Got quite a few people asking about the fact that Edward and Bella seem powerless. They are the head of a council, one that has begun to turn against them, but they would have to prove that laws have been broken. That would be difficult since anything Alice or Edward can see couldn't be proved. Aro and Caius have been planning this for a long while, they aren't stupid. So they will use the recess of the council to prepare for the fight that is coming. That preparation begins now. A king, even in our world is only powerful if they have the support of the ruling class, if they lose it, they lose not only their position but often their lives. Hope this helps.

Also, mating ceremonies are as unique as the couple as long as the vows are made, in the form of the questions asked and answered, the ceremony is complete.

The deadline for the Babies at the Border compilation is 11/24. A donation to RAICES or the ACLU of $10 will get you a copy of the compilation which features 90+ authors. It will be sent out on 12/1 and it will be the only place you can read the first three chapters of Man of Omerta before 3/1/20. Visit my profile on ffn, or search for the group on facebook for more info!

Chapter 15

Once I had spoken to Garrett, I went in search of Bella. I heard her voice in one of the sitting rooms, and I approached to hear Rosalie addressing her.

"Esme helped me through my change as well, and as a random Wanderer changed, I had no ceremony, but Emmett helped me find a meaningful first meal."

"Who was it?" Bella asked.

"My Wanderer husband. He was a monster, much like Esme's, so it was something that I found joy in doing. I can't imagine how it must have been to be forced to kill a friend."

"I'm just worried that more of my group will come looking when we don't return."

I doubt they're still alive. Rosalie thought.

I thought back to the jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions that Jacob had radiated when he stood on the platform, and in that moment, I knew Rosalie was right.

"I'm sure they will move on. They probably picked a place a safe distance away to meet up. If Jacob doesn't arrive, they will mourn for him and then get the rest of your family to safety," my mom said.

"I just feel so guilty. Right until the end, he was trying to protect me."

"He wanted you safe and happy, Bella, and I will make sure you are." I made my presence known with my comment.

Bella came to my side, and my mother and Rosalie stood up. "I'm going to help Emmett with our things. Thank you for taking us into your home."

"You kept my queen safe, you will always have a home with us," I told her.

"How is it in the city?"

"Empty. Though I'm not sure how I can contain Garrett, he's filled with anger."

"He wants vengeance, like the rest of us. Is it possible to harness that?"

"How?"

"Could we not build an army? Not in Italy, because it would be too obvious, but in your home territory? Edward and Elizabeth are in the Pacific Northwest and Jasper's parents returned to the Great North. What if we sent guards with him and told him to begin training our subjects to defend their king. If he does it in the north it won't be as easy for them to discover. And when the time comes they could travel with him."

"It would give him purpose and Garrett is excellent at sparring so he would be one to teach them, along with Eleazar."

"Eleazar?" Bella asked.

"Aro is his cousin. It is a distant relation, but I know he was happy to have a reason to get far away from their lands. There is no love loss in that relationship."

"So Jasper is related to Alec also?"

"There is nothing to fear there. In the time after the Great War, those who remained lived in clusters across the globe. That was how the royal families were chosen, from prominent families who had fought to preserve what the humans at the time were set on destroying. Those families have changed over time, but Aro's family was one of the original seven.

"Families that old have connections to other families. But it was their great grandparents who were siblings, so that would make them third cousins. The fallout is centuries old and Aro only mentions it when he wants to start a fight with Eleazar."

"I think you should speak to your parents and then make the arrangements."

Nodding, I went in search of my parents but was met by Alice instead.

"Edward, I need to be mated with Jasper."

"Alice, I need to talk to Dad about-"

"You are the head of our family now-"

"Alice," I warned.

"Oh," she said. "I'm sorry, but I need certainty now."

"And you will have it. I will come and find you after I make arrangements for Garrett."

The talk with my parents went better than I had expected and Garrett himself was excited.

Tanya offered to escort him, but I shook my head. "I want you with the queen. I know you would prefer a duty near your family, but I need people I trust guarding my wife."

"I understand."

Having handled that piece of family business, I went in search of my sister and found her with my wife and Jasper.

"All right, let us begin."

Jasper took Alice's hands and rested his forehead against hers. I stood to the side of them and took a deep breath.

"Mating is as old as the existence of our kind. The instinct to protect the one who is more important than ourselves is ingrained in our being. This ceremony is a formality as you've been mated in the basic sense for decades. You've seen the worst our world has to throw at us and you still come here to join your lives and your souls as one.

"Will you protect each other? Love and support each other and any children born of this union? Will you uphold the laws of our kind?"

"I will." Alice and Jasper's response was strong and in unison.

"You are mated, no one can come between you again."

They kissed and then with a hug from Alice, they exited the room. I turned to Bella who had the look of a predator.

"Our room, now!"

She didn't have to ask me twice.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.