BPOV

Running never got old. I would do it all day, if I could. I wasn't going as fast as I would have liked because I was keeping pace with Tanya. We were running to my spot, a place I'd found one time while hunting and declared it as mine. I went there when I needed to think or just to see something beautiful for a while. I sometimes invited the girls to come with me when I needed to talk but most of the time I liked to come alone.

It was a certain point along the Kasilof River where there was a tree with a low branch stretching out above the water. I could sit there for hours on end gazing at the deep blue of the water, watching the fish swim around beneath, or staring at the mountain on the other side.

It was quite far from our home but I enjoyed the long run to get there. When we finally arrived and climbed into the tree, we each chose a branch to relax on. I, of course, chose the one hanging over the water. Tanya chose one just a few feet above me. I took a deep breath, taking in the mountain air and the smell of the fresh water. My whole body relaxed and I closed my eyes to just revel in the calm and peaceful atmosphere.

"I can't wait until he gets here," Tanya said.

"Me either. I can't imagine you going crazy over a guy. I'm very intrigued," I replied.

"It's just that he's so special, B," she crooned.

"Well tell me about him. I don't even know his name."

"Edward."

I had to open my eyes and look up at her. She said his name like a prayer. Her tone was soft and reverent. "Bella he's beautiful and I know that because he's a vampire he has no choice but to be, but he is the most beautiful vampire I've ever seen. I've seen a lot of vampires Bella and he makes all others look like big piles of monkey poo."

An unexpected laugh bubbled out of me shaking my whole body. "I can't believe you just said monkey poo!" I laughed.

She giggled with me and rolled onto her stomach and straddled the branch so that she was looking down at me. "Well it's true! You have to see him to understand, because I'm not exaggerating at all. And it's more than just the looks, he's brilliant, selfless, talented, and good. He's so loyal to his family and loves so hard and with his whole heart, Bella. He plays and composes these phenomenal piano pieces," she said. "The piano that we have at home, I bought it just for him, so that he could play whenever he's here. Bella, I just can't wait until you meet him. I just know you'll love him."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, more than that I couldn't believe who I was hearing it from. Since I had joined the family, Tanya had been with five different guys. I had never seen her in action but I knew from the stories she told that she was a love em and leave em type of girl. Irina and Kate usually stayed with a guy for a while but not Tanya. I never thought that I would hear her gushing over a guy like this.

"Oh my God," I finally replied incredulously. "Tanya you really like him."

Tanya stared down at me with a blank expression. "Ya think?" she said sarcastically.

"I've just never heard you talk like this, before. I think I'm a little weirded out."

"Bella, I'm being serious here!" she whined.

"Okay, okay!" I said putting my hands up in surrender to let her know that I was ready to continue our seriousness. "But Tanya if you feel like that why aren't you two together?" I asked.

She sighed and turned again so that I was looking up at her back. I hadn't missed the forlorn look in her eyes though.

"It's just like Irina said! We've been playing this ridiculous game of cat and mouse for fifty years. He runs so hot and cold, B. One day he'll be all over me and saying the sweetest things, and the next day he'll be distant and standoffish," she said.

"Fifty years! Tanya why the hell are you still bothering with this guy! You could have any guy you want and you're pining for this prick?" I exclaimed. I knew that Tanya was old as dirt and that fifty was probably nothing to her but to me it was a long ass time.

"He's not a prick! He's perfect!" she screeched. "We don't see each other that often but each time it gets better for us. He'll get there Bella and I'm willing to wait until he does!"

"Who are you? Am I still talking to Tanya of the Denali coven?"

"Bella I'm going to chalk your attitude up to the fact that you've never met him and therefore cannot possibly understand," Tanya snapped and jumped out of the tree.

I couldn't help but laugh again. She was behaving so unTanyalilke. She grumbled unintelligibly as she hit the ground and took off back toward home.

"I'm sorry Tanya! You know I love you! I can't wait to meet the undeserving object of your affections!" I called out to her. She didn't reply but I knew she heard me.

Despite my less than sympathetic response to her story, I knew that Tanya's feelings for this guy ran deep and I truthfully couldn't wait to meet this Edward Cullen.

EPOV

Coming to see the Denali Coven was always a nerve-wracking thing for me. I knew that I would have to deal with Tanya's advances but I couldn't be mad at her. I hadn't consistently shown her that they were unwelcome. Living with three perfectly matched couples who were so completely and devastatingly in love was hard for me. I had to listen to their loving thoughts and see their salacious memories all the while I remained alone.

Tanya was beautiful, smart, and fun. I wanted what my family had, I wanted it bad and Tanya wanted me. I knew that I didn't love her the way that my family loved their mates but sometimes I wondered if I just gave her a chance could we have something close to what everyone else had. She was wonderful and I could come up with no reason as to why I wasn't in love with her other than the fact that I just wasn't. So sometimes I welcomed her advances and even encouraged them so that I could maybe force or will myself into feeling what she felt for me.

As we pulled up in front of the palatial pad that was home to the Denali women, I sighed and slowly got out of the car. I didn't move any further though and neither did Alice or Jasper. The others paused also to see what was stopping us.

"What's wrong Edward?" came Carlisle's thoughts as I stared in confusion at the house.

"Something's not right," I whispered.

"I see us walking into an empty house," Alice murmured. "But I clearly hear them in there breathing."

"I don't feel them," Jasper said grabbing Alice's elbow and pulling her behind him.

"And I can't hear any thoughts," I added. "Something is wrong."

Jasper's mind was already preparing for some kind of battle. He didn't know what was inside the house but his instincts told him that it was dangerous. Alice was just frustrated that her visions were offering her nothing but us going into an empty house and then talking to thin air. I wasn't sure whatever was inside was dangerous but I had this all consuming urge to just get inside. I was oddly drawn to the house.

"Maybe we should spread out. Emmett you and Rose go around back..," Jasper began but was cut off by Kate who burst out of the front door.

"Everyone calm down. Nothing's wrong, it's just Bella," she said smiling at us smugly.

"What's going on," Jasper asked still cautious and standing in front of Alice protectively.

"Bella's a shield. She can block other gifts. She has all of us under it right now," Kate explained

That was all Carlisle needed. He began to quickly make his way inside towing Esme in along with him. His thoughts were filled with curiosity about this new powerful vampire. We all followed behind. I had to admit, I was pretty curious too. My gift had never been rendered ineffective like this before.

We followed Kate to the living room. Seeing the Denali's but not hearing their thoughts like I usually did was unsettling and it made me feel a little on edge. Jasper and Alice's thoughts revealed they were feeling the same.

"I don't like this, Edward. Would it be rude to ask this girl to stop shielding. I mean we clearly aren't here to hurt her or her sisters," Alice thought.

I just shrugged in response because I didn't know the girl and didn't know how she would respond.

"Bella that's Carlisle and his wife Esme. Rosalie and her husband Emmett. Alice and her husband Jasper, and that is Edward," Tanya said pointing to everyone as she said their names and I didn't miss the extra emphasis she put on mine. "Everyone, this is Bella."

Luckily no one caught my ragged gasp. She was magnificent. She was petite but had nicely rounded hips and perfect breasts. Her silken mahogany hair fell down her back and shoulders. Her lips were plump and cherry red. Her limbs were long, slender, and looked deceptively delicate because since she was a vampire I knew that she was anything but. Her huge golden doe eyes sparkled as she smiled widely making her way down the line of my family shaking their hands.

"It's wonderful to finally meet you. I've heard great things about you," Bella said to Carlisle as she clasped his hand in both of hers. The sound of her voice was like the tinkle of silver wind chimes and made my stomach churn in a way that was not at all unpleasant.

I watched as she hugged Esme, shook Rosalie's hand and then moved to Emmett. I gasped again as Emmett pulled her into a tight hug that lifted her off the ground and the room filled with her joyous childlike laughter. I instantly deemed it as my favorite sound in the world. She gave Alice a hug and gasped as she shook Jasper's hand. She held it longer than the other's as she stared into his face. Her eyes filled with awe as she stepped closer to him. Jasper just smiled shyly. He was used to all kinds of reactions as people saw his scars for the first time.

Bella raised her hand and brought it close to Jasper's face but quickly pulled it away and bowed her head as if embarrassed. She was adorable.

"I'm sorry," she murmured and released his hand. "I hope I haven't offended you," she said.

"Not at all, Bella. I take everyone by surprise," he assured her. She grinned at him and let her eyes roam his face for a few more seconds before moving on. I realized that I was the only one left. She moved to me and as her eyes met mine, I was instantly lost, drowning in their molten depths.

She extended her hand to me and I quickly took it. My hand swallowed her tiny one and I gasped yet again as a million volts of electric desire ignited in my palm and up my arm. I wanted her.

"Edward," she said nodding her head respectfully at me. She let go of my hand and turned her back to me.