"You're sure that you're okay?" I asked for what must have been at least the tenth time as I glanced between Alice and Edward, who was waiting for me at the tree line.
"For the last time, yes! Now go before I push you off our porch." Alice said with a smile, though I could see the remnants of fear in her eyes.
"Okay, okay. I'm going." I grumbled. After a brief hesitation I pulled her into a hug, trying not to dwell too long way she fit perfectly into my taller frame.
Releasing her, I turned and made my way over to Edward, who was still staring at Alice with his brows furrowed.
"You know, some people probably like to have some privacy inside their own head." I threw over my shoulder as I walked into the woods.
"Yes, but it's rather hard to ignore someone that projects as much as Alice does." Edward informed me as he took the lead. "She's basically the opposite of you when it comes to your thoughts. I can never read you, and I can never ignore her."
"That must suck." I admitted, thinking to how I wished I could shut out some of my pride-mates at times.
"I guess I've just gotten used to it." He told me.
"I think we're far enough." I said after a short while, knowing that we were far enough that no one would hear normal talking, but a loud snarl or a scream of pain would definitely be heard. "So what did you need to say to me?"
"I'm just trying to wrap my head around all that's happened recently, and hearing you explain it might help." He confessed.
"Something more specific might help." I tried to say without sneering too much, which caused him to let out a large, and unnecessary breath.
"First, I don't understand how you can claim to hold such a large amount of anger towards me, and yet you can call Alice your mate. She left you too you know." He elaborated. Luckily for him he didn't seem to be accusing me, more so he seemed completely perplexed by it.
"Yes, you both left me. And yes, I am mad at you, but I'm also mad at her. Hell, I'm mad at just about everyone other than my family at this point. But you were the one that decided that your family needed to pack up and leave without so much as a goodbye. You are also the one that told me that I didn't mean anything to you anymore." I felt my anger rising, and paused to take several deep breaths and closed my eyes. "But I want to let go of the anger, and Alice wants to help me try. You, on the other hand, have only yelled at my Alpha and me, then basically called your sister sick for wanting to have a mate. So yes, I'm a bit more receptive to Alice right now than I am to you."
"You're right." His sudden confession had my eyes snapping open to see a pained expression on his face. "I have only met your… pride with hostility. But I would like you to understand that I grew up in a time when everyone followed the social norm, and those who didn't were ridiculed, cast out, or killed in the worst cases. So I have issues accepting changes in society."
"Your sister should mean more to you than your ancient societal views." I growled.
"She does. But you also can't understand how possessive vampires can be. In the monster's mind, she stole you from me. And your Alpha also stole you from me. The beast is telling me to eliminate the competition and take back what belongs to it. And sometimes it's hard to fight one's instincts." His voice held what seemed like a century of pain and self-loathing. Though, in retrospect, he had a century to learn to hate what the monster in his head had made him.
"Look, I know what it's like to fight against an animal in your head. Sure, I haven't had to deal with it for as long as you have, but I can relate." He perked up in hope at my words. "That doesn't mean I'm forgiving you for what you've done." I growled. "You abandoned me, and tried to hurt the person who saved me more than once. Along with the fact that you seem rather pissed at my mate right now."
"I still don't understand that!" He threw his hands up in frustration. "Before you were turned you never showed any interest in women, let alone my sister."
"Maybe because I was unhealthily obsessed with you." I threw back. "Most people try not to think about their boyfriend's siblings in that way."
"So you're saying that it was common courtesy that you stayed with me back then?"
"No, I'm saying that I didn't know what I actually wanted. You pulled me in because I wanted to figure out what you were, then you made me feel special. You were everything a boyfriend should have been, so of course I wasn't thinking about anyone else. But then you left." I shoved an accusing finger in his face. "You left and I was free to think about other people. Of course that was after I got over a crippling depression you left me in."
"I still can't understand." He huffed, turning around.
"How many times can I explain it? I-"
"No, I understand what you're explaining, but I am physically incapable of comprehending your reasoning for thinking of my sister in that way." He cut me off and I found I had nothing to say to that.
A long silence followed his statement, me staring at him as he stared into the woods with a pained expression on his face.
"I'm leaving."
"Fine, I think we're done here anyway." I brushed off and turned to go back to the house.
"No, I mean I'm leaving Forks." His statement had me frozen in place. After a moment I turned around to see that he hadn't moved an inch, making me wonder if I'd imagined his declaration. "I can't stay here and see you and my sister together. Like I said, it's something I just can't understand. That and it will make the beast too angry. You deserve the chance to try and be happy again, you and Alice."
"Where are you going to go?" I choked out.
"Denali I think. I don't want to be alone, but I can't stay here. I'm sure that our cousins will allow me to stay with them for a while."
"Are you ever coming back?" Even if I was pissed at him I didn't want to break up the family.
"I don't know. Maybe one day, when the vampire part of me has let go of you. Until then, probably not." He told me.
"And Carlisle and Esme are okay with this?"
"They aren't happy, but they understand why I have to leave. I don't want to hurt my family, and the only way that will happen is if I leave."
"So you're not even going to try to fix this." I motioned to myself and behind me, knowing he would know what I meant.
"I can't. I want to, but I can't as long as I want to have you for myself. You deserve happiness. You and Alice." He grudgingly admitted.
"When are you leaving?"
"Now. It's not like I need anything for the journey." He let out a humorless chuckle. "I know it doesn't mean anything to you, but I am sorry for all the pain I've caused you." He turned towards me, the first time he had moved since he told me he was leaving and gave me a sad smile. Then he turned and disappeared into the woods.
"You'd be surprised how much it does mean…" I murmured into the wind.
XXXXX
"I take it the talk went well." Rikki's voice sounded from my right as I broke out of the tree line and into the clearing by the Cullen's mansion. I just shrugged and headed for the porch where Alice was standing. My emotions were still a wreak from the conversation with Edward, and I didn't really feel like sharing at the moment.
"Where is the vampire anyways?" Danni asked my retreating form.
"Gone." I answered shortly.
"Gone?" She caught up to me and grabbed my arm to stop me. "You didn't…"
"He left." I kept my gaze focused on one of the pillars next to the door. "He said he didn't want to cause any trouble."
"You're telling me a leech actually considered someone else's feelings for once? That's a first." Rikki scoffed.
Her remark had me whirling around and snarling, my heightened emotions clouding my judgment. Really I should have never challenged any other cat in my pride, considering they had all been around for much longer than me, but I couldn't help it.
"Remember that you're talking about my mate's family."
"I think you should remember just who you're snarling at cub." Rikki bared her teeth and hissed out.
"So asking you to respect my mate and her family is too much for you Rikki? And I thought I was the one with the least control." I threw back.
"Bella…" Danni warned, knowing just how hotheaded her mate could be.
"Oh, it's not a question of control, just a matter of natural species to species hate. It's not my fault you Imprinted on a vamp and managed to emotionally scar our Alpha at the same time."
"Fuck you!" I yelled at her now smirking face, feeling the prickling of tears in my eyes.
"You want to let out some of that anger?" Rikki's smirk was ever-present as she challenged me. "Bring it." She declared, her arms held out in a classic "come at me" stance.
So of course I charged her, swinging a fist at her face. With a blinding speed she grabbed my fist, jerked my arm behind my back, and had me on the ground with a knee pressed firmly into my spine. I growled into the dirt I was currently eating, furious with myself at how easy she had pinned me.
"I leave for less than a fucking hour and you two already manage to try to kill each other?" The voice of our Alpha boomed from somewhere behind me. "Rikki, get off of her."
The horrible pressure to my back let up, and as soon as I was able I was on my feet, tensed for another attack.
"You are ridiculously lucky that the vampire didn't rip your head off for a stunt like that." Kat growled at Rikki, who was staring a hole into the ground. I turned to my left to see Alice with a deep scowl on her face, her teeth bared as she took in the exchange. "And you," my head turned to see Kat glaring at me, "I don't care how emotional you are, or how much of a bitch Rikki is being, attacking a pride-mate is not something you do. You're lucky that she has enough control not to rip you to shreds. Now Rikki, take Danni and go back home. Bella, stay here and cool off."
Rikki, a scowl still on her face, turned to her mate and took off into the woods. Kat gave me one more stern glare and followed them soon after, leaving me alone in a clearing feeling like a moron.
"Thank you." Alice's voice was suddenly next to me, causing me to jump a little.
"Huh?"
"For standing up for my family to your pride-mate. Telling her not to call us leeches." Alice elaborated, a small smile on her face. "And I'm sorry I didn't help right away, I wasn't sure how well you'd react to me attacking her."
"You could have roughed her up a little bit, she deserved it. And it's no problem. You're my mate, and they're your family, and at one point I called them mine. And family sticks together, right?"
"They're still your family, if you want them to be."
"I'd like that, yes. But again, I still need some time before I'm ready to jump back into family life with you all." I told her.
"I know. I just wanted you to remember that we all do care about you."
"Even Rosalie?" I teased, bumping her shoulder.
"Yes, even Rosalie, even if she is horrible at expressing it." Alice teased back, making sure her voice was loud enough that her sister heard the remark. A quiet hiss soon followed her words, letting us know exactly what the blonde in question thought of that notion.
"Listen, about Edward…"
"Don't. It's not your fault. And it's not my fault. He just needs some time." Alice cut me off, her tone suggesting that she had been telling herself this for a long while.
"Alright." I said, figuring that going any deeper into the topic would break the tiny girl beside me.
"Were you serious when you called me your mate? Or were you just trying to get Rikki to back off?" Alice suddenly asked in a small voice.
"Alice," I prompted her to turn towards me, and when she remained unmoved I grabbed her shoulders to physically move her frame to face me, "of course I was serious. I want to try to make this work, which means that ignoring or rejecting it would be counterproductive. I found my true mate and now I want to be with her, okay?"
"Okay." She smiled, for real this time, and pulled me in for a big, bone-crushing hug. Once she pulled back I saw a dangerous gleam in her eyes, causing me to gulp.
"I don't think I like that look." I admitted sheepishly.
"I think it's time I took you on a proper date." She declared, ignoring my statement.
"A proper date?"
"Yes. Dressing up, dinner, walks in the park, all those cheesy clichés." She declared.
"And you're going to take me out?" I laughed, not expecting Alice to be such the dominant one in a relationship.
"Of course! No offence Bella, but I feel I know a bit more about romance than you." She told me.
"Offence taken! I can be romantic when I want to be." I protested.
"Well then, you can show me. But after our first date. I'll pick you up Friday at seven." She decided with a firm nod. "Now you head back home and figure out why Rikki decided to be extra catty today." She paused as she realized what she said. "No pun intended." And with that she was zipping back inside her house.
"What just happened?"
A/N: So I was bad and wrote instead of studied for exams... That said, sorry it's short, but I am currently taking exams, and that sucks.
Anyway, as cliché as it is, there will be a Bellice date in the next chapter. Also, there will be some more background on the pride, and an explanation for Rikki's behavior (she's not normally that bad, I promise). I'll try to get that up by next weekend, as my last exam is Wednesday, but I won't promise anything, because I don't know how much "family time" my mother will impose when I get home.
As always, I own only the pride, nothing else. And reviews are the magical elixer that will keep me from failing my exams!