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𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱'𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬. I found myself wrapped in them throughout the night, warmth flooding my body. The night outside brought cold air. January in Italy wasn't what I expected. Blistering cold weather couldn't be tamed with my naturally raised body heat alone. If it weren't for the blankets covering my chilled body I would have either gotten frostbite or no sleep, maybe both if I fate decided it would throw another challenge my way. During the night I didn't dream of what I usually would. My dreams were littered with reality destroying magical powers with odd music playing in the background. This time the only thing I could see was a piano.

The damn thing didn't have anything strange going on either. It didn't play, staying completely quiet during the course of my dream. Silence wasn't normal, not in the slightest. The closest thing to silence I got in my dreams were white noise, scurrying of feet in some of my nightmares. Silence as I came up to it and silence as I sat down on the chair right by it. Silence as I pressed one of the keys and silence when I pressed harder, almost jamming my fingers down to see if the piano would let me play. It had been so long since I played the piano, the last time being before my grandparents died at the hand of a vampire. They'd been elderly, too weak to fight back, even on the full moon.

Silence persisted. It felt like I was there for hours, just trying to play the piano in front of me. Exasperated, I stood up, ready to give up already. Before I could try to wake myself up I felt a hand on my shoulder. A man. Middle-aged with a few silver hairs in his black hair, the man held an aura of darkness to him. His eyes were black, but once he put his hand on my cheek I knew he wasn't human. Chilled skin like the night. Vampire. I took a step away from him, not wanting to surround myself in this room with a creature of darkness. The man only let out a deep sigh as I backed myself into a wall.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered. His hair was dark like the night outside my sleeping body. I knew this couldn't be real, but I also couldn't shake the sinking feeling pooling in my chest. Dreams are supposed to be filled with familiar faces, so how was he in my thoughts? As I combed over my options, he sped himself in front of my face, rubbing his cold hand against my tan cheek. "I'll be coming, my dear. I promise, I'll find you. I always find the good ones. You're good enough for me."

I could have sworn I felt my heart speeding up as the piano started to play on it's own. It's tone haunting and breathless in nature, a dark symphony. A somber shiver ran down my spine as his face turned to a crooked smile, taunting my fear. This was no dream, this was a nightmare worse than any other I'd had. His eyes locked in on my body, roaming up and down. They never once glistened red, simply placed in obsidian horror. He was getting off to this, seeing me scared of him. I'd never felt this intimidated by a vampire. Normally I would have killed someone like him, but now that I'm stuck in my own mind with hauntingly beautiful piano music playing in the background...

"Do tell me your name, dear," he beckoned, his smile no longer crowded into a grin. The man felt more composed, like he was holding himself back. I stayed silent, not wanting to give him any information about myself. This was my mind, my dream. "Fine, if you're going to be quiet I'll talk some more. No problem. My name is Arthur. I have a few friends where I'm at. We're a part of a group that's been travelling together for years. Centuries, actually. James is our leader, or he likes to think himself a leader. His girl, mate, Victoria also tags along. Laurent and I mostly stay on the side, but James and I get along because we both like to track. You know what that means, don't you, little wolf? Tracking your prey, taking them down. You must know all about that part of life. It's so cruel sometimes. The hunt, the chase. Have you ever killed before?"

"I've killed plenty of your kind before," I snapped, stepping far away from him. As soon as I took my fifth step, a door appeared on my right, much too close to the piano for my liking. "How did you break into my mind? You're not wanted here. Take yourself and that creepy ass piano and shove it up your ass." He let out a creepy chuckle before appearing in front of the only exit door. "I'm not joking man. I don't have enough time for this. Let me out of this dream so I can go harass some vampires and sulk over being mated to one of your filthy kind. Yeah, I have to deal with you assholes on a regular basis now. Fuck off."

Whatever he was doing certainly had an adverse effect on wolves because my head started to hurt. I didn't think someone could feel pain in a dream. His pure obsidian eyes still locked in on me as I stood in front of him, waiting for him to either say something or let me through the door out. Or at least I think this is the door out, for all that I know this could just lead me into another room with a creepy musical instrument inside. A piano, really? If he wanted to scare me more he should have used something like a violin. Haunting tunes on those.

"Darling, there's no need for such an attitude." Oh yes there is, was what I wanted to say, but for some reason I found myself quiet as a mouse trying to escape a cat. This wasn't what I was supposed to do in the presence of a vampire. I'm better than this! Bloodsuckers aren't supposed to make my heart drop, make it race. "You'll find that I only appear to those who are the best of the best. It's an honor to be in my presence, dear. You know just how depressed you've been, how lost you've felt during these past few days. You don't know what to do with yourself know that you've been separated from your pack."

What bullshit was he trying to spin on me? What method of manipulation was this supposed to be? Better yet, how the hell does he know so much about my situation? If this guy is trying to get me to trust him he's doing a shit job at it. I don't think I've ever wanted to run so fast before, to get out before it's too late. A vampire with a savior complex isn't what I want. This is some 'only I can fix you' type of bullcrap. Whoever he is, he needs therapy. Do they provide vampires with therapy? Or at least better coping mechanisms than infiltrating innocent people's dreams?

"Still... you're such a beauty. If you weren't mated to him I may have wanted you for myself." So now is the time where I leave and call the police, right? Yeah. Or kill him. Having someone around would be really nice now! Damn why does Arcadia never come into these dreams with me? Sister wake the hell up and help me out here! Once I finished my internal rant the man ran his cold hand across my cheek once more. "If I let you go today, will you promise to meet me at the bar at midnight tomorrow? Alone. I don't want that mate of yours getting in the way of the plans I have for you."

Heading for the exit behind him, he gripped onto my arm. "Ah, ah, that isn't going to work Aurora. This requires an answer, darling. I didn't pry myself through your senses for nothing. Wouldn't want all of my hard work finding someone like you to go to waste just because someone is a little too eager to head out the door." I swore I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as he lifted my chin up to stare into his crimson eyes. "Now, will you meet me at the local bar in Volterra at midnight tomorrow. Actually, since you've been so disobedient, meet me there tonight. You should know better than to disobey the orders of your superiors. I'll let this slide, but know that I won't be so forgiving in the future."

With my head still tilted up, I whispered, "Of course, Arthur." He didn't respond.

Being perhaps the most terrifying dream of my life, I woke up with cold sweat dripping all over my body. The memory of his voice made shivers run down my spine. In his own way, he was just as cold as the air outside of my room. Deadly, a piercing blizzard in a normally comfortable room. I'd never been scared of a vampire before. In all honesty I'd never been scared of any dreams that I'd had. I always knew that they were dreams, or nightmares to be more accurate. This didn't feel fake. The way I felt actual pain and heard my own heart made me think that this man could be real, that he would be looking for me at midnight.

Terrified, I checked the clock on the edge of the bed. 9:45, much earlier than I would normally get up. My stomach had clearly been up for much longer, now growling like an angry wolf. I glanced over at the room, which hadn't been touched throughout the night. Nobody had been in the room, which was better than I thought. If someone was able to break into the Volturi's prissy-pants castle who knows what else could go down in these halls. Vampires still hate wolves, meaning someone could come in here and just off me in my sleep. Not what I want, not a good way to die. I would much rather die in battle, defending my pack. That would be a decent way to end my days on this planet.

A sudden knock on the door sent my heart into a flurry. Before I could react it opened, thankfully (not really) revealing Felix with a plate of breakfast food. "Uhm so I didn't know what you liked so I just got you something so if it's bad I'm sorry," Felix said quickly, looking awkwardly over at me as I laid in the bed. I blinked a few times before my eyes averted to the food, which consisted of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. "I'm sorry if I woke you up ━"

"You didn't wake me up, Felix," I said with a yawn. "I already got up before you came knocking at the door." He looked relieved, staying quiet as he made his way over to my side. "Thanks for the food."

It was the first time I'd thanked him for anything. Then again, it was the first time he'd really made an effort to do much of anything for me. Showing me to the cafeteria had been... a battle more than it had been a gracious action. He still managed to get on my nerves with that one, trying to talk to me throughout the exchange. I wasn't in the mood to talk, I was in the mood to eat. Bringing a meal to my room is better form for an annoyed wolf.

As I took the first bite of the food, I let out a sigh of happiness. The humans here were better than I'd imagined from such dull creatures. Not that humanity doesn't have it's peaks, but their lives are in no way comparable to that of a wolf. They go along, living their bleak lives, driven by societal standards that are near impossible to reach. Neither sex can find solace in their expectations, often leaving them to become depressed or dissatisfied. It's a raging problem that I've seen just in the presence of the people of Forks. Nothing is ever enough. No family values to be taught, nothing to be learned from elders. The elders there are often bitter and vindictive. Get off my lawn, they say, not knowing that the message they send does nothing but fuel a child's ignorance to the way the world works.

Felix stayed by the door, almost guarding me as I ate. Why he decided to stay was beyond me. Hadn't he already done what he came here for, bringing me some breakfast? Was he just waiting for me to say something? I'd thanked him. Was this a sort of vampire thing that I don't understand? Sometimes my wolfhood didn't do much good, not knowing anything but what I've experienced. Now I just had to eat while knowing that my bondmate was watching me from the other side of the room. Is it normal to watch people eat in human culture? Come on, this has to be some cultural thing, I thought to myself as I finished my final piece of bacon.

"Is it normal for people like you to simply watch as others eat?" I questioned with a hint of annoyance still lingering on my tongue. "Wolves usually leave our packmates to eat in peace. Of course you wouldn't know that, vampire."

"Would you rather I leave?" He asked. I knew he didn't want to leave. The way he gripped at the edge of his jacket cuffs said it all. "Honestly I have never been taught much in the ways of wolf culture. I am willing to learn if it would make you comfortable in my presence." Felix's red eyes turned down to look at the ground. "You don't seem to like me being anywhere near you, which isn't what I want. Why do you push me away, Aurora?"

"I think you know the answer to that question," I muttered, pushing the plate of food away from my lap. "I'll ask you this: why are you so selfless? I have given you every reason to reject me and leave me and yet you're standing at my door, seemingly to protect me from anyone coming inside, and giving me breakfast in bed. I've insulted you, told you to throw yourself into a volcano, and yet you're still here. What about me is so special that you'd continue to let me say such vile things to you? What makes me so damn worth protecting? You have a coven, you have your brothers and sisters, and yet I am somehow worth sacrificing all of that?"

"You know the answer to that, Aurora," he said quickly, taking a single step towards me. "You're my mate, whether you like it or not, and that means I would put you above everything I have grown to cherish. Anything that I have gained is worthless if I don't have you in my life. Yes, you can be cruel, cold, and outright toxic towards me, but I know why. I have warned you that being cold to me will only result in hurting yourself, but if you want to continue that is up to you. All I can do is stand by your side as your mate and give you the love that you accept. I didn't live this long to reject the other half of my soul."

A masochist in every sense of the word. Who would tolerate being in my presence? If he knows that I'm toxic, why would he just allow me to hurt him? What kind of man has that little sense of emotional self-preservation? Felix apparently. I would never be with someone who has a temper like me, who could find every little thing wrong with me and exploit it. What is a bond if one side is cruel and the other kind and compassionate? Wolves pair with those most similar to themselves, those with the same or similar interests. It gives stability. This man is putting me on a sinking ship and asking that I go down with him and hope we can both breathe underwater. Well, he's the only one who can breathe in the ocean, so I'm just stuck trying to bargain with the spirits to spare me.

Breaking down isn't an option. Swimming isn't an option. I've been left with no other options. I'm just left here, alone and without my pack, and told to live out the remainder of my days with a vampire that I don't know. I don't know if I could ever trust a man who is friends with people who killed members of my pack, who know who is responsible for their murders. My grandparents, some of my cousins. I was just lucky it hadn't been my brother, or my baby sisters. It could be them any day and these vampires would just laugh it off or tell tales about the times where they slaughtered entire packs of wolves for fun. My life is just a sport to people like Felix, people like the Volturi. I'm no prized head to be won because I showed one moment of vulnerability!

"Every time I try to get closer to you, you stop talking." When I moved my head up, Felix was right beside me, his ruby eyes locked on my small form. "Is it such a bad thing that I want to get to know you? To have a conversation that doesn't involve insults? I don't know anything about you and you don't know anything about me. If our souls are going to be connected for the rest of eternity I would like to know the other side of my soul, to know you just as well as I know others in my coven. Better than that, even."

My human form's eyes looked down once more. Just like when he'd brought me food or when he showed me to the cafeteria, Felix caught me off guard. Kindness isn't what I'd expect from a vampire with such high status in a coven like the Volturi, who were known to not give second chances already. The way he looked down at me wasn't condescending like I'd thought. Calm, open to judgement or improvement. His eyes locked down on me, but he didn't hold the same judgements that I held about him. Now was the time that I felt the guilt start to seep in, but it didn't control me, wouldn't control me or my actions just yet. A wolf working off of guilt is a weak, desperate wolf, and I wouldn't be either.

Scarlet eyes were the eyes wolves hated, despised above all. We hid from the men and women with those blood-soaked eyes, we had to kill them on sight. It was all we knew, all we had been able to know. We didn't just get to know the people with these eyes. A weakness coming in compassion for these people had been exploited one too many times, taking the lives of entire packs. So many years of slaughter couldn't just be pushed under the rug. There were no apologies, no reparations for what the cold ones did to my people, my entire species. The best we'd gotten is a small bit of representation. That wasn't enough. Then again I come from a long line of people who weren't considered full citizens from the immigrants who took my ancestors' land.

Stubbornness was a wolf's best and worst trait. Now I'm stuck between allowing a murderer into my life and waiting for some sign that my pack could forgive. If my pack can forgive the vampires, I can as well. I flow with my pack. Always have, always will. They're my entire life. Fuck, even a few days ago when I first met my mate I wouldn't be thinking something like this over. I would have already scorned myself and talked myself out of eating anything he brought me, lest it be poisoned. Hell it could be poisoned. He could have decided I'm not worth his time.

"Nothing has changed," I whispered. "Nothing important, at least. Your people have relentlessly slaughtered my family, my friends, and our fellow wolves. Even if we are allowed to live in this century and in the future, nothing has been done to help us. We are still hated by vampires for no other reason than your kings said so. You are friends with people who could have been behind countless murders of innocent men, women, and children. You haven't denounced them or even admitted to yourself that what they did was horrific. Your covenmates have committed unforgivable crimes and should be erased from existence. There is no way to justify killing pups and their mothers, or just leaving orphaned pups alone to die in the cold. Even if you're too young to remember, you must have laughed along to their stories of slaughter, making you just as reprehensible. There's no way to get close to me when you're close to the people who've made me live my life in fear that something will happen to my family, to me.

"So what would have happened if I had just been killed by one of your fellow guards, hmm? If I had any clue that my people were killing innocents I would have rather offed myself or at least done something to make it change. There's no justifying genocide. Countless have tried throughout history, all have failed. Your kings are just as bad as those fascist dictators. You only work for yourself, not for the greater good of all people. Not even all vampires since clearly we can be mated to your kind. You want to get to know me but you don't have a damn clue about what it is that you've done, the extent of the trauma your people lay on mine day after day, kill after kill. My father had to find his brother after his wife suddenly died. She had given birth the night prior. A child left without parents after only a day of life.

"Aro can act like this is all in the past, but it isn't. He can't brush all of our suffering under the rug like this," I finished, almost out of breath by the end. Tears lingered in my eyes but I wouldn't let any of them spill. No, I would stay strong. I wouldn't appear weak in front of someone I haven't given my trust to. He isn't my packmate, he has no right to see me cry for my lost family.

"I don't think that's what he meant to do, Aurora." Bullshit. He doesn't want to look the wolves in the eye and tell them that he was wrong. He's too stuck up for that. "And if that is what it felt like, I am truly sorry. All I wanted was for you to be comfortable here. I cannot control what my kings do or what missions any of my covenmates are sent on. We don't have the same social structure as your pack does. One does not just go up to Aro, Caius, or Marcus and question their decisions. To do that is to not be loyal enough for the Volturi. Call it what you will, a dictatorship or otherwise, but it's all that I know. I've never killed a wolf in my life. You were the first wolf I ever laid eyes on, Aurora, and I would truly do anything to change your mind about the nature of my coven and vampires as a whole."

Felix made my blood boil. All I wanted was for him to admit that what his people did was wrong. That's all I needed, yet he keeps on repeating the same things over and over again in different form. What's so hard about admitting that some people fucked up big time? Just because they're your family doesn't mean that you can't call them out when they've done something wrong to your bondmate and her people! It's like he doesn't hear me at all. No matter what I say it comes back to the same thing because he can't get it through his thick immortal skull that what I need is an apology for where he messed up! Are all men like this? Would I have to deal with this if he were a wolf? What is so hard about admitting that your family was wrong?

"Talk all you want about how it was in the past and how I should get over it, you're just making me hate you more," I seethed out, my eyes turning back to their inner neon yellow. Already starting to feel my teeth flare out and protrude from my gums, I stood up. "I'm leaving until you can get it through your idiotic head that what your people did was wrong and worthy of execution. I'll be at the bar in town when you're ready. Other than that, fuck off."

With that, I left him inside the room to tend to the half-eaten plate of breakfast I'd left behind.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 (𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐈'𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫. 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞) 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫. The dream I'd had only a few hours before sent my mind into a flurry. A vampire infiltrated the mind of a wolf for the first time. I didn't want to be his little test subject when it came to the extent of his power. Whoever this Arthur is sent shivers down my spine. The way that he came to me in my nightmare felt too real. It was like I had been transported to another dimension. The walls may have been black, but I had no trouble seeing. Looking back on it, the area did defy nature's laws quite a bit. With the ways that the piano moved on it's own, the lack of direction, a randomly appearing door. He must have controlled the area.

Reason didn't exist in whatever reality he'd dragged me into. No, all logic was forfeited the second the damn piano started up. Whatever he was trying with me wouldn't work. Arthur should know the danger of messing with a wolf. Plenty fall prey to our venom, which is our greatest weapon. If anyone tried an attack I could easily take them down without drawing too much attention to myself. The perfect killer, that's what I was trained to be, what I had to be in order to survive.

Down the streets of Volterra I saw many humans scurrying about. Young men helping their fathers in their shops, women reading their university books, and children looking for the next thing to put in their mouths. Snow trailed around the edges of bushes and the streets, leaving an icy trail. It was the perfect Italian scene on a January day. Sure, I would have liked to come here on my own accord, but the area at least has soul, has culture. I'd always enjoyed the idea of travelling to other countries, but I thought it would never happen. Staying huddled in Washington was the only way for us wolves to survive.

Not yet midnight, but still well into the day, I found myself in multiple small shops. The areas were mostly closed due to the snow, but the areas that were open held souvenirs for travellers. When they didn't have souvenirs, they had coats for the winter days. I loved it all, the culture and the beauty. Being trapped inside of one state for your entire life can only give you so much. Our tribe's culture is deep, but it's home. This was in my eyes exotic, oddly enough. I couldn't help but give them some money and buy things for myself. Thankfully the castle wasn't too far away, so I could put the things I bought back into my room later on in the night.

The time that I spent on the streets of Volterra was also time that I spent with looming anxiety in my chest. Arthur was likely going to try and kill me. Shame on him, attacking an innocent wolf, but it's the way of the world. Just another point to add onto my reasons-to-hate-vampires and just another vampire to add to my kill list. He deserves it for taking over a perfectly peaceful night's sleep anyways. Who does that? Does he do this for fun or is it a way for him to gather prey? Either way he'll end up dead for it. Messing with an already annoyed wolf is a suicide mission.

I didn't want to think of what would happen if he took me down and killed me, but it could happen. Even with the best plan in the world, every plan has a chance of failure. Some may be smaller and some much larger, but the point still remains. My family needed me to be alive, to speak for our people and our pack. If I wasn't alive, who would be the next Alpha? Devi is in no way Alpha material and my father wouldn't trust his Beta's children with that. Pushing the responsibility onto Veter wouldn't be fair, especially when he hasn't found a mate to call his own. An Alpha without a Luna is generally weak, and our pack can't ever afford weakness. I had to do this. I had to survive. Everything is riding on my life. No room for failure, not now and not ever.

God, Veter. I wish he could be here with me right now to give me advice on everything even when he sits on his ass and eats ice cream all day (he's lactose intolerant why does he do that to himself?) My cousin, my best friend, is across the ocean and hasn't texted me because he tried to take my mascara and got his phone taken away. Damn him and his obsession with girl's makeup. Why did he have to be so weird? Then again, it's his weirdness that makes me love him so much. The best cousin I could have ever asked for. He would know what to do right now. He'd probably come with me so we could beat this guy's ass together. His mate is going to be a lucky woman or man.

My father would also know what to do. That wise old man (actually he really isn't that old he had me at like nineteen) has so much battle strategy under his belt. The Alpha of the only known wolf pack in America, chief of the Atalya tribe. I used to go to him for everything, but ever since I became an adult we drifted. I miss talking to him so much, being able to go to the mayor's office with him when they trespassed into our lands. It was fun to see him yelling at those idiots. He even let me get a few good insults in before we left. Now I wish that I stuck by his side more often, didn't drift so far from the pack that I found myself sent to Italy for a job I don't want.

Taking myself into the bar I presumed Arthur would meet me at, I decided on what strategy I would use to bring this man down. He clearly has something heavily wrong with him, so a declining mental state and psychotic elements should be expected. Not only that, he wanted to meet me in a public space, meaning high levels of cockiness and grandiose. His view of reality must be distorted if he thinks that bringing people into his life through dreams or visions is ethical in the slightest. Who wants to know that because of a dream or vision you're friends with someone? Yeah, not me. I still had to find a way to kill him in public without causing too much attention. I wouldn't want to be killed by the Volturi for causing a scene with the locals who most likely don't know that vampires live amongst them.

There were three doors leading to the outside. With it being dark, the front door wasn't a good idea, the light above that very door being too bright for a quick escape. I would be identified and apprehended quickly. No, the back door would be perfect. From the way the locals behave in the bar, they only use the front and side doors, not the back one. Less people through that door means less people to find the dead body I have to drag out. I could cut the lights, but seeing me there and then not would cause too much suspicion. I would also have to burn the body in the Volturi's fireplace, which would raise a few alarms. Getting into that place without raising those alarms would be critical.

I prayed that no humans would find out about this plan of mine. If they find out they'll have to be killed, and I don't like killing innocent human beings. All the people around me have their eyes set on their drinks. Whiskey, the drink of the day. The sun wasn't anywhere near setting yet these people were having as many hard shots as they could. Sometimes I question if it's valid to assume that most of these people are alcoholics in denial. Day drinking doesn't look good, so I stuck to water.

And so I sat there, plotting away as an assortment of people came in and out of the bar. Mostly old men and young teens. The legal drinking age here is much younger than in America, so I could see a few secondary school kids running through the bar as I waited. Most of them must have been seniors or juniors by how matured they looked. About Devi and Onno's age. The two of them look young for their age, however. During the time I spent people watching I noticed just how happy some of the humans were to be in the bar. Likely underaged teens with fake IDs, just like American teens. For the most part teens across the world aren't that different, although these Italian teens seem much happier than the ones back in America.

 As it neared midnight the crowds lessened, with everyone having to get home before their mothers got on their asses. The ones that did stay were drunk and would have to wait to sober up a bit before making their ways back. Taxis were oddly hard to find around here. Whether or not any of them would be able to find a free one with all the snow remained a mystery. In a way I was jealous of them, able to freely be teenagers enjoying life. I was raised in a home where if I wanted alcohol I'd have to steal it from the cellar and get in trouble for it through the pack bond. Everyone knows if someone is drunk, unfortunately. Hard to sneak around when your Alpha father is in your business 24/7. Still, I wouldn't trade that bond for a few nights of drinking till the dawn.  

Whispers and laughter flooded the bar as I took another sip from my glass of water. There had been plenty of time for Arthur to show up. It was already nearing midnight. Only a few minutes away actually. My chest tightened as I heard chimes, a signal that yet another person or group was coming into the bar. The place was truly becoming crowded, which wasn't what I expected. The night outside reflected only pitch black with hints of the icy snow littering the ground below. People would be idiots to drive right now. Taxi services must know that they can't drive in this weather. Italy in winter seems to be blizzard season more than anything else.

My head turned up only to see a black-haired, dark eyed man walk into the bar. His skin was as pale as the snow outside. Inhuman. There he was. Arthur in the flesh. Not just a man from my nightmares. No, my suspicions were right. He is very much real and very much here right now, in this bar, likely looking to kill me. Death wouldn't come, but he did. His eyes were the same as when I first saw him, pitch black. Only when he shifted to look at me did they turn a deep crimson red. My eyes stayed the same color, neon yellow hidden under dark brown.

Holding the same maniacal grin as the night prior, he swiftly sat down at my table. The bartender didn't take notice, thinking that he was just here to see me. Guy must have thought he'd been late from how long I'd been waiting for him. A good cover for me. Boyfriend arrives late, girl leaves at the end cursing him into the ground. If he went missing, who wouldn't believe the alibi that I took myself back to the castle where I was staying. Somebody back there better back me up with this or I may be spending some time behind bars while someone bribes the local police to release me. Questioned for murder, not a nice way to spend your time in Italy. Or so I would think, I've never had to go through questioning. For the most part vampires don't have IDs, meaning easy killing.

"I didn't think you would be early, little wolf." His tone was mocking at best, condescending at worst. With a single flick of his wrist he brought the bartender's attention over to us, beckoning him. "Two shots of whiskey, my boy. Put it on my tab," He ordered. The young bartender didn't argue, nodding and starting to make the drink. "Humans. So easy, so simple. They'll always do what we ask of them because in the end, even if they don't know what we are, they know we're better than them. So perfect. Most vampires would consider them as pests, but I think with the right training they could make magnificent pets."

Pets. What kind of slavery was he trying to insinuate? That wasn't respect for human life. Just as bad as someone who doesn't respect wolves. He talks and he talks and he just won't shut up. Even as I meet him in person I know he's no good, a shit person who takes what he wants whenever he wants and damns the consequences of what he does. However, I composed myself before I spoke to him. No need to attack him, even if he is vile. "I find more value in human life than servitude. They deserve a life of peace and not fear that any misstep will lead to their demise."

"A wolf that values human life. The times certainly have changed," he said with a menacingly playful grin. We both shut up when the bartender came to deliver the drinks. Arthur gave him a convincing fake smile before looking back at me. "Oh, sorry if you don't like whiskey. It's always been my favorite, even after I turned. You'll learn much about me when you meet the rest of my coven. They've been dying to meet the wolf that managed to put the three kings of Volterra in their places. About damn time. I'll have you know that Victoria hates them as much as every jilted vampire. Her covenmates were killed by Aro and his crew when she was a newborn vampire. Assholes took one of her friends for themselves too."

"Didn't know that it was normal for covenmates to spill everyone's past when trying to recruit." It was an assumption, sure, but a valid one considering how he spoke to me. Like a friend, but not a friend with equal power. The kind of toxic friendship your mother points out before it goes too far. Thankfully I listen to mother gut and know not to trust this man. Simple manipulation tactics won't work on me tonight. "They'll have to come here. I'm not allowed outside of the city. My mate wouldn't like that at all. I think he'd drag me back home and scold me for my actions. Not a fun time for me."

His eyes turned darker as he took a sip of his whiskey. When he finished the entire shot glass, his head whipped back up to look into my brown eyes. "Now, now, do you really think I would allow something to happen to a nice little wolf like yourself? No mates will be able to get to you as long as you're in my care."

Whatever assumptions I'd made before were proven to be much more lenient to his character. This man was looking for a teenager to kidnap, the teenager being me. Showing up in my dreams, promises of a fun time. If I were a stupid human teen girl I may have fallen for his charm despite my gut feeling, but I'm a wolf. Even if I did think he could be a good person, I would never leave my mate. As much as Felix annoys the living shit out of me right now I'm a loyal woman who has been thrown into a mating bond that I don't want. Leaving for any period of time is out of the picture entirely. Perhaps he's done this before to other vampires or humans. Promises of a good time or immortality only to end up making them his next meal. From what he said about his friend James I wouldn't put it past him. Assholes travel in groups.

"If you actually think that the Volturi wouldn't look for me, you're delusional," I said bluntly. From the underside of the table I could feel Arthur's fist starting to clench. His usual tactics and charisma wasn't working on me, meaning he wasn't going to get me. Killing him would be a delight. "Your covenmates... Do they hold the same interest in me as you do? A family of trackers don't seem like the kind of people to hunt down a wolf in Italy, next to the most important part of vampire 'culture'." When his fists clenched more, I smirked. "Let's face it, you're either here to kill me or use me for something. Come on, spill, I won't bite unless provoked."

"Listen here, little wolf ━" The chime rang out again, cutting him off. He hissed under his breath before whipping his head around. Within the crowded bar you could barely see who was coming in and out, but I saw the single Volturi chain wrapped around his neck, draping down and moving as he walked. I gulped, knowing that I'd made a big mistake. A very, very big flaw in my plans. It was inevitable that I make such a stupid mistake under pressure. One thing leading to another and now everything I'd planned was in jeopardy.

Felix had come to apologize, and Arthur ordered me to not bring anyone along.

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Note that this is an alternate timeline where James does not die but seeks revenge for almost being killed. Bella and Edward do still break up on Bella's 18th birthday.

Ahhh! In every plan there's a chance for a flaw or a failure, and Aurora has just put herself into a tricky bind. Felix, why did you have to show up at the wrong time? Finally coming for your mate after a day of moping? Glad that you're here though babes.

I know this took much longer than I expected, but this chapter is over 7k words long, so I think it's excusable. I had a bit of a block on Sunday.

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