Chapter 18: Confrontations and revelations part 2

Bella followed Jared and Sam out to the front door. Her mother was outside banging on her shield. The pack stood by ready to remove the Cullen's from her land.

Sue, Charlie, and Phil were gently poking at the shield as well. The whole Cullen coven was standing outside the bubble, looking shocked and confused. To Bella's surprise, every time one of them tried to touch it a spark would ignite, and the Cullens would back away.

"Bella, what is this? What is going on? First, you bail on your wedding plans, then some woman is stalking you, and now this advanced technology. What is – "

Bella cut her mother off with a hand for silence.

"Mom. Im exhausted. You are exhausted it's been a long day. Rudy, can you show my mom and Phil to one of the guest rooms."

"of course, hermosa." Rudy said as he gently guided her mother and stepfather inside.

Bella then turned to her parents.

"Momma sue, Dad." She greeted me as she reached for a hug. Her father and stepmother squeezed her tightly, whispering words of love and comfort.

"I have to talk to them," she told them. They both nodded in understanding.

"Sam, Jared will you two come with me?" she asked.

"of course."

The two of them phased and followed her through the forcefield. Behind them, Rudy came back out with a chair.

Bella gave him a questioning look.

"Take it, no point of you standing with the gargoyles."

She chuckled and took the chair. Once outside the shield, Bella sat in the chair with Sam and Jared at her feet.

"I see we're meeting a little early. Any reason why you all are on my private land without my permission? It's rude to show up uninvited?" Bella questioned in a monotone voice.

"Love-"

Bella held a up hand for silence.

"Edward at the moment, Im addressing your leader, not you. it seems he has been taking advice from you for centuries instead of leading his immature children as he should have. Now, Dr. Cullen what is the meaning of this intrusion? Normal people call ahead of time and ask to come to people's houses."

"Bella their no need to be so formal. We are family." Esme admonished.

Bella gave Esme a cold glance.

"Once again, I am talking to Dr. Cullen and Dr. Cullen only. We are not a family, nor have we ever been. The relationship we once had was based on deception, manipulations, and lies. Now, Dr. Cullen tell me why you're here before my pack becomes Impatient."

Dr. Cullen looked at Bella in surprise. He had never seen her act this way.

"Well, first off, I want to welcome you back home. We've missed you."

Bella did not acknowledge his greeting.

He cleared his throat unnecessarily. The look Bella was giving him was making him very uncomfortable.

"We apologize for showing up unannounced like this, but we have some things to tell you. Edward told us earlier about what Victoria did to your house and what she left behind. We didn't expect her to be the one behind all this, but she is. We've also found that Victoria Is creating a newborn army. We- "

"what's a newborn army?" Bella asked as she interrupted him.

"They are what we call newborn vampires. When we are created, we are stronger in our first year."

"Ok, so once again what do you want? what does this newborn army have to do with me and my pack family? If they are destroying and killing people, then your family needs to take care of it."

"You see that's where our problem lies. We are outnumbered. We tried asking our cousins in Denali for help, but that did not fall through."

Bella twitched. So, this is what this was about. They were not here to apologize or fix things they were here for their own selfish needs. She felt anger build within her.

"Oh, I see Dr. Cullen, this is why you are here. You're here to save your own butt. You had the nerve to show up here, without calling on the night where I have been traumatized. Not to check on me or my family! But to ask more from my pack brothers! How dare you! how dare all of you! As if the Quileute pack has not sacrificed enough! All of this was your fault from the beginning! You allowed Edward to become obsessed with me! instead of keeping him away! You allowed him to come into my room at night while I slept! And then when Victoria came around, you didn't kill off their whole coven you allow them to live! And now here we are! I am sick of all of you! and your fake family! You sit here and pretend to be human when you're not! The only one I could probably stand right now is Rosalie because she tired to tell you! and she tried to tell me to stay away! And now look where we are. I will not speak for the pack on what they want to do but I will tell you this! When this is over, I want you all gone! You're a burden to me, you're a burden to the pack and our ecosystem! I don't want to hear or see you ever again! And Edward! We are through. We are not a couple! There will not be a wedding! You will not be proposing to me! I will not be turned into a vampire; I am staying human and that is final. Whatever consequence comes along you deal with it!"

The Cullen's stood there with a look of shock on their face. everyone except for Rosalie. She instead stood there smiling.

Bella felt a shimmer next to her and then Sam was pulling her to his side.

"The only reason we will fight with you is because of the threat to our people and the people of Forks. I agree with Bella. Once this is over you all need to leave. The treaty will be void then and if you decide to stay, we will take you out ourselves."

Dr. Cullen's eyes widened at the threat.

"That won't be necessary. We will leave as soon as this is over. But I must clarify you will fight with us, correct? My son Jasper has the knowledge of newborns."

"We will fight for our people." Sam corrected.

Dr. Cullen was going to speak before Alice groaned.

"no. no. no. Carlisle its Irina! She's gone to Aro! She's told him about Victoria and the newborns. He's going to call you in-"

Alice was cut off by the shrill ring of Dr. Cullen's cell phone.

He froze before answering.

"Aro, old friend." Dr. Cullen greeted.

However, his face told a different story. It was once of fear and stress.

"Yes, what she told you was true."

Dr. Cullen's eyebrows furrowed.

"But- "

He then sighed and the phone hung up.

"What is it?" Sam demanded.

"Our cousin has gone to the Volturi and revealed what we are struggling with. She also identified that your pack was running around forks. The Volturi who is the leader of our world is going to send a representative, to help clean up the mess. After the battle, my family and I are to report to Italy."

Bella snorted and held back a laugh.

"Well, If that's all you can get off my property," Bella ordered.

"Bella you could stay with us. that was our original plan. We can help keep you safe from Victoria. That way the wolves don't have to guard you twenty-four-seven. Besides, this land does not seem safe. it's not on our territory nor is it the wolves."

"Yeah no, I will not be staying with your kind at all Dr. Cullen. Did you not listen to anything I said earlier? But, what your coven can do is take turns guarding my borders from nomads. I have my own protection from the nomads that is failproof, but it would be nice not to have them trying to mess with it. besides, a wolf will be at my house at all times. So, you can go now, and Edward here can have the first shift. I need to talk to him anyway."

With that said Bella waved the Cullen's away and beckoned Edward to come forward.

"Bella I- "

She cut him off with a shake of her head.

"My answer is no. you told me once when we first got together that you would let me go if I was living a normal human life. Well, im living as normal as I can. You can guard the perimeter of my land while the wolves get some sleep but that's all. I want you to leave me alone. I won't tell you not to hang out with my friends because some of them genuinely like you. I just ask that you respect my wishes."

Edward looked as if he might cry.

"Is this what you want?" he asked.

"Yes. it is. I am choosing my human life. Now on each of my perimeters is a blue light. Just follow them."

Edward nodded and looked like he wanted to say more.

"What is it?" she asked in annoyance.

"Carlisle wanted to know how you were able to keep us out?"

"My gift is vampire-proof. That's all you need to know. Good night, Edward."

With that said, Bella entered her house, Sam and Jared following her. however, a painful scream reached their ears when they opened the front door.

Turning around they saw that Edward was holding his hand in pain. Smoke was radiating from his fingertips.

"I told you it was vampire-proof." She muttered.

When she came inside, all four of her parents were sitting at the kitchen table, coffee in their hands.

"Im not going to school tomorrow. I just need to take a day off. Im exhausted so I'll see you guys in the morning. If you need anything, ask Rudy, or Leah. Good night." She then turned to Sam. "There is enough room for the whole group to sleep here. Everyone can have their own room. my room is on the fourth floor at the end of the hall. We'll talk more about that imprint thing later."

By the time she had gotten to her bed, Bella passed out.

….

She was having a nightmare. She knew it wasn't real, but she couldn't get out of it. she couldn't wake up.

Even though she was in her sleep, she felt warm hands caress her face. someone was speaking over her.

Someone familiar.

" Padre Dios, pido por su protección. Te pido que la mantengas a salvo. Te pido que la ayudes con la escuela. muéstrele cómo no sentirse abrumada. muéstrale el plan de los enemigos. muéstrame cómo amarla de la manera que ella necesita ser amada. en el nombre de jesus amen."

(Father God, I pray for her protection. I ask that you keep her safe. I ask that you help her with school. show her how to not be overwhelmed. show her the enemy's plan. show me how to love her the way she needs to be loved. in Jesus' name amen)

It was then Bella realized it was Paul and he was praying for her. She didn't recognize all the words he said, but she recognized a few.

As she opened her eyes, she noticed his eyes were still closed.

"Paul" she questioned.

"We're sorry. We're so so sorry. We couldn't protect you! we should have just let you stay in Canada. We have failed as a husband."

Bella sat up.

"no. no. you haven't failed. Stop it." she wasn't used to seeing him vulnerable. He was always so confident.

"You did the right thing. I needed to come home. I want to finish high school here. Im enjoying my friends. And the whole thing with Victoria, it wasn't your fault and I've come to realize it wasn't my fault either. it's Cullen's fault, end of discussion. I am human and there is no way I could have stopped Victoria from doing what she did. I just want all this to be over so I can come home to you."

Paul pulled her into his arms.

"our den is full of wolves." He smiled.

Bella laughed. "it is and three of them are yours. How long are you here for? Are you the representative Aro sent?"

Paul laughed.

"im here for three days. And yes, I asked him if I could come for a few days. He agreed because then I could scout out the area and show him what is going on. And im going to introduce myself to the pack as the contractor who is going to hire them. I think that will help with introductions. besides, Samuel is stressed out and we don't see him hanging on to the alpha position much longer. We may have to reveal ourselves earlier than expected."

"Will we tell them that were married?" Bella asked as she lay on his chest.

"Do you want to? Andres and I don't care either way."

Bella bit her lip as she thought.

" I don't want any more drama. Maybe we should wait. But I do think you should talk to Sam. They are supposed to have another council meeting in a few days. Plus I think your grandparents would like to see us."

"This is not a social call," Paul told her.

Bella gave him a look and said "You can't keep avoiding this ."

"If we see Sam we will want to challenge him," Paul admitted.

"then maybe that's what you need to do Paul. Maybe this is what both your wolves need. Your wolf needs his pack and Sam needs a change of pace."

Paul sighed.

"can't we just take you home and disappear?"

This was the man talking. The man didn't want to deal with any of the drama. She couldn't blame him but this was their life.

"no, and you know it," Bella smirked.

Paul smirked as well.

"we are blessed to have you." he rumbled.

Bella sighed in contentment. She agreed.

Sam rubbed his eyes as the smell of bacon filled his nose.

Emily was asleep next to him and he was glad he didn't have to face her right now.

He hated this. Hated the imprint that had been forced upon him. The only imprint he was grateful for was the one he and the pack shared with Bella. She kept them from losing it. he stood and stretched grateful for a full night's rest without having to worry about guarding perimeters.

He quietly walked out of the bedroom and scented the hallway. From the sound of it, everyone was still asleep.

He had no clue where Bella was because he couldn't smell her or hear her but from the soft clanking in the kitchen, he guessed it was her.

When he walked into the kitchen, he fully expected to see his little sister cooking up a storm. However, instead of Bella, was a man he had seen in his dreams a thousand times.

The man turned around and stopped.

Green eyes met bored into Soul.

"Brother Samuel."

Sam swallowed hard and said "You. I know you."