"Suffer"
~Bella~
Looking back on it all now, I probably should have chosen first class to get back to the states, because the crowed cabin in coach has really tested my control, especially since I haven't even had the first drop of blood yet.
My barrier or… shield? Yeah, will go with that. My shield has kept me free from the smell of their blood, but I could practically see the blood pumping through each and every vain, in each and every person within my sight.
The only thing that kept me from bringing the entire plane down into the depths of the ocean was my beautiful little boy that held my hand the entire trip to Seattle. His blood has absolutely no effect on me. I don't want to drink Max's blood at all, so my baby is truly safe with me. Everyone else on this airplane, not so much. Though everyone survived the long trip…barely.
The moment Max and I stepped outside of the airport terminal at SeaTac I breathed a sigh of relief only to catch the sweet cloying scent of another vampire. My defenses went up immediately and I scooped Max up after dropping our luggage to the ground.
I more than likely look like a complete fucking idiot as I spin around in circles on the sidewalk, while trying to find the owner of the sweet scent.
"I'm not here to hurt you, Bella. I promise." I hear a small sweet voice to my left. "I'm here to help you and Max. My name is Alice and I'll explain everything in the car." The woman finally steps into my line of sight and gives me a soft smile.
She's a tiny little thing, kinda like a little pixie. She has spiky black hair and a very trusting face, and her eyes are like a deep gold color, not the monstrous red that I'm familiar with. Wait a minute. How the hell does she know who we are?
"I'm not like them, Bella. I only feed on the blood of animals…" She tells me in a tone that only I can hear.
So I was right. Animal blood will sustain vampires. Good to know.
"…and as for how I know you. Well, I saw you coming. You see, I have visions, and I'm always watching the Volturi's decisions. When I saw what they did to you and your son, and that you were headed to Washington, I had to come and offer my help to you…" She closes her eyes as they fill with that weird silvery liquid, like mine did. "Seeing the future, based on decisions made is my gift. And I am so sorry that you went through all that, but please, all I want to do is help you. I promise."
For some unknown reason, I feel like I can trust this tiny, pixie like vampire. So I nod my head to her, causing her to smile brightly back at me…and before I can protest, she leans down and lifts my bags like they weigh nothing.
"We are gonna be best friends, Bella. I've seen it. So close, we'll be like sisters…" She quickly glances at Max over her shoulder. "…and that sweet little cutie back there, will be one spoiled little guy. He is so cute, Bella…so well behaved. Esme will just love him to pieces and spoil him rotten. Oh and OMG, Rose will be beside herself with just his presences alone." Alice rambles excitedly as we walk to her car.
"Breathe Alice." I laugh. "Now tell me, who are Rose and Esme?"
"Oh, Bella you are going to love my family. I simply cannot wait to introduce you to them, and I just know that they will absolutely love the two of you." God in heaven this woman talks a lot. "My mate, Jasper, and our brothers have been working all day building Max an awesome tree house. Oh, and some longtime friends of Jasper's are here, visiting us from Texas. Peter and Garrett come to visit us several times a year. Though, for some reason I see them finally joining our family. You see, Jasper is their sire and brother in arms. Oh and they both are soooo hot. Not as hot as my Jasper though, but way hot none the less."
"Okay Pix, slow down and take a breather." I laugh as we approach a big black SUV.
"Sorry, I have a tendency to talk a lot when I get really excited." Alice opens the back hatch and tosses our bags in the back before moving around to the other side. "I hope you don't mind, I bought Max a booster seat." She smiles as she opens the door for me.
"No, that's fine, and thank you Alice." I set Max in the seat and buckle him in, then move around to the other side and climb in.
Once we're on the freeway, Alice begins to explain all about her family as she drives. And at my request, she drives us there at a slower pace than when we first got on the freeway. I can tell that it annoys her to have to drive the speed limit, but when my son is in the car, the speed limit is, at the most, sixty mph. Non negotiable. No matter if the actual speed limit is above that.
Throughout our long drive Alice talks a mile a minute, and shockingly I actually listened and didn't shut her out, like I had planned to.
She told me that Carlisle and Esme are mates and that they are the parents/coven leaders of the Cullen family. She went on to tell me about Rosalie and Emmett, and that they are mates as well. I was a little shocked with the whole mate thing. Apparently, all vampires have a mate. It's just a matter of finding that one in a billion, that you are destined to love for eternity…the one soul that completes yours. Or some such nonsense. I'm not really sure if I believe in all that mumbo jumbo, two people sharing one soul crap. Or that there is someone out there that will complete me like no other.
Though, who the hell knows, I may be seriously proven wrong and change my mind about it all someday. Stranger thing have happened. I mean hell, I'm a freaking vampire for crying out loud, and my change was not normal at all. What I gathered from everyone's shocked reactions when I was bitten by that prissy little fucker, Aro, only tells me that I'm one of a kind.
I was seriously surprised when Alice went on to tell me that Edward's mate was still human and that they're waiting until after they are married before turning her into a vampire. Trying to be that close to a human seem a little impossible to me. Although, I can be around my son, and I have absolutely no desire to drain him. So I guess that if you feel strong enough for someone, you just simply couldn't hurt that person.
I was even more surprised to learn that all the kids went to high school over and over again, so that the family can stay in one place longer. I couldn't imagine going back to high school, much less repeating that kind of hell over and over. They will be sorely disappointed if they try to make me go back to high school. I'm a mother, and I'm twenty four freaking years old. So I could never pass for someone that young, and going through high school once was more than enough for me, thank you very much.
This family, I can already tell, is definitely a very strange bunch, that's for sure.
Alice told me that I wouldn't get to meet Edwards mate until they knew for sure that I could control myself around her. I am a newborn after all, so I can see their hesitance on testing my control with someone they love. Even though I just flew from Italy to Washington with my very human child with no problem at all, and I did it after only five hours of being a vampire and I still haven't had the first dop of blood.
After driving for about an hour and a half, Alice begins to slow down, and soon after, she turns down a somewhat hidden and very secluded road. And after about two and half miles of a narrow driveway with crazy twists and turns, we finally approach a very huge and beautiful house.
The moment the car is parked, I look out my window, and see two men and two women standing on the porch waiting for us.
"They didn't want to overwhelm you or Max, so Edward stayed out back putting the finishing touches on Max's surprise, and my Jasper is on his way back from hunting with our friends." Alice turns to Max and gives him a huge grin that causes him to giggle. "Are you ready for your surprise, Max?"
"Yes ma'am, and thank you very much, but I honestly think that I would have liked you all even if you didn't build me a tree house, miss Alice." Max tells her with his I hear everything, and I don't miss a thing look.
I hear loud laughter from the house just as I turn to see the shocked look on Alice's face. I just pat her on the shoulder and shake my head at her. "I have never been able to get anything past him, so don't feel bad Alice. He is just crafty, smart, and very perceptive. He gets it from me." I shrug as I get out of the car and then open Max's door while Alice is still setting behind the wheel in shock.
"Mommy I'm not a baby. I want to walk." Max squirms in my arms, so I set him on his feet, but I keep his hand in mine.
Max rolls his eyes at me but doesn't try to let go of my hand. He then turns to the people on the porch as they slowly make their way towards us. Max suddenly wiggles his hand out of my hold, and begins to confidently walk towards the Cullen's, with me following closely behind him, ready to grab him and run within a moments notice if I have to.
I look up at the Cullen's and offer them a small smile, just as Max stops in front of the biggest man I have ever seen in my life. If it wasn't for his sweet, boyish, and very honest face, I would have snatched my son up and hauled ass in the other direction.
Max tilt his head up and to the side as he gives the man a huge smile, while holding his hand out for the giant man to shake. "Hi, I'm Maxwell McCarty, but you can call me Max. What's your name?" The man snaps his head up and looks at me with a very shocked expression.
"Did he just say McCarty?" The man ask me quietly.
"Yes, our last name is McCarty. I was never married, so Max was blessed with my family name. Why?" The man smiles at me warmly then turns back to Max and shakes his hand.
"Well, Max." He chuckles and shakes his head as he squats down to get eye level with Max. "Me, you, your mother ,and my wife Rosie, all have something in common, little dude. My name is Emmett McCarty, and if I'm right, we are related. You guys are from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Aren't you?"
"Emmett? As in Emmett Dale McCarty?" I gasp and place my hand over my mouth just as the man's grin widens, showcasing the McCarty dimples in full force. The same grin and dimples that my father had, and passed on to me and my son. "Bear attack, right?"
Emmett nods as he stands. "How did you know that?"
"My dad told me the story of how his great uncle was killed by a grizzly bear. Did you know that your brother hunted for the bear that supposedly killed you? He hunted that damn thing for months, killing every grizzly bear that he found." I feel that familiar burning sensation in my eyes as I tell him of our family and how they reacted to his death. "You know, you look just like my father when you showcase those McCarty dimples." I grin just to show him that I inherited that McCarty trait, just like any other person in our blood line. Too bad I lost the dark green eye color that is another McCarty trait. "It's good to know that Max and I still have family left."
Before I can say anything else or react for that matter, Emmett lifts me off the ground and hugs me tightly as he spins me around in circles. As soon as he stops trying to make me dizzy, he turns to my son and lifts him up into his other arm. Then he turns to the beautiful blonde that he was standing next to when we arrived.
"Look Rosie! My great, great niece and my great, great, great nephew are here! I can't believe this! I have family…blood relatives that I can keep forever!" God, he reminds me so much of my dad, it's not even funny.
"Hey, uncle Emmett, can we go see the tree house now?" If he could, I think uncle Emmett would be crying and bawling like a baby right now.
Emmett sets me down and gives me a questioning look. I just smile and nod. "I trust you, uncle Emmett. Just be careful with him…he is human after all." I giggle when Emmett squeals like a…well, Alice. Then kisses my cheek.
"I'm so happy that you guys are here. Hey, before we go look at the tree house, I want you guys to meet my wife and mate, Rosie. Your aunt Rosie is gonna seriously spoil you rotten big guy." He smiles as he maneuvers Max onto his massive shoulders then leans over to the pretty blonde woman and kisses her cheek, before smiling up a Max. "Now, lets go see what Uncle Em built for you." He pats my shoulder then runs off around the house to the back yard at a fast human pace, with Max laughing and yelling out happily on Emmett's shoulder.
When they're out of sight, I turn back to the rest of the Cullen's. "Small world, right." I grin then laugh when they all nod.
The blonde man quickly steps forward and holds his hand out to me. "I'm Carlisle and this is my wife and mate, Esme." He points to the beautiful woman with caramel colored hair. "And this is our daughter and Emmett's mate, Rosalie. As Emmett briefly stated before running off." Carlisle chuckles as he jesters to the gorgeous blonde that was on my uncles arm. "I can't tell you enough how sorry I am for what happened to you and Max."
I wave him off, not really wanting to get into that particular mess at the moment. "Whats done is done, I guess. We can't change the past, right?" I shrug and turn to the blonde woman as she step forward and offers me her hand.
I smile and reach out to shake her hand, but the woman pulls me to her and hugs the stuffing out of me. "Welcome to the family, Bella. I am very happy that you and Max are here, safe and sound." She pulls back and grins at me. "But just to warn you." She turn to Alice with narrowed eyes. "Alice has a major shopping addiction and I do believe that you are her new victim." They all laugh as I wildly shake my head in the negative.
"I'm allergic to shopping." I nod as I take a few steps away from the pixie while rambling to myself. "Yep. Shopping causing me to have a very nasty reaction, when I'm exposed to that kind of hell. I get real mean and there's usually no survivors."
I absolutely loath shopping and there is no way in hell that tiny woman will ever force me into tolerating it. I only halfheartedly partake in online shopping or grocery shopping…and that is only when I have no other choice but to do it, damn it.
"Nope. Not gonna happen." I growl at the pint size woman when I notice the determined gleam in her eyes. Quickly digging through my wallet, I snatch my Amex card that I got with my entire inheritance, and hold it up so the Pixie can see it. "Tell you what, Alice. There is no limit on this card and if you never ever…ever, ever, ever ask me to go shopping, you can be my personal shopper whenever Max, or I need anything. I will let you know when, and you can do all our shopping for us. Shop till you freaking drop…I don't give a shit, and we aren't picky at all. Though, I will ask you not to buy me or Max anything that is overly dressy or ostentatious in any way, shape, or form. That's not our style and if what you get is too flashy, it will get sent back or ripped to shreds immediately. Do we have a deal, Alice?"
Alice's eyes suddenly go completely blank. She's probably looking to see if she can find a way to get me to go shopping. Not a chance in hell, woman.
After several seconds, Alice snaps back to reality and sigh sadly and nods her head in defeat. "Deal, but you will be missing out on a whole lot of fun."
"Wow! Someone finally figured out how to wrangle Alice…" Esme smiles at me as she moves to stand right in front of me. "I'm so excited that I have a new daughter, and finally a beautiful grand baby to spoil rotten. Welcome to the family, my dear Bella." Esme pulls me to her and sobs into my shoulder.
As the tiny warm loving woman hugs me tightly, I begin to sob right along with her, because she remind me of my mother so much. My mother was just like Esme. She was so warm, loving, and caring that she cried happy tears all the time. God, I really miss my mother.
"Thank you, Esme." I tell her just as Alice begins to squeal loudly.
I wipe the thick venom from my eyes as I turn to see what her problem is, just as a big black truck pulls up behind Alice's SUV. A moment later a man with blonde curly hair jumps out of the driver seat. He's tall and broad, and he is also very handsome. He's covered in scars, but I don't feel like I should be afraid of him. In fact, I feel like I can trust him completely. The way he looks, and the way he carries himself reminds me so much of John.
"Bella this is my mate, Jasper and his venom brothers, Garrett and Peter Whitlock." I look over just as two other men jump out of the huge truck and I damn near start drooling.
The one that got out of the back is tall and toned but not bulky like the one that got out of the front passenger seat. No, that man is bigger and taller than uncle Emmett…and oh lordy, he is a hot piece of man meat. Just simply gorgeous.
His hair is cut short, almost shaved and dark blonde in color. His eyes are amber just like all the other Cullen's, but there's something about his eyes that seems more beautifully…intense.
I bite my lip when I suddenly realize that I'm ogling the man, as he approaches me and offers me his hand with the sexiest damn smirk I have ever seen in my life.
"Peter Whitlock, ma'am." He lifts my hand to his mouth and places a kiss to the back of my hand. I damn near whimper loudly when I feel some sort of current buzz throughout my entire body. "It's a real pleasure to meet you, sugar." Holy shit! I honestly think that I actually lost the ability to speak.
That accent of his…Oh man I'm am so screwed.
Before I can try to say anything, Garret slaps Peter on the shoulder and grins down at me. "I think you broke her, Pete." He laughs as he takes my hand from Peter. "Garrett Whitlock, and please excuse my brother. He can be a bit much when a beautiful woman steps into his line of sight. Although, this is the first time I've seen him use the Whitlock charm on a beautiful woman to this degree. He usually just starts making an ass out of himself until the woman slaps him." Garrett laughs as he shakes my hand.
"Shut the hell up, Garrett." Peter laughs nervously, and I find it absolutely adorable…in a very sexy kind of way.
Now that I can get a good look at them both, not just Peter's eyes, I can see a slight resemblance between the two. They look like they could actually be real brothers, and they both are covered in scars just like Jasper.
Though, before I can think more on the matter or humiliate myself even more, Jasper moves between me and the brothers and offers me his hand with a weird smile. "Jasper Whitlock-Cullen. It's a pleasure to finally meet you darlin. My wife has been beside herself and an emotional train wreck ever since she first saw you in her visions." I smile up at the man like I use to smile at John. "I'm sorry for what those Italian bastards did to ya, ma'am, and when the time comes to go after them…the Whitlock's will help you, in anyway you need, darlin'."
"Thank you, Jasper, and it's nice to meet you all as well. I'm Bella McCarty." I grin at the look the three men give me. "And yes, Emmett and I are blood related…"
"Mommy, mommy, mommy!" I turn at the sound of my sons voice. "You gotta come see what uncle Em and Uncle Eddie built me!" I turn just in time to catch him as he jumps into my arms. "It is so damn cool mom, and its freaking huge!"
I turn to glare at Emmett for teaching my son that word. "Wasn't me Bells, I swear." He holds his hands up, then points his thumb over his shoulder. "That's all uncle Eddie."
I look around Emmett to see a bronze hair teenager walking up and then stops to stand next to Emmett with a sheepish look on his face. "Sorry Bella, but he was just so excited, which in turn, made me so excited…it won't happen again, Bella. Scouts honor." He stops when I laugh along with everyone else.
"It's alright, just watch what you say around him. He doesn't miss a thing and loves to learn new words." I walk over to Edward and offer him my hand. "Bella McCarty, it's nice to finally meet you, Edward."
"It's nice to meet you as well, Bella. I just hope you aren't as into pranking people as much as Emmett is." I turn to look at Emmett.
"No, I'm not a McCarty prankster, but…" I point to my son that is now looking at Jasper with a crazy look. "…He is the master McCarty prankster. Max, what are you doing?" I turn my full attention to my son and Jasper.
"He reminds me so much of uncle John, mama. I just want to hug him." He wipes his tears as he moves closer to Jasper and wraps his tiny arms around Jasper's leg and begins to cry. "I miss him so much."
I cover my mouth with my hands and try to hold in the sobs as Jasper reaches down and lifts Max into his arms and hugs him while he cries.
I move towards them and rub Max's back as I look at Jasper. "Thank you Jasper." I whisper. "It's been a long three days and he has seen and been through so much. Is there anywhere I can lay him down for a nap?"
"Can I do it? I mean…" Jasper stops when I smile and nod to him. "Come on little man. Grandma Esme decorated you a bedroom. It's so cool and I'm sorta jealous." Max sniffs as he nods then turns to Emmett.
"Come on, uncle Em. If I have to take a nap then so do you." Emmett smiles as he follows them into the house.
I turn back to Alice and shake my head. "He reminds me of John as well." I sigh as Alice wraps her tiny little arms around me and gives me a hug.
"You see, I told you that everyone would love you and Max." She grins at me then over at everyone else then back at me. "Welcome to the family Bella."
"Bella dear…" Esme quietly gets my attention. "How long has it been since you've hunted?"
"Oh…I um…I haven't fed yet…at all." I look around me at everyone and sigh at the looks I'm getting for my admission. "Look, after we hauled ass out of that castle, I was in a real big hurry to get Max as far away from Italy as I could. I also didn't think it would be wise to take him hunting with me, and I refuse to leave him on his on."
"You're right Bella." Carlisle sighs as he step closer to me. "I'm sure Emmett and Jasper can handle Max while he naps, and one of us can take…"
"I'll take her, Doc." We all turn to Peter as he cuts Carlisle off and smiles at me. "That is if you don't mind, Bella."
God, I feel like I should be blushing like crazy right now as I get lost in Peter's beautiful eyes yet again, but I know that I am unable to do that now.
I finally gain a little control over myself and smile at the sexy man. "That fine with me, Peter. Are you sure you don't mind taking me? And are you guys sure you don't mind watchin Max?" I ask the Cullen's just as I feel Peter place his hand on the small of my back as he winks down at me reassuringly.
"We don't mind at all, dear." Esme tells me with a soft and warm smile.
"Alright." I smile at everyone, then look up at Peter and open my mouth to ask him how long it will take for me to hunt.
Though before I can ask him Peter smiles down at me then answers my question before I can ask. "We won't be too long, darlin. I'm sure we'll be back way before Max wakes up. Now lets go get you fed, sugar."
Peter and I take off into the forest that surrounds the Cullen's massive home. We both run full speed for several miles, laughing and carrying on as we make our way through the beautiful towering trees.
"Why'd you stop?" I smile as I stop next to Peter in a small buy very beautiful clearing.
Peter turns to me and smiles his gorgeous smile that would have my heart pounding if it still beat. "Do you smell that, Bella?" He walks over to stand right behind me, barely any space left between us. "Close your eyes, Bella and listen to everything around you."
Oh god help me…
All I seem to be able to focus on is the fuck hot man standing behind me with his huge hand holding my hips and his warm breath on my neck.
"Let your instincts take control, Bella. Tell me what you hear? What you smell?" Peter whispers softly, and I couldn't stop the delightful shiver that passed through my entire body even if I tried.
I take a deep breath, trying to focus on the world around me and after a few deep breaths I finally catch a scent that has my mouth watering and a low growl rumbling in my chest. "That's it Bella. Now tell me…where is that mouth watering scent coming from?"
"I think maybe a mile or so to the east?" My words come out like a question, suddenly feeling a little unsure of myself.
"Very good darlin." Peter purrs in my ear. "There are two big grizzly's to the east of us." Suddenly I feel Peter step to my side and take my hand in his. "Follow my lead and do as I do, alright."
We take off once again in the direction of the wonderful smell, but this time Peter is gripping my hand as we run.
We suddenly stop once more and just as Peter releases my hand, he crouches down as he looks over to our right. I follow his lead and smile when I see the two massive beasts hunting fish in a good size river.
Peter nods to the bear and then he shoots out of the brush and tackles the first bear he come to. Not even a half a second later, I'm doing the same to bear that's not that far from Peter and his meal. I glance over and see Peter wrestle the big beast to the ground and then he growls loudly as he sinks his teeth into the bears neck.
Oh damn! That was the hottest thing I have ever witnessed in my entire life.
I momentarily lose focus and the beast of a bear that I tackled, swipes his massive paws and shreds the front of my dress. I growl at the fucker and then lean forward and bite down into his furry flesh. Moaning in absolute bliss as his blood slides across my tongue and down my throat.
The moment the bear runs dry I lean back and roll my head on my shoulders as I sigh in contentment. Damn what a rush.
I suddenly hear a loud growl and the moment I look up, I'm tackled backwards onto the ground. Gasping in shock when I see Peter on top of me, staring down at me with the most intense look in his now black eyes. My breathing quickens when I realize that I can actually feel this strange purring sound vibrating out of his chest and right into mine.
"Peter?" I open my mouth to ask him what the hell is going on, but in that moment he growls the word Mine, right before crashing his warm, soft lips into mine. Immediately dominating my mouth as he kisses me like I've never been kissed before.
I relax and wrap my arms and legs around his sexy body as I kiss him just as hard as he's kissing me.
"Mmmm…" I moan into Peters mouth when I feel his hand sliding up my thigh and under my dress only to grip my ass.
Peter pulls back slightly with my bottom lip between his deadly teeth just as he rotates his hips against mine. I cry out at the feel of his huge erection rubbing against my now soaked center.
"Oh God!" I moan when he thrust against me a little harder and faster. "What are you doing to me, Peter?" I subconsciously lift my hips and reach my hands down to grip Peter muscular ass as I continue to move against him wildly.
Peter smiles down at me as he begins to slow our movements, softly kissing my lips like he can't get enough of me.
"I know that being around the Cullen's you've heard the word mate tossed around a few times. Right?" At my lazy nod, Peter pecks my lips again and then continues. "They are talking about soul mates. In our world, there's only one person out there for us, and that's our mate. When you meet your mate it's instantaneous…Bella, you are my mate, and I'm yours.
Stay tuned…