When Angels Cry
by wizardtho
Chapter 8: Claiming
Though Edward and I were able to join the others without an outwardly territorial reaction from me, I was still unable to let anyone too close to either of us. Something had my angel side on edge, and I could practically feel my teeth aching at points. Edward sat calm underneath me at the table, holding me close in his lap as we both nourished ourselves, but I couldn’t get the territorial feeling of ‘mine’ out of my head while the others talked and laughed.
As the breeze drifted in from the open french doors to the backyard, my mind screamed ‘stranger’, and I was out the door in a flash with a loud snarl. My wings tore from my back almost violently as I threw myself toward the threat. I was air-bound as Edward barreled out of the house right behind me, but I couldn’t concentrate on what he was trying to tell me as he ran below me. I had to keep him safe from the threat, keep him from the stranger who would try challenging me for rights to mate with him.
When the threat came into sight in a nearby clearing, I snarled loudly, swooping down toward her. With my momentum, I shoved hard, knocking her back nearly 100 ft from my mate, then planted myself in a deadly crouch in front of him, giving him a warning snarl when he tried to speak to the stranger.
He stopped immediately at my warning, so I turned my full attention back to the threat. Wings expanded in a deadly colorful array to protect my mate, I growled menacingly at the unmated vampire female, who was brushing herself off while looking at me in shock. “Mine!” I snarled, my voice echoing loudly around the clearing.
Understanding flitted across her face, then she quickly bowed her head after taking me in. With a raise of her hands towards her shoulders in surrender, her head bowed even lower, her voice sure but soft, “Yours. Though I am unmated, I will never challenge you, Angel. Your mate has only ever been a loyal friend to my coven. Family. Never more.”
I hissed, causing her eyes to meet mine, though she didn’t change position even an inch. “Mine. My mate!”
In response, she only nodded, then her eyes met the ground again. Right then, the family reached us, Esme’s gasp of ‘Kate!’ barely reaching my ears over the screaming in my head. I snarled loudly while shaking my head, then grabbed Edward in my arms before taking off into the air. A growl slipped from my lips as I heard Edward tell Carlisle to escort Kate to the house while he got me calmed back down.
I quickly found an opening in the dense forest, and swooped down to land on the thick brush. My angel at her breaking point in my head, I shoved Edward against large tree, the growl rumbling from deep in my chest, “Stay…” before I turned and sniffed out our immediate area to make sure we were clear of scents.
When I was assured of our privacy, I stalked back to my Edward, a shiver taking over his frame as his eyes darkened in desire while watching me. As my chest pressed hard against his when I reached him, I slid my nose up his chest and neck, the rumble of a growl still evident as I tried to explain what was going on in my head, “Too many fucking females… you don’t smell like me… my angel demands it… needs it… I have to…”
I could smell his mounting arousal at my actions, but he only groaned deep in his throat in response. When I stepped back only enough to catch his gaze, his eyes were black as night, and a shudder of anticipation rocked through his entire frame as he assured me, “I’m yours, Isabella. I’ve always been only yours to claim.”
Knowing he was accepting, even with how uncontrollable I felt right now, caused something to break loose inside me. With a hissed ‘yes’ from deep in my chest, I ripped his shirt clean from his torso, my hands instantly returning to feel the skin bared to me. When I went to reach for the button of his jeans, though, Edward quickly stripped them off himself, reminding me that he needed something to return to the house in later.
A growl broke from my chest at the thought of someone else seeing my mate nude, then I nodded tightly, practically grunting as I shed my clothes, “My eyes only.” He grinned widely in response, pulling me to him as I finished, then quickly captured me in a deeply passionate kiss.
Pulling me down toward the leafy ground with him as our kiss deepened, he groaned loudly into my mouth as I perched myself on top of him. As his arousal skyrocketed, so did mine. I barely gave him time to settle below me before I was sliding down on his rock hard length with a needy whimper.
Rationality broke through for a split second then, causing me to halt my motion with wide eyes, but Edward shook his head, promising me as he pulled my hips down the last few inches, “We both need this, my lamb. We both need the our connection to be complete. I know it feels wild and uncontrollable, but I am made for you. You can’t hurt me.”
What followed wasn’t something sweet or gentle. It was nails digging into flesh, hips slapping, growls and hisses, nipping, biting, out of control... and so perfect. It was me and my angel claiming our mate fully, his ecstatic cry of my name as I bit clean through the flesh of the left side of his neck echoing through the forest around us in every direction. It was music to my ears, and served to extend my orgasm as he bit into his mark on my breast in return.
Panting as we came down from our mutual high, I tenderly kissed my mark after sealing the wound with a few slow licks. He hummed happily, so I looked at the result, pleased with how prominent it was. It was perfect, and with a small inhale, I was met with the deep calming scent of my mate… mixed perfectly with my own scent. It was heaven, but it caused me to blush at how I acted. Edward caught my action, chuckling, “Mhmm… no need to be shy now though, my little angel. Our mating is complete, which is what you needed to feel secure in our relationship. I knew this would happen sooner or later with how you reacted this morning. I don’t regret it one bit, and neither should you, no matter what spurred it to happen now.”
I nodded, but caught his eyes before saying, “I don’t regret it. I hope you know that. I just… Kate? You told me she has never once made a pass at you. I could see this being my reaction with Tanya or an unknown female, but Kate? I heard you say her name… Esme, too… but all I could think was that she was an unknown female who wasn’t mated. She was going to challenge me, and I was scared I would lose. I had to protect you… had to make you mine.”
He nodded, picking a few leaves from my hair, then kissed my lips lightly, “You needed the claiming as much as I did, Love. Our bond is now unbreakable, and we both carry our mate’s scent heavily. Alice doesn’t even carry Jasper’s scent this heavily, yet he led a life of war for so long. It’s a good thing, and will be sure to deter any curiosity.”
I nodded, cupping his face as I searched his eyes. They were overflowing with love and pride, making me chuckle, “You like carrying so much of my scent, don’t you?”
With a nod, he grinned widely, “I do. I love that we were able to claim each other so thoroughly… that we carry as much of each others scent as we do of our own. I’m yours, Isabella, just as you are mine. No one will ever challenge that now.”
We took our time getting redressed and walking back to the house, which I found we weren’t far from at all. I blushed when I realized just how close to the house we had been as we came into the back yard. Alice was there, smiling widely, clothes held outstretched as she offered, “Take your time cleaning up. Charlie and Carlisle have filled Kate in, but she already knew some of it, once she got a look at you. We aren’t at risk, so when you’re ready, come in.”
I nodded, taking the clothes, then said, “Yeah… guess I could’ve handled that a little better. We’ll be in soon.”
It didn’t take us 15 minutes before we were heading into the house, though I would have stretched the time, just to keep Edward to myself a bit longer. His mated scent… my scent inside him… caused my arousal to go crazy. I’d have to pull Dad aside to ask him about that sometime really soon, since I’d have to find a way to not rip Edward’s clothes from his body every time I inhaled his scent, or things could quickly become really weird.
Coming in through the back french doors, Kate stood from her place at the bar, a small smile on her face as she watched us enter. I went right to her, Edward’s hand firmly in mine, but what came out of my mouth was nothing I had planned to say. “I won’t apologize.”
She shook her head, “I won’t ask you to. My name’s Kate.”
I chuckled, nodding my head in acceptance before taking her offered hand, “I’m Bella.”
Edward chuckled at our little back and forth, then kissed my neck before explaining, “Kate caught our scents when she was heading toward our house. She made a split decision to see why our scents all came this way, hoping to find us. She wasn’t expecting to be blindsided by you, Love.”
I shrugged, but offered, “Unmated female entering my territory, and my mate was unclaimed. She was asking for it. We made up. Next subject.”
Kate nodded with a laugh, offering, “So we did. I originally came to warn the Cullens that there has been more of a Volturi presence in the US recently. Now, seeing you and hearing the true story, I fear for you all. You shouldn’t stay here. If they catch wind of you, with the birth of your angel so recent, you’ll be all but defenseless. You need time to gain strength before encountering any of them. Your powers need time to hone, and you need time to train.”
I looked to Edward, squeezed his hand slightly, then turned back to Kate. “Thank you for the warning. You might want to consider calling Eleazar, Carlisle. I don’t like the thought of your cousins being anywhere near the Volturi. I want them safe away from this.”
Kate must have been thinking something, because Edward shook his head, “No, Kate. It’s too dangerous.”
I turned in Edward’s arms, looking at him questioningly, so he explained, “Kate’s thinking of calling the rest, then having them meet us here. She wants to help… is thinking of Eleazar, and how he might be able to sense your powers… how we’ll need protect…”
Before Edward could finish his thought, his phone let out a shrill ring, his voice pausing mid-sentence as he pulled his phone out. The unknown number on his screen made his eyebrows furrow, but he answered with a cautious ‘hello’.
A deeply accented voice spoke. “Peace, young Cullen. A jet is on its way to you now, containing several guards. Please make sure you have what you need ready for the journey. We know of what is currently happening, as well as what happened yesterday evening. Safety awaits the two of you, as well as both the Cullen and Denali clans.”
Edward’s muscles relaxed slightly before he stated, “And security… you can guarantee each guard is loyal?”
A chuckle sounded on the other end of the line before the male spoke, “Loyal to a fault, as their species is known to be. Be at the private airport in Port Angeles tonight at sundown, young Cullen. Your safety is assured from that point on. Your coven mate can handle your protection until such time. Be well. We will see you soon.”
Carlisle looked at me with wide eyes as Edward clicked his phone shut. When the phone was back in Edward’s pocket, Carlisle breathed, “Weres… it must be. They must have rebuilt their forces in preparation. Edward, this is the best we could hope for, under the circumstances. Charlie, do your books say anything?”
Dad scratched the stubble on his chin in thought before offering, “Weres were said to help in protection, but it was long ago and they were thought to be decimated. If, when the Romanians went into hiding, they rebuilt their forces as you’re suggesting? It would make sense, Carlisle. They were loyal to the cause, and they protect to the death.”
Kate was immediately moving to the side of the room as she pulled her phone out, while Carlisle and Edward stepped to Jasper, who looked to already be thinking about how to keep us safe until we reached the plane. I went to Dad, hugged him tight, then whispered, “What do you need to do? What all do you need to take? I’ll help you get it packed.”
He shook his head as he explained, “It’s already packed. I need the three large trunks in the hidden area upstairs, and the suitcase I have packed already. I’ve been prepared to do whatever it takes to keep you safe for a very long time, Bells. I’m always ready incase we have the need to run. Let Edward help you pack a suitcase or two, so you’re ready when it’s time.”
I nodded, then Ali shook her head as she wrapped her arm in mine. “Nope, that’s my job, Chief. Her mate’s needed as protection for the trip to our house. Between him, Kate and Emmett, as well as my foresight while here, they should be good. Jasper’s staying here too, for Bella’s protection.”
I nodded, thinking it was a good plan. Edward’s advantage would let them know if someone was coming up on them, so they could get out quickly, while Em’s strength would be needed if the enemy somehow got too close. Kate going with them added firepower, with her shocking ability. It only took minutes for us all to separate into our groups, hurrying to get done what needed, Edward only stopping long enough to kiss me tenderly and tell me he would be back before I could miss him.
Ha… fat chance, Mr. Cullen.
Though Edward and I were able to join the others without an outwardly territorial reaction from me, I was still unable to let anyone too close to either of us. Something had my angel side on edge, and I could practically feel my teeth aching at points. Edward sat calm underneath me at the table, holding me close in his lap as we both nourished ourselves, but I couldn’t get the territorial feeling of ‘mine’ out of my head while the others talked and laughed.
As the breeze drifted in from the open french doors to the backyard, my mind screamed ‘stranger’, and I was out the door in a flash with a loud snarl. My wings tore from my back almost violently as I threw myself toward the threat. I was air-bound as Edward barreled out of the house right behind me, but I couldn’t concentrate on what he was trying to tell me as he ran below me. I had to keep him safe from the threat, keep him from the stranger who would try challenging me for rights to mate with him.
When the threat came into sight in a nearby clearing, I snarled loudly, swooping down toward her. With my momentum, I shoved hard, knocking her back nearly 100 ft from my mate, then planted myself in a deadly crouch in front of him, giving him a warning snarl when he tried to speak to the stranger.
He stopped immediately at my warning, so I turned my full attention back to the threat. Wings expanded in a deadly colorful array to protect my mate, I growled menacingly at the unmated vampire female, who was brushing herself off while looking at me in shock. “Mine!” I snarled, my voice echoing loudly around the clearing.
Understanding flitted across her face, then she quickly bowed her head after taking me in. With a raise of her hands towards her shoulders in surrender, her head bowed even lower, her voice sure but soft, “Yours. Though I am unmated, I will never challenge you, Angel. Your mate has only ever been a loyal friend to my coven. Family. Never more.”
I hissed, causing her eyes to meet mine, though she didn’t change position even an inch. “Mine. My mate!”
In response, she only nodded, then her eyes met the ground again. Right then, the family reached us, Esme’s gasp of ‘Kate!’ barely reaching my ears over the screaming in my head. I snarled loudly while shaking my head, then grabbed Edward in my arms before taking off into the air. A growl slipped from my lips as I heard Edward tell Carlisle to escort Kate to the house while he got me calmed back down.
I quickly found an opening in the dense forest, and swooped down to land on the thick brush. My angel at her breaking point in my head, I shoved Edward against large tree, the growl rumbling from deep in my chest, “Stay…” before I turned and sniffed out our immediate area to make sure we were clear of scents.
When I was assured of our privacy, I stalked back to my Edward, a shiver taking over his frame as his eyes darkened in desire while watching me. As my chest pressed hard against his when I reached him, I slid my nose up his chest and neck, the rumble of a growl still evident as I tried to explain what was going on in my head, “Too many fucking females… you don’t smell like me… my angel demands it… needs it… I have to…”
I could smell his mounting arousal at my actions, but he only groaned deep in his throat in response. When I stepped back only enough to catch his gaze, his eyes were black as night, and a shudder of anticipation rocked through his entire frame as he assured me, “I’m yours, Isabella. I’ve always been only yours to claim.”
Knowing he was accepting, even with how uncontrollable I felt right now, caused something to break loose inside me. With a hissed ‘yes’ from deep in my chest, I ripped his shirt clean from his torso, my hands instantly returning to feel the skin bared to me. When I went to reach for the button of his jeans, though, Edward quickly stripped them off himself, reminding me that he needed something to return to the house in later.
A growl broke from my chest at the thought of someone else seeing my mate nude, then I nodded tightly, practically grunting as I shed my clothes, “My eyes only.” He grinned widely in response, pulling me to him as I finished, then quickly captured me in a deeply passionate kiss.
Pulling me down toward the leafy ground with him as our kiss deepened, he groaned loudly into my mouth as I perched myself on top of him. As his arousal skyrocketed, so did mine. I barely gave him time to settle below me before I was sliding down on his rock hard length with a needy whimper.
Rationality broke through for a split second then, causing me to halt my motion with wide eyes, but Edward shook his head, promising me as he pulled my hips down the last few inches, “We both need this, my lamb. We both need the our connection to be complete. I know it feels wild and uncontrollable, but I am made for you. You can’t hurt me.”
What followed wasn’t something sweet or gentle. It was nails digging into flesh, hips slapping, growls and hisses, nipping, biting, out of control... and so perfect. It was me and my angel claiming our mate fully, his ecstatic cry of my name as I bit clean through the flesh of the left side of his neck echoing through the forest around us in every direction. It was music to my ears, and served to extend my orgasm as he bit into his mark on my breast in return.
Panting as we came down from our mutual high, I tenderly kissed my mark after sealing the wound with a few slow licks. He hummed happily, so I looked at the result, pleased with how prominent it was. It was perfect, and with a small inhale, I was met with the deep calming scent of my mate… mixed perfectly with my own scent. It was heaven, but it caused me to blush at how I acted. Edward caught my action, chuckling, “Mhmm… no need to be shy now though, my little angel. Our mating is complete, which is what you needed to feel secure in our relationship. I knew this would happen sooner or later with how you reacted this morning. I don’t regret it one bit, and neither should you, no matter what spurred it to happen now.”
I nodded, but caught his eyes before saying, “I don’t regret it. I hope you know that. I just… Kate? You told me she has never once made a pass at you. I could see this being my reaction with Tanya or an unknown female, but Kate? I heard you say her name… Esme, too… but all I could think was that she was an unknown female who wasn’t mated. She was going to challenge me, and I was scared I would lose. I had to protect you… had to make you mine.”
He nodded, picking a few leaves from my hair, then kissed my lips lightly, “You needed the claiming as much as I did, Love. Our bond is now unbreakable, and we both carry our mate’s scent heavily. Alice doesn’t even carry Jasper’s scent this heavily, yet he led a life of war for so long. It’s a good thing, and will be sure to deter any curiosity.”
I nodded, cupping his face as I searched his eyes. They were overflowing with love and pride, making me chuckle, “You like carrying so much of my scent, don’t you?”
With a nod, he grinned widely, “I do. I love that we were able to claim each other so thoroughly… that we carry as much of each others scent as we do of our own. I’m yours, Isabella, just as you are mine. No one will ever challenge that now.”
We took our time getting redressed and walking back to the house, which I found we weren’t far from at all. I blushed when I realized just how close to the house we had been as we came into the back yard. Alice was there, smiling widely, clothes held outstretched as she offered, “Take your time cleaning up. Charlie and Carlisle have filled Kate in, but she already knew some of it, once she got a look at you. We aren’t at risk, so when you’re ready, come in.”
I nodded, taking the clothes, then said, “Yeah… guess I could’ve handled that a little better. We’ll be in soon.”
It didn’t take us 15 minutes before we were heading into the house, though I would have stretched the time, just to keep Edward to myself a bit longer. His mated scent… my scent inside him… caused my arousal to go crazy. I’d have to pull Dad aside to ask him about that sometime really soon, since I’d have to find a way to not rip Edward’s clothes from his body every time I inhaled his scent, or things could quickly become really weird.
Coming in through the back french doors, Kate stood from her place at the bar, a small smile on her face as she watched us enter. I went right to her, Edward’s hand firmly in mine, but what came out of my mouth was nothing I had planned to say. “I won’t apologize.”
She shook her head, “I won’t ask you to. My name’s Kate.”
I chuckled, nodding my head in acceptance before taking her offered hand, “I’m Bella.”
Edward chuckled at our little back and forth, then kissed my neck before explaining, “Kate caught our scents when she was heading toward our house. She made a split decision to see why our scents all came this way, hoping to find us. She wasn’t expecting to be blindsided by you, Love.”
I shrugged, but offered, “Unmated female entering my territory, and my mate was unclaimed. She was asking for it. We made up. Next subject.”
Kate nodded with a laugh, offering, “So we did. I originally came to warn the Cullens that there has been more of a Volturi presence in the US recently. Now, seeing you and hearing the true story, I fear for you all. You shouldn’t stay here. If they catch wind of you, with the birth of your angel so recent, you’ll be all but defenseless. You need time to gain strength before encountering any of them. Your powers need time to hone, and you need time to train.”
I looked to Edward, squeezed his hand slightly, then turned back to Kate. “Thank you for the warning. You might want to consider calling Eleazar, Carlisle. I don’t like the thought of your cousins being anywhere near the Volturi. I want them safe away from this.”
Kate must have been thinking something, because Edward shook his head, “No, Kate. It’s too dangerous.”
I turned in Edward’s arms, looking at him questioningly, so he explained, “Kate’s thinking of calling the rest, then having them meet us here. She wants to help… is thinking of Eleazar, and how he might be able to sense your powers… how we’ll need protect…”
Before Edward could finish his thought, his phone let out a shrill ring, his voice pausing mid-sentence as he pulled his phone out. The unknown number on his screen made his eyebrows furrow, but he answered with a cautious ‘hello’.
A deeply accented voice spoke. “Peace, young Cullen. A jet is on its way to you now, containing several guards. Please make sure you have what you need ready for the journey. We know of what is currently happening, as well as what happened yesterday evening. Safety awaits the two of you, as well as both the Cullen and Denali clans.”
Edward’s muscles relaxed slightly before he stated, “And security… you can guarantee each guard is loyal?”
A chuckle sounded on the other end of the line before the male spoke, “Loyal to a fault, as their species is known to be. Be at the private airport in Port Angeles tonight at sundown, young Cullen. Your safety is assured from that point on. Your coven mate can handle your protection until such time. Be well. We will see you soon.”
Carlisle looked at me with wide eyes as Edward clicked his phone shut. When the phone was back in Edward’s pocket, Carlisle breathed, “Weres… it must be. They must have rebuilt their forces in preparation. Edward, this is the best we could hope for, under the circumstances. Charlie, do your books say anything?”
Dad scratched the stubble on his chin in thought before offering, “Weres were said to help in protection, but it was long ago and they were thought to be decimated. If, when the Romanians went into hiding, they rebuilt their forces as you’re suggesting? It would make sense, Carlisle. They were loyal to the cause, and they protect to the death.”
Kate was immediately moving to the side of the room as she pulled her phone out, while Carlisle and Edward stepped to Jasper, who looked to already be thinking about how to keep us safe until we reached the plane. I went to Dad, hugged him tight, then whispered, “What do you need to do? What all do you need to take? I’ll help you get it packed.”
He shook his head as he explained, “It’s already packed. I need the three large trunks in the hidden area upstairs, and the suitcase I have packed already. I’ve been prepared to do whatever it takes to keep you safe for a very long time, Bells. I’m always ready incase we have the need to run. Let Edward help you pack a suitcase or two, so you’re ready when it’s time.”
I nodded, then Ali shook her head as she wrapped her arm in mine. “Nope, that’s my job, Chief. Her mate’s needed as protection for the trip to our house. Between him, Kate and Emmett, as well as my foresight while here, they should be good. Jasper’s staying here too, for Bella’s protection.”
I nodded, thinking it was a good plan. Edward’s advantage would let them know if someone was coming up on them, so they could get out quickly, while Em’s strength would be needed if the enemy somehow got too close. Kate going with them added firepower, with her shocking ability. It only took minutes for us all to separate into our groups, hurrying to get done what needed, Edward only stopping long enough to kiss me tenderly and tell me he would be back before I could miss him.
Ha… fat chance, Mr. Cullen.