I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.

Ch. 8

Running with Bella on my back was a whole new experience. I'd been content in my life before finding her again. But now that she was with me, everything felt new and more exciting. I found a reason to enjoy my existence. And I would do anything not to lose her a second time.

Making a home close by seemed like the obvious solution. Bella would be more comfortable with a familiar setting and an escape from the human world. I would enjoy having peace from other thoughts. Within time, hopefully, she'd be able to trust my family.

We were a couple of miles out when I caught wind of Charlie's thoughts. I slowed and lowered Bella to the ground. I met her eyes and could tell she had been aware of them too.

"He said I should stay to protect everyone from the Volturi since he was sure they would come," she said.

"He shouldn't have put that on you," I stated.

My anger flared at her uncle. He had no right to endanger her this way. It shouldn't be her responsibility to keep everyone safe.

"Shouldn't it be, though? I am more than capable of protecting everyone. If anything happened to your family it would hurt you," she told me.

"And what if something happens to you?" I demanded.

"Is my life so much more worth saving than all those who have died for me? Or the other lives that could be lost?" she asked sadly.

I grabbed her hands and stared straight into her eyes. "For me, yes—your life is important. I love you, and the thought of anything happening to you is too much to bear."

"I love you too," she said.

"I refuse to let you stand alone against the Volturi. I know my family will help," I told her.

"I can't ask your family to help. You know the blonde...Rosalie would never agree to it. Nor should I expect her to fight my battles," Bella argued.

I pursed my lips, knowing she was right. Rosalie would never agree and have a fit over it. But she was wrong about the rest of them.

"Emmett would though. He would be upset if we fought without him. Jasper would too if it meant keeping Alice safe," I stated.

"And Carlisle and Esme? They're not fighters. And I'm already a seer so Alice can stay out of it too," she insisted, and worry was brimming in her eyes.

"Regardless, if they are fighters or not, they will stand with family. You may be right about Rosalie, but the rest of them are ready to welcome you with open arms," I promised.

"I guess I've gotten used to being on my own for so long that I'm not used to relying on anyone else," she admitted.

"You'll never be alone anymore if I have anything to say about it." I leaned in to kiss her when I became aware of the incoming attack.

I pushed Bella behind me and crouched in front of her. "Stay behind me," I ordered.

"What's wrong?" She was immediately on alert.

Before I could answer her, loud crashing noises came from the woods on our left. I braced myself as a silver wolf burst through the bushes. I was about to intercept him when he froze in midair. Three more wolves came at us full charge and hit an invisible wall. I smirked and glanced behind me to see Bella's eyes glowing, head cocked, staring at the wolves.

Paul! The black and the largest wolf called to his brother concerned he lost his mind connection to him.

Sam, what is the vampire doing to us? A gray wolf with dark spots panicked.

"The vampire isn't doing anything. I'm doing it," Bella hissed.

What are you? the leader growled.

Isn't it obvious? She's like Charlie, she's a witch! Get out of our minds and let us go! A wolf with brown fur launched and hit the wall again.

"Watch how you speak to her, pup." I narrowed my eyes at him. "I thought you dogs, weren't around anymore?"

"You've met them before?" Mía Bella asked.

"These are the Quileute wolves. They are protectors of their tribe." Charlie appeared at our side with a man in a wheelchair.

A few members of my family were currently running towards us. Another russet colored wolf was trying to keep ahead of them. He had gone ahead to try and protect Billy, the man in the wheelchair, thinking the vampires might harm him even if he was with Charlie.

"Protectors?" she scoffed. "They attacked without any provocation—that one was about to kill my mate." She pointed at the wolf hanging in midair.

Charlie paused and appraised the wolves. "They thought they were saving you. It was a misunderstanding. I asked Billy to come tonight to meet with us to fill them in. They came last minute for his protection. I think it would be best if we were all on the same page so we can work together. To do so you'd need to let them go."

Bella frowned and dropped the one in the bubble to the ground in the middle of his cohorts with a hard smack. He jumped up and growled at her. I hissed back at him and Emmett flanked my side suddenly while Jasper hung back with the rest of the family but ready to go.

"The shield stays up, but they can hear each other again. I don't trust Paul. He has a lot of hostility and is still plotting—I don't trust him," Bella argued, and the wolf growled at her.

Charlie sighed heavily. "Billy, a little help?"

"Sam, please tell Paul to relax. This is supposed to be a peaceful meeting?" the Quileute Chief asked.

Sam growled. Paul, stand down.

Paul reluctantly bowed his head in a submissive stance. Carlisle placed his hand on my shoulder, and I stood out of my crouch. I stepped back and wrapped an arm around Bella's waist, pulling her close.

Bella relaxed into me and after a moment and lowered the shield between us and the wolves completely. She looked at the shivering older man and her eyes softened. A warmer jacket and thicker blanket spread across his lap.

Billy glanced up at Charlie. "Thanks."

"Thank my niece. Billy, this is Isabella. Isabella, my old friend, Billy Black," Charlie introduced them.

"Nice to meet you, Chief Black," Bella said respectfully.

"You too, Isabella. Thank you. I'm not like the rest of you, immune to the colder weather. Though I think being called old by someone who has decades, maybe even a century, on me is rather uncalled for." He gave Charlie a dirty look.

Charlie chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's get the rest of these introductions over with, so we can get down to business, and those of us who do sleep can get some tonight."

CS

"Exactly how powerful are we talking?" Sam asked.

He had phased so he could speak with us while the others remained wolves. They didn't fully trust us despite what Charlie promised. The one named Jacob was the son of Billy and sat at his father's side like a sentinel.

My family stood close together, with Rosalie toward the back of the group. Alice was frustrated because once again her visions were hazy. However, this time it wasn't Bella's doing and seemed to be the wolves.

"One of the most powerful I know," Charlie admitted.

There was some confusion among the wolves as to why Bella would need their protection if she were so powerful. Also, a few wondered if she was dangerous.

"I don't need your protection. My uncle wanted to warn you that the vampires you should be worried about may show up in the area," Bella answered.

"This is all your fault. You should have stayed away," Rosalie grumbled under her breath.

Bella narrowed her eyes and glanced over her shoulder. "It's not my fault the Volturi may show up here. It was your family who decided to hunt me down. I was minding my own business far away from here, handling them on my own. And for the record, I only came because someone was trying to steal my mate from me. If you want to blame that person, glare in one of the thousands of mirrors you must own."

Jacob snorted a laugh of amusement and Bella's glare landed on him. "I'm glad you find it so amusing."

"I'm not too sure we have to be concerned with the Volturi. Aro and his brothers hardly ever leave Volterra, so I doubt they will make the trip. I was hoping he would believe my lie that we found his anomaly and destroyed it, losing one of our own in the process," Carlisle explained.

"I'm not sure your plan will work. Aro has been after Bella since she was a baby. He may become angry with the family for taking her out. And come for us still," I pointed out.

"What about the Jedi mind trick. Charlie or Bella can pop over to Volterra and delete any memory of Bella from Aro's mind," Emmett suggested.

"I wish it could work. But I've tried and failed on other vampires. Although…" Charlie eyed Bella.

"Contrary to a certain vampire's beliefs, I have never messed with a human's mind let alone a vampire's." Bella shook her head.

"If there was a witch who could, it would be you. It wouldn't hurt to try," Charlie insisted.

"You can try something on me. I owe you more than one." Carlisle volunteered before I could.

"Good, it's settled," Charlie answered for Bella, which she didn't look too pleased about. He turned to Sam. "We don't need anything from the pack. Just give us a heads up if you see any unusual activity. We shall do the same for you. We are all on the same side."

Sam seemed a bit skeptical, not sure if he could trust my family. He blamed us for them changing after years of no wolves.

"Thank you for thinking of us. We will be in touch with you, Charlie." He turned to Billy. "We should go back to the reservation."

"Charlie will bring me back, Sam. Won't you, older friend?" He smirked.

"Of course, it is past your bedtime." Charlie snickered then turned to Jake. "You're one lazy wolf but I'll bring you home as well. I'll be right back." He placed a hand on both of them, then they disappeared.

The rest of the wolves took off without another word, leaving me alone with my family. Rosalie was growing restless and wanted to go home. Alice was immediately relieved as her vision cleared as soon as they were miles away.

"Can we go?" Rosalie asked impatiently.

"I would like to speak with Bella and Edward, but the rest of you are free to go," Carlisle told her.

Rosalie started to run but realized no one was following her. "Emmett, are you coming?" she asked.

"I'm going to stick around a bit then go hunting," he answered.

Things between them were still strained. Rosalie was too stubborn to admit she was in the wrong. Emmett was confused as to why Rosalie was upset because I didn't desire her. He also wanted to get to know Bella.

"I'll come with you," Esme volunteered. She wanted to use the time of just the two of them to speak with her like mother and daughter.

Esme then walked over to Bella and me with a warm smile. "I know things started off on unpleasant terms, but I'm very happy you and Edward have found each other. You will always be welcome in our family and I look forward to getting to know you."

Bella blushed lightly and returned the smile. "You are sweet, Esme. I would like to visit with you very much. Thank you for forgiving me so quickly."

Esme shook her head. "Anyone in your position would be upset having their mate taken from them. I'm thankful you're more rational than most."

Esme said a quick good-bye to Carlisle then ran after Rose, who didn't stay around waiting for her. Carlisle gave Bella a guilty look, then took a breath.

"I would like to echo my wife's comments. I'm incredibly grateful you gave me a second chance. I never met your mother back in Chicago. If I had known you were a witch back then I would have handled things differently," he told her.

"Your aura shows you have a good soul. I wish I were more truthful. The last thing my mother said to me was not to tell anyone that I was a witch—not even you," Bella lamented.

"Renée had always been very overprotective of you." Charlie had reappeared as she was talking. "Are you still upset with me?"

"I'm upset about the lies; I've been finding out much of my life has been lies. Are there any more I should know about?" Bella responded.

"The main reason Renée didn't want me around is because I disagreed with her. I thought your magic should be trained. She disagreed. She wanted to keep you hidden, thinking if you used it, it would be like a homing beacon. If she told you more lies then I don't know more than what I've told you," he said. "I do think you need more training. Did she train you at all?"

"Only simple spells. I agree with you, I need more training." Bella glanced at me before turning back to her uncle. "Although, I doubt you'll be able to help me with flying since you can't."

"Have you tried a broom?" Emmett asked.

"Why would I?" Bella gave him an incredulous expression, then started laughing. "Again, with this Harry Potter. Who is he?"

"A children book series." I snickered.

"It's more than for children." Emmett pouted, making Bella's giggles increase and Alice to start laughing.

"Perhaps I should give it a read." Bella's eyes twinkled with amusement.

"It's a bunch of over exaggerated ideas about witches and wizards. Not much different than myths of vampires sleeping in coffins and turning into bats," Charlie scoffed.

"It would be cool though…the bat part, not the coffin," Emmett said.

"Well then—"

"Uncle, no!" Bella's amusement dropped and she shook her head.

"It would be a good first lesson." Charlie smirked.

"I think there are more important things to learn first," Bella said.

"Wait…you can actually turn me into an animal. Then can you turn me into a bear? It would be cool to wrestle with one." Emmett grinned.

"You are very odd, even for a vampire," Bella laughed.

"That would be putting it mildly," Jasper spoke up. Since he had their attention, he continued. "Is it true, you believe Alice and myself were witches?"

"You at least contained witch's blood in your family line," Bella confirmed.

"I wonder then, my mama's mama died before I was born. Mama never liked talking about her. My papa said she was an odd old woman that fancied herself as a healer but was shunned by the church. If she were a witch it would make a lot of sense," Jasper pondered.

"It would," Bella agreed and turned to Alice. "Edward told me you don't remember anything. I might be able to help bring back your memories."

"I may take you up on it. I can repay you by helping with your clothes," Alice said excitedly.

"You want her fiddling with your mind?" Jasper frowned, concerned.

"It wouldn't really be fiddling. It would be like unlocking a door to her memories. Everything is in her mind already, it's just unreachable at the moment. It worked with Edward," Bella explained.

"Interesting," Charlie murmured. "Shall we get started?"

"Actually, I was hoping to start in a day or two. I'm tired and need a good night's sleep," Bella insisted.

"Let's get you home then," I stated, daring anyone to argue.

Charlie frowned but nodded in agreement. I suddenly got wind of one of his thoughts and it took everything in me not to react.

"I'm off from the hospital the day after tomorrow. Alice said it would be sunny. I can be your guinea pig then," Carlisle said.

"Okay," Bella reluctantly agreed.

Before anyone could say anything else, I swept Bella up and started to run with her.

"That was rather rude. We didn't say good-bye," Bella chastised me.

"You looked ready to get out of there," I said apologetically. "His thoughts are different now. He wants all of us to go to them."

"He hasn't made a firm decision. He wants revenge for his brother and family. I don't like the idea of messing with anyone's mind—it seems extreme. But maybe he has a point. I want it to be over and live in peace with you. Not constantly run or hide," she said earnestly, laying her head on my shoulder.

I scowled. "He was content to hide until he found out how powerful you are. He expects…" I wondered if she saw everything because she seemed so calm.

If she could delete herself from Aro's mind, she'd be free. But her going toward the danger irked me. Charlie's thoughts went beyond just mind erasing. Bella remained quiet as I raced through the woods for Charlie's. Hopefully, while she was asleep, I could get another glimpse into her head to what she was really thinking about this.

A/N:

What's a Twilight story without wolves? Jake isn't a threat, I know a few tend to worry. What do you think about Charlie now?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.