Thirty-Two

Edward had been silent for some time now. His own thoughts a light background noise, steadily listening to the thoughts of those around him.

Alec was no fighter, this was clear. He had been showing Jasper some of the maneuvers that Aro and the rest of the Volturi have used against other covens for centuries. He and Emmett reenacting the scenarios that Alec spoke about. Distantly, he wanted to see Alec use his powers, and at that point he was on the verge of asking for a display. He had only encountered the discipline once, just a few short years ago when the Volturi sought to destroy them over the crime of Renesmee's birth.

Offhandedly, he could hear Rosalie's thoughts, a quiet rhythm of angry words, broken pictures of her human life bleeding into the hypersensitive joy at the memory of her own reflection. Esme and Carlisle were inside, both occupied with their own thoughts. Esme was making a grocery list of food for Renesmee and Carlisle was busy with studying the results of the newest round of tests he had done on Ness. Through Carlisle's mind he could see the image of his daughter drinking from a plastic bag of human blood, absconded, by Carlisle from the Fork's hospital. Edward could see, through Carlisle's memories, the way his daughter's pupils dilated at the sight of the blood, and how she had been breathless with sated hunger once she had drunk the full contents.

Alice was somewhere in the house. He could pinpoint the usual hum of her thoughts, like a drumbeat, steady until a momentary flash of a vision cracks the sound open and it changes, a quick violent shiver that replaced everything calm with chaos.

The vision came, straight from Alice's mind into his, a feeling of electric ice hitting his veins—Bella, running out of Charlie Swan's front door, arms wide, holding Renesmee back as she cried. Edward could see the tears streaming down his daughter's face, but her words… The image was just a flash, a momentary spark of pain, he could see the words being formed behind Bella on Renesmee's lips, but he couldn't hear them.

"Alice?" Edward yelled.

Jasper, who had taken up a fighting stance with Emmett, while Alec looked on, froze, mid-swing, and turned to Edward. Jasper gave him a cursory glance before his eyes darted back to the house. In a blur, Jasper made it to the steps leading up to the back part of the porch, but he was stalled when Alice leapt out of the opened sliding glass doors.

Jasper, Edward could see, did not need words to determine that his wife was in distress. He heard Jasper ask, "What did you see?" As he took the stairs up to her four a time, another quick blur and he had his arms around her.

Alice turned to Edward. "It must have been the wolves," she articulated. Her eyes were darting back and forth between Edward and Jasper. "I couldn't see what—" she meant the danger, Edward knew, he was following her thoughts as soon as she spoke them. "I could only see Bella and Renesmee."

"Are they still there, Alice?"

"Yes," she added, breathlessly. "I don't think it's happened yet. If you go now, you can make it."

Edward didn't take time to think about it. He was the fastest runner in the family, even if the others followed him they would be leagues behind him. Alice could see his next move before Edward turned to run toward town. Edward saw it as he ran. Both hearing and seeing Alice telling Jasper to stay behind. From the vision, it was only Edward who needed to go.

His vampiric speed helped him clear the distance quickly, taking the quicker way through town where to the locals of Forks, he would have appeared as a dark blur, maybe a branch swaying in the autumn breeze, or an animal, startled from the woods. On main street he navigated a double lane of cars, stalled at a traffic light. The weather had been overcast most of the day, but as he ran, he felt patches of sun peak through the clouds, feeling the hot slash of sunlight strike his skin, forming the diamond affect that was so curious and strange to human eyes. He could not stop to wonder if he had been seen.

When he was close enough, he started saying, "Bella, I'm coming." He was still miles away, but he knew that his wife's hearing, as keen as his own, could hear his words, even from this far off.

When Edward got to the Swan house, he was surprised to find the front yard empty, with the door closed leading into the house. Jacob's bike was outside, thrown against the sidewalk curb, and lying on its side as though it had been thrown there.

The front door creaked open, "Edward," Bella said. She was in the doorway when she spoke but by the time, he had looked up to find her she was in his arms. Discarding all need for discretion even in such a public place.

"Alice," he tried to explain, "she saw…" He was gripping her so tightly, as tightly has he had longed to do when she was still a fragile human girl. From inside the house, he could hear Renesmee sobbing. "What happened here?" His voice deepened, and he scanned the surrounding area, eyes wide, looking for any sign of danger.

"It was a misunderstanding," Bella tried to explain. "It's Jacob, he was upset."

"Dad?" Renesmee was standing in the doorway, her nose red from crying. "Dad?" She asked again.

Edward held one arm out to her, keeping the other securely around his wife's lithe frame.

"Dad, I need to talk to him," Renesmee said. "They went into the woods. I have to explain."

Bella's voice had an edge to it. "You do not need to explain. You did nothing wrong. There was no reason for Jacob to act that way."

"Someone tell me what happened?" Edward asked.

Renesmee stayed silent. Her eyes trained on the tree line, looking for Jacob.

Bella turned to Edward. "Jacob was texting her. She forgot her phone in the bathroom. He came over here, and it was…" Bella waved her arm, frowning. Indicating that the scene was horrible. "He was about to change. He and Leah are in the woods now."

"Did he hurt anybody?"

Bella shook her head, no.

"Did Charlie see…?"

"He knows something's up," Bella explained. "Like he always knows something's up around here, but he's not going to say anything. Sue is inside too, and Emily."

"Emily and Leah?" Edward asked. "In the same room?" He had been around enough minds in the pack and elsewhere to know what a complicated scenario that would be. Again, the image of Leah with Mike Newton flashed into his mind, and he regretted again, not saying something to Bella about it.

"Go back inside," Edward said. Stroking his wife's arm. "I need to talk to him."

"But, dad?"

"Go back inside," he chided. "If he's changed, then I don't want him anywhere near you." Just the thought of his daughter, helpless with a snarling wolf on an imprint rage made ire rise. What happened between Sam and Emily was an open secret. Her scars told the story of a what an angry wolf could do to someone they loved.

Renesmee's crying had turned into sobbing, "But, dad!"

"I mean it." Edward had never been one to yell, but he become frustrated very easily.

Bella grabbed her daughter's shoulder, gesturing her inside. She looked back at Edward before retreating inside.

"It's fine," he told Bella. "I'll talk to him and then we can leave."

"Are you going to tell him…?" Edward couldn't read Bella's thoughts, unless she wanted him to. She dropped her shield, circling his index finger with her whole hand. He saw the conversation they had had the night before, alone in the cottage, while Renesmee slept.

"Yes," he confirmed, remembering it all. Seeing it again through her eyes. "I think I have to."

Bella closed the door. Edward heard the lock click into place. Even after four years as a vampire, sometimes Bella still thought like a human. If someone or something truly wanted into that house, no lock would stop them.

Scanning the perimeter, Edward made his way around the house. He noticed as he turned the corner that one of Charlie's neighbors was passing by, walking a tiny dog on a weathered leash. "Afternoon, Mr. Parker," Edward greeted, giving the man a neighborly wave.

Parker nodded, but also looked skeptical. "Afternoon."

"Just taking a break from the big game," Edward confided. "Seth is playing for UDUB."

Parker nodded again, more at ease. "That's right, I remember Charlie telling me. Have a good day now."

"I will."

"Say hello to that darling little girl of yours."

"I will, thank you."

It started to rain again as he crossed the path into the woods. Immediately he could hear Leah's voice.

"I can't believe you did that. It's so irresponsible. What gives you the right to treat her like that, Jacob?"

Her arguments were meant with silence from him.

"Jacob," she went on. "She's just a little girl."

"Leah?" Edward said, getting closer. He didn't want his sudden appearance to startle her.

Edward watched her turn, glare at him, then focus her attention back on Jacob. From what he could see Jacob had changed into a wolf, but was now back in his human form. He was shielding himself behind a bush while Leah angrily tossed his clothes back at him.

"I was afraid," Jacob was explaining. "I couldn't control it. The imprinting is too powerful. You don't understand that because you've never imprinted on anyone."

"Don't you dare you that as an excuse, Jacob."

"Leah's right, Jacob. You were way out of line, here."

Leah turned her ferocity on Edward. "Stay out of this." She turned back to Jacob. "For whatever reason, that little girl in there loves you," she continued, pointing her index finger at him. The candor of her words made Edward cringe. "And you hurt her so bad by showing up like this. It was a text message, Jacob. She doesn't have to be at your beck and call twenty-four-seven. She should have a life outside of you."

The rain was falling in sheets. Leah was nearly soaked through with rain water running down her face.

"She always texts me back, Leah."

"She was fucking busy, Jacob. And now you've caused a huge scene. Freaked out all of Chief Swan's neighbors with your peeling tires and wolf escapades. You were half turned in the front yard, Jacob. Anyone, hell, everyone could have seen."

Jacob's head fell into his hands. He was barefoot, with only his jeans back on. "You don't understand how terrifying it is to not know where she is. To not know if she's okay."

"There's a difference between love and control, Jacob. You're sliding from the love you claim to feel for her and the control you need to have her always be in contact with you. That's not the way love works."

"What the hell would you know about love?" Jacob accused. "Last time I heard you were sleeping around with all the townies you could find. Fucking Mike Newton among them."

Edward took a step back, startled by Jacob's tone, and the brutality of his admission.

Leah stepped forward and slapped him across the face. The sound of her palm coming into contact with his face was as loud as a thunder clap. Jacob looked startled at first, but it quickly turned to rage again.

"How dare you, I'm your—"

"Alpha?" she snarled back, interrupting him. "You broke the alpha bond. You disbanded the pack years ago. You chose to be a lone wolf. Don't bring pack politics up with me, now."

"As though you would have stayed, even if I asked."

"Seth would have."

"Seth is a kid."

"Seth looked up to you like an older brother. Seth wanted nothing more than to be like his cool alpha Jacob Black. You broke his heart when you disbanded the pack."

"There wasn't a need," Jacob argued. "The Volturi were gone. Sam would have taken you guys back. I didn't want any part of that role."

"No, you just wanted to spend all your time with Renesmee. Bid your time until you could have your way with her."

"Don't lecture me on relationship's, Leah. Mike Newton is a serial buffoon."

Edward spoke up, "That's enough. Both of you."

Leah looked taken aback, forgetting, for a few seconds that he had been standing there this whole time.

"I don't know what' going on with your pack politics, Jacob, but Leah is correct. You should not have come here like this. You endangered my family. My daughter, especially. Forks is too small a town for so many supernatural creatures. We're all tripping over each other. I realize that now."

He could hear Jacob's thoughts running wild. Questioning and calculating what Edward planned on saying next.

"My family—the rest of the Cullen's, my father, my siblings—we've stayed on longer than we ever thought we would. People have been questioning Carlisle's looks for years now, and he's just been letting it slide under the rug. Alec is also going to become a part of this family."

"Wait a minute, Edward," Jacob objected. "Alec is not who you think he is."

"He's a vampire with a checkered past. He once belonged to the most lethal army of vampires that the world has ever known. Alice has seen that he wants to change. I believe that he wants to change. He saved Renesmee's life."

"There's something about him that I don't like."

Leah countered, arms crossing. "There's something about everyone that you don't like."

Jacob knew where Edward was going with all of this. "You can't leave, Edward. You can't take Renesmee away from me."

"She's not someone for you to own or possess. We can leave, Jacob. I'm her father. Bella is her mother. We can choose to take our child away from a toxic situation."

"The only thing toxic here is that Volturi bloodsucker fooling all of you. He's up to something. Aro has some kind of agenda here. He's doing something that's causing Alice to not see it."

"Jacob," Edward explained. "I know that you love my daughter. I've known it for years, and I have struggled with it just as long. But I've made my peace with it. Right now, though, I need to do what's best for my family, and that means that we need to distance ourselves from you now."

"You can't mean that."

"Leah," Edward asked, turning to her. "Is it true that two new Quileute teens have transitioned into werewolves since Alec first came here a few days ago?"

Leah was skeptical. "How did you know that?"

"It's true, though. Isn't it?"

"Yes, that's what I heard."

"There's too many vampires here. It's creating a strain. A power shift that Carlisle and I aren't comfortable with."

"You mean because the wolves will outnumber you?" Jacob spat.

Edward frowned. "Amongst other things."

"Look," Jacob spat. "You can't just take Ness away."

Edward shook his head, resolved. "I can. And I will. You can come and visit whenever you'd like."

"Oh, yeah? And where will you be going, Timbuctoo?"

"Actually, our plan was to try Canada. Just across the border into British Columbia. Carlisle has a Canadian degree in Medicine. We all have passports and the appropriate citizenship documentation. By car, she would only be a few hours away."

"It's not the same thing," Jacob spat. "And you know it."

"I know that I need to protect my family," Edward explained.

Leah spoke up. "When are you leaving?"

"Soon," Edward told her honestly. "Carlisle's already started making inquirers into a replacement at the hospital. He won't leave the community without proper care."

"And Renesmee?" Jacob continued. "Do you have everything set up for her to go back to school?"

"She'll be homeschooled for a while. Esme has a teaching degree; she doesn't mind helping out."

Jacob's shoulders fell. "That's not what Ness wants. She loves being in school. She wants to be around other people her age."

"We'll all have to make sacrifices, going forward. My family will likely separate for a while. Rosalie and Emmett will go back east…"

"This goes beyond sacrifices," Jacob insisted. "You're putting her in danger. You're making the whole family vulnerable to Aro's attack."

Edward backed away, resolved. "I'm sorry that you see it that way, Jacob."

"You can't possibly be this stupid," Jacob spat.

"I think it's a good idea," Leah countered. "I have no quarrel with you, but your presence brings hostility and danger to the area. It might be best if you step away for a while."

"Listen to yourselves," Jacob argued, his voice rising in pitch.

Edward took another step away. "I understand your anger, Jacob. But I can't have you around my daughter right now. I'm going to take my family home. You are more than welcome to come by the compound later, after you've calmed down."

Jacob was silent, shaking slightly, with rainwater dripping down his skin in slow rivulets.

Edward could tell that he was gutted by the news, but Edward could not back down now. He considered Jacob was an ally now, and even sometimes, a friend, but he had to protect his daughter.

"I'll walk back with you," Leah offered.

Edward and Leah went back to the house slowly. Trying not to cause any more of a scene then their presence already did.

Jacob stayed in the trees, obscured and hidden.

"Did anyone see the two of your before?" Edward asked when they got to the back door of the Swan house. "Could anyone have seen Jacob shift?"

Leah answered quickly. "There was a car that drove by. A light blue jeep. The windows were tinted. I'm not sure what they saw."

"Alright," Edward nodded. "I see if I can track the car down. See who it was."