~ Forks, Washington - March 31, 2005 ~
The students of the Forks School District had the week after Easter off, and the break had been highly anticipated by the student body. It was also perfectly timed for Charlie and Irina to get married. Since the day Irina and Charlie had found out they were mates, the two of them had been nearly inseparable. Irina never returned to Alaska and had moved in with Charlie and Bella. A week later, Charlie proposed to Irina. Neither one of them wanted a large wedding, but that didn't stop the my family and the Denalis from planning something beautiful and memorable. The weather had been uncharacteristically free of rain and sunny, so an evening wedding was planned. Over the course of the last month, Alice had directed our families with the precision of a military commander to transform my family's backyard into a wedding wonderland. We were all thankful that the day of the wedding was finally upon us.
Overall, the guest list was kept small, with both humans and vampires in attendance. On the vampire side, it would just be my family, along with the Denalis and Garret. For the humans, Reverend Weber would be officiating the ceremony. Charlie had invited his deputies, Mark and Brad, along with their wives, as well as Betty, and his longtime friend, Waylon. He also invited Billy Black, as well as Harry and Sue Clearwater, but they all declined to attend. In fact, since Billy and Harry were made aware that Charlie and Irina were mates, they have refused to speak to him. This upset Charlie, but his allegiance was wholly and happily with Irina.
Irina and Charlie spent their only night away from one another the previous night to preserve the tradition of the groom and bride not seeing each other the day of the wedding. This made both of them quite anxious and irritable. With Irina being sequestered at my family's house, the vampire women decided to go on an overnight hunt together, before spending the afternoon getting Irina ready. Charlie refused to allow the men to fuss over him. He and Bella had an early lunch at the diner, then after he dropped Bella off at home, he went to his longtime barber for a trim and a shave.
I was on my way over to Charlie and Bella's house, where I would hang out with Bella until the ladies got back from their hunt, then she would drive over to help get Irina ready. After Charlie was back and dressed, I would deliver him to the wedding. As I drove through town, I caught Charlie's thoughts at his barber shop. His trim and shave were nearly done. Several times this morning, he had been congratulated by residents on his upcoming nuptials. Almost everyone in Forks universally liked Irina and were happy for the both of them. The only exceptions being Charlie's La Push friends and a few women who had been crushing on Charlie for some time.
I kept driving and as I got closer to his house, I was shocked to hear the thoughts of Harry Clearwater, along with Billy and Jacob Black. They had just arrived at the Swan residence, where they hoped to have a conversation with Charlie and Bella about their involvement with Irina and myself. They knew Charlie was getting married later and they figured this was their last opportunity to save him from making a deadly and unforgivable mistake.
Bella had just let them know that Charlie was not home and if they wanted to speak to him, he could found at the barber shop. However, she warned them that if their plan was to repeat their previous insults, then they should just head back to the reservation and let her Dad enjoy his day. Billy and Harry got back in their truck to go see Charlie, while Jacob stayed behind to talk to Bella.
I pressed the gas pedal to the floor and raced as fast as I dared towards my mate. I would be damned if I was going to allow Jacob to be alone with her. I wanted my arrival at Bella's to be a surprise for Jacob, so I did not want Harry and Billy to see me approaching and delay their plans by retrieving Jacob too soon. Just before they would have passed me, I turned down a side road. After a couple of turns, I had successfully eluded them and was back on the road heading toward's Bella's house. As I approached, I heard the thoughts of Sam Uley, who could now shape-shift into his wolf form. He was in the woods behinds Bella's house pacing back and forth. He was there to ensure nothing untoward happened should Irina or myself be at the house. I could also hear Bella speaking to Jacob at the front door. She was not allowing him into the house as he requested.
"Jacob, you really should have gone with your Dad and Mr. Clearwater. This really isn't the time for a chat about how you don't like mine or my Dad's current life choices. Besides, I am expecting Edward to be here soon." Bella glanced down to the road just as I pulled up to the house. The smile I received from her let me know she was glad I had arrived. "In fact, he's here now!"
Jacob turned and swore under his breath when he saw me. "What's he doing here?"
I exited the car and walked past him. "Nice to see you too, Jacob." I said as I turned towards Bella. "Hello, love! I leave you alone and the wolves descend." I said playfully before giving her a quick kiss on her forehead and wrapping my arm protectively around her waist. Bella gave me a coy little smile before wrapping her arm around me as well. Off in the distance I heard Sam Uley howl at my mention of wolves, while Jacob scowled not only at my comment, but also at how I kissed Bella.
Bella heard Sam's howl and looked back over her shoulder in surprise. "What the hell was that!"
"Jacob brought backup just in case I decided to break him or the treaty," I said. Given the malice in Jacob's thoughts towards me and the yearning he felt for my mate, I no longer saw the need to be cordial with him or Sam. Carlisle may wish I would act more diplomatic, but I just couldn't find it in me. Any goodwill my family gained by helping Harry Clearwater last fall had seemed to vanish once they learned about Charlie and Irina.
"Bella, can I just talk to you for a few minutes," Jacob asked before looking at me in disgust. "Privately," he added. Jacob felt honor bound to let Bella know that my family were dangerous monsters. Given that I wanted some alone time with Bella before Charlie got back, I decided the quickest way to get rid of him was to just let him speak to Bella. I would remain close by should he decide to upset her.
"The pup is not going to leave until he says his peace," I told Bella. Jacob obviously knew about my family and about his tribe's ability to shape shift, although Jacob was not able to phase into a wolf…yet. Calling him a pup really got under his skin, which of course was my intent.
Bella looked up at me with a concerned look before understanding that the only way Jacob was going to leave was if he could say what he wanted to say.
"I'll go out back and keep his pet company while he explains how terrible my family is for you and your Dad." My final remark elicited a nasty snarl from Sam. Bella's arm around my waist tightened. She did not want me to leave. "It will be ok," I told her before kissing her forehead again.
As I stepped away, Bella grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. "Be careful," she told me with a concerned look. It was then I realized she wasn't worried about being left alone with Jacob, but rather she was worried that I was going to be alone with Sam.
I smiled and I gave my brave and loving mate's hand a squeeze back. "I promise to play nice as long as they do. Who knows, may be Sam will want to play fetch." I told her.
As I walked by Jacob, he tried to knock me off balance with his shoulder. However, given my superior strength and overall body density, his effort only caused him to nearly lose his balance and fall over. While he righted himself, I gave him my best a sinister smirk. "If you know what's best," I told him. "I would try to not piss her off."
"I'm not afraid of you!" Jacob hissed back at me.
I laughed at him before nodding back towards Bella. "It's not me you need to be afraid of," I replied with a quick wink towards Bella. I then walked around to the back of the house and sat on the stacked firewood Charlie had out by the woods. Sam approached from behind but stayed hidden in the trees. He sniffed the air heavily and snarled as he caught my scent.
"You stink just as bad to me, mutt" I told him honestly. Sam barked and snarled several times, but I knew he wouldn't come any further, so I ignored his little tantrum.
Inside the house, Bella led Jacob into the family room, but made sure she positioned herself as far away from him as possible. They both heard Sam's displeasure with me. Bella looked out the window to make sure I was ok. I caught her glance and gave her a thumbs-up gesture before blowing her a mock kiss. She smiled and mouthed "I love you" before turning to Jacob.
"Let's make this quick," she told him. "You probably don't want to be here when my Dad gets back. He and I are still both pissed that you went into my room."
I had to smile at the ashamed thoughts and embarrassment Jacob currently felt. He literally winced at the memory of what had happened.
In January, Billy Black and Jacob came over to watch the Seahawks final regular season game. Bella was not home at the time, as she spent the afternoon doing homework with Angela and Alice. Every time she knew Jacob was coming over, she placed a strand of Christmas bells on the back of her bedroom door. She did not trust him to not go into her room. She was wise to do so, because during the third quarter of the game, Jacob excused himself to use the bathroom. A few moments later, Charlie heard the bells on Bella's door jangle. To say that Charlie was upset that Jacob would invade Bella's privacy would be an understatement. He was furious. When the dust settled, Billy was still welcomed, but he forbade Jacob to come over to the house.
The fact that Jacob did not know until now that Bella also knew what he had done, made this even more entertaining for me.
After a long moment, Jacob squared his shoulders and pushed away his shame. He had a job to do. "I know what they are," he finally said. "The Cullens and the others. They're…"
From Jacob's thought I could see the arch of Bella's brow challenging him to continue. He paced back and forth a few steps before continuing. He was warring with himself on how to say what was on his mind.
"They're vampires, Bella!" He said with a sneer. "How can you stand being by them? Stand having him touch you? And your Dad is going to marry one of them!"
"My Dad and I know exactly what they are!" Bella spat back. " They are loving, considerate, loyal, and tolerant. Human or not, they are good and kind people. And you know as well as I do, they do not feed from humans."
"You said it right there, Bella. They're not humans!" Jacob paced some more. He was getting agitated and upset. If didn't calm down, I was going to put a stop to this conversation very quickly. "God! How can you and Charlie not see this! How can you not see that they have you fooled! They may not currently drain humans, but they have killed people, Bella! And they will do it again! It's in their nature! They're undead, blood sucking, leaches! That's who and what they are!"
Bella took a deep breath before she walked to the front door and opened it. "If that is all you have come to say, then it's best that you leave. Now."
Jacob lowered his head. He could not understand how Bella and Charlie could be so blind and stupid to not see us as monsters. He started walking towards the open door before stopping.
"We use to play together. Do you remember that?" He asked. "We were friends. I always thought someday we'd…Bella he can't give you a real life." Jacob reached out and touched Bella's hand that was holding the door open. "Do you feel that warmth. He can't give you that, but I can. You have a choice. Charlie has q choice. My tribe can protect you and Charlie."
I instantly saw red and jumped up from my seated position. He wanted my Bella to be his! He had been dreaming and perversely fantasizing about her for years. Once he learned of the wolves and how they imprint on their eternal match, Jacob wanted Bella to be his imprint, although he was not yet a wolf and he was disheartened that Bella seemed unaffected, if not outwardly displeased by his presence.
From behind me, Sam Uley snarled at my sudden movement. I hissed right back at him. If he attacked, Sam would quickly find out that not only was I a lot faster, but that I was easily strong enough to break more than few of his bones. To demonstrate my point, I picked up a log from the wood pile and tore it down the middle, before pulverizing each half in my fingers. Sam pulled back a step into the woods. He was told we were strong by the elders, but this was the first time he experienced it himself.
Before I could take a step towards the house. Bella pulled her hand from Jacob's grip as she reached behind her and felt for something on the small hall table near the door. And instant later, Bella held up the canister of pepper spray Charlie had given her. She pointed it directly at Jacob's face as she backed away from him.
"If you touch me again, you're going to find out what it feels like to get sprayed with this," Bella hissed.
Jacob stood in shock. The canister of pepper spray was only a foot or so away from his face. Through his thoughts, I could see Bella's finger twitch overtop of the trigger mechanism. I was not ashamed that a part of me really wanted Bella to pull the trigger.
Jacob struggled for a moment with what to do. His attraction to Bella fought against his better judgement. He glanced between Bella and the pepper spray before he slowly raised his hands. After and long moment, Bella lowered the pepper spray, but still held it so it could be used at a moment's notice.
"Jacob, you need to give up this fantasy you have about us being together," Bella said in a commanding voice. "Let me make this clear to you. It. Will. Not. Happen. Ever!" Bella paused to allow her words to sink in. They stabbed at Jacob like a knife. "I want you to leave. If you don't, Edward will make sure that you do. If I say the word, he'll be in here like…" Bella finished by snapping her fingers together.
Jacob glanced towards the back of the house with a frown. He had forgotten what he was told about our enhanced senses, although he doubted it would have changed what he had said or done. He came by to make her see reason and to make her see him as a man, but that all failed. Now, Bella only looked at him with disgust. Instead of improving her opinion of himself, Jacob actually made it worse. If his previous thoughts about Bella were not so perverse, I might have been tempted to actually feel sorry for him. However, my patience was at its end with Jacob and Sam.
Bella nodded pointedly at the door. He opened his mouth to make a final plee, but Bella shook her head looked away from him. Finally accepting defeat, Jacob looked at Bella one final time, before leaving the house. As he walked down the street, anger and contempt for me and Irina ruled his thoughts. Sam snarled and barked at me one more time before following Jacob through the woods. They both hoped Billy and Harry had more luck with Charlie.
With them gone, I darted into the house and wrapped my arms around Bella.
"Are you ok, love?" I asked.
"I am now." Bella sighed and leaned into me. "He really is delusional if he actually thought I would be into him! Even if I wasn't irrevocably in love with you, I would never pick him!" Bella shuddered in my grasp. The idea of Jacob and Bella together was beyond repulsive to me, and I was very glad Bella felt the same.
"I think he is starting to realize that, or at least he better come to that understanding. I would hate to have to explain to Carlisle that the treaty was broken by me tearing Billy Black's son to shreds."
Before we could say anything more, my phone rang with Alice's ring tone. With a sigh, I answered. "Hello, Alice. What's up?"
"Edward, I don't know how to explain his, but you just disappeared from my visions for about ten minutes. What's going on?"
"What do you mean, I disappeared?" I asked in confusion. I thought about what just transpired. "Did Bella also disappear? How about Charlie?"
"No, I could still see Bella and Charlie," Alice replied. "It was just you that I lost the ability to see. I saw the Quileutes visting. Jacob Black staying. You arriving, then nothing. What did you do?"
I thought about it for a second before it all clicked. "Alice, Sam Uley was here in wolf-form. He was in the woods behind Bella's house."
"I know, I saw everyone's reaction to him when you arrived, but didn't see any visions of him," Alice added.
"I was standing about ten yards away from him during your black out." Bella was following our conversation and gasped at the implications of what I just said. "I think the wolves may somehow be able to short circuit your gift." Through the phone I could hear Jasper and Emmett curse. I agreed with their sentiment.
I paused and thought over the implications of this revelation, as I was sure Alice and my family were doing the same. My gift still worked, but somehow Alice's did not. We would have to be cautious with the wolves. Currently it was only Sam Uley, but from his thoughts I was able to see that another Quileute had started the process of gaining the ability to shape-shift. Our continued presence in the area would mean more would follow, including Jacob. If Alice lost her visions for anyone near a wolf, we would need to take care to stay away from them. I was sure this epiphany would be heavily discussed within my family in the coming days and weeks.