Believe Me Chapter 21

Victoria paced nervously as she waited for her mate to come out of the office. She knew nothing horrible would happen, Peter had assured the worst thing to happen would be Bella getting angry, but she still didn’t like her mate being in a soundproof room with her former boyfriend. Shortly after they all returned and Kate, Peter and Jasper started to finalize plans between them and the shifters, Edward asked to talk with Bella.

Victoria didn’t trust him as far as Bella could throw him.

Apparently, Carlisle was having misgivings as well since he was waiting outside the door also. He wasn’t pacing like Victoria was, but in her defense her mate was human whereas Carlisle’s mate was the vampire and more than capable of defending himself against a human.

“You seem very concerned for someone that isn’t your mate.” Victoria commented, resorting to childish tactics of trying to hurt others to avoid having to face her own emotions. Whatever, it was either bug Carlisle of his failed relationship or break into to the room to be with her mate and risk Bella thinking Victoria didn’t trust her.

Carlisle scowled at her before answering, “He is my first turned, of course I’m worried about him.” He defended, forcing his face to relax into a nonchalant face.

“Perhaps there is more than one person here having problems with their mate.” Victoria muttered just loud enough for the younger vampire to hear.

Carlisle’s face showed he didn’t appreciate the retort, but Victoria didn’t care. She also couldn’t fight her nerves any longer of leaving Bella alone with what she called a crazed vampire. What vampire in their right mind would ever fight the mating bond? The very bond that guaranteed eternal happiness? Yeah, she truly believed both Carlisle and Edward were quite literally insane to keep to their human traditions and ignore their happiness.

Victoria shoved the door open, just barely catching herself from breaking the door. What she saw inside had her zooming over to use her body as a shield against a very pissed off looking vampire. She barely recognized Carlisle had moved to put a restraining hand on Edward’s shoulder.

“I don’t understand why you would allow yourself to fall for this charade.” Edward yelled at Bella but seeming to calm down some with Carlisle there.

“There isn’t an act, Edward!” Bella yelled back. Victoria was very impressed that she actually had to restrain Bella from walking closer to the upset vampire. She couldn’t stop the smirk forming on her face from having a fearless mate. She would be a wonderful vampire, a force to be reckoned with. “I wouldn’t say I love Victoria, but I can definitely see myself falling in love with her very quickly and very hard.”

“It isn’t right.” Edward struggled to say, his face contorting into one of someone who just drank spoiled milk, “We could be so happy together.” He practically begged, causing Victoria to snarl.

How dare he try to convince her mate to settle for less when there was complete bliss waiting for Bella right in front of her. Just the face Bella admitted she could easily fall in love with Victoria meant Victoria already won whatever competition Edward thought they were in. Truthfully, there was no competition when it came to Victoria and Edward. Victoria would always win, no matter what underhanded tricks Edward tried to use, she would always win when it came to Bella.

“Yeah, if you used your pheromones to keep me a zombie so I wouldn’t argue with you as you tell me what to do every second of my life.” Bella yelled back, pushing against Victoria again to try and get past her and into Edward’s face; something Victoria would not allow to happen.

“I didn’t mean to do that.” Edward ground out, infuriating Victoria.

“You should have.” Victoria growled, still upset her mate had been practically drunk with the pheromones when she first met her. If it wasn’t for the truce they had to fight against the wolves, she would have loved to be able to just kill the boy and be done with his dramatics. “There is no excuse for drugging someone so much so that they were just a doll to do with as you please.” She growled, she barely recognized Bella put her hand on her shoulder as a way to restrain her when really it was grounding her. It was a physical reminder that her mate was there, was with her and was safe.

“It was an accident.” Carlisle started to defend, only pissing off both women.

“One that was only fixed because of the Denali’s.” Bella said with a sneer that Victoria swore didn’t sit right on her mate’s face. She never wanted to see her mate so upset again. “If it wasn’t for Rosalie and Emmett bringing me to them, you all would probably be fighting against Victoria as she tried to get me. I couldn’t imagine what could have happened if I stayed under your spell and Victoria was eventually killed. I don’t think I would have liked that life very much.” Bella said with a frown; she couldn’t imagine a life without Victoria.

“The face you can’t even say it wouldn’t have continued leaves much to be desired as a coven leader Carlisle.” Victoria said with a frown, “After this stupid fight is over, I will be asked to join the Denali coven and I’m sure they would welcome both Bella and I with open arms. I don’t imagine any of the Denali’s allowing what you have in your coven to ever happen in theirs.” Victoria said with a sneer.

“That’s not fair, they aren’t around humans as much as we are, it’s a lot harder to control -” Carlisle was cut off with Tanya’s sudden appearance with a frown on her face.

“We need to start heading out,” Tanya said as a way of apology for interrupting the not so private conversation. “Also, Carlisle, it’s our age and maturity that allows us to not lose control, as well knowing what to practice. Your entire coven has had very little, if any, practice over control regardless of how much contact you have with humans.”

Tanya then escorted Bella and Victoria out of the room to meet up with everyone else. The conversation was getting out of hand with two males that weren’t listening to anything the females were saying. Edward was far too used to having the final say and that wasn’t going to happen with Bella or anyone else in Tanya’s coven any longer.

Edward and Carlisle stayed in Carlisle’s office a little longer, having their silent conversation only mates that had a mind-reader could have. They could have their time to console each other’s ego and then hopefully they could join the others. Even if they decided to not join them in the fight and decide to run off together, at least they would have the opportunity to accept their own feelings for each other without the rest of the former Cullen coven around.

“Alice can’t see our futures past a couple hours from now.” Jasper explained as the trio joined the others in the front room.

“We should head out now and get ready.” Peter said with confidence, sure now was the perfect time to leave. “We should all get in our spots to wait.”

Victoria wrapped her arm around Bella’s shoulders. While she trusted herself to keep Bella safe, she had never seen any of the other’s fighting capabilities. The unknown of the other’s made her nervous.

“Esme decided I should stay with Bella and Victoria, just to have another obstacle for them to get through.” Leah said as she and Esme descended the stairs.

“I just figured it would be wiser to have all the wolves spread out amongst us to be able to tell us if someone needs help.” Esme added as she stood pressed against Leah’s side. It also had to do with she was hoping with everyone else fighting, there would be less of chance of something happening to Leah during the battle.

“With their pack telepathy would be useful to keep tabs on everyone during the fight.” Peter admitted with a frown, it would be very useful if they all were included in the pack telepathy.

“I can stick around Bella and listen to Leah and the telepathy.” Edward said as he and Carlisle slowly rejoined the room. He had a solemn look on his look while Carlisle looked very thoughtful. “I had promised to help protect Bella and I intend to. Please believe me, I promise, I won’t do anything to jeopardize her safety.”

Both Alice and Peter gave their nod of approval so while there were some members of the group that didn’t want Edward anywhere near Bella, if the physic and the ‘knower’ said it was okay, then they would accept it. They would all just keep a very close eye on the situation.

“Well, Leah, call the shifters, we’ll meet them at the clearing.” Tanya ordered with clear authority in her voice. She would make sure everyone was as prepared as possible for the coming fight.

Leah nodded and headed outside with Esme hot on her heels with several changes of clothes in hand in case her mate had to shift back multiple times. As soon as Leah cleared the house, she shifted and howled for her pack, the howl signaling it was time to go. In seconds there was answering howls and with the vampires racing in front of her to the chosen clearing, Leah and Esme took off as well with Leah giving mental directions for the pack.

“Are you ready love?” Victoria asked as the house cleared of vampires racing towards the chosen fight location. She gently moved a strand of hair out of her mate’s face.

“As long as you’re with me, I know I’ll be fine.” Bella promised her mate, completely confident Victoria’s gift would at the very least keep both of them alive. She as honestly more worried about others getting hurt instead of her and Victoria.

Victoria kissed Bella’s forehead before picking her up bridal style. “I promise, I will die before anything happens to you.” She promised, earning a smile from her mate.

“I believe you Victoria.” Bella said, more than confident in her vampire.

Victoria then raced off to catch up to a lingering Irina who had slowed her pace to make sure Victoria was completely on her own as she caught up just to be on the safe side.

As the vampires ran forward, giant wolves started to join their run, intermingling themselves within the vampires. Together they ran as far from the neighboring towns as they could to make sure no wayward newborn could get past and kill any innocent humans. They all wanted to end this fight today with the death of all the newborns and with the death of James.

As soon as they were in the clearing, they had to wait less than half an hour before they could hear the racing footsteps of dozens of vampires racing towards them. Everyone tensed in preparation for the fight. Victoria and Leah placed themselves to make sure Bella was as covered as possible from the oncoming newborns.

“Remember, only taking their heads off will incapacitate them.” Peter cautioned as the running feet came closer.

“Please, no one die.” Bella said just before the first newborn broke through the forest line. Bella mentally asked any deity that would listen that her vampires and all the wolves would leave the battle alive and preferrable, all of them unharmed. Unfortunately, Bella wouldn’t know what happened until the fight was over as they all moved too quickly for her to see anything. She was definitely going to ask to be changed sooner rather than later because waiting like she was, was killing her.