~ Irena's POV ~ It felt almost unnatural to be standing here, bellow her window in the middle of the night. I felt like I was overstepping so many of my mates boundaries. It had been a week since our discussion about Isabella knowing of our existence and we had gone back and forth for days about how best to corner her.
From showing up at her house unannounced which Tanya believed to be the best option, kidnapping her in the middle of the night, an idiotic suggestion, suggested by Kate, Offering to watch her while Charlie worked a double shift an idea offered up by Eleazer, to Carmen suggesting we simply wait until she ventures out alone to confront her about what we had learned.
Though which one we would go with was a point no one could agree on. All had there advantages and disadvantages. Some holding more disadvantages than advantages if you consider Kates idea.
However, unfortunately for us and for my mate the choice had been taken from us. Kate had called us from Charlie and Bella's home after dropping Charlie off after their shift had ended. She had told us that upon Charlie opening the car door to get out she had caught the scent of another vampire. An unknown one and when she had checked it out, the scent was all over Charlie and Bella's house and the surrounding area.
So here we were, me running high on instinct as the unknown vampires scent caused my beast to growl in unease. Not at all okay with an unknown vampire around my human mates homes. Both Tanya and Kate stood with me while we waited for Eleazer and Carmen to join us. The pair having gone off to see if they could track the direction the vampire had run off too.
With an unknown vampire around my mate, we all knew we could wait no longer in confronting Isabella. I could hear both Carmen and Eleazer running back and was more eager than ever to get inside my mates home to lay eyes on the girl. Needing to ensure she was safe.
"Its alright Irena, calm. Kate will go in and wake the girl if she is sleeping already, if she isn't she will warn the girl we are all about to enter her room. I do not want to frighten her too much by us all just appearing" Tanya's voice was barely a whisper but her tone left no room for argument and I had to fight with myself to keep the annoyed growl from coming out of my chest in response. I could see her point but Isabella was my mate and it was already taking everything within me to keep myself calm.
"I'll be as quick as I can Irena" Kate soothed as she squeezed my shoulder in comfort before jumping up and disappearing into my mates bedroom.
~ Bella's POV ~ I sighed tiredly as I made my way over to my desk and loaded up my laptop. It had been one of those nights where my mind was on overdrive, my heart ached for the vampire family I had initially wanted to stay away from and I couldn't sleep, like it had been for the past week. Ever since Kate and Carmen had been over.
Dad had come home not long ago, complaining about a string of murders and disappearances in neighbouring towns that seemed to be getting closer and closer to Denali. He had warned me about staying safe and away from quiet areas of town before he had gone to bed. Leaving me with my thoughts.
Opening my email account up on the desktop I felt my heart squeeze at the long line of bounced back emails written to them. Mainly to Alice who had been my best friend before they had abandoned me. I knew it was pointless to keep sending them emails. Every single one of them bounced back but part of me felt better every time I did send one, despite the fact that they would never be read. It was oddly therapeutic for me. Something about getting the swirl of emotions out soothed me in some way.
Clicking open a new email I began to type.
Dear Alice.It's been almost six months now since you and your family left and I still miss you terribly. It still hurts more than I can bare to think off the way you all left. As if I had meant nothing. As if I mean nothing. You were my best friend, you were meant to be there for me but you aren't here Alice. You aren't here.God knows I'm trying to move on, to make a better life for myself. To do better by my father and myself. We've moved now. Forks held too many memories, there was to much hurt and heartache everywhere I looked. Reminders of you, of Esme of him and I couldn't cope with it. Charlie made the decision to move me away and we've set up in this gorgeous little town here in Alaska. Things were going well, for the first few weeks. But as always things never go to plan. This was meant to be a chance to heal and move on, instead I'm fending off vampires left and right.The Denali's are here, I don't know if they know who I am or who I was to you but I cannot seem to get a moments peace from them. They are everywhere. Kate works with my dad in the Sheriffs station. Carmen turned up in my room when all I wanted was to run far away from them and be left to my own breakdown. Irena and Tanya turn up everywhere I go in town, trying to talk to me, to get closer. In the beginning I was terrified. I didn't want to even be in the same room as them in the beginning but somethings changed. I feel this draw inside me, an aching pull that urges me to get closer to them. I feel empty when they're not around and that scares me.What if I let them into my life and it turns into a repeat of you? What happens if I let them into my life only for them too to realise that I was never good enough for them like you all did? I wouldn't survive it a second time Alice because this time it feels different. It feels as if I am powerless to stop my need for them, my body and soul crying out to be near them while my mind fights a battle it feels that it was always destined to inevitably loose... Before I got the chance to continue to write there was a cold arm wrapped around my waist, a cool hand clamped over my mouth as I was pulled into the arms of what was so clearly a vampire and as much as part of me told me I was safe I couldn't help but struggle feebly to try and free myself. Releasing a squeak of alarm
"Hush now Isabella, you're alright. It's Kate" her voice registered just as her name did and I relaxed a little though still attempting to move away from her.
"Uhuh little one, I'll release you when you stop fighting me and calm yourself. No one is going to harm you" she softly commanded, holding me a little tighter, resting her cheek against mine comfortingly.
Realising that I was infact safe and finally understanding that it was Kate who I knew to be a vegetarian vampire and therefore had no wish to harm me I forced my body to draw in a deep calming breath, focusing on steadying my erratic breathing and racing pulse.
"That's it" she murmured relaxing her grip on me a little and removing her hand from my mouth to begin stroking through my hair. Something that I found even more soothing than it had any right being.
"I'm going to release you so you can make yourself comfortable, my family and I need to talk to you... though I promise no harm will come to you" she told me adding in the last part when my heart rate accelerated again and my breathing threatened to spiral once more. Somewhere deep down I had always known this day would come. That I would be given no choice but to talk to the Denali's. Though I had never dreamed it would be so soon.
My thoughts spiralled as Kate finally let go off me and I shuffled myself onto my bed after flipping my laptop screen down, silently praying that she hadn't read it. I tucked my blankets around my legs, pulling them to my chest to hide as much of myself as possible. Not wanting to be sitting in my vest and shorts in a room full of vampires. I felt vulnerable and terrified enough without bringing my own lack of self worth and confidence into the mix.
"My family are about to come through the window now Bella" Less than three seconds after Kate had finished speaking the rest of the Denali's stood in my room near the window. Both other blondes, Carmen and the unknown man. The two blondes made their way closer, Kate choosing to sit in my recently vacated desk chair while Irena moved to perch herself on the end of my bed. I drew my knees up to my chest without much thought, wanting to have as much space between myself and them for fear I'd give into my desire to be close to them, however it was difficult not to reach out when I saw the flash of hurt in Irena's eyes at my actions.
Tanya moved to stand behind Kate who had turned my chair to face the bed. Carmen and the male choosing to stay by my window. Having Carmen stand so far away from me made me uncomfortable. Out of all the vampires in my room, she and Kate were the two that I had been around the most and maybe even felt safest with and to have Carmen stand so far away caused apprehension to rise up in my gut. Why did it feel so wrong for her to be standing so far away? Why did I want her closer? Why did Irena's flash of hurt cause me to feel guilty? My head already spun and we hadn't even begun speaking yet.
"Isabella, I am Tanya Denali as you know, I am the leader of my family, Irena and Kate are my sisters. Carmen you've already met and her mate Eleazer. We are here for two reasons. The first I think you already knew was coming, the second is an issue that has arisen that we would like your input on" Tanya states, her voice soft but tone firm as if she were expecting some sort of argument and possibly she would have got some sort of kickback from me, if she didn't look so serious and the five of them weren't surrounding me. Though I can tell she chose her wording carefully when explaining she is the Head of her family. She didn't say coven leader but then again she doesn't know for sure I know what she is yet does she?
What I'd give to disappear, I'm not ready at all to have this conversation, to relive that again. Though I fear I'll be left with no choice as her bright gold eyes lock with mine, her head tilting to the side in curiosity.
"How much do you know about us?"
~ Tanya's POV ~
"How much do you know about us?" My question hangs in the air between us heavily and I can see the girl struggle to come up with something to say. There's hesitancy and distrust in her eyes as she looks at me wearily, though I also see her internal conflict as if she recognises my command, a command she'd only feel if she were feeling the bonds that hold our coven so tightly together and knows she's expected to answer truthfully.
As she holds herself tighter, pressing her lips together as if she means to remain silent I have to stop myself growling at her as she unknowingly challenges my authority. I can see the rest of my coven trying to suppress there own reactions. Kate and Eleazer looking more than a little amused while Irena and Carmen look a little worried. They needn't be. Even though I cannot let her away with her defiance I would never harm her or even lose my temper no matter how much she tries to defy.
" Everyone except Irena out" I murmur, too quietly for Irena's little mate to hear us. I fear I'm going to be forced to exert my authority over her as coven leader and I'm almost certain she nor Irena for that matter would be okay with the whole coven witnessing the inevitable freak out she's about to have.
" No fair Tan" Kate huffs as she along with Carmen and Eleazer disappear outside.
"If I have to submit her you cannot interfere Irena, no matter how scared she is or how much she fights me. You know she is safe with me and I will not hurt her but she cannot challenge me so and she needs to learn that" I whisper, looking my sister dead in the eyes, hoping that she will keep herself in check enough for what I suspect is about to happen. She nods at me subtly giving me the reigns to lead this situation.
" Isabella, I've asked the others to give us privacy for now but I expect you to answer me truthfully. What do you know about us?" I softly command, looking at her expectantly.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way Isabella" Raising my eyebrow and crossing my arms to convey that I am serious in my request. I almost laugh when she shakes her head minutely, tucking her head into her knees as she watches me.
"Okay hard way it is" I sigh before gesturing to the floor in front of me, softening my tone some " Come here little one" her body goes rigid as she tried to remain where she is. I'd be mad if this was one of our other coven members but considering how much we suspect Isabella had been hurt by vampires it was no surprise she felt the need to fight me. Clearly unwilling to let herself give in to her own need to be close to us.
"If you do not come to me of your own free will I will come and get you young one, I am not one to be ignored, now I am not asking again, come here" my voice this time is firmer, more commanding than it had been previously as I drew myself up to full height. Though unsurprisingly Isabella just grips her blanket in her fists and remains where she is. I have to force myself not to roll my eyes at the human. Clearly she knows she doesn't stand a chance of not doing as I ask, as she cast weary glances at me, yet she still tries to defy me.
I move before she has a chance to register my actions, picking her up and bringing her to stand in front of me. Hand over her mouth to silence her scream of fright at the sudden movement.
"I did warn you little one" I tell her, smiling sadly at her as I remove my hand from her mouth, though I don't release my grip on her arm as I held her in place.
"Now tell me what you know of us" I softly command, aware that I don't need to use much more force than that now I have her in front of me. I know she feels vulnerable enough as it is, I can feel and hear her heart racing, I can see the way she draws in breaths quickly trying to calm herself.
"You're alright, you're safe. We won't ever harm you, nor will we let harm come to you but I need you to tell me what you know little one" I murmur gently, cupping her cheek with my free hand, softly stroking my thumb at the top of her cheek bone. I stand there for a moment, letting her search my gaze, letting her see the honesty and love I already felt for her in my eyes.
"That's it" I whisper as I feel her relax, pressing her cheek more firmly into my hand clearly needing the close connection a lot more than she had allowed herself to admit, as she looked away from my eyes, looking down a little and I almost purred in relief at her submissive gesture. Glad that I didn't have to force her to submit more aggressively.
"Tell me" I whisper, gently prompting her.
"I know you're vampires, vegetarian, you drink animal blood instead of human" she voices, so quietly that if it weren't for our supernatural hearing Irena and I both would have missed her words.
"How do you know?" I ask and automatically I see her begin to spiral as emotion after emotion swirls in her eyes I can see the fear, the utter heartbreak, rejection and hurt that mixes together in an agonising display of emotion. I tighten my grip on her, pulling her in close to my chest as she struggles against me, trying to pull away. Though I won't let her. I know that whatever her answer is makes her want to shut down but I cannot allow that.
I glance quickly at Irena from the corner of my eye, noticing that she has shifted forward slightly. Her eyes glued to the back of her mates head as she watched her with concern. Though her eyes were still gold and there was no trace of her losing herself to her instincts.
"I'm fine, I trust you Tanya but please hurry and calm her" Irena whispers and I am grateful to her for the trust she's placing in me with her young mate. Allowing me to do what needs doing to calm the girl and get the answers we need.
I wrap my arms around Isabella, tucking her face into my neck and securing her there with a hand on the back of her head as my other arm wraps around her waist holding her securely.
"Hush now, you're alright, take deep breathes for me" I murmur into her ear, stroking her hair reassuringly. Usually I would have gone for a more dominant approach, forcing her to submit because it is how I would normally calm a distraught member of my coven which Isabella is, even if she doesn't know it yet. But I know it wouldn't have the desired affect in this moment. The last thing I wanted was to cause her anymore fear by asking her to submit to me. So instead I hoped my actions would soothe her and help her feel safe enough to talk.
Though once she was eventually calm enough to begin talking, nothing could have prepared our coven for the anger and absolute betrayal we felt in learning the truth.