Vengeance

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

 Negotiations

Edward Cullen.

 I was still reeling from Jacob’s earlier actions by the time Carlisle and I left the house. I couldn’t believe the audacity of that dog, thinking I would leave my wife during her time of need. Moreover, what right did he have to think he could simply move in? A low growl flowed from beneath my chest as my mind filled with loathing. As soon as this is over we are moving! I was through with all this Jacob Black love triangle garbage; Bella had made her choice. Dartmouth in the fall along with Bella and me in our own place, away from prying eyes.

My thoughts soothed my temper as I followed Carlisle through the wilderness. We were quickly closing in on the location where Jacob and Sam would be waiting for us. I could sense Carlisle mulling over what he planned to say to the two wolves. No doubt he would insist they adhere to our rules; the last thing he wanted was for someone to get hurt. This was a dangerous errand in which they were proceeding. The wolves would be distractions while Rosalie and Emmett tried to kill them.

I growled again at the thought of one of my siblings hurt, or Esme for that matter. She was Carlisle’s main concern, just like Bella was mine—we could not let harm come to our mates.

I cringed as I detected the wolves’ heavy, disgusting scent. They were no doubt right ahead. I briskly fell in line next to Carlisle as we broke through the foliage and came to an abrupt stop. Two dark figures, poised in the middle of the clearing, turned and squared their shoulders. Casting my hearing towards the rest of the surrounding areas, I found that we were alone.

“Sam, Jacob, good evening,” Carlisle acknowledged both as we approached slowly. Though we were here for a common purpose, they were still our enemies.

Sam took a step forward as his eyes danced from Carlisle to me quickly. “So, it’s true then, Bella has been impregnated.” His voice was very authoritative, as an Alpha should be, but his question was unsettling to my ears.

Carlisle sighed before nodding. “Yes, it is true.”

Sam remained calm. “How far along is she?”

Rubbing his forehead, Carlisle explained that she was a few days shy of a month. He expected her to deliver in a week and a half.

“Was it intentional?” He raised an eyebrow and cast a side look to me.

I stepped forward, about to speak my mind to this assuming dog, but Carlisle held his hand up to stop me. “Calm down, son,” he spoke quietly to me before addressing Sam. “No, of course not.”

Sam nodded, accepting Carlisle’s denial of their speculation. “Jacob tells me that you wish to destroy it. Why has this not been done already?”

“Some of our family,” Carlisle spoke cautiously, “are very protective of the fetus.”

Sam’s eyebrows rose at this. “Which ones?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”

“Well,” Sam said idly and crossed his arms. “If you wish for us to help, we must know who to hinder.”

There was a point to that, although I didn’t wish to divulge Bella’s affection for the creature. Besides, Rose and the others were their business, Bella was my concern alone. “My siblings, Rosalie and Emmett are protecting Bella, as is my mother, Esme.”

Carlisle’s fear for Esme’s safety became evident after her name was mentioned. “We don’t need anyone hurt, just distracted.” Edward, I hope you’re sure about this.