Still don't own Twilight

Secret is Out

There was a heavy silence in the house, as I turned to look at Paul. "What did you just say?" I snapped, growl rising in my chest.

His eyes flashed around before narrowing on me again. "I said, if you're not going to accept the imprint then you should just leave."

I stood slowly, fists clenched as I shook with rising fury. "Who?" I growled, making his eyes widen, before he turned to look at Jacob. "When?" I snarled.

"The meadow. When we took out the leech with the dreads."

"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME? WHAT YOU TOLD THE PACK AND YOU COULDN'T FUCKING TELL ME?"

"I didn't want you to feel trapped." I don't remember moving, but suddenly I was standing in front of him, pressing him into the wall.

"YOU TOLD ME ABOUT IMPRINTING MONTHS AGO!"

"I didn't want you to feel for-."

"The imprint didn't take my choice away. You did. How in the hell do you expect me to be with you, when I would have been living with the knowledge that any moment you could look up and see your imprint." I shook my head, and backed away, hands up in front of my chest. "I can't believe that you would keep this from me."

As I walked through the door and down the porch steps I heard Paul's voice raise. "YOU DIDN'T FUCKING TELL HER? YOU TOLD US SHE'S KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR MONTHS."

I was angry, very angry, but this made my indecisiveness go away. So I pulled the phone out of my pocket, and dialed the familiar number. "Bella? My love, I thought you were going to be staying at Sam and Emily's til tomorrow."

"I've made my decision Edward." I heard shocked gasps from inside the house, and from the other side of the phone line.

"As long as you chose what makes you happy."

"I've been lying to you since you came back. I used you-."

"Bella, you-."

"No, I need to say this. You broke me when you left. I was shattered. Somewhere in the process of Jacob putting me back together, I fell in love with him. But because I was afraid of him imprinting on someone, I was holding back. Then you came back, and I needed an escape. Because I couldn't bear the thought of waking up beside him every morning knowing he could meet his soulmate and leave me. Do you remember me telling you about what happened with Sam and Leah after he phased?"

"Yes." He replied, voice strangled, but soft.

"After you broke me, I knew I wasn't strong enough to survive that again. Leah still has a hard time with it, and she's so much stronger than I am."

"I… Bella, I think I know where you're going with this. You don't have to explain yourself to me. You don't have to apologize to me. I understand how much I hurt you when I left, and if I could go back, I wouldn't have made such a stupid choice. But Bella, I've only ever wanted you to be safe and happy. Even if it's not me who makes you that way."

I looked down at the ring that was still on my finger. "I… I can't marry you Edward. There is a part of me that will always love you, but I'm not in love with you. I have to follow my heart, and it's not you that it's leading me to."

I just knew that he was sitting on his bed, with his eyes closed. "Bella. I.. I will love you forever. Even if you no longer love me."

"I really hope that isn't true. You need to move on from me. Your mate is out there somewhere, and one day you'll be happier with her than you ever could be with me. Would… would you like to meet at the treaty line to get your mothers ring?"

There was a choking noise on the other end of the line. "I think my mother would have rather you kept it."

"I can't do that. I'd like to give it back to you, so that you can give it to your mate when you meet her."

"I want you to keep it."

"Edward. It is your heirloom. It's well over a 100 years old at this point."

"I can't accept it. I meant what I said when I slid that onto your finger. It wouldn't be fair to give it to another woman after it's been on your finger. Keep it in your jewelry box, and when you… you and Jacob have children maybe one of your sons could give it to a girl as wonderful as their mother."

I sighed, before I raised an eyebrow. "Wait. What about Jacob? I didn't say anything about choosing Jacob. How do you know I'm not talking about Paul? Or Embry for that matter?"

"Bella, I've known since I came back that he imprinted on you." My mouth dropped open, and I nearly dropped the phone in surprise. "I knew this was coming, it's part of the reason I pushed you so hard to get married. I expected you'd run screaming, straight to him."

"WHAT?" I screeched, without realizing I'd even opened my mouth to talk in the first place. "YOU BOTH KEPT THIS FROM ME. YOU SONS OF BITCHES."

"Obviously he finally tol-."

"NO HE DIDN'T! PAUL ACCUSED ME OF TURNING MY BACK ON THE IMPRINT! YOU KEPT THIS FROM ME! YOU LET ME TRY ON ALL OF THOSE GOD AWFUL DRESSES THAT ALICE KEPT BRINGING HOME! GOD DAMNIT EDWARD SOME OF THOSE WERE EXTREMELY ITCHY."

He snorted. "Anyways, keep the ring, and the charm on the bracelet." I heard a murmur on the other side of the line. "Oh, and Alice says to look at the bottom of the wolf charm. Goodbye Bella."

Suddenly the call ended, and I slid the phone back into my pocket. Gently picking up the wolf charm I looked at the bottom, and saw the tiny etching. Imprint. When I heard footsteps approaching I turned to look behind me, to see Jacob walking up to me. "I'm still mad at you."

"I know."

"I'd punch you if it wouldn't break my hand." I whispered, causing him to chuckle.