Edward

Bella was ignoring my texts. Multiple text. She was leaving me on read and I felt like a ghosted one night stand.

I haven't moved in a few days, laying flat on my stomach in the wilderness outside of Tanya's cabin home in the Alaskan forests. Carmen would come and peek in on me to make sure I was "okay" but the coven left me alone most of the time.

I'm sorry. I texted again and lay my phone face down, unable to bear it if she didn't respond.

Aren't you being a little dramatic?

Tanya's inner voice was full of pity but there was an underlying curiosity there. Annoyance, too, but she was wondering why I was so overturned by a human.

A witch, She corrected herself. Perhaps she cast her magic upon him. Tanya mused, walking circles around me. Or perhaps she took his virginity. This is really the only time I see men behave like this.

I groaned into the snow and dirt, squeezing my eyes shut. "The second one." My voice was muffled by the pillow of snow my face was buried in.

Tanya chuckled and crouched beside me. "She must be extraordinary to catch the heart of Edward Cullen, Immortal Virgin of Vampires." She teased and ruffled my hair.

Huffing, I flipped onto my back and glowered up at the night sky. "I ruined things."

How so? Tanya sat cross legged beside me.

I hadnt told them of my major fuck up. I was far too ashamed and was worried they wouldn't let me mope in their woods. I did have to come clean eventually anyway, because if Bella didn't fix this with her spell and the news got out...

The Volturi would come for me. Worse, they would come for Bella.

"I exposed ourselves." I admitted. "A boy saw me run. If I hadn't, Bella would have been killed. I ran away like a coward so I wouldn't complicate anything else. I'm a rat bastard who doesn't deserve her."

Tanya's manicured eyebrows shot up. "Your self loathing can get a bit dramatic, you know that right? How do you know she's even upset with you?"

"She won't text me back" I held up the phone high in the air, my one life line to the girl who had me so turned around and wrapped around her pinky.

Tanya burst out laughing. He's simpering! Oh, I've never seen a vampire SIMP before!

"I am not a simp!" I snapped.

"God, Edward, you're a moment away from drinking her bath water you love sick beast." Tanya laughed. "Its almost like you mated with her."

I froze at the word, staring up at the sky. Surely no God would be so cruel as to mate me with a person who would die of old age?

Being in love and then mating were two very different things. Mating was...well, it was intense and passionate and MONOGOMOUS. It was eternal. I lived with three mated pairs, I've heard and seen what they were like. Two halves of a whole person, come together to make who they were always meant to be.

Well, this was Carlisle's theory and since when had he been wrong on anything at all?

I searched my own feelings, my own heart. "How do you tell?' I asked quietly. I needed guidance, I needed my father.

Tanya snorted. "Why are you asking me?:

"You have relations with humans." I sat up. "How does it feel?"

Tanya pursed her lips to hide her grin. "It feels really good."

"I meant do you love them?"

"They could die in front of me and I legit would not care." Tanya rolled her eyes. Her mind spoke the truth.

For the first time in days, I rose to my feet. My clothes were frozen in odd places upon my body, my shirt ridden up to my chest and stuck there from the cold clinging to cold. "I'm returning to Forks. I must speak with Carlisle."

Tanya studied my face. May I come back with you? She wanted to see her other friends, my family but also wanted to meet Bella. The witch who had stolen my heart.

""Esme would love that." I offered her my arm and we began to walk.

"One more question." Tanya said as we headed to the house so she could pick up and overnight bag. "Why didn't you go see her instead of trying to just wait for her to text you."

The truth was simple and rather embarressing... "I couldn't face her because everytime I look into her big, brown eyes, I cant ever think and it ends up in sex."

Tanya was shocked by the words that came out of my mouth. She had merely assumed Bella and I only copulated once and she even had a very "vanilla" idea of what sex with me would be like. Strictly missionary with no room for fun or kinkyness and even a set schedule.

"Its not like that with Bella." I murmured.

"Okay." NOW I HAVE TO MEET HER.

Hours Later

Carlisle stared at me and I stared back. We sat in the two, plush arm chairs in his office surrounded by books and relics of the past hanging on the walls or posed perfectly on shelves. The giant cross hung over us and its prescense made this feel very much like a confessional.

Well, Carlisle had been the son of a clergyman...

I took note that an array of thick, slightly dusty leather-bound books were neatly piled high on a small table near the chair. Carlisle had been studying them obsessively. He was dying to contact Bella, to ask ask many questions as she would allow. He didn't, however, because he worried for her safety should she expose herself further to us.

His biggest thought was that he was worried she would be punished by her kind as we would be punished by ours.

Now, his mind was boggled with the question I had asked him.

Can vampires mate with humans?

"Is Bella human?" he pondered.

"She says it's a female dominated race of humans who weild magic." I informed him. "She certainly looks and acts human."

"Dont we also when we need to?" He mused. Strange...I know of vampires taking human lovers...Tanya...it never occurred to me that perhaps vampires can grow mating attachments to humans...I assumed Edward was just...well...fascinated with his new toy...

Should I be insulted by that? Carlisle has never thought ill towards me, ever, even when I deserved it. While he was happy I was happy, he was wary of what Bella meant in our lives. Yes, our lives. My family would be heavily implicated as they knew of my relationship.

"How can you tell?" I asked. "I...I know I want her. Forever. I know that, but isn't the mating bond both ways?"

Indeed, it is.

"So, because Bella is...so eager to be with another..." I looked down at my hands. "She isn't my mate."

Alice sighed loudly, annoyed, from the next room. Are you done brooding? Bella is coming over.

I shot up from the chair, panic settling in. "She's coming here?"

Alice appeared in the doorway, smug. "I'm helping her get ready for the party tonight."

"You know, we could just sneak into Newtons house and take what needs to be taken." Carlisle murmured. "We are vampires."

I didnt respond to that and instead pushed past Alice, furious. "Why did you invite her over?"

"Besties?' Alice shrugged.

Tanya was lounging on the sectional with Esme, both flipping through channels. I paced around nervously, my hands shaking. I haven't seen Bella in days, what if she is upset with me? Hates me ? Spits on me for causing her so much grief?

Esme watched me pace around, internally crooning at my erratic and love struck behavior. Seeing myself through her eyes gave me a jolt.. I looked like a filth covered nomad. My clothes were rumpled and damp from laying in the snow and my hair was so ridiculously wind blown I looked like an anime charachter.

I rushed up stairs to shower, stripping off my clothes in my private bathroom. I turned the water on to scalding and stepped in..

I barley reached for the shampoo before Bella's divine, mouth watering floral scent wafted over my face. I inhaled deeply, confused because Bella wasn't in the shower with me.

Then she was.

Her panicked, shrill cry made me jump. She was suddenly in front of me, gasping and flailing as the scalding hot water splashed her face. "OH GOD DAMN!" She reered back, slamming into me. "Hot hot hot hot hot!" she danced around for a moment, trying to avoid the steamy spray.

Naturally, I stood there like an idiot. I had only enough mind left to open the showers glass door and push her out.

"Jesus Fuck, dude!" Bella dove for my sink and turned on the faucet, splashing her face with more water. I imagined it was cold.

So baffled by her, I forgot I was naked. "How did you get in here?" I demanded.

"Shadow walking, remember? I've been practicing..." she reached for a towel off my rack and wiped her face clean. "Still working on it."

It was the first time I had seen her in days and like a junkie, I was dying to get my fix. I inhaled deeply and realized, foolishly, that I had not fed. The scent of her blood, mixed with the stuffy heat of the small bathroom, made my whole body clench and my throat enflame.

A wonderful image, one that disgusted me and aroused me, flashed through my head. Bella, naked and kneeling above me, offering her neck for me to bite...

She looked so lovely, even with her red face and mascara running down her cheeks. Like a beautiful racoon. I raked my eyes over her body and found that she was wore her usual dark clothing but she looked ready for the gym. Her black spandex shorts...

"Ward..." Her voice trembled as I pressed my body into hers, leering over her. She looked up at me, the moment intense. She bit her lip, tilting her head a bit...revealing her delicate throat...

I could have her. Here, in this bathroom. She wanted me, too. I could smell her wetness through the thin fabric of her shorts. My fingers bit into the skin of her bare waist. How scantily clad she was dressed, I noticed. A cheetah print halter top. It was stretchy like her shorts with a zipper going down the middle. It took me a moment to realize it was a brazier. It pushed her breasts up nicely. She wore a black zip up hoodie over that, which was now soaked with water.

Peeling the hoodie down her arms, my body quivered in need. I ducked my head, cupping her face and drawing her lips to mine.

She stopped me. Her hand pressed firmly on my chest and I could feel the magic there. The power...the threat.

I froze, unused to this. She never stopped me before. I crossed a line, broke some unspoken rule. My eyes opened and she was staring at me, trembling. The energy around us swirled and tightened and I could almost feel her body throb...

"Sorry." She cleared her throat and looked away. "I dont have time..."

"I understand." I dont understand. Carlisle was right. I would go to Newtons house and steal something of his myself for her spell. We had time.. She didn't have to go...She felt this yearning,.too. She was scared of it, didnt want to act on it.

"You're happy to see me." She forced a half hearted laugh and looked down. I angled my member away from her.

"I was...going to shower." I murmured.

"Yeah, I see that." She used the towel to scrub her hair, turning from me. "Alice said she'd help me get ready and I wanted...well...I see you're back from Alaska."

I nodded. No doubt the rest of my family knew she was here, though I couldn't hear their thoughts. Bella was a balm. My balm.

My mate?

She went to open the door, leaving behind her hoodie. "Bella?" I sucked in the fresh air the open door let in, my mind clearing. "I missed you."

She gave me a small smile and shut the door behind her. Though she closed it, she didn't move away from it and stood there in my room. Waiting, perhaps? For what?

A full minute ticked by before Bella finally moved away. I counted her light steps to my door, which softly clicked shut behind her as she left.

Once she was gone, the blanket of silence she carried with her was ripped away. My family, nosy and curious, were waiting impatiently to officially meet her and they all each had their own questions. Only Alice met her upstairs and swooped her into her room.

I picked up Bella's hoodie and placed it in the hamper to dry later, adding it to the small collection of clothing I've exchanged with the fickle witch.

Bella

Ward's lusty, starved black gaze haunted me. I couldn't think of much else as I got ready in Alice's room.

I seriously had not meant to just pop into his shower. I had been testing shadow walking for a few days, willing myself to appear in new places. This time around, I was focusing solely on Cullen Cullen Cullen and it shifted into Edward Edward Edward.

"Bella?" Alice waved her hand in my face.

I jumped, blinking. "Hm?'

Alice gave me a knowing look. "You know my brother isn't the most terrible guy to get with."

"Alice." I warned.

"Seems pretty silly to me." Alice shrugged. I sat at her vanity while she sat beside me, rifling through make up. There was a slight chill in the air because she opened her windows to make sure my scent didn't linger. Apparently it made her boyfriend uncomfortable.

"Its not silly." I wasn't insulted, just worn out having to explain. "Its tradition." It was a tradition albeit not a very old one.

Gran was the first Matriarch to officially swear off romantic male partners and when everyone saw how much her coven thrived without them, others followed. It became this weird unspoken rule.

"Pretty odd tradition." She sniffed and picked up a curling iron to do my hair.

"It is what it is." I shrugged.

"What if you fall in love?" Alice asked, sectioning off my hair. "Or want to marry?"

I winced. "Yeah, Renee tried that and look how well it turned out. Honestly, I just don't want to mess with it. I have plans for the future and getting involved with someone isn't on the menu for me."

Alice began to hum something. I tried, again, to convince her to come with me to the party.

"Do you know something I don't?" I asked seriously.

"Yes." She confirmed.. "You do not want me there, trust me."

I huffed.

When I was done getting ready, I fluffed out my hair and donned my sherpa lined leather jacket. "Last chance, Alice" I tell her as I rifle through my purse. "I can shade us in."

"Shade?" she asked.

"Yeah. I shadow walk so its like a verb for it because shadow walking is too long. Its a thing. I made it a thing." I rambled, finding my cell phone and keys. "Shade sounded cool."

She shook her head. "Stay for one minute, everyone wants to meet you and Edward wants to say goodbye and Tanya came all the way from Alaska..."

My body tensed and I felt my heart pick up speed. The Tanya? The one Edward ditched me for?

"Okay." I zipped up my purse.

Alice beamed at me and took my hand in hers.

The Cullen house was not what I expected. I knew from Edward that these weren't you're typical Stoker vampires but honestly, it was a bit ridiculous how...clean everything was. Sterile was the right word. Ward had told me they liked to keep up the pretenses but this was a little much.

As we descended the steps going down, I heard hauntingly beautiful piano music being played. At first I thought they were listening to the radio. I let go of Alice and drifted around the corner, to a set of glass doors that opened into a spacious room.

.

The only thing it held was an old grand piano being played by Edward. He didn't notice me at first, I dont think. He claims he can't read my mind but sometimes he would look at me with such understanding I wondered if he lied about that.

The music was heavy and dark, but beautiful and...gosh, what was the word? Aching. Melencholy. Longjng. It was the type of music played to some romantic characters death in a classic film.

I didnt know Edward played. What else did I know about him? We were supposed to be friends but so far, the most depth of our friendship was how deep he could fuck me. I crossed my arms, watching him play with his back to me. Alice had disappeared.

The music drifted off and the prudent vampire peered over his shoulder at me. "Yes, Bella?"

"Sorry, I just couldn't help it. You're really good." I stepped into the room.. "I didnt know you could play."

"Its actually my favorite past time." Ward rose to his feet and turned towards me. "Its something I've been working on."

"Well, its beautiful." I smiled at him.

He didn't offer a smile back and I tried to pretend that didnt hurt me. I stepped back out of the room. "I'll leave you alone now."

Edward sighed. "Bella, wait."

I should have let him kiss me earlier in the bathroom.

I half turned, hopeful that maybe he would try again.

"I'd like you to meet Tanya."

Fucker.

Edward guided me, his hand on my back, out of the room and into a living space. It was a sunken in living room with sectional sofas and big, chrome lamps. A giant TV hung on the wall. A vampire I haven't met yet sat, legs spread out.

Tanya.

Holy shit I know why Edward chose her over me.

Tanya smiled at me and I swooned. She was long and slender, the body of a dancer. She was your typical vegetarian vampire. Smooth, alabaster skin. Dark circles beneath her golden eyes. Her strawberry blonde hair hung in loose waves down her shoulders.

Her eyes raked over me appreciatively. "Hello."

"Jeez," I smirked. "I knew vampires existed but I didn't know angels walked among us."

She laughed loudly, tossing her head back. It was beautiful and I had a very dirty thought of being the filing in a vampire sandwich. I looked, hopeful, at Edward who looked at me oddly.

"Was that a pick up line?' Tanya chuckled.

"I have hundreds more, wanna hear them?" I flirted shamelessly.

Edward shifted, his arm crossing over my torso and his hand gripping my waists. "Bella..." his voice was strained. He actually lifted me up and carried me out the front door.

"Ward!" I gasped as he swooped me away. "Tanya, my number is 480-525--" I tried to call out and Edward slammed the door behind him. He continued to carry me while I berated him until we were halfway down his long drive way. Only then did he put me down, his face twisted into some semblance of disappointment.

"Bella, I would appreciate it if you didn't try to flirt with other vampires." He pursed his lips..

I snorted. "But you're okay with me flirting with humans?'

His brow rose.. "Do you want me to care?"

I blinked. How do I answer this? Yes, I care because your weird vampire dick is so good it made me have feelings.

No! Stop it, Bella! You do NOT have feelings!

I opened my mouth and a weird, strangled laugh escaped me. "No." I huffed. "No, I'm just...I mean..." I shook my head. "Look, Tanya is hot. You're hot. I like hot people. Hot, tall people." I reached out, pulling on his shirt and pressing myself against him. He watched me, his eyes narrowing. "Have you ever wondered what a threesome is like, Ward?"

Could vampires faint? Edward looked like he was swooning. "Bella..." his voice broke.

"Its a suggestion." I plucked at the buttons of his shirt, my "Dump Edward Cullen" plan flying out the window thanks to my libido. "I was getting serious bi vibes from Tanya so I thought I would ask."

"You want to have...you want me and her...?' He was really struggling.

I dropped my hands. "If you don't want to, its okay" I reassured him. "Its not everyone's cup of tea and if you're uncomfortable, I'll drop it."

Edward pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger and this time, I let him kiss me. I was definitely going to be late to this stupid party but I found I didn't care. I sank into the kiss, humming as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

Then the kiss was over. He pulled away just an inch, his nose rubbing mine. "I'll think about it."

I grinned. "Call me." I whispered before shading out, vanishing from his arms and leaving him wanting more.

There was a reason I borderline begged Alice to come with me to the party. I barley knew anyone there.

Mike's house was a two story bungalow on the edge of town. It was painted a bright blue, a nice pop of color in an otherwise dreary setting. There were garden gnomes, bird baths and a white picket fence. It was like some ridiculous set out of Lifetime movie.

When I shaded in, thankfully landing out of sight across the street, I saw that numerous cars were crowding the drive way. I fluffed my jacket out and tried to shake off the cold again, doing a quick warming charm.

My plan was to get into Mike's room quick and find his most prized possession. Something that he would indeed miss. It had to be something he had sentimental attachment to.

The party was at that point where everyone was already drunk or tipsy. Once I stepped into the house, some kid shot past me to barf into the bushes. I scanned the crowd looking for Mike. I found him...standing in the kitchen with Tyler Crowley. Him and a few other boys were doing shots.

Mike spotted me and waved me over. I moved slowly, pissed Tyler was out of jail after what he did to Angela and here he was sinking again. I'll curse the mother fucker..."Bella! You look great!" Mike beamed at me.

Tyler smirked at me. The dude was plastered, his eyes glazed and his speech slurred. "Really great, Bella"

"Angela woke up from her coma today." I told Mike loudly, ignoring Tyler.

"Thats great!" Mike seemed relieved. "We should bring her something to make her feel better." Behind him, Tyler rolled his eyes and did another shot.

I took Mike's hand. "Can you show me where to put my coat?'

Mike lead me upstairs. His room was your typical boy room. Messy as hell, posters of cars and girls on the wall. I tossed my coat on the bed and went to look at all his sports trophies while he watched me nervously. It reminded me of earlier, being in Edward's room. Edward's room was tidier, full of more stuff but definitely tidier.

"You play alot of sports." I peered at the various trophies. "Which one is your favorite?"

"Football." Mike came up behind me, his hand touching my lower back.

My skin crawled.

"Do you like sports?" He asked. I could smell the beer on his breath, fanning over me. I was too hot and not in a fun way.

"Me? No. I can barley walk a straight line." I turned around, leaning against his dresser.

Mike was watching me carefully. "Cullen wasn't at school for a few days, you notice that?"

"Which one? There's a dozen of them." I laughed.

"Edward."

"I didnt notice."

Mike didn't believe me. "You know, Bella, the Cullens were pretty strange to begin with but...Well, I didnt realize how strange they were. I dont think they're human."

My heart began to race but I kept the smile on my face. "Oh?'

"They're aliens." He leaned forward, too close. "They have to be. How else could Edward have done that?"

"Mike!" I groaned. "You have a girl in your room and you're talking about aliens."

"I know what I saw!" he snapped at me.

"Do you?' I snapped back. "Because its kind of fucking impossible for someone to do what you're claiming and you're saying I disappeared but I'm pretty sure I would remember it."

"Maybe you're in on it. Maybe you're their weird alien human slave." He was visibly angry. I almost didn't recognize him. He had always been so mild mannered before...

Gran always said men show their true selves when the drink lowers their inhibitions. I guess Mike believed in aliens.

"I'm no ones slave." I told him firmly. "Seriously, Mike, get a grip!"

He scoffed. "Fine."

Yeah, any desire I had for Mike was gone now. Out the door. Why couldn't he be like Edward?

"Why don't you go get me a drink?' I asked him sweetly. "I wanna chill with you in here."

Mike all but ran out the door. Once it shut behind him, I held out my arms and began to chant quietly. Magic thrummed in my hands. "Reveal thy self to Me Mike's most treasured thing that be reveal thyself to me Mike's most treasured thing that me..."Like a magnet, I was being tugged by my front but drawn into a full circle. I looked down, following magical instinct as I opened Mike's top dresser drawer.

Oh my fucking God.

I picked up the fucking Playboy.Mike's most treasured possession was a goddamn nudie mag? Ugh, honey. All the respect I had for him was gone. Fuck.

I crammed it into my purse and grabbed my jacket, deciding to get the fuck out and quick. I was halfway down the stairs when Mike was halfway up, holding two cups of beer.

"Bella! Are you leaving?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, sorry" I tucked my hair behind my ear. "My dad called me. Theres actually a family emergency..."

Mike nodded his understanding. "Got it. Reign check?"

"Yeah, maybe" I pushed past him and headed for the door.

Tyler Crowley was in the drive way, leaning against a PT Cruiser while he boasted about his parents buying it for him.

"Hey, Tyler!" I walked up to him. "Cool car!"

"Thanks!"

"So weird, though, that you have a car after getting your license suspended after almost murdering someone. Crazy." I shrugged.

His grin fell. "Fucking cops kid."

"Fucking lush." I snapped. "Angela almost died you prick and you're here getting drunk and bragging about a car? Fuck you."

He pushed off from the car, squaring his shoulders up. "I was barley buzzed! If I hadn't had hit that ice--"

"The one patch of ice in a giant ass parking lot." I pointed out. "A patch of ice everyone else was driving around! Have you even apologized to Angela? She'll be disabled for life!"

"So? She shouldn't have been in the way! Stupid retard is always in the way--"

Trust me, you don't want me there. Alice had said. Now I know why.

I grabbed Tyler's jacket, snapping my head forward into his face. I felt his nose crunch beneath my forhead and he screamed, flinging himself back.

"Bella, what the fuck!" someone yelled.

I spat on Tyler. He lay crumpled on the ground, blood sprouting out of his broken nose. "I'm sure my Dad, the Sheriff, would love to know you're driving without a license." With that, I stormed off down the street.

Once out of sight, I shaded back into my room. When I looked at my phone, Edward had texted me.

Carlisle said to ice your forhead.

I really had to drag myself through this chapter. This was the fifth draft. Sorry it.took so long its just I wasn't happy with what I was writing. Honestly this doesn't even feel 10/10 but I do hope someone likes it.