Chapter 16:

Bella POV:

Alice called later that day, and informed us the Volturi were close. We needed to go to the clearing now. Jake phased and informed the pack it was "go" time. Then he met me at the truck.

I was sitting next to Jacob with his arm around me while he drove. He hadn't stopped touching me since we left Sam's. I knew he was nervous. He was so scared of losing me. I was scared, too.

We got as close to the clearing as we could in the truck then Jake stopped and turned off the engine. Neither one of us moved. Finally he turned and pulled me into arms. "I wish I could convince you to stay home while we take care of this," he said into my hair.

"I know you do. But you know I won't," I answered.

He gave a small laugh. "If there is anything that I have learned about you Bella, it is that you are stubborn. I'm not even going to try."

"Good. Just hold me a couple of minutes longer, OK?" I tried to get even closer, which was impossible. Jacob was shirtless, of course, and my face was on his skin. I inhaled and enjoyed the smell of him. He smelled like the woods on a sunny summer day. I wanted to stay here in his arms forever.

He pulled my face up and kissed me. Slowly, longingly. Like he was trying to savor it. "I love you so much, Bells," he murmured. "I WILL protect you. Trust me."

I nodded. My throat was tight. I couldn't get any words out.

He kissed me again, softly, lingering over my lips then he whispered, "We need to go."

We climbed out of the truck and Jake took my hand. We waited just a few minutes for Seth to join us in wolf form, and then we made our way to the clearing. I reached out and rested my other hand on the side of Seth's strong, furry body as we walked.

When we arrived, Alice was beside me in an instant. I had forgotten how fast they could move! She hugged me then looked at Jacob. "We have about 30 minutes."

Thirty minutes. Fear gripped me with those words. I squeezed Jacob's hand as he looked over at Seth, who nodded his huge head letting Jake know that he had relayed the message.

We walked a little ways and met up with Carlisle and Esme. "Bella, it's so good to see you," she said as she held me close. I looked behind her and saw Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, and . . . Edward. Esme let me go and Jacob again took my hand. I felt him stiffen. I knew that he saw Edward. Alice left us and walked over to talk to Jasper.

Carlisle cleared his throat and spoke to Jacob. "Alice thinks we have about 30 minutes until they arrive. I'm not sure what Aro is thinking. I told him everything that had transpired here, including Edward trying to change Bella, even though she had changed her mind. I will reason again with him, but I am hoping that he just wants to see with his own eyes that Bella is with you. I have to tell you that he is intrigued with werewolves. I'm not sure what he will want from you."

"As long he leaves Bella alone, I don't care," Jacob stated. I had a flash in my mind from my dream. . . . Aro's teeth sinking into Jacob's arm . . . I shivered.

"Bella?" Jacob was looking at me. "Are you cold?" It was like 85 degrees out, even I wasn't cold.

I shook my head and asked, "Jake, you are immune to vampire venom, right? Please say that you are."

"Well, we don't become vampires, if that's what you want to know."

"What does it do to you?"

"Bella, why are asking me this? What's wrong?" Jacob had reached over and taken my face in his hands.

"What does it do to you?" I shouted.

He glanced at Carlisle then he said, "I'm not sure . . . we've never been bitten. Now tell me why want to know."

"My nightmare. This is what was in my nightmare. We were standing here in the clearing. Before the Volturi. Felix was holding you while Jane tortured you. Then, Aro . . . he said he wondered . . . then he picked up your arm and sunk his teeth into it." I was visibly shaking now.

Jacob pulled me to him. "Bella! Why didn't you tell me that was what your nightmare was about?" I tried hard to let his warmth calm me.

"Bella, real werewolves are immune to vampire venom," Carlisle stated. "But . . ."

I pulled away from Jacob and looked at Carlisle. "But what?" I said.

"Well, Jacob and his tribe are not really true werewolves. They are more like 'shape-shifters,' a human turning into a wolf form. It is genetic in the tribe – they pass this down to one another, where a true werewolf must bite it's victim to make another, like a vampire. It's a little complicated to go into right now, but there are many true werewolf characteristics that Jacob and his tribe do not show."

Jacob glared at Carlisle. I knew he didn't want me anymore upset that I already was.

Jacob turned to me and said, "Look, Bella. We've have been in how many vampire fights? We'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Just to be clear, Jacob. You need to know that the Volturi are not your ordinary vampires. They are not like Victoria, or the newborns. They are very powerful, and you need to respect that. All of you do. Jane can cause excruciating pain just by looking at you, so can her brother Alec, although his is slower to act. I am sure that Aro will bring Renata with him – she is his personal shield, so he will be thoroughly protected. Felix is stronger than any other vampire I have come across in all my years, and Demetri can hunt down anyone, anywhere. They don't fight fair. "

Jacob and the rest of the pack were so cocky when it came to fighting vampires. I knew they weren't taking into account that the Volturi would be the most powerful vampires they had ever faced.

"He's right, Jacob. Please warn the rest of the pack that the Volturi are different, and much more powerful."

"OK. If it will make you feel better." He whistled at Seth. Seth was standing by Edward. I knew that didn't make Jacob happy, but I was glad that Seth was showing Edward some compassion. He looked up at Jacob's whistle and came running. Jacob went to meet him.

I looked over at Edward. He was standing with Alice and Jasper. He looked at me and our eyes locked. I could feel his pain . . . it cut through me like a knife. I had to talk to him. Now, before . . . I walked over to Jacob.

"Jacob? I know you are not going to like this, but I am going over to talk to Edward. I know you won't allow me to go without you, so you can come with me, but you will stand to the side, you will keep your temper, and you will be quiet. Understand?" I didn't wait for an answer. I started walking toward Edward. Jacob followed me, just like I knew he would.

Jacob caught up to me just before I reached Edward. He grabbed my arm to stop me and said, "Listen, Bella. You need to talk to him, I get that. But so do I." He let go of me and made his way over to Edward. Oh God, what is he going to do? I ran after him.

Jacob stalked up to Edward, grabbed his shirt and got right in his face to let him have it. "You son of a bitch! You almost KILLED her! That would be the ultimate revenge, huh? I slept with her . . . I gave her something that you couldn't, or wouldn't, give her, so you take her away from me FOREVER. Is that what you thought? What was all that bullshit you gave me that night in the tent when we had our little 'talk?' I ASKED you what if I was what was best for Bella? Remember that? And you said that you would 'let her go.' You didn't fucking mean that, did you!" Jacob shook him then looked Edward in the eye. "I would like nothing more right now than to rip you apart piece by piece, but I won't do that to Bella. I won't hurt her anymore than she's already been hurt. You need to be here today, I get that. But as soon as this is over, you are gone. Got it?" Jacob let go and gave Edward a shove.

Edward just took it and let Jacob have his say. Finally, he looked at Jacob and said, "Yes, Jacob. I understand. And I cannot express how sorry I am for what happened. When we had our 'talk', I was secure in the knowledge that Bella was mine. She was wearing my ring, and I guess I thought I would never have to face her choosing you. But if that did happen, I wanted to think that I would be able to do the noble thing and step aside. I . . . lost control. I was so angry. I . . . " he put his head down for a second, then looked back at Jacob. "You have every right to want to kill me Jacob. I would expect no less. I deserve it. I will be leaving here today, and I won't come back."

"Jacob," I pulled at his arm. "You've had your say. Please, step back and let me talk? OK? I don't know how much time we have left," I said anxiously. He nodded and folded his arms over his chest. I could tell his anger and rage were still running wild, even though he was doing everything he could to stay calm. I touched his arm before I turned and walked toward Edward.

I stopped a few feet in front of him. "Edward." What should I say? How should I start? "Thank you for coming," I said. Thank you for coming? What is this? A tea party? Come on, Bella!

He smiled then said, "Hello Bella."

I wanted to reach out to him. To touch him in some way, but I knew that I couldn't. Not because Jacob would jump in, but because of the pain it would cause Edward. He looked so tortured. I took a couple of steps so that I was standing directly in front of him. "Edward," I began, "I want you to know that I forgive you for what happened." He started to say something, but I put my hand up and went on, "I hurt you, badly. I didn't mean to, I just . . . I didn't handle things right. When I came to you that night, I wanted to tell you about all of the things that I been thinking about – all of the reasons that I wanted to stay alive. My relationship with my dad, my mom, eating cereal, having babies, all of those things. It wasn't just Jacob. We should never have . . . I handled it wrong, and I am so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you like that. But I did. Just . . . please, please forgive me?"

He had watched me say every word. He cleared his throat and said, "Bella. Of course I forgive you. I am the one that always tried to talk you into staying alive, remember?" He smiled. "Why do you think I kept putting you off when you tried to talk me into changing you? I suppose when you agreed to marry me, I let myself finally hope that we could be together forever. And when that didn't happen . . . " his voice trailed off and he put his head down.

"Edward . . ." I reached out toward him. He put his hand up.

"Bella, please . . ." he said. He raised his head and looked at me. "I am completely ashamed of my behavior that night. I still cannot believe that I lost control like that. I have had to relive that night over and over and over . . . " He stopped talking. "I am finding it very difficult to live with myself." He snorted. "If you can call what I do 'living.' "

"Edward. Listen to me." I looked him straight in the eyes. "Alice told me that you hoped Jacob would kill you if you came back here. Do you have ANY idea what that would do to me? DO YOU? Jacob just told you that he won't do it. Jacob would not hurt me that way, and neither should you. Edward, you need to find some way to forgive yourself for this and move on. I forgive you, Edward. I forgive you." Tears were falling now. I couldn't stop them.

"Bella," he said softly. He looked behind me at Jacob. "I know I have absolutely no right to ask, Jacob, but I remember giving you permission at one time. Now the tables are turned and I must ask you. Can I please hold her, just once?"

I turned and looked at Jacob. I knew this would kill him. "It's OK, Jake. You're right here. I'll be OK," I said to him as the tears were coming faster now.

He had such a tortured look on his face, but he nodded.

Edward moved forward and took me in his arms. I wrapped my arms around him and let him hold me. "Bella," he whispered in my hair. "I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I wish that things were different. That I could hold you like this forever." We stood there just holding each other for what seemed like hours, but was only minutes.

He pulled back, kissed me on the forehead, and let go of me. He reached out and took my left hand. "This is a very unique ring. It's beautiful." He looked at me. "I do want you to be happy, Bella. Alice tells me that you are happy with Jacob," he said quietly.

"Edward . . ." I didn't know what to say.

"It's alright, Bella. It's alright for you to be happy with him," he said with a smile. He let go of my hand and stepped back. He looked behind me again. "Thank you, Jacob." Jacob moved up and put his arm around me. I knew that he stayed away from me long enough.

All of a sudden Alice went still and closed her eyes. She opened them and announced, "They are coming . . . from the east! We have about 3 minutes!"

Jacob moved behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I let myself lean into him. I looked over at Edward and took a deep breath. "Bella" he said. "We will do everything in our power to make Aro understand. The Volturi are powerful, but I doubt they have ever been up against seven vampires AND seven werewolves." He smiled. "This should at least be interesting." Interesting? Yeah, that's how I would describe the terror I am feeling.