A/N: This chapter is long! Really long. It's the longest chapter I've ever written. Enjoy xoxo

– Bella's POV –

When I woke, the bright morning sunshine was flooding our bedroom through the floor-to-ceiling windows. My mate was still buried deep inside of me, and I was sticky after our—the Gods only know how many days it's been—sex-a-thon.

I could tell it was early. The sun had only just risen. Maybe half an hour ago. I'm not sure how I knew that, but part of my brain was aware of how long it had been since the sun came up.

I was also aware of the other unknown beings surrounding my home, my mate, and my vampires. There were five of them. Situated seven miles from our home. One was incapacitated. All of them were ravenous for both blood and my Nectar.

I'm not sure who they are. But I knew my mate and I were safe. He would never allow anything to happen to me, and our vampires were standing guard, just to be safe.

With a deep breath, I relaxed back into my mate's embrace.

I expected to feel different after my transformation, but I really didn't.

I felt satisfied.

My mating bond with Jasper was complete. I could feel how secure it was.

There was a strange, golden glow shimmering around the outline of our bodies. Wrapped securely around our waists, where Jasper was lying flush against me, I could see a thick golden cord.

I wasn't sure what it was. Curious, I brushed my fingers across Jasper's hip, but I couldn't feel the golden cord. My fingers went straight through the golden light, making it shudder and shimmer.

It's your mating bond, Paidi Mou.

Though I couldn't touch it, I could feel the strength of the cord. It felt like the strongest steel. Unbreakable. But still malleable. It would grow and stretch as Jasper and I grew and our relationship evolves. But it would never shatter, never break.

As I stared at the golden light, enjoying the sight of it shimmering and glistening against our joined bodies, I wondered if anyone else would see what I was seeing.

Could Jasper see it, too?

Was it only my bond with Jasper that I could see, or was it others as well?

Jasper said he could sense immense power growing inside of me; is this that power?

I wasn't expecting to wake up and discover my gift right away. Jasper told me it could take months or years for a newborn vampire to discover and develop their gift. Some are different. He discovered his empathy within a few months of his awakening.

You are not an ordinary vampire and there is a job to be done . . .

That was true. We didn't have months or years to wait for me to be ready and adjusted. We had enemies on our heels and a world to take over. The shifters weren't going to sit back and wait until I'm acclimatized to this life. If they know I'm vulnerable—that we're vulnerable—they'll strike. We need to be ready for that. I need to be ready for that.

That meant figuring out everything I could do and what the hell I am.

I'm not sure there's anyone on Earth that can answer my questions. After all, I come from The Earth. There are many ways to interpret that. Am I part of The Earth? A product of The Earth, like the Earth's child? Am I the Earth manifested in human form? Or was I made by The Earth to be an entirely separate being?

Is there a name for what I am? Do I even have a species?

Maybe I don't.

It's unlikely there's anyone who can answer all my questions or help me figure out what I am. Likely because there's never been another like me. From what Ren said, I'm the first, the only, and very likely the last of my kind. Given to the world to protect it from whatever big bad evil is rising.

I think I need to trust in The Earth and The Fates. When I need to know something, I'll know it. The rest, the little stuff, will have to be figured out as we go about our lives.

Somehow, that felt right to me. As if that's exactly what I needed to do. Trust in The Earth and The Fates to provide the answers when I need them. They are, after all, essentially, my parents. I believe, and have faith, that they'll never lead me in the wrong direction.

I blinked a few times, wondering how the heck I knew that! It just sort of . . . felt right. I knew. That was my answer.

I suppose if that's the answer, it does make sense that Gaea—the Greek primordial Goddess of the Earth—would be my mother. After all, she is the Earth Mother. The first being to have sprung forth from the void of Chaos.

She might've even been the woman Ren met in the field on the day I appeared. I can't say I was born like a regular, human child. I don't think I was. I just appeared as if from magic . . . or from Mother Earth. From Gaea.

I already know The Fates exist. And if I'm right about Gaea—and I am right—it would make sense that the personification of destiny—The Fates—also had something to do with my being here. Maybe not my birth but my existence and leading me to this time and place. To Jasper and Peter. To being in Colorado and being saved from the shifters and Charlie . . . Kallias, whatever his name is.

Yes. That all felt right.

The Earth Mother—Gaea—gave me life. The Fates lead me to this place so that I could learn about myself and finish my transformation. And so my True Mate and I can begin our journey from here.

Hmm. I wonder, does that make me a Goddess? Or a demigoddess? I think a demigod is the offspring between a god and a mortal. In that case, I suppose I'd be a Goddess.

There were no mortal men involved in my birth. In fact, I'm pretty sure there were no males at all. I don't believe I have a father, just a mother.

I imagine a woman as powerful as Gaea doesn't need a man for anything, not even procreation.

But I'm also part vampire. So, I suppose that would make me a Goddess-vampire hybrid.

A Vampire Goddess . . .

Hmm. Vampire Goddess. I liked the sound of that.

I felt a little lighter having a few answers. Happier, too. Knowing that The Earth, my mother, would always be surrounding me. Even if I couldn't see her and would never meet her, it was enough to know she was there. I felt . . . loved by her. Cherished. Protected.

Apart from the new information that had somehow made its way into my head, I didn't feel much different.

My brain felt a little bigger.

Well, all right, it felt a lot bigger.

As I was thinking about my change, my mother, The Earth, Jasper, our mating bond, my possible new gift, questioning my species, and wondering who our guests were, there was part of my mind cataloging everything else. It was a little annoying. I'm not sure why I needed to count my breaths, know how many panes there are in the windows, count every hair atop my mate's head—he's got a thick head of hair, by the way—formulate an exit strategy, plan breakfast, watch the dust motes bounce through the air as the heating came on, or count every teeny tiny stitch in the bedspread.

It was too much.

I felt overwhelmed by all the numbers. And yet, completely content in the fact that I knew there were over one hundred and fifty thousand hairs on my mate's head.

Yeah. He's got a thick head of hair! Is that amount of hair normal? I don't know. But I'm satisfied that I know exactly how many hairs he has!

Above me, Jasper shifted. As he moved, his cock slipped even deeper inside of me, which made me moan and shift with him, lifting my hips so that we'd remain connected.

"I'm here, my mate," he purred, his voice a deep, gruff rumble. The sound of it still had such a profound effect on my body. I arched into him, needing him even closer if that was at all possible. Inside of me, I felt his dick twitch as he chuckled. "I know it's overwhelmin', Darlin', but you'll get used to yer new, roomier brain in time."

He lifted his head from the crook of my neck and looked down at me. It wasn't the first time we'd looked at each other, but still, he took my breath away.

My human eyes hadn't done him justice at all.

I was right about his scars. They were so much worse than I anticipated. Bite marks, slashes, what looked to be stab wounds, and even divots carved out of his flesh littered his body from his neck to his toes. But despite the scars, Jasper is an incredibly handsome man. Sheer and utter perfection in my eyes.

I could see why others were terrified of him. But I felt no such fear. To me, the scars didn't distract from his astonishing beauty. Only added to it.

I felt so . . . grateful to be his.

And I loved him.

I don't think it's possible to love anyone as much as I love him.

A smile lit his handsome face. "I love you, too, my mate," he purred, dipping his head to nuzzle my throat.

I moaned as his lips brushed across the mating mark he'd left on my throat. A thrill of desire shot through me, going straight to my core as he licked the mark, causing my hips to buck against him.

I laughed and smiled. "If you start that again, we'll never leave this bed."

"I'm okay with that," he murmured against my throat.

"While I do completely agree, I need to eat. I'm starving! I haven't eaten anything in however long we've been in this bed!"

The moment I'd spoken the words, he reacted. He withdrew from inside of me and rolled out of bed. As soon as he was away from me, I ached to have him closer, to put him back inside. I felt empty and cold. I knew Jasper felt the loss, too. He stumbled and froze, wavering as he debated what he wanted more; to be inside of me or to take care of my needs.

Deciding for him, I slid out of bed and kissed him.

Hmm. I didn't have to reach up on my tippy toes to kiss him. That was odd. Did the transition alter my height? I certainly felt taller. I was further from the ground. It felt a little . . . unnerving.

I stood still for a moment, holding onto Jasper as my human brain caught up with my newly enhanced mind.

"Am I taller?" I marveled. I had no idea venom could make you taller!

Hmm. If the transformation could make you taller, why didn't it work on Alice?

Unless it did . . .

Maybe she was even smaller as a human and the venom could only stretch her out so far!

Chuckling, Jasper kissed my temple. "Go see," he gave me a little nudge towards the bathroom.

My first few steps were a little shaky. I can't say I gracefully glided to the bathroom—dancing like a tiny perfect ballerina—but I got there without falling on my ass, so that's something, right?

Once I was in the bathroom I freshened up. I was covered, from head to toe, in our combined essence. Most of it had already been absorbed into my skin because apparently, that's a thing I can do now. But I could still feel it dried into my hair and that wasn't pleasant!

Once I'd done my business—because, I guess, unlike a vampire, I've retained the ability to pee—I turned to face the complicated shower. As gorgeous as it was, there were far too many buttons, knobs, dials, and shower heads. Who needs ten showerheads?

"Cowboy?" I called, "How do you turn this shower on? Is there like an activation code or something?"

He was by my side before I finished my sentence. "Yer showerin'?" He asked. "Why?"

Looking up at him, his eyes were black and a little panicked. "I'm all sticky. And," I frowned, "how long were we . . ."

"It's been thirteen days since yer birthday," he answered.

"Thirteen days!" Wow. That took longer than I thought it would. "I need to bathe. And so do you for that matter."

"B-But . . . No. I can't . . . I need you to smell like me . . . there are . . . there are . . ."

Fer God's sake! Get a grip man! I heard The Major snarl in the darkest recesses of Jasper's head.

Oh! That was new.

When our mind link formed while I was human, I hadn't been able to hear The Major speaking to Jasper. I could only hear The Major when he wanted to talk to me. Now I could hear Jasper's thoughts and The Major's. That was going to take some getting used to!

"Shhh." I leaned into my mate and draped my arms over his shoulders as our bodies pressed flush together. "There's nothing for you to worry about, my mate," I told him, playing with the little hairs at the back of his neck, which had him purring.

"Ever since our little sex-a-thon began," I went on, "you've been continuously coming inside of me and feeding me your venom and cum. Believe me, there is enough of your scent inside of me to ward off an entire horde of vampires."

He smirked, looking very proud of himself. "A whole horde, huh?"

"Uh-huh." I smiled. "And, if that wasn't enough when you cum on me or rub our combined essence into my skin, as you've been doing, my body will now absorb it," I told him. "So, even after I wash, I will always smell like my mate."

Again, the information just sorta popped into my head! Like the information about my mother and The Fates and me being a Vampire Goddess.

Hmm. I wonder if this is what it's like to have Peter's gift.

Oh jeez, I hope I don't have Peter's gift! I think one Peter is plenty. No need to have too many psychics in the same place!

Although, so far, all the things I've 'just known' have been about me and what I've become. Maybe that was The Earth's way of answering my questions. It's not like Gaea or Mother Earth or whatever you want to call her, can just pop in for a chat whenever I have a question. I doubt I'll ever come face to face with her or one of The Fates, so maybe this is their way of giving me the answers I need when I need them.

Something about that made a lot of sense and I knew I was right!

"Your body now does the same," I told him, the information coming to me from nowhere. "I could rub my pussy all over your body, lick you from head to toe—as I have been doing—and your skin will absorb my claiming scent, warding off any female who even tries to bat her eyelashes at my mate."

Yeah. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a possessive bitch when it comes to my Jasper.

I already know I'm going to enjoy being worshiped by my mate and whomever else I desire. Male or female. There will be a lot of sex and worshiping in our future. Hell, I plan to make Peter mine as soon as possible. But I will not share my Jasper with anyone!

No. It wasn't fair. But I'm okay with that.

I might, might make an exception for Peter. The fantasy of seeing the two men together is something I'd like to make a reality. I know my mate has a past with Peter. They're closely bonded. And I already feel as close to Peter as Jasper does. He's ours. But I'm content knowing Peter desires me far more than he desires my mate. Though his desire for Jasper is still there, it's lessened now my bond with Jasper has manifested. And I'm good with that.

Jasper is mine. Only mine. And, honestly, I doubt that's ever going to change. Sharing him with another female is completely out of the question and likely to get said female torn to shreds, put through the woodchipper, spread across the forest floor, and then set alight!

Wow! That was a little angry, wasn't it?

"Shh. It's all right, Darlin'. I wouldn't have it any other way, my mate," Jasper said, brushing the back of his hand across my cheek.

"I'm feeling a little . . . weird . . ."

He smiled. "Yer feelin' possessive of yer mate. It's completely normal. In time that could change . . ."

A loud noise rose through my chest. The sound akin to seriously pissed-off bees. "It won't."

"Or it won't." His smile widened as he gently cupped my cheek in his large hand. "Now our bond has finalized there's so much fer us to talk about, my mate. I need to tell ya about what happened while ya were sleepin'. But know this, Darlin', I ain't interested in anyone but you. Whether it's fair or not, I don't care. Yer my mate. And if there comes a time you wish fer me to share ya, well," he smirked as his cock brushed against my belly, hardening again, "I'm okay with that."

I didn't expect that. I figured he'd be jealous or completely against the idea. But here he was, aroused by the thought of sharing me with others.

"Mmm," he purred, "I am. I look forward to sharin' ya with Pete, Darlin'. Seein' the two of ya together, watchin' ya take him . . ."

"And Edward . . ." I added, imagining my sweet boy on his knees begging me to let him cum. Hmm. I wonder if he'd let me make him into my pet?

"Oh! And Emmett," I smiled, remembering his reaction to me when I was human. There were a few times we'd been a little too close and I'd felt his reaction to me. Now I'm a vampire, there's no reason we couldn't explore that relationship.

"Mm. And Carlisle," I grinned. There was something very sexy about the good doctor. I could see him on his knees submitting. But I could also see him being more dominating. Maybe he's into both roles? I could work with that.

The thought of being worshiped and adored by my vampires was doing all sorts of new things to my body. I wanted it. I needed them to be here. To drink from me and worship me.

I watched in awe as Jasper's eyes darkened. Not out of anger, as I expected, but pure, barely contained lust. He was hard, pulsing against my belly.

"I'm a very possessive, dominant male, Isabella." A low growl rumbled deep in his chest. "That has only been intensified now we've mated and you've transitioned. It goes against my nature to share you, and yet fer some reason, I find the thought of it incredibly arousin'. I've never been so hard."

"Every part of me—Jasper, the man, The Major, even my most primal beast—wants nothin' more than to please, worship, and adore you, my mate. I want to give you everythin' you desire and all the things you didn't realize you desired."

Oh, yes, I definitely like that idea!

I wanted it. Bad.

To be worshiped. And loved. And adored. I needed it. With a fierce desperation.

You're a Goddess, Paidi Mou. Every Goddess aches to be worshiped, adored, and desired by those who willingly follow her.

I didn't have time to dwell on the soft voice in the back of my mind. It certainly didn't belong to me, Jasper, or The Major. I'd heard it earlier but I wasn't sure who or where it was coming from.

A low growl came from Jasper. "But there will be rules, mate." His voice was harder, a hint of The Major slipping through.

Oh. I liked that. When he got all dominant and possessive.

"What are your rules, Major?" I purred, brushing my lips across his jaw.

A low growl rumbled through him. "Just a couple, Kitten. One: You will never share yer body with anyone when Jasper and I are not with ya. No exceptions."

I nodded.

"Two: Ya can fuck 'em. Let yer partner worship ya. But you do not make love to 'em. I'll share yer Nectar. I'll share yer body. But I will not share yer heart with anyone. Our bond trumps everythin' else. No exceptions."

That wouldn't be hard. In my head, it wasn't even necessary. I had no desire to make love to anyone but my mate. To me, intimacy was an entirely different thing from being fucked and worshiped and adored. Intimacy and love are something that would only ever be shared with my mate. My Jasper. My heart is his. It's the only part of me nobody else could touch.

"Three: Nobody will ever cum inside of you but me," he growled. "I won't tolerate another male's scent inside of ya but mine. If they don't have enough control to pull out, they'll wear a condom or they don't get to be inside of ya."

Mm. I liked that one, too. I didn't want anyone else's scent inside of me but his.

His hands slipped down my back to grab my ass, bringing me even closer to him. His hard cock brushed against my vagina, gently nudging my slit.

"Four: All of these pretty little holes, are mine . . ." he growled, letting his finger lightly circle my back entrance.

My breathing spiked as my grip on his shoulders tightened. A soft moan left my lips as the tip of his finger gently pushed inside of me.

"Mm. Major . . ." I breathed.

". . . they will only be shared when I allow it. No exceptions."

"Five: Nobody will enter yer back passage. Ever. That tight little hole is mine. And I ain't sharin' that pleasure with anyone."

I have to admit, I never thought I'd enjoy anal sex—in my head it seemed like something unnecessary, painful, and icky—but during the lust-induced haze of our mating, nothing was off-limits. Nothing. And it all felt so fuckin' good!

"You can have yer fun with whomever ya desire, Kitten, but you will wear a plug in this tight little hole, and should it be removed and anything else inserted, both you and yer partner will be punished."

Oh, fuck me.

Is it wrong that I'm finding this so very sexy?

"Understand, Isabella?"

"Yes, Major." I breathed.

"Six: Anyone we invite into our bed will know yer mine," he growled. "You may be their Goddess," he smirked, knowing exactly what he was doing to me, "but you are my mate. I am the Alpha of this Coven. And they will obey me and submit, or they don't get to play with us. No exceptions, mate. Do you understand?"

Breathing hard, I nodded in agreement. "Yes, Major."

"Seven," he grinned, "when you cum, my mate, you will only ever call out my name. They will know, yer pleasure belongs to me. Only me. And I ain't sharin' with anyone."

"And finally, when yer with someone else, if anythin' happens that you don't like or feel comfortable with, or if ya just want to stop, yer to say 'Red'. The moment ya speak that word, everythin' stops."

"Like a safeword."

"That's right, Kitten. We'll use the traffic light system to ensure yer safety when yer with another partner. Green means yer good to go. Yer comfortable and happy to continue with whatever yer doin'. Yellow means things are good but gettin' a little intense. If you say yellow, you haven't reached yer limit, but yer closin' in on it. And red means stop; you've reached yer limit. Once you say 'red' whatever is happenin' will stop. And if it doesn't, whoever yer with will never be invited to play with us again. Yer safety and happiness are the single more important thing to me. If whoever yer with can't listen to ya and follow orders, I will never again trust 'em with ya."

He wasn't the only one who'd never trust them again. If I tell my partner to stop, I expect them to stop. The Major shouldn't have to enforce that rule, it should be common sense. A woman says no or stop, you stop. End of story.

"Do you understand and agree, Kitten?"

"Mm." I nodded. "Yes, I understand and agree to your rules, Major."

He swept down and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "Good girl."

"Do I get to make rules, too?" I wondered.

He smiled. "Yes, my mate. This is a two-way street. From here on out, everythin' we do, we do together. If there are rules you'd like to set fer me, I will happily oblige."

I could already think of a few things. "No females," I growled. "My pussy is the only one you ever play with, touch, lick, kiss, fuck, or anything else you can think of!"

"Done." He nodded. "Anythin' else?"

"Nothing I can think of right now, but I'll let you know if I change my mind."

A sexy grin played on his lips. "You do that, Kitten."

We sealed our deal with a kiss, and then Jasper showed me how to work his confusing shower.

"Join me?" I purred, tugging on his hand to bring him into the shower with me.

He didn't hesitate.

We spent an obscene amount of time washing and loving each other. I couldn't get enough of him. The feel of his hands on my body. The feel of his skin beneath my hands as I washed him. When it all became too much, and I couldn't resist any longer, I dropped to my knees and took his length in my mouth, loving the sound of his moan.

There was something about the taste of his cum. I needed it as desperately as he, and all other vampires, needed my Nectar.

I didn't stop until he came down my throat, and I swallowed every ounce his body gave me.

Unable to stop himself now we'd started, he had me pinned to the tile wall, thrusting inside of me as soon as his orgasm began to ebb. His hands moved over my body—touching, caressing, squeezing—as his hips thrust.

From somewhere off in the distance I could hear someone shouting, but at that moment, I wouldn't have cared if the house was on fire, the shifters were attacking, and the world was about to end. My mate was inside me, and I could feel the bliss he was invoking within me beginning to coil in my lower belly.

– XOXO –

When we were both clean, suds-free, and satisfied, Jasper turned off the water and wrapped me up in a big, fluffy bath towel.

I still couldn't get enough of him. I needed to feel his hands on my body and I wasn't sure if that was normal or not. It was such a strong, overwhelming need. Do all newborns feel like this, or is it just me?

"It's normal, Darlin'," he assured me, obviously hearing my thoughts. "Not only are we mated, but I'm also yer sire. My venom flows through yer veins, connectin' us. New vampires are like newborn babies, they rely on their sire to take care of them and teach them how to live in this world."

"Like a parent . . ."

"Yes." He nodded. "In time you won't depend on me as much. As you learn about this world and become more independent our sire bond will lessen . . ."

Panic flared within me. "Does that mean we'll . . . you'll . . . go away . . . leave me . . ." A low growl rumbled through my throat.

"No, Darlin'!" Jasper pulled me into him, shushing me. "Our sire bond and our mate bond are two different things. We are True Mate's, Isabella, and that's a bond that can never be broken. By anyone, or anything."

"But the sire bond will go away . . ." I whimpered, feeling tears welling up in my eyes. "I'll stop needing you . . ."

"Perhaps go away is the wrong word. I suppose, in a way, it's different for all vampires. Just look at me and Edward. We have vastly different experiences with our sires. But, we are still bonded to them. Again, it's the same with humans. Our bond with our parents, no matter what kind of relationship we have with them, becomes a part of us. Sometimes it dictates who we are or how we behave. Sometimes we fight our nature to become somethin' different from what our parents taught us and how we were raised."

He was getting far too philosophical on me and I was having a hard time following him. My mind was off in a million different directions and that overwhelming feeling was coming back.

"While yer so young," he continued, "the sire bond will bring us closer. A newly turned vampire depends on their sire fer everythin' and that can only enhance our mate bond and bring us closer together. But . . . over time . . ." trailing off, he smiled. "Why don't we discuss this later, Darlin'? When yer more focused and fed."

I nodded.

Despite my brain being so busy, I heard every word he spoke and took it in. There was even part of my brain analyzing what he said and making a list of questions I had for him!

I really do wish I'd been a bit more prepared for the upgraded vampire brain. How the hell do they live like this?

Distracting me, Jasper took the time to dry me off, his hands never leaving my body. Or his lips.

I felt something crunch beneath my grip as Jasper's tongue swirled around my clit. There was a clattering noise as something fell, but I was halfway back to Orgasm-Ville without a care in the world.

– XOXO –

"From what I can tell so far, ya seem to have the normal newborn strength," Jasper smirked, eying the shelf I'd crushed when he brought me to orgasm. And the door handle. And the towel rail. And the cracked tiles in the shower that had taken the brunt of our lovemaking. "Ya seem to be as durable as a full vampire, too!"

That was a relief!

I smiled, remembering the moment I finally convinced him to fuck me without holding back. I didn't want slow and gentle. I wanted my vampire to mate me. To fuck me. When he gave in and gave me what I wanted, I met him thrust for thrust. The bed below us splintered and then toppled to the floor, but that didn't stop us.

It was fast and hard. And I'd never felt closer to him.

The growls and snarls coming from my mate only served to heighten my arousal. We snapped our teeth at one another, hissing as we wrestled for dominance.

Only when he flipped me onto my belly and took me from behind—his teeth on my throat, his cock inside of me, a hand over my vagina, and his arm covering my breasts—physically claiming my most sensitive areas did I relent and submit to my mate. My Alpha. My Sire.

The sounds coming from him were primal.

Animal

At that moment, I think I fell even deeper in love with my sexy beast. Being possessed by him, claimed by him, was even better than I could have hoped.

"I wonder what else has changed," I said, turning toward the mirror.

I'm not sure what I expected.

I was taller. I'd grown maybe four or five inches, putting me somewhere around 5'8 or 5'9. Jasper still towered over me at 6'5, making me feel tiny in comparison.

My hair was the color of rich, tilled soil. It was such a deep, dark brown. Almost black. The darkness stood out prominently against the snowy shade of my skin. It cascaded down to my waist in wavy curls and felt much, much thicker than it had been when I was human.

My eyes were as dark as my hair, darker than they'd ever been. No longer their usual chocolate brown, they were as black as onyx. I could barely distinguish the pupil from the iris. I wasn't expecting that. I figured they'd be red, like a vampire. Or at least my natural brown.

"They might change once you've fed," Jasper told me, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. He pressed a kiss to the claiming mark he'd left on my throat, resting his chin on my shoulder.

My breasts looked great! Sat high on my chest, perfectly symmetrical, round globes with light pink nipples that stood at attention.

Right now, they were full and swollen, which made them look and feel bigger. But they weren't grotesquely huge, ginormous melons protruding from my chest. They weren't tiny, A cups anymore, either. They fit my new body perfectly. Not too small and not overly large.

With the amount of Nectar my body produces, I'm not sure I'll ever have a set bra size. Even before my transition, my breasts constantly changed throughout the day. But that was okay, because with vampirism came the ability to go braless! Yep. Apparently, it's a perk of being a supernatural being, who knew?

Thankfully, I now had some killer curves and I wasn't just straight up and down anymore. My belly was flat and I looked toned without having to do any of that pesky exercise.

All in all, I looked pretty damn good!

From the look in Jasper's dark eyes and his arousal gently prodding my back, he liked what he saw, too. As long as I feel good, and he thinks I look good, who cares what anyone else thinks?

"Like what you see, Kitten?" He purred in my ear.

I turned in his arms and planted a kiss on his lips. "I'm good with it," I told him. "Being taller will take some getting used to and I'll need to go shopping. My clothes probably won't fit this taller frame. And I might need to go up a few sizes now I've got curves."

"Fer now you can shop online," he said. "Until we know what yer bloodlust is like and how much control you have around humans, I don't want you leavin' the house."

I nodded in agreement. I had no desire to hurt an innocent or lose control and start killing all willy-nilly.

He smirked. "I'm sure Alice, Rosalie, and Esme will be thrilled yer willingly shoppin'! Even if it is only online."

"Oh no! I'm not going to be subjected to that torture again." I shook my head defiantly. "I'll only shop when it's necessary," I told him. "I can shop online by myself or with you if I can't touch the computer without breaking it. Maybe I'll make an exception for Char. But nobody else."

"When it's safe for me to leave the house and be around people again, I will only ever shop with you or Char. Maybe Ren if she promises to be good," I said, leaving no room for arguments. "I will not go with anyone else and nobody will shop for me. I'm perfectly capable of picking out my own wardrobe. There will also be no makeovers, dress-up, or Bella Barbie. I outgrew that shit years ago!"

He smiled. "Whatever you wish, Darlin'," he said, leaning down to kiss me.

Other than my physical appearance, surprisingly, nothing had really changed. I still had blood in my veins and I could feel my heart beating in my chest.

"Yer warmer," Jasper purred, nuzzling his face into my neck. "The heat of yer skin feels so good against me. When I'm inside of you, nothin' can compare to that feelin'!"

His lips brushed across my bare shoulder. "Yer scent has been altered, too. Ya smell like a fully mated and claimed vampire now. Anyone who comes near ya will know yer mine."

From what I've seen so far, I seem like a regular vampire, only with a few minor changes, due to my Goddess side. I wonder what other changes are in store for me.

"Do you think Edward will still have problems with my blood?"

I still have blood in my veins and, that's not going to change. I will always have blood in my veins.

"I'm not sure," he frowned. "If I had to guess, I'd say yer scent has changed so much that it won't be a problem fer him anymore. But that's only a guess. We'll know more when he comes home."

I nodded. "I, uh, I think I can see our bond. Can you see that?"

"No." He smiled. "What does it look like?"

I turned around to face him and focused on what I'd seen earlier, watching in amazement as the colors appeared around us once again. But this time, something was different. "Huh . . ." I frowned.

"What is it?"

"It's not just one cord," I told him. "There're three."

"Three?" He frowned. "Three mating bonds?"

"No. One mating bond with three tethers." I looked up at him, meeting his worried eyes. "Surrounding us is this beautiful, bright, vibrant golden aura," I told him. "And there are three matching golden tethers connecting us. Heart to heart. When we're close like this, the tethers wrap around us, almost like they're urging us to be closer."

It's all one bond, Paidi Mou. A very strong mating bond. The strongest I've ever witnessed.

I focused on the soft voice in my head, letting her guide me and explain my gift as I spoke to Jasper.

"What I didn't see before, is that it's one very strong mating bond, with three separate tethers that connect us. One between you and me. One between me and The Major. And one between me and the God of War. It makes sense if you think about it. You are one man, with three distinctive personalities. Every part of you—Jasper the man, The Major, and The God of War—is mine. Neither tether is stronger than the others. But they are distinct and somewhat separate."

"Somewhat?"

"Well, it all comes from one bond. But like you, The Major, and the God of War, these tethers are separate with the option to combine. The brightest tether, I think, is you. You're at the forefront right now and fully in control. But, when The Major comes forth, his tether will glow. And the same for the God of War."

I listened to the voice in my head and smiled.

"If the three of you were to join as one man," I told Jasper, "your tethers would combine and it would be one bright golden cord connecting us."

"Could that potentially harm our bond?"

"No." I shook my head. "Our bond is unbreakable. Made of the strongest steel. But it's still malleable. It'll grow as we evolve together, but never break."

"That's fascinating, Darlin'!" He smiled. "It sounds like ya can read bonds. Sort of like Marcus of the Volturi. His gift is relationship identification; he reads the connections and bonds between those around him. I'm not sure about the specifics of his gift, but from what you've told me, it sounds similar."

"There is something else . . ."

"What is it, Darlin'?" He wondered, helping me into my white, silk kimono and then wrapping a towel around his waist.

"I seem to just know stuff," I told him. "I don't think it's like Peter's gift. So far, the only things I've known are about me and what I've become. So, I'm thinking maybe it's my mother's way of answering my questions. But there's also a voice in my head . . ."

"A voice?" He asked, his tone harder, worried.

I smiled. "I think it's my mother. Guiding me. Helping me. She's the one who explained my gift and what I was seeing. She's the one who told me about your three tethers."

Jasper nodded, looking relieved. "I've heard it too," he admitted. "And I heard ya thinkin' about yer mama and The Fates earlier. It all makes sense. There're things ya need to know and, if I were to guess, I'd say yer likely connected to yer mama. After all, she did give ya life. If she can't be here with you to explain and answer yer questions, this is the next best thing."

I nodded in agreement. "I think my senses have heightened, too," I told him. Then went on to tell him about the moment I woke up and everything I'd felt and sensed, including our five guests who were located seven miles from our current location.

"Yer senses seem as sharp as mine," he told me.

"Who are they?" I wondered, feeling suddenly anxious and . . . strangely vulnerable.

As soon as the emotion registered with me, Jasper was pulling me back into his arms. "It's all right, Darlin'. We're safe," he promised. "It's only the Cullens. They arrived three days into yer change."

"Oh." Okay. Mini crisis averted. The Cullens weren't a danger to us.

"It's normal, Darlin'. Ya may be a Vampire Goddess, but, from what I can tell, yer still a normal newborn. Ya have more control than what I'm used to, but that's a good thing. Fer a while, yer instincts are likely gonna get the better of ya at times. But I'm here. Pete's here, too. And yer safe."

I felt better knowing that. Though part of me was annoyed I needed the reassurance.

"So, I can sense the Cullens from seven miles away?" I asked, shocked. "Is that normal?"

"Fer the average vampire like Carlisle, Emmett, and Ed, no," he answered. "Fer someone like me, Pete, or Char who've had decades of trainin', and experience and who've been honin' their skills fer a century, yes. There're even vampires out there who're older and more skilled and have better senses."

Ah. So, vampire senses could be improved through training. I never knew that. I just figured their senses were heightened to the extreme. At least that's what Edward told me. He made it seem like every vampire had the same enhancements and, of course, there was nobody better than him! I should've known that was a lie.

"I ain't sure what's normal fer you, Darlin'. Yer sharper senses could be because yer a newborn. Their senses are usually heightened fer about the first year to fourteen months. Then as their blood begins to wane, they diminish."

"You ain't a normal newborn, though," he went on. "Maybe this is natural fer you and you won't ever need to hone or train your skills. Since we don't know anythin' about what you've become, all we can do is take it one day at a time and learn as we go."

I nodded. "Why don't we ge—"

A soft whimpering sound came from behind our closed bedroom door. As the noise continued, Jasper flinched and curled into me. "Pete!" he hissed, gritting his teeth.

With a snarl, he spun around and disappeared from the bathroom in a blur, leaving me standing there feeling overwhelmed and anxious again.

A/N: Wow! That was a long chapter!

So, to recap: The Greek primordial Goddess of the earth—Gaea from Greek mythology—is Bella's mother. Which means, Bella is a Vampire Goddess.

The soft voice Bella can hear in her head is Gaea. When she speaks to Bella it'll always be in italics.

The Fates have been guiding Bella through life and protecting her while leading her to finally meet and mate with Jasper.

Jasper doesn't seem too bothered about sharing his mate with others who'll want to worship their Goddess.

And looks like Bella's okay with that too. As long as she isn't sharing Jasper. Is it fair? No. But she's a Goddess, she doesn't care if it's fair or not.

Next chapter, we find out what's happened to Peter! Stay tuned. :)