Into the Woods

By: Everleigh Allen

Chapter 20

"So, my dad pretty much hates you," Bella laughed as she opened up her window for Edward to hop through.

"I got that." Edward closed the window behind him and then the curtains even though it was a quiet, cool summer night. He knew that Jake was doing his self-imposed rounds and that he would be hitting Bella's house in about an hour.

The teen was going to be problematic; Edward predicted it and so far it's been correct, "I have an hour before Jake gets here."

"Ugh, why does he enjoy torturing me with his presence?" Bella whined. "Doesn't he have a curfew? A bedtime?"

"I don't know, but if he finds me in your room, I'm sure he'd tell Charlie."

"What a way into my heart; tattle on me."

"Well, alienating me from Charlie is an ideal plan, in theory." He chuckled, moving onto the bed where Bella was sitting. She suddenly flushed as he stalked forward, his eyes dark and full of lust.

"You're only wearing panties and a tee shirt? You are so naughty, Bella. Especially, since you knew I would be coming here tonight."

Bella gulped and inclined backwards, sloping into the headboard but supported by the pillows. She was at a loss of words as he breathed over her. His face was dangerously close to hers and when he finally closed the distance, the kiss was forceful yet passionate.

She opened for him easily, his body arched over hers, his knees pushing her legs apart to make room for his body.

He was careful not to grind on her but too much but her hips were arched toward him, seeking the friction, that sweet release that he couldn't wait to give her.

Edward moved down her neck, kissing along the throbbing artery and chuckled as she moaned when his tongue tipped to touch the delicate flesh. Her heart screamed to him, the vein practically reached for him to taste her sweet lifeblood.

She was such an enigma, tempting the vampire to bite her.

He wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into her supple flesh and taste every bit of her; the need to just move the slight bits of fabric and impale her with himself.

It would be so easy.

But instead, he pulled back and looked at his very flushed, very aroused mate who glared at him.

"You are entirely too tempting, Bella Swan," he sighed and pulled off his long sleeved shirt and put it over her shoulders. Then he helped as she put her arms inside.

Edward buttoned the shirt with a pained smile knowing that he was covering her beautiful body. It was blasphemous, but he didn't want anyone else seeing what was his and may or may not have wanted to envelope her in his scent while leaving a piece of him with her.

Apparently he was sentimental as fuck.

Good thing Emmett wasn't there to taunt him.

"It's about time for me to go. Can you at least put on some pants first before I do?"

Bella giggled and pulled on some fleece pajama pants on.

It would be easier to peel the skin off of his body rather than leave her behind, but it was only for a little while and he wouldn't be far away.

Especially, when there was a teen wolf on the prowl.

Bella looked terribly sad, making him feel guilty but then she dipped her chin into the shirt, smelled his wonderful scent.

"I'll be back soon, okay. Just as soon as Alice sees it's okay."

"Okay."

With a kiss and his promise, Edward opened the window and jumped out, leaving his heart and soul behind.

…

The funny, not so funny thing about fathers is that they are totally irrationally rational about their daughters when it comes to them dating.

Edward was kicking himself, figuratively.

He really couldn't blame Charlie.

Had he had the chance to be human and have a daughter, a bloodsucking vampire who was claiming she was his mate- wouldn't be ideal.

The task at hand would be how to win her father over.

It was a conundrum.

He was really regretting interfering in their lives so long ago, but hindsight is twenty-twenty, right?

So, as Edward ran through the woods toward home, he ignored the call of the wolves in the distance, knowing that they would soon be pacing around Bella's house, much to his dismay.

Edward wouldn't put it passed Jacob to scent the bushes and trees around Bella's house with his urine to mark his territory.

The cell phone rang and Edward pulled it out looking at the screen.

"Hello, Sister," He sighed. "You couldn't wait the thirty two seconds before I would be home?"

"No." Alice said curtly. "I had a vision but I don't know what it means."

"Okay… what was the vision?"

"It was weird… Charlie was suddenly gone, called into the station but then it switches to you being at her house… and I think one or more of the wolves must have been too, because you were yelling at nothing and that's how I see the wolves... as nothings. Anyway, yeah, Bella wasn't in the house. She was somewhere else… upset and crying and she was running into the woods."

"When?"

Alice made this weird screeching noise.

"Alice Whitlock. Tell me right now!" Edward sneered, running into the house, expecting to see Alice.

His phone showed that the call was ended so he shut off his phone as Emmett opened the door for him.

"Mom called us, said Alice called her… what did Alice say?"

Rosalie was sitting on the couch pretending not to listen but the quick rise and fall of her eyes betrayed her.

"Just that Bella's somewhere, upset, I'm yelling at the Jake, or one of the wolves, and Bella running into the woods, where's Alice?"

He wasn't picking her up anywhere in the house.

"She's not here, she's out."

Edward stopped at Emmett's words. "What's that's supposed to mean?"

"I don't know much of anything so don't go after the messenger! Carlisle is at the hospital, Esme's in her office, Jasper and Alice booked it out of here saying she had to get to Outfitters for something… yeah, so it's just me and Rosalie to intercept you."

"I don't need intercepting!"

"You will," Emmett said ominously. "You can't go back to her house."

Edward turned to Emmett slowly. "Can't you speak in complete sentences? Just get on with it!"

But Emmett didn't need to speak the words. He just thought of the conversation and it all played out.

Alice running after Jasper.

Jasper running after something not there, probably a wolf.

Bella already in the woods, missing.

Carlisle and Esme running up, too late.

Edward suddenly screaming, Emmett and Rosalie holding Edward down.

But why?

"He took her!"

Edward's head whipped toward the door. "What?"

"Edward, she's gone. Jake came by the house and he took her." Alice said with sorrow, walking into the room. "I'm sorry, I don't see the wolves and it wasn't until she was being taken that I saw it."

Edward's head shook for a few seconds before he ran out the door.

He was just at her house.

He was JUST there!

Vision's played out in his mind as Alice ran after him.

Bella kissing her father goodbye on the cheek as he left to answer late night call at the station.

Bella alone in her house when the doorbell rang.

Bella wearing Edward's shirt and the fleece pants, but also socks and slippers as she ran down the stairs to answer the door.

Bella opening the door without looking but instead it's something unseen.

Bella screaming out when her body suddenly seemed constricted, arms at her side, being pulled or dragged out of the house.

"Alice!" Edward sobbed out, completely tortured as more images continued to play out.

Edward standing at the door of Bella's empty house.

Edward sniffing the air, turning his head to the side, hearing mumbled voices, and then with a hiss he jumped at the air before Emmett and Rosalie grabbed him.

It was all so clear.

Yet confusing and heartbreaking.

Edward came up to Bella's house, abruptly stopping from his sprint, several moments later, seeing the door open and the drag marks in the damp grass and soil.

"Better late than never, bloodsucker," A half clothed male snickered as he walked out from behind the tree that was next to Bella's window.

"Where is Bella?"

"You just couldn't leave her alone, could you?" He yelled, instead of answering. "You had to go for Jake's imprint."

"She's not his imprint!" Edward yelled back. Alice and Jasper stood on either side. Emmett and Rosalie were behind him.

"Uh, yeah she is!" The guy scoffed. "We all saw it."

Edward jumped at the guy but Emmett and Rosalie grabbed him first. There was a shrill scream in the distance and Jasper ran after it, followed by Alice.

Esme and Carlisle ran up, too late.

"Stay away from her, bloodsucker." The guy seethed, sucking his teeth. He suddenly realized that he was severely outnumbered and not on his land.

"She's mine, Jared. I'm not going to let some child kidnap my mate and get away with it." Edward's eyes were black and feral. His body rigid as a fantastically creepy grin covered his face.

Lethal.

Edward was pissed.

Bella would've wanted to see the beautiful outrage that was Edward in that moment.

The teen wolf started shaking and when there was a loud pained wolf cry he was a fuming, panting wolf the size of a horse.

He came right at Edward and Emmett's hold on him loosened and Edward was gone, running after the wolf, hoping it would lead them to his Bella before it's too late.