Bella POV

It was uncomfortable with Alice helping me feed. I knew that she fed off animals and didn't really approve of feeding off of humans so it made me self conscious. Honestly, now that I could control my strength enough to run the bathwater I didn't feel like I needed anyone there at all. Sure, I still made a mess, but the cleaning staff would take care of that sometime before it was Angie's turn to come down here.

I didn't mind having Alec with me but he was my mate. It was different. Still, the next time Alec has to go out of town I think I'm going to tell him that I can feed myself. I get changed into exercise clothes and go to combat practice. Halfway through combat practice, I can tell Alec is home... or really close to home. That pain in my chest goes away almost completely.

When combat practice ends I run out the door before everyone else and go looking for him. He's standing just outside the door waiting for me. I fell into his arms. Now I'm complete.

Happily, I follow him up to our room. The second the door closes behind us he begins to rip off my clothes. I return the favor. It takes me a little longer because he has more clothes than I did. We start manically kissing each other all over. By the time we are in the bedroom, he pushes me hardback onto the bed. I just laugh as I spread my legs for him.

The next second he is sheathed all the way inside of me. He is rough and demanding in his movements and I like it. Before I can come he pulls me off of him and gets behind me. He is deep inside me again before I can move. Grabbing on to my hips he pounds deep into me. I spasm around the spike that is his cock still pounding into me. He doesn't stop, doesn't let up before I orgasm for the third time. I cry out my release so loud they can probably hear it on the whole floor but I don't care.

We fall into bed and hold each other close the rest of the night.

I admit that if mating instincts usually feel that way I don't know how he let me leave before. He admits it was a challenge.

"You are a strong man Alec, taking my needs into account like that and waiting for me to be ready for you. I don't know if I could have been that strong." I admit.

"You don't have to be my love. You're here now and I won't leave you unless I have to. I missed you so much while I was gone."

"I missed you too. My chest hurt so bad and it just wasn't right feeding with Alice. I was desperate to have you back. Thank goodness I can at least manage the phone now so I can call you."

"It was nice of you to help Angela talk to Demetri."

"It's what friends do. I knew she needed him as much as I needed to hear from you."

"So did you get the nomad you were chasing?"

"Yeah, and he even made it back here alive but I hope I don't have to leave you again soon."

"I was thinking you are probably almost ready to be safe around people again. If we can get you comfortable around humans again maybe you can go on missions with me."

"I'll do my best Alec

"I know that my love. Whatever you do you always do your best."

Alec kissed me and soon we were twined around each other making love again.

Demetri POV

"I missed you so much," Demetri said as he closed the door.

"I missed you too," Angela said flying into his arms.

"I'll try to get someone else to do the tracking for me for the next little while. There are other trackers, just not as good as me."

"I'd like that," Angela admitted. "Nothing went right without you here. The only thing I managed to do was to call you and even that needed Bella's help. I'm completely lost without you still."

"It's okay, my love, you're still a newborn. It's supposed to be that way."

"I did manage to feed. Jane was a big help."

"Jane's a sweetie."

"There wasn't anything for me to do while everyone was in court or combat practice though. It was so boring. I tried to read but I ripped the book. It was a little after that Bella brought her phone over so I could call you. She really tried to help.

"I did go to the recreation room while everyone was in there but when people were off doing their own thing I've been in here wishing I could sleep."

"I'll tell Aro it's too soon for me to go on missions. Just don't worry now my love. It's alright."

Angela hugged Demetri too tightly. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, my little love."

Demetri was sad for Angela. She was putting too much pressure on herself. She was a newborn. It could be a full year or longer before she was ready to enter the world again. Still, how did he make the occasional absence easier on her? He wouldn't be able to take the next two years off. Part of him wished that Bella was having the same trouble as Angela was but that wasn't fair on Bella.

The only thing he could think to do was to assign Jane as a companion for Angela when he had to be out of town but that wouldn't work. Jane was needed in court. Aro couldn't do without her most days.

Maybe in a few months, Bella would be settled enough that she could stay with Angela if he had to go out of town. Bella could be excused from combat practice if it was necessary. He would figure out how to make better arrangements for her in the future.

He needed to check the reports he'd been sent but it would have to wait till later. He wouldn't leave Angela right now.

"You know before Bella could read Alec turned the pages for her. We could do that if you would like."

"I don't want to read now. You're home. Can we go to bed and you just hold me?"

"Anything my love."

Esme POV

When the phone rang and she saw the number was from Italy she knew what they would say. Carlisle had done something stupid.

"Hello."

"Hello Aro, how are you today?"

"I'm alright my dear but I thought it best to advise you that your... husband won't be coming home to you. He tried to kill a member of my guard during his trial."

"Oh, no, Carlisle."

"I'm afraid so. My condolences. The only good news I have for you is that since you didn't feel his death you weren't his true mate. Perhaps young Alice could help you find the man that is meant for you."

"Not...his...mate?" she asked.

"No my dear. I understand that this is a loss for you but I must warn your family that there will be no more attempts on young Bella's life."

"Of course not Aro. We have no grudge against Isabella. She was part of the family."

"Good then, this sad business is over. I admit I will miss my friend Carlisle as well. Ciao Esme."

"Goodbye, Aro."

I didn't get the phone hung up before the tears came. I sobbed and sobbed. Soon Emmett and Rose were beside me.

"Carlisle... not coming home." she sobbed.

"I'm so sorry Esme.

Esme didn't know what to do with herself. She wasn't Carlisle's mate. Why would he have lied to her all these years? What could she do at this point? Why did Carlisle try to kill Bella? What had happened? She'd been kept in the dark for far too long trusting Carlisle blindly. Trusting him to love her, to give her a family, to be her made and care for her.

She would go to Alaska and stay with their cousins the Denali's. They had a secluded home away from the problems and chaos of being mixed up in the human world. She would be able to just be herself. Perhaps the experience would allow her to figure out who she really was without Carlisle. They always welcomed her. Perhaps Emmett and Rose would join her, or would she be traveling into a new life alone?

She knew she wasn't really their mother. They were grown, adults. They left from time to time to be alone and go on honeymoons. Maybe she would change a child, sixteen or so, still old enough to keep from being an immortal child but not too old to really need a mother. It was something to think about.

First, she needed to sell all the properties they had all over the world. She wouldn't be going back to any of them again, especially not to Forks. There were too many bad memories there. The Quiliutes could go back to normal and no longer worry about vampires. Yes, it would be a good decision for everyone all around.

"I'm going to Denali. Will you come with me?"

"Sure," Emmet said and Rose nodded her agreement.