ANNOUCEMENT
From now, this story is NOT beta read. I am dyslexic and am continuing to post by popular request, I will not tolerate any reviews commenting on any spelling or grammar errors. If these will bother you, please stop reading or PM offering to beta read. Many thanks.
Bella
We spend the rest of the afternoon quietly enjoying each other's company. The jitters from the previous days had settled slightly while in his company so I'd just been relaxing in the feeling of being still for a short time.
When dinner rolls around, Edward calmly joins me in the kitchen, helping me prepare the ingredients for shepherd's pie.
Around 7, just as the pie is smelling fragrant, Charlie's cruiser pulls into the drive way and I steel myself for Edward's soon coming departure. Before he even reaches the door, I feel Edward stiffen, "He's not happy," he warns me as Charlie storms through the door.
Stomping through to the kitchen, not even taking his boots off, he nearly yells at me, "Bells, what the hell you do to Jake?"
Dumb struck, I stare at him like a fish out of water.
"He's down there, heartbroken about some decision you've made. Want to share?"
Realising that Jake had properly dumped me in it with Charlie, I turn slightly to Edward looking awkward.
Catching my movement, he snaps, "Don't tell me he's in on it. This have anything to do with why you've been so ill and he disappeared the last few days?"
"No," I snap, hoping he hadn't heard about the rumours too. "It's just, we just had an argument, it's nothing."
"Didn't look like nothing to me, Bells. Jake's torn up down there."
"It was a big misunderstanding. Don't worry about it," I say trying to settle him down.
"Well, after everything he's done for you recently, I think you owe him an explanation to settle it all." He looks around the room, "Is it just us for dinner?"
Looking up at Edward, I nod. "Edward was just leaving?" I pose it as a question to him.
"Yes. It was nice to see you again Charlie, Esme is expecting me home soon." He kisses the top of my head, "I'll see you tomorrow, Bella."
Seeing Edward out to the door, Edward leans down on the pretence to kiss my cheek, but actually whispers in my ear. "Go careful, I can't get a fix, but he's suspicious of something."
"I will," I say. "You'll be around?"
"Of course," he smiles warmly at me. "If you want company, just leave the window open. No worries if not."
Then, he's walking back towards his silver car.
I close the door and head back into the kitchen. It doesn't take me long to serve out the two portions of dinner and sit down.
"So, what did you do today?" Charlie asks tucking into the food.
"This and that, Angela came round."
"Good, I'm glad you're seeing other friends."
Apparently having run out of small talk, but not wanting to spoil his dinner with the heavy conversations, the conversation dies out. Knowing that Edward is watching, I do my best to eat at the food, but with everything that's happened, it just feels like stodge in my stomach still.
Wanting to cry, I complain to myself about how hard simple things had become.
If Charlie notices my shift in mood, he doesn't comment on it.
However, once I've finished the last bite of the admittedly small serving, he pounces on me.
"Now he's gone, I want the truth, Bells. Are…" he gulps, "Are you in some sort of trouble? Something to do with him, or his family?"
"No," I say my voice shaking slightly.
"You sure about that? Jacob wasn't making much sense, but he very clearly mentioned a decision and the Cullen's and that you are in danger. I want to know what's happening."
Cursing his rash behaviour, I scramble for an explanation. "It's nothing, dad. Don't worry about it." I know my voice isn't convincing, but I don't have anything else. Why couldn't Edward have stayed or come up with a cover story, or anything.
"Don't give me that bull shit!" He slams his fists down on the table causing the dinner things to rattle and me to jump out of my seat. "People are going missing left right and centre, that boy shows up again, you're acting all odd and now Jake is warning me off the family too. I'd ignored Billy's crazy superstitions, but maybe there's some founding in it. Those Cullen's are dangerous. I can feel it. Now, tell me what the hell is happening!"
"I don't know what to say…" I say, blinking back tears at his outburst.
"The truth would be nice," his voice is cold and I risk a glance upwards to see fury on his face.
"The truth is, I can't tell you. There's nothing you can do, not as my dad or a cop, I just need to work it out on my own."
"I don't buy it, and, while you're staying under my roof, I want to know what's happening."
Realising that there's only one option now, I stand up. "Fine, but you'll have to come with me."
I throw on my boots and jacket, and we both head outside. When I move towards my truck's passenger door, Charlie thankfully takes my lead without complaint. Just as I'm opening the door, I mutter under my breath, "I'll be back soon, the pack made this mess, they can fix it." He won't be happy about my decision, but I can't think of another way that he'll believe.
"I take it we aren't going in the cruiser for a reason?"
"Yes," I say shortly, though it's not for the reasons he thinks. If this goes the way I suspect, then I want to be in a vehicle that I can drive. "Head to the res."
In the pitch darkness, the journey feels long. Half way there, I pick up my cell and call the number I'd saved only a few days ago for Sam. Emily answers the phone quickly.
"I'm on the way with Charlie. Ask Jake why." Not waiting for a response, I hang up the phone and I'm sent a disapproving glance.
When we finally pull up outside Sam and Emily's place, I can see several of the pack waiting.
"Stay here," I say to Charlie, climbing out of the truck.
Sam steps forward to greet me as I walk up. "I'm sorry, Bella." He says, "Embry was on watch and heard your conversation. He shouldn't have said anything, we'll be handling it."
"Well, you do what you like with Jake, but what the hell is going to happen with Charlie now? He cannot know about the Cullen's. Fix this, then I'm going."
He nods and I wave over at the truck for Charlie to come out, surprised that he'd actually listened to me.
I watch as he walks over, his steps faltering as he realises that he's walking into a mass of incredibly large men.
"Sorry about this Charlie," Sam tries to reassure gesturing for them all to sit down around the camp fire they'd been building out front.
"I don't care for apologies," Charlie says, folding his arms and looking down on everyone now sat. "I want an explanation."
"You deserve one, but I have to warn you, this isn't something you want to know about."
"Just tell me damn it, I want to know my daughter is safe."
"I promise you," Same says glancing over at Emily before he continues, "Right now, Bella is safe. Jacob, well this isn't the first time, he's rather lax in the telling's of our tribes nature. Our people, we aren't the same."
"I've heard the legends, I don't care about fairy tales."
"They aren't fairy tales, Charlie. Parts of it at least are true."
"I'm not sitting here listening to this nonsense while you cover for whatever mess my daughter has gotten herself into. Come on Bella, we're leaving."
"Stop," Sam says with all of his authority as leader of the pack. "Someone show him."
With that instruction, someone who I can't identify through the haze of the fire stands up. I avert my gaze as they remove their pants then burst forwards into a large wolf.
Charlie goes stumbling backwards.
I rush over to him, frantically trying to get him to breath again.
"What was that for!" I yell at Sam, "Is one heart attack around here not enough for you?" Charlie is as white as a sheet as he finally takes a shuddering breath in. "That's it, just breath."
He stares past me towards the brown wolf that's now laying with his head on his front paws, the picture of innocence.
"That's, he's, what?" Charlie splutters rather incoherently.
I gesture for Sam to continue the explanations. "These matters, they're beyond your world Charlie. If you want to keep your daughter safe, you'll stop asking questions."
Several pack members come and haul Charlie to his feet which causes him to pale even further. "All of you, you're all… Billy?"
"No, not Billy, but yes. Nearly everyone here now. You're not looking too good," Sam says helping Charlie towards the house. "Maybe you should lay down for a while."
When they manage to guide him through the door and onto a couch with a cup of strong coffee, I move over to Sam. "Where's Jake?" I ask, my tone leaving no room for messing around.
"On patrol," Sam quips, unhappy with my tone.
"Well, tell him I want to see him." I push past him, wincing slightly when my shoulder comes into contact with his extreme bulk.
Inside the house, I sit down next to where Charlie is already frozen in place. "Hi, Dad." I say with trepidation about how this conversation is going to go.
"Do…" he clears his throat, "You don't turn into a giant dog too?"
Breaking out in a fit of laughter, I can only just manage to shake my head. "Not unless mom is some how descended from the Quileute's and you've not told me."
"No." he goes silent staring at his hands. "I don't get how you fit into this then. I mean, I'm not sure I believe it at all, but, what the hell Bells?"
"I'm just friends with Jake is all," I say, hoping he'll take the explanation.
"So what, you just happened to find out? I've lived here my whole life and spent a heck of a lot more time here than you, excuse me if I don't jump on that explanation."
"He, kinda, changed in front of me. It was my fault, remember when he was sick that time. I pushed him."
Suddenly Charlie turns serious, "Did he hurt you?" His mind must have gone to Emily.
"No, I'm fine. Not even a scratch. But, that's all there is to it. Really. Are you ready to go back home?" Although I don't want to be alone with him trying to answer questions, I also don't want stick around here longer than I have to.
"I don't get how that Cullen kid comes into this." I can see his cop mind working, trying to piece together everything of this rather shocking revelation.
"They… The Cullen's know." I say hoping that the small piece of information won't get anyone hurt. "There's some old family stories about it."
"Why move back here then?"
"Work, house, everything. Maybe they just like the area." I scramble for reasons that will satisfy his overly curious mind. "Can we go now? I don't want to stay here."
Jumping to his feet, he has apparently only just realised just how much danger he might be in sat here in the house of a shape shifter. I follow him closely and watch as he once again pales at seeing the pack. "You, all of you, keep away from us," he says forcing confidence into his voice that I'm sure he doesn't really feel.
There are various nods while we both clamber into the truck, this time with me sitting behind the wheel.
Our journey back is again silent as this time Charlie tries to process everything that he's learnt. I can't help wishing that Edward is here to help establish what's going on in his head, what conclusions he's drawn.
We're nearly back when Charlie suddenly breaks down. "Did they…" he asks his voice shaking, "Did they kill Billy and hide it?"
"No," I say quickly, not taking my eyes off the road. "There is no chance that they'd have hurt Billy. No way."
"Thank god," he says rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes. "I don't want you down there again. Promise me."
I groan, hoping that Edward hasn't heard what he said, and nod in agreement. "I'm not planning to go back to La Push soon." But I'm not promising not to see them, I silently say.
If Jacob thinks he's going to get away with putting my father in such risk, he's got another thing coming for him.
Trudging back inside, I ignore Charlie's invitation to sit in the living room together, instead going straight up to my bedroom.
On my pillow is a small, folded piece of paper.
Realising that it had been handled far too roughly to be from Edward or any of the other Cullen's, I feel the dread set in over me.
With shaking fingers, I open the paper up and something drops to the floor. On the paper reads three very simple words – Port Angeles, alone. Bending down to pick up the fallen item, I instantly drop it again as I register what it is.
It's a photo, a photo of Billy and someone who, even in the back and white image, is unmistakably Victoria.
She's got him.
Then something else occurs to me. She's been here. Someone has left this on my bed.