Hey guys welcome back, or howdy if it's your first time clicking on a story of mine. This will be a Bellice imprint story! It'll have everything; Arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, blood bonds, found family, fake dating, just you wait! I'm excited to start a new project, and yes yes I'm still writing the others, I've just been busy with school and have been writing a tonne of other ideas lol. Thanks for clicking.
This will be rated M, for sexual situations. It won't be too graphic, but still don't read if that makes you uncomfortable.
Review pleaseeee! It'll motivate me to update faster 3
Celebrations set Bella's teeth on edge, her dress was too girly, her skin was crawling, and there were too many others around. They all occupied a small room in the cabin out by the dirt, it was far too small, and far too many kin packed themselves within the walls. Grunting and growling and howling, cheering and drinking amongst themselves as if this was any cause to celebrate. Bella fisted her hands as she sat at the head of the room, stewing silently, on a chair carved out of the white oak and engulfed with fur and vines.
It was fairly comfortable, apart from the knot digging into her side. She fidgeted once more and retrieved a scowl from her father who was sitting next to her, watching his pack have the time of their lives.
"This is ridiculous, father."
He frowned and turned a little to see her fully. She was scowling on her own, none pleased she was dragged out of her bed for this.
"We have means to celebrate, my Bella. Your wife will be arriving tomorrow, and as a rite of passage this is our time to prepare to welcome you fully as one of us." His voice was resolute, she truly did not have a choice. The thought of bounding from the chair, leaping out the window and running up the track towards the nearby lake crossed her mind incessantly. Feeling the soil beneath her feet, the wind in her hair and air in her lungs would far exceed this boring event. Something she never willingly wanted to partake in.
"I thought I was already one of you."
Her father chuckles softly and reaches his scarred hand over to hers, squeezing the digits warmly. "By blood, dear. You are one of us by blood. But this marriage will trigger your first shift, and only then will you be.. Family." The word stung and she bit back a retort, merely continuing to watch the moon in the sky out the window, nearly full.
The howling got louder as the night drew on and by the time Bella was allowed to crawl back into bed the sun was starting to peek through her bedroom window. She detested it. Covered herself and pulled the blanket over her head with a grunt, hoping the darkness would shield her from the horror that was her impending marriage.
She'd never even met the girl. They were complete and utter strangers. They could be ugly, they could be annoying, she might eat weird or pick her nose, hell she might be the most egregious person on the planet. But none of that mattered to her father. This girl was willing to bond with Bella, and that was that. They had sent words to their neighbouring packs, and finally after nearly a year they heard back from the Cullens'. Even the name made Bella shudder.
"Is she up yet?" A gruff voice sounded from outside her bedroom door several hours later. Bella chose to remain hidden and buried her face further into her pillow, her mess of brown locks getting tangled in the process.
"I don't know dear, I haven't heard anything."
A loud scoff then her bedroom door swings open.
Charlie, her father and pack leader trudges across the wooden beans of her room, and pulls the blanket from Bella's bed, crumpling to the floor.
"Up." he demands sternly. Bella growls at him and grips onto her pillow. He grabs her ankle and starts to pull her down the bed, she bolts up and scowls. "I said up, and get in the damn shower, you reek girl." He huffs and stalks off leaving Bella to get ready.
Bella flips him off as his back is turned then slowly gets ready. Dragging out every single step, brushing her hair, showering, lotion, clothing choices. Making it meticulous. Others assume she cares but deep down she hopes if she can take forever everyone will get far too annoyed and postpone this ridiculous meeting. It's her mother entering her room nearly two hours later that finally shakes her. She looks pretty in a reddish brown dress, hair pinned up and a shiny new pair of boots adorning her feet.
"Nervous?" She asks as she comes to stand behind Bella in her dresser mirror, taking the stray strands of hair and tucking them behind her ear. Bella shrugs. "You're lucky sweetheart. The day before I mated with your father, I couldn't sleep, I didn't eat for the whole week." Bella could hardly believe it, and remained silent, simply looking at her reflection. Admittedly she looked better than she presumed she would. Her face was rosy and clean, her chocolate brown eyes sparkled in the light streaming through the window. She'd even chosen a suit that fitted her perfectly, brown in colour with a faded cream shirt. Very relaxed, not at all like they'd seen on TV with primpy black suits and bow ties and dresses so tight you could barely function. Her mother sighed and kissed the top of your head. "You look beautiful."
Forcing an awkward smile she nodded and stood, her mother enveloped in a warm embrace and then it was time.
The sun was starting to rise higher in the sky and she held her mothers hand all the way out to where they held their marriage ceremonies. Her stomach dropped to the floor as she approached the aisle. Covered in a sage cloth, littered with leaves and petals. All members of her soon to be families stood tall as she passed. Patting her shoulder as she walked, telling her congrats, her father standing near the altar beamed warmly. Once they reached him, her mother kissed her cheek, then her fathers, and went to stand beside him.
Their embrace was protective and loving, it was merely minutes later the young ones started to play their instruments and in the distance Bella finally saw her bride to be. Arms linked with a woman who was beaming with love and adoration.
She was petite, with dark hair and soft pale skin. It nearly glittered in the sun as she walked towards the furthest row of chairs. Her cheeks were colouring faintly as the girl got closer, she definitely was not ugly. With the knot in her stomach the last few steps were daunting then they were finally side by side. They had stolen a glance at one another before grasping hands, and Bella knew she wasn't the only one unsure about this match. Her face now turned to stone as Charlie started to speak.
"Do you, Alice Mary Cullen, take my daughter, Isabella." Bella. She scoffs. "Marie Swan, to be your packfully bonded mate?"
"Most definitely, I do." Her hand squeezed Bella's and she turned to face her. The same was asked to the brunette who answered with no emotion, that she willingly took her too. After a brief exchange of bands, they kissed in front of nearly one hundred members of both their family and bonds.
It was a gentle peck on the lips, barely touched and they held hands as they walked past their hooting and wolfing out packs. Bella forced a smile until they got into the tree line where they could finally be alone, their fingers instantly unlocked. It was customary for newlyweds to be separated from their pack for several days after their ceremony, with the celebrations continuing after they had mated, this one was no different. There was a lone cabin nearly three miles out where they were to spend the next few days, Bella led her there in nearly silence. The only sound being their harsh breathing since it was mostly uphill.
As it came into view, Bella gulped. Alice walked ahead, curling in on herself with her hands smoothing out her dress as she approached the door. It pushed open with ease and against better judgement her face stopped scowling to take in the beautiful decoration that had been placed all over. The sofas and floors are covered with the softest furs, the fireplace was lit bathing the cabin in an earthly glow. There were flowers adorning every surface, a host of food and wine and drinks. All welcoming, all smelling delicious. Alice stepped in eagerly towards the nearest bowl of fruit and snatched an apple, Bella followed, shutting the door behind her.
The fireplace crackled and Bella sat down on the floor opposite, watching the embers dance. It wasn't roaring any more, it was most likely lit last night, with the days getting colder amidst the deceiving sun, she was glad it had been stoked.
"So." Alice spoke quietly after swallowing her apple slices. "What do we do now?"
Bella raised an eyebrow, looking her over and taking in the green flowing dress she had decided to wear, along with the flower crown perched on her head.
"Nothing. I want to sleep."
"What?!" Alice scowls. "That is not what I signed up for, and as my wife you have your duties to uph-."
"Look, Alice, I never wanted this. I'm sure you're lovely, but it's not going to happen." Alice looked offended and stalked closer, eyes glowering.
"You think I did? My family pushed this on me, the last thing I ever wanted was to be married to.. To- a uh, uhm... A woman."
Bella rolled her eyes and crossed her legs at the ankles, resting back onto her elbows to really soak in the heat.
"Believe me, princess, you were hardly a choice. If I had my way I'd be long gone by now. I never wanted a wife. I want to roam free, explore the world, and now look. I'm tied to the likes of you."
Alice glared.
"The likes of me?" She demanded, stepping forward and eyes locking onto the smirking brunette.
"Well, yeah. Look at you. There's not a single defined muscle, you're pale as all hell, I swear you were sparkling earlier. Are you even a wolf?" Bella shrugs and stands, rubbing her stomach as she takes in the array of meats and fish and breads that were prepared. "Whatever, it doesn't matter. I don't want to even look at you, let alone warm your bed."
A smaller hand collides with Bella's cheek who gawks at her.
Before another word is said Alice stalks off to the adjoined bedroom and slams the door.
Bella rolls her eyes and makes her way to the table, filling a plate with everything she fancied and sits back in front of the fire to gorge herself. It's the best food she's eaten in weeks, her mother made damn sure of that. Whining on and on about how she needs to look her best for the big day. She scoffs. Sure. Some day it turned out to be. She didn't get to warm herself inside a pretty woman she was begging to bed, instead she got smacked by the wife who hates her, and was eating alone.
Fuck it. If this was how it's going to be be between them, then so fucking be it. Why should she be the one to apologise or admit the wrongs, not that there were any. She was speaking her mind, and that was never wrong, in fact it was encouraged daily by her father, except when it wasn't.
Shuffling from the room is heard before the door opens, Alice steps out. With the food on her plate long gone Bella had been sitting there contemplating the rest of her married life, and couldn't fathom how she'd survive. It really was a ball and chain like the humans have been known to say. If that was the phrase, Bella wasn't sure and didn't care enough to correct herself. Alice refused to look at her way as she dished her own food up, a lot less than Bella, and mainly consisted of the fruits and vegetables.
"The silent treatment, really?"
A withering glare was her only response.
"Since we're going to be trapped here for several more days, we should come up with a story to tell the folks after."
A few beats before Alice speaks. "What kind of story? For what?" Bella shrugs and shuffles to lean her back against the sofa.
"About the mating. To make them believe we did it."
"Oh." She takes a few mouthfuls, eyes never leaving the smouldering embers. "I've never been very good at lying."
"Lucky for you, I have enough charm for the both of us."
Alive doesn't acknowledge her comment by any means, though her features soften from the glare she had been holding. Perhaps concocting some lie was the best way to go about this. She didn't want to sleep with Bella, she knew that with utmost certainty, she had a man she loved dearly. Though he couldn't love her back, her heart called for him. The thought of another making love to her body made her skin crawl uncomfortably if it weren't his rough hands, tongue or teeth. Anyone else would feel wrong, wife or not.
"We can act like it. We can act in love, like we can't keep our hands off each other, that's what my parents are like." Alice nods, swirling the fruit around her plate.
"Do you think they'd buy it?" Bella has the gall to look uncertain.
"We won't know until we try. And as for my shifts, we'll have to pretend they happened too, and yours."
Alice hums.
"So we fake it, then."
Until next time, dear readers.