Parallax

Chapter 13

"I believe so. That's what the sisters mentioned but we never really saw them together. Laurent was no longer there when we arrived."

"Laurent? Why does the name sound familiar?" Bella asked more to herself.

"He's one of the three nomads that we encountered, and he was the one that surrendered and joined the Denali's after." Jasper was the one who answered.

"Oh, maybe this is one of the things that is different from this timeline and mine as well" Bella was somehow relieved to know that it wasn't just her story that's totally different in this reality as well but then again, with the nomads killed in her timeline, this Laurent did not really have the opportunity to meet Irina so there was that. Still, there was this nagging feeling at the back of her mind that's telling her that she was missing some vital information.

"Irina's been worried lately since Laurent has not returned since he left. I'm not sure if it's really the mating bond that they have since all I feel from her is worry and fear and nothing like the deep connection that I can feel with mated pairs" Jasper continued to explain and when he mentioned about Laurent leaving, something clicked in Bella's head and a memory of her counterpart suddenly resurfaced.

"Uh oh..."

"Bella?" Edward turned to her worriedly. She looked at the three of them.

"I hope he's really not her mate and she is still meant for Elijah just like in my future because she's not going to see Laurent ever again." She said sadly and with finality.

"Why?"

"It's Bella's memories..." Edward was suddenly alert, and moved closer, eager to hear any news from the woman that he loved.

She eyed Edward warily and even though she knew that Bella turned out to be safe, he was going to be upset about the news.

"She went to your meadow... alone" Edward grimaced, and she continued before he can start overreacting "She wanted to remember you, so she looked for your meadow and when she found it, she came across Laurent who was looking for her. He came as a favor to Victoria to see if she was still with you, but you were no longer there. Victoria was planning her revenge and she's using Laurent to do reconnaissance for her. Unfortunately, Laurent was thirsty and instead of leaving Bella alone... he decided he was going to make her, his next meal" All three vampires growled at the same time, Edward being the most furious.

"I'm going to destroy him!" He gritted his teeth, trying to keep himself calm and avoid accidentally hurting Bella in the backseat, with his anger.

"The pack already beat you to it"

That surprised the three of them.

"How do you think your Bella is still here right now? Before he could attack, the wolves came down on him and chased him away but before he could go far, they were able to destroy him. That's how Bella learned about Jacob and the rest of the shifters" she explained. They were all silent, trying to digest the information that Bella shared with them.

"I should have been there... I should have never left... he would never have dared come near you... the wolves wouldn't have to protect you..." Edward closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Hey, that's enough" Bella admonished softly. "We've already moved past that. You're here now, your Bella is alive and you're getting a second chance to make things right so this is your chance to not screw this up okay?"

She looked at him sternly. She could let Edward mope all day but what would have been the point? They should be past that now. She wants him to start moving on because right now, she was focused on finding her way back home and she didn't want that when she goes back in her own time, this Bella would return to see an Edward that was still blaming himself for all the bad things that's happening to her.