CHAPTER TEN

ROSALIE

Last night, Bella called me a leech.

I drove her to La Push after she could stay away no longer. Charlie and Billy fought there, of course, after that nasty big reveal. Bella lost her temper when I tried to calm her down, tried to be responsible in the chaos. And, she called me a leech, told me not to speak to her again.

If that was what she wanted, that was what she would receive.

I was Rosalie Hale and people were never permitted to take me for granted, even the person I loved so deeply.

And yet, although I refused to let myself contact my mate, I sat in the Cullen Manor porch at sunrise with my phone on my lap, waiting for Bella to call or text me.

My phone remained utterly silent, even as the pink tendrils of dawn rose over the treeline.

"Rose," chirped Alice, opening the creaking front door. I jumped, but she did not mention it. "Are you ready to talk about what's upsetting you?"

"No," I curtly replied, frowning. I shoved my phone into my pocket to stop it taunting me.

"Please. I'm your sister. Come on," Alice pleaded, sitting down on the deck, her legs crossed in a comfortable and easy pose. "I can't even handle my life when you're not feeling good."

"Fine. Bella called me a leech and I think she broke up with me. I didn't know the wolves were even capable of doing that to an imprint. I am still perpetually haunted by what Amunet said about me and my-my-my special, special destiny." I knew that had to escape me sooner or later. Maybe Bella was angry because she could sense that I care so much about that destiny, that elusive question, the thoughts of Amunet that haunt me day and night.

Alice offered weakly, "Uhm, with all that on your chest, are you okay?"

With a loud sigh, I huffed, "I'm pretty fucking far from okay, Allie."

"Yeah. I asked a stupid question," said Alice slowly, averting her eyes. "I don't know what to do about Bella."

"Oh."

"Yet!" Alice frantically added, and I almost smiled. "I don't know what to do about Bella yet. I'm a love guru and I'll totally have that title revoked if I can't help you two."

"Sure." I didn't believe her. I couldn't believe her. My heart was broken, and I was livid.

"And, to be honest, I'm pretty shaken up about Amunet too. At night I can't be around people or really shopping except online and I just sometimes sit there trying so hard to remember. I used to try hard to remember, but I stopped once I found Jasper. Now I'm trying again, because maybe I really am connected to her somehow and I don't know it."

"Yeah. Having a destiny according to her is pretty on my mind." And drinking human blood. And drinking human blood. And drinking human blood.

"I can't stop thinking about how she knows me. How does she know me? I don't remember… there's so much I don't remember…" Alice frowned. It was such a strange expression on her lovely birdlike face that I was taken aback.

Suddenly, a calming but stern voice stated, "She may have powers beyond our imagining, but she also is a liar who will say what she needs to get what she wants."

Carlisle was home. I wondered how much he overheard but I could not bring myself to ask.

"What chance is there that she was telling the truth? What chance is there that she really saw my future or that she knows Alice in the past."

"I will be honest. I do not know Alice's past, but I doubt they crossed paths. Alice, you saw a tombstone for yourself. Amunet had been buried for a very long time. Rosalie, she can… see the future. She can see patterns and what will happen if one person rolls a marble and it somehow eventually becomes a world war."

I inquired, "The future? Like Alice?"

"It isn't the same as Alice," said Carlisle with a sharp shake of his head. "Patterns are never as precise as visions, but they are more reliable. They never change and never fail."

I remarked, "That's a lot of nevers."

"I have one more for you." Carlisle stepped into the light and his skin sparkled like diamonds. "I'll never let Amunet hurt you. You're my daughters and I'll do anything to keep you safe."

Alice leapt up gracefully and embraced the Cullen Patriarch. I could not help but be less than impressed and I was not sure why. Did Bella ruin me somehow?

Yes, yes she did.

She still did not text me.

And I utterly refused to be the one to text first.

[X]

After a long day of sulking about Bella, I started helping Emmett on his latest project. He always had something going on. At the moment, that something was bigger than usual and at the edge of the property near the woods.

"What are you working on?" I asked as I strode down the hill.

He stood shirtless for no reason, holding a hammer with a nail between his teeth. He spat it into his hand and turned to look up at me.

"A guest house," said Emmett, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Why do we need a guest house?" I asked with a small laugh.

"It'll add property value." Emmett winked.

I laughed again. He glanced at me with a twinkle in his eye and helped me over a mud puddle so that I could get a closer look at the half-finished structure. The bare wooden planks glowed bright amber in the orange evening light of the golden hour.

"What even happened between you and Van Bellsing?" asked Emmett, kicking open the toolbox.

"What makes you think something happened between me and Bella?" I demanded, tensing up my shoulders.

"Because you're acting like somebody who got their heart broken, and now you'r'e triyng to distract yourself by helping me build a guest house."

"Fine," I snapped. "She called me a leech and freaked out and she's been ignoring me. She usually texts me ad nauseum and it's been radio silence since last night."

"Have you texted her?" he casually asked, shooting a swift glance in my direction.

"No, of course not." I frowned, lips pursed and jutting out in a partial pout.

"Ah." He chuckled with a wise glint in his eye, as if he knew something I did not.

"Don't ah me, Emmett Cullen!" I exclaimed, before realizing my anger and deciding to explain myself in a calm tone. "She needs space. She's going thorugh a lot." I picked up the nail gun and started working on the front door frame.

"You need space, not her."

"What?"

"You're scared. This is an excuse for you to run from her because you never love anybody as much as they love you."

I demanded hoarsely, "Are you a psychiatrist now?"

"No. I'm just a dude who makes observations. You don't want to be with her and so you're using her little hissy fit calling you a leech as an excuse to bail without feeling bad about yourself. I mean, Rose, you're just scared to be loved and you're scared to love. It's a matter of time before you just get bored of her and break up with her yourself. If you just-"

"I'm holding a nail gun," I said.

"And?"

"And it's going to get acquainted with your crotch if you continue this line of thought."

Emmett held up his hands in surrender and we worked in silence for the rest of the day.

[X]

I sat, dazed, on the porch in the middle of the night, the fire pit we kept on the porch crackling in front of me. My mind wandered as I gazed through the smoke up at the glistening stars. It was pleasurable to let my mind wander, away from Bella, away from all my waking nightmares of late.

"Rosalie," whispered a voice, as soft as the wind and as cold as a rattlesnake's hiss. "Rosalie…"

I snapped up, my eyes overwhelmed by a flurry of blinks. Finally, I saw the source. Amunet. Amunet was here; she found us. But I was paralyzed, frozen in place, struggling against invisible bonds.

"Rosalie, come face your destiny…" She smiled, sharp canine teeth glittering ivory in the firelight. Her black dress rippled in the midnight wind, and her raven hair fluttered around her. "Rosalie, come find me."

She reached out, reached out so close that I could smell the death and carnage on her.

"Carlisle!" I screamed, finally snapping away from my paralysis. I stood up and looked around, but I was alone. Amunet was nowhere to be found.

"What is it?" asked my father figure, bursting through the door.

Humiliated, I whispered, "I thought… I thought I saw Amunet."

Carlisle furrowed his brow and looked around. "You should go inside. Edward and I will scan the yard."

"I… okay," I murmured, standing up.

[X]

Inside, I sat down on my bed, staring at the wall, returning to my reverie from the porch. But suddenly Victoria stepped inside and I jumped.

"Don't be so scared, princess. I just wanted to ask if I could borrow that soft pink shirt of yours. The one with the white buttons. I'm going out tonight."

"Yeah. Go ahead."

She swiftly removed her shirt and dug through the drawers to find the replacement.

"Like what you see?" she teased.

"I have a mate," I snapped, snorting at her ridiculous wanton ways.

Victoria just batted her long, dark, curly eyelashes, ignoring my utter distaste. "Yes, but as far as I know you aren't blind."

"You look fine." She was… adequate compared to the sleek, muscular fire of Bella Marie Swan.

The girl I was beyond angry at. I couldn't imagine eve speaking to her again, yet I still saw us in the future married with puppies. I did not honestly know how I could feel both of those things at once. Victoria slowly walked to me.

She purred prettily, "Are you sure she's your mate?"

"Yes," I said, although I was uncertain. I was uncertain if I loved her or if I loved the idea of a mate and puppies and someone who would love me innocently, purely, eternally like only a wolf could.

"Or is this just your fucked up response to being her weird wolf imprint?" asked Victoria, as if she could read my mind. Maybe Edward told her about those nasty thoughts.

I bared my teeth. Victoria only smirked in response.

She took my face in her hands and softly crushed our lips together,

The intoxication and sweetness of it was brief and bitter.

I shoved her away.

"Never," I snarled, "dare do that again."

Victoria just smirked. "Cross my frozen heart."

I restrained the urge to rip her head off and fled the scene.

[X]

The next day, I finally received a text from Bella. My stomach filled with both excitement and dread as I picked up my phone to read it.

'My mom wants to meet you,' it read. 'We're going to the zoo in Seattle.'

I texted back more quickly than I would be proud to admit. 'I'll meet you at the school.'

'Okay! I'm excited to see you.'

My fingers lingered over my iPhone keyboard for a moment before I typed back, 'Me too.'

I stared at my phone for a brief moment before shoving it into my pocket and standing up to find my car keys.

[X]

The day after meeting Renee and visiting the Woodland Park Zoo, an unknown number called me. I answered with a languid hello and then perked up as I heard Bella's voice.

She spoke, however, with a strange urgency in her tone that I wasn't used to. "I'm sorry that I'm calling-"

"Bella?" I double checked.

"Yeah." She took a huge breath in. "I'm on Jacob's phone. I need you in La Push. It's Amunet. Please hurry."

The distress in her voice was obvious. I leapt to my feet and ran down the stairs. I almost made it to the door before Victoria cut me off.

"Get out of the way." I raised up my hands, prepared to shove her into the wall.

"You're in a hurry," said Victoria. She seemed… worried?

That genuine concern forced me to be honest with her. "It's Bella in La Push. Amunet-something about Amunet."

"Take me with you," ordered Victoria, shoulders squared and stance strong.

"What?" I shook my head, eyes narrowed.

Victoria coolly repeated herself, taking two steps towards the door. "Take me with you."

"I…" I did not have the time nor the energy to argue. "Come on. But keep up; I'm not turning back for you or slowing down for you either."

"Okay."

I drove to La Push faster than a demon on speed. Thank God for vampiric reflexes.

It was possible that I could have kept driving down to Oregon until I screeched to a s top when I saw Bella Swan in the middle of the road waving her arms. Victoria cursed at the sudden jolt.

I hopped out of the car in one fast movement. Bella took my hand as I steadied myself on my feet. She kissed me and then pulled away.

Bella said hastily, eyes wide, "We have to go to the cave. It's important. It's Amunet."

"Hold up for a moment. Are you okay? You sounded so scared on the phone."

"I'm just freaked out," said Bella, wringing her hands. They were so beautiful, so visibly soft, the perfect match to her soft succulent scent. A scent that was… off today. Not as sweet? Maybe I was falling out of love with her.

"Can you tell me what I should be expecting?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't even know what I'm expecting."

Victoria slowly and regally stepped out of the car. Bella tensed up. I furrowed my brow.

"Why is she here?" demanded Bella, still sounding strange. I worried she was angry, worried she suspected that I was cheating or worse.

I explained in utter earnest, "She wanted to come. The more people we have the better off we are in a fight, anyway."

"I… I guess," said Bella, uneasily eyeing Victoria. I wondered if she could sense the weird history, the way Victoria ceaselessly came on to me. The way I kind of stared at her breasts for a couple moments the day before our zoo trip. "Come on," Bella continued. "The best way to the beach is through the woods."

I locked my car and Victoria and I took off after Bella.

[X]

When we reached the beach I slid to a stop in the rancid sand. The odor was foul, not just from the smell of death and seaweed but from the wet dog stench of the wolves. Victoria followed and stood beside me, too close. Bella glanced between us.

I grabbed her arm just as she was about to dive into the water.

"Tell me what to expect in that cave," I whispered.

Bella explained in a vague monotone, "Angelique was in town. She was headed there. I think we can take her. I think we can use Angelique to get to Amunet."

Victoria shook her head, wildfire red hair whipping around her. "Amunet wouldn't send Angelique undefended."

Bella huffed. "Look, I don't know, but I'm a wolf designed to kill vampires, Amunet wants Rosalie alive, and you're a killing machine of sorts, Victoria. I think we take our chances and at least find out what Angelique wants with the cave."

Someone came bounding down the side of the beach at an inhuman speed. The girl wolf, wearing a swimsuit underneath a yellow sundress cover up. She held her shoes, damp hair bouncing against her copper skin as she ran.

"Hey, the ginger isn't allowed on La Push land!" shouted Leah. "Just the imprint! You know the rules, Bella! No vampires!"

Bella spun, eyes wide. I had no clue why she seemed so scared to see her close friend. As far as I knew, she liked Leah more than she liked Jessica. "I'm pack leader and I'm allowing Victoria to be here. It has to do with Amunet. It's important. She is our number one priority."

Leah made a face that caused my skin to crawl.

"You're… not Bella…"

I froze.

"Venganza," whispered Victoria, and I thought perhaps it was a curse in another language, but then I realized it was a name, because Bella no longer was Bella; she was a vampiress with scarlet eyes and dark hair wearing Bella's cheap flannel and Converse.

"Hello, Victoria," she purred in a beautiful, lilting Spanish accent. I couldn't move. "It is so good to see you again."

A loud roar rang out, rivaling the buzz of the ocean waves, as Leah transformed into a wolf. Venganza's eyes flashed and she began to run, bolting away from the scene of the crime as the wolf viciously and eagerly pursued her.

I turned to Victoria. "We should check out the cave."

She held up one finger. "Okay, that sounds like a bad idea."

"I need to know if Angelique is really there. I need to know why Amunet was luring us."

"Into a trap?"

"We have the upper hand. We caught her lackey. I'm going. You can come if you wish."

I ran into the ocean and began to swim.

Victoria followed me, albeit with a grunt of frustration.

[X]

After a long swim, I surfaced in the cave and blinked the water out of my eyes. When I looked up, I saw long, sleek pale legs outstretched confidently, leading up to the flawless body of a vampire, blonde hair grazing the top of her breasts. A white bikini, a feigned innocence, red eyes locking with mine as I pulled myself onto the dusty rocks.

"Good morning," said Angelique, fangs fleetingly flashing in the back of her mouth. "I was hoping I'd find your pet wolf here but, alas. I guess I just have you to work with today."

"If you're looking for a fight, you found one you won't win," I said.

Angelique laughed like windchimes. "I love your confidence. Admirable, really."

Victoria finally surfaced, and immediately pulled herself onto the rocks, poised to strike without even shaking the water from her fiery hair.

I snarled, "I'm guessing that vampire posing as Bella is with you?"

Angelique gave a girlish giggle and I narrowed my eyes. "Venganza?" she purred. "Yes. Her gift is remarkable, isn't it? Mine pales in comparison."

"Why are you here?" Victoria demanded, dragging herself out of the water.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Pause. "Amunet sent me to speak to Rosalie but you, now, you are quite intriguing. I see the bloodlust in your eyes. They may have turned gold but they were much more flattering bright red. Rosalie, come realize your destiny. Join us. We swear not to harm your wolf, and we will spare the Cullens if you join us."

"I'm not joining your murder cult." I shook my head, splattering water all over the stone.

Angelique only smiled, as if she knew something I did not. "Harsh words. You loved human blood. Come with us, find your destiny, learn the true ways of vampires unlike your self-loathing patriarch. Save your wolf. Because we have plans for these poor little Indians. We have plans for the Cullens. We are ready for war on many, many fronts other than just this pitiful little town in the middle of nowhere. Come with us and Forks and La Push will remain unharmed."

I said through clenched teeth, "I don't respond well to threats."

"It isn't a threat. It is an incentive. We want to shape you into the person you were destined to be. And Victoria, you as well. You could even bring your pet wolf," said Angelique. "Indulge your dark side. Become that creature of dark fantasies."

I frowned. "If your intention is working with the devil, you need only look in the mirror."

Angelique laughed again.

Victoria gave me a look that I did not comprehend. I wondered if she had any inclination to join the person who held her captive and intended to kill her. It seemed like madness to me. I could not betray who I knew I was, and I certainly could not leave Bella.

As I contemplated this behind my wide eyes, a figure stepped forward from the shadows. I knew she would not have sent Angelique into wolf territory alone. Of course she would not.

I stood up and braced myself for a fight. I refused to be taken prisoner again; I refused to be a damsel in distress.

"What do you want?" Victoria demanded, rising to stand at my side.

"Merely to talk. Is that criminal?" purred Amunet. She blew a kiss, matte red lips touching her fawn hands before she exhaled and smirked.

"Everything you do is criminal," I hissed under my breath.

Amunet frowned. "You have no idea why I do what I do. You have no idea what it is like to live for thousands upon thousands of years, to be the first of a race. To be the first of a race destined to take its place ruling over others."

I begin to snap, "I'm—"

"There is only one option for order in this world. Either the chaos of mortals, or the perfection of immortals," regally said Amunet, and I could not deny her charisma even if I disagreed with her words. "They represent chaos; we represent order. We are their salvation, not their destruction."

Victoria said, "You sound cynical."

"It is hard not to be, after so much time. Being the first vampire is very lonely." She gazed at me with faux wounded eyes. I saw through it but tried not to let on.

I asked, "How did it start? How did all of this start?"

Amunet answered, "My immortal life began as things always do: with a woman and a lie."

"I meant your cult, your war, your crusade."

"I understood you," she slowly said. "It began with my birth as a creature of the night."

"Tell me about it," I asked.

"Another time." Amunet waved her hand dismissively. "We could talk all night sometime if you come with me. If you make the right choice, not the one Carlisle wants you to make."

"Carlisle is a wise person," I growled, skin prickling.

Amunet retorted coolly, "He is blinded by his own self-loathing."

"Don't talk about him like that!"

"Fine. He is an insignificant vampire in my opinion. He never had use to me like he did to the Volturi. I will happily leave him and his name out of our dealings."

"What do you ask of me?"

"Come with me, when I leave Washington in two days' time. Come with me."

"And fulfill my destiny?"

"Yes."

I exchanged a glance with Victoria and then looked up. "If you can promise me answers, I'm in," I said, filled with terror at my own decision.

Amunet smiled and extended her hand. I took it and firmly shook it.

Fine. I would do it. I would pursue my destiny even if everyone told me I was a fool for doing it. I needed these answers like humans needed oxygen.

"I'm coming too," said Victoria.

"Fine." Amunet shrugged one shoulder and helped Angelique to her feet. "I can always use more vampires on my side."

"I'm not on your side; I'm on Rosalie's."

"So be it."

[X]

When I arrived home, Alice was waiting for me in my room. She also happened to have set up countless candles, all burning in my bedroom, illuminating it in a romantic fashion.

"What is this?" I asked, glancing around at the candles and flowers.

"Bella is on her way," said Alice.

"Why?" I harshly demanded.

Alice averted her eyes and looked about to cry. "Because I can see the future, and I know what you're going to do with Victoria. I'm not going to try to change your mind… but I don't want… I just want you to see her before you leave."

I struggled to find a way to explain myself. But I couldn't. I could just murmur, "Alice…"

"Please. For me. And for Bella. She needs closure, until you… you're still planning on coming back when you're done, right?"

"Of course. I could never leave my family forever." I hugged Alice.

I stared at the candles for a few minutes before I heard clumsy footsteps thudding on the stairs. No vampire walked like that; it had to be a wolf.

"Bella," I said without turning around.

Bella Swan bounded into my bedroom. "Rose. Are you okay? I found out what happened with that Venganza leech."

Alice shot us a smile and t hen left, closing us in the room on her way out.

"What did Alice tell you?"

"That you're leaving."

"Please don't hate me."

"I couldn't. Not if I tried." Silence. "You want to find your destiny. I understand."

I clenched my fists. "You shouldn't. You should be angry."

"I'm not." Bella kissed me and I no longer remembered how to argue.

She smelled like Heaven.

And when she kissed me again and again, those lips trailing along my jaw towards my ear, I could no longer worry about anything else in the world but the wolf before me.

Bella nipped my ear and I shuddered softly. She pulled back slowly and I gazed at her beauty in the candlelight. She asked softly, "Can I ask why you're still a virgin? You've been alive for a long time and you're so beautiful…"

I took a long while to reply, and she waited patiently. "At first I was still struggling after the abuse I faced, later, I just wanted it to be special and with the right person. And I didn't find the right person until I met you." I kissed Bella softly on the lips and my heart fluttered fiercely.

Bella said cavalierly, "I thought about waiting for marriage, but now… this is special. This is special for me. And the candles are a great touch."

"Alice put them up."

Bella cracked a smile. "Of course she did."

I stepped towards her. It was intimidating to say the least, and not nearly as smooth as I imagined it to be. All I could do was kiss her and slowly take her feverish body in my icy arms. She clung to me as we crushed our lips together again and again.

Bella reached down to the hem of her cheap t-shirt and pulled it off of herself in a swift motion not unlike unwrapping a present. My eyelashes fluttered as I soaked in the sudden sight of rippling muscles and a cute grey bra with a little bow on it.

I slid my dress down and off of myself before moving close to Bella again. We kissed frantically as I unzipped her jeans and helped her out of them.

Slowly, I brushed my hand over her breast. She took in a soft, sharp breath. I leaned in and pressed the inside of my thigh against her fiery core. Her every muscle tensed.

She ran her fingers through my hair as we crushed our lips together yet again and her tongue traveled the world within my lips.

We pulled back and then together and then I softly kissed her cheek.

My teeth nipped her neck before I realized what I was doing. They sank in as she moaned and then the panic coursed through me like I was hit by a poisonous dart. I pulled back before venom, before I drew more than the tantalizing bit of blood in my mouth.

"I'm sorry. Bella, Bella I'm so sorry."

Bella just stared at me in shock for a moment before diving in for another kiss.

We tumbled together on my plush bed awkwardly and frantically and passionately from dusk until dawn.

BELLA

Rosalie and I made it halfway through Romeo + Juliet before I could no longer pretend to be calm. Charlie had bolted out to probably get into a fist fight with Billy and I wondered if one of my fathers would end up dead by the end of the night. Breaking free of Rosalie's ice cold arm, I rose from the sofa onto my feet and wordlessly started looking for my shoes and keys.

Rosalie slowly stood up as I rummaged through my orange Jansport backpack.

"Bella," she said. "You shouldn't interfere. Let Billy and Charlie work this out."

"I have to. He's my dad. Charlie, I mean. Charlie is my dad," I insisted, hoping that statement would still be true by morning. "Imagine if it was Carlisle."

Rosalie pursed her flawless, glossy, plump pink lips. I gazed pleadingly into her eyes until she huffed and started slipping on her light purple ballet flats.

She said, "I suppose he must be heading to La Push."

"My thoughts exactly." I grabbed my keys at last and wiggled my feet into my Converse without bothering to untie the laces.

"Should I come with you?" asked Rosalie, her brow knit. "I know I'm about as welcome in La Push as herpes."

"Please do," I begged. I knew I was too amped up to safely face this alone.

Rosalie nodded. "Alright. But let me drive. You're far too emotional to be safe."

My imprint drove like a bat out of Hell on our way to La Push. She seemed calm, unlike me, but she tensed up when she crossed the treaty border.

As soon as we arrived, we saw Charlie's car outside at Billy's house and I jumped out of my truck before Rosalie even had the chance to park it.

I ran inside without even looking back at my imprint and broken glass crunched beneath my shoes. I heard raised voices and my heart fluttered in my chest.

"Dad!" I called out before realizing how foolish using that word was. "Charlie!"

I ran into the kitchen and saw Charlie leaning against the dated cabinets. Even from afar he loomed over the wheelchair bound Billy. Yet, my biological father had the look of the wolf in his eyes and it would scare away most men who had not been lifelong cops. Men who hadn't just learned that their wife kept a horrid secret for seventeen years.

"Bella, get out!" barked Charlie, using a tone of voice I had not heard since I was a toddler. "Billy and I have something to deal with!"

"Please!" I begged, sweaty fists clenched. "Please don't do this."

"Charlie turned to me. "Neither of us blames you. This isn't your fault. But we have a problem to settle. A score to settle."

I began to step forward but a cold hand pulled me back. Rosalie turned me around to face her. I had the sudden urge to bite her, as much as I loved her, as much as I could never hurt her whether I was a wolf with an imprint or a human purely in love.

"We need to let them work this out. Let's check out those fairy lights on the porch. I think they're new," offered the blonde vampiress. I hated her calm tone. I hated her kindness. I hated the way she thought she could control me just because I imprinted on her.

As livid as I was, I could not disobey nor disappoint her. I followed her out the door as Charlie and Billy resumed their garbled shouting match.

"Maybe I can stop them. You didn't let me stop them," I said harshly, glowering at her beautiful, beautiful face.

Rosalie seized my hand. "They need to work this out, okay? Without you interfering. I took you here to make sure Charlie and Billy were safe, but they… this can't involve you as much as you want it to. I was not certain at first but now that is apparent. I am… sorry you must go through this."

"I guess it was bound to happen eventually," I muttered.

"It will work out," said Rosalie, softly squeezing my hand. "They're friends."

"I doubt they will be much longer," I said, slipping my hand away from Rosalie's.

"You don't know that."

White hot anger surged through my veins. I shot up and stood over the icy vampiress, my lips curling into a wolfish snarl.

"You don't know that either!" I shouted. "My family—my family is falling apart and there's nothing I can do!" I clenched my teeth, lips involuntarily pulling back around them, a frightened wolf baring its fangs.

Rosalie remained calm and as much as I did not want to—I hated her for it. It enraged me that she took this so lightly, that she took my life so lightly.

"Nothing lasts forever," said Rosalie coolly. "But new things are born from ashes."

"I'm getting sick of our poetic vampire philosophy! You don't even remember what it was to be mortal so acting like you understand me is—is—is just the kind of thing a leech would do!"

"A leech?" Rosalie's golden eyes smoldered, molten. "I'm trying to help—"

"You're trying to understand what a leech never can! Family! Love! Mortality!" Tears started to pour from my eyes and my chest shuddered with sobs.

Rosalie's nostrils flared as she gracefully pushed herself to her feet. She did not say a single word to me before she stepped off of the porch and vanished into the night.

She left me crying. I was crying my eyes out, scared and angry and alone, and she left. She just walked off without caring.

I stood gasping for breath, my internal temperature an inferno. Even though I felt bitter remorse for the horrible things I said to my beloved imprint, I was still preoccupied with the fight between my dad and Billy.

The next idea that occurred to me drove me to grab my phone from my pocket and dial Renee's number. Something crashed inside of the house. Ring. I wondered if Jacob was home. Ring. Or his sister. Ring.

"Bella?" inquired my mother perkily, as if she never committed such a horrible sin eighteen years ago.

"Mom…" I choked on my tears, "mom there's a problem."

"Bella you don't sound okay," whispered Renee tenderly.

"I'm not okay," I croaked. "Mom!" I burst into tears. "Mommy, dad and Billy are fighting. They know what you kept from them."

Renee played dumb and it only added to the growing inferno of anger burning wildly in my gut. "What did I keep from them?"

"That Billy is my real father!" I screeched. "D-dad is gonna-dad is really pissed."

"How did they find out?" asked my mom breathlessly, her tone shifting in an instant.

"It's complicated."

"Bella, I—"

Before Renee could say the rest of her sentence, Charlie stepped out onto the porch.

Charlie barked in a tone that made me snap to attention like a little soldier, "Bells, we're going home. And you're not coming back to La Push under any circumstances."

"Dad!" I cried out.

"Don't argue with me now. Take your truck. Let's go."

I didn't argue with him.

I didn't know how.

[X]

Thirty minutes before sunrise, I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling trying to absorb how horribly wrong everything in my life went in just one night. Even though Charlie ordered me to go to sleep, I couldn't even close my eyes for more than half a second before the adrenaline hit me again. I waited for Rosalie to call or text me, as I was too frightened to call or text her. I waited for Billy or Jake to give me an update. I waited for my mom to call back. I waited for Charlie to check on me.

Yet, I received radio silence.

It took everything in me to keep myself from crying.

The summer sun rose abysmally early. As grateful as I was to no longer be wallowing in the dark, I didn't want today to come.

Everything was just wrong. So wrong.

[X]

That night, I stared at my dad over a bowl of mushy spaghetti. We had not exchanged a word since we left Billy's and he forbade me from returning to La Push.

"Bella…" Charlie trailed off and grunted, brow knit.

"You're my dad. You raised me. You were always there for me. You're my dad and I love you." Pause. "Blood doesn't make a family," I added, thinking of the Cullens. "Love does."

"I wanted to hear that. You're always going to be my Bells. I don't blame you for keeping it secret but was it to protect your mom or to protect Billy?"

"I was scared to tell you because I was scared you would stop loving me…" I blushed and stared down at my unappetizing dinner.

Charlie furrowed his brow, looking vaguely aghast. I averted my eyes. "I'd never stop loving you. I remember the day you were born. It changed my world. I saw you and everything shifted. I knew nothing would ever be the same, but not in a bad way. Nothing can change that you're my daughter," said Charlie, a man infamously few of words. I never expected him to give a speech other than the Miranda rights. It left me dumbstruck.

"Thanks," was all I could manage. I stood up and hugged him before fleeing to my bedroom.

I again waited for Rosalie to text me.

Not a word from my imprint.

School started tomorrow and I was terrified to see her.

[X]

I stood at school on the first autumnal day of the year. It was three days after the first day of school and I had yet to talk to Rosalie. She seemed scared to approach me and I was too afraid to make the first move. I called Jake and Leah almost every day just to bitch about it. The air smelled of petrichor. Everyone but me wore a sweater, and the sky was overcast. Autumn in Washington would be awfully ugly if it weren't for the beautiful leaves and copious access to pumpkin spice lattes (I was holding one that Jessica brought me). Jess was at my side; it was our lunch break.

"Did you and Rosalie break up? I noticed she was sitting with the Cullens and don't act like I didn't notice you basically pushing me outside into this rainy hellscape so I wouldn't see." Jessica took a sip from her Starbucks cup.

I deeply sighed and played with my coarse hair.

"I don't know what's going on with us. We had a fight and now she won't text me anymore. I'm too scared to bother her with texts of my own. I think I really hurt her feelings. I don't know what to do." I wrapped my arms around myself.

Jessica huffed. "All couples have fights. Good couples deal with them."

"I think… things have been weird between us for a while." Ever since Amunet told Rosalie about her special destiny, nothing has been quite the same.

"Sucks." Jessica finally shoved her phone into her pocket and looked me in the eye. "I'm sure she'll come around."

I sighed and tried to smile. "I hope so."

I heard the rev of an engine just as Jessica exclaimed, "Yum!"

"That's my brother!" I slapped her shoulder gently. She giggled.

"He's still yummy. Is he on the market?" Her eyes glowed as brightly as reading lamps.

"Jess," I chided as Jake jumped out of the car and walked over to me. "Jacob, I'm not allowed to see you."

"I know, but I have a cool surprise in La Push. It's the best way to take your mind off of a girl."

"I have school. My lunch break is almost over."

"Okay, she only has math and environmental studies left and they're both as interesting as a TED talk by the color beige," chimed Jessica. "She's in."

"Your cute friend can come too," said Jacob. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"I don't wat to betray my dad."

"Our dad misses you."

My stomach churned.

"Oh, come on Bella," whined Jessica. "You're such a goody two shoes! Have some fun for once!"

In that moment, I could not help but relent. I missed La Push and the pack and couldn't fight the desire to go… home. Yeah, home.

Jessica and I hopped into the rabbit and off we went. My head spun. For the first time in my life, I felt like a bad kid. I was not sure if I liked the feeling or not. All I could think about was how much I wished Rosalie were here.

However, once we hit the highway, all thoughts of Rosalie were replaced by a neon sign flashing in my head that read in glaring letters CHARLIE IS GOING TO KILL YOU.

[X]

When we arrived in La Push, I couldn't think of anything to say to Billy. I stood there picking at my lips in awkward silence as he ran his hand over his wheelchair wheel in a steady but shaky pattern. We both searched for words but could not find them.

Jacob cleared his throat and interrupted with, "I, uh, better show the girls the bikes."

"Bikes?" What came to mind was my old blue bike with the pink basket. The neighbor girl was my first crush, but I didn't know it at the time. She was cute and blonde and from England. When we swam in the kiddy pool in her backyard, her mom called swimsuits 'bathing costumes,' and she would tell me to throw stuff in the 'bin.' She stole my heart and she stole my blue bike with the pink basket.

Jessica linked her elbows together, still eyeing Jacob in a way that made me uncomfortable, as we walked out into the drizzle of rain and Jake led us to the back shed, which might as well be a second garage, and unveiled two decrepit motorcycles.

I scrunched up my face in thought. "This is supposed to take my mind off of Rosalie?"

"Of course it is." Jacob patted the decrepit handlebars on one of the bikes. "Engines before girls. That's how it works."

Jessica crossed her arms over her chest with a flirtatious smile on her glossy lips. "Oh, really?"

"Really," shot back Jake with a playful grin.

"Do you two need some privacy?" I teased.

"No," promptly replied Jessica.

"Good. So, motorcycle maintenance?" I wasn't sure about it, but I was kind of willing to try anything at this point other than wallowing in bed waiting for Rosalie to text me.

"Yeah," said Jacob, smiling sweetly at me. "I'll teach you all about it. You really do need to take your mind off that petty girl."

"She's not petty!" I protested, my lips pulling back to bare my teeth.

Jacob did not stand down, even though I was alpha. "She's ignoring you for no reason and making you all… squirrely. I'm never going to understand blondie."

"She's just complicated!" I insisted.

"No," said Jacob. "Algebra is complicated. Rosalie Hale is fucking AP Calculus."

Jessica giggled.

I clenched my jaw and stepped towards the bikes.

[X]

The doorbell rang while I was in the middle of watching television and checking my phone every five seconds for a text from Rosalie. I got up and walked to the door, hating myself for hoping it was Rosalie holding a bouquet of flowers. Hell, I would even take Rosalie holding a dead bird at this point. But when I opened it, I saw the last person I ever expected.

Mom," I choked, eyes bulging. "I didn't know you were in town."

"Your father and Billy both are ignoring my calls about what happened, and so are you. Don't worry; I'm staying in a hotel in Port Angeles."

"Okay. Why are you here?"

"Well, I already called your dad and—"

"He's at a police conference in Seattle."

"I know. He's meeting me tonight when the conference day is over. I thought I'd surprise you and maybe spend the day with my daughter before I meet up with Charlie," she said warmly.

I lunged forward and hugged her. Her soft arms and the smell of her French perfume soothed me as I clung to her for a little too long. I missed my mom. I needed her while I was hurting.

"It's really good to see you," I said in earnest.

"I would love to meet the infamous Rosalie Hale," said my mom, crushing all of my hopes of using my mom to forget my imprint. "Your dad wants to meet me in Seattle tonight. Maybe we can get lunch there and go visit the zoo. It isn't too bad of a drive: three hours or so."

"I, uh…" Although I did not want to see Rosalie, keeping my mom away from Charlie and Billy was my current imperative. "That sounds good. I'll text her."

Renee beamed. I could not fathom how or why she was taking this so lightly. Her actions recently destroyed two families and she had her mind only on my girlfriend. My imprint. My mate. My leech.

"Go ahead then," my mom prodded.

I stood agape for a few moments before I withdrew my phone from my pocket and texted Rosalie.

"She might be busy," I weakly offered. I knew there was a high chance my girlfriend would ignore me.

Yet, Rosalie almost immediately texted me back. My heart fluttered in my chest; I was not sure why. In fact, I was not sure how I felt about meeting up with Rosalie at all, after she just bailed on me over one insult. Everything became unstable after that.

[X]

Twenty minutes later, and after a drive through the rain, Rosalie met us in the dreary parking lot of Forks High. Renee nudged me with her elbow.

"You didn't tell me she had such a nice car. Just how rich is this young lady?" Renee's eyes sparkled. Of course. I suppose I should have expected that.

"Hey, Rose," I said breathlessly, uncertain of how she would receive me.

Rosalie kissed me gently on the lips. It was the best I could have hoped for.

"Why don't we go see some cute animals?" purred Rosalie so smoothly that my heart fluttered.

Renee extended her hand as I stepped back. Rosalie shook it and then stepped in to swiftly kiss my mother on both cheeks. Renee smirked at me and I suppressed a sigh of frustration.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Dwyer."

"Call me Renee. The 'Mrs' word makes me feel so old!" Renee smiled and Rosalie subtly bat her eyelashes. The seduction of a vampire was truly useful in the meet-the-parents situation, it seemed. At least with someone as addicted to flattery and impressed by beauty as my mom.

"I can drive if you would like," said Rosalie. "You must be exhausted from traveling."

"Thank you, sweetheart," said Renee.

Rosalie opened the car door for Renee.

God, she was good at this.

[X]

After lunch at Pegasus Pizza, "Is she anorexic?" whispered Renee. "She's such a sweet girl. I don't want her to be sick."

"No, she's just on a reduction diet for swimsuit season," I said, giving the standard vampire excuse Rosalie always uses. Better than her yarfing up Hawaiian pizza and Sprite behind the restaurant while I stood guard.

"Okay." Renee still looked worried. That was her true downfall. Not flightiness or her hints of vanity. She cared. Deeply, strongly. She cared about them too fast, sometimes. Once I asked my mother if she had ever fallen in love and she responded that she did five times a day. It was beautiful, in some ways, but it made me worry about her as much as she was worrying about Rosalie not eating. "I'm going to powder my nose in the ladies room," said Renee. "You two wait for me, please."

"Does she seem worried about my dad and Billy to you?" I asked as soon as Rosalie and I were alone.

Rosalie said, "You don't need four college degrees to see your mom's in pain; she ordered a second Bloody Mary for her dessert."

I examined my hands. "Yeah."

"It'll be okay. I promise." Rosalie smiled at me and it did melt away my worries for a few seconds.

Still, I couldn't stop thinking about my mom and her "dessert" as my mother left the bathroom and we all set out for the Woodland Park Zoo.

[X]

We stood at the wolf exhibit side by side. I gazed down at my brethern while Rosalie hovered near me and Renee sat on a bench rubbing her sore foot.

In the enclosure, two female wolves sat with a baby, resting, basking in the shade and the sun at the same time. An alpha wolf patrolled the perimeter, protecting its family. Rosalie was my imprint; I was supposed to protect her. Instead, I just protected myself and let myself slip away for two entire weeks before sending her a single text.

She did not seem to be deep in thought about symbolism, however. She looked at the wolves exactly the same way she looked at all of the other animals.

"Oh! Look at the baby," crooned Rosalie, striding smoothly across the uneven pavement to gaze at the curled-up wolf cub, protected by a female that basked in the sun. I interlaced our fingers and smiled softly as I looked at the tiny wolf.

Maybe one day we would have puppies. I looked up at her and saw my future in her eyes.

I wrapped my fingers around the bars, turning my gaze back to the sleeping alpha wolf. "I'm sorry for everything. How I acted. What I said. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be. I know you were suffering and I know you didn't mean it."

"Then why were you so angry?"

"I never was. I thought you wanted space so I gave it to you."

"I love you. I was afraid, I was afraid for so many reasons, but I'm not afraid anymore."

Rosalie rubbed her lips together and took my hand in hers.

"I'm… I am still afraid to take the leap," said Rosalie. "I need to be honest."

"It's okay. I would wait until the end of time."

I kissed her softly on the lips.

[X]

Leah called me in the afternoon while I was doing my environmental studies homework. She mumbled frantic things about Rosalie, vampires, Amunet, a prisoner she took who was now tied up and unconscious in Billy's house.

I sprung to my feet and ran to the front door, hopping into my Converse as I dashed down the hallway. But then Charlie blocked my path.

"You better not being going to La Push."

"Rosalie is having a panic attack. I need to comfort her," I hastily said and Charlie eyed me, looking for a lie. I never was much good at it, but, thankfully, he believed me.

I ran out and got into my truck, driving at a safe but frantic speed to the reservation.

When I arrived, I walked into Billy's house to see half of the pack waiting for me, glaring at each other. I imagined they had just been bickering about the prisoner vampire.

"What's going on?" I glanced between Leah, Jake, Sam and the unconscious woman tied to Billy's patched up armchair. She smelled like a vampire, and I wouldn't need three guesses to figure out for whom she worked.

"She's with Amunet," sad Leah. "Her name is Venganza according to the ginger Cullen."

"Victoria was here?" I asked, furrowing my brow.

"Trespassing here," grunted Sam, his lips twisting into a sour expression.

I held up my hand to silence him and locked eyes with Leah.

"Is Rose okay?" I asked.

Leah nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, but she and Scary Spice left in a big hurry." Pause. "Y'know how leeches have those freaky powers? This one is a shapeshifter. She posed as you to trick Rosalie. If I hadn't been out swimming…"

I eyed Venganza closely. The smell of her was overpoweringly wrong. "She seems dangerous. That rope won't keep her from escaping."

"But wolves can," said Sam, a smile flickering briefly across his strong face.

I turned to my favorite wolf in the pack. "Leah, you should've killed her."

She protested, entirely ignoring my authority, "We want to know more about Amunet, don't we? Maybe this leech can help."

My phone rang before I could argue with my pack. Alice. I needed to answer; Rose could be in trouble after Amunet's cronies showed up here. I answered and stepped oustider into Billy's backyard.

"Is she okay?" I asked, feeling as if I had been punched in the gut or drank some weird Polish vodka.

"She isn't home yet," said Alice, "but I had a vision you need to know about. Rosalie is going to join Amunet."

"That doesn't make any sense," I said, but the numbness in my fingertips belied my attitude of certainty.

If it meant leaning about her alleged destiny… my imprint might just join up with the big bad.

"I need you to come over here. We can't stop her but… I think you need to remind her… or to… to say goodbye at least, if you can't change her mind."

"I'll be right there." I hung up and walked back into the room, my pack staring at me. "I've got a problem back in Forks. No one leave Venganza alone."

"Aye aye, skipper," said Leah with a salute.

Wordlessly, I headed out to my truck and started to drive.

[X]

Last night, Rosalie and I did the horizontal monster mash. I slipped home after a morning of gentle kisses and coffee made in a dusty, unused machine. I came home and lied in my bed, staring at the ceiling.

I rubbed the bite mark on my neck. It had already healed thanks to my Wolverine wolf powers, but thanks to the strength of a vampire, it left slightly raised half-moon shaped markings that glowed white even against my pale skin. Her teeth had dug deep, and I knew she regretted taking a taste of me, I knew it probably hurt her that she did that. We finished having sex but she still stared at the mark with shame as I got ready in the morning to return home.

If she chose to leave, if I hadn't changed her mind by sleeping with her and reminding her of our love, these marks would forever be a reminder of the imprint I failed to keep forever at my side.

And after losing my virginity, something was different inside of me. Something sweet and unknown, longing for a home deep, deep within my body.

I was lost in it before someone knocked on my window. When I looked up, I saw Rosalie perched on a tree. Slowly, I rose to my feet, walking on tired legs to open the window and let her inside. She hopped down onto my carpet.

After our kiss broke, she handed something to me.

"Go on. Open it," she said as I examined the small ring box.

I felt my throat constrict. "What is this?"

'Please don't let her be proposing to me. I don't want it like this,' I thought.

When I opened it, I saw a crown diamond ring set in rose gold. It was gorgeous, with a rose on it made from white gold that reminded me of beauty and the beast.

"What is this?" I asked quietly as Rosalie took the liberty of slipping it onto my finger.

"It's a promise ring, Bella. I'm making a promise with it," Rosalie whispered, setting her finger under my chin and lifting my eyes to meet hers.

They looked sad, weak, broken. I hoped that I had not done that to her.

Maybe she changed her mind about leaving. As I considered that, my heart fluttered with hope.

"What are you promising?" I dared to ask.

Rosalie kissed my cheek and whispered, "That I'll come back."

My heart sunk into my stomach.

Hopes officially dashed.