After my run in with the poachers, I decided to stick close to the Denali's house when I hunted. Esme was right about the temptation being ever present and it almost took two poacher's lives to realize that fact. Animal blood was delicious, but it took more effort to make it taste human than it would to just take down a human. The thought of less effort meant my appetite for humans was still alive and kicking.

Why did I even care?

I couldn't dwell on that question for long because Eleazar cornered me, figuratively speaking that is, and started to drill me about my abilities. What little information I gave fascinated him. He surmised a lot of what I could do without me telling him. Even I was coming to the conclusion that Eleazar too had a gift—the gift of knowing me better than myself. That kind of bothered me because I was a control freak.

"Logan, do you know how far your ability goes?" Eleazar's voice trilled. Carlisle was standing next to Eleazar, his eyes were wide with anticipation. He reminded me of a kid at Christmas.

I hesitated as I was still unsure how much I was willing to give out. All the things I have done thus far were never preplanned nor explained fully. Even when I explained my gift to the Cullens on the first day, I glossed over most of everything.

Edward sensed my hesitation and looked at me for permission to speak. I nodded. He sounded like my defense attorney when he spoke. "Eleazar, Logan is still getting to know the family. I don't think he's quiet comfortable being under a microscope."

Thank you, Counselor Cullen, I thought.

Carlisle jumped in. "I am sorry, Logan. I am sure Eleazar meant no disrespect. He can help you hone your talents so you can better control them and protect yourself."

Emmett was sitting on the couch pretending to read a book. A book? He looked hot reading a book. He looked up to see that I was staring and said, "Might as well tell them. They aren't going to leave you alone until you give them everything. It'll be okay, trust me."

Alice giggled. I could see she was having a vision. I chose to ignore whatever the giggle was about. Emmett looked annoyed.

But Emmett had said trust. I trusted him. So, his trust in Carlisle and Eleazar was sufficient for me to trust them as well. And with that little mental connect the dots, my hesitation was gone and the walls of confidentiality fell.

I waved Eleazar and Carlisle to follow me outside into a clearing not far from the Denali's home. As it turned out, their whole family—Cullen and Denali alike—followed. Great, a circus show and I was center ring!

I gave them examples of what I could do. With my mind, I uprooted a large tree from the ground and threw it across the clearing with ease, making sure the mass passed through me in the process. As I phased through the tree, the look of interest in Eleazar beamed with the intensity of a lighthouse. I finished my show by shattering the treet into a trillion pieces when it hit the ground. All that remained was a thin wind-swept dust.

Eleazar was still as a statue for a minute. "You're gift is powerful and multi-faceted. But I can see where your downside is. Would you like me to share it with you in private?"

That was disconcerting to say the least. He knew my downside? My weakness? I always prided myself in knowing everything about body and how I functioned—even my limits. It was a scientific curiosity almost. It drove my interest in the world around me. I also prided myself on knowing that nobody else knew where I could stop. Fear that I couldn't stop worked on so many occasions that I could almost lose count if I wasn't a vampire.

I looked to Emmett who gave me a reassuring smile. All was right in the world. How the hell did he do that? And better question—why the hell do I keep looking for it?

"Go ahead," I said to Eleazar. "Say your piece."

"Very well," he said back. "Logan, your ability is fueled by the control you exert. The more control you have, the more powerful you can become. The opposite is the same when you lack control and for vampires, that would be blood.

"Can I assume that the more you use your ability, the more blood you need to consume as a consequence?"

I nodded in agreement. Eleazar had just convinced me he was gifted as well.

He continued, "So the longer you go without blood, the harder it is to use your ability. Your body's appearance, for example, would more closely resemble a typical vampire."

"Blood red eyes and pasty white skin?" Rose's voice was incredulous.

I nodded again. "Would you like to see?"

Nobody said anything, but the anticipation coming from everyone save Emmett permeated the clearing. Emmett had already seen my pasty white exterior on the first day we met.

I found a spot of sunlight and bathed myself in it. Nothing but a glow reflected off my tan skin. Then, as if I flipped a light switch, I let the skin pigmentation disappear and my default skin turn on. It was opal white, like no color existed at all. I shimmered like diamonds too.

I let the pigment leave my eyes and I sought out a puddle on the ground. My blood red eyes stared back at me in the murky water.

Jasper approached and peered deep into my eyes. "I can't see any tinge of gold in your eyes. You haven't slaughtered any humans today, have you?"

I laughed. "Nope, not today. Just some grizzlies."

I flipped the switch again and felt my familiar hues return to me. This was my skin. The other skin and eyes were someone else's.

Eleazar continued to give a rundown of where my ability ended. All this I knew so I let my eyes drift to Emmett and kept them there. He kept his on me as well.

An eternity passed.

In the background, I heard Elezar continue to speak. He went on and on about how energy is never destroyed nor created, just transferred and how that rule applied to my ability and blood. Carlisle was equally involved in the conversation. Drawing out hypotheses and conclusion.

It was all gibberish on me. Emmett had smiled at me again. It was as if the world evaporated save he and I.

"Logan?" Emmett asked me. "… … … Logan?"

Emmett approached and tugged on my shoulder. Electricity shot from my arm to the pit of my soul and a hum overtook my ears. My pants got tight too. I shook my head and took stalk of my surroundings.

Eleazar and Carlisle were still talking amongst themselves with the rest of the family eagerly listening. Only Emmett was looking at me. He had a look of concern on his face. "What's going on?" he asked.

I want to be with you for all eternity, was the first thought out of my brain. I looked around Emmett's taut frame and sought out Edward's reaction. Damn, mind scanner. He had a crooked smile plastered on his face, but other than that he didn't react.

"Hello?" Emmett asked. "Are you okay?"

Hell yes, I'm okay you studly stud man. I coughed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

Emmett said in his loud, booming voice, "Yeah, I think Logan is getting tired of the microscope. Time to talk about someone else." That was meant for everyone. I appreciated his protection of me more than he would ever know.

I thanked him silently.

A/N: Slightly revised in January 2013.