The Beginning
Isabella Swan was dead. She'd been dead for a good hundred years. So why was she still walking around?
She sighed as she sat on a fallen tree. She'd been avoiding the nomads in the area in search of the Olympic Coven she'd heard so much about. She'd yet to pick up the scent of more than three in a group.
She ran a hand through her thick brown hair and looked to the sky. She'd been looking for this coven for weeks now. Why? Simple really. She wanted to join them.
She'd taken to feeding on animals a few years back when she'd encountered the Denali coven. They had shown her that there was more to this life than being a monster. She'd taken their path and never looked back.
Something in her, however, was pushing her towards this other coven. She couldn't fathom what it was but it was very disconcerting. She stood from her tree and her instincts told her to run northwest, so northwest she ran.
The sun was just coming up when she caught their scents. They permeated the entire woods for miles. She smiled when she realised she'd found their hunting ground. She ran to the spot where their scents branched off and followed the singular trail back to a large house.
The man she knew to be Carlisle came out to greet her, flanked by two other males. There was a large male to his left and a leaner, yet still muscular, male to his right. The one on the right looked very unhappy.
"Hello, I'm Carlisle. It's not often we have visitors." His smile was genuine, charming. The male on his left was sporting a grin she felt the urge to return.
"I am Isabella. Though I go by Bella." The smile she shows the blonde man is an understated version of the grin she wishes to show him.
"Ah. Our cousins in Alaska mentioned you." His smile has broadened as if he expected this.
"Oh? How are Tanya, Kate, and Irena? I haven't heard from them since I left." She has genuine interest in the state of her old friends.
"They're doing well. Carmen and Eleazar have returned from Volterra." At this point the male on his right looked curious and amazed.
"Carlisle, I can't read her." Carlisle turned to look at the male on his right and frowned.
"That's hardly pertinent right now." She wondered why he was defending her but wasn't going to question it.
The male on his right with the sandy brown hair must be the mind reader, Edward. She found herself wondering suddenly why the psychic hadn't warned them of her arrival. Surely she'd seen it. This decision had been made ages ago.
"You must be the telepath. I'm sorry but my thoughts are my own and I like to keep it that way." Bella was careful to look him in the eyes as she said this. She didn't want to appear cagey.
"How?" He wasn't particularly distressed. Now he was just curious.
"I'm a shield. Over the last century I've strengthened it. It's quite remarkable, if I do say so myself." She grinned at his dumbfounded luck.
"Considering Alice didn't see you coming, I'm inclined to agree." This surprised her.
"Alice is the seer, yes? I didn't think my shield would effect her ability. I am terribly sorry to have surprised you so." She bowed at the waist in genuine apology.
"Nonsense. We've heard nothing but good things about you from our Denali cousins. Please come in and meet my family." She straightened and grinned at him once more.
As she followed the trio into the large house, she couldn't keep her joy off her face. That had gone well. Maybe joining them wouldn't be as hard as she thought.