Chap. 19

I only own my imagination!

Chapter Nineteen

Jacobs POV

That one word held so much familiarity. I had told her their names and she must have just remembered, better than I would have.

If it had been me waking up to find a vampire over me I would've screamed in shock and then try to kill the leech. Bella had more control than I or the whole pack had and that's saying something.

Her naked form had stopped shifting and I stared at her unmoving face. It was only her strong heartbeat that held me in place by the wall.

The little pixie vampire came in with a large sheet and draped it over her form. A few images from our time in bed ran through my head quickly but I put a stop to them. This was no time to fantasize about Bella.

Edwards head snapped up and he bared his venom coated teeth at me, I growled back in warning. No matter what, I wasn't leaving Bella's side in this vampire den.

"Edward." The leader cautioned and he stopped. Suddenly I remembered he could read others minds and our gazes connected again.

"Don't touch her leech." I spoke in my mind to him. He flinched but hissed lightly.

"Thank you Alice. Rose." The bronze haired leech spoke in low tones but they heard. The blonde Barbie vampire appeared beside their leader.

"Will you put her in one of the spare rooms?" The leader gestured to Bella and the vampire went to do as he asked. Before she touched her both Sam and I growled.

"Your not taking her anywhere." Sam said, a command in his voice.

"She needs to recover. It would be best if she were not carried through the forest to your lands."

"Carlisle, we thank you for your help but we have spent enough time on your land and Bella is not your responsibility." Sam said formally to their leader, Carlisle.

Before he could respond Bella sat up with a slight wince.

"And I am not one of the pack so I am not your responsibility either." She took a deep breath. "Thank you for your loyalty but you have to think of the pack and the treaty."

"Bella I-" I was interrupted.

"No! I'll be fine, Sam, take him away."

"She's right, Jake. She's not pack. I have to think of what's best for family first."

"She's MY family, Sam!" I shouted in his face. Pain filled his face for a brief moment until a resolve removed it.

"She's not your imprint, Jacob, lets go." He gestured for us to leave and the command made my feet move even though my head told me I had to stay.

"Shift!" I shifted once outside and I could hear the whole pack and feel the shame in Sam for leaving her. I knew it was the best decision but that didn't mean I liked it.

My howl echoed through the air and broke off with disparity.

***

Bella's POV

I didn't want him to leave but in order to keep everything calm and collected I forced him away.

Knowing I had to give Sam a reason to go I had to remind him I wasn't pack, even though I had started to feel like it. I would always be alone in this world.

The howl split the night sky and I winced in shame. He cared about me but my feelings were for someone else.

And that someone else was standing next to me. He had been so motionless I forgot he was there.

We looked at each other for a long moment, not speaking. I couldn't read his eyes but I'm sure he could read mine. Sad and waiting for him to start yelling at me once more.

So I was surprised when he lifted his hand and traced my cheek.

Warmth followed the trail despite his shockingly cold temperature and I shivered but leaned in while closing my eyes. I would give myself this. This little moment to last me a life time, however long that might be.

"You seem to be healing very fast. Something I've -" Carlisle's voice broke off and my head spun to see his reaction to his son touching me. "Sorry." He muttered, knowing he stepped in at the wrong moment.

Edward had dropped his hand like he was electrocuted.

"It's alright." I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I didn't revel myself earlier. I was scared you would kill me if you knew." The words rushed out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Somehow my shoulders felt lighter after I told them.

Someone in the other room scoffed.

"Bella. . .We would never kill you." Carlisle said, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"Well I know that NOW." My annoyance was tangible in the air, probably due to feeling stupid.

A light blush covered my cheeks when I looked down, only to find myself covered with a thin sheet. Don't get me wrong, I could walk around naked in the forest all day but with Edward next to me that just seemed impossible.

When I was about to say something Alice walked in with a stack of clothes.

"Here you go. I'll help you dress." She gave the two men a look that said Get-Out-Before-I-Throw-You-Out. They didn't argue and left silently.

***

Feeling so much better after a shower and brushing out my long hair I sighed and walked out to the living room where I knew they all waited impatiently for answers.

As I thought, they all sat in chairs and on couches. Well all except Edward. He was the furthest from me and stood staring out in the darkened forest.

"So. . . ." A heavy awkward silence descended. I really didn't know how to start. Or where for that matter.

"At the beginning would be best, I believe." Alice supplied helpfully, but I still didn't know where to start.

"I guess at the very beginning then. My mother, Renee, and my father, Charlie, are shape shifters. They are the only ones, beside one other, that I've met, which is saying something in a world of this size. Renee always told me to run the other way if I ever came across a vampire. She said that if a vampire found out what I am, they would kill me, then track down my family to kill them."

"That's absurd!" Edward all but yelled out. I flinched at his angry tone.

"Well it seems to be coming true! A vampire tried to kill and now I'm worried she'll go after Charlie, maybe even the pack but I think there are too many of them for one vampire to take on. It would be a suicide mission." I waved and gestured my arms as I talked to get my point across.

"You said 'she'. Did you recognize the vampire?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes I did. It was your beloved Tanya." I spat her name out in disgust.

Gasps filled the great room and then everyone was talking at once.

"It can't be-"

"Maybe-"

"It could've been-"

A high pitched whistle calmed everyone. We all turned to Edward.

"I hear you loud enough in my mind, I don't need it aloud also! Now. . .why would Tanya cross the border? She knows about the treaty we have." He looked at me as if I should know this.

"How the hell should I know?!" I yelled.

Edward shook his head, his bronze locks falling into more disarray.

"Can you find her mind, Edward? She might be close." Esme suggested and I think if it were anyone else he would have said no but to his mother?

Edward closed his eyes and became motionless. I took the time to look him over.

Almost six feet tall his body was raw steel and muscle. Clothed in a dark grey button down and black jeans that hugged his legs. If only he would turn around so I could see just how tight the jeans were. . . .

I mentally shook myself. He didn't care about me. He was even disgusted when he saw me shift. He could never love something like me so why was I deluding myself?

My mental questioning stopped when his golden eyes opened and connected with mine for a split second. His gaze then shifted to Carlisle's.

"Nothing. I went as far as the far end of town and to the La Push border but. . .nothing." He shrugged his broad shoulder.

"Well this is getting complicated." Emmett said finally.

"No shit." I snorted and shook my head. I yawned and then looked at the grandfather clock.

Charlie was going to kill me if the blonde vampire didn't first.

*********

VCF!

Yours S.A.