PREVIOUSLY-
After what felt like forever, Jasper flashed away, and Sam was climbing into the truck.
"What did he say?" I asked him quickly.
"He said that he's left Alice, that her and Edward had something planned for you but the imprint ruined it. Apparently Alice had forced him to use his abilities on you to keep you thinking you were in love with Edward. She'd told him that she'd seen something terrible happen if he didn't. He found out that she was lying about it the night before the wedding, which is why he stopped manipulating your emotions. It was how you were able to leave. He doesn't know what they're going to do, only that he would help us when the time came." Sam told me.
So I had been manipulated into loving Edward. In a way it made me relieved, but at the same time I felt almost degraded.
I was nervous too. I didn't know what their plan was and I was afraid of what it could possibly be.
When we got home after dropping the girls off, I put my bags down in the house and ran my hands through my hair.
"You okay, honey?" Sam asked as he walked up behind me.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's just difficult to wrap my head around, knowing that I've essentially been emotionally drugged into loving someone. I never expected it to have been Jasper, but I guess that makes sense." I told him as he wrapped his arms around me.
"I can't even begin to imagine what it's like, Bella. Your choices were taken away. I just—" Sam cut himself off sounding upset.
I turned around in his arms and looked at him questioningly. "You just what?"
He took a deep breath. "I just hope you don't feel like the imprint is forcing you to be with me. You don't have to. It doesn't have to be that way."
"Sam, hold up. Where is this coming from? You know I don't feel that way about our relationship. You can literally feel what I do." I told him immediately.
"I know, I just worry that it's all maybe happening too fast for you—"
"Is it moving too fast for you?" I interrupted worriedly.
"Of course not. I love you and I want to make sure you don't feel rushed into something you're not ready for." Sam said, making my entire train of thought stop completely.
"Say that again." I asked him quickly.
"What? I want to make sure you don't feel rushed—"
"No, what you said just before that." I countered.
"I love you." He stated, looking directly in my eyes.
I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it wouldn't ever be too soon for me to say it back to him.
"I love you too." I replied. He leaned forward and kissed me sweetly, our disagreement long forgotten.
After I pulled away, I rested my head against his chest just listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
I loved Sam. This time I wasn't forced into it. My emotions weren't manipulated. This love was the real thing.
"What were we talking about?" I asked him after a little while.
"I have no clue." He replied with a grin. "We do, however, have a meeting with Dr. Cullen at the treaty line in about 20 minutes though."
I'd forgotten about that with our little run in with Jasper.
"Where's Seth? I'm sure he'll want to go too." I asked, having not seen him since we got home.
"He's out patrolling. He'll meet us at the treaty line. Did you want me as a wolf or as a human?" He questioned.
"Human. Seth can stay wolf. I feel bad though, he's been phased most of the day already." I mentioned to him and he chuckled.
"It's alright, Bella. He loves being a wolf. There's a certain freedom about it." He replied happily.
That thought made me feel better. "Do you want to go as a wolf?"
"No, honey. I might have some questions for the Doc and that would be a bit difficult now while I'm in wolf form without a translator." He told me.
That made sense, considering Edward was now out of the picture. Even then, I'd remembered that Edward could no longer read Sam's mind. I wondered if it was because he couldn't read mine and my life was now connected to Sam.
"Human it is. How are we getting there?" I asked him curiously. "I was hoping maybe—"
I stopped short, wondering if it was weird to ask. "Finish your thought, Bella."
"I wondered if maybe you could carry me there… as a wolf?" I asked him shyly. His eyebrows rose at my words. "I mean, if that's even possible?"
"I can safely say that it's never been tried before, but in theory it's possible, as long as you hold on to my fur pretty tightly. Do you want to try?" He questioned.'
I nodded nervously but excitedly.
He motioned for me to follow him outside, so I did. Not even bothering to go into the woods, he took off his shirt and threw it onto the porch before sliding his shorts off and tying them around his ankle.
At a safe enough distance away from me, he phased into my favorite black wolf and promptly laid on the ground at my feet.
I leaned down and kissed his muzzle, earning me a lick on the face in return. I then made my way to his side. Since he was lying down, I was able to climb onto his back and situate myself leaning forward, grabbing onto his fur tightly. I silently hoped I wasn't hurting him but the thought disappeared as he rose to his feet.
It was definitely high up. Just as high as a horse, but I felt steady and safe. I rubbed one of my hands around, letting him know it was okay to go. He started walking forward into the forest before slowly picking up speed.
It was exhilarating. Feeling the wind through my hair and holding onto my wolf… I was loving every second of it.
It wasn't long before my protector joined us, running alongside. It made me wonder what kind of conversation they were having in the pack mind. I'd have to remember to ask Sam later.
It felt like it was too soon before we made it to the treaty line where Carlisle was already waiting, seated on a tree stump and looking in surprise at my preferred method of travel.
Sam laid down and I carefully slid off his back before he phased human and pulled on his shorts. Seth stayed phased and positioned himself next to me on the opposite side of Sam, standing in a defensive position.
"Bella, Sam, and am I correct in assuming that would be Seth?" Carlisle asked as he stood to walk over to us.
"Yes, that's Seth." Sam replied before I could.
"I sense there's another reason he's here as well?" Carlisle questioned.
"He imprinted on me too." I blurted out. Upon seeing his shocked face, I decided to clarify. "For protection. He's my protector while Sam is my mate."
"Ah, I see. I don't quite understand the inner workings of imprints, but I can tell it's a very strong connection you share with both. I can only apologize that I did not see what was happening under my very roof and prevent it sooner so that you could have discovered your true destiny before now." He told me.
"There's a lot of things I could respond with, but that's not the reason I asked to speak with you." I replied.
"Of course. I assume it's about the Volturi?" He spoke, already knowing what I was there for.
I nodded. "What can I do about them?"
"I will go to Italy myself and speak with them. Perhaps if they know about your newfound permanent ties to another of the supernatural world, they will be willing to grant clemency." Carlisle said to me.
"Do you think that will be enough?" Sam asked him quickly.
"I'm not sure. There has not been a similar case that I'm aware of. The Volturi are over a thousand years old. Their only law is to keep our world a secret. If it is proven that Bella will have to keep our secret because she is also bound by yours, then theoretically she is of no threat." He responded.
"How soon will this take place?" Sam questioned.
"I will leave tomorrow. I can send word with their decision shortly after."
Sam nodded to him.
"I heard that Jasper spoke with you. He, Rosalie, and Emmett will remain at our home here while Esme and I go to Italy. They will all assist if any problems arise with either Edward or Alice. Again, Bella, I am truly sorry that all of this came to be under my watch. I didn't expect this and I am deeply ashamed." Carlisle spoke directly to me.
"I know, Carlisle. I'm sorry it's torn your family apart. Thank you for going to Italy on my behalf." I replied to him.
"Of course. Anything I can do to help." He responded curtly.
I turned to Sam. "Do you have anything else to talk to him about?" I asked him.
"A few things. Why don't you go home with Seth and I'll be back soon?" Sam suggested.
I nodded, leaning up to kiss him before looking toward Seth who had already laid down in anticipation. I climbed on his back and although I could tell he was more nervous about it than Sam, we made our way back to the house.
A/N- So Carlisle is going to speak with the Volturi on behalf of Bella. How do you think that will play over?
