The Consequences {Jacob Black}

Chapter CXXIII

"Shut up," I snapped. Jake dropped me from his arms. He kept a hand at waist, ready to pull me away if he needed to. Nessie was holding his other hand, half hiding behind her. "You're no better than her," I jabbed a finger at Bella. "You two are ruining your own happiness with your selfishness. Your child feels betrayed by your lies. You are the reason that she ran away. She waited for you to be gone so that she could leave. That is how much she wanted to get away. Do you not realize what you've done? You've hurt her. All of you."

"It was not our intention; you know that Renesmee," Edward said. Bella was just staring at me, looking like she wanted to eat me alive.

"Give me back my daughter, you bitch," she snarled at me. Jake's arm tightened around my waist in that protective way that I generally ignored.

"Your daughter came to us, Bella," Jake managed to say between his clenched teeth. "But if you'd rather hear it from her," Jake prompted. His large hand rested against Nessie's pale arm as he guided her forward. She looked up at me with frightened eyes, but I just smiled at her. She could do this. I wasn't going to let her be like her mother and father. I wouldn't have it happen. She would be able to speak her mind, to tell other people what she was thinking. Other people would be her first priority. She wouldn't be as selfish as her parents.

"I want to stay here with Ryanne and Jake," she said clearly. I smiled with pride. That was what I wanted her to be like. I wanted her to say what was on her mind.

"What about hunting, Renesmee?" Edward said. "You'll get thirsty soon."

"I don't feed anymore; I prefer human food," she replied. "Especially when Emily or Ryanne cook."

I chuckled but didn't do much more. "Renesmee, please come home. You belong with us. You belong with your family."

I watched her cock her head to the side and narrow her eyes. "I thought Ryanne was my family, Mom," she said. Jake coughed to cover his laugh. Nessie sounded so much like me there was no denying she'd been spending time with me. We were all staring at the quiet little bug with disbelief.

"Is that what you wanted from her? You wanted her to turn her back on her family and be just like you, didn't you?" Bella shouted at me. "How could you do that to her? She isn't like you all; she needs to be with her family."

"You heard her, Bella," I replied calmly. "She doesn't want to be a part of all this. She wants to stay here."

"What about feeding? She needs to feed to survive."

"No, she doesn't; she lives on human food just like the rest of us," I replied. "And if she doesn't want to go with you, you can't force her."

"And the Pack is fine with her living here? She's part vampire, you know!" Bella shouted.

"Bella, stop," Edward said firmly. Who knows what the rest of the Pack and Nessie were thinking about. Whatever it was had caused Edward to cock his to the side and look at us all. "If she wants to stay and live with the dogs, she can."

Nessie looked relived. "Come here, Nessie," Jake prompted, wrapping his hand around her shoulder and pulling her back to our side.

"You named my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?" Bella screeched.

"She's a monster in her own regard, huh Ness?" I watched her smile up at Jake at his words. "Embry will take you back to your grandfather. Em?" Embry nodded, although he didn't look too happy about it. He'd been so angry lately, with the imprint and everything. It was strange to see people that weren't happy with what had happened. I hadn't met Penn though, so my advice wasn't worth it. He lowered himself to the ground and let Nessie crawl up before he took off for the Rez again. "You're not welcome here, Bella. Leave before you start an attack."

"You can my daughter, you mongrel! I want her back," she snarled.

"She doesn't want to go with you, Bella."

"Can you just hold one of us captive like this? What about the treaty?"

"You want to talk about the treaty, Bella? Do you have any idea how many times the Pack has forgiven you all? All you ever do it break the treaty. We're doing the only thing that we know how: protecting humans. And you're right, she's part vampire. That's why we're deal with that part of her that's human. Now get away from us."

Bella was being dragged away by Emmett while Jake glared at Edward. "This isn't finished, dog. If anything happens to her -"

"Edward, leave," Dr. Cullen announced. "That's enough." We watched Esme and Edward walk away and then Carlisle looked back at us. "I'm sorry for all this trouble. Take good care of our granddaughter, please." I smiled and nodded, watching them all disappear.

"Well that went better than expected," Jake said. I stared up at him like he was brain dead. "What?" he asked innocently.