Sorry for the long break. I've been on vacation with no chance to finish this chapter.

The next few chapters are pretty much ready to go and this wraps up a couple of loose ends before we meet Victoria next chapter.

Next Collar update will be along in a few days.

Enjoy,

LD x

xxxx

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. Rose frowned when Bella held up her phone so her mate could read the display.

"Dad?" Bella called to her father who also frowned but nodded when his daughter gestured that she was Ok to take the call. Not that he would have stopped her but it was his day and she respected that. Rose watched as Bella cleared the side of the house to free herself from the constraints of appearing human. Once out of earshot of the wolves Bella lowered her voice so they couldn't eavesdrop even if they were trying and finally spoke to Alice.

"Yes?" She didn't sound welcoming to the pixie

"Bella?" Alice had heard everything going on in the background so had understood why the newborn had taken so long to speak to her. "Where are you? What's going on?" The pixie enquired, Bella took a deep breath to withhold the growl that threatened to erupt.

"I'm with Charlie, on the reservation, not that it's any of your business," the brunette replied coldly. There was a sharp intake of breath as Alice digested the information but sensibly didn't question it. "So?" Bella's patience was non-existent when it came to all of her ex-coven.

"I'm sorry, obviously not good timing, I'll call another time."

"Alice!" Bella growled, "I'm here now, what the hell did you want?"

"To apologise," was the abrupt reply. Bella rolled her eyes.

"Why? You already did," she vaguely remembered Alice being in the room with her coven just before her mating to Rose was triggered.

"You were a little out of it," Alice murmured, awkwardly recalling the soporific state the newborn had been in at the time. The memory still gave her pause, for reasons she wasn't willing to recognise. Well, she recognised the jealousy she had felt, seeing her newborn so comfortable with her new coven, and with Rose. Bella so primal in her instinctual state. So yes, she recognised her feelings but had not yet managed to numb their affect on her.

Bella just issued a low growl at the pixie's words, automatically defensive of her coven-mates and Rose, especially Rose.

"No, Bella- ," Alice sighed, realising that she was stepping on thin ice. "I just wanted to apologise to you for being so obtuse about this whole thing. You might not think it but I do love you Bella and I just want what's best for you."

Rose had been listening to the conversation and at those words couldn't help letting out a hiss, thankfully only the wolves were aware of it but their attention snapped to the blonde and Jake tensed, seeing the anger present on the vampire's face from where he was positioned, keeping them in his line of sight.

Bella heard the sound of displeasure and the wave of anger and possessive warmth through her bond with her mate.

"I make my own choices," she snarled down the phone, barely restraining herself from crushing the fragile machine in her hand.

"I know but I just wanted you to know you're not alone and I'm here -."

"Alone? Alice? Have you heard yourself? Did Tanya not show you how we are all a part of one another?" Bella was truly angry now and Alice was back pedalling her thoughts to see where this had begun to go so wrong. All she wanted to do was regain her friendship with the newborn, she missed her and life with the Cullen's was different and lonely now that Rose had also left. Emmett wasn't really around that much anymore and she missed him too.

"I belong with Rose. To her as she is mine, I am not alone and never will be!" The call was ended by the crunch as Bella's control snapped and she crushed the phone in her palm, the metal crumpling like paper.

"Bella?" Rose was by her mate's side in a second. "Stupid bitch!" Rose growled, staring at the now useless phone. She had heard every word and was angered by her sister's stupidity.

"Bella? Everything Ok?" Charlie's voice was concerned as he called to her.

"Yeah, dad. I'm Ok." Bella replied carefully schooling her features into a neutral expression, a flick of her tongue checking if her fangs were fully retracted. "Rose." A nod to her mate's still fully elongated teeth made the blonde snap her mouth shut, face neutral but Bella could sense her embarrassment through their bond.

"Sorry," Rose mumbled as she got herself under control, Alice seemed to have that affect on her now.

Charlie poked his head around the corner of the house and saw two very angry looking young women, he had never seen Bella look so -. So fierce. Rose, well it wasn't unexpected but his laid back daughter?

"Um, everything Ok, Bels?" He questioned and was relieved when her look softened as she smiled at him.

"Yeah, dad. That was Alice." Charlie frowned that Alice seemed to have upset his daughter and her girlfriend so much.

"That bad, huh?" He responded, watching the way Rose slipped an arm around Bella's waist and pulled her closer, a gentle kiss to the brunette's forehead telling him everything he needed to know.

"She treated Bella badly, with little respect for her feelings. Some things cannot be undone with an apology," Rose informed him coolly and Charlie nodded his understanding, glad Rose seemed to feel the same way he did about the small Cullen right now.

"She wants to be friends again. I don't," Bella informed her father bluntly and he nodded.

"Well, take your time. Do it on your terms Bels," Charlie nodded sagely and Bella chuckled, she knew her father was as emotionally stunted as she herself was, or had been.

"I will, Charlie," Bella confirmed and took Rose's hand, tugging it gently, the blonde followed the Swans back to the party. Well, the awkward gathering where only Sue and Charlie seemed to be enjoying themselves. The shifters were still wary of the vampires and focused on the food which Sue was plying them with. Bella and Rose were playing hide the sausage, but not in any traditional sense. Although -? Rose's mind drifted and she reminded herself to do some on-line browsing when they returned to Denali.

"If you're not gonna eat that, I will," Seth whispered as Rose was about to sneak a bread roll into her voluminous purse, chosen specially for the occasion. It already held a good selection of food, it would ruin it but she had picked it up this morning from a local store for this sole purpose so it wouldn't be missed. Storm was also getting a full belly as she sat to attention by the table, her eyes fixed on the food being consumed. Or not.

The blonde looked at the shifter boy before handing it over after checking the parents weren't watching.

"Thanks, you're not so bad," the youngest shifter acknowledged as he chewed on the bread, a goofy grin on his face.

"So, she feeds you and suddenly she's your best friend?" Leah sneered, glaring at the vampires.

"They've never hurt us. Paul was stupid and got his ass kicked. I know you could have killed him, but you didn't," Seth retorted as he reached for another steak off the platter Sue had placed on the table. She was chatting to Charlie, her arm around his waist as he ran the grill with Jake, They looked happy. Rose raised a brow at Jake's scowl, he could hear every word that was being said at the table and it appeared he did not approve.

"So, you're imprints?" Bella looked away from her father, surprised by Leah's question.

"No." Rose shook her head, dismissing the young shifter's words. "We are both bond-mates and true mates."

"How is that different?" Leah asked, her interest genuine, this surprised the blonde so she indulged the girl's curiosity.

"Well," Rose began. "from what I know, imprinting is instantaneous, when you first meet?" Leah nodded. "It's different for -. For us." She caught herself before she uttered the word 'vampires'. "The connection is there, it just isn't always immediately triggered." She explained. "I've known Bella years but it wasn't until her change that my feelings changed, that my beast began to recognise her as my mate. We also share another type of bond that clouded things. But, when the mating instinct was triggered it was unstoppable."

She looked around at the shifters who were listening intently.

"Yeah, it took a week to re-build the house," Bella screwed up her face at the memory, building dust gets everywhere. Seth blinked, it took a moment before comprehension dawned on his face and left him eyeing the vampires with a new found respect that only a teenage boy could muster. Leah noticed and smacked him around the back of his head.

"You said you were 'true' mates?" Leah asked. "Is that like how we can date but then it's different when we imprint?" Bella looked to Rose who had more experience in such matters.

"Yes, although a mating is more like a marriage," the blonde explained. "It's not casual dating," she clarified. "A couple, or sometimes a group of vampires bond in a way that is instinctual but not unbreakable. The mating instinct is extremely possessive but not irrevocable as it is with true mates."

"It sounds complicated," Seth grumbled but Leah looked intrigued.

"It's common for there to be more than a couple?" She asked Rose direct.

"Yes," the blonde shrugged. "Usually couples but threesomes and occasionally foursomes are known. Members of our coven are bonded in a three-way bond," she explained. "But I have met several." It was Bella's turn to be curious, she did not yet know much of Rose's past, outside her life with the Cullen's and decided to question her mate on it, soon. She knew she still had much to learn from her mate.

Leah absorbed the information and watched her brother devour yet more food with a look of disgust on her face.

"When are you leaving?" The shifter girl queried but Rose sensed no animosity.

"In the morning, we didn't want to stay too long. Bella -,"

"We don't want to push my control," Bella jumped in to explain. "It's good but with all this," the newborn gestured around them, indicating the domestic scene. "I need to get home." She caught Rose's smile at the reference. The blonde felt it too, she wanted the security and comfort only their coven could offer. Their family.

After the party was over the vampires said their goodbyes, deciding to take Storm and return home that night. Charlie was disappointed not to be able to have breakfast with them but he had seen how upset Bella had been after Alice had called and attributed their departure to that. However, he did extract a promise from them to visit as soon as their vacation was over, they hadn't yet planned the details but were likely to be away for a few weeks. South America they told him was their likely destination.

xxxx

Both vampires were glad to be home. Rose put her car away in the garage and Bella carried their bags inside as Storm followed her into the house. What she wasn't expecting was the entire coven to be waiting for them when she walked into the living room. Rose felt her mate's anxiety spike and blurred from the garage to appear beside her. The blonde frowned when she took note of the serious expressions on the faces of the other vampires.

"What's wrong?" Bella asked, trying to focus on her bond with the Denali sisters to try and figure out what the hell was going on. The three female vampires were sat together on their chosen couch, Irina was in the middle of the group, her usual spot and was leaning against Kate. Tanya was sitting straighter although her thigh was still in contact with her youngest sister.

"Sit down," Tanya urged but neither of the young vampires moved, preferring to stand for whatever was going to be said. It was Eleazar who spoke first.

"Watch," he lifted his hand and pointed the remote at the TV and it flashed to life, it had been paused but the press of a button rectified that and a news report began playing. Both Bella and Rose watched and listened as it was revealed that police had recovered a body from the water. A body who's DNA had identified it as the man linked to several sex attacks and two murders in the city. It was the man Bella had killed, that day they had gone to the movie.

Rose was stunned and turned to her mate, reaching out to gently take Bella's hand in her own.

"It seems our youngest has another power," Eleazar stood as he spoke but a warning growl from Rose caused him to raise his hands and take a step back.

"What does this mean?" Rose was, as always, the first to step into protective mode as she felt Bella's chi flow and eddy through their bond, the newborn was unsettled, that much was obvious . Rose herself was on edge because one emotion that kept surging through to her was excitement, the excitement only associated with blood lust. The young blonde looked to the sisters, surely they could feel this too?

Tanya's grave nod indicated she had the same concerns as Rose, Irina was studying Bella intently, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, Rose felt her mating instincts kick in. She had to work very, very hard to stay still and not challenge the older vampire. Kate straightened up as she watched all this play-out before her, as yet unsure of the outcome.

"We will leave you to discuss matters," Carmen rose to leave, gesturing for her husband to follow.

"No, stay. This is coven business," Tanya commanded. Her words snapped Bella out of her maelstrom of thoughts and she turned her red eyes on the vampire she acknowledged as leader.

"Bella," Tanya began but stayed sitting, her authority was known so there was no need for animalistic posturing. "Your gift has been the cause of much discussion here, since this became known to us earlier today," she gestured towards the television which was now off. "You keep surprising us." Bella held her eyes but the tone was warm and of no threat. "We have discussed this amongst ourselves, as a vegetarian coven," Tanya flicked her eyes to Irina who just stuck her tongue out childishly in response, it was common knowledge she was the least faithful to their vow but as she travelled the most it was frowned upon but forgiven as lives were never taken close to home.

"As you have already proven yourself with both your kills we would not banish you for taking a human life, as long as you knew for certain they had preyed on their own kind," Tanya confirmed unexpectedly.

Both young vampires were shocked but for very different reasons. Bella was surprised and excited by the thought of having the opportunity to satisfy the controlled but ever present blood lust she felt whenever she thought about her previous kills.

Rose was shocked and horrified that permission was given so easily. She was also mortified at the excitement she felt pulsing from her mate at the idea.

"Bella?" Rose called the newborn's attention and red eyes flashed to her golden ones. The brunette sensed her mate's unease and she realised she had been projecting, they locked eyes, neither looking away.

"Go talk," Tanya urged. She had foreseen this issue as soon as they had become aware of Bella's latest gift. Rose nodded, thankful that Tanya at least seemed to share her concerns and headed out of the room, to the outdoors. Bella took a moment to look to the coven leader and her sisters.

"Go, we will be here if needed when you return," Irina smiled, reassuring the young one. She knew how it felt to be so conflicted. A nod and the newborn followed her mate. Bella trailed after Rose, knowing the conversation that was coming wasn't going to be easy for either of them.

Rose ran out into the forest, away from the house, hoping that doing so would help her calm down. It worked, a little, as she came to a stop at the top of the mountain, their favourite spot which had been the site of many discussion and other, more pleasurable meetings.

But this was serious.

Bella was a minute behind, she wasn't racing but had wanted to give her mate a little alone with her thoughts as what had just been discussed was against everything the blonde believed in. Out of the entire coven, hell vampire kind even, she was the only one who had never fed on a human. She had taken the lives of those that had raped her but none of their blood had passed her lips, the idea of making any of them a part of her in any way was repulsive.

"What are you going to do? Hunt humans?" Rose snarled, unable to contain her emotions. Bella took a step back, the backlash of anger and disappointment through their bond an almost physical blow to the newborn.

"No. Well, maybe. Sometimes." Bella admitted her thoughts. "I mean, these were bad men Rose, aren't I doing the humans a favour?" She reasoned and black eyes turned on her.

"Are you? What gives you the right to make that call? Hmm?" Rose growled. "We are not gods Bella, we are demons. We take life, not give it!" Bella watched as her mate threw her hands in the air as she advanced on her mate until they were only inches apart. Despite how in inappropriate it was Bella couldn't help but feel aroused by Rose's presence.

"Rose, I can feel it. I know they are bad people. The first hurt kids, Rose. Children. The one in the city, they said his first victim had been a young mother. How is that not a justified kill?" The newborn defended herself with such passion that Rose took a step back and observed her mate.

Rose frowned, Bella was making sense, it just all felt so wrong.

"Listen, I'm sorry this is happening," Bella apologised and cautiously approached the blonde. "I know how you feel about this but it feels," she paused, unsure of how to explain. Instead she stopped shielding her feelings from their bond and let Rose feel how she did. The anticipation and excitement but also the satisfaction she felt, for taking such men out of society.

The emptions hit Rose, hard. The blonde gasped as Bella projected how she truly felt. The hunger, the longing, the satisfaction and the pride. She also felt the overwhelming love she had for her mate. For Rose.

"Bella ,-" the blonde sighed and closed the gap between them. They just weren't physically or mentally capable of sustaining an argument and they revelled in the contact as they held each other. The strong, powerful newborn tucking her head under Rose's chin and taking comfort from the embrace of her mate.

"If you ask me not to, I won't," the whispered pledge surprised the blonde and she pushed Bella away from her, resting her hands on her shoulders so she could look her mate in the eye. "I mean it Rose." Bella was dead serious and the promise touched the blonde deep in her soul as she gazed into crimson eyes.

"No, I wouldn't ask you to do that." It was Bella's turn to be surprised. "If it's a gift then you shouldn't ignore it, sweetie," Rose sighed and rested her forehead against the brunette's. "I'll -, I'll deal. Ok?" Bella frowned but nodded. "I love you." The words were sincere and their lips met in the softest kiss. "Let's go back and get this trip planned, hmmm?"

"Later," Bella purred and in a second Rose's back was slammed against a large rock and the newborn deftly slid her fingers into the waist band of her mate's jeans. Fingers instinctively finding the bundle of nerves and touching it in exactly the right way to make the blonde's knees buckle as heat shot through her body and her inners muscles clenched in anticipation.

"I've got you," Bella whispered as Rose looped her arms around her mate's neck and let her take the weight of her body, legs still uncooperating.

"I know," she moaned as Bella's fingers sped up, the friction causing her eyes to roll back in her head and her breaths to come in short, unnecessary pants. The sudden entrance of three of those fingers inside her doubled the blonde's pleasure as she was stretched open, the newborn fucking her hard and deep. Fast and rough as her back pounded against the rock behind her. "Bella!" Rose gasped as she felt herself tense, her mate's fingers curling and twisting inside her, almost lifting her off her feet with the force of her thrusts, it was an exquisite balance of pleasure and pain. A fierce bite to her neck and it was over, their bond resonating with a shared orgasm as Bella drank from her mate, her teeth deep in yielding flesh, binding them together physically as well as spiritually.

Bella continued to suckle and Rose continued to cum, it lasted for an indefinite time as Rose reciprocated and groaned as her teeth pierced the alabaster flesh of her mate, sharing their life force.

Eventually they were still but remained physically joined, fingers and teeth still inside. They didn't need to speak, there was no need as their love for one another flowed freely through their bond. Bella was first to move, Rose still too overcome to register what was happening until soft lips began to worship her, kisses dropped on her newly opened scar, trailing up the column of her throat until they reached her mouth. There she was plundered as they shared the mixed taste of their blood. It was a slow languid kiss and by the time they broke apart the blonde had regained her sense of self and was standing, a little unsteadily, but by her own strength.

No words were exchanged as the couple linked hands and began a slow walk back to the house.

Xxxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

"I know you're there, show yourself." Rose challenged when they were alone in the dark, away from any humans. They stood and waited for several minutes before they scented the other vampire's approach, their eyes picking out a figure approaching from their left. The mates waited until the vampire was clearly visible, it was a red haired female and Rose immediately growled, her beast going into protection mode. Where Rose was defensive, Bella was curious, she eyed the stranger as they faced off, neither party speaking.