Bella? Is that you?

Chapter 5

We talked while we walked back to the house. Alice told me that Bret had the ability to tell if someone was lying, or hiding something. But, she couldn't do that with Jasper. Something, to do with his ability to control people's emotions.

The living room still showed signs of my little spat with Eddie.

Everyone looked up, when we walked in. Bret, who was leaning against Rosalie, smiled at me. I smiled at her, looking around.

"Edwards not here. He left yesterday, after the argument. We couldn't let him stay after finding out what he did to you, Bella."

I looked at Esme, who looked upset.

"OK."

Rosalie said she wanted to talk to me, and I followed her upstairs. I closed the door behind me, and looked at her.

She was looking at me.

"I want to talk to you about yesterday."

I nodded, and sat in a chair by a desk. She sat on the bed and I looked at her.

"Rosalie, it's not you or anyone else here, that I'm angry at. The one responsible for it, isn't here. I hurt you left, yes, but he can be convincing when he wants to be. We all know that. But, I'm still trying to work out how he thought he'd get around you ......."

She shook her head, smiling. I wasn't used to this side of her.

"Well. he's an idiot. But, we left to Bella. I-"

"Rosalie, he talked you all into it. Alice said something about arguments, but you didn't know what he told me. I know we never really talked all that much, but I missed all of you when you left. All of you."

She seemed surprised that I said that, but I was being honest. Yes, I was much, much closer to Alice but she was part of the family to. And he took them away.

"Bella, none of us wanted to leave, he made us believe it would be best. Well, everyone except Alice, she never believed that it would be best to leave you behind. Now, I know why. What did you mean yesterday, when you mentioned the imprint?"

I ran my hand through my hair, thinking.

"You know I'm a shifter. When a shifter finds their imprint ........... It's like love at first site, only stronger. I knew when she found me."

She nodded, and looked at me.

"I thought it was something like that. I knew there was something more in the way you were watching each other."

I blushed and she shook her head. I looked away, at the forest.

"Bella, I'm happy you 2 are finally together. I could see how Alice felt, but I didn't think you felt the same. I just wish, it hadn't taken this for it to happen. She was so upset when we left. When Jasper found Hope ........... Well, things changed."

I nodded, thinking. I was trying to stop myself from getting worked up, and took a deep breath.

"Yeah, she told me a bit about that."

"Did she tell you about Bret?"

I looked at her, remembering what Alice had told me.

"Only that you met Bret and Adam in college, and you both care about them."

She nodded, looking out the window. She clearly wanted to say something, so I waited for her to speak.

"I'm sure you're wondering how Bret ended up with us, and I was against you joining us."