A/N Hey everyone, here is the next chapter I hope you've all been waiting for it's a little earlier than I expected to get it to you. Unfortunately it's still only an edited version by me so I'm sorry for any mistakes you guys may find amongst the writing. You've all been great though when you've ever noticed anything I've done wrong. Anyway I'll let you get to Chapter Six and I hope to see what you all think of it. I might be able to get another chapter to you before the end of the week it all comes down to if I'm writing future chapters still and have enough time to go back and edit the old for you to read. Anyway, enjoy.
RED DAWN
SUMMARY: Edward had always warned Bella that the pack were dangerous. Hostile, volatile and aggressive in nature. She ignored him, testing even Edward's own vampire instinct by staying friends with his enemy, Jacob. One event will change them all, Bella never truly understood the supernatural world. Didn't understand the aggression that lay dormant even in her controlled mate until it was too late. Warning: Violence and Character death.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all the Characters.
Chapter Six
"I don't understand why they'd have made the change now though. If they had been capable of the shift why would they have not done so when the younger boys had" Carlisle said as he looked between Jasper and Edward as the family had huddled together in Bella's room closing the door. Edward wasn't going anywhere as it had become clear soon after he'd heard Bella mumble in her sleep. The family had decided then that this meeting would need to take place within her actual hospital room.
Charlie had left to go into work, while he'd wanted to stay his deputy had called in with a situation at first Edward believed that the tribe of La Push might have reported some of the deaths. It seemed that while Charlie had placed through a report about the animal attack the deaths and injury of Embry had been handled on their end. Charlie would do his own report once he could speak to Bella but there wouldn't be any further police involvement, an animal attack wasn't really his line of work. Though Charlie had been prepared to get some of his men together and go out into the surrounding forest to hunt down the savage animal. Charlie had left knowing that Bella was in good care with Edward back around and his family there to watch over her.
He'd spoken with Emmet and Rose before leaving to make sure they knew what time Renee's flight would be landing and that they had her number. Renee was aware that it would be Edward's siblings that would be picking her up. Tanya and Eleazer were finally doing better after the attack physically, though the grief had finally set in for the three Denali members'. Kate was still unconscious but was showing signs of coming around sooner than expected. Eleazer had sent Jasper and Alice off to the hospital knowing that the family had much to discuss and confident that they'd be able to defend themselves or at least recognise the coming pack this time should they be hunted again. Both groups had doubted that the pack would attempt an attack on the Cullen home though. The family had done their best to tell Carlisle what had happened, while Edward had caught onto the threat that he'd believed was occurring Carlisle had never expected them to so quickly figure out the Denali would be arriving. He'd been deeply upset over the destruction of Irina and the injuries inflicted upon the other members of the Denali coven. His friends who had become an extended family to him over the years were hurt because his family had needed them to stand by them. He felt guilty even if he'd not been the one to ask them to come here.
Now however Carlisle wanted to understand the strange phenomena of the adult male members of the tribe making the shift. It seemed oddly out of sorts that the younger males had shifted before the more mature members. Originally believing that the gene had simply skipped a generation, he'd been further upset that his family had killed more of the pack. Though Carlisle had not voiced these thoughts yet. Edward had picked them up, and refused to challenge Carlisle's still adamant need for none violence and peace between them. He was deeply disturbed by the fact Edward had singled out the female Leah. For what she meant emotionally to members of the pack and killed her in such a way that would leave a lasting effect. He worried over the fact that Edward had also used that ever present deathly bite and injection of venom to bring about the most suffering to his enemy too.
A theory he'd created in his own mind and never spoken aloud was being used to its complete effect in his son's capable hands.
"Does it really matter the why and how? They've got more numbers" Emmet said from the corner of the room with his arms tightly crossed over his chest.
"More numbers which is exactly what they need to pose a better threat" Alice said right back, all those wolves meant even more blind spots for her now.
They'd be able to spread themselves wider covering more ground that Alice wouldn't be able to see around and now with the lives of her family tied in so tightly with that of the pack it meant all visions had seemed to leave her now. In her families time of need it felt like she'd been stolen of something that had helped guide them through the decades. They'd rely more on Edward's gift now to see all around them.
"They aren't scared. With those larger wolves they seemed pretty ready to fight and they didn't look nearly as untamed as they have in the past" Rose said though she'd only seen what had been the end of the confrontation she'd only been surprised one wolf alone had pursued Carmen and not more.
"We were fortunate Edward figured it out from here" Jasper said nodding his head towards Edward's direction as he'd still remained beside his mate, watching her closely waiting for her to say something else or to wake up finally.
"Had he not killed the girl I don't think we'd have walked away without more casualties. Eleazer, Tanya and Kate wouldn't have survived another fight. Carmen has no training at all. They would have been too many for the four of us to handle alone. Killing Leah had the perfect effect, hurt the alpha enough that one of his own men had to force him away seeing his devastation for what it would have done. Gotten him killed" Jasper said bluntly, it was true Jasper had felt the emotions twisted in that small clearing of space as Edward had broken the alpha's heart in front of his entire pack. He'd weakened him and the brutality of seeing Edward holding the young girl naked and bleeding from her throat was everything the men of the tribe feared about the cold ones.
"Joshua Uley. Sam's father was the one who forced him away. It appears he's taken second in command after his son" Edward finally broke his silence speaking out to explain who it had been of the new members. While the short time around them hadn't given him all the names he'd at least known that it had been Sam's father who'd gotten the wolves to leave. Edward predicted Joshua may be more of a threat then that even of Sam, he was level headed had taken to the transformation with an ease the others hadn't.
"I just don't understand why they've now began to change. Edward you said Embry's father is also experiencing the fever that some of the men were ill still" Carlisle tried to engage Edward now that he seemed to be responding, Esme reached to her husband squeezing his forearm to comfort him in any way she could.
"Bella once mentioned to me that the wolves believed they changed when they sensed their enemy near. The younger men of the tribe were the first to directly be around any of us. Billy was already crippled so he'd have never made the shift. Harry weak with illness and Old Quil far too old. We never spent any time around the adult men younger than those in the council so they'd have never activated the gene I suppose" Edward explained thinking over what could have brought about the drastic change in the men.
They'd believed the younger boys had been shifting because of the vampire's that were being changed in Seattle and the only available were the even younger boys, they'd clearly been wrong in that theory now with the men changing too.
"That still doesn't explain why now" Rose spoke up this time.
"Well if they become what they are to protect the tribe I can only assume that they are changing now as a result of what I did" Edward said as his family looked at him confused struggling to understand how he could possibly be the reason the men were becoming members of the pack.
"I went directly on the reservation. A vampire came onto their land, then killed two pack members and left a third for dead. The gene in them is being awoken because I spilt shifter blood on their own lands without being stopped. They've felt the need to protect the people and it's awoken them" Edward had put it together in his mind fairly quickly it seemed the only logical explanation, there had been no shifters since they'd come back to Forks and Sam had shifted quickly after they'd arrived.
With the more vampire's that seemed to be around the more of the men with the gene would shift. Though Edward doubted that the dwindling numbers of pure blooded members of the tribe was very few and didn't believe many more would be able to shift. What the pack had now though was more than enough to be a very deadly threat. Edward wished he'd done as Emmet had wanted the night before and finished them off while weak. They'd be much more of a challenge now.
"This has escalated so quickly" Carlisle sighed reaching up to run his hand through his blonde hair, he knew now more than anything that he had no one to stand in his corner to find a better solution then fighting the pack.
He'd hoped by talking to Carmen and Eleazer they'd manage to hold off both of their families from rushing in and wiping out a very unique and rare species in the shifters. With the loss of Irina and the harm inflicted upon them he knew they would not agree with him, knew that even his own wife Esme wasn't completely in agreement with him about simply walking away to stop a fight.
"Hesitation in battle is never a good thing Carlisle. They've shown they aren't as unprepared for this as we thought but with the right planning I have no reason to believe we can't handle this threat" Jasper said believing that Carlisle worry came from a place that felt that they couldn't beat the pack without losing anyone else.
Jasper was already eager to speak with Edward about designing plans of murder to hurt the pack even more as they licked their wounds and those injured healed. He wanted to go on the offensive and was ready to cross into the reservation to place fear and pain into his enemy.
"Jacob" Bella mumbled roughly her voice weak as her eyes moved beneath the eyelids, Edward's body rigged as he turned his face back to his mate then looked amongst his family.
"She's waking. It's best you all leave but Carlisle should stay to check her over" Edward said and it was clear in his tone there was no room for arguments, as his family looked between each other.
"We better go anyway Rose. Go get Bella's momma" Emmet offered his hand to Rose as they exited the room Esme and Alice following close behind the two of them out of the room. Jasper fixed his eyes with Edward his mind reaching out to his brother.
"I'll be close by should you need me. This won't be easy. We have much to discuss, I'm going to need to know the ties that bind them to know where best to hurt the pack. Emotional targeting is just as effective as any well aimed strike" Jasper's thought to Edward nodding once before exiting out of the room but standing as close to the room as he could to be able to keep a handle on the emotions in the room ready to help Edward should he needed with Bella waking up.
"How do you want to handle this she's going to have questions straight away" Carlisle said concerned now, while he knew the news had to be broken to Bella delicately he was relieved that she was finally waking. Hoping, beyond hope that her being aware may help bring his son back to himself. Carlisle believed Edward was falling to his baser aggressive nature in her injured state.
"Avoid mentioning anything other than her health please. I'm not going to hide it from her but once you've checked her vitals and made sure she's not in pain. I'll be the one to explain what's become of the pack and our family" Edward said firmly not wanting to argue with Carlisle, his thoughts were starting to anger Edward with each thought that found him believing Edward wasn't in control.
Edward knew he was reacting differently, he couldn't understand why Carlisle couldn't accept that Edward was doing what had to be done for the family. He wished Carlisle had it within himself to act instead of stand back looking for resolutions to things that could not be resolved without violence. It did not help his patients that once again the name that left his mates lips was the mutt's name. He'd waited almost two days to hear her speak to know she was still with him and the first words she spoke were for the dead.
The two returned to silence Carlisle feeling the tension around his son and himself knowing that patients were warring thin now, he knew his need for peace wasn't his family's desire. At least now he had something to focus his mind on other then the thought of his friends harmed and one gone forever, the destruction of Irina played on his mind. The fear that he could lose any of his family, any one of those he saw as his own children it would break his heart and the idea of losing Esme to this. He couldn't even allow himself to think on it. He'd never be able to endure that fate. Bella's even breathing steadily changed as she started to move a little more in her bed. Like she often did when she awoke Edward watched the way she turned into her pillow pressing her nose into the soft sheet. He'd always found it very endearing the adorable way she'd press her face against the pillow many mornings they had shared where it had been his chest that she'd nuzzled her face into as she woke with him holding her.
He'd give anything for it to be his arms wrapped around her instead of sitting beside her bed. He knew that things were going to be different now he could only hope that they would make it through this. That Bella would somehow understand, she'd once said she'd love him no matter what he'd done. Even before she'd known he didn't drink human blood she had told him it didn't matter what he was, even learning that he'd originally wanted to drain her on first meeting her she'd never ran. Would she run now from him, run from the man who had killed three of her friends? He'd taken Jake, Paul and Leah from this world and he planned on taking more. Could she over look this now as his family prepared to kill people Bella had always viewed as friends.
Bella eyes parted once then just a slither of those eyes that kept so much secret from him, the one mind in the entire world he'd wish to see and it had always remained silent to him. What thoughts and secrets she'd be able to keep from him. It both frustrated and endeared him to her. Edward knew that in her silent mind that she had truly been made for him, he'd often said how incapable he'd have ever been with being with someone whose mind he could see at all times. Her silent mind gave them that mystery and while he still couldn't help but want to know it, now he wished he could see her thoughts more than anything. Her eyes fluttered slowly as her hand came up to rub at her eyes Edward reached out gently to stop her from rubbing at the stitching on her face so she didn't split them as her brow creased in confusion. Bella slowly forced her sleepy tired eyes open completely trying to sit up quickly as Edward stood from his seat close by to help her as to make sure she didn't jerk too much and cause herself discomfort or any further harm. It was better for them to prevent any chance of her stitches breaking and the wound opening up again.
"Easy love try to be calm" Edward whispered as Bella turned her head to the side seeing Edward then her face still registered confusion but once her eyes met his he watched her visibly relax. It made him happy seeing her react happily to him as she smiled softly but then noticed her surroundings her pouted lips parting slightly lost on a word she couldn't seem to speak.
"It's good to have you back with us Bella we've been very worried" Carlisle said from the other side of her bed as Bella turned to look at Carlisle.
She was still disorientated and not sure how she'd ended up her but it was slowly starting to come back around to her. She remembered she'd gone to La Push after telling Edward she wouldn't, she cringed outwardly at that thought knowing how upset Edward would be with her for doing that. Going back on her word especially when she'd constantly tried to hold him to his own.
"I... I'm not sure" Bella said in a raspy tone as Edward moved to the other side of the room taking a plastic cup and filling it full of water from a brightly coloured jug and walking back to Bella's side.
Handing her the water as she took a heavy pull and then smiling at Edward. She felt the sharp pain in her cheek as she smiled at him and then reached up to touch her face this time Carlisle stopped her, she suddenly felt the need to look at herself in the mirror. Her face felt weird and it hurt, it stung and ached it didn't feel like herself, her stomach and chest hurt the most and itchy against the hospital gown she was wearing.
"Do you remember what happened to you Bella?" Carlisle asked but Edward audibly hissed and that made Bella turn her head quickly towards Edward who was standing there glaring at Carlisle she couldn't remember a time when Edward had ever reacted in such a way especially to Carlisle.
"I was at La Push visiting my friends" Bella said slowly but watching Edward as he remained glaring across at his father, she noticed that his eyes looked different. They weren't Black or the butterscotch colour she loved so much but a strange murky muddy brown colour she didn't recognise, was he thirsty how long had she been in the hospital for.
"Jacob" Edward hissed out correcting Bella as she looked from him and then away knowing that she'd need to apologise for going off after she'd promised him she wouldn't go to the reservation. She'd sent him off with the promise of not going to La Push so he could hunt and then she'd left hoping to be back before her overprotective vampire came back to her. Bella started to remember though what had happened when Edward had hissed Jake's name in that dark tenor that both scared and thrilled her for some strange reason.
"I should probably be getting back" Bella sat on the bench as Jacob worked on the bikes, not that she believed she'd ever ride them again.
She didn't need them now, the only reason she'd ever wanted to learn had been her own insane way of seeing Edward. She hadn't been one for thinking straight than, Jessica was more than vocal about Bella's crazy phase when Edward had left. She didn't think Jessica would ever forgive her the horrible movie night in Port Angeles.
"What's such the rush? Thought we were going to hang" Jake said with a sad smile though Bella had to admit she wasn't having nearly as much fun as she usually would. She felt guilty for going back on her word and watching Jake just work on the bikes in relative silence was boring, now she just wanted to get home so she could be with Edward.
"We've hung out. Anyway Edward will be back soon and I want to spend time with him" Bella said while she knew Jake didn't like hearing about Edward she was in love with him and she wished that Jake would be more supportive of her relationship. She could see from his face that he hadn't liked her answer.
"Bloodsucker has you doing everything he wants?" Jake said snidely glaring at the wrench in his hand as he stood up throwing it down into his tool box wiping the grease onto the thighs of his pants.
"That's not true Jake. If it was up to Edward I wouldn't even be here" Bella tried to defend, she hated that it always came back to this. Hated that Jake was always the first to resort to name calling, in the last few months she'd been finding it harder and harder to keep this friendship between them. Jake was too angry all the time, even in Edward's dislike of him he never resorted to childish mudslinging like Jacob did.
"Of course you wouldn't because he knows just like I do that the more time you spend with me the more likely you are to see what's right in front of you" Bella stood then from the bench sighing in aggravation and frustration, it really was the same argument every time.
His belief that she was in love with him or had some kind of feelings that were more than just a friend, she knew her feelings she didn't need some sixteen year old shifter telling her what she felt. She was his friend, she loved him as her best friend, he'd been there for her when she'd felt completely broken, he was like a little brother.
"That's not the reason Jake because Edward knows I love him. I'm so tired of this always coming back to this argument. I don't want us to part you're my best friend Jake but Edward. Edward is the one I'm in love with. You're like a brother too me" Bella knew it hadn't been what he wanted to hear as his frame went stiff and then it trembled slightly, she'd seen this before and he usually gained control of himself given enough time.
"I know what you feel for me Bella you just won't admit it" Jake said as he moved towards her and gripped the top of her arms more roughly then she liked as she leant back trying to move away then. Jake tried to lean forward as Bella shifted her head away seeing that he was trying to kiss her.
"What the hell are you doing Jacob?" Bella said angrily shoving at his chest even if it did little to move him away as he stopped his advance on trying to forcefully kiss her he looked so angry at her.
"Let me go I'm going home. This is getting out of hand, you need to decided if you want to keep forcing this because I'm telling you Jake its friendship only. I love Edward. I want Edward. There is no one else, I'm going to be with him forever" Bella blurted out in her urgency to get him to let go so she could leave, this had been a huge mistake to come to La Push she should have just stayed home like she'd told Edward she would.
"Forever. Like one of them. A leech, a dirty parasite. A fucking cold one. I won't let you become one of them. I'd rather anything other than that. Death would be better than that" Jacob inhaled through his nose his nostrils flaring as he growled out through his teeth shoving Bella slightly away.
"Get the hell away from me" Jacob growled at her
"Jake it doesn't have to be like that. We can still be friends" Bella said then hating the torment on her friends face, wasn't this the same game they constantly played. Jacob said mean things and pushed his luck, Bella got angry defended Edward and then hurt Jacob's feelings then she'd try to fix it. She felt she owed him after all he'd done for her during her time of need.
"I said go" Jacob grabbed onto her arms tightly enough that Bella knew he'd bruise her and though he told her to go and she would have run from the way he'd grabbed her. But he held onto her. Jake didn't release her as his body trembled and then he barely shoved her back before the ripping sound of his clothes as he began to twist and explode out of his own skin becoming the wolf. In the small garage Bella could only look on wide eyed with nowhere to go as she watched almost in slow motion as Jacob's claws slashed down her face and body and Bella screamed in absolute pain. She'd never felt so much pain as she hit the ground and found herself gasping for breath, she whimpered and called out to Jake to get help knowing she was in serious trouble all she heard was the ferocious sound of a roar.
A roar that wasn't a wolf in the distance before her vision faded.
Bella sat there in shocked silence then, her eyes turning to her lap as she realised and remembered what had happened to her, she'd been confused at first but now. She struggled with what she knew had happened and felt so terrible, she'd gone to La Push even though Edward had constantly tried to warn her, he'd told her how little control any of the pack had. She'd seen a constant reminder in Emily, hadn't she? Her scarred face from Sam losing control and hurting her and yet she'd naively believed that she wasn't going to get hurt, she'd never thought Jake could hurt her. Jacob he'd lost control, his constant anger at her lack of feelings for him and her choice in Edward had driven him over the edge of his own restraint. She knew that Jacob must feel terribly guilty for what had happened to her. They were both at fault, she should have left instead of getting into a stupid fight over nothing and now she was scared, she knew what stitching felt like and she realised that was what she could feel on her face and catching against the hospital gown.
Bella with watering eyes looked up to Edward his face fixed in that still emotionless state as he looked straight ahead not even looking at her. She probably disgusted him now, was she like Emily or worse she didn't believe Emily had the scaring on her body but Bella knew she would. She remembered the pain of the claws slashing down her body she'd felt the blood all around her as she'd been left on the ground bleeding out. Jacob must have gained enough control to shift back and get her to the hospital she wasn't surprised that he wasn't around; he wouldn't want to be around the Cullen's especially Edward. She need to speak to him, he'd feel awful and while she didn't think she'd be able to be around him any longer after this she didn't want him to feel guilty for not being able to control himself. She'd been warned, she should have listened. She felt so terrible though as Edward stood before her so beautiful even in his clear anger and upset. Because that emotionless expression she'd seen it before when he erected those walls around himself to place the control that he always held onto. He was always so controlled. His iron clad will was awe inspiring to her she wondered if it was from him being a vampire or just Edward the person she knew him to be.
"I'm sorry" Bella said through the tears that slipped down her cheeks as she looked at Edward wishing for him to just turn and acknowledge her but he was frozen in his position.
"I'm so sorry I should have listened" Bella rasped as Carlisle tenderly placed a hand on Bella's hand on her lap trying to sooth her as she turned to Carlisle as he sat on the edge of her bed to gain her attention.
"You suffered some very serve wounds Bella. I gave you a blood transfusion and some pain medication to deal with the pain. I've lessened that though since we brought you in. I know this is a lot to take in after waking up. Your wounds will heal with the right care and time but you will have some rather extensive scarring over your face and body, this can be fixed with reconstructive surgery. We'll talk more about the options you have once your parents are here. Charlie had to go into the station and Emmet and Rose are collecting Renee from the airport right now" Carlisle explained to Bella and she couldn't help the gut wrenching fear of what she might look like. She'd never been vain or believed she was anything other than average looking but the idea of her scarred and ugly next to Edward who she'd always struggled understanding finding her attractive with his ethereal beauty made her insecurities only worsen.
"She won't need the surgery" Edward said in a tone that Bella wasn't sure she'd ever heard before.
"Once I change her, the scars will fade away. No point putting her under the knife if it won't be an issue once she's one of us" Edward said surprising and shocking Bella. He'd always been so against her becoming a vampire and here he was outright and without hesitation saying he'd change her. It made her smile even in spite of her tears, he still wanted her even though she'd been an idiot and gone against her word and ended up hurt.
"It's something to think about. Your parents will be here soon enough I'm sure and they'll expect to know if there is anything that can be done for you" Carlisle said gently as Bella nodded, he could see the tension there still feel it as Edward still hadn't looked at either of them still standing stock still emotionlessly. He hoped Jasper had remained close by to keep a handle on Edward's emotions, Bella was fragile still and Edward was clearly upset.
"How did I get here? Did Jake bring me to the hospital?" Bella asked confused now, she'd been in La Push so she knew that none of the Cullen's would have been able to come to her but the second she asked the question she heard the scoffed response of Edward his eyes had finally turned to her and they looked so angry that they made her cringe back.
He didn't say anything though simply looking down at her like she'd said something that he disliked and she couldn't understand. Though she assumed that any of mention of her friend, would not be welcome around Edward after he'd accidently shifted and hurt her. She'd need to explain that it wasn't Jake's fault completely, though she doubted Edward would ever see it anyway other than that.
"Edward perhaps I should stay" Carlisle said in a tone that conveyed his concern with leaving them alone together but Edward gave one firm shake of his head.
"What's wrong?" Bella asked now seeing the worry on Carlisle's face and the pure anger on Edward's, she wasn't sure what she'd preferred the emotionless response or this anger that was radiating from him.
"Will someone please explain what's wrong?" Bella said she knew that Edward often reacted badly to her being in harm's way hadn't the events after her birthday showed that Edward abhorred her being in danger.
"I'd like to speak with Bella alone Carlisle" Edward said evenly then, dismissing his father as Edward took a seat beside Bella as he watched her face intently.
He was so happy she was awake but her constant mentioning of the dog. Her lack of anger at what he'd done to her, she was apologising to him and he knew why but it only seemed to twist in his gut making him angrier. Carlisle didn't want to leave but with a firm nod towards the door Carlisle knew that he had to give them time together, they had so much to talk about. It made him concerned for them both, scenarios running through Carlisle's mind of the possible results of this talk as he closed the door behind him leaving Bella and Edward alone.
There silence was like a visible thickness that surrounded them, Bella still upset and worried that she'd perhaps pushed Edward too far by going against what she'd agreed. She'd broken her word when she knew how important it was to Edward. He'd left to hunt, trusting her to stay safe. Now she was sitting in a hospital bed scarred by her friend, someone Edward already distrusted so greatly because of what he was. She knew she'd disappointed him and that hurt just as much, failing in Edward's eyes would break her heart. To not be what he believed her to be. They both held these unrealistic images of each other. Even as Bella wiped her cheek not touching the stitched one, the fear now to feel what was there preventing her as she tried not to blush under Edward's strange eyes watching every inch of her face.
"Is it that bad?" She whispered to Edward as he shook his head, almost heartbroken by her words. Edward reached forward then finally making contact with her for the first time since she'd awoken pressing his palm against her cheek as Bella leant into the coolness of his touch.
"You are beautiful Bella. You will always be beautiful to me. These scars change nothing about how I feel. Even if it twists in my soul that you've been marked in such a way. Finding you lying in your own blood, dying..." Edward closed his eyes against the memory as Bella took his hand on her face moving it to her lips pressing her kiss into his palm as she watched him visibly struggle with the thoughts he had in his own head.
Edward had been the one to find her, which made no sense because she'd been in La Push. She'd assumed Jacob had brought her to the hospital once he'd gained control of himself. Had the two, Jacob and Edward somehow found a way to look past the animosity and hate to both get her the help she needed, she hoped. It was all she longed for really other than being with Edward forever as his equal that her best friend and the man she loved could finally look past what they are and just accept each other.
"I'm so sorry I snuck out. I knew as soon as I arrived at the reservation it was wrong. I'm always telling you about honesty and then I went and lied to you. Jacob must feel so horrible..." Bella stopped abruptly in what she was saying as the room was filled with a deep and low growl that vibrated down her own spine and made the hairs stand on end, her eyes wide looking at Edward as he glared towards her.
"Who gives a fuck about how that dog feels" Edward snarled out shocking Bella at not only his tone but the viciousness behind it she'd never in her entire time with Edward ever seen him cuss. He'd always been the perfect gentleman and in her mind she'd always just assumed that type of language was beneath him. She understood he was upset even angry, she'd feel those exact same things if the situation could be reversed but she couldn't blame Jacob completely. She'd known the danger.
"I know you must be so angry. At him and me, it was an accident though Edward. Jake would never want to hurt me. He'd have never wanted this to happen, I'm sure if he'd thought he could have hurt me he'd have not wanted me on La Push visiting him" Edward snorted at her and Bella found herself getting angry about that, his attitude and complete disregard of what she was saying. She was used to him being more understanding more willing to listen to what she said.
"He must have cared enough to let you on the reservation to help get me care so I didn't die" Bella tried to calm Edward make him see that Jake hadn't meant to do this, her hands still clinging to Edward's own large rigged hand in her possession not wanting to break contact with him.
"Bella he never let me on La Push land. I didn't wait for permission. I heard in his mind the second he shifted. I watched in his mind as he ripped up your skin, I watched him angrily lash out against you. Do you really believe I would have simply stood and waited? Watched as my mate died" Edward said gravely as he looked at Bella his expression furious, Bella felt hollow that Edward had witnessed the attack this was much worse then she'd believed.
He'd never be able to forget that, seeing her harmed because of Jake, she had tried so hard to get them to work together all hope of that seemed futile now Edward would never forgive this.
"It was an accident Edward. Like my birthday" Bella said but she knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as it left her mouth, the subject of the events of her birthday and what had resulted after it was still very painful for the both of them.
"No this isn't like your birthday Bella. Things are exceptionally more complicated now. Did you truly believe they'd let me on their land, that they'd be so forgiving of a blatant break in the treaty?" Edward asked her now wanting to understand her mind, was she truly blind to the hostility between the pack and his family.
She'd been observant enough to see what he was but somehow blind to what was happening between two natural enemies under her nose. Blind to the child pursuing her or had she just ignored it. Edward wasn't completely sure which was worse.
"You were trying to save me" Bella said weakly worried about Edward now knowing all too well how serious the pack and council were about the rules of the treaty being held.
Even if she knew herself that they didn't follow it completely, hadn't Jake broken those rules when she'd first met him on first beach, then when they continued to come into Forks even though it was Cullen territory?
"Yes. I was trying to save you. I came to you instantly. I moved past both Paul and Embry to get to you. Then that's where I found you Bella, laying in the doorway of that garage. Your blood splattered against the back wall, it coating every inch of you. That dog standing there between you and I" Edward inhaled through his nostrils, he'd have to tell her and he knew now more so then ever that this would not go well. She'd been so confident of it being an accident and while it had been, Jake hadn't cared once he'd set sights on killing Edward. Bella would have simply been a very sad casualty.
"There you were dying. Your heart barely a flutter as you bled out. He stood there, your friend Jacob Black he stood there in wolf form. And do you want to know how terrible he felt Bella? Would you like to know what he thought as my world was slowly dying at his feet?" Edward asked a little harsher then he'd ever intended telling her but his own anger was getting the best of him as Bella looked at Edward tormented and angry in silence even though she continued crying silently her stomach twisted in knots of worry.
"He didn't think of you at all" Edward hissed.
"Instead of wanting to help me get you help. All he thought about was killing me, I'd finally broken the treaty and he had reason to attack me. So instead of thinking of you dying because of him he planned to kill me Bella. With time so important to whether or not you'd live he decided to stop me and try and end your only chance of living. I did what had to be done. I did what any mate would do to protect their reason for existing. I saw you dying and him lunging at me to bring about my death and I ended him. I snapped his neck and left him dead at my feet" Edward had said cruelly and ignored the gasped breath that left Bella at what he'd said.
Her gentle vampire who resisted the pull of human blood to not be a monster, who denied his very nature to be good. The man she loved even though he carried so much guilt and hate for everything he'd become and done, the man she'd loved had killed her friend. Bella pulled her hand away from Edward's own hand as if the touch had burned her as she shoved it away from her, her hands moving to cover her face as she sobbed into her hands.
"It was an accident" Bella sobbed into her hands trying to understand how this could have happened. She'd gone to La Push and broken her word and now her best friend was dead, she'd made the man she loved a killer because he'd had to defend himself against Jake when she'd already made him so angry. She'd never believed Edward capable of doing such a thing.
"It wasn't an accident Bella. An accident is something you learn from and don't repeat. Your little friend Jacob. You aren't the first he's done this too. You are just lucky enough to have survived it" Edward spat standing and moving himself away from her then, his anger getting the best of him and usually tormented by her tears when she cried for the boy who had hurt her it made him feel completely irrational.
"Jacob wouldn't hurt anyone" Bella had moved her hands away from her face swiping at tears frantically, she was upset with herself and angry so very angry that Edward had killed Jacob. That he'd done that to her and also that he'd done it to himself, he was so burdened by his self loathing she feared what this would do to him too.
"Wouldn't hurt anyone love?" Edward said sarcastically turning then as he stood across the room and ripping the circular mirror from the wall, causing gauges in the brick wall as the nails were forcefully removed and he stood in front of her showing her the reflection of her own face.
"He hurt you. He marked you. This boy you trusted who you believe is so innocent he hurt you Bella and then he refused to stand aside to let me help you. What would you have rather I'd done. Let him kill me? Is that what you wanted for me to die so he could live?" Edward snarled out and then Jasper moved into the doorway the wave of calm bombarding Edward then and even Bella the tension and anger becoming too thick. Jasper didn't want either of them drawing attention to themselves from the nurses.
"Of course I'd never want you hurt" Bella cried so confused with what she was feeling and yet she couldn't feel what she wanted with Edward around her. He stood there so angry even himself, she'd hurt him she could see that even behind his rage that her own actions and feelings had hurt the man she was in love with. She felt so much guilt though, her choice to break her word had opened Pandora's Box and now her best friend was dead and she wasn't sure if she'd broken her unbreakable vampire in the process.
"No just rather your Jake didn't have to die. Must be hard not to have a second option to run away too when you don't get what you want" Edward retorted back as Jasper moved to him then gripping his arm tightly telling his brother to calm down or he'd remove him. Jasper knew this was also Edward's own insecurities playing part in his anger, he'd known better than most how twisted and tormented he'd been tying himself up over the entire Bella and Jacob relationship. She'd refused and denied having feelings for him and yet constantly tried to spend time with him, even when Edward had asked her not too.
"That isn't...Edward he was my friend. He was there for me" Bella shook her head wildly not understanding why Edward was being so cruel with her, didn't he understand that she'd just lost her best friend. She'd had as much a hand in Jake's death as Edward himself.
"He was never your friend" Edward snarled as Jasper stood there still keeping his brother tethered to his position.
"He never saw you as a friend he only desired what he couldn't have. He was there for you because he hoped you'd come around to his advances. There was no friendship from him, he wanted you. He'd manipulate and lie in any way he needed to make sure he could keep trying to make you be his. A friend is happy when their friend is happy Isabella, Jake only became more hostile the happier you were with me" And it had the effect he'd wanted when he'd finally stopped because for months Bella had ignored his trying to tell her what he'd seen in Jake's mind and now with so much out in the open he could see even from her face she didn't doubt it. Hadn't the conversation before Jake had lashed out all but proven any mention of Edward and her being happy only made Jake angrier the fact he'd tried to force a kiss on her before everything had gone wrong.
"Please I just need... I need time" Bella cried harder then turning her head away from looking at Edward and Jasper, she didn't see the agonized look that had filtered over Edward's features and the slight wince from Jasper as he'd felt his brother's own pain.
"You're sending me away" the fight now seemed to have all but been knocked from Edward, Bella with her need for time had been vastly more effective then Jasper's influence on ridding of Edward's anger.
"I just" Bella wouldn't look at him she didn't want him to go away but she couldn't deal with this with him close, she'd done this to them all though hadn't she. Refused to acknowledge Jake's motives, refused to believe Edward's words for truth and instead his overprotective nature, she'd wanted to be Switzerland but had eventually been the cause for them to fight.
"I need time. I'm not sending you away" Bella had turned to look then but Edward was already on his way out of the door his hand braced on the doorframe as he stopped when she'd started to talk again.
"I love you Bella" Edward said before he vanished from his position in the doorway and then Bella broke down in rough sobs, her body wracking under the assault of her tears as she hiccupped and jerked causing her actual pain. Before Bella could understand what was happening she felt the cool embrace of slim hard arms around her shoulders rubbing her back comfortingly, she'd for a moment thought Edward had returned but found Jasper there soothing her in a way she'd never expected of him.
"Everything's going to be alright sweetheart. You just cry it'll make you feel better" Jasper tried his best to sooth her, while he'd wanted to follow behind Edward he knew right now Edward needed to be alone. Alice may have even followed he knew the two had a very close friendship not even with his ability would he be able to comfort Edward the way his Alice could.
"The pack wants Edward dead don't they?" Bella said in a shaking breath trying to get her words out as Jasper continued rubbing her back. She knew that Jasper wasn't one to shield her from the truth when she asked a question. He'd been more then honest about his life before he'd been one of the Cullen's, about his creator and the newborn army he'd been part of fighting in the south over land and blood.
"I don't want to lie to you Bella. Things have gone bad. Edward wasn't only attacked by Jake when he crossed into the reservation. He had to kill Paul too, he crippled Embry before he could safely get you to Carlisle" Bella hiccupped around her tears as she listened to Jasper. She knew that things were never going to be able to return to the way they had been before.
"The pack are angry. They wanted Carlisle to give Edward to them but he wouldn't. We called in the Denali coven to come help us should a fight begin. They were attacked by the pack. They lost a member of their family and were very badly injured. We almost lost them all. Both sides have lost people now, Edward has done what he's needed too so he could protect you and our family. I don't want you angry with him even though I know you'll feel it because they were your friends. Emmet and I had to stop one of the wolves. Eleazer did too. Edward took... he needed to make them retreat so he took care of Leah" Bella whimpered at the name, Sue's daughter, Charlie's budding romance and the love of her life would be the reason for people she cared about pain.
"Things are real bad Bella. We're at war now. Both Billy and Sam have made threats against not just Edward but your life too because what you mean to him. I don't want to be harsh but... it's time for you to finally accept that your one of us now. We can't have you sitting on the fence. Not when they want to kill our family" Jasper said tilting Bella's chin up to look him in the eyes as she cried. He hoped by addressing this with her now it would save her being shocked at the news should Edward have to talk to her about it. Edward would doubt himself the more Bella reacted badly to him, the family couldn't risk having people not standing as a whole untied and together and that meant Bella too.
"I wish I was strong. Wish I could pretend it didn't hurt. I'm so confused. I'm angry at so many different people myself included. I didn't mean to upset Edward" Bella said shaking her head as Jasper leant back slightly releasing her from his hold as she lay back into her hospital bed.
"You'll get through this. We're going to have to face some dark times. So if you need space take it to work it out in your own head. Just try and go easy on him. He can't be made to feel guilty for doing what you yourself would have done if the roles were reversed" Bella nodded as she wiped her cheek she knew Jasper was right even if her mind didn't want to completely understand it yet.
"We're vampire's Bella. You've seen what Victoria is doing to avenge her mate. Not a single one of us are different when it comes to our mates even us animal drinkers. One day you'll understand it a little more intimately once Edward makes you one of us" Bella grew silent then because honestly for the first time she wasn't completely sure if she was ready or mature enough to be changed. She wasn't sure if their love would even survive this after everything that had happened and would continue to happen. She loved him, so much even now when she knew he'd killed so many of her friends.
She loved him still knowing he'd kill more.
