The others were waiting by the front door, worried expressions on their faces. Seth set me down, but he never let go of my waist. He kept me securely up against him, and I loved him for it. I didn't want to be let go; to be separated from his warmth. Carlisle looked the calmest, but I still sensed the terror in his eyes. No… I'd sentenced them all to die! If my Hunters came out to Forks to find me, or if they were already here, then they'd come fetch me.

I gasped. No! Then Seth would try and protect me, and…he'd die trying… They couldn't compete against fifteen full grown, experienced vampires. Not the Cullens and the Hales, not Jacob Black's pack, and I doubt even Sam's pack; all combined, even. I buried my face in Seth's chest, my hands clenching fistfuls of his shirt. One of his hands stayed wrapped around my waist while the other stroked my back lightly. It didn't calm me. Not at all. Not since I realized that my Seth would die trying to protect me. I had to do something about it.

"Let's get inside. Esme is making some hot chocolate for you two. We'll open the package inside, if this is alright with you, Eliza; if you don't mind us reading it with you," Carlisle reasoned. I nodded.

"It's fine," I mumbled to him, and looked up at Seth. We were quickly left alone as the others darted inside to situate themselves for what was to come when I opened the package. I looked up at Seth, rubbing his chest gently.

"I love you," I told him. He blushed, his hand that was rubbing my back now gliding up to the nape of my neck.

"I love you more," he breathed and his lips found mine. They fit together perfectly and moved together in infallible sync. His lips were tender against mine, and I tilted my head to the side as he did this too. I felt his warm breath fill my mouth and his tongue trace against my lower lip. I was lightheaded and my knees were about to give out underneath me.

"Um… We're kind of waiting for you guys…" a voice mumbled from the front door. Seth and I broke apart with startled gasps, and saw Embry standing in the doorway. He was part of Jacob's pack as of a couple months ago. Obviously this meant Jacob's pack was nearby. Chances were Jacob was inside already, probably playing with Renesmee. Embry wore a smirk and Seth and I both turned bright red in the face.

With his arm still around my waist, we walked into the house. The atmosphere was grave already; and the terror returned. Seth had the package in his hand, and before I even opened it, it was passed around to everyone in the room so that they could get any scent on it. I never really thought of the scent…but that was probably because there was no need for my Hunters to conceal their scent until now. Yet they didn't. It would probably be explained in the note.

When I said it was passed around to everyone, I meant everyone. Except for Renesmee because she wasn't going to be a part of it. But Bella and Edward got to smell the scent just in case. I hated this…I was putting them all in so much trouble… Carlisle had it first, then Esme, then Bella, Edward, Jacob, Embry, Quil, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and finally back to Seth.

The only member of Jacob's pack that wasn't here was Leah. Leah hated me because Seth imprinted on me. No matter how many times Seth tried to convince his sister that I was a good person, she just claimed that he was forced to believe I was a good person…and things like that… But I didn't blame her now. I put him in danger to begin with, but now that the Hunters had obtained information on my location…Seth was in danger because of me.

"Seth…don't squish the package into dust," I mumbled, seeing my love's tremors rock through his body, and distinguished veins in his wrists as he held the package.

"Kid, you need to step outside?" Jacob asked. I kind of wished he could be a bit nicer to Seth.

With this thought, I heard Edward chuckle. It was uncomfortable knowing he could hear my thoughts, but it was something I'd have to live with as long as I was with Seth. Which, I hoped for his sake and safety, wasn't going to be much longer. It killed me to think this, but the easiest way for me to keep this new little family of mine safe was to leave. When I glanced over at Edward again, his face was stone hard; serious, and clearly he looked unforgiving. He had heard what I thought.

Don't tell him, I thought, begging Edward. His face didn't soften, but he nodded.

When I looked back at Seth, I saw a question in his eyes. He needed to get outside. The tremors hadn't stopped rippling through his body yet.

"C-Can I? F-For a m-moment?" he stuttered through clenched teeth. He handed me the package and I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him gently on the lips.

"Go," I muttered, and he bolted out the door. I turned to Jacob. "Will he be okay? Should we just go on without him?" I asked quietly.

Jacob was holding Renesmee and she was sleeping in his arms. Honestly, she had grown so much that she looked kind of like a six year old now; but still Jacob cradled her like a baby. He loved her... I don't think I could ever comprehend the true power of imprinting…

He shook his head. "He'll be back in as soon as he's under control. I don't know when that'll be though, 'cause this hasn't happened to him before. But you should wait. He won't want to miss it," Jacob told me. I nodded, staggering over to the couch and sitting down. I set down the package beside me and Esme handed me a mug of hot chocolate. I thanked her with as warm a smile as I could muster and they all went back to what they were doing before Seth and I came, although a bit quieter and more cautious I'm sure.

I was near finished with my hot chocolate by the time that Seth came back in. It was the only thing that kept me warm while he wasn't by my side, although it could never compete to Seth's warmth. That was a much, much better kind of warmth. In many ways.

I'm sure he tried to creep back in without anyone noticing, but naturally all heads snapped in his direction. He just walked silently over to my side, moving the package on to my lap and pressing himself right up against my side, a very warm arm going around my shoulders. The rest of the group gathered around, and Esme handed me a letter opener. I sliced through the package top with one swift motion, and handed it back to Esme with a "thanks."

I dumped the contents out on my lap. Yep. It was totally them. I saw everything I normally saw. There was a wad of cash, twenty dollar bills, tied together with a rubber band; a smaller envelope that was their actual letter; plane tickets, and then the dreaded timer. It was still counting down, and I told everyone around me not to stop it.

My hand reached for my Hunters' letter just as Seth's did, and we looked at each other in silence for a moment. He held my hand, still shaking just slightly, and carried it gingerly to his mouth. He breathed on it for a moment and then kissed it tenderly. I blushed and he allowed me to pull my hand away.

"Go ahead," he said, easing the tension between us with a little nudge from his elbow to my side. He liked doing that. I brought my eyes back to the smaller envelope and opened it up, unfolding a letter.

I read it aloud:

Eliza,

We're all wondering where you are. You disobeyed us; we haven't heard from you in months. It's disappointing a few of us. Especially Aaron – he misses you a lot. Our patience is running short. Why did you run from us? Just like your mother, I suppose. Trying to save someone dear to you?

Well here is the thing: we know where you are. Aren't you surprised we found you? It took us a while. Forks, Washington? Really, Eliza? Anyways, we sent one of our scouts out looking for you. When she found you, we saw something we really didn't want to see. Vampires, Eliza? And werewolves? Did you make some friends, Eliza? Let us tell you this: do you see the timer? Do you see the numbers, counting down and down every second? That's how much time you have to meet us in our new location. If you don't come by then, we'll come for you.

I doubt you'd want that. Our scout – believe it or not, Karina – saw you with one werewolf in particular. I think she heard his name was Seth, correct? Well, Eliza, if you don't come to us within the amount of time left on that little timer, Seth's going to pay. We'll come, and we'll kill him. We'll kill everyone you came into contact with. You too, dear. You've disappointed and disobeyed us. We don't like that. You saw what we did to the rest of your family; we'll do it to you all the same. I doubt there is little you can do about it, too.

Aside from the dreary news I have just given you, how is life? Are you fairing well? Like I said, Aaron misses you. He wishes you were here. I think he has even mentioned that you were one of his favorites. He's thirsty too. You should be expecting him first, just to tell you, if you don't meet us at your required location in time.

Anyways, there isn't much left to say. I have left you money for taxi fares and food (we would love if you came well nourished and with fresh, fresh blood for us) and plane tickets, as well as a set of directions on the back of this sheet.

You know we usually don't write this much. I'm guessing your friends are with you too, correct? Well this information here is for them, then: Eliza Young, come alone.

We do hope you are well, and we cannot wait to see you,

Vincent

My hands were shaking. I grabbed the timer. Seventy-one hours, thirty-three minutes, and five seconds…four seconds…three… and counting down. "No," I breathed, and turned to look at Seth. Instead of seeing a look of horror on his face, I saw a look of hurt; of devastation.

"…What was with you and that Aaron guy?" he asked suspiciously.

I scoffed. "Are you kidding me, Seth? That's not the point!" I snapped at him. He shrunk but pulled me closer. I let him kiss my cheek.

"Sorry…just wondering," he mumbled into my cheek.

I sighed.

"He's a sick…masochistic… perverted creature," I spat, shaking angrily. "There's this thing where sometimes a human's blood is more potent to a vampire than other humans," I began.

"That happened with me and Bella when she was still a human," Edward interrupted with a chuckle.

"Oh…well, yeah. That's like with me and Aaron. He would, um…well when it was his turn to hunt, it wouldn't be much of a hunt for him… He'd, uh…he'd tell me to go to a hotel, throw me on the bed, and then drain my body of blood…y'know?" I shivered when the thoughts came back to me. Seth's tremors returned, but I made them go away by hugging him and pressed my lips firmly against his. "He didn't do anything else. He didn't want to do anything else, but he was just like that," I added reassuringly. Seth nodded and he calmed down.

Someone cleared their throat. We looked up and all eyes were on us. I blushed and handed Carlisle the note as he politely held his hand out for it.

"It's repulsive. Absolutely disgusting," Carlisle muttered, shaking his head with a furrow in his brow.

"I have to leave," I declared.

Seth was on his feet instantly, standing in front of me. He didn't care the shocked expressions he received from the vampires and his fellow pack mates.

"No! No, you're not leaving! I'm not letting you just walk to your death!" he shouted fiercely. I stood up, placing my hands on his warm neck with a very serious look on my face.

"I'm not letting you die for my sake," I glared. "I'm not putting any one of you to your deaths. I shouldn't be here. I'm a guest. Strictly a guest. And as a way to repay for your kindness that I truly don't deserve, I'll get out of here. I don't belong here. I belong no where. I run. That's what I was activated to do; that's what I will die doing. Seth, if you die, I'll kill myself before they can get their hands on me."

I finished my speech and took a deep breath. The room was silent.

"…You can't just leave, Eliza," Seth murmured, holding me against his chest. I buried my face in his shirt and hot tears ran down my cheeks and stained his shirt.

"I have to! I'm not gonna let anyone die on my behalf. I'm sorry," I mumbled into the cloth of his shirt. Pulling out of Seth's arms to face the others, I cleared my throat. "Thanks so much for everything. All of you. And I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry I made your lives far more dramatic than it should be. Drama and danger; I always seem to take those too qualities along with me wherever I go. It's sucks, and I'm sorry," I told them.

"It's really okay, Eliza. When I was human, you should have seen how much trouble I got into," Bella tried to reassure me. She looked up at Edward, whose arms were around her waist, and they grinned at each other. Seth's arms were around me, trembling just a bit.

"But I'm…I'm not really part of the family. Bella, you've got Edward-"

"-and you have Seth. Seth is as much a part of this family as I am or Jacob is. Anyways, I might end up having him as my step-brother someday, if his mom and my dad get any friendlier. Which it seems to be heading in such a direction," Bella interrupted with a roll of her eyes. "If you don't want to break Seth's heart, then don't leave, Eliza," she added coldly. I knew she was right; I also knew she was accusing me of thinking about leaving.

Seth turned me around. "You know you should really listen to Bella. She's smart," he said matter-of-factly. I couldn't help but giggle. Seth could always make me happy, despite the situation we were in. His face fell and he pulled me into his chest again. "Don't leave, Eliza…" he begged.

"I haveta do something. I can't just let them come for me! None of you are going to die, I promise! And think of how dangerous it would be for Renesmee?" I whispered the last part. I glanced over at Bella, Edward, and Jacob. Jacob had a very vicious look of defense on his face and Bella and Edward looked terribly worried as they stood beside Jacob's sides, considering the possibilities of outcomes if my Hunters came for me.

I suddenly remembered something, and looked back at Seth.

"And don't worry about your mom, Seth," I told him. His eyes still widened with terror.

"Mom! Esme said she sent us the call! No! No, they got to mom!" he growled, tremors of fear now rocking through his body. "We have to-!"

I put a finger over his lips.

"I said don't worry about her! Your mom is fine, Seth."

"But-!"

"But nothing. It was Karina…she's the vampire I told you about that can create illusions, remember? She can get those illusions to speak, too…she must've heard your mom's voice or something. But it's not your mom. I promise," I explained. Seth calmed down. I had never seen him so shaky.

"Whew, I'm okay now," he said after a moment of slow, deep breathing. He grinned at me and I had this urge to kiss him again.

Jasper cleared his throat. I kind of felt sorry for him, since he had to feel other people's emotions. That must drive him crazy, I thought.

"He does alright," Edward answered my thoughts.

I looked at him with surprise until I realized he had heard me think.

"Yeah, he does that a lot to me, too," Jacob grimaced. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

The day went slowly. Seth never left my side except when Jacob really needed him to do some scouting and stuff. They wanted to see if they could pick up Karina's scent. Naturally it would be unfamiliar to them, but they said that any unfamiliar vampire scent found within either the La Push pack's territory or Jacob's would be inexcusable. They'd hunt her down if they found her such a threat; which she was.

To our utter disappointment, Seth and the others came back empty-handed. I knew he felt bad about it too, although he didn't say it. I met him outside the house after Jacob rushed back inside the house to be with Renesmee. His sandy fur shook in the slight wind, and I hugged myself to keep warm.

"Hey Seth," I said in a tiny-voice, chilled from the bitter temperature. He yipped back at me, his bushy tail wagging happily behind him. I tried to force a laugh, but an icy chill shot through me and I shuddered and my teeth rattled. He whined and approached me, nuzzling my shoulder with his big forehead. I think his eye was bigger than two of my fists… huh. I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face in his fur and stroking his shoulder lightly. I almost burst out laughing when I heard a little purring sound coming from deep within his chest.

"Happy?" I whispered in his giant ear. There was a light sound in his chest that sounded like a gentle laugh. He nodded his big head.

"It's okay that you didn't find anything," I told him. He whined disappointedly. "No, I really don't mind. I'm happier that you're back here with me. If you actually found something, I think I'd be terrified for my life," I admitted. He huffed and I nuzzled my face against his warm, furry neck again.

"You cold? We can go inside if you want. I'll make you something to eat for dinner," I said in a persuasive tone.

His giant pink tongue lolled out of his mouth as I backed away to get a good answer from the expression on his face or his vocal reply. I could see the faint lines as his lips curled up into a smile. My offer was tempting him. But he whined, and looked back toward the forest. Embry and Quil were probably back there. And most definitely Leah. I think she was whom he was worried about the most; well her opinion. Of course it was up to Jake mostly, and he was inside taking care of Renesmee.

"I'll ask Jacob if you want me to," I offered. His big head turned back to me and he yipped and nuzzled my cheek with just a fraction of his forehead because it was so big. I stroked his muzzle and sighed.

"Alright. I'll be right back. Don't get into too much trouble," I smirked, and I heard him bark a laugh when I turned and walked inside.

Seth joined me after Jacob's "okay."