I can't believe that within 10 minutes of me submitting last night's chapter, I had reviews hitting my inbox! You are all so great!
Also, a few people have asked if Aidan will have any powers... I haven't actually decided on that, so I will put it to you lot! If he is to have one power, ONE, what should it be?
Chapter 14
Riders on the Storm
Esme, Emmett and Jasper spent several hours showing Aidan how to hunt effectively. They showed him how best to track, catch and kill his prey quickly so the animal didn't suffer. They also helped him track different animals, so he could develop a taste for which one he preferred. Emmett even helped him try a grizzly bear, though he seemed to prefer mountain lion, like Edward.
He had caught the scent of humans a few times and needed to be restrained by Jasper and Emmett. Esme was on hand to distract him with passionate kisses, though they earned her some angry looks from Emmett. Jasper understood all too well what had happened between them, he could feel the change in them. Their feelings mirrored his own for Alice, though he felt devastated for Carlisle.
When they returned, Aidan sat down with Alice and Jasper so they could tell him everything he would need to know about his new life, and about their family. They told him about the importance of controlling his bloodlust, and that they never fed on humans. No exceptions. They also told him about the Volturi, just to reiterate the point of keeping their lives a secret.
As he had hunted and sated his thirst, he was rational and lucid enough to try to piece together what had happened to him. He explained to them that he lived just outside of Forks, and had been hiking through the forest when he was attacked.
"We didn't find any things with you," Jasper said.
"I guess I must have been dragged away from where I was hiking. I still have no idea who he was. It was all so quick," Aidan replied.
"How do you feel now?" Alice asked.
"My throat isn't burning as badly. I feel like I should be more disoriented than I am. Do all humans smell like that?"
"Yes, although, each human will smell slightly different. Just as a vampire will smell different than another. You found it difficult not to attack them?" Alice asked.
"Yeah. I just wanted to taste them so badly. It was the sweetest scent I'd ever smelled. How could they smell so good?"
"Because you want their blood. For our kind, nothing compares to it. Nothing will ever taste so sweet and satisfying. If you let your thirst get out of control, you'll want nothing more than to kill and drain the first human you can find. You'll care nothing for their death. But, it's not who we are. We don't want to be monsters, mindless killers. Being what we are doesn't give us the right to take human life," Jasper said.
While the others kept talking to Aidan, Esme slipped away. She needed to see Carlisle. She had no idea what to say, but she couldn't simply leave things they way they were.
She knocked quietly on the door, though he would have heard her coming.
"Come in," he said softly.
Esme slowly entered, almost afraid of what she would find. Carlisle was stood in front of his desk, with his hands in his pockets and his eyes trained on his shoes.
"Carlisle," she whispered sadly.
"You don't have to explain. I understand."
"But, it's unfair!" she implored, stepping closer to him.
"Esme, do not torture yourself so. We both knew that this might happen one day. We both knew what it would mean for us. I would never dream to stand in the way of your mate," he said, his eyes glassy with sadness.
Esme stepped into his chest and sobbed tearlessly. Carlisle held her lightly, his hands loose on her waist.
"I never wanted to hurt you!" she mumbled.
"You did not hurt me. I am happy for you to have found such contentment. I will gladly let you go."
"Carlisle..."
"You long for him, even now. I can feel you tremble without his presence. Go to him. Stay in the cottage and be fulfilled," he said, reaching out to stroke her cheek.
"And you?"
"I will be fine. The children are here. Emmett may take some time to get used to it, but he will understand. Please, go to him. He will not fully understand as we do what is happening to him," Carlisle said, stepping away from her.
"I feel like I am betraying you," she whispered.
"There is no betrayal. If you do not accept him, you will be betraying your soul, and I could not live to see you suffer in such a way," Carlisle said.
"I love you, Carlisle," she said, backing towards to door.
"And I you."
Esme left before she could break down again, and Carlisle slumped into his chair. He felt drained. He knew that everything he had said to her was the truth, but the thought that a man whom they had known only a few hours would be touching his wife, did not sit well with him. His ex-wife. He would have to come to terms with that. She was not his wife any longer. And yet, his body still ached with the loss of her. She was not his mate, but his body had still known hers. He would never know her again. Never be able to touch her or taste her. He would never know the cool feeling of her wrapped around him as he loved her. His length twitched in protest. It would no longer feel the privileged touch of her hands, mouth, and silken body again. His own hand would be a poor substitute.
She would still be in his life, but only as a friend. It would be better than losing her completely, though it wouldn't be easy to see her with him.
He fingered the ring on his left hand. After a few contemplative moments, he removed it and put it onto the opposite finger of his right hand. It was no longer a wedding ring. It was simply his family crest.
Esme returned to the beginnings of a fight. Aidan and Emmett were once again squaring off with one another.
"What's going on?" she yelled.
Rosalie had her arms around Emmett as Jasper and Alice tried to restrain Aidan.
Upon seeing Esme, Aidan rushed to her and buried his nose against her neck. He muzzled her tenderly and inhaled her scent. It was soon apparent to the others that Esme's presence calmed him.
"Why are you letting him touch you?" Emmett bellowed, outraged at the display.
Aidan growled loudly against her, warning Emmett.
"Emmett, please, it's complicated," Esme replied, her eyes flickering at Aidan's touch.
"Emmett, they're mates," Jasper answered.
Emmett and Rosalie stared at Jasper in shock.
"Of course!" Alice whispered in understanding.
"But, Carlisle?" Rosalie asked.
"They are mates," Carlisle said from behind Esme and Aidan. "Esme, take Aidan to the cottage. We will meet with you tomorrow for another hunt," he added.
Esme didn't argue and dragged Aidan away. When they had left, Carlisle went to his children.
"This will not be easy for us to accept, but accept it we must. You all know what it is like to find your mate. Esme and Aidan will need time together to bond," he said soberly.
"So, you're happy for this newborn to have sex with your wife?" Emmett shouted.
For a moment, Carlisle felt as though he'd been slapped. "She is not my wife. I will be arranging a divorce. It is not fair to keep her tied to me, when she is no longer mine."
Carlisle retreated to his study. He felt pained by Emmett's words. It was hard enough to accept at all, without his children overreacting.
"Did you have to be so crass?" Rosalie chastised as she gave Emmett a smack round the back of his head.
"What? I just said what we were thinking!"
"Emmett, this is going to be hard on him. Don't be so insensitive," Alice said.
"But, it can't be right! They've been together forever! How can he just let her go?" Emmett said in disbelief.
"Because he has to. He can't compete with her soul mate. We just have to be there for him," Jasper said, hugging Alice tightly to him.
They stood in silence, thinking about the events of the day. Their family had changed drastically, and none of them really knew how to deal with it. They could only hope that it would work itself out.
A/N: Poor Carlisle! He doesn't know what to do with himself! Alice will tell Bella about what has happened, in the next chapter!