AN

Hi there :)

So here's the next chapter.

As always let me know what you think :D

Chapter 9 - Lost puppy versus stone wall... I don't know which one I'd rather have right now

During the following week I stettled into a sort of rhythm and started to find my way in this new court and new coven. I was still surprised by some things, but others were getting clearer.

I learned that Carlisle and Esme were the original creators of this coven. They changed Edward in 1918, when he had been dying from influenza, he'd been 21 at the time of his change. They changed Rosalie in 1933 after she'd been left for dead by her fiancé, she'd been on the eve of her twentieth birthday. The following year Emmett was turned, after being mauled by a bear on a hunting trip to celebrate his 25th birthday. They had been joined during the forties by Jasper and Alice who adopted their lifestyle.

Although they were a coven and recognized as such since the forties, they functioned more like a family, and treated it as such. The younger ones identifying as siblings - mates excluded of course, with Carlisle and Esme at the head as parental figures.

Starting at the end of the forties their coven attracted other vampires, curious about their way of life, and they grew. It turned out that many vampires were actually done with thekiiling and bloodshed and wanted a more peaceful way of life, with the possibility of mainstreaming into society. So Carlisle started to expand his territory. he created safe places and helped vampire scontrol their thrist and urges. He facilitated their change into mainstreaming vampires.

When trouble began, Carlisle became tired of running things. With their coven expanding rapidly and their influence with it, the Volturi began to feel threatened. CArlisle had once upon a time been friends with Aro and he couldn't plot against his friend. So he gave leadership over to Edward, and took up an advisory role himself. he always pleaded for peace and diplomacy, but he knew that Aro was a real threat to him and his family.

I also learned Emmett and Rosalie were mated, not because either of them told me, but because I walked in on them locked in a rahter compromising position, involving blindfolds and ropes, I couldn't escape fast enough. Emmett had found it hilarious of course. I had a feeling he found everything hilarious though. He was just a big goofy child it seemed.

Jacob I learned was equally as harmless. He was indeed still a child. 18 years old. He'd started his change three years ago. So he'd stopped aging then too, so I guess it wasn't really fair to call him a child still, since he'd technically been on this earth for 21 years now. He was fun and easy to be around. Although he was officially assigned as my guard, he spent most of his time inside the room with me. If I was in the garden he was usually by my side telling me stories about his time here, or about his pack or about his tribe. I learned a lot of werewolf gossip that way.

He was easygoing and gave his friendship freely and easily. I found myself quickly getting used to spending time with him, almost to the point that when he was replaced with Quil or Embry I felt slightly sad that it was time for him to go.

I settled into a routine of working on my combat skills with Emmett in the mornings and working with Kate on my shield in the afternoons. Combat was going well, but my shield was still a problem. We'd moved into a smaller training room, probably because Edward had ordered Emmett to. But I honestly didn't mind the smaller room. It made me feel less pressured to do well. I wasn't doing to well with the shielding still, but combat was going better and better and that gave me confidence.

I hadn't seen Edward again after his little stunt in my room, and although I should have felt relief I didn't. It made me strangely anxious. I didn't know why. I should be glad I hadn't seen him. I should be absolutely thrilled that everyone else I met was kind and caring and that Edward seemed to be the only exception. I should be thrilled that he seemed to finally be avoiding me. Yet I didn't. I felt hurt and upset.

I didn't know what he was doing or where he was - or who he was with... and that made me feel on edge for some reason or other.

'Now focus Bella.' Zafrina said pulling me from my thoughts. She'd been helping Kate with my shielding. 'You have to let go of everything and push it out. Don't be afraid. Just put everything in it.'

Kate was advancing on Zafrina. Kate had the ability to shock people. She could charge her skin to varying degrees of electricity so that when someone touched her they either got a light shock, or dropped to their knees in pure agony as they were electrocuted. It wasn't lethal on its own. But it could incapacitate an attacker and give her the opportunity to take them out. She'd learned to push the current all over her body, it had started out just in her hands.

When zafrina had come along and offered to help, Kate suggested having me protect someone could be a better incentive than just trying to push it out of myself. So Zafrina was a willing victim of Kate's shocks, although kate had it on a low setting. Zafrina was a good sport though, she endured the shocks quietly and kept encouraging me.

Kate was stretching her hand out towards Zarafina now and I struggled to push my shield around her again. The elastic rubbery feel of my shield struggeled against my attempts and I was panting by the time it finally snapped into place around her. I struggled to keep it around her as Kate placed her hand on Zafrina. It held for now but as the seconds ticked by the elasticity seemed to tremble around zafrina. I struggled to keep it in place. I pushed against it and for the first time in a long time, I managed to get past the one minute mark.

'You're doing it!' Zafrina enthused. 'Keep it up.'

I was panting hard and struggling more with every second that passed. But the seconds ticked by and the shield held.

'Try to push it further, Bella.' Kate encouraged. I tried to get a grip on my shield again, but the trembling made it more slippery than ever. I tried to push it out further, to include Kate, although I had no idea if that would nullify the power of the shield. But just as I had a grip on my shield and pushed it out, it recoiled. It snapped back into plae firmly around myself and no one else.

Zafrina gasped and immeidetley pulled her hand back from Kate's. I bend over completely spent and panting heavily.

'You did it Bella.' Kate said excitedly. 'You went past one minute!'

'Only just, Kate.' I said, feeling disappointed in myself.

'Don't sell yourself short. In just a week you've progressed. You're getting there, honey.'

I shook my head frustrated. 'But it's still so slippery. I can't get a good hold on it. It takes all of my energy to just keep it in place for a measely minute. It's ridiculous.'

'No, it isn't.' Kate soothed me. Zafrina nodded in agreement.

'No, what's ridiculous is this.' A voice said from the doorway. 'What are you even trying here?'

I winced and looked over. I knew it. This week had been too good. Edward was leaning casually against the doorway. A frown on his face as he took in the scene before him. A frown seemed to be his only expression.

'We're helping Bella with her shield.' Zafrina said, slightly confused.

Edward scoffed. 'I think you're wasting your time.'

Zafrina frowned and Kate bristled. 'She's actually making progress. Today for the first time actually.' She said proudly.

I just winced and avoided looking at him.

He snorted again. 'Wow, how long can she do it now? Two seconds longer?' he said in a demeaning tone.

Kate huffed indignant. 'What the hell Edward?'

He just rolled his eyes at her. 'You two can go.' He said. 'I need to speak to Isabella.'

'You can speak to her when you get that attitude under control.' Kate snarled, stepping in front of me.

I sighed and straightened up. I knew this was coming one way or other. So I just decided to spare myself the humiliation. 'It's okay, Kate. You guys can go.' I said.

Kate swung around to look at me. 'Are you sure?'

I nodded. If he was about to make me feel bad about everything again, I'd rather do it without an audience, that way I'd feel slightly less humiliated.

'Okay, then.' Kate said after a minute of scrutinising my face.

'We'll sent Jacob over.' Zafrina added, throwing a pointed look towards Edward. Who simply rolled his eyes at that information.

They left the room and Edward stepped fully inside, closing the door behind him and locking it. I swallowed. He hadn't ever locked a door before.

'What do you want?' I asked slightly nervous now. He wouldn't hurt me would he?

'What are you trying to do here?' he asked, staring at me with his arms across his chest.

'We're training my gift.' I said not understanding his question.

'To what end?'

I frowned. 'What do you mean?'

'Are you intentionally playing dumb here Bella? Because I can assure you I don't appreciate it.'

I frowned. 'What are you talking about?'

'You're trying to tell me you don't know?' He scoffed.

'Know what?' I asked getting annoyed in return.

He regarded me for a moment with a heated stare. I shifted uncomfortably on the spot.

'Fine.' He said suddenly.

I took a bewildered step back. 'What?'

'Fine. Continue your little sessions. See if I care.'

'What are you talking about?' I asked getting truly frustrated now.

He was in front of me in a flash, towering over me again. I cringed away from him, but he'd grabbed hold of my upper arms tightly.

'Don't play dumb, Bella. It doesn't become you.' he snarled. His gaze locked with mine intensely and I stared back at him with utter confusion and more than a little irritation by now.

'I don't know what you're talking about, and I'm a little sick of you insistiting that I do.' I growled at him.

His grip tightened on my arms. 'I doubt that.'

'Well, I don't care. Now let me go.' I hissed.

'I don't think I will.' He growled at me. 'You drive me insane, do you know that? I think I should show you, just how insane you drive me.'

I frowned at him. 'What are you talking about?' I cried yet again, completely lost. His mood swings were giving me a whiplash.

Then his lips crashed down on mine harsly, demandingly. But I didn't find it in myself to be bothered by it. Instead I found myself submitting to him with absolute elation. His tongue pushed its way into my mouth as he growled. He pressed his hard body fully against mine, his hips griding into mine, showing me exactly how hard he was. I groaned at the feel. My body rejoiced. I wanted more. Every nerve ending seemed to be on fire as his lips and tongue continued it's heavenly assault. A moan escaped my throat.

As suddenly as the kiss began it stopped.

Edward pulled back and looked down at me with an unreadable expression.

Then reality caught up and if i'd still been human I would have flushed crimson. 'Stop doing that.' I ground out through clenched teeth. Now his lips weren't on mine anymore I could think again. And I realized that I really shouldn't like him putting his lips on me this much.

He smirked at me. 'You didn't seem to mind that much a moment ago.'

I just glared at him. I hated that he knew my body responded to him. It made me feel even more humiliated by him.

'I mean it.' I told him. Again he just smirked at me.

The door rattled and Edward glanced over, a slight frown on his face.

'Bella?' Jacob's voice asked through the door. I breathed a small sigh of relief. But instead of letting me go, Edward's hands tightened.

'Let me go.' I said in a steady voice, levelling my gaze on Edward yet again. His gaze turned back to mine. 'Now.' I said when he still didn't make a move to release me.

Another knock sounded at the door. 'Bella?' his tone was more worried now.

Still Edward's grip on me stayed the same. I tried to break his hold, but he was too strong for me. I struggled in vain for a few seconds before I stared at him again, anger filling me up.

'Fuck you, Cullen.' I spat at him. His eyebrows shot up and an amused half smile crept unto his lips.

'Fuck me?' he asked bemused.

'It wasn't an invitation.' I snarled at him. 'Now for the last time, Let. Me. Go.'

'Hmm and what if I don't?' his grip tightened yet again and I snarled at him, my baser instinct taking over.

Apparently that sent Jacob over the edge though. 'Bella!' he yelled concerned before literally braking down the door. He sprang into the room fully prepared to take out whomever was bothering me. As he spotted Edward he stopped in his tracks though, his brow furrowed and confusion clearly on his face.

'I don't know what's going on in here. But if the lady wants you to let her go, I think you should let her go.' He said, looking pointedly at Edward's hands still wrapped around my arms.

'And you are the one to tell me what to do?' Edward asked sceptically with a raised eyebrow. God, he was arrogant. My irritation flared up again.

'Normally I would say no. But in this case… yes.'

Edward cocked an eyebrow at him again. 'Why?'

'Because the lady is my charge. Now one last time, Mr Cullen.' Jacob said, leveling his gaze on Edward. 'Let her go.'

The tension in the room seemed to grow by the second. But finally after another minute long staredown, Edward's hands finally loosened around my arms. Jacob kept his gaze trained on Edward though.

'Come here Bella.' He said in a stern voice.

'So you're ordering her around now?' Edward asked, his tone was bemused but his eyes were anything but.

'He is not.' I interceded. 'No one order's me around. I made that clear last time, did I not?'

Edward looked down at me then scoffed. Still I stepped away from Edward and headed towards Jacob.

As I moved away from him, Edwards hand shot out again. He grabbed my wrist harshly and I flinched. Jacob didn't waste any time but was suddenly right next to me, towering over Edward with a menacing look. They stood chest to chest, toe to toe as they stared each other down. After what seemed like an endlessly long time of testosterone fuelled posturing Edward turned to me and released my wrist but fixed me with a cold stare.

'Remember what I told you that first day.' He grumbled, then he turned on his heel and left the room. After throwing 'Sam will be hearing about this.' Over his shoulder at Jacob.

Jacob walked me back to my room in silence. I was mulling over his words.

Remember what I told you that first day...

I wracked my brain trying to figure out what he was talking about and thankfully Jacob was giving me space to deal with what had happened. He opened the door to my room for me and stepped back to let me inside. Rosalie and Angela were absent and I was glad to be alone for a while.

'Thank you, Jacob.' I mumbled, before moving to close the door. His large hand stopped me, it slapped against the wood and he stepped into the room as well.

'I don't think you should be alone right now.' He said.

I stared up at him for a moment. 'I want to be alone right now.' I insisted.

'Are you sure?' he asked, his brow furrowed.

I nodded.

'Are you okay?' he asked, his tone gentle and his eyes kind. He stretched out his hand to carefully and slowly place a lock of hair behind my ear.

Again I nodded.

'I don't think you are.' He said. 'You've not said a word since he left that room. Did he hurt you?'

I shook my head. 'I'm fine.' I insisted.

'I don't believe you.' Jacob insisted in turn.

I huffed out a sigh. 'Fine, I'm shaken up, okay?' I finally admitted. 'I can't figure out what his warning was about and I'm losing my mind here trying to figure out why he would have said that.'

I hadn't meant for that to burst forth. But there it was.

'What warning?'

'The last thing he said… before he left. It was a warning, I just can't remember what he was referring to.'

'That whole remember what I said thing?' Jacob asked frowning. I nodded once. 'That was a warning?'

'Probably. What else could it be?'

'Okay… Okay… let's sit down then and think about it for a moment. Perhaps we can figure it out together.'

I huffed out another breath but did as Jacob suggested. I sat down on the couch, curling my feet underneath myself and grabbing a pillow to hug to my chest. I felt stupid making such a big deal out of this. But I had a feeling he was accusing me of something with that one sentence and although I shouldn't care at all what he thought about me, I didn't like that idea at all.

Jacob sat down as well and leaned back casually against the couch.

'What did he mean that Sam would hear about this?' I asked Jacob after a moment of silence.

'Oh, just that he'll make a report to my Alpha. His name is Sam.'

'Are you in trouble?' I asked in small voice. I would hate for him to be in trouble because of me.

Jacob shook his head though. 'No. I was aked to be your guard. I did my job. Sam will take my side.'

'Are you sure?'

He nodded. Then yawned. 'Definitely. He'll stand by me, over a bloodsucker.' He mumbled.

I snorted. Apparently the animosity was still there between the species. But Jacob looked up at me guiltily as he realized what he had said.

'I didn't mean…' but I held up my hand to stop him.

'Don't worry about it.'

'Did you make any promises your first day here?' Jacob asked suddenly.

I frowned at the sudden change in topic. But then I realized we were trying to figure out what Edward's warning had been about.

'I'm not sure… I don't think so. I mean there was of course the ceremony…'

'Did you promise anything there?'

I shrugged. 'nothing really of importance.' I mulled it over, it had been the stadard loyalty oath, nothing for him to throw in my face after today... Then it struck me. He'd told me that he wouldn't suffer me to have an affair. I stood up from the couch immediately. Pacing the room back and forth. Was that what he thought was going on between Jacob and me? Was that his wraning? That he was reminding me I'd vowed to be faithful to him?

'My god that asshole!' I ground out before I could stop myself. Was he really that arrogant that he couldn't understand I'd find comfort in protection from him?

'What's wrong?' Jacob asked concerned.

'God, I can't believe his arrogance!'

'Whose?'

'Whose do you think.' I snarled.

Jacob held up his hands innocently. 'Sorry, I'm a little lost here.'

'Edward!'

'Ah… what about him?'

'He made me swear to be loyal… faithful.' I emphasized.

Understanding dawned in Jacob's eyes. 'You mean he thinks… that we…?'

'I can only imagine.' I sighed heavily. 'God what a jerk.'

'Who are you talking about?' Rosalie asked, stepping into the room with Angela on her heels.

'Who do you think?' I shot back. Angela took one look at me and immediately she frowned. Jacob shifted uncomfortab;y on the couch.

'What did he do this time?' she asked angrily. That of course set Rose off and I had to quickly grab hold of her arm to keep her form running off and killing him.

'You mean this has happened before?' Jacob asked concern obvious in his voice.

'Why else would we have need of you, dog?' Rose seethed. 'Let me go Bella, I'm going to kill him this time.'

'Rose, let it go. He didn't hurt me.' I quickly said.

Jacob scoffed. 'I beg to differ.'

I shot him a quick glare. Rosalie bristled more against my hold.

'Stop it Rose.' I demanded. 'It's nothing I can't handle.'

'Bella, I'm sorry but you definitely were on the losing side just now.' Jacob said looking uncomfortable. '

Thank you, Jacob.' I said sarcastically. 'You may leave now.'

'No, I think I'll stay.' He said.

Rose turned to him. 'What did he do?'

'He locked her inside a room with him. I didn't hear everything but when I broke the door down he had her in an inescapable grip, and she looked like she really didn't want to be there.'

'He locked you into a room with him?' Angela asked horrified.

'It was nothing.' I insisted.

'Stop doing that, Bella. Stop protecting him.'

'I'm not!'

'You are!' Rosalie insisted. 'And I don't understand it! He's been an absolute ass to you over and over. He's forcing himself on you over and over… this has to stop!'

'He's forcing himself on you?' Jacob asked in a murderously angry voice and suddenly all three of us were holding Jacob back from storming off to find and kill Edward.

'Enough!' I yelled, shoving Jacob back. He crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw clenched tightly and his muscles quivering in anger.

'We're beefing up your security.' Jacob said, working to keep his tone normally. 'You're not going to be alone again.'

'Stop it.' I said again. A knock at the door interrupted Jacob. He threw me a stern look, telling me this wasn't over as he went to answer it.

Emmett stood on the other side looking very angry, but it didn't seem to be directed at any pf us.

'What do you want?' Jacob asked tersely.

'Rose I need you to come with me.' he said stiffly.

Rosalie frowned. 'What's going on?' she asked.

'I just need you to come with me.'

'I'm not leaving Bella.'

'She has Jacob and Angela. They're staying.' He said again. Rosalie frowned and looked back at me.

I shrugged. I had no idea what Emmett was talking about.

With a huff Rosalie left the room with Emmett and Jacob Angela and I were left to continue our bickering about my security.