Chapter 01
She didn’t have to do anything for the wedding, only to give her approval, because her soon to be sister in laws were arranging everything. Bella and Edward were going to be married in the forest, the Cullen’s backyard, actually. Everything very natural and virgin – Alice explained that it was sort of a fusion of two lives, or whatever. The drawings had been beautiful, and it was something Bella could see herself being wed at.
Alice had already found Bella the perfect dress. For some weird reason, Alice always knew what Bella wanted without Bella even telling her because it had already been made clear that Alice couldn’t fully see Bella. It was just that Alice was that good with fashion.
Rosalie had already sent out the wedding invitations, without Bella’s assistance or requests.
Carlisle and Esme had an island that Bella and Edward were going to on their honeymoon, there was no need to figure out a location for that. But she really didn’t fancy traveling for such a long time. However, Edward wanted this. And what Edward wanted, Edward got. She’d get him backpacking through Europe within a year, that was one of her resolutions.
The wedding cake was done by some master cake builder from Las Vegas or New York, or perhaps two cakes because they were expecting a few guests, but why buy two cakes when they’ll mostly be for show? Vampires didn’t eat human food.
Bella felt as if she had to do something for her own wedding instead of simply sitting around and having things happen. When Alice announced that she’d already hired a chef to cater for the wedding, something inside Bella snapped. “You guys don’t eat! How do you know the food is good? And what kind of food will this chef make? Cancel this chef and let’s hold auditions for food!”
At first, the Cullens had ignored her. All of them, even Edward. Jacob, of course, told her that she was well in her right to demand that she’d take care of the food for the obvious reasons. Jasper was the first one to buckle, mainly because Bella hung around with him more often, not really cursing, but he could sense that her desire for space from the family. Her wall of annoyance only grew bigger and he had enough of it. “I’ll talk to them,” he said gently as he looked over at her. “Because you are right. Do you want me to help you or—”
“No,” she was grateful though. “I’m going to place an ad in the paper and on the internet and we’ll see who’ll show up for the open audition and—”
Jasper smiled then, putting an arm around Bella as he lead her away from the house, hopefully out of earshot from the rest of his family. “Darlin’, my brother and sister are coming. You know about Peter and his gift, right?”
Bella furrowed her brow for a moment. “He’s the one who knows things.”
“Very annoying, really, makes him an assho— asshat sometimes, but yes, he knows things. Let’s just say that he wants to help you with your food issues.”
She blinked at him. “But what’s the point of doing things myself then, when another Cold One, who doesn’t eat, takes care of my food problem?”
Jasper smirked, winking at her before glancing around. “Cryptic bastard may know more than he’s saying but he wanted in and he can keep Alice and Edward from bothering you too much. Let’s leave it at that, deal?”
“So no putting out ads?”
“Well… you could,” he smiled at her. “As a test to Peter’s abilities, perhaps… that would get his panties in a twist. But I never had any reason to doubt his abilities. He actually knew you were going to throw your little temper tantrum at the whole arranged chef thing.”
She blew out a breath through her nose, scowling. “What does he have planned then? What does he want me to do? Alice will figure something is up.”
Jasper shrugged. “It’s fun to see my wife all worked up, don’t worry about it.”
“You might think it’s fun but it’s a fucking pain in my ass. I want to take her stilettos and shove them up where the sun doesn’t fucking sparkle!”
“Bella,” Jasper shook his head.
“I’m not a Cullen yet so don’t make me curb my mouth,” she snapped. “I’m hanging by a thread here.”
He barked out a laugh. “You’re worse than Rose when she got married to Emmett, you little bridezilla you,” he said teasingly. “You can stay at your dad’s for a few days if you want to take a breather.”
“No. I can’t be worse than her because I’m sure she was allowed to make her own damned decisions for her own fucking weddings. I didn’t even get a say in the honeymoon. My dress was chosen for me before I even got to see it. Whose wedding is this again? Not mine.”
“Darlin’, I know,” Jasper said as he stopped walking and gently placed his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her. “Trust Peter. Trust that it will work out.”
“Trust someone who I wasn’t even allowed to meet whenever he was in town,” she snarled, thinking about Edward, then sighing and running a hand through her hair in remorse.
“And why do you think you weren’t allowed to meet with him? Edward’s afraid to lose you. He loves you and he perceives someone like Peter a threat.”
She rolled her eyes. “Surrounded by the family, like that will happen. Besides, he’s mated already. Sometimes I just want to slap some brains into him.”
“What’s stopping you?”
She gave him a look that indicated his own moronic thought.
“Right. Human Bella. Vampire Edward,” Jasper said sheepishly before grinning. “Let’s go back to get you some food.”
“Yes, let’s feed the human like the pet she is after the whole drama over wedding food she’s been causing,” Bella muttered as she turned away from him, walking away. “It’s no wonder Laurent said what he did when he found me that day. Sometimes I wondered…”
“It’s easy to be considered someone’s pet when you’re the weaker of the two,” Jasper said as he pushed his hands in his pockets and strolled after her. “I mean, I’m definitely Alice’s pet. She’s got me wound around her little finger and can make me do things,” he added.
She was silent as what he referred to in regards to his relationship had no bearing on hers. Blinking, she tried not to think about the conversations Edward continuously avoided about her mandatory turning. She knew he was still extremely resistant and wondered if he would refuse to until the end, thus continuing putting her life in danger. Was she really a pet? No, he loved her, right?
“Where were you?” Edward said as he came out of the house, a worried look on his face as he pulled her into his arms. “I thought something had happened. The thought of losing you…”
Bella frowned, blinking as she as she took in a breath. “Jasper went and kept me from playing runaway bride. No worries here,” she smiled up at him.
“Don’t be silly,” he smiled sweetly at her. “Why would you run? Simply because of the food?”
“Oh I still want control over something and I claim that, since I’ve had little say in anything else. I won’t budge here Edward. I need something to do,” she sighed.
“What about that cook from that diner your dad always goes to for dinner?” Edward suggested. “You like her food, don’t you?”
She pulled away and started to grow angry at the suggestion. “Diner food, really? That only proves you have little respect for those of us that actually need to eat, Edward. Please. It’s the one thing I’m asking here since you chose a honeymoon I don’t care for, Alice chose a dress I never saw, and…”
“How can I turn down a honeymoon offered by Carlisle and Esme?” Edward said gently. “But I know you’re upset and we’ve all agreed that you can be in charge of the human food. Whatever you need, we’ll help you. Do you want us to put an ad on the internet or the paper?”
“And while I’m grateful, a tropical island for a human as pale as I am is asking for disaster,” she deadpanned. “I will handle any ads, interviews, or anything else involved with food. I don’t want you or the family’s help with that.”
“Let it go,” Jasper said to Edward as he passed him to go inside. The whole family was annoyed by Bella’s stubbornness, but she was right about the food. Rosalie was supportive of Bella as well, though. But Carlisle, Esme and Alice would never hear this. Alice wanted things to be perfect and Bella throwing a fit about food wasn’t perfection. “I’m going to take Alice out to hunt for a couple of days, get her out of your hair, Bella.”
“You don’t have—”
“I do. And I can. And I will,” he smiled before going to look for his wife.
Bella sighed as she put her hands around Edward’s cold body. “You forgive me, right? You’re not mad at me?”
“I don’t understand why you just won’t let anyone else take care of things for our wedding day, but no, I’m not mad at you,” he smiled at her, kissing the top of her head. “Come, I made you some grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“I’m not a child, Edward.”
“It’s the best I can do, you know that.”
Bella huffed as she let go of him and went inside the house to grab her coat and the keys to her truck. “I’m going to my dad’s for real food. Alone,” she said as she bumped into her boyfriend on the way out again. “I’ll be back in a few hours. I just—”
“Need some human time,” Edward said understandingly and Bella simply left. She couldn’t help but get angry while Edward and his family were only trying to be helpful and kind. Not anymore. She’d always had a slight temper, but it only seemed to get worse the closer it came to her wedding day. Luckily, her father somewhat understood and left her alone while she was making herself some food as she tried to calm down by ranting about her wedding to him. Her slamming the pots and pans around in the kitchen, led to her fist in the wall had been something else entirely.
Eventually, though, Charlie spoke up as he was cleaning his gun. “Have you taken your medication at all, lately?” He asked as a matter of factly, not looking up from his task.
“I might have missed a few days here and there, so what?” Bella shot at him before looking at the hole in the wall. “Uh… might have to ask Jake to come and fix this, dad.”
“Nonsense,” Charlie replied, shaking his head. “I can fix it, but maybe you should take your medicine before you go back to your fiancé. Wouldn’t want you to accidentally give him a black eye for the wedding day, would you?”
Bella pulled open a cabinet where a small jar of her pills were being kept in case of sleepovers, took one and swallowed it whole. “There. Happy? And for your information, my hand is doing fine.”
“Good,” Charlie nodded as he put his gun back together and looked at his daughter. “Bells, it’s important for you to take those meds.”
“I know, I know,” she sighed as she cleaned up the mess she’d made. “It helps with the anger and shit, but dad, do they really work though? I have the feeling that even when I take them lately that they’re not working the way that they used to.”
Charlie shrugged as he got to his feet and went to get some plaster to start fixing the hole in the kitchen wall. “Could be that you need a stronger dose, or, it could be that something else is at play. You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“Dad!”
“Just saying!” He laughed as he came back with the required materials. “Sweetheart, it’s alright to be a little grumpy, or anxious or forgetful when it comes to your wedding. Every bride, and yes, even grooms, experience that sort of feeling. It needs to be perfect. Your special day.” He cleared out the debris from the wall before he started to fill it up with the plaster. “Hell, your mom and I fought all the time when we planned our wedding. She hated it that I didn’t care about the location, the food, the clothes or anything. I just wanted your mother to be mine.”
“Yeah, and look how well that turned out,” Bella huffed, before realizing something. “Do you think that Edward and I will last?”
“Every father wants his daughter’s marriage to last, Bella, but marriage is hard work. And unfortunately, I dropped the ball far too often in the time that I was married to your mother.”
“Well, on top of that, she’s really not wife material,” Bella added, never having been bitter about her parents’ divorce. She got to live with Charlie, which was fantastic, although she had wished her father had been a sheriff in a town a bit further south, where it was warm instead of cold all year round.
When she was younger, Bella often went to her mother’s for a week or two for a vacation once or twice a year. Sometimes her mother made the trip to Forks, but like Bella, she preferred the warmer climates. “Can I stay here for the night? I’ll text Edward that I’m staying here, but I really don’t want to go back right now. I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m… everything.”
“This is your home, Bella, it’ll always be your home even when you’re married,” he smiled at her. “Your room is your room, I’ll never change that.”
Bella hugged her father, kissed him on the cheek and headed upstairs. “You’re the best dad ever.”
~o.O.o~
Bella slept for what seemed the entire day, sure that she’d been left alone – she had asked Charlie to put locks on her window last year and it was still locked. She felt refreshed, relaxed and happier than she had felt previously. She did want to go back to Edward as soon as she could though, there was no doubt that he wouldn’t have liked her staying at her dad’s. It was highly probable that he’d been standing across the street all night to watch the house.
At first, she’d been annoyed by it. Edward had shown the classic signs of a stalker, signs that her daddy had taught her well, but the more she got to know Edward, the more she understood that he only did those things because he cared about her. That he loved her, and she loved him. Edward only wished to protect her. But she was safe at her dad’s. He was a cop, and Bella could take care of herself too.
She took a long, relaxing shower with one of her dad’s bottles of soap. He had always told her that under no circumstance she should ever use that soap because it’s expensive and Charlie liked to savor the smell for as long as he could. It smelled earthy. Mossy. Like sunshine after rain. She was a rebel. Of course she used the soap as much as she could, without hopefully getting caught.
She got into some comfy clothes that were still in her closet and went downstairs to prepare breakfast, or lunch, depending on the time, but stopped short when she saw an unfamiliar face sitting in the kitchen, her dad happily munching on some bagels and drinking Starbucks coffee. “Good morning?”
“Oh, hi Bells!” Charlie greeted her happily. “Peter here said you two had an appointment today? I couldn’t leave him out in the cold so I invited him in.”
Bella didn’t move an inch as she looked at this Peter. He was definitely a cold one. He was dressed as a punk cowboy – Bella wasn’t sure how to describe his fashion anyway, and was quietly observing her until she’d speak. “You’re Jasper’s Peter.”
“I sure am, though technically I belong to Char if anyone has anything to say ‘bout that,” Peter nodded. “Good morning, Miss Bella, care for some breakfast? We have a big day ahead of us if we want to annoy some squirrel munchers.”
She narrowed her eyes at him before sitting down at the table. “What were your plans?” It was convenient for Peter to show up now, with Alice out of town on a hunt. She had to admit, the thrill of doing something to annoy the Cullens sounded good, still. Even now.
“You’ll see,” he smirked as he handed her a bagel and a styrofoam cup of coffee, it was still hot. “Eat up, it’s the good stuff, or so I’ve been told.”
“What are you two going to do?” Charlie asked his daughter as she took a bite of her bagel. “Nothing illegal, I hope?”
Peter gave him what was supposed to seem like an innocent smile. “What I do best, Chief. Piss off my brother’s family and I take my job extremely seriously too. Do you have any requests?”
“Don’t piss them off too much and keep my girl safe,” he muttered as he got his gun from underneath the table and placed it next to him on the table.
“She will be perfectly safe with me, I guarantee that. In fact they won’t get between me and her,” he assured, turning his gaze from the man to the girl in question as he emphasized on his promise. “She’ll be able to do what she wants to her heart’s content without any troubles.”
“Edward would never hurt me,” Bella huffed before shaking her head. “You’re talking big. There’s no way that they’ll allow that.”
Peter’s eyebrow rose and leaned back against the counter as he eyed her. “Huh. So how’s that headache of yours. Nice hole in the wall. Redecorating?”
“I’m feeling much better than I’ve done previously,” Bella deadpanned, not sure how Peter knew about the headaches, or the fact that the hole was created by her. “But Edward wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, so I’m safe. All I wanted was to have a say in the food we’re going to serve at the fucking wedding.”
“And with me as your personal buffer, you have the catering situation all to yourself. You just tell me what you want, and I’ll handle it. I’m your servant.”
“No, that’s not doing things myself,” she grumbled.
He let out a stubborn huff. “Good thing I’ve come prepared then. I’ve organised you your own personal food truck festival in the in law’s backyard. You should have seen their faces this morning when they rolled up. Brilliant.”
“Food trucks?”
“Sweet cheeks, a lot of good food, a lot of caterers, have food trucks to make ends meet. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it and I promise you, there’s one chef there you’ll definitely want to have as your caterer. I’m not saying who, but I wrote it down on this little piece of paper,” he said as he pulled the paper out of his pocket and waved it around. “There’s a name on this. I’m going to give it to your dad so I can’t mess with it. As soon as you’ve made your decision of who’s going to be your caterer, you can call your dad and he can tell you the name on that paper. How’s that?”
“The fuck?”
“You don’t trust me and my abilities. This is merely a game I’d like to play so that you can see that I’m always right,” he grinned as he pointed at the bagel. “Eat up. We can take that coffee with us.”
A food truck festival. For her. She hadn’t believed him when he had told her, but there were about fifteen trucks, all making their food and the smells were absolutely delicious. Peter nudged her towards the trucks and smirked. “Have fun, I’ll keep the Cullens in their house or at least on their patio so they won’t bother you. Just ignore them. Your wedding. Your food choice.”
“You sure?”
“All yours, enjoy yourself,” Peter winked at her before heading to his brother’s family. He loved to annoy them, especially with things like these. While they couldn’t eat or taste human food anymore, the smells were still enticing and some of these trucks had some spicy food that really tickled your senses. Which was the entire reason for Peter to invite them over, of course. He already knew who Bella was going to pick. The others were just for shits and giggles.
“Dude, this is awesome!” Emmett grinned as he slapped Peter on the back. “All we need now is some country music!”
Edward scowled as he glared at his brother before turning his gaze over to his fiance. “I highly doubt this was Isabella’s decision or idea and it is in poor taste.”
“Exactly,” Peter grinned. “You didn’t want her to invite chefs over for tastings, so chefs have just shown up instead. Isn’t it great? These are legitimate caterers, by the way,” he said as he handed over the paperwork with certificates and some even with their rap sheets and mugshots attached to them for laughs. “I did my research.”
The mind reader scowled as he took the papers but refused to look into the folders. He just returned to watching Bella as she stood questioning the woman at one truck in between trying her samples. “This could have been done in a much less obtuse spectacle. Why are you even here? I’m going to put an end to this now.”
“Oh, Eddie,” Peter rolled his eyes at him. “Look at her cute little face. She’s loving this. She’s actively engaging the people and is connecting with them. Do you really wish to upset your fiancé, again? She might have to spend another night at her father’s if you keep this up.”
Emmett nodded as he decided to move to stand right in front of his brother. “Let Bella enjoy this, trust that she’ll make the right decision. A happy bride is a happy wife, dude.”
“I don’t even want to begin to imagine all the germs in those trucks,” Carlisle shook his head disapprovingly and headed back inside. “I’ll check to see if we still have antibiotics and tetanus shots in the house for Bella when she needs it.”
Peter narrowed his eyes on Edward as he called out to Carlisle. “Why would you bother needing those Doc? After all she’s supposed to be turned on that island of yours, right?”
Bella was glad that Peter kept the Cullens busy. Of course, she couldn’t help but feel them all stare at her, especially her Edward, but this was the best thing ever. All that she missed was some good music, loud music, but some trucks had some soft music playing. She made sure to spend at least fifteen minutes with every chef, this way she could digest some of the food and rinse her mouth when it was not what she wanted or far too spicy.
She hadn’t found anything spectacular yet though, and her hopes for finding someone dashed when she rejected the penultimate truck’s cook, too. “You look like your heart’s been crushed,” a voice sounded from the last food truck. His head popped out, a big smile on his face, reminding her somewhat of a puppy, but with a bite.
This person had a well chiseled face, a slight stubble and his eyes were beautifully blue. If it weren’t for Edward, Bella might have fallen for this guy if he’d been around years ago. Stop it, Bella. You’re engaged. You’re looking for a cook. “It might be if you can’t deliver…” she muttered as she looked at the floor. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and extended her hand to him. “Bella Swan.”
“Isaac Argent,” he smiled at her and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Miss Swan. Why won’t you come into my truck? I have quite the few things here that you might enjoy.”
“In your truck?” she chuckled, shaking her head. “None of the others invited me in.”
“Ah, well, that’s because they don’t want you to see the inside of their trucks. I pride myself in the fact that my truck is squeaky clean,” he disappeared for a moment before a door opened and he hopped out of the truck. Isaac was slightly taller than Edward. Well dressed, although there were slight smudges of food on his clothes. He turned around to pull out some stairs and pointed inside the truck. “Don’t worry, I’m not a serial killer. Besides, who would be stupid enough to kidnap someone who’s being watched by their entire family?”
She blushed then. “They’re overprotective, that’s all,” she replied before carefully stepping inside the truck. It was indeed very clean inside. Lived in, used, but clean. The food that he had on the counter were bite sized, exactly what she had envisioned for her wedding and they were looking absolutely great. Precise. Isaac had even made a mini lasagna. “Wow.”
“Weddings are all about the fingerfood, aren’t they? People like to snack, not to eat huge things because they’re too busy talking amongst themselves. Gossipping about the bride,” he winked at her as he leaned against the counter. “And yes, pigs in blankets and sausage rolls might be tacky and outdated, but trust me, people like them still.”
“I’m almost afraid to eat them,” Bella smiled before she heard some growling coming from the direction of the house and she realised that Edward couldn’t see her anymore. Looking over at Isaac, she wondered if he had heard it too, and hated it that he was looking into the direction of the house. Well shit. He didn’t look frightened though, there was a playful smile on his face. “Okay, what the fuck is going on?”
“You’re getting married, and you need a caterer and you’re trying out food? Is your memory that bad? Are you even mentally capable of giving your consent to marry someone?” It came out as a joke, but Isaac wasn’t joking as he grabbed a can of coke, opened it and handed it to her.
She looked confused. “What kind of question is that?” she breathed out, blinking for a moment. “What are you?” she whispered as she looked up at him.
“Oh, don’t worry, they can’t hear you inside this truck,” he smiled at her as he gently caressed the counter of his truck. “I asked a witch to cast a lasting privacy spell on this baby because of my line of work. Can’t have people overhear my recipes now, can we?”
Bella still felt like she had a cloud trying to lift from her so her brain was confused as she listened, processing what he was saying and with what she knew. Or thought she knew.
“So,” he said as he brushed his hand against her exposed arm as he took the first little bite-sized snack. “Try this.”
She blinked as she wordlessly took the food and swallowed, but wasn’t sure how she felt. “What’s wrong with me? What are you?” she asked again, looking at him. “Peter…?”
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you,” Isaac assured her as he leaned back against the counter after briefly touching her again. “Well… actually… that’s debatable. You’re hanging around with Cold Ones and I heard you were warned by them about their nature, and yet, you didn’t run for the hills, why is that?”
“I’m in love with one,” she muttered, confused. “We’re getting married?” Bella looked around, frowning as she took in the view from the truck. “Why am I getting married? I’m only eighteen!”
“A bit young, huh?” he agreed as he grabbed a can of coke for himself and took a sip. “Didn’t your fiancé warn you about his kind of vampires? That they’re physically beautiful – which is debatable, by the way – and have a special kind of pheromone to lure in their prey – you?”
She turned back at him with a glare. “There’s more than one kind?”
“There’s also the warm cuddly kind who can walk in the sun without looking like a disco ball,” Isaac nodded. “These guys are a joke, really. We like to call them marble statues.”
Bella turned to stare out the window again, silent as she internally fumed at more supernatural information that seems to had been kept from her. “I won’t ask again. What are you, because you clearly are doing something to me because this is most it seems I’ve been able to think for myself around this house.”
Isaac ran a hand through his hair as he looked at her, slightly anxious, but Peter had already told him that this would happen and it would be best to be straight with the girl. “Just like there are two kinds of vampires, there are two or three kinds of werewolves. You already know the pony sized ones, they’re actually shapeshifters, created by magic. Each pack decides what animal they like to see themselves as, wolves, cats, horses, hell, encountered a flock of fucking birds once who turned back into humans. Then there’s the kind of werewolf that doesn’t change much when they go into wolf-mode, and then there’s me. The kind of werewolf who can be hairy, scary, has fangs and yellow eyes but is able to take pain away from others. And in your case, I’m…. brushing away the Cullen’s interference and, in essence, returning you to your own mind.”
She snorted as she glanced at him. “So a drugless, supernatural antibiotic?”
He laughed. “I have been called worse,” he snickered. “But yes. I suppose. Apart from being a werewolf, I’m also a hunter who helps other supernatural beings who are in trouble. You see, hunters have been around for centuries. They hunt everything that goes bump in the night, and recently some had changed their way, seeing that not everything supernatural is bad. Four years ago, however, things changed and now, more than ever, supernaturals are being hunted and killed.”
Bella frowned, sympathetic to what he was sharing. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what that has to do with me or how I can help you.”
“I’m here to help you to make the right decision for yourself.”
“Right decision? By not marrying Edward? If he’s really been using his vampire abilities on me and not letting our relationship progress as naturally as one should then of course not, but still… Thanks for clearing my head, but as soon as I’m back in arms reach, I’m in his trap again, aren’t I? Do you or Peter have a plan to stop that?” she questioned, skeptical of this charade.
“Are you really sure that that’s the decision you have to make?” Isaac asked as he popped a snack into his mouth and ate it, watching her face.
“The fuck are you talking about?” she snapped. “You’re beginning to sound as cryptic as Jasper’s asshole friend!”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yeah, you are because I’m tired, I’m bitchy because this has been a long day, and no one ever wants to give me a straight fucking answer!”
“Okay, you know what? Fine. The reason I’m asking is because sometimes there are other decisions to be made or reasons for Cold Ones to control their pets. If you truly feel that you’ve been played and manipulated, then yes, to marry or not to marry is a decision you have to make on your own. You don’t have to do it now, you can think about it while your head is clear and Peter has an idea on how we can achieve that, too.”
Bella sneered as she headed for the door. “I’m just sure he does. I’m sure he has it all planned out already.”
“You can tell them that you want to see me work during a real food truck festival, to test my skills in the field. That’d mean you’d be gone from them for about a week, giving you plenty of time to detox from their influence and to get your head straightened out.”
“That means going to Seattle,” she pouted as she thought about the drive.
“No, that means leaving this truck in Seattle and grabbing the one that I have in Texas after we take a plane there,” he replied to her with a shrug. “I won’t win any barbeque prizes because hell, I’m a chef, not a farmer, but people do tend to like my food.”
She turned back to look at him before stepping through the threshold. “You’re implying running away.”
“Oh no, I’ll return you after we’re done. Or we’ll go back together if you want a clean break from them after the week of fun and sun. If you decide not to go through with the wedding after all, I can take you somewhere safe, or you can stick around and help me to help others.” Oh, Isaac was sure he was fucking this up. He wasn’t the hero or cut out for long speeches. Stupid Peter. This girl was definitely in trouble, and he wasn’t sure if he had gotten through to her.
A thoughtful look crossed her face as she eyed him and said nothing as she stepped out and walked back towards the house with a smile. She could see that Edward was clearly not a happy camper and shook her head with a sigh. “What is your problem now, Edward?”
“He’s a werewolf, isn’t he?”
“Right. As much as I am one, sure,” she scoffed as she looked at him like he ate a cheeseburger. “You are seriously a paranoid asshole lately and until you get over it, I’m going to take some time away from you and the area. I think I might go visit my mom or something but I’ve about had enough of all of this for now. And Peter? You’re a dick,” she added as she walked towards the driveway. “You also need to deal with my dad since he wanted you over for dinner. I don’t know what you did but he likes you, so you have to eat human food tonight.”
“And may I remind you to call your father to ask him what’s on that paper?” Peter said playfully as he looked over to Isaac, who looked as if he was lost, had lost.
“I’m sure I’ll find out at dinner,” she sighed. “Besides I have to call mom to let her know I’m coming down.”
“See you later then,” Peter grinned as he watched Bella walk down the driveway, it was a long walk back in town, and she was going to get hit by another surprise. He signalled to Isaac that it was time to leave before turning around to Edward and the remaining Cullens. “Respect Bella’s wishes, she’s clear headed now. I’m sure that she’ll come back when she decides that she has nothing to fear.”
Edward punched Peter, hard. “Who do you think you are for messing with my life? Bella is mine. She loves me. Of course she’ll come back to me! I can offer her the world and then some.”
Peter rubbed his jaw, chuckling. “Was it really her own emotions or your lure? If she comes back, then everyone will know the truth. I’d be more worried about what she’ll do to you when she figures it all out herself. Don’t go near her, leave her alone. Give her time and for fuck’s sake, don’t even think about messing with her friends and family because I will gladly put you down.”
Rose moved closer, her arms crossed as she eyed the boys arguing. “What are you meaning about using a lure on her?”
“Rose, honey, us Cold Ones look pretty, we have a smooth voice, and we excrete some sort of pheromone that is addictive to humans – and to vampires to an extent. Fortunately I never learned how to use it, but oh, is Eddie boy abusing it!” Peter smirked as he looked at Edward, who looked like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Rose was going to be pissed.
She turned to her brother, appalled. “No wonder Bella was constantly teetering between infatuation and being perpetually pissed off around you. It was like she couldn’t decide how to feel. You would immediately be on her when she was angry with you and she’d flip like a switch! That’s just …” she couldn’t even come out with the words that she wanted to say it felt like to her as a shudder ran through her. “Don’t you dare come anywhere near me, Edward. I wouldn’t expect Bella to come back either if she figures it out.”
“Peter, you’ve outstayed your welcome,” Carlisle came out of the house, speaking quietly as he pulled Rose into his arms, she was upset and Peter was the reason for it.
“What for? Speaking truths?” he asked. “Nah, I’m staying in town until Bella leaves and Jasper gets back. Just to make sure Fucktard there stays away from her. And – I’m not so sure Rose, that you should be that close to Daddy. He’s well aware of what lures can do too. Just never said anything to you lot. Poor vampire education round this place.”
Emmett growled as he pulled Rose out of Carlisle’s arms and pulled her along to the garage, got into a car and sped off, creating as much distance between them and Carlisle and Edward as possible in a short period of time.
Kicking back on the pristine white couch, he threw his feet up on the coffee table and crossed his arms behind his head. “60 years. Damn, been waiting to break out those truths.”
“Get out,” Edward said venomously. “Go annoy someone else!”
“Make me,” the former warrior challenged, narrowing his eyes, a smile on his lips in invitation.
“Edward, don’t,” Carlisle grabbed his son’s arm. “We’ll ask the Volturi for help, leave him be.”
“Oh, yes! Please do!” Peter rubbed his hands together in glee. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Please, pretty please with a cherry on top! Let’s call them right now!”
