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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.

Thanks go to AnnaLund for helping with the Italian translations for this chapter.

Chapter Nine — Welcome To The Family

Jasper POV

Isabella was nowhere to be seen when we arrived. I worried that she changed her mind and left already.

Carmen saw my disappointed expression and smiled. "She and Eleazar have just gone for a stroll. They won't be gone long."

The rest of the family settled into conversation, and I sat down at the computer. I was certain it would be easy to find what I needed; the internet was one invention even Isabella would have to agree made the humans worthwhile.

I pulled up a search engine and tapped in Leofflæd. Thinking it may speed up the process, I added the second clue she gave me: daughter of an Earl. I expected to have to search through pages of information before I found what I was looking for, but the first page had all I need.

I stared at the computer, my mouth gaping open. There was not a lot of information about her, but there was plenty about her father: Ealdorman Byrhtnoth, killed in battle in the year 991.

"Well, I didn't expect you to find out quite so easily. I thought I had at least presented a challenge."

I spun around and saw Isabella standing behind me. I expected her to be angry, or at least upset, but she was remarkably composed.

She moved closer and looked over my shoulder at the screen. "I'm surprised they got so much of the information correct. Did you learn anything more?"

"No, there was only a brief mention of your name."

"I suppose that is more than most get. I didn't do anything worthy of note. Not then anyway." Shrugging carelessly, she turned from the screen and drifted over to the couch.

Eleazar gave her a concerned look, but she shook her head, denying him a chance to question her further.

"There is going to be a meteor storm tonight," Alice said. "Should make interesting viewing."

Isabella nodded thoughtfully. "That does sound interesting. Jasper, would you care to watch the skies with me?"

Alice was disappointed. She had been hoping to make it a group outing, but Isabella's invitation didn't seem to be extended to them all. While understanding her plight, I was not going to pass up the opportunity to spend more time alone with Isabella.

"I would love to."

Without another word, she stood and walked out into the garden, and I followed. We didn't go far, only a few miles from the house, just out of earshot. Without the interference of light pollution here, the sky was an inky mass scattered with stars. It was really quite beautiful. She stretched out on the ground and stared up, still silent. I sat beside her, preferring to be able to see her face than the stars.

She was so still she looked like a statue. The moonlight played across her skin enhancing her beauty. I was almost convinced we were going to spend the entire time in silence when finally she spoke.

"I imagine you have more questions."

"I do, but if you prefer, I will not ask them." Though, I was longing to know more.

"Better to get it out of the way now. Ask away," she instructed.

"Your father, he was–"

"A fool," she said harshly. "He wanted to play at being a soldier when he should have left it to more experienced men. He allowed his ridiculous notions of honor to override the counsel of his advisors and it got him killed." The bitterness in her tone was unmistakable.

"You were close to your father?" I asked.

"Not remotely. I left his household long before his death. I was just the one that had to pay for his folly."

She straightened and looked at me curiously. "How much do you know about my time?"

"Very little," I admitted, though I planned to correct that oversight as soon as I had the opportunity.

"Well, this should be an educational experience for you. What would you like to know?"

"You said you had already left his household." She nodded. "Where were you?"

"I was in my nineteenth year when my father died. I hadn't seen him for years before that, not since the day he handed me over to my husband."

"Husband! You were married?"

"Yes, I was married."

I stared at her, unable to form words.

She laughed. "I told you it was a different time. My husband was a man of influence and our marriage united the two houses. I had no affection for him, nor him me. But that is not what you were asking; I believe you wanted to know about my father."

No, I wanted to know about her marriage, but her deflection of the subject made it hard for me to question her further without risking her silence again.

"As I said, he wanted to play at being a soldier. He wasn't the only one. All of the men were eager to prove themselves and naturally they needed an audience. We women were brought to watch them fight. When they were killed there was nothing to stop the invaders. I believe they call it the spoils of war."

In my time the spoils of war were land and property, not people. I couldn't imagine how it must have been for her.

"I was a prize. I was to be taken home with the invaders but fate intervened. I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. Battles are a temptation for our kind, so much blood. I was found and proved to be a curiosity. My creator took me home with him and I was changed. A millennia later, here I am."

I was amazed by all she had told me, the trust it showed. I never expected her to be so open. It was as if she was a different person to the one I had met a week ago. This had to be the mating bond; there was no way she couldn't feel it too. I felt it growing stronger in me by the minute. I was drawn to her.

I chanced another question. "Who was your creator?"

She gave me an appraising look. "I think you already know the answer to that."

"I would like you to tell me though."

She sighed, rubbing her hands over her face in an uncharacteristic human fashion. "I don't understand this. I have never revealed so much. You must understand that there is a reason I value privacy. If it was common knowledge, I would lose the freedoms I have now. I enjoy the anonymity.

"You don't have to tell me," I said, my conflict clear in my voice. I wanted her to tell me but her comfort was more important.

"I don't like to lie. I always vowed if someone asked, I would tell them the truth. Few have ever asked and none of them after such a short acquaintance." She seemed to steel herself. "If you want to know, you have to ask."

The words came from me almost against my will. "Isabella, are you part of the Volturi?"

She didn't speak but nodded solemnly.

"Who did it? Who changed you?"

"Aro." Her voice was practically a whisper.

My arm stretched out to touch her. There was only a foot of space between us, and yet it felt like a mile. She closed the distance, her fingertips brushing the back of my hand.

Her gold eyes locked on mine, and I was lost. I had no power to resist her; my entire being was reaching out to her, though I didn't move an inch. She seemed to be experiencing the same sensation as she gasped. Her emotions, for once not shielded, showed her confusion. Her eyes widened, and she snatched her hand away from me.

"What was that?" she asked harshly.

I open my mouth to explain, but no words came to me; I was still reeling from the power of the moment.

She jumped to her feet and ran toward the house.

"Isabella, wait!" I called after her. Her pace increased, and I leaped to my feet and chased her. She was in the house before I caught up.

"Did it happen?" Alice asked excitedly. I nodded.

"Did what happen?" Isabella demanded. "What was that?"

"That was mating," Alice said happily. It was the wrong thing to say. Isabella's gaze shot to her, and Alice quailed under the ferocity of her stare.

"Mating?"

"Yes, I must admit, I am surprised at how fast it happened," Carlisle said. He seemed oblivious of her building rage and continued happily, "Welcome to the family."

Isabella stared at him disbelievingly then turned to Eleazar. "Did you know about this?" her voice was a menacing growl.

"I suspected it. I wasn't certain and–"

"And you allowed me to come back here!" Her voice had risen to a screech.

"Isabella, will you please calm down and allow me to explain," he pleaded.

"No, you will be silent. I have no desire to hear anything else you have to say." She turned to me and her gaze softened a little. "I am sorry this has happened to you, but I am not your mate."

"Isabella," Eleazar pleaded.

She turned to him and fired off a volley of words in Italian. "Voi mi avete tradita. Dopo tutto quello che ho fatto io per Voi, questo è il modo in cui vengo ripagata."

I didn't know what she said - having never studied Italian - but whatever it was, Eleazar was stunned into silence, his emotions revealing his shock. Carmen took his hand attempting to comfort him; it was futile. Whatever Isabella had said, had hurt him far more than physical injury could. She shot him one last furious glare then stalked from the house, leaving me frozen.

"Go after her you idiot!" Emmett shouted, breaking me from my stunned paralysis.

I ran out after her in time to see her swing one leg over the seat of her motorbike and gun the engine. I jumped in her path and gripped the handlebars.

"Let me go," she snarled.

"No, you owe me an explanation." I had no idea where this sudden courage had come from, but I was not about to let her disappear from my life without a fight.

"I owe you nothing. I'm sorry you have been misinformed, but I am not your mate."

"I don't believe you." The more enraged she seemed to become the calmer I felt. It was as if my gift was adjusting naturally to complement her.

She slapped at my hands, trying to force me to release my grip so she could drive away. I felt a pulse of electricity pass between us each time our skin touched. She pulled her hands against her chest, refusing me contact.

"You feel that too," I said. It wasn't a question but a statement. "Surely you know what it means."

"It means nothing," she hissed.

"You know that's not true. You can't ignore it, and you can't deny it."

Her expression changed. She looked almost scared.

"I can't do this now. I have to leave." She wasn't speaking to me. She was telling herself. "Go back to your family. They will take care of you. You know who I am, what I am. If you come after me, you will regret it."

I saw the moment she detached herself from the situation. The light in her eyes snuffed out and she smiled blandly. "It was nice to meet you, Jasper, but I think it is better for us both if we don't meet again."

I lurched back; her words were like a physical blow. She gunned the engine and shot down the drive, leaving me staring after her.

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

Simaril x