A/N- this fanfic I am working on along with my other, Mistakes Happen. This fanfic is totally original, I thought of it myself without reading anyone elses. I may have some flaws in my writing, I'm not quite comfortable with the time period. Please feel free to correct me and give me ideas.

Here is the background information you'll need to know- This story takes place when Edward first came to Forks, Washington, before Bella is even alive. Alice and Jasper are not living with them at the time. It's a story explaining why Edward is so strongly set against letting Bella near werewolves. The story switches between Edward's point of view (EPOV), Ana's point of view (APOV) and Ephraim Black's point of view (BPOV). keep these in mind.

Please read, enjoy, review! I'll try to update once or twice a week. And now, Edward's Reason!

EPOV

"It's perfect!" Esme mused as she scurried over to the door of the worn white mansion and stroked it lovingly. I faked a smile, pretending to be pleased by this large white mansion in the middle of nowhere. Carlisle smiled next to me, his thoughts revolving around how pleased he was that he'd found a place that the family seemed to like. It was nice enough, I guess. Here in Forks, Washington it would almost always be rainy. Since this was the case then that meant that my family could spend a multitude of our time outside without fear.

"Check this clearing," I heard Emmett call from behind me, his thoughts immediately racing through the possibilities of wrestling matches we could have there. I stifled a groan. It was times like this when I wished that Emmett had someone else to tussle with all the time. Rosalie swept past me towards where Esme stood by the door.

"It is rather lovely," she admitted, peaking through the doorway. She spun around and looked at Carlisle, her hands coming to rest on her hips. "Are we going to do a little remodeling job?"

Carlisle chuckled. At least I won't have to worry about that anymore. "Of course Rosalie," he answered easily, a slight smile touching his lips. "That can be yours and Esme's job if you wish." I watched Esme and Rosalie's faces turn anxious as plans swam through their head. I politely blocked their thoughts as they requested the renovation to be a surprise.

"Wanna wrestle Edward?" Emmett asked, sneaking up as best he could to attempt to tackle me from behind. I sidestepped as he leapt, his arms stretched wide in front of him. I sighed impatiently, turning towards Carlisle to see if there was anything I could do.

"Go wrestle with Rosalie," I shot back, not in the mood to deal with Emmett. Party pooper. Emmett's mind scoffed as he scowled at my retreating back.

Carlisle sat beside the house, a large book in his hands. I blocked out his thoughts as his eyes scanned the pages in sheer boredom. He glanced up at me as I approached, his eyes dropping back to the small print on the page as I stopped.

"Yes son?" He asked softly, his eyes never leaving the book as he flipped to the next page. I couldn't exactly refer to myself as Carlisle's son. Though he was my father in countless ways, he was not my biological father. I didn't deserve the trust and faith this man put into me, especially after I'd left him only years ago. Even then he'd let me go, believing I would do the right thing, make the right choice. I glanced at the ground as my mind relived those days. If I were to fill Carlisle in on every detail of what I'd been doing I was positive he would frown upon me. I just couldn't bring myself to admit it, I was too ashamed. That's why I had come back.

"Is there anything I can do here?" I questioned, looking around the small woods that surrounded our safe haven. Carlisle sighed quietly to himself as he wondered lightly if he had made the right choice still. I kept my eyes averted, trying to block his thoughts of doubt.

"You should hunt," Carlisle suggested, waiting until I finally met his eyes before he spoke. I nodded and sighed. I'd been lenient on the diet when I had been alone and, except for the undying guilt and slight anguish of the constant loneliness, I'd preferred it. Now that I was with Carlisle and he had obtained a full coven for which we stayed with, I had no choice but to stick to animal blood.

"Sounds like a plan," I accepted, the burn in my throat growing more pronounced. I nodded to him before I departed, heading towards the babbling river behind the house. I lengthened my strides, my pace quickening, and bounded over the river without breaking stride. I continued through the forest, enjoying the silence as the thoughts of my family faded away as the distance between us grew. Maybe this was why I'd left Carlisle in the first place, I didn't always enjoy the constant buzz of the thoughts around me. I cherished what little serenity the world had left to offer me.

A small clearing was just beyond the trees. I sped up, a seemingly impossible feat, to reach the small break in the dense trees. I had always loved to run, now more then ever with the speed I could accumulate. I broke from the trees into the small clearing. I could see mountains in the distance, the clouds dipping low to obscure the tip. I closed my eyes and breathed in deep, taking in the sounds around me, giving myself over to the most inhumane side of me. In the distance I could hear a beating heart, followed by a light licking sound and a few other accompanying hearts. A small herd of deers. I sighed, I'd been hoping for a mountain lion perhaps. I squatted, opening my eyes halfway, and prepared to launch forward.

Oh my!

An unexpected thought broke my concentration and I snapped back to my feet and scanned the trees. I'd been so focused on the hunt that I hadn't even considered that someone might be approaching me. I heard something stir in the brush beside a tree across the opening. I cautiously strode towards it, stopping a few feet away.

Oh no, I'm done.

I took a few more curious steps closer. If there were thoughts, then why wasn't there a heartbeat? I thought Carlisle had claimed there were no other vampires in this general area. I stretched my hand forward and pulled the tall weeds aside. Something shot forward and stood level to my face.

I found myself staring into the piercing red eyes of another vampire.