A/N - Thank you so very much for the reviews and love last chapter. I hope y'all enjoyed your teaser.

I would just like to mention that for the first four chapters of this story my beta was Alice Lovell / See My Evil.

From Chapter 6 onwards my beta is Melissa Rae / Moon920. I had put this in my A/N notes on previous chapters but for some reason FF is not picking up my edits. Feckers.

BPOV

The sun was streaming through the verdant canopy, throwing dapples of light on the soft forest floor as I moved among the trees. My surroundings were unfamiliar until I came across the clearing where the cabin stood in the woods. I spied a little boy and girl the same age playing in the dirt at their mother's feet. She was hanging clothes out on the line singing a folk song my grandmother used to sing to me as a girl.

"Mama!" the little girl pointed towards me. "Someone's coming!"

Long red hair whipped around as she turned in the direction her daughter was pointing, everything slowing down to a pace that was unnatural, then sped back up again as she faced me. Agony and despair crept across the beautiful woman's face as she positioned herself quickly in front of her frightened children, her skirts curtaining them from my view.

I quickly discovered it was not my presence that alarmed her.

I heard the thundering, rhythmic pound of many paws behind me. Turning to look at what was barreling down my path, my eyes widened at the shock of seeing four enormous wolves. My first thought was that I would be trampled. My second thought was that they looked exactly like the charcoal drawing of the wolves running through the forest in the book. I folded in on myself placing my hands over my head turning my back to them to brace for impact. To my surprise, their bodies passed through me like air.

I was only a ghostly witness to this scene. I sighed in relief but the fear for the woman and her children was burgeoning in my gut.

A large white wolf broke from the pack and rushed at the woman and children turning on it's heels to growl and snap at the rest. His hackles were raised as he bared his teeth at his brothers. He was protecting the family!

Two smaller wolves flanked the gigantic black beast that must have been the Alpha. They growled low while the imperious Alpha sat back on his haunches and stared fixedly at the deserter of the pack.

The white wolf silenced, his ears pinned low and his tail between his legs as he lowered himself in front of the pack's leader. He yipped, then keened pitifully in pain. The woman wrapped her arms around its great neck and screamed his name;

"Uriah! What is happening?!"

The wolf named Uriah shimmered in waves and morphed into a man. Naked and gasping in the woman's arms he brought a shaking hand up to her cheek.

"He's forbid me to stay with you!" he croaked. A stricken look passed between the lovers and he reached out violently to clutch at his chest, fingers digging and clawing as if he was trying to rip out his own heart. Uriah slumped forward with sudden heaviness across her arm. She gasped and shook her mate's unresponsive frame, calling his name desperately, running her fingers through his long black hair pleading with him to stay. His face held nothing for her but the mask of death. Realization that he was gone blanched across her face and cradling his form against her breast she screamed,

"Noooooo!"

As her cry pierced through the forest, I cringed covering my ears. Her primal screech knocked the very breath from me and I collapsed to the forest floor. The scene immediately became dark and foreboding. The winds howled, grabbing and tearing at anything they could find purchase. The children cried in grief and fear, burying their faces in their mother's skirts, grasping desperately as she rose and held her arms up to the sky. Thunder cracked. With one last look at her dead lover at her feet, she turned jet black eyes on the Alpha. The wolves whined and cowered.

Wrath and Fury personified, she lifted her finger towards the frightened animal who suddenly phased into his human form. I screamed when I saw my Jacob standing in the line of fire of the witch's power. But, it was not Jacob. This man was much older. The resemblance was nonetheless uncanny and unsettling. The witch shrieked into the chaos around us,

Ephraim Black!!

Your fruit shall whither on the vine

as you have murdered what is mine

imprinted love they shall never see

until blood of my blood

falls in the purest of love

with your deadly enemy.

Blessings upon them you shall impart

given from the most selfish of hearts

The Cold Ones will return times three

As I will so mote it be!

Obsidian eyes rolled back in her head and her body convulsed violently, a dark smoky form careened out of her chest and dove viciously with an otherworldly roar into the Alpha's body.

We all screamed together.

"Bella! Bella my love, wake up! Dear God- Bella wake up!!" Edward's voice was desperate.

I opened my eyes. Edward's face was inches from mine, panic etched into marble, his cool breath rushing over me. My hands were over my ears and my throat felt hoarse and rough. Clearing my throat and feeling a burn in my eyes I croaked,

"Edward?"

"Bella, you were having a nightmare. Screaming and crying... his name."

I allowed Edward's tone of derision as I knew Jacob was a sore point with him. Hell. He was a sore point with me. I ran a hand through my damp hair. I had been sweating like a horse. Gross.

"I had another dream about this cabin, and Jacob, but it wasn't Jacob. I think it was his great grandfather Ephraim." I relayed back to him the dream as he held my hands listening intently until I came to the part just before I woke up.

A preoccupied look ghosted across Edward's face.

"What?" I asked him.

"Hmmm?" he snapped back to the moment.

"Where were you?"

"Oh. I was just thinking about the first time we met the Quileute wolves and negotiated the treaty. There were four of them and exactly as you described..." he cut himself off abruptly. "I need to talk to Carlisle about something in your dream."

He was holding something back. Old habits die hard.

"Edward!" I scolded harshly. I was not putting up with being put off. Been there. Done that.

"I know Bella, I just want to be sure before I read too much into your dream. I saw how it affected you while you were having it, watching you scream and cry and being unable to wake you was very frightening." he looked so sincere and worried. He was being cautious. I could believe that easy enough. It was so Edward.

"Besides, if we don't see Alice right away she may be the first vampire to suffer an excitement induced aneurysm," he flashed that crooked smile. Beautiful bastard.

I snorted and smacked him on the shoulder. He got up and made his way to the kitchen. Probably to make me breakfast, I mused. Sliding off the bed, I flinched slightly as I felt a soreness in my hips. I blushed heatedly thinking back to my night with Edward. Never had I been loved so completely and honestly. I smiled as I could hear him humming a sunny little tune. What is that song? He started to sing and the lyrics clicked it into place. My mom had their albums and she was always playing them. The Police. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. I rolled my eyes at the cheesiness of the song choice considering its lyrics and recent events, but the melody was bright and sunny. I was gob smacked at the sound of his singing voice. He sounded like Chris Cornell. Euphoria Morning. Yes! He could have been singing the damn alphabet and I still would have been rapt, laid waste by that sound.

Though I've tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her

in my heart
Every time that I come near her
I just lose my nerve
As I've done from the start

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on....

My insides went to goo. My Edward was singing! My Edward was happy. I felt like that school girl again, the one he fell in love with. I made my way to the wash basin, humming the catchy little tune, and splashed cold water on my face. Looking in the mirror I really saw myself for the first time in years. I was resurrected from the wraith that had become my reflection over the years. I almost didn't recognize myself. My cheeks were flushed. My eyes were bright. Of course there were crow's feet when I smiled, but if that is all I end up with after all I've been through, then I'm doing all right. None of it mattered anyway. Edward was here. He wanted me. He had always wanted me. Loved me. We had made love. MADE LOVE! I smiled at myself in the mirror like a fool. I felt positively manic. Perhaps I was?

Who cares? I grinned madly again to my reflection. I am finally with him.

After brushing my teeth and taming my mane of hair, I slipped out to the kitchen to see what my vampire was up to.

The delightful smell of food coupled with the sight of Edward in his silky little boxers, cooking... for me, almost made me want to pinch myself again. The sun filtered in through the windows danced over his skin, making it explode into diamonds. There were prisms gliding over the worn wooden floor around him.

"Your breakfast is ready, Love." he turned from the stove to look at me and winked.

I blushed crimson. Edward's eyes lit up with amusement. Seeing as he couldn't read my mind, he always had a strong fondness for my body's betrayal of my emotions. Chortling softly to himself, Edward leaned in to kiss my forehead. Pulling back slightly to address me his face became serious.

"You need to eat."

He guided me to the kitchen table and pulled out my chair. Ever the gentleman.

Once I was seated, he disappeared and reappeared so quickly it startled me. I had forgotten how fast he was. He served me with exaggerated flourish and that damn crooked smile, taking a seat across from me.

"Mmmmm. Scrambled. My favorite." I dug in, not caring that he was watching me. There's even cheese in here! I smiled at him while I was chewing. Swallowing, I gave him a mischievous grin,

"I never figured you for a Police fan."

He grinned a mile wide and quipped,

"Oh, I have many secrets, my sweet girl." he teased. His face became mock serious, " I'll have you know, The Police are brilliant musicians. "King of Pain" is also another favorite of mine, for obvious reasons." he arched his brow at me, stifling a smart ass smile.

Edward Cullen, my broody, Byronic vampire was making fun of himself.

Wow.

"Oh, I can't wait to discover your secrets Mr. Cullen." I leered, waggling my eyebrows at him. He rolled his eyes, smirking and mumbling something about me having a one track mind.

I was soaring with happiness at this light hearted banter between Edward and I. I had not felt this relaxed and happy since... well, since before he left. Immediately my insides plummeted to my feet from the niggling reminder of the emptiness I felt without him in my life. There was also the untidy situation of me still being married to Jacob. As angry as I was at him for manipulating Edward and I, I still felt immense guilt for committing adultery. I was an adulterer! I blushed again. Only this time in shame. I pasted a smile on my face to cover up my momentary flash of pain, I was thankful once again he could not read my mind.

Edward smirked at me reaching for the fruit bowl in front of us and grabbed an orange, peeling it in a half second. He squeezed the juice out of it into a glass and repeated this blurry juicing routine until the glass was full. I don't even think The Home Shopping Channel sells anything that fast and efficient. He pushed the glass in front of me while regaling the benefits of vitamin C. I downed it, much to his delighted approval. Licking the remnants of juice from my lips I caught him staring at my tongue. His eyes were half lidded while he subconsciously licked his own lips. Needing no further Freudian prompting, I reached over the small table and grabbed him by the back of the head, pulling him to me, kissing him passionately. Edward never kissed me with his eyes closed. Keeping my eyes open so I could register the delightful surprise in his, I felt the dizzying high that came from shocking this man who was so used to seeing what was coming at him. In an instant he shoved aside the table and crushed me to him. Winding his fingers through my hair he pulled my head back and lavished me with kisses from my collarbone to chin. Laying a lazy trail of nips and sucks along my jaw bone his tongue darted in behind my ear.

"Bella." he groaned.

"Yes Edward? I panted. He sighed heavily.

"Someone is here."

A strong pounding at the door barged into my happy place and startled me to the surface.

More pounding. Then a voice.

That voice!

"Bella! I know you are in there. If you don't come out this minute, I'm coming in there to get you."

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E/N Please review and I will send you a teaser for next chapter!!!