CH 15

Bella POV

Ok I was slightly going crazy, seems like a theme for me lately, but I can't help it. It was already 2 am and she wasn't here, I mean I know she didn't say for sure she was coming back, but she wasn't answering my text or calls. Even when we fought she would always at least answer my messages. Another sigh left me as I tried to refrain from pacing anymore and waking my dad and plop onto my bed. Where the hell are you Catt. Taking out my phone I decide to call Jake and see if he knows anything. "hello? Bells is everything ok?" he sounded wide awake immediately, "hey Jake, yah, I mean maybe? I don't know. Have you heard from Catt?"

"Catt? No I thought she would be with you by now?"

"why would you think that? Have Paul and Embry already gotten back?"

"yah they got back couple hours ago, said Catt was pretty upset but was going to head home then to your place. Did she not get there?"

"no, and she isn't answering my calls or texts either."

"hmm. Well Catts pretty tough bells I'm sure she's fine. But I will have the pack search the woods just in case."

"that won't be necessary." I nearly leapt out of my skin at the voice coming from my open window. "Catt?" a hand went to my heart as I took in her soaking form, she was wered out but otherwise looked to be fine. "Aye"

"thanks Jake, I'll talk to you later."

"…sure bells. Goodnight." I hung up without taking my eyes off of her as she crouched on the window seal. She was clearly fighting control but still so very careful not to dig her claws in the window. "Catt?" her emerald eyes flashed to me. "Catt talk to me."

"did, did you lie to me?" she whispered out and my heart broke at the defeated look in her eyes. "what? Catt no what are you talking about?" I got up and slowly walked toward her as her panther's eyes followed me, "babe what's going on."

"the vampire who bit you, what was his name?"

"what? It was James why?" taking her face in my hands her eyes close for a moment as I run one over her pointed ears and through her drenched hair. "is he dead?"

"yes, Edward showed up after he bit me and killed him."

"I thought Edward sucked the venom out?"

"he did, Catt what's wrong?"

"he killed this James, and then sucked the venom out? All before it was too late to stop the change?"

"I don't understand?"

"Bella, James is alive. He's the one creating the problems in Port Angeles."

"but, but Edward said- he said…"

"he lied." No, no he wouldn't have. Of course he would have. He lied through our entire relationship. "Bella"

"you thought I lied to you about it?" I watched her look down as memories seemed to flash behind her pained eyes. Bringing her face up to look at me, "your not Edward. And I'm not whoever your thinking about Catt." Eyes widened before a red tint entered them and I watched my Catt disappear, I went to take a step back when a hand caught my wrist lightning fast. "Relax Isabella, I know Catt has informed you I would never harm you." I stood frozen looking into glinting eyes before it hit me, "Saphira?" a smirk similar to Catt's but with more fang lifted her lips, "aye, tis me. and I must say, very few people have been able to put her in such a state, I expect nothing less from our mate."

"are you hurting her?" I demanded with what little force I could muster only for her to chuckle quietly, "to hurt her would be to hurt me, I am her and she is me. we are one. And I am quiet fond of her. As I am of you. She has simply been, startled, enough to allow me to take control momentarily."

"why?"

"mmm we have a past child, one I am sure she would share if asked, when ready. One she fears you will not accept, one she has yet to accept herself. She is back there now, the thoughts swirling in her mind, yet her focus is still on one, you. You have a question swirling in your eyes my dear." Startled my own eyes widen, "yes, Catt, she's been in pain lately, is this normal? She said yes but…"

"but you doubt her words. Tis normal, to an extent, the day of the full moon is a day full of agony, agony I wish I could spare her but cannot. She should not have been in the condition she was in yesterday, I-have no answer as to why she was just yet." Yet? What does that mean? "but you're looking for one?"

"aye, her mind, our mind, is full of knowledge long forgotten, sifting through it will take time. Your next question? I feel she will resurface soon."

"would she change me!? if I asked?" a slow smirk lifted her lips once more, "you wish to join us for eternity?" she laughed quietly not giving me a chance to answer "if you ask the right time, if you are sure without a doubt tis what you want, if you know the of the pain and suffering that comes with it. if you stay by her side, she will deny you nothing. My time is over today my dear, I so look forward to meeting again tomorrow." She purred out the last sentence as the red faded from her eyes. And then I tumbled back with her on top of me with wide eyes as she lost her balance. She took a few deep breaths before her accented outburst "fucking hell Saphira!" she whisper yelled still aware my dad was asleep down the hall. She slowly got off of me and brought me up with her. "Catt?"

"yes tis me, sorry babe."

"your fine, that was, interesting. We still need to talk though."

"yah, yah, uh can I dry off first, and you go to bed, and we will talk tomorrow."

"tomorrow is the full moon Catt."

"…you need your rest, I will be fine to talk, as long as I get to stay in bed."

"no, this can't wait. Here go dry off in the bathroom and put these on." For a moment it looked like she was going to argue before "yes dear" was mumbled and she walked off. I crawled back into bed to wait for her while thinking about why Edward would lie about James. She walked back in wearing some sweats and a white tank-top that was see through, she had also decided to skip on the bra. My eyes went straight to her chest as she continued to dry her hair with a towel. "how do you James is alive?" I asked to distract myself from staring. "A vampire attacked while we were searching, and before you ask no non of us were hurt. But I we managed to pin him down and got a name, after he told us what he was after."

"and what is he after?" she set the towel down on the chair before crawling up me on the bed until she was face to face with me, her tail swishing back and forth behind her. For a moment she just stared into my eyes before she moved in for a kiss, she deepened it almost immediately yet still careful of her razor sharp fangs. When she pulled away she didn't go far, pressing her forehead to mine, "you." A breathless huh was all I could manage. "he said that James was after a human girl who got away. You Bella." Oh, oh shit. "not that it matters, because he won't touch you." She said it so confident I just had to believe her, I know she would protect me no matter what, and that's what scared me most, I know what he's capable of. "Catt-" she shut me up with another kiss, her tongue slid against mine forcefully, I was panting for breath when she pulled away "I love you Isabella."

"I love you to. That's why I want to be with you tomorrow." Her head tilted as she regarded me, "you have school tomorrow, its Friday."

"I can miss one day, especially if you will be in pain."

"Bella-"

"Catt, please."

"ok. If that's what you want, on one condition."

"what?"

"get some rest." Chucking "ok, only if I get to sleep in your arms."

"uhh Bella I would love that, but I can't really change back right now, my claws aren't going anywhere until Saturday. I don't want to hurt you."

"you won't, now get under here, I'm cold." She did as I asked before carefully wrapping her arms around me, her tail doing the same as it draped over my waist. It wasn't long before I was out surrounded by her scent and warmth.

When I woke up I was no longer in her arms but she was still in bed. Pulling the covers back to where I could see her curled up by my feet in the fetal position her hands clutching her head still sound asleep. She was also still in her half were form with her tail laying across my legs. I slowly got out of bed trying not to wake her yet and make my way downstairs. With a quick check I can see my dad is already out at work thankfully. Going to the fridge I dig out the container I had stashed in the very back where it wouldn't be noticed and put it in the microwave. You would be surprised how easy it is to get some blood bags from the bank. While that heated up I made her some eggs and bacon not sure if she would be able to stomach it or not. Pouring it into a cup I grab the plate and make my way back upstairs to my room. When I got there she was just starting to stir and looked up at me through tired pain filled eyes. "morning."

"mmm morning." She mumbled before trying to bury herself back into the blankets, and then she shot up to a sitting position. "blood? Are you hurt? What happened?" dear god this girl, in so much pain and still concerned about me. "no babe I'm fine. Here." I handed her the cup. "what? Bella, why, how?"

"well you said you needed blood around the full moon. And since you're here instead of at home…I just thought it might help."

"how?"

"You would be surprised how easy it is to get some blood bags from the bank. Well actually I'm sure you're not since you have to do it every month, but still."

"you did that for me?"

"of course. I love you."

"…I love you to Bella. Thank you." She pulled me in for a slow kiss. I handed her the plate when she pulled away and ran downstairs to get my own. She was taking a sip when I returned and took a seat next to her. "I cane at downstairs if me drinking this makes you uncomfortable." Did it make me uncomfortable? She was drinking human blood right next to me on my bed. She wasn't hurting anyone, it's from a blood bag. It helps her keep control, and she can't live without it. "no babe it doesn't bother me." her eyes widened in awe and she just nodded her head. We ate in silence until the plates were emptied and I took them down to wash. Coming back up to her curled under the blankets again a thought hit me, "when does it start?"

"huh? The change?"

"yah, like your obviously in pain but when does the actual change start? I take it we will be going into the forest?"

"yes definitely. It starts a little after sunset. And I need you to promise me something."

"what?"

"when it starts I need you to stay back."

"what why? Catt I want to be there for you when you're in that kind of pain."

"I know, and I love you for that, but you can't right now. It's too dangerous. No matter what I need you to stay back. I am going to scream, I am going groan and moan. And I am going to thrash around, and I don't want to hurt you when I do. So, I need you to promise me, please." I thought about it for a moment before agreeing and then crawling back into bed with her to get some more sleep.

Hours Later

When I woke up again the clock said it was 6pm and I could see the remaining sun rays fading through my window. "your going to need a jacket." I jumped at the words practically choke out from the chair. "Catt are you ok?"

"fine, but we need to hurry." Getting up I head to the bathroom and throw on some jeans and a sweater before grabbing my jacket. Catt threw on some sweats and a huge hoody to hide her ears and tail, from the sounds of the tv downstairs my dad was home and watching some game. "hey girls what's up?"

"hey dad, were going on a date. Movies dinner and whatnot, don't wait up."

"ok be careful and try not to be out to late please."

"sure dad. See yah."

"bye chief" she murmured. Once outside she handed me the keys to her car, and she never lets anyone drive her baby. Getting in without a word I pull out of the driveway and head for the turnoff that leads to our spot with the waterfall. The sun seemed to be setting faster and faster as she sat there groaning. I pushed the pedal further down and practically kidded into the spot. she had flung herself out of the car before it was stopped completely and fell to her knees. "Catt!"

"arghimfine. I'm fine. Lets go." This time it was she who stumbled over logs and rocks as we made our way to the waterfall. We had made it there just as the final rays of sun disappeared and plunged us to total darkness. It was pitch black out, the only sounds the running water and her labored breathing turning into groans of pain. Pulling the flashlight out of my jacket pocket I turn it on and immediately catch the feline eyes locked on me. They squint at the bright light before she bows her head a moan far worse than her previous ones leaving her. Sweat covered every inch of skin I could see matting her blood red hair to her face. She began to pull her clothes off painfully slow but with an urgency. She tossed them toward me one by one until she kneeled there completely naked with her claws diffing into the dirt. And then it began, her moans started turning to growls, fur started sprouting as she kept her face down toward the ground. Her half were claws started expanding until they were more paw like, and then her back arched up and a scream that would have woken the dead left her lips breaking my heart at the sheer amount of agony it held. Her body started to convulse violently as I tried to keep my promise and stay back when all I wanted to do was run to her. 15 minutes, for 15 minutes I watched my girlfriend, my mate, writhe around on the ground in pain as tears streamed down her face before Saphira finally took over and she practically bled into a panther. She was slightly larger than a natural panther, she laid on the ground panting before turning toward me. "Saphira?" still panting she managed to nod her head. "is she, are you, are you both ok?" another nod of her head, she took a tentative step toward me before freezing in place, her eyes locked behind me just as I heard the heavy breathing. Spinning around the light from my flashlight reveals a huge, and I mean huge, grizzly bear. I take a few steps back as it raises onto it's hind legs and lets out a roar. Catt, I mean Saphira, took that to her advantage and practically flew at him claws digging in as they tumbled backwards. She was off of it in an instant and crouch before me ready to pounce again. It let out another roar as it got it's footing that she echoed with her own that shook me to my core. The bear took a long look at her as she held it's eyes before turning around and taking off. Saphira turned back towards me and stalked up slowly like the predator she was, but I couldn't find it in me to fear her, Catt said she was very dangerous, but on our side. Once she reached me she nudged her head into my waist nearly nocking me over with the force. She did that thing cats do when they rub their faces against people or things, and now that I think about it Catt would do that to me every now and then when I was in her arms. I slid my hand through her fur and listened as she started to purr. . "do-do you need to hunt or anything?" she pulled back enough to look me in the eyes and shake her furry head. "what do you usually do then. Guess I should have asked that before you changed." A chuffing sound left her that sounded like a laugh. She pushed her head against my stomach to get me walking the flashlight leading a path, yet making everything else around us seem darker. I know she wouldn't let anything happen to me though. We walked in what seemed like circles for a while before I noticed we were almost at a cliff. We got as close as we could and sat at the edge where she curled around my back and looked out at the moon hanging over the ocean. . We sat there for what felt like hours, it probably was, but it was nice, I could feel the heat of her against my back as well as the vibrating of her purring. She lifted her head up from where it was on my lap and looked out into the sky, she got up and stretched digging her claws into the grass and dirt before walking closer toward the cliff. She just stood there staring for a while before letting out a piercing roar that most likely sent everything within miles running. For a second the wind picked up and I swear I heard it echoed through it. with a satisfied huff she turned back to me just as the first rays of light came above the horizon. As soon as she got to me she snaked between my legs so I was sitting on her back, since she stood at my waist it brought my feet off the ground a little ways, though startled squeak still left me and seemed to amuse her as she huffed again. She made her way through the forest slowly only picking up speed when my arms wound around her neck. She managed to make it back to the waterfall where her clothes still laid before the sun reached us, she lowered enough for me to grab them before taking off again for the car.

By the time we reached the car I could see clearly as the sun was almost over the horizon, as soon as I hopped off of her she stumbled. She shook her head before her entire body began to shake, and where it was bone breaking and painful convulsions to turn on the full moon, this looked like she just kind of bled back into her human self with a groan. Her naked form shaking the entire time she grabbed the hoody from my hands not bothering to put anything else on. "ello love" she rasped out as soon as she was able on her unstable feet. Her eyes bled back to her human emerald ones and she looked exhausted. "are you ok?"

"mmm fine. Starving, tired, sore, horny, but fine." She smirked tiredly my way as my face turned red. "right, well how about we stop at the diner real quick and I'll run in for take out, then we can head back to bed."

"aye, sounds good." She fell into the passenger side with a thud and I got in the drivers side, pulling out onto the road immediately her stomach growling the whole time. I was pulling into the parking lot of the diner within 30 minutes, getting out as she slept half naked in the seat I check my phone and see a message from my dad asking if we were alright, where we were and letting me know he was heading to the reservation to fish early in the morning. After ordering enough food to feed an army, or a were panther I send him a reply.

Me: sorry dad, were fine. After the movie and dinner we were to tired to drive back and stayed at Catt's. there was no trouble, on the way home now. He responded immediately,

Dad: do we need to have the talk?

Me: NO. nothing happened we just slept.

Dad: ok ok good, I'll see you tonight.

My face was a tomato by the time my order was ready. She jumped awake when I shut the car door. "we there?"

"almost."

She managed to stay awake until we pulled into the driveway and I ushered her in trying to keep my eyes off of her long bare legs. Why? She's your girlfriend, your allowed to look. Oh right. I pushed her into a chair and then watched her demolish 4 hamburgers, she was nodding off as she finished her last bite. "I think it's time to get you into bed."

"only if you get in bed with me" she slurred out. "ok Catt I'll be in bed with you but we have to make it up the stairs."

"mmm I like you in bed with me, I'd prefer you under me, and naked, but I'll take what I can get." I swear a tired Catt is a drunk Catt, that didn't stop my face from heating up though. "I think it's going to take all your energy getting up the stairs so let's focus on that and get some rest."

"hmm and after I am rested" she giggled, and Catt doesn't really giggle. "then we-we will talk about it."

"talking is no fun, I don't want to talk, I want to-" she was cut off when I pushed her onto the bed forcefully, I almost missed her "ooh kinky" that she murmured. "babe can you do me a favor?" her eyes widened as she responded "Anything! Name it and it is yours."

"get under the covers." She frowned but did as I asked, "your such a tease. It's not fair." She said it around a yawn as her head hit the pillow and she was out. With a sigh I put on some shorts and a t-shirt and crawled in behind her wrapping an arm over her waist and drifting off.

When I woke up next it was dark out and a hand was running through my hair. "your awake."

"I am" she whispered back. "how did you sleep? Are you ok?"

"I am fine mon ange I assure you. Not even sore anymore." She replied but there was a tightness in her voice, "what's wrong?"

"…nothing, it's just-"clearing here throat, "your leg Bella." Frowning in confusion before I realized I was half laying on top of her with my leg firmly pressed between hers, and she still wasn't wearing anything other than the hoody. "oh." I moved slightly only for her breath to be hissed out between clenched teeth. Looking up I catch her eyes just before they change. Shit.