Happy Tuesday! I'm house-sitting and school is over with, so I don't have to much to do besides write and update! Hopefully you guys enjoy!

Chapter Forty

I knew I wouldn't be able to wait for Edward to fall asleep because he always wanted for me to go to sleep first. If I did wait, then neither one of us would go to sleep. I had to wait for our dinner to arrive to start my plan.

I had my little episode in the morning, so after a little snuggling and some light napping, we climbed back down to have dinner with our family. All of whom were nervously waiting for us to arrive. As we walked around the big fire to Esme, several people reached out and gently touched us in a comforting way.

"How are you feeling, my love?" Esme asked as she helped me sit down onto the ground.

"I'm fine," I smiled at her.

"Do you still want me to massage your cunnus? Or would you like a break tonight?"

"I would like a break," I smiled bashfully. "I just want to eat and go to bed. I'm really, really hungry."

She chuckled. "Don't worry, we have plenty. I will go fetch your food."

"Thank you," I said.

Edward sat down behind me and pulled me into his lap to seat in the middle of his crossed legs. Alice was sitting beside another girl, braiding a small piece of loose hair that wasn't wrapped into her larger braid.

Edward put his chin on my shoulder and started gently rubbing his hands my stomach.

Esme returned with a large wooden plate stacked with food. As soon as the delicious smell wafted passed my nose, my stomach growled, causing Edward to laugh.

He immediately started to feed me. We used to take turns feeding one another a bite, but since I was now pregnant I had to get my fill first before he started eating. Getting full was a big task now that I was eating for three.

"I'm done," I declared after a big bite. I twisted so I could face Edward and fed him.

As I picked up a large hunk of meat to feed him, I had to be extremely careful. Edward had an incredible sense of smell, and if he smelled the sleeping concoction I had made for him, he'd become suspicious and know something was up.

Luckily, Edward didn't realize it. He ate everything I needed him to eat. Perfect. Soon, he would be so deeply asleep that I would have more than enough time to do what I needed to do.

By the time he finished eating, he was yawning very deeply and shaking his head, trying to stay awake.

"You okay?" I asked, keeping my tone full of concern instead of glee because my plan was working.

"Yes," He said, stifling another yawn. "I am just so tired."

I grabbed his hand. "Well, why don't we go to bed now?"

He nodded and lifted me into his arms, wishing his mother and sister a good night.

"I am not sure why I feel so tired." He said as he laid me down in our hut and yawned loudly.

"Probably the stress of today," I said as he curled up around me. I stroked his cheek; tonight, I made sure we were face-to-face so that I could make sure he was 100% asleep before I left the hut. Of course I had to keep my mind from thinking of my plan.

He yawned again and mumbled. "Maybe"

I watched as his eyes slowly closed. It took a moment for his soft, sleep purring to start. I waited another few minutes until I was absolutely sure he was deeply asleep.

I wiggled out from under his arms and legs; it was hard because he was so heavy and I had a lot of extra weight attached to my center, but I managed.

Most of the village was quiet. There were a few sounds of crying babies and couples connecting, but other than that, I was able to successfully sneak out of mine and Edward's hut.

Tanya's hut was somewhat on the outskirts of the rest of the village, resting on the ground instead of high in the trees. Since she was unmated, she still slept in the hut with her parents. Of course they loved her dearly and did not mind one bit.

I've gotten to know Tanya pretty well. She didn't go to sleep when her parents did. She liked to stay up for a little while longer. She told me she did this so that she may experience some adulthood. Of course, with her constant bleeding and having to eat the qhizai flower several times a day to keep the pain at bay, she did experience adulthood on a daily basis. Poor Tanya.

"Psst, Tanya," I whispered as I hid behind the thick trunk of the tree.

Tanya's head shot up as she looked around. She was currently working with a large piece of skin from some animal. I wasn't sure what she was doing with it, and I didn't care at the moment.

"Bella?" She said in confusion as she put the piece aside. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?"

I nodded and stepped further out from behind the tree. "I'm fine. I have to talk to you."

"Of course," She got to her feet and walked over.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her behind the tree, so we were hidden.

"I only have a few minutes; I have a long trip. And I need to put as much space between me and Edward as possible."

Her blond brows furrowed. "What is wrong, Bella?"

"I told you that you wouldn't be alone forever." I told her. "It came to me earlier today. The goddess told me how to help you. And I need to bring both of you together as soon as possible. You two are going to play a huge roll in the sanctuary."

"Bella what are you talking about?" She asked, placing her hand onto my forehead. "You feel very warm. I think you are sick."

"I'm fine." I said, pushing her hand away. "But I need something that has your scent on it. I don't think I'll need it, but it'll be better for me to have it. Just in case."

"Bella, I think you're delirious." She said, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"I am not kidding Tanya." I said with a smile. "I saw everything, your life with your mate. It's going to be so beautiful, and everything you deserve! Now, I have to go."

"Where are you going?"

"Up to the mountains." I said.

She thought about it for a moment before gasping. "You are not seriously talking about—."

"I am. Now please, give me your skirt." I said as I tugged the side of her skirt.

"Bella I am not letting you go up to the mountains alone," She said, letting me remove her skirt. She probably let me take it because she thought I was losing my mind and was trying to keep me as calm as possible. "I am going to get Esme. I think you are delirious and sick."

"Thank you for giving me your skirt," I said as I stuffed it into my satchel. "And I'm sorry for this." I grabbed a handful of the sand I hand put in the bottom of my satchel and blew it into her eyes.

She gasped, her hands moving up to her eyes. "Bella!"

"I'm sorry!" I said as I ran off at my full speed towards the forbidden mountain.

I felt bad for hurting Tanya, but I had to do it or else she would've gotten Esme and they probably would've tied me down.

I went about several miles before I ran out of breath. I slowed down so that I was walking at a brisk pace to catch my breath. I rested for a while so that I could reserve my strength to run like I used to. I got far and as much as I wanted to stop, I couldn't. I had to get as much distance between me and Edward as possible.

"Alright, I'm this far," I said out loud. The ringing noise in my ears started.

"Good," the goddess said. "It will not take you long."

"Will Edward catch up to me before then?"

"No, he will be asleep for a long while. It will give you plenty of time to get there and talk to Caius."

"So, Tanya and Caius becoming mates will not have dire consequences? I remember Edward said that if mates don't share a heartbond then they can't have sex."

"Caius does not have the capability of creating a heartbond, but smelling Tanya's scent will allow them to mate. Their love will develop over time. Just like the males and females before the war."

"Edward is going to be so angry with me." I sighed.

"Yes. He will be. But you have to do this in order to save both Tanya and Caius from a lonely life. They need you to heal them. And they need each other to fulfill their purposes."

"I wish you would have told me this a long, long time ago." I said, gesturing to my stomach. "Not when I'm this pregnant and heavy. Makes things a lot tougher."

"I had to wait until you were pregnant. Caius needs you to be pregnant, so he does not try to take you as his mate. His senses are not as they should be. He is relying on his sense of smell, rather than a heartbond, to find his mate. And he will not try to kill you."

"And you think Tanya will be on board with allowing Caius to be his mate?"

"Do not worry yourself with Tanya. I will be visiting her tonight."

I sighed in relief. The ringing in my ear stopped and I knew she had left me. I hoped she would be able to convince Tanya that she needed Caius to mate with her so that she didn't spend the rest of her life alone. I didn't want Tanya to be alone. The two of us had become such great friends and she was a wonderful person who deserved all the happiness in the world.

When I passed the large stone that was to be the marker for the new village to come, I couldn't help but look out at the thick cluster of trees and wonder how an entire village would be built before the young females had their second bleeds.

It would be a lot of hard work, but it had to be done. And it could be done as soon as Caius came down from the mountain.

He played a vital role in the changes to come. He was to be the protector of the sanctuary for the women and children. He was the only other person who could do it, since he and Carlisle shared DNA. Plus, he and Tanya were going to become mates, which would enable her to become a healer of sorts. She spent her entire childhood shadowing Esme, she was the only other person who knew how to heal people.

Convincing Caius was going to be a dangerous challenge that scared the hell out of me. But it wasn't as scary as convincing the rest of our family that he was also a protector and that they needed to accept him into the family.

I knew Carlisle was probably going to freak out and be very angry, but it had to be done. I just hoped Carlisle, along with everyone else, didn't hate me.

A Day and a Half Later

I wasn't far from Caius's cave now. I knew I was close because my hand was starting to burn a little. Since he bit me, we shared a small connection. It wasn't a strong, or even significant one, but it was strong enough to let me know when he was close.

The journey up to the mountain was a tiring one, but I made it and that was all that mattered. I knew Edward was awake now, I could feel him somehow. He was panicking and he was coming as fast as he could to save me.

I hated that I had to lie to him, but Auk'ell'ieks'Ognil had told me that I could not tell him. If I told him, he would do anything he could to stop me and keep me in the village. Tanya just didn't have time for that.

I quieted my steps and stopped the chattering of my teeth. It was so cold on the mountain; I was surprised that there was any place this cold around here.

I stopped when I found a trail of blood. I shuddered, knowing Caius had just fed. Auk'ell'ieks'Ognil lead me here at this time because Caius would be full and less dangerous.

I followed the trail of blood towards the caves that were stacked along the rocky side. I wasn't sure which cave was his, but I didn't have to guess when I heard the hyena laughter from behind me.

A cold chill ran down my spine.

I tried to go through everything and catch all of the mistakes! Hopefully I did a good job!