Book 1 - Chapter 4: Covens
"Hello Bella. Edward. Come and join the family meeting" Carlisle says as we walk in the house fresh from our hunt. Edward frowns and I nudge him with my elbow. He curses under his breath and I wave my hand in front of his face.
"Edward" I say and he frowns and shakes his head before smiling at me and running his hand along my hip. "What's wrong?" I ask him and he shakes his head with a smile.
"Nothing. Come on, we should get changed. You've got a bit of blood…on your shirt" he says and I groan as we walk up stairs and I change into a black shirt and denim jeans before putting my shoes back on and walking down to find Edward already there. I take a seat on top of Edward's lap and Carlisle starts speaking.
"So after two weeks of Edward finding his mate, Bella. I notified Eleazar and Carmen about our new addition and they offered to come up and meet Bella. Everyone including" Carlisle shoots Edward a look and he sighs. "Tanya, Kate and Irina" Carlisle says and everyone nods. "Alice has also notified myself and also Edward about the Nomads that are coming into forks. Alice says that they will most likely bump into us. She can't tell us when though." Carlisle says and I frown.
"Nomads?" I ask him and he cracks a small smile.
"I forgot how much you don't know about our kind Bella" he says. "Nomads, another Clan, not a Coven, you need more than four to become a coven" Carlisle says and I frown. "Alice said that there were two males and a female. Obviously mates. One is without a mate. We obviously don't know who is with who but they aren't like us" Carlisle says and I look at him. "Which means Charlie is in danger" he says and I frown.
"No" I say and Edward restrains me from standing up.
"Don't worry. He won't be hurt by them" Alice assures me and I frown and nod as I relax in Edward's arms.
"I can't wait to see Tanya's reaction when she sees Bella" Rosalie says and I frown. "Edward hasn't told you?" Rosalie asks me and I shake my head.
"Rosalie" Edward hisses. "That's enough" he hisses and Carlisle wraps his arm around Esme and Alice and Jasper watch.
"What's the deal with Tanya?" I ask as I stand up and look between Rosalie and Edward before I look directly at him before coming to a realisation. "You said there was never another" I say quietly and his eyes rush to mine before standing up.
"Bella…there is only you… you know that" he whispers and I frown. "Bella-" Edward starts but I cut him off.
"Tanya was the other. You lied Edward" I say and Carlisle frowns at us.
"Bella…Tanya and I-" Edward starts but Carlisle cuts him off.
"Bella, Edward and Tanya are friends. Tanya took interest in Edward and he never showed any interest in her. Tanya was just desperate for a mate" Carlisle says and I suddenly feel calm.
"Ok…I believe you. But you" I say as I click my fingers in front of Edward's face. "Why didn't you tell me?" I ask him and he frowns and moves his hand to my waist. I take an automatic step back away from him.
"I thought it wouldn't matter and I didn't want to complicate things too much" he says and I frown. "Bella where are you going?" he asks me as I walk towards the door and he follows me.
"Back to Charlie's" I say and he frowns. I set off at a run before arriving back at the house. I creep out the woods and walk to the front of the door where I open It and slam it, making the house shake. I hear Charlie shout and run down the stairs.
"Bella? What are you doing home?" he asks me and I shake my head.
"Nothing" I say and he nods as he makes his way back up the stairs. I walk into my room to find Edward sitting at my desk chair. He stands up and walks towards me and I shake my head and walk away from him. "Go away Edward" I say in a shaky breath.
"Bella…I'm sorry" he says as he takes a step closer to me. I walk around to my desk and sit down. He follows me and I frown.
"When are they coming?" I ask him and he frowns.
"Tomorrow" he says and I nod before hugging him gently. I notice his pained expression on his perfect pale face and frown. Am I doing this to him? He leans down and kisses my forehead and I sigh. "You can bring Charlie too, meet the family" he says and I nod before laying down on my bed with Edward.
In the morning I walk downstairs to find Charlie in his usual day off clothes with a cup of regular coffee, no sugars and a little more milk than a normal coffee in his palms. "Morning" he says cheerily as I start to cook up some bacon for him along with some eggs. "Thanks" he says as I place down his plate and sit across from him.
"How would you like to come over to the Cullen house today? It's one hundred percent safe and they are inviting their 'cousins' from Alaska down to see them and meet myself and I thought it would be good for you to meet the rest of the Cullen's before…" I don't finish the sentence so he doesn't pick up on any ideas.
"Before what?" he asks me and I shake my head with a frown. "Bella" he says and I frown.
"Before…it becomes too dangerous for you and the others I'm close to. Before I have to leave. Which will happen eventually" I say and he nods with a frown. "Please come meet them dad" I ask him and he sighs with a nod. "I'll start the car. Rosalie and Emmett have fixed it up and it can now go to eighty miles an hour. Also it doesn't smell like tobacco and that anymore thanks to Alice." I say and he laughs as he places his plate in the sink and follows me out into the car. He drives towards the highway and I direct him towards the Cullen house where there is a black, and expensive BMW waiting out front.
"Someone's got a bit too much money" Charlie mutters and I laugh.
"Yeah well it isn't unnoticed" I say and he grins as we step out the car and Edward walks out to us before taking my waist. "Hey" I say with a grin as Edward quickly kisses my lips and grins. "They're here?" I ask him and he nods.
"Charlie" Edward nods and Charlie nods back.
"Edward" he says and I look between the both of them. I hear a large high pitched voice yell from one of the upper floors of the house yell 'Bella' and scramble down the stairs. I see Alice bounce down and hug me as I reach the door handle.
"Hi Charlie, I'm Alice. Bella has told me so much about you" she says and I try to contain laughs. Charlie grins and I look between them both and smile. "Come meet the rest of the family" she says as she literally drags Charlie inside and he doesn't complain. "I'm guessing you already know Carlisle" Alice says and I laugh. Guess. Bullshit.
"Yes, how are you Dr?" Charlie asks and Carlisle smiles.
"I'm good thanks Charlie. I already told you that we are practically family now, we don't need to worry about formality here" Carlisle says and I smile as I hug Carlisle gently and move onto Esme.
"Dad, this is Esme. She taught me how to cook so I could cook for you" I say and he grins as he nods to Esme in a polite manner. "This is Jasper, he's Alice's husband…boyfriend…mate…whatever" I say and Jasper grins and nods to Charlie. "Emmett who is Rosalie's Boyfriend…mate…husband…once again, whatever" I say and Charlie laughs. I see three unfamiliar blonds and two new brunettes standing across from us and I look at Edward.
"Bella these are our 'Cousins' from Alaska. This is Carmen and Eleazar" he points to the female brunette and the male brunette across from us. I notice how all of them have golden eyes and let out a breather.
"Hello Bella. Carlisle and Edward have told us all about you" Carmen, the female says as she walks towards me and hugs me. "But they didn't tell us you had a human father" she says and I nod. "You can't be any more than a few years old" she says and I look at Edward.
"Actually Carmen, Bella is two months along into this life and she has better restrain than all of you put together. Bella, Charlie this is Irina" Edward points to a wavy blond haired girl with a fur coat around her shoulders.
"Pleasure to meet you Bella. You too Charlie" Irina says and Edward smiles as I shake her hand.
"This is Kate" Edward says as he points to the second Blond with straight hair that reaches her middle back. I smile and shake her hand and turn to the last blond. "And this" he says with a hiss and I throw her a glare. "This is Tanya. Tanya, this is my Bella I was talking about. My mate." Edward says with a glare and I copy his exact glare as I shake her hand.
"Nice to meet you Bella" she says and I nod.
"Bells, I should be going. I promised I would see Billy today for the game" Charlie says as he taps me on the shoulder. I smile and nod before hugging him and he smiles to everyone else. "It was nice meeting you all but I should be going" Charlie says before looking at Edward. "And I guess I'll see you very soon Edward" Charlie says and Edward nods.
"Yes, I guess you will" Edward says as he looks at Alice and I toss Charlie the keys from out my pocket.
"I'll probably stay the night. If anyone asks, say I'm staying over Alice's so it doesn't raise any…concern" I say with a smile and he nods before walking to the car.
"Is there any way around it?" Edward asks and Alice shakes his head. "Set in stone. You can't see the cause?" he asks Alice and she sighs.
"It's so frustrating" She says and I frown.
"This isn't about Alice's vision from before right. The one you told me about it ages ago?" I ask him and he frowns and nods. "Has it changed?" I ask him and he nods.
"You didn't have red eyes, but for a split second it went blank, then you had gold then…it's back to red. It changed about a week ago and it's been blank for a while" he says and I frown. His hand grasps mine and he pulls me into a hug. "You are not to leave my side until that vision happens." He whispers in my ear as a grown and I shiver.
"You-… You can't control me" I shiver and he smirks. He starts to pull me towards the door and I frown. "Where are we going?" I ask him and he grins as he throws me over his shoulder and I squeal. "Edward" I squeal with a giggle and he grins.
"Some where I can truly be myself with you and without other's thoughts popping in my head. I meant to show you this ages ago…but I wanted it alone for a while" he says and I smile as I kiss his neck. "Now don't you do that" he growls playfully as he carries me through the forest until we are in a wide, open meadow. I gasp as I look around and see everything. The various colours of wild flowers bloom along the grass and I look at him.
"It's absolutely beautiful" I say and he grins before kissing my shoulder.
"Not with you here in comparison" he murmurs and I growl.
"Keep that up and we might not have to wait until marriage" I growl playfully and he smiles as he stops and before laying down on the grass. I follow after him and he pulls me close before my mind registers something fun to do. "Ooo!" I say and he looks at me in confusion as I stand up and walk across over to the other side of the meadow. "Stand on the other side" I say and walks over confused. "I'm going to try and use my other senses to tackle you. Don't worry I won't hurt you. I'll close my eyes and try and find you" I say and he grins.
"What happens if you do find me?" he asks me and I grin.
"Whatever you like" I say and he smiles. "And If I find you…It's the same thing" I say and he nods as I close my eyes. I hear the rustle of the grass in the wind and soft footsteps to my right. I move quickly and stop when I hear no footsteps. I follow his scent upwards and grin. "I can still smell you" I say loudly in a sing song voice as I jump up the tree and I hear him land and run to the other side of the clearing.
"Fuck" he curses as I jump on him and I open my eyes. "So Miss Swan, what would you like?" he asks me and I smile.
"Take of the shirt" I say and he groans playfully.
"Really?" he asks me as he strips his shirt. I run off into the other side of the clearing where he closes his eyes and attempts to catch me. I throw a twig to his right and he runs there as I stand very still. He looks confused before another scent his our noses. His eyes pop open and he runs to my side while pulling on his shirt.
"We need to leave" he says and I frown and nod as I obey and we run back to the house. Once we get there, Alice walks up to me. "The nomads were there, I could hear them. Bella and I, we were…talking and they caught out scent. But they would've gotten the hint when we left" Edward says to Alice.
"I know! I saw them walk in and meet you guys" Alice says and he nods with a frown plastered on his face.
"But if they could come there then they could come here and…Charlie's scents all over me and It's also in here…oh no" I say as my eyes become wide and I look at Edward.
"I won't let the hurt you or Charlie. Or anyone else in this family" he says and I nod as I bury my face in his shirt.
The next week is spent with the Denali Coven, talking about our daily lives. Tanya seems way too interested in how I met Edward so it's a bit awkward between us. She asks too many questions about my family that makes myself feel extremely uncomfortable around everyone, meaning Edward drags me upstairs, not breaking his promise on not leaving my side.
"Bella! Edward" Alice's voice rings from downstairs. I sigh and stand up before walking down the stairs to see her holding two baseball bats and a bag of balls. "Come on, we're going for a game!" Alice says with a smile and I can't help but laugh.
"I can't play" I say and Edward grins at me.
"Well I could always make you" he whispers in my ear and I shiver. "Plus if you haven't noticed, you can do anything now" he says and I laugh.
"Yeah… ok! I'm on your team now anyway." I say and he nods with a smile as he drags me towards the silver Volvo in the garage.