Sorry for the long wait. I finally finished editing and i hope there are no mistakes. Enjoy.
"We have plenty of time to talk about that. For now I'd rather focus on any other questions you may have my dear." Marcus said changing the subject.
Bella looked at Marcus, yes she had many questions to ask.
"Yes, we have a lot to talk about." Bella said as she regained her composure. She took a moment to look around and realized a change in setting would be in order. It was also getting very late and Charlie would be calling her soon.
"I just don't think this is the best place to do so."
The kings glanced at each other and realized she wasn't just thinking about the wolves but of herself. She couldn't just stand in the forest for hours with no food.
"My apologies my dear. It has been a long time since we were mortal." Marcus said. "Where would you prefer to continue this conversation?"
Bella stood there not knowing of where to go. She couldn't go with them into town and she definitely couldn't go into Quileute land. The woods behind her house were best but she really had to talk to Jacob and the pack about it first.
"That is what I am trying to figure out." She said. "Would you mind if we left this conversation as is for now? I need to find a place where we could continue." Bella asked Marcus. She didn't want to cut their time short but she couldn't stay out in the forest all night either. She had school tomorrow.
Marcus took an unnecessary breath and sighed. He had just found his daughter, he didn't want to be away from her for a moment.
"It would be fine my dear. I understand you need to eat and rest." Marcus said sadly.
Bella made a small laugh. "I don't want to but I do have school tomorrow. I have so much to ask as I am sure you do as well."
"I want to know everything about you my dear. But I did not just mean yourself, I am sure your friends have many questions of their own." Marcus said as he gestured to the pack. "They will want to ask questions of their own. Especially the ones who see you as a sister." Marcus said while looking at Paul and Seth.
"How did you?" Bella began to ask.
"My gift mia bella. I can see their bonds to you are those of siblings. Their love for you is indisputable. So is his." Marcus said as he looked at Jacob.
Upon being acknowledged Jacob straightened. He didn't need him to verify how he felt. The entire pack knew that and so did Bella.
"She already knew that." Jake said with a little entertainment in his voice. She would have had to have been blind not to notice it.
Bella simply blushed. Yup, she knew.
"I forgot about that." Bella said to Marcus. "So you wouldn't mind the questions? All of you?" Bella asked Marcus and then looked to Aro and Caius.
"Never." Marcus said.
"I am looking forward to it." Aro said as he slightly bounced and clapped his hands together.
"It was expected my dear." Caius said. He hadn't touched his niece like his brothers. He wanted his bond to complete too. "Would you mind if I held your hand my dear? I want to complete my familial bond to you as well." Caius said surprising his coven and brothers. It was too much tenderness for the most 'cruel and bloodthirsty' king.
"Familial bond?" Bella asked perplexed. She thought it was only Marcus with a bond to her.
"Since the three of us share a sibling bond it makes you our niece by bond as well." Caius explained as he gestured to himself and Aro.
"Oh, alright. I wouldn't mind it." Bella said as she moved forward. Jacob held her hand firmly not being able to let go but stopped her from crossing the treaty line. His wolf put his paw down and refused to allow them to get closer to the vampires. It didn't trust them for a minute no matter whatever 'bond' they may share. He would protect his humans chosen mate. His wolf rose to the surface temporarily taking over the man. It could take no more.
"Jake?" Bella asked and saw that his eyes had changed as well as his demeanor. The kings noticed this as well and became uneasy, not for themselves but for Bella.
"My dear maybe you should get back." Marcus said wanting her to come towards him. He was afraid of the animal killing his daughter.
"No it's alright. His wolf won't hurt me." Bella said as she placed her hand on Jakes cheek and looked into his eyes. "What's wrong?" She asked.
The pack grew anxious a bit. They knew the dangers of shifting too close to a human all too well. Paul was fidgeting the most out of everyone. The vampires were watching for any signs of danger. The only one who looked on with excitement was Aro at the prospect of seeing them shift in person.
Jake took a moment to calm down. He hadn't meant to lose control but since he was going through a very stressful situation his wolf decided he would make the best choice.
"Sorry Bells, he won't let you get closer. It doesn't trust them." Jake said when he was able to regain control. He and his wolf were still fighting for control.
Bella smiled. She understood completely she had simply forgotten for a moment. This wasn't just Jake there with her, it was his wolf as well and this many vampires near her was too much. Not to mention the little revelation of being bonded to them now. What wolf would want a leech for a father in law?
"It's fine, I understand Jake." Bella said kissing him. His wolf calmed. "Will you be okay if he came closer?" Bella asked his wolf. She knew it was him who had to be convinced. After a moment Jake nodded. His wolf didn't like it though.
"Would you mind coming the rest of the way Caius?" Bella asked shyly.
Caius smiled. "Of course not my dear, I traveled across the globe to get to you a few feet are nothing." Caius said charmingly, he was trying to hide the fact his rage at the fact that his niece had to ask a dog for permission. She was royalty for fucks sake. That boy should be a pet not a lover. He would need to find her a suitable vampire mate soon.
He was there in a half a second. Bella was slightly startled by it. It made Jake growl. Marcus glared at him.
"My apologies, we don't normally walk at human pace." Caius said. He wasn't sorry and his brothers knew it.
"I understand." Bella said with a small smile. She reached for Caius as he raised his hand. The moment they touched she felt it that overwhelming feeling of trust and love she felt with Aro. Bella laughed slightly.
"What is amusing to you my dear?" Marcus asked wanting to know what happened. He saw their bond form and it was the same as Aros.
"Now that I was prepared for it I could feel the 'change'. It just forms out of nowhere. It feels amazing." Bella said happily. It was odd for her.
"It's amazing you could even feel it. It is usually only felt when we are vampires." Aro said intrigued by his nieces' power.
"She is my daughter of course." Marcus said with pride.
Bella laughed.
"I still need to know how that works."
"I will explain everything in more detail tomorrow." Marcus replied.
"I look forward to it." Bella said looking into his eyes. She didn't want to go to school now. "I get out of school by 12 pm tomorrow. It's our last week so they cut down our classes in half. I will let you know before then where we will continue this." Bella said now anticipating seeing him again.
"I will look forward to your call." Marcus said with a loving smile.
Bella smiled back. She didn't want to leave now. Not to mention the pack would most definitely go nuts once they leave. This was unheard of.
"Good night Marcus, Aro, Caius, Demetri, Alec and um guard. Sorry I don't know your names." Bella said awkwardly. She didn't know the protocol here.
Some of the guard laughed lowly. Alec and Demetri smiled, they and the guard replied "Good night."
The kings chuckled and liked her endearing nature. She didn't know that as their Princess she didn't have to bother with pleasantries.
"Good night my dear." Aro replied.
"Good night Bella." Caius replied as he had made his way back to Aro.
"Good night mia bella." Marcus replied. Bella looked at Jake and he let go of her hand. She walked over to Marcus and hugged him good bye. It was a short hug but it was filled with love. She was never the type of person to show her affections but something had changed inside her now.
Marcus was overjoyed. He had been in an emotional coma for thousands of years and in the span of 3 months he had gone through more emotions than he was used to.
Bella walked back to Jakes awaiting arms and held him close. She knew his wolf didn't like her near them. Jake calmed down now that it was almost over. He turned and simply nodded goodbye to them. He didn't want to say something he might regret.
Aro decided to take over and take the lead like usual.
"Until tomorrow. Brothers let us take our leave." Aro said as he gave one last look to his niece and her guard dogs. Marcus took a second longer to be with her and then vanished.
Bella stood at the treaty line with Jacob and the pack. She had no idea how to proceed from that point on.
Jacob led Bella back towards the woods. Once they were inside the cover of the trees Jacob left Bella with Paul who was happy to have her next to him. Jacob shifted and was met with a tsunami of emotions, thoughts and questions beyond belief. The entire pack was anxiously waiting to shift back and talk to Bella. It felt like they had all become addicted to watching an overly dramatic Spanish soap opera, Mordida Eterna. (Eternal Bite)
"Shut up. Those are too many damn questions. Wait until we get home, focus." Jacob said angry. He wanted to be in human form and not have people in his head right now. The pack tried to reel in their thoughts but it was worthless.
Jake walked over to Bella and lowered himself onto the ground so she could climb on. Bella felt weird doing so. Not to mention that Brady and Collin made fun of her and Jake earlier by saying 'do you like riding your boyfriend Bella? Does he give you a good ride?' and other innuendos.
As soon as Bella grabbed on tightly to Jakes fur he took off. The pack followed in formation behind them.
The pack had arrived back at the reservation and convened in Sam's house. Jared and two of the new members volunteered to stay on patrol.
Back at the house everyone was talking and speculating like crazy. Bella stayed quiet since she was asking herself questions too. Jacob had compiled a list of questions himself already and was only thinking of Bella for now. He kept her in his arms. He wouldn't even let Paul or Seth hug her much to their dislike. His wolf was trying to cover her with its scent since she reeked of leech. The wolf didn't like another males scent on her right now, it wanted to drown it out. Bella didn't mind, she had done some research on her own about wolves and embraced the weirdness completely.
"Bella, do you want to join in?" Sam asked her directly finally acknowledging her.
"Huh? Oh yeah sure. Sorry I just don't really know what to make of anything right now." Bella said snapping out of her internal musings.
"You're not the only one." Jake said as he nuzzled her neck. Doing so had a calming effect on him, he didn't understand it but he didn't care.
"I'm surprised you didn't shift. I was sure you were going to lose it sometimes." Bella said with a bit of humor in her voice. She wanted to start the conversation off easy and work her way up to the hard questions.
"I thought so too. I'm glad you knew how to handle the wolf." Jake said as he thought back to how Bella showed no fear in front of the wolf.
"I was this close to diving in front of her if you gave any sign of shifting." Paul said as he remembered Jakes eyes turning and his slight tremor.
"I don't think that would have helped. Besides I was always right there, the wolf just kept trying to completely take over but I wouldn't let him. I just don't want to go through that level of stress again." Jake said as he placed his head on Bella's shoulders.
Bella held him. She didn't want to say he wouldn't but that was a lie. This was not over.
"You won't. Not until tomorrow." Paul added.
Jake simply flipped him off. He did not want to hear that right now.
"Bella, how are you with everything?" Sam asked her, he wanted to know how she felt. Bella was very good at hiding her emotions but this was something she shouldn't repress.
Bella looked up into his eyes and sighed. She didn't want to be the center of attention but it was too late. She sat up a little and let it out.
"I feel like I'm floating in the middle of the ocean and there's no land in sight. The water and wind are pushing and pulling me in different directions and I'm trying not to drown. (she took a deep breath)
It's insane, he's my father. I don't understand how but he is. I can feel it. It's so confusing. It's different then with Charlie but somehow the same." Bella said looking at him. She knew she sounded dumb to her own ears when she tried to explain it.
"How?" Brady asked.
"I don't know how to explain it. It's a bond. I guess the closest thing to you guys understanding would be how you are all connected to each other and your imprints. The way you all talk about how you feel when you are shifted and can 'sense' the others." Bella said trying to shed some sort of perspective on her situation.
Sam and the pack sat there contemplating her words. They thought they were the only ones with strong bonds. They never imagined the leeches of having any. They might even have 'imprint' bonds as well.
"How do you feel about them?" Jake asked wanting to know where she stood. He didn't want to see her running away with them too.
Bella gathered her thoughts but mostly looked into her heart.
"I guess I feel connected to them. Marcus is my dad, I know I love him, and I feel safe with him. I feel like I can trust him even though I don't know anything about him. The way he looked at me proves it. It was like he couldn't leave me if he wanted to. He would never abandon me." Bella said with more emotion towards the end. She was thinking of Edward.
Jacob held her and let her take a moment. He knew all too well what she was thinking of. Edward had lied to her and Marcus was the proof of it. But if Marcus could never leave her then would that mean he would take her with him or stay here? More importantly would he change her to keep her forever? At that thought Jake held Bella closer, his wolf became angry at the thought. It finally had her. IT refused to let her go.
Jacob tightened his hold on her unaware that he was squeezing her a little too hard. Bella was getting uncomfortable and turned to look at Jake when she saw he was shaking.
"Jake it will be ok. We will get through this together." Bella said as she looked into his eyes.
Jacob relaxed as he saw the truth in her eyes. They had just started their relationship that day. He didn't want to lose her to another leech.
"I know bells. This is just so much. It's like the surprises will never stop." Jake said as he nuzzled her neck, it was the only thing making him feel better.
The rest of the hour they had together they spent talking. Charlie and Billy were back before 10. Charlie and Bella left for their home soon after he arrived. Jacob was in her room waiting for her at Bella's request. She didn't want to be alone and she knew Jacob would just end up patrolling outside of her house anyways.
"Are you sure about tomorrow?" Jacob asked as he and Bella got comfortable in bed.
"Yes, I mean there's not that many other places we can meet them." Bella said as she settled onto his chest. They could have used the Cullen's house but it was too personal and filled with memories for her.
"I just don't like them coming so close to your house." Jacob said. It's not like it mattered in the end. He was sure they already had all the information they wanted about her.
"I'm not worried, I mean I don't feel like I have a reason to." Bella said. "Besides ill have you. Nothing can hurt me when I have you next to me." Bella said happily.
Jacob kissed her at her admission. It felt good to have his feelings reciprocated. He knew she didn't love him like he did her but this was a start.
"Goodnight Bells." Jake said.
"Goodnight Jake." Bella said.
(Monday June 4th)
Bella woke up alone in bed when her alarm rang. Jake was 'called' about two hours earlier to go home. She didn't mind since he had to go to school too.
Bella took a little extra time to figure out what she was going to wear for school since she would more than likely see Marcus again right after school was over.
Once she was downstairs she noticed that her dad had already left. Thankfully now she didn't have to worry as much about him when he's at work. All that was left out there were just regular muggers and crazies, no vampires.
About 9 minutes later she headed outside to her monster and drove to school.
The day was fairly boring and slow. It was their last week and most teachers if not all had relaxed and told the students to just catch up on other assignments or talk quietly amongst themselves. Bella was glad for the opportunity. She was texting with Jacob like crazy for most of the morning.
He confirmed that some of the pack was clearing a spot near her home so they could all meet up. Thankfully she would be close to food and indoor plumbing this time.
She spent the rest of her day talking to her friends and talking about her plans after high school. She still had no clue but she needed to distract herself.
As soon as 12:00 pm hit and everyone had been dismissed Bella made her way to her truck and took out her phone and called Marcus.
(Phone ringing)
"Bella." Marcus said as he picked up.
"Hello Marcus." Bella said with a smile. It still surprised her how she reacted to him.
"Have you and your friends decided where we are meeting?" Marcus asked.
"Yes. They have cleared a section for all of us in the woods behind my house. Do you know where I live?" Bella asked knowing the answer.
"Yes my dear I do. I hope that's not a problem for you." Marcus said hoping she wouldn't find that too prying into her life.
"It's alright. I figured you would have gotten as much information on me as you could." Bella said. She didn't like being spied on but she understood why he would do it. She would too if she could.
"Thank you for saying so. When exactly would we be meeting?" Marcus asked.
"Is 1:00 pm alright with you?" Bella asked. The pack hadn't liked the time since not all of them could be there but it was for the best. Bella had settled on only taking Sam, Jacob, Paul, Embry and Leah. The rest had patrol or school.
"I know it's a little too soon if it's a problem for you we can push it." Bella said.
"No, its fine my dear. The sooner the better." Marcus said.
"I do have one small request to ask you." Bella said nervously and unsure of herself.
"Name it." Marcus was ready to give her whatever she wanted. His brothers were listening very intently as well.
"It will only be six of us today. I thought it would relieve a bit of tension if we kept it small. Could you maybe do the same?" Bella asked barely getting the words out. "I mean if you're not comfortable I can understand." She said backtracking.
Aro and Caius were a bit apprehensive not going with all of their guard. Marcus made the choice for them though.
"Of course not my dear. It is a great show of faith on both parts. We mean you absolutely no harm." Marcus said as he glared at his brothers to not contradict him.
"Thank you. I will see you then." Bella said.
"Until then my dear." Marcus said and hung up.
Bella turned on her truck and headed home. She only had less than an hour to get ready, eat, drink and use the bathroom before they arrived.
"You cannot be serious brother?" Caius said as he pondered the thought of going without reinforcements.
"She said it would only be six of them so only six of us will go." Marcus said in an authoritative tone that made it clear there was no room for discussion.
"It will be fine brother. See it as a test of goodwill. If all goes well who knows what can come of it." Aro said acting as the mediator again. Usually it was Marcus who had to play this role.
Caius simply stomped off to get one of the humans his guard had procured.
"It goes without saying that there should be no mention of our meal here. I don't want to upset her or anger the wolves against us." Marcus said loudly to everyone but especially to Caius.
"Yes, she is probably only used to our kind feeding on animals."Aro said with slight disgust. He had tried it before but it tasted like dirt compared to the real thing.
"This might take her some time to get used to." Marcus said but was contemplating changing his diet. He wouldn't care what it tasted like as long as it made her more comfortable with him.
"Let's finish our meal brother." Marcus said to Aro.
The Volturi kings would be going with Demetri, Alec and Afton. Caius wished they still had Jane for this. The kings changed their clothes to ensure there was no trace of blood or its scent. Caius was not happy about that either. His niece wouldn't be able to smell it so it was only for the wolves' sake they had to change. He hated to do anything for those mutts. As soon as they finished they made their way to forks.
This was actually a very long chapter. I wrote over 8,000 words so I had to cut it in half. Thankfully this time I kept writing and ended up with two chapters instead of one. I am sorry if this chapter isn't 'juicy' but I promise the next will be. Let me know in the reviews what you think and of any requests you might have.