Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters belong to S. Meyer. Otherwise, the rest is my musings on an AU.
Well, I may not be pathetic, but I sure am naive. I thought once the newborn army was dealt with everything would go back to normal, they'd leave and I'd go to college. I forgot about the time between me dumping Edward and the battle, he has not given up, thinking I'll change my mind, yeah right! To make matters worse Jacob Black just thought he could stroll in and take Edwards place, running my life and treating me like a china doll too, hell no, he got a flea in his ear for that! Are there no men in this town? I'm surrounded by boys, Mike Newton is once again making a complete and utter fool of himself trying to impress me I think!
Why do I attract immature, adolescent boys? Even across species, the males are still the same, be it Vampire, Shape Shifter or Human. None actually engage their brain before opening their mouths and I'm sick to death of it. My father is having the time of his life, I'm sure he's running a book on who I'll kill first, I think his money's on Mike.' Oh My God' I just want to talk to a grown up, have them consult me about things and treat me as a grown woman and not an object. I don't want to be worshipped, just loved! How hard is that people?
In Forks, damn near impossible, I'm beginning to find. I can't wait to leave and go somewhere else and be someone else maybe, reinvent myself. I've been there for all of the training sessions the Wolves and Vampires have been having. Both Edward and Jake said I couldn't go, too dangerous! Too scary for me! and so late at night! I told them both to suck it and Alice took me out there anyway. I couldn't see much as everyone was moving fast and so I missed the finer points, but as they were doing this for me I thought I should give them my support.
By night three, I was bringing energy snacks for the wolves and laughing and joking with Seth Clearwater, when the pack started growling and pawing the ground. Edward got all panicky and told me to move away from them before they hurt me. I just mouthed 'Fuck Off' to him so Esme wouldn't hear me and stood beside Seth's now wolf shape. An unknown to me, red-eyed vampire stepped out of the trees near the Cullen's. But it was blatantly obvious they knew him and Jasper lit up on seeing him.
He was tall with sandy blond hair and dressed as if he'd just left the ranch, turned out later that he had. Denim clad from head to foot and well-worn cowboy boots finished off the look. He made the Cullens look overdressed and lacking in his casual distressed presence. This was no boy, hell he was like no man I'd ever seen either. Commanding and giving off the aura of power, the same one Jasper gave off occasionally. But this guy was exuding it all the time.
I lifted my hand to my mouth to check I wasn't drooling, that would be beyond embarrassing. Seth had phased back and dressed by then and he laughed and said "Shut your mouth, Bella, before you swallow a bug" I flushed bright red and everyone swung round to look at me, making it worse. The stranger raised an eyebrow and winked at me, I heard two growls one from Jake and one from Edward. Alice called me over saying "Bella, this is Jasper's brother Peter Whitlock, Peter this is Isabella Swan, Bella to her friends"
"Pleasure to meet you Suga', " he said with much more pronounced drawl than Jasper. I felt my heart start racing and knew they all heard it too, damned unfair, bloody vampire and shifter hearing. This triggered more growling from the two idiots and I glanced at both of the and said "Grow up! morons" then turned back to Peter and held out my hand "No, I definitely think the pleasure might be all mine" this time I winked at him and he broke out in a huge smile.
Edward being Edward grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away saying "Bella Love, he's a human drinker don't get so close!" I pulled my arm away and said: "Yes and I'm your singer, so guess who's more dangerous to me, Edward and don't call me Love again, do you hear me?" He huffed and said, "I'm just trying to stop you doing anything foolish!" I turned answering him with "No Edward, you're just trying to stop me having a life! As per usual!" I walked away over to Esme and she shook her head sadly.
"Sorry Bella, we've been trying to tell him to stop smothering you, but he seems unable to listen" she sighed and put her arm around me. "I'll add that to the list of things Edward won't do!" I said bitchily and I heard several giggles from around the field. "So Peter, how come you're here alone? Where's your wife?" I heard Edward say and didn't miss everyone else's intake of breath. In a quick blur of movement, Peter had Edward by the throat in the air, feet dangling above the ground.
"You know exactly where my ex-wife is Edward! You also know what happened because you've just pilfered it from my mind! You stupid prick, so for who's benefit was this little power play? Ah, Bella's! Thought she dumped you prudish ass, didn't she?" he asked voice dripping venom. "A little advice Edward, don't try to play with the big boys, you just might get hurt! Do I make myself plain?" Before I could stop myself I said: "Is it wrong that I'm a little turned on by that?" I said to Esme and she could barely keep a straight face, everyone else burst out laughing, well everyone except Edward and Jacob.
Peter dropped Edward on his ass and came over to me "You sure are somethin' else Suga', so let's try for that handshake again" he held out his huge hand and mine disappeared into it. The current of electricity that passed between us made my hair audibly crackle and the whole field went silent as we just stared at each other. "Shit! did they just imprint?" quizzed Embry, "Looked like the vampire equivalent to me!" said Jared in awe, Jacob growled, turned and ran howling into the night.
Edward sat on the ground shaking his head saying "No, no, no!" quietly to himself. All of this happen as we stared into each other's eyes, this was madness, but perfect madness all the same. Carlisle cleared his throat and suggested that was enough for tonight. Alice came over and tried to pull me away from Peter and I growled at her, she was shocked and was about to say something to me when Jasper put his hand over her mouth and picked her up, "Sometimes I don't understand you Alice, who would be stupid enough to get between a newly mated couple, but you?" he said sternly.
"But! I never! How did that happen?" she stuttered, all eyes turned to her "You never saw that happening?" asked Carlisle confused, "I don't see her as clearly since she left Edward and now she's fading as I look at her!" she wailed. "And Peter?" said Jasper "Fading out too!" said Alice sadly. "It's Bella's shield, protectin' us both. No outside interference will be brooked! Eh, Suga'?" Peter said and I just nodded happily, he grinned and gathered me into his arms and leant down and kissed me, gently, but firmly and I opened up like a blossom below his lips.
"We need to talk, Isabella" Peter whispered in my ear, "I was staying at the Cullens house tonight, will that do?" I murmured, he nodded "Do you want a lift Suga'?" he went to turn his back and I stopped him, jumped up and wrapped my arms and legs around the front of him and he growled low in his throat. "You're playin' with fire, little one!" he told me and I snuggled in closer, "I know!" I laughed and started peppering his throat with little kisses and nips, he was making a strange noise like a cross between a growl and a purr and I loved it.
"We won't get any talkin' done if you don't calm down," he said as he ran us to the large white mansion, that was the Cullens home. He leant his head to the side to whisper into my ear "I can smell your scent and it's driving me mad, my Isabella" I smiled against his throat and sucked on his Adam's apple and he tripped, swore and growled simultaneously. I couldn't help laughing, I have never been this happy, or felt this loved, not coddled or babied but pure unadulterated love.