She's Mine Chapter 3

When Alice called for everyone to go to the pre-arranged meeting place, someplace far enough away from civilization to prevent any humans from seeing a possible fight break out, Bella took her time in following along. Tanya and Kate tried to keep pace with her and bring up the rear but with their sister being brought with the Volturi, they wanted to see with their own eyes that Irina was still alive. Bella didn’t mind. She thought she would play to Aro’s dramatics and take her time to show up; Sulpicia would get a kick out of someone playing Aro’s own games against him. And it would honestly amuse Bella as well to annoy the man.

She took her time as the others raced off with Carlisle and Edward leading the charge. Bella didn’t know Edward too well and given this entire gathering was for him and his family, Bella was having a hard time seeing what the former human fell in love with. Edward complained the entire time about how dangerous it was and that his mate and daughter should just run. Bella finally had to put her foot down about how stupid of an idea it was as running away could be seen as an admittance of guilt. She didn’t bother telling him that with Bella there, there really was nothing to worry about. She just wanted his complaining to stop.

Which thankfully he did. At least about that. He then started to complain about why he could hear Bella’s thoughts. Bella couldn’t thank enough of her ancestor’s for protecting in such an odd way as to make sure her thoughts remained her own; but she was very grateful.

By the time Bella made it to the clearing, having all but walked to the clearing to take her time, Aro was giving a speech about how immortal children were dangerous and weren’t allowed. It seemed Aro had seen the child but not much else. He called for the child to move forward, but Bella didn’t want that. She trusted Aro to not unjustly kill a child, especially given her species was so rare, but she couldn’t say the same thing about the Denali’s sisters she had promised herself to keep safe.

“Aro, it’s been too long.” Bella said in the driest tone she could muster. She heard her sister’s gasp clear from the opposite side of the clearing.

“Bella?” Aro asked, a hint of confusion in his tone as Bella made her way to the front of the group, putting her hand briefly on Tanya’s shoulder as a form of comfort as she passed the blonde. “I didn’t know you were friends with Carlisle.”

“More like acquaintances.” Bella said with a frown. She couldn’t count Carlisle as a friend when they had only had a hand full of conversations. Although, given she had come to his families’ aid, perhaps they were friends now. “I believe he requested witnesses to prove the child is no immortal.”

“It would appear he managed to gather quite a few.” Aro murmured as his mate made her way towards the front of the group, much to the displeasure of her personal guards, but they weren’t about to tell the queen what to do. “Perhaps our own witness is more of a false witness.” He with a frown as he gestured towards a woman who was being all but physically detained by the strongest of the guard.

Bella looked towards who Aro was gesturing towards and any remark she had left her mind. Near black, worried and just a bit scared, eyes looked towards where Bella knew the other two Denali’s were waiting to see how everything would play out. Bella had to fight with herself on running towards the woman and making sure she didn’t have any wounds. After spending so much time with vampires, she knew the woman could do with a hunt but Bella paused.

She wasn’t used to actually wanting to go to someone; her own sister usually had to have her own guard hunt her down to bring her to the castle to spend some ‘bonding’ time together. Bella shoved the feelings down as far as they would go; they wouldn’t do her any good out here where everyone still viewed the Volturi as a threat. Where Irina was still perceived to be in danger.

Bella was going to ask what Aro was going to do with Irina, what he felt was a just punishment for a false report. She was even going to possibly ask for Aro to show how much of a benevolent king he was by allowing Irina to go free and be released to her sisters. What she actually said was so much worse.

“She’s mine.” Bella growled, causing several other vampires to growl in retaliation to a perceived threat. Vampires were always so wary of her because of her age that whenever she shifted or showed off any sort of the power she gained with age.

Bella felt her cheeks redden as she realized what she had said, but she kept her fierce glare towards the man she barely tolerated. The woman’s, Irina, gave finally left her sisters and met Bella’s eyes. Bella saw Irina’s widen, nearly comically, in realization as she stared at Bella. Bella had heard about how upset Irina was over a man she believed to be her mate, regardless of her sister’s telling her he wasn’t. Bella supposed Irina just realized they were right.

Sulpicia’s eyes widen as she realized what her sister was saying, and Bella did her best to mentally tell her sister to drop it. But of course, Sulpicia was the most annoying younger sister anyone could ask for and she did what all younger sisters did: ignored their older sibling.

“What a wonderful surprise, it’s about time.” Sulpicia said as she walked away from Aro and ran towards her sister to greet her. It was definitely not within Sulpicia’s normal character she liked to portray to those outside her family but she didn’t care. It had been decades, almost a century, since she had last seen her sister and she was going to make sure Bella didn’t slip away again. They clearly had a lot of catching up to do.

Sulpicia threw her arms around her sister and hugged her tightly.

“Hello sister.” Bella said with a small smile, thankful for the distraction. She could already hear Carlisle’s party talking amongst themselves about the two revelations and she was really dreading having to explain anything. But she didn’t think she could just take Irina and slink off someplace alone and be by themselves.

“How could you not tell me about finding your imprint.” Sulpicia demanded and she was sure if they didn’t have witnesses, she would have likely been slapped on her arm for it.

“Irina is your mate?” Aro asked as he shifted his eyes towards his brother who could see bonds, a quick nod from the silent man told Aro she wasn’t lying. He would need to rethink how he wanted to proceed if he didn’t want to piss off Bella who, unfortunately, may not have the ability to defeat his entire guard but she could definitely put a decent dent in their numbers if she decided to fight them. Aro learned long ago she was a shield and immune to most of his guards’ powers; that wasn’t even taking into account how old she was. Just like vampires, the older a shifter got, the stronger they were. Aro truthfully was afraid to see what kind of havoc Bella could reign down if she ever decided to attack; he was very fortunate his mate was bonded to the woman. He needed to tread very carefully to make sure he didn’t lose face amongst the other vampires.

“Yes.” Bella firmly answered, “She is mine.” She growled again, that time earning a small slap on her shoulder from her sister.

“Don’t growl at my mate.” Sulpicia chastised, “Aro dear, go ahead and let Miss Irina go; clearly there was a mistake made.” Sulpicia said, going into queen mode. “Mistakes are made and it takes a strong man to know when to forgive.” She said with a smile that brokered no arguments.

Aro smiled at his mate, knowing when to stand down if he didn’t want to get on her bad side; her grudges could last years if Aro really screwed up and he didn’t want that to happen any time soon.

Aro was ready to have the guards release Irina but the young vampire spoke up first. It was almost as if the young boy couldn’t help but make sure he had some role in ending everything. Bella briefly wondered if the child was someone who sought out attention in all the wrong ways.

“As you can see Aro, we have done nothing wrong. It was a simple mistake. Irina just didn’t know any better.” Edward pleaded.

Bella growled at the child, “Keep your mouth shut and let me handle everything you fool.” Bella chastised. She knew her mate was in no real danger, especially now with Sulpicia on her side but she didn’t want to see Aro decided to hold grudges against anyone present because they simply showed up to watch Aro back down. His ego was perhaps the largest she’d seen in quite some time and from what she’s seen as history was made, men with large ego’s were notorious for needing to save face at any risk.

Sulpicia grabbed her sister’s arm to make sure Bella didn’t do something stupid. Her sister may be old and could certainly be wise if she wanted to, but she was still a shifter and quick to anger. Especially after just finding her imprint, her emotions, no matter how much Bella liked to act like she didn’t have any, were likely more turbulent with such an upheaval as finding one’s mate.

“Don’t sister.” Sulpicia warned in a hushed tone only Bella could hear, “Let me handle my own mate; I promise no one here will be harmed or held in ill will.” Sulpicia raised her voice in order for her mate, and everyone else to hear her loud and clear. Carlisle had begun making a plea about how right his son was and how everyone could just go home but that wouldn’t end their problems. And it wouldn’t make sure the witnesses here remained as just witnesses instead of possible traitors to his rule. Sulpicia spoke right over him, not caring to even let Carlisle finish blathering on. “Aro, dearest, to ensure your goodwill does not go unappreciated, I will remain to make sure Irina, and all those present, learn to have all the information before making such a decisive report in the future.”

Aro gave his mate a hard look. He did not like having his mate far from him. She was in such danger for simply being his mate and having her away from him and all their guards was something he didn’t approve of. At the same time, he couldn’t very well stay there and expect no one to realize it and not attack his weakened position. But he couldn’t leave his mate behind either.

“I will keep her safe.” Bella added but before she could even close her mouth, she added, “But she is mine.” Bella said, her face going bright red again but she kept her steely look. She really needed to work on not saying that. It was like her instincts, her beast, was doing it’s best to stake a claim Bella wasn’t entirely ready to make; much less make in front of dozens of strangers and for a stranger she technically hadn’t even met.

Aro and Sulpicia looked at each other, Sulpicia keeping a steady hand on Bella to keep her still. It seemed like minutes before Aro spoke; thankfully no one else thought it was a good idea to speak up.

“I will leave a few guards with you, they will remain hidden,” Aro cautioned the Romanians he knew would take advantage of Sulpicia being alone. But if they didn’t which powers to protect against, they wouldn’t be able to do much unless they amassed their own army.

Aro waited a few seconds, waiting for Sulpicia to go to him to say goodbye, it would be the first time in over a millenia they had been apart, but she didn’t move. She only smirked, letting Aro know that while he had made the right decision she was still annoyed with him and his ego. It was a never-ending debate between them; he thought his ego was justly earned and she thought it needed to be deflated a little bit.

Aro turned and with a small gesture, the Volturi were off, allowing Irina to run to her sisters. Not only would Aro have to come up with a way to shower his mate with affection for forgiveness on behalf of his ego but first, he would have to suffer an inquisition from his fellow royal members. It would be an insufferable time back to Italy.

Bella watched as Irina was engulfed by her sisters and then watched as everyone else cheered that they had won a non-existent war. Sulpicia pulled Bella close to her as everyone celebrated.

“We will wait until things calm down, shall we go back to wherever your headquarters are and wait for everyone there?” Sulpicia asked.

Bella’s gave stayed focused on Irina as she was chastised by her sisters and hugged tightly by her entire coven. Bella felt an ache in heart that told her she needed to be there with them; that she needed to have Irina in her arms more than they did.

“Come, you will see her there.” Sulpicia said as she pushed her sister towards the scent trail that would lead them back to wherever they had come from. She knew her sister was struggling with the new emotions. Sulpicia was truly looking forward to seeing how someone so old, someone who was more than just set in their ways with being a ‘lone atrox’ as Bella like to call herself, learned to deal with new emotions. Sulpicia was will to bet Bella would be going through a lot of mood swings and she learned to navigate these new feelings and she was very thankful she had a front row seat to the show. She hoped Irina was ready for whatever ride Bella was about to put her on. Dealing with her moody sister would work as a more than sufficient punishment for a false report.