Author's Note
It's a completely put together story. I decided that it would be better to write this way than if I had to add the next chapter separately. Of course, each part is separated from each other to create consistency.
Other than that, the only change that has been added is the number of chapters and improved writing. I had more ideas than I anticipated at the time of writing this piece.
This is the first complete part. The second will come along with the epilogue and ending. I wanted to make it longer but I'm working on a repost of another one about Bella and Jacob as well.
Updates will appear irregularly and unfortunately I am not able to change it due to the tons of duties that have appeared in my life.
But I hope you like it. Enough rambling, let's go down in history!
Disclaimer
As always, I do not own any rights to The Twilight Saga. All characters and the world presented belong to Stephanie Meyer. I only own the plot and character that I created for this story.
New Moon, chapter 21 - The Verdict, page 498.
"And then Alice stepped away from us, forward toward Aro. We turned to watch her. Her hand was raised like his.
She didn't say anything, and Aro waved off his anxious guard as they moved to block her approach.
Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes.
He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank. I heard Edward's teeth snap together.
No one moved. Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand.
The seconds passed and I grew more and more stressed, wondering how much time would pass before it was too much time.
Before it meant something was wrong—more wrong than it already was.
Another agonizing moment passed, and then Aro's voice broke the silence.
"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed, his head still bent forward.
He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement.
"That was fascinating!"
Alice smiled dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened yet!" He shook his head in wonder.
"But that will," she reminded him, voice calm.
"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."
Caius looked bitterly disappointed—a feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane.
"Aro," Caius complained.
"Dear Caius," Aro smiled. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future.
Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household….Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!"
Aro seemed convinced. "
Changing Future
Part I
"She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet."
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Chapter I
Fate
"A fixed decree by which the order of things is prescribed; the immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by which all existence is determined and conditioned."
"Fate rules the affairs of mankind with no recognizable order. "
Seneca
However, Caius couldn't let it go. Moreover, he was deeply disgusted with how lightly Aro seemed to take a matter that posed a potential threat to their kind. That's why he secretly monitored the actions of the Cullen clan and knew something that his "brother" was unaware of. As rulers and leaders, the Volturi had to be absolutely certain that a given vampire would uphold the terms of the agreement. In this case, there was no such certainty. That's why Caius had to take matters into his own hands since he couldn't rely on Aro, let alone Marcus, who had been living in perpetual depression since losing his wife hundreds of years ago. After years of searching, he had finally found something that could provide him with this certainty. And now, he had a chance to use it.
"Aro," he turned to the long-haired vampire, "it seems to me that our meeting isn't over yet."
"What are you saying, dear brother? Everything has already been explained. Isabella Swan will soon be one of us," Aro replied kindly.
Caius frowned. "Are you certain that the Cullens will keep their word?"
"Of course, Caius. They know what awaits those who betray the Volturi. Death!" Aro laughed hysterically.
"Has Alice Cullen explained to you how her visions work?" Caius suggested brusquely, leaning forward and giving Aro a hostile glare from his imposing throne. "Her visions are highly uncertain, Aro. They are based solely on the decisions of others. Besides, there are things her gift cannot penetrate."
Edward couldn't read his thoughts, which frustrated him immensely. Something was protecting him. He looked at Aro, whose thoughts were easily readable. Then he glanced at Marcus and a few other members of the guard, with the same result.
"Of course, I know all the gifted vampires in our world. Nothing can be hidden from me," replied Aro.
"Very well," replied the fair-haired vampire. "Then you'll be interested in this," Caius said, signaling the guards to open the door leading to the throne room.
The grand brass door swung open, revealing a figure entering the main throne room, draped in a long blood-red cloak that trailed along the ground. The face was also concealed by a wide hood, from which long cascades of copper curls flowed down to broad, rounded hips. The entire figure appeared feminine, with notably prominent breasts, a beautiful waist, and broad shoulders.
The girl removed her hood.
Her skin was only slightly paler than the vampires surrounding her. Her large green eyes, hidden beneath a curtain of thick, dark lashes, unconsciously surveyed the cold, marble room. Her round face was adorned with a straight nose and thin pink lips that bore a shadow of uncertainty.
She possessed her own unique beauty. She wore a floor-length emerald green gown with long, wide sleeves adorned with golden ornamentation.
"I have come as you requested, Caius," her voice faintly echoed throughout the room.
Everyone looked on in shock at the female figure standing in the center of the vast marble hall. Edward attempted to reach the head of the mysterious visitor but was thwarted. His power must have been blocked by another vampire from Volturi's personal guard.
"This is Edythe," Caius announced, rising from his throne. "Aro, we know how much you desire a young Cullen in our ranks, but I assure you, this obsession ends today. Because this woman can do more than Alice Cullen could ever predict." He smiled ominously, turning to the long-haired vampire beside him. "She's a hybrid," Caius revealed. "I discovered her by chance a few months ago in Eastern Europe. Her father was an extremely powerful vampire who, unfortunately, caused great havoc, indiscriminately killing the local human population like a maniac. Despite his gift, he had to be eliminated as he was too unstable to join our ranks. However, his daughter survived while her mother perished in agony during childbirth. As a matter of principle, we don't allow the creation of immortal children, but this young girl is not one. Therefore, she will remain under my personal care. Her gift is unparalleled."
"How so? This is the first time I've encountered such a peculiar creature," Aro approached the girl, examining her.
"What is your diet like?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
"Blood, but only when I'm injured or sick. It helps me recover quickly. Human food is my primary sustenance."
"Remarkable!" Aro exclaimed, almost jumping. "How old are you?"
"50," she replied curtly.
"Do you produce venom?" Marcus inquired from his throne.
"No, I don't have venom. I cannot turn anyone into a vampire. My heart beats just like a human's, but slightly faster. I am also much stronger and possess superior hearing and smell. My body temperature is the same as a human's."
"It's truly extraordinary!" Aro whispered. "Something truly unusual! When did you reach maturity?"
"I reached full maturity at the age of 7," Edythe answered.
"Perhaps our lovely guest can demonstrate her unique abilities," Caius encouraged, motioning for a young girl to come forward.
"Very well," Aro agreed. "But if you are lying, brother, Alice Cullen will remain with us."
"NO!" Edward shouted, charging at the older vampire. "You can't do that! She hasn't broken any laws!"
Dimitri and Felix appeared in his path, catching him just in time before he could reach Aro.
"Silence!" Caius ordered in a grave tone. "You have no voice in this hall unless the Volturi themselves grant you permission to speak! Now be quiet and let us do what needs to be done!"
Edward immediately fell silent, closing his mouth. Dimitri and Felix continued to hold him in an iron grip, prepared to restrain him if he tried to attack their leader again.
"Come, my dear, I won't bite," Aro encouraged Edythe.
Edythe removed a long silk glove and offered her hand to Aro for him to read.
The ancient vampire closed his eyes, focusing intently. For a few minutes, the marble hall fell into absolute silence. The only sounds audible were the hesitant beats of Bella and Edythe's hearts as they stood nervously before the Volturi. The girl was still fearful and confused.
Alice tried to comfort Bella with a reassuring touch, offering her a small smile. Not a single vampire present dared to breathe, all eagerly awaiting what Aro would glean from the tangle of thoughts within the young girl standing before him. Caius and Marcus sat stoically, their lifeless eyes fixed upon them from their ornate thrones.
Aro's eyes widened in surprise as he observed Edythe, whose face remained expressionless.
The pale girl no longer displayed any emotions, as if everything she had felt a moment ago had vanished from her body the instant Aro touched her hand.
"Amazing... Simply amazing..." he whispered, withdrawing his hand. "This girl possesses an extraordinary gift! You were right, Caius. She will be a perfect addition to our coven."
Satisfied, he turned to his brother, yet a peculiar shadow of disgust lingered on his face, as if he feared something.
"I'm afraid the matter of our young guests has been resolved now," Aro exchanged glances with Caius.
"What do you mean, Aro?" Edward asked.
"Well, my dear Edward... Your sister can leave, as can your singer, but under certain conditions," he replied. "Renata, you can stop shielding him." Aro directed his attention to a long-haired brunette concealed among the guards.
The woman nodded in agreement and immediately dropped her shield.
"What are these conditions?" Alice stepped forward, facing Aro. Felix and Dimitri instinctively moved to block her path, but Aro raised his hand to signal that there was no danger.
"Isabella will be under the constant supervision of our dear friend here, ensuring that she doesn't reveal our secret," he pointed to Edythe. "You and your family will sever all contact with her. Your brother is to leave the human girl alone, or there will be severe consequences. Consider this an order. I believe you can predict what will happen if you fail to comply."
"Of course, Aro," Alice nodded, shocked
.
What has changed? What had Edythe shown him? Alice didn't know.
She looked at her brother, who appeared equally troubled by Aro's decision. However, Bella stood paralyzed, tears streaming down her face. She had just regained the love of her life, only to lose him again. Alice's undead heart shattered into a thousand pieces upon witnessing the crying girl. Bella was like a sister to her. Alice had hoped that one day Bella would join their family after her transformation; she had seen it clearly in her visions.
Had her own abilities deceived her?
Edward conveyed through his gaze that this wasn't the time to argue, and Alice relinquished her hopes.
The Cullen siblings accepted the terms set forth by the Volturi leaders, and the three of them were able to depart from the gloomy castle in peace. As they walked through the long, dark corridor, they passed by a beautiful woman leading a group of tourists toward the main hall. Bella deduced that this beauty was also a vampire. Dimitri, who was guiding them outside, exchanged satisfied glances.
"Leave some for me, Heidi," he remarked, smiling wickedly in her direction.
Bella's breathing quickened even more, and she felt a wave of nausea. Edward had mentioned numerous times that the Volturi fed differently from her and his family, but experiencing it up close frightened her even more. Bella took one final glance over her shoulder as Alice gently pulled her arm, cautioning her not to do so again under any circumstances, lest she become prey herself.
Then, the piercing cries of pain resonated smoothly through the stone walls of the ancient castle.
The drive back to Forks took several hours. Throughout the entire journey, Edward didn't spare a single glance in Bella's direction. She wondered why he was so cold toward her. After all, she had saved his life. A small token of gratitude would have been expected. Yet he remained as silent as a tomb, staring blankly out of the airplane window, devoid of any emotion.
It felt as if everything had returned to the starting point, to that same moment months ago when he left her in the woods, walking away with an emotionless face into the darkness of the trees.
Bella felt her already wounded heart shatter into thousands of tiny pieces once again. It was over. The end of everything between them.
A solitary tear rolled down her cheek.
Aro had commanded him to stay away from her, but why? she wondered.
After all, he could have killed her right then and there, and no one would have ever discovered the truth. What had he seen in this girl's mind that had caused such a drastic change of heart? Edward surely knew. He had had the time and opportunity to read Aro's thoughts.
"Edward," she called out to him. "Look at me, finally."
The vampire didn't flinch. After waiting for a while, Bella had had enough. "Edward, what did Aro see in her mind? I know you can hear me. Please, answer me. I deserve at least this."
Edward lifted his head, meeting her gaze. His black eyes stared vacantly into her brown ones. "He saw your death, Bella."
Chapter II
Turmoil
"A state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquiet: mental turmoil caused by difficult decisions."
"I crashed down from a high, it felt so real
I never knew how much it would hurt to feel
You gotta hurt sometimes to learn to heal
You gotta get back up and learn to deal
And it's all my fault that I'm still the one you want
I'm a liar, I'm a cynic
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I'm a loser, I'm a critic
I'm the ghost of my mistakes
And it's all my fault that I'm still the one you want
So what are you after?
Some kind of disaster?"
Some Kind of Disaster - All Time Low
It had been over a week since she came home, and Charlie was still furious. He couldn't understand what had suddenly possessed her to go to a completely different continent with Alice Cullen, all the way to Italy. Charlie had always held a high opinion of Carlisle Cullen's children. They had never misbehaved or caused any trouble in town or at school. He never expected Alice to show up after a few months, kidnapping his daughter and taking her to the other end of the world. It was a shock that shook him to his core.
If it hadn't been for Jacob, he wouldn't have known that his own daughter was prone to such impulsive actions. And it was all for the boy who had led her into a severe depression from which she couldn't escape for months. Charlie couldn't understand his daughter's recklessness. As soon as she returned, he grounded her, and Bella didn't object.
For the first time in six months, his daughter seemed to be falling back into the same vicious circle. But this time, she appeared devoid of emotion. There were no tears at night, no screams from her room. Just empty silence.
Numb, she lay on her bed, staring out the window as if she were waiting for something. It was worse than her zombie-like state before. At least then, she showed some emotions. Now she was like an empty doll, tossed aside in a corner.
This time, even Jacob couldn't reach her. Bella had built a tight wall around herself, one that neither he nor her loved ones could break through. The chief of police cursed the day Edward Cullen had crossed the threshold of his house. So many terrible things had happened since he entered their lives.
Charlie only regretted that he hadn't done something sooner to end their acquaintance. If only he had acted fast enough to spare Bella the further suffering that the youngest Cullen had inflicted upon her.
"Bella," he called from outside her closed bedroom door. "Can I come in?" he asked uncertainty.
There was silence for several minutes. Then, the sound of light footsteps reached his ears, and the door opened, revealing Bella standing before him, tears streaming down her face, shaking.
Charlie wanted to smile at the sight of his little girl, finally shedding a tear after days of being nothing more than a statue in his home. But he couldn't show it. Not when she needed him so desperately. It wasn't the right time.
So he pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "Everything will be alright, kiddo," he assured her, letting her cry into his flannel shirt for another hour.
Bella hadn't been able to talk to anyone since he had abandoned her again. Jacob had continued to visit her, despite what she had done to him by choosing Alice that day. And she couldn't utter a single word of apology. So they lay cuddled together on her bed until she fell asleep again.
Unable to get any answers, Jacob stopped asking why she had returned alone. Without her beloved "bloodsucker," as he always referred to Edward, he didn't push the topic. He simply held her as she lay paralyzed in his warm arms.
Any other person would have given up long ago and wanted nothing to do with her. But not Jacob. He was determined to make Bella his own. With no threat from his rival, he hoped Bella would snap out of her trance and see him not just as a brother, but as someone she could love. Jacob gave her everything he had, including his heart. He was ready to endure any torture, any pain, if there was even the slightest chance that Isabella Swan would give him hers.
What he felt for her was love in its purest, most polished form.
Billy no longer asked where he was going when Jacob stepped out of the house. He knew his son would be at the Swan residence, trying to put his best friend's daughter back together. There was something good about Jake. He could make something new out of nothing, fix it, and merge it into a unified whole.
Like his mother, Sarah, Jacob had a heart of gold, but unfortunately, he also had the temperament of his great-grandfather Ephraim. Billy was afraid that the young girl would break his son's heart again. However, when he heard about Bella's strange return from Italy, he immediately called for a pack meeting.
The entire La Push and Forks area, including the Cullen home, had been searched multiple times. The scent around the villa had already gone stale, and there was not a soul to be seen.
If the Cullens weren't going to come back, why did they kidnap Bella and then return her alone, trembling, to her doorstep?
Charlie had initially intended to take her to the hospital, but due to the supernatural aspect of the situation, Billy Black insisted that Sue, his wife, examine their daughter. He argued that Sue lived closer to Forks and would be able to arrive at their place within a few minutes. Charlie reluctantly agreed, not wanting to argue when his daughter was in such a fragile state of mind.
"I don't see any physical signs of violence on her body," Sue stated in a professional tone as she exited Bella's room.
"What about her..." Charlie stuttered, pointing to his head.
"Hard to say..." Sue sighed heavily, looking at the police chief from beneath her dark lashes. She knew that telling him the truth would only upset him, so she opted for a partial lie that omitted certain details. "I don't know what happened to her, Charlie, but it must have been something terrible. I'm not a psychologist, but I believe Bella has been deeply traumatized."
Billy and Jacob exchanged worried looks.
"Damn Cullen!" Charlie slammed his fist on the table. "First, he breaks her by leaving her alone in the damn woods, and now he sends her home in an even worse state than before."
"Calm down, old man," Billy reassured his friend. "Yelling won't help her. Sue, is there anything we can do for her?" He turned to the woman seated next to him.
"I think she needs a good therapist. I can recommend someone if you'd like. Bella could start seeing them next week, and your support would be crucial for her recovery," Sue replied, scribbling something on a piece of paper. "Here," she handed it to Charlie. "This is the number of my psychotherapist in La Push. He helped me a lot after Harry's death. Just mention my name, and Bella can start quickly."
"Thanks, Sue," Charlie mumbled, staring at the piece of paper in his hand.
"You're welcome.
I have a daughter myself, and I know what it's like to see your child suffer. Leah took her breakup with Sam very hard. She still hasn't fully recovered," Sue sighed sadly.
Charlie looked at Sue sympathetically. "I have an idea," he said, with a slight smile.
The woman frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Maybe Leah and Bella should spend more time together. They've both experienced heartbreak."
"That's not a good idea, Charlie," Jacob interjected. "They don't really get along."
"That's true. Leah can be quite harsh with others," Sue added. "Ever since her father died, she hasn't been very talkative. She even avoids me. Whenever I try to get closer to her, she pushes me away. She only trusts Seth, no one else."
"Perhaps she does that because she doesn't have anyone to talk to who has experienced a similar heartbreak," Charlie stated. "Please, Sue. I can't bear to watch my daughter drown in her own sorrow and shut herself off from the world more and more each day. I won't allow it to happen a second time."
Billy rolled up to Charlie in his wheelchair, placing a comforting hand on his best friend's shoulder. The sight of a desperate Charlie broke his heart. Charlie was no longer just the police chief; he was a desperate father who would go to hell and back for his daughter if it meant seeing even a single smile on her face. Billy understood this better than most. Rebecca had left home right after graduating from high school, got married in Hawaii, and never returned. Rachel, her twin sister, had no interest in her ailing father either. True, she lived closer than Rebecca, as Seattle was only two hours away from La Push, but they only kept in touch over the phone. Jacob was all he had left.
"Okay, I'll talk to Leah. But I can't promise anything, Charlie," Sue agreed, not hiding her concern about the upcoming meeting between the two girls. She wasn't sure how it would affect Bella's fragile state of mind. Sue loved her daughter, but Leah could be completely unpredictable if something deeply upset her. The wolf nature only amplified this unpredictability.
"Great," rejoiced Charlie. "Then it's settled."
"Drink up, baby, stay up all night
With the things you could do, you won't, but you might
The potential you'll be, that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head"
Elliott Smith - Between the Bars
*Flashback*
"She saw your death, Bella," he said dispassionately.
"What do you mean, my death?" Bella asked, her voice filled with confusion.
"When Renata lowered her shield, Aro showed me everything he saw in that girl's mind. Edythe is a hybrid, Bella... A hybrid with an extremely powerful gift of clairvoyance. Remember how Alice told you she couldn't see your future when there were wolves around?" Edward asked, gazing sadly into Bella's broken eyes. He was about to reveal something that would shatter her even more. Edward despised himself for it.
"Yes, the werewolves block her visions," Bella admitted. "That's why she thought I was dead when I jumped off the cliff. Jacob saved me before I drowned. It created black holes in Alice's visions."
"Aro's new acquisition can do so much more. Neither wolves nor other creatures can block what she sees. Alice's visions are based on the decisions of others, so they can't be considered entirely certain. We thought it was enough to keep you alive and protect you from Aro. I never expected Caius to have such a powerful ace up his sleeve," Edward sighed, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. "Edythe's visions always show the surest, final outcome. That's why Aro was so fascinated by her. Alice was no longer important to him."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means that Aro saw you as a vampire, just as Alice predicted. But that's not all... he saw you as a threat."
"A threat?" Bella's voice trembled.
"Your transformation meant his death. You are a natural shield, Bella. That's why I've never been able to read your thoughts. Even Charlie's thoughts are just snippets of his emotions to me. After the change, our gifts become more powerful. Yours is exceptionally potent, even in your current state. By sending you home, Aro avoided certain death. Unfortunately, by separating us... I was the one who transformed you, not Alice, Bella," he admitted. "Because of my lack of caution, you died. You insisted on driving your van, and there was an accident. I couldn't... I can't do that to you. Your human life is so much more important to me. Because of our relationship, so many could have died," he said, running his hands over his perfect face. "The pack, Charlie, even my family... We have to end this, Bella," he said, his voice heavy with guilt.
"You can't... You can't... leave me again, Edward!" she exclaimed through tears streaming down her face. "You are everything to me, my whole life. I love you!"
"Bella, don't make this more difficult than it already is," he tried to calm her.
"You just don't want me anymore... This is another excuse for you to finally get away from me. After all, I'm just a weak human. I'll never be a match for Tanya or Rosalie," the brunette choked out. "I'll never be good enough for you."
"Bella, it's not like that..." he said, reaching out to take her hand.
"Not like what?" she asked, pushing his cold hands away. "If you truly cared about us, you would fight for us, not run away like a coward."
"The world doesn't revolve solely around you, Bella," he hissed at her. "Have you ever considered anyone other than yourself? Have you thought for a moment about what will happen to others if we defy Aro? This isn't just about you. Can you live forever knowing that your father is dead? Are you capable of becoming a cold monster without a soul? Because all you'll want after the change is blood. What you're asking for is pure selfishness, Bella."
She was numb. This wasn't the reaction she had expected from him. Edward had never spoken to her that way before. The person sitting in front of her wasn't him. It wasn't her Edward. He wouldn't reject her.
Alice entered the room, bringing Bella some food and a bottle of water. There was no reason to believe she hadn't heard everything. But Edward's sudden outburst extinguished any desire Bella had to eat. From that moment on, she never spoke to either of them again. Too much venom had been spilled between her and the vampire.
This time, it truly felt as if he had never existed.
*End of flashback*
Bella couldn't sleep. She had even tried taking sleeping pills to finally find some rest. But it was only a partial solution. Nightmares of Edward leaving her continued to haunt her every night, and the medication did little to help.
Each time she woke up, drenched in sweat and in tears. She no longer screamed; instead, her lungs gasped for air. Jacob assured her that the red-haired vampire had been captured and annihilated by the pack while she was away, ensuring they could never harm her again.
Bella was grateful for their protection, truly she was. Ever since she had returned from Italy, Jacob had been acting differently toward her. He was still affectionate, but he didn't push for "something more than friendship" as hard. Maybe it was because of her current state? She wondered as she got out of bed. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was only six in the morning.
She sluggishly made her way to the kitchen, finding it empty. Charlie was probably still asleep. So she quickly ate a bowl of cereal, washing it down with orange juice. Then, throwing on a pair of faded jeans and her favorite t-shirt, she fired up her old laptop. A slew of unread emails flooded the screen.
Bella began sifting through the messages, reading and replying to an angry Renee who wasn't pleased about her trip to Europe with Alice Cullen. Bella tried to reassure her mother that everything was fine and that Charlie had taken her inappropriate behavior seriously by grounding her and restricting her from leaving the house, except for school. She wanted to ease her mother's worries.
The last message in her inbox was from an unknown sender. Intrigued, Bella clicked on it, waiting patiently for it to load.
Dear Bella,
I know I shouldn't be contacting you. Edward is somewhere in Canada and has no idea I sent you this email. Given the circumstances, this form of communication is the safest for both of us.
Bella, he didn't tell you everything. Your sudden death wasn't just a result of a car accident. You were carrying a child. This is what Edythe saw in Volterra. The healthy, red-haired girl you had with Edward. He said she was beautiful, with your eyes. Your death was meant to be the consequence of a supernatural pregnancy, and the transformation is just a side effect. The Volturi foresaw their demise at your hand. Unfortunately, your daughter would also perish in the battle. Edward agreed to Aro's terms mainly because of you. He believed that the pain of separation would be easier to bear than the loss of your family. Please don't hold it against him. He loves you beyond measure. I miss you so much.
I want to apologize to you on behalf of myself and my family. I'm sorry for all the pain, hurt, and disappointment we've caused you. I am grateful for the time we spent together. You will always be my sister, and nothing can change that. I love you and wish you nothing but the best. May you find your own happiness.
Lots of love,
Alice
Tears welled up in Bella's eyes as she read the email. She closed her laptop abruptly, throwing herself onto her bed, crying. There seemed to be no end to her suffering. Just when things started to get better, everything turned gray again.
As she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, Bella caught sight of her reflection. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her hair still disheveled from an hour of weeping into her pillow.
Disgusted with her appearance, she began to clean herself up. She took a long, hot shower, scrubbing her body with determination as if she wanted to wash away all the pain she felt inside.
Edward had lied to her once again. He didn't trust her enough, so he had to concoct more lies. Nervously, she dressed quickly and rushed out of the house to her truck, leaving a note for Charlie where he would find it.
Even if he grounded her again, she didn't care. She had to go to La Push, to the one person who could help her understand and heal. This person was her last hope, she thought as she drove toward the reservation.
Chapter III
Perception
"The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted."
"The feelings that hurt most, the emotions that sting most, are those that are absurd - the longing for impossible things, precisely because they are impossible; nostalgia for what never was; the desire for what could have been; regret over not being someone else; dissatisfaction with the world's existence. All these half-tones of the soul's consciousness create in us a painful landscape, an eternal sunset of what we are."
Fernando Pessoa
Leah! Get back here right now!" Sue Clearwater shouted, but Leah was already out of reach. Exploding into a huge ball of fur, her paws rhythmically slapped the damp forest floor. She glanced back, watching her house recede in the distance. Blood boiled in her veins. She knew only one thing—she had to run, as far as possible from here, from HIM, before the pain nestled in her heart again.
Her mother had no right! No right to bare her innermost feelings in the presence of Sam Uley. To Leah, he no longer meant anything. The man who stood before her was not her Sam. He would never choose another. Imprinting—the spirits of her ancestors found it amusing to interfere with the hearts of the young pack, taking away their choice in deciding whom they wanted to love. Instead, Leah had to relive the horror every day by sharing her thoughts with someone who had broken and trampled her heart. Perhaps not intentionally, but he had a choice. So did Emily. But Emily preferred to stab her in the back, taking away the love of her life, and he accepted it without blinking an eye. Ugh! How she hated him now!
Leah tried to understand why she wasn't good enough for him. But with each passing day, she sagged more and more. The pain she felt slowly turned into bitterness and anger, erasing everything she had been before. Anyone who had come into contact with the infamous Leah Clearwater was aware of how viciously she could attack, not only physically but verbally. Razor-sharp words poured from her mouth like the most venomous venom, leaving her victims in a state of shock and speechlessness.
This was not the woman Sam Uley knew. No, the wolf that ripped from her body in a sudden surge of anger turned her into something more savage, untamed. No wolf in the pack was as unpredictable in nature as Leah. Even Paul Lahote, the best warrior, was no match for her. Leah was fast, predatory, and incredibly fierce—a perfect match for hunting vampires. Her transformation shocked even the oldest members of the council, as no female wolf had ever been seen in their tribe. Unfortunately, it took her father, seeing his children change before his eyes, to die on the spot. His heart could not withstand so much stress. That's how Leah and Seth ended their carefree teenage lives to serve the tribe as protectors.
"Leah!" Jacob called loudly in her head, phasing. "Leah, wait!" he called again, trying to catch up with her.
"Leave me alone, Black!" she growled at him in warning. Leah ran like a rocket, effectively avoiding every tree in her path.
Jacob tried to reach out to her, but Leah was the fastest and most stubborn member of the pack. Her tenacity got on everyone's nerves. Sometimes he cursed the day Leah Clearwater phased. Her brother Seth never created any tensions between pack members. Working with him went smoothly, but Leah's stubbornness was uncontrollable. Out of respect for their shared history, Sam tried not to use the Alpha command on her, but with Leah's untamed nature, that was impossible at times.
"Leah, what the hell happened?! Why are you running away from me?" the russet wolf cried out in dismay, running with all his might. His paws gained momentum, and Jacob jumped, bouncing off a tree with his hind legs, blocking her only escape route before she could flee.
"Back off, Black!" she snarled, enraged, baring her fangs.
"Not until you tell me what happened! I know it has something to do with Sam. You have his scent on you," Jacob stated, trying to calm her down.
"It's none of your business, Black. Since when are you so worried about Sam?" Leah chuckled sarcastically, shifting her paws restlessly.
"Shut the hell up and tell me what happened," he demanded, straightening up on all fours, showing his dominance over the smaller wolf. His voice was full of authority and strength. Leah involuntarily lowered her head, hiding her eyes in a gesture of submission, revealing what had transpired just before she stormed out of the Clearwater house in a rage.
"Leah, someone came to see you," Sue called from downstairs. Leah lazily climbed out of bed, still tired from her morning patrol, as she made her way down the stairs. She was curious about who might want to talk to her at such an early hour. From what she heard, Seth was still sound asleep in his bed.
As she crossed the living room, she was struck by a familiar earthy scent. Fucking Sam Uley! But what could he want from her so early? Pack business? He would have howled if she was needed instead of coming to her house in person.
"Hello, Leah," he greeted, sitting comfortably at the kitchen counter.
"Sam Uley, what a surprise. To what do I owe this visit?" she replied bitterly.
"I'm not here to argue," he said simply.
"So what do you want?" Leah announced with a grim expression on her face.
"Leah! Be nice for once!" Sue scolded her daughter.
"Mom, this is between us two," Leah warned Sue. "So why did you come here, Uley?"
"I am here to apologize to you on behalf of myself and Emily..." Sam said.
"Don't even get me started, Sam... I don't want an apology from you or that bitch Emily."
"Le-Le, I didn't want..." he stammered. "You know we have no control over that."
"Don't Le-Le me! You had a fucking choice! And you both chose to hurt me!" she exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. Sam lowered his gaze, unable to look his ex-girlfriend in the eyes.
Leah felt her heart rise to her throat, cutting off her oxygen supply. She had never allowed herself to pour out her emotions in front of anyone, especially not an ex-lover.
"Leah sweetie..." Sue began hesitantly, her voice trembling at the sight of the increasingly enraged she-wolf. "Leah, I know how much Sam and Emily's relationship has upset you... So I invited Sam here to talk and clear everything up. I can't stand seeing you cry every night..."
"Enough!" exclaimed the embittered she-wolf, pounding her fist on the tabletop. "I don't want to listen to this! You have no right to do this!" she growled at the frightened Sue.
"I just wanted to help you, baby..."
"Help?" she screamed in her face. "Help? Since Dad died, you've been working all the time. You don't care about how Seth and I are doing. You only care about your pain! I'm done with this shit. I'm leaving. Don't look for me. I don't want to see you," Leah shouted, abruptly leaving home.
Jacob didn't know what to say. He knew how hard it was to love someone you could never have. Although his situation with Bella could potentially change, he still wasn't sure if fate would play a trick on him again, breaking his heart for good. Despite their mutual dislike for each other, Leah was the only person who could understand the pain of rejection and never mocked his feelings for Isabella Swan. Even if she was sometimes unbearable, constantly hurling countless warnings against their acquaintance, Jacob could see a completely different girl scrupulously hidden under a thick shell of bitterness and unmitigated anger.
He licked the smaller wolf in a gesture of consolation. If there was one thing wolves understood best, it was the touch and presence of another packmate. Words were unnecessary. This time, Leah didn't growl, allowing herself a moment of weakness as tears flowed from her big silver eyes.
After comforting each other for a while, the two wolves moved toward the reservation.
"So she's back?" Leah asked him, her paws bouncing softly against the damp moss. The brisk, rainy air brushed her wet fur as they traversed the dense forest.
"Yeah," Jacob replied absentmindedly. "The last time I visited her, she was still sitting locked in her room. Charlie is trying to help her. In fact, he came up with an idea..."
"Why don't I like it," Leah stated unceremoniously, snorting at her companion.
"Because it concerns you, Leah. And you don't like it when someone wants something to do with you," Jacob pointed out, showing her the entire conversation between Sue, Charlie, and Billy.
"Damn," cursed the she-wolf. "Why didn't my mother tell me about this?"
"I think she was just afraid of your reaction, like with Sam. Besides, it's no secret that you're not fond of Bella."
A sudden surge of embarrassment swept over Leah. "I guess I got a taste of my own medicine today... It's not that I don't like her. Well, maybe I'm not fond of her," she admitted. "But I don't want to see her in an even worse state than she is now. Apparently, her bloodsucker has left her again." Leah sighed, looking straight ahead. "Jacob, you will imprint one day... Do you want to break her completely?"
"I have to admit that seeing a red Leah Clearwater for the first time in my life would be a special event," Jacob joked, then suddenly became serious. "How many times do I have to tell you that I won't imprint on anyone else? Bella is the only one that matters," he said. "She's the only one I see."
"How can you be so sure of that? This is happening beyond our control," Leah suggested.
"Leah, listen... I won't look at another girl because the only one I will always see is Bella, and nothing and no one will be able to change that," he declared firmly. "Why doesn't anyone believe me... Damn... First Sam, now you!"
"Jacob, I don't—"
"Look carefully!" the copper wolf interrupted her. "Take a good look and tell me straight to my face that I'm lying!" he ordered.
Suddenly, all the memories related to Bella flashed through Leah's thoughts.
Bella, sitting in the garage, eating pizza. Bella, sitting on their favorite spot on the beach, gazing at the setting sun over the sea horizon, the wind blowing through her long brown curls. Their conversation in the movie theater when she first admitted how much Cullen had broken her from the inside out. Their first kiss before the phone call from Carlisle Cullen and the pain of rejection under her departure for Italy. And again... Bella sitting on the couch cuddled up next to him in Black's home. Bella, riding a motorcycle. Her accident. "You're sort of beautiful, Jacob," she said, looking at him. And finally, Bella in the clearing just before Laurent's attack. Their first meeting eye to eye. The accelerating world, the blurred lines between future and past, the shared home.
"You have already been imprinted..."
Chapter IV
Death Blow
"Life is a gift... Life is a test... Life is a temporary assignment."
Rick Warren
Charlie lingered by the kitchen counter, clutching a small scrap of paper in his hand. His daughter had left a short note before heading to La Push.
"Dad, I know I broke your trust again. But I had to go out to La Push to gather my thoughts. I hope you're not mad at me. I'll be back before noon. Love you. B."
The absence of Bella's red truck in the driveway could only mean one thing—this time she had left the house on her own. Why she did it, Charlie didn't know. After a few agonizing hours, the worried police chief dialed the Blacks' house, hoping Bella might be there. After all, Jake was her best friend, and she often visited him.
"Hello, Billy Black speaking. How can I help you?" a male voice answered.
"Hey, it's Charlie Swan."
"Oh, it's you, Charlie," Billy replied, sounding surprised.
"Has Bella shown up at your house this morning?" Charlie asked, concern lacing his voice.
"I haven't seen her here today," Billy responded, his brow furrowing. "Has something happened?"
Taking a deep breath, Charlie replied, "Bella ran off again. She left a note saying she was going to La Push and would be back in an hour. It's been almost eight hours, and she's still not home, Billy. I can't reach her, and her phone is silent. I don't know what to do... What if something happened to her?" His voice broke, filled with worry.
Billy didn't know what to say. He ran a hand over his face, trying to gather his thoughts. If Bella had disappeared again, there must be an important reason behind it.
"Jake isn't at home either. He's outside with friends. Has Bella been acting strangely lately?" Billy inquired.
"No, if she had been, I would have noticed," Charlie replied.
"Hmm..." Billy pondered. "In this situation, the most sensible thing to do would be to call around other places in La Push. I will also contact Sam Uley and Jacob. They know the area best. I'm sure they and the rest of the boys will help look for her," he added.
"All right, then. I'll also call Sue Clearwater. Maybe she has seen Bella somewhere," Charlie concluded. "I'll get some other officers from the station, and we'll start searching around Forks. She could be anywhere."
"Great. Take care, old man," said Billy, and they hung up the phone.
Jacob was passing through the Blacks' yard when Sam emerged from behind a thicket of trees, his face etched with concern. Something had clearly happened. Jacob immediately veered from his path, waiting for Sam to speak.
"Your father called me. Charlie informed him that Bella didn't come home today. She supposedly went towards La Push, but no one has seen her here," Sam stated, his voice tinged with worry.
"Do we know why she did it?" Jacob asked, his heart momentarily lodged in his throat.
Sam furrowed his brow. "Not exactly. She left a message for Charlie, saying she needed to 'collect her thoughts.'"
"To collect her thoughts?" Jacob muttered, scratching his chin in frustration. "We don't have enough information..."
"Do you think Cullen could have come back for her?" Sam asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Anything is possible. We still don't know why she returned from Italy alone," Jacob confirmed. "If he kidnapped her or, God forbid, did something to her... we'll tear the bastard apart, Sam. Once and for all." His voice growled darkly, his eyes shimmering with a golden intensity. "Gather the rest of the pack and start searching the area along the beach. Leah and I will cover the border with Forks and the Cullens, along with the main road. Maybe we'll find something."
"Move!" he ordered his brother, his alpha voice resonating with authority.
Sam nodded in agreement, quickly disappearing into the woods. Soon after, a loud howl reverberated through the trees.
The entire pack embarked on a meticulous search, combing the area with unwavering focus. Seth and Embry, known for their acute hearing and sense of smell, split from the group to search the woods near the reservation. Sam and Paul took to the beaches, scanning every inch. Quil and Jared scoured the area between houses, trying to avoid unnecessary encounters. Leah and Jacob raced towards the Cullen's border, but found nothing except the lingering stench of vampires from months past.
Disappointed, they decided to head towards the main road.
As they walked alongside the roadside, they spotted Bella's truck parked on the side. In an instant, both phased back, quickly donning the clothes they had tied to their ankles.
"What happened here?" Leah asked, scanning the surroundings.
"I have no idea, but it doesn't look good," Jacob replied, his brow furrowing.
The front hood of the car had a sizable dent, the main window was shattered, and skid marks indicated a collision. However, the absence of blood outside the car left uncertainty about whether it was caused by a large animal or a human.
The car sat empty, and all that remained inside was Bella's backpack and the key in the ignition.
"Leech," Jacob hissed through his teeth as the putrid scent of decay reached his nostrils. His eyes turned a golden hue, his muscles tensing as he cautiously approached the car, scanning for any signs of danger.
"I sense it too," Leah confirmed, standing close behind him. "But this scent is unfamiliar, not like the Cullens'. It must be a new bloodsucker we haven't encountered."
"Then where is she?" Leah asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"That damn bloodsucker must have kidnapped her!" Jacob growled loudly, his teeth clenched. "Phase and let the others know what's happened. I'll call my father to inform him. We need to get Embry to move her van out of sight so Charlie doesn't find out."
"I'm already on it," Leah replied, nodding abruptly. "What about her truck?"
"Have Embry take care of it. We can't leave any evidence for Charlie to stumble upon," he ordered.
"It seems we're going on a hunt," Jacob said, baring his fangs in a surge of adrenaline.
His wolf howled within him, driven by an insatiable desire for revenge. The leech had unknowingly signed its own death sentence by kidnapping the mate of the Alpha, the most dominant wolf in the pack.
Jacob didn't earn his title solely through birthright; he fought for it. The pain and anger of Bella's departure had shifted something within him. On that very day, in front of the entire pack, he had challenged Sam Uley to a battle for pack leadership.
Sam initially objected, claiming that Jacob was playing a joke and wasn't ready for the immense responsibility. But when Jacob transformed and pounced on him, Uley had no choice but to fight to retain his power. After a grueling battle, Sam reluctantly conceded, making Jacob the rightful Alpha and the new leader of the tribe.
Leah took a step back, observing her Alpha intently. She had never witnessed Jacob Black so consumed by rage. The once cheerful and smiling boy she knew seemed lost beneath a surge of animal instinct. There was little humanity left in him, except for his physical appearance.
Leah had no doubt who stood before her—a true Alpha male driven by pure fury. A beast ready to kill anyone who stood in its way.
She had witnessed firsthand what imprinting truly meant for a wolf. It wasn't just a pragmatic genetic transfer, as the elders spoke of. It aimed to create a balance between human and animal. When that balance was absent, the beast would break free from its leash, taking control of the shapeshifter's body and mind.
As they headed towards the reservation, Leah found herself grateful for the tenuous thread of humanity she managed to maintain, untouched by tribal sorcery. Perhaps being a giant wolf wasn't so bad after all…
A bright stream of light poured into the dark room, casting an illuminating glow on her motionless body lying on an old mattress. Bella's eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the darkness surrounding her.
"Where am I?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she clutched her throbbing head. The last thing she remembered was a pair of red eyes and a powerful blow. Then everything went black.
She had no idea how long she had been unconscious, but it must have been more than a few hours. Despite the ache of scrapes and bruises, she managed to rise to her feet. The room appeared abandoned, with only the worn-out mattress occupying the center. The window and door were securely locked, leaving her with no means of escape.
Breaking the window seemed like an option, but it would undoubtedly attract the attention of her kidnapper, whom she had accurately deduced was not human. Bella paced nervously, desperately searching for a solution, but her fear was relentless. There seemed to be no way out, and she had no chance against the vampire holding her captive.
Jacob would probably be searching for her, but what if he didn't arrive in time? What if he found only her lifeless body lying on the floor of this forsaken room? Regret washed over her, and tears welled up in her eyes as she pulled her knees closer to her chest.
Why had she pushed Jacob away? Ever since she returned home, she had consistently rejected his attempts to reach out to her. He was the only one who hadn't given up on her, even when her own father was at a loss. Jacob was always there, offering warmth and understanding, regardless of everything. And each time, she had selfishly taken advantage of his support, convincing herself that it was just friendship, nothing more. She believed that Jacob would eventually realize his feelings for her were misguided.
The problem was, there was something between them. Something that terrified her. While Edward had never been able to penetrate the depths of her thoughts, Jacob always seemed to understand what was going on in her mind, even before the influence of tribal magic. He was her rock, one of the few stable things in her life. So why couldn't she fully embrace it?
Perhaps Edward had been right, and her selfish tendencies had caused harm to others without considering the consequences. It was ironic that these realizations came to her at such a critical moment, as she found herself trapped in this predicament. Maybe, just maybe, she would be able to face death with a clear conscience.
Perhaps this was her punishment, the consequences of her choices finally catching up with her...
Chapter V
The Sacrifice of Love
"Such is my love, to thee I so belong,
That for thy right myself will bear all wrong."
William Shakespeare
Treading softly, the vampire stealthily entered the dimly lit room. His gaze fixated on the girl lying vulnerably on the worn-out mattress. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically, her eyes concealed beneath a curtain of long brown curls that cascaded over her face and shoulder.
She was in a deep slumber.
Approaching her with caution, he extended a hand, delicately running his fingers through her silky hair, gradually moving closer to her carotid artery. The vampire's lips moistened as he inhaled her intoxicating scent, akin to the finest of perfumes. His red eyes darkened with the desire to sink his fangs into the delicate curve of her neck, to taste the pulsing blood coursing beneath her pale skin. But the thirst for revenge held him back.
Not now. He couldn't act on his primal instincts. No one would impede his plan for this fragile human girl. He had to keep the beast within him under control. Soon enough, that overgrown dog would come searching for her. He had to exercise caution.
A resounding howl reverberated through the dense treetops. The entire pack gathered at their designated meeting spot, still in their wolf forms, except for Embry who would join them once Bella's damaged car was safely stowed away in the Blacks' garage. They concealed it from the prying eyes of a concerned Charlie, who, along with his subordinates, scoured the area surrounding the border between Forks and La Push. Jacob knew how the sight of the wrecked Chevy would affect the police chief's already fragile state, worsened by months of witnessing his daughter's despondency and her subsequent journey to Italy. He and his father decided it was best to spare Charlie from further revelations.
Restlessly, each wolf pawed the ground, sensing the anxiety and fear emanating from their Alpha, pushing the pack to the brink of madness. The invisible thread of communication that bound them together conveyed every emotion, memory, and thought. Privacy was a luxury they no longer possessed as their minds intermingled.
The supernatural abilities granted by their shape-shifting nature failed to compensate for the life they had lost and the perpetual need to conceal their true identities among humans. Admittedly, there were a few benefits to having wolf genes, such as an elevated body temperature that rendered unnecessary clothing even in cold and rainy weather. But these advantages did little to alleviate the ever-present sense of isolation that burdened each member.
In recognition of their service and dedication to the tribe, the spirits of their ancestors had bestowed upon the warriors the gift of finding their soulmates, serving as compensation for their arduous existence. Imprinting aimed to restore balance between the wolf and the man, two sides perpetually at odds. With over ten members, Jacob's pack stood as the largest and most well-trained in the tribe's history.
No leech could trespass their territory without meeting a violent demise. The surrounding forests were increasingly infused with a cloying, suffocating scent, a warning to other bloodsuckers who dared to meddle with the pack.
So how did Bella get kidnapped?
"We have a serious problem," Jacob declared, his gaze warily scanning each wolf in the circle. "You probably already know what we found by the road. Bella was abducted by a leech this morning on her way to the rez."
"How is that possible? The rez is under regular patrol," Sam retorted.
"We would have noticed if something was amiss," Embry asserted confidently, tilting his massive wolf head.
" There must have been a hole in the patrol schedule that the leech discovered and exploited," Paul interjected. "No one anticipated that leech-lo... I mean Bella would show up on the rez." He corrected himself, meeting Jacob's reproachful gaze.
Leah chimed in, "There's something fishy about it, Jacob. Perhaps the vampire has been watching her for a while, biding their time for the perfect opportunity. But why here, on our territory? Charlie is at work every day; he could have kidnapped her when she was alone at home."
"Good point! It's so obvious!" Seth exclaimed, his tail wagging happily. All eyes turned to him.
"What do you mean, little brother?" Leah inquired, glancing at the sandy-colored wolf sitting next to her.
"If the leech was watching her, they might have been in her house. We can investigate to compare the scent with what we found at the accident scene."
"That's a great idea, Seth," praised the younger boy, who beamed with pride at being of some use. "Alright, me, Leah, and Embry will check Charlie's house, while the rest of you comb the area around it. If the scent matches what we found in the truck, we'll track it down. Maybe it'll lead us to that bloodsucker."
The entire group nodded in unison as they dispersed across the reserve.
The imprinting bond tormented him. The pain in his chest persisted, and the young werewolf felt as though his heart had been wrenched out. Thoughts of Bella consumed his every waking moment.
Is she safe? Has that damned walking corpse harmed her?
Through their profoundly connected bond, Jacob sensed that Bella was still alive. His wolf raged inside, presenting him with increasingly dire scenarios, but he held it back, keeping it on a tight leash. He yearned for his mate, his best friend, to be by his side - safe and sound. Both wolf and man agreed on one thing.
If the bloodsucker made any move against her, Jacob would tear them apart.
After thoroughly examining Charlie and Bella's house, the pack confirmed that the scent left behind by the vampire matched what Jacob had detected in her red truck. They began their steady trek toward Port Angeles, guided by their acute sense of smell. Eventually, they arrived at an abandoned house on the city outskirts, nestled not far from a dense forest.
" The perfect hideout for a vampire, where they can lurk without drawing attention," Jacob thought as he surveyed the decaying structure.
"Bella must be inside," Embry stated, his nose pointed outward, picking up the lingering scent of Bella permeating the dilapidated space.
"I can hear her heartbeat. She's definitely in there, bro," Quil chimed in, his ears perked up attentively.
"We must be cautious not to alert him," Jacob warned. "Before the leech realizes what's happening. Otherwise, we're done for, and the whole plan will go up in smoke."
"What's our next move, boss?" Jared inquired.
"We'll surround the building," Jacob instructed the pack. "We can't allow him to escape. If he feels cornered, he may be more amenable to cooperating. Seth, Quil, Embry—guard the rear," he directed his attention to the three smaller wolves. "Sam, Paul, Jared—cover the sides. Leah, you're coming with me in human form." Leah immediately trotted over, and both swiftly phased back into their human bodies, hastily putting on the clothes they had tied to their ankles.
"You made me wait a long time," a melodious voice suddenly echoed, capturing the pack's attention. Paul, Jared, and Sam growled menacingly.
"Who are you? Reveal yourself, leech!" Jacob bellowed into the air, scouring the vicinity for any sign of the vampire, but they remained concealed.
"So impatient..." the strange voice taunted once more. "I had almost thought you given up."
"I don't know what game you're playing, but you won't win," Jacob growled, his fists clenched tightly by his sides. "Show yourself and face me like a true-blooded coward."
"Dismiss your wolves, and perhaps we can have a conversation. If you behave, I might even let you see your princess," the vampire sneered.
"What guarantee do I have that you'll keep your word, leech?"
"None," the vampire retorted tersely. "But it's your only option if you wish to save your beloved."
"Jake... I don't like this," Leah stammered, uncertainty etched across her face. "You can't stay here alone with a vampire. It's dangerous. He's up to something, I can sense it."
"I have to do this, Leah," Jacob reassured her, his hand resting on her shoulder. "If it's the only way to save Bella, I'm prepared to fight. You would do the same for Seth." He glanced at the smallest member of their peculiar family.
Leah sighed, embracing her friend tightly before transforming back into a wolf. "Come back in one piece."
Jacob stood alone in the dilapidated house, facing the mysterious vampire who called himself Riley. The air crackled with tension as they locked eyes, preparing for the impending clash. Riley, fueled by vengeance for his mate Victoria, sought retribution against the pack that had slain her in the woods weeks prior. Now, he had taken Bella captive, a pawn in his twisted game of revenge.
The battle commenced with a fierce intensity. Jacob lunged forward, his muscles coiled like springs, aiming to strike Riley head-on. But the vampire moved with an agility that surpassed anything Jacob had ever witnessed. He dodged and weaved, his movements almost blurring in the dimly lit room. Riley possessed a unique gift—a talent for blinding his enemies. It made him an elusive adversary, virtually impossible to land a blow on.
Jacob's frustration grew with each failed attempt. He could sense Bella's vulnerability, her life hanging in the balance. Every instinct urged him to protect her, to defeat Riley and bring her back to safety. But the vampire remained infuriatingly elusive, taunting Jacob with his unattainable presence.
In the midst of the battle, Jacob suffered a grave injury. Riley's swift movements allowed him to strike with pinpoint accuracy, landing a blow that sent Jacob crashing into a wall. Pain surged through his body, but he refused to yield. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself back into the fight, determined to rescue Bella at any cost.
Meanwhile, back at La Push, the rest of the pack felt Jacob's distress through their interconnected bond. Leah, now acting as the beta, sensed the severity of his injuries and the desperate situation he faced. Her heart clenched with concern as she communicated their Alpha's dire condition to the others.
Without hesitation, the pack rallied, their shared concern overriding any bitterness they harbored towards Bella and her choices. They raced back to the abandoned house, their lupine forms tearing through the forest with uncanny speed. Leah led the charge, her determination fueled by her deep connection to Jacob.
When they arrived at the scene, the pack witnessed the devastating sight. Jacob, battered and bloodied, fought valiantly against Riley, who continued to elude his every strike. Bella, a broken doll, lay crumpled against the wall, her bones shattered from the vampire's brutal assault.
Leah barked commands, organizing the pack's attack strategy. Together, they utilized their combined strength and tactical skills to encircle Riley, closing in on him from all sides. Their relentless pursuit left him with no room to maneuver, no opportunity to blind them with his unique ability.
Driven by their fierce loyalty to Jacob, the pack attacked as a unified force. They fought with a ferocity and determination that struck fear into Riley's cold heart. He could not withstand their combined might, and as the pack overwhelmed him, their determination shifted the tide of the battle. And all that was left of the vampire was a small pile of ashes.
With a final, resounding howl, the pack and Jacob, his strength waning, approached Bella's broken form, cradling her gently in his arms. The pack's concern for their injured Alpha was palpable, their own injuries pushed aside for the moment as they focused on ensuring Bella's safety.
Together, they carried Bella out of the abandoned house and made their way back to La Push. The pack's collective worry for her well-being permeated their thoughts and conversations as they reached the local clinic. The small medical facility, staffed by members of the tribe, would provide the best chance of saving Bella's fragile life.
Inside the clinic, the pack's anxiety manifested in hushed whispers and furrowed brows. Paul and Sam, in particular, were filled with a potent mix of anger and angst. They couldn't help but feel bitter about Bella's choices and her eventual return to their lives. The turmoil within the pack mirrored the internal struggle they faced individually.
As the medical staff tended to Bella's injuries, the pack gathered in a secluded corner of the clinic, their hulking forms creating an imposing presence. Concerned eyes darted between Jacob, weakened from his fierce battle, and Bella, fighting for her life on the sterile examination table.
"It's her damn choices that got her into this mess," Paul grumbled, his voice laden with frustration. "She knew the risks, yet she still put herself in harm's way."
Sam's jaw clenched tightly as he nodded in agreement. "We've done everything to protect her, to guide her towards a safer path. But she continues to walk the edge of danger."
Leah, ever fiercely protective of Jacob, shot them a piercing gaze. "Now is not the time for blame. We must focus on Bella's recovery and supporting our Alpha."
Embry, usually jovial, couldn't hide his concern. "She's family, no matter what. We'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means dealing with the consequences of her choices."
Seth, the youngest among them, listened intently, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination. "We won't let her slip away. She's important to Jake, to all of us."
Chapter VI
A Flood of Events
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
Jacob paced restlessly back and forth in the hospital corridor at the La Push clinic. Despite a fierce fight to save her, the wolf adamantly refused to leave Bella's side.
Doctor Redfeather, their personal physician who had been briefed on the situation, firmly denied the young shapeshifter entry into the operating room. Bella's condition, with multiple fractures and severe blood loss, required urgent surgery and a blood transfusion. One of her broken ribs posed a dangerous threat to her heart, necessitating immediate intervention to save her life.
On the other end of the corridor, Charlie was consoling Renee, who had been tearful for almost an hour. Leah and the rest of the pack stood vigilant outside guarding the Alpha pair.
Jacob and Bella had barely managed to escape the clutches of the bloodsucker. The encounter had proven the vampire to be a far more formidable foe than anyone had anticipated. It was only through the timely intervention of Jacob's brothers and sister that both he and Bella were saved from certain death.
Jacob had to admit that the leech was crafty, managing to evade the wolf's acute vision and skillfully dodging every attack. The guy must have possessed some special ability to maneuver so deftly.
The Quileute wolves were supposed to eliminate these walking corpses, so why had one of their most powerful members missed so many in the battle? Jacob had always suspected there might be flaws in their genetic makeup.
The Council had always ensured that the pack was strong enough to face any opponent and survive. Yet, history had shown that this wasn't always the case. His bond with Bella demonstrated the need for new blood. How else could the fact that he had imprinted on someone from outside their community be explained?
Bella was white, and there was no Quileute blood in her veins. The only connection was through Quil, who had married her aunt Molly Swan, but that bloodline ended there.
Perhaps there was something about it that even the tribe's oldest members were unaware of. If his theory was correct, future pack members would imprint in a different manner than before. The question was whether they were prepared for the upcoming changes. Jacob could only hope that it wouldn't end badly for his pack and for him as the tribe's future chief.
As the hospital door swung open, revealing the doctor's figure, Jacob couldn't contain himself and interrupted, "How is Bella?"
"Calm down, boy. Bella is doing well. First, I need to speak with her parents. Then you can ask me your questions," Dr. Redfeather graciously said as he approached Charlie and his ex-wife.
But Charlie interjected, "It won't be necessary. Jacob and Bella have known each other since they were toddlers. To me, the boy is like family. Could you please tell me if my daughter will be okay?"
"The good news is that her condition is stable," the doctor responded. "The blood transfusion and bone reconstruction went smoothly, but I'm afraid your daughter may wake up with amnesia."
"Amnesia?" Jacob couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Would Bella still remember their friendship? Would she push him away again? What about their imprinting connection? The implications of rejecting his wolf could be disastrous. What if Bella's memory never returned?
Countless unresolved questions swirled in his head.
"Given the force of the impact against her head, it's highly likely. She was fortunate to be found quickly," the doctor confirmed.
Of course, the doctor knew the true story. Bella hadn't hit a tree, and her injuries hadn't come from a car accident en route to La Push. The wet weather on that day provided a convenient cover for Charlie, but insiders knew about the young brunette's abduction by a vengeful vampire. Jacob would be in big trouble if it weren't for his father's storytelling talent.
Revealing their greatest secret would only cause unnecessary issues that the chief of police's fragile mind couldn't bear.
"I see. Is there anything we can do to help?" Charlie asked with a heavy heart. "Will her condition be permanent?"
"It's difficult to say. Bella will likely need a great deal of understanding and support from everyone around her. We can't determine if the amnesia will be transient or permanent. It takes time to evaluate," the doctor explained, his gaze shifting to Jacob, who stood next to the stunned parents.
"What do you mean by 'different' exactly?" Jacob inquired, stepping closer to the doctor.
"Sometimes, patients with amnesia wake up as entirely different people than they were before the accident, especially if the accident was preceded by a traumatic event. It's essential to approach carefully when a new personality emerges in place of the old one."
Jacob couldn't help but ponder those words deeply. "We have a meeting with the council of elders," he quietly informed his pack, knowing the wolves outside the building's walls could hear him. "Tell my father to gather everyone."
Two weeks later…
"So, you're saying there's a possibility that my goddaughter might wake up with no memory?" Billy asked from his chair as Jacob gently pushed him down the hospital corridor towards Bella's room.
"That's what the doctor told us. We don't know what to expect. My biggest fear is what might happen if she rejects me or doesn't remember me. I can handle everything else," Jacob admitted honestly, his emotions raw.
"When I found her dad, curled up in a dark room, all alone and scared..." His voice choked with emotion.
"I understand, son," Billy consoled him.
"When your mother passed away, I was devastated. But your bond with this girl is stronger than the one between me and Sara because both of you will play crucial roles in the events to come. A great test awaits you," the older man's voice sounded almost prophetic.
"I don't know what to think, Dad. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that the Bella I know might not come back."
"Don't dwell on it now, Jacob. We have more pressing matters to attend to," Billy motioned toward the door. "Bella is waiting for you, and I have to talk to Charlie. I'm sure he'll want to shoot me first," he chuckled.
Reunion
"They had a past together. Did it rule out a future?"
Lisa Carlisle, When Darkness Whispers
Bella cast a wary gaze at the strange man standing before her bed, eyes widening as if he was seeing her for the very first time in his life. In his hands, he held a coffee mug and a paper bag.
Maybe it's all just a delusion, she thought, blinking rapidly, yet he remained there, his brown eyes fixated on her.
"Renee," he uttered unexpectedly, tilting his head toward the slightly ajar door. "Renee, she's still alive! Bella woke up!"
A green-eyed woman entered the room a few steps behind him.
"Oh Bella, baby, you came back to us!" she said in a soft, reassuring tone, attempting to embrace her, but Bella instinctively pulled away.
Who were these people, and why was this peculiar woman trying to touch her? Bella didn't want any part of Renee's lingering scent of cigarettes and sage. She didn't want to be associated with her.
Charlie's eyes welled up with tears.
Did Bella have no recollection of her own parents?
"Do you remember me, Bells?" Charlie spoke gently as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm Charlie, your dad, kiddo," he said, his heart heavy. "And Renee is your mother, honey." "Are you sure you don't remember anything?"
The girl shook her head, confirming his fears, and curled up, her eyes brimming with tears.
Charlie felt defeated, so he called for the nurse's assistance. He was too scared to approach her, afraid of triggering a more extreme reaction. The nurse and Doctor Redfeather rushed in, quickly calming her with a tranquil injection. Bella slipped into the arms of Morpheus, leaving her parents bewildered and horrified.
"It's not what we expected, Billy," Charlie confided in his friend. "Dr. Redfeather says she has no recollection of anything, not even her parents. Everything would be fine if she didn't become hysterical every time someone tries to reach out to her."
Billy listened attentively as Charlie recounted the events of the previous morning, nodding sympathetically from time to time. Renee sat beside him, looking sad and silent, a stark contrast to her normally happy and energetic self.
All four of them sat by her bed while she remained asleep under the sedative given during her outburst. Jacob sat closest to her, holding her hand tightly, praying that somehow her memory would remain intact in her mind.
Billy let out a heavy sigh as he observed his son, who hadn't slept in over two weeks, anxiously waiting for her to wake up. The day's revelations had taken them all by surprise. Jacob had lost weight, barely eating, keeping a nightly vigil over her, fearing the return of the vengeful bloodsucker.
The whole pack took turns patrolling to ensure Bella's constant protection. Jacob was determined to be there personally, despite the obvious signs of exhaustion under his eyes. The bond he had with her wouldn't let him look away for even a moment.
Before his transformation, Billy had seen how much his son was willing to sacrifice for someone he loved, and his phasing only intensified that devotion. Billy could only hope that the new Bella wouldn't hurt Jacob more than the one who fell in love with the vampire.
Jacob was still asleep leaning against the bed frame, for the first time in several days closing his eyes for more than 3 hours in relative peace. He was physically and mentally exhausted.
The tense situation gave him a hard time to phase back into a human as nerves and innate instinct guided his body. Only the proximity of Bella and her scent could knock the beast on its paws, allowing the exhausted werewolf to finally rest.
Billy took Charlie and Renee to Sue Clearwater's house under the pretense of having dinner together so that he could wait out her awakening. Seeing both parents in such a dire state, Billy had to drag them away from this place.
Of course, Jacob knew that this subtle gesture would be easier to convince both of them to the council's decision.
It wasn't an easy nut to crack, but Billy had a gift for persuasion, and his and Old Quill's authority was unbeatable, even for a stubborn man like the chief of police. For safety reasons, one of the wolves was always left near the clinic. No one could predict how Bella would react to his presence when she opened her eyes again.
It was noon, and as the warm rays of the sun caressed him, he felt it - a gentle movement in the thick of his hair. Something was stroking him, combing strand after strand with care. Jacob froze, unsure whether to move or not. The only thing he could recall was falling asleep right next to her, feeling a level of exhaustion he had never experienced before - a comforting slumber that brought him relief and peace.
"Jacob..." came a faint whisper. "Jacob... My Jacob." His heart began to pound, a mixture of joy and shock washing over him.
She remembered him after all…
"Bells"... With hesitant excitement, he lifted his head slightly to look at her. Her beautiful chocolate eyes locked onto his. In that moment, the world seemed to stand still, and an overwhelming heat surged through his entire body. Nothing else mattered but her. His father, mother, tribe, and duty all faded into the distant background. He was the Alpha, and she was his Omega.
"It's impossible," a strange thought popped into his head. "You can't imprint on the same person twice..."
"Jacob, are you okay?" she asked, gently cradling his face in her hands, noticing his fear. "You seem kind of scared..."
Shaking off the confusion, Jacob shook his head, and the wild emotions inside him settled. "Bells, you remember..." he blurted out, pulling her into his broad arms, his wolf howling with delight.
"Of course I remember you, fool!" she weakly retorted, snuggling into his chest. "I was driving to your place, and I hit that stupid tree..."
And there, in that moment, they both knew that fate had brought them back together - a connection that was too strong to be broken, not even by memory loss. Their love had endured, and they were meant to be together once more. As the world continued around them, they held each other tightly, knowing that this time, nothing could tear them apart.
But the question remained why her memory seemed to merge with a completely different reality…
