Chapter 13

Bella's POV:

We appeared on the top of a cliff facing the Mediterranean Sea. Behind us was the mouth of a dense forest. Gabriel turned and walked a few feet to the edge of the forest and paused, his head slowly turning from left to right, as if he were searching for something. I walked up to him, feeling very edgy about the sudden seriousness that has taken over him.

"What are you looking for?" I asked. At first he didn't say anything, completely ignored my question and took another two steps forward before turning around to look at me.

"We'll need to walk now" was all he said. Before I could say anything, he took me by the hand and led me into the forest.

We walked in silence for what seemed like an hour. The temperature had dipped significantly and the chill was beginning to make my teeth chatter. Blackness saturated the night, but I found that I could still see clearly through the dark, something I know I couldn't do before my transformation. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him but I was afraid to speak. Whatever it was that he was searching for, I didn't want to distract him if in case he'd miss it by my talking.

I could see the trees thinning up ahead, blending out into a clearing. As we got closer, I could see that there were people gathered there. A very small group. I couldn't make out the faces but I could hear quiet voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying because of the distance between us, but as we got closer, I could hear the familiarity in their voices and I realized who they were.

"The Cullens?" I asked feeling my heart charge up.

Gabriel didn't say a word. He just continued walking forward, pushing the ferns out of the way. I didn't understand why he brought me here if they managed to escape after all, but I didn't care. It has been so long since I last saw them. The chance to see them once again was like a dream come true. Even from a distance, I saw that Edward was not there and something in me fell, even though an encounter wouldn't be the best for either of us.

Their faces turned towards us the minute they heard our approaching footsteps. We made it to the clearing and Alice darted right to me, reaching me in a flash.

"Bella!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me. I could see Gabriel through my peripheral vision and I noted despondency in his eyes when looked at us. For a moment, I wanted to push Alice away and grab him by the face and demand that he'd tell me what he was thinking, but before I could do anything irrational, he walked away. He headed towards Carlisle who also had a grave look on his face. What is going on? I thought to myself.

"My god you've grown and in less than a day!" cried Alice as she placed her hands on my stomach. I couldn't take my eyes off of Gabriel and Carlisle. Gabriel didn't stop when he reached him; instead, Carlisle turned and walked along with him until they were a good distance from everyone. I could see the rest of the Cullens walking towards me.

"How do you feel?" asked Alice. I tore my eyes away from Gabriel and Carlisle to look at her.

"Um, I'm ok." I said, trying to convey a smile.

"Bella!" cried Esme, a hint of pity in her voice. I realized that the last time they saw me, they were congratulating me on my engagement and here I was, pregnant and with someone else. Shame washed over me.

"Sweetheart," she said as she pulled me into a warm embrace. Something about the way she said that made it sound to me like she understood my situation and lamented me for it as well.

Her hand went to my stomach as she gave it an endearing look.

"It's good to see you again, Bella" said Jasper, his voice as smooth as the spell he casts. Emmet came up to me and gave me a big hug and a kiss on my cheek. He didn't say anything except smiled and this basically told me he didn't know what to say but was nonetheless glad to see me. Rosalie, on the other hand, was the only one who didn't greet me or even made the smallest effort of smiling out of courtesy; instead, she glared at me when I met her eyes. I had forgotten how vain she was and I assume that the physical changes of my transformation sent her flying. Then her eyes moved down towards my stomach and an evil grin stretched on her face. Bitch.

Though, I was thrilled to see them all again, alive and well, I excused myself. I needed to find out what was going on and why Gabriel had brought me here. His head was bowed as Carlisle spoke animatedly to him, surely filling him in on the Volturi. Before I could take the first step toward them, Alice stopped me. A quick nervous glint flashed in her eyes but it disappeared as fast as it came.

"It's so good to see you" she said hugging me again. She knew. Whatever it was that was going on, she knew and she was purposely trying to keep me away from them.

"Alice," I managed to say, "I need to talk to…" and I caught it - a familiar clean minty scent, one that I knew far too well. As if the announcement wasn't enough, Alice's arms loosened and she backed away, staring at something or someone behind me. My heart took off. The rest of the Cullens turned quietly and walked away, towards Carlisle and Gabriel, leaving me alone with the one thing, the one single missing element of my being.

Edward walked slowly up to me until he was by my side, staring at me dubiously. I hated that he could hear my beating heart making a fool out of me. He didn't' say anything at first. From across the field, Gabriel looked back at me with an uneasy frown and I had expected him to walk over, but he turned away instead. If I didn't understand what was happening earlier on, then I was at a complete loss now.

I could see Edward turn his face to Gabriel's direction and I hoped he was listening in on them.

"What are they speaking about?" I asked.

He, too, said nothing. He just continued to stare at them and I wanted to blow up. I turned to face him, expecting to lash out at him, but instead, I found myself catching my breath. He turned to look at me, his eyes black as the night, giving every emotion away. His eyes moved all over my face, my hair, and then back to my eyes. I swallowed hard and focused.

"What are they saying?" I asked again. He looked at me for a moment and finally spoke.

"He won't let me in his head" he said and I was in a way glad that Gabriel didn't. I thought about what just happened before we came here and I shuddered at the thought of Edward seeing that.

"But what about Carlisle? What is he saying?" I asked and I saw when his eyes shifted a little to the left, so quick that I almost missed it.

"He's just telling him how they made it out" he said dismissively. He knew also. And he was lying to me.

Before I could question him any further, a movement from behind him diverted my attention. From the edge of the dark forest, I saw Leah walking out, tying a wrap that she wore over her almost naked body. She paused when she saw me, her eyes wide in surprise. What was Leah… And then I looked slowly back at Edward, for the first time noticing his clothes. His shirt was open, even in the chill of the night, and his belt was… oh God, no. A sharp breath escaped my mouth. He turned and looked back at Leah, who was already making her way to the clearing.

He slowly turned back to look at me. "That wasn't what it looked like," he said quietly shaking his head slowly.

I opened my mouth to speak and found that I couldn't. Tears were welling up my eyes and I knew I couldn't resent him for it, after all I've done and put him through but the pain was inevitable. The fact that he was able to move on so quickly stabbed me in the heart. He may have thought the same of me, and although, by common standards, a month is considered a relatively short amount time before someone could go and get pregnant by someone else after the end of a relationship, I felt that the circumstances that brought me to this point in my life held some significance to my actions. For one, I had known Gabriel much longer than he had known Leah. We had a history that dated back one thousand years ago, a history that I, myself, saw in visions. Secondly, I had believed him to be dead. I seduced Gabriel making myself believe it was him. Though I know, none of my reasons justify anything, I felt that fate and all its cruelty, put me in this path for one reason or another and has managed to laugh at me in my face right at this very moment.

I blinked furiously and managed to speak.

"That's none of my concern," I said evenly and turned to walk away when he caught my wrist and stopped me. I wanted to yank it away and curse him but I couldn't move.

He walked around me until he was face to face with me.

"But I want you to know that nothing happened back there" he murmured.

I looked up at him and squared my face.

"Excuse me," I said, tearing my hand away and this time he didn't stop me. I walked over to Gabriel, the conversation he was having with Carlisle brought to an end even before I got there.

"I need to speak to you," I said when I was face to face with him. Carlisle looked at me and smiled.

"I'm so glad you're all right, Bella. It's truly a pleasure to see you again," and he turned and walked away, awarding us privacy.

"What is going on? Why did you bring me here?" I spoke harshly.

"My lady, there is nothing for you fret about. You're perfectly safe" he said, and not even his smooth accent swayed me.

"Don't bullshit me, Gabriel. What happened to you back there at the beach? Why are we here?"

"There isn't any time to explain. I must go, but I will return, Bella. I want you to stay here with them. You are safe. Please believe me when I tell you this."

"I am not staying here! I'm going with you" I shot back.

"You promised me you'd listen to me and in turn, I promised you I'd be safe. Now please, Bella."

I stared at him, trying to figure out his thoughts, hating that I couldn't. His eyes moved over my shoulder.

"Keep her safe" he said and I knew he was talking to Edward. He looked back at me, raising his palm to my face. I could feel something swimming through my veins, seeping out through my pores. It was a strange sensation, one that I had never felt before.

Gabriel smiled, closing his eyes.

"That's you" he whispered. "You're shielding me."

He opened his eyes and after a brief moment he backed away as I watched his body begin to contort and twist rapidly, snapping as he morphed into a black wolf, his grey eyes piercing right through me. I stared back at him, amazed and captivated as he turned and sped away, disappearing into the night.

And so it appears that I have been able to create a character that is loved as much as he is hated. (patting myself on the shoulder) Truth be told, Gabriel is my favorite character in the story, and not because he is a product of my own imagination, but rather because of his complexities. I know a lot of you are wondering why I've shafted Edward and I have to say that part of the reason is because I'm big on tragic romances but I urge you to continue reading the story. I think Edward is a great character and I'm trying really hard to keep his original portrayal of wearing his heart on his sleeve. Please continue to give me your feedback as the story unfolds. I do take notes of your suggestions and keep them in mind as I write. I hope you continue to enjoy the story and I hope not to disappoint. ;)

More to follow soon...