My Mate Saga (Twilight Fan Fiction)

Chapter Eighteen

  Edward bound into his family's main clearing with a brilliant smile on his handsome face. After more effort than was really reasonable he managed to procure a perfect meal. He carried the thoroughly incapacitated bobcat slung over his broad shoulder. The predator's rich blood would be pleasing for his waiting mate and healthy for his lima bean size baby; he even thought the mutt would appreciate the novelty of the feline snack.

The animal was technically endangered but it was only the best for his little family.

He made a b-line for his den, feeling guilty he had left his love alone for so long and eager to ease that uncomfortable itch he felt in varied degrees of unpleasant every time he left her side. The itch that insisted he belonged with his mate and growing child.

He knew his sweet, playful girl wasn't particularly gifted at sitting still for long periods of time so he was extremely irritated when his mother and sister came running from his father's den, stopping him before he could get to his Bella.

He shot the nervous females an indulgent but stiff smile. "Not yet, mother. I'll let everyone get to know Bella better a little later. She needs to feed and have a bit more time to settle in," he insisted before they could predictably beg for a visit.

Truthfully Bella had already taken well to her new home; he just wasn't ready to share her quite yet. He wanted to be inside her so badly it was beginning to hurt. If he didn't have other responsibilities to her he would spend every waking moment buried inside her gorgeous body.

The two women exchanged a terrified glance. They knew they had to warn him before they sent him into the lion's den but his reaction wasn't going to be pretty.

Edward was known to have a bit of a temper.

"Well, here's the thing..." Alice started, squirming relentlessly under her brother's less than amused scowl. "We already went in to keep Bella company while you were gone," she squeaked.

Several beats of silence ensued.

"WHAT?" Edward roared, sending the girls jumping half a foot into the air. He dropped the warm body to the ground, lest he crush Bella's dinner with his clenched fists. "I didn't give either of you permission to enter my den, to approach my mate!" he snarled viciously.

Esme shrunk back. Even though Edward was her son he still out ranked her in the order of coven hierarchy. He hardly ever exerted his power over her but it was never forgotten that he was the more powerful vampire.

"We're sorry, dear. We were just excited, we didn't realize..." his mother stuttered, not sure how to tell him they'd exposed his lie.

"DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT?" Edward screamed, noting from their sheepish expressions that they had done more than just visit without his consent. He pushed his fingers through his hair so roughly that he ran the risk of pulling it out. "You fucking told her didn't you?" he jerked his head to look at the entrance of his den, sure that his ravenous mate was going to come flying out kicking and screaming at any moment.

Alice and Esme nodded, Esme whimpering tearlessly. If Edward had been in his right mind he would have felt awful.

Alice puffed herself up, making herself look far more confident than any 4 foot 5 female facing a fuming 7 foot male has any right to be. "Don't you dare blame this all on us, mister. You had to have known she would talk to one of us about it eventually," she cried.

Edward lowered himself into a crouch and bared his teeth, something he had never done to any member of his family.

Before anyone could blink Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett were standing between them, posed to protect. They'd been warned about the possible confrontation and we're keeping an eye on the exchange in the event it went south.

Edward was glad, he'd never wanted to pummel someone so badly in his life and he knew he'd probably regret it in the morning.

"Easy, son," Carlisle soothed with a restraining hand against Edward's chest. "They didn't mean any harm."

Edward's mind was reeling. Of course they hadn't meant any harm but if they had obeyed protocol they could have avoided it entirely. His chest clenched sickeningly as he thought about how upset his Bella undoubtedly was.

She and the baby were everything to him. He didn't regret barking out orders like the alpha male he is, but allowing her to risk her safety by underestimating the danger was something he did not want.

He ignored his father, extending his neck around his brother's hulking frame to hissing at the pixie. "I have every right to tell my mate whatever I feel she needs to hear and if you hadn't gone to her without permission I would have warned you all to avoid the subject before I allowed you to talk to her!" he snapped, too far gone to care if Bella overheard him.

He was already fucked as it was.

Alice huffed and pointed her painted finger accusingly. She felt much bolder with three males between her and Edward's twitching fists. "Well then there's no reason to be so upset about her finding out early! I wouldn't have lied for your ass either way!"

"Oh boy..." Emmett groaned, knowing his hotheaded brother wouldn't respond well to that.

Edward snarled, "Why, you little b-"

"Hey, now! That's enough of that..." Carlisle sighed, exasperated. "Alice, you will respect Edward's rank," the blonde said firmly, "He's been put into a precarious situation with his mate and child and you need to support the measures he inducts for her protection."

Alice nodded at her father, red faced but remorseful.

The tense coven breathed a sigh of relief when Edward snapped his teeth in aggravation before picking up Bella's kill and stomping off into his den.

"Well that could have gone better," Emmett rubbed at the back of his thick neck awkwardly.

Alice let out a little sob and her thin, shaggy haired mate wrapped her little body in his arms. "Don't worry, darling," Jasper drawled while rubbing her tiny back soothingly. "He's not himself."

"And Edward did not lie, ever since the threat of the humans upraised, we've been having to do more patrols to insure the security of our land. We've already had a couple of run ins with the nomads from the south."

Esme gasped softly, "Oh my."

Carlisle nodded in agreement, "I have thought about keeping the females in the main den but I believe we can keep our area well protected enough to where you girls can still come out. But since this is all new to Edward, he is still getting used to the intensity of the bond between him and his mate. With her pregnant every instinct he has is screaming at him to protect her. It's important we don't give him reason to perceive us as a threat to her safety... Edward doesn't really do anything halfway," Carlisle added, flashing his daughter a tight smile while holding his own shattered mate.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

A pricing cry... a devastated guttural howl reverberated through the air around them. The males crouched defensively, their throats rumbling with a reflexive growl as they contemplated a threat severe enough to warrant that kind of audible distress from their fearless brother.

"Holy shit!" Emmett exclaimed, his wide eyes trained on the mouth of Edward's cave with an expression of respectful awe. "That little female is killing him!"

Carlisle quickly considered this possibility, that cry certainly sounded like a death rattle and he knew Edward would never raise his hand against Bella, even to defend himself. He was contemplating going in to intervene when his devastated son came staggering out like a wounded human.

The red headed vampire fell to his knees and buried his face into his hands like he physically could no longer support the weight of his body, the thick rock bed crumbled under the force of his unbreakable knees.

Esme gasped and ran to her son's side, the very picture of maternal concern.

"Edward, sweetheart, what's wrong? Is she truly that upset?" Esme fretted, "I can talk to her, apologize," she offered. She tried to run her fingers through her son's hair like she did when he was little but he slapped her hand away.

He looked up at his parents and siblings with frosty dead eyes. "Apologize?" he sneered. "Good luck with that, mother, she's gone."

Alice shrieked. "Gone? W-what do you mean 'gone'?" her voice shook. Carlisle too held his breath for his son's elaboration, hoping against hope he had misunderstood.

Edward laughed a dark, wicked chortle that held the distinct ring of insanity. "I mean that while I was away hunting for my mate's meal my 'family' went to her without authorization and got her upset. Then they left her alone—still upset—and SHE RAN A-FUCKING-WAY," he hissed, his eyes coal black with unbridled rage and panic. His whole massive body rocked with emotion.

"You mean she's not in there?" Emmett asked daftly, craning his neck to peek into his brother's den.

Edward whimpered and buried his face back into his hands, too overcome with loss to dwell on his anger.

She left him.

He couldn't believe it. After he'd explained that a male's life without his mate was a fate worse than death she had still walked away. Did she hate him? Didn't she care about the fate of their child? A vampire infant didn't stand a chance without the protection of his sire.

"She's gone," he moaned, "my mate, my baby, she even took the fucking dog," he sobbed manically.

Tanya swaggered by with what appeared to be innocent curiosity. "Oh no, what's wrong?" she cooed sweetly, looking down at Edward with bright eyes.

Edward looked for the entire world like he was about to take a snap at her so Jasper quickly pushed her away. "You need to make you self sparse, Denali," he warned.

The strawberry blond only had to look at Edward's exposed canines to decide to heed Jasper's advice. Realizing that she wasn't going to get the opportunity to 'comfort' him in Bella's absence she stomped off, conveniently forgetting to mention that Bella hadn't exactly jumped ship.

Carlisle, ever the levelheaded leader acted immediately. He knew the longer she was missing the more danger she would encounter. Letting her go wasn't an option, Edward would be lost without her.

He kneeled in front of his broken son using the alpha tenor that demanded attention, "Edward, we need to move fast. If we don't start tracking her right away she can run into trouble before we catch up to her. Your brothers and I are going to leave now. Are you going to be able to come?" he asked seriously.

If he was too distraught he would only slow them down.

Edward grimaced. "Of course I'm going to go," he muttered. "She's my life. If anything happens to her..." he trailed off, unable to finish the horrifying thought.

He'd die, he decided. He couldn't live without his heart.

Carlisle patted his son's shoulder and helped Emmett heave his boy off the ground. Edward was all but dead weight. "Nothing will happen, son. We'll find her."

Carlisle wasted no time in picking up Bella's sweet floral scent. He allowed Esme and Alice to come along, believing they'd be useful in talking sense into his newest daughter if the girl was still too angry with her mate. He followed it from the mouth of her cave to the edge of the woods where he started cursing loudly... a very un-Carlisle occurrence. He pinched the bridge of his straight nose and Edward recognized his own nervous habit.

"Well come on! Let's go get her!" Emmett cheered eagerly, pumped to have something to do to break up the monotony of home life.

Jasper rolled his eyes. After years as a soldier before he took Alice as a mate he knew what the problem was. "She's a smart little thing," he said, impressed, "She took to the trees. She really didn't want to be followed."

Jasper felt particularly sorry for his brother. He thought he had it hard with Alice as a mate. Little free spirited Alice who couldn't obey an order any better than she could strategize a battle plan. It was hard giving the Cullen girls the freedom they expected from observing human interaction in a world that demanded they keep their beloved mates on a short rope. How do you give your female enough space and privilege to keep them happy when doing so is constantly risking their safety?

"We can still track her through the trees," Edward growled, hating that his precious love had gone through such lengths to evade him.

"Half as quickly as she can run," Carlisle pointed out. Trying to track someone who isn't leaving one long grounded scent trail is like trying to sniff out what individual stones she jumped on in a quarry full. Each new tree offered a barrage of possible next steps. They'd have to check each tree around the trees with her scent to figure out which one she hoped in, and then repeat the process, over and over. "Maybe if we knew where she was going..."

Edward shook his head. "I don't even think she knows where she's going. Her coven is in Arizona. She'll never make it and wouldn't know the way regardless. Maybe she's looking for another mate," he groaned, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath to keep from coming apart. Esme patted his back lovingly, and this time her let her.

He'd never felt pain like this. This crippling ache... he couldn't live through it. It was too much. To find Nirvana just to have it ripped away was excruciating. He lied to insure that he'd never lose her and ended up driving her away.

"Hey!" Emmett yelled suddenly, "Isn't that her mini Cujo?"

Everyone but Edward, who had long ago decided to never acknowledge Emmett's ridiculous literary references, turned to look at the frantic puppy as it came barreling out of the woods. The normally straggly pup looked exhausted, covered in mud and small pieces of leaf litter.

Alice squealed, "It is! Edward, look! Its Jake!" she slapped his arm, finally getting her brother's attention.

Jake went straight to his master's mate, pawing mud all over Edward's pant leg until he was looked at.

Emmett snorted, "What's wrong, Lassie? Is Timmy in the well again?"

Edward gazed down at the tiny wolf like it was a hallucination. When he realized his whole family could see the dog also he whipped his head around frantically. Bella would never leave her little companion, she must be close.

For one beautiful minute Edward thought Bella had come back to him, that she had changed her mind. But in the next Edward's rational thinking told him that Jake's presence meant the opposite.

Bella was in trouble.

Edward picked up the tired puppy and cradled him to his chest for half a moment, he'd never been so happy to see a dirt covered hairball. He then gently handed the pup to his sister who held him away from her outfit like he carried the plague.

"Ewe, Edward, He's bathed in mud," she wrinkled her button nose.

"Clean him up and get him fed, Alice," Edward ordered shortly, "There's a bobcat on the floor of my den. Drain it and feed him the meat. Let him up on the bed and keep a close eye on him. Bella's going to want to see him when I get her home."

Carlisle lifted a brow, a silent 'and how do you expect to do that?'

"She may have run through the trees but the dog certainly didn't. We're following his scent until it takes us to Bella's. Esme needs to stay with Alice. Some things wrong."

He didn't know how receptive Bella was going to be to seeing him but not going after wasn't even fathomable. He'd drag her home by her hair if he had to. She was pissed now and she may want nothing to do with him but she belonged to him. He'd spend the rest of eternity working to gain her affection back but he wouldn't let her leave him.

Most males find mates that have already been claimed and fight for them, killing their previous lover and any of their children too small to survive without a mother. As a result the majority of males start out with mates that hate them and although he wanted more for Bella, he'd rather have her resent him then not have her at all.

By leaving him, she took away his option to treat her as he had been. She would no longer be his partner but his property.

And that killed him.

The group was off as soon as Edward gave the order. His unmatched speed kept him a few lengths in front of the others as he blazed through the trees. The dog's trail wasn't a straight shot, the poor animal had struggled to find its way back, and traveling over obstacles that Edward imagined would be quite daunting for a tiny puppy.

They followed Jake's woodsy canine smell for three miles before it mixed with Bella's sweet perfume. Edward's heart swelled as he breathed in the essence of his mate, she had been there and the concept soothed him.

Until he heard the voices...

Male voices.

Edward went to push himself faster but felt a strong hand pull his shoulder, restraining him. He turned, livid, to see his father giving him a pointed look. He actually considered decking him and making a run for it but thought better of it.

"The Romanians," Carlisle whispered to keep from revealing their presence. An adult vampire enjoys the conveniences of an infinite memory bank but that thick accent would be hard to forget even without it. "Don't go in swinging, Edward. There's an easier way to settle this."

Edward growled, low and dangerous. "If either of them have touched a hair on her head they'll be begging for death," he vowed. Emmett nodded vigorously, excited at the prospect of a fight.

Carlisle nodded also, "That's understandable but Vladimir and his younger brother are nothing if not practical. I doubt very much that they'd touch a female that was covered in your scent. Let's not resort to violence if it's unnecessary.

"I told you that your mate would need to be broken and it's because you refused to listen that she's in this situation. Control your female or you'll lose her," Carlisle insisted with more force than his son's had ever heard him use. "That's an order."

Edward scoffed and ignored his peace keeping father. In his opinion just looking at his female earned the brothers a death sentence. With Riley, Edward had nicely let the young one go, a favor to his father. Now he had no restriction and he'd fight for his mate properly.

He moved silently towards the arguing brothers, though the closer he got the more he realized his discretion wasn't really necessary. The two of them were fighting so heatedly they left themselves completely open to attack.

Jasper rolled his black eyes, outraged by the Romanian's poor form. "Amateurs..." he hissed quietly before springing into the trees for a position that would give him the element of surprise should he be needed.

"'Ve came to 'varn zem to better our position. Not out of some sense of golden retriever loyalty. It 'vas never a necessity. If I gain a mate out of 'za trip I 'vould consider 'za journey more fruitful 'zan a 'ead up on za Volturi!" The younger of the two spat with venom laced articulation.

Edward's furry skyrocketed when he realized what mate Stefan thought he found, he sped up so quickly pieces of earth were kicked up under his pounding heels.

'Mine.'

Edward, Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett listened to Vladimir's taunting chuckle as they closed the gap. "Za girl is already 'vith child. You 'vould 'ave to 'vait a 'alf a year before she is ready to breed. You 'vould not even get one 'eir out of 'er before Cullen finds and kills you."

Edward snarled, skidding into the clearing flanked closely by his father and burly brother.

Vladimir and Stefan barely had time to lower themselves into defensive crouches though they knew that wouldn't save them from death if that's what Edward decided they deserved. Bella gasped loudly as she looked up to see her rescuers.

Edward looked completely feral, inhuman in every way. His bared teeth dripped with his bitter venom and his eyes flashed onyx as they burned into the rival male crouching in front of his frightened mate. The thick muscles in his forearms and chest rippled with unbridled power.

He'd never looked more like a vampire.

"Give me more credit than that, Vladimir," he spat at the older brother, though his eyes were glued on Stefan who was so close to Bella Edward's fists were shaking. "You wouldn't make it one day on the run with something that belonged to me."

"Edward!" Bella cried, a mixture of elation and uncertain fear.

Edward dropped his gaze to his female, she looked terrified beyond belief but otherwise untouched and unharmed, her clothing straight and unmolested. His dark haired beauty. He felt the greatest rush of relief he'd ever experienced but worked hard to not let his expression soften.

Carlisle seemed intent on allowing the Romanians to live and he couldn't afford to show signs of weakness. His female had already been caught gallivanting around without protection.

Instead of flashing to her side and cradling her in his arms like he desperately yearned to he simply opened his arms and gazed at the beautiful female impassively.

"Bella, come," he ordered gruffly, not knowing if she would heed a command.

Bella slowly lifted herself from the ground, looking at Stefan like he was a bomb that could go off at any moment. The young brother's hand twitched, desperate to hold her and stop her from going to Edward but Vladimir snarled at him menacingly and the vampire slumped in frustration and watched her walked cautiously away.

Once Bella was out of Stefan's grabbing range Edward's arms were immediately full of trembling, sobbing female. He didn't know if he wanted to strangle her or make love to her. He meant to keep his cool exterior but he completely melted as Bella clung to him. His heart swelled at the realization that she was pleased to see him, that she wanted him.

"Hush, baby. You're alright."

He pulled her tightly to him and purred lightly as he felt her body press into his chest.

Stefan looked like he was going to be sick.

The Cullen leader wasn't at all angry with Bella nor did he truly wish to see the gentle female punished for her great escape. He was displeased with his son's unwillingness to teach her. She couldn't be expected to know how to act or what was safe. It was Edward's job to protect her and unfortunately, dominate her.

Edward sighed at his father's reminder and managed to pull himself together. He pried Bella's chin away from him to get a good look at her face. "Did he touch you?" he asked softly, though he was fooling no one, his voice was saturated with rage.

She shook her head in the negative and Edward confirmed her answer by sniffing her hair, neck and chest. Stefan was at least intelligent enough not to leave his scent on her.

He nuzzled his nose against her jaw with an intentionally loud purr, marking her thoroughly with his own natural aroma.

She cried out in pain when he bit her throat forcefully, giving her the customary public reprimand for her disobedience. By tradition he was supposed to break the skin but he couldn't bring himself to mar perfection. Edward tried not to look at her wounded and confused honey colored eyes.

He kept his arms around Bella but turned his attention to the offending male. "Give me one good reason why I should let you live." He snarled at the dark haired foreigner.

Vladimir tried to defuse his brother's mess by straightening to a more friendly posture, putting his hands up with a nervous chuckle. "Edward, Carlisle... It 'as been much too long. I am pleased to find you all in good 'ealth."

Edward bristled at the idiots inappropriately timed joke. He was sure rats like Vladimir wished there was some kind of magical disease out there that could weaken the Cullen clan.

Carlisle stepped forward to fulfill his duty as the head of the coven. Even though they had targeted Edward's mate the brothers had technically insulted Carlisle on his territory by doing so.

The hansom blonde gave Vladimir a skeptical smile. "You and your brother have caused me a lot of stress tonight, old friend. Surely there are more appropriate ways of greeting than the commandeering of my son's mate."

Vladimir tried to discreetly snap his teeth at his brother who couldn't stop staring as Bella who clung to Edward's chest. He gave up and instead took a step in front of Stefan to hide his scandalous behavior.

"My brother 'vas merely... distracted by your female as 've made our 'vay over for a visit. As you see she is completely unharmed," he glanced over at Edward briefly, "Congratulations, young Cullen. Your bitch is quite lovely. But perhaps a shorter leash?"

Edward's whole face turned puce at the jab. He considered ripping his head from his body but didn't feel like putting Bella down to do it. He kissed her head and gave Vladimir twisted grin. "Excellent suggestion, Vladimir... Incidentally, how is your mate doing? Has she given Aro another child yet?"

Emmett started laughing and even Jasper gave away his position by snickering in the trees.

Vladimir's body tensed at the bitter reminder. He had lost his mate to the Volturi leader over a century ago and Aro, in his cruelty, had left the male alive to roam the world without the better part of his soul. The Romanians were on a nearly constant quest for revenge but only the Cullen's had enough power to be anything greater than an inconvenience to a coven that size and Carlisle had never seen the need.

Carlisle raised his hand to silence his sons. "Enough," he growled, "It doesn't seems as though Isabella has been touched. If you can assure me that Stefan will not be a problem in the future I'll consider overlooking the disrespect."

Vladimir looked at his brother doubtfully. He wasn't entirely sure he would be able to keep his ward in check.

Stefan's eyes were still glued to Bella when Edward decided to test the younger brother. He knew that if Stefan had truly bonded himself to Bella the vampire would need to be destroyed. A male, while alive, will never stop fighting for his mate and Edward didn't fancy the idea of spending his life with Stefan as a constant thorn in his side.

There was one easy was to find out.

Edward smirked crookedly, though he didn't relish the thought of traumatizing Bella any more than he already had. One of the benefits of a devastatingly gorgeous mate was being able to flaunt her in front of those that covet her.

He turned her so that her small lean back was pressed firmly against his front. With his black eyes still trained smugly on his rival he allowed his hands to roam the front of her supple body. Bella turned pink with embarrassment but didn't dare move an inch as her mate sprayed his fingers across her life harboring belly.

Edward's chest rumbled audibly as he sucked on the smooth skin of Bella's neck, earning a low meow despite her reluctance. He dropped his hand to run it teasingly along the inside of her thigh, pushing up the hem of her dress to expose an enticing stretch of creamy flesh meant for his hands alone.

Bella started to squirmed and Edward instinctively bared his teeth against her throat, snarling, daring her to move again. She squeaked and quieted immediately.

"Be still, love, or I'll bend you over right here," he urged in a steel coated tone. He knew he wouldn't go that far, though he'd seen others do it often.

She felt so perfect in his arms, his now hardened cock pressed firmly into the softness of her lovely little bottom and he couldn't keep himself from grunting quietly as he ground his manhood against her.

Stefan's body was tense and bent into a low lunge as he watched Edward claim his mate. He seemed desperate to, but incapable of, looking away. A continuous growl echoed in his chest, fighting to get out.

It only egged Edward on.

He delighted in seeing the offending vampire's pain as he enjoyed the pleasures of his mate's body. It felt even better than being able to tear into Stefan's throat. Envy was a powerful thing.

Stefan shook with restraint, looking all the while like someone had stolen his new bicycle, but was miraculously able to keep from attacking Edward.

If he had gone through with bonding to Bella he wouldn't have been able to sit in place and watch as she was groped by another man. He would have done everything in his power to rip Edward limb from limb.

And frankly, Edward was enjoying himself a little.

Carlisle cleared his throat uncomfortably. He was never one for vampire displays of possession.

"Let him live," Edward shrugged. He was sufficiently sure that Stefan wouldn't press his luck and he liked the bitter scent of the vampire's jealousy far too much to end it by killing him.

His father nodded, shooting him a glance that implored him to stop arousing his female to infuriate the visitors. The air was now permeated with the smell of feminine need and that was going to make all of the males a bit uncomfortable.

Emmett was watching the scene like all he was missing was a bucket of popcorn.

"Very well," Carlisle ruled casually like the display from seconds ago hadn't happened, "Are we to expect this was purely a social call? I'm afraid our territory is a little crowded at the movement," he added to politely make it clear they were not welcome to stay.

Vladimir relaxed, no longer anticipating his impending demise. "I am afraid not, my friend. 'Ve 'ave come to caution you and your coven." He seemed a tad pleased with himself, sure that Carlisle would be eager to hear the information but his smile faltered slightly when the Cullen patriarch looked unperturbed... There was very little in this world his large coven had to fear.

Vladimir pressed on with noticeably less gusto. "My brother and I 'ave it on good authority 'zat 'za Volturi's 'vest coast territory 'vas raided by 'umans 'vhen 'za entire family 'vas on za premises."

Bella gasped and her trebling started up again. Edward wondered if he should cut out early and get her to bed before she went into shock but as second in command it was important he stay there by his father's side. He held her a little snugger and brushed kissing into her silken hair.

"Apparently some 'umans 'vere killed but not before Jane 'vas taken..."

Carlisle was actually surprised by this news. Jane was one of Aro's children and the loss must have been a major hit to the callus vampire's pride.

Outwitted by the food supply.

"That is unfortunate," he said thoughtfully, "but it seems as though such raids are becoming a fairly common occurrence."

"'Vell, yes. But as you can imagine the 'great' band of brothers is not 'villing to take 'zings sitting down. 'Zay 'ave killed Jane's mate for failing to protect 'er and are calling for retribution."

"They killed Afton!" Emmett whined, "Man, that guy was cool!"

Edward glared at him over Bella's head and the oaf looked down at his giant feet guilty.

Carlisle worried about the havoc seven revenge hungry vampires could have on the human population. Hundreds of years ago, before their species faded into secrecy, a single juvenile could slaughter an entire human village for sport.

Currently the humans seemed interested in capturing vampires for scientific study but Carlisle knew that if vampire covens started killing conspicuously or because of vendettas the humans would call for their destruction.

Humans were notorious for destroying things they didn't understand. And frankly they don't understand much.

"That is distressing news," Carlisle frowned.

Vladimir puffed up with an air of importance. "But 'zat is not 'vhat 've 'ave come to 'varn you about," he baited.

Edward bared his teeth in his own warning. "Spit it out, foreigner, you have far surpassed the level of patience I hold for scum like you."

Vladimir eyed Edward's massive form and seemed to sense that he'd truly worn his welcome; he began to talk much faster. "Eh...'vell 'za problem 'vith 'za Volturi's plot for revenge is 'zat 'zey know nothing of 'umans short of their value as a food source. 'Zey 'ave arranged to visit the only coven 'zat does."

Emmett groaned, "Us," he guessed.

Edward sighed and pulled his mate close to him. She was beginning to calm, unaware of how bad the news they'd just received was. He gave her a halfhearted smile and rubbed her belly tenderly.

She looked exhausted.

Before Vladimir could continue Edward spoke up, "Jasper?" he called into the trees.

The toe head dropped from an elm and landed easily just feet away, causally brushing debris from off his jeans. "Yes?" he answered lazily.

Edward pushed a lock of hair from Bella's face and bent to kiss her lips. "Take Bella to our den and see to it that she rests in bed. Keep the other females away from her," he looked at Bella with the hint of a snarl, "and make sure she doesn't run. I won't have her risking our child anymore tonight."

He tried to push Bella towards his brother but she cried out and clung to him, "No, Edward, I want to stay with you. Please don't make me leave. I'm sorry."

His face softened and he lowered himself to look her in the eyes.

Edward took her little face in his hands and rubbed the tip of his nose against hers."Jasper's going to take you home, you're going to climb into bed and when I'm finished having this conversation you shouldn't be present for, I'm going to come back to you. Do you understand?" he implored.

Bella's bottom lip quivered but she nodded slowly. He gave her a breathtaking smile.

"Good girl," he whispered, "I love you, baby." He gave Jasper a small incline of his head and his brother scooped her up and carried her off before she could get the opportunity to open her stubborn little mouth again.

"'having trouble controlling your mate, Cullen?" Stefan leered, obviously unable to bite his tongue, "A female like 'zat deserves a male 'zat can train 'er properly."

Edward took a step to lunge for the vampire but his father pushed him back, "You stupid motherfucker!" he hissed, sounding more like a pissed off school boy than he had intended.

Carlisle tried to choke back a chuckle. He addressed Vladimir seriously, still holding onto his murderous son. "I think what my son is trying to say is that we'd sooner kill you both then justify to you the way we deal with our females. I suggest you get on with you've come to tell us. I won't hold him back again."

Vladimir's scarlet eyes flashed with trepidation at Carlisle simple threat. "Aro is going to call upon you to make a stand against 'za 'umans. He 'vants your knowledge and he 'vants your influence. The strength of your coven as well as 'za North American nomads under your control."

Edward and Emmett let out barking laughs. "Since when do was summit to Aro's bidding?"

"If you refuse 'e 'vill declare you a blood trader, heretics against your own species," the Romanian insisted like the title was an unforgivable disgrace.

Edward watched an ironic smirk spread across his father's face. "We were under the impression that our status as 'human lovers' was already clearly defined," he joked, using the rather uncreative term he'd had yelled at him on numerous occasions. "Frankly I'm a little disappointed; I thought we had earned that."

His son's snickered.

Hues of bright green were beginning to filter in through the trees, the first sights of very early morning, and Edward was starting to get anxious to end this unpleasant visit. It was as plain as day that the Romanian's were looking to encourage an altercation between the Cullen's and Volturi and he needed to be with Bella.

Stefan took a step forward to drive his brother's point home. "Perhaps your 'abit of playing with 'za food can be overlooked but since our exposure you are now sympathizing 'vith 'za abductors of members of multiple covens. I doubt very much 'za vampire community 'vill support such behavior now," he pointed out truthfully with a smug arrogance.

Though none of them gave any sign of concern, the Cullen males all knew that his words held validity. It was never beneficial to be caught in the middle at the cusp of a species war.

They had learned that by watching werewolf sympathizers burn during the war of 1929 after the wolves had slaughtered a large number of vamps in Latin America.

Vladimir cast a deliberate glance in the direction that Bella had been carried off. He caught Edward's eye before breaking out into a menacing grin. "'Zey should be 'ere within a fortnight... I 'vonder 'vhat Caius's sons 'vill 'zink of Edward's very own 'Helen of Troy."

Edward growled dismissively and turned his back to end his involvement in what he considered a now pointless conversation.

But as Carlisle watched his son disappear into the trees he couldn't help but feel as though his stunning new daughter could be just that.

La Tua Cantante.