Next one for you. Thank you so much for all the reviews and those who are still discovering the story, nice to have you with us.

Next chapter should be up in about a week I think.

Not safe for work!

Enjoy, Lil'd.

xxxxx

They were there first, Storm sniffing around, a little tired after all the running around she had been doing. The vampires of course did not tire, standing in the middle of the clearing that formed the 'garden' of the Cullen's house, waiting.

About ten minutes to midnight Bella sniffed the air, the strong stench of dirty, wet dog reached her nose.

"Ugh! I see what you mean," she murmured to Rose who just gave her an 'I told you so' look before turning to stare at the tree-line where she knew Jacob would appear.

He arrived in human form but he had company. Rose let out a low growl as she saw that he had three other wolves with him. Bella recognised Paul but she was also perturbed to see Seth and Leah, Sue Clearwater's kids. Her father's girlfriend.

Bella stepped in front of Rose, blocking her from view.

"Be careful, he's not the friend you once knew, Bella," she warned in a whisper. "He hurts you, I will kill him!" She hissed, her anger surging through their bond, accompanied by the strongest wave of protectiveness she had ever felt from her mate, it gave her reason to believe Rose meant every word but she wouldn't let it come to that.

"Bella," Jake's greeting was gruff and clipped.

"Jake," Bella replied and they stared one another out

Jacob noted the way his old friend held herself, tall and confident, so unlike Bella. His Bella. He noted the small changes to her features, her beauty enhanced beyond human perfection, his wolf eyes having no trouble seeing her in the darkness.

"You fucking stink!" He snarled and looked away from her, glancing at the other wolves who growled their agreement.

"So do you!" Rose growled and stepped from behind her mate, not prepared to let the insult lie. Jake frowned when her saw her.

"Where's Alice?" He questioned. "I assumed she was the one with you, Bella?" The newborn shrugged.

"We're not so close any more," was all she said.

"And you are with the Ice Queen?" He mocked, glaring at Rose. What he wasn't prepared for was Bella's reaction, she was in front of him in a second and he took a step back when confronted with her vampire visage, fangs down and eyes black.

"Never, Ever, speak about her that way!" She snarled into his face. "Or I will hurt you!" Rose felt the strength of her mate's anger, cold but intense and she knew Bella would follow though on her threat. Jake was stunned by her reaction but thought it gave him an advantage.

"Why? She's just another leech," he smirked. Bella closed her eyes, repressing the overwhelming urge to dismember him in the split second it would take her. He wasn't scared and he should be.

"Bella," Rose called softly, sensing how close to the edge her mate was being pushed. "He's not worth it, think of Charlie." The sound of her father's name cut through her anger and she stepped back a pace, fists clenched.

"I will warn you only once. She is my mate, my imprint. Do not disrespect her or I will end you!" The words were low but intense and her revelation made him step back and think. Imprint? That was sacred amongst wolves.

"Imprint?" He looked between the two vampires.

"Yeah Jake," Bella was calmer now and was succumbing to Rose's calming influence and turned from the wolves and walked back towards the blonde, she shouldn't have left her so exposed, not with four wolves around.

"She's your mate? What about -," he was cut off by Rose's hiss.

"Don't talk about him," Bella growled, taking Rose's hand and squaring up to Jacob. The shifter looked between them, scowling.

"Why did you want to talk?" He eventually growled, not noticing the wolf puppy amble over to him, sit and study him for a second before lifting her leg and pissing on his foot. "What the -?" He shook his leg and stared, uncomprehendingly after the animal.

"Storm, no!" Bella scolded the wolf who did not look the least bit sorry. "We do not pee on people!"

" 'People' is being generous," Rose growled. She was trying very hard not to laugh.

"You have a pet wolf?" Jacob growled, finding insult in the vampires domesticating such a wild animal.

"Her mother died, she would have too," Bella coldly informed him as they glared at each other. This was not going well.

A growl from her left was the only warning she got before a flying missile of fur and gnashing teeth was headed her way. Bella was knocked off her feet and the weight of the wolf landed on her chest.

"Bella!"Rose screamed as her mate went down, the wolf on op of her blocking her view. Then everything went still.

Jake saw Paul shift but he had been too distracted by the real wolf to react but Paul had always been a hot-head and prone to stupid, impulsive decisions.

Rose blurred to her mate but before she could tackle the wolf a raging growl issued from under the stinking mass of fur. Bella powered to her feet, the wolf's throat in an iron grip as she stopped it's jaws from snapping closed on her neck, severing her head. Rose watched in awe as the wolf that was Paul was held vertically off the ground, legs kicking as it whimpered for release, throat constricted as Bella held him aloft. But Bella wasn't done, a blur of motion and the wolf was slammed so hard into the ground that it's body made an impression and it went limp.

"No!" Jacob cried as the link with his pack-mate was severed. He started to shift.

"NO!" This time it was Rose who issued the command.

Jake froze, he couldn't shift. Why couldn't he shift?

"Bella?" Rose rushed to her mate's side, the shifters did not seem a threat. Jake was on all fours on the ground but didn't seem to be turning, the younger ones were looking on but not making any move to shift or interfere. The blonde was frantic, cupping her mate's face, checking her over for injuries.

"Are you Ok? Bella?" The newborn was overwhelmed by Rose's panic.

"I'm fine baby, but can you dial it down a bit, please?" Bella requested as she was battered by wave after wave of sheer hysteria from the blonde. "Please, calm down?" She beseeched her mate, her words began to sink in and Rose nodded, forcing herself to relax and nodded when Bella smiled at her, obviously unharmed.

"Jake!" Bella turned her attention to the shifter who lifted his head at her words.

"Paul?" His first concern was for his pack-mate, the bond strong.

"I didn't hurt him, just knocked him out," Bella confirmed as she listened for the sound of a steady heart and breathing. "But what the fuck Jake?" She turned on the shifter, questioning the attack and watched as he got to his feet, a strange look on his face. A glance at the others showed them eyeing her and Rose suspiciously but making no move to interfere.

"I didn't tell him to," Jacob threw up his hands in defence, looking between the two vampires, Rose had really lost it when she thought Bella had been hurt and it gave him some insight into their relationship. Maybe it was like an imprint? He looked down at their joined hands, the blonde not releasing her mate, Bella rolling her eyes when she tried to free herself but relenting when the blonde refused to let go. But, he was astounded by the strength and ferocity exhibited by Bella, it was totally against what he had known of her as a human.

"Please?" Rose questioned too low for the shifters to hear and Bell acquiesced before turning her attention back to Jake.

"Ok," Bella nodded, she believed him.

"Why are they here?" She growled, nodding towards the others and Jacob looked over and sent reassuring thoughts through their pack-link.

"They told me Charlie had invited you to Sue's," Jacob replied. "I assumed that was why you called me so I asked them to come along, to see how dangerous you are in person," he growled and Rose felt her anger rise, again.

"A danger? How can I be a danger when I've never fed on a human?" She retorted angrily, causing Jacob to look at her incredulously.

"Never?" He questioned, disbelieving her statement. She was a vampire for fuck's sake, that's what they did. He'd never believed the Cullen's never fed on humans.

"Never, I swear on Bella's life," Rose confirmed and he then knew that she was telling the truth.

"And you, Bella? You eyes are red, doesn't that mean you're a human feeder?" He scowled at the newborn.

"Technically no, she's a newborn and still has human blood in her system, the red may fade over time. But it does depend on her diet," Rose coolly informed him, without telling a direct lie.

"Can you swear you've never taken a human life, Bella?" He questioned, he wasn't stupid and Rose's wording sounded dodgy to him.

"No, I can't," Bella replied honestly as her eyes met the shifters and all the wolves except Paul who was still unconscious, let out warning growls.

"See," Leah hissed to Seth, "Mom wouldn't be safe with them around." Bella stayed silent, she wasn't going to defend herself to this dog, why should she? She was a vampire for fuck's sake!

"No, you don't understand," Rose cut into the silence.

"I understand perfectly!" Jacob roared. "She's been a leech for a less than three months and she's already killed. How many is that over a lifetime, Bella?"

"Enough!" The blonde roared and Jacob shook his head, he couldn't think straight, couldn't form a a response. "Now you listen to me!" Rose continued and the shifters stared at her. "Bella has killed, yes. But she killed a child molester and a rapist!" She yelled before taking a calming breath, a look to her mate showed Bella slightly stunned at the vehement defence of her honour. " I don't think any of us would disagree that she did a bad thing there?" Jacob grudgingly shook his head. He despised that kind of person and would probably take that upon himself if he ever came across them.

"No. I'm sorry, Bella," he apologised to his old friend. "I'm just worried you're going to hurt Sue or the kids," he gestured to Seth and Leah who were scowling at the reference.

"Bella has superior control for one so young, better than Jasper's even now," Rose explained. "And he was able to attend school for years without hurting anyone. She won't hurt Sue, Charlie or you either," she finished, turning her eyes on the young shifters.

"I won't," Bella confirmed with a curt nod. "I wouldn't have dreamed of coming to see Charlie if I thought I was any danger."

"And do you think I would have let her?" Rose added. "If she hurt Charlie she would never get over it, I wouldn't let her live with that." Jacob was starting to be convinced.

"Listen, all I want is to be able to go to the barbecue to make my dad happy," Bella sighed. "He attacked me," she nodded towards Paul, "and I had every right to hurt him but I don't want to fight with your pack, Jake. As long as you leave us alone, we have no argument with you."

It was silent as Jacob absorbed everything he had been told. As pack leader after he had taken over as rightful alpha from Sam it was his decision whether to let Bella and Rosalie onto the reservation. His responsibility if anything went wrong.

"Ok, just the once and you leave the moment you're done." He finally conceded.

"That's all we ask!" Bella threw her hands up then turned to Leah and Seth. "I'm sorry, about all -, this," she gestured. "See you tomorrow, Jake." A nod of farewell and the vampires turned to leave, still hand in hand. As soon as their backs were turned there was a flurry of movement and Paul, still in his wolf form, flew at them. Both vampires whirled and dropped into a defensive crouch but it was Bella who pushed off and flew through the air, meeting him half way, catching him around the neck in a clothes-line manoeuvre as she landed. Instead of bringing him to the ground she spun the wolf and sent him crashing against a tree which cracked under the impact.

Bella was on him in a second, knee on his neck, holding him down, hands on the top and bottom of his jaw, holding his mouth open. One pull and his skull would be split in two as her fury darkened eyes looked down on him.

"How dare you?" She roared so loud all their sensitive eardrums rang with the ferocity. "We have done nothing to you! I should end you," she threatened, putting a little pressure on the wolf's jaw.

Jacob watched in true fear as he saw the vampire tackle his pack-mate with such ease. They had never fought vampires and if they were all this quick and strong he never wanted to.

"Bella!" Rose called softly, the newborn growled and ignored her mate, still focused on the trembling wolf pinned beneath her. Rose didn't bother calling again, instead she went to her mate, a blur and she was by her side, a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Leave him, sweetie," her voice was low and soft and Bella reacted to her touch, the growls turning to purrs, dark eyes turning up to meet her mate's. Rose smiled and marvelled at how beautiful the newborn was, so strong and primal, she also felt her body react in other ways but now was not the time or the place.

"You have no idea how powerful she is," Dark eyes turned on Jacob as the blonde spoke. "She is powerful even among our kind, our leaders praise her. She is unique. He is lucky to be alive." She gestured to her mate who was still holding the wolf in her iron grip. "Bella." At this her mate did release the wolf's head but stayed kneeling on his neck, not breaking it or restricting his breathing, too much.

Bella was still on high alert, her senses picking up the tiniest insect moving around, every scent, every sound registering. She was eventually distracted when Storm joined her, paws on the wolf-shifter's shoulder, sharp teeth darting in to tug a large ear which caused a bark of pain.

"No, Storm," Bella scolded, not wanting the puppy to get involved, she was too precious to get hurt.

"Let him up?" Jacob asked and both vampires eyed the pack alpha warily. "I will discipline him, he was out of line and I'm sorry. He has brought shame on his pack!" He directed his last words to Paul who whimpered. "I'm sorry, Bella," Jake apologised again but direct to the vampire.

Bella didn't respond, instead looked down into the shifter's eyes and channelled all the anger and dominance she could through herself and into the wolf. It felt different than it did with vampires or humans but his whimpering as he struggled under her gave an indication that the message had been received.

"Next time I will kill him." Bella snarled as she stood up. "And you will have no right to retaliate!" Se kept her eyes on Jake, waiting for his response.

"I agree, he disobeyed his alpha," Jake growled at Paul who avoided looking him in the eye, a true act of submission from the shifter.

"We're leaving," Rose announced, wanting to get Bella away from any more potential trouble. Her mate allowed her hand to be taken and this time they were able to leave unhindered.

It wasn't until they were on the edge of town that they spoke.

"You were so fucking hot back there," Rose purred as she pulled Bella to a halt, hands slipping to their natural place on her mate's hips. The blonde didn't stop there, she quickly had Bella backed against a tree and was kissing her way down the elegant column of the newborn's throat. Bella growled in appreciation, hormones going wild, her body already wound up after the fight.

"Catch me," a voice called and it wasn't until Bella opened her eyes she realised that Rose was nowhere to be seen. The newborn was immediately excited by by the idea of a chase and allowed her instincts to take over, fangs dropping and eyes darkening as she scented the air to pick up Rose's scent. Then she growled. Storm. She scooped the puppy into her arms who let out a contented rumble as she snuggled against Bella's chest but the newborn was disgruntled that her speed would be reduced due to her passenger.

Bella raced through the forest, Rose's scent intoxicating her, she could smell the blonde's arousal as she ran and the thoughts of what she wanted to do to her when she caught her raced through the newborn's mind. It was still the middle of the night and there were no humans around. It was spring but the nights were still too cold for camping and it wasn't hunting season either.

Rose had purposely left Storm behind, knowing Bella would never leave her but enjoying the freedom it gave her to run, and the head start it would give her over her mate. Sometimes she liked to have the upper hand. Well, she always liked the upper hand, except where Bella was concerned. This looked good, it was a small clearing with no sign of any animals around to distract them. Rose found a good position and waited.

Bella ran for miles but she could sense she was getting closer to her mate, the bond told her this, it was also communicating her mate's arousal and lust but she thought Rose was projecting this on purpose to urge her on. She was doing a good job as Bella's own lust continued to rise until her body was thrumming with the need for her mate.

Bella burst into the clearing and Rose waited, watching as Bella looked around, frowning as she let Storm down. She knew Rose was here but couldn't see her.

The blonde smiled, she was perched in a tree, above her mate. The second Storm was out of the way she pounced, bringing Bella down onto her knees, Rose at her back, mouth to her ear.

"Isabella!" Rose never used her full name, it sent a chill of excitement through the newborn and she whimpered as strong fingers pushed her hair aside and sharp teeth nibbled her earlobe. She didn't resist as Rose slipped her other hand down the back of her jeans, caressing the soft skin of her ass, fingers slipping between pert cheeks into wetness. Bella whimpered as her mate toyed with her.

"Take them off," Rose commanded, mindful that they needed to return to the hotel clothed. Bella hastily undid her pants and slid them off, along with her panties, leaving her naked from the waist down.

Rose smiled predatorily when her mate was revealed to her eyes, as the blonde knelt behind the newborn.

"Mine!" She growled and bit down, fangs sliding into her mate's neck causing Bella to groan loudly. She loved a possessive Rose. The blonde shifted slightly, to the side, but her teeth remained embedded in her lover's neck, the sensation distracting Bella so much that she didn't feel the blow coming until a firm hand impacted on her ass.

"Rose!" She struggled and tried to free herself, her flesh stinging but the blonde was not letting her go, a strong arm around her waist, holding her against her mate. Bella giving in, wanting to see where Rose was taking this.

"Shh, my Bella," Rose withdrew her teeth and spoke calmingly to her mate. Tongue laving the wound she had made. Bella shuddered but stayed still, she didn't want to fight her, even though she could easily break free. She had quickly discovered that Rose was a skilled and inventive lover, slowly introducing her mate to a wide variety of sexual pleasures which this seemed to be one of. Another slap landed, startling the birds, it sounded like a gunshot but no-one would be able to trace their location from it or think it particularly strange if overheard.

Bella let out another whimper as the blow hit, her ass burning, a hiss escaping her as the burn continued.

"You like that?" Rose queried, smiling as her mate moaned and turned to rest her head on the blonde's shoulder. "Do you like that?" Bella's head shot up at her words, Rose had that cool, commanding tone down to a fine art and she could only bite her lip and nod. "I asked you a question. Do you like that, Isabella?" The blonde asked again and Bella knew she was demanding a verbal answer.

"Yes!" The newborn gasped and Rose's lips curled in a smile, showing her fangs fully extended and Bella got even more turned on, her mate's nails scratching deliciously across the sensitised flesh.

"Good!" Another slap and Bella rocked on her knees, Rose supporting her weight and the sensation going right to her core. Bella keened as Rose once again pierced her flesh, just as her hand fell again, she sucked on her mate's blood as she brought it down again and again.

"Rose!" Bella panted, each pull on her neck perfectly timed with each blow, each and every action sending a spark right to her clit. She felt as though she was going to explode, her connection with Rose amplifying the feeling as she picked up her mate's arousal through their bond. She was lost in the erotic repetition.

"Rose, please," she gasped, she was getting so close, her body was burning for release, tensed and on the precipice. Rose felt her mate shaking as she held her steady, Bella's submission pouring into her through their bond and she revelled in it, in the trust her mate was putting in her.

"Let go," the words were not spoken but Bella heard them none the less, her body reacting violently to the last smack to hit her burning skin, the waves of pleasure emanating out from point of contact and Rose let her fall, body coming down on top of Bella's, fingers forcing their way inside to control the rush of orgasm as it hit, to claim her.

Bella arched her back, pressing up against her mate, cries swallowed by her lover's mouth as it enveloped hers, fangs indiscriminately piercing soft flesh as they met in a desperate kiss. Bella was helpless under the blonde who kept fucking her even after the initial climax, fingers pumping and thrusting, twisting and rubbing until Bella's cries were constant, her head now back as Rose's mouth came down on her throat in one last savagely delicious bite which made Bella cum harder than she ever had before.

Rose had been riding her mate's thigh, Bella's excitement intoxicating her and driving her on so when she felt her lover cum she twisted her hips and ground down just that little bit harder. Clit exploding, orgasm washing over her and causing her eyes to roll back in her head, her teeth clamping down hard enough to draw a sharp cry of pleasure from Bella.

Neither really knew how long they lay there, Rose on top, blonde hair fanning over them both.

"That was -," Bella croaked, trying to vocalise how intense the experience had been. Their mating had been all encompassing and she had thought nothing else would come close. She had been wrong. "Is it always going to be this good?" She eventually murmured between the soft, adoring kisses she was peppering her mate's neck with.

"I hope so," Rose smirked into the embrace, enjoying the attention Bella was lavishing her with. "You're very receptive and I've only just started with you," she purred and Bella's excitement began to rise all over again. "We should think about heading back though," the blonde cautioned. "We need to shower and at least try and look as though we've been using the room. "Storm needs feeding too," she reminded the newborn. At that they both looked around for the little wolf and spotted her curled up in a little nest of moss she had made for herself, fast asleep.

"Shit!" Bella scrambled to a sitting position, now feeling guilty that she had been neglecting the pup.

"Shh! Calm down," Rose chuckled. "You know she only eats when she's hungry, if she had been she would have let us know," she reassured her mate and Bella relaxed. It was true, Storm was not a dog puppy and her dietary requirements were different than a domesticated dog.

"But we should call at the market for some meat for her. Horsham's used to do organic meat and I'm sure they still do." Bella nodded her agreement and stood, brushing the loam and other forest debris from her person before offering Rose and unnecessary but chivalrous hand up.

"Thanks," Rose spent a second adjusting her clothing and then went to gather the sleeping Storm, the puppy lovely and warm as she made herself comfortable on the blondes 'assets'.

Xxxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

The afternoon had been a little tense, neither Sue or Charlie really understanding why. Pleasant conversation was being made but something was just off.

Bella frowned as her phone buzzed, the caller ID stating it was Alice.