Chapter 13


Bella stood in an open meadow, with sparking snow covering every inch of the ground. Bella leaned down and touched the snow, her face scrunching in confusion as she felt no coldness to the frozen wonder, knowing full well that she should. Bella heard the crunching of footsteps against the snow and turned around, her gaze meeting the familiar hooded figures, the one with red and the one with yellow eyes. Bella lifted her hand to her neck and felt the raised and ridged scars from the bite marks.

"What do you want from me!" Bella yelled at the hooded figures.

Neither figures responded but rather pointed to a nearby pool of still water. Bella's sharp eyes took note of the direction and against her better judgement, walked over slowly. Bella gazed down at the crystal water, and gasped at her reflection. Her eyes were a honey gold color like the rest of the Cullen's but with a distinct jade ring around the iris that intermingled into the gold. Bella moved her hand up to rub her eyes, and saw her skin lightly shine in the sunlight. Bella turned around swiftly to face the hooded figures, her chest rumbling with what she could only describe to be a growl.

"What the fuck did you do to me?" Belled yelled once more, her tone laced with distress.

"Helping you to achieve your destiny." Replied the two hooded figures in unison.

"Well, stop it. I'm not going to be a pawn in this ridiculous game of yours. Get out of my head!" Bella roared as rage flooded through her system as she suddenly rushed to attack the figures. The two smirked, and suddenly Bella felt herself stumbling, surrounded by nothing but sheer and complete darkness.

"Bella, help me" Bella heard the soft cry from her mate and turned her attention to the direction where the sound had come from. Bella gulped as all she could see was a pair of glowing blood red eyes gleaming the shadowy abyss, followed by a deep menacing laugh.


"Alice!" Bella screamed as she bolted awake in bed. Bella sighed and ran a trembling hand through her long and messy hair. The shredded sheets beneath Bella were drenched with sweat and splattered with blood. Bella looked down and saw the deep gash marks on her arms and chest, knowing she had hurt herself while thrashing around.

"Oh, fuck me. Alice is going to kill me. This blood can't be here. She's already fighting herself on trying to control herself around me." Bella groaned as she assessed the damage to her skin.

Bella felt her stomach harshly churn as she stood up. Bella clenched her jaw, trying her hardest to keep the bile down in her stomach. Bella quickly removed the shredded sheets and put them into the nearby hamper, and moved the container outside before walking into the bathroom, grabbing a spray bottle of bleach. Bella sighed in relief and quickly began to wipe off the blood using the bleach and a hand towel, or tried to before she was overcome with a strong wave of nausea. Bella walked quickly towards the bathroom, stopping only as she saw a note on the counter from Alice, and picked the piece of paper up.

' Good morning, love. If you happen to wake up before I return, do not worry. I simply went to the market to get some fresh items for breakfast. I'll return soon. I love you.'

It was at this moment that Bella's nightmare finally got the best of her. Bella ran into the bathroom, quickly falling onto her knees at the toilet and violently threw up. Bella's body ached from the act as she wobbly stood back up to make her way to the sink to rise out the foul taste from her mouth. Bella sighed as she left the bathroom and made her way back into the bedroom, changing into her board shorts, bikini top, black tank top, and running shoes. Bella quickly wrote out her own note before running out of the house, knowing that a morning run and swim would be needed to help collect her thoughts.

Bella found that she could now run a lot faster and her eyes could make out everything in front of them clear as day even in the darkness of the early morning. Bella urged her body faster, running at full speed, jumping and twisting from branch to branch. Slowly but surely, the soreness from the previous night seemed to melt away. Bella made her way to the end of the island. Bella stood at the edge of a cliff, giving her a view of the endless ocean before her, as far as her eyes could see. It was at this moment that Bella found her legs moving as if on their own, and walked over to the very edge, closing her eyes as she took in several deep breaths before peering down at the ocean below. Seeing no shore in the immediate area below, she knew that the water below was likely fairly deep. Her eyes took in the surrounding area until she spotted the shore, just around a curve. She gauged it to be just about a half mile swim, which would have been daunting as a human, but perhaps not now.

'I don't know what's up with this feeling I have that I need to do this. I mean… I know I need to test my abilities but perhaps this is a bad idea.' Bella thought to herself as she peered over the horizon.

However, it was at this moment when Bella felt the emotion become stronger. Bella blinked a few times in confusion and tried to push the feeling aside, but it lingered and became worse. It was almost as if there was a force pulling Bella to this decision.

"Oh, to the hell with it" Bella finally sighed.

Bella took in a deep breath, and launched herself off of the cliff, moving her body into a perfect dive form, a skill that she did not know she possessed. Bella watched the sun begin to rise from the edge of watery horizon as she fell through the air, the tropical wind rushing past her.

'Let go of all that you know and simply…trust.' A soft voice carried throughout the wind, causing Bella to gasp lightly in surprise, recognizing it from her dreams.

Bella closed her eyes as she hit the marine area, diving deep into the watery abyss. Bella opened her eyes, happy to find no sting to her eyes but did hiss as she felt the saltwater enter her open wounds. Bella brought herself to the surface and groaned in pain and began to swim towards shore, knowing that even with her heightened healing the salt water would aid in the healing of her wounds.

Bella moved gracefully through the waves, finding that she indeed did have the stamina. Bella continued to swim until she reached the sandbar, and dove underwater, her thoughts resting on the voice she had heard and the occurrence she had just experienced. Bella let herself float underwater just a couple inches from the surface, looking up to the distorted sky through the endless movement of the water.

'That dream…it was just too real. I can't help but feel as if Alice is in danger by being with me…I should be able to protect her with this power, but why do I feel like it's not enough. Why do I feel like I am being prepared for something…' Bella thought as she continued to float, only breaking the surface when she finally felt a burning at her lungs.

Bella stood up and placed her feet on the sand and began to head back to the shore, the waves urging her forward with every step.


Alice retuned to the house with the rising of the sun.

"Bella, love I'm…" Alice's musical voice sang out, only to stop as she smelt it. A strong odor of bleach with just a hint remembrance of blood. Alice felt her eyes roll back into her head. While the smell of the blood was extremely faint through the bleach, it was enough to make her eyes grow dark.

' No, I can't think about such things. Blood means that Bella is hurt. My mate is hurt! Damnit, Alice. Focus' Alice thought to herself as she shook her head to clear her mind and put the monster inside back away behind lock and key. Alice quickly put the perishables into the fridge and saw the note from Bella and picked the piece of paper up.

" Good morning, Babe. Don't worry. Went out for a run. Be back soon"

Alice sat the note back down on the counter and frowned, deep in thought. Following the scent of blood, Alice found herself outside, near the side of the house. Alice opened the hamper and saw the remains of the sheets, frowning further.

' This didn't happen from last night's events. I would have noticed it.' Alice continued to muse to herself before walking into the bedroom. Her eyes took in the state of the bed and saw two very small droplets of blood on the floor.

' What the hell happened?' Alice thought to herself as she walked outside from the bedroom and onto the beach. Alice's sharp eyes took in Bella, who was making her way back to shore.

Alice breathed out Bella's name in relief and wasted no time in running out to the beach. Without thinking, Alice lunged through the air and was caught by Bella, causing her to grunt in pain and take a few steps back into the early morning tide. Alice breathed out out an apology and quickly jumped back from Bella, her eyes taking in the damage.

"Sweetheart, what happened? I came back to smell of bleach and blood and you were gone." Alice gasped, stepping back further to see the wounds on Bella that were closing.

"Ah, shit... I am so sorry! I tried to clean up the blood but I had to get away. Apparently, I thrashed around a lot last night and must have cut myself open with my nails or something. Nightmares…" Bella sighed with a shake of her head.

"No, no need to apologize. I just feel terrible that it happened the one time that I wasn't there" Alice murmured, her sharp eyes watching the cuts finally seal.

"Alice, these dreams…They're too real. I'm sure they are telling me something or trying to but I don't understand. The only thing I know for sure is that I refuse to let them become a reality." Bella replied, nervously shifting weight between her feet.

"Bella, you're never going to lose me. If anyone should be worried, it should be me worried about losing you. You aren't immortal like me" Alice gently replied, causing Bella to nod, gnawing on her lip.

"Bella, love. What's on your mind?" Alice asked, her concerned gaze locked onto Bella who had not yet looked up.

"Alice, when I saw that these dreams won't come true, I mean it. I will protect you, no matter the cost…I…. I need you to do something for me" Bella nervously replied, playing with her hands.

"Anything, just ask" Alice nodded, not liking to see Bella upset.

"Alice…I need you to try and change me." Bella finally replied, her eyes shooting to lock into Alice's widening eyes.


Jake rushed forward in his wolf state, his teeth gnashing and foam bubbling at the corners of his mouth. Sam and the other wolves were close on Jake's heels, so close to catching Victoria that they could all taste the sickening granite that would come from tearing her to shreds. Jake blinked and skidded to a stop at the boundary point as Victoria launched herself across the raging river, and right into the arms of the awaiting Cullens.

Jasper was the first to notice Victoria's presence and launched himself forward, his eyes dark with the anticipation of a kill. Victoria smirked, and evaded Jasper's grasp at the very last second, causing Jasper to go flying through the air and tumbling against the soft dirt of the forest. Emmett picked up Rosalie and launched her like a missile. Rosalie reached her hands out, desperately trying to catch the threat to her family. Victoria twisted through the air, smirking at Rosalie's wide eyes and grabbed her, throwing her harshly against the ground, causing several deep cracks to form through Rosalie's skin. Victoria wasted no time and reached down and tore off Rosalie's legs, grinning as Rosalie screamed. Victoria stopped and moved back as the rest of the Cullens finally caught up, stopping to tend to their own.

"If you can't kill me, you will never be a match for him" Victoria smirked.

"Who is "he", why are you even here?" Carlisle asked, his concerned eyes leaving Rosalie to look at Victoria.

"All in good time. I see that Bella is not here. That is all I needed to know" Victoria smiled as Emmett launched himself forward in a last ditch effort to catch the vampire who had hurt his mate. Victoria easily dodged Emmett, and took off, leaving the Cullens in shock.

"Bella… she can't come back. I refuse to let her be here while all of this is going on" Rosalie whispered as Emmett picked her broken body up and held her protectively against his chest, heading back to the house so she could rest. Her legs could be reattached but it would take time. Carlisle pulled out his phone to call Alice to inform her of the events, but Alice did not answer.

"Damnit, Alice. Pickup!" Carlisle murmured as it went to voicemail.


Alice's eyes were wide. Surely, she had not heard Bella correctly. As mates, she could not deny Bella of anything in the world, but this was something she could not do.

"Bella…I can't. My venom is toxic to you as a shifter. I could kill you. Besides that, it is against the treaty for me to bite you." Alice finally replied.

"Alice, these dreams are a warning. I feel it, in my very being. Something is going to happen. I don't know what it is but I know it's coning and I can't protect you as is. Even if I am a shifter. It's not enough. I think Billy was right. I think I can become a bridge between these two worlds by becoming a hybrid. I think I can reason with the Council regarding the treaty too." Bella tried to justify, frowning as Alice shook her head.

"Bella, no. You are always acting so selflessly, doing things for everyone else. I cannot risk losing you." Alice retorted with a sharp tone.

"Alice, if I lose you, you know that I won't recover. Do I need to remind you of what it was like before when you left? Now, it would be impossible!" Bella argued back.

"Bella, for the love of God, stop! You're not the only one. I can't imagine a world without my mate in it. I'm not risking your life. We will figure it out, if and when this supposed event of yours happens. Together. We don't even know your full power now that you're fully in control. I promise to bring it up and have a family meeting over it when we return, but not now!" Alice yelled back, her eyes filling with tears that could not fall.

Bella was about to push the point further, but seemed to think better of it. Instead, she sighed and nodded in understanding, biting down on her bottom lip.

"Alice, okay. I will wait. I didn't mean for this to turn into an argument. I'm sorry. These dreams are just really getting to me and I'm terrified." Bella murmured as she pulled Alice into a tight embrace and kissed the top of her head. Alice calmed down instantly and melted into Bella's embrace, breathing in Bella's scent deeply.

"I know, and I'm sorry that I yelled. I just… I spent my entire life waiting to find you. The thought of losing you is just simply too much to bear" Alice paused as she stepped back, and took a deep and unnecessary breath, "Here, let's start over on today. Let me make you breakfast and we'll see what you do, my sweet wolf!" Alice chirped and Bella nodded as her stomach growled.

Bella and Alice returned hand in hand to the house and Alice made Bella a cup of tea, fried eggs and bacon. As Bella was eating her breakfast, Alice checked her phone and quickly typed out a reply, then looked up at Bella with an expression that Bella could not figure out.

"What's up?" Bella asked as she sipped on her tea.

"Oh, just the family. They miss us." Alice smoothly lied, not waning Bella to recklessly head back.

Bella nodded and continued to eat. Soon she finished, and they put new sheets on the bed and cleaned up the random dried blood droplets that Bella had missed earlier. After, the two headed out to the beach.

"Alright, Bella. Go ahead and focus. Try and phase at will." Alice nodded.

Bella swallowed harshly before following Alice's instructions and began to strip.

"Bella… Is that really necessary? " Alice groaned as she felt her arousal building up.

"What? These are my favorite board shorts…" Bella playfully smirked as she smelled Alice's arousal. Bella chuckled as Alice bit down on her lip and then focused. Bella felt the warmth spread throughout her body and then phased, standing in her wolf form in front of Alice.

"Excellent!" Alice smiled and walked over, running her hand through Bella's long and soft fur. Bella wagged her tail and licked Alice across her face.

"Oh, god, Bella! That's so gross!" Alice laughed, and Bella barked back playfully.

"I don't think sparing would be a good idea, but I'd like to see you be able to phase back between human and wolf a few times while in movement. Let's go!" Alice smiled and raced into the tropical forest with Bella on her heels. Alice neatly jumped through the tree branches with Bella beneath her on the ground.

"Okay, and shift!" Alice yelled and Bella barked and phased back into her human state, midair, landing neatly on her feet.

"Aaaaaand phase back!" Alice instructed as she jumped to a nearby branch. Bella nodded and phased back into the wolf, not breaking a step.

"One more time!" Alice yelled as Bella jumped onto a low-lying branch. Bella phased back into her human form, her hands gripping the branch of a nearby tree and skidding to a stop, breathing deeply.

"Alice, hold up for a sec. I feel a little lightheaded." Bella murmured, her left eye closed as she gasped for breath, and leaned against the tree.

"Bella, this really can't wait. This is important… but, okay." Alice murmured with a sigh. She handed over Bella's clothes, and gasped as she felt the sheer warmth radiating off of Bella's skin.

"Oh, shit. Bella. I am so sorry. Let's get you cooled off." Alice muttered as she helped Bella to her feet and led her to a nearby waterfall and pond. Bella slipped into the cool water and immediately sighed in relief.

"Alice, what's wrong?" Bella asked with a raised eyebrow after a few moments of silence.

"I pushed you too hard, you looked incredibly faint just a few moments ago. I am sorry." Alice groaned as she rested her face into her hands. The text message from Carlisle had really gotten to her. So worried about needing to make sure that Bella was in control and safe to head back to Forks, Alice did not consider Sam's words of wisdom as to how much this would take out of Bella the first few times.

'I am literally the worst.' Alice thought to herself as she lifted her head to meet Bella's steady gaze.

" Pushing me is the only way that we can know" Bella murmured before reaching up and pulling Alice into the water with her.

"Bella, my clothes!" Alice laughed causing Bella to smile and pull her closer. Alice wrapped herself around Bella.

"Alice, I want to take you out stargazing tonight. We should head back so I can take a nap. I'm feeling a little drained from phasing and from the lack of sleep" Bella said with a slight yawn and Alice nodded. The two got out of the pond and headed back to the house. Bella yawned and laid down on the bed, sleep quickly catching up to her.


Alice walked outside to the beach before pulling her phone out and calling Carlisle who picked up on the first ring.

"How bad is it?" Alice asked with a light sigh.

"Honestly? Bad. Very bad. We almost lost Rosalie. She's being reattached as we speak but it will take time. We are not equipped to handle Victoria's speed or evasiveness" Carlisle replied.

"So… what now? Our plane is scheduled to return tomorrow and I don't want to lie to Bella anymore than I already have. If she ever finds out about this, she's going to be pissed." Alice questioned, nibbling on her lip. Alice waited for a few moments as Carlisle thought out his response.

"We were wrong to try and plan this. We never should have listened to Jake's advise. I worry that this has caused more damage than good. " Carlisle paused as he took in a deep breath, " Come home as planned. We will have a family meeting with Bella once you return. We have to eliminate this threat to our family. Now"