Chapter 48: Didn't Ask For It

Bella POV:

"What are you going to do 173952? You can't escape. Just give up already. Now be a good little girl and stop fucking fighting every order you are given!" Aro was angry with me again. Surprise surprise. He sighed at my lack of response and gestured for Felix to continue his beating of me.

"Fuck. You." I coughed out along with some blood. I miss my freedom.

"What could you possibly do now dear? Let's just say that somehow you were out in the human world, what would you do? Everyone knows what you've done. No one likes you 173952. You are a weak, pathetic, monster. A mutant. A failed experiment. You disgust me." Felix had pulled me up by the scruff of my neck so Aro could give me his speech face to face.

"Go to hell." Aro sighed dramatically once again and pinched his nose in irritation. It gave me a sense of pride that I could cause this reaction from him. This is why I will never back down. Never give up on my free will.

"Take her to Caius again, Felix. And give her some more venom. I don't hear enough screaming." Felix obeyed and started to drag me to my doom.

"Demetri!" He called while pulling me down the hall I've come to know so well. "Get me another vial of venom for 173952. Also get one for 173953 as well. He hasn't had some in a while."

"Of course. Here I have one for her right now." Demetri pinned me up against the icy hard wall, holding my neck harshly. I felt a needle being pushed down deep into my neck. When will this torture end? I can barely remember what the sky even looks like.

"Bella? Bella can you hear me?"

"Ah 173952, back so soon? When will we learn dear?"

"Bella? Carlisle she's still not awake."

"What am I going to do with you….?" Caius' cold fingers ran across my neck and down my collarbone. The venom was starting to kick in, making this so much worse.

"She should be waking up any second Alice. She can probably hear us now."

"Bella? Bella? Carlisle she looks like she's in pain!"

"I think she's having a nightmare or something. It's not pleasant at all whatever it is."

"That is not helping Jasper! Bella? Bella please wake up?" I could hear the voices. But I was still trapped in between realities.

"Just give up already. There is nothing for you to hold out for. No one will ever love you. Flip the switch. Obey orders."

"Belllaaaa! Carlisle can you give her something?"

"I'm afraid not Alice."

"Nooooooooo." I heard myself groan that out. My senses were slowly returning. I could feel Alice's soft hands touch my face in comfort. So different from Caius'.

"Ah but you insist on being a little rebel don't you? I think you like me punishing you. You like it you little bitch." He smirked and undid his robe slowly. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. Be strong Bella. You'll get your revenge one day. Just hold out. Just a little longer. "Well I won't keep you waiting then."

"NOOOOO!" My eyes finally flew open to meet Alice's terrified looking ones. I was sweating and out of breath, it felt as though I had run a marathon. Jesus that was horrible.

"Are you alright? Do you need something to drink or anything? Some aspirin? Tea? Water?" Alice was examining me closely, obviously worried. Someone had moved me to the couch in the lounge area, and the TV was turned off.

"Uh no no. I'm fine. Just need a second." Shit everyone was staring at me, not helping my thinking process. Ok think Bella, think. What happened?

Holy shit. Everything came back to me. The Volturi released our files. The whole world knows who we are. My face must have gone completely white because Alice pulled my whole head against her chest to calm me.

"Hey hey. Everything's going to be ok. Colt's going on live in a few minutes. They are not going to hurt you. Not ever again." She ended assertively, squeezing my shoulder. I ran my hands through my hair and rubbed my face out of stress. It all sounded good, but the Volturi have ways. I of all people know that.

"Ok. Ok, why is the TV off?" Everyone made uneasy faces at my question. I also just noticed Liam was not around. What were they not telling me?

"Um, well it just wasn't something we wanted to watch." Esme said uncomfortably. What the fuck is going on? I raised my eyebrows and looked to Alice, she would tell me.

"Alice? Alice what's going on?" She bit her lip hesitantly.

"Bella they released some um, numbers. And um, names of er, victims. And, and people aren't taking it well." Oh Christ. No no no this can't be happening. I knew they kept track of everyone they brought in for killing for official purposes, but to release that information? That's so fucked up. I started to shake violently again. "But they don't understand what the Volturi did at all! They're just putting their anger into faces they can place! It's not right Bella and that's why Colt is giving a speech. Bella please just relax?"

"Jesus Alice how am I supposed to relax?! Fuck I mean this is why I always have to cover my tattoo in public! How can I blame them for hating me?" I jumped off the couch and away from them. I needed air.

"Bella wait!" Alice's voice called for me as I was out the door. I didn't want to talk to her anymore, my control was wavering and I didn't want to take it out on her. It wasn't her fault I was so fucking stupid and killed a shit ton of people. I phased and ran for the forest that was nearby. I needed some time to wallow in self-pity.

Alice POV:

"Alice don't!" Jasper pulled me back to stop from chasing after Bella. She was obviously in pain and needed me. Why did he stop me? "She needs some time for herself. Just give her that. You can find her later. But she left because she didn't want to take anything out on you. Her emotions were very strong. I'm actually wondering why that is."

"Full moon tonight." Carlisle said from his spot next to a worried Esme. We all gave him questioning looks. "I only put the two together now. It makes sense on why Liam had to run out earlier as well." I nodded and thought of what had happened not too long ago.

We were watching the broadcast on the two of them and the station was starting to take 'expert' opinions from others. Their words were just sickening. Although to be honest I really wasn't paying attention that hard, I was more concerned about Bella's state. But Jasper and Emmett kept yelling at the TV as if they could hear them, and Rosalie and Esme were getting upset. Carlisle was also busy helping me with Bella, but he was pursing his lips annoyed at what he was hearing. Everything went to hell though when Liam started shaking uncontrollably. Zoey had tried to calm him down just as I had with Bella, but he wouldn't have it. He told us he needed to shift and think. I really should have predicted this after all that had happened.

I decided I would stay until the end of Colt's broadcast and then go find Bella. Carlisle turned on the TV again hesitantly, obviously not wanting to hear anymore hatred at his newest daughter. But his timing was perfect.

And now we have a special broadcast for you from the head of the military intelligence division that employees the now publicly known Isabella Swan and Liam Jackson…

I cringed at the way the newslady spoke my mate's name. Oh what little she knew. Fuck her.

The camera cut to a press room with the man I had literally just met today. The bottom of the screen flashed Breaking News: Division Head Michael Colt gives speech relating to released Volturi files. He cleared his throat and began without a script.

Good evening. This afternoon, the ill-famed Volturi released private files relating to my employees with sensitive information on their identities. This was an act of malice and hate. It will not be tolerated by me, or any personal in my division. Tonight I speak to you to end the preconceived ideas and attitudes towards these two individuals. I have had the privilege of working closely with them for the past several months, and I can tell you now that no one has any idea what they have been through. Not even myself. I want you to take a moment and remember this; they are 18 and 16 years old. Even with everything they have experienced, and their lack of age, they show more bravery and moral fiber than I have ever seen. They did not ask for this. We need to remember who the real enemy is here, the Volturi. Who continue to hunt down these poor kids, with no mercy. So I leave you with these images; the ones the Volturi have put in your head, and the truth.

The screen flashed to the Volturi's pictures they had of Bella and Liam after the change, very mugshot like, obviously taken for official filing. I had seen these mere hours before but still couldn't look away. They looked so lifeless, it broke my heart. Her red eyes terrified me, I hoped I'd never see those in real life. But the screen flashed to images that made my heart ache even more. They were taken obviously before the change, just their school pictures, but everything was so different. I had almost forgotten what my old Bella looked like. Oh god I need her now.

Jasper didn't stop me this time when I jumped up to go after her. He understood after all that. The whole family was actually really depressed looking now. This was all our fault, we forget that sometimes. No matter what Bella says, it was.

I ran outside and followed her scent desperately. She had gone pretty far and destroyed a few trees in her path. But the closer I got to her fresh scent, the less destruction there was. She had obviously calmed down with time. Finally I found my wolf laying down and staring up at the moon and sky. She was honestly the most adorable thing on this earth. I sat down next to her and kissed the top of her furry head. Bella began to quietly whine and give me her puppy dog face, meaning she was apologizing for her earlier behavior. I laughed and scratched behind her ears in acceptance.

"Don't worry. I know you needed some alone time. You are my strange little wolf. And I love you." She relaxed considerably and laid her head in my lap. I continued to scratch her ears until I got her leg going. Yes! She grumbled at me in annoyance and embarrassment, and moved her head back down into the grass. I giggled and positioned myself so I could lay on my stomach across from her.

Her eyes were so beautiful, I could stare into them all day long. I blew into her face lightly, ruffling her fur. She grumbled again and nudged my nose with hers.

"Alright alright I've had my fun." She settled back down and closed her eyes contently. "Hey Bella?" She opened them again, letting me know I had her attention. "Do you ever miss being human?" I don't know why I asked this now, but it had been bothering me for some time. She stared at me confusedly, but shook her head no. "Really?" I found that hard to believe. Besides Emmett really, my entire family always talked about how they missed being human. I mean I know Bella was all set to be turned into a vampire by her own choice, but still. It didn't exactly turn out that way.

Seeing that old photo of Bella really had upset me. She was so young and innocent looking. I felt horrible about everything she had been through to get to her current state. Like Colt said, she didn't ask for this. Bella had not responded to me in any way for a while now so I blew at her face again gently as a simple 'hey'. She nudged my nose with a 'sorry' but nodded her head at my second question.

"Why?" That sort of slipped out. What am I doing? Trying to have this deep conversation with her in her wolf form. I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I can read her better when she is a wolf though. She doesn't really hide much.

Bella responded by giving my face a big wet kiss. Just because I love her does not mean that her wolf kisses have grown on me. It was still pretty gross. But I appreciated the gesture and it made me giggle.

"You really mean that?" She jumped up nodding and licked my face once again. "Ok! Ugh Bella that is so nasty." But she saw right through me and tackled me as I got up, licking my face nonstop. I had to push her off and tickle her relentlessly to get back.

We spent the rest of the night wandering through the forest aimlessly. I pushed her into a nearby creek a few times, but she got me back by shaking her fur dry violently right next to me. Eventually we had to stroll our way back home, but she stopped on the edge of the forest right before getting there.

"What?" She whined at me and nipped at my shirt. Oh right. She's naked. Not that I would mind or anything. Actually that would be lovely. But I did mind if she came walking in naked in front of everyone. My family had already seen her naked once and it was not by choice. "Oh right. Give me a second." I ran inside to Bella's, oops sorry, our place, and got her some fresh clothes. I brought them back quickly and gave them to her. She phased back easily and changed rather fast, probably to avoid unnecessary groping on my part. Ok she does it to. Don't judge me. She's fucking sexy alright. Once she was all dressed I took her hand and we ambled back home. I liked saying that. Home. With Bella.

"Oh by the way." She stopped me before we got inside. "I really do mean it. I could never do this when I was human." She took my chin in her hand and plopped a kiss right on my lips. It made me smile widely.

"Hmm. Well maybe you could. But you couldn't do what we're about to do." I purred lowly, sending a growl through her chest. "I'll….. race ya!"