Chapter 14 – Confessions

BPOV

His roar pierced the air and filled the room. Edward glared at Victoria and bared his teeth. "Let's finish this. Once and for all," Edward spoke through his teeth. Victoria leaned into a crouch and snarled at Edward. She lunged at him and he darted out of the way. Victoria landed near the opening, where the glass wall was. She was on her feet, whirled around to face Edward, but she wrinkled her nose.

There was a deep snarling coming into the house. Victoria whirled around and saw the large russet wolf stalking her. It was Jacob. Jacob's large black eyes were on me, then he looked to Victoria. He was ready to attack her.

The blood flow was restricted and I was slipping away. My eyes became long tunnels, trying to hold onto Edward. My vision was playing tricks on me. I thought I was seeing Jacob stalking Victoria. There was the russet color of his fur. I fought with my eyelids, trying to keep them open. Jacob's massive wolf mouth opened, showing rows of sharp teeth and he caught Victoria's arm. Victoria's fist made contact with Jacob's side. He buckled in pain, but his hold on her arm was still strong. Taking the advantage, he ripped her arm from her body.

She let out an ear-splitting scream. A massive roar came from behind me. It vibrated through me, bringing me back to consciousness. I felt Riley's arms loosen from around me and I fell to the floor. The blood rushed back to my head, almost painfully. My body hit the floor on my back and several shards puncture my skin. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. Red was creeping across the floor, it was my blood.

It began to pool around me just like it did in the ballet studio. The salt and rust smell assaulted my senses, making me sick. I wanted to get away, knowing I was near blood-thirsty vampires, but my body felt too heavy.

My eyes couldn't stay open. The darkness was making the tunnels close. The darkness was coming for me, just like in the ballet studio. Would I come out of it again? There was a terrible ripping sound that brought me back, but it wasn't enough. It was strange experiencing history again. If I woke up, I just prayed I would be with Edward.


EPOV

A scent was getting stronger as it came in from outside. BELLA! I recognized Jacob's voice. Jacob's grip on Victoria wasn't letting up. "No! Let her go!" Riley screeched. When Jacob ripped her arm from her body, Riley roared and released Bella to protect Victoria. I was frozen as I watched Bella fell on her back and I heard the shards puncture her skin. The scent of her blood wafted across the room. Bella! No, I couldn't lose her, not again.

She wasn't going to be taken from me, not now. Riley was speeding over to Jacob. Jacob readied himself for the fight, when riley suddenly topped and whirled around. The smell of Bella's blood registered to him and he was thirsty. So sweet. Riley was ready to attack her. My attention was solely on him as I readied to stop him, when Victoria registered to me. She was inching her way out of the house.

Knocking riley out of the way, I lifted Bella from the floor and placed her on the couch. Jacob was focused on Victoria. He was here longer than I thought. He heard that Bella decided to marry me and he wanted to get his anger out. Riley was his relief and Victoria was going to be mine. My hand caught her by her leg and dragged her haggard body back into the house. "No, Victoria."

Her leg snapped off from my strength and she screamed again. She leapt away from me and snarled. Her leg was tossed across the room landing with the remains of her arm. Jacob contributed to the pile with Riley's parts.

Victoria was now on the floor, still glaring. I stood over her, with my foot on her neck. My fist balled up in satisfaction and punched her full-long into her chest, creating a hole through her whole entire body. With her only arm, Victoria examined the damage. She wasn't breathing, as parts of her lungs were gone. She wanted to scream out in rage, but she couldn't. The smell of Bella's blood permeated the air, catching Victoria's attention. She was thirsty and ready for the kill.

No, I would let her die thirsty. My hand covered Victoria's mouth and nose, cutting off the scent. She glared at me and my teeth sank into her neck, as I did with James. Then, with a quick swipe, Victoria's head was detached from her body. I stood over her dismembered body, revealing in this. It was over, she was gone and Bella was safe. Victoria's head was added to the pile, where Jacob was pulling Riley's torso to. His mind was on Bella. The last image in his mind of her was bleeding out on the couch. Lighting the fire, I flew over to Bella's side.

My body was difficult to move as I made my way over to her. Bella was breathing, but just barely. She was losing too much blood, as it saturated the couch. I lifted her body and took her to Carlisle's office. Blood saturated her hair and clothes. The scent of her blood bombarded me, but that wasn't a concern. Jacob changed back into his human form and followed me. He didn't trust me alone with Bella bleeding. Carlisle had some hospital supplies in his office. "Jacob, I'll need your help."

In Carlisle's office, I laid Bella on Carlisle's couch. Jacob right behind me, "What do you need?" If he wasn't in her life, none of this would have happened. "Get the examining table." I pointed to it in Carlisle's closet, while I got the instruments I needed. I tried to ignore Jacob's mental jibs. He had the medical table set up in the middle of the room. I took Bella and laid her face down on the table. This table was made for this particular procedure. There was a hole for her face, so that she can breathe. I directed Jacob to put the air mask over her mouth.

Tearing open the back of her shirt, I saw the total damage. There were several long cuts in her back. I injected her with morphine. "How do you know what to do?" Jacob asked. His eyed me, waiting for me to lose control inhaling and handling Bella's blood. "I have two medical degrees and I've worked as Carlisle's assistant." My body whirled to the desk and got out Carlisle's bag. The morphine had worked through her bloodstream, I could smell the difference.

There were long shards stuck in her back. They were small, but I could easily see them. Jacob stood still, watching me work over Bella. After getting all the shards out, I began to dress her wounds. I can't believe she wants to marry him, after he's done this to her, Jacob thought, while keeping her hair from her back. "It was her decision, Jacob Black." He sneered as he continued to watch me stitch Bella's back. "Don't worry, Jacob. Her blood isn't tempting me."

He raised an eyebrow "Really?" Jacob didn't believe me. "Yes, she told you about James when he attacked her. I had to draw the venom out from her blood, before it began the change her. So I've tasted her blood." His began to tremble, thinking about my teeth cutting through her skin. "Calm down, Jacob. Bella is safe from me attacking her. Also, being separated from her for so long, her blood isn't a temptation for me."

Jacob spoke through his teeth, "You tasted her blood." Filthy leech. I didn't take my eyes from my work, but I could see through his mind, that he was focusing on Bella to calm himself. How could she want this?"She told me. So, the treaty has been broken since last spring. You bit a human." "I was saving her life. But you're mistaken. It was broken before then, when you told her what we were." This half-life of darkness. Bella deserves better than that, Jacob's mind raced as he thought about himself and Bella walking and he was telling her about his tribe's legends.

I had to focus my attention on Bella, so that I would remain calm. Jacob was correct about one thing though. Bella didn't deserve the life I lived. She deserved to bathe in sunlight with her family everyday. Why was she choosing me? "It doesn't matter now," he mumbled. She's good as dead anyway. "I know you heard Victoria." He nodded, "Yes!" "You love her, too." Jacob's eyes moved from Bella's body to my face, "How did you know?" My work was done, snipping the last thread, "I've known it from when I first came back. I can see it when you look at her and I've heard it in your thoughts."

When Alice called me and said she couldn't see Bella anymore, I remembered the panic I felt. It was almost as bad as when Rosalie told me she was dead. "That was part of the reason I went onto your land, not just because I thought she was in danger. I didn't want her to be around you because of your close relationship. I was scared she would fall for you." I was confessing the truth, though Bella couldn't hear it, "I was being selfish, taking her decisions out of her hands."

Taking an alcohol soaked gauzed, I cleaned the blood from her skin. Striking a match, I threw it into the gauze, letting it burn away the lingering scent of her blood. Trusting Jacob to watch her, I went downstairs to the freezer. Carlisle had a store of blood, just in case. It was all O-. He never admitted it, but it was also in case Jasper felt he could control himself anymore. The bag of blood hung and I hooked it up to an IV.

Jacob lifted Bella from the table and laid her carefully down on her back. I prepped a vein in her arm and stuck in the needle. The blood flowed into her body and it changed her scent, but it wouldn't last long. "It's better I didn't tell her then, but I think, in a way, she knew," Jacob confessed. I doused the gauze and shards and lit them on fire. When the fire died, I looked to Jacob,

"Why?" Jacob shook his head, "I don't want to cause her more pain. I saw how it hurt her that she had to deceive you when she came to see me. How it hurt her when I told her …" He trailed off. "I know, Jacob. She told me." I won't tell him she was crying about it. "I must admit, I'm surprised you haven't tried yet." He laughed lightly, "There was something more important to take care of first." The both of us looked to Bella's face.

The color was returning to her cheeks. The bag of blood was nearly empty. "True enough. But I'm done now. She's going to be fine. The morphine will wear off and she'll wake up soon. Do you want to try now?" Jacob glared and a smile came across his face. I should. So you can't marry her. She could stay alive. We stared at each other. "Fine then. Let me get her upstairs, so she can rest. Then, we have our fight." Jacob nodded, "The front lawn. Don't take too long." I nodded and he left the room.

I took the needle out of her arm and lifted her from the bed. I felt her bare skin on my arm. I carried Bella to my room and laid her on the couch. The morphine was still coursing through her veins, but its scent was getting weaker. She would be waking up soon. I took a blanket out of my closet and draped it over Bella's body. Her shirt was tattered and blood-stained. Trusting Jacob again, I went to Alice's closet and got a top that would fit Bella. The blouse rested over my arm as I came back into the room. I looked at her face, leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her eyelashes flutter against my skin.


BPOV

I was vaguely aware that I was being moved. Something was cold on my back, something cold and hard. The skin of my back felt funny, besides feeling cold. The skin felt like it was being tugged at and it was uncomfortable. My body was being lowered against something cool. It felt good against my back. Something heavy was draped over my body. It was quiet for a moment, then cool lips were on my forehead. That brought me back. My eyes fluttered and opened slowly. All I could see was white, marble skin. Edward drew back and I could see his face.

He brushed my hair back, "How do you feel?" His cool breath blew into my face and I felt more awake, almost dizzy, "What happened?" He smiled slightly, "Riley's grip was too tight and you passed out. Then he dropped you and you fell onto the glass. There are several wounds on your back, but they'll heal." That explained the uncomfortable tugging sensation. "I stitched you up and Jacob helped."

My eyes widened, "Jacob? He saw you?" My heart began to race. Edward heard its frantic beats. He placed his hand over my heart, "Calm down, Bella. You need to relax, so you can heal." My arms, feeling like heavy, dead things clutched at his shirt, "Edward, you need to go!" If it wasn't too late already, the other wolves would know Edward was here. He smiled ruefully, "No, Bella. Jacob is outside. He and I are going to settle our dispute."

My ears rang with despair. Edward and Jacob fighting each other. Natural enemies warring over their disputes. He kissed my forehead again and headed for the door. I gasped and heaved my body upward. The blanket fell off my body and I tried to move my legs. They felt too heavy to move. But I didn't care, I had to stop Edward from fighting with Jacob. I motioned to get off the couch and nearly fell to the floor. Edward whirled around and caught me before I hit the floor. "Bella, you shouldn't be…."

My face was hidden in his chest and tears flooding out of my eyes, soaking his shirt. "Edward, please don't go. Don't do this. Please, stay." My words were muffled from my tight embrace, "I've decided. I want to get married. We can go to Alaska or anywhere else you want. Please….. stay." I broke into uncontrollable sobs and wrapped my arms around his body.


JPOV

I phased into my wolf form and paced the lawn. The pack was heading back to the house. All their minds buzzed about their fight. They were happy for the chance to fight vampires. Laurent wasn't enough of a thrill for us and the red-head kept escaping. Well, she didn't tonight. Listening to their voices, I didn't hear Sam's in their minds.

The bloodsucker was moving through the house. He went from the second floor to the third. Bella's breathing was steady and, mostly important, so was her heart. I could hear her sighing heavily. He was right, she was going to be waking up soon. Come on, parasite. I've waited for this fight for months. To give him a taste of the pain he gave Bella. He should have stayed away.

My feet continued to pace, waiting for him to come out. I want this to be over and see Bella. I wanted to be there when she woke up, but I may be busy. Bloodsucker or not, I knew Edward was a skilled fighter. Jacob? It was Embry. Yea? I answered harshly. I didn't want any of them in my head. How is she? The others were concerned about Bella. She got injured, but her bloodsucker fixed her up. I showed them the fight in the house, letting them see that Edward was here and Bella being held by the male newborn. Where's Sam? I still didn't hear him.

He's in human form, talking with the Cullens. There he is. Sam was running toward the house following the Cullens. Sam, what's going on? We saw his conversation with the Cullens. I saw their leader too; when did he get here? They ran into the meadow; Sam, Quil, Embry, Paul and the Cullens. Sam, what have you done?


EPOV

I held Bella as she cried. Each sob tore into me. How could I think of going to fight her best friend? Especially, when she's agreed to be my wife. I just got her, so I couldn't lose her, not again. I held her back to look at her face. "Bella, I'm not going anywhere." My head turned away from her, "Carlisle is here. He's talking with Sam." Bella wiped away her tears with her trembling hand. I kissed her cheek, tasting her tears.

Blood rushed under her cheek as my lips were against her skin. Her scent was changing back to normal. My hands held her face, "Thank you." She blinked away another tear and I wiped it away with my thumb. "For what?" her voice was raspy. I smiled and brushed my thumb over her lips, "You said 'yes.' We're getting married?" She smiled and nodded. I smiled in return, "You should know, I already knew." Her smile fell, "What do you mean? I made up my mind while I was here."

Thinking about how I was informed of Bella's answer brought back the pain. Just when I was going to get her, I was close to losing her. "Victoria was having Riley watching the house. He heard you and Alice discussing wedding ideas. When she told me," I shuddered, "I was angrier than I've ever felt." She gasped in shock, "Why? Have you changed your mind about getting married?" I laughed out loud at that absurd thought, "Of course not.

I was angry because she was standing between us. Riley had his arms around you, threatening to take you away from me. I was ready to annihilate them." Seeing Bella in the arms of our enemy, keeping her hostage, anger built in my chest. I had to remind myself she was here with me, where she belonged. "They kept you from me. I wanted to hold you, even in all that malice, I was happy knowing you wanted to marry me. Thankfully, Jacob came in when he did. "

Bella looked down to her hand, "That wasn't how I wanted you to find out. I practically threatened Alice to not think about it, until I told you." My finger rested under her chin, lifting it up. She looked into my eyes, biting her lip, "I wanted us to be alone, maybe in the meadow," she exhaled, "Oh well, its done now. We just have to live through two more things." I cocked my head to the side, "What?" "Telling my dad and dealing with Alice as the wedding planner." I laughed at the ease of that, "I think the second will be the worse."