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Edward's POV
The person who said 'what starts bad, ends worse' was right.
I'm experiencing it firsthand.
The second I realized Bella was truly gone, slipping through my fingers, quite literally, I knew nothing could top that. It seems I was wrong. After my talk with Jacob back home, I needed to distance myself from Forks.
How he has found me here is beyond my knowledge, but my stupid insistence on him hitting me has turned disastrous.
The pain radiating from my jaw is nothing compared to how my heart is shattering at the way he's looking at me.
In this moment, I know what's going on. He's just imprinted on me, and I seem to be put under his spell, too.
Denial is not only a river in Egypt.
I want to push him away, to distance myself from him. I can't accept what just happened.
But that unknown force of imprinting forces us close together as we walk back to Forks, to my house. I'm trying to figure out a way to rupture this unwanted connection, while Jake keeps thinking of things about me that creep me out. He thinks I walk like I'm floating, like I'm an angel; my hair shines nicely in the moon's glow, my eyes dark with thirst are the most captivating thing he's seen in his life; the way my muscles pull and stretch under my clothes, and last but not least, he thinks I have a nice ass.
"Stop it, for Christ's sake!" I grunt out, stopping in the middle of the path.
His head, which has been turned, checking my ass, snaps up. He gives me a horrified look, his hands covering his face. "Stop picking at my thoughts! It's not like I can stop it."
"You can. You must. For my sanity's sake."
"I'll try, but you have to understand this new connection causes me to see you in a new light."
I growl, baring my teeth. To my utter surprise, I immediately feel guilty.
This is ridiculous.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, and on its own accord, my hand slips into his.
We both stare at our joined hands. It's not weird or awkward—it feels right.
A few miles outside Forks, my phone rings loudly, disrupting the peaceful silence engulfing us.
Alice's face flashes on my screen.
"Hello?" I answer, warily.
"Edward!" She exhales in what sounds like relief. "You're safe."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I saw you disappearing! Your future has simply vanished like…" She trails off, which is unlike Alice.
"Are you still there?" I ask, sharing a confused look with Jacob.
"Stay away from the wolves! The last time it happened was…when I saw Bella disappearing, and then that Jacob kid was around. Be careful, Edward. I can't see if one of them is around."
I know he can hear everything we say.
Laughing nervously, I tell Alice I'll be home soon, then hang up.
"What are we going to do?" I wonder, squeezing his hand. "They're going to freak out if we tell them the truth."
"I can't stay away from you. It's not like we planned for this to happen. We just go with it." He shrugs.
"Let's say my family accepts this, because they are understanding. What about the pack?"
"As much as they hate you, they won't dare get between me and my imprint."
A shiver runs through me as he calls me his imprint. To my horror, I realize I like it.
"Do you have any idea why this is happening now?" I ask, honestly curious. "We've known each other for over a year."
"I've been thinking, and I have a theory," he mumbles. "Surely, you already heard it."
"I've been trying to give you privacy, but yes. You mistook jealousy for hatred."
He nods. "It makes sense. As much as it pains me to say it, I didn't hate you back then. I hated Bella." Jacob clasps a hand over his mouth. "What kind of person does that make me?"
"A human being with feelings…for the wrong person."
"You might rethink the human being part."
We share a laugh over that, and continue our journey home.
On common agreement, we decide not to tell our families anything yet. I still want a way out, if there is one.
Jake will do everything in his power not to phase and let the pack in his thoughts, and I'm safe with Alice—she can't see him.
Esme greets me at the door, hugging me tightly. "I've been so worried. Where have you been? We're here for you. We're all grieving." She strokes my face.
"He's had another run-in with the mongrel," Emmett comments. He walks down the stairs, his nose twisted.
"Is that so?" Carlisle asks. I can tell he's worried as he joins us in the family room.
"It's nothing. Don't worry. We were quite civilized. I'll be in my room."
Slumping on my couch, I fist my hair, wondering how this change is going to work. Of what I know, the wolf who imprinted has to be around his imprintee, because of their special connection.
I have a special connection with a mutt. Not any mutt—Jacob Black.
I groan as I sort through the chaos of thoughts in my head. I need to talk to Carlisle and not raise suspicions. That will be hard in this family.
Sometime later, I hear most of the family leaving for a quick hunt, and make my way to Carlisle's office.
Ten minutes of pacing in front of his office later, listening to him shuffling through his medical journals and patiently waiting for me to grow a pair and open the door, I finally raise my hand to knock.
Just let yourself in, he says silently.
I do as told. A fresh round of nerves washes over me when I'm face to face with him.
Whenever you're ready, I'm here for advice. I can tell something is bothering you. His tone is fatherly.
"I'm not bothered by anything," I say, defensively.
"Really? Since your return from Italy, we've barely seen you. Now, you come home smelling of wolf."
Edward, I hope you're not planning on something stupid. His golden gaze penetrates me to my soul.
Define stupid, I think to myself, glad I'm the only mind-reader in the family. "I think I have the right to mourn the loss of my love. Despite whatever any of you say, I feel like I killed Bella. I should have saved her—changed her like she always wanted. There are so many things I could have done differently."
We all make mistakes, son.
I glare at him. He doesn't really understand how I feel.
Tell me about your plan with the wolves.
"There's no plan." I groan in frustration. "I'm here to discuss them, but nothing like you're thinking."
Oh? He looks mildly interested, but I can see the myriad of thoughts running through his head. "And do take a seat." He waves to the chair in front of his desk.
I sit down and stare at my hands on my lap.
Edward? he asks gently.
Glancing at him, I give him a nervous smile. "Do you know anything about imprinting?" I cringe at my blunt words.
"Imprinting? You mean finding your mate?" I nod in confirmation. "I've told you about this, Edward. We can have multiple partners, or mates, but only one is our true mate. Unfortunately, the loss of your true mate will keep you on guard to find someone new, but I promise you there is someone out there for you." The best example for vampires having different partners is our friends from Denali.
I scowl at him. "You know how I feel about their raunchy behavior!"
He chuckles, shaking his head. "Is this what worries you? That you won't find a partner again?"
"Carlisle, how well do you know me? If Bella hadn't been so desirable on every level, my heart would have never known what love truly meant."
Then what is the problem? He looks genuinely curious.
"When I said imprinting, I meant the kind of imprinting wolves do." I avoid eye contact after my statement.
It's hard to catch his flying thoughts, but he's once again worried about me—with good reason.
"Why is that any of your concern, Edward?" Carlisle finally asks, linking his hands in front of him, on the desk.
I feel like a berated child. "Jake mentioned it," I whisper.
"Jake?" he repeats, his eyebrows shooting up. "Since when are you on first name basis, let alone nicknames?"
I bite my lip, staring into his eyes and feeling like the teenager that I am. "You see… Something completely absurd happened while we were in the forest earlier."
Has that dog hurt my boy?
I'm momentarily sidetracked by hearing Esme's thoughts.
"I'm fine, Esme. Don't worry," I murmur, before focusing back on Carlisle, who is frowning at me.
Has he hurt you in any way? He asks silently. Bit you? Attacked you? Forced you?
I shake my head, dropping my eyes once again to my wringing fingers.
Edward, just tell me, Carlisle urges.
The door of his office opens before I can say a word. Esme has figured it out, and she's staring at me with wide eyes.
I nod, shame washing over my body.
"Oh, my poor boy!" she cries out and rushes to my side, hugging me tightly and kissing my head. "Such horrors."
"What's going on?" Carlisle asks impatiently. "What do you know, darling?"
"Haven't you figured it out, Carlisle?" she moans, stroking my hair.
Explain, Edward, he begs silently.
Cringing and detangling myself from Esme, I stand. "Jacob imprinted on me."
"How is that possible?" he asks, outraged. "You're enemies!"
"Well, apparently, it is possible. Please, I'd rather not discuss it."
"We need to have a family meeting about this. It will be best if you can invite him over. This is a delicate situation."
"Must we? The last time this happened, Rosalie vehemently opposed my ideas."
"And what are your ideas now?" he asks.
I catch myself before the bond between Jacob and I speaks. I choose to shrug my shoulders, because I still have no idea what to do.
So much for keeping this between us.
"Once everyone returns, I want a family meeting, Edward. This is important and it will affect all of us."
"Yes, Carlisle is right. Don't even think of leaving again," Esme says softly. "Even if we need to accept what happened, we'll find a way through this new challenge—together."
"You should let your… uh, Jacob know. Invite him over," Carlisle repeats.
"Alright, alright! If this ends badly…don't blame me for ripping someone's head off," I mutter, then storm out of the room.
Another chapter coming soon. :)