Romeo and... Cullen?

13. Bonfires and Issues

"So you told them?"

        Verne was headed into Bella's room so she could finish getting ready for school. She had stopped by early just to avoid being around her family after last night. Jacob had stayed for dinner and she showed him her room for the first time. When he left, Verne was bombarded with questions from her family.

        "Hmmm, it more accidentally slipped out... someone's been in here," Verne said upon entering the room.

        "What?"

        "I can smell something extra and it's not ours or Charlie."

        "Where's my sweater?" Bella muttered to herself. "I could've sworn I put it on the chair. I was gonna wear it to school today."

        Verne grabbed a random sweater from Bella's closet and threw it at her to put on. Verne grabbed her friend's wrist and dragged Bella back downstairs.

        "We need to go. Call the school and say you're sick today."

        "Verne?"

        "Just do it, Bella."

        Verne started her car and began to drive back to her place. She texted her siblings and then went to call Carlisle who was currently on shift at the hospital.

        "Dad? We have a problem... no, a serious problem... ten minutes away, okay, see you soon."

        "Who is it? Someone we know?" Carlisle asked as everyone met up at the house.

        "Stranger," Edward said. "I went back to the house, didn't recognize the scent."

        "A nomad passing through?" Esme asked.

        Rosalie shook her head. "A passerby wouldn't have left Charlie alive."

        "Scent disappeared five miles south of Bella's house." Jasper entered the house. "Someone's orchestrating this."

        "Victoria?" Bella suggested.

        "I would've seen her decide." Alice hadn't had a vision in two or three days.

        "Then the Volturi?"

        "I don't think it's the Volturi either. I've been watching Aro's decisions too."

        "Okay. So we'll keep looking," Emmet said.

        "We take shifts guarding Bella and her house." Carlisle ordered.

        "And I'll tell the pack." Verne pulled out her phone ready to text Jacob.

        "Another protection detail?" Rosalie stared down Bella.

        "Rosalie..."

        "No, she's right," Bella said. "You guys can't protect me, watch my dad, search for this mystery stranger, and keep yourselves fed."

        "Don't forget about Victoria," Rosalie added.

        "I'm not leaving you defenseless," Edward said.

        None of the Cullens were sure how to proceed. Edward nodded to his sister as he read Verne's mind. Jacob came over to Bella's house to pick up the intruder's scent. Only Jacob was needed, just from the mind-link the wolves shared they would be able to pick up on the scent if Jacob shared it with them. Jacob jumped out of Bella's room window and met them in the front yard.

        "Whoever it was left a major stink behind. It'll be hard to miss when we cross it again. We'll handle it from here."

        Edward frowned, not liking the commanding tone Jacob took. "We don't need you to handle anything or anyone. It was just to warn you."