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Chapter 5:

Ariella

My control was slipping because of my mate. My self-restraint. I could barely sit down for a quiet dinner with Bella and uncle Charlie without yearning for Carlisle. I tried not to replay the previous time we had spent in the woods and worked hard to keep my mind out of the gutter. I had to find a way to get away for a while without worrying my uncle. And assuring Bella everything was fine. I just needed more time with my mate. When my cousin decided to retreat to her room I sat down opposite my uncle.

"I have met someone!" I blurted, getting it over with as quickly as I could. Not wanting to lie. My uncle raised a brow. Waiting for me to continue. Why was I nervous? I was supposed to be a grown woman, not acting as a teenager. I composed myself. "I'm going to meet up with him again in Seattle for a while. It also helps me to prepare for the upcoming book release. Bella is much better now, and I am sure she will manage without having me here all hovering and such..." The Seattle part was partly a lie. Although, I had actually purchased an apartment there, just in case.

"You are free to do as you want, Ariella. I can't say I'm surprised. You're twenty-nine and have your own life. You stayed a much longer time than I ever could have expected. I'm happy for you. Just remember if it gets serious that I want to meet him."

I nodded, relieved, and perhaps felt a bit surprised. "You're not mad that I'm leaving?"

"Why would I be? You have been a wonder even when working on your books. I know you have a lot on your plate, but still took time for this family. You have helped out a great deal, and I'm not sure where Bella, or I for that matter, would be now if not for you." The teary eyes that he tried to control nearly made me fall apart too. I hugged him then and felt the tears threaten to fall.

Had it not been for the pull of being with my mate that was stronger, I would have stayed. Bella knew more or less of my plans and was prepared.

"Now, just remember to not be a stranger," he said and looked at me with stern, but yet a soft expression.

"I won't," I answered softly.

I hurried up the steps – human speed – and started packing. I had ended up buying more clothes when I first arrived, still only having two large suitcases and one small. I grimaced. Only my favorites would come along, and the rest could stay. Pressing everything as well together as I could without ruining the suitcases, I was ready to go. I carried them out and then I stopped by Bella's room and hugged her before sitting down. "Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked, lowering my voice.

"About…" she cleared her throat. "The instincts." Her face was flushed and I laughed. Oh, I could see where she was going.

"Haven't you ever…?" I asked, curiously.

"No, Edward never thought it safe to get too close, because of my blood," she explained, her ears also joining her face in color.

I calmed myself down. "It should not be possible for him to hurt you as you are his mate. His lack of confidence is disappointing."

"It's not like I haven't tried. My hormones used to go highwire when we even kissed, and that was it, just kisses."

"And before him?"

"I was never interested in anyone, and never really dated."

"Wow," I whispered. "You really haven't lived yet, not that you have missed much. I kissed several frogs in my time and slept with only a few of them due to a few parties that went out of hand. My hormones raged on then too. Meh…" I thought for a moment and then said, "But you know, you have your soulmate now. He won't leave again. Take it slowly, but don't let him decide everything in your relationship. And you know, whenever you decide to become a vampire, I promise you the tables will turn." I gave a not so subtle wink with that comment.

She stared at me with wide-eyes and I laughed again. Oh, how innocent! I had had my thoughts back on the subject, especially when she was confronted with my books, but never had I thought she had not even been with at least one other guy. I stared at the stack of my books in her shelf, the unread ones of course and handed her the first one.

"I'm not reading that!" she protested.

"It might help you be a bit less awkward around the subject. Make it your secret reading time when he's not present, who knows, you might be surprised and you might like it…or not. Just promise to give it a try." My challenge softened by my wiggling brows and she started to laugh. I had softened her up, and made her more comfortable. Point for me. "I'll see you soon."

"Don't break the house," she joked.

"You too?" I asked over my shoulder and she laughed loudly.

I hugged uncle Charlie good-bye and was glad that I had already carried my suitcases to the car and lifted them into the back. "Be safe, and drive with care," he said.

"Always," I responded.

I was glad there were not many out on the road and I went unseen – I had taken Alice's advice – until I came to the long driveway that would take me to the mansion. I had an inkling that we would not spend too much time there. I had after all been tipped off that Carlisle would go buy more camping gear. I grinned. I assumed it was the safer option now that the bond was so new between us.

When I parked, Alice and Jasper came out to greet me and emptied the trunk.

"Is this all?" Alice asked.

"I had no more suitcases," I answered and shrugged. "And please let me do my own shopping." I did remember Bella telling me about the certain shopaholic.

"You'll let me get you a few more things though?" she asked, and gave me a look I could only cave in to. I nodded. "Yay! Thank you!" She hugged me and ran up the stairs. "Come on Jasper!"

"You have unleashed the monster," he told me with a smile and mouthed thank you.

I shrugged and followed.

"There you are!" Emmett hugged me and squeezed me a bit extra.

"Too strong….Emmett," I gasped, but my wide smile would not leave me even as he put me down. He did remind me a little of Felix in certain ways, but that's where the similarities ended, as they certainly had their differences as far as I could make an assumption from the knowledge I had.

"Carlisle should be back soon," Rosalie said then and gave me a quick hug. The contrast was interesting. At the same time I couldn't blame her. We didn't know each other yet.

I was about to ask of Edward's whereabouts, but quickly noticed that my shield was pulling back towards the house. I released it and felt the part come back to me. I also released the others as I knew I was going to be quite some distance away.

"It's odd, the difference," Rosalie muttered as she stared at her much paler hands again.

"You just made me blind to you again!" Alice complained from somewhere in the house.

"Sorry, Alice, but I will be going soon, and then at least the others should be in your visions."

"To wreck more trees," Emmett said and wiggled his brows.

"Emmett," Rosalie hissed.

"What? It is the truth."

"Not if we can help it," I muttered lowly to myself.

I could feel Carlisle close to the house and turned to look out. I could see a few backpacks with him and small hands suddenly pushed on my back.

"Have fun," Alice sang and pushed me out the door.

"Don't want you to start off here!" Emmett's voice boomed, followed by his loud laughter.

"As if we would," I answered just loud enough for him to hear. To be honest I wasn't sure if we would have or not. It had almost been unbearable to stay away from Carlisle and all I wanted was to get close to him again.

"Ready?" he asked as he saw that I came to meet him.

"Of course," I answered.

We ran for quite the distance, to make sure we had enough space between us and the rest of the family. The site he chose was well covered by trees, and he had the tent up vamp-speed. I had no clue what he had brought as I never had taken an interest in camping, and the rare occasion I had gone before my turning, I had never paid too much attention. I had had other interests.

"You do know I need to speak to you about Edward," I said and rummaged through one of the backpacks out of curiosity.

"You can speak now," he said from inside the tent.

"I don't want to dampen the mood." That might have been a bit too late of course. I tilted my head as he came out from the tent and grabbed another of the backpacks.

He stopped what he was doing and a bit away from me, he sat down and his eyes met mine. Oh, it was bad. I could get lost in them forever. I made a sound in the back of my throat. "How come he convinced you to leave?" The question had really burnt a hole in my skull for quite some time.

His expression changed and he sighed. "Edward was the first I turned, and I have looked at him as my son for a long time. He was my only companion for quite a while. I take his opinions and listen to his decisions because I trust him. I must admit though, I did not think it through when I let Edward make the decision that we all leave. I focused on what he wanted, and it didn't help that Rosalie was more than willing to leave as well. And Emmett wants what Rosalie does." He shook his head.

"You are their leader though, you could have stood your ground to stay," I pointed out, interrupting him.

"You're right, but I didn't. Edward presented everything in detail, and I felt that we would be back somehow. But only he could see himself that he could not stay away from his mate. Then everything happened that brought him to Volterra…" he trailed off.

"It does not sit well with me that you left my cousin behind though, Carlisle. It makes me wonder a bit for the future. How much will Edward influence your decisions?" I wondered aloud.

He stood then and came over to me, slowly as if not to startle me. Not that he could. He sat down in front of me and took my hands in his. His eyes seemed to burn with passion and I struggled to not give in to my instincts.

"I will listen to everyone equally, but your voice will now weight the most. You have my heart."

It was the answer I needed, but it could not stop me completely. I would have to talk with Edward as well. There was no other option. I had a duty to uphold the law of the vampire world. Me being part of the Volturi ensured that. I was a princess, most of the time considered a queen, in the guards' eyes whether I wanted the title or not. I had changed the coven in such a way that there was no going back to their old ways. I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to talk to Carlisle about it. If my cousin wanted a different a future, a human future, I would ensure she got it as best we could manage without breaking the original rule. If she chose immortality, it would be her choice and I would care for her as she had become more to me than I ever could have imagined.

"You are at a disadvantage," I told him. "I know more of you and your family from Bella, than you know of me." I gave him half a smile.

"And we have eternity to get to know each other," he answered me and pulled me up with him so we were both standing.

"You are my equal as I am yours," I said, tone serious. I had to make him understand how serious this was. He had way longer experience in this world than I did, though I was the one that was raised in this new world by the kings leading it. I would not be submissive as some females were (though trust me, only a very few were). I had a strong will, and I wondered how much our mating bond would affect my personality. I could only hope that Carlisle was ready for his new future. A future with me.