Chapter 20: time flies
3 months later: April
"Honey are you sure about this?" her mother asked as she looked back at the plane terminal.
" mom. I love you but we are driving each other crazy and you know it. You want to go back home to Florida and I don't blame you go home and relax."
" But what about your stalker?" her mother asked
"Don't worry Paul and his team have it covered. They even have a security team to watch over you and Phil. "
Her mother sighed.
" only if your OK with it."
"Mom, I love you. Please don't stay here and be miserable because of me! Go home."
Her mother gave her a watery smile and pulled her into a hug.
"Alright. I'll call as soon as we land. And don't worry I'll be back to see you walk that stage."
Bella smiled at her mother and then pushed her toward the terminal where Phil was waiting.
The past 3 months have come with a lot of changes.
First was the pack dynamic. With Paul's help, the pack had become in touch with their wolves and had managed to calm down. They weren't as aggressive as they used to be and their patience had improved.
Not to mention the construction business that Paul assigned them to. He made Leah a secretary, Embry was his designer and the rest of the guys were pure muscle. But they enjoyed it. They got to travel all over Washington and the pay was rewarding. Seeing their first paycheck made some of them cry. They worked hard and the paycheck showed.
Paul even convinced Sam to enroll in some college courses online and then as soon as the war was over. Paul was going to send Sam to college on a full-ride scholarship.
When Sam tried to protest Paul wouldn't hear of it. Sam was going to leave the reservation whether he liked it or not.
Another change had been Sam's broken imprint with Emily.
They woke up one day and they just couldn't feel it anymore.
Sam was happy and Emily was devastated. He sent her back to the Marah tribe and told her to never come back
And then there was Embry's and Leah's engagement announcement. They went to Sam first to avoid any bad blood but Sam was happy for them.
When Sam finally explained what imprinting was Bella felt like her heart would break. Was it possible Paul could look into the eyes of another woman and leave her?
All she could do was hope not because no one was taking her man away from her.
And even with Paul gone, the pack continued to go train with the Cullens. Bella went sometimes just to throw the Cullens off their game. She laughed any time one of them made a mistake.
…
The next day found Bella in the auditorium after school helping the prop team finish the props for the play.
" Bella you really didn't have to help us." One of the guys told her
"It's all good guys. I'm glad I could help."
The play was tomorrow and Bella was nervous. She had gotten the part as Anna but didn't tell anyone except for Rudy and Paul. She wanted to surprise her family.
" So Bella any plans for college?" one of the guys asked her
" yeah, I'm going to get my certifications in culinary and then one my own café, or restaurant."
"ooo! That's better than my plan!" one of the girls said,
" what's your plan?" Bella asked her
"See that's my problem. I have no plan. "
Bella was going to ask a question when Angela burst into the auditorium tears streaming down her face.
" Ange? Ange? What's wrong? What happened?"
All Angela could do was sob.
Bella stood and quickly escorted her friend outside.
"Angela… what is it?"
" Ben broke up with me !" Angela began "he said we got accepted into two different colleges and it was going to be too much hassle to try and do a long-distance relationship! He said he didn't think we would make it this far anyway!"
" oh ange…. Here why don't you come home with me."
Bella could feel Angela squeeze her tight as she followed the curves of the road. She loved her new bike but she could tell Angela wasn't one for fast rides.
When Bella parked her bike, Angela realized they were at the beach.
"The beach?" Angela questioned
Bella grinned.
" My family likes their bonfires. I thought it would help."
As she and Angela approached, Bella was quickly swept off her feet by quill.
" Bells! Can I tell you how happy I am because of you!"
Bella laughed and made Quill put her down.
" Quill, do you remember Angela? You guys met at my house a few months ago."
Quill smiled and took Angela's hand
"Well hello, little lady! Why don't you join us over here!"
Bella could only laugh at Angela's face.
Angela would get over her heartbreak and Bella would be there to support her.
….
Victoria roared in frustration at Riley
" what do you mean half our army is gone?
Riley shrank back in fear.
" i- I don't know. I just did a head count and they are gone!"
" how many did we start with?" Victoria asked
" 60."
" how many do we have now?"
" 30" Riley practically whispered
Victoria went for his head.
Paul smiled from the shadows. Everything was going according to plan.
….
" why are we here again?" Embry asked Leah.
" I don't know, Bella asked that everyone come," Leah told him
Right now the whole pack minus Jacob and Brady had squeezed into the forks auditorium. Charlie, Billy, Sue, Gene, Sophia, and Rudy sat in a row ahead of the pack.
" hey quiet you guys, it's starting!" Charlie ordered.
The pack shut their mouths and the theater went dark.
As soon as the curtains opened everyone gasped, standing on the stage was Bella. She was covered in fake blood and guts.
" As you can see, I'm kind of in a bad situation. Let me tell you how it started ."
…..
As the curtains closed and the whole crew had taken their final bows, Bella was swarmed by her friends.
All of them congratulated her. Their director told them they were all free to gather in the lobby to meet their families.
As soon as her father saw her, she was swept up in his arms.
"Baby girl! I didn't know you had it in you! Im so proud of you!"
" That was one heck of a show Bella. Zombies though?" Billy joked
"It seems I can't get enough of the monsters Billy." She told him as she bent down for a hug.
" Bella!" the pack cheered.
As expected Bella was swarmed by hot bodies.
" can't breathe guys!"
As soon as she said it, they stepped back.
" move over you giant beast!" Rudy yelled as he shoved through the pack and proceeded to cuss the pack out in Spanish.
He then turned to Bella with a smile.
" Isabel! I have a surprise for you but you have to close your eyes." He told her.
Bella sneered but followed along anyway.
It was then she heard a familiar giggling.
Opening her eyes Bella came face to face with her son.
"MOMMY!"
"JOSEPH!"
" Isabel!" an older voice greeted.
Standing behind Joseph was Henri.
"Henri!"
….
Bella refused to put Joseph down as everyone gathered at her parents' house. And she refused to let go of Henri's hand as he updated her on everything going on in Puerto Rico and Canada.
"We will be flying back tomorrow morning Isabel. Paul says it's not safe and barely let us come today." Henri told her
"I understand, and he's right. It's not safe but I am glad to see you guys." She told him as she sniffed Joseph's hair.
"Mommy! Read please!" Joseph laughed as he handed her a Dr. Seuss book.
"Bella, why does this young boy keep calling you mommy?" Billy asked
Everyone had settled in the swan's living room as they watched Bella gush over her son.
"that's because he's my son Billy. I married his father during Christmas break."
"Married his father?"
Bella looked around the room.
"Guys did no one tell Billy what was going on?"
The pack looked away and Sue ducked.
"Guys!" Bella reprimanded.
"Sorry, Bella we just got a little lost in the sauce with all the changes. And we didn't want to hear the council's mouth" Sam explained.
Bella sighed.
"That's reasonable but still Billy should know. Now someone explain to him what's going on. I'm going to go upstairs to read to Joseph."
As soon as Bella went upstairs, Sam told Billy everything he needed to know. Including the part about him and embry being related and Paul being their brother.
"Are you telling me that Joshua Uley fathered 3 wolves!" Billy exclaimed
"Yes, Billy."
"So, wait! This older brother is a wolf and he's not on the reservation AND you let him have the alpha position!" Billy roared.
"Billy please stop yelling in my house you're going to wake up my grandson." Sue admonished
Billy turned to look at her with fury in his eyes.
" you as a council member should have told me!"
Sue stared back at Billy and said "It's because I'm a council member that I know what was going on! The pack and Bella trusted me enough to inform me of every little detail! You on the other hand like to flaunt your position and think you can just rule over people. That's not how that works Billy. Tell the council all you want but the majority of them will be on the pack's side."
Billy gritted his teeth.
" we will see about that. This young man is a wolf and he's running around the world as if he doesn't have any responsibility! He will come back here and submit to the rightful alpha and I will make sure of it!"
With that said Billy rolled out of the house.
It was then Bella crept down the stairs.
"He has no idea who he's messing with. Billy is going to fill Jacob's head with lies and he's going to try and challenge Paul. And then Billy will lose his only son." She growled.
"Maybe we can beat him to it. Call a council meeting ourselves." Sue grinned sneakily.
Meanwhile, while the pack and Bella were scheming, Paul was making schemes of his own.
He sat on a tree watching Jane and Alex knock on the Cullen's door.
Of course, the matriarch of the family opened the door.
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw the twins on the doorstep
"Mrs. Cullen." They greeted her in unison.
Esme Cullen tried to have a smile on her face as she looked at the Volturi guards, but she was sure it looked like a frown to them.
"Are you going to let us in or are we going to stay on your porch? I thought you had manners, Mrs. Cullen?" Jane hissed.
"Oh pardon, me of course come in," Esme said nervously.
Paul let out a snort. He knew selecting the twins as his backup would be good for intimidation.
"Where is the rest of your coven?" Alec asked.
"Um they are hunting, give me a moment to call them."
Esme stepped out onto the back porch, not knowing that yellow eyes were watching her every step.
"Jasper! Is Carlisle with you? good! Tell you all to have to come home, the Volturi are here." She tried to whisper.
"We are on our way." And the line clicked.
Six minutes later, the Cullens were rushing through the front door. The Volturi guard hadn't moved a muscle, the only thing they did was take out their phones and begin to text each other. Both of them smirked from time to time.
"Jane, Alec? Welcome to our home, we didn't realize the Volturi was sending two representatives?" Carlisle admitted.
Jane and Alec looked at each other and began to laugh.
"You think we're the representatives?" they asked.
The Cullens looked at each other bewildered.
"You mean you're not the representatives? So, who is?" Carlisle asked.
Jane gave the Cullens an evil glare.
"They're listening as we speak. They will be watching you until the battle, when they are ready, they will reveal themselves. Alright, I think that's all we need. now can you tell us where we will be staying?" Jane asked.
Edward let out a hiss.
"Staying here?" Carlisle questioned.
Alec rolled his eyes.
"Did you not listen when Aro was talking to you, Dr. Cullen? He did tell you about us staying here, right? We can't forget about the trial you all will be put on after this whole newborn thing." Alec said nonchalantly as he looked down at his phone and began typing.
"I don't think that will be a problem. Esme, can you show our guests to their rooms?"
"Alec and I can stay in the same room." Jane clarified.
"Very well then. Esme dear, show them to their room."
As soon as Jane and Alec were upstairs Edward let out a snarl.
"Carlisle, you can allow this! Can't you call Aro?"
Rosalie snorted.
"Yeah, Edward 'cause that's a good idea. Hey Aro, we have your guards here! Can they not stay here? Yeah, guys that will be a good look. We will just have to shut our mouths and deal with it. We all knew this was coming. We have to face the consequences."