-- Bella's POV -- It had been a whole two weeks since I had bumped into any of the Denali's. They had been around. I knew that much but I had done my best and succeeded in ignoring them. Kate had been around to the house twice now to see Charlie. He had decided that Saturday nights were going to be squad night. Where he would invite his team around for a few drinks and pizza to help them bond as a team. There had been two, since his welcome party at the precinct and Kate had attended both.
Both times however I had politely excused myself, telling my father that I had a paper to work on for class, kissing him on the cheek and then disappearing as soon as I caught sight of my fathers deputy. I had caught and resolutely ignored the hurt look that flashed on the vampires face before it was gone, replaced by a look of determination and I really didn't want to find out what that particular look meant.
For the first week I had hidden myself at home with Charlie. Studying and sleeping whenever he left for work. Only leaving the house for classes.
By the end of the week though I was horribly bored and so had decided that I really couldn't hide forever. I wouldn't allow myself to fall into the pattern of living in fear. Nor would I let vampires control my actions again. The Cullen's had destroyed me and I wouldn't let these unknown vampires or my fear of the Cullen's dictate what I did. I needed to work on myself. I wanted a job and a social life like any teen my age and decided that it would all be fine. I had deluded myself into believing that the Denali's would leave me alone and if they came near me I could simply ignore them.
It had worked that week. I had seen Irena three times and an unknown blonde twice. I had also seen all three blondes and two other vampires together on one occasion as I exited the library. However it was the beginning of the third week and it seemed my luck had entirely run out, judging by the tall blonde vampire sitting across from me now in the library. I hadn't even heard her approach.
The blonde - Irena - I reminded myself didn't say a word, she simply took out a book and opened it to a previously book marked page. Beginning to read silently. Deciding that the blonde couldn't do much harm I continued to read and I could almost convince myself that Irena being here was a coincidence.
Almost.
If it weren't for the eyes that I could feel burning into me from the vampires direction in front that is.
I found it infuriating and worrying and slightly flattering if I were entirely honest with myself - not that I would be. I tried my best to ignore the intense gaze of the blonde, forcing myself to focus on the textbooks open in front of me. Thinking that maybe if I do not react to her she may get bored and leave me be. Upon reflection I should have laughed at my own line of thinking because of course the immortal vampire, who does not need to sleep and has an infinite amount of time on her hands would not get bored. She had years of practice and plenty of time to do whatever she pleases and apparently what she pleases is to continue to sit staring at me with her burning gold gaze as I try stubbornly to ignore her presence.
After an hour of this I decided to leave, realising that the vampire obviously had no intentions of leaving nor did it seem likely I could simply wait her out. I packed up my textbooks. Storing them in my rucksack as quickly as I could. In my haste, my clumsiness made an awfully ill timed appearance, my books slipping through my fingers, falling to the floor with an audible thud. Though not before a page caught my finger. Slicing the skin open. The likeness to that fateful birthday party flashing in my mind and causing me to freeze in terror. My chest constricting painfully as I unwillingly held my breath. Frozen in fear.
It was just my luck. I Isabella Swan must be the most cursed individual alive. To not only move to this town with the Denali's but to be forced to face my own mortality so soon, at the hands of the beautiful yet terrifying blonde that- oh shit - was suddenly crouched in front of me. Her gold eyes studying me intently as my wide panicked ones swung up to meet hers.
She smiled, almost tenderly as she picked up my books. Organising them neatly and tucking them in my bag before zipping it and holding it out to me in offering. I was speechless. Still terrified and unable to comprehend what was happening.
I was bleeding, in front of a vampire. Surely I should be dead? Surely she would be effected by the scent of my blood as it dripped from my finger? Numbly I reached out to take the bag, intent on escaping and getting as far away from this situation as possible. Only to let out a terrified whimper as the blonde caught my wrist in her hand. Bringing the open wound to eye level, as if she were assessing the damage.
"Paper cut, you should make sure you sterilise that when you get home" she said matter of factly. Releasing my hand and placing my bag at my feet. She stood, smiling gently at me.
"It was nice to see you again Isabella" she remarked, her voice a silky purr that sent surprisingly pleasant shivers coursing down my spine. She smiled wider at my reaction, winking suggestively before striding away. Taking a seat back across from where I still sat confused and terrified. She picked up her book once more, turning the page and beginning to read from where she had left off I'm assuming.
As if with her departure from my immediate vicinity my brain kicked back into action, I grabbed my bag and fled wordlessly. Retreating as fast as I could back towards home. Despite my fear at the situation her flirty wink has me blushing crimson.
This felt surreal. I had bled in front of a vampire and said vampire had helped me without so much as batting an eye at the open wound. Her gaze had been one of concern. Not bloodlust or barely controlled hunger. She had been calm, confident and completely unbothered. Her eyes hadn't even darkened!! Her reaction was so far removed from everything I had come to expect from her kind that I couldn't process anything. What was going on? How could she control herself so well? Why was she flirting? Did I imagine that whole thing?
She could have killed me. My own stupidity, my own human clumsiness could have gotten me killed so easily. His taunting words came back into my mind taunting me "you are just a human, how could you ever believe you were our equal"... "we could slip and kill you in a second... you have no chance of out running us, of fighting us off" yet it hadn't happened. She hadn't lost all control like Jasper and Edward had. She hadn't ran off like Esme, Alice, Emmet and Rosalie. She had stayed and helped me? Why would she help me? What did she want with me?
-- Irena's POV --
Kate working with Isabella's father was beginning to prove all together useful. Highly useful infact. She had been able to give me daily updates as to how my mate was doing. For unknown reasons Charlie had taken to Kate instantly and their friendship had grown quickly, to the point he felt entirely comfortable discussing his daughter with my sister.
The knowledge that they had moved here to enable Isabella to heal, after a break up had left her completely shattered and a shell of herself, infuriated me. The boyfriend and his family had apparently taken Isabella in, made her feel important before abandoning her without a word, leaving her stranded for hours in the middle of a forest she had no idea how to navigate. Charlie had taken the job here in Alaska to allow his girl a fresh start. My mate deserved better than this boyfriend and his family. She deserved the world and it only made me more resolute in my conviction to earn her trust and affections.
When Kate had told me that because of what that family had put my mate through, Isabella now suffered with severe anxiety it had broken my heart. Although it, to a degree, explained why she had reacted so adversely when I had approached her. Tanya theorised that subconsciously because of the mate bond she had recognised me as a potential partner and because it was so soon after her devastating breakup it was natural for her to be weary of me. It made sense. Even if it didn't explain her initial reaction to Kate. What about my sister had triggered my mate? Why was she so adamant in ignoring and avoiding us?
Kate had told us she refused to stay in the same room as Kate when Charlie hosted his weekly bonding nights. Isabella having retreated to her room as soon as Kate had made an appearance both times.
It made it difficult for us to plan how we could get close to her. How were we supposed to earn her trust if she refused to be in our presence? And so our plan was born. After much discussion with my coven we had decided just to simply insert ourselves into her life as much as possible. Hoping to at least get her talking to us because we knew that as soon as she excepted our presence and began to talk, the mate bond would begin to take effect. It would lower her resistance to us, me in particular. Though she would eventually feel the draw to the rest of our coven. The familial ties we share ensuring that we remained close and we had no doubt it would affect Isabella as my mate.
That is what led me to the library. We had found out through Charlie that she had taken to wandering our town, especially the library after classes now that she wasn't locking herself in her room. So here I sat, across from her. Trying and failing to keep my eyes from her sweet face. I found the clear irritation shinning in her beautiful eyes fairly amusing, though not as amusing as I would have if her irritation wasn't directed at my presence. If only she knew how enticing her defiance was as she tried desperately, stubbornly, to ignore me.
As much as I hated all that she had been through my beast was more than enjoying the challenge she was presenting. I felt as if I had to earn my mate which for my beast was far better than her simply falling at my feet. Yes I would have her, she would be mine but knowing that I had won her would be far more rewarding than it would be if she simply gave in and excepted the bond without a fight.
I was startled out of my musings by the pained gasp that escaped my mates lips as her books thunder to the floor, the scent of her blood hitting my nose seconds later. I inhaled deeply, my beast almost purring in content at the smell of my mate before I had to suppress a growl when the scent of her blood was mixed with the unmistakable smell of her fear. My hackles rose and I looked around trying to source the cause of such distress. I hated the scent of her fear. It made my instincts flare to life with the urge to destroy anything that harmed her, warring with the want to simply hold her and never let her leave the protective embrace of my arms.
I moved quickly to crouch in front of her, collecting her books and putting them in her bag. As I handed it to her my eyes fixated on the small open wound on her finger. I grasp her wrist carefully, bringing her finger closer to me to examine it. Seeing the source of her blood is not deep nor serious calms me slightly now that I can see it. However the way her breath catches and her heart rate skyrockets more than it did previously concerns me greatly. Why is she so fearful over a paper cut? Is it my presence near her? What about me is so terrifying to her? My mind buzzes with questions but I make an effort to appear calm and relaxed as I tell her to make sure she sterilises her wound when she gets home. I don't want her getting an infection, even if the possibility is minute. I can not help but want to ensure her safety.
"It was nice seeing you again, Isabella" I throw casually at her as I turn to retake my seat across from her, winking at her flirtatiously. The deep blush this earns me and the shiver that runs down her spine has my beast rejoicing. It seems that despite whatever fear she has, she obviously is still receptive to the bond that is taking route within her. With her blush her delicious scent increases even more reminding me just how alive and desirable my mate truly is and I can feel myself trembling with need. The need to have her to myself. The need to hold her. To love her. To soothe and protect her.
Never before had I imagined that the urge to be everything she needs me to be, to be everything to her would be this strong. I didn't realise meeting my mate would fill my stomach with butterflies and my heart with pride at such little reaction to my advances. I can only hope that our plan will work and I will be able to see her blush so prettily many a time more.
Her disappearance, almost running from the vicinity and out of the library, dampens my sense of accomplishment slightly though I refuse to allow it to completely destroy my good mood. Despite her fear or the fact she had ran from me again I still managed to make her blush. That small reaction from her giving me hope that she is just as effected by me as I am by her and that hope for now has to be enough.
Though despite her blush her other reactions cause me to worry a little more. Does she know more about me than she should? Its the only thing I can think of to explain her fear of us, of Kate and her reaction to bleeding in front of me. I sigh standing up and tucking my book under my arm. I must call another coven meeting. I need to inform them of what has happened and the questions it has roused. I almost growl in frustration. Tanya is going to be even more concerned and push harder for us to get to the bottom of this and goodness knows what that is going to look like. I only hope I can convince her to simply stick to our plan. The sooner we get her to trust us the quicker we will receive our answer. I hope.