. Had it been convenience on her part or had she a genuine reason for only telling us now? One day I hoped to meet Alice again and ask her why among other things, but for now I just wanted to get back to my apartment and away from Edward.
