Bred
By MoneyTunes10
Chapter Eleven
Love at first sight…
A pleasant sentiment in the human world that remains nonexistent for vampires. It bodes well that these beautiful creatures are not propelled to find a mate through visual cues, given that the bond between mated pairs transcends the emotion that humans call 'love.' The potential for mating to end violently is reduced by this lack of a visual catalyst…
If a vampire is one of the lucky few to find their other half, it starts with the chemical reaction of the male seed spilling into their partner, followed by the astute olfactory senses of the male vampire that latches onto the shift in the female scent. The exchange of bodily fluids alters her aroma, attracting the male vampire and making her the sole object of desire in his world.
The most complex aspect of mate discovery is the shift that occurs in one of the most constant beings on this planet…the male vampire.
He is physically, mentally and emotionally unable to refrain from the female…permanently altered…his once frozen genetic design is reformatted to ingrain her into his very being.
This makes him dangerous and vulnerable all at once.
His entire life now depends on the female and reprogramming impels him to annihilate any force, supernatural or not, that may hinder him from his mate. He is also susceptible to the female's rejection…
The adaptation that comes with mating occurs over a longer period of time for the female. It takes several months of copulation to build up the necessary exposure for the female to go through the change. Yet, the complete adoration and devotion that the female receives from the male keeps her in his presence long enough for him to complete the ritual… several times.
There are no known cases of a female rejecting their mated male...nor any cases of a male vampire mating with a human female…until now…
::::
Bella remained content and satiated under Edward's body far after his venom-coated seed spilled inside her. She was unaware of the feeling of helpless bliss that he was desperately trying to control. As a logical thinker, Edward needed to process his motives for acting so rashly with her; he had ceased breathing at some point in order to stop himself from harming her but he needed to take a breath and step back from the situation. He needed to speak to Bella to gauge her emotional health.
And he did that that breath…
That breath caused a tiny olfactory molecule to enter him…traveling to his brain and infiltrating his neurons where the mating process was initiated.
Bella's essential aroma had comingled with his when his seed spilled into her body; their fluids fused at exponential rates causing spiraling molecules of their joined fragrance to storm Edward's nasal cavity and slice through his airways while igniting his lungs…
Without a thought, Edward leapt back, separating them as he fell onto the floor in fetal position. Bella's sore body protested as she rolled off the couch on her hands and knees...
Edward was scaring her...his muscles were tensed and coiled, as if fighting immeasurable pain…and she was right…
Edward's pain went beyond the agony of rebirth as a vampire…
The lingering rational parts of Edward's mind catalogued that this was wrong. He had seen both Emmett and Carlisle through their matings and there was no pain…only slight discomfort before a feeling of perfect completion enveloped them.
But this…whatever this was…it was searing his body… unzipping and rewiring him…
Bella was terrified…did she do something wrong? Why was Edward hurt? They were both bare as she crouched down next to but not touching him, afraid that contact would set him off. She couldn't see his eyes since he had them tightly shut but every few seconds, he would shudder.
After almost fifteen minutes of careful vigil over Edward's tightly wound body, Bella reached a tentative hand to stroke his cheek, "Edward? Please tell me what's wrong. Did I do something wrong?"
Her plea for him to respond could not be denied…he was her mate after all.
Edward's eyes flew open to see the human that had altered him… her forehead creased when she noticed the flecks of green pigments that were scattered through his honey colored eyes. What happened to him?
Too quickly for her to follow, his arms encased her, and like breathing his first breath, his body hummed with satisfaction at the proximity. The earlier crippling pain lulled and finally abated as he pulled her closer… she smelled divine…
Standing tall, he pulled their bodies together, unable to inhale enough of her altered fragrance. His nose lingered on her neck as he got drunk from her essence.
Bella remained eerily still; even her most basic instincts told her that it was not prudent to move away from the charge that seemed to be taking over Edward. He was acting indescribable really, intensely content and protective while scenting her.
"You're bleeding."
Was she bleeding? Most likely because she just had sex for the first time. But before she could check for herself, Edward lifted her and headed upstairs to their shared room. He stepped into the shower still holding a stunned Bella…
She had missed something very important because this was not how she expected the implantation to end; the Agency told her that the Sires of hybrids were dismissive of Substitutes after the act.
Edward was attentive… a contradictory to all she had learned.
He finally released her and turned on the shower as he exited, but Bella could only stand dumbly staring at the shower curtain waiting for her faculties to return.
What just happened?
She felt something trickle down her leg, bringing her out of her daze; there was a lot more blood than she anticipated.
Why was there so much blood? He hadn't been gentle, but he hadn't been that forceful either. It didn't make sense. The more Bella thought about it, the more that small pucker of worry between her eyebrows transformed into pure agony.
She had just gotten her period...
She had never been regular but she'd always tried hard to keep track of her ovulation cycle. Preparing for the trip and spending time with the family had been a distraction…now, she was paying the price. She had finally gotten Edward to perform the Implantation, but she ruined it by getting her period.
Her sobs rose from her chest like the steam around her…she wanted to collapse from frustration.
"Please don't cry." The shower curtain separating them could not hide the outline of his body. And although his voice was meant to be soothing, intent on comforting her, the sobs only intensified.
He had smelled the blood since they were downstairs but he was unsure if it was from the sex or her body cleansing itself and hindering her chances of conceiving. He'd remain near after depositing her in the shower…just in case. Yet now that she needed comfort, he was unaware of what to do. No words could soothe her and he wasn't sure what actions were needed to quell her pain…
"I'll make it better; just tell me what to do."
But Bella didn't know what to do. She was consumed with disappointment; she had so much hope that she would be pregnant at the end of this trip that she hadn't even paid attention to her body. Now she only felt responsible for failing at her duties as a Substitute. What if he wouldn't want to try again?
She didn't seem to mind when Edward helped her finish the shower or prepare for bed. His mere presence helped her refocus and not sink into complete despair; if he was truly angry at her, he would have dismissed her and would have procured another Substitute.
She climbed into the large bed and was joined by Edward under the covers. This was too intimate an act for a Sire and a Substitute but Bella didn't have the energy to focus on propriety at the time. He pulled her close and started running his fingers through her hair, hoping his touch would lull her into sleep. He watched as her eyes began to flutter close and her body sagged closer into him. He shifted her closer until her breast pillowed into his hard chest and listened to her decreasing heart rate and even breathing...
Bella was convinced that she was still in a dreaming state... even though voices slipped from the conscious world into her slumber. She could hear the Cullens speaking to Edward; she could feel the minute vibrations from his chest tickling when he responded…
"But she's human…" Esme's incredulous voice trailed off…
"I thought this was scientifically impossible." Carlisle's voice was more thoughtful, laced with excitement. "I mean mates are already so rare because of the physical need to exchange fluids, but for one of them to be human…"
Jasper's voice was more subdued than the others, "When I first met Ben and Angela, I thought there was a possibility that a human could mate with a vampire because of the devotion I felt from Ben, but after the twins were conceived, I knew that they did not share a mate-bond. Ben loved her, simply and truly, but Angela wasn't his mate…still…it brought up the idea of what it would mean for the vampire and the human in this situation."
"Yeah Edward, you said it was painful, but are there going to be permanent side effects?" Emmett sounded worried…
"I think we should invite the Cheney's here. Bella needs a friend she can relate to. I know she must have been overwhelmed when she realized that she got her period." Alice sounded as contemplative as Jasper but Bella couldn't make out the responses to her idea. She was sure Rosalie was talking but she was so tired…and warm…and comfortable…
::::
Bella awoke, sprawled on top of Edward. The warmth from the blood rushing to her cheeks alerted Edward to her embarrassment as he shifted their position.
He had been in deep discussions with his family throughout the night; the scientific implications of his mate being human were both frighten and intriguing. The most obvious change was his eye color… it seemed that his former monotone honey-colored eyes were laced with flecks of green, like an ancient humanity in him had been unearthed. They considered many conjectures on how both he and Bella may be altered, but it was all guesswork and they had no protocol for what to do in this situation. The only good idea was to invite Angela and Ben, along with the twins; the entire family was counting on the bond between Angela and Bella to get her through this difficult time.
They also needed Bella to be distracted enough for her to remain unaware of the undercurrent of fear amongst her family. They were apprehensive of her humanity's affect on Edward; would it weaken him to her level or elevate him to a new evolutionary level within their species? Either way the Volturi Coven would get involved if they found out about this; novelty was rare for creatures that lived in perpetuity…
Edward studied Bella as these thoughts enveloped him; although he smiled at her curious gaze, he knew she could feel the tension from him. There was so much to tell her about mating, he just didn't know where to start or if she would believe that he was her mate.
"Do you mind if we spend the day together?"
"Not at all." Bella was perplexed as to why Edward was asking her. She truly didn't mind, but as his Substitute, she could not deny him. She was hopeful that his presence would deter the morbid thoughts and her deep sense of inadequacy that nestled in her since last night. As irrational as it was, she was shouldering the blame for not planning their first attempt at implantation better…
Edward made no mention of last night's failure as she prepared for the day; she was waiting for him to blame her for being so careless. She did feel better when he held her hand as they walked down together to greet the family. They seemed cautious around her but, as usual, Emmett diffused the tension when he announced that he was making her breakfast this morning. Edward offered Emmett his help and the two set off with Bella…hoping that they could make her laugh.
And Bella was on the verge of laughter at the obvious hardship that the assembly a human breakfast was imposing on two grown vampire men.
Her mind was like a pendulum, one minute she was chuckling at the antics of Emmett and Edward and the next minute dark thoughts descended on her. She was thankful for Emmett's and Edward's novelty in the kitchen, they would distract her long enough to make her smile.
She was about to step in and help when she saw movement at the corner of her eye. Jasper stood in the doorway with his arms crossed; there was a gentle smile on his face as he watched his two Coven brothers entertain Bella. The Cheney's were on their way but everyone had agreed that they would do their best to take care of Bella until she could confide in Angela. It was harder for Jasper though; he could feel that deep sense of guilt wash over Bella in waves. He couldn't make the feeling of guilt disappear completely but he could give her a new perspective…"can I talk to you for a moment?"
Bella nodded after she gave Edward a small look. Jasper wasn't surprised that she naturally sought out approval from Edward; he simply led the way to the library. He knew Edward wanted the same thing for Bella…he wanted her to stop blaming herself.
She could feel Edward's eyes linger on her as she trailed behind Jasper; it made her feel safe… something she had been lacking when she was growing up.
The room was comfortable; it was the first time she saw the library in the cabin and she could pinpoint Esme's touch throughout. An errant thought ran through her mind as she sat in an armchair; the comfort she felt may be due to Jasper's presence and not the room. She watched as he walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, she had no courage to ask him why she felt calm in his company.
He remained facing away from her as he contemplated his words; he wanted to be mindful of Edward's feelings towards his mate but he also wanted to be honest…to both of them.
"Bella, no one blames you for not conceiving a child with Edward." He had been feeling the waves of deep depression emitting from her throughout the morning; coupled with the worry from Edward, it was emotionally taxing on him. Since they were both feeding off each other's emotions, Jasper wanted to give Bella some reassurance before Angela and Ben arrived with the twins.
"I know if feels horrible right now and you're shouldering the blame, but trust me, trust this family. We've been trying to show you that we care for you as a person and not because of the initial reasons for you joining the family. That's why we spend so much time with you, that's why wanted to all go on vacation."
Jasper turned to face her; there was heavy cloud cover blocking the sun from touching the earth, but the dim light still illuminated the world. It formed a soft glow around Jasper, accentuating his muscles and his otherworldliness. She was instantly reminded of Edward's coiled body covering hers as he pushed into her. A blush spread over her face and she lowered her eyes, unable to hold Jasper's gaze. He was right; this family was so good to her…that's why failure to conceive made her feel so inadequate. She felt that it was her only chance to repay them for their kindness.
"Bella, just trust us and please stop blaming yourself. Focus on all the good around you. Believe me I know how hard it is to see all the good around you when all you've known was the bad, but if I've learned anything from Alice, it's that there's always good around you, it's just hard to find it sometimes."
Bella looked at Jasper…she felt…hopeful?
Was it inappropriate to hug him? She was unsure, so she opted for a timid smile, "thank you Jasper."
His returning smile was brilliant and Bella could understand why Alice fell in love with him… the soft honey color of his hair, the sweet undercurrent of his Southern accent, and the protective but understanding aura that always surrounded him…yes, she could see the good in Jasper and she would take his advice to heart…
They returned to the kitchen where a proud pair of male vampires presented Bella with a semi-edible breakfast. She sat down to eat as Edward threw Jasper a grateful glance and Emmett fished for compliments for his cooking skills.
They could see that Bella was acting on Jasper's advice; she was fully engaging herself in banter with Emmett and her smile was genuine. She didn't even hesitate to hug Edward when he told her about the impending arrival of the Cheney's later that day.
::::
Bella's leg was unable to remain still as she waited with the rest of her family on the porch. She was bundled in warm layers while the rest of her Coven wore outfits that were more appropriate for a shoot for an L.L. Bean catalogue. They were perched on various model-esque poses on the porch while she sat on the porch swing next to Edward who was playing with the ends of her hair.
He hadn't been able to stay away from her all day, frequently touching her skin, running his hand through her hair, and she swore she saw him sniffing her. Her forehead wrinkled as she thought about Edward's behavior…she was happy that he was attentive but what changed? A small light in the distance dispelled her worries…
She shot up from her seat and ran down the few stairs with a smile on her face. The car barely stopped before the door was opened and Bella started to run towards Angela, tears streaming down her face. The friends embraced forcefully… Angela was aware of what occurred between Bella and Edward. She knew the heart pounding fears and insecurities that came with Implantation…the fear of the pain, the unknown consequences, but most of all the emotional turmoil that needed to be quelled. Bella was strong but she always allowed her own doubts sabotaged her strength, Angela knew this and she needed to be there for her friend. "It's ok Bells, I'm here now."
When they finally separated, Bella's tear-streaked face was blushed pink with embarrassment. She hadn't intended to give this reception to Angela; she'd had a good day so far, so she was confused as to why she sobbed in her friend's arms.
"Hi." Bella cleared her throat and looked shyly at Angela's smiling face. She made no other comments as she linked her arms with Bella and they walked to the rest of their families greeting each other…
That night, after tucking the children in, Angela and Bella sat near the fireplace in the sitting room. Other than the reunion outside, they had no time to be alone. There was a flurry of activity as twins tore through the cabin with Emmett. Then they had to be fed and cleaned and prepared for bed, but they were too excited and they kept escaping their room to try to convince Emmett to take them sledding in the dead of night. Ben had to step in and firmly tell them to remain in their room until they slept through the night before they sulked back to bed.
Angela rested her head on Bella's shoulder, exhausted from chasing her two hybrid children around the cabin. She had spent most of the evening apologizing to the Cullens in advance for anything they may break and she just wanted some time with her friend.
"They're growing up so fast Bella. I mean, soon they won't sleep ever again." Angela's voice was sad, wistful for the ebbing of her children's human traits.
"It'll be ok Ang, I'm sure you and Ben can have as many kids as you want before that happens."
Angela chuckled, "not anytime soon and enough about me, I'm here for you." She rubbed Bella's arm before they were both silent for a moment, gathering their thoughts…
"I don't know what to do! It's like everything that's happened is to prevent me from having a baby. First it was the divorce, then Edward was acting weird and avoiding me, then I finally thought after the Inspection when Alice talked about the trip, I would be pregnant. But I got my stupid period!"
Angela looked at Bella, remembering how she too was only focused on having a baby. She did not miss those days; things were different now…she was different now.
"I'm so sorry Bells, it must be frustrating but there's a time and place for all things. You've been around the boys, so you see that having kids is a handful. You should just enjoy being with Edward and focus on that. I know it's not what you want to hear right now, you want me to tell you to go ahead and have a baby soon. But the little time I had with just me and Ben was precious. I was too scared during that time to appreciate all the freedom of just being with each other but I see it now. When the boys came, our world changed, everything revolves around them now. They take priority for both of us and that sometimes takes away from the time we have alone. That's all the advice I can give right now... I don't want you to feel like I'm discouraging you, I'm just saying to look at the bigger picture. Just take everything in stride and appreciate what you have now…if a baby is in the near future, then so be it but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't happen instantly."
Bella could see the logic in Angela's words, she understood that Angela went through what she was experiencing…yet the urge to have a child immediately was so overwhelming. There was that nagging voice that reminded her of her inability to fill her role…
The two friends remained talking for a long time…they explored the fears of inadequacy and Bella giggled her way through retelling of her first time with Edward. They shared laughs and a few quiet moments enjoying time but soon they had to go to bed. They were tired and the twins would probably keep them running all day. They had the house to themselves, save for Edward and the twins. All the others were out hunting and scooping the surrounding terrain for tomorrow's surprise for the twins.
When Bella and Angela parted upstairs, she was surprised to see Edward standing in their room. She thought he was just being nice last night when he stayed with her since it had been her first time. Now that he stood there, in pajamas no less, she was curious.
"Hey."
"Hi, how was hanging out with Angela." Bella was on the verge of mortification, she forgot that he was in the house so he probably heard their entire conversation. Still, he didn't seem mad that she confided in her friend.
"It was nice; I think I needed someone to talk to…um…thank you for inviting them. I don't want to assume that you did it for me but I really appreciate it."
She felt him cup her cheek before she could focus on his face, having moved too quickly for her to follow. "Bella, of course I would invite your friend and her family here for you. Is it so hard to believe that I would do something kind for you? I care about you."
"Why? I'm just a Substitute."
Edward's thumb tenderly caressed her cheek, "You are more than what you sold into. You mean a lot to me Bella; there are a few things we need to talk about when we get home, but just know that you mean more to me than you can fathom."
This was confusing…everything she had been prepared to expect from vampires was being challenged by the Cullens, especially Edward. She agreed that they needed to talk; she wanted to know why he had been avoiding her and what was with the change in attitude.
When she was ready for bed, she wasn't as hesitant to crawl in next to Edward as she thought she should be. In fact, her body seemed content when he pulled her against his chest and she even smiled when he sniffed her and kissed her temple…
::::
Sheets were tangled around her legs and the most enticing scent in the world was surrounding her. It was vaguely familiar but Bella couldn't place it…that is until she opened her eyes. His green-flecked honey-colored eyes were piercing hers and his smile was blinding, "good morning."
So that was the source of the intoxicating scent…Edward Cullen.
"Morning," his smile was infectious and she couldn't help but return it. "You went hunting."
His eyes were no longer that burnt honey color, they were lighter, clearer and the green flecks in them seemed to have multiplied.
"Yes, but I only left briefly. I came back just in time to hear you call my name."
Bella's horrified gasp made Edward laugh. It was nice to hear her talking in her sleep but he was elated when it was his name that she uttered while blindly reaching next to her. "What did I say?"
"Nothing incriminating…" He would have continued teasing but she was blushing and barely able to look him in the eye, "don't worry Bella, you only said my name."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Bella got up to head towards the bathroom. On her way there, she had the strangest urge to run back to Edward and rejoin him in bed. Shaking her head slightly she prepared for the day.
When Bella and Edward walked into the kitchen, Emmett was trying to convince Collin and Benjamin to eat their human food. They were in deep discussion about the merits of a blood only diet while Angela just shook her head and pointed to their plates.
Bella smiled at twins as she sat next to Angela and started to eat. She was always curious as to their new reasons to avoid their human food; they were very clever but they finally promised to finish their eggs when their dad told them he had a big surprise for them after their breakfast.
Bella didn't miss the shared glance between Angela and Ben. She seemed nervous while Ben seemed sympathetic as he gave her a tender kiss.
As soon a breakfast was done, the twins began asking their dad about the surprise. Ben took the boys to the den with the rest of the family to announce their adventure, "we're going to teach you how to hunt today."
There was a moment of utter silence, then the thrill 'whoops' of glee and excitement bubbled forth and the twins started jumping and screaming with enthusiasm. They had been waiting for the hunting lessons to begin for a long time. Angela, on the other hand, had been dreading that day since their birth.
By law, all hybrid children must be taught to hunt animals, even if their parents only fed them blood from the Donation Banks. The Volturi decided that it was a necessary skill for all growing children, even though they preferred human blood. The Cullens thought there were ulterior motives to the Volturi's requirement to teach hybrids to hunt, but as usual, there was no proof.
Once the children were dressed to leave, Angela pulled them both into her arms and kissed their cheeks furiously. She was too worried to be concerned with their pleas for her to stop embarrassing them. "You two be good boys, ok. Listen to everything they tell you, especially Daddy." They both nodded in unison, "promise me."
"We promise momma."
"Ok." She kissed them each one more time before she turned her attention to the vampire males taking her children on their first hunting lesson. She was small compared to the five male vampires before her, but there was no sign of fear as she stood with her hands on her hips. "These are my babies," Bella smiled when she noticed the looks of horror from Benjamin and Collin for being called babies. "You will take care of them and bring them back in one piece. Not one scratch on them!"
"Yes ma'am!" Emmett gave her a mock salute which caused them to laugh. But Ben understood Angel's worry because he felt too. The kids saw this as a fun experience but he was aware of the dangers that lurked in the woods.
He walked to Angela and lifted her slightly as he kissed her hard on her lips, "don't worry Ang, there are five, not one, but five grown male vampires with them and the trip is entirely focused on them learning how to hunt animals, nothing will happen to them." Angela peeked behind Ben to look at Emmett's large muscular form, Jasper's silent but deadly presence, Edward's sharp thoughtful eyes, and Carlisle's devoted gaze. When she turned back to Ben and looked at the overwhelming love in his eyes, she nodded.
Angela hovered over her children even as they ran out of the door. She stood on the porch as Benjamin climbed on Emmett's back and Collin hoped on his dad's back. Carlisle entered the woods first, followed by Ben and Emmett with the boys. Edward remained looking at Bella for a moment before walking towards Jasper and entering the woods.
It was time to teach the twins to hunt…