A/N Hey everyone, okay guys I've gotten this chapter to you much sooner than I thought I'd have the time to but I'm literally starting my new job in the next hour and wanted to try and get this chapter up soon. I've spent all morning trying to edit and clean this up, so I'm sorry if there was anything I've missed. I might need to start looking for a Beta as I haven't heard from my own in about a week. Anyway I hope you guys all enjoy what I've written this time I do have to warn you while there isn't a lemon this chapter has some more citrus tones to it. I do want to address that now, while I know many may like to see that in the future for Edward and Bella I'm not completely sure if I want to have that added in the writing yet. I guess it will be decided from the reaction of you guys with the hints of deeper intimacy Bella and Edward share and if that makes you guys happy and I haven't written the most boring intimate moments lol.
Anyway I'll leave you guys to this chapter and hopefully fingers crossed you'll be seeing another chapter before the end of this week. It'll be due to my time scheduling if I have the time to get more writing and editing done, I hope I do but you all know how it is with starting a new job I'm sure.
Rain coats guys...Hope you've got them. When it rains it pours.
RED DAWN
SUMMARY: Edward had always warned Bella that the pack were dangerous. Hostile, volatile and aggressive in nature. She ignored him, testing even Edward's own vampire instinct by staying friends with his enemy, Jacob. One event will change them all, Bella never truly understood the supernatural world. Didn't understand the aggression that lay dormant even in her controlled mate until it was too late. Warning: Violence and Character death.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all the Characters.
Chapter Twelve
Edward released Bella from his hold outside of his room opening the door to let her go in ahead, he watched as she moved into his room and then her gaze stopped on the new addition. She'd not been aware of Edward purchasing a bed for the room, while she'd stayed in it for a time she'd been completely unaware, unconscious from her injuries. She knew as soon as she saw the large four post bed, that Edward had gotten it for the intention of her sleeping in it and sharing it with her. She wondered how long he'd had it, or if he'd worked some kind of charm and influences to have it delivered so fast and set up so quickly. Edward closed his door behind him, while it may not have given them much privacy when those in the house could hear everything said. Especially if they desired to pay attention, it still held enough significance that he wanted some privacy with Bella here to anyone who moved past his room. Bella moved to the bed slowly reaching out and touching one of the posts and tracing her hand along the smooth wood, it reminded her of how she'd always imagined the beds in old classic novels. It was elegant and beautiful with sheets that looked too soft for her even to touch, and an amount of pillows at the head of the bed that would better any royalty she'd read about. Bella turned around to look at Edward to find him watching her with that easy care free crooked grin that she adored so much.
"You got a bed?" Bella asked even though it was clear to see that he'd definitely gotten a bed but she wanted him to elaborate on why he'd done so. She hadn't needed him too, they'd always enjoyed relaxing together on the futon he'd first introduced her too as the only furniture for relaxing on that first time he'd brought her here to his bedroom.
"Well I thought it was something I'd need should you ever stay the night" Edward smiled moving towards Bella and slipping his arms around her small body embracing her.
"This is our room. Though you've already slept in it technically" Edward said softly leaning down and kissing Bella's cheek and along her jaw line as he pulled her closer.
"When?" Bella said breathlessly, under the kisses that Edward placed over her skin, leading a trail of nerve tingling pleasure in its wake of them. She'd certainly liked the more affectionate way they had been since the reunion last night.
"The night I brought you here when you were hurt" Edward said and even then as his kisses stopped and Bella looked into his deep contact lenses covered eyes that it still pained him thinking on it.
"I was lying beside you after Carlisle had stabilized you. I wanted to just lay there forever. To close the world away and take care of you and love you" Edward said with a clear sign of his own vulnerability as Bella tugged his hand then slightly pulling him towards the bed.
"Let's make it a better memory then for our first time in our bed together" Bella said softly moving to climb into the bed as Edward smiled warmly at her. Moving into the centre of the large bed finding himself pulling Bella into his arms holding her content and blissfully, happy to have her here with him.
"This is much better" Edward whispered pressing his lips to her hair inhaling her scent and resting his head back more into the softness of the pillows beneath him. The warmth of her body against his own cooler one making him feel completely whole in that moment, as it had the night before as she'd slept.
"So this was what you wanted to show me?" Bella said with a grin as she twisted her body in her embrace with Edward to be able to look up at him resting her chin on his marble solid chest.
"There are many things I wish to show you Isabella" Edward said in a tone that Bella could only compare to the likes in which she'd seen Tanya speak earlier. With sins promised on his lips and it sent a shiver down her very spine seeing that Edward was teasing her just as the family had all teased each other throughout the afternoon.
"I see that Kate's warning held truth then" Bella pursed her lips saying it tartly not wanting to be outdone. She'd very much enjoyed the playfulness that today had granted them all. She'd even seen Carlisle and Esme sharing tender smiles. Bella had not seen Carlisle smile properly since she'd woken in hospital. Even so with her words Bella dared to drag her hand down her loves toned stomach, dipping just at the waist band of his jeans with a wide mischievous grin.
"I see her influence is already beginning to show" Edward smirked but made no attempt to stop her in her hand's travelling over his body, no longer denying himself the pleasure of her touch should she feel him worthy of it.
"I don't know you seemed to have enough influence on me all by yourself" Bella said pushing her hand beneath the shirt finally, making skin to skin contact and then without another word said between them they came together passionately.
They moved towards each other with a single minded determination that would have been impressive to anyone who bared witness to it as Bella's hand moved under his shirt. Edward had already pulled Bella's body astride him. His hands took claim of her hips and slid along her sides causing Bella to whimper as his fingers delicately trailed along her body like she'd seen him do countless times with the piano. He played her wonderfully, masterfully with a skill she knew could not come from any simple man with no experience in such things. Bella's hand remained beneath his shirt rising higher up as she was forced to sit atop his lap straddling him, she revelled in the broad expanse of his perfectly sculpted chest. All while they touched Edward had taken claim of Bella's lips and she'd surrendered willingly her mouth welcoming him as she tasted his very essence against her tongue as he took control of her. She could even feel the hardness beneath her then of his arousal, for all the stories she'd endured with a naive humour she was finally earning her own tale she'd be one day able to regale to Kate.
She could feel him beneath her and she knew Edward could likely smell her too. Edward was intoxicated by the heavy scent of her blood and arousal it reached into the depths of his once believed depravity. No longer ashamed by his need, simply accepting of it and ready to enjoy in it, he felt the fabric beneath his fingers at Bella's back peel down the centre effortlessly, tearing. He had noticed that she'd forgone a bra the pebbling of her nipples against his chest now rubbing against his over sensitive skin. He wanted her skin, wanted to taste every inch of her. He had only been given pause at the stiffening of Bella's body under his touch.
"What's wrong love?" Edward whispered even his own voice huskier in his heightened desire as he looked at Bella straddling his own evident desire for her. He could see though already her fear and concern, the worry and he found himself guilt ridden then in the belief he may have forced himself too far with her. Especially with her body still healing.
"It's just" Bella looked away from his beautiful eyes, struggling. This was exactly what she'd always wanted and she wanted it now more than anything but her fear about him seeing her body it was becoming too much.
"You've never seen me like this. I want you to like my body but I'm... I look horrible Edward" Bella whispered her doe eyes filling with tears at the thought of disappointing him somehow.
"Never" Edward said firmly then moving his hands to cup both sides of Bella's face being cautious of her stitching as he looked deeply into her eyes, the deep love and adoration clear in them.
"You don't look horrible. Never have you looked more beautiful to me then here giving me more of you then we've ever shared. If you aren't ready I won't rush you love. I can admit I got slightly carried away, I never intended to shred your shirt" Edward smiled kissing the corner of Bella's lips as she tried to get control of herself she was overwhelmed and hated herself for stopping what was progressing between them.
"I want too though. Not sex yet but, to be able to see you" Bella said her hand still under his shirt resting on his toned stomach as she sighed looking away her sad face breaking Edward's heart as he believed he'd be able to find a way to bring them back to the happiness.
"Then let me show you" Edward whispered letting go of Bella and moving to pull his shirt off from his body and discarding it beside him, Edward took Bella's hands in his own and guided them over his own body shifting back with her and laying back on the bed as he moved both their hands over his torso
"I'm yours Bella. Every part of me belongs to you" Bella looked down at him awed.
This was completely new territory for them both now, in the new claims of territory they'd been making in the last day of their more physical sides of the relationship. She'd only ever seen Edward shirtless once before, when he'd gone to step into the light in Volterra when he'd been ready to reveal his none human skin to the crowd. To provoke the Volturi's wraith in his need to find her in death. Now he was before her so perfectly made, skin so beautifully unblemished and smooth under her touch and his large hands guiding her own over him. Artists would weep in sorrow over seeing this flawless creature before her, this man who loved her so completely. She knew that he was placing himself vulnerable before her, he'd never been like this with anyone to give himself so freely that suddenly the need to show him her own commitment even though she feared him seeing the scars won out. As she allowed the tatters of her shirt to fall forward and off from her body. They didn't speak a word then both their bodies bare to each other, Edward felt his venom pour into his mouth at the sight of Bella above him shirtless.
How many nights had he internally fantasised about this moment, how many times had he taken to the forest to ease his own hunger for her with this very image so clear in his mind. The marks made him hurt, they were like a deep wound in his very soul of a proof of failing her but they were not ugly or hideous. She'd survived them and even in what these marks being made had created in its wake they were still together, if not stronger then they'd been before. Edward moved then to place Bella beneath him as he kneeled between her legs his weight braced on his forearms as he caressed along her cheek his cold hard chest pressed tightly against her pliable warm one.
"A hundred years is nothing when I think about how long I would have waited for you Bella" Edward said in a desperation that made Bella want him even more as he kissed her pouted swollen lips. They kissed deeper still and he growled in the pleasure of her hardened nipples pressed against his cool chest, his stomach tightening as he felt like he could burst around the sensations of pleasure at having her skin pressed to his own.
"I love you Edward. I love you" Bella cried out in overwhelming pleasure as his lips moved along her injured side of her face and then he moved lower his tongue flicking against her pulse sending it into hyper drive as her heart thumped in her own ears loudly.
Bella found herself at a loss for words.
There were no words she could even try to muster to explain how her body felt in that moment, as Edward's intention became clear to her. As if he was trying to heal every single mark upon her body with the gentleness of his lips and tongue. The fear was still there in her belly but it was fading fast. How could she ever fear him, when he brought her so much pleasure, how could she fear his rejection when he was making her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world in that moment. Edward continued his pursuit down Bella's body his heightened sense aware of everything about her then, to ensure he didn't push his love too far beyond her levels of comfort. These wounds on her body would heal but he knew it wasn't the ones visible he had to try and heal now it was the ones inside, the insecurities that made her believe she'd not be beautiful to him. He slowly sucked on the skin of Bella's collarbone enjoying the moment in which her skin shudder under his swirling tongue as the flesh shivered and her stomach tightened under him. Edward moved down her body like a man praising a masterpiece, he kissed her skin like a worshipper standing at the feet of his goddess.
All that he dreamed and desired began and ended in this beautiful fragile strong human girl. A hundred years alone and he'd been gifted her in the end, knowing now what she was to him he'd have waited a thousand more knowing she'd be his one day. Edward felt she was some kind of reward at the end of his dark existence he'd endured before finding her. Edward felt Bella's hand's move then tightening in the crown of his unruly hair as his nose brushed down over her perfectly dark pinked nipple and then as she cried out audibly into the silent room as his tongue flicked back over it and took it between his lips. Always mindful of his teeth and the amount of strength he used as he sucked on the sensitive little pebbled skin. Edward was a man on a mission, a hundred years of being frozen as a seventeen year old boy with his hormones so heightened he'd not known what to do but try and lock them away. Now finally being free to rejoice in them with the love of his life. He kissed every individual stitching that ran down her body, he licked along each curve of her hip and breast. Edward adored her and felt her scent heighten and her bodies control rise and fall as he brought her into that distinct moment of pleasure to only let it fall again.
He teased her into frenzy with a skill that he should have never possessed but found himself grateful to his mind reading and the memories he'd shared in. Once before considered them wrong and now found himself grateful to finally have the use of these unused skills. He could never feel dirty or wrong for his need to pleasure Bella in this moment as he brought her to her, as far as he was aware first climax of pleasure. He watched as he completely made her fall apart under the skill of his lips and tongue on her bare torso. He watched her beautiful eyes scrunch close, her face blush and watched in wonder as that blush spread down her neck and covered her chest that rose as her spine arched away from the mattress.
She was magnificent.
She was the embodiment of all things beautiful.
She was his goddess of his carnal hungers.
She was his mate.
Soon enough too he hoped his wife also.
Bella couldn't move, her hand that had until then been so tightly gripped in Edward's hair had fallen limp as she looked up at the velvety ceiling of the four poster bed, her eyes unfocussed and almost blurred. Her mind was still aware but she was still completely consumed by the over sensitiveness of her entire body, she was still faintly aware of Edward's lips in a smile against her hip. It felt like he was nibbling almost, she felt utterly spent and exhausted like Edward had taken her on some type of ethereal journey as he'd touched and kissed every inch of her body. The way in which he'd so effortlessly teased her skin into goose bumps with shivers to then heat it igniting a flame inside of her she had believed would consume her. The teasing remarks on Edward being celibate and innocent during many of the stories shared earlier in the day just didn't add up in her mind. He done things to her she'd not even thought someone would do with their lips, tongue or even fingers. He'd worked her body in a way like she'd often seen him work over the piano, with a passion and skill that she'd thought could only relate to musical instruments. Though she'd felt like he'd played her body, like he'd known her mind all along. Was this what all the secret giggles in locker rooms and boastful guys cheering had been all about throughout her time in high school.
She certainly felt like giggling with Kate and Alice over what Edward had done. Wanted to suddenly shout, proudly from the roof top that Edward Cullen had given her, her very first sexual experience of her life. Her very first orgasm and she was hooked. She'd not even known it was possible to make someone feel that much pleasure from what he'd done, she'd read about love making, seen it in movies and television shows but what she and Edward had shared she didn't believe she'd seen ever before. They way he'd sucked while kneading areas of her hip had turned her to jelly or the way his hardness had felt pressed on the inside of her thigh as he'd traced his tongue along her throat. She wasn't sure what she called it but she doubted it was something a human could do, she didn't believe for a second a human could do that to another. Bella wasn't even sure if there was another man on this planet that could do what Edward had done. She knew there was no other that could make her feel how he had that was for sure.
"I...I...god. I sound so stupid" Bella had panted and stuttered out finally saying something more than cried out pleading for more or to stop or even her favourite Edward's name or some type of praising to god.
"You sound perfect" Edward crooned all while looking far too pleased with himself as he finally moved up from near her hip to cuddling Bella into his chest smiling at Bella as she finally gained some composure as they looked into each other's eyes.
"That was amazing" Bella whispered nestling her face into Edward's solid chest kissing over where his silent heart was, wanting to be completely consumed by him. She felt like she could end up closing her eyes and falling into the most peaceful sleep of her life now.
"I love you Bella. I'll always love you" Edward sighed out with a pleased smile on his own face as his fingers trailed along her spine, their legs tangling together on the bed. Edward knew there would never be a time better than this one in this moment of complete love and bliss.
"I know this isn't the most perfect setting to ask this of you Bella. I can't help but say something though, with this day it's been so filled with lightness and happiness, even pleasure. You've often asked of me the things I want in this world and I've made it clear to you that you are what I want most of all in this life. I want you like me so we can be together forever but there is something else I want love" Edward whispered as Bella turned her face to look at Edward as she held herself closer to him.
"This isn't how I thought I'd do it, though I doubted you'd want a grand set up I know that isn't you. This though being together so openly vulnerable the both of us and so clearly in love I think no better moment could have presented itself then this" Edward reached into his pocket then taking hold of the box with his mother's engagement ring inside pulling it from his jeans as he looked deeply into Bella's beautiful brown eyes.
"I'm ready for forever. I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm ready to take you as my wife, if you'll have me as your husband. Will you make me the happiest man to ever have walked this world and do me the extraordinary honour of being my wife Bella, will you marry me love?" Edward said finally getting the words out to Bella as she lay pressed into his arms his hand flicking open the box to reveal the ring to her.
Bella was stunned, a part of her was so genuinely surprised by this she felt somewhat a little foolish, he'd made mention of this in the past when they'd often spoke about life had it been different. She could remember the conversation all too clearly then as she'd wanted to know how things would have been had they met when he'd been human. Had they met during Edward's human life in some strange sense of kismet, he'd been openly honest then. While Bella had never truly ever been interested in the idea of marriage, seeing it less as something other than a failed piece of paper that half the couples who took part in the ceremony ended up separated anyway. She remembered listening to Edward tell her how had he found her as the seventeen year old human he would have courted her, he would have attended chaperoned dates with her and perhaps stolen the briefest of chaste kisses before finally asking for her father's permission to wed them. He'd been so clear that had he met her as a human he'd have bent down to one knee before her and offered her the world and a life together. He would have turned away his boyish ideals of becoming a soldier and the grandeur of war to start a home with her as his mother had wanted, he'd have worked to become a lawyer as his father had wished and he'd have been happy.
He'd have still had her and she'd remembered feeling overwhelmingly loved that even then knowing that his greatest desire had been to join the war he'd have picked her above all else. For some reason she'd believed this would never been a step that they would take together, now it seemed ridiculous as she knew that all of his family had married. Some of them even multiple times during the years they'd been together. Bella knew well enough that Alice had wedding dresses stored away and that Rosalie had dozens of dresses from multiple weddings they'd held. It allowed them to celebrate their love and marry the new identities they had to create during the years. It was all part of the idea of keeping them connected and fresh on paper. Bella had been trying so hard to get Edward to simply change her into a vampire she'd not thought of another form of commitment, a human one that she held no real faith in. She knew a week ago she'd have said no outright completely being blind to just how much this would mean to Edward, a week ago she'd have been too concerned about what everyone around her thought. She'd have feared telling Charlie and Renee, she'd have not wanted to hurt Jake with the growth in her love for Edward, Bella would have feared the mocking and judging from those around Forks. In her head she even considered cynically they'd all think she was pregnant getting married so young.
This was not the Bella of a week ago though. She'd had her eyes opened to not only her own failings but the false presumption of the man in front of her. She'd always believed him above so many normal things and unknowingly completely brushed past the thought that he too had insecurities just as she did. This beautiful self loathing man frozen forever a boy who believed himself a soul less monster was asking her to marry him. Not because it was expected, not because of any reason that people got married in her generation for, but the only reason he had ever believed worthy of such a commitment.
Love and devotion.
It brought tears to her eyes as she looked at him even now shirtless and flawless to her human eyes and she could see his worry, see that he wanted this. He'd told her only earlier that he'd have waited even longer had he known she was going to be his, she was thankful he didn't, she was glad that it hadn't been her because she knew she didn't have nearly the strength of this man before her. The elegant ageless ring while even old fashioned was everything she'd never believed she'd wanted in an engagement ring, her mind already conjuring images of the light bouncing off the beautiful jewels set in the ring on her finger. She knew even without Edward saying that this was expensive but instead of recoiling from it she felt herself wanting to reach out for it. She knew it was her ring already, knew that she'd wear it proudly on her finger without even a murmur of protest because it wasn't just an expensive ring. She'd seen something similar, Edward of course had no idea but Bella could still see the image of him human with his parents. His mother's hands rested in front of her and that same round circular setting with the sapphires and diamonds fitted in beautifully, his mother's ring. He loved her so much. He'd give her something that she knew had to be precious to him, something that had been with him since his life had been so drastically changed.
She found the words that she wanted to say stuck in her throat then as she turned to look up at Edward her eyes blurred and then he was gone, he'd moved from his position on the bed. She'd barely understood it before she found the ring left behind with her and then she felt herself reacting frantically. She'd left him waiting too long, she'd not answered quickly enough and hoped he was close enough that she could fix this before he doubted that she wanted to be his completely in all ways. Bella brushed her hands under her eyes wiping away the tears to see Edward standing rigged and tense at the large expanse of window to the adjacent wall his body looked so tightly coiled it worried her that she'd ruined this moment for them. She felt herself quickly stumbling from their bed taking great care with holding the engagement ring in her hands still shirtless to move towards him, to fix whatever offense she'd made against him.
"Don't come closer love. Put a shirt on please" Edward said but his voice was strange and distant and it only worried Bella more she couldn't understand what was happening. She knew he must be hurting if she knew him as she did he'd most likely taken her silence as rejection and now was shouldering the blame on himself. The only salvation in the entire sentence was that he'd still called her love. While small the endearment meant so much with knowing how Edward was feeling.
"Edward... come back to..." Bella froze on her words as the door knocked rapidly and Bella knew well enough to cover herself, her shirt was completely ruined but Edward's was there still she quickly slipped it over her head and sighed her hands still clinging to the ring as Jasper and Emmet then entered into the room.
"How many?" Jasper asked urgently moving towards Edward's flank as Edward stood still so rigidly set like a statue watching over whatever was outside, whoever Edward was seeing that the others couldn't.
"Seven. I hear an eighth further out on the edge of town. Riley Biers the boy from Forks that went missing in Seattle" Bella knew the name, Charlie had been involved in helping Mr and Mrs Biers report their missing son that had to have been almost a year ago now. She didn't understand what a missing college student had to do with what was happening but she could tell it was serious.
"Seven newborns we're looking at a hell of a fight" Emmet said and Bella was surprised that he wasn't his normally humours and joking self hadn't she grown used to Emmet laughing in the face of any kind of danger. She knew enough now to understand what a newborn was, newly changed vampires far stronger then a normal vampire because they were still feeding on their own blood in their bodies. Newborns that she was positive meant Victoria, she'd remained quiet too long it seemed and had clearly ruined the moment in which Bella was supposed to become Edward's fiancée. It hurt in her chest, it made her so angry with all of these people who wanted to risk and ruin all that she loved in her life.
"They have no idea what they're coming against. They're closing in from the highway. They came through the sea route, seems Riley is aware enough to know he couldn't have them cross human's too soon. We need to go now" Edward said firmly moving away from the window and Bella found herself standing there awkwardly pleading with her eyes for Edward to give her just a moment, just one more second before he rushed off into danger. She couldn't even think of the idea of him being hurt, she knew he was strong and fast, she knew his talent gave him a much greater advantage but these newborns would be stronger. She couldn't do anything to protect Edward, no matter how badly she wished she could.
"We'll meet you downstairs. We'll need to decide who is going to go out. We can't leave Bella defenceless here. Personally Carmen and Esme just haven't trained enough to be involved yet" Jasper said bluntly of the two maternal members of both families while they'd been training during the evenings with members of the family it was coming slow, both women not particularly known for a more lethal side.
They'd been struggling to push away the fear of hurting family to learn to be truly dangerous when fighting. Jasper wasn't going to allow them to be placed in harm not knowing if they'd match up. Edward nodded to Jasper and Emmet exited his room and he moved to his wardrobe to grab another shirt to cover himself with, his head confused and conflicted. She'd not said anything to his proposal and yet now he found himself having to stay in tune with the thoughts of seven extremely enraged and thirsty newborns that had been riled up for a fight.
"Edward. What's happening?" Bella asked once Jasper and Emmet had left moving to him and slipping her arms around his body pressing her face into his back and locking her arms around his stomach to try and stop him from leaving almost.
"There are newborns a few miles away. I heard them. Their thirst it's very loud in their minds. We're going to need to cut them off now and destroy them. Riley Biers appears to be helping Victoria. He's planned his own attack on the family. I can't seem to pick up Victoria so I don't know if she's close by or even involved in this strike" Edward said finding his eyes moving down to look at her small hands locked around him seeing the velvet box still clasped in her hands. What did it mean? He wished he could see her mind, so badly did he wish the one mind that evaded him was open now.
"I don't want you to get hurt" Bella whispered roughly scared that she'd possibly loss him, the thought was so soul destroying that she believed she might understand then what Edward might have felt when she'd been harmed. With his emotions even more heightened with supernatural instincts she didn't understand she knew how deeply it must have affected him.
"I won't. Even with seven of them we've got more numbers here. We have the gifted of us. We have Jasper, that mans knowledge in newborns is endless" Edward opened her arms from around his body and turned around to face her leaning down slightly and moving his hand to cup her cheek as Bella pressed her face into his palm more.
"I will always come back to you Bella. There is no force on this earth that could keep me from you" Edward said with a fiery determination and then kissed her briefly on the lips even then there was heat in the kiss as Bella found herself almost melting into Edward, the kiss ending all too soon for the both of them.
"We should join the others. I need to make sure your safe first. I can't leave without knowing that" Edward said entwining his fingers with her free hand and then grabbing his shirt off the counter top in his other tugging her towards his door, Bella resisting slightly and tugging back at her arm to stop and halt Edward from leaving.
"Yes" Bella said firmly as Edward turned to her confused.
"Yes what Bella?" Edward looked to Bella seeing her offer the velvet box back towards him.
"I never got to answer. I was so surprised. Then I was so happy and I couldn't speak. I never got to answer you. So, yes. Yes I'll marry you. Yes I'll be your wife from now until the end of our existence" Bella said with complete confidence in her tone as Edward's face morphed from the serious look that had been on his handsome features before. As a wide smile broke across his face, revealing his straight white teeth, a twinkle almost in his ruby red eyes.
Edward moved to Bella then dropping his shirt to the floor and taking the box from her hand and then moving to lift Bella off her feet pressing his lips to her own firmly. He kissed her deeply feeling like a heavy weight had been lifted from his chest at her acceptance of his proposal, she was his, she wanted to marry him and he couldn't have been happier. Bella smiled against Edward's lips as he swung her around in a complete circle earning a peel of laughter from her as he then placed her back onto her feet. He swiftly removed the ring then looking from it into Bella's eyes and then took her hand and slowly slipped the ring onto her finger bringing her hand to his lips kissing it tenderly.
"You have no idea how much this means Bella" Edward said looking at her in a way that revealed all too well how much her yes had meant to him, she'd known even before then how much. It wasn't just Edward who wanted this though, she wanted this too.
"You just better come back to me Edward" Bella said seriously leaning into his palm and then kissing the palm of his hand looking down from the corner of her eyes at the ring on her finger with a shy smile.
"Always love. Nothing could keep me away from you. We need to join the others. I can't tell you how sorry I am that these things ruin moments for us but I can only promise that once this is all over I'll spend eternity making up for this all Bella" Edward said sincerely as he reached down to grab his shirt pulling it over his head and then taking Bella's hand back into his own feeling the cool platinum band against his own skin.
"You have nothing to make up for Edward. None of this is your fault" Bella said knowing the truth of it, it wasn't fair to place the blame on any one persons shoulders many choices had been made to bring them to these events. Bella believed it was because of all of the awful choices that Alice's visions had gone black, that they'd all been trying to interrupt things in their own views and ended up failing horribly. She was just as guilty in that as any other person.
Edward quickly moved himself and his fiancée down to the rest of his family, even though he knew the seriousness of what was very much on the doorstep of his home he couldn't help the pride in that.
His fiancée.
Isabella Swan was his fiancée and the future Mrs Edward Cullen, there could be no lingering of doubt now, they were completely committed they would be united eternally not only by vows under god but the venom that flowed through his very body. He was aware enough of what he had to do to know that he couldn't allow himself to go into the coming danger without concentration. He'd been given something he'd hoped for and now he'd have to fight to ensure he returned back to Bella's side, at least in the darkness he had a glimmer bright light to guide him. He would endure anything to have her, now it was time to rid the world of that which wanted to stand between him and his happiness and destroy them all. Esme and Carmen had already willing accepted that they would not be expected to face the seven newborns, Edward had made it perfectly clear while Riley was a newborn to their standards of vampire's he was by far old enough in his vampire existence to have some type of basic control and mental function. Riley Biers was not running on instinct any longer, but he was running on the belief that he was doing all of this for Victoria and giving her what she wanted. Edward suspected a deceit within that clouded relationship even from the distance the need within Riley's mind to impress Victoria came from a desperate man consumed by lust and affection.
Edward would destroy the newborns but his true target was Riley, he was the main piece in all of this the man to carry out the actions he'd put together from Jasper own belief when Riley had been mentioned that Victoria had been getting around Alice's very gift with this middle man in her plans. It had worked masterfully. They were lucky however Alice was still so badly affected by the pack being involved in the family's future or Edward and Jasper both believed she'd be able to let them know everything they wanted now she knew who to watch for. Though she'd still likely need to see him, or be around his past but he had a home in Forks and parents.
"I'll stay behind" Eleazer said firmly while he was more so staying to protect Carmen more than anything else, Eleazer was a strong fighter years of being part of the Volturi guard had given him training that was rarely bettered anywhere else within covens. He was still deeply concerned on his change in fighting technique though and while still a lethal foe was not as confident with his changed appearance.
"I'll stay too. I don't want to think that they'd get through but if they do. I've got Bella's back" Kate said evenly nodding her head towards Edward, her opinion was true she wanted to protect her new friend especially knowing Edward wouldn't be close to do so with them needing him out there to dispose of this small army of newborns. Edward was impressed to see that Kate was genuinely not concerned about fighting at all he'd expected to see some fear especially after how close to destruction she'd come at the attack by the pack. Kate had been ripped to pieces after that confrontation but her will hadn't been broken if anything it had only strengthened her own resolve to be better. Her grief had distracted her she wasn't about to allow Edward's fragile human mate be in danger knowing it could very well be his end if he wasn't completely focussed.
"Okay then. That leaves four here with Bella. That gives us seven newborns possibly eight should Riley involve himself. His position far away makes me suspect that he's not going to be part of any initial strike" Jasper said then looking from each member that had willingly or simply expected to join the fight, Tanya hadn't been thrilled at the idea of having to fight with a newborn it was bad enough dealing with the dogs. Newborns were instinctual monster with superior strength in all regards.
"I say pods of two" Emmet said cracking his knuckles audibly looking to Jasper for confirmation or disagreement in his plan.
"Alice and you. Me and Rose. Tanya and Carlisle..." Emmet then looked to Edward as if somehow realising that Edward would be the only one to be fighting without a partner. With seven newborns though and seven members of the family it didn't bother Edward too much, while not the strongest he was extremely fast, he was hoping that these newborns were new enough that he'd be able to use much of what Jasper had been teaching about dealing with newborn vampires.
"Don't worry working in twos is fine. I'll take care of my vampire and then I'll hunt down Riley. They have no idea we know that they're closing in, they still think very much like humans. They aren't used to scents, hearing even their own body's abilities yet. Riley is who I want" Edward said firmly and Jasper who had been ready to disagree and plan for alternate way of attacking them was more than willing to go with Edward's way.
He too agreed capturing Riley was important.
If they'd had the numbers he would have suggested Edward simply forgoing the fight simply to take out Riley knowing how fast Edward was and how using his mind he'd be able to track him fairly well.
"What direction are they coming in from?" Alice asked not seeing them still she wasn't sure if that was just because of her power being on the down or if they'd simply not made a choice yet.
"They're coming south. Riley was smart enough to take them from Seattle by a route using the ocean. He's keeping them from humans. They'll have to come through our home to get to Forks which is where their mind is focussed" Edward told his sister, his eyes then turning to Bella who was standing at Kate's side now she forced a smile towards him but he could see how worried she was.
"They'll expect an easy fight. Newborn strength makes them arrogant it's why it's so hard to train them they go back to basics every time" Jasper said shaking his head a faint memory of his time in the south dealing with newborns who simply wouldn't take to the training, Edward knew often those who refused to conform to Jasper's training were eventually killed if not in battle by his hand by Maria's command.
"Let's go. The closer we let them get the worse it'll be if they manage to evade us and try to run. We can't have them getting anywhere near the town. We certainly don't want them heading to La Push" Carlisle said urgently his fear of the lives that could be lost if seven newborns were allowed to be set loose on the people of Forks especially newborns who hadn't been taught about keeping themselves under the radar. It was still a surprise the Volturi hadn't stepped in with all that the news were reporting on the deaths and missing people in Seattle.
Edward said one more linger goodbye to Bella as she clung to him with all her strength not wanting him to leave her but knowing he had to, his family needed him and the only way they were both safe from Victoria was destroying those who were part of her army. Edward pressed his lips once more to Bella's hair as Kate stepped forward to usher Bella away already starting in about another past story to try and distract her from what was happening and Edward was truly grateful for Kate and all she was doing for him and Bella. Edward and the remaining members of his family exited the house, Jasper and Alice were already outside with Tanya and Carlisle as Rose and Emmet brought up the rear behind Edward.
"Maybe we should herd them to La Push. Two birds one stone" Emmet said with a faint chuckle as Edward looked behind him at Emmet with a slight smirk on his face, it would certainly pose a smart idea but placed too many innocent humans at risk. They wanted to end the threats but Edward didn't want to cause needless deaths to humans for that to happen.
"How are we approaching them?" Rose asked as she moved down from the porch and shoved her way between Edward and Emmet pushing them both aside to stand between them.
"Carlisle and I will come to them head on" Tanya said but it was evident in her tone she wasn't the happiest about this plan, or at least her part in it.
"Yes. Tanya and Carlisle will come in head on. They'll expect it. I doubt they've ever had any type of fight that hasn't been one on one between two newborns. With them seeing just you two it will make them overly confident. That way Alice and I can come in from one flank and Emmet and Rose the other. Edward you're the fastest and if we want to have you close enough to Riley's location I thought you should loop the entire area and come up behind the newborns. You can take your one out and then track down Riley. We'll deal with clean up, just lessen the numbers for us before you go" Jasper said and Edward agreed, he could see that Jasper was trying to use all of the members to their best effect. Jasper new the head on approach from Tanya and Carlisle both clearly leaders in their own right and gave off a very authoritative aura about them would confuse the newborns. Emmet and Rose were very aggressive and powerful as a duo; Jasper and Alice were more technically gifted. Edward of course was the only one to truly know if he'd caught them off guard and Jasper wanted Riley captured just as much as Edward did. Jasper knew that if Riley was to flee that no one had a better chance of catching him even with a head start then Edward.
"Let's take care of business then" Emmet said with a wide grin and then Edward took off quickly moving far from his family as he took off in a completely different direction seeing the path Jasper had thought in his mind for Edward to take to come at the newborns from behind.
The seven newborns had been told to be cautious and prepared, they had since the first day of this new life been warned of their enemies, of the enemy that would deny them the one thing that gave them pleasure. Blood was all they could think about. It consumed them and seduced every part of them. Every thought was accompanied with the lingering desire of the sweet nectar that was the only thing in this torment that eased the burning suffering. Humanity was faded in their minds, not nurtured or cared for as most newly made vampires were they knew nothing of restraint. They knew nothing of the rules that governed the world they'd lived in, even the things that had been told to them was not always true. As these seven had learnt at the instruction of Riley, the man all of them remembered before the three days of fire had started. All had the briefest of memories of Riley and a red haired woman with a predators grace that had leapt at them before everything had faded and been swallowed by agonizing pain.
The yellow eyes were old.
The yellow eyes were powerful and they were what stood in the way of having all the blood they could possibly want, they'd been told this over and over. The yellow eyes had powers that made them deadly, but with strength of newborns they would end those who would dare to stop them from quenching this never ending thirst. The forests felt unnatural to them all as they moved amongst the trees clothing thickly drenched through from having to submerge themselves in water. Riley had pointed and sent them on their way, they were used to the hunting grounds of the city, and it was easier to grab humans in a city. They were unprepared and untrained running completely on instinct, their new bodies and minds still so very foreign to them everything they did seemed to be the opposite of what they knew to be normal and yet they had no control to stop themselves.
They were instinctual blood thirsting beasts, the men and woman they had once been were gone completely now.
