Fear

When Antonio and Luke returned and explained Alice's plan to their masters Evan was untrusting and angered. Kira looked to Edward. He couldn't be bothered as long as his eldest brother showed no concern. They had sensed Yev - their Russian brother - close to them a few times.

He was patrolling the territory with his remaining guard. Edward had ordered them to not attack and await word from Alice. They remained undetected by him.

On the day Alice's group escaped from the Romanians, Edward had been alerted to a new danger at his lands.

Anna had been training with the wolves and Emmett as was routine at the baseball clearing when she suddenly stood rigid in fear. Bella was with Esme at the Cullen home developing house plans for the castle model. Esme had included all of Bella's suggested modifications.

"Anna?" Emmett asked watching her closely

"I must go" Anna broke into a sprint towards the cottage.

Concerned, the boys followed and waited outside while she rummaged through the house. She emerged carrying a backpack with her swords securely placed in their belt on her back.

"Jacob, you are in charge of keeping Bella safe. One of you must be with her at all times. Emmett will meet you at the Swan house if she wants to visit at the Cullen house and return her there to you." Anna commanded.

"You will stay guard outside her house in pairs overnight. I will return shortly."

She left the shocked boys behind and ran towards the Cullen house bursting through the door. Esme and Bella were concerned seeing the frantic look on her face.

"My Lady," she addressed Bella.

"I have sensed another more powerful than I and male."

Bella understood immediately why Anna was afraid.

"He cannot find me here unprotected. If it pleases him, he will be successful laying his claim on me." Anna explained the details of her problem.

"I know," Bella replied, stretching her hand to touch Anna's cheek in comfort.

"You need to run don't you?" she asked gently in an Esme like manner.

"I see no other way." Anna bowed her head

"Go Anna, keep yourself safe. The Cullen's can look after me." Bella released her from guard duty.

"I have instructed the wolves to see to your safety my lady. I shall return soon."

"Oh child" Esme hugged her. "Where will you go?" She asked

"I haven't decided which way to go."

"Does he know?" Bella asked of Edward. Anna shook her head 'no'

"There was no time. It is dangerous. The other will sense it"

"Go to Tanya's up north" Rosalie spoke from the top of the grand staircase. "We'll let her know to expect you" she felt scared for Anna.

"Be safe"

"Thank you Rose"

"Swim there from La Push. You can contact Edward from the water safely." Bella added.

She was sad to see Anna go and felt helpless for her situation.

Anna ran her fastest and dived into the ocean. She sunk to the bottom and swam her fastest speed ever. When she had covered a great distance she tried to contact Edward. She had no power to open the connection herself, only to make her mental presence known to him.

"My Anna" Edward had answered her call

"Master"

Anna's mental voice alerted Edward to her frightened state. He saw everything that troubled her though her mind.

"It saddens me that I cannot protect you at this time my Anna. It is wise to run. Go far away from the area. Stay as long as you must in the water. Leave only to feed." Edward instructed.

"Yes master"

His brothers had watched over him while he connected to Anna and saw the distress on his face.

"Problem in your lands?"

Kira asked casually though he burned with curiosity. He worked to relax his voice to avoid fuelling Evan's fire.

"Yes. Our brother's son or guard is there in search of me."

"Will your house be safe?" Evan asked

"I cannot be certain. I have instructed a cowardice response for safety." He supplied.

It was hard for him to admit fear and weakness with his brothers' guard present. The others let the subject drop in understanding.

"It is good we visit there in a few short days then."

Evan had reminded after a long silence. His unspoken thoughts were disturbed when Edward suddenly led them to help their friends who were chased by the Romanians.

Anna knew that she was safest in frozen waters. It made Alaska almost perfect. She pushed herself harder until she reached the area and stayed at the bottom of the freezing ocean, heeding her master's advice. She was close to the Denalis.

The heir to the house of Khrypkov had sensed her when he travelled through Seattle. He was curious about the existence of a female of his kind in these lands who was unknown to him. He fed and let his senses lead him towards Forks to investigate.

As he drew closer to the area he sensed the wolves running parallel to him a safe distance away. This confused him since it was daylight. They herded him towards the clearing where the Cullens waited. They gathered to stand behind the Cullens. Their stance was relaxed. Anna's scent and presence was faint he could sense it.

He stopped to take in the group in front of him; golden eyed vampires standing with wolves at daylight. It was very odd and unheard of in his long life. He was drawn to Rosalie with obvious desire.

"Greetings stranger. Welcome to our territory." Carlisle greeted the vampire who stood forty feet away.

"Greetings," he replied in a strong Russian accent

"What brings you to our lands?" Carlisle asked.

"I travel from my homelands in Russia. I am in search for another of my kind here." He had assessed the group and was confident he could fight and kill them all if he wished.

"They ran South. The one who was here knew you were nearby" Rosalie answered

"More of one?" He asked knowing he sensed only one female in the area.

"There were two. The one who travelled through here will meet the other further South."

Rosalie added without batting an eyelash. They were all scared of him but Rosalie was determined to protect Anna. She didn't want her to seem vulnerable.

"I travel far and wide. None know of me. How do you?" The man asked out of curiosity about their knowledge of his kind.

"From the two who have come through here." Emmett answered in a rare show of seriousness. He didn't explain further than that.

"Of the wolves?" The man asked Emmett

"Our pets." Emmett answered back. The man smirked. He was impressed they had control over the wolves.

"Make them men" He challenged Emmett to make them phase into their human form.

"They are dogs" Emmett replied, confusing the man.

"They are not wolf-men?" He asked to confirm

"No"

Emmett felt protective of the wolves. Since he started training with them he had made good friends with some members of the pack.

The man slowly approached the giant black wolf that was Sam. He commanded the wolf to phase and show him his human form. Nothing happened. The wolves felt the effect of his intentions but not the compulsion to follow. They were all claimed and bound to Edward's house. They could only obey his will.

He was shocked to find that his command didn't work on the wolves. He was certain that they were wolf-men. He concluded that they had been claimed by another more powerful than him. His eyes moved to Emmett with a newfound respect and confusion.

"I shall leave your land now" he bowed and ran the same way he came.

"What just happened?" Carlisle asked no one in particular.

"He tried to make us shift. We felt his command. It was like Anna and her master's but it had no effect. Like it wasn't the right voice." Sam had phased to explain their experience.

"That's because it wasn't! We can only be told by that other one." Jacob concluded. He refused to call Edward by his name or title.

"Interesting," Carlisle exclaimed.

"His protection extends to you too." Esme finished. Jacob grumbled unhappily.

"He would have wanted to own us if we phased. Like Anna said, we're a special breed." Seth joined the conversation.

After speculating on the facts of their encounter the group dispersed.

The next days were slow for everyone left in Forks. They all worried for Anna. Bella missed Edward. They refrained from making contact with the risk that another could sense their connection.

This time she fought against the depression that threatened to swallow her whole. She was always with the wolves or the Cullens. Esme started teaching her how to be a lady – as she was once taught when she was human. It kept them both entertained when they were not working on the details of the house model. Jacob couldn't approach her unless it was in line with his duty to Edward's house.

When Billy suddenly fell ill, Bella released Jacob from guarding her. He feared his father would die because he refused any medical attention citing Carlisle's presence at the hospital. All the wolves felt Jacob's fear and pain. The general pack mood was down.

Charlie and Sue visited their friend often leaving Bella alone at her home. There were always two wolves in the tree line of her house. A loud wolf howl woke her in the night one day. Bella looked out the window scared for her guard.

"There a vampires in the woods. We've seen four already. The others are chasing them." Seth had phased to tell her what was happening.

Bella felt fear for the first time. Anna and Edward were not there to protect her. She trusted that the wolves were capable. That didn't calm her nerves. Embry let out a hollow wail outside Bella's front door, alerting Seth to a problem. He phased to his human form while Seth took his wolf form to stay connected to the pack.

"Sam is injured. There are more than we thought. They seem to be running around in circles without a clear direction. They are not organized or paired up. It's scattering us around the forest." Embry told Bella who had put on shoes and a jacket ready to run to the Cullen house.

"What are you doing outside? Go back." Rosalie and Emmett had arrived to help guard Bella.

Embry and Seth left to go help the other wolves.

Emmett suddenly tucked Bella against his chest and ran with Rosalie following. Bella closed her eyes shut and held onto Emmett through the biting wind. She knew something was terribly wrong or Emmett would be gentler with her.

He wasn't running in a straight line either. He often changed direction jerking Bella in her position. As quickly as he started running he stopped with a vicious snarl. When she opened her eyes Bella saw they were surrounded by a number of vampires. Rosalie, Carlisle and Esme were held roughly by a few in positions of surrender.

A red haired vampire with an evil smile stepped to the center of the crowd.