"Tyler?" I called, in a normal voice. I knew he could hear me.
"Over here!" He yelled, which was silly, because I could hear him perfectly, even though he was a mile away. But he didn't know that. Yet.
I ran vampire speed to him. He would know what I was soon enough anyway. Carlisle and Esme knew, Edward suspected, but he probably wouldn't put two and two together until someone told him directly. Alice knew. It was only a matter of time before Tyler did.
"That was fast." He said coldly.
"Yeah, it was." I said.
"Well?"
"I need to ask you something." I sat down.
"Why don't you go ask Edward. He knows everything, doesn't he?"
I sighed. I had a feeling it was going to be this way.
"Tyler, please, this isn't about Edward, or anybody else. You're one of my best friends. I need to ask you something, will you please listen?" I pleaded softly.
"Fine. But you have to tell me something first."
"What do you want to know?" I asked cautiously.
"What's going on? These past few weeks you've been holding back, and then this happens, and you demand to see Carlisle? Whom you haven't even met? Why are Alice and Edward worried? Why are you suddenly all...in control? Like you know what your doing?" It all came out at once.

This is what I was afraid of. I tried to tell him. I tried to let him know. I moved my mouth, but nothing came out. I tried to force myself to say something, anything! But all I could say was,
"I can't answer your questions." I said softly.
"Why not?!" He yelled. "You seem perfectly capable of letting everyone else know what's going on! Why can't you tell me?!"
I cringed. "It's not because I don't want to it's because I can't!" I whispered.
"I'm sick of you always hiding something. Ana. Don't think I've never noticed it! I've been completely honest with you, and you tell me nothing! And then you have the guts to say we're best friends?"
"Tyler..." I choked out.
"No, Ana. I'm leaving. I can't...deal with this. I'll see you around." He hadn't turned around to face me the whole time. He ran out of the clearing we were in, and somehow, I knew I would never see his face again.
"I hope Tanya makes you happy." I whispered, knowing he could hear me perfectly, even though he was getting farther away.
My almost dead heart broke.
For the first, and last, time.

~*~

"I hope Tanya makes you happy." The wind carried the whisper as I ran. I ran towards where Tanya was. Being with Tanya always made me feel better. She might not know it yet, but I knew we were destined to be mates. Sure I would lose spending everyday with the Cullens, but it's not like we couldn't visit or anything. I knew the Cullens would want me to be happy. Apparently, so did Ana. Ana. She wouldn't trust me enough to tell me what the heck was going on. I hated being left out. I knew this had something to do with the war. Carlisle had said that the war was coming to it's climax. Something big was going to happen. But what did Ana have to do with it? She was just a human!
I sighed. Whatever happened next, I would get through it. With Tanya, the woman I loved.

~*~

Tears fell one by one. My stupid protection! I loved being able to protect people. I loved my gift! But this was one of the times I was not so happy with it. It had shut me down completely, so that I couldn't share with Tyler anything, in case he broke my heart. I guess a broken heart wasn't inevitable, but apparently breaking my heart soon than later was better for me. I supposed it didn't matter in the end. A week and a day...

I sat there and thought. Marcus would be here sooner than the other two. I would have to pick a side, there was no escaping the Volturi. So what did I want? Did I want vampires in control? Or did I want things to stay the same? Vampires in charge? I shuddered. The death, the murder that would ensue. The humans... Whatever my kind thought, we were not superior to them. Humans had a right to live, to have futures, that didn't involve horrendous bloodshed. I sighed. My decision was made. Now it was time to inform Carlisle.

I walked into the Cullen's living room, where everyone was gathered. Alice and Jasper, Emmett and Rose, Edward and Bella, Carlisle and Esme. I smiled at my dear friend and his mate. Esme was wonderful and perfect for him, I was extremely happy for Carlisle.

"I've made my decision." I said quietly when everyone looked at me. "I'm going with Marcus." I looked up, and saw Carlisle smiling at me.
"We are too." He said. "As a family."
I looked up, shocked. "Carlisle! No! Your family!" I gasped, looking around at everyone, so happy with each other. I couldn't allow them to fight, when one or more of them might be destroyed!
"Anastasia. We'll be okay." Carlisle soothed me. I suspect Jasper also had something to do with it.
I sighed and nodded. I would allow it, but only because I could protect them. They would never leave my shield.
"We have to prepare. Alice, pack something for everyone, but it needs to be able to travel with us. We're going to be camping for a little bit."
I could almost feel Jasper's excitement. It was inevitable. He was an army guy after all.
"Hey Ana, where's Ty?" Emmett asked me, noticing his absence.
"Tyler won't being joining us." I said stiffly.
"What? Why?"
"He's gone to spend sometime with Tanya and her coven."
Everyone stood shocked for a moment, until Esme stepped in and told everyone to start packing.
I walked over to the bay windows and stared out into the forest. A war was going to happen, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

~*~

"Is she okay?" Bella asked me as we went to our room to start packing.
"I think so. Tyler...wasn't very happy with her. But, Ana is strong." I told her, putting some music CD's in our suitcase.
"Is that why Tyler left? Because he was mad at her?"
"Tyler wanted to know what was going on. And for some reason, Ana can't tell him." I said, explaining to her the situation. I was startled when Bella's arms came around me, her cheek to my back.
"Does she love him?" She asked me quietly.
"Yes. Unfortunately, he can't see that." I sighed. Ana was hurting, I had read that off Jasper's mind in the living room. There was nothing we could do about it. I pulled Bella around and into my arms, kissing her softly. There was no one I loved more than this impossibly beautiful woman in my arms. When I pulled away, Bella had that soft smile she always had after I kissed her.
"I love you," I whispered, staring into her topaz eyes.
"I love you too," She smiled, her eyes twinkling.