Alissa Swan

Part 85

Edward was driving me home. I was resigned.

He was somber. "When?"

"After graduation."

"Just two months."

"It'll be best for Dad that way. I can pretend to be at college somewhere. Carlisle suggested it. But..." I said the last part quiet and emotional: "I wish you'd be the one to change me."

"Would you be willing to trade for that?"

"Name it," I said, hopeful.

"Five more years as a human."

"The Volturi won't wait that long."

"I'll settle for three."

I shook my head sadly. "I won't risk it. It'll have to be Carlisle."

Edward took my hand. "Why are you so willing to give up your soul?"

"Because I don't believe you've lost yours. And I want to share mine with you forever."

He looked at me and kissed my hand. Suddenly he slammed on the brakes. Someone stood in the road directly in front of us. It was Jacob. He glared, and walked into the woods.

"What is he doing?" I asked.

"He wants to talk to me."

I pushed out of the car. "Well, he can talk to me first."

We tramped through the woods to find Jacob leaning against a tree. His expression was hard. "You're still alive."

"I've been calling you," I said.

"Couldn't drop by?" Jacob asked.

"He thinks I'm keeping you away," Edward explained.

Jacob spun to Edward. "Stay the hell out of my head!"

"Dad grounded me, Jake. We're trying to get back before he wakes up," I explained to him.

Jacob didn't buy it. I was frustrated.

Edward took a step toward Jacob, calm and diplomatic. "Jacob, I know you have something to say to me, but I'd like to say something first. Alright?"

Jacob leaned back against the tree, arms folded, waiting.

He said this sincerely: "Thank you. For keeping Alissa alive when I... didn't."

"No, you didn't. And it wasn't for your benefit, trust me."

"I know. I'm still grateful. But I'm back now. And I'm not leaving Bella's side till she orders me away."

I looked at him. He returned the look.

Jacob saw the devotion between us. It wounded him. But he masked it. "We'll see."

Edward continued. "Either way, we'll handle Victoria from here on out."

"She's been laying low," Jacob replied. "Ever since your freaky sister showed up. Guess she can't stand you Cullens either."

"She'll come back," Edward replied.

"She does, she's ours," Jacob said back. "She killed on our turf."

It was Edward's turn to say it: "We'll see."

"My turn to talk," Jacob said. "I'm here to remind you about a key point in the Treaty."

Edward obviously was reading his thoughts. "I haven't forgotten."

"Good."

It was my turn to speak now. "What? What key point?"

Jacob explained to me before Edward could. "If any of them bites a human, the truce is over. That's bite, not kill."

"But... if I choose it, it's none of your business."

Jacob was horrified, starting to shake with anger. "If you... what!? No. No way. I won't let you-"

Edward said quickly, "Alissa, step back."

"You're not gonna be one of them," Jacob insisted. He wasn't giving up at this point.

"That's not your call-" I said.

Jacob interrupted me, even more intense. "You know what we'll do to you - I won't have a choice."

"We're done here," Edward said. He took my arm and started to pull me away.

Jacob lunged, trying to extract me from Edward. "You don't speak for her!"

Edward pushed Jacob away. He flew back ten feet in the air, but mid-air he phased into a wolf. The Jacob-wolf landed on all fours, spinning to face Edward in an attack stance. Edward shifted stance, as well, readying for a fight.

"Stop!" I yelled at them.

Edward and Jacob circled one another, seconds from lunging.

"Get out of here," Edward said to me. "Now!"

I raced between them, forceful and insistent. I spoke to both of them. "You do this, you'll be going through me."

None of them backed down. I knew that they didn't realize that I wasn't kidding.

"I swear to God, I'm not moving."

Both rivals saw that I was dead serious. Edward backed off, ever-so-slightly. The Jacob-wolf did the same.

I turned to Edward. "Give me a second. Please."

Edward shook his head and didn't move an inch.

I looked at Edward. "Read his thoughts. Is he going to hurt me?"

Edward did, and finally, reluctantly backed away. But his eyes never left the wolf's. They glared at one another.

I carefully approached the Jacob-wolf, blocking his line of sight. My voice was kind, pleading. "Jacob, I love you. You're my best friend. But... I can't change how I feel. Please don't make me choose." I said the last part quietly and emotionally: "Because it'll be him. It's always been him."

Anguish swept through the wolf's fierce face. It would be even harder to take than when he is in human form.

"But you know how important you are to-"

Jacob bolted into the woods, away from me and Edward. I fought tears as I watched him disappear.

Edward's arms wrapped around me from behind. I turned to face Edward, looking into his loving eyes. He kissed me tenderly, washing away my concerns.

"I'm here," he promised. "Always."

I truly believed that was the truth.

He took my hand as we headed into the woods.

There were problems ahead. Seemingly insurmountable. If I didn't become a vampire, the Volturi would kill me. If I did, my best friend would do the job himself, or get killed in the attempt. Victoria was still on the loose, putting everyone I loved in danger. But I'd already survived the worst - losing Edward. So I knew I could survive anything. And soon, I'd be like him. We'd face our fate together.

Forever.