Happy Saturday everyone! I hope your week has been wonderful! If not, hopefully this makes it better! Enjoy!


Chapter Thirty-Two

I jumped to my feet and happily ran to her. She stopped me before I could take more than a couple steps outside of the hut.

"You must wear this," Esme said as she produced a white cloth. "It must cover you, head to toe. No other men can see you until it is time for Edward to take it off your head."

"How will I see?" I asked as she covered me with it. I couldn't see at all with it on which made me very nervous. I bumped into things even if I could see.

"I will lead you, do not worry." Esme said. She grabbed my hand through the sheet and led me through the jungle. I was still slightly nervous, but I trusted Esme to not let me run into a tree.

We walked for a while before I finally heard the voices of our family. I strained my ears trying to find Edward's voice in the crowd, but he must not have been talking. I knew he was close, however. I could feel him.

"Brothers, sisters, children," Carlisle exclaimed loudly. "Although today's mating ceremony is a surprise, it is a very happy and most welcomed surprise. Bella was blessed today with her first bleed. She is now a woman ready to join our family."

I blushed at Carlisle's words. It was awkward him talking about my period even though I knew around here they weren't considered taboo and they were sacred. I just had to take a deep breath and calm myself down.

"Bella has been working hard to join the family as a woman," Esme declared proudly, her hand on my back. "She has been working very hard to learn our ways in the short amount of time she has had. She is going to make a fine woman and a wonderful healer. She is going to be an incredible leader. I have nothing but absolute faith in her."

I jumped when several hands touched me gently. I wished I could see through this cloth, so I knew who was touching me.

"Sisters, daughters, let us go to the goddess's river and wash away Bella's girlhood." Esme said.

Their feminine voices began to sing in harmony. Their voices were ethereal and filled the air in such a beautiful way. The sounds of the jungle added to their melody.

We walked to the river, their hands on me to guide me as we walked. I knew we had made it to the river when we stopped, and the cloth was finally removed. I sighed in relief when it came off because I could finally breathe normally.

Esme was standing in front of me smiling. "Come, let me wash you."

She grabbed my hand and guided me into the river. The rest of the women and the little girls waited until both Esme, and I had entered the water. It was nice and warm which felt very good for my sore abdomen.

Esme had a bowl in her hands and began washing me. The little girls swam go me and gently splashed my body with the water.

"Bella are you excited?" One of the little girls asked.

"I'm very excited," I told her.

"What are you going to name your baby?" Another one asked.

"I hadn't thought about it yet." I smiled at her.

"Are you and Edward going to mate?" The little girl on my leg giggled, causing the rest of them to giggle as well.

"Girls," Esme chastised gently. "Do not ask Bella about her mating."

The girls giggled again. "We just want to know mama."

Esme gently splashed water at them. "Go on my daughters. Your time will come."

When they swam away, Esme smiled at me. "You are happy? You are excited?"

I smiled and nodded. "I am very happy."

She stroked my cheek, her hand leaving my cheek wet. "I am very happy as well. You will be my son's mate and you will be bringing me a grandson. You will be my successor. You have made me very happy. The goddess did well bringing you to us. You are our gift from her."

I blushed. "Esme stop you're making me blush."

She giggled. "I am finished bathing you. Come now, it is time to drink the grula wine and join your sisters."

I nodded and followed her out of the water. Since I was the only female moving into adulthood, this wouldn't take too long. I would be able to see Edward soon.

I got down on my knees because the vase that Esme was holding was heavy. It normally held much more wine than this. I took a deep breath as she lifted it and pressed it to my lips.

The wine was sweeter, sweeter than I had imagined, but I couldn't enjoy the flavor for too long because a storm of emotions and feelings hit me like a wrecking ball.

I felt pain tearing through my stomach, I felt grief, sadness, happiness, joy… Every emotion of all of my sisters. Everything they had felt, I now felt.

I fell backwards, crying in both sadness and joy. The sensations were almost overwhelming. Esme's hands held me upright.

"You are a sister now," She said gently with a smile. "You are a woman."

I laughed breathlessly, tears falling down my cheeks. "Wow."

Esme laughed. "Come now. It is time for you to select your mate."

I smiled widely, excited to finally see Edward and take him as my mate. I thought I would be more nervous, but I only felt excited.

"Your ceremony will be a bit different," Esme said as she put the cloth back over my head.

"Different how?" I asked.

"You and Edward will join blood so that you may communicate with one another as Carlisle, and I do."

"And how do you and Carlisle communicate?"

"With our minds," She chuckled. "We must communicate that way because I am the healer, and he is the protector. It is something special we receive because of our roles in the village."

"Wait, so you and Carlisle can communicate with your minds?" I asked; that was… well, I wished I could say it was the strangest thing I had heard on this island, but it wasn't.

"Mm, hm," She hummed as she lead me back towards the village. "After tonight, you and Edward will share this gift with one another. Once you two share blood, he will see your life and you will see his."

"That sounds insane," I said. "And almost unbelievable."

"It is magical. It makes our connection so much stronger, as it will make the connection between you and Edward much strong."

My heart skipped a few beats. "Wow… that makes me kind of nervous."

I felt her hand on my back, "Do not be nervous my love. Your mate is very excited for you, he has been waiting for a very long time."

"Oh, that reminds me," I said as I took the cloth off, "I have to talk to Tanya real quick."

"But Bella—," Esme said as she grabbed the cloth before it fell to the ground.

I found Tanya on the outskirts of the group. She looked surprised that I had come to her, as we had never really had all that much interaction before this.

"What are you doing Bella?" She asked. "Where is your mating cloth? You do not want Edward to see you before he takes his lashing."

I took a deep breath. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Her brows furrowed. "Sorry? What could you possibly be sorry about?"

I grabbed her hands. "I'm sorry that you and Edward didn't become mates. I know it must've hurt you… and he still feels very awful about it. I couldn't take him as my mate before apologizing to you."

She smiled softly. "Thank you, Bella. But I do not need your apologies. Edward and I were never meant to be together; it was the goddess's will and I accept that. You and Edward complement each other much better than he and I ever did. I am content with Edward being my friend. I wish you two nothing but happiness."

I smiled widely. "I promise, you are not going to be alone and childless forever."

Her smile fell slightly. "Please do not make false promises to me. I now accept being alone."

I nodded and sighed; I couldn't convince her she wouldn't be alone for the rest of her life when I didn't even know how that was to happen.

"You have my blessing," Tanya said as she moved her face closer. "I promise you; I wish nothing but good things for you and Edward. The goddess made you two for each other. You are my sister, and I want you to be happy. Edward is my brother and my friend; I want him to be happy. You two make each other happy."

I met her the rest of the way and placed my forehead against hers. "Thank you."

A white cloth suddenly fell over my face.

"You must come now Bella," Esme chastised. "Come, come. Your mate is waiting on you."

I sighed. "I'm coming."

The beautiful singing voices filled the air once again as we made our way to the village. With each step I took, the pulse of electricity that was currently running through my body became stronger. I somehow knew it was Edward and that the electric current was our bond growing stronger.

When we stopped, I knew I was standing in front of Edward. I wanted to reach out and grab him, but I knew I needed to wait for him to take the cloth off of me. I had seen this ceremony before, so I knew what to expect.

"Bella, you have washed your childhood away," Carlisle said, his hand on my shoulder. "It is time for you to select your mate."

The cloth slipped off of my head. I blinked several times as my vision adjusted to the sunlight.

Edward was standing in front of me, smiling widely. My own lips pulled up into a wide smile.

"Please choose your mate, Bella," Carlisle said to me. It was sort of silly to have to do this since Edward and I were the only ones mating today.

"I choose Edward as my mate," I said; Edward's chest puffed out proudly.

"Bella has chosen Edward as her mate!" Carlisle exclaimed, causing the crowd to cheer happily. "Edward, you will now take lashings from the bullwhip to prove that you are worthy of your mate."

Edward placed his hands on my shoulders, still smiling at me.

"The lashing will be quick, so there will be no need for healing," Carlisle said to me with a pointed look.

I blushed and looked down. I couldn't watch Edward's face as he got whipped. I heard the whip slice through the air before it landed on Edward's back. He didn't jump or make any noise, which I appreciated. If I heard him grunt or felt him wince, I think I would've felt God awful.

Carlisle delivered five lashes to Edward's back before he finally deemed that Edward had had enough.

Edward pulled me into his arms excitedly before spinning me around, causing me to giggle.

"You are my mate," He purred, pressing his head against my forehead.

"And you are my mate." I purred back.

"Are you two ready for the bloodletting?" Esme asked, a decorative knife in her hand.

"Yes mother," Edward said, keeping his forehead pressed against mine.

"Come, find your places by the fire and we shall commence with the bloodletting," Carlisle said as he clapped Edward on the back.

Edward walked us to the fire. He kept me in his lap as he sat down in front of the roaring fire, my bottom fitting perfectly in the hole his crossed legs made. He twisted me around once we were settled so I was looking into his eyes.

"Hold your hands out." Esme said. She grabbed my hand and stroked it gently as Carlisle grabbed Edward's hand. "This will hurt Bella, but it shall be so worth it."

"Once we make the cuts, you two will be bond with a piece of cloth as you two exchange blood. You will be able to remove it when you are ready." Carlisle said.

"When will we be read—ow!" I gasped as Esme cut the palm of my hand.

She chuckled. "I told you it would hurt."

Edward rubbed his nose against mine gently, not seeming to mind that Carlisle was cutting his hand. They took a blue piece of cloth and tied our hands together tightly. It was an awkward position, and a little creepy as I felt Edward's blood streaming out of his hand and against mine.

"When will we be ready?" I asked.

"You will know," Carlisle chuckled.

Edward's stomach growled loudly. "Are we able to eat now?"

Esme let out a laugh and patted him on the back. "Yes, it is time to eat. I will go and get your serving."

Edward began purring, rubbing his nose against my neck and collarbone. I had to be very careful to control myself and not get too wrapped up in his snuggling… even if it felt incredible. I didn't want him to get overly excited again and try to mate here.

Esme returned with a large wooden plate filled with food. It was awkward, feeding one another, but we somehow managed.

Once we finished eating, Edward set the plate aside and looked over at his father.

"I am taking Bella to the hot spring."

Carlisle looked over and nodded once. "How long are you planning to stay away?"

"I am not sure yet," Edward said. "Will you need us back soon?"

"No, I have no plans for you," Carlisle chuckled gently. "Please take your time and enjoy one another."

"Can we go now?" I asked.

Carlisle, Esme, and Edward laughed loudly.

"You are eager to consummate our mating?" Edward laughed as he rubbed his nose against mine.

I blushed, "I'm eager to see the hot spring."

"Ah," He said before looking over at his parents. "Is it alright if we leave now?"

"Yes, my son." Esme said as she pulled his cheek against her lips. "Please enjoy yourselves and stay safe." She then did the same to my cheek.

Carlisle then snuggled against us before Edward stood, with me still in his arms. Before we could actually leave, several people came up to give us their unsolicited advice on mating, or where Edward and I should go, or what I should eat to remain healthy during mine and Edward's mating.

Finally, after over an hour of goodbyes and advice, we were on our way.


Hopefully you liked their little mating ceremony. Now they are off to mate! Have a wonderful week! Make sure to leave me a little review!