We left Bella on the main island with Carmen and Eleazar. She would stay with them while we went over to Labrador to hunt. Thanks to our friends, we could all go at once, which was just easier. I found myself wishing Bella could come with us, and lately had been considering talking to her about changing her sooner than we'd planned. Considering I had always been so adamant about keeping her human, this was a new feeling for me. I wanted her to be my equal, and to be able to do everything together. Her humanity was definitely not a burden, there was just so much more we could experience together if she was already one of us. I didn't want to wait for eternity with her any longer. However, there were so many things going on and so many reasons that we should wait. The house needed to be finished. Rose and Em needed to be home. Bella needed more human experiences. I had been the one to press her the most about human experiences, but now I found myself thinking that there wasn't much she needed to experience as human that she couldn't do as a vampire. Some of the things on her list would actually be safer and more fun if she was already an immortal. Like snorkeling. We didn't have to breathe and were not susceptible to water pressure so we could dive as deeply as we wanted to in the ocean and see things humans would never lay eyes on...and we didn't have to worry about sharks or jellyfish.
Caribou was on the menu today, and I hoped to find a lynx. Moose were a possibility, as well as coyotes – though as a relative to the wolf, none of us were too keen on canine. We might stumble across a black bear, but only Emmett would seek one out deliberately. After taking down a couple of caribou, I split from the others to see if I could trail a lynx. I enjoyed the blood of carnivorous felines the most. Also, I knew the other two mated pairs preferred to hunt by themselves, as they found themselves more amorous after a good hunt.
I despised being away from Bella. Even though it was only a two day trip, the absence of her touch, her scent, everything that was her, just made me ache. Perching myself in a tree, I daydreamed about what she might be doing. Probably curled up in their living room with Carmen reading a book and sipping some tea. I loved the way she would chew on her bottom lip, lost in her novels. A strand of hair would inevitably fall across her face, and my fingers could feel the silky strands as if I was there gently tucking it behind her ear. I was irrevocably in love with my Bella, and would never again be without her. I allowed myself to feel joyous about spending eternity with her.
The soft padding of feline paws interrupted my daydreaming. I hoped I would run into a lynx at some point, but having one cross my path so willingly was a treat.
Just as I leapt down from the tree to track the cat, the panicked thoughts of my family blasted into my mind.
"Edward!" Edward! Alice was frantic. Carlisle was on the phone. It took me a little while to organize everyone's thoughts and conversation into something coherent. Alice was showing me a vision, but it was completely blank. Carlisle was on the phone with Eleazar demanding to know where Bella was. Jasper was trying to calm everyone down, and Esme's mind was racing. She's gone. She's gone.
The panic overwhelmed me, and I started running for the boat before I even knew the full story. All I understood was that Bella was in danger.
"Alice! What did you see?" I hissed, trying to focus only on her at the moment.
She just disappeared. I was checking on her to make sure she was safe, and there's nothing. It's all just black. I can't find her.
"What does that mean?"
The only time people disappear is when they... My sister trailed off refusing to accept Bella's death as a possibility.
"No!" I roared. "Don't even think that! Carlisle!"
Bella was going to the coffee shop to sit outside and read. The sun was out, so she was by herself. They're looking for her now.
I staggered as what felt like a wrecking ball slammed into my chest. No! No! No! I growled in frustration that I wasn't there right now. I was furious they had let her go off alone, even though I knew there were no other vampires on the island and she should have been perfectly safe. Of course humans could be just as much of a threat, but the crime rate in that part of town was nonexistent. There was no way she could be...Alice's vision had to be off. Something was wrong with her, not Bella. Bella was safe. She had to be. She was probably engrossed in her book somewhere and I could see her laughing when we all showed up scared that she'd been hurt. She would accuse me of being overprotective, and I would just be happy to have her in my arms again.
They've followed her scent. It leads to a pier and then disappears.
"No!" I cried. If she had slipped and hit her head, fell into the ocean and...No!...I couldn't think of such things, even though everyone else was thinking the same thing. Seeing everyone's worst fears in their minds was almost crippling. It was like a fun house mirror of agony as I watched each person visualize their version of what may have happened.
There are other scents with hers. She might have been kidnapped.
I clung to this possibility. Maybe she was taken. If she was taken, we could find her. But the fact that Alice couldn't see her at all, was terrifying. That would mean she was...No! I refused to consider that. Not when I'd just gotten her back. I should have changed her already.
The boat flew through the water, pushed to it's limits, and we arrived at the dock as quickly as possible. Thankfully, the cloud cover was back, because I don't think even the sun or Volturi themselves could have stopped me from trying to find her. We raced at barely human speed to Eleazar's place.
He looks like he's falling apart. We should have made her stay here.
Oh mi chico tierno! I should not have let her go. This is all my fault.
They were waiting for us. I led the way, following her delicious scent that I would know anywhere. At one point she had gone down an alley that she should not have been in. Either someone had grabbed her or she saw something that made her go in there. That was when another stench hit me. Carlisle picked it up immediately as well, his nostrils flaring and his mind reeling as he tried to place the familiar odor. There was no blood, so she had not been harmed too badly. I scanned the alley for any evidence that may help, and I found her book. I picked it up and quickly scanned through the pages to see if she had managed to leave any kind of clue behind, but there was nothing. Nothing but her scent lingered.
I inhaled deeply once more and it was familiar, but I couldn't place it.
We continued to follow the trail and it was obvious that whoever had been there, had taken Bella to the pier. The family formed a tight cluster around me, and I dove into the water quietly, searching for any sign of her. There was no blood on the dock or in the water, so maybe they had most likely taken her on a boat.
"We need to head to the mainland and spread out along the coast, see where they might have gone ashore. Call Em and Rose. We need all the help we can get."
"Anything yet, Alice?" Carlisle asked. I watched as she searched, but there was no sign of Bella. Then she searched for the rest of us and saw us following a trail, but then we disappeared too.
She gasped and Jasper grabbed her. "What was it?" He asked her.
"We find the trail, but then we disappear too." I told him.
He looked frantically between his wife and the rest of the family. His mind was racing through strategies and decisions. He came to one decisions in particular and I shook my head, warning him not to voice it. "Alice, you will stay here."
The rest of us backed up a bit, knowing the tiny vampire could possibly explode in fury at being told what to do.
"I most certainly will not." Her tawny eyes burned as she stared him down. The look on his face was priceless and I almost laughed at seeing him scared of Alice. Especially considering his past. He was a fierce and fearless leader, but Alice could make him cower like a little boy afraid of the dark.
"I'm not going to lose you, Alice.'
"And you think I'm going to let you go off like that when I can't see a future for any of us?"
I didn't have time to listen to the others squabble. "We don't have time for this. Whoever wants to go can go. I'm leaving. Who's coming?" I strode off across the town to where our boat was docked. A few minutes later and everyone had piled in with us. Jasper held Alice, his lips pressed against the top of her head while her eyes glazed over and she continued searching for our futures. I took the boat around to the dock where Bella's scent disappeared and hoped we could find some trace of their scent in order to know which direction to travel, but with the water and wind, there was nothing. I took the most direct approach to the mainland. We docked the boat and split up. Carlisle, Esme and I traveled south, while the other four traveled north. Carlisle called Rose and Em once we started tracking. Fortunately, they were already in the States and would be on the next flight out to the east coast of Canada as soon as possible. They would call us when they landed and join in the search.
I was fastest, and I shot off down the coast as quickly as I could. I didn't want to hear the sympathy or encouragement from my family. All I could do was pray to every deity ever imagined that my Bella was safe somewhere. She was my life. Whoever had taken her only had two hours on us, and there was no way they could outrun us. If she was harmed at all, there would be retribution. They would not survive today.
I had just crossed the border into Quebec, and at the first town I came to, I smelled them. Bella was with them. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. This had been easier than I thought it would be. I flipped open my cell, and quickly let Carlisle know what I had found. There were three distinct scents along with Bella's. Two of them were the same from the island. Ten minutes later and Carlisle and Esme were with me.
"I don't want to wait for the rest of them." I told him.
"I called, they'll head south and then follow our trail to find us." She must still be alive. I don't smell death or blood. I nodded tersely, letting him know I heard him, but I would not feel relieved until she was back in my arms.
So, we ran, following the trail. I tried to slow my pace so that I didn't leave Carlisle and Esme too far behind. The scent was getting stronger, which meant we were gaining on them. I didn't try to plan or strategize. When I found her I would deal with it then. There were only two creatures out there that could harm me – vampires and werewolves. I knew they weren't vampires, and it was unlikely that they were werewolves. I wasn't concerned. I could handle them.
Carlisle continued to update me. Rose and Em were on a plane and would call when they landed. Alice still saw us all disappearing, and soon.
It wasn't much longer before Carlisle called out for me to stop. He had his phone to his ear and Alice was on the other line. She had seen the three of us disappear, and called. Since we were still alive, she was assuming whoever had taken Bella was blocking her vision. This information eased some of the dread we all felt over the situation. We continued running, but at a slower pace, trying to be as stealthy as possible and constantly scanning our surroundings for any hint that we might be closing in on them.
Then I heard it – three sets of footsteps, running. They were almost as quiet as us, but my enhanced hearing could pick up the sound. I also heard Bella's heartbeat. I had never been so happy to hear that sound before and I stumbled. I wanted to drop to the ground and give thanks, but I needed to have her in my arms.
I hear it too. All three of us heard it and the relief was palpable.
"Edward!" Bella's scream ripped through the forest. "Don't you dare hurt him." She said in a fierce voice, although much quieter. She was talking to her captors.
The three of us slowed drastically because they had stopped moving. Finally, I could pick out three hulking dark shapes in the trees up ahead, and a flash of white and brown. Bella. My whole body sighed as I laid eyes on my love. Then a fraction of a second later, a ripping noise echoed through the trees and there were three gigantic wolves standing defensively in front of her. I couldn't see her, but I had heard her fall to the ground. Her heart was racing and the inhuman sounds of snarling and growing surrounding us.
Edward. The Quileutes. The wolves. I nodded absently, letting Carlisle know I heard him. I had put it all together at the same time. The familiar scent was the wolves. It wasn't too far off from the wolves we ran across decades ago. The treaty. He reminded me.
We closed in on them carefully, not wanting to provoke the mangy mutts, but when I saw one of them blocking my way to Bella, I crouched, ready to spring. Screw the treaty.
"Move out of the way, or you'll regret it dog." I snarled. He flattened his ears back and growled in response.
Bring it on leech.
Edward, don't. Bella is too close. He was right. Her safety was too important. I halted my attack.
"Bella, are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm fine. If these mongrels would just let me go, I'd be perfect." She sounded angry, but fine.
Leave or else we will destroy you. I heard one of them. I assumed the big black wolf that had taken point was their leader.
"Give us Bella and we will leave."
Never. We're taking her home. You leeches will not hurt her again.
"Bella's home is with us. We have not hurt her and we will not."
"Jacob Black! You don't get to make my decisions for me. I live with the Cullens now and you will let me go this instant!" My dear, sweet Bella was screaming at the reddish-brown wolf that towered over her. She was not afraid of him and stared him down. A large part of me was terrified, but I'd be lying if I didn't say another part of me was proud of my brave girl.
I remembered Jacob, the boy who approached us at prom. The child whose father wanted him to warn Bella against me. That would make him the great-grandson of Ephraim Black, the Quileute we made the treaty with. The chief who believed we could coexist. Obviously his compassion had not been inherited by Jacob. His attitude towards our kind was pure vitriol. We thought the line had died out with Ephraim, but there was proof snarling in front of us that indeed the genetic quirk was still in their blood. Why had there not been wolves before now? Surely we would have known. Carlisle's internal monologue was much the same as mine as he pieced it all together.
Jacob let out a sharp growl in response to Bella's demands and shook his head. She's not going anywhere with them. I'll kill them all first.
"They refuse to let her go. He says he'll kill us all first." I jerked my chin towards the wolf boy threatening us.
Carlisle stepped up as head of our coven. "We made a treaty with your people many years ago. We have not violated the treaty and you have no reason to attack us. Bella is a member of our family by her own choice and she is bound by laws that you can do nothing about."
What laws?
Screw the treaty. They took Bella.
We can take them down, then we'll get Bella home to Charlie.
The dynamic of the pack mind was fascinating. They communicated mentally with each other, but only in wolf form. Images of a grief-stricken Charlie flashed through their minds. Then the riverside, where they found Bella's blood, and our scents surrounding it. They followed our trail to our house, and knew we had taken her there before leaving by car.
"I think we all need to calm down and discuss this. You seem to be under a misapprehension. First though, let Bella through to us."
Bella tried to step through the wolves, but they quickly closed in around her and crouched, ready to spring at us. Their growling had gotten louder.
"Let me through!" Bella demanded. "You have no right to keep me away from them. Who do you think you are? Move out of my way!"
The reddish wolf, Jacob, I assumed, butted her with his head and she stumbled backwards. My muscles coiled instinctively, ready to take out the mongrel who dared touch my Bella.
Bring it on bloodsucker.
Edward! Think of Bella.
Carlisle stopped me again, and I stood up straight. I couldn't help the continuous rumbling in my chest though. These mutts had my mate and refused to let her go. I would tear each of them to shreds if they harmed one hair on her head.
"Bella, love, you're going to have to tell them what happened." I called to her, utterly frustrated at the situation. Who did they think they were taking Bella against her will?
"I've already told them Edward. They think you are holding me against my will, or have me brainwashed." She sounded as exasperated as I was.
"Bella was going to die. She slit her wrists and threw herself in the river. I pulled her out. We saved her life, you dogs. She wanted to stay with us. She is already dead to everyone in Forks, and it's best that way. Bella has told you to let her go several times now. You cannot take her against her will. She has made her choice."
I'll die before I let them have her.
They'll kill her.
"Carlisle, they aren't going to let her go."
Mind reader.
"Yes." I focused on the black wolf. "Edward."
Sam. He then showed me images of Bella crumbled on the forest floor, pale and limp. He found her in the woods and carried her home. Her lips were blue and she was incoherent. You did that.
"I didn't know she would follow me."
He let out a harsh barking sound. Some mind reader.
"Everyone but her."
Hmph. Why did you come back?
"To save her. My sister saw her death and we came back to stop her. Alice can see the future."
Really? Hmph. Why didn't you just take Bella to the hospital?
"Her life would have been unbearable if we had. She would have ended up drugged into oblivion in a mental ward, or she would have tried to end her life again. She's happy with us."
"Damn straight I am. Now let me go!" Bella pulled the Jacob's ear hard.
Like that hurts. He rolled his eyes, which just looked completely strange.
We have visitors.
Four more leeches.
They're here.
Everyone noticed the arrival of the rest of our group at the same time. Alice, Jasper, Carmen, and Eleazar fell in line behind us. A heavy fog of calm spread out over everyone thanks to Jasper.
Fight? He asked. I shook my head slightly to the left to answer him.
"Bella! What's going on? We thought you were dead! You just disappeared. We were so scared." The words tumbled out of Alice's mouth like a waterfall.
"These dogs kidnapped me. They want to take me home to Charlie and refuse to let me go. What do you mean I disappeared?"
"I couldn't see you. Everything just went black, but you're obviously fine. Well except for these beasts blocking your way. Let her go!" Alice demanded.
We can't fight seven of them. Let her go.
You've got to be kidding me! We can take them. We can't just let them have her.
They have not broken the treaty, therefore we have no grounds for attack. We wouldn't survive against seven of them and I would like to make it home to Emily. She wants to go with them, let her go.
Fine. I will fight them myself. I will never let her go with them.
Jacob, stand down. Let her go. The last voice was different. It reverberated through their minds and Jacob dropped to the ground in submission. The black wolf, Sam, motioned with his head for Bella to go.
"Bella, come here." I called gently. She looked warily at the wolves and carefully made her way towards us. Once she has passed Sam, she ran and I had to stop myself from running to meet her. I didn't want to provoke the wolves. Finally, I held my Bella in my arms. Her soft, warm body pressed against mine and I inhaled deeply.
"You stink." I chuckled, my nose wrinkling at the stench of wet dog that covered her.
"Gee thanks." She playfully swatted my chest. Then reaching up, she laced her fingers through my hair and pulled me down for a kiss. Her mouth was heaven and I rejoiced in having her taste on my lips again.
"I thought I'd lost you." I murmured.
"Never. I love you." She whispered back and I attacked her mouth in a desperate kiss, holding her too me as tightly as I dared.
I vaguely heard retching sounds in the background. Jacob was showing his immaturity and I tried to block him out.
Carlisle cleared his throat. Enough, son.
I glared at him. "I'm sorry. I just spent most of the day thinking the love of my life was dead, only to find out a pack of mongrels took her from me in some warped heroic effort. I'll kiss my girl however long I want to."
Bella was chuckling into my chest, her face bright red in embarrassment.
"God, I missed you." I held her face between my hands.
Sam barked to get my attention. There have been more leeches in the area since you left.
"Can one of you turn back into your human form so we can all talk?" I requested. The entire family needed to hear about this.
I will phase back.
He loped off into the woods and then returned a few minutes later in human form, his hands cupping himself since his clothes had shredded when he morphed into a wolf. Jasper pulled off his button up shirt and tossed it to him. Sam quickly tied the arms of it around his waist, so he was covered.
"Thanks." He said gruffly, his nose wrinkling a bit. I guess we don't smell good to them either.
"You said there had been more vampires in the area?" I prodded. Bella was safe in my arms and I would never let her go again. I rested my chin on her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her waist.
"Yes. There have been three different ones. They all have red eyes, and have been hunting in Forks. Several hikers have been killed." I saw a flash of red hair in his mind.
"Victoria." I hissed.
"You know them?" He showed me more images of a dark-haired male, Laurent, and the red-head. The third one was a blond male that I had never seen before.
"The red head is Victoria. We killed her mate last year when he attacked Bella. The dark-haired male is Laurent. He was a third member in their coven. I don't know the other one."
"We've been having a hard time catching the red head. Every time we get close, she always manages to slip through. We only saw the blond once and he outran us. His scent was around Bella's house. Charlie's fine though. We've been running patrols." He told us the last part for Bella's sake, knowing she would want her father protected. Her whole body tensed at knowing her fears were confirmed and she twisted her fist in my shirt.
"Shh. He'll be fine, love." I tried to comfort her.
"How did you find us?" Jasper demanded. I had been so worried about Bella that I hadn't even thought to ask that.
"We followed your trail to Alaska shortly after you left, but it eventually faded away. When Jacob found out, he ran off to search for more information. He came across another group of your kind and staked them out until he overheard them talking about where your family went."
"Why did you come all this way for Bella now? It's been months." I had to know. What was she to them? With vampires on the loose in Forks, you would think they would want all the protection they could get.
Sam's face clouded over in anger and his eyes flashed to the red wolf. "We thought she was taken against her will. Jacob just started phasing recently. Before then, he had no idea Bella had gone with your family." Jacob insisted. He and his father are close to Charlie.
"You had no right to take her." I growled, glaring at Jacob.
"You are vampires. How were we supposed to know she was safe?"
"You know good and well we don't harm humans. How would you like it if someone took your mate away from you because they thought you might be dangerous?" The outrage was still coursing thought me. That little pup thinks he has a right to take my mate. Who does he think he is?
Oh shit!
Man, don't bring her up. Now you've done it.
Emily...
The wolves seemed to flinch in anticipation that Sam would lose control. The hulking Quileute did begin to tremble. I saw his mate's face, permanently scarred, and a flash of himself phasing too close to her, causing the injury. The guilt and remorse he felt was crushing, and Jasper flinched with the onslaught. She forgave him though and they were completely in love with one another. His trembling ceased as his thoughts turned towards their love.
"It was an accident." I tried to placate him. "But surely you see the similarities?
"No, you're right. Your family has not given us any reason to distrust you. You have always followed the treaty and your father was highly respected at the hospital." All that blood, and never a single incident. The other wolves let out snorts, and Sam turned to glare at them. I can see you love her, and she loves you. I'm ashamed of our actions. We let our emotions get the best of us. "Bella, I am sorry we took you against your will. It was wrong. Please accept our apologies." Jacob growled from behind Sam.
We did what was right. I can't believe he's letting them take her. They're going to kill her.
"Just look after Charlie for me." She requested.
Sam agreed. "We will."
"About these other vampires..." Carlisle cut in. "We'd appreciate it if you would keep our location secret. We have reason to suspect they are looking for Bella. However, if they become more of a problem, please let us know. We may not live in Forks any longer, but we care about the people there and would be willing to offer our assistance, if you need it."
Like we need their help.
"Sure, sure. It's only three of them, and we should be able to take them ourselves, but if things escalate, we would appreciate the help."
"We need to get Bella back home. This has been an exhausting day for her, I'm sure." Carlisle excused us politely.
"Of course. Take care of her." Sam's thoughts were quite protective of Bella. She merely glared at him, still angry about being kidnapped.
"We will." I replied tersely, still quite angry myself at the gall of these children.
Turning away from them, Bella and I began to walk away. Several things happened at once. Jacob crouched and sprang. I saw it an instant before it happened, but Bella was in my arms and my first instinct was to curl myself around her to protect her. Jasper reacted first, leaping at the wolf. They collided in mid-air and Jasper knocked him off course, leaving me and Bella unharmed. I pushed Bella into Alice's arms and told her to run. Carmen and Esme quickly joined her and took Bella far away from the ensuing rumble. Carlisle and Eleazar crouched, facing off with Sam, who had phased again, and the third wolf. None of them planned to fight unless forced. Trees shuddered and the ground shook as Jasper and Jacob wrestled for dominance. Jacob's snapping jaws tried to find purchase in Jasper's marble flesh, but the vampire was too skilled to allow himself to be harmed. Jasper was merely trying to deflect the wolf's attack. He did not want to harm the boy, and tried several times to blast him with enough calm to get him to stop. Finally, Jacob sank to the ground whimpering. Jasper had grasped the wolf's massive head between his hands and infused him with lethargy at the same time as Sam commanded him to stand down using the Alpha voice. Jasper kept contact with Jacob, and Sam demanded to know what he was doing.
"Jasper can manipulate emotions. He's trying to calm him down and has given him the equivalent to a sleeping pill. He does not want to hurt Jacob, but he has to be stopped."
Jacob cannot disobey the Alpha's command, and I have ordered him to stop. Your vampire can step away now.
"Jasper, Sam has given Jacob a command as Alpha. You can let go of him now."
Jasper reluctantly let go of the wolf and backed away warily, still ready to step in if needed.
It's best if you leave now.
"I agree. Jacob, you are not to approach Bella again. She has made her choice. If I see you near her, I will not hesitate to end your life." I warned the pup with a snarl. No coherent words were formed, but there was a sense of resignation in his mind.
Jasper and I backed away from the wolves, while the rest of the family ran ahead with Bella. When I was sure we were far enough away from them, I turned to catch up and relieved Alice of her burden. Once Bella was in my arms, the world felt right again. Clutching her to my chest, I buried my face in her hair and found comfort in her scent, even though the stench of the wolves still lingered.
"Is Jacob ok?" She asked meekly.
"He's fine, Bella."
Her head bobbed against my chest as she nodded. I knew Bella cared for the boy, considering she had known him her entire life, so I tried not to be angry that she was concerned for his safety. Though I was still furious they had thought it was their place to invade our lives and take Bella against her will. Personally, I could care less if Jacob was harmed or not. He put Bella in danger. I put Bella in danger by leaving her side. Perhaps I was being a bit irrational, but the earth would cease to spin for me if anything happened to her. If I had to spend every moment with Bella to ensure her safety, then I would. Nothing like this would ever happen again. If Victoria and Laurent were still invading Forks, then they were after us. They were after Bella. At any moment they could find out where we were and come for us. We would be ready. I would personally hunt them down before they even had a chance to get close enough to smell her.
All that mattered in the world was nestled in my arms. I cherished every heartbeat and breath while I ran towards the coast. With every step and pulse of her blood, I was reminded how fragile and mortal she was. I was a fool to think keeping her human was a good idea. At any moment her life could be ripped away. At least as an immortal, she would be safer. There were only two things that could destroy her then - a vampire or a werewolf. The chances that either would take Bella from me were minuscule. I would have to talk to Carlisle first, but changing Bella as soon as possible was at the top of my agenda. She was too precious.