EPOV
Once Bella falls asleep, I can't keep from tracing her face with my fingertips. I will never forget the look on her face when she couldn't breathe, looking up at me and begging me to help her; the panic in her eyes as she clutched at her throat willing her body to work. I've never been so scared in my life, and I never want to feel that way again.
Listening to her breathing, I thank God that I was able to pull her out of her panic attack. Her breathing sounds regular and even now. I know consciously that her lungs wouldn't have been damaged from her panic attack, but I still find myself waiting for and willing her next breath to come.
I hated having to leave her tonight when I heard Jacob's thoughts as he pulled into the driveway. As she looked up at me with tears flowing down her cheeks and asked me why I had left, my frozen heart cracked. When she told me she had needed me and I wasn't there for her, it broke completely. I know I did it to protect her, but I will never forgive myself for hurting her.
Jacob is a fairly new wolf and I knew that if he saw me here with Bella, it would send him over the edge. He has always had a crush on Bella, and I could hear his excited thoughts on getting to see her. Finding out that she is in love with a vampire would be enough to make him angry, if he would have seen us together he definitely would have phased. I would die before I ever put her in danger and angering a new werewolf would be doing so.
I sat in a tree at the tree line of Bella's yard the entire time she talked to Jacob. She may not have felt like she was safe, but she was. If Jacob had even come close to phasing around her, I would have been inside in less than a second to protect her.
Sitting in that tree listening was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I had to sit and listen to Jacob's inner monologue about my Bella without being able to do anything about it. When he first arrived, he immediately smelt vampire and went on alert. The scent went to the back of his mind as he entered the kitchen and saw my Bella in her tight yoga pants and t shirt, she immediately became his focus. Listening to his vulgar thoughts made me physically uncomfortable. He ogled her bottom every time she turned towards the stove, and her breasts whenever she was facing him. It took everything in me to stay locked in that tree. There are scratch marks on the tree trunk where I attached myself to it in hopes that it would ground me.
I knew that Jacob was going to smell our sex as soon as he got close to Bella, but there was nothing I could do about it. When he started talking about our sex life, I made a vow to rip his head off at the earliest opportunity, and my heart sank when I smelled Bella's tears. As soon as she said she was going to her room, I was out of my tree and in her window waiting on her. When she fell through the door sobbing, I solidified my vow to rip that dog's head off. Slowly.
The reminder of the treaty was a low blow for the mutt, but it doesn't have any bearings on us as of now. My Bella wants to be changed, so she will be. I will always give her whatever she wants. I knew as soon as we met that I wanted her forever, but I would never pressure her. When she told me that she wants to become a vampire, and I saw in her thoughts just how long she had wanted it, my heart soared. We'll be moving before we change Bella anyway because we have been in Forks too long, so those dogs have no bearings on their threat.
The treaty was made for convenience more than anything else. If a fight were ever to break out between us and them, there's no doubt that we would win. Carlisle, the ever pacifist, wanted to avoid bloodshed so he made the treaty with the wolves, and since then we've had no reason to break it. We don't want to go on their lands anyway because of the smell, and all of us are committed to our lifestyles. My Bella came in and shook things up. I love it. The thought makes me smile.
After a few hours, Bella is sleeping soundly and has had no trouble breathing so I slip out of her bed and out of the window. Sitting in the tree outside of her bedroom, I call Carlisle to tell him about our evening.
Hello
I don't want to think about why it took him so long to answer.
"Hi Carlisle."
Edward? Is something wrong with Bella? Do I need to come to her house or the hospital?
His knowledge of her clumsiness makes me smile.
"Nothing's wrong with Bella. She suffered a panic attack earlier this evening, but I was able to calm her down. I'm calling because there's been an altercation with the wolves."
Did she pass out or lose consciousness at any point in her panic attack? How is her breathing now? Regular and equal?
I love that he's concerned about his new daughter, and hasn't even has a second thought about the mutts.
"No she never lost consciousness and her breathing is fine. Jacob Black is apparently a friend of her father's and he came over to dinner tonight with his father, Billy. He smelled me in the house and got suspicious. After questioning Bella, he found out about our relationship and smelled the scent of our mating on her. He is enraged by our relationship and told her so. He also told her to warn us about the treaty. She was very upset, but I was able to calm her down."
Well the treaty won't even be relevant unless Bella wants to be turned. Have you discussed this with her?
"Yes I have. She would like to be changed, but wants to wait for awhile. She wants more time with her father."
Well that makes sense. We can discuss that more later. I think we need to call a meeting with the tribe. Remind them that we have not broken the treaty, but Jacob did by discussing us with Bella. We also need to tell them that his actions and threats toward Bella are unacceptable. I will not have him threatening my daughter, I don't care how angry he is.
"I agree. Call and set up the meeting and let me know when. I'm guessing Bella will want to be there. I would rather she stay safe at home, but I doubt I'lll win that argument."
Carlisle chuckles. "Yeah I doubt you will."
I just smile.
"I will talk to you later Carlisle. Call me when you talk to the tribe."
I will. He says, Oh and Edward?
"Yes?"
I'm happy for you, son. Having your mate for eternity is the best gift in the world.
Words clog in my throat but I manage to croak out "Thank you dad."
After hanging up the phone, I jump back through the window and climb back into bed with my Bella. She sighs and rolls over to me like she always does and I smile into her hair.
BPOV (a few days later)
It's almost 10 PM before dad and I finish the dishes and I can head upstairs. I tell him goodnight like I always do before going to my room and changing into warm clothes. The meeting with the wolves is tonight. Edward is worried about me going, but I told him there's no way I'm staying home. This fight started with me, and I'm not going to let him end it without me.
When I enter my bedroom, there he is on my bed with a scowl on his face.
"I wish you'd change your mind." He tells me.
"Edward, I can't let you go alone. I have to be there. What if something happens? You could get hurt. I need to be with you. Please" I beg him.
"That's exactly what I'm saying, Bella. What if something happens? You are going to be surrounded by all supernatural beings. If a fight breaks out, there's no telling what could happen."
"There's not going to be a fight, Edward. Please. I need to be with you. This is my fight. This is my story. Let me be a part of it please."
"Oh alright." He grumbles with a pout. Inwardly I'm doing a victory dance, but outwardly I just smile and nod.
The meeting is set for midnight, but we are all meeting at the Cullen house at 11.
I throw on a long sleeve shirt, some sweatpants, and a hoodie. I hope that will keep my body warm enough. I put on thick socks with my boots to keep my feet warm, and the final touches are a matching, scarf, glove, and beanie set. Edward insists that I be dressed like an eskimo if I'm going to be out this late.
"You could save all of that trouble dressing like an eskimo if you would stay home" he says with hope in his voice.
"Not a chance." I tell him shooting him a 'don't mess with me look'. It may sound silly for a human be telling that to a vampire, but it works and he shuts his mouth quickly.
Once Edward hears Charlie go to bed, he takes me in his arms and jumps out the window. With Edward running, we're at the Cullen house in no time.
"Hey Baby B" Emmett yells when we walk through the door. Apparently that nickname stuck. He swings me into his arms and spins me around in a circle.
"Hey Emmett." I laugh.
"You ready to pick a fight with some wolves." He asks excitedly as he set me down next to Edward who helps me regain my balance.
"Emmett!" Esme scolds him. "There will be no fighting! We are going to go and talk. That is it."
"Oh alright" Emmett pouts, sounding very much like his brother earlier.
Edward huffs at my thoughts and I giggle.
Heading farther into the living room, I see all of Edward's siblings comfortably sitting and watching the news. They must not care that we are about to go tick off some wolves.
"Are you hungry, Bella?" Esme asks coming over to me and putting an arm around my shoulders.
"No I'm okay." I tell her. "I just ate dinner with my dad."
"Okay well let me know if you need anything." She says before squeezing my shoulders and heading up the stairs. I don't see Carlisle so I guess she is going to get him.
Taking a seat on the couch, I'm paying more attention to the couples around me than I am to the TV. Alice and Jasper are snuggled together on one chair. She's sitting on his lap with her back against one of his shoulders and her head leaned against his. Their hands are intertwined on her lap as they absentmindedly play with each other's fingers. Rosalie and Emmett are on the couch. Rosalie is sitting sideways with her back against the arm of the couch and her feet in Emmett's lap. He is running his fingers up and down her calves and occasionally running them over the bottom of her feet making her screech and kick him. Edward and I are in the love seat. I'm leaned over with my head on his chest and my legs curled under my bottom. His arm is around my shoulders and our hands are linked together. In this room full of mated and perfectly happy couples, we fit. Edward smiles at my thought and kisses the top of my head. I sigh and lean into him. This is what I'm going to have forever. That thought makes me smile.
After a few minutes, Esme and Carlisle come downstairs together. They are both dressed warmly like I am even though they don't need to.
"Hello Bella." Carlisle says planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Hi Carlisle. I'm sorry to be the cause of all of this." I tell him making Edward hiss.
Carlisle crouches down in front of me and takes my empty hand.
"You, Bella, are no trouble at all. You are family. Esme and I already think of you as our daughter. We would never want to replace your parents, but know that we love you like our own. We would give up our lives to protect you."
I blush and nod. He kisses the back of my hand like an old time gentleman which makes me giggle.
"Alright then." He says standing up and putting his hands together. "Are we ready to go?"
"Heck yeah!" Emmett yells while jumping off of the couch making Rosalie's legs go flying. If she weren't a vampire, she would have ended up on the floor. Stinking graceful vampires.
Rosalie just scowls and smacks Emmett's arm.
"Ow. Sorry babe" he says sheepishly.
"Bella will you be warm enough?" Esme asks worried. She really is 100% mom.
I nod at her in reply.
"I have a coat to go over my hoodie that I'll grab on the way out. Edward made me dress like an eskimo." I grumble at her.
"Well I'm glad he's taking care of you." She says gently.
"Me too." I admit quietly to her.
Once I get suited up in my winter gear again, I climb onto Edward's back so we can run to the meeting place. I have no idea where we're going so I just shut my eyes and bury my face in Edward's neck.
Eventually we come to a stop and Edward helps me down. We are deep in the forest, and the tree canopy is so thick that I can no longer see the moon. It would be pitch black out here if it weren't for the flashlight that Alice hands me out of the backpack that I didn't notice her wearing before. Thanking her, I turn it on and shine it around.
In front of me are four wolves, but they are nothing like the wolves I've seen before. They are the size of horses and a lot scarier than normal wolves. There is one wolf that is a few paces in front of the others and next to him are a few humans, one of which I recognize as Billy Black. I'm guessing they are the tribe elders.
Carlisle steps out to greet them.
"Hello and thank you for meeting with us. There will be no fight tonight so it would be easier for us if you would allow your pack to phase back to humans. We would all like to be able to hear them speak." He says.
After a few minutes of talking with the others, Billy addresses Carlisle.
"We will allow two wolves to phase so that they may speak. The others will remain as they are for guarding purposes."
His statement makes me scrunch my face in confusion. Carlisle just told them that we don't want to fight. Did they not hear him correctly or do they just not believe him? On the latter, Edward squeezes my hand to let me know that I'm right.
I never take my eyes off of the wolves as one from the back line comes up a few paces to stand with the other. As I'm watching them, it looks like the wolves's fur is rippling. Soon it isn't fur, it's skin and instead of four legs, they have two. Before I know it there are two naked men standing next to the Quileute elders. Shocked at their nakedness, I quickly avert my eyes, but not before I catch Jacob's smirk in my direction.
"Could you please dress yourselves?" Carlisle asks. "There are ladies present."
The smirk drops from Jacob's face as he pulls a pair shorts on. I have no idea where he pulled them from but at least he's covered now.
"Now, we are here to discuss the threats made by Jacob Black to Isabella Swan." I scowl as Carlisle uses my full name and I hear Edward chuckle next to me. "There has been no breaking of the treaty on our part. We have always followed it. However, Jacob did break the treaty by discussing supernatural matters with Bella Swan, a human-"
"She already knew all about it from her bloodsucking boyfriend." Jacob yells interrupting Carlisle.
"That is irrelevant." Carlisle replies calmly. "The fact is, you divulged information about our family to a human. The treaty doesn't specify previous knowledge in this matter."
"But-" Jacob tries to argue but is cut off by his father.
"That's enough Jacob." Billy says harshly. "Now Carlisle, it's been established that we broke the treaty. Are you planning to attack us?"
"No of course not." Carlisle says. "I would just like you to know that the treaty is now null and void. Your own flesh and blood broke it. We could attack you if so desired and there would be no consequences on our side. If you threaten my family again, there will be repercussions. Don't underestimate us because we look and act a little different from others of our kind, we will fight and we will win." Carlisle says in a calm but stern voice. I've always known Carlisle as a sweet and easy going man, but now I can appreciate him being the head of this vampire family. He will do anything to protect his family, even if it means going against his pacifist nature.
Billy's eyes light up with anger, but there really isn't anything he can do.
"Very well then." He says.
"Wait a second." Jacob yells. "Bella isn't your family. She has her own family. Just because your…son defiled her and manipulated her, doesn't make her your family."
Edward's growl vibrates my back.
"Be careful how you speak of my mate, dog. It wouldn't take much for me to lose my control." Edward growls.
"Mate?!" Jacob screeches. "How can she be your mate? She's human. You're sick. You manipulated an innocent girl to be your sex toy. How long until you get rid of her, huh?"
Edward's roar echoes through the forest as he runs after Jacob. My flashlight barely has time to catch up to him before he's abruptly stopped by Carlisle who whispers something into his ear and sends him back to me. I can feel the anger rolling off of Edward in waves as he stands next to me and grabs my hand.
"Billy I suggest you control your son. I won't be so inclined to stop Edward the next time." Carlisle says lowly. I can tell he's barely holding his temper.
Billy nods but doesn't say anything.
"Now I think we need to be going. Bella needs to get out of the cold." Carlisle says while walking back to Esme and grabbing her hand.
"Thank you for your diplomacy, Carlisle." Billy says through gritted teeth.
"You're welcome" Carlisle replies smoothly.
Edward doesn't wait for anything else to be said before he throws me onto his back and takes off running. Edward takes me straight home and returns me to my room via the window. He paces by my bed while I change out of my winter clothes and into my pajamas. Once I crawl into bed, and he's still in his angry haze, I call out to him.
"Edward, please come to bed." He sighs and closes his eyes before coming over and climbing into bed with me. He takes me into his arms like always but I can feel how tense he is.
"I should kill him for what he said about you." He whispers angrily.
"Edward remember what you said earlier before we left my house. If there was a fight than I could have gotten hurt. You know your couldn't have attacked Jacob without the others getting involved too." I tell him. I know the best way to get him to calm down is to use my safety.
"I know, but I swear if I ever see him again, I will kill him." He hisses.
"Okay" I tell him while combing my fingers through his hair. There's no use in arguing with him when he's this angry.
He lets out a long sigh and pulls me in for a short kiss.
"I love you, Bella." He whispers against my lips.
"I love you too, Edward. Forever."