They emerged one by one from the edge of the forest, approximately a dozen meters apart from each other. The first male into the clearing immediately fell back, allowing the second male to take the front. The second male appeared to be the leader. The was a woman and she appeared last, and she was the most feral of the group with wild black hair and ferocious eyes.

They closed ranks before cautiously moving towards us, I listened carefully to their thoughts as they approached. They seemed optimistically cautious, if not surprised, to find another group of their kind so close to town.

I cautiously watched Anna out of the corner of my eyes, trying not to draw much attention to her. She was watching the approaching group with wide, wary eyes, taking in their disheveled appearance.

Keep an eye on Anna but try not to draw any more attention than you need to, Elsa.Carlisle cautioned me as he strode forward, flanked by Emmett and Jasper.

Dressed so nicely…The dark-haired leader noted as Carlisle approached.A taste for the finer things.

The three strangers straightened their postures to try and match Carlisle's, but the more animalistic edge of their body language was still apparent.

The leader was obviously the most civilized of the three of them. His pale flesh had an almost olive-tone and his short hair was glossy black. He had a medium, muscled build but I guessed he would still be no match for Emmett should it come to that. He smiled easily, exposing his gleaming white teeth.

Bet they're stuck up,the black-headed woman was thinking. She was wilder, her eyes darting restlessly between everyone in the clearing. Her mind was fast and ferocious. I didn't like spending time in her thoughts.

The last male bothered me the most, though. He was the most unobtrusive, standing slightly behind the others. He was slighter than the leader, with light red hair and a plain face. Largely nondescript. His eyes, though, seemed hyper-vigilant. Something in his calm, quiet mind set me more on edge than his feline-like black-haired companion.

All three of them bore deep burgundy-red eyes. The sight of which made even me slightly uncomfortable after all this time living the life we had.

The dark-haired leader, still smiling, stepped toward Carlisle.

"We thought we heard a game," his voice was relaxed with the slightest trace of a long-forgotten French accent. "I'm Laurent, these are Gerda and Hans." He gestured to the other two.

"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Royal, Esme, and Alice, Elsa and Anna." He was careful to gesture to each of us broadly, in groups, so as not to draw attention to any one individual. I felt Anna start ever so slightly when she heard her name. I hoped the others didn't notice.

"Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked sociably.

Carlisle, ever the master at setting a relaxed mood, matched his friendly tone. "Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?"

"We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in the neighborhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time."

"No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves."

Jasper was subtly easing the tension, feeling the individual moods of the strangers and adjusting accordingly.

I don't like the quiet one in the back, Elsa,he thought,that one is… ruthless.

"Where's your hunting range?" Laurent casually inquired.

Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry. "The Olympic Range, here, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We maintain a permanent residence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali."

They live here?Laurent rocked back on his heels slightly.

"Permanent? How do you manage that?" Laurent was genuinely curious, if not shocked.

"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably?" Carlisle invited. "It's a rather long story."

Home? They can't be serious…The black-haired, Gerda exchanged a surprised look with Hans, the quiet one. Laurent managed to keep his expression more even.

"That sounds very interesting, and welcome." He smiled. "We've been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had the chance to clean up in a while." His eyes moved appreciatively over Carlie's far more refined appearance.

"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand." Carlisle explained.

"Of course." Laurent nodded. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway," he laughed. I could sense Anna shiver behind me.

"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us—Emmett and Alice, you can go with Elsa and Anna to get the Jeep," he casually added.

While Carlisle was still speaking, a light breeze blew through the open field, ruffling Anna's hair. I involuntarily stiffened as her scent whipped past me towards the strangers. The slighter male, Hans, was the first to notice, his head whipped around, and he locked eyes on Anna, his nostrils flaring.

What a scent…His mind raced with a sudden surge of hunger and intrigue.

Jasper's attempts at controlling the atmosphere completely failed and a swift rigidity fell over all of us as Hans lurched one step forward into a predatory crouch. I bared my teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarl ripping from my throat. No trace of human left in my posture, not when Anna was in such immediate danger.

"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed, surprised.What's going on?

Hans and I were locked in our aggressive poses. He watched me curiously.

What are you going to do if I just…Hans feinted slightly to the side, and I shifted in response.How interesting.Hans thought.Protective of your little pet, are you?

"She's with us." Carlisle's firm voice was directed toward Hans. Laurent caught Anna's scent then, less powerfully than Hans, but awareness now dawned on his face.

"You brought a snack?" he asked, his expression incredulous as he took an involuntary step forward.

I snarled even more viciously, harshly, my lip curling high above my bared teeth. Laurent stepped back again.

"I said she's with us," Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.

"But she'shuman," Laurent protested in surprise.

"Yes."

Emmett moved closer to Carlisle's side, his eyes on Hans.

Hmm, no need for a fight. Hans mused, straightening out of his crouch. But his eyes stayed locked on Anna, his nostrils still wide as he inhaled Anna's scent.What a delicious little treat you are.Mmm… Intoxicating.

I somehow felt even colder as a sense of dread washed over me. The more I listened to Hans's mind, the more I understood about him. The fascination with which he observed myself and Anna, the way he was learning and examining Anna's scent… He was a tracker.

You reckless, fool…Laurent's thoughts were vicious toward Hans, heavy with embarrassment. "It appears we have a lot to learn about each other." Laurent's voice broke through the tense silence, his tone soothing. He didn't want a fight.

"Indeed." Carlisle's voice was still cool.

"But we'd like to accept your invitation." Laurent's eyes flicked toward Anna and back to Carlisle. "And, of course, we will not harm the human girl. We won't hunt in your range, as I said."

You always complicate things, don't you?Hans glanced in disbelief and aggravation at Laurent, then exchanged another brief look with Gerda, who's eyes still flickered from face to face.

Gerda nodded, ever so slightly.Game on.

The subtlest smirk danced on the corners of Hans's lips.Perfect.

Elsa, I'm going to invite them to the house. You get Anna out of here, understand?Carlisle was measuring Laurent's expression for a moment before he spoke. "We'll show you the way. Jasper, Royal, Esme?" he called. They gathered together, blocking Anna from view as they converged together. Alice was instantly by Anna's side, and Emmett reluctantly fell back, his eyes locked on Hans as he moved back towards us.

I'll see you soon, little human.Hans was thinking.You can thank your girlfriend for that.

Elsa!Alice caught my attention as a vision came to her. Hans had decided on his course. The hunt was on.

"Let's go, Anna." I said in a low voice, not bothering to hide my emotions.

Anna didn't move. She was so firmly rooted in place that I had to grip her elbow and give her a sharp pull in order to make her move. Alice and Emmett stayed close behind us, hiding her from view as we hurried toward the woods. Anna stumbled along at my side as we moved at an agonizingly human pace. I didn't dare risk moving any faster, it might only incite Hans to follow.

Once we were in the trees, I swung Anna over my back without breaking my stride. She instantly gripped onto me and tucked her head into my neck as we started running. Alice and Emmett stayed right behind me, keeping wary eyes on the trees.

How could I have been so foolish? If I hadn't reacted the way I did, Hans might have let it go. Acting the way I did had only excited him, made it all one big game. This was my fault. I had put Anna in even more danger than she had ever been before.

We reached the Jeep and I only barely slowed as I swept Anna into the backseat.

"Strap her in," I snapped at Emmett, who slid in beside Anna.

Alice was already in the front seat, her mind racing with visions, watching the tracker's decision. I started the engine and it roared to life as we swerved backward, spinning around to face the winding road.

He's decided on his plan, Elsa. Alice cautioned, and I watched the vision play through her head. Hans's plan of pursuit. There was no stopping him now.

"Damn it! Damn him to hell! Bastard… the damn bastard…" I growled to myself as I drove.

I was too focused on working out a counter-plan to drive carefully. The trip was violent as I pushed the Jeeps limits through the rough terrain. Emmett glared out the side window, watching for Hans. Alice was watching all the various decisions carefully. I hit something in the road that caused the jeep to jolt violently and Anna let out a weak cry of fright. My eyes shot to the rearview mirror, to check on her. Emmett was tentatively placing a hand on Anna's shoulder to comfort her.

As soon as we hit the main road, I gunned it south, away from Forks.

"Where are we going?" Anna asked, confused.

I didn't answer, I was staring at the road. Furious at myself, furious at Hans. Even angry with Alice for not warning me about the strangers in the first place.

"Dammit, Elsa! Where are you taking me?"

The anger in her voice burned into me. "We have to get you away from here—far away—now." I didn't dare look back at her, I couldn't bear to see the expression on her face. No doubt she would be upset with me.

"Turn around! You have to take me home!" She shouted back. I let myself glance back at her in the rearview mirror. Her face was livid as she struggled with the off-road harness, tearing at the straps.

"Emmett," I said.

Emmett nodded slightly and secured Anna's thrashing hands in his own.

"No! Elsa! No, you can't do this." Anna protested.

"I have to, Anna, now please be quiet."

"Do not tell me to be quiet!" Anna snapped back at me. The ice in her voice was like knives through me, my grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Damn, this kid has got some fire in her.Emmett mused, curiously.

"You have to take me back home—" Anna continued, "David will call the FBI! They'll be all over your family—Carlisle and Esme! They'll have to leave, hide forever!"

"Calm down, Anna." I said, my voice cold. "We've been there before."

"You're being ridiculous. You don't need to do this yourselves—we can figure something out!" She argued, struggling violently against Emmett's steel grip.

Alice spoke then, "Elsa, pull over."

I flashed her a hard look. She had no right to tell me what to do, not today. I sped up.

"Elsa, let's just talk this through."

"You don't understand," I roared, my frustration breaking through. "He's a tracker, Alice, did youseethat? He's a tracker!"

Oh, damn… Emmett stiffened in the back seat as he contemplated what that meant for us moving forward.

Alice considered my words for a brief moment, then continued. "Pull over, Elsa." She said, using the authoritative tone she reserved almost exclusively for me when she was angry with me.

I ignored her and pushed the Jeep even faster.

"Do it, Elsa."

"Listen to me, Alice. I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession—and he wants her, Alice—her, specifically. He begins the hunt tonight."

I wasn't telling her anything she didn't know. She saw the Tracker's decisions.

"He doesn't know where—"

I cut her off. "How long do you think it will take him to cross her scent in town? His plan was already set before the words were out of Laurent's mouth."

Anna gasped from the backseat. "David! You can't leave him there! You can't leave him!" She was still trying to pull her hands free of Emmett's.

"She's right," Alice said. She followed the course of my decision to take Anna away from Forks, and sure enough, the path we were on led the Tracker straight to Anna's house. The vision shifted to David's body, lifeless on the living room couch in front of the television, as the Tracker continued on his unstoppable path toward Anna.

I slowed slightly as I argued with myself. I could keep Anna safe, but at the cost of her father. Would she thank me for that? Or would Anna forever resent me for it?

"Let's just look at our options for a minute," Alice coaxed.

I slowed again, contemplating the possibilities.

Alice replayed the vision of David, dead and drained of blood through her head.

Anna won't thank you for that, Elsa. She'd never forgive you. She cautioned me.

She wasn't wrong. I slammed my foot down on the brakes and the Jeep screeched to a halt on the shoulder of the highway.

"There are no options," I hissed at Alice.

"I'm not leaving David!" Anna yelled.

I stiffened at the edge to her voice, Alice was right. Anna would never forgive me if anything happened to her father.

"We have to take her back," Emmett spoke.

"No." I couldn't march Anna to her death.

"He's no match for us, Elsa. He won't be able to touch Anna." Emmett countered.

"He'll wait."

Emmett smiled. "I can wait, too."

"You didn't see—you don't understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he's unshakeable. We'd have to kill him."

Emmett was unphased. "That's an option."

"And the Black-headed girl. She's with him. If it turns into a fight, the leader will go with them, too."

"There's enough of us." Emmett argued.

"There's another option," Alice said quietly. She recalled the vision of Anna, pale and red-eyed for a fleeting moment.

I turned on her, my fury twisting my voice into a snarl. "There—is—no—other—option!"

I felt Emmett and Anna's eyes on me, but I was locked on Alice. I would not allow that vision to come to pass. Never. We stared at each other for a long minute.

"Does anyone want to hear my plan?" Anna said, breaking the tense silence.

"No," I growled dismissively. Alice glared at me, finally provoked by my attitude.

"Listen," Anna began. "You take me back."

"No," I interrupted.

I felt Anna's eyes bore into me for a moment.

"Elsa Cullen, listen to me." She snapped, her voice thick with frustration. My eyes widened in surprise and I quickly glanced at Anna for a moment. I immediately regretted it. Her blue eyes were ice and daggers, tearing into me with a fury I had never seen in her before.

"Shut up, get your Damn temper under control and stop yelling." She scolded me, her voice painfully angered. "Youwilltake me back. I'll tell my dad I want to go home to Phoenix. I pack my bags. We wait till this tracker is watching, andthenwe run. He'll follow us and leave David alone. David won't call the FBI on your family. Then you can take me any damned place you want. Got it?"

We all stared at her, stunned. Her eyes were locked on me. Ice and rage. I felt a twinge of something deep in my core, something I couldn't quite place for a moment, then I realized. It was fear. I actually, on some level, felt…afraidof Anna.

"It's not a bad idea, really." Emmett broke the silence, sounding surprised and impressed.

"It might work—" Alice was trying to see if it would work, but my mind was stubbornly set on my own plan, blocking her visions of any alternative. "and we simply can't leave her father unprotected. You know that." She continued.

They all looked at me.

"It's too dangerous—I don't want him within a hundred miles of Anna."

Emmett's confidence was palpable. "Elsa, he's not getting through us."

Alice combed through visions of the tracker's decisions. "I don't see him attacking. He'll try and wait for us to leave her alone."

"It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen."

"Idemandthat you take me home." Anna growled.

I pressed my fingers to my temples and squeezed my eyes shut. Trying to think, but failing. It was too much. I couldn't risk Anna. I couldn't do it.

"Elsa," Anna's voice was calmer, but still hard, "please."

Alice's visions shifted as my resolve wavered. We were on a new path.

I didn't look up as I spoke. "You're leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees or not. You tell David that you can't stand another minute in Forks. Tell him whatever story works. Pack the first things your hands touch, and then get in your truck. I don't care what he says to you. You have fifteen minutes. Do you hear me? Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep."

"I will take however long I need to convince David not to follow me," Anna countered, resolutely. "Doyouhearme?"

I knew there was no arguing with her. The Jeep rumbled to life as I hit the gas and spun us around, tires squealing as I sped back towards Forks.

"Emmett?" Anna said. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her looking pointedly at her hands, still locked in Emmett's.

"Oh, sorry." Emmett released Anna's hands, then leaned in closer to her, "That was badass of you just now." He said quietly, grinning.

"Thanks," Anna muttered.

I made a mental note to tell Emmett not to encourage this sort of life-threatening behavior from Anna in the future.

The minutes passed in silence as I solidified our new plan. Alice watched my decisions, determining what would work and what wouldn't, helping me decide what to do. Once we had combed through all the possibilities I spoke again.

"This is how it's going to happen. When we get to the house, if the tracker is not there, I will walk her to the door. Then she has fifteen minutes." I glared at Anna in the rearview mirror, she stubbornly glared back. "Emmett, you take the outside of the house. Alice, you get the truck. I'll be inside as long as she is. After she's out, you two can take the jeep home and tell Carlisle."

"No way," Emmet broke in. "I'm with you."

"Think it through, Emmett." I don't know how long I'll be gone."

"Until we know how far this is going to go, I'm with you."

I sighed. "If the trackeristhere," I continued, grimly pondering that possibility, "we keep driving."

"We're going to make it there before him," Alice said confidently.

She was right, I could see it in her mind.

"What are we going to do with the Jeep?" she asked.

I saw where her train of thought was going. A new course was being decided, not by myself or by her, but by Anna.

"You're driving it home." I said, my voice hard.

"No, I'm not," she said calmly.

Another string of profanities poured out of my mouth, I hoped Anna couldn't understand them.

"We can't all fit in my truck," Anna pointed out.

I didn't acknowledge her. Hoping that ignoring her would stop her from seeing this ludicrous new idea to completion.

"I think you should let me go alone," Anna said, far too calmly.

Was she insane?

"Anna, please just do this my way, just this once," I said between clenched teeth.

"You're not making rational decisions. Your temper is out of control and you're thinking emotionally, not logically," she protested. "David's not an imbecile. If you're not in town tomorrow, he's going to get suspicious."

"That's irrelevant. We'll make sure she's safe, and that's all that matters."

"Then what about this tracker? He saw the way you acted tonight. He's going to think you're with me, wherever you are."

Emmett looked at Anna, surprised and impressed again. "Elsa, listen to her," he urged. "I think she's right."

"Yes, she is." Alice agreed.

"I can't do that." My voice was ice.

"Emmett should stay, too," Anna continued. "He definitely got an eyeful of Emmett."

"What?" Emmett turned on Anna, thankfully. I didn't need anyone encouraging these insane thoughts.

"You'll get a better crack at him if you stay," Alice agreed with Anna, encouraging Emmett.

I stared at her incredulously for betraying me like that. "You think I should let Anna go alone?"

"Of course not," Alice said. "Jasper and I will take her."

"I can't do that," I repeated, vainly. I could see the logic in the plan, and as Alice's visions become more solidified, I could see they were right.

Anna shifted slightly in her seat, when she spoke, I could tell she was trying to be persuasive with me, but there was still an edge to her voice. "Hang out here for a week—" I made a face, which she must have seen in the rearview mirror because she sighed "—a few days. Let David see you haven't kidnapped me and lead this Hans on a fake trail so he's completely off mine. Then come and meet me. Take a roundabout route, of course, and then Jasper and Alice can go home."

It was a sound plan, I couldn't deny that.

"Meet you where?"

"Phoenix." She said, as if it were obvious.

"No. He'll hear that's where you're going," I said impatiently.

"And you'll make it look like that's a ruse" she snapped, "He'll know that we're expecting him to be listening. He'll never believe I'm actually going where I say I'm going."

"She's diabolical," Emmett chuckled.

"And if that doesn't work?" I asked, ignoring Emmett.

"There are several million people in Phoenix," she shrugged.

"It's not that hard to find a phone book."

"Obviously I'm not going home." She said, annoyed.

"Oh?" I inquired, my voice edgy. Her matter of fact attitude was only setting me off.

"I'm old enough to get my own place."

"Elsa, we'll be with her," Alice reminded me.

"What areyougoing to do inPhoenix?" I asked her scathingly.

"Stay indoors."

"I kind of like it." Emmett was thinking about his chances of taking a crack at the tracker and enjoying it immensely.

"Shut up, Emmett."

"Look, if we try to take him down while Anna's still around, there's a much better chance that someone will get hurt—Anna'll get hurt, or you will, trying to protect her. Now, if we get the tracker alone…" Emmett trailed off with a slow smile.

I drove slowly and inconspicuously through town. Anna was silent, she seemed tense and contemplative. I could only guess what she was thinking. I wondered if she was angry with me still, surely she was. I wondered if, even if all of our plans worked, would she resent me at the end of this? And what if we failed? What would I do with myself? It was too grim a future to contemplate.

"Anna." I said, my voice soft. Alice and Emmett looked out their windows. "If anything happens to you—anything at all—I'll never forgive myself. I'll never be able to forget that it wasmyfault you…" I couldn't say the words, I took a deep breath. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," she said softly.

I turned to Alice.

"Can Jasper handle this?"

"Give him some credit, Elsa. He's been doing very, very well, all things considered."

"Canyouhandle this?" I asked.

She pulled back her lips and let out a guttural snarl.You're lucky Anna is here, Elsa. You really can be so stupid sometimes.

I couldn't help but smile a little. "But keep your opinions to yourself." I muttered.