Confrontations
The days following Bella’s visit to the Cullen house passed in relative calm, though there was an undercurrent of unease that Bella couldn't fully shake. Bella found herself replaying the events of Friday night, her mind lingering on Edward’s venomous reaction and the revelations about the Quileute shifters.
She was surprised when, one afternoon, a knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She had been expecting Rosalie, but she already had a standing invitation to just come in, from Charlie himself. Opening the door, she found Edward standing on the porch, his posture uncharacteristically hesitant. Rosalie hung back by her car, giving them the illusion of privacy so that Edward could say what he needed to her mate.
“Bella,” Edward began, his golden eyes scanning her face for any sign of hostility. “I owe you an apology.”
Bella raised an eyebrow, then stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Charlie was napping in his recliner, but she didn't want to risk him overhearing anything. “You think?”
He flinched at her sharp tone but pressed on. “I was out of line the other night. My behavior was inexcusable, and I wanted to say I’m sorry for how I treated you and for the things I said.”
Bella crossed her arms, skeptical. She tried to focus on him, but her eyes shifted towards Rosalie who gave her a small nod of encouragement. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
Edward sighed, his expression earnest. “Rosalie made it clear how important you are to her. And while I may not fully agree with the situation, I respect her and the bond she claims between you two. I was wrong to act the way I did. It wasn’t fair to you.”
Bella studied him for a moment, searching for any hint of insincerity. When she found none, she let out a soft sigh. “Fine. Apology accepted. But you should know that I’m not going anywhere, Edward. Rosalie and I...” She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly, knowing Rosalie would also hear this. “We’re real. And nothing you say or do is going to change that.”
Edward nodded slowly, his gaze steady. “I understand. I just hope we can start over.”
Bella’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “We’ll see, Fangs. Thanks for stopping by.”
Before Edward could leave, Bella tilted her head slightly. “Can I ask you something, though?”
He paused, turning back to her. “Of course.”
“Why do you care so much about this?” Bella asked, her tone neutral but curious. “About me and Rosalie?”
Edward hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment. “It’s not just about you, Bella. It’s about the risks, the potential consequences for you and for my family. The Volturi, well you should ask her if she hasn't told you the laws surrounding us yet. But beyond that,” he sighed, looking back at Rosalie. “Rosalie has always been closed off. Protective of herself. She seemed to turn into a completely different person overnight. After knowing someone for as long as we have, something like that is very disorienting, I suppose.”
Bella frowned slightly, making a mental note to ask Rosalie about what 'The Volturi' were after he left. “I suppose I can understand that.”
Edward nodded his head. “Despite my reservations, I am glad she has found peace after all these years.”
Bella nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of camaraderie between them now. “Thanks for explaining.”
With that he took his leave, and Rosalie followed Bella inside the house, ready to dive into the next overwhelming topic of challenges their relationship would face.
---
The next day, Bella was on her way back from the grocery store when she spotted Jacob waiting for her outside her house. His arms were crossed, his stance rigid, and his expression dark. Bella’s heart sank as she approached him, the tension in the air palpable.
“Jake,” she greeted cautiously. “What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk,” Jacob said, his voice low and strained. “About Rosalie.”
Bella sighed, unlocking her door and stepping inside. She didn’t invite him in, but he followed her anyway, his large frame dominating the small space of the entryway.
“I don’t think there’s anything to talk about,” Bella said, setting the grocery bags on the counter. “I’m with Rosalie. End of discussion.”
Jacob scoffed, his tone turning heated. “End of discussion? Bella, she’s not who you think she is. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Bella froze, narrowing her eyes as she turned to face him. Then she turned on her heels and marched outside, down to the property line by the trees where they could have this out in privacy. “I know exactly who, and what, Rosalie is, Jake. And I know what you are too.”
Jacob blinked, his mouth opening slightly in surprise before his expression darkened. “You... you know?”
“Yes,” Bella said, her voice steady. “I know about you, Jake. I know what you and the others from the reservation can do. I know about the wolves, about your shifting. And I know about Rosalie and her family. I know everything.”
Jacob’s fists clenched at his sides, his frustration boiling over. “If you know, then how can you still defend her? Bella, she’s—”
“She’s nothing like what you think,” Bella interrupted sharply. “And you’re not exactly one to talk, Jake. You're the one freaking out and acting crazy here. You can lose control just as easily as anyone else. So don’t stand there and act like you’re some harmless protector while trying to paint Rosalie as a monster.”
Jacob’s face twisted in anger, his voice rising. “It’s not the same! You don’t truly understand what she is. We are here to protect the area, they are predators Bella! They can claim their stupid animal diet all they want but how can we really know that's true? They are a threat to all of us!"
“So you think what? Coming over and screaming at me is going to endear me to your side?” Bella shot back, her voice shaking slightly. “I'm her mate Jake, I trust her to keep me safe far more than I trust you with all this aggressive behavior.”
Jacob froze, the weight of her words hitting him like a physical blow. His expression faltered, doubt tinged with disgust flashing across his face as he stepped back. “She’s lying to you, Bella. That's not possible. You're just a human.”
“Just a human, huh?” Bella said, her voice trembling but resolute. “You’re an ass, and I don’t have time for this.” She turned on her heel and walked away from him, back towards her house.
Jacob hesitated, his body tense as if caught between his anger and his remorse. But after a moment, he turned and left in the opposite direction. He would never accept that his childhood friend was mated to a cold one.
When Rosalie arrived later that evening, Bella told her everything. Rosalie’s reaction was immediate and visceral; her golden eyes darkened, and her hands clenched into fists.
“He said all that to you?” Rosalie growled, her voice low and dangerous. “I’ll put him in his place, Bella. Say the word, and I’ll make sure he never speaks like that to you again. Or better yet, never comes near you again,” she added, feeling possessive of her mate.
Bella reached out, placing a hand on Rosalie’s arm to calm her. “No, Rosalie. I still believe Jake didn't mean it really. I’ve known him practically my whole life. He just lost his temper. ”
“That’s not an excuse,” Rosalie snapped, though her expression softened slightly at Bella’s touch. “You shouldn’t have to deal with that from anyone.”
“I know,” Bella said gently. “But I handled it. And if he does that again, I’ll let you know. Hopefully some time to cool off will help him see reason.”
Rosalie sighed, her tension easing slightly as she pulled Bella into her arms. “I just want to keep you safe and happy,” she murmured, her voice soft now. “I can’t stand the thought of anyone hurting you.”
Bella leaned into her, her voice quiet. “I know, Rose. And I appreciate it. But I don’t want things to escalate. Jake’s struggling with this whole situation, but I think he’ll come around eventually. Edward did,” she pointed out.
Rosalie didn’t look convinced, but she nodded, choosing to trust Bella’s judgment for now.
---
Jacob, however, was far from letting things go. As he paced in his room that night, his thoughts raced, his frustration and anger boiling over.
“She’s under their thrall somehow,” he muttered to himself, his hands shaking. “She doesn’t see what they’re doing to her.”
The idea of Bella with Rosalie, of a vampire claiming her as a mate, gnawed at him relentlessly. It wasn’t just that he believed she was in danger; he couldn’t accept that she would choose a vampire over their friendship, over safety, over everything.
“They’ve got her wrapped around their finger,” Jacob growled. “But I’ll save her. I’ll make her see the truth.”
His resolve hardened, and in that moment, Jacob became consumed by a singular, dangerous goal: to pull Bella away from Rosalie and the Cullens, no matter the cost.