Fated

Chapter 7

A/N: Thank you StormyMonday for your beta help and thank you oldmeone for catching an error I made while editing my story after StormyMonday checked it for me!

I quickly run my fingers through my hair one last time, pull my jeans up, and fix my shirt, while Edward rings the doorbell. In less than 1 second the door opens and Alice is smiling on the other side. "Hi, Edward. Hi Bella! Come on in." She steps aside, allowing us to enter.

"It's so nice to see you again, Bella." Alice leans in and gives me a hug.

"It's nice to see you again too, Alice." Alice has a way of making you feel happy just by seeing her.

"Where is everyone?" Edward asks Alice.

"They are all out back training Jacob. Everyone is having a ball. He is a fast learner too! Right this way." Alice grabs my hand and leads me through the house and out the back door. She has so much energy she is practically skipping. I see several people standing in the woods behind the house, past the patio. As we walk up to them, they all turn and face us. Each one with a welcoming smile.

Edward starts the introductions. "Everyone, this is Bella."

He motions to Carlisle. "Bella, this is Carlisle." He gives me a friendly smile. "Hi, Bella."

"Hi," I offer back with a large smile of my own.

"This is Esme." She takes a couple steps forward and hugs me. "Hello, Bella. We've heard quite a bit about you. It sounds like you have had quite a crazy few days."

I hug her back. "Hi. Yes, I have. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all."

"This is Jasper," Edward continues introducing Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett. I greet each one with a friendly smile and hello. They all seem very warm and friendly.

"So, Where's Jacob?" I can't wait any longer to see him.

Jacob leaps down from high up in a tree and lands a few feet in front of me. "Hi, Bella!" His tone is bright and full of energy. In a flash, he is standing in front of me. He looks different. His features are more chiseled, almost statuesque, his skin is paler but has a perfect complexion. Now that he has walked out from the shadow of the trees and into the sunlight, his skin is sparkling like diamonds. It is spectacularly radiant.

"Wow, Jacob. You look beautiful!"

"I feel great, Bella!" He wraps his arms around me tight. I feel a crushing sensation bearing down on my chest. He has my arms trapped so I can't move and can't talk.

"Jacob!" Everyone yells.

"Remember, gentle," Esme reminds him.

He quickly lets me go. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I forgot about how strong I am now. Are you alright?"

I place my hand to my chest and take a few slow, deep breaths, feeling the pain ease up. "I'm okay."

"Do you want to go for a short walk with me in the woods so we can talk?" Jacob asks me and then looks around at the others, searching for approval.

"It's okay, Jacob. You will be fine with Bella," Alice reassures him.

I glance at Edward. He nods to me and Jacob and I walk off into the woods together. Each time we step into the sun, his skin sparkles radiantly.

"Bella, this has been the most amazing night and day of my life. I feel so powerful and invincible. I'm stronger, faster, tougher, my body is like a perfect machine. There's nothing I can't do. It's amazing!"

I stop walking and turn to face Jacob. "Are you really happy like this? I can't believe this happened to you and because of me. Oh, Jacob, I am so sorry!" I hug him tightly.

"Bella, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me! Please don't feel guilty or sad for me. I am happier than I have ever been. The past couple of years since I moved to New York I felt like I never fit in anywhere. Like I didn't belong. I think that's why I was so attached to you. I was trying to find somewhere I felt like I belonged. Now, I have found that place. Not only do I have these amazing abilities, but I have found other people who are like a family to me. People who understand me and are in the same situation as me. They have really taken me in and care for me. Please be happy for me, Bella."

I let go of him and look into his puppy dog eyes. "If you are happy Jacob, then I'm happy for you." I hug him again. I am so relieved. My guilt and sadness vanish with Jacob's words.

"Will you stay for a while? You can watch my training."

"Sure. I'd like that."

Jacob and I walk back to the house arm in arm.

Emmett begins training Jacob. "Vampires have a natural grace to them, but some still need to keep their speed limited until they get enough practice to run without tripping. If you trip while running 100 miles per hour, you are going to do some damage to whatever you fall on, maybe to yourself too. Start running, not too fast at first. Increase your speed as you get more practice."

Jacob runs back into the woods and back out again several times. On his last trip back, his foot catches a large root of a tree and he tumbles face first into the dirt. He hits so hard his face embeds into the ground. He jumps up and brushes the dirt off his face and clothes with an embarrassed smile. I hear Edward snicker very faintly and watch as Jacob stares him down. After a few seconds they both grin. Did I miss something? When did Edward and Jacob become friends?

Edward's warm, comforting arm wraps around my shoulders as I relax and lean into his strong body. Feelings of security and peace wash over me.

"Why don't we move to climbing trees," Emmett suggests. "You are able to jump up into trees, but now I want to teach you to climb them. Take off your shoes and socks. It's better to begin learning barefoot." Jacob obeys and removes his shoes and socks. "You want to use your fingers to grasp the tree trunk tight and dig your toes in for support. You lift with your arm muscles, using your fingers, and then follow through by moving your feet up. As you get more practice, you won't need to use your feet." Emmett moves next to a 300foot large oak tree and wraps his arms around himself, leaning against the tree. "Try climbing this."

Jacob walks over and feels the tree trunk with his hand and slowly tightens his grasp on it, his fingers digging into the truck. They sink into the bark deep, broken pieces of bark and tree fall to the ground.

"That's too hard," Jasper says as he steps closer to Jacob. "Tighten your fingers, but don't grasp the tree hard."

Jacob removes his hands and shakes the loose bark from them, then places them back on the tree trunk and holds it tight without sinking his fingers into the bark. He reaches an arm out and grasps up higher on the tree, first with his left hand, and then with his right. He places his feet on the tree trunk and wraps his feet around the trunk, keeping his toes dug in, but not too much. He starts moving up the tree, slow at first, then fast, and then very fast. Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle, Alice and I all cheer Jacob on. Once at the top of the tree, he suddenly takes a leap in the air, crossing a distance of about 30 feet, and lands on an adjacent tree. Encouragement in the form of cheers or whistles comes from us all.

"Looks like he has the hang of it," Emmett announces like a proud parent.

Edward is absentmindedly caressing my back with his hand as I lean against him. The caress is so sensual I almost lose track of my surroundings and have to force myself to concentrate upon Jacob's training and the others. My legs weaken and my knees feel like jelly. If I wasn't using Edward as support I may fall on the ground. My heartbeat quickens and becomes stronger. I think Edward can hear it because he glances at me and then stops rubbing my back and moves his arm up along my shoulders once again.

We all watch for several minutes as Jacob climbs up and down trees, leaping between them until he runs back to me. "Come on, Bella. Take a trip to the top of the tree with me."

I look up at the tall tree. "Um..."

"Come on. It will be fine. I won't drop you."

"Go on, Bella," Edward encourages. "I will catch you if he drops you."

"That's not making me feel better," I tease and walk to the tree. "Okay. Let's do this."

I jump on Jacob's back wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. We gracefully glide up the tree and in seconds, we reach the top. Jacob deposits me on a sturdy branch so I can look around at our surroundings. I see breath-taking scenery for miles. Autumn is coming early this year and the trees are filled with gorgeous bursts of color. The air is fresh and crisp. We spend several minutes silently looking over the scenery.

"Look, Jacob," I point to a momma bird feeding its babies in a nearby nest. Each baby has its head back, beak up in the air, chirping outcries of hunger as the mamma chews up worms and spits them into her babies' mouths.

"This view goes on for miles," Jacobs informs me. "I can't believe I get to do this any time I want!"

"Come on. Let's get your training finished," Edward yells from below.

Jacob looks at me. "Jump on," he instructs. I climb back onto his back and he carries me back down to the ground.

"I'm up," Jasper announces as he struts up to face Jacob. "I'm going to teach you how to bring your fangs down. There will be times when you need to reach for the power of your fangs and call to them to come down. Now, close your eyes and relax your body. Try to clear your mind." Jacob closes his eyes and takes a couple deep breaths. "To bring your fangs down, you need to call to the inner vampire inside yourself and access that raw power. Remember when you hunted the deer this morning. Remember how your body felt when you watched the deer drinking from the creek. You listened to its heartbeat pounding in your ear. You could hear its blood rushing. You could smell its woodsy scent filling your nostrils. Draw on that memory. As Jasper speaks, Jacob opens his mouth wide, concentrating upon the memory of drinking the deer's blood. In less than a minute, his fangs slip down over his teeth.

"That was faster than many of us," Jasper remarks. "Good job. Now the difficult part, getting them to go back. Good luck." He pats Jacob on the back and walks past him. Everyone chuckles as Jacob watches Jasper walk into the house, looking lost as to how to get his fangs to go down.

Edward takes pity upon him. "It's easier then you think. Just try to remember a happy, peaceful moment in your life." Jacob concentrates for several minutes until his fangs slide back up undetected.

"Why isn't Jacob, or anyone else here, having problems with my blood?" I ask Edward.

Carlisle answers. "Because we have been vampires long enough to be able to resist human blood, even strong human blood like yours, plus we are fed well on animal blood. Keeping ourselves fed on blood makes all the difference in controlling ourselves. Jacob has recently fed so he won't be tempted. We will have to see how he reacts to you when not recently fed. The rest of us should have no problem being near you, as long as your blood does not spill out. If you get cut, we will have to leave quickly."

"Good to know," I try to show a strong exterior, even though I'm a bit worried about what will happen if I cut myself around them. I'm so clumsy getting a cut is a fairly common event.

"Who wants to go next?" Carlisle asks.

"I will," replies Alice as she steps up to Jacob and smiles warmly. "I'm going to teach you to track both animals and humans."

"That sounds like fun!" Jacob's voice is filled with excitement. He is so full of energy that he has not stopped bouncing around since I've got here.

Alice grasps Jacobs both of Jacob's arms and holds him steady. "You first need to calm yourself, Jacob. " Jacob takes several slow, deep breaths. Alice releases his arms. Her voice turns soft. "I want you to block everything out of your mind except the sound of my voice. You are going to listen for Bella's breathing. Humans are easier to track then vampires because we don't breathe so you won't hear our breath. You have built-in predator abilities which allow you to track humans and animals."

"I hear different heartbeats but I can tell which is Bella's because the others are very soft. I can tell they come from animals."

"Very good, Jacob. Now let's test your tracking by smell."

"Bella, would you mind walking into the woods just a few feet and hide behind a large tree? I want to show Jacob how to find you? Jacob, close your eyes until Bella is situated."

"Sure." I walk into the woods and pick a tree with a wide enough trunk for me to easily hide behind. "Okay, I'm hidden."

Alice places a hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Jacob, lock onto Bella's unique smell. See if you can find her scent. Every person and animal has a distinct odor. Animals smell more of earth, worms, and fecal matter. Humans smell more artificially scented from their soaps and shampoos, but with Bella, her blood is strong and sweet smelling. It knocks out all other smells and becomes almost overbearing. It should be easy to track."

"Yes, I can smell it. It's strong."

"It's not overbearing for you, is it? It shouldn't be since you just fed. Vampires who think they have no control over needing to feed on humans are just not trying hard enough. All you need to have is will power. It's no different then humans going on a strict diet. It's controllable unless she gets a cut, then you are best just getting away from her."

"This is Bella. She and Patty are my best friends. I have no desire to drink her blood and am fine around her."

"I know you will be fine around Bella," Alice says. "I've seen it."

I wonder what Alice means by she's seen it. She said something similar to that when I first met her also. She said she saw me being able to change Edward's mind. I wonder if she has some kind of psychic ability to see the future.

I hear Jacob approaching. "I've got it," he announces as I stand perfectly still hiding behind the tree. His voice sounds close. Within a second he pops up in front of me, startling me. His eyes look different. More intense. A bit scary I have to admit to myself and I wonder if this is how he looks while he's focused on a hunt.

"Good job!" I say as I follow him back to Alice, noticing he even stands more erect and looks formidable now. Jacob struts proudly back to Alice and stands by her side.

Alice continues. "With tracking animals it's the same process. You can practice that later. It's important for Esme to teach you how to control your sparkle so you can go out in public."

Esme walks into the sunlight near Jacob. "Come stand next to me in the sunlight, Jacob."

As Jacob walks into the sunlight his skin sparkles like diamonds. It's entrancing.

"Vampires have a strong will. You just need to find your point of focus. Think about a time in your life when you were determined to get or achieve something." Esme stays silent for a minute while Jacob looks like he is concentrating.

"Okay. I thought of something."

"Now remember how you felt. How you made your will drive you to determination. Now focus that will upon your skin and visualize your sparkle having a switch to turn it on or off. That switch hangs in the air next to you. It's as simple as grasping that switch and turning it off. Do it now, Jacob."

The corner of Jacob's mouth twists up as he concentrates. His eyebrows furrow together while we all watch him and wait for what seems like several minutes and nothing happens."

"I can't do it," Jacob sounds disappointed.

"Don't worry. You'll get it," Esme encourages. "Let's give you a little help focusing your mind. Bella, would you mind standing next to Jacob?"

"Sure." I walk over and stand by Jacob's side.

"Keep concentrating, Jacob. Feel Bella's presence and support by your side as you try to turn off that switch." We all wait another minute with no results.

"How about we try with Bella giving you some help. Reach out and hold Bella's hand, Jacob."

Jacob reaches down and gently grabs my hand and holds it.

I look at Edward to see what his reaction is to Jacob holding my hand and his face turns sour as he looks back and forth between Jacob and me. I try to hide my snicker but Edward notices it and rolls his eyes.

"Now Bella, reach up in the sky with your hand that Jacob holds and guide him to the switch and flick it off." I see no switch in my mind but I raise my and Jacob's hands and pretend to flick off a switch. I keep an eye on Jacob's sparkle. Slowly his sparkle fades as he continues to close his eyes until it vanishes.

"Open your eyes, Jacob," Esme instructs.

Jacob slowly opens his eyes, a wide smile beams across his face.

A/N: Thanks so much for keeping the reviews, suggestions, and the love coming for each chapter. I truly appreciate you all and cannot wait to start on Chapter 8!