Title: An Unkind Fate

Rating: PG (T)

Pairings: Ultimately Bella & Edward

Disclaimer: Idon't own Twilight or any of the Twilight series. They are the property of Stephanie Meyer and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: Thanks to my Beta, AliceDoubtfire. Thanks to all the new followers and favorites. Thank you so much to those readers that consistently review. If you haven't left a review before, please tell me what you think. I love hearing from you guys.

Chapter 36 – Echoes of the Past

"Edward, what is it? Is it a vampire?"

"No. It seems you have other company." I could smell the scent of the wolves.

She looked at me impatiently and sprinted up the stairs so I quickly followed her. Four large men jumped up from the top steps near her door. They were muscular, tanned and looked like they were in their twenties but based on what Bella had told me, they were actually much younger. I knew from Leah's mind that they were Seth, Embry, Quill and a young wolf named Brady.

They must have caught my scent before they saw me because I could hear their thoughts and they were not complimentary. They were fragmented but I caught 'blood sucker', 'cold one' and 'can't believe she went back to the fang-gang'. Ok, that was a new one.

I saw the youngest tremble as I drew closer. He was volatile which made me fear for Bella. I went to pull her back out of Brady's reach but Embry put a hand on his shoulder and calmed him down. "Stand down," he said quietly. Brady went still but remained alert.

Bell, oblivious to any danger, threw herself into the arms of the tallest of the four men like they were harmless oversized teddy bears. "Seth! What are you doing here?" She pulled back and looked him in the eye and quickly asked, "Is your Mom alright? Is Charlie, ok?"

He laughed. "Gees, Bells, give me a chance to answer one of the questions. Mom's good. Charlie looked stressed when I left him trying to put together a crib. That was not pretty."

Bella turned to Embry. "Embry! I can't believe you are here. How's your Grandma?"

Embry smiled. "She misses your lasagna." Bella looked pleased by the compliment.

She moved on to Brady and it took all my self-control to stop her. "Oh my God. You've grown at least six inches, Brady!" He blushed. "How's, Grace?"

I got a flash of a pretty young Native American girl that he clearly adored. Then the phrase 'my imprint' along with a quick, 'Wish Jake had imprinted on Bella. She was the best. I can't believe she is with a blood sucker, now. Why did Jake have to meet Vanessa.'

"She's great, Bella. She said to tell you hi and Jana misses reading with you."

""Give them both a hug from me. I wish I could take Jana to this great book store Edward took me to here in Portland. The children section is unbelievable. I'll write down the link for her."

Finally, she turned to Quill. "Hey, Quil. How's Claire-Bear?"

He looked at her with such love, I wanted to snatch her away and take her somewhere they would never find her. "She misses you, Bella."

Bella nodded, looked around the giant men and said skeptically, "So, you guys just decided to drive over for a visit?"

I knew the answer. Reading Brady's mind was like watching a television on steroids.

"Leah, called us last night. She told us about the murders." Seth said and then looked at me. "She mentioned that the Cullens think it is a vampire. We thought you might need some help."

Bella looked at all of them sadly. "You guys didn't have to do that. This isn't your concern."

Quil looked at Bella seriously, "Did you really think we wouldn't come? I told you, if you ever needed me I would be there."

I didn't like this. What the hell was going on here? Was this wolf in love with her too? I picked up on some of his thoughts. He wasn't as easy to read as the puppy, but I saw flashes of a little girl which I assumed was the Claire that Bella inquired about and then a quick flash of Bella looking sad in a hospital room. Finally, I caught a piece of a conversation Seth and Quil had with another muscular man. I recognized him from Leah's thoughts, it was Sam.

I finally spoke up. "They also wanted to check on you, Bella. They are concerned that you are around me and my family, again."

Bella turned to the boys. She looked angry. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm ok. The Cullens have been nothing but wonderful to me and to Leah."

"We know." Seth soothed her. "Leah filled us in on everything." Seth turned to me. "Thank you for taking care of my sisters." He turned back to Bella and said seriously, "You know this isn't going to go over well with Charlie."

Bella sighed and wouldn't meet my gaze. "I know. I will tell him about Edward, but I didn't want to upset him while he has been so stressed out about your Mom and the baby."

Seth nodded.

"Does Leah know you are here?"

"No, we wanted to surprise her. I left a message on her cell phone when we got here but she hasn't called me back yet."

"Well, why don't you come inside and I'll give her a call. Are you guys' hungry? I've got a couple of trays of lasagna in the freezer that I can heat up for you while we wait for Leah."

I gathered from their reaction that her question was rhetorical. She unlocked the front door. Seth followed her in but the other three held back. Bella looked at them questioningly.

"We're just going to get our bags from the car," Quil told her.

She looked at him skeptically. "Play nice, boys."

I knew they would love to take a run at me but I could see how much they cared and respected Bell. Quil and the rest of the guys, including myself, nodded and she went inside. We walked to the sidewalk near where they had parked their car.

"A little out of your territory aren't you wolf?" I fired the first shot. Quil seemed to be in charge so I addressed my comment to him. I was concerned that they could undo all the progress that Bella and I made.

His nostrils flared in anger but then he calmed himself down. He focused on thoughts of Bella. I could see her teasing him at some big gathering near a river, Quil chasing her with a little girl on his shoulders at the beach, Bella slapping his hand as he reached for the last slice of pizza in a garage surrounded by mechanical parts. Shit, did I have to worry about this mutt too?

"Is there something I should be concerned about between you and Bella?"

He looked surprised and then laughed. "No, Bella and I are just good friends."

"It seems like a lot of trouble to go to for a friend or even the step-sister of a pack mate."

Again, Brady's mind made this easy. 'What is he talking about? Bella, is the best. We would do anything for her. She was the only one I could talk to when they wouldn't even let me tell my Mom what was going on. Can't believe Jake treated her the way he did."

Quil shrugged. "I would be here for Bella no matter what, vampire. As you should know, she is one of the kindest and most loyal persons I know. I'm sure Leah told you how much she went out of her way for the guys in the pack, their families, and even the kids on the reservation. She used to cook meals for the shut-ins on the reservation. She always had a pot of soup for someone's family member that was sick. She even tutored the kids at the reservation school. For that alone, we would all be here. But the truth is, we owe her a debt." Then he said more solemnly, "I owe her a debt. When Seth told us about Leah's phone call, we all insisted on coming."

"What could you possibly owe Bella?"

'He owes her his imprint," went through Brady's head.

"If Bella hasn't told you then it isn't my place to say."

I knew if I asked the right questions or provoked them the right way, I could get the story from them. There was obviously more to the story then what Bella had told the family.

"Does it have to do with Victoria and your imprint?" Hoping to get more of the story and understanding of the term imprint.

Sure enough I got flashes again. This time it was of a building that must have been on the reservation based on the architectural style.

"She told you about Victoria?"

"Yes, she said Victoria showed up at one of your celebrations, tried to attack a child but your pack was able to catch her and destroy her."

"Well that summary is accurate but sparing."

I got a quick flash of that little girl running and Victoria holding Bella by the throat in the air. That made my fists clench.

"Was the child related to you?"

This time I got the picture of laughter, absolute joy, protectiveness and cords of steel. "What is imprinting?"

"She told you about imprinting?"

"She mentioned the term," I lied hoping it would goad more information from one of the wolves.

"It doesn't concern you so you don't need to know anything about it." Embry said. But the youngest couldn't help himself. I saw a quick rush of pictures of his imprint and the other wolves explaining to him what happened when he met her.

"Brady, it's ok. What you feel is natural because you have found your true mate."

"Like Sam and Emily?"

"Exactly."

"What about Jake and Bella? They've been together for a long time. Is she his imprint?"

Leah looked sad. "No, Jake hasn't imprinted on Bella."

Then he got memories from the entire pack that Brady had received when he was in wolf form. This kid was a gold mine of information. He could see the conversation that Embry had with Brady.

"Brady, when we are in wolf form we can read each other's minds. We see each other's thoughts." Brady must have looked confused because Embry put it in terms he could relate to, "It's like the Vulcan mind meld."

That's when Brady learned that Sam had been with Leah before he imprinted on Emily. He felt bad for her and he was thankful he had found his imprint before he hurt someone like Sam hurt Leah and Jake hurt Bella.

He couldn't stop himself. He looked at Brady and demanded, "How did Jake hurt Bella?"

Brady's eyes opened wide at the question and he couldn't hold back a barrage of images. There was a wedding. Bella looked happy as she stood with the rest of the guests and smiled at the bride walking down the makeshift aisle on the beach. Bella was stunning in a gold and black beaded dress. Jake was beside her in a suit. I wanted to kill him for the hungry look he had in his eyes as he looked at Bella instead of the bride. Brady changed his gaze and I recognized Sam as he held his hand out for the bride. She looked radiant, even with the scars on her face that were only partially hidden by her hair.

The images skipped to the reception. Brady looked at Grace proudly as they slow danced. She was the prettiest girl in school and she loved him. He was so lucky. Grace smiled at him and then looked at Bella and Jake.

"It's a shame he hasn't imprinted on her. They look so happy together and she is so nice. You know she was tutoring my little sister in reading. My Mom said that Jana is now reading at a level above her grade thanks to her."

"Yeah, she's great." Bella was nothing but kindness when he first went through the change. She made sure he had clothes when he tore through everything he owned when he couldn't control his phasing. She made sure he got fed when he tried to hold his own at Emily's dinner table. She made the guys cut him a break when the teasing and the pranks got out of control. He knew they were all a little scared of her. He heard she punched Paul. He wished he could have seen that. He heard Paul changed into his wolf right in front of her and she didn't back down until Jake made her.

"Emily said they were friends for a while before she finally agreed to date him. Do you think she didn't want to date him because of the imprint thing? I mean, what if he meets someone like Sam did?"

I shrugged. "He doesn't think that will happen. He's been in love with her since they played together as toddlers. Ever since she came back to Forks to live with her dad he's been obsessed with her. He wants to marry her. He's been worried that one of those vamps that used to live here might come back for her ever since I picked up that scent around her house. I think he's more worried about her leaving him than he is imprinting on someone else."

She looked back at Bella. "I don't know if I would risk it, knowing what I know now."

Brady looked upset at me. "How did you know what I was th…? Hey! Stay out of my head!" He started to tremble again.

I wanted more. "You didn't answer me. How did Jake hurt Bella?"

Quil stopped him. "Brady, why don't you go into the house?"

Brady didn't look like he wanted to obey but he finally nodded and went into the apartment.

I turned to Quil. I wanted answers. "How did Jake hurt Bella?"

Embry spoke first. "I gather you were able to pick up some information from Brady?"

"Yes. If you don't tell me what I want to know, I'll just keep trying with the kid."

"Why should we tell you any of this if Bella hasn't? I don't want her hurt again."

"You know Bella. You know she only tells you want she thinks she should to protect you. She never thinks about herself. I know that my kind is not what you want for her. I can tell you all care about her. But I love her more than my own existence. If she is holding something back that I need to know so I don't hurt her, I need you to tell me."

Quil seemed to understand but muttered, "You left her. I remember what she was like when she started to hang out with Jake." Again I saw the images that haunted me of the hollowed eye and underweight Bella. "Why should we help you?"

"If you really do share each other's minds and Leah has shared what is going on over here with Seth than you know that I didn't leave her because I didn't love her. After her attack by Victoria's mate, James, I thought she would be safer if we got out of her life."

"Yeah, that didn't work too well." Embry snickered.

"I know that, now. Please, I love her and want to protect her. What happened?"

'Leah trusts him and Leah never trusts anyone. She said he has been good for her. I hate that she is back with the vamp but if he makes her happy…."

Quil looked at Embry and Embry nodded.

"I'm sure Leah told you that Jake started to chase Bella as soon as your family left Forks. He was really good to her and for her. He helped bring her back to life. At first she put him in the friend zone and then after a year, she finally agreed to a date. Things were good for them but Jake was upset that Bella always held back."

Embry picked up the story from Quil. "The month before Jake and Bella broke up we were all at a bonfire at the beach. Brady, caught the scent of a vampire near Bella's house while on patrol. Jake was convinced it was you. That's when he really started to pressure Bella for a commitment. He wanted to tie her to him both physically and emotionally before you tried to get her back. Jake knew she was worried that he had never imprinted on her. She had seen what Leah went through and didn't want that to happen to her. He kept reassuring her and she finally gave in the night of Sam and Emily's wedding."

They looked embarrassed to impart this part of the story. I wanted to tear something apart at the thought of Jake and Bella together like that. I hated the fact that these wolves knew about such an intimate moment for Bella.

"Jake left Bella's house before Charlie got back from working the night shift. The guys and I had just finished cleaning up the community center when we saw him.'

As Quil resumed the story, I could see it like a movie that unfolded in Quil's head. I saw the guys hanging outside of one of the reservation houses in the early morning light.

"What the fuck, Black? Where was your lazy ass? You were supposed to be here this morning to help clean up the hall."

Jake smiled a shit-eating grin. "Sorry. I forgot. Give me a chance to shower and I'll help you finish."

Paul sniffed. "You stink of sex!"

The other guys hooted in laughter. "How was your right hand, Jake?"

"Fuck off you assholes."

Paul sniffed again. "You did it didn't you? You finally got Bella to pop your cherry!"

Jake shoved Paul, "Shut your frigging mouth you dick."

"I can't believe that vamp lover finally gave it up to you."

Jake went for Paul when Old Quil broke it up by saying, "Paul, isn't it your turn to patrol right now?"

Paul looked like he wanted to finish the fight.

"Paul?" Old Quil stared Paul down and Paul reluctantly nodded and jogged off into the woods that bordered the community hall.

Embry said, "You might as well tell us. We'll all see the next time you phase."

"Look, it's private. And if any of you tease Bella the next time you see her I'll kick your asses."

The guys laughed again. Quil turned to Jake. "I know you didn't get much sleep but could you do me a favor and run me to the Macah reservation? My Mom's sister just moved back with her family from the East Coast and I promised my Mom I would meet her there for a barbeque this afternoon."

"I was going to hang out with Bella."

"You'll be back in plenty of time and you'll even get fed. Come on. You owe me. Who covered for you with Charlie when you and Bella fell asleep at the beach last month at the bonfire?"

"Fine. Fine. Let me give Bella a call first."

Jake dialed Bella's number and the guys started to make kissy sounds and yells of "I love you Bella!"

"I can't live without you Bella!"

"Here are my balls, Bella!"

Jake gave them the finger and continued to talk softly into the phone. A few minutes later he said goodbye and the guys filed into the car.

Jake pulled up in front of Quil's aunt's house two hours later. Quill introduced Jake and Embry to his aunt and uncle. "Too bad you boys are late. You just missed your cousin, Vanessa."

Embry elbowed Quil. "You never said you had a girl cousin."

"Don't even think it. She is off limits to you mutts."

Jake held his hands up. "Hey, I'm taken."

"That just leaves me," Embry said with a sly grin.

Quil and the guys walked over to Quills Mom who immediately started to fuss over the boys and make them plates. "You boys are growing so fast. Eat! Eat! There's plenty."

They didn't need to be told twice. The guys wolfed down the food like it was their last meal. Jake was in mid bite when he saw a tall beautiful girl walk over to the table. "Quil!"

Quil stood up and grabbed her in for a hug. He turned her around and Jake and Embry stood up.

"Vanessa, these are my boys Embry and Jake." Embry gave her his best sexy grin. Vanessa smiled politely and then turned to Jake. She shook his hand as she looked into his eyes and Jake's life changed forever.

"Oh, shit."

XXXX

"Jake, you have to talk to her. You have to tell her what happened. She deserves to know."

"I know that!" He paced around the garage in agitation as he muttered to himself. "Why? Why didn't we wait just an extra day? This wouldn't be the disaster it is if we had just waited."

"Jake, man up. You need to tell Bella the truth. I could barely look her in the eye today when she came around with that lasagna for you. Paul was a total dick. He gave enough clues that a blind man could figure out what happened. Don't let her hear about it that way. It isn't fair to her."

"Did you know that Paul is pushing Sam to pull back on the patrols around her house?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Do you think that is a good idea? We don't know if that vampire scent around Bella's house was really one of the Cullens. You know that we couldn't pick up their scent well enough from their house to really say it matched."

"Aren't you worried that Bella could still be at risk from the red head?"

"I'll talk to Sam to keep up the patrols."

XXXX

"Did you talk to Bella?" Sam asked Jake as they sat around Emily's kitchen table.

"No. Charlie has been on my Dad's ass but I don't know what to say."

"Just tell her, 'Bella, I'm sorry. I imprinted.' Isn't the truth better than silence? She was there for you, Jake. She never judged you and you are treating her like she is invisible. Ignoring the problem isn't going to make it go away. What if she sees you with Vanessa?"

XXXX

"Jake?" Bella's sad voice cried out.

Jake tore his gaze away from the tall and tanned girl to see across the bonfire the petite and pale girl he had chased incessantly for the last three years. He saw the hurt and the tears in her eyes. He looked back at the Native American beauty by his side and he saw the question in her eyes.

"Bella, wait!"

I could see the replay of Bella and Jake's confrontation on the beach. I saw Jake stumble through an explanation to Bella. I saw the devastation and then resignation on Bella's face and I wanted to maim him for hurting her.

XXXX

"Jake, I'm telling you Bella is pregnant. I was dropping something off at Charlie's and it was just like Emily. I could smell the change in her scent."

Pregnant?! She had been pregnant with that mongrel's child?! What about the baby? Where was the baby?

"What am I going to do? What do I tell Vanessa? I can't believe I fucked this up so much."

"She's talking about leaving Forks. She's talking about moving to Jacksonville."

"Maybe, it's better that way."

"Get your head out of your ass, Black. She is possibly carrying a future pack member. She has to stay here so we can protect the baby."

"We don't know if her baby will have the gene."

"We don't know if your baby won't. How can you just let her leave with your child?"

"How do you think Vanessa will react to having this child around? At least in Jacksonville, we could arrange some type of visitation so I'm not rubbing Vanessa's face in it all the time."

"Jake, is that fair to Bella?"

"You mean how you were fair to Leah? Don't be such a fucking hypocrite. Ask Leah how she feels about Emily's pregnancy. Oh, that's right. You don't have to. We all know exactly how she's feeling every time we patrol."

XXXXX

"You invited her to our engagement party?" Vanessa screeched.

"I had to. She was my best friend. She's also the mother of my child and we have to show everyone that we are alright with all of this."

"Well, I'm not alright with this, Jake. This is supposed to be our special night and now I have to put up with the pitying looks of everyone because you couldn't keep it in your pants."

"I'm sorry, Vanessa. Please," he entreated, "make the effort for me."

"Fine. But we are going to have to work something else out after the wedding."

XXXX

"Charlie! Bella! Thank you both for coming." Billy Black said with Jake and Vanessa by his side.

Bella nodded and said graciously, "Congratulations. I hope you both will be very happy."

Jake couldn't meet her eyes and Vanessa didn't look pleased when she scanned Bella in the attractive formal maternity dress. It did its best to flatter but it didn't hide the swell of Bella's stomach.

Bella sat at the outcast table in the back of the room.

"Bella! Bella!" A little girl in a white party dress with little blue and purple flowers squealed when she saw Bella. Quil stopped to talk to Bella.

"Hey, Bella. You look beautiful."

"Thanks Quil.

The little girl tugged on Quil's jacket. "I left the present in the car? Can I go get it?"

Quil told the girl no and she looked disappointed but determined. A while later, Quil looked around the room. He turned to Emily and said, "Where's Claire?"

Emily looked around, "I don't know. Now that I think about it I haven't seen her in a while."

"Shit! She's been bugging me to take her outside so she could get Jake's gift out of Sam's car." Quil got up and walked towards the community center's front door. Before he got there, Claire ran through the door with tears running down her face and her hair and her dress were in disarray.

She took one look at Quil and threw herself in his arms. "Quil! Hurry! Some bad lady has Bella! You gotta help her."

That caught the attention of the other pack members that were near. They ran for the door as Emily and Billy Black kept the rest of the guests distracted.

The men shifted at the sight of Bella held up by her neck and then tossed around like a rag doll in the parking lot. They attacked Victoria as a coordinated group and for once her ability to elude them failed. They tore her apart and burned the pieces. Sam ran over to the bloodied and broken body lying beside a car. Bella's shoulder was at an awkward angle and there was blood running down her legs.

"Bella, Bella. Stay with me."

"Jake?"

"No, it's Sam. You're going to be alright, Bella. Just stay with me."

XXXX

Quil and Claire walked into Bella's hospital room. Her throat had bruises and her arm was in a sling.

Her eyes were sad and empty.

The little girl handed Bella a tattered teddy bear, "This is Rufus," she said solemnly. "Momma gives him to me whenever I feel sick and he makes me feel better." The little girl looked up trustingly at the man holding her hand. "Quil said you were sick, so I thought Rufus could stay with you until you feel better."

Bella's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, Claire. Just holding him makes me feel better."

Emily came in and took the little girl away and Quil wiped his hand down the front of his face. "Bella, I don't know how I will ever repay you for what you did. You put yourself in front of that evil monster and gave Claire enough time to get help."

Bella didn't say anything.

"Bells, we heard about the baby. I'm so sorry. We know just how much you sacrificed for all of us. We can never repay that but if you ever need us we will be there for you."

She just nodded.

Jake showed up later looking awkward.

"I'm sorry, Bella. Claire told us what you said and did to get Victoria to let her get away. You sacrificed so much to keep one of ours safe and we can't thank you enough."

He could see her reaction to "ours". He knew those words put her outside of the pack, outside of the circle of friends she had made at the reservation.

He took a deep breath and said, "Maybe it's better this way."

She turned her head away and just told him to leave.

I growled in distress and anger. My heart broke for the pain and suffering that Bella went through. I remembered her words when I begged her forgiveness for leaving her. "You made a unilateral decision about us that had long reaching consequences to so many people."

How could she forgive me for all the pain she suffered?

Quil's voice broke me out of my self-recriminations. "So you see why I'm here. I'm partially responsible for bringing Vanessa into Jake's life and ruining their relationship. Instead of hating me, she risked her life to save my imprint. She saved Claire at the cost of her baby's life and the chance of future children. How could anyone repay that?"

"What do you mean? Future children."

"Her injuries were so severe the doctors' told her it would be unlikely she would be able to have another child."

I closed my eyes and fought the rage that coursed through my system. The monster wanted to be released so it could take revenge on all those unworthy players in the horrible farce that Bella had suffered through. Before I could act on the impulse, Leah walked up the sidewalk. She looked surprised to see Quil and Embry.

"Quil! What are you guys doing here?"

"We drove over with Seth. He told us about your phone call last night and Sam agreed we should come down with Seth." I saw Leah wince at Sam's name. Poor, Leah. I didn't realize all the pain she covered up with her foul mouth and wise cracks.

"I told Seth not to come," Leah said. "We still don't know enough to get you guys involved."

"Leah, we wanted to make sure you and Bella were safe."

"Quil, why don't you go inside," I wanted to talk to Leah. "Bella has probably put some food out for you guys."

Quil looked at me and then at Leah. "Sure. I'll see you inside." He turned to go but I stopped him.

"Don't mention this to, Bella."

He nodded in understanding and walked up the steps to the apartment.

Leah took one look at me and Quil's retreating back and said, "You know everything now don't you?"

"Yes. Why didn't you tell me when you railed at me a few weeks ago?"

"It wasn't my story to tell. Quil shouldn't have said anything."

"Don't you think I had the right to know? This is my fault. My actions put all of that into motion. I don't know how Bella can forgive me."

"Edward, don't fuck this up. Feel bad for her, but she is in a good place now. She loves you. Don't let what you learned now screw everything up for you."

"I want to kill him, Leah. I want to tear him to pieces for all the pain he caused, Bella."

"Don't be a fool. She wouldn't want you to do that. She loves you. She wants to be with you. Don't let your anger and guilt mess everything up for you."

I knew this wasn't over but I nodded.

"Look, tell Bella I needed to run home but I'll be back. I need a little time by myself."

XXXXX

I drove outside of town and parked the car. I needed to run. I needed to find a way to release the rage I felt. I took off into the forest and ran as fast as I could. If something got in my way, I plowed through it.

Why didn't she tell me? How could she leave this out of her story?

I climbed a sheer cliff face. My fingers dug hand holds as if the rock was made of chalk. I got to the top and looked out over the horizon. It took all my self-control to stop myself from running towards Forks. I wanted to confront Jake. How could he be so careless with Bella? How could he put her at risk the way he did?

Then I stopped myself, knowing that at the root of it all, I put her at risk. I left her. I set it all in motion. I dropped to my knees and sobbed. I was denied the release of tears but I couldn't stop the cries that wracked my body. I cried for Bella's loss and I cried for what I could never give her to make her whole.

I finally made my way back to the car. I had to get back to Bella before she got suspicious. I grabbed a change of clothes from the trunk and took off the ripped shirt and dirty pants. My cell phone rang.

"Edward, are you alright? I got this vision of you knocking trees down. Did something happen?"

"Everything is fine. I was just hunting."

"Do you want me to come meet you? Or would you like me to send one of the guys out?"

"No, I just needed to burn some steam off. I need to get back to Bella's. I'll explain later tonight when I get back."

I was relieved when she went against character and didn't pry. I finished changing and I drove back to Bella's.

Leah let me in and I joined the rest of the group at the kitchen table. Things were still tense between me and the wolves but they made the effort to be civil. The wolves asked Leah for more details of what we had learned. Leah answered some of the questions that Quil and Embry had and then suggested that they meet with Jasper and the rest of my family the next day.

They didn't seemed thrilled with the idea of working with vampires but they were concerned enough about Leah and Bella to put aside cultural hatreds while we all shared a common goal. Thanks to Bella's good cooking and Leah's diplomacy, the wolves and I reached a détente. The guys did the dishes and then Leah tried to convince them that there wasn't much they could do at this point.

"It's not like you guys can run patrols," she said wryly.

Good. I wanted to get Bella alone so we could talk about what I had found out. Before I could suggest that we leave the guys to get settled for the night, Seth looked over at his sister with a sly grin. I knew what he was going to say and I knew any conversation with Bella would have to wait.

"Good, then why don't you show us some of the nightlife that college campuses are so famous for?"

"None of you are of age, you dipstick."

"Leah, look at us. Do you really think anyone is going to card us?"

Seth was correct. None of them got carded but Bella and I did at every bar to which we took them, much to my chagrin. Bella looked like she was having a great time and for once she looked like a carefree twenty something.

"Should you go get our little brother before those sorority girls kidnap him and take him back to their sorority house and have their evil way with him?"

Embry had long been culled from the herd and whisked away by a cute blond that had said the magic phrase, 'I'm on the University's gymnastic team." Seth and Quil had groaned in envy and Embry just grinned smugly as he was led out of the bar.

Leah looked at the feigning girls around her baby brother in disgust. "Do you think it would matter to them if we told them he was seventeen?"

A blond with large breasts whispered in his ear and ran her hand up his muscular thigh.

Bella looked at Leah and giggled. "Nope. They look like they want to cover him in chocolate and eat him."

I turned to Quil and asked, "Is it hard to miss out on all of that?"

"No. I don't even think about it. Well, the gymnast thing might keep me up tonight." We both laughed. "At least I know that I have an imprint. He still has to go through the uncertainty." I nodded in understanding. Based on what I picked up from Seth's thoughts across the room, as long as that blond kept rubbing his thigh, he wasn't that worried about finding his imprint.

The bartender called out last call. Leah walked over to Seth and his harem. She slapped him across the face and said, "How could you? My doctor just told me I have chlamydia. You know I was a virgin, you asshole. Now I'm diseased."

The blond moved her hand so fast you would have thought it was on fire. She and her sorority sisters gave Seth an awkward goodbye and left like someone chased them.

Seth looked at his sister. "That was cold."

Leah just smirked at him. "I'm doing this for your own good. You don't know where those girls have been."

"Who cares? I just know where I wanted them to be."

"Yeah, well not on my watch. Come on, baby brother. Time to tuck you in."

Leah took me aside. "Why don't you take Bella back to your place? I'll take the guys back to the apartment.

"Sounds good."

"Edward, remember what I said earlier."

xxxxxxxx

Bella had a few drinks at the bar so she was feeling relaxed when we got back to my cottage. I kept hearing Leah's words about knot screwing this up so I focused on taking care of buzzed Bella.

She glided into the main room of the cottage and kicked off her shoes. "Do you mind if I take a shower before we go to bed? I feel like my hair smells from the bar."

"Of course." I turned the stereo to something slow and romantic and lit the fire place.

She stood still for a moment and then looked at me as if daring me to watch her. She didn't have to worry. I was mesmerized by her. She slowly lifted her sweater over her chest and then her head. I stood still as a statue. She gave me a slow smile. She knew she had me. She shimmied her pants down her hips and then stepped out of them giving them a little kick. She stood like a beautiful Venus in one of the bra and panty sets that Alice had purchased her for Paris. She turned around and she unhooked the bra and let it fall into her hands but all I could see was her now bare back. My eyes followed the line of her spine to the tops of her butt cheeks that looked incredible in the cheekster panties. She looked over her shoulder and seemed to dare me to make a move. I lunged for her and she ran giggling for the bathroom. I stalked her like she was prey and growled in victory when I caught her.

She just laughed at me. "Want to join me in the shower?"

I ripped the cheeksters from her hips and threw her over my shoulder and only let her down when I placed her in the shower. She turned on the water and waited for me to discard my clothing. I walked up behind her and pulled her to my naked body.

"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." She turned around in my arms and kissed her way down my jaw and throat.

"I love you." She whispered between kisses. "I love you so much."

Hours later I held her in my arms. The light of the moon shined into the window. I moved the sheet away and looked at her body bathed in the moonlight. I could see every valley, every peak and every curve.

Now I paid more attention to her skin and I could see scars that I hadn't noticed before. Quill's words ran through my head over and over through the rest of the night.