Hi everyone! sorry for the late update, but here's the next chapter and it's a long one :)

We're back to Bella's pov.

Hope you'll enjoy!

Chapter 12

BPOV

I ran as fast as I could away from the meadow and away from Edward. I had seen the hurt and devastation in his eyes. The anger. As bit by bit I told him of my lies and deceptions.

Of course he wouldn't be able to forgive me for those. But even if he could somehow, by some mirable, find it in himself to forgive me... I knew there was one thing would be insurmountable.

His fear.

I had seen it creep into his eyes the moment I told him who I was. And there was no going back from that.

I would forever be the feared Isabella the First to him.

There was no point in thinking otherwise.

My feet slowed as that conviction took hold. I came to a halt atop a snowy mountain peak. I wasn't sure exactly where I was, but I was quite sure it wasn't Washington anymore. I figured it was probably somewhere in the north of Canada. I sat down on the snow covered ground as the wind blew around me, rustling my hair.

For a moment I just stared at the landscape around me; Cold and desolate, like me. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the desolation I felt inside so blatantly laid out before me. I sighed deeply.

I was certain this would hurt for a while, but it was better this way. It was better that it hadn't gone further than just a kiss. It was better that he had broken it off before it could truly begin.

At least I could take comfort in the fact that now he couldn't be used against me by the Volturi.

I opened my eyes again just as the sun peaked out from behind the clouds, turning the snow almost blindingly white. I squinted against the harsh light for a moment, but then stared at the world around me in awe. The snow was glistening like thousands of small diamonds. A white-tailed ptarmigan flew high overhead, calling out with its song. In the distance a mountain goat was strolling along the snowy peaks, looking for food.

Even here, in this snowy and cold place, life was everywhere. I gazed at the goat for a long time, following its path along the rocky and snowy terrain as I listened to the birdsong that was filling the sky. The sun continued to shine down on us, bathing the world in a beautiful glow.

What I had assumed to be a cold and desolate place, was actually bristling with life and beauty. I had been wrong.

I stared until the sun disappeared behind the clouds again. And when it did my heart seemed almost too full.

I got to my feet slowly.

I knew I had hurt Edward, but perhaps things were not as entirely lost as I had assumed a moment ago. Could it be that like this snowy plain that I had assumed held no life, I had assumed Edwards fear was insurmountable?

Didn't I owe it to both of us to at least try once more. I had dumped a lot on him in a short time, perhaps if he had some time to think about it all, he could understand why I had done what I had done. Perhaps we could move past it. Perhaps he could learn to look past what I was and see who I was, who I truly was. I didn't consider myself a ruthless and coldblooded murdered. Though it was a role I sometimes had to take on, and I did so without hesitation, it was not who I considered myself to be. Perhaps he could in time learn to see me as more than that as well. I owed it to us both, to at least try one more time.

With that determination I set off back the way I had come. I didn't know exactly how long it had been since I'd left Edward, but it couldn't have been that long yet. A few hours at most. It was probably too soon to just show up in front of him. He needed time to process everything I'd told him.

I decided to head over to Billy's to wait until the following day, then I'd seek him out again. If he wanted nothing to do with me, I'd formally reject the mate bond and let him be free to live his life without me. I would return to Volterra immediately after.

But a part of me was starting to hope that perhaps he would be ready to talk.

I ran until I started recognizing the landscape again. I crossed into Quileute territory and ran down the familiar trails to Billy's house when a commotion drew my attention. Raised voices and yelling. And then a door being thrown open.

I bounded out of the treeline just in time to see Jacob Black stumble out of the house, shaking all over his body. His face was pale and he was breathing hard. Billy was right behind him.

'Jacob! calm down son!' he yelled, his voice slightly fearful.

'You lied! You lied to me!' Jacob yelled back.

'I never lied! I told you about the legends. You simply chose not to believe them.' Billy shot back.

It seemed billy had finally sat Jacob down and told him everything that was waiting for him. By the looks of it, it had not gone over well.

'I believed the vampire stuff!' Jacob shot back. 'I even believed the wolf stuff. But you never told me I'd be the fucking chief the moment I would start changing!'

I shook my head. Of course Billy had conveniently forgotten to mention that. I had warned him often enough that he should be taking Jacob under his wing, teaching him what it was to be chief. But Billy had insisted that it would all come in time.

Billy rolled his chair closer to Jacob.

I eyed Jacob carefully. It seemed his extreme anger may have triggered his change. I knew he was close to changing, but it seemed he was about ready to burst right now, and Billy was too close.

'Billy.' I called out, slowly approaching the men. 'Stand back.'

Jacob whirled around, his lips pulling back from his teeth in a snarl.

'Calm down, Jacob black. I'm no threat to you.' I assured him.

He only snarled in response, it seemed he had reached the point beyond words already.

'Jacob.' Billy tried again. 'I never meant to lie to you.'

Jacob snarled again.

'Billy.' I cut in. 'Get back now. He is not stable. You are too close.'

I was nearly on them now, but I didn't want to make Jacob feel threatened any more than he already was, not when Billy was still too close.

Finally, though, Billy seemed to notice his son's shaking. He slowly wheeled himself back. I gestured for him to go back further as he glanced at me with uncertain eyes.

'Jacob.' I called. 'Calm down. Your anger is controlling you right now. You are in the grip of your first change. Let it happen. Stop fighting it. I knew you are afraid, but it is nothing to fear. Give yourself over to it.'

I slowly crept closer until I was finally between father and son, shielding Billy from his volatile young wolf. A wolf claw could not pierce my skin, but it could kill Billy quite easily. Even though Jacob would have had no intention of hurting his father, the first change was the hardest and if a human would be standing too close when it happened, they could get hurt by accident.

I wanted to spare both of them that pain and guilt. Jacob continued shaking until finally he seemed to burst out of his skin. He snapped forward and I quickly grabbed hold of his changing form and pushed it backward, further away from Billy. His clothes tore and his bones snapped as he changed into a large russet wolf. He laid on the ground for a moment, panting hard. I crouched beside him.

'It's alright, Jacob.' I muttered softly. 'you did well.'

His eyes turned towards me, confused, scared and full of questions.

'It's alright. You've changed. You probably hear the voices of the other changed wolves in your head. They will have noticed you. You can try talking to them in your mind. It's how you can communicate. I can't hear you, neither can Billy, but your fellow wolves can.'

He whined low in his throat.

'It's alright. Your body is tired, so just take it slow. The first change takes a lot out of young wolves. The next time it won't be as confusing or tiring anymore.'

'Son.' Billy was wheeling himself closer. But I held out my hand to stop him.

'Give it a moment, Billy. He's still confused. Stay back there.'

Billy stopped and nodded, taking my assurances to heart. 'Thank you, Bella.' His voice was rough and he looked on the verge of tears as he stared at the wolf that was his son. 'I shouldn't have pushed like that. I should have listened better. I'm sorry Jacob. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this. I thought you knew. That isn't an excuse of course. And I'm sorry. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't here, Bella. Thank you.'

I waved his thanks away. 'Do you want to try standing up?' I asked Jacob.

His panting had subsided slightly and by the look in his eyes it seemed he was getting back to himself slowly. I figured there was another wolf out there talking to him.

His head turned to me and he gave a nod with his massive head.

I stepped back and Jacob heaved himself up on his paws, he stood shakily for a moment but then he got the feel of it and he shook himself. Then his massive head swivelled around to the forest line, a small growl rumbling in his chest and his hackles raised.

I frowned. 'Jacob?' I asked. 'what's going on?'

He gave a snarl and pawed at the ground.

'Jacob?' I stepped around him so I could see his face, I was quite adept at reading the wolves, but not from their back end.

His eyes were narrowed in anger and his lip was curled. His tail was swishing around like he was having a discussion. Then there was a cry of a wolf a somewhere in the distance. I turned to face the forest. Something was going on.

'Is it Sam?' I asked, turning back to Jacob.

Jacob nodded his head once.

I growled and set off into the woods. Jacob set off after me, though still a little wonky on his new limbs.

'Wait!' Billy called after us faintly. But I couldn't stop to explain.

I knew I should have taken action against Sam sooner. I had given Billy chance after chance for the sake of his grandfather, I would not stand by and let him continue in this way.

Somehow in my gut I knew he was in a confrontation with the Cullens. It couldn't be anything else. I just knew it.

As I followed Sam's scent into the woods, with Jacob trailing after me, trying to not fall on his face as he got used to running on four legs and running at great speed, sounds of an argument reached my ears.

Of course. I thought to myself. Of course it just had to be Edward.

They were goading each other on by the sound of it and both were incredibly angry. I heaved a sigh. Why couldn't Sam just understand that the Cullens were harmless? Though I didn't understand what Edward was so angry about. As far as I knew the Cullens had never sought out confrontation with the wolves. I didn't understand why he would now.

A loud yell and angry snarl right ahead of me spurred me to go faster. I wrapped my physical shield around myself and burst onto the scene just as Edward and Sam leapt from the ground aiming for each other's throats, I threw myself between them, and snapped out my shield, making both of them bounce off it and throwing them back on their own side of the boundary line.

Jacob came crashing out of the foliage next, nearly falling down as he bounded into my shield. I quickly pulled it back.

I glanced at Edward, who was groaning and slowly getting back to his feet again. Then at Sam who was somehow still snarling. Did this man never learn?

'Enough.' I uttered, my voice dripping with authority. Both men froze and Jacob too gave a low whine. 'change back to human form, Sam. I'm not in the mood to hear your snarls as you explain yourself.'

He snarled again, but I wasn't in the mood to discipher his annoyance. Instead I marched over, put my hand on his head and as I stared into his eyes I found the familiar door to his soul and reached inside with my shield to close it.

Sam whined and then his body started shuddering. A moment later, Sam was human again, looking at me with a newfound fear in his eyes. Would this finally be the breakthrough he needed? I wasn't sure.

I possesed the power to turn the wolves back into humans. It was something I had realised a long time ago. I could make it permanent as well. My shield severed the link between their spirit form, the wolf warrior, and their human form. If I left a part of my shield in him, he would never be able to change again. I figured it was part of my gift to use to protect the balance. An out of control shifter could still be a decent human being, though sometimes only a death would return the balance. But I wasn't keen on just taking Sam's life. Especially since forfeiting his life meant taking that of his imprint as well.

'What the hell is wrong with you?' I yelled at both of them.

Both men bowed their head in shame.

'Bella.' Edward brought out, taking a step closer to me.

But I held up my hand. 'Call Carlisle here, now.'

He hung his head but nodded. He fished his phone from his pocket and dialled the number.

'I thought I had been clear last time, Sam. I won't tolerate this anymore.' I told the shivering Sam.

He bowed his head.

'You're both acting like a pair of children. Now tell me, why were you about to attack each other?'

'He wanted to cross onto my land.' Sam snapped, some of his fear abating in the face of his anger for Edward.

Edward snarled in response. 'I did not! I wanted you to tell me if Bella was on your land.' he rebutted, pullign his phone away for a moment. i could faintly hear CArlisle in the background asking what was going on.

'So you could come onto our land!'

'For Fuck's sake, enough!' I sighed and rubbed my temple. 'when is Carlisle getting here?'

Edward muttered into the phone for a moment and then hung up. 'In a few minutes.'

'Good. Jacob you will remain here and inform Carlisle you are the new alpha. You will tell him that the treaty will remain the same, and that Sam is very sorry for the ruckus he caused and will be disciplined accordingly. Ask him to make sure his children know that antagonising angry shifters is not a game.' I hissed, regarding Edward with a cocked brow.

He had the grace to look embarrassed at least.

I sighed. I would deal with him later. I first had to sort this mess out.

'Don't mention me.' I added to Jacob. 'You can use Edward as a translator if you're not comfortable shifting back yet. He can read minds.'

Jacob's head whipped to Edward with clear surprise. Edward nodded once, answering an unspoken thought probably.

'After you're done, come to your father's house again. And bring the other wolves. Things are going to change.'

He nodded his head once indicating he understood.

I took a deep breath and then stepped over to Sam, grabbing hold of his arm and hauling him with me.

'Bella!' Edward called after me. 'wait! I need-'

I turned to face him, shaking my head. 'We'll talk later.'

He swallowed but nodded.

Then I set off. I had to deal with this first.

Though I was happy it seemed Edward had been looking for me, the way he had gone about it, was a definite screw up. It showed his immaturity, but then again he had been a literal child when he was turned. And his family dynamic probably made it so he had retained a lot of his childlike state of mind. If this was going to work, we'd have to talk about that.

I had a role to fulfil in this world. I needed someone with the emotional maturity to understand what that meant. If Edward couldn't grow into the man I needed him to be, then we had a different problem all together.

But then again, vampires were at times irrational beings, letting instincts guide them. If he had been desperate to talk to me because of our bond it could have been his instinct overriding his rationality that had made him behave this way. We would simply have to talk about it I decided.

I hauled Sam onto my back and set off back to Billy's in a blur. I burst through the door without knocking and flung Sam down on the couch. Billy let out a startled yelp.

'Bella! Sam!' he looked between us confused. 'what's going on? Where is Jacob?'

'Jacob is dealing with the mess this one made.' I hissed.

'What?'

'I've told you Billy that you needed to get him under control.' I said stepping closer to Billy. 'I've given you a lot of chances, too many actually, for the sake of your grandfather. But my patience has run out. Sam is unfit to be a protector of this tribe.'

Billy and Sam both gasped.

Sam suddenly flung himself down at my feet. 'No! Please. I can change. I will change! I need to protect this land!'

I shook him off. 'Stop.' I ordered. His fell silent. 'I have given you three chances already, Sam Uley. I have warned you of your prejudice, I have warned you to take a different path and I have removed you as Alpha. Yet today you demonstrated lack of judgement, you chose to be goaded into an attack, and you ordered another wolf to come to your aid. I heard your call. You were willing to pull another wolf into your senseless fight. You could have simply answered Edward's question. You could have tried to find an amicable solution. But instead you chose anger. Again. Your chances are gone. I have been far too lenient in this case. And I will not do it again.'

'Please, Bella. Please spare him.' Billy clutched at my hand.

I shook him off as well. 'I should punish you too.' I growled at billy. 'You assured me you would get him in check. I made you alpha. You could control him and you chose not to'

'I… I'm sorry.'

'I'm glad Jacob changed. At least now the tribe will be in decent hands.' I hissed.

Billy hung his head in shame.

'Billy, help me! You can't just let this bloodsucker kill me! Help me!' Sam cried, realising the direction this conversation was going. Billy just hung his head. 'Please!' Sam cried desperately.

I shook my head. 'Even now, even now you let your prejudice show. You've learned nothing Sam Uley. I am not heartless. I am not a mindless beast. I am fair in my judgement. I weigh the balance in everything. I know you have an imprint. I know killing you would mean ending her as well. You think me so heartless that I would take her life as well as collateral? You are worse than I thought. You disgust me.'

'Please.' He begged again.

'But my disgust an disappointment would never lead me to kill an innocent. Sam Uley, you are not fit to be a protector of this tribe. Your prejudice will endanger the balance of this world. I hereby remove your ability to change into your spirit warrior form. You are not worthy of the power of the spirits that have been bestowed upon you.'

I placed my hand on his head, and the little barrier I had placed between his spirit warrior and his soul, became strengthened and permanent.

'You will become human again. Your body will no longer be stronger than that of a human. You will never be able to shift again for as long as you live. You will not be able to pass the warrior gene down to your children.'

Sam gasped. 'No please!'

'You can't do this.' Billy muttered weakly.

I turned to him. 'I can't do this? The alternative is taking his life. Which do you prefer?' I hissed at him.

He blanched and shook his head. 'but our connection…'

'He forfeited his right to carry on the great lineage that had been bestowed on him. I will not let him abuse his power or let him poison another generation after him.'

'But if you sever the link… what becomes of the imprint?' Billy asked, tears in his eyes.

'It will remain. The bond is already forged between them both.'

Sam let out a shuddering breath of relief.

'Live your life Sam Uley, repent and live a good life, and you may redeem yourself. If not for the sake of your tribe, than for the sake of your imprint and the life she is carrying.'

His head snapped up and he gaped at me. 'she's… she's pregnant?'

I nodded once. 'do better.' I snapped.

He hung his head, tears streaming down his cheeks.

The sound of paws hitting the dirt drew my attention. Jacob had done his job it seemed. I grabbed Billy's wheelchair and wheeled him out of the house.

Three wolves stood before us. Jacob, Jared and Paul. the other two were uneasy as they regarded me, but it seemed JAcob was already changing things. They showed no aggression towards me, which I was certain they would have done if Sam had still been the Alpha. But they were slightly weary and nervous.

'Thank you Jacob.' I said.

He nodded his head once.

I bowed my head closer to Billy, keeping my voice low. 'Complete the ceremony and make Jacob the chief. Tell them Sam is no longer a wolf and that that is the consequence for unbridled hate. Tell them that you expect Jacob to continue the tradition of being in harmony with nature and other supernatural beings, while protecting the tribe when necessary.'

Billy nodded once.

'Wolves. Sam Uley has forfeited his right to bear the power of the spirits. Isabella the First has delivered the judgement that he is to become a human. She has spared his life, but taken his ability to shift to his spirit form.' The wolves whined and looked at me uneasily.

'Such is the price for unbridled hatred that harm the balance of the world. hatred is never the answer. I hope you young ones will learn from this and don't follow in his footsteps.' I explained.

'Jacob.' Billy called then, his voice lowering with the authority of the acting chief of the tribe. Jacob's ears pricked up and he stepped forward. 'I hereby give you the authority of the chief of the tribe, as it has been passed down in our family from father to son all the way back to the first natives in this area. I hereby relinquish my position of alpha and hand it over to you. May you protect the balance of the world, in a just and harmonious manner. May you be just and kind in your judgement. May you protect our land when necessary and protect our people from harm if we are threatened.'

Billy bowed his head and stretched out his hand. Jacob padded over and touched his nose to Billy's palm. I shuddered as the spiritual magic flowed from father to son and the transfer was complete.

I bowed my head in reverence and then Jacob stepped over to me.

'You did well, young Jacob. You have shown remarkable strength and level headedness. I entrust the leadership of this tribe to you. I will keep in contact with you and will be your support when you need it, until the day you pass on your gift to a son of your own.'

Jacob nodded his head.

'Make sure your wolves are treated well. I will not stand them being run ragged. They are still children too. As are you. Don't forget your human lives just because you have a new world opened to you now.'

He nodded again.

'I will take my leave for now. Start rebuilding the damage that was done by one of your own. I will deal with the Cullens.'

He nodded once more and pressed his nose to my hand. A show of respect. I smiled at him and with one last stern look to Billy I headed back into the forest again. I would wait for Edward at the meadow I had decided. If he wanted to talk he would look for me again. I would leave my scent trails to lead him to the meadow. And then we could sort this out for once and for all. No matter the outcome it would bring clarity for us both and either we realized the mate bond could not be continued and we could set each other free, or we could see if this truly could be the start of something.