Would you believe that I still haven't given up on this story?

...the only heaven I'll be sent to

is when I'm alone with you...

"I think this will help." Carlisle handed me a wine glass filled with a dark red liquid. "For your nerves. A belt goes a long way."

Forgetting the fact that the local physician was giving booze to a minor, it still struck me as odd that the Cullens had human edibles in their house at all. It was generally known that the Cullens were loners and stayed that way- Dr. and Mrs. Cullen never even entertained others from the hospital.

"It's from a very private collection," Edward said with a shrug. "This particular glass would cost about, oh, four hundred dollars in any fine dining Italian restaurant." I choked on the wine, but Angela reached over and thumped me on the back.

"Relax. I think the cellar can spare a bottle every now and then." Alice threw me a napkin and gestured for me to keep drinking.

We were all seated in the Cullen's massive dining room- a lovely room, probably my favorite in the whole house (aside from, now, the bathroom upstairs). I could only imagine the thought and care Esme had put into it, only for it to be so little used by the family. But things like that- effort and very little pay off- didn't seem to matter to the Cullens. Probably, vampires were used to that.

I thought how exhausting that must be, what a drain it was to always keep up a charade. Not physically, obviously, since human limitations didn't apply to them, but emotionally. I really didn't think the supernatural was given enough consideration. No wonder they kept to themselves. It was hard enough to play the part of humans for work and school. Home should be a safe space. And it probably had been, before I'd come along.

Emmett had pulled his chair closer to mine, and was absentmindedly playing with my hair, running the ends of it through his fingers. He was staring off at the back wall of the dining room. I wondered with a flush that prickled my neck if his thoughts kept drifting upstairs. I could still feel the heat of the water on my skin, the icy coldness of Emmett's body against and inside mine...

My plate of food sat nearby, untouched, though I could feel my stomach gnawing with hunger. After I had calmed down, Esme had firmly announced dinner, though Angela and I were the only ones who would actually be eating.

"We'll see ya in a bit. Don't let the bottle go to waste." Alice said with a wink and she and Jasper departed, just moments behind Edward and Angela, who were dropping by our house, to check on it and grab more clothes for Angela and I- Maureen had called, the rain storm now turning into snow, and was going to stay another night at the hotel in Seattle. Her meeting with the state social worker had gone well and my medical files were on their way to Forks. I felt comfort that she was still away- she didn't need to be here right now anyway, not with bloodthirsty lunatics on the loose.

Alice hadn't explained any more of her vision to me- Emmett had shut her down the moment she tried. When I was feeling better, maybe, but for now, the rest of them could handle it. I had to learn that I had a family, again; Angela and the Cullens would take care of me and protect me. I wasn't alone in the world. What was more, I was surrounded by the strongest beings in the world. I could finally, finally, rest.

It was the last thing I felt like doing.

"You need to eat," Esme said gently, pushing my plate towards me.

She was right- I felt shaky, weak. I didn't need to push my body right now when it was trying to heal. And Emmett was right, too...never in my entire life, even before my parents died and I knew about this insane supernatural world, had I felt as safe as I did right here, him mere inches from me, Carlisle and Esme fussing over me. Knowing that Angela was with Edward eased my mind as well. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. Maybe it wasn't crazy to feel like I did, considering how close to home I had been attacked, but something about the Cullens was just so...secure.

"I need to tell you something." I said to the whole room. Better to get it out now, to let everyone in the know. There was no point in keepings this to myself, not anymore. Even if I didn't want everyone to see how damaged I was, how much trouble I had brought with me, when they'd welcomed me into their lives.

Esme and Carlisle exchanged a quick glance, and Emmett's handsome face grimaced into a frown. I hated that. He should always be smiling, always be able to. I wanted more than anything to lift every burden from those broad shoulders. I was about to do the opposite and I hated myself for it. "But Angela should hear it, too. And everyone else."

"Until then, you eat." Esme said, using the same firm tone she had with Edward and his journal, and she began cutting up my meat, pushing the plate once more towards me.

oooo

Edward POV

The house was dark and still, and I kept Angela's hand firmly in my own as we did a quick sweep of each room, Angela checking window locks and I making sure there were no odd scents from invaders around.

When the house had been thoroughly checked, Angela led me into Kelly's room, pulling things from the closet and dresser. I had been trying to block out Angela's thoughts, more from trepidation than respect for her privacy, and it wasn't coming easily. Aside from having a fascinating mind, what was going on inside of it was becoming the most important thing in the world to me.

"How much did you..." I wanted to ask the question, but I was wary of the answer, wary that my past was catching up with me in a way that would cut Angela loose from my life. No girl in their right mind- and Angela's mind was very much intact- could see me in any other light than murderer after reading my journal.

I had never understood Emmett so wholly as I did right now. He could hardly stand the idea of Kelly being angry with him for taking Lauren to the party, let alone if he'd actually done something so heinous as I had and Kelly had found out about it. Though Emmett had killed before, had taken human life just as I had, Angela was so much more ignorant than Kelly about us, far less involved in this world of monsters. Kelly had taken it as a matter of course that Emmett had purposely spilled human blood. Would Angela feel the same about my past?

Angela zipped Kelly's backpack, full of clean clothes and her homework, closed before turning to me. Her dark eyes, framed by her glasses, were almost challenging. "The whole thing. I read the whole thing." A quick check of her thoughts proved this to be the case.

How could she allow herself to be with me at all, especially alone with me? Did she not possess a modicum of self-preservation? My thoughts must have been clearly written on my face, for Angela frowned at me.

"Don't start that. I will not be dealing with Stefan guilt our whole relationship. You know, you are quite alike. Stefan didn't think he was a hero, either."

"He was a Ripper," I countered, shaking my head. "He killed hundreds of people."

Angela shrugged. "He saved plenty, too. I'm not saying one balances out the other entirely. But I'm not saying it doesn't count for something, either. Who you are matters more than who you've been."

"How could it?" I burst out in frustration. If I was akin to Stefan, then Angela was more like Elena every day, recklessly forgiving and never worrying about her own safety.

"Like I said...Stefan saved people, too. Like you have. Those girls-"

"I had thoughts about them, Angela. I could have killed them far easier than any of those madmen after them."

Angela nodded her agreement. "But you didn't. That's the difference, Edward, don't you see that?"

I sighed. "A few good actions cannot make up for all the bad ones."

"Why does that get to be your decision?" The challenging stare again. She was getting far too good at that. "You can read my thoughts. That's what Leah said. And Alice can see the future, and Jasper can control emotions, and Carlisle doesn't even want to drink human blood. I don't know how they know so much about all of you, but it adds up. And if you can do all those things, you can help people. You do, every day. Right now, this very second. You're helping me and you're helping Kelly."

Out of selfish reasons, of course. Because Emmett loved Kelly, and because I cared for Angela. Because Kelly was, unknowingly, in the middle of some gigantic mess with another vampire, or vampires, and she could not even begin to protect herself.

"Don't," Angela held up her hand, "I've already said there will be no guilt and I'm serious. I may not know a lot about your world," Angela came closer to me, reaching out for my hand, "but I do know you. I've watched you for years, and as far as I can tell, you've never hurt a fly."

She barely reacted to the coolness of my fingers, linking our hands together. I wondered if this is what Emmett felt; complete and utter surrender at the hands of a human.

"I still could," I countered, but Angela's face was already in a mischievous smirk.

"I'd much rather focus on other things." She raised my hand to her cheek, warmth spreading from her skin onto my fingertips.

"Oh?" I asked, covering her hand with my own. "Such as?"

"Just-" Angela began but her phone buzzed, and she let out a frustrated sigh. "It's Alice. She says we should head back pronto, Kelly has something to share with the class."

"We'll pick this up later, then?" I brought her hand to my lips, her eyes, if possible, going darker at the contact.

"You can count on it, Mr. Cullen. Interfering family members or not."

oooo

I hadn't realized how hungry I'd been, but I put away two heaping plates of Esme's food, followed with another glass of wine. I didn't necessarily like alcohol all that much, but right now, I enjoyed the hazy warmth that was spreading through my body.

And it was, obviously, very high quality. I might never make it to Italy to sample the finer things in life, so why not indulge a bit now?

It helped, too, that I was more or less in Emmett's lap. I sat against him, his arms around me, his chin on top of my head. I felt cocooned in safety, at that moment. Always, with Emmett.

The front door banged open, and Alice and Jasper walked in, followed by Edward and Angela. I saw Edward give one long glance outside before shutting the door firmly behind him, and they all converged in the dining room.

"My parents were murdered by a vampire." I blurted, before anybody could say a word or leave the room. Better out than in, and if I didn't spill my guts now, I didn't know if I'd ever have the courage to.

Esme's hand flew over her heart, and Angela gasped. "It's how I knew what you all were when I saw you, at the airport that day. I would recognize a vampire anywhere."

"Wait," Angela shook her head, as though she couldn't believe it, "I thought your mom and dad died in a fire."

"I wish." I said, swallowing thickly. I didn't want to tell Angela this, I didn't want the Cullens to hear it. I didn't want them to think, for even a second, that I equated that woman with them. "The fire was later. After."

"So a vampire killed your parents, but left you alive?" Jasper asked, coldy skeptical.

"Jasper!" Alice said, slapping him on the arm, as though he'd done a major faux pas.

I shrugged, raising my eyes to look at Jasper. I didn't take his coolness personally; besides the fact that a full grown adult would be more adept at protecting themselves than a child, his first priority was to protect his family, and here I was, threatening that. Jasper tilted his head at me, as though he sensed my understanding.

"I don't know why she kept me alive. I only remember watching what she did to my parents, then I felt the heat of the fire...I woke up in the hospital three days later with minimal injuries...a few small burns and some smoke inhalation. All in all, barely a scratch. Physically, anyway."

"Mom has no idea..." Angela said faintly, and I nodded.

"I was hoping to keep it that way. I wanted you out of the loop too, but I know that's not fair." I glanced at Edward, who was studying Angela carefully.

"You have been through so much," Esme said, shaking her head, and if it was possible for a vampire to cry, I know her eyes would have been filled with tears, "so much at the hands of our kind. And now this..."

I vigorously shook my head. "They aren't your kind. Not even close. That's my point. I hated vampires, was so afraid of them. I had constant nightmares. They were bad...just ask Emmett."

Esme and Carlisle both turned their glances towards Emmett, whose eyes were wide, like a deer caught in the headlights.

Esme looked scandalized, as though she couldn't believe that her son was sneaking in and out of girls bedrooms. Carlisle just looked concerned.

"You mean to tell me that you were-" Esme began but Emmett threw his hands up in defense.

"It wasn't like she was awake!"

Esme's scowl got, if possible, even deeper. "What have we always said about consent, Emmett! And how unfair of you, to sneak in, to capitalize on her attraction-"

"It's okay!" I cried, trying not to laugh. "Really, it is! It was the first time I felt safe. He didn't even know me, but he still helped me." I reached out for his hand and he tenderly pressed our fingers together.

Esme's glare lessened, but there was no way she was letting Emmett off the hook completely. I sensed that when I went to bed that night, there would definitely be a lecture.

"I fail to see what that has to do with our current predicament," Edward said smoothly, "aside from alerting the townspeople that they need to lock their windows and stock up on firearms."

"What we need is a plan. Our tie to this new vampire is Kelly, and she has no idea who he is." Jasper broke in, giving me another hard look.

"Well damn Jasper, I was a little busy getting my head bashed into the highway to ask him his name and zodiac sign." I spat, uncomfortable and angry because did Jasper think I liked being in the dark? The crazy ass vampire clearly knew me, so how could I not know him?

"We don't know who he is, but it's obvious what he is." Angela talked over Jasper's reply, surprising us all.

"And that would be...?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.

"He's a Hunter." Angela said, looking to Carlisle and Jasper for back up.

"Technically aren't all vampires?" I shot a look at all of the Cullens. Predators, dangerous, superhuman abilities. Like, duh. They all fit the bill, as would, I was sure, every supernatural creature.

"No, no, I mean that's his ability. His gift." Angela clarified, and Jasper nodded.

"It makes sense. He is very adept at hiding his presence, he marked his prey, he was able to control himself and not kill her, and he took very little blood..." He said, and it seemed like Angela and Jasper were the only people in the room who had any idea what the hell was going on.

Carlisle murmured something that was too quiet for human ears to pick up, Edward moving from Angela's side to confer with him and Jasper, too.

"How do you know all that?" I asked Angela, marveling at her ability to not only adapt to this world, but to be so knowledgeable about it.

"Because Edward's one, too." Angela said, shrugging, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. For all of her innocence, I secretly thought that she enjoyed being a know-it- all.

That stopped all the Cullens and their mini conversations. They looked at Angela, then at Edward.

"No," Alice said slowly, "Edward is a mind reader."

Angela shrugged again. "That, too. But Hunters always have a secondary ability. This other guy? It sounds like his is...well, I don't know how else to put it, but...he's an Alpha."

"Okay, pump the brakes." I held my hands up in front of me. First on my list of many questions for my oh-so-innocent cuz, how did she know more about vampires than I did?! Then even Alice did? "How is Edward a Hunter, and what the hell even is that?"

"Maybe we should-" Angela said, looking at Edward, who just looked confused.

"No, I think you're right." Jasper said. "It makes sense. And this other guy...being an Alpha...that's right, too. It has to be."

"A Hunter is exactly what it sounds like," Angela explained, "they can track across continents, oceans, even in the air- there have been cases of Hunters stalking their...prey...on airplanes, when they're on the ground."

I raised an eyebrow; Edward? The polite police? Yeah, sure. Okay.

"And an Alpha is always the leader. Think...mafia," Angela continued, "They get what they want. Always. They're stronger, and they're far more vicious than other vampires. I'm sure there are some who live quiet lives, not knowing their own power. Present company excluded, most vampires are nomads and loners, thus we don't know much about their talents or powers. It is easy to assume, though, that unless there is something an Alpha wants, an ambition, there is every possibility they..." Angela trailed off, eyeing Emmett and I strangely, as though she was working through a math equation in her head, "anyway, there have been several who've tried to dismantle the Volturi, of course, but they-"

"Okay," I said, standing up, "what the shit are you even talking about?! How do you know all of this? What is a Volturi-"

"I'm also curious as to how you seem to know so very much about our world in such a short time." Carlisle broke in, an amused expression on his face.

Angela shot Carlisle a sheepish smile. "Well, you have such an amazing collection, I really just wanted to know more about Edward, after Esme gave me his journal to read, it really snowballed from there. I know the door was locked but picking it wasn't that hard, you might want to think about a deadbolt or, with the rarity of some of the volumes in there, a fingerprint lock at the very least."

"B and E, huh? Mad props." Emmett said, giving Angela a fist bump.

"Who are you and what have you done with my cousin?" I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. I was definitely a bad influence on her.

"This time, I do believe some of the credit is owed to me." Edward murmured, answering my thoughts, but he was regarding Angela with a mix of pride and affection.

"To be fair, if Edward had been more forthcoming about himself, Angela wouldn't have been so curious." Alice said, shrugging, but I seriously doubted that. Angela wouldn't let anything come between her and the answers she was seeking, whatever the subject was. It was one of the things that made her and Edward kind of perfect for each other.

"So it's Edward's fault? Sweet." Emmett, one arm around my waist and one slung over the back of the chair, leaned back. "The world makes sense again."

There was a rapt knock at the door, Alice immediately scowling. "Ugh." She muttered, folding her arms over her chest.

I pushed myself out of Emmett's lap but he held me back, suddenly protective. "Relax, it's not like an enemy would knock politely on the door." Alice said, shooting an annoyed glance at Emmett.

He stuck his tongue out at her and, quick as a flash of lightning, settled me comfortably in the chair and bolted to the front door, getting there with Jasper. Edward and Carlisle hung back, but looked alert. Esme had disappeared into the kitchen and came back out again with a tray full of food. Leftover fried chicken, salad, strawberry pie, the works.

Jasper opened the door and a young kid stood there, a huge smile on his face. "Hiya! Wouldn't happen to have-" He stopped as he saw Esme standing there with the tray of food. "Ah man, how'd you know? This is perfect!"

"Jasper get out of the way." Esme said, sounding scandalized. "Seth is a guest."

Jasper rolled his eyes and moved from the doorway, and the kid bounded in the house, grabbing the tray from Esme and plopping himself down right at the table.

"Oh hey, you must be Kelly, right? The woman of the hour. Or week. Or whatever."

"That's me," I said, dark brown eyes wide as he started to eat. I'd never seen even Emmett and Jasper shovel that much food into their mouths at one time, even though their food challenges in the school cafeteria were legendary.

"You little runt, what'd I tell ya?" Another boy, more a man, this time, strutted in through the door, "I had first dibs!"

"Ya snooze ya lose old man."

"This is Jacob," Angela gestured towards the man just joining the table, "and this is, obviously, Seth."

Seth grinned, his mouth full of pie. "Good to meet ya. Leah should be along, but her and Jake had a lovers spat so-"

"Shove it, runt." Jacob said, pushing Seth's forehead playfully with his palm. "No such thing as love between me and your sis. She's too scary for that."

"Yeah, yeah. Next time I walk in on you two making out I'll be sure to remind you of that."

"Anyway," Jacob talked over Seth, turning to me with his hand sticking out, "Like she said, I'm Jacob. Call me Jake. Me and Leah are the ones who found you on the road."

I hurriedly shook his hand. "Really? Then hardcore thanks for saving my life. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't brought me to Carlisle."

Emmett and Jasper were talking in low voices, occasionally glancing over at Angela and I, Emmett's gaze lingering in annoyance at Jake's last words. It wasn't a territorial thing, it was a remorse thing. Emmett would never let himself off the hook for the attack. He would always hold himself at fault that he hadn't been there to protect me.

This aside, I could feel the atmosphere in the room shift with Seth and Jake's presence. There was a grudging trust between the Cullens and these two, and it reminded me that not much had ever been said about the Quileute tribe. It wasn't exactly polite conversation, and as I glanced at Edward, I thought how inconvenient his gift was, that it only worked one way. How great would it have been if he could feed thoughts into people's minds in addition to hearing their own?

Edward frowned, as though offended. Oh c'mon, you have to admit it would make things way easier. I can't exactly attack them about who they are when they're outnumbered and don't even have a home field advantage, right?

Edward shrugged. "It's never stopped you before. Port Angeles ring any bells?"

I laughed. "True. Okay, then. Seth, Jake, I have to admit, I really don't know much about you guys. I mean, I know that you're werewolves- or something like it- but I don't know how many of you there are, or if we're actually friends, or-"

"And that's how it should be. At least we can trust the bloodsuckers not to blab away tribe secrets." A girl came in, shorter than both Jake and Seth, wearing cut off jean shorts, combat boots, and a crop top with a plunging neckline. Her hair was short, tucked behind her ears. Up one arm she had intricate tattoos, which I assumed were tribal. She was as lean and cut as Jake and Seth, but where they were somehow soft, friendly, this girl was formidable, much more what I pictured when somebody said "werewolf".

"Chill sis, we wouldn't spill anything too juicy," Seth winked at me as he slurped up the whipped cream on top of the pie.

"Nice of you to join us." Jake said dryly, his arms crossed over his chest, eyeing Leah warily.

"Don't sound so disappointed, Black. Didn't take you for the petty grudge type."

"Who said anything about a grudge? If you wanna throw yourself off a cliff to prove Sam wrong, that's your beef."

"You can just admit that you were worried about me, okay, you don't have to hide behind all that dumbass machismo crap-"

"Oh my god will you two give it a rest?!" Alice burst out, pushing herself lithely from the table. "Like, we get it, you need to bone! Look, Jacob, Leah was showing Sam that he can't boss her around anymore, pack leader or not, and Leah, yeah obvi Jacob was worried about you, because even shapeshifters shouldn't cliff dive during a storm. And yes, if Jake would just man up and let his balls drop and take his rightful place as Chief and Alpha, you wouldn't have to worry about proving anything to Sam."

Jake and Leah, who had been glowering at each other, both turned towards Alice in shock. Seth, still loudly eating, gave Alice a thumb's up.

"Anyway, this has literally nothing to do with my cousin, so could we focus?" Angela broke in, trying to hide a smile. "Though I do wholeheartedly agree with everything Alice said. Just ask her out already, Jake. Leah, for all of our sakes, just say yes."

Nobody said anything to that. Seth was still happily eating, and Leah had turned away from the entire room, directing her furious glare to the wall.

"I think we should all be on the same page." I finally spoke up, and every set of eyes in the room met mine. "If you're allies or hell, even just not actively trying to kill each other, everyone should be in the loop. Everyone should know that this threat is here because of me."

Leah rolled her eyes. "Think an awful lot of yourself, don't cha? These aren't the first passing vamps we've had."

I shrugged. "It's not like that. I just...it's my fault he's so interested in hanging around."

"Kelly is his target. He's a Hunter." Angela said, nodding at me. "I don't know how much of the legends include things about the cold ones and their gifts, but he's a monster, guys."

Jake chuckled deeply. "Aren't we all?"

"She means in a moral sense, idiot." Leah said, but there was much less resentment in her voice than before. Jake caught the change in her tone and gave her a half-smile, which she promptly rolled her eyes at, but I could tell she was trying not to smile in return.

"So let's just ice this bastard. You can't tell me that he's a match for us, and I mean, even just in size, compared to Emmett-" Seth broke in, but Carlisle shook his head.

"It's not that easy. If only it were. There is some...past history, you understand, and it's unlikely that he'll worry about human casualties."

I yawned widely. I couldn't help it; finally unloading my baggage, or some of it anyway, the wine, it had all started to crash in on me and I was exhausted.

"Kelly needs to rest. Emmett, take her upstairs. You can strategize later. I'm making lasagna for dinner." Esme was in full mom-mode, and no one would dare argue with her.

Seth cheered at the dinner plans, and he and Jake made their way to the front door. The others broke off and started talking to each other, either following Jake and Seth or going into different parts of the house. Leah was helping Esme with the dishes and they disappeared into the kitchen. Esme seemed to be the one vampire Leah actually could look fully in the face without some kind of grimace.

Emmett lifted me into his arms and we were up the stairs and into my room in a flash. I hadn't noticed before, but the room had an attached deck on it, with a wrought iron table and chairs set.

Putting me gently down, Emmett led me out onto this deck where we stood in silence for a moment. I was trying to organize my thoughts into something that would make sense. I didn't want to revisit old wounds, but I had to make myself clear to Emmett before we went any further with plans that could get one or all of us seriously killed. I wanted to get it out now, to have this off my mind before I fell asleep. I didn't know how many more times I would wake up- Cullens or not, a long life didn't seem to be in the cards for me. Below us, the wide open valley was spread out, trees and mist as far as I could see. It was a spectacular view.

"I have to say something. And I just need to get it out, and then we can forget all about it. But I need you to know...watching Lauren kiss you, it was the closest thing I've ever felt to wanting to murder someone." I couldn't meet Emmett's eyes while I said this, but I turned towards him as my words settled in the air between us.

"Me, or her?" Emmett asked, ducking his head.

"Eh, I could've gone for a double homicide at that point. That day in the library...I had been so sure you'd made it clear we had a thing. A special thing. The way you treated me when I came to town, and not just the fact that you seemed to have a penchant for sneaking into my room, it made me feel so amazing. That somebody like you even noticed me was incredible, but that you were singling me out? That was everything. And then you said you had to ask Laruen out, and I knew it was some fucked up stuff with your cousin and Rosalie..."

Emmett nodded somewhat sheepishly. "Yeah, Tanya has this way of getting under my skin. Always has. I used to think she was just a huge bitch to everyone, but she seems to actually like Ed and Rose. So I figured, she just doesn't like that I came along and took Rose from her. Still think that, actually. And then Edward dissed her..."

I blinked, trying to digest all of this information. Deciding to store it for later, I continued. "So here's the thing. I love you, and you know that. I've been head over heels gaga for you ever since I first saw you at the airport. That will never change. But I think...with everything going on, with Lauren and this vampire trying to kill me and your whole family putting their necks on the line...I think I deserve to know where we stand."

Emmett looked confused. "I can never, never, apologize enough for hurting you, especially about something as stupid as Lauren. I'm clearly crazy about you, or have I not been obvious enough about it?"

I swallowed thickly. Emmett wasn't going to make this easy. And I couldn't expect him to love me like I loved him. I was sure that word had a different connotation for immortals, and anyway, our time had been so short. I was sure that the Cullens did nothing rashly, including jumping into interspecies relationships. "Look, maybe I have no right to even bring this up. And the Lauren stuff is tied to a deeper issue, Emmett. I guess I just want a heads up, is all."

"A heads up about...?"

I sighed, turning away from the view of the valley. "About what will happen if Rosalie comes back."

Emmett's jaw hung open as he stared at me, dumbstruck. "I don't-" He began, but the door slid open behind us and Esme came through it, beckoning to Emmett.

"It's time to hunt. Carlisle and Alice are waiting." She smiled at me and then disappeared back into the house. I wondered how much of our conversation she had heard.

"You'd better go, I know better than to keep Alice waiting." I said, attempting a grin.

"Kelly, please-" Emmett grabbed my hand, pulling me to him, his other hand lost in my hair as he pressed my body to his.

I clung to him, balling his shirt in my fist, trying not to cry. I was being completely irrational. Maybe the fatigue and terror of the last few days was finally getting to me, and I was cracking up. How could I expect Emmett to have an answer about something that might not ever happen? It wasn't fair of me. I was being totally unjust to his feelings for both myself and for Rosalie. Whatever had happened when they'd parted, he had loved her, and probably still did. Emmett's heart was as big as he was strong, and if he didn't still care about Rosalie, then he wouldn't be the vampire I loved. And was it fair of him to ask him to make a choice now, when he'd known me for hardly any time at all? He'd had so many years with Rosalie. What right did I have to come in and try to take that away?

"Just kiss me, Emmett." I whispered as Esme knocked on the glass door, signaling that Emmett needed to get moving.

So he did, his lips cold against mine, his tongue gentle on my lips, his scent completely overpowering any grasp I had on sanity. Heat flushed through my body, sweeping me away. His hands were on my hips, his lips trailing from mine and down my jaw. Every movement sparked a flame inside me, and I wanted nothing more than to climb on top of him at that moment, just as we had in the bath, and ride him until we were both spent.

"Fuck," Emmett muttered, after he had pulled away, burying his face in my neck. "You smell fucking incredible."

"Inside?" I asked, trying to catch my breath. It always seemed impossible to do after kissing him.

"Right now." He almost growled, but then his phone began to buzz, and he didn't have to check the caller ID to know it was Alice.

"When you get back?" I suggested, and he looked at me, his eyes almost black. Hunger and lust were preying on him, and I knew it was unfair of me to even have kissed him in the first place.

"Yes, god yes. Anything you want, angel."

I rolled my eyes. "It's always just been you. Now go...I'll wait up for you."

Emmett took one last long look at me then turned and jumped, right off the deck, to the ground below. I saw him run towards the trees, Alice and Carlisle, farther down the yard, already heading up the tree line after him.

oooo

I went back inside, finding the dining room empty, except for Angela. She was at the table, flipping through another of Carlisle's books. This time, she seemed to have come by it through honest means; there was a stack on the counter he must have brought from his study for her to look at.

"Where's the rest of Mystery Inc?" I asked, and Angela gestured vaguely behind her.

"Jasper and Seth are checking the perimeter, Jacob is guarding the front door, Leah's covering the back, and Edward and Esme are running into town for some groceries and to check on the house."

"Maureen still okay?"

Angela nodded. "Yep. Mom texted this morning and said the highway is still closed so she was going to stay holed up in the hotel room until the storm passes."

"Good. No sense in her being in the middle of all this."

"Yeah, she's better off raiding the minibar and watching Lifetime. Anyway, I think I've figured out an edge we have with our little problem here."

"Oh you mean the one where a massively powerful vampire wants to do god knows what to me, after brutally murdering the men we love and their family?"

"Well...normally I would say you're overstating things, but that's about the gist of it, isn't it? I've been reading, though, and I've come to a conclusion. The only way to beat an Alpha is with another Alpha. That's one true law of the supernatural world." Angela said, straightening her glasses. "Of course, it's also true of the natural world. Two warring pack leaders have it out, the strongest one wins. Brutal, perhaps, but so is nature. By definition, it has to be."

"Well no offense to our furry allies here, but I don't think they're going to be able to help much on that front. If wolves and vampires could have taken each other by now, wouldn't they have? There'd be one ruling race, right?" I gently stretched my legs out on the chair next to me. My joints were stiff, and the coming cold front wasn't helping. "And whatever pack politics are at play here, from what I gather Jake doesn't seem willing to step into the role any time soon, and definitely not for a bunch of vampires that he instinctively hates."

"Then it's a very good thing, isn't it," Angela brightened up, her face beaming with superior knowledge, "that we have an Alpha. And not only is he definitely the strongest vamp around, he also happens to be pretty personally invested in your cause."

"You're saying...Emmett is an Alpha?"

Yes folks, I live! Really, I swear I will finish this fic, even if it takes me the next ten years *laughs*. Stay tuned! More to come. Lyrics from Hozier's Take Me to Church.