Chapter 13: Sweet Reunion

October, Seattle Washington

Isabella tapped her pen as she listened to the rainfall. She had been in the United States for two months and it had been a big culture shock.

First, it was the weather.

While Italy had its rainy days, it was nothing compared to Seattle. It rained all the time.

To be honest it was a little depressing.

And yet so far her time here had been ok. it was taking a while to adjust to everything.

Living in a home with seven vampires was hard. It was different at home because the castle was huge and everyone had their own space. Here at the Cullens was a totally different story.

They had a bedroom, five-bathroom mansion and it was three stories. To a normal person, it would seem lavish and huge and it was. But Isabella had grown up differently.

However, she was grateful for what she had and didn't complain. Her family made sure to show her that there were people less fortunate than her.

If she were being honest, Isabella felt smothered. The Cullens made sure she followed the rules that her family set for her.

She was to only wear skirts or dresses.

Her guard was to be with her at all times.

She had to spend time with Edward, at least an hour a day.

Her studies were important and needed to be done before any fun activities took place.

She needed to meet with any coven that called a meeting with her and Carlisle needed to be in the room.

Most of all she needed to video chat with her family every other Sunday.

Isabella snorted, even in another country they still had full control of her life.

She wondered when she started to care. She didn't always have such resentments towards her family but now? She just wanted one day when she could be a normal girl living a somewhat normal life.

"knock knock," Jasper called out as he poked his head in the doorway.

"Hello Jasper." she greeted.

"Good Evening princess. Victoria is downstairs as well as the family. It's about that time."

Isabella stood up from her desk and ran past Jasper who laughed behind her.

As soon as she hit the bottom of the stairs she was in her aunt's arms.

It had only been two months but to Isabella, it felt as if it had been years. Last month it was Jane who visited her but Aunt Victoria seemed to be the only person who could understand her need for freedom.

"little warrior!" her aunt greeted as she purred. Her chest rumbled.

Isabella laughed.

"Aunty you purring." She laughed.

"It's only because I've missed you and you're stuck in this uptight hellhole." Her aunt mumbled.

Isabella laughed.

"I wouldn't call it that."

They turned to see the Cullen family watching them. It was kind of creepy.

"so, what's the plan Bambi killers." Her aunt asked nonchalantly.

Carlisle cleared his throat and said "Well the princess has been through this process before. We are going hunting for four days. We will be back on Monday. She stays here with you, as her other guard." He gestured to Peter, Charlotte, and Garrett. " will be hunting two states over. Any questions?"

Victoria rolled her eyes.

"I've been with this girl since she was a child. we will be fine. You can go." She said dismissing them.

Carlisle gave Victoria a disapproving look but ignored her and approached Isabella.

"Alright Princess, it's the same process as last month. Get your work done, Esme made some wonderful meals that are in the fridge, and then you can read or watch a movie for the weekend."

With that Carlisle kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door.

Everyone followed him except for Edward.

As soon as he approached her, Peter and Victoria let out warning growls.

"she is my mate, I am allowed to approach."

Peter pulled Edward back by the shoulders.

He then turned to Isabella with dull red eyes.

"tell me what you want to do darlin?" Peter asked

"I'd prefer to be alone actually," Isabella told him.

"very well. Mind reader, you're coming with us." Peter hissed.

And finally, she and Victoria were alone.

"alright girlie, tell me the truth. How are you? and no sugarcoating it." Victoria asked as she sat down on the Cullen's pristine white couch.

"im…struggling Aunt Victoria. School is ok but it's weird being around humans all the time. isn't that weird? I am more comfortable being with supernatural creatures than my kind. And not to mention being with the Cullens is suffocating, well at least Alice and Edward are suffocating. The rest of them…well, they're ok."

"Well, enough of this sob fest. Go change, black dress, black boots and leave your hair down." Aunt Victoria told her.

"What?"

"just go do it. we don't have much time."

With that said Isabella rushed upstairs to change.

Confusion hit her when she came back and Victoria was holding car keys.

"I've already put the address in your GPS. When you get there, just tell them who you are and have a good time."

"y-you mean I get to drive by myself? Y-your not coming with me?"

Victoria smiled.

"no mam. You get to do this all on your own. Now go have fun"

….

"Mr. Ahanu, this is just a masterpiece. The whole gallery is just so proud to have you. can I refill your glass?" Amanda asked him.

"yes, thank you," he told her simply.

"so I have talked to your manager and we would love to connect you with some of the other art galleries internationally and nationally. We have the Metropolitan Museum of New York already on the line." Amanda told him.

"talk to my manager and she will handle it." he told her. " now if you excuse me."

With that said, Mr. Ahanu walked away.

"hey don't worry. He's like that with everyone." A voice said from behind her.

Amanda turned to see a woman with long black hair and beautiful brown skin.

"Leah Clearwater, Mr. Ahanu's manager. Let's talk about New York."

….

Mr. Ahanu casually walked around the museum. All of his hard work was displayed at the Seattle museum. A whole party had been thrown in his honor at the Seattle museum. He had been chosen as the Young Artist of the Year, but Ahanu could care less about any of that. All he cared about was painting. It was his passion, the one thing he could do without anybody hanging over him.

He stopped when he looked at his most prized painting.

Lost love, he called it.

He painted himself red and naked, and in his arms was a woman. She had pale skin with long brown hair. They faced each other, her face on his chest.

Surrounded by fire.

"It's sad." A soft voice said next to him. Ahanu looked down and breathed.

Immediately electricity flowed through him as he looked at the women before him.

Long brown hair, and wonderful curves filling a sexy black dress.

"Izzy?" he questioned as vanilla and cinnamon filled his nose.

When the woman turned to look up at him, her brown eyes filled with tears.

" Sam? My Sam.."

Samuel reached out to cup her face, the hopelessness that once filled him was gone.

"Izzy… w-what are you doing here?" he asked her.

She laughed as she leaned into his touch.

"my aunt seems to keep setting us up. I am finally free for the weekend and she kicked me out of the house and sent me here. I- I can't believe you're here."

Samuel shook his head and said " I mean what are you doing here In America? Are you visiting? How long will we have before we don't see each other anymore?"

"Sam, I am living here for college. At least until I turn nineteen. I live here in Seattle." She told him.

Samuel looked around, they needed to get out of here.

"Do you mind if we leave here? I would like to be alone with you," he told her.

Once again, she nuzzled into his hands which were still cupping her face.

"I would love that. But I have to ask you about this painting. It's so beautiful and yet sad."

"that's because it's us," he explained to her.

She followed her eyes and squinted before she gasped.

"oh…oh Sam.. it's beautiful and…yet I can see the sadness. Is the fire supposed to symbolize our destruction?"

A small smile which was rare showed upon Samuel's face.

"yes. I thought I would never see you again. I've been dreaming about you every day for five years."

She locked eyes with him and once again electricity passed between them.

"Sam, I would really love to be alone with you."

With that said, he put his glass down put an arm around Izzy's waist, and walked her towards the door.

"oh! Mr. Ahanu? Are you leaving so soon? we were hoping you could say a speech." The museum curator asked him.

"not today. But you can talk to my manager if you need anything else. Good night."

Samuel breathed in the cold October air, as he pulled his mate closer to his side.

"My truck is right here." He told her as he pointed to his black pickup truck.

"oh, can I follow you? I drove my car here."

Samuel breathed in her scent again. he didn't want to be away from her.

"would you mind if I have someone take your car to where we are going? I just want to be near you, Izzy."

"oh Sam, I want to be near you too."

"I am glad you feel the same way. just give me a moment."

He walked a few steps away to make a phone call.

…..

Isabella was quick to text Victoria as she watched Sam's back.

B-V!Did you know he was going to be here! Have you been stalking him!?

V- don't worry about the how, just enjoy it. Enjoy your time with him. I am giving you until Sunday night.

B- Thank you.

When she looked up from her phone, Sam was staring at her. his gaze was soft with a glint of yellow in his eyes.

Isabella still couldn't believe he was standing in front of her. When she arrived at the museum, she had no idea what was waiting for her.

"I'll have someone take care of your car. Would you mind leaving the keys?" he questioned.

"of course," she told him.

"thank you. I'll be right back."

Five minutes later Samuel returned. He looked absolutely stunning in his all-black suit and long hair. The beard look really suited him too.

"I really like the groomed beard look on you," she told him as she absentmindedly ran her hands through it.

Sam closed his eyes and a rumble sounded.

"your touch is pure to us."

And when he opened his eyes they were bright yellow.

"Are you hungry Izzy?"

"starving." She told him as she continued to thread her fingers through his beard.

"do you like Chinese food?" he asked

"never had it."

"well then let me introduce you."

…

Samuel watched as Isabella happily ate her vegetable dumplings.

His wolf rumbled happily at her content.

"hey Sam?" she questioned.

"yes?"

"Why did the lady at the museum call you ahanu?"

"ah, it's a pseudo name. only two people in my life know about my career. However, I have to keep it a secret because of other responsibilities. I only get one weekend out of every month to have time to myself. The rest of the time I am always on the run. Isabella I must ask, do you know what I am? Do you know who I am?"

" I know you're a supernatural creature but no I don't know what you are exactly. I never really cared either, you were just always my Sam." She told him shrugging.

"Izzy, I am a shapeshifter," he told her.

To his surprise, she rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"Well, I figured that Sam. Your eyes turn yellow at your heightened emotions. It's classic for supernatural creatures. Whenever some of my family members are upset their eyes might turn black. "

"you're very inquisitive. How is your food?" he asked

"It's good. You know, I've been to like eight countries and have never had Chinese food. I've never been to America either, so there's a first time for everything. I mean even sitting down here with you is an experience."

"what do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, two things, I have never been on a date and I have never eaten with another human before. Whenever it was time to eat I ate alone. So…this has been really nice. Oh, and we are on a date right? I shouldn't have assumed I just thought-"

Samuel cut her off, with a simple stroke to the cheek.

"you ramble when you are nervous. It's cute. And yes, to clarify we are on a date. I want to be honest with you and lay out all my cards on the table. I hope you can do the same. I don't like secrets or miscommunication."

He watched as she swallowed hard and played with her food.

"Izzy-"

"I just don't want you to hate me! that's all!" she finally blurted.

"And I won't. Nothing you could tell me would make me hate you. but I would like your honesty. Now, tell me what you like to do in your spare time."

….

Samuel never found himself talking so much. Most people stayed away from him and only talked to him when he needed to. It didn't help that he kept people at a distance either. However, with the way his life was set up, he couldn't let everyone in his circle.

But with Izzy, it seemed that all his walls came down and for the first time in his life, he genuinely felt love. She cared about his life and the things he did for fun.

He wanted to love and be loved.

The wolf on the other hand just wanted his mate.

At the moment, he and Izzy were making the three-hour journey back to his home.

Well, it wasn't a home per se, it was just where he slept, however, he had built the wooden three-level cottage with Izzy in mind.

Just in case one day, they were ever reunited.

He still couldn't believe she was next to him. She had even held his hand for the whole drive.

By the time they pulled up to his cottage on the outskirts of La Push, Izzy was asleep.

Not wanting to wake her, he gently picked her up and brought her inside. He had no idea what he was going to do when it was time for them to separate.

His wolf became excited at the thought of their mate in their den.