A/N: Hi everyone, and Happy New Year! I'm sorry for the delay, for not replying to your wonderful and heartwarming reviews, but I hope you'll be lenient to me. I honestly have a hard time finding the time to write - and the will, to be honest - but I want to go on, and even though it's painstakingly slow, sometimes only a sentence or two, I want to keep writing. I need it, to stay afloat. So yeah, my apologies. I can't promise I'll reply each time, but I'll do my very best.

Anyway, your awesome reviews warmed my heart and comforted me, so thank you so much for them! Thanks a million to my wonderful serial reviewers: CoppertopJ, ThatsMzPeachesTYVM, fresh-BLOOD-was-drawn-2night, traceybuie and NoWayWithWords! I love your comments, guys and/or girls!

I was glad to see that you liked Tanya's point of view, and maybe I'll let her speak again sometime, as it could be interesting with what's going on with Alistair ;) But for now, it's Bella's turn!

Enjoy, and please review!

Chapter 8

Bella

Talk about an unpleasant situation. A mating in the middle of the shitstorm we were trapped in wasn't the dream circumstance, but that would have to do. However, why had it to be Alistair, with Tanya of all people? I had no answer to that, and neither did Edward. We were still standing in the living room, oblivious to the conversations flowing around us. Nothing existed beyond us, as if we were encased in a thick bubble, impervious to the world surrounding us. It was most peculiar, but so right at the same time.

"Okay, everyone,"Alice's voice suddenly rang out loud as she, Jasper and Carlisle entered the room, sans Alistair nor Tanya. I guessed the two of them were getting acquainted. What a mess. "We'll all go for a quick hunt now, except Bella and Edward who will wait for Seth. He'll arrive in ten minutes. You three will talk," she ordered us with a small grin, eyes slightly unfocused as she was halfway through a vision. "Then we'll join you, and we'll go to the baseball field to meet with Jacob, Sam and all the wolves, and strategize. We have no time to lose, so let's go, everyone!"

"So bossy," Emmett complained in a whine, but his wink at me ruining the effect. "Why is it the small pixie that has to order us around?"

"Because the small pixie knows all," Jasper said with a nod and a bow to his mate, who giggled.

It eased the tension around us a little, and it even brought a smile on Carlisle's face, who looked worse for wear. Edward and I would have to talk to him in private really soon, and tell him again that we held no grudge against him.

In a blur, everybody left save Edward, whose eyes were so unfocused that I felt uneasy. "What is it, my love?" He didn't answer, making my concern grow. "Edward, my love, are you feeling okay?" I inquired softly, wrapping him in my embrace.

He melted against me, and I didn't want to move for a century, at least. He seemed to struggle to find the words, and struggled even more to utter them in a semblance of coherency. "I can't say no, but I can't say yes, either, Bella. I'm... confused."

'Confused' seemed to be the right term to describe how he felt. He fell silent, swaying a little within my arms, and his eyes drifting around us, oblivious to anything. Overwhelming worry flooded me, and I shook his shoulders lightly, wanting to bring him back to me. "Edward, you worry me!" I shouted, jarring him. "Where did your mind wander just now? Can you hear me?"

"Yes," he answered in a murmur, cupping my cheek with one of his hands, the other one grabbing my shirt. Instantly I felt better. He was my anchor, he was everything I needed to stay afloat.

It looked like he felt a little better too, and spoke softly. "I'm standing here, still aware of where I am and what time it is, with who I am – my beautiful Bella – and what we have to do. But meanwhile, I feel as if I'm not the one standing in my shoes. My mind feels detached, oddly drifting, not anchored to reality," he mumbled in explanation, almost talking to himself.

What could I do to bring him fully back to me? Panic threatened to engulf me completely, but then I realized something. My gorgeous mate was acting exactly like I did before he filled me with his venom. And I was the territorial and on edge one now. Had we exchanged our places then? Did I really have to bite him and give him my venom too to bring him back fully?

I was torn, and desperately waiting for Alistair to just suck it up and accept his mating with Tanya already, then help us. My Edward needed him! As if sensing my distress, my mate's gaze snapped back on me, but his eyes were still cloudy. He needed blood. "You need to hunt," I told him. He shrugged, unconcerned. So I swiftly took him in my arms and dashed into the forest. He didn't protest, and that had me more worried than anytime before. It wasn't like him not to say anything about something like this – me carrying him for instance.

In less than fifteen minutes – such was my hurry at wanting to take care of my beloved mate – I had slayed a black bear we had luckily stumbled upon not five miles away from the house, and he had drank its blood with appreciative moans that made my panties wet. Not now, I told myself sternly. Edward first, then Seth, then... The to-do list seemed endless now, almost making my head spin, but I took a deep breath. I had to focus.

However, that was hard. I felt the powerful urge prodding me again, the one that steered me towards Edward to stake my claim on him. I wanted him. And I wanted him to be mine. I wanted to make love to him. I wanted to sink my teeth deep into his neck, and...

And that's when I snapped out of it, my head jerking backwards. We had been kissing – or more accurately I'd been ravishing his mouth and he had let me – and I'd been on the verge of tackling him to the ground under me and just... claim him. And I had no memory of any of it. It was so frightening.

I shook my head, wanting to clear it, as he gripped my shoulders, his eyes full of love and patience, but also a hint of disappointment. I felt a pang in my heart, but I couldn't help my fear. I needed to wait. I needed answers. "Bella, it's meant to happen," he told me softly, rubbing my neck with tender gestures of his fingers on my skin.

"Maybe, maybe not," I hedged, not wanting to see him downcast. "But I need Alistair's info, Edward. I..."

"I understand," he nodded with a small smile as I struggled with words, then leaned to kiss my forehead. I felt the urge to sob, now that the urgency of my claim was gone. "I love you, my Bella."

"God, how I love you," I exhaled brokenly, melting into his arms. We were sitting on the hard ground of a rocky clearing, the drained bear like a sinister fleshy carpet next to us. We couldn't stay here.

"Let's go," he acknowledged my thoughts.

"Are you okay?" I asked him as I helped him to his feet. He didn't stagger, and looked much better indeed.

"I am," he assured me with another quick kiss. "Seth will be waiting for us."

I nodded, then we ran back to the house. But on the way, a thought slammed into me. "Edward, how did you know that I wanted to leave just now?"

He frowned. "I heard you, Bella. I still hear you, as a matter of fact. Your shield is down."

"No, it isn't," I said, stopping in my tracks. I checked and double-checked, but my mental shield was still wrapped around me like a tight blanket, not allowing access to any mental powers like Edward's.

"I hear you," Edward repeated, eyes wide with wonder. "Your shield is up, yet..."

"And you don't always hear the people around us anymore," I frowned. "Edward, what does this mean?"

"I don't know, I..." he said, his voice trailing out. "Now I can't hear you anymore," he groaned, his face the picture of disappointment.

"Okay," I said, rubbing my temples. I felt the headache coming, even though vampires couldn't suffer from headaches. But then again, what was normal about us anymore? "We'll think about it later, and maybe ask our family and friends to lend us their brains, since mine seems to be fried. Seth has probably arrived."

"He's almost at the house," Edward confirmed, tightly squeezing my hand in his. "And I can't hear him," he added somberly. "We really need answers about what's happening to us."

I squeezed his hand back, then we started to run again. We met Seth on the back lawn, as he had knocked on the front door and found no one, only to go around the house. "Hi, Seth!" Edward and I said together.

"Hey, Bella! Hi, Edward! It's good to see you."

I stopped two feet away from my stepbrother, who was towering over me. He had filled up during all those years we hadn't seen each other, and he had gained some weight. But he still looked taut and muscular, and his eyes had a metallic glint I wasn't used to. "How are you? And Britney and the twins?"

"We're good," he said with a faint smile. "Kids drive me up the walls, but that's life, I guess. Britney is great with them, and with me."

I nodded, a little reassured. "So, what's happening?" I asked, snaking my arm around Edward to keep him anchored to reality, and to me. We needed each other more than ever.

Seth shrugged, his usual easygoing smile absent from his dark features. "Nothing, so far. I've taken all my leave days left, and Britney quit. We're good until next month. But we need to end this soon."

"True," I agreed. "What about the wolves? Have more of you phased back?"

"Yeah," Seth said, running a hand over his face. "Quil, Embry, Paul and Jared. Leah," he added somberly. "The others are not around, fortunately. Or not. We're watching Lynn and Daniel closely, 'cause they're starting to feel hot. And... so does Claire," he added with a wince.

"Claire? Quil's imprint?" I repeated, stunned. Edward groaned in sympathy.

"Yeah,"Seth confirmed grimly. "She's twenty now, so that's not too weird. The weird thing is... she's not supposed to have any Quileute blood."

"Ah," Edward uttered as I froze in shock. "It's Embry's parentage all over again, I guess."

I remembered this particular drama, Edward had told me about it long ago. Embry was Sam's unofficial half-brother, thanks to his runaway dad. And now Claire... "So, who's Claire related to?"

Seth scratched his head, quite embarrassed. "Actually, it may or may not have been... my dad."

"No!" I exclaimed, in shock. I had a tough time picturing Harry Clearwater, nice as he had always been, screwing around. Then an apalling thought hit me. "Tell me your mom doesn't know about it."

"Oh, she knows," Seth replied, anger battling the shame on his face. "Claire's mom was only too happy to flaunt it to her face, now the cat's almost out of the bag. So my mom is now upset because of her second husband's disappearance and angry and heartbroken because of her first one's betrayal."

I sighed. Hadn't we hit the bottom of what could possibly go wrong by now? I felt for Sue, truly I did, but she hated me, so I couldn't find it in me to feel too much compassion, despite all of my efforts. And after all, she had pretended that my dad had died, lying to me and to Angela. I hadn't forgotten, and I hadn't forgiven. So I was about to reply some noncommittal platitude when the faint noise of running vampires made me stay silent.

"Tanya and Alistair?" I inquired, glancing at my mate, and he simply nodded. His features were closed, like when he couldn't read minds. It made him anxious, and I could feel it. So I tried to reassure him, wanting to give him some calm, and soon felt him relax. I really liked this new ability of sharing our feelings and emotions.

A minute later, Tanya and Alistair arrived, and the English vampire started his freak show. "Blimey!That's not human!" he shouted, horrified stare on Seth.

Would he even be civilized enough around us? I wouldn't hold my breath on this. Fortunately Seth kept his cool, but I was about to lose mine. "That is Seth, my stepbrother," I quipped briskly. "He's a shape-shifter, turning into a wolf, like some members of his tribe, the Quileutes."

Tanya tried to intervene and keep things cool. We were lucky she was such a layback woman, and I suddenly pitied her. She was on board for a hell of a ride with her new misanthropic mate. "It's okay, Alistair. Seth's a friend. We're friends with the Quileutes."

"What in heaven's name have I gotten myself into?" I heard him mutter, and I barely refrained myself from snapping at him. But I couldn't. He was a coward and a douchebag, however Edward and I needed him. So I bit back my retort and let Tanya handle him.

"Alistair," she said gently, putting a hand on his arm. "We all know that you don't like being among people, but please, we need you right now. I need you."

She was beseeching him with her eyes, and incredibly, his features softened a little. Maybe those two aren't so ill-matched, after all, I thought as he relaxed under her touch, then stared at us with a small sigh. But I didn't exactly trust him either. Until real crap happened and he didn't bolt away immediately, I'd reserve my judgement on him. And next to me, Edward hummed lowly in approval. He was still hearing me, but not the others. It was crazy.

Silence fell for a few seconds, then my adorable mate took matters in his capable hands, probably sensing that I wasn't able to in my riled-up state. "So, we need to do many things right now. Bella and I need to talk to Alistair, if he's okay with it, but..."

"Actually," Seth said with and apologetic glance at us, "the other wolves are waiting for us on the field in the mountains. I've crossed paths with Alice, who told me we'd all be meeting there."

"Yes," Edward nodded, but shooting an uneasy glance towards Tanya and Alistair. "Will you come with us? We may need you there."

"Who exactly will be there?" Alistair asked, distrust written all over his face. "What will you be doing there?"

"We'll talk about Caius's menace, and strategize," Seth answered easily. I admired his composure. "All the wolves of the tribe will be there, plus some of the elders."

"Who are the elders now?" I asked. I knew that old Quil had passed away a few years ago, and that Sue never attended the Council anymore. I tried to ignore Alistair's squeak and Tanya quickly pulling him in her embrace. The succubus would soon become a saint, putting up with a guy like him.

"Billy is still there," Seth replied, eyebrows puckered. "Quil's father, whose name is – big surprise – Quil, has taken the place of his late father. Everyone calls him Fifth, though, so go with it, 'cause he's the fifth Quil Ateara. Don't worry, they're all crazy, the Ateara are."

We chuckled a little at that, even Tanya. Only Alistair remained impassive. British git. Seth went on. "Sam and Jacob used to be in the Council, but now that they phase again, Emily and Vanessa took their place. They'll step down once the threat is neutralized."

I thought about Emily, and how hard it must be to see her husband phase again after all those peaceful years, and her worry at the thought that maybe her elder daughter would soon phase too. And I'd never met Vanessa, Jacob's wife, but according to Emily's and Jake's emails she was a gentle soul, not harbouring a warring bone in her body. Now the two women had to take decisions about a war between supernatural creatures, all the peace shattered. It made me so mad. I would rip Caius to pieces.

I felt Edward's arms around me just a second before I could let out the growl building in my chest, and leaned into his embrace, anger deflating fast. I could feel his soothing emotions seeping into me, making me warm and tingling with his love. "Thanks," I whispered lowly, only for him to hear.

He simply kissed me, his golden eyes boring into me, and for a fleeting moment I could've sworn I heard him in my mind. Anytime, anything for you, my beautiful Bella. I love you so much. But that couldn't be. I wasn't the mind-reader here, he was.

Before I could think about it further, Seth spoke again. "We really should go now. They'll be waiting."

"Okay," Edward nodded, then addressed Tanya and Alistair. "Will you follow us, then? Alistair, we'll need you, please."

The English vampire looked on the verge of fainting or running away as far as his feet could carry him, and only Tanya's embrace seemed to prevent him from losing it completely. He took several deep breaths, closed his eyes, then focused back on Edward. "How many will be there?" he asked faintly.

Edward's eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "Let's see. We're eight Cullens, there are five Denalis, and there's you, Marcus and Heidi. So sixteen vampires. And there will be eight wolves and four elders on the Quileute side, if everyone comes."

I would be ready to bet that had Alistair been human, he would have keeled over right there and then, and arrested. As it was, he almost collapsed through Tanya's arms, and emitted a small whimper that we were probably not supposed to hear, but... "Twenty-seven people," he moaned very lowly, gripping Tanya's back and sinking further into her frame. "Blimey..."

"It'll be okay, Al," Tanya said soothingly, tenderly massaging his neck and dropping feather-light kisses on his cheeks. It would've been endearing if Alistair wasn't whining like a lost puppy, completely panicking. He was such a hermit that the thought of being among twenty-seven other people made him freak out. I found it strange, but I also knew from Edward's memories that being alone for several centuries could make vampires go mad. So Alistair's breakdown should've been expected.

"Al?" Alistair repeated after a while, finally calming down enough not to whine anymore, his arms still around Tanya like she was his lifebuoy. "Where does that come from?"

"Well, Alistair is lovely, but it's quite long," Tanya said with a shy smile. "Do you mind? I think I'll love calling you 'Al'."

He considered for a moment, still breathing heavily. Next to me, Edward's mouth twitched, amusement rolling off of him in waves. He obviously had access to the new mated couples' thoughts again, and it was funny. He'd have to tell me all about it later.

After about twenty seconds Alistair shrugged. "I guess I'm okay with it, honey."

"Aw, that's cute," Seth said mischievously, startling the oblivious couple. "I love seeing vampires mate. Better than any soap opera, I swear. And no ending in the foreseeable future. I kinda missed it."

"Well, you changed your mind, then," I giggled, happy for Tanya who looked more radiant than I'd ever seen her. "I thought Edward and I made you want to puke? At least, that's what you wrote in your last email."

"Not Edward and you together," Seth chuckled, bumping Edward's shoulder playfully. "But your nauseatingly outrageous PDA."

I had to fight the instantaneous urge to snarl and attack Seth that engulfed me. I knew in my rational mind that my stepbrother hadn't wanted to hurt my mate, but the instinct to protect him and destroy whatever threatened him was powerful enough to make me see red for a few seconds. I had to remind myself that Seth was my brother, and that I loved him. But I couldn't fight down the growl that erupted from my lips.

Edward immediately made us take a step back from a stunned Seth, and took my face between his palms, his golden eyes locked in mine. "Hey, hey, Bella, love," he said, his thumbs caressing my cheekbones soothingly. "Seth wasn't going to hurt me, you know it. It's okay, love. I'm okay. I promise you, everything's fine."

I was still growling, but at least I wasn't shooting daggers at Seth anymore. Edward was mesmerizing me again with his gorgeous eyes full of love and care, and soon I felt myself relax under his touch. My growl morphed into the loud purr that usually announced good times ahead, but he shook his head minutely, his crooked smile making me melt. "Not now, love," he murmured in my ear. "But soon. That's a promise."

I burrowed into Edward's chest, taking deep breaths, and we cuddled for a few seconds. I heard Seth clear his voicen then speak, baffled. "I'm afraid I don't know what happened just now. What did I do?"

"You bumped my shoulder," Edward explained calmly, probably sensing that I was in no condition to talk right now. I needed him, and couldn't focus on anything else or I'd grab him and run to the other side of Washington. "You did absolutely nothing wrong, but... Bella is a little sensitive about me being attacked. Just like I was until a few days ago. So please, don't touch me."

"Let me guess," Alistair's voice rang in the air, heavy with sarcasm. "You lost your mind, and possibly any memory of it, dragging her someplace secluded, claimed her and bit her on her neck, and filled her with your venom. And now she wants to do the same."

I was too upset to react, but my mate did. How he kept his cool was beyond me. I wanted to slap the English prick until he spilled every single fucking bean. "Yes," Edward deadpanned. "That's exactly what happened. And we could use your lights on all of this, actually."

I kissed Edward's chest over his shirt then pulled away and turned to watch Alistair. He was still wrapped around Tanya, but his face was somber. A sneer crossed his features before he sighed, and this time it was Edward who growled. I felt his annoyance rise, so I rubbed his back, keeping him calm.

"Look," Alistair finally said with a sigh. "This is a huge mess, and that's not the end of it. I need time to tell you all about it, time that we obviously don't have," he added, glancing at Seth who nodded with a grimace. "So you two will calm down, keep your hands on each other at all times, and we'll go to this field and see what will happen with... your clique. Then we'll talk about this. Right?"

"Okay," Edward agreed, still annoyed but it was abating. "But it needs to be soon."

"As soon as possible," Alistair confirmed, shuddering in Tanya's arms. She gently ran her hands on the lapels of his horrendous jacket, making the two of them relax a little more. They were well-matched, after all. "I don't want to linger with so many... people around me."

I had the nagging feeling that he had wanted to use a stronger term than 'people', but at least he seemed to be trying to use some rusted diplomatic skills. He was trying, and I would respect that. He also was Tanya's mate, and she was family. So we would have to put up with him. I fought down my giggle at the thought that he would soon be meeting Emmett and Garrett in all their rambunctious glory, and that it was probably going to be epic. Edward leaned over me and stifled his chuckle in the crook of my neck. He too was amused by the prospect.

"So, are we going?" Seth asked hesitantly, eyes travelling between us mated vampires.

We nodded, then took off towards the baseball field up the mountains, Seth running in his wolf form ahead of us. I didn't want to dwell too much on the fact that the field was more of a battlefield now, but not tonight, I hoped. Tonight we would meet again with the Quileutes, ally and learn to fight together again.

Tanya and Alistair ran fast behind Edward and me, but keeping a safe distance between us. They were talking in low voices, Tanya reassuring his mate again and again. He really was a hermit. Mating would be a hardship for both of them. Again, pity flared up in me, and I sighed. How I longed for an uncomplicated life!

When we emerged from the woods into the field, everybody turned towards us, and we were welcomed with small smiles on grim faces. The seriousness of the situation was a lead coat on everyone's shoulders. But I had thought things couldn't be worse. It seemed that, as usual, I had been wrong.

For among the Quileute elders, I immediately spotted a small figure, shaking with anger, that started to scream as soon as we came within twenty yards from the assembled company. "You! This is all your fault! Why did you have to bring your problems here? Charlie's been kidnapped, and it's all your fault! You have his death on your conscience! You should be dead!"

"Lovely to see you too, Sue," I growled, bracing myself to face the flailing harpy that my stepmother had become.

I can't help myself, I love those cliffies ;) Please review!