Alice POV

The longer I waited to get Edward for our little "hunting" trip, the angrier I became with him. As if I wasn't livid enough already. So, when darkness finally fell, I went to wait for Edward on the tree limb outside of Bella's window.

I saw them through the window cuddling on her bed. At least she seemed happier now, though still very vulnerable. Part of me was irked that she could let him off the hook so easily. It was almost like she was afraid to get well and truly mad at him for fear he would leave or because it would cause him too much grief and remorse for him to hear. I did not suffer from any such notions. I could not forgive him as easily as Bella had.

He knew I was out here waiting for him. I was certain he was aware of my angry thoughts. Tired of literally hanging around, I started throwing pebbles at the window. Edward may choose to ignore me but Bella certainly wouldn't. With a smile of satisfaction, I saw them separate after a kiss.

"Alice is waiting." Edward told her.

Bella looked out the window and smiled at me, waving. "Hi Alice" She called out to me happily.

"Hey Bella…ready Edward?"

He nodded curtly and kissed Bella goodbye. "I will be back later, okay."

You most certainly will, I thought. When Edward jumped out the window and onto the tree where I was perched, I briefly glimpsed the turmoil wash over Bella's features at the thought of him leaving before her face went back to normal again. Hiding her emotions from Edward was no good for her or for him. It deeply saddened me that my own brother was responsible for putting that look on her face, for giving her the reason to have that look.

"Can you at least wait until after we have hunted before you rake me over the coals?" Edward whispered to me angrily.

"Of course" I said jumping out of the tree. I needed to be more careful in hiding my thoughts from him on this little excursion until we got a chance to speak.

5 Elk and 3 deer later, Edward and I sat deep in the forest as I contemplated what I was going to say.

"I know you have some things you want to say to me Alice. You might as well get it over with."

So, he knew I was still fuming then. I got up and started to pace unsure of where to start.

"You are an arrogant ass." I finally said. "Who are you to make decisions for someone else, let alone a whole family? We shouldn't have listened to you. I knew it what leaving would do. Do you have any idea what you left in your wake?"

"I think I have some clue." He said softly.

"No, I don't think you do. Because of your egotistical choices, Carlisle and Esme lost a daughter and when you went off globetrotting to God knows where, they lost a son too. They were just going through the motions. Emmett never laughed or joked anymore, Jasper was literally prostrate with grief from the tumult of emotions coming off everyone and even Rosalie missed Bella in her own way. And me, Edward, you took away the only true friend I ever had. My best friend, my sister. You told me I couldn't even look for her future. Do you know how that made me feel? I couldn't even say goodbye to her. That killed me." If vampires could sob, there would be a puddle at my feet but I couldn't stop now.

"It seems like I'll be busy making amends." He said.

"I'm not done yet!" I shouted. "Do you know she told me what you said that day? God, Edward. You might as well have ripped her heart out with your bare hands and stomped on it. That would have been more humane."

He winced. "I had to say something to make her believe me." He said almost pleadingly. "She wouldn't have let me leave otherwise and we had to go for her safety. It's always been about her. I wanted her to live a normal, happy, human life."

I was beyond irate now. I actually saw red. Was he kidding? "She tried to kill herself Edward. Kill. Her. Self." I said emphasizing each syllable and let him see the vision I had of Bella jumping off the cliff. The agony in his eyes was stark and deep. "Does that sound like a raving endorsement of a happy, human life because it sure as hell doesn't sound like one to me?"

Edward shot up to a standing position running his fingers through his hair in agitation. "I made a mistake, okay, a huge mistake."

"One that almost cost Bella her life." I said digging the knife in a bit deeper but my anger had lost much of its edge. I really didn't like seeing Edward in this much turmoil but I had to let him know how I felt otherwise it would just fester between us.

"I know Alice." I didn't know if he was responding to my words or my thoughts. "Both" he replied.

"You underestimated her love for you, you know. She does feel for you what you feel for her with the same magnitude. Well, you read her letters."

He nodded bleakly, patting his chest pocket where they still were close to his heart. "It never occurred to me that she would, that she could. She is human after all."

"Since when has Bella ever been a normal human?" I said grinning for the first time since earlier today. It felt good.

"You were right Alice." Edward said after awhile.

"I'm usually right about a lot of things but what in particular are you referring to?"

"I am an arrogant ass."

I couldn't help it, I snorted. Bella's habits were rubbing off on me. "So we're staying?" I asked him already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from him.

He sighed then. "I don't have the strength to leave her, ever. I can't live without her and it seems she can't live without me either. In fact, when Rosalie called me, I was already debating coming back. Even if I didn't get that phone call." He said shuddering from the memory. "I would've come back. It was only a matter of weeks, if not days."

"I know" I told him. "I saw that. I just wanted to hear the words from you."

"We'll have to register back at Forks High School. At least it's spring break there now until Monday."

"Monday is in two days." I said trying to calculate. It had been a hectic couple of days so it took me a bit to figure out what day it was. "I am sure Carlisle will make all the necessary arrangements."

Edward was silent seemingly mulling over his thoughts. Even though I could not read minds like he could, I knew there were some things he wanted to ask me. I just hoped he wouldn't over react to the answers.

"When you had that vision" he started, "about Bella…jumping." His features twisted to reveal his glaring torment. "Do you know why you never saw the outcome? Bella mentioned you had a theory although she was hesitant to tell me what it was."

Of course he would ask the question that was the hardest to answer. "This is going to be difficult for you to hear." I told him truthfully.

"Alice, I just lived through a whole day believing Bella was…dead. I think anything you told me now would be anticlimactic."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." I said under my breath.

"Just tell me."

"Jacob saved Bella." I said simply

"So? Why would you not be able to see that?"

How to explain this one? I thought. "Well, I can see vampires because I am one and I can see humans because I was one but I can't see…" My voice trailed off.

"Can't see what Alice?" He was getting impatient.

"Werewolves." I finished.

"WEREWOLVES!" Edward shouted so loud it echoed through the forest. 'You mean to tell me that this Jacob is a werewolf."

"Keep it down!" I yelled at him.

"Fine" He said through gritted teeth. "Bella's been hanging out with a werewolf?" To say he was horror-struck would have been a gross understatement.

"I know. I couldn't believe it either but there was no disguising the smell and when Bella told me, I kind of freaked out on her."

"I left to keep her safe and she starts hanging out with the most lethal monsters there is besides vampires?" He was incredulous and very angry. "Doesn't she realize how dangerous they are?"

"Obviously not." I shrugged. "She's been hanging out with them for months."

"Them? You mean there's more than one?"

"A whole pack apparently."

"No, No, No!" He shouted stomping his feet at the same time. "I absolutely forbid it. She cannot be near those volatile mutts. What was she thinking?"

My eyes narrowed at him. "I don't think you're in the position to forbid her to do anything. As much as I hate to say it, Jacob is her friend Edward. He was there for her when we weren't."

He flinched at the reminder. "He's in love with her." He murmured.

"So what? She only loves you. Besides, he saved her life. More than once."

He turned to me so swiftly then and I wanted to curse my big mouth. "What do you mean by more than once?" He said his hands clenching into fists.

"Well, you know about the cliffs already. And before that there was a visit from Laurent."

"Laurent? What the hell was he doing here?" he growled.

"He came as a favor for Victoria. He was supposed to bring Bella to her but decided he wanted Bella's blood for himself. Jacob and his wolf friends chased him down and ripped him apart."

"All that agony and torture from being away and it was all for nothing. Nothing!" Edward dropped to his knees with a broken sob. "Is there anymore Alice?" He asked despondently.

Did I tell him? Should I? He was so raw as it was I didn't think he could take anymore.

"Just tell me." He whispered hoarsely. I was looking at a broken man and my dead heart went out to him.

"Um, Victoria was here as well. Just a few days ago. She wants to avenge James. You know a mate for a mate but she managed to get away."

Edward hissed as he looked up at me, his fingers digging into the dirt. "Please. No more" He begged.

I hugged him then wanting to take all his remorse away. I knew he was beating himself up inside. Everything I had said to him earlier, I knew, paled in comparison to self flagellation he was giving himself now.

"There's no more." I assured him as he sobbed into my shoulder.

Suddenly he stopped and looked at me with alarm. "We have to go back!" He said frantically. "I need to watch over Bella. She's in danger."

"She's fine tonight." I promised him. "Do you think we would have gone hunting if I had the slightest inkling Bella was in danger?"

He shook his head. "No Alice. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that. I just have to get back to her. I need to be with her."

"I understand." I told him. If the situation was reversed I would be the same way. Edward needed to be with his mate. They had been separated far too long.