Essence of You
by Momma2fan
Chapter 11
He made sure he stayed downwind of the bloodsuckers and hunkered down to wait. He could hear and smell them from where he was, so he knew they were near the Swan home.
“How long are we gonna wait out here, Edward?”
“I know he’ll leave and lead us to Bella. She’s my mate, Alice. I never should have left her in the first place.”
“Edward, you were trying to protect her.” Alice placed a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “And...I’m not even sure she is your mate. If she were, I would still see her as one of us and I don’t. I don’t see her at all, Edward.”
“She’s mine, Alice.” Edward growled.
Alice’s phone alerted her to a new text. Pulling it out, she saw it was from Jasper. “The family is at the house, Edward. They want us there.”
“Not until I find Bella.”
“No, Edward, now. Carlisle said you better be there in five minutes. He seems pissed off.”
With a growl, Edward dropped from the tree they were in and the pair ran for the Cullen home.
As soon as the coast was clear, he phased human and called Charlie to get to the res. Once he saw the Chief’s car pull away, he re-phased and took off toward home.
****
Charlie ran into Sam’s and straight for his daughter. “Bells!”
“I’m okay, Daddy,” she hugged him.
He looked around the room and saw that the entire pack, minus Jared, was assembled, as well as the elders. “Where’s Jared?”
“Here, Chief.” Jared walked in, buttoning his pants as he walked. “The rest of the coven arrived and the other two were ordered to the house.”
“Right,” Sam began. “I think we need a meeting with bloodsuckers so that we can get them gone fast.”
Paul looked at Bella and knelt down before her. “Are you gonna be able to handle this?”
Placing her palm to his cheek, “I can do anything as long as you’re beside me.”
Leaning up, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and then nodded to Sam. “Make the call.”
Sam called Carlisle and they all agreed to meet at the treaty line. Bella would be accompanying them. Two hours later they left, the whole pack was phased and tense, not knowing what to expect.
Paul walked forward and pushed his nose into Bella’s belly, whining slightly. “I know, baby. Let’s just get this over with.”
He lowered himself to the ground far enough she could climb up. Once she was settled and had a good grip, he gave a yip and the pack took off. They made a circle around Bella and Paul, knowing her safety was paramount. Once they arrived at the treaty line, Sam, Paul and Jacob phased, keeping Bella between them. She had a death grip on Paul’s hand.
“Hello,” Carlisle began.
“No need for pleasantries, bloodsucker. We want to know why you’re here?” Sam crossed his arms over his massive chest.
“Sam,” Bella placed her hand on his arm and stepped to his side, standing between him and Paul. “What are you doing here?”
“Bella, love,” Edward started.
“Stop right there, Edward Cullen.” Bella’s voice was laced with venom. “You do not have the right to call me ‘love’ or any other pet names. I am not yours, not now, not ever! Why are you here?”
“Your future disappeared, Bella. We had to know you were safe.” Alice stated.
“Why were you even checking my future, Alice? You guys left me. You didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye, none of you. You called yourselves my family, but family doesn’t do that.” She took a breath and looked at Edward, “And you. You left me abandoned and lost in the woods. I was out there for hours until Sam found me. I almost died, because you’re a selfish bastard.”
Paul could feel her shaking and pulled her to him. Bella snuggled into him, absorbing his warmth and love.
“How could you, Bella? How could you let these beasts defile you!?”
Bella laughed, a humorless sound pouring from her chest. “Defile me? Edward, this isn’t the nineteen hundreds! I had sex with the man I love, my future, my everything. Not that it’s any of your business.” She grinned. “Besides, he didn’t do anything to me I didn’t beg for.” She looked at Paul with lust filled eyes causing him to growl.
The barks of laughter from the pack eased her nerves a bit. “I’m not your mate, Edward. I’m Paul’s imprint and that’s something you can never get between. If you tried, you would die.
“Now, I think you and your family need to leave. I don’t want you here, I don’t want to see you ever again.” Bella took a deep breath, “My life is here.”
“I’m happy for you, Bella.” Rosalie smiled, the first time she ever smiled at Bella. “I wish you nothing but the best.” With that she turned to Emmett, “Let’s go.”
“Bye, Bella-boo. I’ll always love you.” Emmett smiled gently.
“Bye, Em-bear.”
“Bella,” Jasper spoke stiffly. “I’m so sor...”
“I never blamed you, Jasper.” He nodded and disappeared. All that remained were Carlisle, Esme, Alice and Edward, and he apparently wasn’t willing to leave.
“Are you kidding me? We’re leaving her here with these mutts!”
“She doesn’t belong to you, Edward. This is her choice, don’t make this harder. If you do something there are four wolves prepared to kill you and three more that will phase to help. Let her go!” Carlisle tried to reason with his son.
“She’s my MATE!” Edward roared and looked as if he were taking a step over the line.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, leech.” Paul growled. “She’s not yours, she’s mine.” Paul closed his eyes and remembered everything he could about Bella, sending it all Edward’s way.
“Stop, stop.” Edward shuddered. “I don’t want to see her like that!”
“How about like this?” Sam spoke, remembering how Bella looked on the night he found her.
“NO!” Edward shouted. “Bella, I know you love me. Please, come with me.”
“No, Edward. I don’t love you and I won’t go anywhere with you.” Turning her eyes to the man she once thought of as a father. “Carlisle, I appreciate your warning that they were coming and I appreciate you coming to control them. Now, I would appreciate it if you made them leave.” Looking to Paul, “Please take me home. We’re done here.”
Nodding his head, he stepped back and phased once more. Bending down, Bella got settled and gripped his fur, “I hope you find what you’re looking for but it’s not me. Goodbye.”
Once Paul turned to leave, Edward lunged. “Edward, no!”
But Alice’s warning was too late. Embry jumped on him just as Edward’s hand skimmed over Paul’s tail. The sound of screeching metal filled the air, causing Paul and Bella to turn back. She screamed just as Edward’s head was separated from his body. The other wolves pounced, all getting a piece of the vampire. Jacob pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the closest arm, tossing into a pile of limbs. The purple smoke and sickeningly sweet smell of dead vampire filled the air.
Alice had a horrified look on her face, while Esme had her head buried in Carlisle’s chest. “It’s over, dear. He’s gone.”
Sam turned back to the remaining bloodsuckers, “He left us no choice.”
“I understand. I apologize for any trouble.”
Sam nodded and they took off, leaving Forks for good.
****
She flipped on the radio in the kitchen and danced around while pulling bacon, eggs and sausage out of the fridge. She grabbed everything for homemade biscuits, hashbrowns and pancakes. She figured the pack would be coming as they normally had in the month since the Cullens visit. All of them were worried about her, she knew it, but chose not to comment on it.
Honestly, she was fine. Edward’s death, while sad, was something he brought on himself. She had accepted he was gone a year ago, she moved on and was happy, so this was just a blip on her radar. Perhaps that was heartless, but she couldn’t find it in her to grieve for him anymore.
By the time Paul walked into the kitchen, she had the biscuits done and staying warm, as well as three plates full of pancakes. The sausage was almost done, as was the bacon.
“What are you doing, Iz?” He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him as he pressed his lips to his mark on her neck.
Bella shivered, “I’m sure the guys will be here soon, so I thought I’d make some food.”
No sooner had she said it, then the back door opened. Sam, Jared and Embry piled in and, after kissing her cheek, headed for the table. Bella started on the eggs once they started arriving and had just finished plating everything up when the rest of the pack walked in.
“Food’s ready!” Bella called and fixed her own small plate. A chorus of thanks accompanied forks scraping and loud conversation.
While the pack ate, Bella walked back to her and Paul’s room and jumped in the shower. Once she was out and dressed, she walked out to the dining room and saw the pack was finishing up. Most of them left, heading toward their respective jobs or to patrol. Jared ran home to see Kim before joining Sam and Paul at the bakery.
“Sam, did Emily say what time she was coming?”
Swallowing the last of his coffee, “She should be here any—” he stopped as the door opened.
Bella laughed, “Now?”
Emily walked in to find the group laughing. “What’s so funny?” She smiled as she hugged her arms around Sam’s shoulders.
“Nothing.” Bella smiled, cleaning off the table. “Let me get this cleaned up and then we can get going.”
“What are you two getting up to today?” Paul walked up behind Bella and wrapped his arms around her.
She smiled and leaned back into him. “Since you guys are working so fast on the bakery, we’re going to go look at paint and other things.”
Emily was glad that she wasn’t asked, she wasn’t sure she could have kept secret what they were really doing. She’d never been able to lie to Sam, not that they imprint would allow either of them to.
Sam stood and kissed Emily, before walking toward the door. “You guys be careful.”
After kissing Bella, Paul followed him. Once they knew for sure the guys were gone, Emily and Bella relaxed.
“This is so hard, Bells.” Emily complained. “I hate keeping secrets from him.”
Bella hugged her friend, “I know, Em. I hate hiding things from Paul too, but we need to be sure first.”
Once they had finished cleaning everything, the pair of them walked out to Kim’s waiting car.
“Did you have trouble with Jar?”
Kim nodded, “He knows I’m keeping something from him. I just told him it wasn’t my secret to share.”
The three of them drove away from the reservation and toward Port Angeles.
He made sure he stayed downwind of the bloodsuckers and hunkered down to wait. He could hear and smell them from where he was, so he knew they were near the Swan home.
“How long are we gonna wait out here, Edward?”
“I know he’ll leave and lead us to Bella. She’s my mate, Alice. I never should have left her in the first place.”
“Edward, you were trying to protect her.” Alice placed a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “And...I’m not even sure she is your mate. If she were, I would still see her as one of us and I don’t. I don’t see her at all, Edward.”
“She’s mine, Alice.” Edward growled.
Alice’s phone alerted her to a new text. Pulling it out, she saw it was from Jasper. “The family is at the house, Edward. They want us there.”
“Not until I find Bella.”
“No, Edward, now. Carlisle said you better be there in five minutes. He seems pissed off.”
With a growl, Edward dropped from the tree they were in and the pair ran for the Cullen home.
As soon as the coast was clear, he phased human and called Charlie to get to the res. Once he saw the Chief’s car pull away, he re-phased and took off toward home.
****
Charlie ran into Sam’s and straight for his daughter. “Bells!”
“I’m okay, Daddy,” she hugged him.
He looked around the room and saw that the entire pack, minus Jared, was assembled, as well as the elders. “Where’s Jared?”
“Here, Chief.” Jared walked in, buttoning his pants as he walked. “The rest of the coven arrived and the other two were ordered to the house.”
“Right,” Sam began. “I think we need a meeting with bloodsuckers so that we can get them gone fast.”
Paul looked at Bella and knelt down before her. “Are you gonna be able to handle this?”
Placing her palm to his cheek, “I can do anything as long as you’re beside me.”
Leaning up, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and then nodded to Sam. “Make the call.”
Sam called Carlisle and they all agreed to meet at the treaty line. Bella would be accompanying them. Two hours later they left, the whole pack was phased and tense, not knowing what to expect.
Paul walked forward and pushed his nose into Bella’s belly, whining slightly. “I know, baby. Let’s just get this over with.”
He lowered himself to the ground far enough she could climb up. Once she was settled and had a good grip, he gave a yip and the pack took off. They made a circle around Bella and Paul, knowing her safety was paramount. Once they arrived at the treaty line, Sam, Paul and Jacob phased, keeping Bella between them. She had a death grip on Paul’s hand.
“Hello,” Carlisle began.
“No need for pleasantries, bloodsucker. We want to know why you’re here?” Sam crossed his arms over his massive chest.
“Sam,” Bella placed her hand on his arm and stepped to his side, standing between him and Paul. “What are you doing here?”
“Bella, love,” Edward started.
“Stop right there, Edward Cullen.” Bella’s voice was laced with venom. “You do not have the right to call me ‘love’ or any other pet names. I am not yours, not now, not ever! Why are you here?”
“Your future disappeared, Bella. We had to know you were safe.” Alice stated.
“Why were you even checking my future, Alice? You guys left me. You didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye, none of you. You called yourselves my family, but family doesn’t do that.” She took a breath and looked at Edward, “And you. You left me abandoned and lost in the woods. I was out there for hours until Sam found me. I almost died, because you’re a selfish bastard.”
Paul could feel her shaking and pulled her to him. Bella snuggled into him, absorbing his warmth and love.
“How could you, Bella? How could you let these beasts defile you!?”
Bella laughed, a humorless sound pouring from her chest. “Defile me? Edward, this isn’t the nineteen hundreds! I had sex with the man I love, my future, my everything. Not that it’s any of your business.” She grinned. “Besides, he didn’t do anything to me I didn’t beg for.” She looked at Paul with lust filled eyes causing him to growl.
The barks of laughter from the pack eased her nerves a bit. “I’m not your mate, Edward. I’m Paul’s imprint and that’s something you can never get between. If you tried, you would die.
“Now, I think you and your family need to leave. I don’t want you here, I don’t want to see you ever again.” Bella took a deep breath, “My life is here.”
“I’m happy for you, Bella.” Rosalie smiled, the first time she ever smiled at Bella. “I wish you nothing but the best.” With that she turned to Emmett, “Let’s go.”
“Bye, Bella-boo. I’ll always love you.” Emmett smiled gently.
“Bye, Em-bear.”
“Bella,” Jasper spoke stiffly. “I’m so sor...”
“I never blamed you, Jasper.” He nodded and disappeared. All that remained were Carlisle, Esme, Alice and Edward, and he apparently wasn’t willing to leave.
“Are you kidding me? We’re leaving her here with these mutts!”
“She doesn’t belong to you, Edward. This is her choice, don’t make this harder. If you do something there are four wolves prepared to kill you and three more that will phase to help. Let her go!” Carlisle tried to reason with his son.
“She’s my MATE!” Edward roared and looked as if he were taking a step over the line.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, leech.” Paul growled. “She’s not yours, she’s mine.” Paul closed his eyes and remembered everything he could about Bella, sending it all Edward’s way.
“Stop, stop.” Edward shuddered. “I don’t want to see her like that!”
“How about like this?” Sam spoke, remembering how Bella looked on the night he found her.
“NO!” Edward shouted. “Bella, I know you love me. Please, come with me.”
“No, Edward. I don’t love you and I won’t go anywhere with you.” Turning her eyes to the man she once thought of as a father. “Carlisle, I appreciate your warning that they were coming and I appreciate you coming to control them. Now, I would appreciate it if you made them leave.” Looking to Paul, “Please take me home. We’re done here.”
Nodding his head, he stepped back and phased once more. Bending down, Bella got settled and gripped his fur, “I hope you find what you’re looking for but it’s not me. Goodbye.”
Once Paul turned to leave, Edward lunged. “Edward, no!”
But Alice’s warning was too late. Embry jumped on him just as Edward’s hand skimmed over Paul’s tail. The sound of screeching metal filled the air, causing Paul and Bella to turn back. She screamed just as Edward’s head was separated from his body. The other wolves pounced, all getting a piece of the vampire. Jacob pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the closest arm, tossing into a pile of limbs. The purple smoke and sickeningly sweet smell of dead vampire filled the air.
Alice had a horrified look on her face, while Esme had her head buried in Carlisle’s chest. “It’s over, dear. He’s gone.”
Sam turned back to the remaining bloodsuckers, “He left us no choice.”
“I understand. I apologize for any trouble.”
Sam nodded and they took off, leaving Forks for good.
****
She flipped on the radio in the kitchen and danced around while pulling bacon, eggs and sausage out of the fridge. She grabbed everything for homemade biscuits, hashbrowns and pancakes. She figured the pack would be coming as they normally had in the month since the Cullens visit. All of them were worried about her, she knew it, but chose not to comment on it.
Honestly, she was fine. Edward’s death, while sad, was something he brought on himself. She had accepted he was gone a year ago, she moved on and was happy, so this was just a blip on her radar. Perhaps that was heartless, but she couldn’t find it in her to grieve for him anymore.
By the time Paul walked into the kitchen, she had the biscuits done and staying warm, as well as three plates full of pancakes. The sausage was almost done, as was the bacon.
“What are you doing, Iz?” He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him as he pressed his lips to his mark on her neck.
Bella shivered, “I’m sure the guys will be here soon, so I thought I’d make some food.”
No sooner had she said it, then the back door opened. Sam, Jared and Embry piled in and, after kissing her cheek, headed for the table. Bella started on the eggs once they started arriving and had just finished plating everything up when the rest of the pack walked in.
“Food’s ready!” Bella called and fixed her own small plate. A chorus of thanks accompanied forks scraping and loud conversation.
While the pack ate, Bella walked back to her and Paul’s room and jumped in the shower. Once she was out and dressed, she walked out to the dining room and saw the pack was finishing up. Most of them left, heading toward their respective jobs or to patrol. Jared ran home to see Kim before joining Sam and Paul at the bakery.
“Sam, did Emily say what time she was coming?”
Swallowing the last of his coffee, “She should be here any—” he stopped as the door opened.
Bella laughed, “Now?”
Emily walked in to find the group laughing. “What’s so funny?” She smiled as she hugged her arms around Sam’s shoulders.
“Nothing.” Bella smiled, cleaning off the table. “Let me get this cleaned up and then we can get going.”
“What are you two getting up to today?” Paul walked up behind Bella and wrapped his arms around her.
She smiled and leaned back into him. “Since you guys are working so fast on the bakery, we’re going to go look at paint and other things.”
Emily was glad that she wasn’t asked, she wasn’t sure she could have kept secret what they were really doing. She’d never been able to lie to Sam, not that they imprint would allow either of them to.
Sam stood and kissed Emily, before walking toward the door. “You guys be careful.”
After kissing Bella, Paul followed him. Once they knew for sure the guys were gone, Emily and Bella relaxed.
“This is so hard, Bells.” Emily complained. “I hate keeping secrets from him.”
Bella hugged her friend, “I know, Em. I hate hiding things from Paul too, but we need to be sure first.”
Once they had finished cleaning everything, the pair of them walked out to Kim’s waiting car.
“Did you have trouble with Jar?”
Kim nodded, “He knows I’m keeping something from him. I just told him it wasn’t my secret to share.”
The three of them drove away from the reservation and toward Port Angeles.