Chapter Thirty Six

Bella

I sat in the truck watching Charlotte as she drove me away from my knight in shining armour, I felt vulnerable when I couldn't see him any more. She turned and smiled at me

"It'll be fine. He and Peter will be back before you know it."

I realized with shock that she had deep red eyes, I was sitting in a truck cab unable to get. away and there was a human blood drinking vampire. As I started to hyperventilate I realized that Jasper would never put me in danger. If he was happy for me to go off with this woman then I would trust her too. We arrived at another cabin very similar to the one I had been imprisoned in for so long. There was a roaring log fire and Charlotte placed me on the sofa and disappeared for a second then was back with a hot drink for me. I smiled

"Thanks Charlotte. I know you don't feel the cold but I do appreciate the fire."

She smiled at me,

"Bella, If I let you catch cold The Major would ream me out. Believe me, you don't want to get on the wrong side of him".

I sipped the hot chocolate as I thought about what she had said. I felt a little shy as I didn't know this woman but I took a deep breath and continued,

"Charlotte, I hope you don't mind me calling you that?"

She laughed

"Not at all honey. I'd be upset if you didn't. We are going to be great friends."

I was a bit shocked at that.

"I don't know what to say Charlotte. Do you think they will be OK?"

She laughed at that again.

"Honey I gave up worrying about Peter and The Major a long time ago. They've been through a lot so I don't think they'll have much trouble with a crazy wolf man, even if his friends join in"

I looked horrified,

"They won't hurt Jake will they? He's not himself. I don't want anyone hurt because

of me."

My legs went into spasm at this point and I shot off the sofa and landed hard on the polished wooden floor. Charlotte was taken by surprise and as she lifted me from

the floor she gave a little gasp. I felt a trickle on my face and put my hand up quickly.

"Oh god I'm so sorry"

I could feel the wet sticky blood in my hand. I looked up fearfully but she was in control of herself. She handed me a square of material ripped from her skirt

"Here, that will stop the blood. How I'm going to explain this to The Major I don't know."

I was puzzled

"Doesn't my blood bother you?" I asked.

"Not as much as facing your Major and explaining the damage when he gets back"

I couldn't understand what she was saying. She was a blood drinker but she was more worried about Jasper than she was about the call of my blood.

"Why do you keep calling him 'My Major'?"

She laughed,

"Well what do you suggest I call him? We are really happy that he found you Bella. Alice was never the one for him. I always told him that if he waited his true soul mate would find him eventually. And voilà, you have."

My cheeks were burning as I took in what she was saying.

"He really has left Alice then? Why do you keep telling me that he's mine? I don't understand. I don't understand anything."

At this I started to cry, I was so confused, I didn't know what was going on, I felt sick and very tired.

"I don't know what is going on Charlotte. I think I need to lay down please."

She smiled, nodded and carried me through to the bedroom.

"You sleep and let me know when you need anything. I'm sorry if I've upset you Bella. I really hoped we would be friends."

She went out, her shoulders drooping with dejection. I felt terrible but I just couldn't talk to her any more. I wiped the blood from my temple with the rag from Charlotte's skirt and lay down,

closing my eyes. I fell asleep very quickly and the nightmare started soon after. The smoke demon was pursuing me through the trees but there was no knight to save me, Jake got closer and closer. I ran as fast as I could but it was no good. He kept gaining on me and I was so tired. I knew it was all over as he stretched out his hand. I was too tired to even scream and I bowed my head knowing he was inches away from claiming me.

Charlotte

The door crashed open and in it stood an enormous wolf, he growled menacingly and I took a step backwards. If he was here it meant that things had not gone as planned. It meant Peter and Jasper had been defeated, my husband and our best friend had been overwhelmed. I was a widow and Bella had lost her one true love without even realizing she had him. I crouched, ready to defend my charge to the bitter end, Jasper had trusted me with his mate and I would earn that trust even if it meant my death. He circled looking for a weakness, I knew he could smell Bella in the back room, he just needed an opening.

Bella

The smoke demon vanished and I slept on for a while before he came back again, but closer still. Why couldn't I just sleep? I was so tired but my sleep was never refreshing, I woke each time more tired than when I closed my eyes, except for when my knight stood guard over me as I slept. I felt uneasy, my smoke demon was closing in on me. I looked around wildly for my saviour but he seemed to have forgotten about me. I was alone and I had to fight my demon off until my knight reappeared.

Charlotte

I knew I couldn't win, all I could do was to slow him down. I didn't know who would come to save Bella but I knew Jasper would send someone, even if it were too late for me. The wolf studied me for a few seconds then his form wavered and suddenly I was face to face with a tall beautiful looking boy.

"I need to see Bella".

His voice was full of pain and I knew something terrible had happened.

"Why?" I asked.

"I need to apologize, I caused her so much pain. I frightened her into running up here. I don't know what happened to me. I have to speak to her. Please."

His plea was heartfelt.

"Your husband and his friend are fine."

I didn't know why but I believed him so I led him into the bedroom stopping him with a hand on his massively muscled arm.

"If you hurt her I will kill you. Be sure of that."

He nodded.

"I know that. If I hurt her again I'd like you to rip off my head."

I nodded,

"Oh don't worry, I will."

Jake

She trusted me enough to close the door behind her as I turned to look at Bella asleep in the bed and I felt terrible. I had made her run from her home, I was responsible for her accident, and now for her best friends death. I was a monster and I deserved to die, I just didn't know who would get the honour, my brother Sam, my friend Charlie, a spirit bear, or one of Bella's friends, one of the vampires. Ironically they were the ones who had really protected her. Our greatest enemy was the one who saved the love of my life. I just wanted to die but there was something I needed to do first. I shook Bella gently by the shoulder, at first she just murmured but then she opened her eyes. They went wide when they saw me but I put a hand over her mouth to stop her screaming.

"Please Bella. I need to say something then I'll leave and I promise I'll never bother you again."

I think she must have seen the truth in my eyes because she nodded.

I took my hand away and she looked at me warily.

"I have to tell you that I killed Leah"

Her eyes widened

"I didn't mean to. It was an accident, but I am responsible for her death. I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean it and I have to live with it for the rest of my days. I'm so sorry, I promise I'll never bother you again. I hope you find happiness Bella, you should have been mine but I blew it. When you find someone who makes your heart thump out of your chest hang on to him. He's the one and you must hold on tight. Love you Bella, always have, always will. Be happy."

He hugged me for a second then he was gone.