The following meeting was met with severe anxiety on all fronts. Edward hadn't heard from Bella since the woods, and she hadn't been anywhere near Forks. If she had been right in her predictions, she would no longer stand as Alpha. He didn't know much of her, but it was clear how much the title meant to her.
They went to the clearing and, for the first time, arrived early. The Quileute's arrived next and Edward was only held in place by Emmett's firm hand on his shoulder. He could see their minds filled with mirth and amusement and hatred. They knew about him and Bella, and he could see their plan to bring it to a head and force their hands. He conveyed the information to his family quietly in a vain hope that, somehow, they would be able to keep both him and Isabella from acting out.
He wished he could speak to her, but as the Makah Tribe arrived she did not stand in the middle as Alpha. In her place stood a tall willowy girl, with tanned skin and slick black hair. Her eyes were cold and calculating as she crossed her arms over her chest and waited. Carlisle thought she looked like the female version of Sam.
Isabella stood some way down the line, her eyes on the floor and her head hung low. He wondered if they had ordered her eyes on the ground, or whether it was shame that weighed them down. He wanted to go over and comfort her. He wanted to push everyone out of the way and run away with her. He didn't know her. He loved her, undeniably, without even liking her. There was emotion, but nothing solid behind it.
Jasper got on with the training and nothing was mentioned of Bella or the 'hands-on' approach they'd done the session previous. The air was hot and thick and hung around them. The new girl said nothing, showed nothing and earned no respect from the Cullen's at all. Whether they'd realised it or not, Isabella's relaxed, risk taking had endeared her to them.
Sam paid no attention to Jasper or Emmett. His focus was solely on Edward as he screamed his thoughts across the clearing. Initially, he had thought it quite amusing to hear his pitiful attempts to provoke him. Insults and mocking stabs at himself and his family were too common place to have any purchase. His attention turned to Bella. He had noticed the demotion, had revelled in seeing her usual confidence deep in the dirt.
Edward tried to ignore him, but his mental voice was so loud. He imagined Bella, bloody and bleeding on the floor. He imagined her naked with a seductive smile.
A low growl slipped from his mouth but Sam continued. Jasper glanced his way, begging him to maintain his cool. Sam hated Bella as much as she hated him. His mind filled with nothing but images of Bella broken and bleeding, of her getting everything she deserved. She was his mate, his and his alone, and he would not stand by idle while someone threatened her.
One step was all it took – his left foot hit the ground in front of him and all hell broke loose. Jasper and Emmett stopped as Sam phased into his huge wolf form and crouched, snarling at Edward. Not wanting to escalate the situation, they backed away slowly and returned to the ranks of their family.
"Back down," Carlisle hissed as his eyes danced between his son and the wolf. Edward didn't move. His eyes remained locked with Sam's as he stalked forwards. A wolf was nothing but fur and sharp claws. He was not scared of Sam.
Behind him, the Quileute's watched with hungry eyes, itching to join the fight.
He didn't see Bella raise her head from the ground. Sam prowled closer, goading Edward, teasing his instincts and God was it hard to ignore. A low growl filled the clearing and Isabella stepped out of formation; a warning and nothing more.
Sam turned his eyes on her – only thirty feet stood between them. She was calm but ready. Bent low, he suddenly pounced. She was fast – so fast nothing stopped her as she collided with Sam in a frenzy of teeth and claws. The Makah Tribe held back, wary as they were to get involved to close to the Quileute's and create an all out battle.
There was nothing but instinct and hatred. Her mind forgot about Lana and the Council, about the Treaty and the army they were supposed to be uniting against. It didn't matter. The moment Edward had taken that step forward, her fate was sealed. She would not allow anyone, never mind Sam to stand against her imprint. He was hers to protect.
Yelps and howls rang out as they kicked and bit and clawed ruthlessly at one another. Blood sprayed the grass around them. On their feet, Sam lunged for her a second time but she dodged to the left and, with her entire weight, she clamped her razor like teeth into his shoulder. An ear splitting howl pierced through the forest as he hit the ground hard. Pinned beneath her, she crouched and her teeth had barely grazed his skin before something slammed into her side and she felt another set of feet sink into the back of her neck. They landed heavily on the floor and it loosened his grip. Back on her feet, snarling and ready to rip out as many throats as needed, she watched Thomas squaring off against a bleeding, but standing Sam. The small rust-coloured wolf in front of her snarled and snapped its teeth as they began to circle one another.
"Enough!"
The new Alpha had spoken, and Thomas immediately rose from his crouched stance and backed away towards their back. Bella didn't move. Once a wolf is an Alpha, there is no going back. There was a reason demoting someone was horrendous all around – she had no allegiances to this new Alpha, and had the right to lead herself. Her orders tugged on her mind, but where easily cast away.
"Bella!" Lana yelled somewhat hysterically, but her eyes were on the wolf in front of her. Sam limped his way back to his pack and barked loudly. The red wolf backed up, his eyes boring into her endlessly right up until he bounded off into the forest.
She stared after him. Part of her wanted to hunt him down and have it out – the urge to tear something apart was quite overwhelming. She knew it wasn't him, or not completely. She'd told them she didn't want to be in the clearing, that she shouldn't be there but they had insisted. If she wanted to be a part of the Pack, she couldn't bow out.
"Get back to the reservation," Lana ordered, walking over to her. Blood splattered the grass and Bella could taste it on her tongue. "Now!" Lana all but screamed at her.
Bella was in no mood to be ordered around – never mind by the bitch who ran straight to the Council and ratted her out. Her eyes zeroed in on Lana and, with a fury she'd never felt before in her entire life, she snarled. She sound was quiet and low, but the meaning was clear and Lana quickly stumbled back for the cover of the pack. She glanced back only the once before phasing and heading off into the woods. The others followed suit, casting worried eyes her way.
Adrenaline and rage still coursed through her mind. She knew she shouldn't have snarled at Lana – but she couldn't find it in herself to care.
Thomas quickly phased so as to avoid any fresh orders. Lana was running rampant with them and it was quickly growing tiresome. The growling had stopped, but he'd never seen his friend so mad, so out of control. Still, he wasn't afraid of her and walked straight up to her and punched her in the side. She growled quietly and glared down at him. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
She tossed her head and turned her back on him.
"You know this is what they wanted-" he said disparagingly. "You're going to lose your place in the pack because of Sam! Because of a vampire?!" he exclaimed.
As her anger faded, pathetic sadness took over. She had fucked up. She changed back into her human form and turned around to face her best friend. He could see the tears in her eyes that she held back like she always did. He could see the blood dripping down her arm from her shoulder.
"I'm not going back-" she began.
"You can't-" he started arguing loudly.
"If you think I'm spending the rest of my life weaving baskets you can think again!" she exclaimed. "If I break from the pack, I'll be okay."
"If you break from the Pack you can't come back," he said with a scowl. "Where are you going to go? What are you going to do?" he asked, becoming more and more frustrated by the second. She wasn't even fighting this.
"I'm not going back to be their fucking puppet anymore!" she cried before wincing and gingerly reaching up and touching her shoulder. "I'd rather be alone."
He swallowed thickly. He knew her words were the truth. He knew what sort of person she was and that she fought against other people's rule, that cooking and cleaning for the rest of her life was her own version of hell. He knew the council had it in for her – they all did, but she never gave in to them and fought them on every point. They'd chosen Bella as an Alpha for a reason.
"You should go," Bella said quietly.
Thomas nodded and backed away to phase. He caught sight of the Cullen's still stood at the bottom of the clearing, having watched it all unfold. He wanted to hate them, wanted to drag Edward in front of the council and tell them to blame him, not Bella. "I hope he's worth it," was all he said before phasing and turning heel and disappearing.
His words twisted like a knife in her chest but she was aware of her audience, and wasn't in the mood for a pity party. She heard her name called, but she was already on all fours running as fast and hard as she could away from all of them.
–
Days passed and there was no word from Bella or the Makah Tribe. The Cullen's had no idea if the Treaty still stood after the fight between Sam and Bella. This new Alpha was an unknown entity and Lord knows how she would handle the new dynamic. Isabella was God knows where. Edward had hoped, somewhat ignorantly, that she was come to him for help.
The meeting was due for late Wednesday night, but when they heard the rhythmic thump of paws heading their way they expected it to be Isabella. He heard his thoughts filled with stress and worry and anger. Edward was bitterly disappointed to find the light coloured wolf heading towards them, phasing mid-stride and continuing on two legs in a quick jog.
They all stood on the porch. "You need to come with me," the man said looking directly at Edward as he took a few deep breathes. He looked at least twenty five, with dark skin and black hair. He had some of the kindest eyes Esme had ever seen. "Now," he urged before phasing there and then and taking off back the way he had come, down the drive and into the forest.
Edward took off after him. Carlisle followed after a quick discussion with the others. As much as this girl was causing all sorts of trouble for Edward, there weren't going to watch him run off into a possible trap. But still, if Bella was on the other end of the chase they knew he wouldn't want an audience.
Edward could see the wolves' mind, which was odd considering only a few days previous they had all been silent. Thomas, who had previously been Isabella's Beta led him miles and miles out into some of the most dense parts of the Olympic National Forest. Edward could see him running through what had just happened – how she had tried to walk back onto the reservation, only to be stopped by her own Pack. She had stood for half an hour. The tribal leaders had met her at the boundary line and, before she could say a word in her defence, had stripped her of her role in the Pack, had confined her to the reservation and told her to join the other women down at the dock as they weaved fishing baskets and traps for the men.
Thomas and the others who stood to witness were appalled and ashamed, but Lana kept them in check and silent with her orders. They knew Isabella would not reduce herself to such a lowly point after once being Alpha. It was public humiliation on the highest scale, but it was that or leave behind her grandfather, her pack and everything she knew.
She neither said yes or no, but instead stared at the Council Leaders and spoke in their native Makah tongue. Only a handful of people still spoke the language, and two of them sat on the council. Her conversation was short, civil and one sided. When she'd finished speaking, she'd turned and walked calmly from them all. They had no idea what was said, but he intent was clear.
Whines had rang out among the pack but Bella didn't look back, even as she transformed into a wolf and ran off. Her mind did not join theirs. She was no longer a part of the Pack. She was alone.
Thomas had risked his own place in the Pack to come to them, and though Edward could hear and feel his distrust and anger, he loved Bella enough to take that risk.
Can you hear me?
Edward said a very quiet, "Yes.
Good, the wolf said as his thoughts sunk to insults and perverse wishes. I know this isn't your fault – but she has lost everything. You're her imprint. She needs you.
"I'll do anything," he agreed quietly.
Thomas remained doubtful, but Edward had nothing to prove to him, only to Bella.
They reached her after a few more minutes. She laid underneath a thick tree, her head turned from them and her eyes shut tightly though she must know they were there. She doesn't like people seeing she's upset, he told Edward.
"Isabella-" Edward began as he approached her. Carlisle stayed behind, certain that the situation was real and not a trap. He hadn't heard what Thomas had shown Edward. He didn't understand what had happened just yet.
She prefers Bella.
"Bella," Edward amended. He saw Thomas back away from the corner of his eye and turned his attention back to Bella. She lay curled on the floor, as small as she could get. She looked so sad and defeated, even as a wolf. Her ears twitched but she didn't open her eyes. "I'm sorry."
She raised her head and looked at him with watery eyes. There was no anger there, no blame and he wanted to reach out and comfort her. He didn't know how to pet a wolf. He didn't want to be patronising. She sighed heavily before getting to her feet and shifting into a human. Her eyes were red and puffy but she wiped them on the back of her hand and sniffed before laughing at herself.
"Me too," she croaked.
She looked to small, so weak and mild. Her back was hunched and her chin hung at her chest – gone was a pride and confidence of an Alpha. He didn't bother looking to Carlisle, or even asking his opinion. He was with this girl one way or another. She'd been cast out, alone and without purpose or shelter and he'd be damned if he sat by and let her wander alone. "You can stay with me."
She looked up with her red eyes. She didn't know. They'd had amazing sex in the woods, and she'd been willing to kill Sam to protect him but that was it. There was nothing more between them and she hesitated. Surely it would only escalate the situation with the Council and make her even more of an outcast.
She couldn't live by their rule anymore – she wasn't one of them anymore. They'd thrown her aside as easily as if she'd been a piece of litter on the ground. Her leadership, the way the pack had excelled under her guidance didn't matter in the end. She wouldn't fight to be back in their graces again – they would have to fight to get back in hers.
"Thank you."
Her eyes went to Thomas and she felt a lump in her throat as her eyes swam with fresh emotion. He stepped from the trees and Edward stepped aside as the wolf passed. He transformed and, without pause, engulfed her in a hot, comforting embrace. He felt her tears hit his arm but didn't mention it as he rested his chin atop her head and let her busy her face in his chest. He'd never had as much respect for anyone as he had for this girl.
"Don't worry," he said quietly as Bella sniffed in his arms. "I don't imagine you being out here on your own for long."
She laughed shortly. "You'll be fine," she said emotionally. "You have to keep them going-" she said suddenly pulling away and looking up into his eyes. "I asked them to make you Alpha," she told him quietly before shaking her head. "The Pack need you there with them."
"Lana is..." he said as he dropped his arms to his side and struggled for words. "She's everything the council wants."
A loud howl rang through the trees and Thomas sighed heavily. "Look after grandpa," she asked with saddening eyes.
"Of course," Thomas said kindly. "We all will."
Bella pushed him away, urging him to go. "Keep them safe."
With a stiff nod, he shifted and darted off into the trees again without looking back. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and tried to swallow her emotions. Her eyes found Edward who stood watching her with sad eyes and unsure hands. She saw Carlisle stood some distance away, and he nodded courteously as she caught his gaze. "Thanks," she repeated.
"Don't worry about it," Edward said politely before an uncomfortable silence settled around them. He cleared his throat and said, "We should head back..."
Bella nodded quietly and shifted, landing on four paws and shaking out her fur. Her eyes were still red but she felt stronger as a wolf. It was just in her head. Carlisle took off quickly, wanting to give the pair some time and space. They didn't follow immediately.
"I know what happened," Edward admitted with sad eyes.
Bella nodded solemnly, figuring Thomas would have informed him on their way. She hadn't asked him to fetch Edward, but she was glad he had. Her damn pride and stubborn nature wouldn't have allowed for it herself. "I know we don't know each other..." he began. "But... I'd like to get to know you."
Bella wasn't ready for any declarations or even thinking about the imprint. They took off without another word and he tried not to feel hurt by the way she'd looked away and not even acknowledged his words.
Carlisle arrived a few minutes before Edward and Bella, and quickly informed the family of Edward's decision. They had a few minutes to decide whether a wolf was to live in their home, or whether they would lose their son and brother. In the end, there was no choice. They refused to cast Edward out, but the thought of having a wolf roaming the house unsettled all of them.
Including Bella.
The house was silent as she approached. She could appreciate the beautiful architecture of the huge house, with its large windows and white stone. She loved the rolling lawn and drive that lead up to the porch, and the way the lawn surrounded the entire house. She could see the gentle trickle of a stream, and saw the three foot channel curving through the back garden. It was a truly beautiful property, and bore no resemblance to the rickety, wooden houses they built on the reservation.
Her feet held her back. The house was surrounded by miles of forest, and she didn't feel comfortable stepping out into the open knowing what lie inside the house. Edward paused with her, looking at her with wide eyes but she shook her head and sat down just inside the tree line. He could understand her reluctance. He wouldn't have felt safe on their land either.
As terrible as he felt, he left her outside and headed inside to deal with his family.
She was glad for the time to be alone. She'd never been more alone. Her mind was empty and her own thoughts seemed inadequate after so many years of hearing dozens of others. It had never been so quiet in her own mind. She could hear the soft thuds of the Cullen's walking around inside the house. She heard every whispered argument and pointed insult aimed at her, but not for her own ears.
It had been difficult to stand before Tony and Fredrick and declare herself independent, no longer observing their law or their authority. In those ancient words, she had severed all ties to the Tribe and walked away with what was left of her pride. She would not be a house wife. She would not sit by and watch her pack fight battles and defend the Tribe while she hid in her home. She would not be bound to a human form when she was made for so much more.
So much more... she thought, scoffing to herself as she cast her eyes around her. She wouldn't call it more, but it was different for sure. She heard one of the Cullen's make a remark about buying a kennel for her to sleep in, which, in truth made her smile. She would have appreciated a kennel.
In theory the plan was a good one. With Edward as her imprint, moving in with him was a logical step. Had it not been for the whole vampire thing, them being natural enemies, and the fact that his entire family smelled like bleach and candy floss. Even at a distance from the house, their scents saturated the whole area. Every breath burned her nostrils and she fought off a flinch. She hoped she would grow desensitised to the smell eventually.
She didn't recall Edward smelling of anything foul during their previous encounter.
She lay for just over an hour with her thoughts circling and winding and frustrating her. They all heard her stand up and walk, very cautiously and slowly around house still under cover of the trees. She was curious of her surroundings, and went around to the back of the house, to the stream which turned out to be a small river. She leaped over it easily. She had hoped for some fish, but she would have to look elsewhere for food.
She knew eyes watched her from the windows but as long as they kept their distance, she didn't care how much they stared. She'd lived by the sea her entire life, and without the hiss and rush of the waves lapping at the sand, it all seemed too quiet for her liking. The gentle bubbling off the river was no comparison, but it would do.
When she took off into the forest, Edward's family all breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't appreciate the tension or the rudeness of his siblings. He told them what had happened, hoping it would soften them somewhat to hear how unfair her own people had been to her. Nothing changed, and Rosalie was still sat on the sofa whining and bitching six hours later when Bella returned.
She'd enjoyed a good two hour run before surrendering to her growling hunger and taking down a small deer. It wasn't the most delicious thing she'd ever eaten, but it settled her hunger and was palatable on her wolf tongue. After gorging herself, she'd laid down and taken a short nap. A straying squirrel had roused her as it scuttled too close and jumped away, startled and ran up the nearest tree.
As much as she hated to, her feet took her back to the Cullen house. The strong smell of ammonia began three miles out, and got more and more concentrated the closer she got. It was horrible and painful, and she began to reconsider her acceptance of Edward's offer. She could see now, that he had taken a gamble on her, that he obviously hadn't consulted his coven before asking her to stay and judging from their reactions, she wouldn't have been laid on the edge of their boundaries.
Night fell but thankfully it was dry, and she slept peacefully beneath the bright moon. She wasn't used to long nights and easy days. She had spent years on a routine of council meetings, patrols and making sure her grandpa was fed and happy. With none of those things at her disposal she felt lost and bored.
She woke after just an hour and a half of sleeping, but there were no patrols to run and no-one to check in on. The Cullen's were all inside the house doing whatever, and all she had was the stars and stream to keep her entertained. It had been less than twelve hours, but already she was tediously bored.
She listened to the house, hearing the slow and steady breathes of habit from the vampires inside. Three sat downstairs together, a TV presenter talking to himself on low volume. One lay alone in the garage, banging and squeaking away with tools. Upstairs a woman hummed to herself as she moved clothes around; Bella could hear the rustle of the fabric. She could hear someone turning pages and scribbling something with a pen. One sat alone, isolated at the very top of the house, unmoving and silent doing nothing other than exhaling, and inhaling.
She didn't envy their lack of rest.
She got to her feet, stretching out her aching muscles before walking out of the cover of the trees and over to the edge of the small river. The bank was small but very steep. She lay on her stomach and reached her head down, lapping up the water lazily. She saw no need to do anything in a hurry.
There was movement in the house, and she stilled herself as she stared up at the windows. She saw nothing, but heard the fast and light steps of someone descending the stairs. She knew, though she didn't know how she knew, that it was Edward. Like she had a compass with him as her North, she knew. She wasn't surprised when the back door opened and he stepped outside. She didn't move as he stepped down the porch and walked towards her with his hands in his pockets, looking as vulnerable as she felt.
She sat up when he got closer, but he stopped on the other side of the river and sat himself down with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap. She knew from what he'd already said, and his invitation into his home, that he wanted to make something of this imprinting situation but her mind was sixty miles west, with her own people.
Still, she could see that he was making an effort and she didn't want to seem ungrateful. She shifted back into human form and mirrored his position on her side of the river. If they stretched out their arms they could probably touch fingertips, but they were happy with the distance.
"You can come inside you know," he said glancing up at her from under his lashes.
She thought he looked very handsome, but kept that to herself. He was a vampire; they all looked ridiculously attractive. It wasn't like it was a big deal. "The..." she hesitated. "The smell is a bit overwhelming," she admitted sheepishly.
His eyebrows shot into his hairline. "Really?"
"Yeah... it's quite strong out here," she said screwing up her nose. "Never mind in there."
"I'm sorry."
She wanted to throw something at him. "Stop apologising for things you can't control."
He opened his mouth to apologise again, but instead just smiled and looked down at the water rushing between them. She wasn't used to seeing vampires with their guard down. She'd never actually had a conversation with one. Edward had never spoken to a werewolf before – he didn't even know where to start.
"How old are you?" Bella asked quickly, before the silence became too much.
"I was born in 1901 and changed in 1918 by Carlisle," he answered flatly.
"You're seventeen," she said looking him over critically. Even with only the dim lights from the house, she saw every freckle and strand of hair on his bare arms.
"What about you?" he asked, hoping the Makah Pack had a few things in common with the Quileute's.
"I was born in 1980. I first phased..." she had to cast her mind back. "A week or so before my nineteenth birthday."
He looked shocked as he, too, gave her a once over. She didn't look a day older than seventeen herself, other than her eyes. Her body held the youth her eyes bellied. "It must have been difficult being Alpha so young," he said kindly.
"I wasn't Alpha until three years later," she corrected him. He frowned, obviously realising that this was another difference between the two packs. She could see his mistake but didn't mind too much and smiled comfortingly. "We elect our own Pack Leaders," she said patiently. "I know the Quileute's go by blood superiority which is completely ridiculous," she said with a roll of her eyes.
"So they chose you for their Alpha," he clarified appreciatively. He could see the pride in her smile and the humility in her unspoken words. "You led them for twelve years."
She sighed as she unfolded her legs and dangled them over the embankment, just centimetres above the water. "Doesn't seem to make a difference now," she said with a shrug as she looked down at her dirty, holey shoes. A dunk in the river might do them good.
"They'll accept you back eventually though, right?" he asked.
She shrugged again. "There's stories of wolves imprinting on vampires, but none actually tried to develop it. Most of the stories depict the wolves imprinting mid-battle, and their imprints killing them. All the rest just say how the wolf kept it hidden and never phased again."
"None actually tried to... make anything of it," he said, being careful with his words. She shook her head.
"Apparently I'm a liability and, now that a vampire is my imprint, I can't be trusted to lead the pack against others of your kind," she said with a bite of bitterness. He had seen her fierce protectiveness as she savaged Sam and left him limping away with his tail between his legs and his insults long forgotten as he nursed his wounded pride.
She shook her head a little and sighed deeply before looking up at him. "It doesn't matter anyway." she said strongly.
Silence settled around them but it wasn't uncomfortable. After a few minutes of quiet smiles and hidden glances, Edward cleared his throat and said, "We have a few friends arriving in the next few days."
He watched her switch from normal to wolf mode in an instant. "How many?"
Was she wondering if she could take them in a fight?
"We're not sure of specific numbers," he hedged carefully. "Between five and twelve," he said, watching for her reaction. She kept whatever she was thinking to herself. "We thought about what you said about us not being ready-" he said quickly. "And we thought we might as well make our side as strong as possible."
She saw the logic in the plan and nodded in support of it. She didn't like the thought of more than ten vampires within a mile of her. "Do they all share your diet?"
"Five of them do," he said slowly.
The five that are a definite, she presumed.
"But we will insist that they hunt as far from the area as possible."
The thought of them hunting at all made her stomach turn, but she bit her tongue and kept it quiet because she was in vampire territory now and an argument could spark a bad situation.
Conversation turned to family, and Edward told Bella about his family and quietly apologised for anything she'd heard over the course of the day. "It's fine," she said easily. "I'm sure they'd like me to be as far from here as possible."
"They don't," he argued quickly. "They just... don't know you yet."
"Neither do you," she pointed out with a coy glance.
He shrugged off her words easily. "I know enough."
She took in his words and felt her lips lift in a small smile. He saw her cheeks turn pink and smiled to himself; a small victory. "So," he said a little louder. "Tell me about your family."
She rolled her eyes as she stretched her arms above her head. "Where do I start?" she said with a small laugh at herself. "My mother was a tourist who slept with my father as a one night stand before going back to wherever she came from. Nine months later she handed me over to my Grandpa and disappeared again – that's why I have white skin and everyone else is tanned," she pointed out with an unhappy look at her arm. "My Father was an Alpha. He was killed protecting the Tribe when I was seven – since then my Grandpa raised me."
"Do you want to know about your mother?" he asked curiously.
"Not really," she said honestly as she tucked her hands beneath her thighs. "I don't want to know anyone who would abandon their child to strangers."
He liked the way she spoke with such confidence, the way she knew who she was and what she thought without wavering an inch. "You love your Grandfather," he observed gently, and saw a kind smile fill her face.
"He's the best man I will ever meet," she said simply before her smile faltered. "I know Thomas will take care of him," she said quietly.
"Is he ill?"
"He's almost ninety," she said quietly. "His mind is fine, but he needs help getting around and cooking," she said with distant eyes. She never got to say goodbye, never got to explain her side of what had happened. She knew Thomas would speak the truth, and even if he didn't, her grandpa was smart enough to smell the bullshit the Council spewed out.
"Was it hard growing up?"
She mulled over the question before shaking her head. "I didn't really notice anything missing."
The conversation tapered off and they found themselves staring at one another. She couldn't help but remember their morning in the forest. She blushed furiously and looked away.
"I feel like I should apologise for what happened in the clearing," Edward said without looking away. "I shouldn't have reacted to what Sam was saying..."
"What was he saying?" she asked as she pulled her feet up and pulled her shoes and socks off, throwing them behind her as she dunked her feet into the water. The cold temperature didn't seem to bother her and she waited for him to reply.
"He started with my family... but moved on to you," he said, his mood growing dark at the memory.
"I can imagine," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, I can't blame you for moving a few inches – I was ready to rip him limb from limb," she said honestly, but she could see he wasn't casting it aside so easily.
"He couldn't decide whether he wanted to have sex with you or slit your throat."
That surprised her and she sat stunned for a few moments as his words sunk in. The mutual hatred had festered and grown an overwhelming degree. She'd never imagined anything more sprouting from it, but she supposed passion bred all sorts of things. The thought of doing anything other than fighting or screaming at Sam wasn't even an option.
He didn't like it. He didn't like the images that were flicking through his mind uncontrollably. He didn't like the anger he felt towards Bella. He didn't like the familiar burn of heat and lust that clouded his mind. He didn't like how much he wanted to claim.
He headed back inside after a short goodbye, and Bella was left to her own devices again. Admittedly, the thought of Sam lusting after her was amusing and worth a thought but nothing more. The combined forces of the two Tribe's would make them nigh unstoppable. Any children that they bore would consequently have the power of both Packs.
After thoughts of San lost their amusement and she was left alone with her thoughts again, the sadness crept back in. She hoped someone had checked in on her Grandpa and turned off the hob – he was forever leaving the gas on. He was her only regret. She knew the Pack were in good hands as long as Thomas was there. Lana was a mouthpiece for the Council, but as Beta he had the authority to question her decisions and she hoped he did every chance he got.
She missed her family, the feeling of solidarity and security. Out here, in the middle of Forks surrounded by vampires, she knew one slip and she was dead. There was no middle ground or safe zone.
Her mind turned to Edward and his swift departure. He could see how Sam had gotten to him, and honestly didn't blame him for what happened in the clearing. She found it almost impossible to hold her tongue when it came to the runt. She could see, even as he sat across from her, how it still angered him and wondered how strong the mating bond was in vampires.
She had expected much stronger emotions. She had felt those in her Pack imprinting, and for them it was like being shot in the head and the shrapnel piercing and contorting everything they once were into something completely knew. From the way they spoke, to how they thought changed and became invaded by this one person. She didn't feel overly attached to Edward as a person, though he seemed pleasant enough to talk to. She recalled the overwhelming instincts twice, when they'd savaged each other in the woods, and when she had attacked Sam.
Neither instances were brought from romantic gestures or acts of love. She acted as though he were an object to covet and protect, and a part of her was mildly ashamed and frightened that was all it would ever be. For all she knew, an imprint with a vampire was never meant to go any further. It was not a life she would ever want for herself. Cut off from her family, her Pack and everything she knew, the hope of Edward was the only shining beacon left. Without him, what did she have left?
Leave me a review letting me know what you think!