Chapter 15: A Couple's Prayer and a Very Strange Answer:

Authors note!

Hi Everyone! Here's your Saturday chapter! Sorry, it's a little late! You guys are awesome! You guys are my main motivation for writing! Make sure you review! Lots of love and many blessings!

When Bella tried to speak, Paul roared. His eyes glowed brighter than before.

"On your knees." He ordered.

Bella did as so.

She was glad her parents couldn't hear her screams.

…..

Paul stared down at his wife. Her naked body was covered in bites and scars from the way the leeches had manhandled her.

They were lying on the forest floor. Soft grass under them. He had created this spot a long time ago. He made sure the grass was just right, so he could do exactly this.

Make love to her under the sky. His only drawback right now was the bruises that covered her. His hands trembled as he looked at her.

He had gone too far. His wolf had gone too far.

His wolf was angry. And so was the tiger. They were battling amongst themselves. The wolf…the wolf wanted Rachel. He wanted to touch her again. and craved the touch of the pack. It wanted to be around his pack.

To fit in and belong.

But tiger…Tiger wanted solitude. The tiger wanted to wrap itself around his mate and leave all else behind.

The tiger didn't care for relationships outside the one he had with his mate and his cubs

It was a contrast to everything Wolf wanted to do.

He hadn't had such a hard time battling the beast inside before he found his mate. He was able to settle both of them with simple kills of the enemy.

Tiger had always been fond of Bella but Wolf had been tolerant. Wolf-like to push her buttons and make her angry. He loved it when she was angry. It turned him on. And yet wolf basked in her submission, how easily she gave in to them.

Tiger saw her differently.

Paul growled and pulled at his hair. His beasts were warring with each other

But why? Why now?

" Paul? Baby? What happened?" Bella asked sleepily as she sat up.

Paul scooted away from her. His eyes blazing with anger and confusion.

" i.. i.. we.. we hurt you. We can't believe we hurt you. Didn't mean to hurt you. "

Bella sat up and looked at him.

"Honey." She began as she reached out to him

Paul growled and scooted away from her.

"Don't come any closer. I hurt you. Look at yourself, Isabella. "

Bella glanced down at herself and sighed.

"Paul." She said firmly. He looked at her eyes wild and frenzied.

At that moment she realized she wasn't talking to Paul. She was talking to the wolf.

To the tiger. She was talking to the two beasts that resided in him. The man at the moment was nowhere to be found.

" Wolf? Tiger? What's wrong? Why are you angry?"

Instead of answering her, Paul's beast went livid and roared. It was as if he was fighting with himself.

She went silent for a while. Waiting for him to calm himself. Eventually, he went still.

He was staring at her.

Bela stared back. Right now wasn't the time to back down.

"You angry." She began. Her voice was gentle and placating.

A warning growl was released but it wasn't as loud as before.

"I need you to tell me why," she spoke very slowly and calmly. " I am your mate. You chose me. Let me help you."

Something like a whine sounded from Paul. It was a pain-filled whine.

"Mate. Hurt."

"oh honey. I am not hurt. You did not hurt me. Remember, I like it rough. I wanted this. I just bruise easily."

Another whine.

Bella sighed. Something else was wrong. Something else was bothering him.

"wolf? Tiger. I can't help you if you don't talk. Can I have Paul back? So he can translate…please..?"

As Bella waited, her heart hurt for her husband. He put on such a show for everyone. Showing everyone how strong and protective he was. How he didn't take anyone's crap. But when night came, when Bella held him in her arms, Paul would let the mask fall. He would open his heart and reveal to her the man. The broken man.

Maybe that's what he was struggling with now. Maybe it wasn't the wolf or the tiger? Was it the man? Was the man not willing to submit to whatever demands his spirit animals had asked of him?

Paul had often confided in her that he didn't want to be in charge. He, the man didn't want the power or the authority. He just wanted to have a family and work hard. But the spirit within him desired more. Needed more.

Wolf was meant to lead and protect.

Tiger was meant to kill and hunt.

But the man didn't want any of that. He had tolerated but the toleration could only last so long. Right now the man had to accept it.

He had to accept the burden, the demand that was put on him.

A groan reached her ears.

Looking up, Bella could see small flecks of violet through the blue and yellow of Paul's eyes.

" Babe… I can't…Argh. I can't…I can't anymore." Paul groaned.

He was holding his head as if it hurt.

"What can't you do Paul? Are you struggling with wolf and tiger?"

"YES! THEY WANT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPEASE THEM! BUT WHAT ABOUT ME!? WHAT ABOUT WHAT I WANT!" he screamed.

Bella remained where she was.

Touching him at this moment wouldn't help.

"What does wolf want?" she asked.

"He wants… he wants to be with the pack. He wants to be near Rachel. I-I never felt anything when I was around her. I never felt any desire for her. but the minute I touched her today… Wolf was ..happy. he was freaking happy. And baby…me the man. I don't want her. she means nothing to me but wolf….he wants to be around her."

Paul whined.

Bella swallowed hard. She couldn't get into her personal feelings right now.

"And what does tiger want?" she asked.

"Tiger wants silence. He wants to hunt and kill. He wants to take you our cub, and run he just wants to run."

"And the man?"

"I just want to sit down baby. Im so tired. Im so freaking tired. I fight and I fight and what does it get me? Every day that I wake up, I pray it's not a dream because I fear I'll lose you again. or that someone will take you from me. and now we have our kids. I don't know how much more I can take."

Bella took a deep breath.

"Can you come here, babe? Can you come closer? I know you won't hurt me."

Paul hesitated but then took small steps toward her.

"Lay your head in my lap." She gestured.

Paul took deep breaths as he did so.

With closed eyes, Bella prayed.

"dear lord. Right now… we need you… Paul needs you. He's struggling lord. We are struggling. Father God, I ask that you give us instruction and direction on what we should do next. Paul is battling with the gifts bestowed on him. We need direction lord. But most of all we need your peace. You have given us your peace. Help us to tap into it. in Jesus name…amen."

Husband and Wife sat in the forest silently. Both their heartbeats beating as one. After twenty minutes of silence and meditation, Bella heard the small and yet clear voice of God.

Let him mark you, daughter. Trust me and trust your husband.

Bella sighed. She trusted her husband and she trusted God but she didn't want to have him mark her.

"Don't fear…"

…..

Paul laid his head on his wife's lap. He was torn and exhausted.

The beasts quiet within him. But he could still feel their discontent.

What could he do?

"lord… what do we do?" he prayed silently. His wife's prayer had given him comfort. But he still needed answers.

"Mark your wife. Bond with your pack and seek the gift I have put within you."

Paul opened his eyes and looked at his wife. They spoke at the same time.

"I think you should mark me."

"I need to mark you."

Both stared at each other before they began to chuckle.

"Please don't be afraid…" Paul told her as he sat up. "Please trust me.."

"Baby I trust you..I'm just.. afraid…"

"But what are you afraid of?" he asked.

"The pain? The new bond? Maybe im just insecure..."

Paul shook his head and cupped his wife's chin. Leaning in he kissed her passionately.

Of course, they landed back on the grass with Paul hovering over Bella.

He then said something in French she didn't understand.

"Shh, just trust me, baby.." he told her as he kissed her again.

"I trust you."

Paul made sure she was relaxed and riding the waves of pleasure before he bit her collarbone.

Bella screamed.

….

Meanwhile, in Volturi Italy.

Carlisle sighed as he flipped the page of an old research book.

"Something the matter Carlisle?" Aro asked next to him.

Not bothering to hide his thoughts. He gave Aro his hand.

Aro hummed as he read through his thoughts and then pulled back.

"I see your dilemma… and I see why you would be concerned about Mrs. Swan… however, I don't think it's wise to go putting our nose where it doesn't belong."

Carlisle sighed.

Ever since they got here, he had been worried sick about Bella. She truly was like a daughter to him. And his poor children. Alice missed her dearly and blamed herself for everything that happened.

Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper were indifferent.

Esme was still angry at Bella and he feared what she would do.

Edward on the other hand, had been quiet. He served the kings dutifully and then spent his time playing piano and reading books in the library. To be honest, he seemed very content. It was almost scary.

Carlisle sighed. He would just have to come back to those thoughts another time.

….

A few days later, Carlsile's worst fear had come to fruition.

Esme was gone.

As Aro read his thoughts, his old friend looked at him in sadness.

"I am sorry Carlisle but I will have to send Demetri and Jane after her."

He nodded. But as he walked away, he could have sworn he saw Alice smile.

….

Bella and Paul gasped as they awoke.

Paul had marked her and then everything went black.

However, when Paul looked at froze in shock.

"Paul…? What's wrong?" she asked.

Paul looked at her in shock.

"Honey…. Your eyes… they are three different colors!"