How the Lion Met the Panther

Chapter 1: I Should've Looked

A/N: This is a completely free thing I do in my spare time. I have no ownership of the Twilight franchise and any characters seen in this fanfic are owned by Stephanie Meyer. Now that's out of the way, I'll make it short, if you like Edward this is NOT the fic for you. Carlisle won't be as horrible, but he does allow and help Edward get away with a lot and I think it's time he faces a little punishment for being so slack as the coven leader.

Bella Swan had many traits, and she wouldn't deny it. She was clumsy, a little dumb when it came to math; seriously she hated that subject with everything in her, and preferred women over men. She had not always known her sexual preferences. One would suppose growing up acting as the adult and in the area, she grew up it was not too common to see. It did not help that her father had less than savory views on the topic. Regardless of those facts, she had been dating Edward for about seven or eight months now. Everything with the centurion vampire felt like a blink of an eye, though that wouldn't compare to how he feels, it must be so dreadfully boring to repeat school so often. He had often complained how it was the same in every school he went, no matter if it was college or high school.

Something had felt off with Edward and Bella was starting to notice she'd not be around her friends as much and practically ditch them for Edward. Whenever she was away from the alleged "Greek god", as the other girls in school would put it, it felt like a fog had been lifted from her mind. While Bella's weakest subject was math, her strongest was English and that was no secret from anyone. Unfortunately for Edward that means that Bella puts a lot of research into things that capture her interest, paper or not. While not all of the information about vampires online was correct, there was one consistent thing that she was running into, and it was causing the cogs to turn in Bella's mind. It truly was going to be the beginning of the end for Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan's relationship. All it took was Edward, Carlisle, and Emmett to go on a hunting trip. That was enough time for Bella to have at least one evening alone researching the topic.

As for the consistent topic or idea that kept cropping up was a thrall. It ranged of course from story to story and article to article. However, a few things were consistent. For one, it mattered on the age of the vampire. The older they were, the more powerful and longer the enchantment held the prey. The dazzling, Edward had a habit of doing it every so often. Thankfully Bella's memory was somewhat intact enough as the theory she had a gift while still human was making sense to her now. Alice, bless her, had made the hint of it possibly being true the other week. It helped extremely that Edward could not read her mind at all, maybe that's all he kept her around for, a human who he couldn't read. The brunette's face would turn into a frown at the anticipation Edward probably had at finding a human like that. Surely, she couldn't really be the first one who had blocked his gift? He had been alive for a century at least. Which lead to worry about the first point, but the more she learned, the more it built up in her like a skyscraper.

Another consistent is a mated vampire or one who had found their bond could not hurt their partner, not physically. Alice and Esme had been quite informative on that topic when she was able to get them away or have time with them when Edward was not around. Oh, that was unsettling. One thing she should be grateful for math about, heaven forbid, was her ability to recognize patterns of sorts. At this current time, she was seeing a pattern already, and the trail was leading to the guilty party already. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. She had seen how Jasper and Alice acted at times, deep in love and so natural, like they were sculpted for one another. Bella rolled her eyes amusedly, two pieces of a puzzle. A soft sigh would escape her lips, if this was true, then Edward should have never wanted to drain her dry. The whole incident of fleeing to see the Denali coven should have never been an event, that is, if she was his mate. What if…what if he was just playing with her? Much like a predator with their food.

On another note, the whole conversation of not wanting to change her to be able to be with him for eternity, that was a problem. Of course, Edward wouldn't do it, if she was his mate, he couldn't hurt his mate. Though loosing his mate to death would make him act. That was foolish. Bella grumbled as the typing on the old computer's keyboard was heard in her quiet, well almost quiet room, she liked to play music as she researched. Her music taste was very different than one would expect, but it suited her just fine thank you. Edward had heard it once and was not very happy, he'd live. She had heard stories about mated pairs from Jasper, when he and her could talk, they were cautious about her. It made sense when she really thought about it. He was new to the diet but there's also other vampires, one to which she was the singer too, and all of them must have some sort of bloodlust. Jasper was an empath; wouldn't that technically count as an emotion? Bella was not completely sure, but she might bet money on it. This was a lot more than she expected tonight.

A frustrated growl left her lips as slammed her hands against the desk, it had been several hours of research and she needed a break, but she had come to some sort of conclusion. She needed to speak with a specific member of the Cullen coven, and she knew they'd be honest with her. The decision somewhat made; she had been around Alice Cullen long enough to not completely make decisions thank you very much. If she had any luck on her side, she would need part of it now. Bella did not care too much of what to wear now, so she threw on a pair of sweats and a tank top with a flannel before heading down the stairs, making sure she grabbed her phone and wallet just in case. Thankfully her father was not home now as she made a sandwich, eating it quickly as she grabbed her keys and put her converse on. "My name is Isabella Swan and I'm getting some damn answers." That much in mind she heads out to her old rusty truck and fires up the engine, slapping on her seatbelt, before taking a breath. Hopefully she didn't fuck anything up to badly.

However, with the current Cullen household, things were a little chaotic. Alice had seen the decision of Bella coming over and informed the remaining coven members, well family one would suppose, they were one after all. A tad dsyfu- okay a lot dysfunctional. So, now Alice was in the living room, fidgeting and pacing, nervous, she hadn't seen why Bella decided to come over. Especially since Edward wasn't home. Neither was Carlisle or Emmett. It felt a little empty without Emmett. Rosalie was currently in the garage, tinkering away and frankly not carrying, at least that's if you did not know Rosalie as well as Esme and Alice did. Rosalie was nervous. That was an odd situation that Jasper had managed to skim from his "twin" sister. True, they were not blood related, but they did act like siblings.

"I just cannot figure why she decided to come over! I hadn't gotten anything of anyone coming over, especially not Bella since Edward isn't here, so what's the point?" Alice groans. Jasper would notice Esme's lips curling into a frown as the matriarch sat in her usual chair with a book in her hands. She was not used to seeing Alice this worked up, "You are her close friend Alice, maybe she decided to come see you?" Jasper let a tiny smile pull on his lips as he heard the calm and soft tone of their mother figure reached his ears. Esme always had a way with words and making someone feel right at home. It reminded him of his own mother all those years ago. Jasper knew that Rosalie was listening in, he always kept an eye on his sister time to time, and it bothered him a bit of why her emotions flared earlier at the mention of Bell- oh. OH! How could he be so out of touch! The corner of his lips pulls into a frown at the thought, he had seen many mated couples in his time in the south with the wars, did the animal blood really dull the senses like Peter said?

Jasper hums softly to gain his wife's attention, which worked as per usual, "That's true. Bella and you are quite close, and it's been while since you and her have hung out without Edward pulling her away." It did help a soft twang of Jasper's accent slipped out. Alice paused at that and blinked, that was a very good point actually! "You…you may have a point there, Jazz." He simply would nod in reply at that. Esme chuckles at the interaction, it always warmed her heart as usual to see them so compatible. The telltale rumble of Bella's old truck was heard as it pulled into the gravel driveway had reached their ears long before she parked. Jasper lifted an eyebrow as Bella's emotions came in range for him. He did a quick read of them. Oh, this might be a very interesting visit. She was irritated, confused, and a hint of denial? As the truck parks and shudders to silence, Rosalie comes in from the garage, her long hair up in a ponytail and a small smudge of grease on her cheek.

"What?" It was the confused reply of Rosalie that took Jasper out of his stupor, "I don't think that this visit will be all to pleasant, did a quick scan. Irritation, confused, and a little bit of denial?" Alice froze at that, chronic worrier she is, honestly, she drove Jasper up a wall at times, but he loves her all the same. However, it was Rosalie's reaction that got him confused. "Interesting." Rosalie hums before heading to her room to change. He scanned her emotions a bit and it was a weird cocktail of emotions to feel from Rose. It was excitement, nervousness, and was that denial? What in the seven layers of hell was going on? That reminds him, can vampires be emotionally constipated? Oh wait, yeah, they can be, that's Edward's job. "I wonder if vampires can get headaches?" Jasper mumbles and Alice gives him a look in confusion, Esme chuckles at that. This family never had a dull day.

The slam of a door was heard, followed by the crunching of gravel as Bella traversed to the door, much to the young woman's surprise the door was already open with Alice leaning on it slightly before hugging Bella. "Bella! What are you doing over today? We weren't expecting you to come over today." Bella hums in reply as she heads in, "Yeah, it's kind of just happened, I have questions and I'm intending on getting answers." As the final words left the brunettes there was the sound of someone descending the stairs, Bella would look up, confused at first as she knew Edward was gone. She knew Carlisle and Emmett were too. Rosalie…it was Rosalie. She rarely, if ever, interacted with her so when their eyes met. "Oh? Grow a spine finally?" Rosalie hums and seems amused as she descended the stairs, not breaking eye contact.

Bella's cheeks flushed pink as her brown eyes met Rosalie Hale's honey gold eyes. She never had really interacted with the blonde as the "Ice Queen" tended to avoid her and interaction with her, but oddly had been more friendly lately or at least tolerated her, so that was progress. "Oh hush, I've had a spine, it just took a little time for it to repair itself from some previous damage." Bella huffs and breaks eye contact, last thing she needs is to cause drama. Rosalie's lips twitched slightly, smirking slightly, oh so the human had a spine.
"You said you wanted answers?" It was Alice. The smaller vampire had decided to interfere with the pair, still slightly unused to their interactions. "Yeah." Bella breathed and her attention shifted to Alice. "Have a seat Bella, want anything to drink? I have a feeling this may be a long conversation?" Esme chuckles. Bella smiles at Esme, "I agree, it's going to be a long conversation this time, just water or tea would be wonderful if it's not too much of a hassle." Esme laughs and marks her spot in her book, "It's never to much of a hassle to help my children, Bella." The reaction was another blush and a sheepish smile from Bella as she takes a seat. As she sits, Esme rises to get her a glass of water, she enjoyed having Bella around and was glad the younger girl was opening up to her along with getting more comfortable. Rosalie leans against the entrance of the living room and watches this unfolded amusedly.

Soon Esme was back, and shit would hit the fan. "Well, I don't know how accurate some of the information is, however, I noticed a consistent pattern when I did some research of your kind; vampires." At that statement Esme would raise an eyebrow and Alice giggles, "Garlic isn't true." Bella giggles softly at that, "Funny Alice, but not what I was referring too, another pattern I noticed." She sighs as she speaks up again, "It was about thralls." Rosalie's eyebrows shot up her forehead at that statement, okay, the human was more observant than she gave credit for. Esme was surprised and for once was stunned speechless. Jasper decided to take the lead, "Thralls? In what sense?" Bella's attention was on Jasper as she replied, "Well some in things it means like a lesser vampire, especially in game logic, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm mainly referring to the influence or like brain fog effect they give to human victims to having them comply to their wishes. Easier to draw them away from people and feed."

"I'm impressed." Jasper mumbles, "You are a lot more perceptive than I gave you credit for, for which I apologize for underestimating you." Bella would wave it off, "It's fine. So, is it a thing?" The coven seems to exchange looks at that. Esme's lips were in a tight line and Jasper was quiet. Alice was fidgeting was with her clothes before sighing. Rosalie was impressed, not that she'd admit it. "Well," It was Alice speaking, "yes, it is a thing, but it becomes stronger as you age. The dazzling is kind of like our thrall, you notice how your brain is a little foggy when I use it on accident?" Bella would nod at that, that would confirm one of her fears, well maybe two. "Why?" Jasper asks cautiously, gleaning her emotions, she was anxious and slightly upset. "Let me ask my other question before I tell that." Bella mumbles and takes a sip of the water. Esme did not like where this was going honestly. "And what is that second question?" Rosalie had chosen to enter the conversation. Bella grimaces before choosing her words carefully, "Is it possible for a mate to hurt theirs?" Rosalie seems a little out of it, not expecting that question, it was Jasper who answered. "No. They cannot hurt their mate."

Bella seemed to slump on the couch after putting the water down on the coffee table, "Fuck." Esme was surprised to hear the swear slip from Bella's lips so easily, "Language." Esme chided lightly, force of habit. "What's wrong Bella?" Alice asks. Bella was debating the pros and cons of being so open with her intentions/conclusions. On one hand, they can help her figure it out, and on the other the possibility of them not believing her is probable. She was already here, might as well drop it. Bella lets out a resigned sigh as she mumbles, "I don't think Edward is my mate and I don't think I ever had a mating bond with him." The stunned silence spoke in volumes. For a moment, Bella was regretting her choices before Esme spoke, "Why ask about the thrall part?" Bella jumped at the chance to explain, "Well, I am with him a lot and my memory is good enough to remember times where I've disagreed with him or wanting to do my own thing and he pulls the dazzle on me. Not to mention, when I had a day or a few hours away from him it felt like I came out of a brain fog."

Alice looks upset at that, she was hoping that Bella was not implying what she thought she was, however after everything she said it made sense. "And the mate bond thing?" Rosalie asks in curiosity. "Well, if I am his mate than he shouldn't have wanted to drain me when he met me. Not to mention he wouldn't have had to flee to the Denali coven in the first place, even if I was human, human and vampires can feel it…just different intensities, right?" It was a thoughtful and well-crafted response. Jasper grew worried, "You're implying something dangerous; do you really think Edward is just toying with you and knows you aren't his mate?" Jasper raised an eyebrow and was confused at Rosalie's reactions before remembering that it was…yeah with those emotions flaring, there was no denying there was something between them and Bella had not realized it because of Edward's stupid interference, which is against vampiric law isn't it? Bella looks tired before nodding, "Yeah…I hate it if I'm right but with everything on the table, it makes sense." Alice was silent and Esme was upset, her son was manipulating a delightful young woman and knew he wasn't her mate. How had she not seen this before? It made sense, the moment the Denali trip happened, it should- she didn't remember part of that. Did he use his ability on her or is there a lot more at play?

A/N: Well, that is well over 3k words, and this is the first chapter done! Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments! Remember that your are worth a lot.