Hello guys! I really really apologise for just abandoning the story without any post notifications, it's been really a crazy week for me and I couldn't find a moment for myself. I promise that I'll make it up to you guys this week.

And I hope you all are enjoying the story. There will be many up's and down's in Bella's journey and there will be more character development.

As for Esme and Alice involvement I don't know where there will be any need of them; this is basically Bella's story so I guess there are enough characters as there are. And there will also be no Emmett and Rosalie pair, so please don't freak about that.

And also about the timeline of the story since this is set in a different reality from our own, the timeline/era has nothing to do with our own world's history. It doesn't exist within our reality. Having said that, if the language seems a little 'old', it's because I love things involving history and I try to bring a little of that into my writing.

And not forgetting the fact I don't own any rights to the Twilight Saga.

Enjoy!


FIRST NIGHT

Bella

"Your chambers, Cai Isabella." The housestaff said politely, standing to one side to allow me to enter.

I stepped in, glancing around.

"If you need anything, call on the housestaff." She said from behind me. I turned and nodded, she bowed her head before closing the door. I felt some of the tension from my shoulders ease.

There was a subtle but definite note of hostility and wariness in everyone I'd met so far. I'd anticipated it, so it wasn't unexpected. Just tiring.

But then I'd been tired for a long time.

The chamber was a suite, there was an alcove to one side with large windows overlooking the garden with a comfortable looking window seat, sofas and a small table; a relaxation pool on the opposite side that bore a faint scent of camellia; large doors leading out into what looked like a private balcony and a bathing room at one end. And of-course, a sheer gossamer curtain that separated the rest of the suite, behind which I could see a large bed. My throat tightened a little and I looked away.

I headed for the bathing room. It was almost as large as the living space was, with soothing lights and a fresh scent. There were cupboards at the far end and when I opened them, I found male robes neatly arranged. I opened the one next to it on a hunch. Sure enough, there were female robes. And to one side were my belongings.

I stared for a moment and then grabbed a fresh shift and robes. It would be dinner soon and I had to be ready.

OOOOOOOOOO

It was ironic, I thought smiling wryly to myself. I'd always hated attracting attention and now here I was, with every eye in the house fixed on me.

Bella's hands would have been shaking.

Isabella's? I looked down at my hand, holding a spoon. Steady.

I stirred my broth around the bowl, trying to force the food down, despite my lack of appetite, and ignoring all the eyes. Which, by the way, were not being at all subtle in their hostility and wariness.

Bella would have minded.

Isabella? Not so much.

I set down my spoon, giving up.

"Having some trouble stomaching that?" Tia, seated to my right, asked quietly.

"I've had a lot to stomach lately." I said, pushing the bowl away. I caught her looking at me sadly. "Don't worry. I'll survive once I get used to it."

"Bella—" She began.

"Isabella." I corrected. She looked surprised. "Isabella Not Bella. My true name."

She got it. Her expression grew sadder and she looked down at her lap.

We didn't speak again. I sat quietly, letting the noise flow over me and around me, watching the conversations, the laughter, the subtle and more obvious stares. When the musicians began playing, I watched people push aside their plates and head to floor to dance.

Surrounded by people, I had never felt more alone.

OOOOOOOOOO

I returned to the chamber and changed quickly into my sleeping robe.

Quickly, because Edward would be here soon.

At dinner, I'd barely exchanged a word with him, although I knew those intense-green eyes were fixed on me from the time I'd arrived.

Tonight would be our first time alone together as mates.

And our first night together.

I had no idea what he would do.

I remembered when he'd had tea with us all at Karline's, what he'd said he'd do if his mate ever rejected him or ran.

I'd hunt them down. No-one runs from me...When I find my mate, I'll make sure they never run again.

I sighed as I stood in the balcony, looking out at the garden, letting the cool wind play with my hair. It didn't matter. I couldn't run anyway, not now that the mate mark had been triggered. Wherever I went he'd find me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

And inhaled his scent.

I turned sharply. He was standing by the balcony doors looking out at me, his face in the shadows so I couldn't see his expression.

"Come in." He said quietly. I hesitated a moment and then came back in, moving past him as I entered, hearing his intake of breath. I went to the side table and poured myself a mug of whatever had been left there, just to have a reason to delay looking at him. I could feel him watching me but he didn't speak. Finally I turned, mug in hand.

Neither of us spoke. He looked at me and I at him, the silence growing between us.

"We'll talk in the morning." He said finally, his voice low. "Get some rest."

"Let's get it out of the way, shall we?" I said calmly.

" 'Get it out of the way'?" He repeated mildly, too mildly.

"Might as well face it head on." I said.

"Not tonight." He said, still in that mild voice.

"Why not? No point in delaying." I sipped from the mug, tasting elderflower cordial.

"Because I don't want to." He said. "And I get a say too." That last was mildest of all. I looked down at my mug and sighed.

"I'll take the window bed tonight." He continued. "And only tonight." He looked at me intently. "We share the bed from tomorrow onwards." I raised the mug to my lips to shield my expression from those eyes. I heard him head to the window alcove and begin pulling out the window bed.

When I put the mug down, his back was turned to me and he was removing his robe to stand in just his drawstring bottoms. My breath hitched as I stared at him. He was all lithe muscle, defined but not bulky, his skin smooth and glowing in the dim light. I remembered the feel of him under my hands when he'd been my patient, my hands clenched and I was unable to look away. My eyes travelled the length of him, from the outline of his calves and thighs under the thin material of his bottoms, over his firm rear and the dimples above them, up his spine. I was running my hands up that body in my head, moulding his every muscle, feeling those dimples and tracing his spine with my fingers. Up and up to his neck and his soft, thick hair - hair I suddenly remembered the feel of.

I was staring at his hair when he put his hand up to his neck to rub it and I saw it for the first time. His mate mark. Our mate mark, because mine would be identical. Dark black, intricate and looking almost carved into his skin.

His fingers traced the mark exactly the way my fingers were itching to.

And then he turned and looked directly at me.

Now I had the view of his chest.

You can barely see the scars, I thought bemusedly, but my eyes were too busy drinking in the expanse of his chest, his toned, defined abdominals, his hip bones that formed a perfect grooved v and the smattering of hair that disappeared into his pants.

Where something else was clearly defined.

My eyes went back to his face immediately, where his eyes were almost black and burning.

"Keep looking at me like that and we'll be getting a lot of things out of the way tonight." He said, voice very low.

I turned from him, slipping behind the curtain towards the bed and shedding my outer robe so I was in my shift. I snuffed out the lights and slid under the covers. As I did, I could see his silhouette, standing motionless where I'd left him. After a moment, he moved and the lights in the outer room were snuffed out too.

I lay in bed, trying to slow my pulse.

Well, clearly the mate bond was working just fine.

Because, regardless of everything I felt, I wanted him.

And he knew.

OOOOOOOOOO

The petals showered down around me, like jewelled rain. I could feel them soft under my feet, velvet between my toes, their gentle fragrance mixing with the scent of the forest, earthy and green. I looked down, marvelling at the colours, like walking on a shimmering carpet of gems. And then I heard a sound behind me. Turning, I saw a dark robed figure, face hidden, emerging from the trees and coming my way. I backed away and then began to run, glancing over my shoulder, noting with fear that the figure was pursuing me and getting closer. I dodged between the trees but the figure was still closing in. Ahead I saw the arches of my garden and ran for it, relieved. I ran into the garden, only it wasn't a garden any more, it was a ruin, the plants dead and the vines withered, the smell of decay strong. There was someone standing in the centre, her back to me. I heard a sound and when I looked back, my pursuer had entered the garden and was walking slowly towards me. Help me, I cried soundlessly to the female in the centre, putting my hand on her shoulder. She turned around and I was looking at myself. She shoved me away hard and I collided hard with my pursuer, who began to drag me out of the garden. I cried and called out to the other me, begging her to save me, but she just stood and watched as I was dragged away and there were only the echoes of my cries in the trees.

I jerked awake with a start, heart pounding.

I sat up, knowing from experience that I wouldn't get back to sleep now. I wiped my hand across my cheeks, wet from the tears again and reached for water.

These dreams were getting old.

The outer room was in darkness when I emerged quietly from behind the curtain. I didn't look over at the window bed, just padded over to the balcony doors, my shawl draped around my shoulders, and slipped outside.

The air was cold, everything was silent in the deep night. In the corner by the small fountain, there was cushioned bench and some chairs. I curled up on the bench, propping a cushion under my head, looking up at the stars.

Under the stars, scattered like glittering crystals in the deep indigo of the night sky, I could breathe, I could feel my heart rate slowing.

I could almost believe I was still free.


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