Chapter 11


Bella saw herself in a beautiful and elegant white gown. Her hair had been dyed back to its natural color had been cut to just below her shoulders, and had been curled and braided sophisticatedly. She was wearing a flower crown made of vine and coral colored roses. Her makeup was done and there was not one flaw visible on her slightly tan skin. She stood at the end of a walkway, covered with rose petals. Bella looked down the pathway, and saw Alice. She too was wearing a white gown, with a long train trailing behind her. There was a sheer covered veil covering her face, but Bella could see the happiness radiating off of her liquid gold eyes. She was walking down the pathway, being escorted by Jasper, who was wearing a tuxedo. Bella smiled as she felt tears of happiness fill her eyes. She was getting married to Alice.

Suddenly, Alice stopped. Her expression changing from happiness to pure fright. Bella became confused and turned her head away from Alice in the direction of Alice's line of sight. Bella made eye contact with two hooded figures, the same ones she had seen before. Before she could react, both rushed forward and bit into the opposite sides of her neck. Bella heard Alice scream her name, but was paralyzed in fear. She could feel a burn in her throat as if she had swallowed fire. She began to panic, feeling a desire for blood, but her stomach churned harshly at the idea. The two hooded figures smirked as the overwhelming sensation of the change began to spread throughout her entire being. Bella gasped, and fell to her knees and saw that her dress, her hands, everything was completely saturated in blood. Bella's eyes shot to the guests that had been in attendance, finding them all dead at Bella's feet. Bella lifted a shaky hand to her lips and felt the warm liquid. Her breathing quickened as she looked back at the center of the aisle, trembling at the sight of the Cullens, all beheaded. Bella stumbled over to the corpse of Alice, and picked up her broken body, crying.

"You never could have been one of us. You never should have even tried" Bella hears and turns her head around sharply. She could recognize that voice anywhere, it belonged to Edward. Her eyes lock into his, gasping as she finds them to be blood red.

"Pitiful creature, your time is up. Time for you to join your mate." Edward murmured, placing his hands against Bella's throat.


"Alice!" Bella screamed as she woke up drenched in sweat to find Alice looking at her with concerned eyes.

"Bella, what happened?" Alice asked, her cool hand fixing Bella's bangs that were all over the place.

"I…I think I'm going to be sick" Bella gasped out and got out of bed, running to the bathroom as her stomach cramped up. Bella collapsed onto her knees at the toilet, and rested her head against her arms, waiting for something to come up, breathing in heavy breaths. When that did not happen, Bella stood back up and leaned against the counter top over the sink. Bella looked up into the mirror to find her eyes were jade, but she did not feel like phasing. She quickly checked her neck to find no markings. Bella turned on the sink, and splashed some cold water on her face. It was then that Alice walked in and embraced Bella into a soothing hold from behind.

"Bella, what was the nightmare about?" Alice asked, her eyes taking in how Bella's were still jade in color.

"I…I don't walk to talk about it. I think I need to go for a run." Bella murmured and pulled away from Alice, walking back into the bedroom.

" Bella, we've been over this. This relationship won't work if you keep secrets" Alice sighed as she followed Bella back into the bedroom, growing tired of Bella shutting her out. Bella looked at Alice and sighed, nodding in understanding.

"No, you're right. Believe it or not, I am trying," Bella paused as she ran a hand through her hair, " Please just give me some time to process it. Listen, I normally go on runs alone, but if you don't mind the fact that I will be focused on the music during the run, you are welcome to join. I see you need to hunt based on your eyes, so perhaps you can go with me and then you can hunt. Perhaps by then, my head will be cleared enough." Bella suggested.

" Okay, that sounds like a plan" Alice nodded.

Bella turned from Alice and changed into black sweats, her black running shoes, and a loose fitting gray sweatshirt. Alice watched intently as Bella threw her hair back into a ponytail, and grabbed her phone and plugged in her earbuds. They both walked out onto the patio and then jumped down onto the mossy ground below. Bella paused only for a moment to start the song. Due to Alice's heightened hearing abilities as a vampire, she could clearly make out the song. Much to her surprise, the song was a fast pace techno song, not the custom metal that Bella generally listened to. Her ears can make out the lyrics.

' Your speakers are blowing. Your hearing damage. Your mind is restless. They say you're getting better, but you don't feel any better… You wish you felt better…"

Alice's concerned gaze to Bella was broken as Bella broke out into a dead sprint and into the woods. Alice followed after with ease, her sharp eyes watching Bella's movements as they entered the thick part of the forest. Bella was true to her word, and did not focus on anything besides her music and her movements. Though Bella did note that having Alice's presence was soothing.

Bella kept her legs moving, pushing herself to move faster. Wanting to test further, Bella ran towards a cliff wall. She jumped, her nimble fingers gripping the stone edge, and pulled herself up, putting her feet under her. She then launched herself up to the hard wall. As she shot up, she grabbed the upper ledge and pulled herself up, doing a front flip before landing back on her feet. Bella grinned and continued running, not pausing. Bella continued on, and launched herself forward, grabbing a nearby low laying tree branch and swung forward, before coming to stop near a slow-moving stream. It was then that Bella finally stopped, her breathing heavy. She sat down on a large rock and took her earbuds out. Alice came to a stop nearby, and sat down on her heels as Bella splashed some of the cold steam water across her face, removing the sweat beads that had developed themselves on her brow. Bella wiped her face clean with the front of her sweatshirt before meeting the patient gaze from Alice.

"Bella, I'm sorry if I am pushing you too much I just…" Alice began as she nervously bit on her lip but was interrupted by Bella.

"We were getting married," Bella began her eyes locked into Alice's, " We were near the house. You were absolutely stunning. More so than what you were wearing, the happiness in your eyes was just so perfect. But… the scene changed. You see, I've been having dreams on occasions where two hooded figures find themselves way into them. One has red eyes and one has yellow. In this dream, as you were walking down the aisle, they appeared and moved forward. They both bit my neck, one on each side. You screamed my name in fear but I could not move. I was paralyzed. And then, the change happened. My throat was on fire, my stomach was queasy. I blinked and then… my dress was covered in blood. The guests had been killed…by me. My lips were saturated with blood and you and your family… they were dead," Bella paused as Alice moved forward and took Bella's hands in her own, " My dream ended with Edward telling me that I never should have tried to be one of you. His eyes were blood red, and he was going to kill me. I know it was just a dream but it was too real." Bella finished as she felt her eyes revert back to brown from jade.

"These don't sound like normal dreams, Bella. Even for someone like you who is a lucid dreamer with nightmare tendencies." Alice mused as she tilted her head in thought.

"You aren't upset with me?" Bella asked with a hint of surprise in her tone.

"Bella, how could I be upset with you over a nightmare? You can't control what you dream. And I like I said, these don't sound like normal nightmares, even for you. I want to talk to Carlisle about it, but first I think we need to talk to Sam and Emily. Your eyes finally reverted, and I have some questions." Alice replied with a reassuring smile, and Bella nodded.

"After you hunt though." Bella replied. No sooner had she said that, that Alice's sharp ears heard the hooves of a nearby deer. Bella waited at the stream and Alice took off and Bella heard the thud against the forest ground. A few moments later, Alice returned, her eyes back to a light shade of gold. Alice smiled and took Bella's hand in her own and together they walked over the boundary, and to Sam and Emily's cabin. As if they were expected, Emily opened the door and smiled as she ran up to Bella and wrapped her arms around her.

"Oh, Bella. I am so happy to see you. How have you and Alice been?" Emily smiled as she pulled back from Bella, who smiled back.

"We have been doing okay, thank you for asking. How about you and Sam?" Bella asked as she walked towards the cabin with Alice by her side.

"We've been good, definitely miss seeing you every day though" Emily smiled lightly.

"My bad. I promise to make a better effort of keeping in touch. Things have just been a little crazy lately." Bella grimaced as she nervously rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand.

"Bella, you owe no explanations. You are wrapped up with your new imprint. This is completely normal. Sam and I were way worse than you and Alice when we first imprinted. Trust me. We didn't leave the bedroom for weeks. A little surprised that you are here now." Emily responded as Bella and Alice sat down on barstools at the counter.

"Well… things are a little different for us." Bella replied as she turned bright red. Emily was about to respond when Sam walked in, followed by Billy in his wheelchair.

" Bella, this is a surprise!" Billy smiled as his eyes locked with Bella's, " To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"Well, actually, we both have a question," Bella paused as Alice intertwined her fingers with her own, " I woke up this morning from a very vivid nightmare. When I woke up, my eyes were jade, like I had tapped into my inner wolf but I didn't feel like phasing. I was wondering if you had any idea why that happened and what it means?"

"Did the dream involve you loosing Alice?" Sam asked with a raised eyebrow, and Bella nodded tentatively, her fingers gripping at Alice's hands more tightly on their own accord.

"Well, I would venture to guess then that you are close to making that final connection." Sam murmured as his eyes shot to Emily who also nodded.

"What does that mean? I mean, none of you have had eyes that change colors in your human state that match that of your wolf. Why is this different for me?" Bella asked with a tilt of her head.

"Bella, everything about you is different. We are in unchartered territory. Your eyes change colors when you are tapping into your inner wolf. None of that happens with us. My best guess is that due to low amount of Quileute in you, your inner wolf remains locked away, while ours is constantly activated. However, once you and Alice become fully connected, we believe that is when your inner wolf will be fully awoken and that is when you will be at your strongest, ready to take on any threats that may come up for you and your mate." Sam replied carefully, watching Bella's expression change.

"And how do we become fully connected?" Alice asked with a tilt of her head.

"Well, by completing the most intimate form of connections that anyone two people can make. By having sex. If I am not wrong, I believe that the same will go for you as well, Alice. Once that happens, your abilities should also increase, along with her connection to Bella. There is also a chance that you and her will finally be able to have shared thoughts." Sam bluntly replied, causing Bella to turn a dark shade of red.

"So, when we… that means that there will be no going back? By doing so…my fate will be sealed as a shapeshifter and Alice and I, well… We'll be fully connected?" Bella finally asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We think, like I said Bella, there is no way of truly knowing." Sam replied, and Bella nodded in understanding, her eyes locked into Alice's who was biting her lip nervously.

"Bella" Billy began in a soft voice, causing Bella to look from Alice to meet his soft gaze," This is the first time in our history that we have had a vampire on our reservation and not felt a threat. I firmly believe that you are likely the bridge needed to connect our worlds and the key needed to break the curse of the phasing with future generations." Billy stated and Bella's eyes grew wide, " Bella, why don't you come walk with me for a bit." Billy finished as he looked into the eyes of Emily who gave him a knowing look. Bella nodded and left with Sam and Billy, stealing one look over her shoulder to Alice who nodded reassuringly.

" You okay, Alice?" Emily asked as she sat down across from Alice.

"Yeah, of course. I just didn't realize everything that could change on Bella's side. I knew that once we do, we will secure the mate connection on my end but I was prepared for that and want nothing less than to be with Bella in that way" Alice nodded, her eyes meeting the steady gaze of Emily, " But, please. Why did you need to speak to me alone?" Alice asked with a tilt of her head. Emily's expression and silent communication to Billy had gone unnoticed by Bella but Alice's sharp intuition had picked up Emily's expression like an open book.

" Alice, Victoria is back and is likely hunting Bella. We were able to stop her but we have given up the element of surprise and may not be successful going forward." Emily finally sighed and Alice's eyes widened.

"But how? I should have seen this coming." Alice hissed, her eyes darkening.

"Your visions are getting messed up by being with Bella. It's creating blind spots. This will likely continue to be a problem until you and Bella become fully connected. What's worse is, Bella is in danger as well, until she reached her full potential." Emily replied with a concerned tone.

" Well, fuck. Emily, I don't want to rush her on this and what's worse is I don't know if I can control myself. I am so concerned that I will hurt her." Alice groaned and pinched her nose in frustration.

"Alice, Bella has fast healing abilities. She will be okay. You can't hurt her. I know you love her too much to allow anything to happen to her. I'm not saying that you need to rush this, but you and her are more than ready. I can see it in the way Bella looks at you and you her. You have to trust yourself and your bond." Emily soothed, placing a gentle hand on Alice's arm and Alice nodded in understanding.

"Listen, Sam is planning on taking on Victoria this weekend along with your family's help. Having Bella away from the area will be beneficial so that no one has to worry about her as a liability. Do you have somewhere you think you can take Bella?" Emily asked and Alice thought for a few moments.

"Possibly. I'll check with Carlisle" Alice nodded and took her phone out to send a quick text. Much to her surprise, Carlisle responded quickly, and Alice nodded.

"It's all set. We will leave tomorrow morning" Alice nodded her concerned gaze following to the direction where Bella had walked off to. It was at this moment that Bella returned into the cabin.

"Are you ready to head home, love?" Bella asked with a smile, and Alice nodded, relieved to see that Bella seemed more relaxed. The couple said their goodbyes and headed back to the house. Upon entering, Emmett challenged Bella to play some Gears of War who happily agreed. Bella sat down on the leather couch and was happy to be bonding with one of her brothers. Alice walked into the kitchen to help Esme cook dinner, and they exchanged knowing looks, knowing what tomorrow would bring. The wolves had already had a meeting with the family and all were in the know, except for Bella. Alice felt slightly guilty but knew that if she told Bella the truth, she would likely risk herself for the family and Alice could not risk it.

Alice sighed lightly and pushed the feeling aside as she walked into the living room, bringing a plate of spaghetti for Bella who was very happy to receive it. Bella finished her dinner, and enjoyed hanging with her family, finally feeling at peace. Before she knew it, the sun had set and she yawned. Alice smiled and took her hand, walking up into the bedroom.

"Bella, I have a surprise for you" Alice smiled as she cuddled next to Bella on the bed.

"Oh, what is it?" Bella asked with raised eyebrows.

" I am taking you away for the weekend. Carlisle once gifted Esme with an island located in South America. I think we need a break from everything here and need to enjoy some alone time. We leave first thing tomorrow morning." Alice chirped, her gaze trying to read Bella's expression.

"Oh my God Alice, thank you! You are the best. I literally cannot wait!" Bella gushed, happiness radiating off her eyes as she tackled Alice into an embrace. Alice smiled in relief and held Bella against her until Bella nodded off. It was only then that Alice left the room to finalize the plan with the family. Alice sighed as the conversation wrapped up, knowing that if Bella ever found out, she would likely be extremely upset but knew there was no choice. Alice walked back up to the bedroom and laid on the bed, wrapping her arms around Bella who smiled in her sleep.

' I swear to you, I will do everything within my power to protect you, even if that means I have to protect you from your own decisions' Alice thought as she looked down onto her one and only mate.