Made For Them

Chapter 17: To Shift or Not To Shift

So long time no see? I'm so sorry! But here I am again with some Seth loving. Forgive me! Please! I love you all.

Here enjoy

Even though the threat was probably half-way to Italy by now, the tension had not faded. They had entered the warmth of the great mansion but it brought no comfort. Every few seconds one Cullen or the other was brushing lightly against their mate, making sure she really was okay, that she was here and that she was here with them. Not taken, ripped away so quickly. She was safe, she was strong.

Though Seth was still tired he was much better in terms of health. He didn't miss the tension that rolled off every vampire present, he didn't miss the fact that one of the young but old vampires were no longer here, he didn't miss that one of the kings were gone, he didn't miss how all the Cullens gravitated around Bella, worry clear in their features. He sat up quickly.

"Mama, are you okay?" Its the only thing he could think though the thought terrified him. Bella was the only person that all the vampires (and one wolf) had in common.

In response Bella gave an easy smile. She appeared to be the only one in the whole room that wasn't tense. She sat next to Seth on the sofa and ruffled his dark hair.

"They're just overreacting." She rolled her eyes but there was clear tenderness in her eyes. She understood mating insticts and could only imagine what she would be like if someone threatened what was hers, so though she teased them she was sympathetic to their plight.

"Something happened." And now Seth was worried as well. He knew that a vampire would not be worried for their mate without cause.

"'Something' is in pieces and half way to Italy. 'Something' is now nothing. Leave it be." It was a thinly veiled order of a woman tired of hearing the same warning. Maria was nothing, less than a speck on Bella's radar. Seth took a final look at Bella, he clocked the pride and peace in her eyes and let it go. She was here, her mates were here. Bella smiled softly when she saw the decision enter his eyes.

"Do you still want to try shifting later, Seth?" Bella remembered promising him this chance, she also thought it would be a good idea to relieve some of the tension. She saw hope in his eyes immediately and knew she had struck gold with her idea, even before the wolf nodded.

"Where are you going to try this? Because I'm sure as hell not having exploding fur in my lounge." Esme had her arms crossed and a deadly serious look on her face. She didn't mind Seth, in fact, she liked him to some extent but she wasn't taking the chance of something being destroyed in her house. Her family laughed around her.

"Esme, dear, having a wolf transform in a room full of vampires, regardless of how good of terms they are on, is a disastrous idea. Initially after the shift is when the instincts are highest so he would be likely to act first, think later. It would result in certain death of at least one of us." Carlisle's brow furrowed at the dark, yet admittedly realist, thought. By the low, animalistic moan of his mate, their mate, he wasn't the only one who disliked that prospect.

Black eyes addressed the room, what was at stake clear now.

"Outside, in the clearing. Surround as close as you can without being in scenting distance. I'lll stay with him, I don't smell like the enemy. He needs someone." Again she ruffled his hair, absentmindedly this time. She noticed the disapproving look on her mate's and children's faces.

"You should be with the others. We can be unpredictable at first." Bella looked from Seth to everyone else in the room. Everyone looked terrified and she realised that she should make them happy. She had worried them, albeit unintentionally, too much already today. She ran her hand through her hair, deliberating. There were so many variables. She didn't want Seth to be alone to face this uncertainty, and though she wasn't his enemy in heart, by nature she was. She nodded.

"Okay, just remember we're all here for you." Seth nodded, he was glad Bella had decided so easily to let him face this alone. Everyone was at risk, including himself if he shifted around any type of vampire.

"Four o'clock. I've always wanted to see a wolf shift." Aro's eyes were full of the light he felt when he discovered a new power, something rare and beautiful. And though it was the Cullen's home no one disputed his claim.

The hours from morning into afternoon passed fast, in a blur of tender emotions and bonding. Edward was glad to be around his family but his lack of mate had never been so blaringly obvious. This one girl had arrived and by some twist of fate she hadn't mated to him as well. He couldn't understand what was so different about him that he hadn't received the same gift in the hybrid that his family had. It was only him and the wolf that was without a soulmate and it didn't make him feel any better at all.

It was harmonious, a time to get to know each other. Everyone was safe, there was no drama, the peace was nice. Jane and Garrett had gone to one of the spare bedrooms to have some personal time as newly formed mate without the complications of having more than one. They didn't talk that much, the random question, 'What's your favourite colour?', between frenzied, deep kisses. He felt a little weird feeling such a deep attraction for someone who appeared so young but he wouldn't change her for anyway. He knew she had a dark streak and it only entranced him more. He was everything she was looking for, a little older, a little rugged, a lot sexy. He was hers, it was all she had ever truly wanted, she'd only had her brother and Bella to rely on but they weren't hers in the way this man was.

Downstairs it was equally as peaceful, if not as lust-filled. Edward was at the piano, his soulful tune a serenade of love that was in the room. Seth was curled up on Carlisle's chair, his feet tucked up as he spoke with what used to be his enemy. Not anymore, somehow they were becoming family quickly.

Somehow every Cullen had managed to fit onto the sofa. Bella firmly in the middle tucked under Emmett's large arm, likewise, the smaller Alice was tucked underneath Bella's arm. And from there it filtered out, they could catch her scent in the air, the proximity calming them. They realised then that happiness and peace were very different emotions but with their mate they could feel both.

Emmett, ever the joker, had been entertaining everyone with a tale of a prank he played on his human brother, a flicker of a memory that still remained.

And then it was four o'clock. The time of reckoning. To shift, or not to shift. Would he remain with them in eternity or would he grow, and grow and eventually die. Only one person in the whole place was excited. Aro. This was just another mystery to him. If the wolf shifted he'd get to see something very few vampires lived to see, and if he didn't then it would be a puzzle as to how destroy wolf packs. He didn't mind which situation occurred, each having their own merits.

They congregated in the clearing, Bella placed a kiss on Seth's cheek.

"It'll all be okay." And then it was just Seth. He knew they were still there, watching him but he couldn't see or smell them.

Now was the time. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes. He pulled on everything he remembered of the shift, the red beast shifting his bones. The anger that triggered it, the passion that kept it. And then it happened. Uncomfortable but not painful bones shifted out of place, growing strengthening. Fur burst from what was once skin, hands thickening into paws as he hunched over onto all fours, his nose lengthened and became wetter, now a snout. He stood their proud, his tail wagging lazily behind him.

A laugh escaped as he let go of all the pent up fear. Every vampire heard the quick succession of barks. Only Bella heard what was going on in his head... she smiled as the thoughts passed through her mind.

My wolf! I can stay. I won't grow and leave this family. Yes he was happy with the situation, how could he not be? Finally exhausting the happy energy he flopped onto the ground, his tongue rolling out his mouth in a pleased grin.

Taking a chance Bella took a step forwards. If you feel snappy, Sethy just give a low growl. The wolf's head tipped sideways as he heard the words in his mind, he didn't think he'd ever hear another person in his head again, he thought that ability had being severed with his pack bond. He wondered why it was Bella he had made the bond with though.

He didn't give any indication of distress so Bella continued on. She held her hand out for him to sniff as if he was a dog, like a dog he pushed his nose into her palm before rubbing. Bella laughed before stroking his soft fur. Somehow she knew in her heart that even in this form he wouldn't turn against her.

Happy with the results Seth shifted back, the wolfish grin fading to boyish as he embraced the glee he felt.

Yay! He can still shift. Happy chapter = happy reviews?

Music recommendation today is a little English band called Lux Lisbon. Check them out, they're awesome!