AN: Hi all, thanks to everyone reading and enjoying this story. I'm glad you like it.

Here's the next chapter from Edward's point of view.

hope you'll enjoy!

Chapter 15

EPOV

I hurried home, although every fibre in my body was screaming at me to turn around and stay with her. But I understood her point as well. She wanted me to be sure. I had to be sure. And to be sure I had to think about this away from her presence.

I knew I was on the way to developing feelings for her. The bond was definitely there, but there was a lot that came with her being Isabella the First. And I had to really think about if I could indeed deal with that.

I slowed down to a walk when I was nearly home. I knew everyone was waiting for me. They were hoping I was bringing Bella back home again. I wasn't sure what I could tell them. I didn't feel it was my place to tell them that Bella was indeed Isabella the First. I felt that was something we had to tell them together when the time came. But how then would I explain that Bella wouldn't accept me just yet?

I was still mulling it over as I sauntered into the yard. Jasper was the first to notice me, probably because my mood was all over the place. He nudged Alice, who immediately flitted over to the door.

'And?' she yelled out at me, an excited twinkle in her eyes.

I sighed and continued on in the house, past her, without answering. Everyone was already gathered in the living room and their eyes were fixed on me. Their thoughts which had been hopeful, were quickly turning concerned.

'Well?' Rosalie asked, an unexpected kindness in her eyes and thoughts. She really wanted us to have worked it out.

'We talked.' I said as I sat down on a chair.

'Where is she?' Alice asked, looking out into the yard.

'She's not coming.' I answered.

Everyone looked at me.

'Did it not go well?' Carlisle asked hesitantly.

'No. It did… to an extent.' I frowned, choosing my words carefully. 'We talked it out and I apologized for my behaviour and she accepted that. But we're both going to take some time to think about this.'

'What's there to think about?' Emmett asked, genuinely confused. In his mind, a mate bond meant you were destined to be together and when the bond was sparked, it was a done deal. It never occurred to him that you could reject it or that there could be other factors to consider.

'There's a lot about her life that I can't tell you about yet. But her life isn't easy and it's dangerous. If we accept this bond, it could mean I'll be in danger too and she's not really keen on that idea.' I muttered.

'But she won't have to face that danger alone anymore. She has all of us as well.' Rosalie interjected.

'Still. She wanted me to really think about it. We agreed to take a day and then see where we stand.'

Everyone seemed to accept that.

'Well, alright then. Think it over and then tomorrow you can both come home.' Esme said. Her mind already sure we would chose to be together.

The rest of the family agreed and slowly everyone started dispersing again.

Alice and Jasper remained. Jasper regarded me for a moment, let's talk for a moment. He thought at me.

I nodded once.

He stood up and headed to the door. I followed after him. We walked into the yard and headed into the woods until we were out of earshot.

'You're hiding something.' He said when we stopped walking. 'I'm not saying it's bad. But it seems like there's more to this bond between you then you've shared. You know I'll keep your secrets. Do you want to talk about it?'

I sighed and sat down on a fallen log. 'I don't know how much I can tell you.'

'Why did she want you to really think about your bond?'

'Bella is… ancient.' I finally said. 'However old you're thinking, she's older.'

He frowned. 'She's concerned about the age difference?'

'Partly. Especially after my behaviour last time, she's worried I'm not mature enough, which I can't really blame her for.'

'Yeah, you could definitely do with some maturing.' Jasper grinned at me, I punched his arm. 'See? Just like that. Use your words, Edward.'

I growled at him. He just laughed in response, and I ended up grinning at him as well.

'I know I'm not as mature as her, but I can learn.' I said.

Jasper nodded, turning serious again.

'But she's afraid the enemies she's made over her long life can put me in danger. She doesn't want me to have to give up anything in life and she's worried choosing this bond will inevitably put me in danger.'

'And these enemies... they're not the occasional nomad that she's run afoul of I'm guessing?'

I nodded. 'They're some of the more powerful vampires alive. Gifted ones as well.'

'But her gift is amazing. She can just protect you.'

'But she can't always be by my side, realistically.'

'And she's worried when you'd be apart someone would get to you?'

I shrugged. 'I think so.'

'How do you feel about it?'

'You tell me.' I muttered, my mind was a muddled place, I wasn't really sure myself anymore.

Jasper focussed on me for a moment. 'I think you have feelings for her.' he finally concluded. 'I think you would do anything for her.'

He put his hand on my shoulder as he smiled at me.

'I think so too.' I admitted softly

'Then you should tell her. We can deal with her enemies together as a family.'

'I'm not sure she'll accept that.'

'She's been alone for who knows how long, perhaps she's simply not used to other people fighting beside her.'

'Definitely not' I chuckled. That was pretty obvious. She's always been the one to sort everything out alone. Perhaps it really was a bit of fear on her side as well that now she'd have someone beside her. Something she'd not had ever before.

'Just give her some time, tell her how you feel and then give her time to accept that she's no longer alone. It will take a while, but if you stay by her side, she'll see it eventually.'

'Thanks, Jasper.'

He clapped my shoulder and then stood up. 'Let's head back. I'm sure Alice is waiting to spring on you as well.'

I groaned. 'Can't you distract her or something?'

He gave me a wicked grin. 'Well I could, but then you're going to complain as well.'

His thoughts were already heading int that direction and I quickly shoved him. 'please don't.'

He laughed. 'Your choice.'

'I'll just stay out here.' I laughed.

'Come on.' he smiled and together were started walking back again.

He was right though, Alice was once again waiting at the door for us. She was giving us both the stink eye.

'I wanted to know too.' She said.

'You probably saw the entire conversation when he decided to talk to me.' I argued.

'So?' she challenged. I rolled my eyes.

'Sometimes a brother just needs his brother.' Jasper interjected, wrapping Alice up in his arms.

I nodded. 'and not an annoying little pixie that's just going to tell me I'm an idiot.'

'I wasn't going to say that.' She protested.

I just looked at her.

She huffed. 'Alright fine perhaps it crossed my mind. But I wasn't going to say it out loud.'

I shook my head. And was about to argue with her when she suddenly gasped and a vision took us both.

Hooded figures in black and grey cloaks stood with impressive numbers on one side of a clearing. The V emblem shone in the moonlight. They were Volturi. The deep black cloaked members stood in a V shaped formation a little to the front, flanked by four grey cloaks. The brothers, Aro, Caius and Marcus and their inner guard.

On the other side, our family, tense and in defensive stances.

Aro stepped forward. 'Word has reached us that you have created an alliance with the children of the moon.'

'Unacceptable and illegal.' Marcus' gravelly voice joined in. His mouth opened again, but the vision abruptly faded to black, an intense pain shot through my head, and Alice groaned in pain as well.

'Alice?' Jasper clutched her closer in concern. 'What happened?'

'What's going on?' Carlisle came running into the room, having heard our groans of pain. I was still holding my head as was Alice. But the pain was slowly receding.

Alice and I locked eyes. It was a judgement. They were coming to kill us.

I nodded numbly. Could this really be happening?

'A vision.' I muttered for the family that had now gathered again. 'It was a vision.'

'What was it?' Carlisle asked concerned.

'The Volturi are coming.' Alice whispered.

'They've sentenced us to death for the alliance with the wolves.' I choked out.

A beat of silence filled the room as disbelief was the only thought in everyone's mind.

'What?' Carlisle asked finally.

'It was brief, and faded into blackness before we could see anything else. But the Volturi somehow discovered our alliance with the wolves, and they think we made a deal with a pack of children of the moon. They've deemed it illegal and unacceptable. They'll be coming with the entire guard to pass judgement and it won't be favourable.'

'But they can't do that…' Esme protested.

'I don't think they'll stop long enough to listen.' I muttered.

'But we don't have an alliance with them' Emmett protested. 'The wolves hate us.'

'They're not going to check. They think they have enough evidence to convict us.'

'But that's based on hearsay.'

'Let's ask the wolves to vouch for us then, they can just shift and show that they're something else.' Emmett suggested.

But Carlisle was already shaking his head. 'If all of them are coming I'm not asking the wolves to show themselves. Marcus will kill them all before they can show they are a different kind.'

'There's only three wolves too. They won't stand a chance.' I added.

A silence fell over us all as the mates clutched at each other tightly. Disbelief was prominent in everyone's thoughts. Were we really about to die? Carlisle was rapidly trying to come up with something that would get us out of this. Jasper was trying to strategize to see if this was a battle we could win.

'When?' Jasper asked.

I shrugged.

'It was a full moon.' Alice said, running through the vision again in her head.

Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. That was tonight.

Our time was up and I wouldn't even be able to see Bella again before then. Our execution was scheduled before we had agreed to meet again.

I hung my head in my hands as I sank onto the couch. This would be the end. I guess I had to be thankful for the fact we never fully accepted the bond. This way if I was killed at least Bella would live on.

I knew in my gut that we wouldn't be able to get out of this. The entire guard was coming in less than five hours. There were no other options. There was no way out. We were doomed. And I'd never get to explore this bond with Bella. Never get to hold her, kiss her, grow to love her. And she'd never know how I felt about her. She'd just think I chose not to be with her. That the risk of being with her was too great for me. I wish I could tell her that wasn't the case.

Could I tell her through Aro? He reported to her right?

Wait.

That thought stopped me in my tracks. Bella was the head of the Volturi. How were they planning to march on us then? Did Bella not know? Was this a rogue operation? Or did Bella decided Alice's gift was too dangerous and ordered them to kill us all? Somehow I couldn't believe that. But the alternative also seemed unlikely. It seemed impossible that they could make such a move while Bella was completely in the dark.

My mind reeled as it tried to come up with ideas on how Bella could not have known about this.

Did she know? Did she know when we talked just now? It seemed unlikely.

But then they were going rogue. Would she be informed and be able to help us? I wasn't sure. I didn't know if she stayed in contact. And if they were going rogue, it didn't seem likely they would inform her about it until after the fact. Probably to stop her from being able to interfere. Though would they know she would interfere? Did they know she was here?

I clutched my head. This was bad. This was really bad. If Bella wasn't aware of this and she was gone until our agreed upon time, she wouldn't be able to help us.

We were on our own. And we were going to lose.