A/N: Hi all, another update. A new review pointed out in two separate chapters Nessie and Jake had the "I used to love your mom" conversation, thank you! I went back and updated those chapters. It's edited now, but doesn't change the structure of the story at all. Just a minor hiccup. After 100k+ words sometimes my brain scrambles dialogue together LOL. This is a split POV chapter, I had fun writing this one. I'm getting so excited for all the future romance and action I'm about to pack into the second half of this story! Whew! Can't believe we're TWENTY-FIVE chapters in.


Chapter Twenty-Five: So, Why Are Werewolves Better Than Vampires?


'cause from the moment that I saw your face
and felt the fire of your sweet embrace
I swear I knew
I wanna love you forever

- jessica simpson, with you

oOoOo

"Jacob, a word?" Eddie's voice called to me with a raised eyebrow. I stiffened and exhaled with a grunt and pulled away from Nessie's grip. Her heartbeat sped up, forcing me to look her over to make sure she was fine.

"Go – I'm alright." She mumbled with a blush, looking to her clasped hands in her lap. I saw the smallest smile ghosting at her rose bud lips. I shrugged and kissed the top of her head before making my way out to the back porch with Edward.

"What's up, Eddie?" I questioned lamely with a yawn. I leaned my back against the railing and crossed my arms over my chest authoritatively.

Edward rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with a huff. "You can relax, Jacob."

Yeah, okay.

Edward's creepy yellow eyes pierced into mine and his pupil's dilated for the briefest of moments.

"We need to talk."

I rolled my eyes and gave him a blank stare. "I think you've said plenty." I suggested, thinking back to our conversation yesterday when he flat out refused to let me ask Nessie to marry me. What, because he was back around suddenly it was out of the question? Surprise Edward, she loves me more!

His eyes sharpened into a narrowed glare and he let out a low growl. "Watch yourself, dog."

I scoffed, this family and their dog references never failed to amuse me. "Vampire killing dog." I muttered and lifted myself off the railing to jump down to the ground below. I landed easily on the balls of my feet and turned to look up at him, still standing on the porch.

He glanced down at me before blurring to stand next to me. "Come, out of Renesmee's range of hearing." He grumbled and began walking towards the woods.

"Nuh, uh. Not a chance. If you're going to kill me, it'll have to be here."

He let out a long, dejected sigh. "Jacob. If I was going to kill you, you would be dead already. I'm trying to give you my blessing if you'd just quit yapping."

My eyes widened as I trailed after him. I knew Nessie's hearing was strained here, but he clearly wasn't taking any chances for her to hear which meant he had more to say than just that.

"Yes, I do have more."

Stupid, mind reading leech. Get out of my head.

"Your thoughts are awfully loud and hard to overlook, I'm afraid. I would love to ignore you if I could."

I rolled my eyes and caught up to him, but kept a good five feet away to try and avoid his stench.

"Appreciated."

"So, what else then Eddie?" I snapped and swung my arms obnoxiously around. I don't know why, maybe just to irritate him further.

"You and I both know we would rather have Renesmee stay out of this fight. But, we also know she's quite determined and Alice saw her there which means no matter what; Renesmee will be fighting. We are going to protect her at all costs, she's not as strong as full vampires and she's their main target. Jasper will begin combat training once you leave to inform the pack, and we should set up a schedule of patrolling the state. The Volturi will be here around March – we don't have an exact date but will be watching the weather closely for any signs of Spring. With that said, Renesmee has expressed a great deal that you two would like to be married. Again, she's determined. I know you have been planning to ask her for some time, but haven't had the courage to do so –"

I never had a good enough time! It has to be perfect!

"There's never a right time, Jacob. She would say yes no matter where or what you did. You know this." He told me with annoyance. "As much as I hate it, there is no one else I can trust her with than you. This . . . bond. Your imprint. I see it from both sides. It's far more binding than even Bella and I's relationship. You two compliment each other, orbit each other – it's intimidating to see. But, it's exactly what my daughter deserves. She deserves someone as loyal and dedicated to her as you are."

I felt my face spread into a wide smile and I stopped my swinging to glance over at him. "I know it's taken some time for you to understand. That first night when you saw I imprinted on her from my thoughts, I assumed I'd never get the chance but you've been pretty understanding. Surprising."

"Yes, well, you have done a lot for my family even before Renesmee. Now, you're doing more than I could have imagined. I am thankful for you, Jacob. Don't let that get to your already inflated ego." He teased, the hint of a smile was on his face.

Awe. Are we becoming friends now, Eddie?

"Please stop calling me that – and I'm learning to tolerate you. Seeing as how you're going to be around for the rest of eternity."

I slapped his ridged stone back with my palm and let out an exuberant laugh of triumph. "So, why are werewolves better than vampires?"

"Jacob." He growled.

"Werewolves don't have a problem with STEAKS!" I said with booming laughter, doubling over to clutch my sides as I howled.

"If your joke's don't get better in the next hundred years, I might have to rip my eardrums out." He groveled and began walking back towards the house.

I smirked and shrugged while wiping the tears from my eyes. "Nessie think's I'm hilarious."

I saw him roll his eyes with a shake of his head. "Yes, well – neither her mother or I spent a lot of time telling jokes so her par on humor is quite low."

I barreled up the stairs towards the back porch after Edward, and walked into the kitchen with a wide grin as soon as I saw Nessie sitting on the counter sipping a cup of coffee.

"Hey, baby." I announced as I sauntered towards her. She gave me a mischievous smirk and set her mug down so I could scoop her up. I picked her up bridal style and spun around the large kitchen, eliciting nervous giggles from her. God, I loved her laugh.

"What do you say we go to the cliffs to watch the sunset when I'm done patrolling, alright? I'll be back around five." I suggested with a waggle of my eyebrows. Nessie's favorite place in La Push was the cliffs – for more than just the view.

Mostly because every time we went there it resulted in a very happy ending.

I set her back down on the counter and her cheeks flushed against her wide grin. I brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face that had fallen from the bun she had neatly pulled up half her hair into, a favorite of mine. Nessie looked amazing no matter what, but for some reason when she did her hair like this it drove me wild.

"Okay, Jake. I'd love that."

Oh, you will.

"You're so beautiful, Ness." I murmured, imagining her later tonight at the cliffs with her wild copper curls blowing with the ocean breeze as I looked up at her from my spot down on one knee. "I love you."

Yeah, tonight was definitely the night. I wasn't going to wait any longer.

She blushed and touched my cheek tenderly with her left hand that would soon be donned with a sparkly diamond ring in a few hours.

"I love you, my Jacob. Go eat your breakfast before I steal you away." She teased and gently nudged me towards the plate that sat on the table.

I raised my eyebrows suggestively, oh how I would love if you stole me away, baby.

"Don't give me any ideas . . ."

Her wide, chocolate pools rolled and she took a sip from her mug with a tiny smirk. "Oh, I already know you have plenty."

"You two are so gross." Seth grumbled as he barged into the kitchen.

I shot a narrowed glance to my beta that screamed 'watch it'.

"Oh, hi Seth. I didn't know you'd be coming over." Nessie said with surprise as she hopped off the counter. "Are you hungry?"

I watched in the corner of my eye as Nessie hastily moved to begin preparing more food, per usual whenever one of the guys came around. She had really grown to enjoy this side of our world, which surprised me more and more everyday. I had never expected or wanted her to do anything she did for the pack, but I think her friendship with the other imprints really drove her to do so. When she saw how happy and excited the guys were whenever anyone mentioned Emily as "pack mom", I think she wanted to prove she was more and could provide the same to them. It was just another form of her selflessness.

Seth's face lit up and he nodded enthusiastically. "Uh, is that even a question?"

I groaned and sat down in front of my food, digging in without another glance. "Do you ever eat if Nessie isn't feeding you?" I grumbled between mouthfuls of delicious pancakes.

"Jake, leave him alone." She playfully chided at me with a wink. "Soon, Seth's gonna get a girlfriend and you'll miss him hanging around us all the time."

Seth's face fell and he slumped into the island chair. "Yeah, fat chance. I'll never imprint."

"That's not true." She replied willfully.

Seth shook his head and rested his hands on his cheeks dramatically.

"Just be patient." I reminded him.

"Bodhi has been a wolf for less than a year and he imprinted before me! He's sixteen!"

Seth had become increasingly apathetic and annoying over the subject of imprinting in the last month. I mean, he always was annoying but even more after one of the new pups imprinted on a Makah girl a few weeks ago.

"One of you aren't ready for the bond." Nessie suggested as she flipped a pancake.

He replied with a scoff. "I was born ready."

"She isn't." Nessie shot back while swatting his head with her spatula and placing a plate of pancakes in front of him.

"You could date if you're so lonely." Emmett suggested as he clambered into the room. "What's with all you wolves and imprinting as if it's the only way to get laid? When I was human . . . boy. The ladies could not resist me."

Nessie snorted and threw a pancake at her burly uncle, only for Seth to catch it mid air and shove it into his mouth. "Don waste muh food!" He yelled with a mouthful.

I sighed and picked up my empty plate and glared at both of them before setting the dirty dish in the sink, just so I could grab Nessie with free hands. I moved the hair over her shoulder to expose her porcelain neck and laid a gentle kiss there.

I could feel her skin heat up beneath my lips at the show of affection in front of them, but I didn't care. She was mine. She spun around and placed both hands on my chest with a pointed look.

"Are you leaving?" She asked with a sad pout, her eyes widening even further for effect.

I groaned and dipped down to sweep her lips into a warm kiss. "I don't want to." I murmured before pulling back. "I'll see you in a few hours."

She wrapped her tiny hands around my neck and pulled herself up on her tip toes. "What should I wear?" She innocently questioned.

I shrugged and felt a smile breaking out of my face. "You look pretty in everything, baby."

Her lips pursed and a spark of excitement crossed her features. "Red or white?"

I swallowed thickly when she projected images of herself in two very skimpy, very sexy pairs of lingerie.

"W – white." I stuttered and pulled her against me to hide what she was doing to me. She giggled wickedly and threw her arms around my neck.

"I love you, go before Seth eats the whole kitchen." She told me with a whisper in my ear and we both eyed Seth who stood in the walk in pantry, rummaging around for more food. He craned his neck around and grinned, crumbs falling out of his mouth and onto the floor.

"What?"

I groaned and kissed Nessie one more time before grabbed Seth by the shoulder and pulling him along with me.

"Love you, Ness!" I called over my shoulder and winked at her before shoving Seth out the back door.

We both jumped off the second story porch, landing easily on our feet. I used my fingertips to touch the ground to stable myself before standing up and stripping out of my shorts. I tied them to my leather band around my ankle and took off running before phasing mid stride. I smirked right as the wolf took over my body, knowing Nessie flitted to the porch to watch me leave.

"Can't wait to see that little outfit . . ." I thought to myself with hunger. Seth phased right after, just as I was closing off the side of my mind that contained all of my secret Nessie thoughts. Alpha perks.

"Ew, please do not picture your leech girlfriend in lingerie." Leah's voice rang in my head. I could see from her point of view she was waiting on First Beach, hidden away in our usual meeting spot, with the rest of the pack.

"Oh, on the contrary – please do." Embry snickered and I could see his tail began wagging through the linked minds.

"I swear, Embry . . ." I warned with a mental snarl.

"She's a hot leech. I don't blame him." Kai agreed, and I watched as Paul shoulder checked him.

"I'm gonna bite you. First Rachel, now Nessie? Come on, man." Paul growled in annoyance. I was met with mental yips of laughter amongst the rest of them. Seth and I ran in silence as the rest of the pack made up for it with their own mental chatter. I felt them all picking around in my brain for information, and accidentally let slip part of my proposal plan.

"Oh shit, you're finally doing it!" Seth spoke up and nudged me playfully with his shoulder.

I rolled my wolf eyes as we continued to run back towards La Push.

"Yeah, Daddy vamp gave me a whole speech." I groaned and replayed our conversation.

"That was a terrible joke." Quil snickered.

"Shut the fuck up."

Leah laughed bitterly, "I can't believe you're about to propose to Bella's daughter. Ha."

"Leah, can it." Jared snapped towards her, baring his teeth.

"I think it's awesome. It's like the imprint was always there." Bodhi quipped, his own mind filling with the image of his new imprint.

"All you pups with imprints are the same. You act like she's going to be your Messiah."

"You're just jealous you'll never imprint because you're a girl." Brady muttered and flashed around the images of all the imprints to rub in her face.

"I'm gonna kick your ass, Fuller!" Leah growled as she lunged for him.

Just as she was about to tackle him, Seth and I passed through the tree line and bounded over the fallen trees and boulders.

"Enough!" I commanded and bared my teeth around the wolves. They began to circle around me with their heads low.

"We're going to have to step up our patrols and further the perimeter. The Bloodsuckers will be here sometime in March, the pixie one can't see everything, since we get in the way. But - she's seeing pieces. A lot of our focus will be centered around Renesmee. She's going to be there, and according to the vision the pixie had she will be fighting." I began as I stood tall, my wolf eyes glancing over them all.

"No way." Quil gasped.

"That's stupid!" Leah snapped.

"She's gonna get hurt." Paul warned.

"I'm not happy about it. They'll be training her, but that only goes so far when you're up against an army of vampires. We haven't decided if she should be on the front lines with myself, Bella and Edward or if she should be in the middle of everyone. I want her close to me but I need to be in front so I might have to sacrifice being her major protector. Seth will be flanking her as of now. Apparently, she has some potential for her gift to expand and they're working on it. We might be asked for her to test it on us and I don't want a single complaint. She is apart of this pack and we will do our share to protect her, no matter what."

"What about our imprints?" Bodhi questioned sadly.

"Sam has volunteered to stay with them all, as well as Esme. I might send Paul or Jared for safe measures once we assess how many are going to be against us."

The imprinted wolves whined as they thought about being away from their loved ones.

"It's going to be incredibly hard, I don't know how long this will last. We will be pushed to our limits but we must prepare and focus over the next two months. One of the Cullen's was a soldier as a human, and an expert in vampire wars so he will be setting up times to train us all on tactics and methods."

"Lovely, leeches teaching us how to kill leeches?" Leah rolled her eyes and laid down. "I'll pass."

"Run your patrol to the border, now!" I snarled loudly with my Alpha command and bared my teeth in her face.

She replied with a whimper and took off, unable to avoid my alpha command.

"If anyone else has something smart to say, you'll be running for twenty-four hours. Got it?"

As I barked out patrol points, my mind began to trail over to Nessie. I wonder what she was doing . . .


I stared down at my hands hard in concentration, my eyes scanning the lines in my palms and the round curve of my nails. I was supposed to be able to project currents of – well, we weren't sure. It wasn't like our cousin from Denali's gift, Kate, with her psychic electro-kinesis. Alice stated it was different. It wasn't physical, it was mentally debilitating. As if I took over her mind with projections of pain and suffering that felt real.

My head shot up to stare at Uncle Jasper, who had assigned himself as my combat trainer.

"What if it's like Jane?"

My eyes landed to Aunt Alice who shook her head. "No – it was still your gift. It was still your thoughts, but – more."

I groaned and rested my head against the tree with a thump and stared up at the treetops. The trees here were large and perfect for camouflage, no doubt why they picked this spot to build a house all those years ago.

"That doesn't help." I groaned and pushed myself up off the dirt. "Everything I show you does nothing!"

Jasper's brows were furrowed together as he crossed his arms in thought. "Gift's take time to develop. But, you've always had a knack for excelling and this is only day one of your trainin', little girl. Don't get so down. The Denali's will be here soon to help."

The morning had consisted of defensive training. How to avoid being grabbed, ways to run, how I could kill a vampire with my bare hands. I had never expected momma and daddy to let me fight, but it was obvious that I was going to be there regardless. They'd rather have me prepared, then in the unknown.

Jacob on the other hand . . . expressed he was not fond of the idea at all.

"Try and think of all your painful memories or experiences you've ever had." Alice suggested while flipping through a magazine idly. Her amber eyes flashed to meet mine as a small smile graced her porcelain face.

I stared back and sighed, "I haven't exactly had a hard life, Alice."

"Think of the only bad thing that's ever happened then." Jasper pointed out this time, no doubt alluding to Aro's visit.

The most painful experience I had ever had was Emilian's projections. When he trapped me inside my own mind. Using his tactics would definitely help me focus on projecting similar feelings, but fear alone was stopping me from wanting to go down that path.

"It hurts." I whimpered, wincing at the memories flickering like a film reel in my mind.

"Fuel your fire, darlin'."

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, letting out steady breaths as I focused on that day. Aro's voice ringing in my mind. . . the path towards mind domination.

I held out my palm to place it in Jaspers, and felt him squeeze it in reassurance.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

I listened to the sound of Alice flipping the thin pages, Jasper's pacing, the birds singing, the winter wind whipping my hair past my head, the Earth worms deep in the dirt below my feet, the deer in the distance grazing for hidden grass and soon I had conjured up the mental image around me of a meadow. It was a simple projection. An uneven, circular clearing with tall grass blown sideways by thick winds. Large, intimidating tree's surrounding, and soon my projection began to shift towards something eerie. The tree's were holding sinister creature's, calling out to us with their growls and screams. Beckoning us past the safety of the exposed clearing. I was beginning to feel myself frighten, but pushed it down. I had to keep going.

I could feel the dry grass brushing against my legs as I walked alongside Jasper silently. I couldn't see him, but I could feel him next to me. I tried to imagine fog settling in from the dark forest. At first, it was a mere mist but soon it was billowing all around us. Dark and uninviting mist shrouded in black and purple hues. Dangerous mist that would suck us in and destroy us if it reached the very spot we stood.

"Uncle Jasper?" I called out, and mustered up any way I could see him.

"Keep going." His calm, drawled voice replied. He sounded so far away.

Focus, Nessie.

I fixated all of my pain and suffering of Emilian's tricks into the mist. I heard his voice echoing from within the dense clouds. Power. Darkness. Pain. Power. Darkness. Pain. Power. Darkness. Pain.

I don't know how long I had been chanting, but it had felt as if only seconds went by before cool arms pulled me back, snapping me out of my trance. My eyes flew open as I looked around the yard. Seven sets of amber eyes stared at me in shock.

"What happened?" I hoarsely questioned as my vision focused on Uncle Jasper laying on the snowy ground; writhing. "Jasper!"

My eyes flashed to dad who looked troubled as he glanced between my vampire uncle and myself. "You – you projected. Without touching him."

"No – I had his palm in my hand . . ."

"I let go." Jasper croaked as he pulled himself up with the help of Emmett and Alice.

"What did I project?"

Jasper shook his head and dusted off his pants. "It was just a meadow, at first. Then it was this mist. It was painful and all I could hear was your voice . . . chanting. It forced me in. I tried to pull away from you, but it didn't stop it from taking me."

"She showed you what Emilian did to her, except Renesmee's projection was . . . much, much more." Dad said with a quiet tremor.

I put my face in my hands and felt tears well up. "Oh, Uncle Jazz! I'm sorry!"

I felt a pair of cool hands pry my own from my face and looked up through tear soaked lashes to see my blonde uncle smiling at me. "I've had worse done to me, little girl. Don't get all worked up over me, you hear? We'll keep practicing but that was very good. Now we just have to focus and make that stronger." His southern drawl slipped out and my usually reserved uncle appeared more than pleased, regardless of my unintentional attack on his psyche.

"How – how did it hurt? Where?" I asked in a small voice.

He let out a soft sigh through his nose, "Sort of all over, I guess. At first, I could still see and think. But, then all I heard was your voice and that's when I saw the clouds of mist. It surrounded me. I felt the word's you were thinking . . . It was quite the out of body, out of mind experience. Not one I've had since I was a soldier in the confederate army and we passed around chloro –"

"Alright – Jazz." Alice cut in with a sharp glare. "Renesmee, try on me. I promise – I'll be fine. I need to see if it matches my vision."

I took a few steps back, my boots crunching in the snow. I shook my head vigorously. "No way. I won't hurt any of you guys."

She smiled and shrugged. "You're talking to the girl who got electro shock therapy. Trust me – I'll be fine."

"Alice!" My father hissed with clenched teeth and rigid chords in his neck.

I had practiced on my pixie aunt, and continued the rest of the morning practicing on my family members, unwillingly might I add. Each vision I tried to change what they saw, but all I could focus on was the mist or water. They were either being drowned by water or by mist. Not exactly pleasant to see my family members all struggling in pain from my doing.

"I refuse to touch Grandma and Grandpa – no way."

Granma Esme gave me a warm smile per usual, which only made me feel worse.

"Carlisle is much stronger than all of us, Renesmee. He's as old as Aro. We need to know if it will have the same effect." Jasper suggested.

"I can't!" I shouted with a jutted chin. "I refuse."

"What are you refusing?" Jacob's husky voice announced from behind me. I spun on my heel and my eyes lit up with excitement. He clearly had just phased back as he was buttoning up his jean cut offs and was glistening with sweat.

I had never been more glad to see him than I was right now. Was it that late already?

"Jake!" I squealed as I flew into his arms. His laughter echoed around me as he hugged me tightly.

"Hey, mama. I missed you." He whispered into my ear and nuzzled his nose into my messy curls. I smiled, hugging him tighter to inhale his woodsy scent. Safe.

"I missed you more." I announced as I tilted my head upwards.

He leaned down to brush his lips against mine, causing us both to smile into each other's mouths. Ugh, had it really been that long since I've kissed him?

I nipped his lip playfully and pulled away with a twirl. "I've been training all day, you saved Grandma and Grandpa from being my guinea pigs!"

His eyebrows furrowed as he glanced around. My usual cleanly family were covered in mud and ice crystals, all wearing thick grimaces as they were still recovering from my projections.

"You all look like shit." Jacob noted with a smirk. "Damn, baby. I would have paid to see you hand it to them."

Daddy snorted, resulting in a sharp glare from my mother which cut his amusement short.

"She's a maniac." Uncle Emmett muttered from the ground, still laying where he fell from my last projection. "She drowned me!"

Jacob's dark eyes snapped to mine, his eyebrows lifting so high with surprise it formed wrinkles in his usually smooth, copper forehead. "You did what?"

Now, how to explain to my shape-shifting, alpha of a boyfriend that I could 'put a grown man on his ass' per Emmett's words . . .

"You could show him." Daddy suggested.

My eyes widened in horror as I looked over at my father. How could you even suggest that?

"Show me, Nessie." Jacob demanded while crossing his arms, something he did whenever he was trying to be intimidating.

I bit my lip and backed away. Even if he looked incredibly sexy as he stood tall and gave me his best 'I'm the alpha' side, I still wouldn't do that to him.

I shook my head vigorously. "No – no way. We got to get to the cliff's anyways for our date, yeah? I'll be right back!" I yelled as I ran up the back porch stairs and inside.

"Renesmee – what are you doing?" Alice called in a sing-song voice as she trailed in after me.

I blinked and spun around, giving her a tight smile. "Well . . . I need to change but I don't have anything –"

"Say no more!" She chirped as she shuffled me up the stairs towards what I presumed to be her and Uncle Jaspers old bedroom.

I noticed a row of books on fashion, stock marketing, and clairvoyance all lining the wall on a neat white shelf, as well as a large print of a sketched dress and a rather eclectic tribal painting. I paid no mind, Alice is rather eccentric. Her closet was nothing short of typical. Three sets of walk in closets stood, with long billowing curtains framing their entrances. I couldn't act surprised.

"Alice, you're not even my size." I groaned as I shuffled into one of the closets behind her. "Plus – you know my style. It's nothing like yours."

She rolled her eyes, "Oh pish posh. I saw this date already and I know exactly what you're wearing."

She sat me down on one of the benches and scuffled around her closet at lightning speed. She had pulled out a thick, tan cable knit sweater that was a bit cropped and had a turtle neck. She eyed it with a smile and tossed it at me.

"On." Was all she commanded and I obliged without complaint, not wanting scary-outfit-planning-Aunt-Alice to come out.

I ripped my t-shirt off and pulled on the sweater, noting it was quite soft and comfortable.

Just as I was admiring the sweater, she brought me a blue chiffon skirt, layered several times over with a pretty print, made up of white and orange flowers. "Yes, this is exactly what I saw!"

I sighed and pulled off my leggings, pulling the skirt on to lay snug on my waist. Alice fiddled with the sweater, tucking it into the skirt and synching my waist in with a hefty brown belt. I took the brown, suede boots from her tiny hands and slide my feet into them easily. One thing I was thankful for in this moment was that our shoe size was the exact same. I looked in one of the large mirrors and admired her fashion sense.

"I look so . . . sophisticated." I noted.

Alice smiled smugly to herself and went to pull my hair down from its half up do.

"No! No, please. Jake likes it like this." I murmured and moved my hands to my hair where I fixed what she had already began to fiddle with.

"Really?" She said with curiosity glinting in her eyes.

I nodded and pulled my hair around to flow behind my back. "I mean – I think. He just always comments that he likes it whenever I do it like this."

She smiled warmly at me in the mirror and touched my shoulders gently. "I'm really happy you have him, Renesmee. I feel like we haven't been able to talk much, but I just want to tell you that I'm glad he's in your life. Even though he's a dog . . . I guess he's not that bad."

I turned to meet her amber eyes and my own began to water. "He's amazing, Auntie. Truly."

She took my face in her cool, tiny stone hands and brushed the tears that began to fall.

"You'll let me plan your freaking wedding, right? With no qualms like your mother?"

I snorted and gave her a wide grin. "Nothing too crazy."

She squealed with delight and kissed my cheek. "Go, have fun! I have things to do!"

As she pushed me out of her closet and bedroom, I found myself wandering down the hall slowly. Butterflies filled my stomach for some odd reason, and I couldn't quite place why . . .