AN: Hello my lovely readers! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you for all your likes, comments, and favs. It means the world to me. xoxo.

Quick note: I've just gone back (1/30/24) and changed all my Issy's back to Bella's. I'm sorry if you liked the name Issy. I do, too. But it's driving me crazy!

– July 1993 –

– Georgia –

Pacing the length of the tiny apartment, Renee was tense, her body coiled, her eyes darting around the room. The walls were closing in on her. She needed to be outside … to breathe … and surround herself by nature.

Renee Higginbotham is a nature witch. Or what some might call a green witch.

As the embodiment of nature, green witches aren't supposed to be cooped up in small spaces. They need to be free to immerse themselves in nature … to frolic and heal, to dance and sing, to feel the sun on their skin, and the power flow through their veins.

"Take a deep breath, flower," her mother, Marie, soothed, handing Renee a cup of chamomile tea. "And remember why we are doing this…"

Renee's eyes shifted to the tiny girl curled up in front of the television, watching Beauty and the Beast for the hundredth time.

She may not like being cooped up, but there was no way she would risk her daughter's safety.

Closing her eyes, she took another deep breath. The scent of her chamomile tea—slightly sweet and herbaceous—filled her senses, soothing her anxiety.

The last seven months have been hell.

A few days after Christmas, there'd been another attack…

Renee and Marie took Bella to the park to play in the snow. They were only there half an hour when six vampires descended upon them. Thankfully, Charlie had been on his way.

But it had been close…

Too close.

The next day, they left New York.

For a while, they traveled, staying in a different hotel every night. But they couldn't live that way forever. So, they settled in Denver.

They were only there for three weeks.

The attack was brutal. The vampires were learning. Countless humans lost their lives that night. Fire consumed their home and spread to the surrounding neighborhood. Charlie barely made it out alive.

And again, they fled.

Rochester.

Maine.

Boise.

North Dakota.

Topeka.

Missouri.

Each time they settled, someone discovered them, and they fled again.

It took them longer than it should have to realize they were being followed by a tracker.

A tenacious little fucker!

With no idea where these vampires were coming from, or why they were after Bella, it was difficult to know where to go. Washington State was not an option. Charlie wanted to keep these attacks away from their home. So, they traveled the country. Moving from location to location. Never settling. Never relaxing. Constantly looking over their shoulders … waiting for the next attack.

The waiting … the not knowing … it was driving Renee mad!

Who are these vampires?

Why do they want her child?

What will they do with her if they get their hands on her?

"Momma," Bella called, breaking Renee out of her thoughts. "Can I go out and play now?"

Renee sighed. "No, baby. You need to stay inside while Daddy's away."

He went to run the perimeter and check out the town, but he'd been gone for hours and Renee was getting worried.

"But I gotta go see the flowers…" Bella whined, rubbing her chest.

"I know, Ladybug. But we need to stay inside. How about we play with your Legos?"

She shook her head. "No. I played with Legos already. Now I have to go and see the flowers and play hide and seek with Teddy and Abraxas. Please, momma."

Renee's eyes shifted to her mother, then over to Atticus and her own companion, Nova. The sleek black cat leapt off the sofa and went to Bella, rubbing herself across the young child's legs.

Before anyone could speak further on the subject, the front door burst open, and Charlie ran inside.

Charlie Swan is a big man. Renee loved that about him. He stood at about six-three and had wide, muscular broad shoulders. His arms were powerful and packed with muscles from his days as a warrior. He towered over her petite frame and despite the constant danger they were in, she felt safe wrapped up in his arms.

But the constant attacks were taking their toll on him. As he rushed through the door, she noticed his shirt was torn and he had blood smeared on his jeans. She could see fresh bite marks on his arms, and what looked like claw marks marred his otherwise flawless chest.

Bella gasped, her dark eyes going big with excitement. "Daddy!"

"We need to go!" He growled, lifting Bella into his arms. "Now."

"Who hurt you, Daddy?" The little girl worried, her fingers lightly tracing the bite mark on his collarbone. Her little fingers glowed a lovely golden color as she healed the claw marks on his chest.

With a loud whistle, the animals suddenly appeared in the living room.

"How many?"

Marie darted through the house, gathering their go-bags and the few items they couldn't leave behind.

Charlie looked at Renee. "At least fifty…"

"How far out?"

"A mile … at most…"

A vampire could cover a mile in less than a minute.

"It's not enough time…"

Charlie nodded. "You and Marie are going to take Bella and go. I'll distract them."

"No!" Renee shook her head. "You'll be killed!"

He reached for her, pulling her into his chest. "I'll be fine, Ren. The most important thing is that we keep our daughter safe."

Renee knew he was right. Whatever these vampires wanted, it wasn't good.

She hated herself for thinking it but, she could live without Charlie. She could not live without her child. Losing Bella was not an option. Not now. Not ever.

With tears in her eyes, she reached up and kissed him. "If you get yourself killed, I'm going to be really pissed!"

"That's my girl." Charlie chuckled. "I'll come back to you," he promised, pressing one last kiss to her forehead. "Atticus," he called, turning his attention to the gathered animals. "Protect them."

Atticus gave a sharp nod.

୨୧

Charlie watched as his family sped away. He could already sense the vampire's approach. With a finely placed illusion spell, they wouldn't notice the house was empty until they got inside.

Perched on his shoulder, Abraxas, his dragon familiar, hissed. "They're coming from the east…"

"And the west…" Charlie sighed. They were getting smarter.

"Should I take to the skies or help you on the ground?"

Charlie smirked. "Surprise them from above."

Without another word, Abraxas jumped off Charlie's shoulders and landed gracefully on the floor at his feet. As his deep green scales shimmered and his body elongated, he took to the skies. There was nothing a vampire could do when faced with a dragon, especially when his fire rains down upon them.

Moments later, the army appeared. From what Charlie could tell, most of them were newborn vampires, but there were a few that weren't salivating at the scent of his blood. The seasoned fighters would be harder to take out. But not impossible.

A male stepped forward, his deep red eyes locked on Charlie. His hair was short, cropped, and black. He was of medium height and build.

"Give us the child!"

"No."

The vampire sighed. "Give us the child or we'll kill you and everyone else in that house."

"No," Charlie repeated. "You want my child? You'll have to kill me first."

"That can be arranged, old man!"

Charlie smirked and beckoned the army closer with two fingers.

The black-haired vampire—possibly the leader—sighed and shook his head. "Leave no one alive. But do not lay a finger on the child!"

With that, the vampires surrounding Charlie charged. The sounds of their battle cries filled the silent air.

Charlie waited a beat, and then took off, racing into the fray.

The first to reach him lost his head when he collided with his fist.

Newborns are easy to kill. Most are stupid and go for the obvious kill. Charlie has spent thousands of years training with the best vampires in their world. He knew how to combine his magic with the physical fight. But he also knew he couldn't always depend on his magic. Magic can only win half the battle. Sometimes, you have to get your hands dirty.

Charlie wasn't opposed to that.

Another vampire came at him, teeth bared, ready to rip into him. He got to her first, ripping her head from her shoulders. It rolled away, and he quickly moved on to his next target.

More of his enemies fell, but it wasn't long before he was overwhelmed. Six of them attacked at once. Teeth tore into his shoulders and arms as they attempted to rip him apart.

He punched and kicked, sending those surrounding him flying across the field. But as soon as one fell, another was on him.

Then, when he was wondering if this would be his end, like an angel descending from heaven, Abraxas swept through the air, covering the field in his fire. At the same time, from the opposite direction, his beautiful Ren appeared on the field.

"VADOS!" She roared, thrusting her hand toward the group of vampires heading toward her. All at once, they froze. Their eyes widened in horror as Ren smirked, watching the vampires explode from within.

She may be a peaceful nature witch, but that woman had a wicked temper and a protective streak that rivaled his own.

With renewed strength—he wasn't alone—Charlie snarled and continued the fight.

Abraxas covered the vampires with his fire from above.

Renee shot off spell after spell, keeping the vampires away from her but also doing her fair share of damage. There were body parts surrounding her as she fired off another explosive spell.

Charlie ripped and tore at anything that came at him. He was vicious in his attack, but methodical, refusing to let anything get past him and attack Ren.

It was over as quickly as it started.

None of the vampires survived.

But even as he and Ren embraced, even as Abraxas landed and surveyed the damage, they all knew this wasn't over.

More would come.

It was just a matter of time.

୨୧

– December 1993 –

– Colorado –

"Charlie? Charlie, are you there? What's happened?"

Charlie ran a hand across his face. For the first time in his long life, he felt exhausted. "There was another attack tonight…"

Three low growls reverberated through the phone.

"Who?"

"Why does this keep happening?"

"Is Isabella alright?"

The concern from his brothers was touching. Though only one was his blood brother, all three had become family in their years together.

"I imagine it's the same people who kidnapped Bells last December," he answered Aro's question. "I'm not sure what they want. Bells couldn't tell me much when Ren and I found her. She identified one of them as Maria."

"Maria," Caius hissed.

"You didn't tell us…"

Charlie sighed and ran a hand across his face. "I'm telling you now. From what she said, Maria thinks her Daddy is Bella's soulmate…"

"Who is this 'Daddy'?" Aro asked.

"I don't know. My connections haven't been able to find anything."

"Could it be her sire?"

"No," Aro answered. "Maria's sire was a man named Benito…"

"He was the one who started the Southern Wars…"

"Mm. Maria had a mate, sisters, and other coven members," Aro went on. "Benito was a cruel, vindictive man. He slaughtered Maria's mate and the rest of their coven, then took Maria as his partner and lover. He did unspeakable things to her before she finally killed him and took over his territories with her two sisters, Nettie and Lucy."

"All of which could be a lie," Charlie pointed out.

"I don't think The Major would lie to us, brother…"

"I'm not saying he would," Charlie clarified. "I'm saying Maria could've told him anything. He was young, he didn't know any better. He would've taken her at her word. That's understandable. But who's to say she told him the truth?"

His brothers hissed and growled.

"There is a price on my daughter's head," Charlie growled. "For god only knows what reason, the most sadistic bitch in the South is hellbent on getting her hands on my child! I want to know why!"

"Agreed," the three brothers spoke unanimously.

"I'll put my research team on it immediately," Marcus stated. "But Charlie," he sighed, "it might take time…"

Charlie nodded. "I understand, brother."

"What will you do to keep her safe, Charlie?" Caius asked. "I can have a team with you in twenty-four hours … or I can dispatch The Major. His Elite team might be the only ones capable of stopping Maria."

Charlie took a deep breath. "I have an idea … possibly the best idea to keep Isabella safe while we figure out who's after her, but," he sighed, "Ren won't like it…"

୨୧

"You can't be serious, Charlie…" Renee stared at the handsome man, trying to wrap her mind around what he was telling her.

"I am," Charlie nodded. "I don't like it either," he admitted, "but what if it's the only way to keep her safe?"

Renee shook her head. "Binding her magic … it's like cutting off a limb! It's part of her. If we do this, she'll lose her connection to Atticus! We don't know what that'll do to her or him." Desperate, she turned to her mother, Marie. "Mom! Please, say something."

Marie took a deep breath, her eyes lingering on her tiny granddaughter, fast asleep on the sofa. There had been another attempted attack today. A group of vampires descended upon the house. She, Charlie, and Renee had quickly fought them off, but one slipped past them. If it hadn't been for Atticus, Marie was sure they would've lost Bella today.

Whoever wanted her little grandbaby wouldn't stop until they got her.

Looking back at her daughter, Marie sighed. "I'm sorry, flower, but I agree with Charlie."

Tears welled up in Renee's eyes. "Mom…"

Marie darted to her daughter, pulling the young witch into her arms. "I know, baby. It's not fair. But sometimes life isn't fair. This is about protecting Isabella. Right now, she is not safe as a witch. Isn't it better to raise her as a human, than morn a dead witch?"

As much as she hated it, Renee knew Charlie and her mother were right. She would rather raise Isabella as a human than mourn her as a dead witch. What kind of mother would she be if she allowed her child to live in constant danger?

"What about Atticus?"

As the question lingered, the giant dog trotted into the kitchen. His dark eyes swept across the room, vigilant as always.

"I am her guardian, her familiar," he stated, his gruff voice hard. "She is mine to protect and love. I won't leave her … even when her magic is bound."

The giant dog's dark eyes shifted to Nova, Renee's black cat. Then toward Abraxas, the small dragon draped across Charlie's broad shoulders. Today, the dragon was a shimmering blue and white. Finally, Atticus's eyes settled on Marie's snowy owl Agatha.

Abraxas nodded his head. "We agree…"

"But remember, even with her magic bound, Isabella will never be human." Agatha's bright yellow eyes shifted around the room. "She is, after all, part vampire, and that part cannot be bound."

"Is that side of her something we should be worried about?" Marie wondered. "So far, she's displayed no vampire traits…"

"Could be because she's more witch than vampire," Charlie mused. "I was born a witch and then turned into a vampire. Its possible Bells is only quarter vampire and won't ever display any vampiric traits."

Renee figured that was how Bella had mated with a vampire. Full-blooded witches do not find their soulmates in vampires. She and Charlie aren't soulmates. They knew their relationship wouldn't last forever, but the attraction they felt to one another was undeniable. When Renee discovered she was pregnant, they were both shocked.

Isabella was their little miracle baby.

A born hybrid. Both witch and vampire.

The first of her kind.

And now she was being hunted because of her extraordinary power and her miraculous birth.

"I think she has a few of your vampiric traits, Chief," Atticus said, breaking Renee out of her thoughts. "If she's hurt, she heals herself. She's far more graceful than a regular human…"

"She's certainly smarter than a human child," Agatha nodded.

"And far prettier," Nova added with a flick of her tail.

"I understand why this is necessary," Renee sighed, "but I still don't like it. How are we supposed to explain this to her? It'll break her heart. You know how much she loves magic … and her animals…"

Charlie reached over and took Renee's hands in his. "I know, sweetheart. Which is why," he took a deep breath, "we should consider…"

Renee's eyes widened as she realized what he was trying to say. "No! Taking away her magic is one thing, but altering her mind … No. No. We can't!"

Marie nodded. "I agree with you, flower. Altering her mind is dangerous. But Bella is four. She won't understand why we're doing this and it isn't fair to ask her to keep secrets…"

"I'm not suggesting erasing her memories, but blocking them until she's eighteen." Charlie gently squeezed Renee's hands. "Asking her to keep these secrets, it's asking too much of such a little girl."

Renee let Charlie's hands go. "And if she ends up resenting us for taking away part of her?"

"She won't," Marie assured her daughter. "When the time comes, we'll make sure she understands why we did this."

"We aren't doing it to punish her or to be malicious," Charlie added. "We're doing it to keep her safe. She's four years old and already has a list of enemies as long as my arm! She deserves to be a little girl, not to grow up fearing everyone she meets or wondering when the next attack will come."

Renee sighed. She knew her mother and Charlie were right. This was possibly the only way to keep her daughter safe. But that didn't mean she had to like it.

She briefly considered calling the two vampires she'd met before Christmas last year. Isabella's mate would help. He'd certainly be able to offer another line of defense. But Renee wasn't sure she wanted to call him.

She hadn't told Charlie about the incident. Honestly, she didn't want to tell him. She didn't know how he would react to the news that his baby girl was already mated. The vampire promised to stay away while Bella grew up, but what if he changed his mind? What if he saw Charlie as a threat? Would he take Isabella away from her? He certainly wouldn't be the first vampire to go back on his word, and she couldn't bear the thought of losing…

No.

No.

No.

That was not an option.

Renee wouldn't risk losing her daughter.

They'd deal with this without any outside vampire help. If she'd learned anything from this nightmare, it's that most vampires can't be trusted.

When the time comes—when Bella is older and capable of making her own decisions—Renee will not stand in her daughter's way. A mate bond is everything. Renee would never deny her daughter something so vital and eternal.

But, right now, while she's so young, she would do everything in her power to ensure her little ladybug was safe. Even if that meant keeping her future mate away.

"Atticus," Renee sighed, "you'll have to change your form."

The big dog nodded his head. "I understand. I'll do everything in my power to ensure her safety."

"We all will," Abraxas agreed.

"She's our family," Agatha cooed. "Our little one. We protect her as fiercely as we do each of you."

"If we're going to do this," Renee sighed, "is there a way to block or bind her vampire nature as well? To make her seem fully human…"

"I know of a few spells," Charlie nodded, "But," he sighed, "there are other things we have to consider as well. Our daughter's safety must be our priority…"

"Always," Renee agreed, fiercely.

There was nothing more important than her little girl. Whatever she had to do to keep her baby safe, she would do it, and pray that—one day, when she learned the truth—Bella would understand.

୨୧

– September 13, 1994 –

– Alaska –

Jasper's mind was a million miles away as he stared at the snow-capped mountains surrounding him. He spent the afternoon hunting with Emmett. Well, Emmett was hunting. Jasper was calculating how long it would take him to get to his mate if he left right now.

Today was her fifth birthday.

He went out last week and bought her a card. He wrote her a letter and even bought her a gift. It was nothing fancy, just some new crayons and a colouring book … and a pair of diamond earrings, which probably wasn't appropriate for a little girl. He also bought a complete collection of Roald Dahl books to read. Each time he finished a book, he wrote his little love a letter, telling her all about the book and how he enjoyed it.

He wouldn't send the letters. He didn't know where to send them. But he could keep them for her to read when they reunite.

When his phone suddenly went off, he yanked it out of his pocket. "Pete?"

"Are you alone?"

"Negative. Emmett's with me, but he's still hunting at least six miles from my location."

"We may have a problem…"

"Is it Belle?"

"Negative. It's Maria. Charlotte and I are just outside her territory—"

"What!" Jasper roared. "I told you not to approach her, Captain!"

"I didn't, Major. There's nothing here but ash. According to the locals, there was a massive fire last week. The desert burned. The fire destroyed Maria's territory and army."

"And Maria?"

"Inconclusive. She either perished with the army or…"

"She's the one who started the fire, destroyed her army, and then disappeared," Jasper sighed. "But why?"

"Self-preservation, maybe," Peter suggested. "Whoever Maria is working for sent her after your girl. Now her magic has been bound, maybe Maria's people think she's safer in hiding. We're hunting her and, my guess is, your girl's parents might be after her, too."

Jasper nodded. It made the most sense. The tables had been turned. Instead of being the hunter, she was now the hunted. If she knew he or Peter were looking for her, she'd likely flee and go into hiding.

A low growl rumbled through him. "Find her! Hiding or not, she's still a danger to Isabella!"

"Already on it, Major. We won't let anything happen to our new sister."

Jasper ended the call as Emmett approached.

"Everything okay, Jaz?"

"Maria's gone missing … or died. We're not sure." He reiterated his conversation with Peter as they made their way back to the house.

"You're gonna need to go and check it out…"

Jasper looked over at his brother.

"It might look suspicious if you don't…"

Jasper nodded in agreement.

"Why don't Rosie and I come with you?" He suggested. "You know, for moral support. And, you know," he grinned, "so Rosie can sniff things out and I can do what I do tech-wise…"

Jasper chuckled. "Good idea, Em. We'll leave in the morning. I'll call Pete and have him and Char meet us. I want to know exactly what they saw."

Emmett, finally excited to do something, nodded with a bright grin. "Race ya back?"

Jasper shook his head, chuckling. "Loser has to tell Ali we won't be going shopping this weekend…"

With that in mind, the two boys took off racing toward the Cullen home, neither of them wanting to tell Alice they wouldn't be available to carry her bags or play dress up all weekend.

AN: There we have it. Charlie, Renee and Nan will bind Bella's magic and cloak her vampire nature, so when she meets the Cullen's, they'll assume she's a regular human.

Jasper's back with the Cullen's, and Maria has gone missing. I wonder what she's up to.

Next chapter, we'll skip ahead to Edward and Bella's breakup.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter! I love hearing from you. xoxo