Summary: Edward arrived at the mental institution and was reunited with Bella. Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper searched Forks for survivors and told the wolves Bella was dead. The Cullen's camp was attacked, but Carlisle made a truce with the other coven's leader and they were informed of the Volturi's mandate. Next the Cullens met with the Denali coven. Meanwhile, Laurent betrayed their whereabouts to the Volturi. The Volturi returned to Denali and took Bella, agreeing to let the Cullens accompany them to Volterra after some quick thinking on Bella's part. They arrived in Volterra and Bella met the other survivors; the survivors were shocked and appalled when Edward entered. Alice prepares Bella for a special night out, and Edward proposes at dinner. They were secretly married in a private ceremony. Bella had a very interesting doctor's appointment with Carlisle and was almost eaten by Felix. Aro summoned them and said that he would have to take Bella away from the Cullens, but Rosalie stopped him by proposing to trade the wolf pack for Bella.

Chapter 17 (BPOV)

Shock is the first thing to hit me. Not everyone I know is dead! In the short time I knew him before I had the breakdown that made Charlie decide that some professional help would be best for me, he had become my best friend. My happiness does not last long.

Confusion is the next emotion to register in my mind. How could Jacob possibly be alive? Everyone in Forks and the surrounding areas died. The Cullens definitely would have noticed if anyone in La Push had survived. But…they did. Obviously, Rosalie knows, so they all must have known that they were still alive… They just didn't tell me.

Cold betrayal seeps from my heart like a deadly fog. How could they have kept something so important from me? I assumed that they would have gathered up any survivors to take with us, but I suppose I was wrong. At the very least, they should have said something, anything but leaving me in the dark like they did. This is inexcusable. After all the tears I shed over my lost family and friends . . . they chose to keep this from me.

"Oh my," Aro breathes. He tilts his head to the size and gazes hungrily at Rosalie before gesturing infinitesimally to his guards. Two swoop in next to Rosalie, grab her arms, and pull her up to Aro.

Emmett growls, stepping forward to defend his mate, but Carlisle places a warning hand on his shoulder. Rosalie voluntarily goes with them to stand directly in front of Aro. The royal vampire reaches out his pale, filmy hand for her to touch, and she reluctantly meets him halfway. As the seconds tick by slowly, my heart pounds audibly in my ears, my head still reeling from this new revelation.

When Aro finally releases Rosalie's hand, his deep red lips spread into a delighted smile. I shrink into Edward fearfully as his shrill, scream-like laugh rings through the corridor. My love strokes my hair tenderly, shifting me to stand slightly behind him, and I hold more tightly to his sleeve.

"Splendid!" Aro exclaims, opening his arms as if to embrace us all, "More additions to our new little society. I must discuss this with my brothers... Go, Cullens and Bella, to your rooms, but do not leave the castle. You animal-drinkers never cease to amuse me!"

The moment Aro is done speaking, Edward sweeps me into his arms and runs away at vampiric speed. My toes meet the plush carpet of my personal bedroom, and I know it's safe to release my anger.

"Why didn't you tell me he was still alive, Edward?" I demand.

"I didn't want you to feel obligated to stay, when—"

"That's not your choice!"

"Bella, please, try to understand—"

"No! I can't understand why you didn't tell me that my best friend was still alive! It seems like that's something you'd want to share," I shriek, blood pumping hotly through my veins.

"Please, just let me explain," Edward implores.

But I am beyond explanations. Feeling as if I would be unable to contain myself it this exchange went on any longer, I shout, "Go away!"

Edward's face contorts in pain. His mouth turns to a half-agape grimace, his burning eyes widen in shock, and his already white skin pales even more. "Bella..." he pleads.

"LEAVE!" I demand., stamping my foot in anger.

The pain that corrupts Edward's perfect features causes my stomach to twist achingly. Something intangible ldoges in my throat, and I swallow back the plea to stay that drags its way to my lips. Unable to look him in the eyes, I glare at my feet.

Several agonizing seconds pass before Edward speaks. "Okay," he says flatly, "I will go now." My eyes flit up just in time to see him turn for the door, then back again. Then the love of my life proclaims reverently, "But I will be here. When—i-f—you need me, all you need to do is ask."

And then he is gone.

I fall to my knees on the plush carpet and sob unrestrained. Tears stream down my face like acid, rightly searing my skin. How dare I turn him away like that? Is it physically possible that I just told Edward Cullen, the love of my life, my soul mate, to leave? He must have been so hurt. I bring my fingers to my lips and trace them with disgusted tenderness, wondering how I could have brought myself to commit such blasphemy.

Enraged at both the Cullens and myself, I pull myself to my shaky legs I feel weak with my rage and this new revelation. The Cullens didn't want me to know, so they just edited out that one little detail from their story. This brings to question what else they have lied to me about. Jacob must think I am dead. If he knew that I was alive, he would have come. At least, I think he would have come.

A short knock comes from my door. I bound over to it, hoping without wishing that Edward has returned. I swing open the heavy door to reveal a slight, pixie of a vampire with her arms crossed nervously across her chest. Her golden orbs widen at the sight of my reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. I am wrapped in her embrace before I can squeak her name.

"Oh, Bella!" she exclaims, tightening her grip on my torso.
When my chest begins to burn from the lack of oxygen, I decide to protest. "Er, Alice," I squeak, "Human here. Gotta breathe."

The constricting arms are gone before I am finished speaking. "Sorry," Alice apologizes, her eyes big and lips turned into a pitiful pout, "Really, genuinely sorry. We just thought it would be best if you could let go. We thought . . ."

The anger returns as quickly as it had vanished at the sight of her, like a hot stone clogging my heart. "Well, you know what," I spit icily, "You all seem to have a problem with deciding what's best for me. Don't you remember what happened last time?"

Alice visibly cringes at my words. "I don't agree with what my brother did, but he left to protect—"

"You all left me!" I shriek, "It wasn't just him. You all left me, Alice, so don't try to shove the blame off on your brother. His power wasn't mind control last time I checked."

Her eyes darken, and she sets a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Bella. We should not have left without consulting you first. We have bigger problems right now than worrying about things in the past. If we have any intention of getting out of this situation alive, we need to stand together. But, I suppose you could say we have a little trouble with making decisions for you."

Somehow saying, "I told you so," is not going to make me feel better in this situation.

"You have to forgive him at the very least. Edward, if not the rest of us. He loves you more than you know, and I can't bear to see him as said as he is. Be mad at me, Bella, if you have to be mad at anybody," Alice begs as she clasps her hands together pleadingly.

The devastation in her expression brings out my natural urge to protect the weak, though I know that Alice definitely does not need protecting. I wrap her in my arms, and she accepts my embrace and hugs me back, this time remembering my need to breathe. She pulls back after several seconds and looks up at me. "So, do you forgive Edward now?" she asks hopefully.

I sigh, knowing without wanting to admit it that this tiny vampire is manipulating me. I do not want to continue fighting with Edward or anyone, so I concede. "Fine. I forgive you all, for leaving and for Jacob."

"Thank you, Bella!" she exclaims, "You won't regret this, I promise. After all, I would know." She taps her temple knowingly, and I crack a smile at her attempt at humor. Then she takes a deep breath and regains her serious composure.

"But I still want an explanation. I'll try not to hold a grudge, but I need to know why you did it. Why keep this from me? You had me thinking that every human I knew was dead," I demand, no longer under the influence of her puppy dog face. For a moment, I suspect the interference of Jasper.

"The thing is," Alice explains sheepishly, "They aren't exactly human."

I raise an eyebrow questioningly at her. "Seriously? I think I'd know if Jacob were a vampire," I scoff.

"I never said he was a vampire." I am silent for several moments, turning this over in my head. Not a vampire? What else is there? Wizards? "He's kind of a werewolf."

I gawk at her as if she'd just announced that she never wanted to shop again. "Like, turn into a wolf at the full moon, werewolf? Silver bullets and that kind of thing?"

"Hollywood is really bad at portraying the world's actual monsters," Alice laughs bleakly, "This Jacob character and his pack are more like shape shifters, turning into giant wolves on demand. I've never seen them personally, nor can I see them in my visions, but I know the theory."

Alice guides me over to the perfectly made bed where I promptly sit down. I run my hand through my hair and attempt to come to terms with this new information. Werewolves. Wow.

Before I know it, my breathing is too fast and I'm beginning to panic. "Werewolves? Seriously? Oh, of course! That just figures, doesn't it? I'm finally able to make a human friend, and it turns out he's actually a dog."

"You never were a normal human exactly, were you?"

"Nope, never," I sigh, shaking my head sadly. Always on the sidelines, never truly fitting in . . . that's me.

"But that's a good thing. No one likes someone who's just normal," Alice agrees, "That's sort of how I'm beginning to feel without my visions. Those dogs certainly aren't helping me in that area."

I smile weakly at her. "Now you'll see things like the rest of us. But that doesn't change how bizarre this is. If you'd told me a few years ago what I'd be doing now, I would have laughed at you. Vampires, humans, and wolves, oh my!"

"Well," Alice chimes in an attempt to lighten the mood, "At least there are no ghosts." I gaze cautiously out the window at the phantoms that haunt my psyche both night and day.

If only she knew.

Author's note: Sorry about the wait; I could blame my computer virus, but I was procrastinating a lot too.

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