Prelude
I long ago decided to give up on love.
Not in general - nothing could diminish the love I felt for my 'adoptive' parents, Carlisle and Esme, or my 'foster' brothers and sisters - Rosalie, Emmett, Alice and Jasper.
But, just as we lived as 'vegetarian' vampires - consuming only the blood of animals - I'd decided to live a celibate life, too.
In the century since I'd left my human life behind, I'd had many opportunities to, well, not be celibate. But no woman - human, or vampire - had yet to engage my heart and mind in a way that made taking the chance on love seem worth it.
My mother and sisters - especially Alice - continued to insist that love would, indeed, find a way.
But I'd decided that a hundred years was long enough to wait. It was easier, and healthier, to be happy by myself.
I should never have bet against Alice.