My Strength Chapter 27

In the end, Bella was asleep when the attack happened. Athenodora had convinced her daughter that going to sleep was for the best to not only remain healthy but to also make time pass by faster. Bella had been avoiding falling asleep because she was sure they were going to be attacked when she was asleep. When Bella found out that shifters were able to fun off of less sleep than they could as humans, Bella became certain the pack was going to attack in the middle of the night. Bella wouldn’t put it past Sam to think his wolves would have better eyesight against the vampires at night.

“You’ve seen what we can do, surely from watching our practice, you have no more concerns.” Caius said as he watched his daughter pace across the bedroom. He and his mate were stood next to the window of the room, ready to make a quick escape if the human father decided to visit with his daughter and Bella’s mates were relaxed on her bed watching Bella pace.

Athenodora was also a pacer when she was forced to wait and couldn’t do anything. Athenodora was a woman of action and when she couldn’t take any action for whatever reason, Athenodora tended to become hostile; she wasn’t as patient as her mate could be when he knew a fight was coming. But Athenodora’s instincts were screaming at her that a fight going to happen any second and spending time in a house was only going to put her at the disadvantage in the battle. At the same time though, she couldn’t leave her daughter.

“I know,” Bella said with a huff of annoyance as everyone had been telling something similar all day but no matter how many times she heard it, it didn’t change the fact that she was concerned someone she loved would get hurt. “But no one can guarantee someone won’t get hurt and that’s what I’m afraid of.” She added, something everyone else had already heard her repeat many times over.

Victoria decided, since it was getting late, to try and end the circular conversation and get her mate to not only calm down but to also fall asleep. It had been decided long ago that Victoria would stay with Bella instead of going to the fight because with her gift, she could easily keep Bella safe, more so than anyone else. So Victoria made herself more comfortable via leaning against the headboard in the far corner of the bed and patting the empty spot next to her.

“Why don’t you come here and you and I can watch a movie?” Victoria asked, “I myself would like a distraction from your mother’s barely hidden growls while she waits for Zafrina’s sisters to get them.” Senna and Kachiri were on patrol closer to Bella’s home while the Volturi guards were closer towards the border patrolling with the Cullen’s and the few shifters on their side. Once the patrols near the border find Sam’s pack is on the move to attack, they will get word to the Amazon’s and the Amazon’s will get everyone from Bella’s house and the Cullen house to join the rest to meet Sam’s pack head on.

Athenodora understood what Victoria was trying to do and quickly handed over the laptop she and Caius had purchased for their daughter earlier that day. She was happy to have made that purchase when she saw her daughter glance at it because she knew her daughter never would have asked for it, so Athenodora felt prideful that she knew her daughter wanted something without her having to voice it. Athenodora and Caius had already agreed that when they returned, they were going to force Bella to come back with them because they didn’t want their daughter anywhere near the shifters that threatened her life, they were going to work on getting Bella to be a little less selfless and a lot more selfish; especially when it came to wanting something to make her happy.

Victoria grabbed the laptop but held her hand out for her mate, Zafrina moving so she was on the edge of the bed instead of sitting at the food. The bed wasn’t necessarily big enough for all three of them, but Zafrina and Victoria were both more than okay with having Bella squished between them. Zafrina kept still with her hands in her lap, more than okay with Victoria helping their mate to crawl over her for Bella to get in her seat. The smirk Victoria sent her way and the frown she got from her mate told her they both knew Zafrina hadn’t moved on purpose; but that was okay, Zafrina really liked the way it felt to have her mate crawl over her.

Victoria already had a movie in mind for them to watch. It was a slower, romantic movie that she normally wouldn’t have wanted to watch on her own but she knew for a fact it was something her mate liked and had seen so many times that while Bella would be okay with watching it, she would definitely fall asleep during it as well.

Just as predicted, just over halfway through the movie, Bella slumped over on Victoria completely dead to the world. With all the stress with the shifters and her inevitable move, Bella hadn’t been sleeping as well. But just then, that night, with her mates right beside her and her parents just feet away, Bella was able to fall into a restful sleep. So it was no surprise when Kachiri turned up just in front of the tree line, she didn’t feel the three vampires kiss her goodbye and didn’t see Victoria’s glare towards Zafrina that told the Amazon she had no choice but to return home safely and in one piece.

It wasn’t until the early dawn hours that Bella stirred from her sleep, realizing something wasn’t quite the same as when she had fallen asleep. She felt Victoria wrapped around her and would have fallen back asleep, but when she reached out for Zafrina and didn’t feel the woman next to her, Bella’s mind jolted to wide awake at the realization of why the woman wouldn’t be next to her.

“How long have they been gone?” Bella asked as she sat up, Victoria keep her arm around her mate as she sat up with her.

“For about an hour.” Victoria answered in a solemn tone. They had all predicted the fight might take longer than what it should because of what Bella had requested and for Jacob to take over the pack. Victoria was hoping it wouldn’t take much longer. She knew as soon as it was over, Zafrina would come over to get them and they would meet at the Cullen house to discuss what would happen next. “It shouldn’t take much longer.” Victoria comforted her mate, even though she wasn’t sure herself if she was just told a lie or not.

“I hope no one got hurt.” Bella said with teary eyes as she cuddled into Victoria. Bella may have given Zafrina a really hard time when they first met, but she really didn’t want anything to happen to her, or anyone else. She hated not being able to help. She knew she needed to talk with her new parents about being changed sooner rather than later so if something happens again, she can help instead of waiting on the sidelines while everyone else put their lives at risk. She wanted to be turned as soon as possible.