A/N: Just a little insight into Cullen family life and their dynamics. Enjoy xoxo

– Bella's POV –

We ran to Forks like a well-oiled machine, each of us taking our positions without being told. We were spread out, but close enough that we could hear one another. We moved in sync. Even down to our footfalls and speed. It was eerie. Considering we've only been a group—not even a Coven, yet—for less than six hours! We all seemed to fit and complement one another.

I'm not sure what Alice was worrying about, we are linked. All of us. Jasper is Peter and Charlotte's sire. Alice's best friend. Charlie is my father. Alice's mate. She's also his Sire. Jasper is my mate. Peter and Charlotte are becoming increasingly important to me. One day, I'm sure Char, Alice, and I will be sisters. Dad, Peter, and Jasper seemed to have a great brotherhood. We're all linked and bound in one way or another.

From what I've seen so far, Charlie doesn't try to parent everyone. He acts more like their brother and friend than a parental figure as Esme and Carlisle have always done. That was kinda nice.

Maybe it's selfish but I kinda like that he's just ours. He's our dad and, I dunno, I don't want to share him.

I've thought a lot about what my inner self and I talked about up in my apartment. And, as always, she's right. I need to accept that Jasper is my mate and The Major will be our Alpha. What we share is an eternal bond. It's unbreakable. It's real and strong. And it's nothing like what I shared with Edward when I was human.

Jasper isn't Edward.

He isn't Jasper Hale, either. From the limited time I've known him, I can see that he's an entirely different man! One who's stronger, more powerful, and who makes me feel loved and safe.

I don't know where this life is going to take us or what's coming next. But I do know, whatever it is, we'll face it together. We're a team. Partners. Mated. And no matter what comes our way, my mate is not going to abandon me when life gets tough or something doesn't go our way.

As if he knew what I was thinking—or, more likely, he felt my acceptance of our bond and him—he reached out and took my hand in his as we ran. We'd taken the lead. As the Alpha of our Coven, Jasper would always lead us. As his mate, I would follow him. Peter and Char were on our flanks. With Charlie and Alice bringing up the rear.

It was an odd feeling, to know I'd always have a partner in this life. I'm so used to doing things on my own and taking care of myself. I'm not accustomed to someone else having my back. It would take me some time to get used to that.

Being part of a Coven is gonna be a new experience for me. The only frame of reference I have for that life is the Cullens and, to some extent, the Denalis, but they sure as hell don't do it very well! I've never seen a real Coven, not like the Whitlocks.

It's going to be interesting to see how the two covers fare in the next ten days. With everything coming our way, would they survive? We aren't dealing with humans. These are real vampires coming to kill us all, how was someone like Carlisle Cullen going to handle that?

I guess we're about to find out!

When we arrived at the Cullen home, all was not well. I didn't have to be an empath to feel the animosity in the air. My poor Jasper about doubled over when the emotions hit him.

For the first time in a very long time, I felt the need to protect someone else. I was beside him as soon as he let out the 'oomph' and went down to his knee. Then, all of a sudden, he lifted his head and looked up at me, blinking in surprise.

"What?" I asked, worried I'd done something wrong. Am I not supposed to worry about him? I know he's The Major. He's powerful and sexy but . . . I'm his mate!

I don't think we did anything wrong.

"The emotions," he said as Peter and Char arrived, "they're gone. I feel nothin'."

Peter grinned. "Yer mate's a shield, Major. She's protectin' ya."

I looked at him, frowning. "I didn't do anything . . ."

"Maybe not consciously, Suga," Char smiled, "but it's instinct for us to protect our mate. It makes sense that you'd used your shield to block out whatever nastiness The Major was feelin'."

You know, being able to protect him makes me feel . . . powerful. Sexy. . . dare I say . . . needed.

Mmmm. I feel it too. Nobody's ever really needed me. Well, not a vampire. I've never been strong enough to protect a vampire.

You need to stop this! You are not human anymore, Isabella. Where the hell has all this vulnerability suddenly come from? Dear God, has mating changed us so much that we've suddenly become a sissy girl?

Fuck. I hope not!

Jasper just makes me feel . . . Well, that's it. He makes me feel emotions I've kept buried for decades. For the first time in forever, there's someone I could potentially lose and I'm feeling a little . . . vulnerable!

Well, I don't like it.

And you think I do?

I was busy arguing with myself when Charlie and Alice joined us. None of them seemed to be any the wiser, but I could see Jasper watching me as if he knew I was busy berating myself.

I about jumped out of my skin when his arms wrapped around my waist and he gently pulled me into him. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and I couldn't help but smile as my inner voice sighed happily.

"As soon as we get this meetin' over with, I'd like to work on yer shield, Darlin'," he told me. "And I need to know what Garrett's taught you before we start trainin'."

I nodded and I smiled. "I look forward to it, Major."

As a low growl reverberated through the air, we all turned our attention to the Cullen house.

"What exactly are you keeping from us now, Carlisle?" Rosalie demanded from inside the house.

"It is nothing to do with you, Rosalie," Carlisle insisted.

"Nothing to do with me!" Rosalie growled. "This is about our safety! It has everything to do with me! With all of us!"

"Rosie? What's going on?" Emmett asked, worried.

"I overheard Carlisle on the phone to Alice," Rose explained. "She was saying something about an attack but I didn't catch most of it and Carlisle is refusing to tell me. If Alice has seen something and our lives are in danger, we deserve to know!"

"Has Alice seen something?" Esme asked, entering the house from the backyard. "What is it? Rose, you said we're in danger?"

"Alice has not seen anything that pertains to us!" Carlisle insisted. "It's nothing any of you need to worry about."

Taking matters into her own hands, I watched as Esme turned to Rosalie. "What exactly did you overhear, Rose?"

Rosalie shook her head. "Nothing of use. Just that Peter says an attack is coming. It's imminent and they're on their way back here."

"You see, Peter says!" Carlisle scoffed. "Not Alice. If it didn't come from Alice, it must be a lie. We all know the kind of person Peter is! He jokes. Not that any of us finds his humor particularly amusing. We're far too refined for that! If Alice hasn't seen it, I'm sure it isn't going to happen."

Maybe we should take his brain. He's not using it.

"Oh, Carlisle, do us all a favour and shut up." Esme hissed in exasperation. "You're in enough trouble as it is!"

"How dare you! I am the leader of this family, Esme. And your husband. You'll do well to remember that!"

Rosalie gasped. Emmett began to growl. But Esme spun to face Carlisle, slapping him so hard he went reeling across the living room!

"Do not threaten me, Carlisle!" She hissed. "You forget, we may have gone through with the wedding, as per Edward's demands, but you and I are certainly not legally married."

"O-Of course we are!" Carlisle stuttered.

Esme smirked. "You married a dead woman, Carlisle. Remember? Edward insisted I use my maiden name. I tried to tell you Esme Platt was declared dead, but you wouldn't listen! Edward said. That's all I've ever heard. Edward said! Who the fuck cares what Edward fuckin' said!"

Damn. Esme cussed.

"I am still your husband!" Carlisle insisted. "We married again years later!"

"I remember. And if you remember, every time we married, you married Esme Platt," she said. "So, no, Carlisle. You are not now, nor have you ever been, my husband! In name and reputation, yes, I am your wife. To the human world, I am Mrs. Esme Cullen. But legally in both the human and vampire world, Edward made damn sure I wasn't entitled to anything."

Guess that's why she never left him. If she did, she'd have nothing!

"I didn't know that," Jasper hissed.

"Don't worry, Major. When it's time, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett will be well taken care of!" Alice smiled sweetly.

"I'm sure that's not true," Carlisle denied, bringing our attention back to the Cullen house. "He would never do such a thing!"

"Of course not," Esme huffed. "The boys a Saint!"

"Regardless," Carlisle huffed. "I am still your Sire and Coven leader. I demand your respect!"

Esme sighed. "I'm not sure you ever had my respect, Carlisle." She told him honestly. "Now, I suggest you start talking and stop threatening. You aren't very good at it."

Carlisle sputtered. "I . . . You . . . I-I-I . . ."

"Unless you'd like me to start talking?" Esme smiled. "All these years together, Carlisle. You forget; I know all your dirty little secrets and I'm more than happy to share!"

Ooh. This is getting juicy. I wish we'd brought popcorn!

I wonder what she knows?

Carlisle straightened. "I am your Coven leader—"

"Some Coven leader you turned out to be! A trained seal could do a better job," Emmett scoffed. "In a day you've managed to alienate Alice and Charlie. And you let your precious son run Bella out of town!"

"Not this again, Emmett!" Carlisle huffed. "I thought I ordered you to stop mentioning that girl's name!"

"You did," Emmett said calmly, "problem is, I no longer take orders from you, Carlisle so I don't give a flying rat's ass what you have to say to me."

"Son—"

Emmett snarled. "I'm not your son! My name is now, and will forever be, Emmett McCarty! I reject your name. Your money. And your precious venom ties!"

"Now Emmett this is ridiculous behavior," Carlisle tried again. "You will always be my son. You are of my venom."

"And that's all that matters to you, isn't it? Venom," Emmett hissed. "Alice was right to take her mate and leave. You or Edward would've found a reason to kick them out eventually. After all, that's why we left Bella, right? Edward ordered us gone and you jumped. Just like you always do and always will."

"It was Edward's decision . . ."

"Edward has the mentality of a seventeen-year-old boy, Carlisle," Emmett interrupted. "We all told you, we all warned you, leaving Bella was a mistake! We should've stayed. We should've turned her when we had the chance. When SHE asked. Because it was, after all, HER decision. HER life. HER body. HER choice! But instead, we were FORCED to leave because you ordered it! She died, alone, thinking we didn't . . . that I didn't want her around anymore. She's spent EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS alone! She was turned by a monster intent on draining the life out of her and leaving her for dead. Here's something I never thought I'd say, thank God the shifters were there, or she really would be dead!" He sighed and shook his head. "The only good to come out of this shit storm is Alice finding her mate!"

"It was Edward's decision, son. He is her mate."

Emmett roared. "Do you hear yourself! You're like a broken record, Carlisle. Let's make this clear so you can understand! Edward is no more Bella's mate than you are mine! And if it turns out I'm wrong, I'll gladly help her tear the little shit apart for the pain he's caused her."

"Emmy, enough," Rosalie said softly.

"He's not her mate, Rosie," Emmett insisted.

"I know, Monkey." She agreed. "C'mon. Let's go cool down."

"No." He shook himself. "I'm done, Rosie. I can't do this anymore. I love you and I respect your decisions, but I can't . . . no," he shook his head, "we are not staying here any longer. The Major is on his way back. We'll find out what's going on and take it from there, but from now on, we are no longer associated with this sham of a Coven!"

"Y-You want to leave?" Rosalie whispered.

Emmett, if possible, seemed to get taller as his back straightened. There was a power to him now. An inner strength I've never seen in him. "We are leaving, Rosalie," he repeated.

"C-Can't we talk about this . . ."

"After all the shit he's pulled recently, what's to discuss?" Emmett asked.

"This is our life, Emmett. Our family!"

"Not anymore," he remained firm. "We will forge a new life. One on our terms. Make our own rules. Follow our own path. We'll ask The Major to help us get started and teach us what we need to know to be safe and we'll both need to be trained to defend ourselves . . ."

"How are you going to finance this ridiculous idea?" Carlisle demanded. "You'll need my money and I can assure you, you won't be getting it if you leave!"

Emmett ignored Carlisle. "Go pack, Rosalie. One hour. Then I'm leaving, if you aren't in the jeep, I'll go without you."

From what I could see Rosalie looked stunned, but there was a glint in her eye. She may be shocked by his demands and behavior, but she was also excited. And aroused.

Well, a sexy dominant mate will do that to a girl.

"No!" Carlisle shook his head. "This isn't happening. You are not going anywhere! I demand you remain in this house! There will be no more talk of leaving. Of Bella Swan. Or the Whitlocks! We are a family! Do you understand me?"

Emmett turned to Carlisle. "You want to play happy families, Carlisle, go put your jigsaw puzzle of a son back together!" Then he turned to his mate. "Rosalie, one hour!"

Carlisle smirked and turned to Rosalie. "Rosalie, sit down!" He ordered. "You will not be leaving. I am your Sire. You will obey me!"

She looked torn like she was being pulled in two separate directions. The pull of her Sire over the pull of her mate. I imagine she's never followed the pull of her mate or allowed him to take charge this way. It was new and exciting. She liked it, liked this side of Emmett. But the pull of her Sire was still strong, too.

"You know the truth, Rosalie." Carlisle insisted, moving closer to her. "We left Forks because Edward asked us to leave. He is Bella's mate. It was his decision. I had no right to intervene in their bond."

Rosalie looked at Carlisle, her eyes scrutinizing. "Do you believe that?" She wondered. "Or have you been saying the same thing for so long, that's all you can say now?"

Carlisle hesitated. "I-I don't know what you mean . . ."

"Yes, you do," she sighed. "You aren't a stupid man, Carlisle. You are not this pathetic! I've known you my whole vampire life and this," she waved her hand up and down his person, "whatever this is, is not you. You've completely lost the plot! I don't know if it's age, seeing Bella again, all the sudden changes . . ." She trailed off, then sighed and shook her head. "Yes, I do. It's what it always is. It's Edward," she said, realization clear in her voice. "Bella tore Edward apart and that's killing you, isn't it? He's hurt. He's been attacked. He's missing vital pieces of himself! You've always put his needs and demands above all others. I used to think it was because he was your first progeny. Now, though . . ." Another sigh left her lips. "Is he your mate, Carlisle?"

As soon as the words left her lips, Carlisle reacted. He let out a loud snarl and slapped Rosalie across the face.

For a beat, everyone inside and out of the house was still and silent. None of us expected Carlisle Cullen to raise his hand to a woman, let alone be stupid enough to do it while her mate was in the room!

If Emmett doesn't kill the bastard, I sure as hell will! No man should ever raise his hand to a woman. Ever!

Emmett shot forward, moving to hover over his mate as she attempted to soothe him. "Shh. It's okay, Emmy. I'm okay."

"How dare you!" Carlisle roared. "I am a man! I will not lay with another man! That is a vile, disgusting act!"

Shocking everyone further, it was Esme who reacted. Her clenched fist shot out so fast, nobody saw it! As her fist connected with his jaw, I saw the cracks beginning to form on his face just moments before he sailed across the room and crashed through the floor-to-ceiling back windows. Glass exploded and Carlisle landed on his ass in the backyard!

"Don't you ever lay a hand on her again!" Esme snarled, her whole body shaking.

As Carlisle was getting to his feet, looking dazed, Emmett snarled and finally reacted!

From the looks of it, I don't think Emmett has a clue how to protect or defend his mate!

Maybe he was more concerned with his mate's safety. She had just been slapped!

Oh please! Esme hits harder than Carlisle! My point is, Emmett should've been the one to retaliate! Not Esme! Looks to me like he's got no mating instincts! And if he does, he's buried them so deep he has no idea how to take care of his mate!

That wouldn't surprise me. Why could Carlisle teach them to take care of themselves, then they might leave!

"No, Emmy. Leave it be. Please," Rosalie begged, holding onto her mate and stopping him from doing what a mated vampire's instincts would demand. Retaliation against the bastard who attacked his mate!

Maybe there was more to it than I knew, though. For having just been slapped, she sure was having a dramatic reaction! Her whole body was shaking. She was curled into her mate's much larger form, whimpering! It seemed a little ridiculous to me. Carlisle barely hit her.

Unlike Esme who tossed Carlisle's ass through the window!

Maybe it was the shock? Carlisle is her Sire. She wasn't expecting it . . . I don't know. It could be any number of reasons. If it were me, my mate wouldn't get the chance to retaliate! But then I'm a real vampire.

"I'm ready," she whispered venom tears in her eyes. "We'll leave. I don't ever want to be here again!"

"I'm coming, too." Esme declared. "I won't stay in a house with another abuser! We've stayed long enough as it is!"

"Y-You can't leave!" Carlisle whimpered from his position in the grass. "Edward . . . Bella is his mate . . ."

"Give it a rest, Carlisle," Esme snapped as Emmett began to growl. "You and I both know Edward isn't capable of mating with a woman like Bella. Not this new and vastly improved version. She's stronger, more powerful, and frankly, far too good for the likes of Edward Cullen!"

"Not to mention, she's mated to The Major," Emmett snarled.

"A much better match, if you ask me." Rosalie smiled kindly. "Our brother deserves to be happy after all this time."

I smiled and leaned into my mate as he squeezed my hand. I didn't need their approval . . .

But it's nice to have it, regardless.

"After seeing the state she left Edward in and his missing pieces," Esme giggled, "there's no chance that boy will be fit to mate with anyone for at least a decade. And that's only if she decides to return his parts!"

"Personally, I'd keep them, for at least eighty-five years," Rosalie smirked, a vicious glint in her eyes. "Seems a fitting punishment."

I smiled. I think I might like those three.

It's the other two I could do without.

"Sweetheart," Dad whispered, "exactly which of Edward's parts did you take?"

My smile widened. "Just the bits he wasn't using, one he was using too much, and ten to punish," I explained, then clarified. "Both ears because he wouldn't listen. His dick and testicles. Lungs. His heart. His tongue. And all ten fingers."

They all stared at me in complete shock.

"All ten fingers?" Alice frowned. "Oh! So he can't play his piano anymore!"

"Exactly," I smirked. "He broke my phone. So, I broke his fingers." I shrugged.

"You have his heart?" Dad asked, looking down at my duffle bag.

"Uh-huh." I nodded. "I wonder which hurts more, losing his dick and testicles or the massive hole I punched in his chest to extract his heart?"

Seemed symbolic to me. But I doubt anyone else would understand.

Dad seemed to. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and squeezed my hand. No words were spoken. But we rarely needed words, even when I was human. That's just not how Dad and I roll.

Yeah. He gets it.

Jasper, too, seemed to have a sense that each part held meaning, even if I was the only one who knew what it was. He squeezed me closer to him. "You hold onto them as long as ya need, Darlin'. Don't feel pressured by anyone to give 'em back. Edward ain't gonna be much use in this fight anyway."

"And in answer to your question," he sighed, "removing genitals is painful, but it'll be the heart that hurts the most. We might not use it, but it hurts like a mother when it's removed. And worse when it's returned. The pain will last for months afterward."

My eyes slid down his chest. I'd been curious about the strange, jagged scar circling his heart, but I hadn't thought much about it.

A growl vibrated through me. "Who?"

We know who. Maria.

My growl grew louder.

That bitch! I want her dead. Now! No more waiting!

"Ain't no way she'll settle now, Major," Pete warned. "After Vicky's dealt with, we'll need to head south."

"No," Jasper growled, shaking his head. "No. I won't take her there, Pete."

"Can't avoid it, Major. Either we go as a team or she'll find a way there by herself. This needs to be dealt with now yer mated before the bitch finds out you now have more to lose and a weakness she can exploit."

Jasper snarled. "Isabella is not a weakness!"

"I ain't sayin' she is, Major." Peter said quickly, raising his hands in surrender, "just that Maria will see it that way."

"It's been a long time comin', Major." Char agreed her voice soft but decided. "If I wasn't so scared of her, I would've insisted on it a long time ago."

I reached out and squeezed her arm in comfort.

I won't let them hurt our new family!

"One thing at a time," Dad insisted. "Let's deal with what's already on our doorstep before we go looking for more trouble."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Fine." I agreed. "One evil bitch at a time.