Okay everyone I decided to put in a smidge of Felix's POV this chapter so pleeeease let me know what you think!

Chapter 4

F POV

I've been around for roughly two thousand years, seen a lot, done enough, happy where I am in the guard. I have two gifts; one everyone knows about, and the other only myself, the kings, and elite guard know of. Marcus thinks it's because when I was turned it was by two vampires at once who were fighting over me because of my size and human strength. They decided once I woke up I would choose which coven I wanted to join.

But when I woke up, I killed both covens thanks to what I'd later find out was my first gift of enhance vampiric senses and strength. I then spent time as a nomad until I came across the Volturi and found common ground with the kings.

It's been a few hundred years since I've been interested in anything or anyone aside from my coven and the thrill of the fight. With covens popping up all over the world, fighting takes up most of my time, and the rest is spent feeding from criminals. After all this time, even with enhanced smell and taste, I've been able to tamper down my bloodlust to a point where it's almost non-existent, allowing me to coexist with humans when needed.

That's why when Cullen came sulking into the throne room my first thought was how did the animal drinker fuck up dying and my second was what is that mouth-watering scent. My nearly unbreakable control slipped just a little when the seemingly alive human came in slung over Jane's dainty shoulder like a rucksack. I took a deep inhale, filling my lungs with the scent of vanilla and cherries as they passed by to stand before the kings.

Hot damn, that's not bloodlust.

Cullen getting his ass handed to him by a human really was a sight to see. I wasn't the only one who growled when he tried to keep her from master Aro either, Jane seemed to be the loudest of us all and she further surprised me when she looked slightly contrite about testing her powers on Miss Bella Swan. As the trial went on, she turned out to be a fiery little thing, even Marcus spoke up, equally as interested as the rest of us.

When the trial was coming to a close, I straightened my shoulders a little as their eyes scanned the room too quick for the human to notice and nodded along with Demetri and Jane at their silent question.

Internally I winced as I witnessed Jane toss Bella over her should like a laundry bag for our trip to the jet. Then aboard the plane, I sat with my hands fisted behind Jane and Dem so they wouldn't see how pissed off I was about Cullen hovering over the bed the human slept in.

I was trying not to think about it so Cullen wouldn't give me any shit. I don't think the plane would survive much longer than he would in that fight and then the masters would be pissed I ruined their new jet.

So I sat there until I heard her stirring and immediately tell Cullen where to shove it once again. Once she emerged and slumped down into a chair I could finally relax, and had the chance to properly check out the human who'd struck a deal with Aro Volturi. In the throne room she was more from the back where the tiny Cullen was for most of the 'meeting'. Now up close and facing each other I could see most of her clearly over Demetri's fat head. She looked pretty damn small, but a little taller than Jane. Heart shape face, dark brown hair, full pouty lips, and a cute little nose. She'd moved on from looking at Jane and Dem and I saw her eyes widen as they took in what little of me she could see, only looking away once she knew she'd been caught. I couldn't help the slow smirk as I kept staring, like I said I don't fight fair and if Miss Swan wanted to look at me the way she was in that jet, it was going to cost her. I just didn't know the price yet. It'd been a while since I received female attention that actually interested me.

When we landed, Jane looked over at Bella and offered her services once more and I just couldn't help myself, looming over her small frame and placing my hand on her shoulder as I gave Jane a stern 'don't fuck with me' look and told her to be more gentle. Might've snuck in another lungful of vanilla cherries while I was at it. Sue me, it's been centuries.

The Cullens went off to regroup and complain to their mommy and daddy about the big bad vampires ruining their plans to play house with the human. We wanted to avoid the wolves until both sides could meet and explain our presence without any fights breaking out. Not that I was against fighting but something in the back of my mind told me kicking puppies wouldn't go in my favor. We hung out around Swans' house, checking out the scents, cringing slightly at the wet dog smells, all of which were strongest around the tree below a second story window. It made sense when after a few hours of listening to Bella's I'm ok conversations with humans and dogs she went into the room beside the tree and seemingly fell asleep.

Around two in the morning Cullen had the bright idea to show up when we were down wind from the house. Sneaky little shit was going for that same window until Dem called him out dropping down from our perch in trees by the house.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Cullen, the girl specifically asked you not to come near her and I think that includes creeping into her bedroom while she sleeps." Crossing his arms over his chest Dem stared right at him, probably thinking of hunting down each Cullen and ending them tonight by the way the animal drinker flinched.

"You have no right to be here! I will protect her I am her mate, she is mine and I refuse to believe delusions from a king who rarely speaks, especially when Alice has not even seen anything to suggest we are not destined for each other. Our family won't stand for this, we will protect Bella at all costs" he turned to me "and you, I know I caught a piece of something earlier, keep your horrid thoughts to yourself before I shut you up myself".

I actually laughed at that and then dropped down beside my coven mate so I towered over the little rat. "Now listen here Cullen you don't touch that girl in there until she asks" I stated calmly and slowly as I stalked over to him. He stiffened and started to turn away until I just couldn't help but add "and I'll do the same" with a wide grin, leaning against a tree trunk and relaxing my posture, just to show how threatening he was to me.

With a growl he took off, and Jane and Dem turned to me, surprised, "Well shit man" Dem started "why'd you have to go and say that? Now Cullen's going to blow a gasket and be even more relentless…"

"And then maybe we'll have no choice but to kill him" Jane piped up, sounding anything but torn or reluctant.

I winked at Jane, always on the same wavelength as me, and whistled quietly as I stretched back out on my chair, listening for any other threats, because this girl seemed to bring all sorts of trouble.

BPOV

My alarm didn't go off until nine, and that still felt too early after the events of the past two days. But remembering my talk with Jake I knew I had to get a move on if I wanted to get to La Push on time before the search dogs set out to find me. Charlie left a note on the bathroom mirror, he was out and had better see me home from La Push by 6pm latest or he was coming to get me with the sirens on. Gross.

I paused while brushing my teeth – this meant I would have to explain to the Volturi guards why I was leaving and convince them not to come. The Cullens were one thing, but I couldn't imagine just showing up with a bunch of human drinkers and dropping the bomb of my impending 'change or die' deal. They would have to stay here while I went and spoke with the pack.

What if "…Jane?" I felt a subtle breeze and there she was, red eyes boring into brown. I choked on my toothbrush. Turning to the sink I spat out the toothpaste and rinsed out my mouth, turning back around to now find two pairs of red eyes watching me curiously.

"Did you need help with that…?" Jane looked like she wanted to be anywhere but watching me choke on a minty stick while foaming at the mouth in my bathroom.

"No! No. I was hoping to talk to you alone but I guess since you're almost all here—" I felt more than saw Felix appear behind Demetri, give me a quick once over, then grab the other male by the neck and both disappeared.

I turned to Jane looking for answers and her delicate features were failing at holding back a grin.

"Um Bella, I believe you may be missing certain…garments most would wear during the day." She hinted as her grin grew more pronounced.

I don't think I've ever blushed as hard as when I looked down to see my bright pink boy shorts paired with a thin long sleeve from yesterday, still lacking a bra on a cold morning if you know what I mean.

"Right. I'll be down in a minute. With clothes. Fresh ones, all the garments." I continued adding on as I scuffled back to my room and hastily closed the door. I swore I heard some tinkling laughter from the stairs as I threw open my closet door to get dressed.

Once dressed I gave myself a little pep talk "ok Bella you got this, they've definitely seen worse before so no more blushing. Just think about how old they are. Yeah that helps, okay." Trudging down the stairs I walked to the kitchen first figuring a chat with vamps would be best had after a cup of coffee.

Stepping into the kitchen a large hand appeared in front of me, wrapped around a mug filled with coffee that wouldn't be hot for long thanks to his lack of body heat. My eyes went up, up, and up to see Felix staring down at me with an unreadable expression. I carefully extracted the mug, deciding the tingles running up my arms from my finger tips had to be from the heat zinging off the mug, and looked up in thanks.

"You know," came his baritone voice, "we may be old, but everything about us is in perfect form" I started to blush as he walked back out to the living room leaving me flustered.

Shit, vampire hearing, okay internal encouragement only from now on.

"So Lil B" Demetri started, I guess that's what he was going to call me from now on, "why'd you call this meeting? Should we phone up the masters as well?" He started reaching for his phone and I somehow managed to swat it out of his hand on reflex, causing him to look up in alarm.

"No! I—I have to go meet with the wolves today and none of you can come with me. No joining, no following, no stalking." I saw all three Volturi stiffen so I continued, "look they turn into wolves to save people from vampires. They barely tolerate the Cullens who don't drink from humans, how do you think they will react if I were to show up with three human drinking vampires without any explanation?" I think I'm getting pretty good at the ranting thing.

Jane sighed, Demetri frowned, and Felix crossed his arms. No one spoke.

"We don't like it" Felix started and held up a hand when I opened my mouth, "but if you promise to be back, as in in this house by 6pm we will wait here" he continued speaking as he handed me my phone from the coffee table, "Jane took the liberty of putting our number into your phone and yours in ours. Text, call, whatever if anything goes down, got it? Also make sure to check in at some point."

It took me an extra second to respond with his intense red gaze focusing in on me, but I managed to nod my head, thrusting my phone into my jean pocket and chugging down my remaining coffee.

"Got it. Now it's almost half past ten so I gotta jet before the wolves come down here looking for me. Please don't come after me and don't eat Charlie." I got a few scoffs at that before snatching the keys to the beast and pulling on my hoodie as I opened the door.

Before I could pull it shut a hand closed around the frame, keeping it open, I looked up into his eyes once again, seeing something in them before they flickered, "and these wolves, they're safe right?" Felix prompted.

"Yes, I promise, I spent months with them before coming to Volterra. They've never been anything but protective" except for Paul and Leah. But he didn't need to know that.

"Good, because if anything goes wrong we will come for you, and you can tell those mutts that I never fight fair." He continued to talk, letting his hand ghost down the door, "and besides, the kings would never let us forget it if we lost a mental shield to a pack of puppies" his comments gave me whiplash, and as he stepped back from the truck, I slammed the door shut, revved the engine, and peeled out of the driveway.

"Stupid annoying vampires, just wait until I can kick all your asses" I muttered as the beast chugged down the street. I could've sworn I saw a certain imposing vampire smirking at me in the rear-view mirror.

Pulling onto the gravel road leading up to Sam's house I saw a couple of shirtless pack members jogging out of the tree line up ahead. Never get tired of seeing that. I knew they all met up here, and they'd all hear my truck's engine the second it crossed the treaty line.

No sooner than my feet hitting the driveway was I swooped up into a pair of warm tanned arms.

"Bells" sniff "gross" I was promptly set down and Jake took several paces back. "I'm sorry honey but you stink worse than homemade bleach, I thought you ditched the leeches like yesterday's trash," one brow raised, "you did ditch them, right?" he crossed his arms and stared me down.

Don't fidget Bella, you are on a role for telling people off, do not start backing down now.

Squaring my shoulders, I faced down (well faced up) the rightful pack's alpha, "Jacob Black, I said the Cullens are out, and they are out. I do, however, need to talk to the pack about something else vampire related, so if you could all come outside and maybe not stand too close to me, and listen to everything I'm about to say that would be great."

Jake frowned but backed up a few more paces and we waited as his pack brothers came out to join us in a semi-circle of sorts, each keeping their distance.

"Okay" I began, "As you know I went and stupidly put my life in danger to save Edward Cullen from forcing the Vampire Kings to execute him" I heard several growls but for the most part they kept listening. "I was successful, but his stupidity did catch the attention of the Kings who had both of us come in for a trial of sorts. Basically, long story short, I had to strike a deal: I get to come home, see my family and friends, graduate high school, but must return to Italy afterwards to be changed." Growls erupted, Quil and Jake both phased, and Paul helpfully spoke up:

"Why don't we just take care of her now, one less future leech to deal wi—" he was cut off when Jake's wolf pounced, sending the older boy into his own phase where they began wrestling and growling.

"ENOUGH" came Sam's voice, settling over the pack to bring a sense of stillness and also unease over them as they were all still close to phasing. Jake had Paul's throat under one of his meaty paws, both huffing and straining against the order.

Sam turned to me, body tense, fists clenched and said "I have a feeling there's more. Just get it out now."

I nodded back and kept on, "the Volturi have sent three members of their guard to watch over me and make sure I follow the rules and no harm comes to me. They will abide by the treaty and not hunt anywhere near La Push or Forks , but they are human drinkers. They are also centuries older than the Cullens, and more skilled. As you can see, they do trust my judgement more than Dickward, and agreed to let me come alone to speak with all of you today. They will be guarding my house, and probably tailing me around town. They are not like the Cullens, I have told the Cullens I do not need or want them around but I can't say they fully received that message so they may be returning to Forks. But I was clear that I did not want them back here. They will most likely call a meeting with you if they haven't already, but I wanted you to hear all of this from me. If I am not changed, the Volturi will track and kill me along with anyone else who tries to keep them from changing me."

"Bells?" Jake asked, he'd changed back at the end of my speech, leaving Paul to run off his anger, and had retrieved a pair of shorts behind Sam's house. "Why do they want you this bad?"

I sighed, "They believe I have some sort of gift that already works as a human and will be much stronger once I'm changed. They think I'm a mental shield as I've been unaffected by nearly all gifts that effect the mind, save for Jasper's emphatic gift." I shrugged, feeling guilty as I saw Jake's shoulders drop.

"Look I really am sorry about all of this, they will stay in Forks and only leave for hunts in the opposite direction from La Push. If you want me to visit, they will allow it without complaint, and no one will follow, just like today. If you don't want me back in La Push, I will understand. Just know that I'm so grateful to all of you for everything you've done for me these past months, I can never repay you but—" I was cut off as Jake, Quil, Embry, Seth, Jared, and even Sam pulled me into a group hug AKA wolfy inferno.

"Bells", Quil mumbled against the top of my head, "we want to see you as much as you can before they take you away. As long as they don't come anywhere near us and you shower more before coming down, those of us who want to see you will be here."

I got an extra gentle squeeze from the others after he finished talking and wiped a couple tears of my own away before smiling up at them.

"Alright then, who's gonna convince the chief to let me come down here more because right now my curfew has been bumped to six at night, so we don't have long before I have to leave again." This was followed by groans and a couple of 'I'll do its' as I was ushered towards Sam's house.

Once I stepped inside, Jake handed me some of Emily's clothes, and Emily yelled out from the kitchen, "Sam says I can't touch you til you shower Vampire girl, so go get to scrubbing then come help me with lunch!" I laughed and walked down the hall to their bathroom.

The next few hours flew by between cooking with Em, feeding the pack, hearing Quil and Seth joke about their latest pranks. Paul and Leah kept to the other end of the table at lunch, Jared sat in the middle with Kim, both throwing me apologetic smiles to which I just shrugged in understanding. I honestly didn't blame them, I was going to be changed, and I would never tell them but it was very likely I would have to live by the same diet as the rest of the Volturi. I made a mental note to ask them when I got back about who they hunted.

When it was time to go I gave lots of hugs, snatched my plastic bag of 'bleached clothes' from the stick Sam dangled it off of, and drove home. As I pulled into the driveway at four o'clock Jane was sitting on the porch swing, her legs dangling back and forth making her look anything but the lethal supernatural being she is.

"So Bella", she began with a slight edge to her voice that made me freeze, "did you happen to check your phone while you were out?" I turned back to the truck and pulled it out, noticing there were several unopened messages from Jane, Demetri, and one from Felix that just said, "You took a mile, so next time we'll give an inch" Shit. This was not good. I'd just promised the wolves I'd see them Friday night, and now that might not happen.

"Where are they?" I asked, hoping they'd be off hunting.

"A sports game is on, I think they're trying to calm down, but they were pretty mad Bella. I had to remind them both that going after you this soon could have disastrous results, and made them swear to wait until six on the dot before going after you. Thank God you came back early, I don't think they would've waited another half hour." She finished with an eye roll, then hopped off the swing and walked inside ahead of me.

I shuffled into the living room where the two old ass, nosy vampires were sitting and put my hands on my hips. Neither acknowledged me but I knew they could see me, so I went and stood in front of the television causing them to huff and stare at me in annoyance.

"Alright" I started, ready for another tangent, "I just spent the afternoon telling a pack of wolves the last thing they wanted to hear. Told people who risked their lives for me and protected me that basically in their terms it was all for nothing because I'm going to be turned anyways. No, mom and dad, I didn't check my phone because I was busy breaking my best friend's heart so excuuuuse me for not answering one of your messages. I got back earlier then I said I would by two damn hours, I even beat Charlie home, my actual father who sent me no messages today! So suck it up…and suck it!" With that I turned around to face the only vampire who believed in me and said, "come one Jane let's go".

Jane wasn't looking at me but up, way up above my head. I sighed, knowing who was staring her down before I faced him myself.

"Seriously—"

"Everyone out." His voice rang out through Charlie's modest home, his imposing frame suddenly seeming just a little too big for the living room and me, and him, and his loud voice, and no one else.

Glittering red eyes focused in on me and he took a few, slow steps towards me, but I held my ground, mostly because I had nowhere to go. I was trapped, and he knew it.

He leaned forward and stared into my eyes, towering over me, "What you don't seem to understand, Bella, is that besides our reputation, your possible rare gift, and following our Kings' orders, there is more at stake here." His voice was smooth like silk, but I could sense an undertone to it that gave way to his barley-controlled anger. "What you don't seem to understand is that once you are turned you become one of us. Not just a dead person, or a vampire, but a Volturi member. Jane and Dem are my family, the kings are our family we are a family, or at least the elite guard, which you will be a part of is.

So when you come back, not having answered a single message or checked in at all, and come tell us that you were basically provoking an entire pack of what sounds like pissed off teenage hormone driven wolves, how do you think we're going to take it? Think really hard."

His words hit home, and suddenly I understood. I doubt the Cullens who had a treaty that went back generations would have ever let me go to La Push, at least not without a fight and a chaperone to the border and back. Here were three vampires who were practically strangers but also my future coven mates, with little to no knowledge of the pack's temperaments and intentions, allowing me to go on my own all day after barely twenty-four hours together. They weren't just pissed off, they were worried.

With that last thought, I flung my arms up and around the hulking shoulders above me, once I realized what I'd done, my toes rose off the ground as cold steel arms banded around my waist and Felix lifted me up in a hug that should have freaked me out, but instead just felt right, like I was home. He smelled like home, like cinnamon and pine, and man.

"I'm sorry" I breathed out against his neck, and swore I felt a slight tremor pass through his body when the heat of my breath hit him.

"It's okay" he sighed, dipping his head closer to my neck, inhaling slightly, "just please for my sanity, make better choices." He sniffed again, making me blush "Bella?" This time he sounded a little…off? "Please tell me the dog smell comes out easily". He said while lowering me back to the ground and backing away slightly.

"I-uh yeah, sorry you smell pretty bad to them too, so I showered on the res and changed into one of the girls' clothes" his eyes narrowed slightly, "don't worry, in the future I'll shower here before going and make sure my phone is on loud, scouts honor."

Whatever he saw in my expression made him nod and stand back to his full height before turning and sitting back down on the couch to resume the game. Demetri followed, giving me a gentle squeeze to the shoulder and a knowing smile before dropping down next to his friend. Jane came back and pulled me up the stairs by the hand. It didn't escape my notice that Felix said my sanity and not our sanity. But I'd file that away for later.

"Okay" Jane started as we entered my room and plopped down on my bed, "Now that that is out of the way and you understand that you do really mean something to us, we can actually be friends." I just stared wide eyed at the usually quiet and intimidating vampire.

"What? Most of the girls on the guard are up the kings' asses all the time, and the other coven members are too afraid of my gift to get close to me. Since you're immune and have no actual friends yet, you're stuck with me" she winked before getting comfortable on my duvet.

I heard a low rumble of a chuckle from downstairs followed by Demetri, "not true! You have two other friends down here Lil B!" I looked at Jane and we both broke down giggling.

"Alright tell me about you then, whatever you want to share, we've got about an hour before I have to start dinner and then we can keep up the chatting while I cook." I suggested getting comfortable as she chucked me a couple pillows to squish down under my stomach as I listened.

"It all started sometime in the late 1400's when the witch trials had just begun in the smaller villages of Europe..."

You might have noticed I left out Felix's second power...guess we'll find out when we need to!