Denali Home, Alaska

July, 1992


The Denali coven and their cousins sat in their cabin, mulling over what just transpired.

All of them, silently sharing the same thought.

"So...am I the only one that doesn't believe they were just in the area," Kate said, face scrunched up in disbelief.

"It is very coincidental," Tanya hummed, pacing.

"It wasn't coincidental at all. They came here to check in on Raven. Why? She's a gifted human. Even if she hasn't mastered it, Aro knows she will at some point. Her gift is invaluable to that power hungry imbecile," Rosalie said, as if it were obvious.

Everyone stared at her in stunned silence.

"What? Don't act like you guys haven't noticed how they collect gifted vampires like phony, Babe Ruth baseball cards."

This threw the vampires into a heated discussion about what that could mean for their youngest coven mate. All the while, she was completely and utterly distracted.

Raven sat beside a seething Victoria, all too aware of the fact that their legs were rubbing against each other. She would have reveled in it, but her mind was occupied by memories of Eden looking at Jane the way she looked at her own mate. She knew that look intimately.

"Somebody please explain how Jane is mated to Eden," Raven muttered, staring at the ornate rug beneath the coffee table. Her stomach turned violently.

"I'm gonna throw up."

Alice rolled her eyes as everyone shuffled uncomfortably. "She won't."

Victoria eyed her mate, seeing the lost look on her face. She wondered why it affected her so much. She and Eden were no longer together. Why did she care about Jane and Eden being mated? Shouldn't this be a good thing? She wasn't pleased with the way she was acting at all.

As everyone discussed what Jane's new mated status meant and what the Volturi could be planning, Victoria observed Raven becoming more and more uncomfortable. Until, finally, she couldn't stand looking at her downtrodden expression any longer.

"Oof," the teen grunted as her mate carried her up the stairs toward her soundproofed room.

"You should do this more often."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Of course you would like being picked up like a rag doll."

Raven looked around Victoria's room, realizing she hadn't been in there for a long time. It was cleaner than she remembered. The massive, useless mahogany bed frame was quite obnoxious and not at all what she would have imagined for the redhead.

She remembered times when she slept on mattresses on the floor with the vampire's arms wrapped tightly around her, keeping nightmares at bay.

"What's with you tonight?" Victoria asked, obviously annoyed. The teen squinted at her.

"Other than the fact that I was visited by the Volturi and they're apparently stalking me now," Raven asked indignantly. She recieved an impressive deadpan stare in return.

"You know what I mean, smartass."

Raven sighed, thinking about the way Eden looked at Jane for the thousandth time.

It irked her soul to see it happening. She understood the feeling that her ex girlfriend felt, but then again she didn't.

She'd known her mate for over a decade before she felt the bond, whereas Eden didn't know Jane at all. Yet, in an instant, she was staring at her like she held the answers to the most important questions in the universe.

What that signified unsettled her.

"I'm afraid for her," Raven admitted, biting the skin of her thumb. Victoria's expression softened.

"She had a plan for her life. She was going to be a basketball player. She was going to college. And what about her parents? Even though they're not very good at showing it, they fucking love her. She's going to be introduced to this world that she had no idea existed and I highly doubt Jane will let her continue school. She'll never see her family again... I can't lie, it breaks my heart."

Victoria placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling ashamed of herself for being upset. She understood Raven's concern. It was almost certain that Eden would not be allowed to attend college. Knowing Jane, Eden would be a vampire before the sun rose over the horizon in the morning.

"Your feelings are justified. The only helpful words I can offer are that Jane would never harm Eden and that you will be able to see her anytime you wish once you've both been changed," Victoria said begrudgingly, attempting to reassure her. She perked up a bit at the realization.

Suddenly, a smirk pulled at Raven's lips. "You don't seem very happy about that. You look a little green, Vic. What's wrong?"

Victoria shifted uncomfortably as the teen read her like a book. She was much more perceptive than the vampire gave her credit for. It was embarrassing to know that she could see through her so easily.

"Don't worry, I only see Eden as a friend. And, as of right now, she still hates my guts," Raven said, biting her plump, bottom lip anxiously. She looked up at the vampire through long, ebony eyelashes in a way that made her feel faint.

"I'm only yours, Victoria."

She sucked in air like she'd just been punched in the gut. The way those words so confidently fell from her lips did something to to the redhead. The way she said her name... Victoria turned away to calm herself. The beast within rejoiced and she knew for certain that her eyes were as black as her mate's hair.

A tinkling laugh made her turn around to glare at her teasing human.

"Don't start, Raven. Now isn't the time," she snarled, giving her a warning look

Raven smirked, reveling in the effect her words had on the vampire. She highly enjoyed messing with Victoria, seeing as they were taking things slow. Snail pace, slow. Waiting in line at the DMV, slow. She saw nothing wrong with a little teasing every now and again.

"I won't. Just know that I think it's really hot when you're jealous. In fact, I enjoy knowing how much you adore me even though I can be a pain in your ass," Raven said, grinning from ear to ear.

The vampire relaxed, shaking her head fondly at her sadistic mate. "What am I going to do with you? You're not even a vampire yet and I want to rip my hair out."

"I can think of plenty of things, actually. If you need suggestions, feel free to ask."


Talkeetna, Alaska

Polar Bear Lodge


Eden stood behind Jane, fidgeting as she checked them into a very fancy lodge.

She didn't know why she agreed to go with this woman she barely knew. All did know was that she felt more safe than she ever remembered feeling. Something about Jane calmed the constant anxiety inside her, while simultaneously making her feel butterflies in her stomach.

When they arrived to the room, Eden hesitantly sat on the bed and watched Jane walk around. The blonde looked utterly disgusted by the suite, even though it was the fanciest lodge in Talkeetna.

"This won't do. I should have known. Americans are clueless about interior design and cleanliness," Jane ranted, scoffing.

"What are you, Queen Elizabeth? There's a hot tub in there, for goodness sake," Eden laughed, making the blonde look at her in annoyance.

"Of course you would like it, human. You can't smell the fifth on the bed you're sitting on so casually," she snarked back.

Eden narrowed her eyes, confused by Jane's statement. She wrote her crimson eyes off as her being an albino, but now she was starting to think something was amiss. Her mind wandered back to Raven's family and their golden eyes.

"Are you related to Raven's family? Is that why your eyes are weird," Eden asked, genuinely curious.

Jane sneered. "Do not compare me to those animal drinking imbeciles. They are terrible excuses for vampires."

Eden's eyes widened into saucers and her heart pounded in her chest. "You're joking, right? You're not serious," she asked, tentatively scooting away from her.

Jane could smell the fear. She could hear it in the way her human's heart sloshed viciously in her chest. However, she did not feel the desire to drain the fragrant blood from her veins, nor did she feel the sadistic pleasure she otherwise would have at her obvious fear.

Instead, she felt the overwhelming need to comfort Eden and assure her she was not a threat.

Jane sighed, the sneer on her face softening. She felt an ache in her chest develop. She didn't mean to be so defensive and harsh with the human. She just didn't know how to be tender and caring just yet.

She thought, maybe it wouldn't hurt to try.

"I am a vampire, Eden. Raven's so called family is a coven of vampires. And, soon, you will also be a vampire," Jane explained slowly, looking into her eyes. The girl stared back blankly.

As she suspected, Eden did not believe her.

Only after displaying her inhuman speed did the girl realize that she was, in fact, a creature of the night incarnate. There were many questions thrown at her and she answered them all as patiently as she could.

By the time her questions ebbed, Jane noticed the girl looking at her curiously.

"Does that mean you're going to eat me now, Ms. Scary Vampire?" Eden asked with one raised brow.

There was no fear in her statement, as if she knew Jane wouldn't hurt her.

Her sinewy muscles flexed as she sat back, bracing herself on the bed with her arms in a way that was highly seductive. Her legs were spread comfortably with her feet planted firmly on the red carpet. Bright, green eyes leveled her with an impressively confident stare.

Jane gulped back a pool of venom that flooded her mouth at the sight of her. The defiant look in her eyes was enticing. The sheer height of the girl compared to her, and the well muscled form of her body excited the vampire. She silently wondered how she was going to keep herself from ravishing the human before she was completely comfortable in her presence.

"I'm certain we would both enjoy that very much, but that will have to wait," Jane rasped, eyes black as flint. Eden blushed heavily and coughed into her hand.

How cute, Jane smirked. Secret submissive?

"Anyway, you mean to tell me that Raven knew this entire time and didn't tell me? I already hated her, but now I want to kick her ass," Eden said, almost to herself. Jane gritted her teeth at the girl's name, but did not say anything about it.

"There are rules in our world. We are forbidden to reveal our existence to humans without the intent of turning said human. The offense is punishable by death and my coven is the judge, jury, and executioner."

Jane watched a look of confusion cross the teen's face. "Then why did they tell Raven? Wait, why are you telling me? You're literally risking your life to tell me this and I just met you. Are you crazy or something?"

Eden looked extremely concerned and afraid for her, causing a deep warmth to blossom in Jane's chest for the first time in her long, undead life. It felt like her heart could start beating any moment.

She liked it.

She didn't want it to end.

"I have nothing to fear. You are my mate and you will soon be immortal. I've broken no laws," Jane said, looking at her fondly. She was proud to say the girl was her's.

Eden lifted a brow and tilted her head to the side like a puppy. "I'm pretty sure you're not Australian. Can you translate your vamp lingo into human terms, please?"

Jane couldn't help the amused smile that spread over her lips. I never woud have assumed my mate would be this humorous.

"A mate is equivalent to what humans call a soul mate. The difference between the two is vampires instantly recognize their mate. The bond between a vampire and their mate is nearly unbreakable. They would do anything, give anything, to make their mate happy," Jane explained, looking at the teen with an uncharacteristically soft expression.

"You are my mate, Eden. I've waited over one thousand years for you."

The human's eyes widened dramatically.

As her words sank in, Eden began to hyperventilate. Everything Jane told her played through her head, overwhelming her. It was all just too much to take in at once.

The vampire was in front of her in seconds with a frantic look on her face. She had no idea what to do to get her heart to stop beating so quickly. She was certain it was unhealthy.

"Uh, would you like a glass of water or something," Jane asked hesitantly. When her mate refused, she became more worried.

"Do you want a hug? Humans enjoy them, right?"

Eden looked at her with a confused look on her face, before laughing aloud. The blonde vampire glared at her, feeling extremely insecure and vulnerable. Two emotions she was quite unfamiliar with.

"You are the most unsocialized person I've ever met and that's saying something," Eden chuckled, causing Jane's glare to intensify.

"But, you're also the most beautiful person I've ever met. So, the compromise is worth it."

Jane might as well have been a puddle of mush at her feet. She couldn't remember the last time someone called her beautiful. The only adjectives people used for her were negative. The girl's praise made her feel as if she were floating.

Eden did not fully comprehend everything that she was told yet, but she knew that she enjoyed Jane's presence. She found the vampire's poor understanding of human nature hilarious, and she even liked her cold attitude. Not to mention, the intense attraction that boiled hot inside her belly when the shorter girl did anything at all.

Eden was eager to learn more about her. She felt a sense of relief knowing that Jane was her soul mate and would rather be dead than leave her side. It felt nice to be held in such high regard.

There was only one small problem.

Well, several.

"Since we're mates or whatever, that means you're coming with me to Anchorage. My dorm is kind of small, but it's not too bad," Eden said, trying and failing to hide her eagerness.

Jane pinched the bridge of her nose as her mate rambled about how much fun they were going to have. She obviously wasn't grasping the fact that her humanity was now forfeit. She could not stay in Alaska and she would not be human for very much longer.

"Eden, we're only here to wait on our flight back to Italy. You are not going to college." Jane said, her tone dripping with finality.

Eden simply arched a brow at her. As if to say, excuse me? The fire in those green eyes rivaled her own

It was then that Jane Volturi knew she was in big trouble.


Denali Home, Alaska

August, 1992

"Fuck! Stop! Stop!," Emmett screamed as he was electrocuted.

Rosalie growled in annoyance, but said nothing as he did volunteer to be a guinea pig for this experiment. That didn't stop her from glaring at Kate darkly.

"You're not supposed to actually shock him. You said you'd just reach toward him," Raven said, outraged. Even though Emmett seemed to be enjoying himself like a true masochist, she still felt terrible.

"Thanks for the concern, little wing, but can you, like, shield me or something," Emmett laughed, shaking out his sore arm.

Kate rolled her eyes. "We've been out here for two hours, I had to give you incentive. But, it's looking like you're gonna need more."

Raven lifted an ebony brow and followed Kate's gaze to Victoria, who looked bored out of her mind. The young woman threw an impressive, defiant glare at her coven mate. The blonde smirked back at her evilly, undeterred.

"Vicky, what do you think about a little sparring match," Kate asked sweetly, not taking her eyes off of the fuming human.

The redhead glanced at her mate, who looked like she was about to try to set Kate aflame, and grinned. Now was her chance to get Raven back for her incessant teasing, while also helping her work on her gift. It was the perfect situation.

The betrayed look on her face was delicious.

"I would be delighted, sister."

As the two vampire's stood opposite one another, staring each other down, Raven's heart was pounding in her chest.

She knew Victoria was over three hundred years old, and that her gift was perfect for evading harm. She knew Kate cared for her and wouldn't actually kill her. However, she couldn't shake the fear of something bad happening to her vampire.

"Remember, invision your shield. What it looks like, what it feels like. When you're ready, will it to expand around your mate. You're the only help she's got," Kate instructed her carefully, seeing the terror in her eyes.

By this time, the rest of their large family had gathered outside to see what was going to happen. Edward wagered she would fail based on her thoughts, while Jasper bet that she would succeed. He could feel determination beneath the huge waves of doubt.

"What if I can't do it? I've only done it once and I couldn't control it," Raven argued, anxiety overwhelming her. What if Victoria got hurt because she couldn't protect her?

"I trust you to protect me, just as much as you trust me to protect you. Okay? You can do this," Victoria said softly, causing her stomach to flip.

A look of quiet determination fell upon her face and the vampire smiled at her eagerness to keep her safe. She almost felt...human.

Before Raven could blink or say anything at all, Kate was attacking. Her eyes widened.

Adrenaline took over, slowing time to a crawl.

If the human had not been so worried, she would have admired the calm, unaffected look on Victoria's face as she stood still in the face of an ancient vampire charging her. She looked as if she weren't going to move.

At all.

Raven panicked, feeling something inside her straining to get out. The feeling was so intense that she feared what would happen if she let it go. It was like a grenade readying to blow. No, it was an atom bomb.

As Kate got closer, she realized she didn't actually have a choice anymore. She needed to protect. Victoria trusted her to keep her safe.

She envisioned her shield, strong and unwavering, bursting toward Kate and only Kate. With a groan, the pressure released.

The family watched with wide eyes as Raven fell to her knees as if exhausted, and what looked like a shock wave erupted from her body. They watched it harmlessly pass through Victoria, and slam into an unsuspecting Kate with an unrelenting force that made her grunt.

The ancient vampire flew through the air like a rag doll. She slammed into the heavy duty fence that wrapped around the entire back yard, landing two hundred feet outside of it. The Kate sized hole would have been hilarious had they not just witnessed a human do this to her.

The whole ordeal only took a few seconds.

"Um, what the actual fuck." Emmett was the first to speak. His words mirrored the looks on everyone else's face.

"She's awesome, right," Alice beamed, clapping excitedly. It was even better than her vision.

Victoria silently kneeled down beside Raven, who looked completely fatigued. She wrapped an arm around the girl and hugged her tightly, trying to hide the disbelief on her face. She felt proud and honored that she wanted to protect her so badly that she nearly threw Kate into outer space.

The thought that Raven felt that strongly for her sent her mind reeling.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know it would be that strong," Raven exclaimed as Tanya and Irina rushed to Kate's side. She looked like she'd done something wrong.

"Why are you apologizing? You did exactly what I told you to do. It was more than I expected, but that's my own fault," Kate laughed as her mates dusted off her clothes. She glanced at the destroyed fence and back at her, impressed.

"It seems as if your shield can be used like a shock wave or a battering ram, pequeño," Eleazar said to her, smiling proudly.

Carlisle couldn't help his own curiosity. He simply needed to understand. "How were you able to do that?"

Raven frowned, thinking about what she felt before her shield exploded. Every eye was on her, intrigued to hear how she was able to throw one of their best fighters through the air like it was nothing...while human.

"It was like...a pressure was building inside of me that became unbearable. It didn't hurt, but I was afraid to let it go until I did what Kate said. I made sure it didn't hit you guys, only her. I had to..." Raven trailed off, looking at Tanya and Irina apologetically.

She did just violently attack the mate of her coven leader/mother figure.

"You had to protect your mate. That instinct is as old as time and I must say, it is the strongest one. You did very well and I think I can speak for everyone when I say, we are proud to call you our coven mate," Tanya praised her, letting her know that she was far from angry.

Victoria watched as both coven's celebrated Raven, congratulating her on harnessing her gift.

The smile on her face was the brightest she'd ever witnessed. Her own lips mirrored it as she watched her mate be embraced by her large, loving family. The family that were nothing like the monsters that abused her. The family Victoria always wanted her to have.

When Raven turned toward her, her hazel eyes were filled with love and adoration. Her long, tightly curled hair flowing over her shoulder like a veil, accentuating her caramel face perfectly. She strode towards her, those shapely hips swaying to and fro with a new confidence.

Victoria stopped breathing, feeling desire overflow within her for the strong, gifted woman who protected her without a second thought.

If it wasn't clear that Raven was undeniably, irreversibly in love with her before today, it was now. That thought was too much, and suddenly she was grasping Raven's hand, pulling her away.

"Come," Victoria commanded hoarsely, ignoring the knowing looks on her family's faces. They knew exactly what she was feeling.

"Where are we going," Raven asked curiously.

She'd seen the vampire's black eyes watching her before she suddenly materialized before her. Excitement thrummed through as she was carted into the wilderness.

Victoria didn't say anything. Instead, she picked the girl up in her arms and started to run.

Raven laughed aloud, hiding her face in her pale neck to shield herself from the wind. The vampire's arm held her firmly as if she were the most important thing in the world, and somehow, she knew she was.

When Victoria finally stopped and let her down, Raven didn't have much time to be free before she was pinned to a tree. She made a surprised noise, and coal black eyes stared into her own with an unreadable emotion in them. It was dangerously close to hunger but not quite.

"You love me."

Victoria's words were meant to be a question, but they came out as a declaration. She watched a look of confusion pass over her young mate's face that she wanted to kiss away.

"You knew that already," she whispered, feeling incredibly hot with such little space between them. This was new and very welcome.

The vampire raised a red brow at her.

"You're in love with me," Victoria murmured, breathing in her scent deeply.

She smelled like everything she missed about her human life. Everything good, pure, and clean. Then again, Raven smelled like she desired her.

As Victoria pressed closer, Raven hesitantly placed her hands on Victoria's hips for the first time. The low growl that resonated in her mate's chest gave her more confidence and she pulled her closer until their bodies were flush together. She was thankful for her slight height advantage.

Raven boldly gazed down into the wanton, fathomless eyes of her immortal with devotion clear and evident in her own.

"As I said, you knew that already."

One of her hands on Victoria's waist moved, gently trailing up her body to her face and then down to the back of her neck. Delicate, but strong fingers entwined in her blood red tresses, nails scratching her scalp softly. The action sent chills down her spine so vicious that her own fingers dug deep into the tree behind Raven, causing an audible cracking sound.

Never had she felt so desperate to be touched.

"You should move. I need to calm down before I hurt you..." Victoria ground out.

She knew she was on the verge of losing control and she berated herself for dragging the girl away on a whim. Thoughts of marking her slender neck ran rampant. No one could hear them out here. If she so desired, no one could find them. She growled at the thought.

"No, I think you need me," Raven whispered, breaths coming out labored. Victoria bit her lip at her words.

"I could attack-"

"You won't."

Confidently, Raven turned them around, pressing Victoria into the tree where she once was. With no hesitation, she pushed her warm body into the vampire's cool one, causing her to hiss. Her hands caressed her face as she stared into her vampire's eyes boldly. The need she felt was immense and all encompassing. She couldn't hold back anymore.

Without a word, Raven pressed her lips against Victoria's for the first time.

The vampire gasped in surprise at the powerful current that passed through her body.

This allowed the human's hot tongue to enter and carress against her own expertly. She wanted to fight for dominance, but the battle was already over before it started. She allowed the taller girl to take over, completely surrendering to her will.

Raven moaned into the kiss as the redhead kissed her back desperately. She couldn't believe how good it felt to feel those soft, red lips on her's, to feel her breasts pressed into her own. The warmth between her legs grew impossibly hotter. She wanted, no, she needed to have more.

Hot hands slipped beneath Victoria's tank top and she grasped the tree hard, creating a creaking noise. Raven's hands gripped her hips, caressing and stroking her skin as they pulled her tighter against her. She could feel her heart beating wildly against her own chest.

Suddenly, Raven's delicious lips pulled away and traveled down to her neck. The vampire shut her eyes tightly as her mate coaxed a string of deep, guttural moans from her lips. It was becoming too much. If they didn't stop soon...

"Please touch me, Victoria. I trust you." Raven's raspy voice moaned into her ear, making her shiver.

The vampire wanted to tell her it wasn't a good idea, that she was already going much farther than she planned, but her mate asked her so nicely. It was her job to attend to her every want and need, wasn't it? It was against her very nature to refuse.

One of Victoria's hands gripped Raven's slender waist carefully, taking care not to bruise her perfect, mocha skin. She never touched her like this until now, and it was heavenly. She reached beneath her shirt, running her fingertips over the girl's tone stomach.

Her tight body quickly proved too tempting. Against her will, her hand went lower and grabbed a handful of her round ass. Her mate moaned and buck against her deliciously, seeking friction to relieve the pressure between her legs.

"God- fuck, you feel so good," Raven gritted out, finding the stimulation she needed. She didn't realize it was possible to want somebody so badly. The desire she felt with Eden paled in comparison to this.

Victoria knew it was time to stop when she couldn't control her hips. She could see it in the furrow of Raven's brow and the way her body shivered. Her gums ached as she fought not to mark her, effectively turning her and claiming her as her own. Venom pooled in her mouth as her mate licked and sucked her neck wantonly.

Raven's hands were everywhere, caressing her as if she wanted to know every freckle on her body. Her beautiful scent filled her nose. Her amazing body begged to be touched.

Victoria finally managed to see through the lust for just a moment, but it was too late.

Without warning, Raven's teeth bit into her neck hard, as if to claim her in the same way that the vampire was trying so very hard not to.

A pitiful sound escaped Victoria's mouth that she didn't think was possible.

She whimpered.

A loud cracking noise resounded in the forest, followed by a deafening crash shortly after and Raven had vertigo. Someone was carrying her, but somehow she knew it wasn't Victoria. She could faintly hear multiple growls in the distance.

When her head stopped spinning, she didn't see Victoria. Instead, amused, golden eyes assessed her for any damage, finding none. The tall blonde chuckled at her.

"I think that's enough torture for today. Don't you?" Rosalie said sarcastically, a small smirk on her lips.

Raven blushed heavily, wondering if what just happened was a dream. It was so much more than she could have imagined, though. She couldn't stop thinking about the way Victoria responded to her touch. She couldn't stop thinking about how much her vampire wanted her. She could see it in her eyes. She could feel it.

Despite the embarrassed look on Raven's face, she shook her head with a smirk of her own forming slowly.

"Not at all."


A/N: I had a dream about this and I couldn't help myself ;)