My Mate Saga (Twilight Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty

"They're here."

Bella squeaked as his grasp on her strengthened. His arms pulled tightly around her petite waist, though still mindful of his growing child.

He breathed deeply, his voice deceptively even. "Ready Peter and Charlotte and get your mate into position to greet them at father's command. I'll get Bella and Alice settled and will join you before the coven has made it into our clearing," he instructed his younger brother with a faux but impressive air of calm. He learned from Carlisle that a clan was only as strong as it leaders, even if they were internally certain they were seconds away from losing their sanity.

Emmett gave him an 'all business' nod and slipped out into cool night air.

"Edward," Bella whimpered, frightened.

He smiled down at her and tenderly rubbed the tip of his nose against hers; trying to appear unhurried despite the extremely limited amount of time he had to take his place at his father's right flank. "We've had two weeks to prepare for this, my darling," he reminded them both, "We're okay."

The little furrows between her fearful eyes refused to straighten but he didn't have a second to spare and had to fight himself from staying behind and kissing those worries lines away. "Alice is going to be right here with you," he looked up at his sister and received a reassuring nod, "I'll be back this morning when we've gotten them settled in. We'll know then how long they plan on staying."

He hauled himself out of their bed then turned to tuck the blankets in around his mate, trying his best to leave her feeling secure and comfortable. "Just stay in the den like we talked about and work on growing us a strong little baby," he smiled affectionately and bent to rub her swollen belly. "Let me worry about everything else."

"You'll be ok?" she fussed. "You'll be back in time for bed?"

He chuckled and used one massive hand to brush loose wisps of hair away from her perfect, concerned face. It was just like his beautiful little female to be worried for all the wrong reasons. "I'll be perfectly fine, angel. We've dealt with the Volturi many times over the decades," too many times, he thought ruefully, "We are equally enough matched in power that Aro and Carlisle prefer to put on a cordial mask. Neither side will be openly malicious and they'll be gone in a week at the very latest, once they've obtained the information they came for."

He looked into her eyes imploringly, taking her tiny hand to gently squeeze it in his own, "Please don't fret, my love, it's not good for our ...son," he coughed out; "Just stay with Alice and everything will be fine."

Bella nodded up at him, her golden orbs adoring and full of unyielding trust. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, beautiful," he beamed at her with his best crooked grin, "Make Alice show you all the things I've collected for you. The worst thing that could possibly come out of this would be you girls becoming sick with boredom," he lied.

Edward gave her one last passionate kiss before turning his back on her. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Not because he was particularly concerned with the possibility of a confrontation but because he knew his pregnant female needed him and his reassurance and he was unable to offer it. He had always promised himself he'd deny her nothing but there he was walking away.

He shot his sister, whom was still dangling from the side of his armoire, an uneasy, half strangled look.

"Go on, brother. Me and Bella are going to have a great time," the pixie dismissed him with a light, cheerful trill, Bella completely missing the intensity in her black eyes as she silently promised to look out for his mate to the best of her ability.

Edward ran out to back his father, knowing the sooner he got the night's greeting over with, the sooner he could return to the only place he wanted to be.

Four little paws padded quickly after him.

oooooooooooooooooo

When the Volturi coven entered the Cullen's territory they did so with the confidence of a clan that feared nothing. While the Romanian brothers had probably spent days in the surrounding woods, carefully contemplating the safest way to confront the powerful coven, Aro's party marched in with perfect formation, their heads held high.

Carlisle stood in wait with his family, Edward to his right and Jasper to his left. Emmett flanked his older brother while Peter stood tall next to his mate's father. Esme, Charlotte and Rosalie finished the arrangement, protectively positioned directly behind their respective mates to form something akin to a double arrowhead.

Much to Edward 's surprise... and frankly, embarrassment, Jake had followed him out and was sitting faithfully at his side, in all his furry glory.

Aro smiled as warmly as a creature with blood red eyes could muster as he led in his pack. He utilized the same 'v' formation, flanked by his two brothers who were backed by Caius's massive sons. Alec stood behind his father, a sour face sketched across his porcelain skin. Only Aro, Caius, and Alec were shadowed by mates, making the coven smaller in numbers, should females be counted as viable members.

The Volturi leader and his siblings were as physically different as it was possible to be, alike only in their crude enjoyment of other's pain and humiliation as evident in their sparkling ruby irises that had never once been clouded with guilt. Aro's long jet-black hair shined in stark contrast to Caius's short platinum locks and Marcus's general distaste for life itself was constantly written in his solemn expression. After the loss of his mate to a werewolf attack it was rumored that only Aro's threatening rule kept the vampire from leaving the coven to sulk in the misery of his loveless existence.

Felix was a huge, burly male, almost half a head taller than Edward though neither not nearly as fast nor as cunning. With rounded but well proportioned features he and his brother, Demetri, were considered handsome by vampire standards, if not compared to the overwhelming attractiveness of Carlisle Cullen and his eldest son. Both young males had already locked lustful eyes on the Denali sisters, whom were lined up casually behind the Cullens.

Aro stopped his line several feet from Carlisle, bowing his head to show the proper respect as a guest in another male's territory before waiting patiently for the Cullen alpha to either greet them or state his disapproval of the Volturi's unauthorized intrusion.

Carlisle acknowledged his false friend with a small incline of his pointed chin. "Aro, such a surprise to see you on this side of the North American continent. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

Aro's crimson eyes flashed with annoyance at the reminder of his lost daughter but the emotion was gone so quickly that the Cullen's would have been none the wiser had they not been warned in advance. Edward was impressed with how authentic the smile on the Volturi brother's face appeared, but Aro had always been the ultimate game player. "There are important matters that have driven us west," he admitted before waving a long fingered hand dismissively, "Be we will have plenty of time to discuss such things. Let us not taint our reunion with such serious topics, old friend."

"As you wish," Carlisle nodded. If one of his daughters had gone missing he would not waste time mincing words with the only vampire capable of aiding him in getting her back but that was just another way that him and the human drainer differed. He wasn't going to give away the heads up the Romanians had given them by offering his advice prematurely.

Aro glanced briefly around the group assembled before him, arching a thick black brown when he noticed an absence. "I certainly hope young Alice is doing well."

The Volturi all trained their eyes on the empty space behind Jasper, some failing to hide offended sneers.

Aro's question held only false concern. They could easily smell Alice. Knew she was alive and well. Hiding one's mate while greeting another coven was a show of deep disrespect. It was the physical manifestation of 'I don't trust you' when you were unwilling to expose your precious mate to their presence.

Carlisle was quick to start a careful explanation, "She's very well, Aro. We've only experienced pleasant surprises within my coven recently. Edward has acquired a new mate and is already expecting his first child," he gestured to his son. "She's a sweet girl. She'll bare him strong sons," he offered, trying to discreetly make Bella sound more like a dependable breeder and less like the stunning, spirited little creature she actually was.

Felix's eyes snapped away from Tanya as the news perforated his thick skull. He took an exaggerated drag of the air around them, tasting its perfume before his lips twitched upwards into an unpleasant smirk. "She smells so sweet..." he purred roughly at Edward, "When do we get to meet her?"

A dangerous growl built deep in the most volatile Cullen's throat as he fought to keep himself from retaliating for the barely veiled threat. Jake immediately picked up on Edward's shifted energy and assumed his own angry stance. Even Caius shot his son an irritated snarl.

Carlisle put up a warning hand but let out a contrasting chuckle. "As you can see fatherhood is putting him through his paces. His female is quite young and this is her first pregnancy. He's restricted her to the safety of his bed for both their sakes," he smiled lightly, "Alice has been assigned to tend to her needs while Edward is preoccupied."

"Well congratulations on your new additions," Aro tried for gracious, "It's a pity though, I know the girls would love to play while we catch up."

He wasn't about to press the subject any further than that. He wasn't crazy about the idea of the Cullen coven growing in numbers while his had suffered a loss but it would still cause him nothing but grief to have one of his nephews fighting for rights to Edward's female. It's not like the eldest Cullen son would settle for anything but the best. He'd let them hide whatever little gem they had and save them all the time and energy.

Rosalie snorted loudly as he referred to the females like a pack of silly, empty-headed kittens.

"Yes, well I believe Isabella and Alice will be sitting out this visit, though Esme, Charlotte and Rose will be more than happy to direct your ladies to our extra dens. I'm afraid our territory is crowded to capacity at the moment," He flashed his gaze to the Denali's. "All we have to offer are the dens on the other side of the valley, about a mile out." A mile was nothing to a vampire.

Aro looked to his brothers with a small grin, pleased that they had been accepted and offered lodgings so easily. The human lovers were always good for an amiable welcome.

"That will be more than enough, my friend. We do have things to attend to shortly so we won't impose on your hospitality for long. A few days." He turned to the two females in his party, dropping the pleasant tone he held with Carlisle, "Sulpicia, Athenodora, Corin, follow Carlisle's females and prepare our beds for the evening," he snapped the order curtly, sending the two exceptionally pretty blondes and redhead scurrying into action.

Esme was so eager to get the women away from their unpredictably hostile patriarch that she didn't bother to correct Aro in telling him that the western valley dens were all fitted with large cots.

"Don't worry about fixing me one," Felix barked at his mother without taking his leering eyes off an attention happy Tanya, "Me and T have our own catching up to do. Don't we, baby?"

Edward took a step forward with a snarl and lashed out before his father could stop him. "Your coven is keeping me away from my mate and child. The least you can do is make sure your young have a little respect," his voice dripped venom.

He only had a few decades on the brothers but it was just enough to able to belittle them by addressing the pair as the juveniles they proved to be. He wasn't going to be away from his Bella just to watch Aro beat around the bush and that vile pig eye fuck North America's biggest harlot.

Felix glowered at him but was unable to take even a faction of a step forward before Aro bared his teeth and sent him shrinking back. No one crossed Aro. "You are correct, Edward. Please allow me to apologize for my nephew's incompetence," he hissed without removing his burning eyes from Felix. "Why don't you and your brother go play somewhere while the adults converse, since you appear so unable to focus."

Felix's thick neck reddened with a combination of rage and embarrassment. His beefy fists balled with restraint.

Sensing a scene that wouldn't end well for his sibling, Demetri casually broke formation and strolled to his side. "Let it go, brother," he slapped a hand on his upper back with a resonating thwack, "We don't want to have to stick around for this shit any way."

The smaller brother strolled over to Irena and wrapped an arm around her waist before tossing her slender frame over his shoulder. She squealed and giggled girlishly. She pointed in the general direction of the guest den and he went marching off with her bouncing on his back like a female shaped knapsack.

Tanya skipped forward with swinging hips to grab Felix and drag him off as well. She cast a hopeful glance at Edward, searching for some trace of jealousy but the handsome redhead had already locked eyes with Peter, giving him silent instructions to leave the group to guard his den while the two Volturi boys were out of eye sight.

Unfortunately Tanya wasn't the only one to notice the exchange and as he allowed the succubus to lead him off Felix wondered curiously what type of female the Cullen's would go to such lengths to keep hidden.

oooooooooooooooooo

Bella and Alice paused mid-sentence when they heard the crunch of gravel under approaching feet. The little brunette sat up hopefully.

"Edward?" she called out in a small voice.

Alice hushed her and took a protective stance in front of her brother's mate. She was sure Edward wouldn't have been able to make it back so soon.

"Who's out there?" she demanded, her high-pitched chime shaking slightly.

Alice was relieved and Bella was disappointed when Peter strolled in with an amused grin, a small limp fox in his hand.

"Scare you, ma?" he smiled at Alice, his eyes twinkling mischievously with an innocent boyish charm.

She relaxed into the bed and muttered some very unladylike words at her daughter's partner. "What are you doing here anyway?" she huffed with a flip of her spiky hair. With Jake gone she was once again able to get within ten feet of Bella.

He walked further into the room and gave Bella a small, respectful bow. She was second in command out of the Cullen females, far surpassing the rank of his own mate. "Caius's sons have separated from the group to fornicate with the Denali's," he reported bluntly, "Edward told me I was to guard you at all costs, Ma'am," he told Bella with pride.

She blinked up at him. "How old are you, Peter?"

"Forty-six, Ma'am."

She frowned. "Well then, I'm twenty years younger than you. Stop calling me 'ma'am'."

Peter nodded fervently. He liked Edward a whole lot and was determined to make his mate happy and gain his respect. "Sorry, Miss."

"Bella, Peter. Just Bella." She and Alice giggled as the somewhat awkward young male blushed an even deeper shade of pink.

"Right. Bella," he smiled, holding up the small red fox like a cat with a dead rat for its owner, "I brought you dinner."

She groaned and looked at Alice with her biggest, sweetest eyes. "Can't you just tell Edward I drank it?" she placed, her hand going to rest on her already engorged belly. "I won't tell if you don't."

Alice laughed. "No way, missy. That little pout might work with my brother but I invented that look."

"But I'm not thirsty!" Bella whined, "He makes me drink every day.That can't possibly be necessary."

Alice skipped over to Peter and snatched the creature from his hands. "Animal blood isn't as nutritious as a human's. Pregnancy has you burning energy just lying there in bed," she dropped it in Bella's lap; "Drink up and we'll do something really fun after you finish."

Peter watched Bella reluctantly drain his kill with a satisfied grin. "Okay, Mom. I'll be right outside the den if you gals need anything," he reminded as he walked out.

"He thinks Edward hung the moon," Alice whispered with a giggle, "He looks proud as a peacock that he's been trusted to watch you."

Bella daintily licked crimson fluid from the corner of her little lips and released a sigh. "Apparently I'm a full time job."

She saw the worry on her mate's perfect face when he thought she wasn't looking. How he fluttered around her like she was made of glass but guarded her like she was made of diamond, the most valuable prize in the world. Bella never knew she was 'beautiful', had never seen herself except in a watery reflection until very recently, but the Cullen's seemed to think she was something of a hot commodity. She couldn't help but wonder if Edward regretted choosing her. If he'd prefer someone that wouldn't cause so much grief for him and his family.

Alice picked the thought out of her head as easily as if Bella had voiced it allowed. "Oh, stop it. He loves you so much. He knows you're worth it. We all know you're worth it," she smiled softly; "You are the only one who seems to need convincing."

She turned and pranced around the room, opening and closing drawers until she found what she was looking. When she lifted up the lid of a heavy cedar chest she gave a happy squeal.

"Uh, Alice, I don't know if you should be going through Edward's things like that," Bella muttered, growing increasingly uneasy from her position against the headboard.

She didn't see Alice roll her eyes as the tiny pixie heaved up a huge, beautifully crafted box. The cherry wood was thick and imbedded with dozens of delicate mahogany inlays. A human Alice's size wouldn't have been able to lift it but the tiny vampire skipped over with the piece and drop it on the bottom of Bella's bed like it weighed nothing at all.

She hopped up next to the pregnant female. "Normally I would agree with you. I learned my lesson about rummaging through Edward's things when I was a teen," she shivered. "But one, I'm with you and he'd let you light everything he owns on fire if he thought it would put a smile on your face," she pointed out as she excitedly worked on opening the box's tiny golden clasps, "And two, this isn't his, it's yours."

Both of their eyes widened when the lid was finally open. Rows and rows of velvet covered padding held hundreds of sparking multi-colored stones set skillfully in an array of different settings. Huge blood red ruby earrings with elaborate clasp-backs for un-pierced lobes, strings of immaculately round white pearls, golden cuff bracelets bedded with dark blue emeralds. Bella couldn't believe how many amazing trinkets Edward had hidden away.

Alice let out a strangled cry of joy as her little hands plundered the contents. Before Bella could blink the female was sliding on rings and dripping in diamonds. "Oh, we knew he was holding out on us!" she shrieked as she pushed her skinny wrist into something made of white gold and covered in pink garnet. She paused suddenly and looked at her new sister. "Oh, may I?" she asked as an afterthought.

Bella giggled and nodded. She moved to the edge of the box and zoomed in on a piece with a prominent position in the very center. She gingerly picked up the dainty diamond ring and slipped it onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.

"Do you know what that is?" Alice pointed to the ring on Bella's hand. She frowned and shook her head in the negative. "Human females wear those as a sign of commitment to their mates. It's called a 'wedding ring'." She reached over and slipped the ring off Bella's right ring finger and shifted it back on to her left, "You're supposed to wear it on this finger."

Bella twisted her hand back and forth to admire the shine from different angles. Alice was practically drooling.

"Didn't he ever bring you pretty things?" Despite their nearly constant teasing Bella could tell Edward loved his sister very much.

Alice nodded a little guiltily, "Well, yes. But he always saved the good stuff for you and mom," her eyes glazed over as a new thought occurred to her, "God, I can't wait to go through your wardrobe!"

Bella grimaced at the thought of trying on beautiful clothing with her new, larger figure. Edward was unarguably more enthusiastic about her new body than she was.

She fingered a sizable canary diamond broach as a pressing question came to her. "Alice?" she started, "How did Edward get all these things?"

She hoped he hadn't stolen them. That was how most vampires acquired things and it was part of life but she'd feel terrible wearing something so extravagant that had been taken from someone else.

Alice looked apprehensive and Bella was pretty sure she had he answer. "All of these things are vampire made," she said carefully, "He earned them."

There was a moment of silence in which Bella waited for her to elaborate, when she just went back to shifting through the box Bella was forced to press for more information. "Earned them?"

"If he hasn't told you I'm not sure if I should," Alice sighed but Bella opened her mouth to beg so she continued, "My brother has been traveling the world for sixty years searching for you. When none of the females were good enough, weren't what he was looking for, he'd move on. Starting in the 1930's South America suffered years of unrest, werewolves running rampant and terrorizing the local vampire covens.

Edward was young and as the years passed without any sign of his mate, he decided he had nothing to lose. He traveled south to join in the fight against the wolves."

Bella whimpered at the thought of her mate being in so much danger. She had never actually seen a werewolf but her mother's family had been wiped out by a small pack of them and she had been cautioned many times as a child.

"Edward was a natural warrior, strong, intelligent, with unparalleled speed. The wolves were powerful but unpolished and sloppy. While he was gone we would hear stories from nomads about my brother killing whole packs of the mutts single handedly.

Groups of vampire covens would offer him anything to visit their territories and rid them of the large beast, gold, gems, whatever services their covens were known for," Alice grinned, "Their older daughters as prospective mates. He captured quite a few hearts but never claimed any of them."

Bella blushed. She knew that it was an honor to hold the position by Edward's side but that was because he was exceptionally kind and attentive. She hadn't imagined he was so...powerful. She couldn't imagine that her Edward, the male that stroked her back and hummed to her as she slept each night, the male that was vibrating with excitement over what he hoped would be his first baby girl, could be capable of anything but tenderness.

"For nearly fifteen years he fought his way across the continent. Some heard about his skill and sought him out, hoping to join him and earn their own respect and honor. He worked with only the best.

"Once, when he was bringing some of the treasures he had been paid home to store safely and to check in with Esme who simply demanded that he would return home at least once each year, he was stopped in Texas," Alice's eyes shimmered with affection.

"Jasper Hale insisted Edward give him a chance to fight by his side. He was as cunning and experienced as my brother and the two were instantly friends. Jasper came home with Edward and met me..." she giggled, "Needless to say Edward ended up returning to Latin America on his is own that year."

"What about Rosalie? Isn't she Jasper's sister?" Bella asked, certainty interested.

"That is true," the pixie stated. "It was only a few years later when Edward returned that Jasper, Emmett, and he took a visit in Texas. That's when Em met Rose. The three males had to fight Rose's old mate in order for her to come back with them."

"Why wouldn't he tell me all this?" Bella wondered. She wasn't angry, only curious. If anything she was a little disappointed with herself. It was like she assumed Edward's life had started the day he met her, and although she was sure he would argue that that was indeed the case, she should have thought to ask him about his past.

Alice shrugged, "That's not who he is any more," she said simply. "He traveled a bit in the 50's and 60's... always looking for you, but he hasn't killed a wolf in decades. I supposed now that he's found you nothing in the world matters to him but you and that baby."

Bella looked down at her 'wedding ring' and smiled because she knew she was the most blessed female on the planet.

oooooooooooooooooo

It was nearly morning when Edward made it back to his den, Jake at his heels. He was in such a good mood that Aro was being so complacent and that he was about to see his gorgeous expecting female that he only snorted a laugh when he walked up to find Peter snoozing on the ground in front of the cave entrance.

The two jumped over his not-so-attentive guard to find his glowing mate beaming at him from their bed. "Edward!" she cried happily. His heart clenched as he realized she'd been missing him too.

He smiled lovingly at the tiny brunette and sauntered over, trying to play it cool and not give away the extent of his excitement. "How are my two little loves?" he asked softly, bending first to kiss her lips before lowering them to the top of her rounded belly.

"Just fine, Eddie. Thanks for asking," Alice hissed from the couch he had walked past without acknowledging.

He sat and pulled Bella into his lap, shooting his baby sister a cocky grin. "You can go now, Alice. Same time tomorrow," he waved his hand in a playful dismissal.

She glowered at him, settling down further into the cushion and crossing her arms. "Oh, I think I'll stay a while..."

Edward chuckled and pressed his lips to Bella's neck, earning an elated giggle. "If you insist," he hummed against her throat, "But I've been away from my girl all night and if you stay you might see more of me than you'd care to."

Alice wrinkled her nose and jumped off the sofa without a moment's hesitation. "You guys are too much," she complained as she walked out the arch. Jake grumbled as she passed.

"Oh. And peel Charlotte's boy off the ground before you go, would ya?" He added absently, already distracted by Bella's deep topaz eyes.

A second later the couple heard a yelp that could only be Peter's reaction to Alice's well aimed kick.

"What did you do today?" Edward purred, fluttering kisses across her forehead. He had been busy but had thought of nothing but getting her and his little one back into his arms all night.

"We looked at the jewelry," Bella told him, holding up her left hand for his inspection. He lifted it to his lips and brushed them over the smooth stone.

"Do you like it?" he asked nervously.

She laughed with an incredulous tone and wrapped her little arms around him, her growing belly pressing against his toned waist. "Of course I like it. I love everything, Edward. It's too much for me."

"Nothing's too much for you, nothing in this world is good enough for you," he shook his head adamantly. His eyes narrowed at her mildly guilty expression. "Alice nicked something didn't she?" he groaned.

Bella nodded, "She had a string of pearls in her pocket," she confessed. "And I'm pretty sure there was a pair of earrings tucked into her shoe."

She didn't look upset over the loss of the stolen items so Edward decided he'd let it go. He could always find her new pearls or another set of earrings.

"What else, baby?" he coaxed.

Bella's eyes widened with a touch of panic, "I swear that's all she took!"

"What else did you do today?" he reaffirmed with a chuckle. She was as cute as a button.

"Oh!" she perked up, "She started teaching me how to read," she smiled cheerfully. "Obvious perfect recall means I have a lot of vocabulary down but I still don't really understand context and proper 'sentence' formation."

Edward kissed her hard on the lips, pulling her impossibly closer until her tiny body melted into his. "I'm so proud of you, Bella," he breathed with his forehead rested against her soft brown hair. "My beautiful little girl, and so smart as well," he cooed, "If I was any luckier the universe would be set off balance."

His Bella blossomed under the praise, her round chin held just a bit higher as she grinned.

She took her full bottom lip between her sharp, white teeth, throwing him a coy smile and causing his groan as she wiggled in his lap. "So... were you serious when you told Alice you were planning on take those clothes off soon?" she inquired huskily.

oooooooooooooooooo

Felix pounded into the moaning blonde but after a week of mindless fucking his remaining tension wasn't at all sexually related and frankly Tanya wasn't exactly the tightest thing out there to begin with.

The Volturi had come to their last day in Cullen territory and all had gone well from an alliance point of view. Aro had remained sickeningly respectful in order to get the information he wanted and Carlisle and his perfect, kiss ass son had offered more insight than any of them had hoped to obtain.

Because the ginger couldn't seem to stop foaming at the mouth every time Felix and his brother had tried to return to the group of males, they had pretty much remained banished from all important planning and conversation. The two boys instead spent the grand majority of their week balls deep in Denali.

It wasn't really the burn of being cut out of the business that irritated him the most; he wasn't in a hurry to get back his whiny, pregnant cousin after she'd gone and gotten herself captured by pathetic humans. No, what was really eating Felix was that smug, crooked grin plastered constantly on Edward's face. The 'holier than thou' alpha male had spent the greater part of a century with a less than enthusiastic scowl and suddenly it was as though he couldn't stop smiling stupidly if his life depended on it.

Felix knew he was hiding a mate worth looking twice at. Even Aro knew it, as he had given the brothers strict directions to go nowhere near Edward's den. He could smell her sweet, flowery scent all over the happy red headed bastard and he could hardly take it anymore.

Felix, like Demetri, had never taken a mate because they were certain there was no one good enough to hold their attention. No female worthy of carrying his lines. They had seen a great many to base this theory on. But for the first time in fifty years Felix felt an itch. He needed to see her... just a peek. He doubted the new Cullen bitch would be worth the distress she was causing him but he wanted to know for sure. To see her inadequacy and never again have to spare her another errant thought.

Up until this last day Felix had been biding his time. Showing interest in only the well used succubus in order to fool the Cullen's into a false sense of security. Edward had made sure the young male was guarding his pregnant mate for the first few days but as they continued to pass without incident Felix had noticed that all of the Cullen males were present for the nightly meetings, leaving his female in the insufficient care of his pint size sister.

In just minutes he was going to receive orders to move out, apparently to head to Montana, and he had to act now.

Finally positive he wasn't going to receive a release from Tanya he doubled his efforts to provide her with one.

"Oh! Fuck! Oh, perfect, Felix... harder!"

The huge male grabbed hold of her curvy hips and did as she asked, already bored of her throaty cries.

"That's it, baby. Let me feel you come."

With a bit more coxing she was quivering around his hard but clearly unmotivated cock and he took her few seconds of incoherency to pull out and pretend he too was satisfied with the union. Felix didn't take his father and uncle's hardened approach to dealing with females and though he often found them generally unworthy of his attention he tried his best to be gentle with them, physically and emotionally.

"Thank you, baby," he smiled warmly, giving her sloped nose a quick peck before pushing himself off the small bed and pulling a pair of jeans up his thick, muscular thighs.

Tanya looked very pleased with herself until she saw him start to redress. "Where are you going?" her matching red eyes narrowing with suspicion as she sat up without bothering to cover herself.

Felix looked at her carefully. He was sure she had been instructed to keep the Cullen's posted if either he or his brother went AWOL. He decided to lie and then B-line it to Edward's cave before she was able to get dressed and warn them.

"I just need a little fresh air," he winked, his handsome face dimpling with a 'trust me' smile. "Have to find out how long we have till we head out tonight. Gonna miss ya, baby."

He ruffled her wavy strawberry curls and strolled out.

Tanya scoffed softly to herself. She wasn't stupid. She knew exactly where Edward's rival was headed.

She plopped back into the mattress. A small smile on her dark red lips.

oooooooooooooooooo

"This one next," Alice decided, tossing Bella yet another outfit.

They had made it halfway through the obscene amount of clothing Edward had saved for her. Tonight was the final night of the Volturi's stay and Bella was ecstatic. She hadn't gotten to spend nearly enough time with her mate over the last week and though Alice had done a tremendous job keeping her entertained she was going to be happy to have her Edward back and all of the worry put behind them. She was exceptionally hopeful that she'd be able to leave the den and stretch her legs.

In honor of the occasion Alice had insisted on dressing her up. She'd already fixed her hair, fashioning it into an award worthy 'French twist' that pulled her long hair away from her face and show cased the light makeup Alice had skillfully applied.

All in all Bella realized she wasn't a huge fan of the process. Too much sitting still for her taste but she did have to admit that the results were pretty extraordinary. She could hardly believe that the beauty staring back at her in the full length leaning mirror was actually herself.

She hoped Edward would like it as well.

She pulled off the several layered silk garment that Alice called a 'Kimono', she was extra careful in handling the delicate fabric since Alice had explained that Edward had stuck onto a US navy vessel and brought it all the way back from Japan during the human's second world war.

Her pregnant belly made it impossible for her to try on everything but since it was only large by vampire standards and these were mainly human fashions most things seemed to fit.

Alice helped her step into the most beautiful, yet without a doubt the most ostentatious gown she'd ever seen. It was obvious that Edward had only kept this collection for private use, as there would never be a legitimate reason for a vampire to wear anything off a 'Paris runway'.

The black dress hugged all of her curves in a way that made her blush and feel incredibly sexy at the same time. She and Alice giggled as she took a quick twirl in front of the mirror.

"Wait. You're missing something," Alice insisted thoughtfully. She pressed her pointer finger to her lips as she scanned the possibilities; gasping and clapping her hands excitedly when she narrow in on a particularly thick garment bag. "Arctic fox!" she yelled as she unzipped the bag to expose a luxurious full length white fur. "I'd kill for this, Bella," she said seriously as she shrugged the thing onto the brunette's small shoulders.

The two stood in silence for a beat, staring at Bella's reflection with stunned awe.

Alice was first to find her voice. "Jesus, Bella. You look-"

"Exquisite," Felix gasped from the den entrance, hardly aware he had spoke aloud, his universe shifting on its axis as he gazed at Bella like she was the only thing in the world worth living for.