Chapter2

They traveled far enough to make sure they wouldn't come across any hikers. Silence enveloped them as the three stood listening for nearby life.

Edward was the first to speak, "Okay, there is an elk not far from here. Do you smell it?"

Ahnna nodded, "I smell it; what would be the best way to come at it? Do I just run in or do it slowly?"

Bella smiled, " Attack it from behind, and try to stay downwind of it that way it doesn't have a chance to see or smell you. I would recommend that you watch, be patient and then attack quickly."

She nodded, " Ok got it, I'm on it." She took off at a jog to where the elk grazed. She quietly hid behind a tree with anticipation for the right moment. A few minutes passed and the finally the elk turned its back toward her. She moved so fast she seemed invisible, and before the elk could react she had her fangs in its throat.

The elk thrashed in an unsuccessful effort to escape its predator. Then, after a time, its body fell limp on the ground, Ahnna's slim figure hovering over it. She purred softly, and rose from the ground. With a graceful turn she began to head back towards the clearing edge. She smiled when she saw Edward and Bella.

"That was incredible, I have never felt this good."

Bella laughed, "I know what you mean! That's exactly how I felt too." She looked Ahnna up and down, "But we do need to get you cleaned up, that's for sure."

If Ahnna could blush she would have, instead she smiled sheepishly, "You're right, I look dreadful."

Edward chuckled, "Well, I'm sure that Esme has already made a room up for you and packed your closet full of anything you could possible need. Let's head to the house and get you settled in."

It didn't take them long to reach the house, the three of them ran the entire way. Ahnna stopped abruptly as soon as the house came into view.

"Wow, it's gorgeous!" She continued walking slowly now, taking in the beauty of the building and its surroundings. Then something else made her stop, she became as still as a statue, and her face was frozen in fear.

Edward and Bella turned when she stopped to look back at her.

"Ahnna! Are you alright?" Bella asked in alarm.

She spoke quickly, and in a whisper, " That thing, that wolf thing from the woods. It is here."

Edward nodded, "She smells Jacob," he said to Bella.

A look of realization came over Bella's face, "Yes, Ahnna, he is one of them but not the one that hunted you. He is a part of our family, and you have our promise that he will not hurt you."

Ahnna remained unconvinced, and unmoving.

Edward spoke again, this time to Ahnna, "Honestly, Ahnna, we won't let him hurt you. He doesn't want to hurt you. Now follow us into the house and we'll get you settled into your room."

She faltered for a moment; she looked like she was ready to run. Then she sighed and nodded, "I guess we will see."

Bella led her to the front door, and opened it stepping in first. Edward followed close behind Ahnna. As soon as they were all through the door Esme came waltzing up towards them excitedly.

"I have a room all set up for you! Let me show you where it is!" Esme grabbed Ahnna's hand and gave it a light tug, but she was locked in place. Her eyes seemed slightly out of focus.

"Ahnna," Esme said louder, "Come on, follow me." Esme pulled harder on the girls arm. She seemed to snap out of it slightly and began to follow; Esme gave her an encouraging smile.

"It's just a little bit further," Esme, announced cheerfully once they made it to the top of the stairs. She walked down the hall and opened a door motioning for Ahnna to enter.

"This is your room. We've filled the closet; Alice is good at guessing sizes so hopefully the clothes will fit you. The bathroom is just across the hall. Why don't you clean up and then we'll give you a tour of the rest of the house?"

Ahnna looked moved, "Thank you so much, this is more than I could have asked for. I'll be down soon."

Esme nodded and hesitated for a moment, and then surprisingly she reached out and hugged Ahnna. Then without saying anything she walked away gracefully.

Ahnna stood in the doorway for a moment frozen with emotion, and then she smiled to her self and went into her new bedroom. It was an extremely large room, it wasn't decorated but it had a couch against the left the wall, and a desk in the corner. On top of the desk sat a laptop, and a very nice stereo. To her right was another door, she opened it and peered inside. It was a closet half the size of her room, and it was completely full of clothes. Her eyes were wide as she stepped inside.

She grabbed a pretty sleeveless lavender summer dress of the hanger and was shocked when she saw that the tag inside said Gucci. There was a pair of matching sandals on a rack to her right. On the far wall of the closet stood an ornately carved dresser. There in the drawers were socks, and sexy underwear. She noted that there were no granny panties in sight and chuckled softly to herself. In a quick motion she grabbed a lavender lace thong, and walked out of the closet, a slight bounce to her step.

Ahnna took her clothes to the bathroom, and showered quickly, the hot water felt amazing on her skin. She found that the dress fit her nicely; it was snug in all the right places. Under the sink she found a blow dryer and makeup, she quickly dried her hair and applied some blush, eye shadow and mascara. She stepped into her sandals and hurried down the stairs.

She was feeling nervous, but also eager to meet everyone. She glanced around at the bottom of the stairs; everyone was waiting for her in the living room. Most of them she had already met; she was introduced to two people. One was a young girl her name was Reneesme; everyone seemed extremely tense when she was introduced.

The other was an extremely tall, muscular guy with dark buzzed hair and dark eyes called Jacob. He seemed suspicious of Ahnna, and made her feel uneasy.

"It's nice to meet both of you," Ahnna said sweetly. She watched the one called Jacob cautiously. "I can understand that you are weary, " she said to Jacob, " But I can assure you that you don't have anything to worry about. I'm not in the least bit tempted by you or by Reneesme. I will prove this too you, I have no desire for human blood."

"We shall see," Jacob commented arrogantly. The girl Reneesme pulled herself out of his arms and went to Ahnna smiling. Reneesme held up her hand towards Ahnna in a beckoning manner.

Bella smiled, "She communicates through touch. Go ahead and pick her up."

Ahnna bent over and picked up the gorgeous little girl. Reneesme reached up and touched Ahnna's face.

To Ahnna's surprise, the girl showed her that she was welcome, and trusted, and excited to have a new friend. Ahnna grinned, and leaned in towards the girl, and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you! I look forward to being friends Reneesme!" She was feeling so happy, happier than she'd ever been. She heard everyone gasp and looked around she was shocked by what she saw, everyone was levitating 5 feet off the surface they'd been on.

She looked worried, "What's happening?" she asked them all.

Carlisle chuckled, "You're making us levitate! How extraordinary! Try concentrating on being back on the floor."

Ahnna looked astounded but nodded, she closed her eyes and all of them landed softly back on the ground. All of them except Jacob who remained suspended in the air.

"I want down too," he exclaimed aggravated.

Ahnna nodded, "I don't know why you didn't come down with the rest of us." She smiled slightly mischievous, and closed her eyes again. With a thud Jacob fell to the floor, the family began to laugh. When Jacob stood up, he gave them all a deadly look that made them fall silent.

"Sorry!" Ahnna said repressing a grin.

She'd almost forgotten that she was holding Reneesme. When her little hand reached up to touch Ahnna's face it made her jump. Then she couldn't help but laugh when Reneesme showed her that she wished she could do that to Jacob too.

"Don't worry! We're a team," she told her with a wink. They high fived and then Ahnna set Reneesme down. Everyone else in the room was looking at them suspiciously. Reneesme smiled sheepishly and crawled back into Jacob's lap, and Ahnna just shrugged.

"We should probably figure out how we're going to introduce her to everyone in town," Jasper said quickly.

"You're right, we need to get our stories straight," Esme agreed.

"Maybe she could be our cousin, or your niece, Esme," Alice offered.

Carlisle thought for a moment and then spoke, "That's a great idea Alice, she looks like she could be related to Esme doesn't she? That's it I think. You are our niece, Ahnna."

She smiled touched, "That sounds great, Thank you for accepting me so quickly and with such warmth. Should we have a background story? Something to explain exactly why I came here in the first place?"

Carlisle nodded, "You're right, you look pretty young Ahnna. How old are you?"

She sighed, "Everyone said I could pass as 17 but I was 20, one more week and I would have been 21."

"That's it then," Esme said with a smile, "You are my 17 year old niece. Your mother, my sister, was killed in a car crash and you had no one else to go to."

"Short and simple," Emmet laughed, "I can remember that."

"Has everyone got that?" Carlisle asked.

Everyone nodded, "I think we can handle that," Jacob said a slight edge to his tone.

"Well now that that is settled, I'll give you a little tour of the house and property," Esme told Ahnna grabbing her hand and tugging her out of the room.