.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.

Special thanks to Snarkymuch, Gredelina1, Arrr, Augustmoon. Verseseven and Mary-Alice-Brandon-Cullen for pre-reading this.

The was pre-read by jtmd24 and beta'd by Maxipoo1024 from Sparkly Red Pen. Thank you ladies.

Chapter Six —A Mating Bond

Marcus POV

"What did you see?" Aro demanded when the sound of Isabella's footsteps had died away.

"A new bond. A mating bond."

"Oh, how wonderful."

"Who is the other?" Caius asked. "Did her thoughts show you? Is she even aware of it? Isabella can be remarkable obtuse about these things."

I chuckled. He was quite right of course. Astute in all other matters, Isabella was emotionally unaware a good deal of the time.

"I suspect it is one of Carlisle's coven, an empath by the name of Jasper Whitlock. He was involved in the southern wars but left the life independently, so I saw no need to pursue him," Aro explained. "She is of course oblivious to the nature of the bond. At present, she is merely intrigued by him. If we can keep them together long enough, though, it will progress. We will need assistance."

"Are you sure we should interfere?" Caius said. "Her views on mating are hardly a secret. If she discovers we have allowed her to enter into this unaware, she will not be pleased."

"She can be displeased all she likes," Aro said with supreme indifference. "I have seen that girl stalk these halls alone for far too long. She needs a mate."

"Very well," I said. "We will need to contact Eleazar. He may know if this Jasper is as unaware as Isabella."

Aro strode out of the room and returned holding a small silver phone. "I sent a stock of them to Denali before she left last time," he said seeing my confused expression. He pressed a series of keys then handed the phone to me. "You best be the one to speak to him. I imagine he is still a little bitter towards me."

He had good reason to be, Aro had schemed against him to stop him from leaving the guard when he met his mate. It was Isabella's intervention that had allowed him to go free, and he was eternally grateful to her for it.

"Aro," Eleazar's calm voice answered. "Isabella has already left. She should be with you already."

"Not Aro, but Marcus," I said and his tone became far more affable.

"Hello, Marcus. Isabella left yesterday. Has she not arrived yet?" He was concerned and I hastened to reassure him.

"Yes we have seen her. She is in fact on her way back to you already. I am calling for a different reason. I understand Carlisle Cullen is staying with you."

"He is not staying with us, but he is close by if you need to speak with him. He and his coven are spending the summer here before moving to their new home."

"And Jasper Whitlock is one of his coven?" I asked.

"He is," he said, his tone becoming even brighter. "Is it true, Marcus, are they mates?"

"There is a potential bond. I take it he is aware of it then."

"Yes Jasper is aware but I suspect Isabella is not," Eleazar knew as well as we did that Isabella had controversial views on mating. She accepted it in others but had made it clear that she had no desire to share her life with another. I was sure this would change once she felt the happiness being mated could bring.

"We think it is best to keep her uninformed for the time being."

"Are you sure that is wise?" he questioned, echoing Caius' concerns.

"How else can we allow it to progress?" I asked. "Their bond deserves the chance to progress. Her prejudice would only interfere."

"Very well. I will not volunteer the information nor will I lie to her. If she asks me, I will tell her."

"I understand. Thank you, Eleazar."

There was a pause and I thought I knew what he was struggling to articulate. He eventually gathered himself. "If this works, she will be mated, Marcus."

"I am aware of that,"

"And you are happy?"

"I accepted the reality of my situation centuries ago. To her I am a father and nothing more. She deserves someone young and vital to share her life. I am not that man."

I appreciated Eleazar's concern, but it was misplaced. My affection for Isabella had long ago been relegated to that of a father and protector. Outside of my brothers, Eleazar was the only one who knew my true feelings, and that was exactly how I wanted it to remain.

"I expect I will be hearing from you again soon. Give my regards to Aro and Caius."

"I will. Thank you, Eleazar, for everything."

I handed the phone back to Aro, and he gave me an appraising look. "Have you accepted it?" he asked curiously.

"You would know better than any, brother," I said quirking an eyebrow.

"True." He said no more but continued to eye me cautiously. Perhaps looking for a sign that I was slipping into the same depression I suffered through after Didyme was killed. It was Isabella that had saved me from that void.

I am not losing her, I reminded myself, she will still be my Isabella, no matter who she takes as a mate.

Aro brushed the back of my hand with his own and nodded in agreement.

"Well," he said clapping his hands, "what are we to do now? I must admit I had relied on Isabella to provide a little entertainment, but I have been denied. I would very much like to observe this development between her and Mr. Whitlock. Though I don't think the Denali sisters would appreciate a visit."

"Probably not," said Caius dryly. "Well, I am going to retire to my room for now." He nodded a farewell and swept from the room.

Aro looked after him with an amused expression. "Retire to his room, indeed. Who does he think he is fooling?"

I laughed, certain that even now Caius was making inquiries about purchasing a jet for Isabella. He was as helpless before her charms as any of us.

xXx

Jasper POV

Three days.

She had only been gone three days and already I was at my wits end. It was worse because I had no idea when I would see her again. Eleazar assured me she would be back eventually but it was not enough.

I didn't know if the bond would remain intact if she was away too long. What if it was to fail because of distance? Did that mean my only chance at happiness was lost?

I groaned and began pacing the room, watched by a sympathetic Esme and an indifferent Rosalie. She was exceptionally bitter lately. When Emmett had returned from our visit with the Denalis, carrying a dead bear over his shoulder, she had been unamused. He explained it was to be made into a rug, which mollified her somewhat until he continued to say it was for Isabella.

"You should have come with us, Rosie, she was great. You'll really like her."

I sincerely doubted that. Rosalie's expression went from displeased to murderous as Emmett extolled the many virtues of my Isabella. It was curious how quickly the family had taken to her. I understood my own affection as the mating bond, but she had not been overly charming to the others and yet they all seemed enamored. I wondered if it was another facet of her gift. It didn't seem likely I was going to find out anytime soon.

"Jasper," Emmett called from the garage, in a falsetto voice.

"Yes?"

"You're projecting again, dear. You really should try to control that."

He bellowed laughter as he finished, and I could not help but do the same.

"I am going to visit the Denalis," I announced.

"She isn't there," Alice called down the stairs.

"I am aware of that. I just wanted to speak to Eleazar."

"Do some recon," Emmett suggested. "Good idea. I'll come with you."

"I am not doing recon," I protested futilely.

In truth, I was desperate to know anything about Isabella that Eleazar would share. After she had left, we quizzed him but he barely told us a thing. From what I understood, even the sisters knew little about her. She was an enigma.

"Is anyone else coming?" I called.

A moment later the whole family was gathered at the door, including Rosalie.

"What?" she asked when she saw us all staring at her. "I can visit our family can't I? Beside's, it's not like she is going to be there."

My annoyance at her condescending tone was eclipsed by amusement at the idea of her and Isabella actually meeting. Rosalie was a strong personality, but Isabella would chew her up and spit her out, all the while with a dazzling smile and possibly a pointed remark about our coven.

We ran to the Denali house at a leisurely pace. The remoteness of the area enabled us to let the charade slip a little. I wondered if our new home would afford us the same freedoms. The family had lived in Forks before Alice and I joined them. Other than a pack of shape-shifters in the nearby reservation, it was supposed to be ideal for our kind.

I had balked at the idea of a living so close to the threat of shape-shifters but had been voted down. When Carlisle and Esme had visited the house there to check that it was still habitable and to make preparations for us to enroll in the local school, the pack members they had known long since died and there was no sign of a new generation.

I searched the air for any hint of Isabella's familiar scent, but there was only the barest trace. I hadn't really expected her to be here, but I couldn't help hoping. We knocked and after a moment's pause, entered, calling greetings to them all.

We gathered in the lounge with the exception of Tanya who was absent. Kate explained that she had to go into the city to collect something. Carmen and Esme slipped into comfortable conversation, and I tried to gather my thoughts so I could question Eleazar about Isabella. I was a little disappointed that the family had chosen to accompany me. It would have been easier to speak to Eleazar in private when there was less chance of being teased by Emmett.

Eleazar seemed as eager to speak to me as I was to him. I caught him giving me curious looks out of the corner of my eye a couple of times; it was as if he was assessing me.

Alice's impatience was becoming overwhelming, and I felt sure that if someone didn't break the tension soon, she would crack. Edward was amused by her predicament. I could only imagine the thoughts he was hearing from her.

Eventually, it became too much for her and with a frustrated huff, she silenced the room. "If nobody else is going to ask, I will. Who is Isabella?"

Eleazar smiled warily and Carmen gave him a questioning look. He nodded before speaking. "Isabella is a very old friend."

"Old in years or in you have known her a long time?" I asked. I was unable to hide my eagerness.

"Both. I have known her since my change and she is very old in years."

"How old?"

"You must understand she is exceptionally private about her life. She will not be happy to know I have told you even this much." His face twisted in regret.

"Why is she so private? What does she have to hide?" Rosalie's tone was cold. She was irritated by the family's distraction with Isabella, especially Emmett's. Though she was confident in his love - the nature of mating negated any threat Isabella could pose romantically - she didn't like sharing his affections.

"She is not hiding anything. I don't believe you have any right to question her. You did not come to meet her when she was here, so why should I answer your questions now?"

I had never heard Eleazar speak like this. The peaceful nature he usually personified was gone. It was now possible to see the powerful Volturi guard he had been. Rosalie's expression became one of embarrassed remorse, but her emotions revealed her anger. She didn't like being spoken to like this and was surely plotting some petty revenge for it.

Edward caught my eye and nodded almost imperceptibly. I hoped for her sake she did not plan to exact it against Isabella. She would come to regret it if she did.

"I am thinking of Jasper. If they are mates, I think it is only fair that he knows what he is getting into."

None of us were fooled but my accusing words were cut off by the sound of a roaring engine. My eyes snapped to the window in time to see Isabella's bike speeding toward the house. My heart leaped at the sight then dropped almost instantly. Tanya had gone into Anchorage; she must have borrowed the bike.

I sank a little deeper into my chair. I knew I was projecting my disappointment, but I couldn't find it in myself to care. I was thoroughly miserable.

"You're projecting again, dear."

I glared at Emmett but he was staring out the window, grinning widely. I looked too and saw the rider remove her helmet and shake out her waves of mahogany hair. I felt a wave of excitement at the sight of her; I hadn't thought I would see her for weeks if not months, yet here she was.

"I'm happy to see you too, but really, dear, you need to get a handle on these emotions of yours." Her smile dazzled me. I didn't even care that once again I had lost control of my gift like a complete novice. She was happy to see me.

Eleazar opened the door for her, and they shared a moment of silent communication. Edward was watching them with concentration. He didn't seem to be gleaning much from Eleazar's thoughts as he was radiating frustration.

"Did I miss anything interesting?" Isabella asked as she dropped onto the couch beside me. She was close enough that I could reach out and touch her, but I was frozen in place.

"Nothing too exciting. Where is Tanya?" Kate asked.

"She was being difficult; so I decided she needed a little time to calm down." Isabella said carelessly.

Irina laughed. "Where did you leave her?"

"The airport. I am certain she will find her way back eventually."

Emmett roared with laughter. "She's gonna be pissed."

He was right; she would not be happy. The airport was in a populated area and unless she used public transport she was in for a long, human paced, walk before she was far enough from civilization to use her enhanced speed.

Isabella seemed supremely indifferent to Tanya's plight. Rosalie was staring at her, feeling begrudgingly impressed, and Isabella was staring back. Edward snapped his gaze to her, and I suspected she was 'borrowing' his gift again. Her smile became positively devilish as she stared at Rosalie.

"My, my, that's quite the conspiracy theory you are developing there."

Edward snorted, whatever they had heard from Rosalie it was apparently entertaining them both.

"What theory? Rosalie what are you thinking?" Emmett was radiating concern. He suspected, as did I, that there was far more to Isabella's gift than we had seen, and he was scared for his mate.

"I am an evil genius with plans to enslave your coven for my own ends. I am starting with Jasper but will work my way through the males one by one. I am the secret Volturi weapon and this is the first step in a campaign to eradicate the world of peaceful covens."

"You forgot the part about your 'super succubi powers.'" Edward gave up all attempts at seriousness and laughed raucously.

"Now, don't be mean. She can't help if she's a little addled. Can you, dear?"

Rosalie looked like she was going to explode. Emmett put a cautioning hand on her arm and shook his head. She heeded his warning and sank back into the chair, throwing malevolent looks at Isabella who wasn't paying her the slightest attention. Yet again, she seemed to have disengaged from the room and the people around her and was gazing out of the window.

I wondered if we were boring her and struggled to find a conversational topic that would interest her. This was hampered somewhat by the fact I had no idea what interested her outside of motorcycles and bear skin rugs.

"Tanya is on her way." Alice announced, breaking the silence and drawing Bella's attention from the window.

"That was quick. She must have seduced one of the hapless humans to get a ride." Her expression showed her disapproval of this method. I wondered if it was the morality or disdain for humans that troubled her.

She sighed. "I don't know that I want to listen to Tanya complain about the fragile nature of humans. I am going for a run. Jasper, would you care to join me?"

I was too stunned to answer at first. It was the first time she had addressed me by name, her lightly accented voice adding emphasis on the second syllable: Jasper. When I regained my senses, I smiled and answered, hoping I was able to hide the desperation in my voice.

"I would love to come."

Thanks for reading. If you would like a teaser of the next chapter let me know in a review or a PM.

Simaril x