Chapter Forty Nine

Alice

I hadn't seen the outcome of the fight because Charlie's shots were an accident not premeditated and now there was a possibility of a war with the guardian tribes. It was a fight we would win but at such a cost that it didn't bear thinking about and I needed to see what Johnny H decided. If we could speak to him directly the war could be averted because I couldn't see his decision otherwise so I rang Jazz and warned him. I knew he would do all he could to contact Johnny H and I just hoped Johnny would agree to speak to him, I thought there was a good chance he would because Jazz too was a highly regarded warrior. If the guardians started a war the Volturi would become involved and that they really didn't need, it may well lead to the death of Bella and Jasper as the ones who started it all. Or at least that was the way they would see it. There was also Edward to watch, he was vacillating, should he contact the Volturi? Would Aro give him Bella as a reward if he did? Would Aro think Edward was partly to blame and kill him too? I would have to keep a close eye on him.

Jasper

Bella heard Alice's words and we tried to contact Johnny H straight away before things escalated too far. It was a struggle but I finally got Annie on the phone, the Tribal Leader. She was the only conduit to Johnny himself.

"You want to talk to Johnny H? Why Jasper Whitlock? Do you want to make excuses for what happened to the Quileute guardians?"

"No Annie. I would like to explain what really happened though and if he still feels it would be right to fight us then I have done all I can. I don't think he has the whole story from the Quileute Elders."

"Are you saying they have lied to us? Be very careful Jasper Whitlock."

"No, merely omitted some factors."

"Very well, give me your number and I will ask him to speak to you but do not lie to him or it will be the worse for you and your friends"

"Thank you Annie for listening to me."

"I am always willing to listen to all sides before making a decision as important as this, after all knowledge is power Major"

Bella

All we could do now was wait and see if there would be war between the guardians and our small group which would draw us to the attention of the Volturi and as Peter said,

"Aro will do his fucking nut if we call attention to ourselves."

I expected it would be sometime before Johnny H rang, if at all, but Jaspers phone went about twenty minutes later.

"Major Whitlock I understand you wish to speak to me"

"Yes thank you for ringing. I think just perhaps you are not aware of the full facts about the destruction of the Quileute wolves."

"Really? Perhaps you have another side to the story?"

"Yes and I would like the opportunity to tell it to you before we start a full-scale war with the guardian tribes which will end with too many losses on both sides."

"Very well, we are flying down now. I understand you are in the Glacier National Park. Would it be permissible if we landed close by to speak to you?"

"Yes of course. I guarantee your safety personally"

"Oh I expected nothing less Major. I will be with you shortly but for all our sakes please meet me alone."

"I would like my mate to accompany me, it is after all her story."

"Very well but no others or my companions may get nervous and we all know how dangerous that can be."

"Yes. We'll be waiting."

Peter

"Its fucking stupid. You're going to saunter in to have a cosy chat with a mutant polar bear and no back up."

"He'll have me Peter."

I looked at Bella,

"Yeah well Bella excuse me for seeming less than thrilled by that but I always stand with the Major and I have more experience than you at fighting."

"Peter. It was Charlie who started all this so Bella needs to explain what happened."

"Why? Does this Johnny H think we'll lie to him?"

"You would"

"That's beside the point. If those bears are around I should be too"

"Peter I need you watching my back."

He was right but I didn't have to like it.

Bella

We watched as a helicopter hovered overhead before landing some distance away,

"Careful fucker isn't he?"

"We'd do the same Peter, now stay here and watch out."

Jazz and I walked slowly forward as a young man and a huge older guy got out of the helicopter and moved to stand clear of the rotor wash. They waited for us and I could see why Johnny H was so feared and admired by the guardians, he was enormous, like Emmett on steroids! I was therefore amazed when Jasper addressed the young man, who looked round about the same age as him.

"Johnny H thank you for meeting with me."

"Major, I understand you have something to tell me."

"Yes, but I think my mate Bella would tell it better, it involves her father Charlie Swan."

"The only survivor of your last encounter I heard, with the exception of Edward Cullen"

"Edward was here? No one mentioned it."

"Never the less he was watching. I think he hoped to snatch your mate Major Whitlock. Do you think he will cause trouble with the Volturi?"

"No, I think Edward, coward that he is, will work out that it isn't in his best interest to involve the Volturi unless he wants to put his own head in a noose too."

"Will you guarantee that Major? I don't want to start a war that may wipe us all out"

"We'll find him and make sure he realizes what is in his best interest. In the meantime perhaps Bella could explain."

Johnny H stood and listened as I told him everything that had happened leading up to the encounter with the wolves then he stopped me,

"The wolves came here with Chief Swan, your father, to get you back? There were no tribesmen involved? No threat to the Quileutes themselves?"

"No, none."

He gestured for me to continue, so I told him about the fight, Charlie's shot which hit me by accident and the decision to change me rather than see me die.

"I understand the reasoning behind your transformation and while I accept that to the wolves the Major was guilty of biting a human I also understand it wasn't the catalyst for the other deaths"

"No that was Charlie too. He heard me scream and pulled the trigger of his rifle which was aimed at Captain Whitlock, shooting him multiple times resulting in the vampires and wolves overreacting. Unfortunately for the wolves they were outnumbered."

"So what you are telling me is that the Quileutes agreed to help your father get you back because of their friendship and they came along with one of the Cullens?"

"Yes."

"Why did you have so many warriors with you?"

"Alice Cullen warned us the wolves were coming and we defended ourselves. I regret the death of so many brave warriors but it was a battle and beings die, it's the nature of the beast."

"True Major. This changes things and I need to talk to Annie and Billy Black. I will make my decision after that."

He turned and walked slowly back to the helicopter a cell phone to his ear,

"Do you think he believed me?"

"Yes. He can spot a liar easily. He doesn't look much and I know you were expecting the other guy to be Johnny H but looks are deceptive Bella. I'd rather fight the entire wolf pack single-handed than take him on. For now Edward has to be our main priority. If he involves the Volturi it will mean a massacre."

"Can we find him?

"I'll speak to Alice, see if she knows."