Chapter Text
Chapter One
“She's a bit plainer than I thought she'd be with the way he was going on and on about her,” Kate muttered quietly beside her.
Tanya frowned, shaking her head slightly in disagreement. “I don't know, I think she's pretty. Her confidence could certainly use a boost, but that might just be because she's uncomfortable with crowds.” She could feel her sister's gaze on her and chanced a quick glance before looking back towards the couple at the altar. “What?”
“Nothing, nothing. It's just, that's high praise for you.” She paused, leaning closer until she could whisper in her ear. “It kind of makes me wonder if you're a bit more interested in her than you should be? She's to be family, after all.”
“Yes, Kate, I'm aware and I assure you, that's not what this is. It's been decades since we last welcomed someone into the family...” Tanya frowned again, acutely aware of Irina’s pain. “Well,” she started sympathetically but Kate was already nodding to show she knew what she was going to say.
“They never should've sent him to us in the first place. What were they thinking?! Are they going to reveal our territory to any wayward human drinkers they run across for us to train?! How would they react if we -?”
“Hush now,” she soothed, squeezing her knee comfortingly as Kate watched their sister shift beside Carmen, her pain visible to anyone who looked. “I've already spoken with Carlisle on the matter. He knows he crossed a line and has promised me they won’t do it again. I know you're upset for Irina, but take comfort in the knowledge that her mate is still out there.”
“She said she loved him, T.”
“I know,” she conceded. “But she also admitted he wasn't her mate. She's not going to be alone forever and this pain will pass with time.” She had to believe that. She had to believe that one day, she'd see her sister smile again.
“I hope you're right.”
As she watched Carmen approach Bella, Tanya was further convinced the girl needed a serious boost in confidence. Her gaze barely left the ground in front of her and when it did, it was only for the quickest glance at whoever was greeting her before looking towards Edward to take the lead. Perhaps those insecurities would fade once she was turned? Tanya hoped so. It'd be a shame if someone so pretty and kind remained the unsure, timid, and docile wife standing in her husband's shadow that she saw now.
Edward cleared his throat, bringing her out of her musings. She looked up to see a glimmer of anger lurking in his eyes as he subtly pulled Bella further against his side despite her clear discomfort at the public display. Not offering an apology, not thinking he deserved one when he was reading her personal thoughts, she smiled and turned towards Bella to offer her congratulations.
Her breath stuttered out of her as she met Bella's gaze for the first time. All her thoughts came to a screeching halt as one crisp, clear word echoed in her mind.
‘Ours.’
No. No! She faltered, her horrified gaze shooting towards Edward in disbelief. ‘You lied! You said she was your mate but she's not!’ she sent towards him. Rage, anguish, and betrayal were vying to come out on top as she stayed rooted to the spot in disbelief.
His eyes darkened, his grip on Bella's waist tightening as he grinned. He didn't need to speak for her to understand the message. ‘She's mine now.’
“Irina, come say hello to Bella.” She heard Carmen encourage and numbly watched the confrontation play out, spiraling rapidly out of her control as Irina's grief got the best of her.
Everything in her was screaming for her to tell Bella what she'd discovered. She wanted to tell her family she'd finally found her mate, tell them what Edward had done but she couldn't. Not when she could see the love and devotion on Bella's face as she gazed longingly at Edward. She was happy, that would need to be enough. Tanya refused to cause any more harm, physical or emotional, to come to her mate. And if that meant leaving without saying anything, so be it.
She had to hope that once Bella was turned, once she'd be able to feel the absence of a mating bond with Edward, they'd find their way back to each other. She just prayed Edward wouldn't find a way to keep them apart forever.
“I'm sorry,” she said softly, unwillingly tearing her gaze from Bella as she allowed Kate to pull her away so they could follow after Irina.
“Are you alright?” Kate asked, concern evident on her face.
Tanya forced herself to smile and nod once. “I'm worried about Irina, is all.”
She knew if Kate found out about her mate, if she discovered that Edward had lied to Bella and everyone else and that he knew Bella was truly Tanya's mate but insisted on keeping them apart, their covens’ already tenuous relationship would be shattered. With Irina still grieving and her own pain over her mate being in love with another, their coven was too fragile at the moment. They wouldn't win in a fight if it came to it.
Besides, she could never harm her mate in such a way.
No, she would bear this burden alone.