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Esme was dead.

Bella stared at the sack in Jasper's hand, unsure of what to do. Cry? Back away? Esme, lovely, motherly Esme Cullen was dead. And Black Paradigm was to blame. Unless Edward did it, her mind sneered at her and Bella quickly shook her head. She was just being paranoid, that's all. Edward would never kill Esme…right?

There was no way to confirm her thoughts: Erik wanted no part of the conversation Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper were having, Charlie and Richard Newton would never understand. Mike was Mike. Angela …she was different now. In the short few days that had passed since her parent's murder, there was a look in her eyes that Bella couldn't place. Every time the Black Paradigm was brought up, that look would return and Bella would get a shiver running down her spine. Angela may still be her quiet self, but there was something different about her, something deadly.

And then there was Leah Clearwater. Letting the she-wolf in was something Bella wasn't sure her father would even agree too- Richard Newton wanted her shot on sight. It was no secret now how much vampires loathes werewolves, and vice versa. And Bella knew Leah could probably hear the argument from outside. But if the silver wolf was upset by it, Bella heard nothing. She saw nothing, even as Leah squeezed into the store still in wolf-form. No sign of growling, no fangs bared or hackles raised. She simply stood there by herself, ears flicking from the Cullens to the human parents in the store.

Bella cleared her throat, watching as those dark brown eyes settled on her. "You could transform if you wanted too…you know," she said. Leah huffed, nodding her head in the direction of the Newtons and Charlie.

"Transform?" a deep voice said from behind her, making her jump. Bella turned around and felt her cheeks heat up at the stupidity of such an action. Erik was standing behind her, his head innocently cocked to one side. "So…this isn't a giant dog?"

A growl, this time causing both of them to jump. "I thought you could read minds," Bella whispered.

"I try not to mind rape people out of principal Miss Swan," Erik whispered back and held his hands up in an "I surrender" gesture. " I'm sor-" he started and paused as Leah shifted back. Bella couldn't believe the audticity of Leah to change now, in front of everyone. She was naked! If Leah wasn't going to be ashamed of such an action, Bella would for her; she already feel her cheeks heating up again even as she averted her eyes.

But not even Bella could miss Leah Clearwater's toned body, the smoothness of her skin, her curves. Bella glanced over at Erik and blinked owlishly in surprise. His cheeks were a bright pink, eyes averted as he cleared his throat. "Um…you need clothe-" he started again.

Leah snorted, putting both hands on her hips. "I'm a wolf," she said and Bella watched as the hue of his blush darkened.

"An attractive one at that," Erik conceded as he shrugged off his coat. He offered it to her, eyes still averted. "But it would make me feel better if you had something covering you."

Leah stared at him for a moment, clearly thinking. Bella could feel her chest hurting, her throat tightening as she looked away from the two. Why did Bella hurt? It didn't make sense. She glanced over in the direction of the remaining Cullens and bit her lip as she met his eyes. Jasper's eyes.

Life was complicated. Bella moved away from Erik and Leah, not bothering to look back. She couldn't look back. Not yet. She walked over to the Cullens, giving Jasper a tiny smile. "I'm glad you're safe," Bella murmured. "Where are the others?"

She caught the silence between the three of them and gulped. She knew of Esme's fate. Jasper had whispered that to her. But Edward? Carlisle? Alice? Rosalie narrowed her eyes at Bella before she huffed: "Why do you want to know? It's all your fault anyway."

"Babe-" Emmett began and Rosalie glared him into silence.

"She is!" Rosalie snapped, pointing at Bella. "If she had never come into our lives, we would not be on the run like refugees!" Rosalie turned her icy gaze onto Bella and instinctively Bella tried to make herself smaller. "You wanted immortality, right Swan? You really want it? Why don't I just give it to you!"

Jasper moved in between the two women: a silent, protective wall. Bella could feel comfort wash over her; she could see Rosalie's eyes widen as the blonde haired woman visibly relaxed. "I hate it when you do that Jasper," she grumbled under her breath.

Jasper nodded and Bella caught the glance he had thrown in her direction. "Rosalie," Jasper began, "it's not entirely Bella's fault. If you wanted to blame anyone, blame the wolves in La Push. But even then, they didn't think Black Paradigm would come after them as well. Why else would Clearwater be here?

"I understand how you feel Rosalie; I want to go back home as well. But for now, we are in a war and we need to learn to fight together."

Rosalie laughed: the sound harsh even to Bella's ears. "Since when could she fight?"

Bella raised her chin. "I'm learning," she said in a voice that felt stronger then she felt. Bella tried her best to push out the images of those she had hit with her truck; it took all she had not to shudder in front of Rosalie. Bella would never hear the end of it then. "And when all else fails Rosalie, I will simply lash out by instinct. Now…what happened to the others?"

Rosalie glared at her but Bella didn't break away first. She refused to look away first. It was only what seemed like hours later that Rosalie glanced at her husband before returning her cold, hard gaze on Bella. "The little shit left us," Rosalie spat.

"Little sh-" Bella began, not catching on.

"Alice," Jasper clarified. Bella gasped but Jasper showed no reaction. He was hurt. Bella knew it- after all, how could one live with another person for so long and not feel anything for them? Without thinking she reached for his hand, entwining their fingers together in an attempt to offer some sort of comfort. She could feel the warmness around her, the relaxation, and the comfort increase. "Alice abandoned them earlier this morning."

Emmett nodded. "She said danger was coming and we all had to leave. Then she took off." Emmett shrugged. "Haven't seen Shrimp since."

"Edward said he was going hunting days ago and Alice said he was waiting for her," Rosalie growled and Bella could practically hear the venom dripping off of each word. "Alice promised us we'd…" here her voice broke and Bella was taken aback by the motion. She knew Rosalie didn't like her; she knew Rosalie would like it better if Bella was dead. But to sound as if she was crying? Rosalie crying?! What must it be like, to be unable to even cry?

Emmett pulled Rosalie into a hug as Rosalie shook her head. "That little bitch…she promised us we'd all be ok. She lied to us."

"We're planning an attack, something to catch those fuckers off guard," Emmett said and Jasper nodded.

"We also need to find more survivors. We can't hole out in the store forever," Mike added.

"Tonight then," Angela whispered. Her voice silenced everyone; people had forgotten Angela again, as they were wont to do. Angela had the unique ability to remain quiet, so quiet that people would tend to overlook the girl. Now was no exception and Bella felt ashamed at that. How could they all forget about Angela?

"Tonight's a bit soon," Charlie began but Angela shook her head.

She pushed up her glasses to look them all in the eye. "Tonight's perfect," Angela replied and Bella caught that strange glint she had come to see in her eyes. A glint that in all honesty, Bella had only seen on maybe one other person, and that was only when she didn't listen to his orders.

That glint…

It was a glint of rage.