Chapter 37

Family first.

I don't know if it's the fact that I haven't had a romantic relationship with Jacob or the fact that I know what imprinting is for a shifter, but I don't mind the idea of Jacob dating my girl. From my point of view, Edward and I will make sure that Jacob stays quiet until Eline is mature enough to understand the concept of love and she will decide for herself what Jacob means to her. I hope Edward will be on the same page as me.

I walk confidently towards the house, when suddenly Jacob blocks my way. I stare at him intently.

"Jacob, I just found myself a few meters from a man bleeding profusely and I didn't attack him…"

Jacob looks up at Edward, who nods. I continue, leaning menacingly towards Jacob:

"I know what Eline means to you, so rest assured, I'm in control and I won't harm her... But I swear to you that if you come between my daughter and me, whether it's today or tomorrow, I will forbid you from seeing her ad vitam aeternam… and you know what that means for immortal creatures like you and me. »

I see Jacob pale while Edward wears a satisfied smile and a glow that indicates that part of him would like to see Jacob try to protest. But he moves aside and just stays behind me in the doorway. It's not any worse, because its smell is strong enough in the area to camouflage the other smells around, which still reassures me. Although I knew, via the book, that Bella had never wanted to attack Renesmee, I was still dreading the meeting with my babies. I enter the living room, immediately spotting Jasper tense as a bow, on the lookout for the slightest trace of aggression from me.

"This is going to end up annoying Jasper," I tell him, amused.

Everything will be fine Jasp, adds Alice. »

She smiles at me and looks to her right at Rosalie holding the most beautiful babies in the world (in all objectivity, of course). She smiles at them, then looks at me and I see in her eyes all the happiness she feels. I want to cry with happiness too, both because I am happy to finally be able to hold my loves in my arms, but also to have been able to offer him this joy.

Venomous tears begin to well up in my eyes and Jasper looks at me stunned. Edward takes my hand and I see in his eyes that he understood how I felt. Finally, telepathy is not always useful when you know yourself well. I smile at him and turn towards Rosalie with that same smile of joy.

I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her and the babies. She freezes, then relaxes and leans her head against my shoulder. I then whisper to him:

"Thanks for taking care of Eline and Riley, Rosalie. I knew it was the right choice to choose you as my godmother. »

I feel her trembling in my arms and I hold her a little tighter, then I step back and stand at my babies' level. They both look at me. Eline stretches her arms towards me and begins to fidget. Riley stares at me for a moment before stretching his arms out towards me. Rose first hands me Eline who can no longer hold still, then puts Riley in my other arm. They are beautiful, light and smell nice, but not like food, more like a comforting smell. They smell like home, like Edward, but without the sexiness. As soon as this thought crosses my mind, I hear Edward laugh. I look up, surprised. He then explains to me:

"Riley is able to block the powers of a person he touches. It's him lowering your shield into your stomach.

Did you read my mind just now?

I can do it when Riley is in your arms. I noticed it when you transformed. »

I feel directly guilty. He heard everything I was thinking during my transformation... I hope he didn't suffer too much.

"Don't worry my love, your thoughts have on the contrary reassured me. Plus, I got to see so many of your memories. It's like you're trying to fix them in your mind.

This was the case. I know human memories fade quickly, so I selected what was most important to me.

Incredible, I hear behind my back. Such self-control, even during your transformation. I'm no match for you…"

Carlisle had just returned with Esme. Jacob was next to them, a little behind, staring at Eline with a sad expression. I had the image of a puppy, its tail between its legs. Edward snickered behind me. I scolded him with a glance. The rest of the day went well. I felt serene, surrounded by my family. The only downside was that I missed Charlie a little. At one point I handed the twins over to Rosalie and Esme and Edward took my hand to pull me aside.

"We'll be able to ask your father and Tanya to come soon, don't worry.

Wait… What?!

You are doing so well that everyone has the same idea in mind, you will quickly be able to come into direct contact with humans. Better to start with people with whom you have an affinity. This will give you one more reason not to hurt them.

But... What if I hurt him anyway... Or worse!?

Bella… Edward began, and I knew his family was listening. I spent several hours listening to your mind. At no point were you on the verge of breaking down. Honestly, you're reacting like you did before your transformation, if it weren't for your heartbeat, I'd swear you were still human. Jasper is in shock.

Do you really think it's safe for me to see Charlie again?

I'm sure of it, he told me, cupping my face and placing a light kiss. »

I feel myself melting under his touch. My desire for him comes back at a gallop and I pull him against me, my mouth sealed to his. He moans and slides his tongue into my mouth, making me moan in turn. I place my hand on her plump ass and as I make a sound of satisfaction, I hear her grunt. I raise my head in surprise. I let go of him immediately and walk away from him, hurt.

"No, that's not it, Bella," Edward told me immediately, "I'm not rejecting you. »

He turns his head and spits:

"See what your thoughts can cause Emmett?" »

I immediately hear a loud noise coming from the living room.

"Ouch! Pink ! Emmett complained.

Leave them alone! she replies in a chilling voice.

Come on my darling. Let's go home.

But the children...

We'll take care of it Bella, Esmée intervenes from the living room. »

Edward takes my hand and we run to our chalet... The hours that followed were full of sweetness, love and tenderness. I curled up against him between kisses and his purring lulled me for hours. After having had my fill of cuddles, I thought back to the conversation we had at the villa and I had one problem.

"By the way Edward…

Yes Eowyn?

You talked about my father and Tanya…

They made up during your transformation. Your father sent her flowers every day for a week with words of apology and Tanya finally forgave him 2 days ago…"

I smile at him, very happy at this news, but raise an eyebrow at Edward's strange expression. He answers me, anticipating the question:

"Tanya came to tell me the news and I got… a glimpse… of their activities…"

I giggle

"I told you you'd end up getting a backlash for making fun of me."

I didn't know my stepfather was so... imaginative. »

His gaze is distant and almost envious. I decide to tease him.

"Does that mean we'll be able to release the chains from the chalet?

What if it was me who attached you?... he answers me with his crooked smile.

I open my mouth in surprise before starting to run, laughing, followed by a hilarious and naked Edward... but a worm blessed by Apollo...

A few days later, Charlie's cruiser pulls into the driveway and I wait anxiously. Edward is by my side and I'm holding Riley, as he advised me to do so he can read my thoughts for any possible problems. When I hear Charlie approaching the house and knocking on the door, I tense like a bow and his scent hits me. Contrary to what I expected, he doesn't make me thirsty, I just want to hug him. Everyone in his house shouts "house" to me. I'm in shock, as is Edward. I'm starting to tell myself that level 3 shock resistance has something to do with my reactions. Charlie is a little hesitant as he walks through the door, but he walks forward, smiling at me.

"Bella…" he whispers. You are even more beautiful than before my baby. »

I walk slowly towards him, stopping myself from running. I take myself in my free arm and answer him in a whisper:

"I missed you dad. »

I feel my father shiver as my breath hits his neck, but he tightens his arms around me. I feel good. Riley squirms between us and I move away a little. He looks curiously at his grandfather.

"Dad, this is Riley, your grandson.

Hello Riley, my father said, moving up to the little boy's level. You have your mother's hair. But where does this eye color come from?

From me, Charlie, Edward replies. I had green eyes when I was human.

You must have already been hot back then, I'm teasing. All the girls had to chase you.

Without success, he replies with a smirk.

The female vampires also tried their luck without success... said a voice at the entrance to the room.

Tanya… Edward begins.

Hello Bella. I'm happy to see you're doing well.

And I'm happy to see that someone apologized... I respond with a sideways look.

Um uh… Yes… Charlie stammers. I almost made the biggest mistake of my life...

I'm not making you say it, Tanya replied, taking his hand.

Charlie? asks Esmée who in turn enters the room, accompanied by Jacob. This is Eline.

Charlie's eyes widen. I know that with her brown eyes and brown curls, Eline looks a lot like me. Charlie holds out his arms towards her and Esmée puts the little girl in his arms. She places a hand on his face and I see Charlie's eyes wander into space.

"She shows him memories of the last few days," Edward explains to me. »

Eline may not look like Renesmée, but she has acquired the same gift of sharing. She is very dynamic and cheerful and spends a lot of time sharing her memories with everyone, happily playing and babbling with everyone she meets. Riley is calmer and calmer. He observes a lot before trying to communicate.

The one who spends the most time with him, besides Edward and me, is Jasper. Edward told me he felt serenity. Being alone with your emotions was the equivalent of meditating. Alice distanced herself a little, however. She adores her nephew, but I think she relies so much on his visions that being deprived of them completely disorients her.

Contrary to what I thought, Rosalie does not monopolize her godchildren. She just asks to stay in the same room as them, observe them and give them a bottle from time to time. I've never seen her smile as much as in the last few days and she looks even more beautiful than usual. Emmett is oddly calmer, in awe of his wife and caring for her. Esme and Carlisle just look at their family in each other's arms, smiling at each other from time to time.

I meet Irina, Carmen, Eleazar, Kate and Garrett in the presence of Tanya and Charlie, a week later. They act with kindness and kindness. I even ended up leaving Eline for a few minutes in Carmen's arms, under Jacob's intense supervision. This is the first time I've seen Eleazar become anxious.

His gaze on me is sharp. He asks me point blank if my powers had changed. Strangely, I haven't had a vision since my transformation. It must be said that the spontaneous visions took place mainly at night, but I no longer sleep. But I didn't try to provoke them either, enjoying the surprise that each new day brought me. Besides, I had the feeling that a new vision would bring me bad news.

I tell him that I am trying to deploy my shield as I had seen that I was capable of. So far, without success. Eleazar advises me to ask Riley to explain to me how he deploys his once he learns to speak. Everyone turns to him, taken aback.

" How so ? Does he have a shield? I ask him.

In fact, he's kind of the opposite of you, Bella. He deploys a shield not around himself, but rather around others, which blocks their gifts.

Everything is explained, exclaims Carlisle. It's funny that the twins have almost opposite abilities.

I wonder what would happen if I tried to induce a vision by holding Eline, says Alice.

How about we stop playing with fire, Jacob replies, rushing to hug his imprint. »

Eline looked delighted to be in his arms and cooed happily, making her father cringe. Alice looked disappointed. I approached her to reassure her:

"Don't worry Alice, you'll have the chance to try…"

I stop abruptly, overcome by a terrifying vision. Alice looks at me, wide-eyed, just as scared as I am. I hear voices echoing around me, suddenly Edward's hand wraps around my waist, Jasper does the same to Alice. I whisper to my companion.

" You saw ? »

He nods.

"Seen what?" Emmett annoys.

The Volturi... They are coming to destroy us. »

I hear Esme and Carmen panting. I see Tanya wrap her arms around Charlie. Irina and Kate look terrified, Carmen and Eleazar exchange a worried look. Only Garrett and Emmett seem perfectly calm. Charlie doesn't seem to understand anything. I know of the Denali's past with the Volturi. I can't imagine how they might feel at the thought of seeing their torturers again.

" But why ? Esme whispers, her voice trembling.

Charlie…and Bella, as far as they know, Alice replies with a small voice. Victoria went to see them.

What do you mean, me? my father asks in surprise. And why Bella too? And who are the Volturi?

In fact, Bella is no longer concerned… replies Tanya. Do you remember that I told you that our relationship should remain a secret, sweetie?

Yes, but how... Wait, we had to keep our story a secret because of these Volturi?

There is one overriding rule in our world Charlie, Carlisle intervenes. Humans must remain ignorant of vampires.

And I know...

There are only two choices when a human learns for us: become a vampire, like Bella, or die, Carlisle continues. By not respecting this rule, our family is condemned to death. »

I hear Esme sobbing. My father's reaction was both rapid and clear:

"Then transform me!"

Dad ! I exclaim. Think hard ! There is no going back. You will remain frozen like this for eternity.

Admit that you're afraid that your father will stay by your side forever, Charlie sneers, with a dull smile.

Dad… I moan.

I know, my darling, he replies, taking my hands. My mortality puts you, my grandchildren and my partner in a dangerous situation. I will protect you, even if I have to lose my mortality to do so.

Dad, I whisper, taking him in my arms. Dad…

Oh Charlie, Tanya whispers, moved.

When you were born, I swore to protect you until I died. My baby... Let me do it one last time, Charlie continues.

From his voice and the smell of salty moisture, I knew he was crying and I would have done so too, if I could. We stayed in each other's arms for a long time. This is how both the end and the eternity of my father were decided. And one thing was certain to me, it was essential to me from now on that Charlie knew that I was not his daughter. My lie couldn't go on any longer.

That evening, I also decided to discuss the existence of the game with Edward. With his help, maybe I'll find the courage to put my father on the path to my secret. At this moment, a blue window appeared:

"Main quest: Let Charlie discover your secret without admitting it. Reward: A clue on how to deploy your shield. Penalty: death. Duration: one week. Developer's comment: It's time to show creativity... or failing that, panache before dying in style... Good luck!"

If I meet these developers, I'll kill them...