Note: I don't know if anyone realised it yet but I've been trying my hardest to update the stories with the longest time between now and when they were last updated. Slowly getting there now. Also also a little while ago I put a note up about the person who is going through my works commenting on my spelling, punctuation etc and I kindly asked them to stop explaining my reasons. This apparently wasn't enough for them to respect me enough to listen to my wishes as they have continued. I have been trying my best to ignore but I'll ask again, please stop. It really isn't helpful. Thank you.
Though on a more positive note, you guys and your amazing support are truly my life line right now. Thank you so much. This chapter is just a little bit of a filler chapter before we see our girls start to prepare to go off to Forks.
All my love Nell xoxo
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Zafrina glanced at the sleeping form of her mate in concern as the girl let out yet another fearful whimper. She was desperately trying to hold herself back after promising Isabella that she would no longer hold her hostage in her lap all the time. Much to the ancient's displeasure. If she had her way she would never put her human down but Isabella had insisted. She wanted her independence and while Zafrina would never want her mate to feel as if she couldn't be independent, any space she put between them felt unbearable. She would always respect her little mates decisions regardless of how much she didn't like them.
Though that wasn't her issue at the current moment. No, it was the fearful whimpers and the terrified whispering of names her mate should not know. The Cullen's had introduced themselves to her and her coven around fifty years ago as they toured through the Amazon. Their leader had even had the audacity to try and convince Zafrina that her diet choice was barbaric as if a vampire of barely three hundred years had any right to even attempt to criticise Zafrina who had near enough four thousand years of existence more than the man. All in all the coven had annoyed her. Their judgement of her way of life, their arrogance and superiority complex only served in irritating her and her sisters and they had never in their entire existence been so glad to see the back of a coven before when they had left. Having long overstayed their welcome the first day they had arrived yet staying for a full three, long and extremely torturous week's.
However why her human mate knew their names and the reason she seemed to be so afraid while speaking them baffled the ancient and set her possessive instincts on edge. She didn't like knowing that they had obviously been around her mate and whatever had happened with them had harmed her mate in such a way that her dreams were filled with fear.
"Zafrina, stop growling and go soothe your mate, she will forgive you for ignoring her wishes if it means she can get a decent rest without being plagued" Kachiri murmured, snapping her out of her own thoughts. Zafrina nodded without answering further, making her way over to the living area her sisters had built for her mate the previous evening while the human had slept, as quickly as she could, taking her sisters words as all the permission she needed to give in to her own longing and hold her mate close. Settling herself on the makeshift bed and pulling her girl into her arms.
Letting out a content purr when her mate automatically relaxed in her arms, her whimpering and fearful whispers ceasing immediately now that the vampire was holding her so tightly. The ancient woman smiled tenderly down at her mate.
"I will respect your wishes not to pry for now my girl but when I know just what those poor excuse for vampires did so wrong to cause you such distress Isabella, they will pay" she whispered almost too quietly for human ears. Afraid to wake her now peaceful mate as the human buried her body in tighter against hers, the humans nose tucking itself into the vampires neck as Isabella let out a quiet sigh.
"Zafrina" murmured in her sleep and her mate sounded so awed by just her name that it caused the usually controlled vampire to break out into a wide smile, pleased that her human could sense her even in sleep. Infact she was so pleased she didn't even mind that she could hear her sisters quietly sniggering, amused by her inability to control her reactions when it came to her mate.
Isabella woke slowly, humming quietly when she felt Zafrina purring beside her, not that she would or could admit it right now for fear of embarrassing herself, but she found the sound coming from her vampire extremely soothing and she really did not want to get up. Yet the pressure in her bladder told her that she absolutely had no choice in the matter. She frowned, only to stop herself from truly embarrassing herself by pouting. It would not do for Zafrina to know just how much Bella liked being held by her, especially not when Isabella had been so insistent just the night before that the vampire gave her space to roam and sleep on her own without being held hostage.
"Good morning Isabella" the ancient woman purred in her ear quietly and it took all of Bella's self control not to outwardly respond to just how much she liked the woman's voice. Accompanied by the sweet chorus of the birds twittering softly around her and the gentle caress of the bright Amazonian sun warming her skin as she was surrounded by the scent of her mate. Zafrina smelt like the pine, vanilla and earth and to Bella it made her feel as if she had simply died and gone to heaven. If it weren't for her bladder she really would have been able to just curl back up and go to sleep.
"Good morning Zafrina" she groaned out somewhat coherently through the thick haze of sleep that didn't want to leave her head. "I hafta pee" she grumbled, pecking her vampire on the cheek lightly as she pushed herself out of the surprisingly comfy make shift bed and made her way towards the make shift bathroom Kachiri and Senna had created for her.
Once she was done she walked out to the campsite outside where an already lit fire roasted some fresh fish and boiling water for her, attended to by Senna as Kachiri and Zafrina conversed quietly.
"Good morning Isabella" Senna greeted her with a smile which she returned finding it difficult to hold onto her usual morning grumpiness when the vampires that surrounded her emitted such warmth and joy.
"Your breakfast should be cooked in the next five minutes young one, I shall bring it too you" Senna continues gesturing with her hand in the direction of Zafrina and Kachiri, I clear indication of where Isabella is expected to go. Not that she minds all that much really. Ever since she had been kidnapped in the middle of the night by her mate she had quietly craved the closeness the ancient always seemed to desire. Since Zafrina had agreed to follow her back home and help her say goodbye to her father when it was time Isabella felt that she could truly relax around her. Knowing she wasn't about to be harmed and her true mate had found her.
The brunette smiled as she sat herself down next to Zafrina, having to hide her amusement when she saw the ancient twitch as if restraining herself from reaching out to pull her closer. It warmed her heart a little more than expected to see the vampire try so hard to respect her wishes even when those wishes clearly went against the vampires instincts. She knew if this were THEM then there would be no chance of her wishes being respected, the more she thought about it the more she was coming to see just how toxic her relationship with them was and this was a prime example. She remembered asking him for space, a little more time just to be human instead of being carried constantly and told what was best, he had merely smiled patronisingly at her " Now Bella we both know we only act the way we do because you're so clumsy, it's for your own good" he had reminded her and she had been too much of a people pleaser to argue.
" I respect your wishes Isabella but at night if you are restless like last night, I will hold you" Zafrina told her as the Amazonian woman turned towards her slightly. Still maintaining a level of distance between then but clearly not liking it.
"Okay" Isabella smiled after a moment, reaching out to take the vampires hand as the discomfort on her mates face had started to make her uncomfortable, not liking the look at all. Isabella thought that she may have to compromise a little more if the small smile that now adorned Zafrina's face at the physical contact between them was anything to go by.
Before she could say anything else they were interrupted by Senna as the woman handed Isabella her food and sat down looking quite pleased with herself. "Thank you" the brunette murmured as she began eating.
"I would like to show you around your home today my mate" Zafrina spoke up after Isabella had eaten a few more bits of her fish. "The rainforest is a beautiful place when you know where to look" she continued and Isabella couldn't help but notice the way the ancient vampires eyes lit up in something a kin to childish glee as she spoke of her home. It was endearing and if the human agreed to go exploring based solely on how much her vampire seemed to come alive while talking about it, well that was Isabella's business and no one needed to know.