Disclaimer: while coming to the irrefutable fact that I own nothing I find myself slowly falling deeper and deeper into this world. Waiting to discover something… Interesting.

Life was changing. Sometimes it's hard to tell if for the better, or for the worst. Especially when you had one before and lived in a blissful shell of ignorance. Ignorance to those feelings that truly care for you. When life changes, you can either stay true to who you once were. Or as many do change with it.

Isabella Marie Swan, or, Bella for short as she liked to be called. She wasn't necessarily having a good day, but it wasn't a bad day either. Having Alec around makes it near impossible for her to have a bad day.

His calming, strong presence always lurking in her mind not only to remind her she was strong with him and without him; but if she needs a rock he was there. An ever standing mountain.

That didn't however stop Bella from missing Jane. Wanting to know her better, spend time with the girl that was her soulmate. However, to have one is to go without the other in her current situation. This just hurt her more then helped her.

She couldn't choose one sibling over the other, and selfishly she wanted them both present. Even if she knew that was out of her grasp until after graduation.

Her hand moved anxiously through her hair, glancing towards the clock. Only for her gaze to drop back down to her desk. Then repeating the process. The time ticking by agonizingly slow.

All this piled on her, then the irrefutable fact that she had made up with her cousin. Only for Regina to be ripped away again didn't help her anxiety. Her weary, the nervous knot that formed i'm the pit of her stomach.

Bella was a mess, she knew it and everyone else seemed to know it as well. Student whispering harshly behind her back, teenage drama seemed unimportant to her before. Now? It was completely useless. Yet, it still held a sting to it, especially when the ones whispering she had once thought to be friends.

She knew better than that though, the only true friend she had come to find was Angela. Though, it was hard to approach a true friend she had carelessly thrown to the side over a… boy. She sighed once more, staring absently once again at the clock. No longer interested in the time that seemed to tick by at a steady pace.

Instead her mind focuses in on her only friend and how to recensil said friendship. Almost as if counting down to her doom the clock now became her enemy. If only for the resolve she had to walk up to Angela and beg for forgiveness.

Though as of would turn out, "Sorry for what?" She asked, confusion heavy, plain to see even. Bella in return sagged in relief, realizing that Angela wasn't upset with her. Even if in all honesty she should be.

"For abandoning you to wallow in self pity?" Bella now question herself as Angela adjusted her glasses. Glancing left, right, then finally sighing.

"Look Bella, you were absolutely devastated by Edward leaving. Anyone with eyes could see that, if anything I was more concerned for your mental health and safety then whether or not you were hanging out with me. I'm just happy Regina and your father managed to pull you out of whatever depression you were in." Angela now looked nervous, hand shaking as she tucked her bangs behind her ear.

"If anything I should be apologizing to you for not being there." the fierce shake of a head followed Angelas words. Bella reaching out and placing a firm hand on her shoulder as she continued to shake her head.

"No, seriously no one could have pulled me out of that. So please don't say that. We'll just forget this entire conversation happened and start over again." Angela blinked, then gave a nod. Taking a step back and grasping Bella's in a hand shake.

"I'm Angela Weber, head of the newspaper would you mind being the main focus?" mirth dancing in her eyes and Bella in return gave a small laugh. Shaking her hand right back

"Isabella Swan, I prefer Bella though. Please anything but a newspaper segment dedicated to me."the girls shared a laugh, and for once Bella felt like things were finally looking up.

Only for past mistakes to come crashing down around her once again. Gently, and with a surprisingly steady hand. Bella rand her fingers through Alec's hair. Soft smile on her face as she did so. Eyes moving over the book she sat reading, her voice carrying through the room as she read aloud.

It had become a nightly routine for them, he would rest his head on her shoulder. Eyes closed as she read one of the books he had Jane ship over from the Volturi library. Moments like these peaceful, it had already been a full month since he had arrived. This being the case, they were waiting for Jane to land at the airport so they could switch places.

"Why do you stop?" his question husky as he peered at her thoughtful expression. Bella scrunched up her nose, pulling her lip between her teeth and nibbling on it.

"I'm just… I'm going to miss you." her mumble, along with the down cast of her eyes had Alec sitting up completely. Then Bella released a startled squeal as she was lifted. Only to huff when she felt arms wrap around her from behind. A hard, cold chest now her support as Alec situated her on his lap. Then gently rested his head on her shoulder.

"As will I, to be away from you for so long I know will be a torturous hell I have yet to discover. But, I think of my sister who is currently going through that hell. I take solace in the fact that the two of you will be together. Even if I am to be alone." he hummed lightly, then released a chuckled. Making Bella shiver when he kissed the side of her neck.

"I'm excited to finally get to know Jane but, i'm just now getting to know you. Spend time with you, i just wi.." he silenced her with yet another kiss to the neck. Making Bellas breath, and voice caught in her throat.

"We have all the time in the world." for some reason, even though his voice was low, soothing and Bella wanted to believe him above all else. An unease centered itself not only in the pit of her stomach, but it tormented her in her dreams.

The forest was green, alive vibrating around her. Bella found herself gently plucking the grass from the round meadow she was nestled in. It always fascinated Bella how her quiet place was a meadow. One she still silently associated with Edward, her thought to be love. Happy memories after sprung on her, something that she realized while few and far between were still very much present.

She couldn't blame everything on him, after all she had taken the initiative to figure out what he was. When in all honesty if she had let her curiosity settle then she would more than likely still be a very ignorant teenage girl, one that knew nothing of the supernatural world.

The meadow spam with life, the sounds of birds chirping. Streams moving through the land, a seamless caress of nature vibrating around her at that moment. Perhaps that's why she felt so alarmed when her relaxation was disturbed my silence.

A deafening dark silence, one that had been permeating her dreams sense she had gotten back. A dark figure lurked silently in the forest, peering at her in a ferial way. One in which she had to take the initiative and run. With only the false hope that she could escape.

The being that always caught her, ripping her throat from her body was a sickly yellow color. Foam running from it's mouth as it wrapped it's tallen like claws around her.

"No!" Her screech of terror had her door slamming open in the next second. Charlie standing in the doorway hair in disarray. Her own drowsy blinking fell into sink with his own.

"I think we need to put you in therapy Bells." Her breath caught in the throat at that word. One she had not been looking forward to in the least.

"I'll think about it." A sigh followed her quest mumble but Charlie knew his daughter. Her similarities to himself. Therapy had helped him in many ways, and it was with the hope that it could help Bella.

"Alright kiddo try to get some sleep." He knew better than to ask about her dreams besides. The second he shut the door behind him, Bella had already pulled out her phone.

"Lemme guess, another nightmare seen the face yet?" Bella pulled in a shuddered breath.

"I didn't recognize it, but whoever's haunting my dreams look familiar in some way. I just don't know how."

Bella listened to her cousin sigh, imagining her running her fingers through her hair in frustration. Something Regina was in fact doing at that very moment, "I'm sorry this is bothering you so much, please just let me know if anything else happens."

Bella gave a meek nod, despite Regina not being able to see it a laugh followed. The feeling of dread that had woven into the pit of her stomach eased at the laugh. Smile taking over her face, it was in this moment that Bella felt her hair being brushed behind her ear. Eyes focusing on Alec who's intense, yet weary stare made her smile grow.

"I'll call you back later Re."

"Sure thing Bells just be careful." Her gaze unfocused for a moment, thinking over her dream. Regina's words, then she snapped back into reality to stare back at her weary mate.

"What troubles you?" His voice low. A whisper that made her sigh in return for it. She tugged her lip between her teeth nawling at it fiercely before her lips parted. Only for her voice to die. Unsure on how to begin the cause of her nightly terrors. The only person she had told them to was Regina. Who had told Bella to let her know if she see's the face.

Alec cupped her cheek dimples flashing at her as he gave her a beautiful smile in return. Her cheeks turning scarlet glancing to the side. "Well, this is certainly a heart warming sight." The sound of a duffle bag falling unceremoniously to the ground made Bella's head snapped up. The voice chimes and she couldn't stay in bed anymore.

Stumbling over her own blankets as she rushed forward. Only to catch herself on the nightstand and huph under her breath. Ignoring Alec's chuckle at her less than graceful haste. Then she threw herself at the female vampire in front of her. Instantly feeling cold arms close in around her in return.

"Jane!" The exclaim was met with a bell like giggle, a hand coming to rest on the top of her head. Ruffling her hair with an affectionate smile.

"How was the journey sister?" Jane hummed, looking at her brother. Head cocked to the side. Almost thoughtlessly twirling the ends of Bellas brown hair through her fingers.

"Long, but it was worth the strain." Her red eyes warm. Alec chuckled, moving forward pulling Jane into his own hug. Temporarily bumping Bella out of the way. Making Bella roll her eyes, and Jane shake her head.

Alec seemed to grimace, glancing towards his own bag. The same one he had pulled from the hiding place in Bella's closet. Bella crossed her arms over her chest. Staring at the bag as well. At the remainder that to have one.. was to go without the other.

"Master Marcus suggested you stay for a days time. Help me learn the inner workings and the rules that have been laid down." Jane stated, scrunching up her nose at the word rule. Or more so that the Cullens were the ones to set forth said rules. It didn't sit right with her, however it did help that the masters, her queen, and mate all seemed to find said rules agreeable.

"They are standard, the Cullens seem to have some type of agreement with the shifters here. Strictly forbidding us from movement on their lands. We are not to hunt in, or near Forks. Charlie, our mates father is to remain unaware of our presence. As is the rest of the town.." Alec trailed off here, a smirk seeming to wash across his face. Eyeing Bella. Who had once again pulled into Jane's arms.

"I have broken the final rule, however My queen agrees it is a rather silly rule." Bella pinched the bridge of her nose.

"The only reason she disagrees with it is because Alice thought of the rule." Bella pointing this out. Only made Alec cross his arms over his chest. Eyebrow raised.

"You follow the word of some harlot over the word of our queens?" Bella ran a hand through her hair. Jane simply sat on the edge of Bella's bed. Pulling the brunet onto her lap. Watching the exchange with amusement.

"No, I trust Regina above all else I just know Alice. If she's doing something, or has a rule in place it's for a good reason." Alec just stared at her, not a word being spoken.

"That reason…" Bella stressed to him, for probably the seventh time in the past month. "Being that we don't need rumors of red eyed vampires getting back to the shifters. Also it would be highly suspicious for me to tote you around town without an explanation on who you are. It also doesn't help that you refuse to say you're a distant relative of the Cullens visiting."

"It would be rather strange to see you attempt to carry my brother around." The jab at her use of wording from Jane. Followed by Alec's laugh, let Bella immediately know that Jane would be just as difficult as her brother.

"How is it you managed to reveal yourself?" Alec's face seemed to shift, a devious look taking over. Bella's stomach dropped, and Jane just tightened her hold on Bella. Knowing what was about to spill from her brother's mouth would…. Amuse her.

"There's a blonde Male walking about. Who seems to have a strange fascination with our mate. This being said I thought it would be in her best interest to warn him off. Though this seems to have fallen on dead ears. As he is rather persistent." Jane laughed, throwing back her head to do so.

"Unable to scare off a simple human, Alec have you lost your touch?" Her hand was waved dismissively before Alec could fire anything back. "I'm sure a shock of pain could put him in his place." Alec hummed while Bella pailed.

"However you risk gaining Bella's eerie, as she had forbidden me from using my gift on her classmates. I have labeled the boy not worth the risk." He folded his arms over his chest. Eyes focused on Bella who blushed. Looking to the ground as Jane snorted.

"If it is her only rule and we still have the fortune to be a part of her life. So be it. Pitty." The mumble was right against her neck. The cool breath that came from Jane's mouth causing goosebumps to form on Bella's skin. This was turned into a spectacle by the two of them.

"Brother what are these strange things?" Bella was bent to the side. While Jane exposed her neck to Alec. Who seemed to hum thoughtfully. Cuping Bellas cheek, said girl going bright red as the two sandwiches her between them.

"Master Aro explained this to me. Humans, when cold have small bumps that appear on their skin. Similar to how poultry looks when you pluck the feathers. I'm not entirely sure why they do. However it seems to be normal." He shrugged, Bella gave a small laugh.

"He freaked out the first time it happened. Called Master Aro, Re, and wouldn't listen to anything I said. He thought it was some kind of strange illness." Jane's face went blank, sharing a look with her brother. Who in return nodded at her.

"I assumed the same." Her blunt statement, followed by the line her lips made. Had Bella snickering at her. Trying and failing to cover it up.

"You two are too much alike." Both siblings got identical looks of distaste on their face. Looking to each other, with a light scoffle.

"Me? Like him? Surely you've hit your head on something. We are complete opposites." Bella pursed her lips. Contemplating if this was a battle she wanted to take part in. After looking at either of them. She decided that she had no interest in pushing this one.

Her not response seemed to be good enough to them. As Jane picked Bella up, Alec moved the covers. Then they were on either side of the bed. Tucking her in for the night. "Ill run a perimeter check."

Alec was gone before Bella could protest. Leaving Jane to stand at the edge of her bed. Bella bit her lip, shifted lightly. Then sat up pulling a book from the nightstand beside her.

"Would you like me to read to you until I fall asleep?" A swift nod followed, Bella opened the book. Sitting up and the single tap to her lap is all it took for Jane to join her on the bed. Jane's head resting in Bella's lap, eyes closed as Bella began reading.

So this is the next chapter. Figured i'd give y'all some insight into Bella's mind. Put some plot bunnies in, and sprinkle a little fluff around. I hope you guys are as excited as i am about the coming chapters. I have so many idea's that are about to come into flourish in the next few chapter. So, I know it's been awhile for y'all. With everything going on I ended up trapped in Florida for a few months. I've recently gotten home and back to my computer. Imma try to right more, and try to update more regularly. Love y'all hope everyone's staying safe with all this crazy shit happening in the world. As always. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Until next time.