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𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟔𝐓𝐇, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟕

𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒, 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. It was not often that the Atalya tribe and the Quileute tribe got together, but the summer of 1997 was the perfect time for both native tribes to join for a few weeks. On this occasion, Aurora got to be the little one, allowing her older cousin to chase her and Jacob Black, screaming as they did so. Older by only a year, Veter enjoyed these visits to the nearby tribe, always finding something new to do during his stay. This time he found himself chasing around Jacob and Aurora, unbothered. Their secret was able to stay that way, just as long as he kept control of his speed and strength around the younger boy.

On the sidelines was a similarly aged girl to Aurora, perhaps only a year younger. The girl kept to herself, not taking part in the fun. Her aging father looked down at her as she clung to his side. She'd always been shy, with her long brown hair almost wholly covering her young face and plump lips. Her father, the police chief, patted her shoulder like he often did when faced with a new parenting task. Let the child have some fun. He knew he would have to entice her into playing with other children. She was much like him, reserved, but even he played around as a young boy. His Bella was much different in that regard, preferring books to people.

"Why don't you go and play with Jacob and his friends?" Charlie asked his daughter, who squeaked in shock. The older man sighed at his daughter and held her right hand in his. "I promise they won't be mad at you if you want to go and play around with them. The Canyons are a very nice family. I know their fathers."

"What if they don't like me, Dad?" She looked up to ask the most challenging question Charlie could have prepared for. Now they don't teach you this in parenting 101 books. The infamous question that every child has asked their parent at one point in time. Both a turning point and an anxiety driver, he knew that. "What if they don't even like me, and then Jacob stops liking me? I want Jacob to like me."

"Angel," he started, looking down lovingly at his little girl. Placing a firm hand on her slender shoulder, he continued, "They will like you. I promise. Aurora and Veter are lovely kids and want to meet new people. You'll fit in just fine."

If only Charlie knew what the children were. Children of the Moon, wolves, true wolves, abominations of nature that only a thousand years ago would have prayed on humanity's flesh and blood. Veter and Aurora were far from ordinary children, turning into their wolf counterparts every full moon. As the moon reached its peak last week, they both phased. Nobody could know. Staying hidden would always be the main priority of the pack, and they would do their best to make sure no one knew of their secret. For someone to know would be a death sentence for the entire tribe and their mates.

 Bella Swan took one last look at her aging father before averting her eyes to look at the kids running up and down the town's park.

"Only for a little while."

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝟏𝟒𝐓𝐇, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟔

𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀, 𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐘

𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟. The weird ways that we address our parents and family members, the slight complexity of our inner wolf spirits. To me, it just came with being a werewolf. We shift, crash, and burn. Our wolves take over our bodies once a month and do whatever they please. It was all that I knew. It would be hard being a human who had to be bitten. I knew it was difficult for Onno, who was very much human before finding his true mate. All of those things I grew up understanding had to be taught rather than experienced.

While most of my day is spent in my room or out on guard duty around the forests, I used to enjoy running around. Running became my pastime. Whenever I could, I would run with Arcadia there to guide me. Everything was peaceful before the Volturi showed up and ruined everything. I was able to be myself, be with the people like myself. Now I'm stuck here in Italy with no wolves by my side to confide in. I'm surrounded by the enemies who steal my culture regularly and destroy whatever they can of true wolf civilization. Even if they stop now, so much has been lost. Only so much can be preserved through oral tradition. Most of what we used to be is gone. I can't forgive them for that.

I'd only had the honor of knowing snippets of what the wolf government used to look like. We were successful, powerful, great in number. Still, the vampires took us out one by one, using our connected mate souls as a weakness. They stole our children, our parents. Orphaning babies who they then killed just based on what they would become. Pups didn't deserve that. The government had been full of Alphas from different packs who worked together for the betterment of wolves. We worked for ourselves, which meant we were a threat to vampires who wished to seize power. The Romanians had been the first to try and snuff us out, with the Volturi soon taking their bigoted stance. We had no choice in who we were, and for the most part, we tried to stay away from vampires and humans alike. 

Now I had my own choice to make. I could either turn my back on everything I've ever valued and break free from the bond that holds me, ties me to this vampire coven, or suck it up and stay with one of my oppressors. As much as I hated myself for this bond, I couldn't kill myself over something out of my control. If my Alpha wants me to be with Felix, so be it. I won't be happy about it, I won't be happy, but I will obey like a good wolf. I am no Alpha right now and don't have the authority to disobey my father on things I don't understand.

Stuck inside this room, I stare up at the ceiling. Of course, Felix had been locked out. I didn't need him here with me. His presence would bring me closer to him, something I don't want. Through his absence, I couldn't help the small tug in the back of my mind that screamed at me to find him, to at least be in the same room as him. I wouldn't give in to the temptation of his lumbering stance and longing gaze. I had to be stronger than that. Falling to my knees over a filthy vampire does me no good. I said I hated him, and I should be sticking to my word.

Bonds are supposed to be an obvious thing in our culture. You have a bondmate who you spend your entire life with and have children with. Most of the practices that have to do with bonds and how they work are not taught. You find out in your own time. Suppose an older cousin is kind enough to explain things to you, good for you. Veter hasn't found his mate yet, so I'm stuck in the dark. They're your lover, but they're also supposed to be your best friend. I would never want to be friends with a vampire, not after what they've done and what they've supported. Even the 'good vampire' has killed or accepted the killing of my people. At this point, it's ingrained into their minds that this is okay behavior. Unless they unlearn everything they've been taught (which is unlikely. Vampires have trouble even admitting that they're factually incorrect sometimes), they can't be a big part of my life.

Thankfully I made sure to bring a phone charger with me to Italy. For most of the day I had been playing around on whatever games I could get my hands on. I wanted to stay as far away from vampires as possible in a castle which reeks of vampire. I can practically feel their presence pressing up against the walls, judging me from the outside. Many vampires had taken to walking down this hall, even though I'd been assured that almost nobody lived in this area. The elite guard were the only ones and I'm sure Jane has stayed far away from me after our conflicts. That girl can't seem to keep her mouth shut.

Isolated from the rest of the castle like I've been infected with a contagious virus, I unplug my phone from the wall charger only to see that I have over thirty missed messages from various people.

PRIVATE CHATS:

LUNA MOTHER:
Hey sweetie! Your sisters just wanted to wish you luck and to have an amazing day! Make sure that you stay safe in Italy and don't let the creatures get you down.

ALPHA FATHER:
You know you may be across the world but the pack bond for meetings still works....

DAVY JONES:
Sis Dad's gonna get mad if you miss more meetings. Anyways, how does it feel to be stuck in the hellhole with the hellspawn? Keep me updated.

UNCLE FEN:
So were you sleeping or playing games this time?? Btw I'm keeping Veter out of your room so he doesn't steal your mascara :)

VETER THE STUPID:
Dad can't stop me forever. The mascara will be mine.
SHIT HE CAUGHT ME AGAIN

UNCLE FEN:
I took Veter's phone so if you need to tell him something text Teah

AUNTIE TEAH:
I moved all of your makeup into my room. He won't see it coming ;)

QUILEUTE DRAMA 

JAKEY WAKEY:
Leah took my computer

SETH BOI:
Y tho?

JAKEY WAKEY:
Idk she just said I'm on it too much

DARTH PAUL:
But where's the lie?

JAKEY WAKEY:
Bruh I'm tryna play games

SETH BOI:
Don't we have an essay due tomorrow?

JAKEY WAKEY:
Don't remind me man

SAMMI:
Do you even want to graduate?
Don't answer that question Jake

JAKEY WAKEY:
...

DARTH PAUL:
Do we even have Leah on this chat?

QUEEN LEAH:
Yes

JAKEY WAKEY:
HEY GIVE ME BACK MY COMPUTER

QUEEN LEAH: 
No

JAKEY WAKEY:
GIVE ME IT BACK I NEED IT FOR SCHOOL

QUEEN LEAH:
Cope

SETH BOI:
Sis you're already here why are you so annoyed?

JAKEY WAKEY:
Bruh I'm coming over

QUEEN LEAH:
Wait a second why is ########## in this chat?

JAKEY WAKEY:
Yeah I added Aurora last week why?

QUEEN LEAH:
Oh that's Rora right?

SETH BOI:
Yup

Honestly their drama doesn't make much sense, but my father has known the people of Forks for so long that we've practically become one of their own. Our summer trips have been delayed for the time being due to exposure risks. Billy warned my Dad that vampires have taken notice to their home and have decided to make their mark there. Ridiculous colonizing people, trying to take away land that doesn't belong to them. Billy and the tribe asked them to leave, but apparently they have some sort of rule that they can be there as long as they don't feed off of anyone.

It's sad that their tribe can't know about who we are. Figuring out that they're shifters isn't that hard when you already have the nose of a wolf. Their scent isn't too different from our own and vampires would likely have a hard time dealing with them in the area, which means whatever vampire invading their land is either looking to annoy them or self-destructive. Either one would work, but I don't want them over there. The tribe deserves peace after all these years, after all they've done to work for themselves. They're good people who don't need more on their plates.

Knowing that they would likely be texting back at that chat soon, I sent a picture.

QUILEUTE DRAMA

ME:

ME:
Yo guys

SETH BOI:
She appears!

JAKEY WAKEY:
Wait where r u?

ME:
Stalker much?

QUEEN LEAH:
How do you get those angles?

SAMMI:
That isn't your room

DARTH PAUL:
Sam how tf do you know that?

SAMMI:
Dude I've been to her house before

DARTH PAUL:
Kinda suspicious

SAMMI:
Not for her
Veter

ME:
Breaking my heart, magic man

SAMMI:
Don't be sad, tart

JAKEY WAKEY:
Dodging the question, Rors
Where are you?

ME:
Italy

SAMMI:
Wait tf why are you in Italy?

ME:
Daddy sent me awayyyy

QUEEN LEAH:
What did you do?

ME:
Dad's making me be with this guy
He lives in Italy

QUEEN LEAH:
Arranged dating or smth?

ME:
You could call it that...

SETH BOI:
Damn that sucks

SAMMI:
Our poor little tart
Wait do you have a pic of the guy?

QUEEN LEAH:
What the asshole said

SETH BOI:
We have to know

JAKEY WAKEY:
We gotta know if he'll look good in wedding photos

ME:
Wtf
Wedding photos?
Does he have to fit my aesthetic or smth?

SETH BOI:
Obviously

QUEEN LEAH:
We also have to fit in there too

ME:

ME:
Got this pic when he was at my house

QUEEN LEAH:
He's kinda hot
How tall is he?

JAKEY WAKEY:
Why does his height matter?

SAMMI:
Girl thing ig

QUEEN LEAH:
Taller than 5"9 right?

SETH BOI:
Tart is tiny she'll be fine w anyone over 5 foot

ME:
He's 6"11

QUEEN LEAH:
NO WAY
HE'S A GIANT??????
GIRL

SETH BOI:
He's kinda pasty ngl

SAMMI:
Did you see his eyes?

QUEEN LEAH:
You give a shit ab his eyes when he's a giant?
Priorities

SAMMI:
His eyes look red

QUEEN LEAH:
It's probably that glass thing on Rors fireplace
It makes you look like a tomato

SETH BOI:
That looks like the left couch, not the right

QUEEN LEAH:
Shush his eyes are not red

ME:
Y'all acting like he's a cold one
The nightmare that would be

QUEEN LEAH:
If you married one of them I would slap you

SETH BOI:
Y are we talking ab that

ME:
Oh yeah Dad said I can tell you smth

QUEEN LEAH:
?

ME:
I know y'all are shifter wolves

DARTH PAUL:
Who spilled?

ME:
We get told bout y'all from an early age
Y'all are chill w our tribe tho
Kumbaya~

SAMMI:
Real question is how did WE not know she knew

ME:
Cause nobody suspects the short one
Muahahahahahaha

QUEEN LEAH:
I wish you could have felt the pack shock
I think Jake almost shit himself

SETH BOI:
Wouldn't want to embarass himself in front of Bella~

QUEEN LEAH:
Oh yeah Bella Swan is back

ME:
Are you joking???

SAMMI:
Nah she's here
Jake wants to bone her

JAKEY WAKEY:
I do not!

ME:
The denial says everything tho
So you wanna bone her?
She's like older than u

JAKEY WAKEY:
By like 2 years tart
2 years

JAKEY WAKEY:
So how much older is that boy you're seeing?

SAMMI:
Probably old enough to be a man

SETH BOI:
Why is he pasty tho

ME:
He's anemic

SETH BOI:
Makes sense

ME:
He's a few years older than me Sam
Plus I'm 19 I'm legal

JAKEY WAKEY:
Age gaps aren't that bad

ME:
Jake ur still a minor

SETH BOI:
Called out

DARTH PAUL:
O damn

JAKEY WAKEY:
I'll be 17 soon
Romeo and Juliet law

SAMMI:
We don't have one in Washington
Or at the Rez for that matter
Pack it up wolf boy

ME:
Yo you wanna see his room?

QUEEN LEAH:
Sis ur sleeping in his ROOM????

ME:
I kicked him out LMAO

SETH BOI:
Of course you did tart
Ur mean to that man

DARTH PAUL:
I mean she didn't ask for a relationship Seth
Her dad probably just wants her married soon and picked a random man in Italy to date her

SETH BOI:
True

ME:
At least he's rich

QUEEN LEAH:
Better rich than not

ME:
You aren't wrong babes
I miss you Leah
I miss my angry bun

QUEEN LEAH:
I'm gonna visit you babes
Can't let you suffer alone
No wolf left behind

SAMMI:
She's human

QUEEN LEAH:
Did I ask?

SETH BOI:
Damn don't harass the pack bond sis

QUEEN LEAH:
I do what I want Sethie
Cope

ME:
Anyways here's his room
At least he's clean

ME:

ME:
The cats got in the way

SETH BOI:
He has CATS?

ME:
Yeah ig his family has two cats that horde in his room
he's the favorite

QUEEN LEAH:
Bruh even if he was a cold one I wouldn't complain
Actually I would

ME:
Backtracked so fast-

QUEEN LEAH:
The room is so nice tho

SAMMI:
I like the floors

DARTH PAUL:
Ur so weird Sam
Like so weird

JAKEY WAKEY:
If Rors knew ab us being shifters she wouldn't get w a vampire
Her dad wouldn't do that
He's nice

SETH BOI:
You have a point there

ME:
His sister hates me
I almost hit her

SAMMI:
What's her name?

ME:
Jane. She has a twin named Alec but he seems aight.
He's def scared of me
But he seems scared of Jane too

SETH BOI:
How old is she?

ME:
Like 12 or 13 but she acts like she owns everything
Hates that I'm in the house
I'll send ugly pics of her later

QUEEN LEAH:
You better
Shit I have work
Bye babes

ME:
Bye honey
It's like 9
I should eat

DARTH PAUL:
You haven't eaten?

ME:
No....

SAMMI:
Eat Rors
Eat food
Please

ME:
You're so fatherly Sam
It disgusts me

SAMMI:
Love you too Rors

Knowing that my stomach grumbling wouldn't do me any good, I placed my phone down on the end of Felix's bed. The comfort I got from finally being able to talk to some of my friends helped ease the burdens of being in a vampire hell hole. They may not know that I'm a true wolf, but at least we could be a bit more honest with each other. I know how they work and honestly is truly the best policy. After knowing each other for so many years the truth is what they deserve. I still wish I could talk about being a wolf with them, but it was impossible. Vampires could still come after my family if they found out. Hell, there's a coven in Forks that have yet to be dealt with.

As a sort of ambassador I may be able to help the pack in Forks. The vampires should be respecting the wishes of each generation. The people who would have signed the original treaty are dead, meaning the renegotiation should be in order. Vampires shouldn't be in wolf territory, especially when the people have obviously asked them to leave. I mean, the audacity of these vampires. Just because they don't eat people doesn't mean that they're welcome in their land. People have boundaries they don't want crossed and these assholes have just said 'nope, I just want to be here so I will.' Damn colonizer attitudes. They have no right to be there.

Closing the curtains, I opened up the door for the first time this afternoon. No vampires in the halls, just as I guessed. I'd be able to smell them if they decided it was time to take a stroll down death hallway. Just one bite is all it would take to kill them, so it's good they're giving me my own space. Still, with no vampires also comes no directions, which I desperately need. Trying to smell where all the food is would be hard on my senses and could drain me. That isn't what I need right now.

My eyes lingered along the old and cracked walls, mind focused on finding something to eat. Even with water and a bathroom provided in Felix's room, I hadn't had anything to eat all day and needed to find something fast. A hungry wolf is a desperate wolf, and I wouldn't be desperate in front of these immortal assholes. No, I'm stronger than that. Find food. I can do that, right? I can just go down the hallways and find some food to eat. That can't be too hard. Everyone has times when they get lost in the middle of a vampire castle. Just a weekly occurrence when you're a true wolf. Being lost without a packmate? No problem. I'm completely fine and don't need any help whatsoever.

I couldn't tell if I was trying to convince whoever could hear my thoughts or myself. Being not okay should be okay, but right now wasn't a time where I could just flop on the ground and wish myself dead. That time was earlier today, where I did just that. Minus the ground part, I wouldn't make a fool of myself in front of people like the Volturi. Being laughed at by these assholes isn't a part of my plan. If I'm going to stay here people will respect me, admire me, and hopefully fear the venom that coats my teeth.

Down at the very end of the hall I saw a figure. Great, another person, someone who could judge me and think I'm an idiot for not asking for a map when inside a castle full of people I hate. Before I could turn tail and decide that food was not for wolves tonight, I realized that it was Felix who had made his way into the hall. His lumbering stance should have been obvious from afar, but I only seem to be observant when it comes to cracks in walls. What a shame that I can't notice my own true mate from across a hallway. If Arcadia were listening instead of taking a nap inside my head, she would scorn me for the failure.

"You're finally up." His sugar-coated voice rippled against the very walls I could observe, drawing me into his immortal presence. "Or have you been avoiding coming out? I was worried that you hadn't come out to eat yet. Unlike the rest of the castle you need to eat multiple times a day."

"Oh what do you know about my diet?" I asked with annoyance dripping off my words. What pissed me off the most was that he only chuckled in response. That deep, dark chuckle that let you know what you said didn't matter to them. I hated that stupid coarse laugh, especially when it came from him. "I can get food myself."

 Another chuckle left him once I turned around to go leave. He started to move after me, making the hair on the back of my neck frizz up. Why was he here still? Hadn't I been rude enough? Usually when you're rude people like to leave you alone, talk behind your back about how rude you are. It's better that way. I don't owe him anything, so he can just fuck off. Even if he could, he didn't. His deep voice followed as well. "You're going the wrong way, Aurora."

"Then let me go the wrong way." My stubbornness was evident now, if it wasn't before. I do things my own way and I'd be damned if I let a vampire tell me where to go. Then again, aren't I already damned? Most definitely, but I won't stoop too low before I get myself killed. Better to die with my honor in hand. "When someone is mean to you, why don't you just go the other way and let them be? Why do you think people are mean? It's a red flag, a warning that if you get involved you'll get hurt. Or is that what you like? Being a damn masochist." 

"You haven't hurt my feelings today." Now I knew he was lying to me. "Not too much, at least. I wouldn't say you're a mean person, just stubborn. Loyal to the bone, but never loyal to me." And an idiot. Even if I didn't like to admit it I would have to remain loyal to him. Arcadia would never allow me to be with anyone but him. To disobey such a fundamental rule of mating would be to ruin myself. Not what I want. "Oddly enough you get quieter when I talk to you."

 "That's because I don't want to talk to you, vampire." He winced at the way I spoke to him. "I've never liked vampires and I never will. I don't approve of endless slaughter. I don't like killing anything or anyone, which means that I don't want to surround myself with people who have no problem making an innocent being their midweek snack. I've told you that so many times and yet you refuse to see how my ideals play a role in our bond! If anything, it's you that's stubborn as hell. You refuse to see past the way you've lived. You're a man of destruction and chaos, bringing me down with you."

It got quiet between the two of us, the tension building. What I said was true and I wouldn't go back on it. Perhaps I could have worded it a bit better, but it was true, that's what matters. In the end all I can be is honest with the idiot I've been forced to be with. I don't want him and somehow he thinks he can change my mind about that. Nobody can make me change my mind about almost anything. I guess I am a bit stubborn in that regard, but at least I'm the one standing up for the things I believe are right. 

"Don't force yourself into a bubble," he said as we turned another corner. "You may end up regretting things if you don't think of your choice of words sometime soon."

"No, I won't," I denied. "This castle is stupid."

"If you would just let me show you where the kitchens are this would be going much faster," he reminded me. I refused to look over at him. "And you could get rid of me faster. I have patrol."

My options were running thin. Either give up a bit of distance and let him guide me to food or remain stubborn as all hell and likely starve myself into tomorrow. Both weren't good options, but one must choose which battles to fight. Right now I could give in and perhaps get some food into my system before a blow another fuse and bite this man into next year. Those would scar and I could get kicked out, meaning shame on me and eventual death. Who knew a choice between food or no food would mean death? Famine survivors, I guess.

 One step closer doesn't make the cage around my heart any looser.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞. Having gone down this particular set every day for the past three hundred years, he found himself in a routine only interrupted by a pestering mate. He knew that she was a difficult woman just by the way she acted towards Jane, who is known for being a nuisance at times, but he wasn't exactly prepared for the full force of her innate stubbornness. Felix had always been a flexible person, taking shifts that most would find unsettling at best and downright horrific at worst. Even when in the worst conditions he did his job, and he would do it well.

For a man without any supernatural gifts besides super strength, he'd been able to make his way up the chain of command rather quickly. Aro was fond of him from the start, surprising most of the other guards. His temperament allowed him to be thrown around in various ways, making him most likable for an oftentimes flamboyant king. Felix didn't dislike his master's carefree nature, in fact, he admired it. His own reserved way of being threw him into often endless pits of anxiety over things he knew would go well. Overthinking was already his motto, so why not make the best out of whatever else he had to offer?

Truly the worst part of his week hadn't been meeting his mate, who he'd already grown rather fond of himself, but rather the cutting words she used against him. Even when he knew he hadn't done anything to offend her (besides perhaps in the beginning where he knew he may have overstepped some boundaries) he couldn't help but throw himself into the anxiety bin over the things she would say. Hate is a strong word, even stronger when used in a conversation with your bondmate. Not only that, she had used it against him, spiting him and what he was. For the last part he may have forgiven her, but the first still stung every time he thought about their heated conversation.

If there were any way to upset your mate in one conversation, it was hitting them with an I hate you. Words have power, no matter what others may say. One phrase could throw a mate through hoops, them trying to decipher what they did wrong and how they could fix it. That was where Felix was at after he brought Aurora into the cafeteria. He understood the basic outline of every way that wolves worked, but inner workings were before his time, erased throughout their purging as a means to keep them under control. He wished it didn't happen now, even when he had no control over it. If he could have found a way to fix what had been broken he would have done it. Damn whatever the consequences, he would do it.

Stuck, thrown to the side, and already late for his last shift of the day. If things weren't already throwing him off they were now. Felix was never late for his shifts, always making it clear to Demetri that he wouldn't skip or be late to them by hanging out with him. Upsetting a king who could be watching or worse, angering Jane, is not the right way to live life. Or an undead life. Either way, upsetting one of the most upsettable guards out there who also has a gift that inflicts torturous pain on a victim isn't smart in the slightest.

Nobody was laughing when Felix walked into the guard room late. It was the first time he'd been late since being a newborn, and then it was excused due to his needing to feed or getting lost around the castle. He could blame a rogue teenager or even a squirrel on his absence. Now he was here, out in the open, and terrified of what was to come next. Felix waited and waited, but most of the newer guards were also late. Right now the only thing to contend with was Jane, who's infernal stare remains the bringer of death to all happiness that could lay inside a being, vampire or otherwise.

"You're late," Jane snapped at him, her tone hurried and annoyed as ever. Felix wondered how she gained so much respect in the guard sometimes. He knew that nobody in the guard would tolerate her behavior if it weren't out of fear that she would use her gift on them. Fear, that's how she runs. It was how she always ran, from when he was a newborn vampire to now. Her eyebrows furrowed as Felix fixed up his coat. Demetri sent his soul-brother a knowing look of concern before shuffling his way out of the room, having taken the shift prior to Felix. "What have I said about being late? Already having fun with that little mate of yours, hmmm? Deciding that taking some time off will be good now that you have a little wolf to screw around with?"

"She hadn't eaten all day and didn't know where to get food," Felix answered honestly. "If that is what you mean by screwing around then yes, I was screwing around with my wolf mate." Jane sent him a spiteful look. Felix had never been one to allow someone to talk down to him, even if the person was high ranking. Being an elite guard himself, he could get away with it most of the time. When he couldn't, he was given a simple warning. When messing with Jane, he knew just how to play his cards. "This is the first time I've been late in five hundred years. Don't worry so much, it won't become a pattern."

The young looking girl sent him a look full of malice before she turned to the younger guards who had taken her scolding of Felix to cover for themselves. "Disgraces, all of you. This guard is supposed to be full of the best of the best, but over half of the 'best' can't even do their jobs right or show up on time! What if there were an attack? Would none of you be here? Would you rather fuck around with each other than protect the people who give you shelter? We are the Volturi. The entire immortal world looks up to us. We must be a role model for everyone. That means not being late."

If she didn't have such a condescending voice Felix might have found her little speech inspiring. The rest of the guards must have been thinking the same thing because they shut themselves up fast. No chatter to remind anyone that they were anything more than soldiers. A few guards shuddered as Jane opened up the door to the East Towers. The most important place to guard. It was where their beloved queens made their rooms. Private, out of the way. Still luxurious, but standard enough to not have any enemies guess that this was where they stayed during long Italian nights. The kings, everyone's masters, stayed here as well, making the need for guards around the area even greater. If something were to happen to one of them the entire world could fall into anarchy.

Felix made his way into the underground hallways and wondered if the guards would always be the only ones to use them. Who else would have the need? If worse came to worst, the human guards would just be killed. Sometimes he wondered if the Volturi would spare any humans, if not for their potential than for their heart. It was a sad way of being, knowing that your life could be over at any point. Some of the guards travelling with the lumbering man had eyes still crimson, the telltale sign of a newborn vampire. Still young and not in control. He had never had the horror of being a human in a room of vampires, not until it was time to change. his master, his creator, made sure that he was comfortable before sending him near vampires. He was never around the newborns that lingered in the hallways.

As he walked into the East Towers, Felix wondered just how many things he didn't know about wolves. Everyone had a general understanding of how Children of the Moon worked, but if all of what he'd been taught was proven wrong... he wouldn't exactly know what to do. They'd been played out to be the villains, killing humans whenever they passed into their territory. Territorial to the core, not much different from vampires and the things they claimed belonged to them. He'd heard about vampires hunting humans like they owned them already, so hearing about wolves doing the same wasn't much of a surprise. Felix knew that there was bound to be some differences in what wolves were said to be versus what they were, but the extent to which someone could manipulate the facts was starting to swell his anxious heart.

"You're assigned to Didyme's door," Jane said hotly before turning to a younger guard behind him. "And you, stay with him. I don't want him wandering off." The guard gulped as the hot headed vampire girl barked out orders at the other guards.

"I thought you were on her good side," the younger guard whispered. He had the gift of teleportation, which proved useful in a guard. He didn't have war experience like most of the other guards, but Aro made sure to assign him in to the East Towers as often as he could. His other masters agreed to his turning five years prior, thinking that Aro's judgement on his potential could be true. The young guard proved almost just as anxious as Felix. "She's a terror when she's mad, isn't she?"

"You learn to live with it after the first century," Felix murmured before turning back to see the door at the end of the hall. "She's also mad that a wolf is gaining the favor of Aro, who we all consider to be our father. It's not Aurora's fault that she's stuck here. It's better for her to be favored by a king if she has to talk to vampires on a regular basis now." The guard sent him a puzzled look and Felix sighed. "Mated to a wolf, seen as a disgrace by many vampires in other covens. The news hasn't exactly spread yet, but the scent from my room is warning enough of her presence. She hates me."

"Mates are supposed to be permanent, right?" Felix nodded sadly. "Then she won't hate you forever. I thought I would hate Afton forever, but turns out we're soul brothers." He didn't know that his fellow guard had gained a brother during his time as an immortal. "I'm Lucio, by the way. Yeah, Afton may get on my nerves sometimes but he's the only brother I have. If something is meant to happen, it will, no matter how much you or she may hate it. That's the way of the bond. Or at least that's what Master Marcus always preaches."

"He does tend to preach, doesn't he?" The man let out a chuckle before turning back to see if anyone had entered the hallway. Even with strong senses, the guards need to check everything, lest they get a lecture or a punishment from Master Caius. "Well, at the moment the only thing she's allowed me to do is show her to the kitchens, and even with that it took a lot of convincing. She doesn't seem to want any help from a vampire like myself even when she knows she needs it. It's quite frustrating."

"What's the worst thing to come from it?" Felix shuddered, knowing that she could very well reject the bond or take herself back home, weakening the bond further. It must have been such a dull yellow now, terrible for two mates to have it like that. Even without a gift like his master he sensed that. Stressful. "She could curse you out and you would still stay, right? Aro says loyalty means everything to a wolf. It's not like she'll run off with another person, you know. I may not know much, but it's obvious from the stories people around here tell about wolves that they don't leave. Once a wolf, always a wolf, even in human form."

He hadn't realized that. He scorned himself for his lack of understanding. If there was one thing he should have picked up on, it was that. Hell, he'd even referenced it, but for some reason it didn't stick. In one ear and out the other as they say. "Aurora has made it very clear that she hates me. Loyalty is the least of my problem."

Lucio sent him a sympathetic smile. "Well, if she's anything like the girls I grew up around, the fact that you're trying may help a lot. Most guys my age would leave her in the dust. What's love without a bit of chase? Especially if you're mates. Normally I say leave annoyed women alone, but she's only hurting herself by being rude to you." If Felix had to guess, Lucio was able to pick up some tricks from his soul brother Afton, who had already found his mate in Chelsea. "What I'm trying to say is that you need to let her know that her being a wolf doesn't matter to you and that you care. If all that you talk about is things neither of you can control you'll get stuck."

The older vampire knew that he was right. If he wanted to have her heart, he would have to work a Hell of a lot harder for it. She wasn't someone who handed her loyalty to just anyone, especially someone who she had heard bad things about. The only thing he had with him was their bond and their shared room, which she had locked him out of. Now he wished he had grabbed his computer before she made herself at home. In his territory, which he had yielded over to her, and yet she remained perfectly fine with insulting and hurting him. She's a tougher mate than I thought I would have, Felix thought to himself as he watched Didyme and her husband walk down the hallway.

"Hello boys," Didyme's kind voice radiated through the corridor. "Oh, my Marcus told me that you found your mate. How is she?"

"Perfectly comfortable in his room, I assume," Marcus answered for him, knowing the situation was dire between Aurora and he. With a gift like his, he could check the progress on their relationship at all times. Felix now wished he was gifted like he, it would prove useful when needing to make sure that something you said isn't pulling you in the wrong direction. "Hopefully fed as well."

"Feeding is tomorrow?" Didyme questioned. "Unless she is mortal?" Marcus sent his mate a look that said not now before opening up the door to their chambers. She got the message and waved at her guards as she made her way inside the large room. Lucio let out a small chuckle.

"News doesn't spread like fire anymore," Felix muttered. "Then again, our queen doesn't come out of her room often. And when she does, it's to go on a date with Marcus. The two of them are sweet together."

 "Jealous?" Felix rolled his eyes at the younger guard before checking the perimeter again. "Most of the couples around here are perfect, which makes sense for a mate. I wonder what will happen when I meet mine. I have no idea what sort of personality would work best with me, but I think it'll be a good addition to this whole immortality thing."

Felix dwelled on the matter too much in his youth, he knew that. Mates, what a wonderful thing for a vampire to have. Your soul dependent on another person, giving love that gets reciprocated. Now he wasn't so sure that the love stories shared around the castle were accurate to what mates meant. Perhaps it was just the odd situation he'd found himself in, but he was sure that his bondmate didn't think of him as perfect. No love at first sight for her, which was a common thread of truth amongst the guard and vampire community as a whole. The spark was there, but getting to the whole love thing was becoming confusing at best. Aurora must have thought about rejection, which made Felix's heart drop.

 "Not jealous," Felix would deny it until the day he died, "just pessimistic."

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Okay so I know this has a lot of texting in it, but I promise that it won't always be like that. I made sure to make this a longer chapter to make up for that. Sitting at 6k non-texting words. Can't believe I wrote this in like - 2 days. I've thankfully had the time to write for this story. 

Note that I have changed some of the Twilight timeline to fit into this story. This includes when Jacob and some of the other Shifters first started to shift. This is because I didn't think it was logical to have them start shifting later when vampires were clearly there and the boys were physically maturing already. Plus Jacob is supposed to be the Alpha, why would he be one of the last ones to shift? That part never made sense to me.

Should have another update out soon, I'm in the mood to write some more. I would have made this chapter have another scene, but it didn't feel right. Would become boring, quick. I think that three scenes per chapter is a good number for this book. They're all super long too. Anyways, have a lovely day and remember to drink some water! Hydration is an important part of life kids. I don't want dehydrated readers.

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