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Chapter 11

F POV

I turned to look at my mate, as I set her down in the cabin. I'd spent all week trying to get it in order, knowing telling her the truth was inevitable; we now had a space for privacy, and a place for my coven mates and I to convene.

Her acceptance of our bond made my long dead heart nearly beat again, knowing this temptress was mine for eternity made me feel refreshed and almost like the twenty-three year old I am physically.

Just thinking the word physical has my eyes perusing my mate as she sat on the couch, the scent of nervousness seeping from her very pores.

I walked forward and sat on the couch, pulling her into my lap, a purr automatically starting up to ease her discomfort.

"I can smell your nervousness." I said, running my nose along her cheek, picking up fear as well. "Bella?"

She exhaled shakily and twined the fingers on her left hand into my hair. "I just—I mean—What if..." she blew out a breath, trying to gather her thoughts again. "I think I kind of got all caught up in the mate thing and didn't really have a chance to think about it." She said.

I stiffened, unsure where she was going with this. My arms tightened around her slightly, as if I could keep her from saying whatever she had on the tip of her tongue.

"I'm scared, Felix" she said, wide brown eyes now blinking up at me, watering slightly.

"Of?" I questioned, stroking a finger along her cheek just below her eyes.

"What if we're not mates? Or you decide you don't need a mate?" her lower lip trembled as she continued voicing her fears, "what if you leave me behind or once I'm changed you don't want me anymore?" her small fingers clutched at my shirt and hair, as if she could keep me from doing any of those things by keeping me in her grasp.

Based on her past with my kind her questions and concerns are valid, but the thought of even entertaining the idea of not having her forever was impossible. Even now, with her confessions out in the air, it took all I had in me to focus on her fears and not on the way her lithe body felt pressed up against me.

"Bella," I tried to choose my words carefully, "there's nothing in this world I wouldn't give you, apart from mortality. There's no mind that intrigues me more, no body that entices me more," there's that blush "and no being –mortal or immortal – who I'll ever love besides you. I'm not going anywhere, even if you asked me to leave you, I wouldn't be able to. You're my mate, and one day you will be my equal in nearly every way."

"You love me?" she questioned, her trepidation making her sound very un-Bella.

"Silly girl," I brushed some hair behind her ear, "I love your compassion, bravery, humor, whit, intelligence. Don't forget, we were made for each other, my mate, there is nothing about you I don't love". I stated, standing up with her in my arms, a new line of thinking taking over.

Walking into the bedroom, I kicked the door shut and deposited my little mate in the center before kneeling over her and slowly lowering my body of hers, feeling exhilarated in her physical reactions to my change in tactics. That's right, baby, don't think just feel.

"By not giving me mortality do you mean…?" she trailed off, still unsure.

I shook my head silly girl. "I have waited thousands of years for you, amore mio, now that I have you only death can separate us, and once you're changed, even death will be nearly impossible for either one of us. Of course, you will be changed, regardless of your dealings with Aro."

Her eyes shifted between mine, I could sense more questions still on her lips, holding back so she could get her worries out of the way.

"And my change" she started hesitantly, "will you do it? Or does it have to be someone else?"

My answering growl was uncontrollable as the thought of anyone else's venom running through her veins ran through my mind.

"Over my ashes" I said looking into her eyes with conviction.

"…and wh-where would you bite?" she asked, eyes roaming over my face and neck as if she could spot my own scars. I stood up, grabbing the hem of my shirt and lifting a brow in question. Her eyes widened as she realized what I asking and at her gaping expression I went ahead and slowly peeled off my shirt, giving my mate a show.

I noticed her eyes trailing along my newly exposed torso, snapping back up to my face as if reprimanding herself for openly ogling me. I crawled back over her on the bed and shifted slightly so she could see the edge of my shoulder. Tilting her chin up with one finger I tried to hold in my laughter as she blushed at being caught again.

"I was bitten here" I pointed to the faint indentation on my right shoulder before shifting again, "and here" I pointed to my left shoulder before centering myself again and dropping down closer so I was resting on my forearms.

"Oh" she said, voice breathless and small, "so the shoulder then?"

I chuckled and dropped my mouth down to her neck, trailing it along from her jawline to just above her collarbone on her left-hand side. "No" I replied, placing an open mouth kiss and hearing he heart hammer away, making my lips curl up, "I would do it here, close to your heart in a spot that will feel good." I bit the skin there softly and then sealed my lips over the spot, pulling hard enough it was sure to leave a faint mark. If the thought of marking my mate hadn't got me going already, the mewling sounds now falling from her lips certainly did.

"Tell me, gattino, what do you want me to do?"

She reached up and small fingers wove into my hair, giving a tug, as she murmured, "more". The invitation was just too sweet to pass up and who was I to deny her?

I flipped us around, letting her have the control, let me know how much she was willing to give. She paused, taking in her new position, seated on my lower abdomen, hands splayed on my chest, eyes wild and assessing. I took mercy on her and made sure to plant her just above where I wanted her most. I clasped one hand on her hip, the other snaking up into her hair to tangle in her dark tresses. Her blush spread from her cheeks down to her neck, disappearing under the collar of her shirt, making me groan as I tried not to imagine how far down it went.

"Afraid, mate? I won't bite…until you ask." I winked at her then through a challenging look, daring her to act outside of her comfort zone.

With a look of determination she leaned down and pressed her warm pliant lips against mine, mashing her body up against me where I could feel her nipples hardening through her shirt. I licked her lip in response, needing to taste her, and she obliged, opening her mouth and tangling her tongue with my own. I pulled away for her to catch her breath, running my lips over her jaw, and my hands up and down her sides.

I glanced at the clock on the bedside table and mentally cursed our timing. I started to slow things down, moving my hands to her back, purr starting up as I turned to rest my lips against her heated forehead.

"It's late, you need to sleep" I sighed, already dreading the words as they left my lips.

She froze at my words muttering a soft "fucking typical, prudish vampires". Nope. Not gonna fly here.

I flipped her back underneath me on her back, staring down at her disappointed features, smelling embarrassment, anger, and rejection coming off her. "Prudish?" I questioned, purr turning into a low growl.

She crossed her arms in the small space between our bodies and nodded sharply. "Call em like I see em. Apparently vampires are instinctual and go at it like fucking rabbits, but it seems either I date ones who aren't attracted to me enough to take that step, or think I'm too fragile, or—" I cut her off with a nearly bruising kiss, because fuck that noise. All I'd done since that plane ride—hell since the damn throne room – was hold myself back from running off with her over my shoulder, laying her out and claiming my mate. Repeatedly.

"Oh kitten" I rasped, eyes slowly trailing up and down the length of her body, "if I knew you were ready I'd have taken you on that plane in the private room, no one would've stopped me once you gave me the go ahead. But I was suspicious, and now after your confession I'm certain, that you're quite inexperienced." Her brow started to pucker, and the rejection and embarrassment kept pouring out. "Now now, none of that. Trust me, being the only man to have you is – such a fucking turn on." I growled out, pausing before continuing. "But we do this at your pace. We'll build up to it, and trust me, you'll find you'll enjoy all the other things we can do to get you ready." I trailed my hand down her crossed arms, "but just to prove to you that I do in fact crave you," freeing one and guiding her hand down to wear I was painfully hard. Closing my eyes, and inhaling through the raging desire just her lightest of touches had was actually painful.

I heard her sharp intake at the realization of my obvious arousal, her blush raging and lower lip now caught in her teeth. Always so tempting. I reached up and tugged her lip free, "Now, do you believe me?" she nodded her head.

"Trust me, the things I want to do to this body will take hours before we even get to where you're thinking, kitten" I winked at her again, then rolled away to take a quick shower. I took a few extra minutes to talk myself out of starting things right back up when I got out, she needs sleep, Alec might come by way too early—yeah I don't need to start my day off getting pissed off when I already have to spend the day in Seattle away from Bella with Jane, who I hadn't completely forgiven yet.

I sighed and walked back into the bedroom, stopping in my tracks at the sight before me, a low growl starting before I could even think to stop it. Curled up wearing my discarded shirt was my mate, sleeping soundly with a little smile on her full lips. As if she could sense me, her hand shot out, fingers wiggling around, "Felix. Bedtime." She grunted sleepily. I snorted but followed the disgruntled command anyways, curling her into my side as she draped a leg over mine and fell into a deep sleep.

J POV

I can't believe it's only been a day since I found him, now looking down at my sleeping mate, I ran my fingers through his hair, smiling lightly when he stretched into my fingers in his sleep. He was shirtless—we both were. Sue me, it's been centuries and my mate's hot as hell. It's not like he can overpower me anyways, so everything we do has to be at my pace, which is nice, but I secretly can't wait for the day when he can physically just…take control. I smiled dreamily at the thought, fingers absentmindedly running lower along his abs, before pulling back to not wake him.

I couldn't hold back that night, I told him everything. I was distraught about what had happened –and almost happened—to Bella under my watch, and just needed to connect. He was pretty freaked out, okay so he fainted a little bit, but it thought it was cute. I was glad Bella diffused the situation this morning and hopefully set Felix up to be in a better mood for our scouting trip tomorrow. Demetri messaged me about the Seattle trips. And Alec…I rolled my eyes thinking back on our conversation…

My phone rang and I answered it without looking at the caller ID, feeling breathless with Tristan's warm hands roaming across my stomach.

"Yes?" I gasped, unable to fully control my current state. But the response I got definitely did the trick.

"Oh ew! Gross Janie, do you always answer the phone when you get freaky—wait don't answer that. That better have been a gasp of shock and happiness at seeing your dear twin's name on your caller display. I get it, Felix was almost as happy as you, I mean he begged me to come down and help now that my sister's gotten herself all tied up with human. I mean come on Jane he can't be that great, just throw him some good ol pain and come up to Seattle with your favourite boys."

"Alec—go away." Tristan's hands had paused when I'd stiffened hearing my brother's voice, and now a smirk was pulling at his lips as his head ducked down to start trailing kisses up my side, making me squirm and bite my lip when he found ticklish spots I never knew I had.

"But Janieeeeee" he whined back, "what if I wander out into the big old state of Washington and see a human and bam! Just like you and Fifi I get all mated up! To a human! You have to protect me!"

"Brother, I'm sure—" I paused to scramble away from Tristan to the door at vampire speed, wagging my finger at him with a small smile as I finished, "I'm sure if your mate was unlucky enough to be human and find you, they would be the only person on this planet since the dawn of time capable with putting up with you. So why don't you leave me alone and get started on the work you were called here to do. And for the record, my mate is immune to my gift, so HA." I huffed, hanging up before he could protest. I love my brother but once he gets going, he never stops.

Snapping back to the present, I briefly pondered whether Alec would randomly find a mate in Seattle, shaking my head as I wondered exactly what type of woman…or man would be able to put up with him for eternity by choice. We were blood, so we were sworn to put up with each other, but specifically Alec being frozen at sixteen led many in Volterra to question whether the age cap for the immortal child should be closer to eighteen, if not twenty. Although most outside our coven only knew him – us—to be ruthless, cold, and unforgiving, my brother was truly annoying, loving, and well, annoying.

While I'd spilled just about everything to Tristan that first night, I'd held off on the whole causes extreme pain, most from around the world fear my name thing. He did drag the confession out of me today after leaving Charlie's, pestering me to try it out on him 'on low power mode'. Idiot. To my utter shock and absolute thrill, it didn't work, which led me to question whether he had the same power as Bells or something similar.

I sighed thinking about my best friend again—my sister—it'd warmed my heart this morning when she'd defended me to fiercely to my superior, and I knew I still had to apologize to her too. Maybe if I started with Bella, Felix would be easier to patch things up with. I knew I'd royally fucked up, just glancing down at my mate I could imagine the unbearable pain at the thought of losing him, and to nearly lose him under a coven mate's watch—I shuddered at the thought. In the morning, we'd go there before Alec and Demi were back and I'd make things right. I felt Tristan's hand come up and settle around my waist, as if sensing my determination.

B POV

I woke up to what was becoming my favourite sound, "Hmmm, I love it went you purr" I said, stretching.

The sound stopped and I blinked up sleepily to look into narrowed red eyes, answering his expression with my own lazy grin. "Aw come on, it is purring, it makes my feel comfortable and safe" I pouted up at him but his expression didn't waver.

I rolled over and noticing his chest was still bare, I grinned up at him before sliding my body over more, so I was plastered up against him like yesterday morning. "Hmmm, what do we have here?" When he'd peeled his shirt off last night, I thought I'd die. Perfectly sculpted torso most men would kill for, chiselled to perfection and all mine. With that last thought, I ran my lips up his abdomen, leaving light kisses in the dips and grooves. His eyes darkened but otherwise his expression remained the same. Challenge accepted. I looked down and opened my mouth on one of his abs, scraping my teeth along its edges, causing the hulking man beneath me to hiss out his breath. At the sound, I immediately jumped up, called out human moment and scurried to the bathroom.

I thought I'd escaped, splashing water on my face, and reaching for the toothbrush Felix had put in the cabinet for me. But as I was brushing my teeth, large stone hands were suddenly sliding under his shirt I still had on, and along my stomach, giving me chills and nearly making me spit out my mouthful of toothpaste. I still managed a garbled squeak, then narrowed my eyes at the smirk in the mirror. I kept brushing determinately, and the smirk disappeared into my neck where his cool lips pressed while he chuckled.

I figured he was here to get back at me, but instead he whispered low enough that I almost missed it, "I'm not sure I like the idea of spending time apart so soon."

Quickly rinsing my mouth, I turned in his arms, his hands falling out from under my shirt as I turned and lifted mine towards him. I got his rare soft smile as he scooped me up into his arms and I wrapped my limbs around him like a spider monkey, clinging on to his broad frame and nuzzling my head under his jaw where I pressed my lips.

"I love you" I mumbled into his cool skin. Between the aching, uneasy feeling I'd had all week when he wasn't around, the way his smiles made my heart swell, his protective instincts that made me feel safe and secure, I admitted what I'd been too afraid to say back last night.

He took a deep inhale, and squeezed me in a little tighter, turning his head to kiss the top of mine as he hummed. I could feel some of the tension in his body lift, as if spending time apart knowing how I felt made the impending separation more bearable.

He sighed, and before I knew it, we were suddenly in my room at Charlie's and Felix was setting me down by my dresser. He ran a hand over my hair and then cupped my chin in his hand, "get dressed, Jane and…Tristan are on their way. I'll make breakfast for the humans." With a brush of his lips against my forehead, he was gone.

Stripping out of his shirt and my leggings, I pulled on some jeans and flowy dark purple shirt before brushing out my hair and throwing it up into a ponytail and heading downstairs.

As I got to the bottom I could smell the breakfast food already and noticed a parcel outside the front door through the window. I grinned, remembering the request I'd texted Gianna with yesterday after Felix had made me dinner. Snatching it up and unwrapping it, I extracted the material and approached my mate. "Hold still" I demanded, reaching around and pressing it to his stomach, anchoring it there by replacing my hand with his, then maneuvering the ties so I could get them in both hands and tie it up with a satisfied grin.

"Okay! Now you're all set." He turned, looking down at the offensive red apron that had Kiss the Cook in black letters across it, scowling.

"Bella" he said, slowly, "No—" he sighed at my puppy dog eyes and turned back to the stove without a word, making me giggle.

I heard another tinkering laugh that made him stiffen, apron gone before I could blink along with the lightheartedness we'd had all morning.

I on the other hand, found myself grinning ear to ear, launching myself at the smaller vampire with a little squeal. "Jane! It's so weird not having you around all the time, even though it's only been like two days, we haven't even gotten to discuss you and Tri—" I looked over to see my classmate stepping through the doorway and skipped over to give him a hug as well, ignoring the low warning growl from my protective mate. Tristan's hug was hesitant, no doubt having to make eye contact with Felix over my head who I doubt was very fond of our closeness.

I turned around to see I was right and cleared my throat, causing glittering dark red eyes to land on me, losing some of their anger when I mouthed those three words again at him, before going back into the kitchen where he'd finished cooking.

Breakfast carried on fairly easily, Tristan and I talked about school, and Jane and Felix texted back and forth with the guys, mapping out where they would be going today. Once we'd finished eating and cleared up the kitchen, Jane pulled me aside.

"Bells I—I know there's nothing I can say or do to make it up to you, but I need you to know how sorry I am for what happened Friday night I have no excuse, you're my sister and I—" she paused again, looking caught out, frightened, and too sad for me to handle.

"Oh Jane, don't worry. Please. You are the best sister a girl could have, nothing happened that night, I'm okay now, good as knew. And besides, if Friday night hadn't gone down that way, who knows how long he would've waited to tell me the truth." I shrugged, linking my arm through hers and steering us back towards the living room where Jane settled down with Tristan and I settled into Felix's lap on the arm chair.

He dipped down to whisper in my ear, "I wouldn't have been able to wait much longer" then he turned and inhaled before exhaling, "they're back".

The door opened and in strolled Alec and Demetri. Alec's eyes danced with humor looking at us, but narrowed as they settled in on his sister and her mate. Jane just glared right back as a purple fog started to creep on the floor, only to be stopped as Alec hit the floor, writhing in pain. I moved to say something when Felix whispered, "Don't, she needs to handle him. Don't forget they've been bickering and using their powers on each other for hundreds of years, he'll be fine." I nodded, settling back against him again.

Demetri sighed, "can we please get on with it?"

Jane smirked as Alec huffed out a long breath, rising to his feet and stared indignantly at his sister before motioning for Demi to talk.

"We came across what looked like the remains of a couple vampires in an alleyway just outside of Seattle, and a campsite where the campers were…yeah. Definitely newborns and they're heading this way. She's clearly creating them as she goes, but not taking good enough care to maintain her numbers. Still, the longer we let this go on the more attention she will draw."

Felix nodded, "Jane and I isolated the areas you told us about; we've mapped out a bunch of different routes she could be taking from any of her known areas to Forks. We'll go over those first then go from there based on what we find."

Felix took me back to the cabin; Charlie would be home soon, and it was easier not to explain anything just yet. He could meet Jane and Tristan soon, but meeting Felix would be more difficult for my dad's poor heart to handle.

He set me down just inside the door, bending to give me a searing kiss before pulling away, "Jane's bringing Tristan here, Alec and Dem will be around, knowing Alec he'll be hovering around like the pest he is. Don't forget to call the dogs and be safe. We'll be back by the time you leave for school, if not earlier. If you need me, call." At my nod, he was off, and I stood staring into space, fingers pressed to my lips until I heard a throat clear.

Jumping, I turned to Tristan, smiling sheepishly. "So how are you handling the whole supernatural thing?" I hedged motioning him to follow me inside.

"Probably better than I should, but I mean I've only known Jane for two days and I already know I'd follow that woman anywhere" he finished with a dreamy smile that had me giggling. He frowned as if remembering something else, "Also I heard the mention of dogs?" he questioned.

"Right" I started, "it's technically not my place to tell but you'd find out anyways. The Quileute tribe have members who are spirit warriors, they have a supernatural…ability of sorts that allows them to shift into wolves at whim to defend humans from vampires." His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"My dad's best friend is one of the elders, and his son is one of my close friends as well. Matter of fact, most of the members of the La Push pack are practically family to me, but now with the Volturi here and the fact that they're human drinkers unlike the Cullens—"

"Wait what!? The Cullens as in the ones that go to our school? They're vampires too!?"

"Jane didn't? Huh. Okay, well, sit down and I'll make us some tea and tell you everything."

"Make that tea for three madame! With a dash of blood." Alec winked as he settled into one of the rocking chairs he'd brought in from the porch.

I raised my brow as I put the kettle on, "that's an outside chair." I said nothing else, staring the imposing vampire down, daring him to try and mess up a single thing in the beloved cabin.

Eventually he lost the battle and huffed, dragging it back outside like a petulant kid before coming back and slouching against the wall muttering, "just like Mr. Big, figures."

I smiled at that, pushing off the counter when I heard the kettle whistling, pouring the hot water into two mugs with tea bags and bringing one over to Tristan as I started retelling the events from the start of my arrival in Forks.

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Do we really think a human mate could keep Alec in line? Let me know what you think! xx