~ Forks, Washington - June 27, 2005 ~
I stretched out languidly on Bella's tiny bed. I crossed my legs and folded my arms behind my head, as I breathed in and out slowly allowing Bella wondrous scent to saturate me. All too soon I will not have her human scent to torture and entice me.
The preparations for Bella's and Charlie's change were well underway. As I lounged in Bella's room, Charlie and Bella were down at the Forks Town Hall, meeting with the town council about Charlie's sabbatical.
Kate, Garrett, Alice, Jasper, Rose, and Emmett were up in Alaska. Kate and Garrett were getting the Denali guest house ready for Irina and Charlie to use, and most likely destroy. My family was trying to fix up the cabin on the property I bought, before we traveled up there next week. I told them to not worry too much about the cabin's amenities, as once Bella was changed, things like a working kitchen or a functioning outhouse, would no longer be necessary. Also, given Bella's expected strength and temperament, I expected a fair amount of structural damage to occur to the cabin.
Finally, Carlisle, Esme, and Irina were at my family's house discussing the specifics of how Irina should change Charlie. Even though the plan would be for Carlisle to stay close to each couple as a precaution, Irina and I were excited to be the ones to change our mates. Given that I had witnessed the act several times and already discussed this at length with Carlisle, I did not feel the need to go over the process again. Instead, I wanted to basque in the ambiance of Bella's room.
After today's meeting with the Town Council, we had one more major task on our plate. One that I was not looking forward too. We had to meet with the Quileute leaders to let them know what the plans would be, and ask for two exemptions to the treaty. We did not expect the tribe to take our news or our request well, even though I had seen in Billy Black's and Harry Clearwater's thoughts that expected Charlie's and Bella's mortality to end at some point. Further complicating the matter was that Alice had not been able to see the outcome of the meeting, so we would have to wait to see what our future held with regard to Forks and the Quileutes.
The blasting ring of my phone interrupted my solitude…again. Over the past hour, Emmett and Rose had called several times to go over cabin details. The roof, chinking, fireplace chimney, and window glazing all required work. Also the generator was beyond repair, so a new one would be needed. After the third call, I gave them carte blanche to do whatever they felt was needed. I was not worried, at least until I heard Alice squeal in delight.
What am I thinking allowing Alice to have free reign! Next week, instead of a rustic cabin, I just know I will find the Taj Mahal!
I glanced down at the phone. Instead of Emmett or Rose, it was Alice.
With a heavy sigh, I answered, "Alice, if you are calling to ask about bedding thread count, I am going to hang up."
"No!" Alice's slightly panicked voice got my attention. "Edward, Bella and Charlie just disappeared. I can't see them right now."
"What?" I exclaimed as I bolted up from the bed.
"Perhaps one of the Quileutes attended the meeting at the last minute, but that is all I can guess at this moment."
I tried to remain calm. It was probably nothing to worry about, but I would not chance anything when it came to Bella and Charlie.
"Ok, I'm going down to the Town Hall now," I said as I darted down to my car.
"Good! I knew that you would. I'll keep a lookout. Should I call Irina?"
"Um, let me see what's going on at the Town Hall. If they are not there, I'll text you."
"Sounds good, and Edward? The bedding is a four hundred thread count of one hundred percent organic Egyptian cotton." Alice teased.
"Thank you for the heads up, Alice! Bye!" I hung up and started the car.
Charlie's house was just outside of my gift's range to the Town Hall. I was glad I would start to hear the council member's thoughts after a few turns in the road.
I parked the car in front of the Town Hall. From the thoughts inside, the meeting went as expected and ended quickly. The three town council members were sad about Charlie leaving, but they felt Mark would make a good replacement. They would wait the mandatory forty-eight hour waiting period, but Charlie would get his sabbatical.
I could not hear Charlie's thoughts or Bella's heartbeat, but Mark was still on site, so I went inside to see if he knew where they went.
"Hello, Deputy Mark," I greeted. "Or, should I call you Chief now?"
"Hey, Edward. Charlie will always be the Chief in my mind, but yeah, I think the council will grant Charlie his request."
I could see from his thoughts that Charlie was very emphatic that Mark be named interim Chief, at least until Charlie tells the council, in a year or so, that his sabbatical would be permanent.
"Well, congratulations! You deserve it." I causally looked around pretending to search for Charlie and Bella. "Is Charlie still here?"
"No, towards the end of the meeting, Harry Clearwater came by. After it was over, he asked if Charlie and Bella could go down to the Rez."
"Oh," I responded as calmly as I could, but I was now anxious beyond any reasonable measure. Billy and Harry were furious with Charlie over his choice of wife. Much to Charlie's chagrin, they were not on friendly speaking terms from what I understood. They forbade Charlie to step foot on Reservation grounds, after what they felt was his betrayal and utter stupidity for marrying a bloodsucker.
Mark looked around to see if anyone was listening in before softly adding, "I think Harry and Billy wanted to say goodbye in private, and I hope, apologize for the whole Irina dust-up. I don't know why they dislike Irina so much, because she's seems perfect for Charlie. Hell, if Charlie and Irina don't mind the age difference, why should anyone else. It's pretty obvious they are head-over-heals for one another. Anyway, Charlie and Bella followed Harry back to the Rez."
"Or maybe Harry just wanted to spill some of the latest fishing gossip," I quipped, hiding my anger. "Ok, thanks, Mark, and congratulations again!"
I shook Mark's hand, making sure I did not break it, given how unbalanced I felt.
God damn it!
If the wolves felt Irina or I would not break the treaty and go to the Reservation to ensure our mate's safety, they would be wrong. Dead wrong.
I quickly texted Alice and Irina, before I sped down the road that led to the Reservation. I had decided that charging into hostile territory, half-cocked, was probably not a great idea. As I approached the infamous treaty line, I caught the thoughts of two Quileutes in their wolf form, just inside the woods. I knew I could not use my gift from the treaty line down into the Reservation. The distance was too far, however with the wolves being present, I may not have to violate the treaty…at least unless I really needed too.
I jammed on the car's brakes, screeching to a halt at the side of the road, not three feet from the treaty line. I got out and stepped right on the boundary. The two wolves both came through tree line, before snapping and snarling at me.
"It's going to take a hell-of-a-lot more than your growls to get me to leave!" I said to them in my most commanding voice. "I know Bella and Charlie are at the Reservation. I also know you have the ability to communicate amongst yourselves in wolf form."
The two wolves looked to one another momentarily before snarling at me again. From their thoughts they were not aware that we had that knowledge. They also did not know that I could read their thoughts. If I was lucky, I could use both of these unknowns to my advantage.
"Go tell Sam Uley I am here, and that he has an hour to return Charlie and Bella before I come down and get them!" I stepped back and leaned against my car with my arms folded. I glanced at my watch and raised my brow. "Time is ticking away here. Sixty minutes and then things are going to get interesting."
The smaller of the two wolves snapped at me, before tearing through the woods back to the reservation.
I could tell from the thoughts of the remaining wolf, that only three Quileutes had the ability to shape shift. Sam Uley, their alpha was the first. Then the wolf in front of me, Paul. And finally a younger boy, named Quill, whom just left to pass on my message.
Through Paul's mind, I followed Quill through his trek. As he reached the reservation, he phased back into his human form. Unfortunately, I lost the connection to him as soon as the change started. Paul, got more agitated knowing that until Quill or Sam phased back into a wolf, he was alone with me. He wasn't necessarily afraid, although he really should be. He was young and inexperienced with my kind, and I was fast and motivated. He would not last long if it came to a fight between us. I probably would choose to not kill him, but maiming was a certainty.
I continued to lean against the car, acting as casual as I could muster. My nonchalant attitude, only aggravated Paul even more, which of course was the entire point. After a few minutes, Quill phased back into wolf form. He was positioned right outside Billy Black's house. As he relayed Sam's orders, I heard them as well.
"I told Sam about the bloodsucker at the border. He wants you to stand guard at the line. I am to stay here and report back any changes. If the bloodsucker moves across the line, Sam wants to know immediately, but do not take him down. Only attack if Sam gives the ok."
Paul did not have a problem being the first line of defense. Although knowing he could not attack me as he wished, caused a ferocious growl to escape his snout as he paced back and forth in front of the line.
Once Paul calmed down a bit, he used his connection with Quill to listen in to the conversation inside Billy's house. The wolves' have hearing that is better than a human's, but not quite as good as a vampire. Luckily, Quill's hearing was more than adequate to hear the talk within the house. Which is what I was hoping for. Between the telepathic link between Quill and Paul, I would be able to hear as well.
"There is a bloodsucker out at the highway treaty line," Sam told the assembled people at Billy's "It's the young one that favors, Bella. He said we had an hour to get Charlie and Bella back before he comes here to get them."
"I would like to see him try," Billy spat.
"No, you really don't, Mr. Black," Bella answered defiantly. "I've seen some of Edward's speed and strength. You have no idea what to expect should he cross that treaty line."
"And if I had to guess, 'Rina won't be far behind." Charlie added. "You don't want to see her angry! Given that our last conversation ended with you threatening me and Bella should we ever come back to the Reservation, you should have expected our loved ones would not like us coming here. So lets get this show on the road. You asked us to come. We are here. Edward has given you an hour, I am giving you even less."
I smirked at Bella's and Charlie's bravado. Even though I could only hear the spoken conversation and not any thoughts, I could tell Bella and Charlie were not happy being summoned after the Quileutes acted so unreasonably when they found out Charlie was going to marry Irina. Facing Charlie's and Bella's wrath was not something the Quileutes should take lightly. Between the two of them, there was a lot of pent up anger and hurt.
I heard the thoughts of Irina, Carlisle, and Esme approaching at a high rate of speed as they ran through the woods.
"I am almost there, Edward!" Irina screamed in her thoughts. "If those damn wolves so much as touch my Charlie, treaty or not, I will make them pay!"
A moment later, Paul was facing four vampires, instead of one. He took a step back and snarled at my newly arrived family. Irina crouched and hissed back at Paul with equal animosity. It was her first time seeing one of the Quileute spirt warriors in wolf form, but she wouldn't care if he was twice as big as he was. She was quite irate and lethal.
Quill, saw the whole thing in Paul's thoughts, so he phased back into a human. When he did, my connection to Black residence was once again broken.
"Where are they?" Irina spat from her crouch as she glared at Paul. "Is Charlie ok?"
"Harry Clearwater asked Charlie and Bella to go to Reservation for a chat," I responded while I remained calm and continued to lounge against the car. "Charlie and Bella are fine. I gave the Quileutes and hour to have their chat before I would cross the line and escort them home. Now I am waiting."
"How can you be so calm!" Irina hissed. "To hell with an hour, I say we go now!"
"Can you hear Bella and Charlie through the shared mind link?" Carlisle asked in his thoughts. I just simply nodded. I refused to openly give away our tactical advantage.
Carlisle leaned down and whispered to both Irina and Esme that we needed to remain calm and follow my lead, given that I was using the wolves link to one another to listen in. Carlisle and Esme joined me, and leaned against my car, echoing my stance, while Irina worked to suppress her anger.
"Irina and the wolf appear to have the same temperament," Esme thought to me as she watched both creatures pace back and forth.
I nodded again and smirked at how close to the truth that statement was.
My eyes and focus shifted to Paul once Quill phased back into a wolf.
"I just told Sam that there are now four bloodsuckers at the line," Quill spoke telepathically to Paul. "He says nothing has changed. Hold your ground and I'll relay back any changes." Quill and Paul did not like this new change in the odds, but Sam was the alpha and his word was law.
Soon the conversation continued at the Black residence and my focused shifted.
"Three other bloodsuckers just arrived at the line," Sam told the group. "Carlisle and Esme Cullen, plus Charlie's…"
"I think the correct word you are looking for is wife," Charlie interrupted. "Any other term besides that, and you and I will be having a serious problem."
"Fine! Your wife has arrived, and she's pissed," Sam added.
"Told you," Charlie quipped. "Now I'm pissed. Your time just got shorter. Say your peace, or we're leaving."
I motioned for Irina to come over to me. When she was close, I whispered to her, "Your husband is a badass." Followed by a quick wink.
Irina looked at me for long moment and gave me a small smile, before thinking, "Thank you, for that." She seemed to calm down a bit knowing that Charlie was standing his ground. To Irina, he was always her hero.
"So, I'll just come to point of it," Billy spoke. "I heard you are leaving your job as Chief of Police and traveling for a year or more. You know the treaty we have with the Cullens forbids them from changing anyone. If you go through with what I am thinking you have planned…"
"You'll what, Billy?" Charlie interrupted. "Hunt us down? Kill us? The treaty you have with the Cullens never took into account mating, which is what has happened for both Bella and I."
"You can't be serious, they just have you both glamoured or something," Sam replied.
"Sam…" Harry said before Sam continued.
"The bloodsuckers are only playing with you! You can't actually believe they feel something like love for you? They're monsters!" Sam spat.
"How dare you!" Bella yelled back at Sam. "You know nothing about Edward, Irina, or the rest of the Cullens. They don't go around spewing hate like I hear from your saintly tribe. Look in the mirror, I think you'll see who the real monsters are here."
"Hey, Sam," Charlie added. "Were you glamoured by Emily? Is that why you left Harry's daughter? Maybe, Emily is just playing with you."
"How…" Harry said before Charlie cut him off.
"How, what?" Charlie continued. "How did I know that Sam imprinted on Emily, and left Leah, your daughter, without looking back! That's what you call it right, imprinting. Yeah, well don't look so surprised. Do you really think after the send off you gave me before my wedding I wasn't going to dig into your tribal history and keep my ear to ground to hear what has been going on at the Rez? Did you think I wasn't going to find out about the scar Emily has on her face or how she got it?"
"Yeah, what exactly do you tell yourself, Sam, when you look at Emily." Bella added. "I bet you feel no guilt what so ever, because you are the leader of the big, righteous, cult of La Push wolves, aren't you! No monsters here to worry about, huh?"
I couldn't help thinking to myself that Bella was also pretty badass as well!
"Look, I can see this was a mistake coming here," Charlie told the group. "For one moment I allowed myself to believe that you got your heads out your rear ends long enough to see that vampire mating and Quileute imprinting are really the same thing. I couldn't stop falling for 'Rina if I tried, and neither could she. Maybe it was wrong for me to throw Sam's imprinting into this, but just like he never had a choice once it happened, neither did Irina or I. The same goes for Bella and Edward. You know, it was I who asked Carlisle to setup the meeting with your tribe for the day after tomorrow. You see, I had this foolish hope that someday I could return and at least show you that I was ok. But now, I just want to get the hell out! You showed me your true colors when I decided to get married. I see nothing has changed. Some tribal story this will make, huh? Although somehow I think you'll forget to add the part about being a bunch a hateful, hypocritical bigots!"
Charlie paused. I could hear how hurt he sounded has he confronted his long-time friends.
"By the way, Harry, just remember where you would be right now if it wasn't for the Cullens. They took all your tribe's insults and hate on the chin without any complaints. And, when you needed help, they showed more forgiveness, compassion and understanding in one hour than your whole tribe has shown me, my wife, or them since their arrival. They saved your fucking life, Harry! Somehow that won't make it into the tribal stories either, I'll bet. Yeah, they're monsters, aren't they? Come on, Bella, we're leaving!"
There was sound of movement in the house, before the door opened. Charlie and Bella stomped out of the house. Through Quill's eyes I could see he hurt and anger on both of their faces. Bella and Charlie looked up at Quill. The shock of seeing the giant wolf was clear, but neither stopped until they got to the car.
Charlie started the engine and backed out on to the small road that wove through the Reservation. Before driving forward, both Bella and he looked onto the house and shook their heads. Suddenly, the front door of the house swung open.
"Charlie, wait!" Billy cried out. Charlie hesitated before putting the car into park. Billy wheeled himself over to the driver's side of the car, where Charlie had his window open.
"Despite what some other elders may want," Billy said solemnly before looking over at Sam and Harry, each nodding back at Billy, "I'm throwing out the treaty with the Cullens. It is no longer needed. If you decide to come back to Forks, with golden eyes of course, I will be looking forward to seeing my old friend." Billy paused, before adding, "And your wife."
Charlie nodded before putting the car in gear and driving away.
Sam phased into a wolf, and through my connection with Paul, I immediately picked up his thoughts. Sam was ashamed of his words and actions, both today and in our previous encounters. He never considered himself a hateful person, but somehow he was. He also never considered that his view of the world was tainted by only accepting parts of the tribe's long history, but it was.
Perhaps the tribal stories would one day tell of how a pair of humans, mated to vegetarian vampires, helped the spirit warriors learn acceptance and tolerance.
"Paul, Quill, stand down and meet me back at my house. The Cullens and Irina Swan can come and go as they please. We no longer need to have a treaty with them. They are not a threat or our enemies." Sam gave the pack his orders.
Upon hearing them, Quill was relieved, as he never wanted a fight. Paul, on the other hand was furious, but would comply. He gave us one more threatening snarl, before running off into the woods to meet up with his pack.
I gave him a salute as his receded into the woods. "I miss him already!" I said mockingly, before turning to my family.
"What's going on?" Irina asked anxiously. "Is Charlie leaving? Is he safe?"
"Yes, he and Bella are driving out now. They should be here in a few minutes." I said as I just started to pickup Charlie's thoughts, which unsurprisingly, were of Irina and if she was ok.
"I was able to hear most of the conversation, thanks to the wolves telepathic link. The short version of the story is the tribe has decided a treaty between us and them is no longer needed."
Carlisle and Esme looked stunned at this revelation and what it implied.
"Does this mean the Quileutes will not retaliate once we change Charlie and Bella?" Irina asked.
"That is correct, Charlie and Bella are free to be changed. Also, there will be no need to leave Forks if we don't want to once their newborn phase is over." I looked over my shoulder at Charlie's cruiser approaching. "I'll let Charlie and Bella tell you the whole story, they were both amazing."
Rights after I kiss my badass Bella senseless!
Author's Note...
Well, at least before the gang heads to Alaska, Charlie was able to get some closure with his Quileute friends. Thank you all again for reading and reviewing! I'll see you on Friday.
-Chris