Chapter 23 double-crossed
Important Please read!
For some unknown reason, some people can't read past chapter 18! I've tried to fix it but it still giving people problems. Most of my stories are also on archive of our own just FYI! So if fanfic doesn't get its act together you can just go to archive. My username is the same!
Naked and Afraid: Paul X Bella - Chapter 1 - cmcgint1 - Twilight Series - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own]
….
April 25th, 2007 La Push Washington
Bella sighed as she looked at the two urns that decorated their bedroom fireplace. She couldn't handle going to Jacksonville to dig through her mother or Phil's things, so Eliza and Ray volunteered to do the job. It didn't take them long to clear it out, as Bella only wanted the family photos, her mother's jewelry, and any heirlooms of her grandmothers. Everything else could be donated and the house sold. Casserole after casserole had been stuck in her freezer but now, she was considering giving it to the pack. They could have it.
It had been five days since her mother and Phil's death. They hadn't been given any sort of memorial service. Her mother was an only child and her relatives minus Bella were dead, the same with Phil.
Bella had refused to come out of the bedroom. She hadn't allowed anyone other than her father or Paul to enter. She needed time to grieve, however, that grief had been replaced by anger.
Anger at the vampires behind this and she wanted them gone.
Her eyes closed as she laid a hand over her protruding belly. She was three months pregnant and they couldn't keep it hidden any longer.
Her child deserved a vampire-free future, and Bella would do everything in her power to make sure it happened.
And for the second time in her life, Bella called out to a God she couldn't see but just like in the Amazon jungle when all her hope had been lost, a bright light filled her bedroom.
He was here.
….
"Didn't think you two would make me a grandpa so soon," Charlie admitted as he put the batter in the waffle maker.
Paul leaned on the counter with his arms crossed in silence. The beasts within him roared at the grief of his mate and the newborns near their land. His muscles tensed and he shuttered as they begged to be released.
They wanted to kill and maim the enemy. Rip the heads of any creature that breathed.
"You know I'm too young for grandkids. I'm still in my prime." Charlie boasted, his eyes red from the tears he had cried over the past few days.
Paul didn't respond as he walked to the front door. With supernatural hearing, he already knew who was there.
Ray and Eliza nodded as he allowed them in boxes in hand.
"Good morning Paul, Mr. Swan." Eliza greeted." This is the last of everything from Jacksonville."
Ray took one look at Paul however and sat the box down.
"Paul? Need some action?" he questioned.
Paul nodded and hissed, his face becoming more cat-like than man.
"We'll be back in a few," Ray told them as he slowly backed out of the house, with Paul following him.
Charlie sighed and turned to Eliza.
"Is he always like that? Paul I mean? Always on edge?"
Eliza nodded.
"I'm afraid so. Um.. is Bella around? Has she come out of her room yet?" She asked
Charlie shook his head.
"Not yet. She's been in there all week. I think she blames herself."
Eliza's eyes widened.
"Why? This was completely out of her control?"
"That's true, but a deeper part of her realizes that if she had stayed away from the Cullens like Billy warned, her mother might still be alive."
"That's a horrible and unjustifiable guilt to carry!" Eliza exclaimed.
"But it's true." A voice spoke.
Eliza gasped as she looked over Charlie's shoulder as Bella entered the kitchen.
"Oh, Bella.." Eliza said softly as she put her hand over her heart. Bella was wearing a floral lavender sundress. However, the baby bump protruding from her hips caught Eliza's attention.
"Hi, Eliza. Hey Daddy." Bella greeted as she hugged her father. His hug was longer than normal but she knew why.
When he pulled back, Charlie smiled sadly.
"You know that's your mother's dress. She wore it on our first date."
Bella couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, I know. It still smells like her. You know I can hear her in my head. Isabella Marie Swan! What are you doing wearing that dress with no heels? You have to wear heels! It completes the ensemble!"
Charlie laughed with her and shook his head.
"It's nice to see you up and about kiddo. Still can't believe you're making me a grandpa so young!"
Bella snorted and said, "You're only forty-two daddy, that's a pretty good age."
"Hmm, I'm still young," he complained. "Anyway, I have breakfast ready for you. I'd stay but I have to go visit Allison."
"Allison? As an Allison Uley? "
"Yep, that's the one," Charlie confirmed.
Bella grinned at her father as the tips of his ears turned red.
"Dad? Are you and Allison dating? And don't lie. You and I are too pale to hide!"
Charlie shrugged and looked away. Bella however called him out on it.
"Ooh! You are sooo dating Allison! Well good for you Dad. I'm happy for you."
Her father looked at her in surprise.
"Y-you are? You're not ..angry? I mean we wanted to tell you and Sam but-"
Bella cut him off with another hug.
"Relax Dad. I just want you to be happy. That's one thing I can be grateful for about Mom. She and Phil were happy. I want that for you too. So when you and Allison are ready, find me. We can go out on a triple date."
Charlie smiled.
"Alright kid, you got yourself a deal. I'll see you a little later."
The minute her father was gone, Bella turned to Eliza.
"Thank you for going to Jacksonville for me. I appreciate it. I'll have to tell Ray the same thing."
"Oh it was no difficult matter Bella, we were happy to help you in any way," Eliza said as she stepped closer, gently grabbing Bella's hands. "How would you feel like going for a walk after a brekkie?"
"Brekkie?" Bella questioned. " Is that British slang for breakfast?"
"It is! Sorry beautiful, that's where I'm from. It slips out from time to time."
"Cool and if you don't mind, I'm not hungry right now, but I will eat later. I just need some fresh air."
"Well alright, sweetheart. Let's go." Eliza said as she held out an elbow for Bella to take. " and congratulations! We never thought Paul would have a mate but now there are kittens involved! It's so exciting!"
"Kittens! Oh no, don't let the pack hear you! When they find out they will think their puppies for sure!" Bella debated as they headed out into the bright spring day.
….
Embry call was not a stalker and wasn't a weirdo but for the life of him, he couldn't stop watching the women in the meadow. She had long silver hair and bright blue eyes. She was phased into her centaur form, the horse part of her was silver just like her hair with beautiful black spots. She was gorgeous. And the few times he heard her talk, he knew she was intelligent. Commenting on their battle strategies when needed. He wanted to talk to her he just didn't know how.
"Are you going to keep staring at me wolf man or are you going to approach me?" was her quiet yet annoyed question.
Embry cursed inside his head as he phased and pulled up his shorts.
"Sorry! Look I'm not trying to be a creep but I was on patrol and I saw you out here. You are beautiful by the way! Ok, I'm going to now" Embry said awkwardly as he turned to run back into the forest.
"Wait. come back," she called. "You were watching me because of my appearance? You mean you were not spying on me because my people now live on your land?"
When Jacob promised the centaur people sanctuary. He meant it, because the very next day Jacob and the council were welcoming the fifteen centaur refugees on the reservation.
Embry looked at her in bewilderment as she walked closer to her. She was carrying a basket full of flowers.
"What? No? Have people on the reservation been giving you problems?" Embry asked.
"No, and that's the problem. Your people are being too nice, too kind. It is something my people are not used to."
" What do you mean?" Embry questioned as he sat down next to her.
She grinned at him and then closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath her four legs became two.
" Centaurs are known for their aggressive behavior. We've been accused of being more beast than man. We have raided and plundered villages, conquering nations that no longer exist. We don't exactly have the best rap sheet. And yet your people have been so accommodating."
"Well, when the young adults on the reservation turn into wolves, you get used to anything else that might be out there. Besides, it's not like you guys have been rude. I never did ask your name by the way."
She smiled at him as she picked more flowers.
"My name is Helen, my family and I come from Greland Artunin. My father Alexander used to serve in our army before he defected. A group of fifteen decided to follow his lead. We've been together ever since. We found a nice place to live but the newborns destroyed everything."
"My name is Embry. If it helps I know what it's like to feel displaced. I don't know who my father is and yet I phased. I'm not even from La Push, I was born in the Makah tribe and yet we moved here. Everything was fine until I went poof. Anyway, what are you doing out here alone?"
"I can take care of myself if that's what you're implying." Helen sneered.
Embry put his hands up in surrender.
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to know what you were doing out here?"
"If you must know, I'm picking flowers for your human."
"My human?"
"Isabella, I believe her name is?" Helen questioned.
"Ohh! You mean Bella! Well, that's kind of you."
"She holds a special place in your hearts, I can tell. And from the few times I've met her, she has been so kind. Do you suppose you could take me to her?"
Embry frowned.
The moment Bella found out about her mother's death, the whole pack felt the shockwaves of her pain. It was so bad they slept outside in Paul's backyard for the first few days. After that Sam had to alpha order them off the lawn before Paul skinned them alive.
"We can try but I don't know if she'll be in the mood for visitors. Although her emotions are pretty peaceful right now." Embry admitted as he rubbed his chest. He wouldn't lie and say that his wolf wasn't dying to see her. To make sure she was ok.
"You can feel her?" Helen questioned.
"Yeah, she's the pack imprint. We can feel pieces and parts of her. At least when she's happy and when she's sad. Or when she's scared."
"What about your own emotions? Doesn't it become confusing?" Helen asked
"No. I can always tell the difference between mine and hers. So, let's go see if we can find her."
Like a gentleman, Embry offered Helen his elbow and she took it.
….
Bella was on the beach, leaning on a nearby driftwood as the waves lapped at her feet. Eliza by her side.
"Bells!" Embry called out.
The girls turned to the sound of his voice and Embry jogged to her in anticipation.
Embry smiled as he scooped Bella up off the sandy ground. One thought ran through his mind.
He missed his friend.
"Embry!" Bella greeted him. He sat her down and smiled at her.
"B, I've missed you so much. We all have! How are you chica? Are you doing ok?" He asked softly.
Bella wrapped her arms around his waist as the two friends hugged.
"I'm doing better. I appreciate you guys letting me have my space. I know the wolf was worried."
"You're stronger than you look chica."
Before Embry could say anything else he paused as four heartbeats thrummed in his ears and they were coming from Bella.
"Woah… Bella?" Embry questioned as he stepped back to get a full look at her.
He could see it now, the widened hips, bigger boobs and there was a glow about her.
"I'm an uncle!" He cheered as he picked her up and swung her around. Bella laughed as she asked Embry to put her down.
"I still have morning sickness, Em."
"So this is why you've been avoiding us for the past month!" Embry exclaimed.
"Maybe. I can't keep any surprises with the pack around." Bella smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. Despite her smile, Embry knew she was still grieving.
"It's going to be ok chica. I have someone who wants to meet you." He told her, then motioned Helen to come closer.
Helen was bold in her approach as she smiled broadly at Bella.
"These are for you, young Isabella. I just wanted to thank you for your kindness. You do not look at my people as if we are a beast. I am truly thankful." Helen greeted as she pulled Bella into a hug.
Bella hugged the woman back and took the flowers with gratitude.
"Thank you. This is so sweet of you. Eliza and I were just going to get something to eat. Would you guys like to join us?"
"We'd love to!" Helen agreed.
"I'm down!" Embry cheered.
…
April 25th, 2007 Texas
Caius snickered as he held up Maria's head. It had taken a while for him and his guards to get her but they finally did. All of her newborns were dead and as a plus, they were able to kill off Helda, Mary, and Noella as they came down to convince Maria to join them.
"This is what you get when you mess with the Volturi!" he sneered as he threw the head into the fire.
With that done, he made a call to Aro.
…
April 25th, 2007, Forks Washington.
"Ah, thank you, Caius! That is delightful news! This will speed things up for sure. They will have no choice but to come to forks!" Aro cheered, then hung up the call with his brother and sighed.
"Marcus brother, Caius has wrangled our Maria problem! Now we wait for Heidi's phone call on their next move. Hopefully, they get angry enough and come straight for Forks!"
"Yes, Aro, I heard. But my question is when are you going to talk to Isabella? I feel she needs to know who you are to her. The poor child just lost half her living family. All that is left is her father."
Aro sighed and stared out the Cullens window, that overlooked the river. He must admit he didn't get to see too many rivers back in Italy. He was always busy, he never spent the time to look at nature like he used to.
"Come with me outside, brother, we could use some fresh air," he stated as he glanced to where Jasper and Emmet sat playing video games.
The two brothers sat by the riverside, and Aro watched the ripples appear in the water as the small fish swam away from them.
"I long to tell Isabella who I am. I long to be involved in her life and cherish her but Marcus, what good would that do for her? Or us? Think of our enemies, what if they found out who she was to me? To us. They would be all over her! They would attack her just to get to me!"
Marcus shrugged and said " that is one way of seeing it, or it would scare off noma vampires from coming around here and allowing her and her mate to live in peace. Without so much vampire activity around them. Aro, whether you like it or not your bond to Isabella is growing,I can see it and the bond she and her mate share, it is a bond of gold I have never seen before in all my centuries of living. At least give the girl the option."
Aro didn't get time to ponder his words because a scream made its way from the house.
Marcus and Aro were in the Cullens living room in a flash trying to determine the problem. They found Alice on her knees, her eyes wide in shock.
"Alice? Darling what is it!?" Jasper asked.
"It's Edward! He's leaving his patrol to find Bella! He's going to the reservation! And it all goes black from there! Somebody call Sam! And call Carlisle!" she wailed.
Aro and Marcus were out the door before anyone could pick up a phone.
….
"Ohh man, I'm sleepy." Bella yawned as they left the small diner on the reservation. The Fuller family owned a small deli that welcomed everyone and anyone. Brady just so happened to be on the clock when Bella walked in. The moment he saw her, he hopped over the counter and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Bells! I missed you!" the fourteen-year-old greeted.
"Aww Brady, I missed you so much more. What's the most popular sandwich on the menu?"
That of course led Brady to make Bella and her guest the biggest footlong ever, fixed with all the works.
Embry's jaw dropped as Bella ate two footlongs and three bags of chips. And then had the nerve to ask for the dessert. Yep, it was pups alright, especially with that appetite.
"You want me to carry you bells? You just ate, I don't need you getting sleepy and tripping in your delicate condition." Embry asked in concern. "Paul would have my head."
However, Embry realized he stuck his foot in his mouth as all three women looked at him in displeasure.
"Excuse me?" Bella sneered.
"Uhh, what I meant to say was..-"
"Hush now Embry." Helen scolded. "Don't mind him, Bella. He's just being overprotective. You know men and all."
"Exactly. Please don't start mansplaining things to us Embry. Women have been getting pregnant since the beginning of time. Bella will be fine." Eliza snapped offended.
Embry held his hands up in surrender.
"Woah, slow down ladies! I didn't mean anything by it."
Bella however laughed.
"Ladies relax, I think Embry was just trying to be nice. My feet are killing me and he's right I am clumsy. But I think I'll be ok. Thank you for being considerate Embry."
"No probl-" The words died in Embry's mouth as a howl rang in the air and the scent of leech ambushed his nose.
Immediately, Eliza, Helen, and Embry had Bella surrounded in a defense circle as they searched for the enemy.
"Vampire," Embry growled.
The moment he said it, Edward Cullen stood in front of him.
"Precisely" " Edward hissed as he cocked his head to the side. "Ahh, Isabella my love, you have caused me much grief but I believe it can be fixed."
Bella looked over Helen's shoulder to stare at Edward. His eyes were black as night and his hair was in disarray. The look on his face was maddening. Edward Cullen had given himself over to his true self. The darkness that desired to consume her. The monster that he once warned her about, the monster she had seen just below the surface, had reared its ugly head.
"Edward, I don't know what you're talking about but you've broken the treaty," Bella growled.
"Oh, ho, ho, ho little girl. Such a tease. You know exactly what you did to me. You have teased us with your scent and your body for so long! And the scent of your blood calls to me! All day and all night! You will be mine!" He roared.
Embry was the first to attack but Edward knowing thier every move was able to dodge them.
"GET HER OUT OF HERE!" Embry roared at Helen.
Helen was quick to phase and practically threw Bella onto her back. Just as she was about to run, Edward landed in front of them.
"You're not going anywhere!"
It was then a deafening roar was heard as a black leopard tackled Edward from a nearby tree.
Paul had arrived.
And then before thier eyes, half the pack and the Cullens alongside the Volturi entered the fray.
Bella felt her heart pound in her chest as Paul held Edward by the throat.
"I told you once before that if you touched my wife or tried to harm her in any way, I would rip your heart out of your chest and burn it while you watch. " Paul hissed."
"Isabella Prezioso! Are you alright?" Marcus asked as he slowly made his way towards her with his hands up, showing Helen he meant no harm.
"I -I don't -I don't know… I -think so." Bella stuttered as she laid a hand on her belly. Marcus' eyes followed her hand and froze.
It seemed Isabella would not be Aro's last descendant after all.
"Paul! Wait!" was Carlsile's plea.
"No! You don't get to defend this boy any longer!" Paul exclaimed.
"That is not my intention! I created him, it is my responsibility to destroy him." Carlisle ordered as he stood tall.
"I. WANT. HIS. HEART.!" Paul demanded.
"You can have it." Carlisle placated "But need to talk to him first."
Paul nodded as he dropped Edward like a sack of potatoes. Edward attempted to run but Aro grabbed him in a vice grip.
"Before your sire ends you, I want a peek of your mind." Aro hissed.
Edward tried to kill his granddaughter. The boy was going to suffer. However, what Aro saw next in Edwards's mind made him see red.
"You fool!" Aro bellowed.
"What is it, Aro? What did you see?" Carlisle questioned.
"Edward! Alice… and Jasper! They have double-crossed us!"
"NO!" Carlisle roared. "Where are they!"
"No, no, no. it can't be! Alice and Jasper said they were going to patrol the border while we stopped Edward !" Esme cried.
"It was all a distraction!" Aro hissed. "Alice convinced Edward to try and take Bella from the wolves, while she and Jasper headed to our enemy while we were occupied! To make it worse Alice has been feeding information to the enemy!"
"We need to stop them! They can't be too far by now!" Emmett roared and then he ran off.
"Jared, Leah, Rebecca! Follow me!" Sam ordered as he phased and ran after Emmett.
"Jane! Alec go with them! Stop Alice and Jasper at all costs." Aro ordered
"Destroy them if you must!" was Carlisle's decree. He then turned to Edward still being held in Aro's clutches.
"Have you gotten everything you needed Aro?"
"I have."
"Good. Paul … his heart is all yours."
With a sickening smile, Paul reached forward and struck his fist through Edward's chest.
And when all was said and done, it was Carlisle who beheaded the very son he had created.
….
Greenland, 2007
Heidi held her breath as Verona, and Anne ran ahead of her. They were currently heading through Greenland and getting ready to jump into the sea. She turned just slightly to see Felix a few miles behind her, a look of concern on his face.
"Verona, don't you think we should wait for the others? They should have been back from Texas by now?" Anne questioned.
Heidi could tell Anne was terrified to be without Hilda. Without Hilda, Verona would run rampant with no control. It didn't help that Verona was beyond pissed at the loss of Veronica.
"Relax Anne, don't be such a baby. We can go on without them besides, I'm sure Hilda will meet us in Washington. She's just gathering reinforcements." Verona purred as she rolled her eyes at Anne's concern.
"Besides, we have our reinforcements to meet up with." Verona continued
"Really? Who?" Heidi questioned.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Verona hissed as she stopped at the edge of the cliff. From there the three of them would jump off and swim to thier next destination. However, deep down, Heidi knew she wouldn't make it. Subtly, she saw Felix, his eyes wide with fear as they both knew what was coming next. Heidi felt her phone vibrate but she ignored it.
Welp if im going to die I might as well die trying. She thought as she launched herself at Verona.
She couldn't help but smile as she saw Felix aim for Anne. However, what she didn't expect was to be thrown into a tree by something like a sonic scream. It echoed loudly and practically shattered her eardrums.
"I will have your head!" Verona hissed as she stood over her. "You thought you could get away with betraying me? Betraying us?!"
Heidi smiled as Verona held her by the throat.
" I got this far didn't I?"
And in the blink of an eye, Heidi was no more.
…..
Forks , Washington, 2007
Jasper hissed as he pulled his mate behind him and crouched in front of her.
They were surrounded. He knew Alice's plan wasn't foolproof but parts of him had hoped that they would make it through. Looks like he was wrong.
It was Carlisle who approached him first, as the wolves snapped and growled on his left. On his ride were the centaurs, digging their hooves into the dirt as they held off charging him. above him were the leopard shifters, all of them hissing as his wife tried to scoot back. Behind him stood Jane and Alec daring him to make a move. The rest of the family stood in front of him.
Jasper felt his body tighten at the rage that blasted at him from all sides. He and his wife had made the worst decisions possible. A betrayal towards family. And not just their family but countless others.
"Why?" Was Carlisle's simple question. It was a question that held multiple emotions but the one that overcame it all was anger.
"You know me Carlisle cant say no to my ally." Jasper smirked.
However, Carlisle sneered and said, " I wasn't asking you."
It was then Jasper's world was full of pain, as Jane stood over him. When the pain stopped, he saw Alice kneeling before their adoptive father.
The man he once saw be so gentle with humans, held Alice by her hair as he knelt in front of her.
"Why?" Was Carlisle's angry pain-filled question.
Alice closed her eyes as she spoke.
"There were so many possibilities. So many futures! It all went black the moment we came back to Forks! By then I would only get small glimpses. I just wanted us to be a family again! All of us! So… so I contacted Verona and I told her everything we knew so far. We had a deal! She could destroy anyone she wanted but Bella! I would change Bella into a vampire and we could all move on with our lives! The family would escape while Verona burned the town down!"
Carlisle dry chuckled, as he pulled Alice by her hair.
Jasper felt like he was suffocating.
He had never known the dark emotions exploding from his adoptive father before. It was a rage and despair-filled cocktail.
"Aro," Carlisle called as he threw Alice at the king's feet. As expected Aro, touched Alice's forehead and hissed.
"Verona knows that we have an army behind us. She is gathering an army of her own. The who is unknown, she kept Alice in the dark about certain matters. Alice was hoping to get ahold of Isabella before Verona made it here. It's why Jasper and Edward kept antagonizing Paul. They wanted to distract him and the wolves just enough to get to Isabella. They were going to lure Paul into a fight and then grab Isabella. However, that failed when Edward deviated from the plan. His obsession with Isabella pushed him to the brink."
Carlisle sighed, as regret filled him. Closing his eyes and pinching his nose. He had never seen the man look so tired.
"How long until Verona and her army come?" he asked.
"We have a few weeks."
"Very well, we need to prepare," Carlisle told them all. With that said, he stood in front of Alice taking off her head and throwing it into the fire the wolves had started.
Jasper screamed. However, it didn't last long because Jasper's fate ended in the same way.
In the fire.