Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Freedom

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 05:

Paul POV

I lost her. Again. After an hour of holding back Cullen she was gone. He finally came to his senses and took off. He had a broken look on his face. I almost would have felt sorry for him except for the fact that I hate him. As for me I was an idiot. I thought for a minute she would give in to the imprint. Instead she got what she wanted and took off. Kind of ironic since I have spent most of my life doing that to women. I finally had it done to me and it hurt. I felt bad for the women I had done that to in the past. But I couldn’t change that now. I started looking for her immediately but I had no idea if she was in New York or had left the city altogether. With an hours head start she could be anywhere. I called Sam and let him in on this new development. He was shocked at what happened. I think he was more shocked that the famous player got played. Bella’s stunt with Cullen proved that she still had no sense of preservation.

Sam told me I couldn’t roam the country aimlessly looking for her. Victoria was stepping up her attacks and the Cullens were concerned she may be building a newborn army. It was time for me to come home and deal with the pain of being away from my imprint.

I knew he was right. I didn’t have a clue what to do and even if I did find her I couldn’t make her come back. I would have to wait until another lead popped up. I drove to the airport bitter, disappointed and crushed.

Edward POV

I can’t believe I almost killed her. She knew I would. She gambled the dog could hold me back. She proved her point. She proved that I was more dangerous to her than anyone else in the world. I thought I would go mad with her blood on my face. I tried to hold back. I did. But she knew. She knew I wouldn’t be able to. I called Carlisle and told him and the family what happened. To say they were shocked was putting it mildly.

“Edward you don’t know where she is now and if you do find her she is not coming back with you. It’s time to come home. We have a problem with Victoria up here. You want to help Bella, come help us destroy the vampire that is after her.”

I agreed this was the best thing to do. However I don’t care about her threats. There is only one way to make Bella safe from me. The next time I see her I will turn her. If she wants to hate me afterward so be it. But she is my mate. Once she is turned she will not be able to fight the bond.

2 weeks later

BPOV

I thought Idaho sucked. Montana was cool though. I have enjoyed the freedom of the road but it didn’t escape my attention or Amber’s that we were slowly making our way back to Washington.

“B what the hell are we doing? Why are we going back? You said you didn’t want to go back.”

We were at a campground in Montana enjoying the scenery and smoking a joint. “You were right Amber. It’s time we faced our demons. Running was a start, but I don’t want to run forever. I want to face those fuckers in Forks and get them to leave us alone. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder. After we are done, we are heading to South America. I’m thinking Brazil.”

Amber smiled at me. I could tell she approved. “Why Brazil honey?”

I smiled back at her. “Why the hell not?”

“Oh you are learning B, you are learning. I am so proud of you.”

“I couldn’t, I can’t face this without you Amber.”

“I know beautiful. We have some things we need to do first.”

“What would that be?”

“You have a lesson to learn.”

I watched her start a campfire. And I watched her put a cattle brand into the fire. To say I was nervous was an understatement. We had picked this up from a gift shop at a ranch we stopped at. It was a phoenix. I thought it was a cool brand so I grabbed it not knowing why. Apparently Amber did.

Amber grabbed my forearm and laid it across her leg.

“Baby this is going to hurt.”

She pressed the brand into the underside of my forearm right above James’ bite mark. I screamed and tried to pull away but she wouldn’t let me.

“Look at me Bella!”

“I can’t it hurts!” I tried to think of other things but all I could think about was the pain. I wanted it to stop. Amber slapped me.

“Embrace it B! Embrace the pain! Accept it. It is a part of life and reminds you that one day you are going to die. You have to accept this B before you can be free!”

I started mumbling to myself to think about anything besides this fire.

“Bella this is the greatest moment of your life up to this point and you are wasting it. I can put ointment on it but first you have to accept that one day you are going to die, and this is okay.”

I looked at her and nodded my head. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. I paid attention to the pain. I found that once I stopped panicking it wasn’t so bad. It felt like it was searing into my soul. It reminded me of James’ bite and the nightmares I had after it. Why did I have nightmares? It was just pain. I am stronger than the pain. I am stronger than the pain.

I felt Amber rub ointment into my arm. I felt her wrap my arm with a burn pad. Where did she get this? Where did I get this? I couldn’t remember. I lay on my back and stared at the sky. I felt reborn. I felt I could take on anything. I was ready to go back to Forks.

One week later

Sam’s POV

I was exhausted. We had been running patrols nonstop. One vampire got into Bella’s freaking room! It grabbed some clothes of hers. Charlie had his hopes up that Bella snuck in and may be in the area. We knew better. Victoria was in for a hell of a disappointment when she realized Bella wasn’t here. Some of the pack thought it would be a good idea to let her know Bella wasn’t around and maybe she would leave. I refused to do this for two reasons. One, it would put Bella in more danger than she was apparently putting herself in. Another reason was that I had a feeling Victoria was coming regardless. The Cullens actually killed her mate. We killed her friend. She wasn’t going to go away peacefully.

Embry howled. I ran out to phase and heard him.

“It’s Bella Swan. I think.”

“Where?” I heard Paul ask, frantic but with hope in his thoughts.

“She is no a Harley driving towards the Cullens. It smells like her and her face is familiar but man, I’m not sure.”

“It’s her.” Paul

Her hair is jet black now but we all recognized the face and the other features from Paul’s memories.

“Follow her Embry. We are coming. It’s no telling what Edward Cullen may do when he sees her.”

Bella POV

I was going to the Cullens first. The wolves would be easy to hide from. These assholes and their money would be more difficult. I didn’t know if I was ready for this. Amber assured me I was. She let me be in control. I couldn’t watch her kick ass for me. If I wanted to face my past and be done with it I had to do it on my own.

I pulled into the drive and lit a cigarette. I watched them walk out of their beautiful glass palace. I remember when I saw it the first time. I was so taken with them. I thought they were perfect. I should have known better but I was so naïve. The looks on their faces were enough to make this trip worth it.

“Bella?”

“Yep” I said then took a drag on my Marlboro. “How’s it going Doc?”

“We are glad you came. We were worried about you. Everybody has been worried about you.”

“I didn’t come to relieve everyone’s minds. I came to tell you to keep your golden boy under control and stop looking for me. I am leaving and I am never coming back. I wish he had kept his promise and none of you have ever come back. But you couldn’t leave well enough alone could you? He decided you had to leave so you left right?”

“Bella Edward was trying to protect you.”

I saw Edward standing there by Esme’s side staring at me.

“There is a homicidal vampire after me. How is that protecting me?”

“We came back to protect you.” Esme joined in.

“No Edward said you came back because he could no longer live without me. Isn’t that right Edward?”

“Yes Bella.”

“What do you think gives you the right Carlisle?”

“The right to what Bella?”

“To have your “children” attend high school and place innocent teens in danger. Jasper there went nuts over a paper cut. Do you not think paper cuts happen at school? What happens if he slips? Isn’t that what you call killing a human? A slip? I’ll tell you what would happen. That kid would be dead and his family would never have justice or closure because you all would disappear. And this great risk is taken so you can all pretend to be human and have human lives. So what gives you the right to place humans in danger everyday just so you can enjoy your lives?”

Silence. Amber patted me on the back. She was smiling. I could tell she wanted to play but this was not the time. I was on a roll and couldn’t stop if I tried.

“Esme?”

“Yes Bella?”

“Do you love me like a daughter?”

“Yes Bella I do and I want you back.”

“You abandoned me because Edward told you too. You will never have me back. Deal with it.”

“Alice?”

“Yes Bella.” She said quietly.

“You were my best friend right?”

“Yes, I would like to think so.”

“You knew everything about me. You knew my fears, my insecurities. You knew I hated shopping. You knew I was scared of Edward leaving me. Despite this you took me shopping because it made you happy. Not me. You. And you left knowing I was scared of being abandoned. What the hell kind of friend was I to you? Was I a toy? Something to play human with and then to be thrown away? We are no longer friends and you will just have to deal with it.”

“Emmett I am so disappointed in you. I really felt like a little sister to you. You were so much fun and so strong. You made me feel safe. But you took off too. Never call me your sister again. You are nothing to me.”

“Edward. I think I made my feelings clear to you already. I am not yours. If you can’t deal with that it’s your problem. By the way Paul was an excellent fuck. And you’re welcome for the blood.”

“Now Cullens, I am leaving Forks for good. Do not follow me. I don’t want your help or your family or your money or your protection. Look at Rosalie scowling. She will be glad. I bet she doesn’t want to be here anyways. As far as Vicky goes I am not worried about her. She wants me dead, I want her dead. We are honest with each other. Besides Amber she is the healthiest relationship I have right now.”

I turned to go to my bike, throwing my cigarette butt on the ground. Maybe it would start a forest fire and burn these fuckers. I was over them. They hurt me. They abandoned me. A few months ago I would have ran into their cold dead arms and thanked them for coming back and begged them to stay. Amber showed me I don’t need them anymore. I was about to saddle up when I felt a hand grab my arm.

“Bella I’m sorry, but you are not going anywhere. If we have to keep you under lock and key we will but…”

“What Edward? You are going to do it for my own good? You like doing that don’t you? Nobody controls me.”

“You are sick Bella and you are coming inside.”

I looked over and saw Amber was pissed. “Amber can you take this?”

Amber looked up at Cullen.

Amber POV

“You have 5 seconds to let us go or we will make you regret it.”

Fucker laughed at me!

“What do you think you are going to do?”

“You seem to have forgotten bitch. I’m an imprint. You really think I’m in this area and not protected? They have to protect imprints. It’s some wolfy magic law. I would bet they are watching me now. Want to find out?”

I screamed as loud as I could. “HELP! He’s trying to turn me into a leech!”

A crash of trees and there stood eight of my furry protectors. I had to laugh at him. The look on his face was priceless. He’s like a kid whose mommy just told him to get his hand out of the cookie jar. The Cullens tensed and got in front of me. I saw Sam, a very naked Sam, damn not bad, walk up to Carlisle.

“Carlisle are we going to start a war? She is an imprint. You know our laws. There is no way she is staying here against her will. Every one of us will fight to the death to protect her. We would do it even if we didn’t have to. She is a pack member. She always has been. She has made it clear to your son that she does not want him.”

“Sam, she is sick. Surely you can see that. I may be able to help her.”

“Carlisle this is not up for debate. Let her go or we attack.”

Carlisle turned to Edward and the other leeches and with a look I wasn’t being held by Emo Ed any longer. I ran up to Sam and jumped into his arms. “My hero!” I heard a growl. Must be Paul.

“Hey booty call. How you doing? Break any girl’s hearts lately? Let’s go back to your place so you can tie me up and call me leech lover over and over to my face. It will be like old times.” I rubbed his nose and walked over to my bike.

” Hey Sammy, can I ride out to your place? Bella misses that wife of yours.”

“Of course Bella.”

“Amber, motherfucker. Get it right.”

“Sorry Amber.”

I looked at the Cullens and turned around to Bella. She was not smiling but she was not crying. Progress.

“Cullens? The next time we see you we are burning your house down. You may want to invest in some fire extinguishers.”

Paul POV

Thank God the pain has let up. She looked different again. I smelt a burn on her body. That must have been the searing pain I felt not too long ago. She looked hot. Much better than the last time I saw her. She was so confident. Despite what she did to me last time I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I wanted her in my house. I wanted her on my bed. I wanted to go back in time and take back every bad thing I ever said to her.

“Sam, we have to call Charlie. If he finds out we kept this from her he will never forgive us..”

“I know. I will call him when I get home. He can come see Bella at our house. It’s a controlled environment and the best I can offer right now. Maybe he can get through to her. We arrived at my house to see Bella pulling up. She walked up to the door and knocked. Emily opened and the look on her face was between fear and shock.

Bella POV

It was good to see Emily again. I wish I could have given her warning about the new me. I figured Paul would have told her. After getting over her initial shock she hugged me.

“Bella I was so worried about you. We all were.”

“Thanks Emily, but there is no need to worry. I am better than I ever have been. I actually just came to thank you for being such a good friend. I am leaving Forks and this time I won’t be coming back ever.”

“Where are you going?”

“Wherever I feel like it. I’m thinking South America and then overseas.”

Leah walked up at that time. Lovely.

“Do you not care what the fuck you are doing to this pack? We are about to fight a war over you. Paul has been going crazy without you. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I turned and looked at Amber. It would take a bigger bitch than I was to deal with Leah. “I got this B”

“Who the fuck are you talking to? There is no one there you crazy bitch.”

“She was talking to me. I’m Amber, nice to meet you. And no I didn’t ask you to fight a war for me and I didn’t ask to be imprinted on so fuck you, I don’t care. Everybody in this pack is free to do what Uley tells them to. Speaking of not caring, don’t you care about the hell you put these guys through cause you can’t get over getting dumped for your cousin? You know about imprinting. But you are still a bitch. A cold bitter bitch.

The bitch hit me. Slapped me technically. Fuck that. I pulled out my butterfly knife from my back pocket and went for her gut. I stabbed her three times before anybody realized what was going on. She jumped back.

“You fucking bitch! You stabbed me!”

“You hit me.”

“You fucking stabbed me!”

“You’ll heal. I however, well have a bruise probably for weeks.”

I looked at Paul.

“Nice job protecting me imprinter.”

Emily walked over to Leah with a towel. Leah threw her arm away. “I’m fine!” And she was. The stab wounds were already closing up. I smirked at her.

“Touch me again bitch and I will cut off your head. Let’s see you grow one of those back.”

Leah stomped off to pout somewhere or sniff someone’s ass. I’m not sure which.

“Amber, can I speak to Bella? Her father is on his way here to see her.”

“Good, saves me my last trip to make before we are gone.”

I heard a car pull up. A cop car. Must be dear old dad.

“Bella?”

“Yes Daddy it’s me. How are you doing?” Bella looked at me and shook her head. “Be nice Amber.”

“Do you want to talk to him B?”

She shook her head yes and walked up to him.

“How have you been Dad?”

“How have I been? I’ve been worried sick! Where the hell have you been? Why did you leave?”

“I left because I don’t want to be here anymore. I felt it was time to leave. There was too much pressure on me to be what everybody else wanted me to be so I left. I decided it was time to live my own life.”

“Bella you were still in school. I thought you were getting better.”

“I am better Dad. I’m better than I ever have been.”

“Look at you! This isn’t you.”

“Actually it is. Dad I’m 18. I don’t want you to follow me or look for me anymore. If you do I will never forgive you. Do you understand?”

Charlie stood there speechless. I was sorry that I had to be this way with him but it was best to be honest.

“I can’t do that, Bells.”

“Then you will never see me again.’

Jake walked up beside Charlie. “Bells, please don’t do this.” I heard Jake say.

I walked up to him and hugged him. “Jake you were a good friend. But you want something I can never give you. You are like a brother to me and you never thought that was good enough. But I will always love you. You are my sunshine. But it’s time for me to go.” I looked up and saw Jake had tears in his eyes.

“Dad don’t follow.” I got on my bike and pulled out of Sam’s yard. I didn’t look back. Amber was riding right along side of me. I was about a mile outside of Forks when I saw her in the road. We stopped our bikes and got off.

“Bella, nice to finally see you. Where have the wolves had you hidden this whole time?”

“Nice to see you Victoria. And the name is Amber.”