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Third POV | Atlas's Perspective

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The week passed slowly, like watching a candle burn in a quiet room. Nothing moved on the surface, but time was moving at its pace, no matter how slow it seemed to Atlas.

It didn't help his vampiric mind process information at enhanced perception making everything seems extra slow.

The week long wait for his date seems more long than it was supposed to, at least message from Alice and Rosalie did help somewhat.

Atlas had never been the type to fixate on his phone. But lately, he found himself checking it more than usual. The vibration of a new message from either Rosalie or Alice made him carry his phone every moment.

He waited for their messages

The conversation he had with both were completely different. Well that to be expected their personalities were very different with each. But despite that he equally enjoyed both their topics.

With Rosalie it started practical- cars, engines, their development, modifications and evolved naturally into something flirtatious. But it never felt forced. Rosalie was sharp, bold, unapologetic. Atlas respected that. There was strength in her, and something vulnerable beneath it. Something she hadn't let many see.

Many times our conversation reached the time when she was human and every time it abruptly ended she reached the poin of her turning.

She hesitated to tell me thinking I would judge her and see her differently, see her not a proper lady, not pure.

He knows her story and her insecurities. It didn't change anything to him. But she didn't know that.

He wanted to tell her badly that he know everything and It didn't matter to him, the actions of those beast didn't make her any less. He wanted to tell her that many times to make her not feel so vulnerable yet he control himself and waited for her to tell him herself.

It is the only way to make her feel not lesser to his other halfs. Not feel she was giving him less than others. To let her realise that love is not transactional.

But he too knows he cannot force this. Only by winning her trust can this be possible.

.

His messages with Alice by contrast, was light, observational like someone who already knew how everything would unfold but wanted to enjoy the slow rhythm of it anyway.

Many times she would message and tease him for using his abilities for every little things like tying his shoe laces, brewing his coffee or even flipping pages of his book.

Atlas knew his abilities had made him a bit lazy but he never admitted to her, he always argued that using them also took efforts no matter how untrue that was.

The continuous training of his abilities had made them a second instinct to him. He can use them as easily as breathing if he's not doing some heavy lifting that is.

By this point he can use his Psychic energy to perfrom five distinct abilities. First and most used: Telekinesis. Second and best for his business: Telepathy. Third and the spine of his business empire: Artificial bond creation and manipulation. Four and most lethal: Pyrokinesis. And finally fifth and probably most useful: pure psychic energy manipulation that lets him do many things like energy projection, body enhancement and thought acceleration.

He's also developing a sixth ability for the happiness of his mates and he's halfway through doing so but let's not talk about that and focus on his and Alice interaction.

The more he spoke, the more natural it felt. Alice didn't push. She simply was open, intuitive, and oddly comforting. She teased, sure, but beneath that was a quiet intensity and posesiveness. She had seen the future, after all. A future where their lives were intertwined. That certainty carried weight for her.

Leaving aside their conversation what surprised Atlas was how easily Rosalie and Alice acknowledged each other.

It seems they have long decided to share him before they even met him. He had tried to find if Rosalie has any reserve thoughts about it but he couldn't

Every time he asked whether directly or indirectly he always received a reply that said she was content.

He also mentioned Renée and they said they were fine though Atlas sensed bit hesitation in Rosalie but that was normal.

And when he told Renée her smile answered before her words did. She was completely fine. She has longed came terms with sharing and she said that I was honestly too much for one person, vampire or otherwise.

Infact she even said that with her two new sister it would be enough for her to conquer his evil and ugly dragon.

When she said that Atlas spanked her meaty ass and said she wishes.

The week although slow was fun and enough to prepare him and the girls for their crazy life ahead.

Meanwhile, Bella's week was quieter. And heavier.

Edward hadn't returned to school since that first day. No calls. No prior notice beforehand. No explanation.

Bella tried to hide her disappointment, but it seeped through. In the way she stared out the window longer during car rides. In how she didn't finish her breakfast. In the way she stopped asking about Forks and just… drifted.

No matter what she says she had some expectations of her mate but now that he was running away from her, clearly distancing himself from her, it hurt her more than Bella wants to admit.

And it didn't take much for that week long disappointment and hurt to turn anger and loathing that even their mate bond could cater. She already wanted to transfer the bond to Atlas as she already liked or even loved him but at his request she was willing to give her mate at least a choice.

But it resulted into disappointment and now she doesn't want anything to do with Edward.

Her behaviour were also noticed by Atlas and Renée who gave him multiple look that said "I told she will get hurt." "You should have transferred the bond before my baby girl broke her heart."

This continued till friday until Bella finally confronted him. When she came to him that Friday night long after the rest of the house had gone quiet he knew something had shifted.

"I want it gone," Bella said, standing in the doorway of his study, arms crossed tightly across her growing chest. Her eyes were glassy, but she wasn't crying. For once she was wearing proper cloth.

He set his book down.

"The bond?"

She nodded. "If he doesn't want it, doesn't want me then what's the point of keeping it?"

He took a deep breath. "Bella… mate bonds don't work like strings you can just cut."

She stepped forward. "But they can be transferred. You told me once."

He didn't answer right away. Her gaze locked onto his.

"I love you," she said, voice low. "I've loved you since before I understood what that meant. You know that, don't you?"

Of course he did. He would be a blind otherwise.

He had seen it in the little things: the way she lingered in doorways, the way her touches lasted a second too long, the way she wore barely-there clothes during summer mornings in Phoenix, hair messy, eyes watching him over her cereal bowl.

He had seen it all and felt it too.

"Bella…" he started, but she cut him off gently.

"I know I'm not your only one," she said. "And frankly I don't care. I know that's what being with you means. I'm not asking to replace anyone. I'm asking for a chance to belong."

He looked at her, and the room felt too still.

"I'll do it," he said. "On your birthday. But only if you're sure. And…" he hesitated. "I still want you to talk to him. Just once. If you still want this after that I'll transfer the bond."

Bella's eyes brightened not in excitement, but with quiet gratitude. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"Thank you," she whispered.

When she pulled away and walked out with an extra spring to her feet, Atlas stood alone, her warmth lingering. His thoughs complicated.

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[An: So there's already 20+ Chapters on my Patr**n. So if you guys want to read more. Go to my Patr*on/41_Claws. There are currently 20 advance unedited chapters on it…]

Ps~Donate Powerstone for extra chapter tomorrow.

A new week, renewed hope. This time we shall not fall, fail to reach hundred stones milestone for that juicy extra chapter.

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