Bella POV
I was fed every twelve hours and the following days fell into a routine. I knew Angela was right down the hall from me but I didn't dare seek her out. My mood was far too unstable and I knew hers was too. I took comfort in the fact that she had Demetri caring for her like Alec was caring for me.
I had started combat training and that was the only thing that Angela and I did at the same time, but even then, we were not practicing together. The training seemed to dissipate the mist of rage and the moodiness that Alec often took the brunt of. He was exceptionally patient with me. He would always remind me that I was doing well and that he loved me.
I enjoyed my life now for the most part. I fed, I bathed, I trained and I fed again. Then Alec and I had twelve hours alone together before it all started again. I felt horribly guilty on my first full day awake though.
Heidi got too near Alec and I lunged at her. When he caught me mid lunge I turned on him and bit his neck. He just purred in my ear that he was glad I was finally able to mark him. Then he took me to our room, made passionate love to me and marked me as his. We broke the bed but I was proud to wear his mark, I even wore my hair up most of the time so everyone could see it.
From that day on women stayed further away from Alec. It wasn't far enough for my comfort but it was far enough that no one got hurt from me losing my temper.
On the third day, Jane came to our room to invite us to a movie. It took me a little while to warm up to Jane, but that was just because she was female. Rationally I knew she was his sister. I knew he loved me. I knew he would never betray me. But my instincts couldn't have cared less about any of those things.
Felix looked bigger to me. I didn't think that was possible. I had him call and invite Heidi to the movie. I didn't want her to feel left out. I was one of the lucky ones I think. I remembered most of my human life and all the people I'd known. I also remembered much about Alec's life, and because of that, Jane's too.
When we were all settled in the movie began and I watched the bright colors dance across the screen in fascination. Newborns really were easily distracted. Demetri watched me warily and he and Angela sat on the other side of the room. I knew it was the right thing to do right now but I didn't like it. I missed my friend.
On the fourth day, Heidi came to our room with racks full of clothes. I had grown taller and my figure had filled out some while I was burning and I needed new clothes. Since I needed help dressing and undressing and we knew they would all fit, she just held up outfits while I said yes or no. Afterward, she helped me put everything away. She filled out my lingerie drawer too but I didn't know when I would be able to wear the little wisps of satin and lace. They were currently too fragile for me to manage.
On the fifth day, I was called to the meeting room along with Alec. I was curious about what was going on and when the doors opened I found out. All the Cullens were there, bar Edward. Carlisle was trying to persuade Aro that I return home with them. When I walked in Emmett was the first one to approach me. He moved slowly and cautiously and for that I was grateful. I was able to tell him, hello but when he tried to hug me a loud growl sounded from deep in Alec's throat.
Alice was next to approach me and Jasper followed close behind her. I had never truly seen Jasper before. His scars were his most prominent feature. They said he was dangerous, but he just took in my cautious gaze and smiled wryly at me. I was able to hug Alice but she had to remind me to be gentle. Rose and I exchanged greetings. Apparently we were no better friends now than we used to be and that was fine with me. It didn't bother me anymore.
The problem came when Carlisle approached me quickly telling me I knew I belonged with Edward. Alec had him on his back growling loudly at him in less than a second. It was for the best though. Alec's attack stopped mine and I was going for his throat.
"I don't want to leave," I declared. "I stay with my mate."
"And we wouldn't want things any other way." Aro agreed with me. His agreement allowed me to calm. I didn't want to go home with these people. But I would like for Emmett, Alice, and Jasper to stay around for a while. I almost got my wish. In the end, the coven left, except for Alice and Jasper.
That was the day that I remembered Edward existed and that he was out to get me. It scared me but it also made me angry and I couldn't handle the competing emotions, they were just too strong. I took my temper out on Alec.
He only said, "You're doing so well. I'm proud of you and I love you. Don't forget that."
After the tension of the meeting and my tantrum, it was nice when Jasper approached Alec and started getting to know him. Jasper suggested, and eventually, Alec agreed that Jasper would assist in my combat training. They only agreed though when Jasper beat Alec in two of three fights. Alice held me back from going to Alec's defense and Alec agreed to give over my training to Jasper for the time being.
Although it was too hard for Alec to come to these training sessions Madison still accompanied me whenever Alec didn't. He watched Jasper move with wide eyes like he was eager to spar with him too.
Alec always came back to take me to feed and that was a relief. I was doing better but I still made a horrible mess and I wouldn't want anyone else seeing me like that.
Sometimes Jasper and Alice joined us during our downtime and sometimes they didn't. I liked visiting and joking around with them but I missed the alone time with Alec so we didn't do it every night.
On the seventh day after I woke up, I was to meet a vampire named Eleazar. He was able to tell what talents or gifts a vampire had. I was nervous to meet him but I went to the meeting room when I was called, followed this time by Jasper and Madison. He had interrupted training time so Alec wasn't with me.
"Hello, Bella. I'm Eleazar." He introduced himself.
"It's nice to meet you," I said cautiously.
His eyes went out of focus and he looked at me with surprise on his face. "Young Bella," he told me, "You are a mental and physical shield. Do you know what that means?"
"No sir," I tried to be polite.
"It means when you're trained you will be able to protect others from mental and physical attacks. I doubt that any gift would work on you if you had both of your shields up at any given time."
"How do I learn to control them?" I asked.
Aro was the one to answer me. "I'll have my own shield Renita teach you when it is time. For now, continue working on your combat skills young Bella."
"Thank you Eleazar, it was nice to meet you," I told him.
"And you Bella, and you."
After that Aro and Eleazar were in a meeting so I don't know what else was said. We went back to working on my combat skills.
Alec POV
Demetri had to remind me, and often, that there was a threat against Bella out there and she needed the best fighter possible teaching her. I hoped we'd find him but I knew he'd come back with his family and we hadn't been able to find him yet. So I let Jasper work with her on her training. From the way Demetri talked about Jasper working with Bella, I thought Demetri wanted to spar with him too. Bella didn't seem to notice the audience while she was training though and I was glad for it.
She was steadily improving day by day. The only thing that wasn't getting any better was her ability to feed. She made a horrendous mess each time and I feared that with both girls having trouble the cleaning staff was going to come to hate them.
I tried to coach her and she listened avidly but she just didn't seem to be able to put the feeding tips into practice. She always looked like a horror movie reject when she was finished and she was adamant that only I take her to feed. She didn't want anyone else to see her that way.
Her temper was pretty laid back for a newborn. There were very few fits as long as women kept an appropriate distance from me. She was very possessive and I admit that a part of me really liked it. Jasper advised me that her fits only happened when she was feeling two or more negative emotions at once. After this I felt a little stupid that I hadn't asked him about the emotions causing her fits before he offered the information. We just weren't used to having an empath around.
I made sure that whenever Bella had a fit of temper I would assure her that I love her. I didn't want her to think that I was angry with her when the inevitable happened.
After Bella told me she was a physical and mental shield my mind went back to the blue bubble she had locked us in while burning. That must have been her physical shield. I was glad to have the confusion explained however Aro wasn't very happy with me that I had forgotten to report that part of Bella's change. I made my apologies and left him to get over it.
She was excited that she was gifted and we didn't have any fits of temper that day.
Two days later, the ninth day since she woke up, she made up for her lack of temper so far. Edward was spotted in the town but before he could be apprehended he slipped away again. She was furious. In truth, I think she was scared. I had to remind myself that day that she was a newborn and couldn't help it. My girl could really be a handful.
I found myself smiling most days when her temper finally snapped over some small thing. A year ago who would have thought that I would be responsible for my newborn mate. Had someone told me I would have a mate at all I would have probably laughed at them.
I was a lucky man. I had my Bella.
Demetri POV
Unlike Alec, I had to manage some of my work duties along with the needs of my young mate. My Angela had a heck of a temper and I would have never guessed it when she was human. She most often got upset when I had to leave her to see one of the guards. As long as she was allowed to accompany me she was fine but she didn't like being left alone and she really didn't like being left with her guard. Finally, I tried leaving her with Jane. As long as Jane wasn't busy everything went fine, but when Jane was busy she sure flew into a rage.
I would make sure that no matter what was going on, that I was the one to take her to feed. She fed after combat practice and then halfway through the night. We spaced them this way to keep her and Bella from needing to feed in the same vicinity and the same time. Newborns don't feed well together. When you have twenty or thirty newborns it isn't possible to change feeding schedules around like we had but with only two it was possible.
I knew Angela missed Bella but she wasn't quite stable enough to be around another newborn yet. Perhaps in a month or two.
The only thing that really bothered me about Angela's change is that she hadn't marked me yet, nor I her. That only comes with intimacy and Angela wasn't ready for that step yet. I guessed that it was something about her strict Christian upbringing but I was planning to ask Bella what she knew.
The next time I was going passed their room I decided now was the time to get my answers. I guess it was frustrating me more than I had previously admitted to myself.
I knocked on Bella's door and wasn't surprised when a mussed Alec answered the door directly from bed. "Hey Dem, how are you?" he asked.
"I actually need some help from Bella," I told him.
I watched as his eyebrows shot up his forehead. "Come in. I'll go help her get dressed and bring her out, ok?"
"Take your time" I said and he smirked at me. "Not that much time. You know what I mean." I laughed.
When Bella was dressed in a jogging outfit like the ones we keep down in the bath by the feeding area she came out. I was proud of Alec. He gave me a semblance of privacy with his mate, proving more than anything just how much he trusted me.
"I need your help Bella."
"Of course Demetri, what's the problem?"
"Can we sit down?" I asked her politely.
"Of course," she said with raised brows.
Now that I was here I didn't know how to ask what I wanted to know.
"I was wondering if you had any idea why Angela hasn't marked me yet," I said. Goodness if I was human I would have been blushing. From the look on her face, so would have Bella.
"This is a sex question isn't it?" Bella stumbled.
"Yes, Bella this is a sex question."
"And she won't answer?"
"Nope, not a word."
"Okay. But I don't want it getting back with her that I told you her history okay?"
"Of course Bella. I wouldn't jeopardize your friendship I just need to know what I'm dealing with."
"She's ashamed," Bella said as if that explained it all.
"Pardon?" I asked, trying to keep my patience with another newborn.
"She's had one partner, once, and it went really badly and she's ashamed. I wouldn't be surprised if she thinks she's bad at it."
Finally, the light went on in my head and I understood. A bad first time really could explain her reticence. Previous bad experiences, at least if they're bad enough can taint pretty much everything.
"Thank you, Bella, I owe you one."
"Nope," she said, "just take good care of my best friend."
"Deal," I smiled at her and let myself out.