Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Pretense

It was Forks. So of course, it was raining. The gloom matched Jacob's mood. He was struggling. He had been trying to conceal his feelings about the whole affair. Bella's argument against him coming with her was both reasonable and entirely rational. The risk would be too great-the Volturi must not discover anything about the wolf pack. If he were to accompany her, even in his human form, questions would be asked. She also needed to keep up the pretense that she and Edward were still together, their whole future depended on the entourage (especially Jane) believing that this was so.

One thing Jacob did insist on was driving her as close to the meeting place as possible. Bella had agreed to this, knowing this was the one thing she could give him. Alice had arranged to connect with Bella at a certain point along the way, then take her the rest of the way herself. This would hopefully allay any suspicions the Volturi's entourage might be harboring as to why Bella was absent from Edward's side.

As Jacob pulled out of the hospital carpark, he saw Bella do her breathing thing again, holding herself like she might crack open. She hadn't done that in a long time. It hurt him to see her this way. It was what she used to do in the bad old days after Cullen had first left her. It just gave him another reason to hate the leech and all the coven. They kept putting Bella through it, pushing her back into a dark place, he wondered would it ever end.

Bella didn't speak, but her hand snaked out, small and cool against his own. Soothing almost. She probably knew the grim thoughts that were running through his head. She could tell how angry he was, even though he was doing his best to hide it. He had learned, long ago, to control it, to push it deep down inside of him where it couldn't break free until he needed it. To harness it. To let the rage help, protect his people and Bella, like during the newborn battle and when he had killed Victoria.

What Jacob had never told Bella was that every time he killed a vampire, he imagined it was Edward Cullen. He wondered if she would still feel the same about him if she knew.

"You're angry, aren't you."

As if sensing his inner thoughts, Bella finally spoke for the first time.

Jacob nodded. "It is not what you think, though. I am not angry at you."

"With them?" Bella guessed, although she phrased it as a question.

"Yes." Jacob's answer came out more biting than he intended. He tried to soften his inflection when he noticed Bella flinch. His grip on the steering wheel intensified as he tried to explain. "I hate them, Bella. Not just because of what they are. Not even in the way the pack hates them. I'm sorry. I can't help it. They destroyed you. Not just Cullen, but all of them."

Bella looked at his face, taking in the taut jaw, the tightness around his eyes. "They didn't destroy me. I'm still here." She said quietly.

"I know that." Jacob sighed. "I didn't mean it quite like that."

"Then how did you mean it?"

"They all said they never wanted to leave you, right? They all say how much they love you, how much you mean to them-but they did leave. Somehow, he managed to make them all leave you. And then they come back with all these weak excuses. And here they all are, hurting you again, pulling you back into their mess."

Bella glanced down at herself as she listened to his words. For he was right. She was already digressing, falling into old habits, arms wrapped around her body to keep herself from falling apart. She had thought she had gotten over this, but the threat of the Volturi, knowing that she was going to have to put on yet another act, was destroying her peace of mind all over again.

"I don't know what else to do." She whispered helplessly. "In this instance, I have no choice."

"And that's what makes me the angriest most of all." Jacob replied grimly as he watched the windscreen wipers on the Rabbit beating out a steady rhythm against the never-ending rain.

"You smell of wet dog!" Alice complained as soon as Jacob dropped her off. She immediately began to rub her hands all over Bella, doing her best to wipe Jacob's scent off her completely. After a minute, she paused, sniffing intently. "That's better."

Bella stared at Alice, trembling a little. Her lips were still burning with the aftermath of Jacob's passionate kisses. That was one place on her body that Alice wouldn't be able to erase all trace of him. Bella touched her lips to give her courage.

"Are you ready?" Alice asked briskly.

"No."

Alice sighed. "They are waiting for us at the clearing."

"Why there?" Bella groaned. The place had an evil connotation for her. Everything bad seemed to happen to her there. "I can't."

"You have to." Alice's tone was forbidding. "We knew there was a good probability of this happening. I saw it earlier this morning, that the Volturi would decide it was time to intercede."

"You knew and said nothing!" Bella snapped, her anger overriding her nerves. "Why didn't you warn me-warn the pack?"

Alice blinked in confusion. "Edward was supposed to relay the message to Jacob and Sam. That's why he headed to the reservation before the fight."

"Well, he didn't!" Bella's hands were clenched into fists by her side. "He came to check on me instead. He gave no warning. In fact, all he did do was leave a clear trail for Victoria and her accomplice to follow, so they found me easily. I would be a vampire right now if Jacob hadn't turned up when he did."

An odd expression lit up Alice's face for a second, before she hastily concealed it.

Bella was too impotent with rage to notice. "Let's get this over with." She said darkly.

"Okay." Alice turned around swiftly. "I'll have to carry you. You can ride on my back."

Bella placed her arms around the petite psychic's neck and clung on, her legs winding around Alice's waist. Instantly, Alice took off at high speed. The trees jolted past them. She was running downhill so fast, that it felt to Bella like they were plummeting, falling out of control. It seemed like something had disturbed Alice, as she wasn't running as gracefully as she usually did.

"Are you okay, Alice?" Bella asked breathlessly, even though she wasn't the one running.

"I'm fine." Alice answered. "Don't panic, Bella. They aren't coming for us. Its just the normal contingent of the guard that usually cleans up this type of mess. Nothing momentous, they're merely doing their job. Of course, they seem to have timed their arrival very carefully. Which leads me to believe that no one in Italy would mourn if these newborns had reduced the size of the Cullen family."

Alice sounded very bleak. Bella knew she was trying to put a positive spin on things. If you could call that positive. Images of flowing black robes crept into Bella's unwilling mind, and she flinched away from them. She was close to breaking point already. She had to maintain her composure for all their sakes.

Bella was mostly worried about Jane. How she loathed the exquisite child like face that hid a soul of a demon. She knew she had to maintain a united front with the Cullens, to keep up the pretense. She just hoped she could pull it off. Jane would be the one to guess there was something up if she showed even a flicker of the wrong emotion on her face.

It wasn't just Jane Bella was concerned about. She was still worried about the wolves. Their scent would be all over that clearing. She voiced her worries aloud.

"The Volturi won't recognize their scent." Alice said dismissively. "They won't realize the wolves are here, this species isn't one they are familiar with. The pack will be fine and so will your wolf boy-if he keeps to his word and stays away."

"Jacob always keeps his word!" Bella retorted. "Unlike some I could mention." She was close to the edge-just clinging to sanity with her fingertips.

The trees were a racing blur that flowed around them like jaded waters. Finally, the trees parted, revealing to Bella the much-hated clearing. Alice slowed down to a complete stop, allowing Bella to slide off her back. Of course, Edward was on them straight away.

"My love. You look flushed." He gave his adopted sister an annoyed look.

Alice just rolled her eyes, quickly scampering to Jasper's side. He was with the other Cullens, who all stood in a semi-circle around a lit bonfire. There were hardly any flames visible now, just thick, purple black smoke, hovering like a disease against the bright grass. Jasper stood closest to the solid seeming haze, in its shadow, so that his skin did not glitter brilliantly in the sun the way the others did.

Bella noticed the tension in his shoulders. He had his back to her, his arms extended. There was something there, in the shadows. Something he crouched over with wary intensity…

"What's going on?" Bella whispered to Edward, putting her hand out to stop him embracing her at the same time.

"Bella, your hand?" Edward said in distress. His cool fingers rested on the fixed brace. "We should let Carlisle take a look."

"Oh, shut up, will you." Bella snapped impatiently. "I'm perfectly fine. Now stop avoiding the question. What is going on?"

Edward grimaced at her sharp tone. He didn't respond, instead he hovered in front of Bella protectively as he led her slowly over to the others so she could see for herself.

Bella peered around him, her eyes widening in shock when they landed on the girl. The young teenager was curled up into a ball beside the flames, her arms wrapped around her legs. Her eyes focused swiftly on Bella as soon as she was within smelling distance. Her irises were a shocking, vivid red. Much brighter than those of Victoria's companion had been. They were almost glowing. They wheeled wildly out of control.

"Who is this?"

"She surrendered." Edward whispered to her, getting as close to Bella as possible. "That's one I've never seen before. Only Carlisle would think of offering. Jasper doesn't approve."

"I bet the Volturi don't either. Where's Jane and the others?" Bella whispered back, moving to one side so there was more space between them.

"They're coming." Edward said grimly. "You need to stay close to me, Bella. Very close." His hand reached for hers, his long pianist fingers trapping hers within an icy cage.

Bella grimaced at the contact, but knew she had to maintain the charade. "Let's get this over with." She muttered.

A/N-thanks for reading!