Chapter Thirty Six

Bella

I saw him but before I could scream a warning to Leah he was on her and she went down fast. I didn't know if he'd killed or just disabled her but when the door was wrenched open I tried to scoot over the other side away from him.

"Don't be like that Bella, you'll wound my feelings"

He grabbed my arm and pulled me back across the seat and out of the truck door, slinging me on his back and jumping back into the cover of the trees. I was too frightened and breathless to make a noise so I just closed my eyes and prayed. The wind whistled past my ears and the cold was biting through my clothes as he ran. The further from the others we got without any sound of pursuit the more I thought I was doomed. If he got far enough away or to a vehicle then the wolves wouldn't be able to trace us and Edward could take me anywhere. How would Jasper and Peter be able to find me? Tears started to flow but were blown from my cheeks by the breeze of Edwards passing.

Edward

At last I had Bella and this time no one would come between us, no Jasper, no Peter, and no damn wolves. Once she had time to calm down and think alone with me she would remember the way she used to feel about me. She'd soon come round and we could carry on where we were before I stupidly left her. I'd known within months that it was the wrong thing, that I'd made a mistake but by that time Charlie and Jake had worked on her until she didn't know up from down. They'd convinced her to be scared of me and they ran with her. It had taken a long time to find her, a lot of money and effort. I even had to join forces with that idiot Victoria. Hopefully the wolves had made short work of her, if not she'd be hunting both of us. Did she really expect me to wait for her and share Bella's blood?

Sam

Before we'd gone far I realized we might be on a wild goose chase but I let the others go on while I doubled back to the truck. Seeing Leah's body on the ground beside the truck brought it home to me. We'd been so stupid, while we chased after one vampire another had used the chaos to snatch Bella who'd been in our care. I was torn, did I look after Leah or follow Bella and whoever had her. I knew in my heart it was Edward Cullen although I couldn't prove it. I hesitated, then took off after Bella, the others would be back soon and would take care of Leah if she was still alive. What I was going to tell Harry if she wasn't I had no idea. Edward had taken off fast in the direction we'd come but I knew he wasn't headed back to Forks or Seattle despite what he wanted me to think so taking a chance I started to sweep to the South of the direction he'd taken and sure enough I came across the scent trail but it stopped abruptly on a nearby highway and I cursed. He'd taken to a car and the trail was gone. I cursed and headed back to the others hoping they at least had good news for me.

Paul

We got the bitch so that was something, ripping her stinking body to pieces and then phasing back to burn the remains. After making sure every last piece had been burned we headed back to the truck and our annoying charge. As we hit the road I saw a body beside the vehicle and cursed kneeling down and pulling the limp body over. It was Leah and she was badly injured so I picked her up and laid her in the flat-bed covering her with a tarp that was folded up back there. Hearing a sound I whirled but it was Sam.

"Hows Leah?"

"Pretty bad, what happened?"

"Edward used Victoria to distract us. He got Bella and they've taken off. I lost the trail at the highway. We better take Jared's body back with us."

"Not next to Leah for gods sake."

"Then put Leah in the cab with us and Jared's body in the back"

"We should never have got involved with Bella Swan. Now we've lost one of the pack and almost another"

"Paul. Now is not the time to start. We need to get back and mobilize the rest of the pack"

"You're going to leave the Reservation unguarded to go after Bella? I don't believe you"

"We gave our word to keep her safe"

"No. You did and you were wrong. I'm not leaving my tribe unguarded for her."

Sam didn't say anything, he just turned the truck around and headed back to the Res but I would fight him all the way if he wanted to go look for her. Enough was enough."

Bella

We reached a Station Wagon parked just off the highway and Edward opened the driver's door and pushed me across to the passenger side. I tried to undo the door and run but it was locked. He smiled.

"I thought you might be upset and I didn't want you running and hurting yourself, now strap in Bella"

Realizing there was no point in arguing with him I put my seatbelt on and moved as far from him as I could. He started the engine and joined the flow of traffic heading North.

"Where are you taking me?"

"I thought you might like a holiday in Canada"

"Why would I want a holiday there Edward?"

"I have a house there by a lake. Its tranquil and so beautiful Bella. You'll love it"

"No I won't Edward, I don't want to go anywhere with you."

"Please Bella give me a chance to make up for what I said and did. I really thought I was acting for the best. I tried to explain before your father and Jacob Black ran away with you"

"They took me away from you Edward."

"I know sweetheart but we're together again now"

He reached over and stroked my cheek and I flinched.

"Edward you need to understand that I don't want to be with you. I loved you but that was then. I moved on And I don't love you any more. It's over"

His eyes flashed dangerously,

"Don't say that Bella, I love you and you love me, you just need time to realize it and my house on the lake will give you that time."