Authors note: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. It wasn't an easy one for me. I wanted to do more with Pam but I just can't seem to get into her character yet. Don't fret though there will still be more of her. Also I'm not a huge fan of Alcide, I think he's kind of an ass. So while this won't exactly be Alcide bashing some people might view his attitude as out of character. There will be NO Sookie in this story. AT ALL. As some of you may have figured out by how I write Isabella I'm not a fan of helpless females. Anyway hope you like the story so far.
By the time they got to Fangtasia it was like two in the morning. Isabella was bored senseless. She wasn't one to look forward to a fight per se but having absolutely nothing to do other than run was boring. Even while she'd been hunting with Jasper they had at least sparred. She was looking forward to having more partners to spar with. There was no doubt about that. Jasper had always acted like he was afraid to hurt her and held back. She looked around the bar thankful that Eric had called ahead and had Pam keep it closed for the night. It was going to be a bit of an introduction tonight and while she wasn't worried she was wary. She still didn't exactly know how Pam was going to react. While over the phone had been one thing being in person was quite another. It wasn't like she could just take Pam down if she was a threat either. She walked behind the bar and made herself a whiskey sour. Alcohol usually had a calming effect on her. She sipped it slowly while she watched everyone else trying to make themselves comfortable.
Jacob had stayed outside in wolf form, Victoria with him, for the moment not wanting to be unprepared just in case. Leah and Seth however had shifted and came inside. She smiled over at the two of them. Leah had been through a heartbreak almost similar to her own when the wolf she had been with imprinted. It had left her bitter and full of attitude. Not that Isabella blamed her in the least. She just hoped one day Leah would find her own match. She held in a gasp as she watched Leah walked in staring directly at Godric. She recognized the look in Leah's eyes. A huge smile crossed her face. The more of their allies that were mated the better. Mated vampires were automatically stronger and a wolf protecting its imprinted mate was downright scary.
Isabella was plotting on how to get Godric to touch Leah when Leah spoke up, "Hey Godric can you spar with me for a bit? I've got some pent-up aggression from not being able to confront those assholes earlier. Plus, I want to get better at combat in my human form too." Isabella smirked behind her glass. Leah was definitely quick on her feet. She wondered how Godric was going to feel mated to a wolf. She must have been throwing off some pretty intense emotions because Jasper looked over at her with a brow raised. She pointedly shifted her eyes between Leah and Godric. He seemed to get the message because he smiled too. She figured he had probably already felt it the moment Leah caught sight of Godric in human form. That was the one downside to the wolf side of things. If they were in wolf form they wouldn't recognize an imprint, they had to be in their human form.
Godric looked a little stunned but replied with an affirmative all the same. Jasper made quick work clearing a spot by moving tables and stools out of the way. She smiled brilliantly at him. She knew his military mind would be thinking the same way hers had. Mated allies were better allies. Isabella spoke up before they could get underway, "Alright you two since this is the first time you'll be sparring together I want you to each shake hands before you start." She bit her cheek to hold back a grin. It wouldn't do to give anything away until she found out if Godric was actually mated to Leah. She didn't know if a wolf imprinting on a vampire immediately made them their mate or not. Leah looked over to her and sent a look of gratitude. She acknowledged it with a slight nod.
Godric reached out his hand to Leah's and the moment he touched her hand he smiled. It was an adorable little smile, but one that gave it all away. "Hello my mate." Three little words that was all he said, but it was enough. For some reason she didn't think Godric was going to be as hard-headed about emotions as Eric was. In fact, she was willing to bet on it. When Godric raised Leah's hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand she wanted to happy cry. Godric was as much a gentleman as Jasper was. She couldn't be any happier for Leah than she was right now. Something in that moment though made her seek out her own two mates' eyes. Eric didn't look like he cared one way or another but that was his poker face speaking. When she went to look for Jasper she jumped a little. He was right next to her now, unable to handle the emotions in the room he kissed her. It was just a light peck, but it spoke all about how he felt for her, and she couldn't help but smile blindingly up at him.
Pam was the one who very quickly brought the room back to their situation, "As 'touching,'" Pam made a face, "as that moment was we are about to be at war you know. Perhaps a little more actual sparring and a little less foreplay?" Isabella snorted. She could enjoy romantic moments, but Pam was right. Plus Pam's cynical sense of humor matched her own.
She quickly spoke up so that Leah's temper wouldn't have a chance to rise to the occasion. "Actually that's a great idea. Eric let's go. Jas love why don't you spar with Pam? Godric can spar with Leah, Seth you can spar with," She was interrupted by someone walking in the door. She noticed the way Eric tensed up and the sneer that crossed Pam's face.
"He can spar with me." She turned to look at the man that walked in the door. She could automatically sense the wolf in him. He was an alpha from the way he carried himself. She groaned. Just what she needed. He walked over in front of her and smirked, one that she would be happy to knock off his face. "My name is Alcide and yours is?" Jasper started growling next to her and she sighed. Eric was on her other side in a second looking just as pissed. Great.
She placed a hand on each of her mates calming them, "As you can see I'm rather taken and have no interest in You." She let the irritation at being interrupted and approached show on her face. "I also don't need your Alpha attitude cocking shit up. So, if you want to spar with Seth be my guest but don't try to make him your pack because I'll kill you." She left the threat hanging as she pushed her way around him. "Are we gonna spar or not?"
Eric actually looked proud of her for a moment before stepping in front of her. "Well shall we show them how its done?" She watched the look of determination cross his face and she bit back a smirk. They had quite a bit of frustration towards each other. Sparring was a good way to take care of it. This was going to be fun.
She took a ready position and looked at him, "Bring it on, Mate." She grinned at the irritation that flickered in his eyes. She immediately forced herself to refocus. Unlike Jasper, Eric wouldn't hold back in sparring with her and she needed every bit of concentration she could muster.
Turns out she refocused just in time. Eric's fist went for her side and she had to block it quickly. She thrust her palm towards his nose as she grabbed his wrist with her blocking hand. He quickly moved his face out of the way and jabbed her in her side. She groaned and ended up releasing his wrist. When he swung again she dropped into a crouch then bobbed back up and caught him in the chin. She spun so her back was against his chest and flipped him. He was back on his feet before she could pin him. They continued going back and forth trading blows until he got the upper hand when he swiped her legs from underneath her. She landed rather hard and didn't have time to make it back to her feet before he had her pinned against the floor. She looked up at him panting. She decided to play dirty and leaned up and kissed him. The moment he tensed up she rolled on top of him and had him pinned. She smirked down at him, "And here I thought you were the kind of guy who liked being on top."
She went to get off of him and squealed as he grabbed her ankle and had flipped her again. This time her stomach was to the floor and he was straddled over her lower back. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Oh I love being on top, but there is nothing wrong with letting a woman who knows what she wants have her way with you." He then licked her neck and she groaned. She tried to head butt him but he just moved his head out of reach. She could feel him against her back. She smirked, well at least she wasn't the only one affected by this. She always did get horny after a good fight. He leaned down to her ear again, "God woman your arousal is so sweet smelling. I can't help but be affected." He ground his hips further against her back and she moaned.
Pam was the first to speak and Isabella shot her a death glare, "Would you two get a room. Eric obviously won this round." She sighed and acknowledged her loss. Eric immediately got off and helped her up. She couldn't help but smile up at him. Once she was standing though she winced at the pain in her side where Eric had got a hit in. Pam spoke up again, "So I guess I'll go next. Jasper was it? Are you ready?"
Isabella smiled over at Jasper, "Show her what you can do love."
Jasper grinned at her, "Yes Ma'am." She melted. God she love that drawl. He then walked over to stand in front of Pam.
Isabella couldn't help but call out one last thing before they started, "Hey baby, she's a vampire. Don't go easy on her." She smiled at the look that crossed over his face. "Yes baby I know you've been holding back when we spar. It's alright, but I mean it. I know you don't like fighting girls but show her how it's done." He nodded once and put himself in a ready position. When they started to spar she went and grabbed a bottle of water. It was over quicker than she thought it would be. Pam apparently wasn't any match for Jasper. She inwardly sighed. Looks like there was going to have to be some training.
Leah and Godric were next to spar and while Leah held her own for quite a while she ended up losing when Godric pinned her against the wall. She smiled when Leah looked as affected from their fight as she had been. The last two to go were Seth and the guy Alcide. She immediately went into a ready stance, "Seth do me a favor and kick his ass. I've already been in one fight tonight. I'd rather not have to take down pretty boy too." Seth nodded, he understood the importance of not losing to another alpha besides Jake. "Pretty boy my threat still stands, you try anything funny and I'll cut your head off." Jasper came over and sat by her sending calming waves to her. He wasn't manipulating her emotions just helping her calm down slightly.
Seth and Alcide sparred the longest out of anyone. They went back and forth neither one really giving any ground to the other. After about 40 minutes Seth's younger age finally started to play a part as she could see Alcide slowing down. It still took Seth another 15 minutes to beat him though. When Alcide acknowledged Seth's victory she sighed and finally let herself fully relax. "Okay looks like Pam, Leah, and I need more sparring practice. All three of us lost. However, its almost dawn and I would like to make it to a house big enough for all of us to rest before that happens."
Eric nodded at her, "Alcide, you and your pack will be on guard duty, so the other wolf can rest too. Jasper and Victoria will assist you and I'm sure Isabella and the other pack will help once they wake up. Let's go. Everyone be on the lookout until we get to my place." Everyone nodded their agreement before following Eric out the door.
Godric instead of letting Leah shift picked her up and carried her bridal style. Isabella laughed at the look that crossed Leah's face, it was a mix of pure bliss and absolute irritation. "Oh, calm down Leah, occasionally its nice to let the men do some of the…" She was cut off when Jasper who refused to be out done when it came to gentlemanliness picked her up. She huffed in exasperation, "Jasper, put me down."
Leah laughed at her and Jasper just smiled, "Come on now Darlin' weren't you just saying how its nice to let men do some of the work? Allow me to carry my Mate. Besides you wouldn't want me to look ungentlemanly in front of everyone would you?" Isabella rolled her eyes but inside her mind she was giddy. She really did love when he was a gentleman although it could be exasperating sometimes. Especially since it was apparently now going to become a competition.
She sighed, "Leah I think we are in for trouble. Rather than a who's horse is bigger discussion we're going to be dealing with who has the better manners." Leah half laughed half groaned. Isabella was just glad Eric wasn't in on this competition. One gentleman was enough, thank you very much, besides she quite like the blatant desire that Eric showed in contrast to Jasper's romanticism. Both appealed to the opposite sides of her personality and she couldn't help thinking that maybe the fates had got it right after all.
Once they reached the safe house the three vampires unable to be in daylight quickly made their way down to the basement before Jacob could even shift. It was to close to time for any exchange of pleasantries and they didn't want to have to lock off the house in case the people who could be out in the sun were needed for a fight.
As everyone shuffled off into a bedroom she waited in the living room. She wanted to see Jake before she went to bed. When he finally made his way in side she smiled briefly at him. "Jake, I know you aren't going to want to play nice with the other wolves, but it seems like Eric has them on a leash. I plan on asking him about it later." She paused before breaching the subject she actually wanted to talk about. "So, Leah and Godric are mated..." She cut off when she saw him smile. He was happy for Leah and it didn't matter who it was to. She sighed with relief. She hadn't really expected him to say anything, but she was glad it wasn't going to be a problem.
Jake looked at her, "Yeah I guess they are. I'm glad for her, the kid seems alright." Isabella scoffed when he called Godric a kid. He might look like an 18-year-old, but he was over 2000 years old. "Yeah, I know he's not a kid Isa, but I can't bring myself to call him anything else. I mean he's basically pack now since he's mated to Leah and I am still Alpha no matter how old he may be."
She sighed, "Jake he's not going to try to challenge you for your alpha-ship. He might be mostly in charge when it comes to training but that's because he's been through war before Jake, a lot of them. He will notice what needs to be worked on easier than any of us, and we need to be as prepared and as good as we can be." She glanced out the window and saw Jasper with Alcide, "Jake you can't tell Jas this, but I think they might drag Maria and her army into this. If they offer her Jasper she will join them without question. Jake if she joins into this, which I'm almost positive she will, we are going to need much more than what we already have. Really even if it is just the whole of the Volturi and Edward we don't have enough people." She stopped talking and immediately through her shield up as Jasper walked in. She didn't want him to feel her worry.
Jasper smiled at her, "Isabella love you should try to get some rest."
She gave Jasper a coy smile and led him to one of the still unclaimed bedrooms. The one she chose had an attached bath, "Oh Jas, don't you want to join me in a shower before you go off on sentry duty?" She giggled at the look that crossed his face. She could feel his internal debate and she leaned up and kissed him softly. "Jasper it's okay. I was only teasing. I know our relationship is still too new for that in your eyes. I have no doubt of your desire for me, but I also understand that you want to wait a little bit." She kissed him again, "Now shoo or I will drag you in with me." She smiled as Jasper left the room to go back outside.
Once she had finished her quick shower she laid down on the bed. She relaxed into the softness of it and sighed. "Another day without confrontation. I wonder how many of those we have left." She was asleep within minutes but instead of her normal dreamless state she had an extremely intense dream.
Okay so don't hate me but the dream is going to be a bit intense and I didn't want to make this chapter super long. plus there is a little bit of research involved for it. if you must need a hint a little bit more about Isabella's gifts will be explained in it. It's going to be a shock some might even think extremely far-fetched but it will also make sense as the story progresses. So while some people might abandon this story after the next chapter I hope most of you will actually give the development a chance.