BPOV

I smiled at my reflection. Gold. My eyes had changed, slowly going from burgundy, to poppy red, to flaming orange, and now finally gold. I had waited three months and I was practically bouncing with joy. Tanya came up behind me and rested her chin on my shoulder.

"Beautiful," she murmured.

I smiled and continued to gaze at our golden orbs. Given, this was not a very normal eye color but it would go over well with the humans, better than the red at least. I was excited because tonight I would be venturing further than the yard and forest surrounding our house. Tonight we were going out.

After three months on what seemed like house arrest, I had learned a lot thanks to Tanya, Kate, and Irina. They'd taught me new things daily, about singers, immortal children, more about the Volturi, their maker Sasha, and how to project my shield. It had been hard at first but now I could shield without even thinking, stretching it in a seventy foot radius around my body. I learned to maintain a human pace and to control my strength so that when I got out in public again I wouldn't draw more attention to myself than I already would given my not entirely natural appearance.

The first time I saw myself in the sun had been shocking yet amazing. I had danced in the sun shamelessly admiring myself. I was a glittering, shimmering beautiful supernatural being. I couldn't help but be a little vain in the moment. The girls had joined in my sun dancing and for about an hour we were nothing but a bunch of silly kids prancing around like fools.

Things got better every day seemed like. They praised me for how quick I learned, how controlled I was, and how focused I was. Apparently this was not normal for a vampire so young but I wasn't so sure how controlled I really was. I had not been around humans this entire time and I had no idea how I would behave when I finally got a whiff of blood that was supposedly a gazillion times better than animal's blood. Irina had assured me that they were grooming me to abstain the exact way Sasha had taught them how and that it would be easy as pie.

Today the house was a flurry of excitement. The girls were excited about my "debut" as they called it. Luckily the attack of Phil and I had been hushed up by the media. They did not want to scare off all the tourists by making a big deal about it. They'd found Phil's body while I was still in the changing process and I was presumed dead since my blood was found on the scene. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about absence of media coverage. Admittedly Phil and I had wandered further into the woods than we should have, but what if someone else decided to do the same? Didn't people deserve a warning?

On the other hand, if our pictures had been splashed across every newspaper in town I wouldn't be able to go out tonight because I would definitely be recognized and it would be very hard to explain how I got attacked by wolves but was now unscathed and alive without any medical attention.

"Have you decided what you're going to wear?" Tanya asked, pulling away from me and plopping down on my bed. I sighed and turned away from the mirror.

"No, not yet," I said stepping inside my huge closet. Irina and Tanya had acted fast in stocking up on clothes and accessories for me. I'd gone out hunting one day by myself leaving behind an empty closet and returned to an overflowing one. I suspected that Irina got tired of me ruining all her dresses on my hunting trips. I wasn't messy but sometimes the animals didn't go down without a fight. While I was unharmed by their attempts, the clothes often were.

"I say that grey backless dress with the haltered neckline," Kate appeared suddenly beside me, grabbing the dress she was talking about.

I held it against my body and turned to the floor to ceiling mirror in the closet. I nodded after only a glance. I really didn't care what I wore. I just wanted to be out doing something fun. Kate was already dressed in a barely there purple dress and gold stiletto heels.

"Make it snappy," she called over her shoulder as she selected the rest of my outfit giving me strappy black heels and simple diamond studs. "I want to get to the guys before they get drunk," she said.

I dressed as fast as I could and went to fix up my hair in a tousled bun with a few tendrils hanging down. I applied a small amount of lip gloss and mascara before meeting the girls in the foyer.

Irina whistled as I approach and shook her shimmy. "If no one else offers to take you home tonight, I will," she purred at me.

I rolled my eyes and pushed her out the door. "Let's just go already!"

We all piled into Kate's silver BMW and sped off. We cranked the music and sang along to all the songs. I was all giggly and hyper with anticipation during the ride. Just being in a car made me happy. I found myself worrying less and less about how I would react to the humans. I felt comfortable with my girls and I knew if I got into trouble they would help me.

Forty-five minutes later we pulled past a club. It must have been a popular one because there was a line around the block and I could here the music pounding from inside a mile away.

"Okay B, stop breathing," Tanya said and I complied immediately. My nerves instantly returned but she was quick to soothe me.

"Just relax," she said placing an encouraging hand on my shoulder. "There's a whole experience to be had tonight," she grinned.

I nodded my head. Kate drove around the block and parked on the street. We got out and started walking around to the club at a slower than human pace. Tanya snaked her arm around my shoulders and began speaking low so that only we could hear.

"Vampires are beautiful, there's no denying that. We know it and the humans know it," she began in a tone that was low and seductive. "Our beauty is generic in a way. Greater than what humans can hope for but still common, it's not entirely special," she said.

"Now humans on the other hand have a beauty that is precious, like diamonds. They are so much different from us. Their beauty is in their vitality, in the way that they change and transform before our very eyes," she breathed. "Look at him," she said nodding to a passing man.

He was tall and muscular. He had creamy skin and dark hair. He was extremely handsome with sharp features and deep set pale blue eyes. I could see his blood pulsing beneath his skin and though I could not smell it, I knew I wanted it.

"He's warm and alive, pulsing and rare," she said as we reached the club. We bypassed the line and were quickly granted access as Kate winked at the doorman and tossed her hair over her shoulder. The music inside was loud and I could feel it as it vibrated the floor.

We were surrounded by humans but I kept my breath held. I couldn't take my eyes off them. I could see their blood pulsing fast and tantalizing. Tanya led me to a corner as Kate and Irina slipped away.

"Listen to their hearts," Tanya instructed. "Each heart beat is unique. Not exactly the same as the other. They are so rare, Bella. While we are here to stay they could be gone at any moment and will never be again. They are fragile and hold a beauty that they are oblivious to. Only we can see how special they really are. Only we can cherish them like they should be."

She was right. They were beautiful, unique, and oblivious. I was entranced as I watched them. It was a sight to behold.

"Now breathe, Bella."

I inhaled and Tanya's hold on me tightened. The smell of blood in the air was so thick and tempting. It burned my throat and I was crazed with the need to quench my sudden thirst but Tanya was holding me tight. I could have thrown her off me easily but instead I chose to keep stone still.

"You want it, right?" she purred in my ear. I nodded my head and swallowed back venom, whimpering as the burn persisted. "But do you really want to destroy that beauty? Steal the precious life that will then be gone forever, forever out of your reach?" she asked but didn't wait for my answer before continuing. "You can savor it Bella. You can partake in that beauty, in that liveliness, in a way that will be pleasurable to both parties involved. Their taste is on their very skin, you don't need the blood, their life in their very touch. Just go and feel them and let them feel you. But be gentle, B, they're so fragile. You can hurt them so easily, be tender and cherish them. You're the only one that can worship their beauty like it should be"

She gently pushed me forward into the dancing crowd and Irina, who appeared out of no where, clasped her hand around my wrist. She pulled me into the crowd and led me to the center, to Kate who was standing there with the guy who we passed outside, but smiling at me.

"Cherish him, Bella," Irina whispered as she pushed me to him and Kate pushed him to me.

He smiled at me and grabbed my hand. The second our hands met I could feel his blood pulsing, feel his heat beating against the still coldness of my own hand. His heart was pounding fast with adrenaline. He was beautiful, soft, and delicate. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me flush against him as he swayed and rocked to the music. I stared into his blue eyes as I lifted my hand to touch his face, the tiny hairs and pores made for an interesting feel, like an intricate design embedded on his flesh. My thirst was quickly forgotten as I swayed with him.

I could still smell him though and the more we danced, the hotter he got, and the more potent the scent of his blood became. My eyes caressed his neck and I wanted to taste. Tanya said that I could, I just couldn't bite. I had to be gentle with him. I had to make him last, I had to savor him.

I placed my head on his shoulder and inhaled deeply. Before I knew what I was doing, my tongue was sliding across his collarbone. Salty. Sweet. Hot. Delicious.

He gasped in response and pulled away from me. He stared into my eyes before pulling me off the dance floor and out a back door that opened up to an alley. I was excited to be alone with him. His scent was no longer mingled with the others, it was more concentrated and distinct.

I pushed him against the brick wall, reminding myself to be tender. He would last longer.

"Tell me your name," I whispered as I pressed myself against him. I could feel his warmth through all the clothes. Throbbing and vivacious. He smelled like the sea and musk but with sweet undertones. Wonderful.

"Dominic," he whispered as he pushed my hair away from my face and bent to kiss my neck but that wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to taste him too. "You're so beautiful," he murmured against my neck and I shuddered as his warm breath grazed my skin. His big hot hands traveled up my bare back and I hissed at his fiery touch.

"Kiss me."

He complied immediately and I opened my mouth as soon as his plump lips made contact. He was mouthwatering.

"Bella, honey, it's time to go now," Tanya said. I was surprised that I had not heard her approach but I still ignored her. His kiss tasted too good and I needed more. She could go home if she wanted to, but I wasn't done. Seconds later three pairs of hands pulled me away. I could feel a growl rumbling deep in my chest ready to rip out of me but Kate rubbed my back soothingly.

"Savor him, B. You did so well. Now you can come back to him whenever you want to. He's yours to cherish, but that's enough for tonight," she whispered low enough so that my Dominic couldn't hear.

Irina gave him a card and smiled apologetically at him. "Sorry, honey, but we've got to go. Her name and number's on there. Give her a call," she said. And with that I was quickly led out of the alley. I kept glancing back at Dominic. He was smiling as he watched us walk away so I added a little extra swing in my hips for him.

We were all laid out on the living room floor in our pajamas, as talked and laughed about our night. It had passed so quickly but they assured me that it was better to start out slow. I was controlled but it was better to be safe than sorry. I wholly agreed. I didn't want to hurt my Dominic.

"They call us Succubus, but I always thought that it just sounds so...derogatory," Kate said.

"It does," I agreed.

"Fuck that label," Irina interjected.

"Always so eloquent," Tanya sighed with exaggerated fondness as she smiled at Irina.

I giggled and laid my head in Kate's lap and she immediately began running her fingers through my hair. We were listening to some girly bubble gum music and I found myself feeling a little giddy. I had bonded so quickly with all of them. I was still sad about Phil and I missed him everyday but I could not bring myself to regret coming to Alaska. I had lost and gained so much at the same time. There was love, support, fun, and wonder here. Most importantly though, there was a family connection. Kate, Tanya, and Irina were my sisters.

"How did you guys even get him to come to the club? He was going in the opposite direction when we passed him," I said looking up at Kate.

"Easy. We just told him you were waiting for him and he practically ran to the club," Kate shrugged.

"I was really proud of you out there too, B. He was under some sort of spell. I'm surprised he hasn't called already!" Tanya exclaimed.

I laughed and rolled my eyes but really I couldn't wait to see him again.

"Wait until you actually feel him inside of you though. It goes beyond pleasure," Irina said.

I froze at this comment and they all noticed. "What's wrong, Bella?" Kate asked.

"I'm...um...I've never had sex before," I admitted, knowing that if I could blush, I would have. Clearly all of them had, had plenty of sex before and probably thought me lame for not having any. There was a beat of silence before Irina spoke up

"No biggie," she shrugged. "My first was with a human after my change. He was wonderful and I loved him so much. His name was Thomas and I met him in London a little over 800 years ago. I was with him for five years. He was my best friend and I even told him I was a vampire. I was going to turn him and marry him but he died suddenly in an accident before I got the chance," she told me.

Her shoulders slumped as she got a far off look in her eyes. Irina was always so happy and bubbly that it broke my heart to see her sad. I glanced at Kate and Tanya and they were saddened by the memory as well. I reached over and gave Irina's hand a squeeze that I hoped was comforting. When she smiled at me in thanks it didn't reach her eyes but she shook her shoulders as if she was going to physically shake off her sorrow.

"Whatever. Let's talk about boys some more. We were having such a good time. Let's not ruin it," she said. "You don't have to have sex with them. There are so many forms of pleasure that aren't intercourse. You'll learn that soon enough," she winked.

And just like that she was back to herself. "Have you guys ever been with a vampire?" I asked.

"Of course! The sex is just as good but different that's all," Irina shrugged.

"Oh my God!" Kate gasped smiling wickedly at Tanya. "Bella has to get acquainted with the rest of the family."

I looked between them with knitted brows. They had never told me about any other vampires that lived here.

"What rest of the family?" I asked.

"There are other vampires that live like us in a little town called Forks in Washington. The Cullens. We've known them forever and they're like family to us," Kate said.

"Well most of them are," Irina chimed in, smiling the same wicked smile at Tanya as Kate was. "There is one Cullen in particular that gets Tanya all hot and bothered. Wait until you see them together, B. It's the most ridiculous game of cat and mouse ever known to man," Irina said.

"Shut up!" Tanya squealed grabbing a throw pillow off the couch and chucking it at Irina who easily dodged it.

Kate tapped my shoulder, prompting me to sit up so that she could move. She got up and shot to the phone and quickly dialed a number. She began speaking to someone named Carlisle and telling him about me. After a few minutes she hung up and stared directly at Tanya.

"They'll be here in two weeks."