Edward PoV
The huge wolf with the copper-coloured fur who had his teeth bared and looked as if he were about to attack me any moment didn't frighten me. I didn't back up, didn't take my hands away from Bella's chest or her forehead. My Bella. My Bella who was lying in the snow before me because of me. Because I had been so selfish to believe that if I went away, I would protect her. Fool I had been, I hadn't seen that the only thing I had done was to hurt even more than I had already done countless times before.
"She's alive," I informed the wolf who was still snarling and taking one step closer, his eyes darting from Bella to me. "She'll need to get to a hospital immediately, but I think she'll be okay."
Get away from her!
It surprised me that I could hear his thoughts. I had thought that my gift wouldn't work with werewolves.
"I won't hurt her."
You already did. You're the reason she's here. All of this is your fault!
"I know. But I came back to fix my mistake as best as I can."
There's no fixing it. You came here because of your own guilt and you think she can help you get rid of it. But she can't and she won't. So, step away from her, now!
I looked at him and I realized two things. First, that I knew him. And second, that he loved her. Loved my Bella that I had treated so cruelly. "Jacob please, we have to get her to a hospital now. We can discuss everything; you can curse me all you want but she has to get medical treatment first or she'll die."
This seemed to bring him back to his senses a bit and he lowered his head just a little bit.
Alright. I'll bring her down
"She doesn't have the time. You can't carry her like that, and you are too slow in your human form." I knew he didn't like what I was saying but it was the truth. Bella was already very weak, her breath coming in slow, unsteady waves. She needed medical attention as soon as possible but the hospital was too far away to get her there in normal speed. Jacob bared his teeth once more and growled menacingly.
I will never let you touch her. You already did more than enough. So, Get. Away. Now"
My vampire side took over. My natural instinct to protect what was mine started to rise as I stood up in front of my Bella and bared my fangs. As an answer, his body stiffened. Two mortal enemies fighting over the woman they both loved.
This whole situation would have ended very badly had not Carlisle, Esme and the rest of my family shown up. They all looked exhausted, covered in dirt and blood but all of them seemed to be unharmed and surprised to see me.
"Ed? What are you doing here?" I heard Emmet ask but I didn't answer. I had to protect Bella, my Bella from this monster threatening her.
Then something touched my shoulder. A soft voice spoke up: "Edward, it is alright. This is Jacob. You can trust him; he will never hurt Bella. You have to step down so we can help her." The vampire snarled and growled but the calm, familiar voice cooled him down enough that Esme could gently draw me away from Bella so Carlisle could take a look at her.
"She's weak, but she'll survive. Victoria did a good job on her, but she was too lost in her own rage to see that Bella was still alive. But we have to bring her down to the clinic at once." To my annoyance he said these words to Jacob and not to me. A lot must have happened during my absence...
"I can bring her down." Emmet offered. To my surprise, Jacob didn't object. He only went up to Bella and pressed his huge head to hers, eyes closed. My whole family took one step back, giving them some space. What the hell had happened?
Tell them, it's alright. They can take her. They, not you. I'll follow them and meet them at the clinic.
Dutifully I repeated the words to the rest of my family, still too confused about this whole situation. As soon as I knew that Bella was alright, they all owed me some answers. And judging by the look on their faces, I owed them some answers too...
Emmet gently picked up Bella and carried her down the mountain. Carlisle followed him, as did Alice, Rosalie, and Jasper. Only Esme stayed with me, one hand on my shoulder. "Edward, I know this all must seem very confusing to you. So much has happened since we all left Forks. But you have to do the right thing now. I know I can't prevent you from going down to the clinic but please, wait outside. We'll update you as soon as we can, but you can't go in there. It will only end badly, and she needs rest right now. We'll talk about everything, but the priority right now is Bella. If you want to help her, stay away from the hospital."
I heard her voice clear as day, but I couldn't give them any meaning. Stay away? From Bella? My Bella? I knew, I had done a lot of terrible things, unforgivable things but I wanted to do right by her. I wanted to fix them, fix her, and fix me, fix us. But how could I do that if I wasn't at her side?
"Edward, do you hear me? Stay away from her, at least for now."
I nodded automatically still not grasping the meaning of her words fully. But Esme seemed satisfied. "I'll meet you outside the clinic." Then she was gone too, leaving me alone on the plain with the shattered pieces of my life that I couldn't seem to put together again.