Freedom of Choice 3
As Amelia sat at the table; the tension was thick. It was making her edgy. Taking a look at Bella, she could see that she was antsy like a deer. Being away from Edward was making her almost freak out. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Relax, I promise we won't be too long and you can get back."
Bella's eyes snapped up. Shaking her head. "Umm no, that's not it." She was stammering. It truly wasn't that she wanted to get back, it was that she didn't. Ever since Volterra her feelings towards Alice and Edward have been changing. In her soul she knew that she loved him, but he treats her like she is unable to think or do anything for herself. It was clear that even before he left her, it was from day one, he even broke into her house before he was even talking to her, watching her sleep. At first she thought it was romantic, but as she healed or was attempting to heal, with the help of Jacob, she watched how the other wolves treated their imprints. Jared and Kim, while he was very protective of her, he never once treated her like she was incapable of making her own choices. Even Paul with Rachael, he treated her like his equal. It has never been that way with Edward.
Before either one could speak again, the waitress came by taking their order. Settling back into an uncomfortable silence. Bella made the move to be honest. "He treats me like I'm weak, or I can't make my own choices. I raised myself. Before him, I took care of my mom, I was the adult; I kept everything running. I feel inept around him."
Leaning back in her chair, Amelia was surprised that Bella just vomited her feelings like that. Looking her over, she could tell that she was wound too tight. "You're not you know. Inept. You seem smart, so why? Why do you allow it?"
Biting her lip, Bella had to think. Of the why. She honestly didn't know. As Bella went to answer, their food arrived.
As the waitress placed their burgers down, Amelia took a big bite. "OMG this is really good." She had to wipe her mouth to keep the juice in.
Nodding, "Yea, not bad for the middle of nowhere."
The two women sat in silence and ate their food.
As they finished up, Amelia dropped $20 and looked over at Bella. "Alright, let's get the hell out of here, I can see it on your face that you need to vent. So, do you know a place where we can go where no sparkles will hear us?"
Giving Amelia a small smile, "Yea, head towards La Push. It's about 15 minutes up the road."
Nodding towards Bella, she handed her the keys. "Drive, you know where you're going."
With that they made their ways to First Beach. It was Bella's spot to think. Plus it was mostly supernatural free. Did she need to tell Amelia about the wolves? It wasn't her secret, but she was staying with two red eyed Vampires, and she's was 98% sure that Carlisle would have explained them to his guests. Bella began chewing on her lip. Undecided. Life was so much easier when you didn't have the secrets that she had to keep.
Taking a long sigh, she made her choice to explain the wolves, not who they were. "So, the reservation has protectors. Quileute warriors that turn into wolves, they protect the tribe against vampires. They won't bother you, but I felt I needed to say something if you happen to see something."
Rolling her neck to look at Bella. "Thanks, Peter, he explained it to me before we arrived here. That the Cullens have a treaty with the protectors."
Amelia watched as Bella's shoulders relaxed. "You didn't break their secrets. I won't say anything to anyone. It must be hard, keeping all this to yourself all the time."
As they pulled into the parking spot by the beach, Bella let out a light breath of air. "Yea. I sometimes feel like I'm being pulled into a million different directions."
Zipping up her jacket, they made their way towards some large logs of driftwood. Amelia took in the scene before her. While it was overcast, the waves were small, with just a touch of white caps. The natural rocks of the landscape made it look like another world. "It's beautiful here. I can see why this is a good place to hide."
"It can be. But sometimes the locals" she said using air quotes, "talk to me about my choice in friends."
"I think that's your problem sweetie. You're so concerned about keeping everyone happy, you're neglecting yourself. I mean compromise is one thing, straight up changing who you are to keep others happy, it will eventually drag you down."
Leaning back against the log, Amelia stared out into the water, not needed to say more. She knew that Bella needed to marinate on that information.
Bella also leaned back against the log, staring out. Amelia knew nothing of her, but whatever she was told by Peter, and that is information he probably got from the Cullens, or Jasper specifically. But, she was right, she didn't want to hurt anyone, she didn't want Edward to realize that she wasn't perfect. Constantly keeping them happy. Sitting there day after day as they both dictate her life. It was more than that though. She could say whatever she wanted, and her secrets would be safe from Edward.
"It's more than that," she stared. "He makes me feel like I'm an invalid, like I can't make up my own mind. He tells me what I should eat to be healthy, he never really takes my opinions into consideration, half the time I feel dazzled by him. Alice too, I don't like flashy things, but she insisted on having my party, I didn't want it, I cut my finger and got thrown into a damn table full of dishes. Why on earth were there so many plates? I was the only one there that would be able to eat." Taking a moment to breathe. She looked over at Amelia, and could see concern in her eyes. Not pity like she gets from Jake or Emmett, but actual concern.
Amelia took her time to answer, they had a slight staring contest. She actually felt for the girl. Looking back out at the water, "So the real question is why? Why do you need Edwards validation? I know I asked you that in the diner, so I guess I'm asking it again."
Shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know, honestly, I was never one to get attention back in Arizona, I came here and it was like I was a new shiny toy. I saw them on my first day, the Cullens, and you could see that they were other worldly, beautiful, I was drawn in. Which I'm sure that's a normal human thing, but he was in my biology class, and he hated me, or so it seemed. Over the next few weeks, he came into my room watching me sleep, we eventually started to talk, and somehow we were together. I really don't know how it all happened."
"So, he broke into your room? Weren't you angry or something?" Amelia was flustered. Does she know that he has displayed abuser traits?
A small tear trickled down her cheek. "Yes. I was. But somehow, I don't know, it was as if he dazzled me."
Amelia was 100% that is exactly what happened. "Does he blow his breath on you when you start disagreeing with him?"
Looking up at Amelia, her eyes were huge. "How did you know that?" Bella was freaked out.
Letting out a long sigh, "It's a hunter tactic to make the prey more pliable. How Charlotte explained it, if a vampire needed to lure someone away from a crowd, it makes the person more compliant. It can also be used to control someone. The Volturi have banned the practice, they say it is only meant to be used to secure food, not human compliance long term."
Bella put her head into her hands. Before she could complete her thought her cell phone was ringing. Dread, she didn't want to talk to Edward right now, pulling her phone out, the ID read "Dad".
Answering the phone. "Hey dad, no I'm at First Beach... Just sitting here thinking…. No I'm not alone… No dad, Edward isn't here…. I'm with Amelia…. She's a relative of Jasper…. I don't know, I'm getting to know her…. Yes dad, I'll be home before dinner….. OK, love you too.."
Amelia's eyes were quirked. "A relative of Jasper. You're quick on your feet."
"I'm learning to be." She said with a slight laugh.
Staring back down at her hands, "I thought my gift of keeping Edward out of my head made me special, but he told me that he can't read you as well. Add to the fact that he dazzles me, makes me wonder did he ever love me? Is that why he won't turn me? I mean the Volturi will come and kill them all if I'm still human, and he's so convinced that it won't happen for a long time, because of Alice."
Staring out into the ocean. It seems that was the one thing that gave both girls focus.
"I can't answer that. I'm more concerned with why he dazzles you. I mean with you being a shield, that's what your gift is called, it shouldn't be that easy. Peter said that Jane wasn't able to harm you, right?"
"No." Bella's voice was soft and weak.
"The only way that I could see that being able to happen was if you had some of his venom in you, but inherently that would make you turn." Amelia was thinking long and hard about everything that Peter and Charlotte told her about vampires and all their skills. Gifted or not.
It was the gasp from Bella that caused Amelia to jump a little bit. "What?"
Slowly lifting up her sleeve, she showed her the bite mark that James gave her, "I was attacked by a nomad, and bit me, but before the change could take place, Edward sucked the venom out," she all but whispered.
Looking down at the girl's arm, she was stunned. "He tasted your blood?"
Bella was very uncomfortable, but she felt the drive to get answers. "Yes."
"He's not your real mate. That is the only way for a vampire to be sure a human is their mate. Once the vampire tastes the blood of the human in question, the natural instincts of the vampire would be to protect his or her mate. Tasting the blood is the only way for it to be confirmed. After that, if you were his mate he wouldn't have been able to not let you change, the urge to make you safe would have been too strong."
Grabbing Bella's arm, "And this, this right here is why you are so compliant, this is why that you can't stand to be away from him. When they left, did you or did you not act like someone that was withdrawing for drugs?"
She was shaking, "Yes."
Standing up quickly Amelia shouted. "That motherfucking bastard." She felt the energy pulsing through her veins, she wanted to crush the rocks around her, but she was certain that it would freak Bella out, that was a party trick for another time. Now, though, they needed to focus and rally. There was no way that Amelia would let Edward manipulate her.
Taking a few deep breaths, she looked down, she extended her hand down. "Do you want this to end? Do you want your freedom back, even if that freedom is not Edward? Cause the Volturi will come for you, so you can either die, or be turned. Right now, it's your choice, whatever it is, but make a choice for yourself."
Bella looked at the arm in front of her. Wanting to live her life, she didn't want to be controlled by anyone or anything. "I want to be changed, I want my freedom back, I don't want the Volturi to come and kill me because Edward didn't follow the rules. Help me, please." She begged.
As their arms grasped the other, Amelia helped pull Bella to her feet, "Good, we are going to come back tomorrow, you're gonna miss school, Alice will not be able to see you when your with me, so we're going to have a girls night, you're going to tell your dad that I'm excellent in Advanced Mathematics which is very true, and I'm helping you prep for SAT's, and you need day focusing only on that. So your dad is not going to freak out that you're not in school. Are you OK with this?" she asked Bella.
With a determined look, Bella nodded. "Yes, Hell yes."
Wiping their asses off from the sand, they made their way back to the truck. As Amelia looked over at Bella, she was surprised. When Peter described her, neither one knew what was going on.
"Let's get this shit handled, once I fix it, we are going to work on your shield, and I am going to hand that shit his ass. Don't you worry about Peter or Char, I will tell them what we are going to do, they can keep both Alice and Edward out of their heads, and we will bring you with us so that we can get that change over together. Volturi will be happy, you will have your freedom to choose, but make the time that you have with your father, because when it's time to go, you'll need to die so that he can not stay up wondering when you're going to come home."
Bella didn't get to respond, before they heard someone shout at them. "What fuck are you doing here leech lover?"
Amelia turned quickly, standing at the end of the trails,there were two Indian boys wearing nothing but cut off shorts.
Mumbling under breath, "Shit." Bella looked nervous, she was scared, Paul was the most aggressive of the wolves, and he hated her. Embry was indifferent. As they made their way over to the truck, she looked at Amelia, she didn't want her to get hurt because he was an asshole.
Amelia followed the boy's approach. Sparing a quick glance at Bella. "These the "locals"? She said with air quotes.
Gently nodding.
Steading her breath, Amelia focused her energy, she needed to be in touch with her gift, telekinesis was a powerful gift, but being human, it could drain her. Peter and Char have been training her to use it, wanting her to build up strength. At this moment she was happy for all of Peter's tourcher.
The boys approached, Amelia noticed one was vibrating with anger, the other he looked more nervous, Char explained that the wolves are quick to anger, it's part of their transition.
She could see Bella was antsy. Giving the clue that the angry boy was the one making her upset. Taking her time she came to Bella's side of the truck, never taking her eyes off the guys. They were finally in talking distance. "Is there a problem?" she asked directly.
This caused Bella to gasp, no one spoke to Paul so forcefully, except Sam. Her standing slightly in front of Bella caused the guys to focus solely on her. She knew that Bella wasn't capable of fighting them off, but she was.
Paul focused on the girl talking to him. His body was shaking. How dare she come here, and bring another bitch. "Why are you here leech loving bitch? You and this bitch get off our land, and go fuck a corpse!"
Standing straighter, she stood in front of Bella. She knew that this was going to escalate quickly, keeping an eye on the surrounding area, knowing that other wolves would be in the area.
Looking back at the boy shaking in front of her, she made a calculated decision. If she riled him up, he'd wolf out, then she would power slap him into next week, and demand to speak to the alpha for breaking the treaty.
"What the fuck gives you the right to talk to anyone that way?" She kept her eyes trained on him.
His trembling got worse. This fucking cunt. No longer able to contain his rage, Paul reached out and grabbed her wrist. As he went to yank her towards him, he felt himself being pulled forward, and quickly found himself flung back.
Amelia felt his hand on her wrist, but instead of using her gift to send him flying she channeled into her self defense training. Wanting to make sure that he was removed from her body. Supernaturals tended to be strong. Once she saw that he hit the dirt. She gently stepped back towards Bella, she knew that he was going to flip out and go wolf.
"Keep your fucking hands to yourself, don't ever touch me." Her body was seething. She kept her eyes trained on him.
Embry was stunned, a small girl just flipped Paul on his ass, seeing that this was going to get bad quickly, he tried to intercept him, but it was too late, he saw that Paul was already in mid phase. FUCK! Sam was going to kill them, definitely mame them.
Amelia jumped back quickly as a silver wolf snapped at them. Taking her hands, she focused her mind and energy, she encased him into a bubble, using her hands she slammed him down into the ground hard. She saw his big brown eyes stare at her, not letting him get up, she lifted her hands above her hands lifting the wolf with it, and bringing her hands down; he came to the earth in a resounding thud. Looking over the wolf, he was out cold. Bella gasped. Embry stared in horror.
Looking over at Bella, "Are you OK?"
Bella couldn't speak, just nodded.
She looked over at the other boy. "You are a wolf too?" she asked. He could only nod. "Good, get your Alpha here NOW. Don't worry about your friend here, I'll keep him safe."
Without a second glance he ran into the forest, a howl was heard. Soon joined by several others.
Sparing a quick glance at Bella, "Stay behind me, I will handle this."
"OK, just be careful. Sam, he's the Alpha, he's not going to like this. And when we get out of this, please explain what happened."
Smirking at Bella, "Yea, will do. No reason to lie about it. I'm all about honesty."
With a nod, they heard the wolves coming.
Standing with her back straight she saw that the wolves were at the edge of the forest, a huge black one standing in front of a russet brown, and grey wolf.
Amelia stared into the yellow eyes of the black wolf, he was the largest. Rolling her eyes, "Enough with the staring contest; come down here and have a conversation, or fuck off."
This got the black one to step back into the woods, quickly stepping out was a tall, dark man, easily 6'8, like the first two, only wearing cut off shorts. He made his way towards them.
"What happened here?" he asked. His voice held no room to ignore.
Tilting her head up to look into his eyes. "Hi, I'm Amelia, you must know Bella, since he," pointing to the unconscious wolf, "Called her a leech lover. Grabbed my arm, and well, I put him down. Not an expert here, but having someone wolf out, probably not something that should be done in the open for people to see. Might freak them out."
Crossing his arms over his chest, he was impressed. Most people couldn't look him in the eyes, he assumed it was the Alpha presence. But the girl in front of him didn't even shake. Taking his time to observe her, she was gorgeous. His wolf liked her. The man had to agree.
Looking over at Embry. "Change and come here." Using the Alpha timber in his voice.
Quickly the boy was in front of him. He wouldn't look him in the eyes. "Is what she said true?"
A meek "Yes" was heard.
Sam was beyond angry. Looking at the rest of the wolves. "Grab Paul, and GO BACK TO MY HOUSE NOW!" he boomed.
Quickly three people came from the woods, grabbing the unconscious man, they left towards the woods.
Looking at Bella, and Amelia. Reaching out his hands, "I'm sorry, you're the one visiting with other vampires staying with the Cullens."
Taking his hand, "Yes, Amelia. I'd love to stay and chat, but we have plans." She couldn't help but look into his dark eyes. He was fucking sexy.
He chuckled, "Enjoy your day ladies. Looking forward to seeing you again." With that he quickly looked at Amelia, then he took off.
Without wasting anymore time, Amelia and Bella double timed to truck, and head back to the Cullens.
Amelia couldn't help but smile. Having a sexy wolf flirt at her, was a pretty good end to an emotional day.