Here we are! Fictionpad is still not working, so this is up here and on stars. Will keep trying but not sure if I will ever hear back from support there. I'm about halfway through the next chapter of The Collection, so let's see if that can happen this weekend or next. Also, for the teaser of my Babies at the Border fic and more updates, please check out my facebook group, AgoodWITCH Writes.

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Chapter 10

The second half of Bella's transformation was equally calm. The pillows were changed regularly to ease her burning, and I catalogued her physical changes.

She'd filled out a little, lithe curves replaced the too thin frame being a Wanderer caused. Her hair grew thicker and a little longer so that it now brushed her waist.

Bella had always been beautiful, but now she looked healthy, strong.

I whispered words of love to her, imagining how it must have been for her when I'd been attacked. She'd stood by me then, after a single day because she felt this pull that grew stronger with every minute that passed.

I heard people approaching again and my father entered this time. "It is nearly time, we'd like to be in the room to welcome Bella to our family and this life."

Turning to my father, I shook my head. "Could you all wait outside, I'd like a minute or two with her before we start to crowd her."

"Understood, Son. Just don't make us wait too long," he smirked.

The door closed and I saw Bella's limbs begin to twitch. She would learn how to control her muscles quickly, the strength of her new body and all it was capable of would probably thrill her.

I leaned down, my lips brushed the spot on her neck where I'd changed her and I let my tongue trace the mark. "Wake up, my love. Time to start our piece of forever."

I heard her growl a split second before I was on my back with a hand tightening around my throat as she crouched over me. Bella's eyes were fierce as she stared me down.

"Bella, you're stronger than I am right now so please be careful. It's me, Edward. You chose me. I need you to remember."

She froze, her eyes dancing back and forth as she did as I asked. It was little more than a second later when she flew off the bed, her expression horrified.

"I could have killed you," she whispered.

"Jasper and the others would have never let it get that far. They're waiting to meet you," I reassured.

"They know me," she said.

"Not as their queen. They knew the young Wanderer, and not all of my family has formally met you. Can they join us?"

Bella nodded and I called to my father. Slowly, my family and our guards entered. Rosalie, Tanya, and Emmett bowed and introduced themselves to her before stepping back. Emmett looped his arm around Rosalie's shoulder and pulled her into his side.

My grandparents and great-grandfather stepped up next. "These are my grandparents, Elizabeth and Edward, and behind them is my great-grandfather Marcus."

"Nice to meet you," Bella smiled at them and they each moved up to hug her in turn.

"I hope you like the touches I brought with me from back home. Edward always loved it there," Marcus said.

"I'm sure I will once I've had a chance to really explore," Bella replied.

"Where's Alice?" I asked.

It was my father who answered. "Hunting. She stuck closer to you both during Bella's transformation, her visions were troubling."

"Still James?" I asked.

"James? What does he have to do with anything?" Jasper asked.

"She was getting weird visions, snippets, but from what she could tell, James was causing most of them. We were trying to determine if he was working with Alec and Felix to confuse her, or if it was just James being his regular creepy self," I explained.

"Either way, I don't like it. Jasper, find Alice and bring her to the rotunda for the First Meal," my father said.

"First Meal?" Bella asked.

"I'm sorry, Dear," my mother soothed. "We're doing a lot of talking around you for someone minutes old to this life. Soon we'll return to the rotunda and the hunters will present you with your first meal as a vampire. From there, the council of princes will be in recess until an issue arises or a new prince is born."

My mother hugged Bella and so did my father, but it was Garrett who made my mate laugh.

"Welcome to the family, Maj. You need any help keeping my big brother in line, I know all his most embarrassing secrets."

Watching her be embraced by my family and not panic in those first moments of this life brought me a great deal of peace. Now it was time for her to quench her thirst for the first time.