Chapter 26

The promise.

*Author's note: It seems that the last chapters weren't very popular and I'm sorry about that. The scenario and the chapters have been determined since the beginning of the story and the story has therefore moved to the M rating. First, the heroine is 37 years old, not seventeen. She does not see things the same Bella's way and for her, sexuality is just a part of life, which doesn't prevent her from reassuring Edward who is much less experienced. On the other hand, I felt it necessary to show how much their trust in each other has increased. They feel more comfortable and thanks to that, communication is better. All this is transmitted through their intimate and complicit exchanges. Edward is getting closer and closer to Eowyn's secret.

I jump to my phone and call Billy. The hoarse voice of Chief Quileute echoes through the room, via the loudspeaker.

" Hello ? bella?

Billy, I'm with dad. He hears you, I specify before he makes a mistake. Charlie wants to kill the big wolves he met in the forest, he is convinced that they are responsible for Jacob's disappearance.

If it's the wolves I'm thinking of, Jacob is going to stay away and as for their safety, I'd be surprised if any of them got hurt.

Yes, exactly ! I strongly insist. It's like Emily, except this is Paul.

Oh ! »

I hear the realization in Billy's voice and he asks to speak to Charlie. I hand the device to my dad and he takes it into the living room, frowning, muting the speakerphone. Edward is already texting his family. He asks me in my ear:

" A vision ?

If Dad goes hunting, Paul will die. »

I say these words softly. I hear the tremolo in my voice when I talk about Paul's death. He hugs me, trying to reassure me. My dad comes back and hands me my cell phone.

"We are going to the reserve now, he specifies. I'm sorry boy, but Billy told me not to take you.

Never mind sir, Edward replies cordially. I have to go home anyway.

You hold me informed ? I ask him while kissing him.

Yes. And you too !

I promise you. »

He leaves in his car. I turn around and see my father coming out with his gun holster. He gets into his car and gestures for me to get in next to him. I sense his impatience and ask him to stay calm.

"But what does all this rhyme with, my father gets annoyed. What are you all hiding from me. Who are Paul and Emily and what are they involved in?

You will quickly understand dad, I promise you. And if Billy won't tell you, I will. »

We head towards La Push in silence. Arrived on the spot, Harry, the old Quil, Sam, Paul and Jared are at the side of Billy. This leads us near a brazier where Emily is and a girl I don't know, but who recognizes me right away.

"Bella! She said taking me in her arms

She then whispers to me, away from prying ears:

"Thank you for stopping Charlie and saving Paul!" »

I understand then that it is about Rachel.

"I thought you were off to college!"

I just graduated! In fact, it was because of me that Jacob ran away.

Don't talk nonsense, Rachel, Billy intervenes. You are his sister, not his daughter! And he doesn't have to stop you from seeing whoever you want.

Heart stories are often the cause of running away, agrees Charlie

Paul is a good person. He reacted disproportionately.

The famous Paul… mutters Charlie.

Yes ? asks the interested party.

And you must be Emily, my father continues, looking at the young woman.

She's my fiancee, Sam intervenes, taking her by the shoulder. My name is Sam and this is Jared.

Okay, now that I know who's who, explain to me why you're all so sure that Jacob's disappearance isn't due to his giant wolves and why I shouldn't shoot them.

Charlie, I'm going to ask you to sit down and keep an open mind. You also have to promise me to keep the secret.

If you do something illegal...

It's not illegal, I interrupt him. It's just hard to believe, but when you find out, everything will make more sense to you. »

Harry then begins to tell the legends of the tribe. He evokes Taha Aki, the transformation, the heritage transmitted to his descendants. Then Sam takes off his sweater, t-shirt and pants in front of a dumbfounded Charlie and transforms away from the group. Charlie's eyes widened.

Did you know all about Bella? he asks me, incredulous.

Yes…

Since when ?

Since I came back. »

He looks at me, shocked.

"So all these little people, he says, pointing to the Quileutes, can turn into giant wolves and wolfs.

I can't, only direct descendants of Taha Aki can transform, says Emily. And only if they cross the olfactory trace of their enemy before twenty-five years.

Their…enemy? Stammered Charlie. But what kind of creature can be the enemy of werewolves.

We can't tell you, Charlie. Said Billy somberly, it's not our secret and we can't reveal it without causing a war between our tribe and them.

Bella? Asks my father. Did you tell me that if Billy didn't tell me, you would?

I'll tell you at home, dad. I wouldn't want there to be a misunderstanding if you knew that secret when you got out of Push. »

I see old Quil nodding at my remark.

"And Jacob?" continues Charlie looking at Billy. He also turned into a wolf? Is that why he disappeared?

Yes… He was angry because I had allowed Rachel to go out with Paul. Jacob always had trouble getting along with him. He went into the forest and… he encountered the scent of… our enemy… and it triggered his transformation.

Why didn't he come back then in wolf form?

It's hard the first time, Sam replies. We're disoriented; we don't know how to get back to our human form. It took me several weeks on my own. Less for Paul and Jared, because I helped them. The problem is that we realized late that Jake had undergone the transformation and the time to transform us in turn, he was out of the reserve and even the state. We hope he will be back soon enough for us to help him. »

Charli nods, explains that he has to digest all this and motions for me to go back to the car. I hear him say behind my back that he won't say anything, but that we have to give him time. It is silent on the return trip. He places himself in front of the television, turns on the device by reflex, but I see him close his eyes as he leans back in the chair. I wait for him to call me, but when I wish him good night, he doesn't ask me any questions and tells me that he will see me tomorrow morning. I find Edward in my room who explains to me that Charlie's mind is even harder to read than usual for him.

"It's as if he was drawing a murder board of the situation in his head," he told me. He is busy listing all the clues he has and making no decisions or hypotheses.

It remains factual, I conclude.

Yes.

Did you tell Carlisle and the others about the situation?

Yeah, I told them Charlie now knew about wolves.

I'm going to have to tell him that I have visions.

Bella…

I promised him an explanation.

If you tell him about vampires...

He will be in danger! Yes I know. I won't tell him about it, but he'll figure it out on his own. He is very observant.

He's gonna be pissed that you're dating a vampire.

For what ?

What father wouldn't be?

Mine wouldn't care if I went out with a vampire, a werewolf or a gargoyle… As long as I didn't cost him a penny and he could bang his bitch without me telling him anything.

Your parents are no longer together? Edward asks pulling me over to the bed to settle into.

Nope ! I exclaim, curling up against his chest. And honestly it's not so bad in hindsight! My mother deserves better than him!

You are hard !

Not that much considering he hasn't replied to my messages for over three years. He cut me out of his life because the girl he's dating asked him. And he accepted! It's his choice not to consider me as her daughter anymore. »

I stand up to look Edward in the eye.

"That's why I want to take care of Charlie. He showed me more love and trust in a few months than my real father. Don't think I'm going to reveal the existence of the supernatural to him on a whim. I will do my best to protect him. But if I judge that his search for the truth puts him in more danger than knowing what he exposes himself to without precaution, then I will tell him what you are.

+ 2... That's it... You've reached the age of thirty-seven!

Edward...

Charlie is lucky to have you by his side, he replies, stroking my hair. »

I end up falling asleep in his arms, fully dressed. The next day, he tells me that Charlie has already left for work. We decide to resume our routine. This also seems to be Charlie's decision except that he comes home early and observes Edward and Alice a lot when they pass by the house. One day, Edward announces to me that he has made his decision, but that it is not clear. Charlie asks me to go into the bedroom while he talks to my boyfriend. I decide not to intervene and once in my room, I try something I've never tried before.

But I've leveled up the prescience skill again so I decide to take the opportunity to try out my idea. I take one of Edward's shirts in which I used to sleep, much to the delight of my possessive companion who loves that I bathe in his scent.

I focus on Edward, his scent, and really want to see what he does. Luckily I'm sitting because the wave of images and sounds that pass through my head overwhelm me. I understand little by little that I see and perceive everything Edward receives from his five senses. My human brain is simply not able to analyze everything at the same time. I hear Charlie ask Edward if he loves me. Edward's response makes me cringe:

" More than my own life.

Does that mean you'll protect her no matter what?

Yes, sir, Edward nods. His safety is always my priority.

Me too, Charlie sighs. His safety and his happiness…"

He looks seriously at Edward and says dryly:

"If it were up to me, I would forbid him to see you and your family again. »

Edward's vision flickers for a split second. I almost feel his fear.

"But Bella always knew what she wanted, she doesn't easily change her heart…and it's you she wants, so I won't go against her will. Only it's not just the nature of your family that worries me… I saw how affected it was a few weeks ago when you were no longer in contact with it. I don't know why you two don't talk to each other anymore, I guess you don't want to talk to me about it… and honestly, that's none of my business. On the other hand, I am afraid for her, that she will have to relive this situation.

I would never hurt him on purpose. If I have to walk away, it will only be to protect her.

Are you planning to leave?

Not if I can avoid it. This will be my last resort.

Guess I'm in no position to negotiate, but I really hope that never happens.

Me too, sir.

Can you promise me something? It's about Bella's safety.

In this case, yes.

I am well aware that I have just entered dangerous ground with all that I have recently learned. So…If ever something happens to me…

I would take care of her for you.

Thanks, my boy. I think she's been waiting for you long enough. Go up quickly to join her, she must be wondering what interrogation I am subjecting you to. »

Edward turns away from him and is about to leave the room when my father calls out to him in a chilling tone:

"By the way, Edward…If you hurt her, whoever you are, I'll kill you…Even if I have to use a silver bullet or put a stake through your heart."

Understood sir, Edward replies, visibly disturbed. »

Wow! my father is too strong, he even scares vampires!