Chapter 5

"Did you miss me honey, did you really think you could get away from me that easily? I'm hurt." He said in mock sadness.

"How did you find me so quickly? I covered my scent all the way, it would have disappeared by the time you'd of gotten to the path I went on!"

"You seem to forget I have an excellent sense of smell." I tried to shift into my cat form again but I knew it was pointless, as soon as I'd looked into his mad eyes he had me under his power, and I couldn't fight him. "Now, stay still while I have a look at you."

I had no choice, no matter how much I tried to move it was all in vain, it's like I had been turned into stone, was this another ability he hasn't told me about? But I realised it was simply my own fear paralyzing me, James was the only creature I have found that is stronger than me and I was terrified of his power. He stalked closer relishing the fear in my face and started circling me looking up and down my naked body, stroking me with his tail every now and then just because he could, I couldn't run faster than him in my human form.

"Why did you run Izzy? We were having such a pleasurable time, did you really think I would let you escape me that easily? No, I don't think so, I never liked the way you rejected me, I decided to teach you a harsher lesson then the others, but it seems you haven't learnt anything yet." He put his large paw on my shoulder and pushed me down causing me to topple onto my ass, keeping his paw on my shoulder he got one claw and placed it above my eyebrow, his teeth bared and he scratched my face slowly. I screamed in pain as his claw dug into my face and started to thrash now but his paw was impossible to move, he avoided my eye thankfully and circled his claw down my cheek and down to my chin.

"This scar will remind you never to run away from me again." He growled threateningly.

He started to shift and seconds later the man who I despised with all my heart stood over me, his greasy blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, he was heavily muscled but not to the extent of the shifters. He laid his naked body over mine pinning my legs with his and my arms in his hand, he stroked my face and judging from the dirt under his fingernails he hasn't washed in a while, his touch caused a violent shiver of disgust to ripple across my body.

"I can feel you trying to shift and you know it is pointless. You escaped last time, but you're not going to get away now, think of all the fun we can have." I shut my eyes as the memory overtook me.

"No James!" I shouted pushing him off me as he tried to kiss me. "I've told you a million times we are not mates." Anger crossed his face at my rejection, I turned around and headed for the door trying to give him space to cool down since I didn't need more scars, he's tried to convince me that we are meant to be mates in the past and each time I've turned him down. He got angry after each rejection and punished me for it making me submit to him, of course I could have just run away from him but where would I have been then? Alone, just like before. Before I could walk out I felt his hand grab my upper arm and roughly pull me backwards causing me to stumble into his body.

"Izzy, I will have whatever girl I desire." He purred in a low threatening voice, a growl rumbled from my chest as realisation of what that sentence meant set in, he wasn't just going to give me physical scars it seemed, I'm actually surprised I didn't see this coming after all his abuse. I tried to shift to attack but something stopped me, it was like I didn't have my ability anymore. "My sweet Izzy, I didn't tell you about my power did I?" He said into my ear as he held me, keeping my back against his front. "I can block any ability a being has and cut them off from it completely, including you shifting." I started to struggle out of his grasp after my shock wore off but it was all in vain, he told me he was a stronger species then I, lions apparently being the strongest of all werecats , although I don't know where he got this information from.

He chuckled evilly and threw me down onto the floor with him on top of me a spilt second later before I could recover; I knew exactly what he was going to do to me. I did what my instincts told me and took his face in my hands, scratching my sharp nails down his face causing him to cry out in pain and blood to drip down his face but not enough for him to loosen his grip. He slapped me across the face which I think broke my cheekbone and pinned my hands to the ground leaning down to breathe onto my face, his breath smelt disgusting, like he hasn't bothered brushing his teeth in years, but I didn't look away, I looked him straight into his yellow cat slit eyes with as much hatred as I could muster.

"Don't look like that Izzy baby, this will be a wonderful experience, I know you want it as badly as I do, after all we are mates."

"Like fuck I do you sick, twisted, pathetic piece of shit! There's no way I would want to be mated to scum like you" I shouted in his face, he simply tutted and shook his head before ripping my shirt off and grabbing my breasts too hard, he rocked his hips and I felt his erection digging into my thigh. I didn't make a single noise throughout the entire thing, when it was over and he had his fun he looked over at me with an arrogant smile.

"Thank you Izzy for submitting to me once again, now that we are mated everything will be better." I snapped myself out of my emotionless world and suddenly punched him in the face as hard as I could, breaking his nose and causing him to lose his focus on me, I took my chance and shifted immediately, knowing I couldn't beat him I broke the wall and ran into the forest as fast as I could.

"IZZY!" I heard him scream as I fled.

"Don't you even think about it, I'll kill you you fucker!"

"Now, now, I don't think you're in any condition to make threats do you?" He reached forward and rubbed his hand up and down my bare breasts, I cringed but couldn't move my head away, refusing to do the submissive gesture to him. He leant forward to put his head into the crook of my neck and sniffed deeply sticking his tongue out to lick my throat.

"Hmm how strange..." He muttered to himself. I felt a ripple suddenly in the air around me and strength flowed through my veins, he had lost focus for some reason but I wasn't going to dwell on it, I shifted causing him to roll off me and towered over his surprised figure obviously wondering how he had allowed his power to slip. I swiped my paw forward trying to slash his side but he somersaulted backwards shifting into his own form in milliseconds and then we circled each other.

"Even though you managed to shift how do you expect to beat me? You know I am the stronger one, you have no chance." He gloated.

"I know, but I sure as hell can try!" I snarled and bolted forward and aimed a slash at his face which he easily dodged and took my feet out from under me, I rolled over before he could bite my neck and jumped back to my feet. We then proceeded to dance around each other, putting in deep scratches and bites every now and then but not doing any great damage. I paused for a moment catching my breath feeling blood clotting up my fur from the multiple marks on my body, while he looks like he hasn't got a mark on his body, I'm sure I got him more times then that!

I'm faster then him, so I should use that against him I thought as I zig-zagged forward making him wonder where I was going to attack, I used the same attack I used on the wolves and sailed over his head when I got close, I dug my claws into his backside and dragged him to the floor, but he also curled his own claws into me at the last second and brought me down with him. He rolled on top on me and slashed my face a few times before biting my front leg, I heard the bones crunch before I let out a yowl of pain using my back legs to push him off me, getting up with one front leg took longer then I anticipated since James had recovered and pounced into my side causing me to crash through a tree trunk winding me and causing more pain to shoot through my front leg, he stood over me and bit into my back leg, breaking it just as easily as the other and then he picked me up with his teeth by the scruff of my neck hurling me into a nearby boulder where it smashed into my chest breaking a few ribs at the impact.

I was losing, badly, I felt my eyes start to droop as I battled consciousness, I was losing more blood then I thought. I tried to get up again but with only two working legs now it was hopeless, he stalked up to me and pressed his paw into my neck looking down his nose at me victoriously.

"Well well, beaten again, how many times to you think you've ended up in this position again? We both know how this ends, why don't you just accept me as the dominant like always and we can get on with our happy life?"

His head shot up suddenly and he looked towards his right, I caught up a second later as I smelt a faint, familiar scent, James growled deeply and pushed his paw down harder cutting off my airway and digging his claws into my neck.

"It seems I was correct, how very amusing." He growled quietly before grinning, he brought his face close to mine and bared his teeth. "Don't think this is over." With that he took off and left me bleeding out and at the mercy of the creatures coming in my direction, I stood up slowly balancing my weight and got myself righted just as four figures appeared in the previous battlezone.

They looked at my battered body in surprise, I was just as surprised as them that they were there but I was entirely grateful, if not for them I would have probably had my throat sliced, or worse be kidnapped by James. I scanned the faces of Emmett, Edward and Rosalie but when my eyes caught the amber stare of Alice Cullen something strange flowed through me, I felt emotions unknown fill me up and a purr resonated from my chest automatically which caused her to cock her head slightly. I limped forward one step towards her and collapsed on the floor, feeling something cold wrap around my neck before letting the darkness take over.

I woke up on a soft surface instead of the forest floor and instantly I started to panic, where the hell was I? I sniffed and tensed, the air was thick with the scents of the Cullen's, was I in their fucking house? I forced my eyes open quickly and squinted into the light that was pouring through the window, I tried to stand up and felt something strange around my legs, I looked down to see bandages around my front and back leg, I noted that I luckily hadn't changed back from my panther form. Once I'd limped off the bed I ripped the bandages off with my teeth testing my legs to make sure they were healed, still kind of tender but usable, I could just break that window and make a dash to the forest...

"Silly cat, you shouldn't take them off, they're there to help you." I snapped my head up and felt the same feelings as in the forest rush through me when I looked at the beautiful face of my mate, wait what? Mate? My eyes widened and my jaw dropped slightly at my unconscious realisation, this vampire…is my mate? I now understood my strange reactions and emotions around her, maybe my cat wanted to meet her too and make her own mind up, she seemed to approve.

"There's no need to be frightened, I'm here." She held out her hand then as if she wanted to stroke me and slowly walked towards me, I felt myself retreat slightly automatically at her movements but then allowed her to come closer, watching her warily. When she was close enough to touch me she reached up and stroked my neck as she was too small to reach my head instantly gaining a purr at the wondrous feel of her hand on me, I saw her smile widely before I closed my eyes to relish the feeling, I've never been stroked in this form before and it was extremely relaxing. Mine, she's mine, at last I've found my reason for being.

"Alice what are you doing?" I heard a voice say behind Alice, I opened my eyes and let out a vicious snarl at the interruption, my hackles rising at the unknown vampire at the doorway, the instinctive urge to protect so strong as I stood in front of my mate in a defensive stance.

"Okay, it's okay I'm not going to hurt her." He said calmly holding his hands out in front of him and walking back a few steps which did nothing to calm me down. Alice put her dainty hand on my side and stroked softly, I instantly stopped growling and looked in her direction making sure I could keep the other vampire in my sights.

"It's okay, that's Carlisle, he's here to help you, he fixed up your broken legs."

I growled again at her words, this is the masochist that works at the hospital? This is the one putting humans in danger? I took deep breaths to calm myself, I tilted my head at her and then looked back letting out a small grumble before relaxing a little again under Alice's caresses.

Did they know I was different now? Most likely seeing as my scent, size and behaviour is definitely not that of a normal panther and the fact I heal so fast might have given it away too, but I found myself not really caring anymore. I'd finally found my mate, my forever, and I'll be damned if I was going to let the threat of the Volturi get in the way of it.

"Are your legs feeling okay?" Alice asked softly touching my front leg, I let a rumble out still not quite sure if I should talk but she seemed to understand me. I tensed again as the rest of the coven crowded into the room to stare at me, I pushed my ears back and bared my teeth hissing loudly feeling surrounded by my mortal enemy, but were they my enemy anymore? Rosalie hissed back maybe out of reflex and it almost make me lunge for her.

"Stop it Rose! Don't crowd around her! Can't you see she's scared?" Alice growled to her coven, now standing in front of me protectively like I was doing to her just moments earlier which made me unexplainably happy, everyone moved back against the wall, not far enough but it made me feel a little better.

"Why are you so protective about this panther Ali?" Jasper asked letting me hear his voice for the first time, it was very calm and understanding and I liked the sound of it, feeling myself relax despite the scars that still unnerved me.

"Look at the size of her, that isn't normal for a panther, and she healed way too quickly." Edward said, Alice nodded in agreement.

"She's different, I can feel it." She said this while looking into my yellow eyes that are too intelligent to be a normal animal, I sat down and ducked my head to be at her eye level, which was hard considering her height, she gave me another breathtaking smile and scratched behind my ear.

"You can understand me can't you?" Alice asked, I paused for a minute looking into her beautiful face before finally nodding my head.

"What are you?" Carlisle asked with the excited wide eyes of a child with a new toy, I sighed and kept my eyes on Alice as I answered.

"I am a werecat." I growled in my guttural voice, she jumped slightly at my voice obviously not expecting me to talk but then returned to stand in front of me immediately.

"That's so cool! She can talk!" Emmett shouted, Rosalie smacked the back of his head, jeez I'm surprised he doesn't have brain damage.

"A werecat? I've never heard of such a thing..." Carlisle muttered.

"You wouldn't have, no vampire has ever found out about my kind, not that I know of that is. Even I thought I was the only one of my kind until a year ago."

"You know we're vampires?" Edward cut in; I chuckled deeply at his surprise.

"Of course I do, I've met many of your kind over the years, although none with a personality such as yourselves. It's refreshing to think not all vampires have lost their sense of humanity and play with human life like it's a toy."

"Have you been watching us?" Rosalie demanded, I flashed my teeth at her slightly for her tone.

"No, I've seen you around the school."

"Can I ask some questions about your kind?" Carlisle asked hopefully, cutting into the conversation with his fingers twitching on the notepad and pen in his hands that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Carlisle she just woke up! Give her some time to recover at least." Alice reprimanded him, stroking my head again unconsciously, not that I minded at all. I felt the same prods in my mind as I did in my Biology lesson and my eyes swivelled to glare at Edward who was glaring at me just as intensely, when he wouldn't let up I growled deeply.

"Stop poking me mind reader!" He seemed to flinch but then I felt a very sharp stab, sharper then the one that made me run out in lesson, I snarled at his attack and started to stalk towards him with my claws out when I was held back by Alice pushing against my chest.

"Let go." I rumbled out to her although all I could think about was tearing Bedward to shreds. I could have easily escaped from her grip but I let her hold me knowing if I actually harmed Edward my mate wouldn't have been happy with me.

"No, what's the matter?" She asked not understanding where my anger is coming from.

"The mind reader is attacking me, I thought I'd give him a fight is that's what he wants."

"Why can't I read your mind? And how can you feel me trying?" He hissed out his frustration.

"You can't read hers either?" Emmett interrupted, obviously thinking about him unable to read the human me either.

"I am a shield; I can block any mind related powers. I have just practised over the years to be able to feel when someone is trying to break down my defences." I hissed back.

"That's probably why I can't feel her." Jasper spoke up, there's that word again, feel.

"What do you mean by feel me?" I asked him maybe a little more sharply then I intended, I was still a little tense about all these vampires surrounding me but I'd better get used to it I suppose.

"I am an empath, I can feel and manipulate the emotions of those around me." I nodded understanding now glad it's not something creepy and perverted like I originally thought, maybe my head's just always in the gutter, well, it is always in the gutter. "Edward shouldn't have done what he did and I understand your anger." Edward hung his head at his mate's words.

"He's right, I'm sorry I did that, I've just never met anyone I couldn't read before but that's no excuse for my actions."

I was still not happy but I decided that if I was to get to know my newly found mate I should get along with her coven too.

"Fine, just don't do it again, it makes me edgy."

"Well before we leave you alone can I ask one question quick?" Carlisle asked.

"Sure."

"Being a werecat…does that mean you have a human form?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes, it does, and like the shifters I can shift whenever I please."

"You know about the shifters too? When did you meet them?"

"When I first arrived here, they tried to attack me and I taught the fuckers what a mistake that was." Emmett giggled like a small girl and clapped his hands.

"It's about time someone showed them they're not as high and mighty as they think, I would love to teach them overgrown guinea pigs a lesson but the damn treaty won't let me." He said giving me his approval in the form of a thumbs up which made me give a toothy grin, I liked this vampire immediately, he's like an overgrown, blood-sucking child.

"Have you talked to them at all?" Carlisle asked getting us back on topic.

"Yes, I returned to ask them a few questions about you, sorry for being so curious, I needed to make sure you weren't harming the humans. Which reminds me, why the hell are you working in a hospital, are you mad?"

"I have never claimed the life of a human; I've lived from animals since I was transformed. I controlled my bloodlust many years ago, it hardly affects me anymore, you have no need to fear I'll lose control around blood." My eyes must have looked like saucers after he finished talking, a vampire who has never drunk from a human? That is so awesome. I've never respected a vampire and it's a welcome change.

"Wow…" Was the only comprehensible response I could give at that time, Alice giggled at my reaction.

"Esme hasn't either you know." She added, I didn't think my mouth and eyes could get any wider.

"We're really rude we didn't properly introduce ourselves." Carlisle said looking a little embarrassed at my overly wide-eyed stare. "I'm Carlisle as you know, and this is Edward, Jasper Emmett, Rosalie and Alice, my wife Esme is out shopping to keep up our human charade, she shouldn't be too much longer."

"She'll be here in 3 minutes 32 seconds." Said Alice making me now stare at her instead with my head cocked to the side in confusion.

"Aww you're so cute when you look like that!" She cooed rubbing my head and making me huff, I hated the word cute. "To answer your unasked question I can see the future." I knew she had a power! That's probably how she knew about the truck, and how they knew that they were doing blood typing in Biology, it all makes sense now.

"That's awesome."

"I know, I know." She sighed waving off my compliment, big headed jerk. "What's your name by the way?" Oh crap, I guess this is where I tell them, I hesitated slightly again but knew I had to when I looked into my mate's amber eyes, even if she doesn't know it I will make her mine.

"Most of you know me actually." I said slowly looking around at the youngest vampires and then looking back down at Alice.

"My name's Bella Swan."

I felt like I wanted to add a bit more to the James scene but I didn't want to prattle on too long, anything left out can always be added on future chapters after all.

I hope you enjoyed, clicking the little review button down there and leaving me some feedback will make my day :)

Becky.