Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

So I have had two Snow Days in a row so I finally managed to get this done. Sorry for the wait!

BPOV

I was stupid to think I could avoid them.

I had been running south of Denali when I was tackled from behind, both of us tumbling into the soft snow. I fought to use my shield, following one of the many threads that mapped my power.

The shield flared around me, tossing my attacker unceremoniously into a tree. I scrambled to my feet, searching the area for any other impending attacks.

Instead of growls I was met by a stunned silence by the surrounding coven. I looked towards my attacker and did a double take.

It was Laurent.

What the hell?

I turned back to the coven behind me, noting their golden eyes and sighed. They'd found me. And if they had found me then they would tell the Cullens where I was which meant that Edward would know and...

I wasn't ready to see him yet.

Begrudgingly I let my shield fall and walked to Laurent, who had stayed on the ground so he didn't startle me. He eyed me warily as I approached, his gold eyes widening when I offered him a hand. He took it cautiously, preparing to fight if I turned on him.

As soon as he was standing and I was sure he was fine I ran. I had run before, through the snowy tundra of Siberia, where the elements were free and I could run forever in the pure snow. This time I ran faster, trying to put as much distance as I could between me and the Denali coven. I could hear them pursuing me, so I ran faster, desperate to escape. I wanted to be on my own, was that too much to ask?

"Bella, wait!" an unfamiliar voice called out to me. I ignored them and instead jumped into a tree, climbing higher and higher. I didn't have a lot of time, and this was something I hadn't tried before, but my mind knew what I wanted, and it led me to an unfamiliar thread of power. I wrapped it around me, hiding from the outside world and prayed they wouldn't find me.

"We understand if you don't want to talk to us," the strawberry blonde nearest to me said gently. I assumed she was Tanya.

"Maybe it would help if we introduced ourselves," Laurent suggested.

"I think she already knows you," The other male replied. "But you have a point. Bella! We are the Denali Coven, we are friends of Carlisle. We don't mean to harm you,"

"No," I replied, "you probably don't. But you might tell the others where I am, and I don't want that."

"That's understandable," The authoritive male conceded, turning towards my voice. "But if you do not wish the Cullens to know your whereabouts we will not tell them,"

"Although Alice probably already knows," one of the other females muttered.

"Kate," The blonde admonished gently. She too, then turned to me, "I'm Tanya, will you please come and speak to us? We just want to help you,"

The shield slipped from me slowly, already I was gaining control over the many shields I had at my disposal. I slipped out of the tree, landing in front of Tanya. She smiled warmly at me, not missing a step. I turned to the others and looked at them, meeting each of the stares squarely.

"I'm Eleazar," the leader said eventually, "And this is my mate Carmen," Carmen smiled at me from behind her mate, whilst the women next to her introduced themselves as Kate and Irina. I noticed with interest that now the threat was over Irina gravitated towards Laurent. Tanya also reintroduced herself.

"What is it that you wanted to say to me then?" I asked bluntly. I wanted to be away, far away. Whilst running through Alaska I had decided that I would become a Nomad, not wanting company of any kind.

"We wanted to give you this," Kate said, handing over a mobile. "The contract is linked to Alice's account. She saw you running through Alaska and asked us to contact you,"

Alice. I should have known she had something to do with this. I flipped the phone open and scrolled through the contacts, feeling my heart contract at every name.

"We know you aren't going to stay with us," Carmen continued, "but we want you to know that you are welcome to at any time,"

"Thanks," I said with a smile. I was grateful to them for providing me with this link.

"Bella?" Laurent began almost timidly, "I am sorry for what has happened to you. When I told Victoria that I would not help her I had no idea that she would turn to the Volturi," he sounded to apologetic that I had to forgive him. He had taken and embraced his second chance, and he'd found happiness.

"It's okay." I paused not sure whether I wanted the answer to my next question, "Have you heard from her since?" Laurent shook his head sorrowfully.

"Where are you going to go?" Eleazar asked.

"Don't know," I admitted, "maybe go find an iceberg," I always thought something like that would be kind of cool.

They laughed at me and I left them.

In their own way the Cullens were still trying to take care of me, and that made my heart soar.

Okay, I probably owe an explanation. Laurent never came back to Forks, therefore he was never killed by the wolves. Bella found out about the wolves because of Jake's hints and her own perceptiveness.

True story: I do think it would be cool to find an iceberg. =p

Please review, they make me smile!