A/N: Hello! It's been a while, hasn't it? I promised myself that I'd carry on with this story, so I bumped out another chapter for you guys. Honestly, I didn't realise that it had actually started to get quite popular!

So, here's another chapter. It's rather short, but I wanted to get it out as quickly as possible. So, hopefully, the next won't be as short. Anyway, thank you for your reviews; and please continue with that, it's really quite an motivator!

As always, I DO NOT own Twilight

CHAPTER 2

Jasper kept a vice-like grip against my shoulder during the entire trip towards, well, what Alice had explained as, their 'home.'

I couldn't really get my head around that one; Riley had been moving us around so often, I couldn't believe that these Cullens had actually made a life for themselves here in Forks.

Although Jasper trusted me with little and made sure that I was as far away from the human as possible, it seemed his mate, Alice, had different ideas. The entire trip, she remained by my side, babbling calmly about how this coven was more like a family, how they relied and trusted one another. She even went on to introduce everyone.

"You're… Bree, right?" She asked. I nodded my affirmation.

"I'm Alice by the way," she grinned towards me in the most angelic manner. "You of course know Jasper already, oh the mind reader, that's Edward, he's bunches of fun." I could hear the sarcasm leaking through her voice and couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips, "The blond over there, that's Rosalie and her mate, Emmett."

Emmett glanced over to me as his name was mentioned. As opposed to his brute-like frame, the smile he wore on his face seemed one hundred per cent genuine, "Nice to meet you, little sis."

I almost flinched at that. Was that really what I was expected to be? A sister? Back with Riley's lot I'd never been close to that with anyone. I had only really liked Fred and Diego and I hadn't treated either like a sibling. Still, I liked how easily Emmett had spoken the words and nodded gratefully in his direction, however I didn't miss the hard stare that Rosalie shot him afterwards. I suspected as much. She didn't seem to like me and I could respect that, I wasn't really too fond of her at the moment anyway. "Oh and the human, that's Bella. She and Edward are-"

"In love." Emmett added rather dramatically, to which Alice gave him a playful look of scorn in return.

She rolled her eyes as she continued, "Yes, she and Edward are in a committed relationship."

I couldn't help what escaped my lips in response, "But she's human."

"Trust us, we don't get it either." Rosalie responded quietly with a flip of her hair. She obviously wasn't fond of the human either; perhaps she just didn't get along with anyone.

"Rose." Carlisle shot her a warning glare. She only shrugged in response, muttering an almost non-existent apology before returning to silence once more.

"Oh and you know Esme and Carlisle, they're our foster parents, well that's what the humans think anyway."

I frowned at that. What on Earth was she talking about? Why would the humans know anything about them?

I noticed Edward turn his head around to glance at me, "She doesn't understand." He said quickly before turning back again.

I rolled my eyes as I looked back to Alice, nodding my agreement. She only smiled sympathetically in response, "We don't exactly operate like your previous coven." I could hear the disgust in her tone when she had said coven, like it was hard to believe. I frowned. "We've integrated ourselves with the humans."

I stared at her, completely dumfounded.

What?

What?

How on Earth could they do that? The Volturi… weren't they all about keeping the vampire thing a secret to humans? How could they possibly walk around with them, integrate themselves into human society and not get found out?

"I think you missed one key point out, Alice." Edward said warily. I didn't like his tone.

"Oh!" Alice clapped her hands together, "Thanks, almost forgot. You see, Bree. We're what you'd call vegetarians. We don't drink human blood, only animal blood."

My nose wrinkled instinctively. Every fibre of my being told me to run now and never come back, but Jasper's rock hard grip on my shoulder had other ideas. I knew he could sense my sudden disgust and for whatever reason, I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of calm settle inside of me. I let out a slow, well-adjusted breath.

How was I supposed to do this? I'd only ever drank human blood, how could I just switch to animal? Maybe I didn't have to… maybe…

"Sorry, but you do." Edward gave me an apologetic smile, "It's the only way we can fit in with the humans."

"You could of course leave if you felt that you couldn't handle this change in lifestyle." That was the first thing Jasper had said this entire journey, and I knew from his tone that he couldn't care less. He had obviously been more expectant on the end of my life anyway. I bit back a growl in his direction. If he didn't like me then fine, but I didn't like being thought of as weak. So these Cullens didn't drink human blood, fine. I could adapt, after all, I still hadn't killed the Bella girl yet.

"No." I looked up to Jasper, but he still refused to look back, my eyes narrowed, "I can do this."

After an extended period of silence, we reached our destination.

The house was large, bigger than I had imagined for such a small coven. It reached out on two stories and seemed very open with windows dotting across almost every space of wall around the entire structure. It was easy to see inside, but the way the house was hidden from anything in particular, I didn't see privacy as a problem for them.

I caught the way Carlisle spoke in a hurried tone ahead of me, only picking up parts of his conversation as he talked in a hushed whisper with Esme and Edward. Jasper still didn't let go of my shoulder, but this time, he actually looked at me, wary as it was, his eyes met mine for a brief moment.

Oh great, progress.

"Carlisle and Edward have to attend to an urgent matter." Jasper informed, "You'll be under my watch until their return."

I had to stifle an eye roll at that. Great, the war-torn vampire with serious social implications was going to be my guardian. The only up-side to the situation was the fact that Alice went wherever he did; at least I'd never lack a conversation with her around.

Then I noticed that the human… Bella seemed to be in a heated conversation between Edward and Carlisle. It made me shudder to even think. Didn't she realise just how easy she was making herself a target to these vampires? How easily they could rip her apart? I felt inclined to do it myself, but again, the frustrations I held for the human seemed oddly at bay.

"Jasper, quit it." Alice hissed towards her mate, poking him gently in the ribs, "You'll freak her out."

I didn't really understand what Alice was talking about, but my attention was far too focused on the human to really care.

"I want to see him; you can't stop me from seeing him!" Bella was shouting. I flinched at the harshness of her tone, the venom that it carried through the large clearing. She was clearly testing these vampires' restraint.

I turned to shoot a curious glance in Alice's direction, but she was already gone. She was now standing firmly in front of Bella, a stern look on her face.

Like silk, Alice's voice carried through the wind, "Charlie is still with Billy, you can't go with them, not just yet."

"Then when?" Bella's voice was like ice.

Instead of attacking Bella like I was very nearly convinced one of them would do, Alice placed a comforting hand on Bella's shoulder. She smiled sympathetically, "Jacob's in good hands, Bella. Once Charlie leaves, you can go and see him."

My forehead creased in confusion. Who was Jacob? Why was this human so concerned about him? Was he another vampire that had been harmed during the battle? A friend, perhaps?

Then my mind tracked back to the moment I had been waiting in the dirt, held down by Jasper, forced to keep my eyes closed. Carlisle had been desperate to help someone… something. Just remembering the inhuman, animalistic yowls that had been present at that time brought a shiver down my spine. Was that the person Bella was referring to? The person she couldn't see?

It didn't seem to matter, anyway, for at that moment, an easy sense of calm seemed to fall down over everyone.

Bella let out a final breath before dropping her head.

"I'm sorry… it's just-"

"I know." Alice smiled.

And just like that, it was over. Alice hooked a kind arm around Bella's shoulders and slowly guided her into the house.

Carlisle and Edward nodded to each other and then, they disappeared into the night.

Esme spoke gently to Rosalie and Emmett as they began to move towards the house. I didn't overlook the scornful glare that Rosalie sent me before she disappeared inside, one of Emmett's muscular arms draped protectively around her shoulders.

After everyone had disappeared inside, I stayed as still as a statue, simply feeling the weight of Jasper's hand against my body. What happened now? Was I supposed to join these strange vampires inside their home? I doubted it, especially with that human still in the vicinity.

My suspicions were confirmed with Jasper's next words.

"When did you last feed?"

I tried to shrug, but Jasper's grip stopped me from doing so. Instead, I sighed through my teeth.

"About a day ago."

"On what?"

Was that a trick question?

"On humans." I muttered, "A boat load." I felt an unconscious smile tug at my lips. I wasn't exactly exaggerating.

Jasper, of course, didn't find this funny; "You can't go inside, not just yet."

"I understand." I muttered.

To this, Jasper raised a brow; "Your restraint is… interesting."

I pursed my lips, "No it's not." I lowered my head, making sure to keep my gaze away from his, "It still burns, I mean. Even out here."

"Nonetheless, you've remained focused on your objective. That's progress." Jasper's words held little comfort, yet I felt that that had been his aim. Still, he continued, "I doubt Bella will be leaving the vicinity for some hours. In the meantime, I believe it would be in good practice for you to understand our means of hunting."

I glanced at him unsurely, but he simply squeezed my shoulder in, I suppose, his odd way of reassurance, "Humans will be something you'll have to deal with on a daily basis if you wish to become a part of our family." Suddenly, his voice lowered, "However, if you fail, there will be no second chances. Do you understand?"

Unnerved, I nodded.

"Very well." Jasper glanced to me with the vaguest hint of a smile, "We shall go into the forest. Stay close to me, if you veer from the path, just know that you will not be able to outrun me."

And, just like that, we were off.