Language

A/N: Again thank you for all the reviews :P keep on reading and reviewing hehe.

"Shit!" Bella cursed as she tumbled to the ground for the 3rd time that day. Her elbow hit the floor and she felt pain rack her body as her sore back met the ground once again.

Her teacher stood above her shaking his head, only serving to infuriate her as she attempted to knock him down with her foot which he easily dodged. "Not fair." She pouted, irritably.

"You think Aro and his men will be fair?"

She gulped realizing he was right, they would use her humanity and any means necessary to their advantage without a second thought.

Sighing, she stood up, dusting herself off before resuming her fighting stance.

"Remember," He breathed as he came closer, hands brushing her neck and arm, "They have weaknesses, go for those spots first. The neck, if you can catch one in the throat…." His hand drifted around her throat gently but she knew he could rip it out if he chose to. "The arms," He pulled at her arms, simulating pulling them clean off, "And their heart." He brushed right near her chest and she felt her breathing constrict, why she wasn't sure but she felt like if he didn't move out of her space she would fall into a dead faint any moment.

When she had agreed to allow him to teach her she hadn't expected to see the admittedly ruggedly handsome lycan perched in the tree outside her window as she moved in a zombie like fashion around her room before her eyes fell on him. The absolute heart attack he'd given her had him smirking in an evil sort of way as she had yelped in fear and thus tripped over her laundry basket, falling flat on her ass on the floor.

"What are you doing outside my window!" She'd practically yelled as she threw her window open, allowing Lucian to enter her room.

He grinned mischievously, "I figured it best if I didn't come through the front. I wasn't sure how to explain my presence to your father considering I am much older than you."

She'd chuckled at this, realizing he had thought about his actions before going through with them. "Well thanks, that would have been sort of awkward having to come up with a story."

He nodded in agreement and she hurriedly moved about the room and bathroom, changing out of her pajamas and into a pair of old fitted jeans and a t-shirt with sneakers. After throwing her hair into a messy ponytail, she was finally ready and turned to him.

"Are you ready to do this?"

It was more an option for her to back out now if she wished but she was determined, "I'm ready."

With a gruff nod in her direction, he turned and stepped onto the windowsill and looked back, waiting for her, "Let's go…."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, "You want me to jump out of my window?"

A bark of laughter escaped his lips, "I found a place in my run last night that is suitable for your training with no disturbances but to get there quicker it would be easier if we went by the trees…."

Again, she was still a little shocked that he wanted her to actually trust him with her life while he ran through the tree tops, "I don't know…."

"Trust me."

Those words just fell easily from the lycan's lips and for some reason, she believed him, she knew he wouldn't drop her.

Edward would be furious with her for doing this, for training to fight in a war she knew he would want her to have no part in, for going off with a werewolf, one she hardly knew…..and yet instead of turning back around and going about her day as normal, calling him to see how it was going where they were, her eyes focused on the wolf in front of her, steeled determination. She was not going to waste away, just wondering and focused only on her vampire lover as she had done before, this time she was going to make herself useful and this was how she would go about it.

Before she could have any more thoughts, she stepped forward and took his hand, allowing him to swing her onto his back. To say it felt odd to hold onto this virtual stranger in such a close way, was a complete understatement. She wrapped her legs around his torso and her arms around his neck as he leaned out of the window, "Hold on."

And with that, she felt the air hit her in the face as he leapt into the trees. Her heart beat wildly as she clung tighter to him, trying hard not to choke him in her near death grip. She knew she should close her eyes but a part of her wanted to see the magnificent view she otherwise would never see.

The trees bent and swayed under the lycan's nimble footing as he leapt from branch to branch, moving swiftly through the forest.

She was completely turned around but trusted he knew where he was going. He could feel her grip loosen a bit and could hear her heartbeat slow as he moved through the area, a smirk on his face at her humanity and how much it intrigued him.

Before she knew it, he grasped another branch and threw himself towards the ground, a yelp escaping her lips just as he hit the soft grass feet first.

Letting go of him, she felt grateful to be back on solid ground and glanced around; realizing she could hear the ocean and saw he'd taken her to a more secluded part of the beach. "Where are we?"

"About twenty or so miles from your home, near the outskirts of this town." He watched her brown eyes widen in shock.

"Twenty miles….how did we get here so fast….."

"Lycan."

"Right…." She blinked, still astonished that he had gotten them this far in a short amount of time by simply hopping through the trees.

And now here she stood with the man right in her personal space, showing her how to properly attack a vampire or even one of their own who might be on Aro's side.

He moved closer, "If it is one of us….one of the wolves who can no longer change to human form….." His eyes flashed an intense amber, "You run."

She blinked.

His voice was low and full of past memories, horrors no doubt, "You cannot fight it, if it bites you; you will never regain your human form. If one were to come at you, you run and if you must attack…." He pulled a silver dagger from inside of his boot, similar to the one which lay hidden in his coat sleeve, "You use this and aim for its heart."

Slowly, she accepted the dagger, running her fingers over the old blade, "It was mine for the longest time, but with the one in my coat, I have little use for that one."

"Thank you." She mumbled as she continued looking it over, before glancing up at him.

He nodded in response and the two resumed their training, the majority of it spent with her on her ass, hitting the floor several times. She was grateful he wasn't holding back despite the bruises she was collecting. If she was to train properly then she needed him to come at her full force so she would know what to expect.

Hours went by and he finally called for a break before she truly injured herself, despite her protests he insisted they stopped for the day and she realized it was already nightfall and his eyes were taking on a hardened look, hunger…..she'd seen it in the Cullen's when they hadn't fed.

"We will continue tomorrow…." He reached a hand out so he could take her back to the house and she accepted, grasping his neck and holding tightly as he ascended back into the tree tops.

"You are hungry…."

The statement hung in the air for a moment before the elder lycan responded as he jumped from tree to tree, "Yes…..it has been since yesterday when I last fed."

"What does your kind eat? Can you eat anything like Jacob can?" He snorted at her questions, this one was curious and rather than feel irritated at curiosity, he found her …. entertaining to say the least….

"Meat, we can eat any sort of meat, as for other foods you humans eat…." He shuddered, "It's revolting to say the least."

She laughed a laugh that rang in his ears and made him smile a small smile as they reached her house.

He dropped down in front of the old house, by her truck, and let her off of his backside.

"Bella…"

Both turned to see Jacob in the driveway, shirtless as usual and looking between the two of them, "Where were you? I have been searching all damn day…"

"I was with Lucian…..he was training me…."

Jacob growled, "Why would you train her when she will only get herself killed!"

Lucian narrowed his eyes at the boy in front of him, pushing Bella aside before moving until there was hardly any distance between them, challenging him, "Would you rather she fight without the knowledge and skills I can provide her to protect herself? She has a mind of her own if you haven't noticed and if she is to fight, better she know the enemies she will be up against."

The snarl in his voice caused the shifter to take a step back, realizing he would lose this battle instantly if he chose to attack, "I don't agree with this," He looked in Bella's direction, his voice taking on a tone of defeat, "But if you are so set in fighting then the pack will just have to take extra measures in protecting you."

As the words left his mouth, Bella was already bounding up to him, crushing him in a hug that the shifter reciprocated eagerly. "I just want you to be safe…." He whispered.

"I know." She whispered back as she let him go.

Jacob glanced back at Lucian, "Protect her with your life…."

A warning lay underneath the statement and Lucian nodded swiftly, the boy having finally gained some respect from him for his passion in protecting the human.

And with that, Jacob let out a howl, jumping and shifting as he ran into the forest.

Bella turned back to the lycan, who now leaned casually against her truck. "Thank you for helping me and for not tearing my friend to pieces." Her tone was light and Lucian found himself half smiling for the millionth time that day.

"You're welcome."

"Same time tomorrow?"

"Yes."

She smiled at him, wishing him a goodnight before disappearing into her house.

Lucian moved off the truck and back into the forest to the packs house to sleep for the night, his mind overrun by thoughts of the human and how to best protect her from his monster of a brother.

The sun shone brightly as Bella yawned and stretched, her dad yelling goodbye as he left for work echoing in her room. She slowly sat up, just as her phone rang. Glancing over, it was Edward, quickly she answered it.

"Edward…."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes why wouldn't I be?"

"I hadn't heard from you since last night and Alice couldn't see you…."

"I am fine, just getting up and going to make breakfast…." She lied through her teeth, "Have you gathered everyone yet?"

"Yes except for one last coven, I will let you know when we are on our way back."

The sounds of rocks hitting her window distracted her and she looked over to see Lucian sitting on the tree branch, throwing pebbles at her window.

A laugh escaped her and then she remembered she was still on the phone, "Bella?"

"Yes?"

"I was asking if the wolf had arrived."

"Yes, he did, his pack will be here soon as well…..I better get ready for school… love you."

He said it back and seemed to be about to say something else when she snapped the phone shut and stood up, stretching, smiling at the lycan crouching outside the window.

Two Days Later:

She hadn't heard from Edward all day and she was frustrated, throwing her phone to the floor in irritation. It was already about to be one in the afternoon and the last she had heard was the afternoon before when he had called to check on her and update her that Alice and Jasper had finished gathering their cousins in the north.

With a sigh, she walked across the room, yanking her door open to see her dad standing on the other side, hand poised to knock. "Dad…."

"You okay Bells?" He glanced at her as he walked in, surveying her room as usual.

She nodded her head, "I was getting ready to go for a walk."

"A walk?" He repeated slowly, eyebrow raised as though he were unsure whether or not to believe that.

Smiling a small smile, she moved out of her room, Charlie following her downstairs, "Yes just wanted to stretch my legs."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he picked up his keys on the table near the front door, "Just be careful." He gently squeezed her shoulder, "I am off to work."

She nodded in response and watched as he left, locking the door behind himself and she turned around, heading back upstairs to grab her phone when the doorbell rang.

Thinking it was Charlie, she yanked it open, talking at the same time, "Dad I promise I wi….." Looking up she saw it wasn't her dad but Lucian who stood at the door, an amused look crossing his face.

"Lucian."

He did a mock bow, "It is I ."

She laughed lightly and he held out a hand, "Ready?"

Forgetting all about grabbing her cell phone, she nodded and pulled the door shut behind herself before turning to him and allowing him to lead her to the forests edge as she climbed onto his backside once again, ready to begin training.

This time she held her ground, not covered in as many bruises, slowly improving on her technique which Lucian noted in the back of his mind. She was a fast learner and she was equally fast footed when not thinking of her clumsiness.

She slammed into him and fell backwards, his hands wrapping around her arms, saving her from becoming one with the hard ground.

Smiling at him she spoke as she steadied herself, "So I don't know much about you except for what Jacobs's dad told us….."

He moved to the shore, letting the waves lap against his boots, "And what did the shifters father say?"

"He told us of the enslavement of you and your kind, and Carlisle mentioned something about your …wife…about Viktor…." She spoke hesitantly.

His form tensed as he stared out into the sunlit sky…pinching the bridge of his nose as the memories of his beloved Sonja flooded his mind. He never talked about her to anyone…..not even his most trusted, Raze….

"She …. She was my wife and the mother….of our unborn child…" He spoke softly, his gaze still focused on the sky as Bella stood beside him.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to…."

"It's okay." He cut her off, "She was the daughter of Viktor, his own flesh and blood," His voice took on a hard and bitter edge, "I was born into captivity while my brother was given free reign for his vampire blood…"

He found himself telling her how the war had started between the vampires and lycan's, how his Sonja was killed and it fueled the fire that helped him become the leader to the pack he had formed. He told her of how he'd attempted to create a blend of the species by injecting himself with the blood of the Corvinus descendant Michael which had failed; and how he'd ended up aiding Selene and her lycan lover by instead making him the hybrid, turning the tables before he'd died while the former death dealer killed Viktor before saving his life, creating a life debt between them both.

"Wow…." Bella breathed, "You suffered so much and lost your wife and child….I am so sorry." In her tone he could hear her compassion, her true sadness that he had to endure the pain of so much tragedy in his life and before he could respond she continued, "I am sorry that you have to be here, in the same circle again because of me….."

He glanced over at her and moved closer, "You have nothing to be sorry for Bella; none of this is your fault."

"But it's my blood that can apparently bring that monster back to life." She grasped her arms, feeling a wave of sadness, guilt.

He moved closer, raising her chin to look him in the eyes, "Do not feel guilty, this is a war that has been going on long since before you were born. If not you, it would be someone else's blood that could revive him. This . Is. NOT. Your. Fault." He punctuated, making sure she got his point and she nodded her head as he let his hand drop to his side.

Her lips parted to speak once more when another voice sliced through the air, cutting it like a whip.

"What are you doing here?!"

Whipping around, she saw Edward standing in the clearing, his normally calm stature poised to attack, eyes narrowed at the lycan who slowly moved in front of her before she placed a hand on his arm, "It's okay, that's…Edward."

"What are you doing here? Who is he?"

Lucian realized this must be the girl's lover but lover or not he would rip the vampire's throat out in a heartbeat if he came any closer. He could see the rage in the young ones eyes, his burning questions of what his girlfriend was doing, obviously not used to not knowing her whereabouts.

"You didn't tell me you were heading back yet…." Her posture remained distant, he noted, and she made no attempt to go to the vampire.

Edwards face scrunched and he sighed, running a hand through his ridiculously poufy hair, "It was the last second and I tried calling you multiple times …Alice couldn't see you and now I see why…..she can't see through dog."

His statement earned a growl and Lucian took a step forward, "Careful who you call names boy."

"Stop Edward, this is Lucian, the one Alice saw in her visions. He offered to train me so I could fig…."

At this the vampire's eyes lit up in rage, Lucian could see the betrayal crossing his face and the blood sucker moved closer, "Absolutely not Bella, I forbid it. I cannot risk you in this, you will have no part and I know Jac…."

"Oh for god's sake, I already yelled at Jacob and stormed off which is what brought Lucian to helping me in the first place. Do you want me to yell at you too?"

He seemed taken aback but stood his ground, moving even closer, "Let's go home and talk about this."

Bella sighed, he wasn't getting the point and she had had enough of defending herself to everyone, "No we can talk about this here, I am fighting and he is teaching me."

Edward's nostrils flared and Lucian could see the rage lit in the young ones eyes, noticing how he kept scrunching his nose, switching his focus between his young girlfriend and Lucian himself. "Why can't I read his mind?"

"I grow tired of this, speak to me directly vampire."

"Edward."

"Vampire." In Lucian's mind, the boy had yet to earn the use of his name in respect.

The boy had the nerve to snarl and moved closer to him, the closer he got the more Lucians inner wolf was ready to tear him to pieces. He could see the boy for who he was, a little boy who was obviously used to getting his way all the time and was inwardly pouting at the fact that his girlfriend was standing her ground.

"I do not agree with you teach…."

"I believe that is for the lady to decide not you." He cut him off.

The boy opened and closed his mouth a couple of times like a fish out of water much to the lycans amusement.

Realizing he wouldn't win this argument, he sighed and spoke again, "If she gets killed, I will not hesitate to end you….." Edward put his finger out as a point in Lucian's face, baring his fang-less teeth in a warning.

Before he could so much as turn on his heel and say anything more, Lucian growled, grasping him by his shirt and lifting him off of the ground with much more strength than what the vampire had previously thought possible. "The next time you point a finger in my face….." Lucian began, his face morphing, fangs extending, "I will not hesitate to kill you myself, the only reason you remain alive right now is because of her." He gestured to Bella who stood in shock, unsure of what to say or do as he lifted the vampire higher in the air, "You will show respect vampire, I am your elder and I will not tolerate disrespect towards myself, my pack when they arrive, or towards Miss Swan."

With a loud roar, he threw the vampire to the ground, watching in satisfaction as he rolled a couple of times on the hard surface.

Edward clambered back to standing, enraged at the lycan, he growled back and made to attack when Bella suddenly regained her senses and ran in between them, "STOP!" Lucian immediately stopped in his tracks, while Edward attempted to move her, "Get out of my way Bella, this monster tr…."

A loud slap echoed through the forest, an angry red hand print glistened on the sparkly vampire's skin, "The only one acting like a monster here is you." Her seething remark sent the vampire reeling, staring at her in shock.

"You come here demanding that I do what you want, demanding that I don't fight, insult Lucian repeatedly, and then expect a warm welcome? You provoked him, for no reason other than once more treating me as though I am made of glass."

"Bella,"

"No, I don't want to hear your excuses." She turned and went towards Lucian who remained silent, feeling her rage. "Take me home please."

He nodded, and allowed her to take hold of his neck as he swung her on his back, not sparing the vampire a glance as he took to the tree tops in a single leap.

Edward stood in shock, not sure what had just occurred other than his girlfriend just took off on the back of this lycan which eerily reminded him of when she had done the same with Jacob when he'd tried to stop her from hanging around the stupid wolf.

He growled and turned, walking out of the meadow and hopping onto the tree tops himself. He was just trying to protect her and she always refused to let him do so. It was grating on his nerves that she couldn't see he was just looking out for her, trying to keep her alive.

His phone rang and he looked down as he jumped from tree to tree, seeing it was Tanya he growled and shut the ringer off. That had been a huge mistake all because she just happened to be in the same area in South America and they had gotten what was left of their coven to help in the war, and now she was obsessed with him. It was a one-time occurrence that Bella need not know about, especially now that she was already pissed with him.

With a sigh, he continued moving, jumping towards the ground, heading for the Cullen house, ready to call it a night with some music and fresh animal blood.

"Are you going to be okay?" Lucian found the words escaping his lips and he inwardly surprised himself for even caring how she felt.

Bella smiled a small sad smile, "I will be, I just need sleep."

He nodded as she climbed into her room through the bedroom window, "Goodnight then, I will see you tomorrow for more training?"

A brief thought of her giving up the training made an unfamiliar pang go through him and he watched her turn back to him, "Yes. I will be there." A stubborn fire lit her eyes and he couldn't help but to smirk, seeing how set she was on what she wanted, just like he had always been.

"Good." He turned to jump towards the trees just as his phone rang loudly, quickly he answered it and Bella could hear his rapid firing of orders albeit muffled but orders just the same before he clicked the phone shut and turned back to her, "My pack will be arriving tomorrow and I will introduce you to them, Raze is my second in command and he will help with the training."

A yawn escaped her and she nodded, "I look forward to meeting them, thank you again for agreeing to do this. I apologize for my boyfriend's behavior."

He turned back, "There is nothing to apologize for, it is him who should be groveling at your feet right now, and this is not your fault."

And before she could respond, he simply disappeared, leaping outward into the night, a howl echoing through the sky.