Summer 1933


Rosalie lay in peaceful bliss, her eyes closed as she concentrated on Ephriam's heartbeat. At some point, she heard the door to the cabin open and close twice. She slowly climbed out from under the covers and pulled her clothing back on. The smell of pot roast and vegetables flooded her senses as Ephriam sat up and sniffed the air.

"I suppose Esme brought you some food.".

Ephriam was out of bed in a flash, and she glanced away as he pulled on his breeches. He chuckled at the return of her embarrassment and pulled her into a hug. He sighed as his warm, bare chest connected with her rapidly cooling body and smiled against her neck. They remained silent for a few minutes, clinging to each other as if they had all the time in the world.

When she finally pulled from his embrace, Rose could feel the slight burn of thirst creeping up her throat.

"I need to hunt, Eph," she whispered.

He leaned back to look into her darkened irises, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you sure that's what you want? Your eyes went dark last night, too." His hand dropped to her upper thigh and slowly slid up her buttocks. A giggle escaped her, bringing a brilliant, affection-filled grin to his face.

"You eat and rest," Rosalie said as she stepped away from him. "I'll be back soon." She was out of the cabin and his sight in the blink of an eye, racing across the forest floor.

It didn't take long for her to sniff out a small herd of deer lazily grazing and taking advantage of the warm morning light. She pounced between a pair, catching each around the neck in her powerful arms. The burn began easing the moment her teeth sunk into the first deer. Hot fresh blood poured from the wound and into her eager mouth. Its heart fluttered to a stop as she pulled away and instantly tore into the second deer's throat. She panted as she dropped the second deer despite not needing the air. Her limbs sang with energy, rejuvenated from her meal.

"Impressive!"

Rosalie spun to face Levi as he leaned against a nearby tree, naked as the day he was born. His cheerful demeanor was off-putting, entirely different from what she'd witnessed since his change.

Perhaps it is Quil's poor attitude that makes Levi behave poorly. It was either that or he felt rather proud of himself just then. After all, he was naked, nearly as attractive as Ephriam, and Rosalie found she couldn't meet his eyes.

She looked beside him rather than at him as she hissed, "What do you want?"

"No need for that," he said with a chuckle. "I only wanted to ask what you intended with the bodies. Seems a shame to waste them. My people use nearly everything from the deer that they can. Does the venom poison the meat?"

The inquiry caught her off-guard. "Oh. We usually bury them unless another predator is nearby to claim them. Carlisle says our venom only affects humans. Maybe just cut away the, um, bitten area?"

"I should move them now, then," he said. "The sooner I clean them, the better." As he stepped toward her, the breeze shifted against her back and flowed straight toward Levi. His eyes flashed with gold as her scent enveloped him, and he struggled to keep his friendly expression.

Softening her tone, Rosalie continued, "I've wondered if they would be useful for the tribe, but I didn't think you would accept them."

His voice sounded strained as he answered, "We'll take them." It surprised her as he offered, "Perhaps you could alert us when you hunt so we can retrieve them faster. Some innards can spoil the meat if it isn't cleaned right away."

Answering her forced him to breathe, and his eyes blazed again, keeping their golden hue as a low involuntary growl escaped him. "Your scent has changed. Why? It is not merely the deer blood, though it helps." He chuckled bitterly.

Rosalie gaped at Levi, yearning to climb the nearest tree and hide as she realized he could smell them. Ephriam's scent was deeply blended with hers as his saliva and sweat had soaked into her skin, and his seed lingered on her inner thighs. Embarrassment immediately turned to anger as she lied, "Nothing has changed."

Levi instinctively stepped closer, his temper building as he tried to breathe through his mouth instead of his nose. His words hung like an accusation as he said, "You reek of Ephriam. Where is he now?"

"Resting." The last thing Rosalie wanted them to know was where her new hideaway sat. She needed time alone with Ephriam. I should be with him now. "Do you need me to carry the deer to the boundary line? If not, then I'll be leaving."

As the breeze enveloped them again, Levi's eyes widened in recognition before filling with pure hatred. "You've lain with him!"

Rosalie leaned toward him slightly as she hissed, "That's none of your damn business!"

He scoffed. "That's where you're wrong."

The clouds shifted overhead, sending a flash of light across her skin, illuminating the sheer unnaturalness of her being for a moment, and the shapeshifter shielded his eyes with his forearm. Levi trembled as he held back his wolf, his entire being pulsing. "You can't be his mate. You're not even alive."

Rosalie's heart sank from the cruel truth behind his words, and she snapped, "You think I don't know that?"

Their mutual attempt to remain civil dissolved entirely as he hissed, "I'm making sure of it."

The breeze hit them again just as he took in a deep breath. Levi clenched his teeth, his eyes blazing, and his nostrils flared as he snarled at her. Rosalie wasn't so angry as to ignore common sense where a wild creature was concerned, and she had no other description for Levi just then. His trembling increased as he clenched his fists. His cheeks reddened as he glared up and down her figure. Rosalie stepped back cautiously, preparing to flee as the last of Levi's control snapped.

In a split second, he shifted. Suddenly, Rosalie lay on her back as he hovered over her, his solid black wolf snarling mere inches from her face with her trapped between his front legs. She pressed her hands to the wolf's massive chest, attempting to push him away. One enormous front paw moved to her chest to pin her in place as his nose pressed to her neck. Levi sniffed down her torso, his snarling increasing as he nuzzled the thin muslin over her belly. He finally stopped above her apex and inhaled deeply. Levi lifted his eyes to glare into hers, and the pure loathing behind them made her squeeze her eyes shut.

Something slammed into Levi, knocking him away from her. As her eyes flew open, a flash of copper made her immediately call out to her brother. Rosalie expected to see Edward facing the wolf as she scrambled to her feet. Instead, an enormous russet wolf stood over Levi, his massive jaws snapping out a warning. A ray of sunshine grazed the wolf's fur, turning it as bright and red as Edward's hair. The wolf turned toward Rosalie as the breeze flew between them and growled. Immediately after, he stepped back, startled by his reaction toward her.

Rosalie didn't need any introductions with the new wolf. She would know those eyes anywhere despite the flakes of gold illuminating them. "Ephriam."

The russet wolf released a mournful howl before glaring back at his pack mate. Rosalie felt her heart shatter as she realized their time together was over. Not only was she still covered in his very essence, but he also went through the change alone, only to find her in danger. Despite knowing their time would be brief, it was a devastating end. Her sobbing filled the air as Rosalie turned and fled for home. She covered her ears to block out the sound of his howls while she ran.


Current Day


Rose deposited her scant belongings on the front porch of the Cullen house, intentionally avoiding the side of the front yard where Edward met his devastating demise. She sought the key they left hidden for emergencies and made her way to her and Emmett's room.

While most of the furniture got covered or removed, the Cullens left beds, two massive sofas, and a great deal of clothing behind. Rosalie located a bikini and a pale yellow t-shirt dress to change into before tossing her destroyed black dress into the trash. She left her hair loose and feet bare as she jumped from the upstairs balcony and took off across the forest.

Eventually, Rose scampered up a tree and began hopping from branch to branch. It was easier than it was in her newborn days. She, Edward, Jasper, and Alice used the treetops to their advantage. Within the first few months of moving to Forks, they created cleverly disguised pathways throughout the treetops to avoid the ground when possible. Decades of growth provided higher and stronger limbs to bear their heavy leaps and bounds.

A heavy sense of déjà vu struck her as she neared the creek, and the sound of something splashing stopped her in her tracks. Rose dropped silently to the ground and crept toward the creek expecting to find Leah. She knew the she-wolf frequented their property, most often to escape Sam Uley and the lack of privacy with her pack. The last thing she expected was to find the same man she just left behind.

Rosalie gasped as Ephriam spun in the water, appearing as surprised as she was. She felt instantly transported to their few stolen moments together before he shifted for the first time. He gave her a dazzling smile as he rushed to her side before crushing her lips with his.

"Didn't expect to find you here," Ephriam said as he pulled away and chuckled.

"I'll say," she said. "What made you come here?"

"The same thing as you, I'd wager," he said. "I always want to come here when I've seen you. I don't normally risk it."

"I understand," she said and chuckled. "It was a last-minute decision for me as well."

Ephriam laughed and walked back into the center, sinking into the frigid water. He watched Rosalie, smirking as she dragged off her dress, revealing the tight white bikini underneath.

"You are a vision," he said as she stepped into the water. "Like no time has passed at all."

Rose dove under only to come up directly in front of him. Ephriam stared momentarily, silently drinking in her soaked pale form before bending to place his hands under her ass. He lifted her as Rose clasped her legs around his waist. Ephriam's body heat increased, and Rosalie moaned as he radiated his warmth into her. His vampiric gift never ceased to amaze her. It was as if he'd been tailored to suit her alone.

Rose kissed him tenderly, sliding her right hand into his long hair. Ephriam's grip on her hips tightened as he moaned into her mouth. It was always this way between them. The lust for each other was immediate, rampant, and insatiable.

Ephriam reached between them to push his hand into her bikini bottom, stroking her. Rose moaned loudly and slid her hand down his abdomen to his sex to touch him as well. Ephriam pulled the fabric of her bottoms to the side as she lined him up to enter her. Both moaned as he tugged at her hips and sunk into her. Ephriam moved toward the side of the creek pool, leaning back against a smooth rock ledge to support them. Hanging onto his shoulders and with one foot on a lower rock ledge, Rose rocked herself against him. The water slapped between them as they moved together, the cold water contrasting his radiating warmth. He grunted with pleasure as she whimpered, filling her body with an irresistible, sensuous heat. Well attuned to each other's bodies, each cried out as they climaxed together before she collapsed against his chest with a happy sigh.

They were playful afterward, swimming around and teasing one another. As nightfall came and he prepared to leave, Rose sadly pulled him in for another kiss goodbye.

"I'll see you in ten years, beautiful," he said affectionately.

"You said that earlier," she teased. "I'll miss you. Be safe."

"I'll miss you too." He kissed her one last time before racing into the forest.

Rose pulled her dress over her head, preparing to leave as someone stepped out of the woods behind her. She turned toward the noise and gasped as a furious, trembling Jacob turned and began stomping away from her.

Oh my god, how much did he see? "Jake!" Rose called after him. "Jacob, wait!"

Jacob stopped, though he kept his back to her. He took slow deep breaths, trying to calm himself before facing her.

"Jacob, talk to me," she pleaded.

He spun and approached her angrily, his eyes flashing gold as he pushed back his wolf. Rosalie backed away from him carefully, her back pressing against the tree behind her. "Tell me one good reason I shouldn't call Emmett right now!"

Rosalie nearly flinched at the sheer volume of his voice. She hadn't seen him this angry in such a long time that it was startling.

"You don't understand," Rose said defensively. "There would be no point."

He demanded, "Does Emmett know?" Rosalie could see he was struggling to stay calm. She could hardly blame him. He was her husband's best friend.

"Yes," Rose said softly, fighting like hell to not look away from his furious glare. "Of course, knows. He's always known."

Jacob's expression changed from rage to confusion. Heartbroken for his friend, he asked, "Why? You guys… you love each other so much. And from what I understand, you can't get enough of each other, so why do this?"

Rose slid down to sit on the forest floor. She didn't have an answer for Jacob. Not one he would truly understand, being the strictly monogamous man that he was. She couldn't even answer that question for herself after over eighty years.

"I love them both. I always have. I don't know how to stop," she admitted.

"What do you mean by you always have?" Jacob asked, narrowing his eyes at her. "How long have you been having an affair, Rose?"

"It's not an affair, Jake." Her situation was difficult, yes, but Emmett was fully aware. "We have an arrangement. I'm not sneaking around. He knows everything. Emmett has always known."

Jacob asked, "So Emmett is cool sharing you with another dude?"

Another dude? Oh my fucking God, he doesn't know it was Ephriam. A hysterical laugh escaped as she shook her head with relief.

"Jake, look," Rosalie said bluntly, "I know it is difficult to understand, but we have an … agreement. Every ten years, I take a week to myself. The first three days I spend with him." She gestured in the direction Ephriam had run. "The rest of the time, I spend by myself, doing whatever I need to get my head straight. Then I go home to Emmett."

"Every ten years?" Jacob asked. "Is this why you get remarried every ten years, too?"

Rose scoffed. Bella must have told him. "Yes, actually," Rose said as she stood.

"Does the whole Cullen family know?" Jacob asked. "Does Bella know?"

"Only Emmett knows. Edward knew, but most of my secrets died with him, and I'd like to keep it that way," Rose admitted. Jacob scoffed, immediately irritating her. "It's a private matter, Jacob. This isn't anyone's business but mine and Emmett's."

"Why did you bring him here?" Jacob asked bluntly. "Why would you bring another vamp into the area without at least warning me?"

"I didn't bring him here," she said. "I spent the last three days with him, and we said goodbye before I called you. This spot was… important to both of us, once. I didn't expect him to be here. I came here to be alone, just like I told you. Believe it or not, this situation is hard for me. I need time after I see him to deal with it all."

"With the guilt?" Jacob asked, though there was no accusation in his question.

"With the pain," she admitted. "I love them both. I want to be with them both. Emmett loves me so goddamned much that I think he would actually be okay with that. It doesn't matter, though." She gestured where Ephriam went and continued, "He wants to be alone. What we have is all there is. Three days every ten fucking years."

Jacob huffed awkwardly, and Rose couldn't help but chuckle. Jacob had loved the same girl for his entire life and would be with her for as long as they lived.

Polyamorous relationships aren't exactly his area of expertise, she thought. Like many others, she had wondered how close Jacob and Bella were with Angela and Embry. I guess this conversation answers that question.

Jacob asked, "And what about those ten years with Emmett in between?"

"They have been wonderful years, Jake," Rose said. "I love Emmett as much as he loves me, even if you can't understand how that is. That is why I marry him again every time he asks me to. I always will. I never want to lose him."

"Then why can't you stop this," Jacob asked her, gesturing toward the creek.

"If you imprinted on someone else, would you still love Bella? Does being with Emily stop Sam from loving Leah?"

Jacob gaped at her, and she could see that he understood. "You loved this man before Emmett?"

"Yes."

She didn't want to lie to Jacob, even if this situation wasn't technically his business. She wasn't sure she could lie to him any more than she could to Emmett or Ephriam. Jacob and Bella were family.

However, betraying Ephriam was out of the question. Above all, he wanted to be left alone. He didn't wish the tribe to know he still existed, that he was ashamed of his vampiric transformation. It was easier for them to believe him dead rather than hating him for what he could not help. If she gave Ephriam away, she risked losing him for good. She cared about him too damn much to let that happen.

Jacob asked, "Will he come back here?"

"No. I do not believe so, anyway. If he did, you needn't worry. He's a yellow-eyed demon, like me."

"Who is it, Rose?"

"I can't, Jacob. I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head as she looked away.

He glared at her suspiciously. "So Emmett knows, but you still can't tell me who it is?"

"Yes. Emmett knows because, as my husband, he deserves to and should. Our situation is private, Jacob. I know what happened here wasn't private, but it wasn't planned. I love you as a brother. You know that. But I can't tell you anything else. I'm sorry."

Rosalie reached up to finger her locket nervously, despite leaving it at the house. It was a habit she developed since she'd begun wearing the gift.

"Rose, I… I don't know what to say." Jacob scratched his head. "I want to believe you, and I'm not saying I don't. I just don't understand it, I guess. I'm sorry I got mad. It's just that ..."

"Emmett is one of your best friends. I know," she interrupted. "You don't want to see him hurt. Believe me, mongrel, I don't either."

"I believe you," he said, nodding.

"Can I ask something, now? Why were you on this side, anyway?"

"I called the guys out of patrolling this area because you asked me to," Jacob said. "Seth was near the boundary line when I pulled them back. He said he thought he had picked up a strange leech scent. I figured that if anyone ran into you by accident, it should probably be me, and I ran over to check it out. Not what I expected to find, by the way." He chuckled awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure it certainly wasn't," she said. "We didn't plan to meet here, Jake. I promise." Despite knowing she shouldn't feel that way, she couldn't help the guilt that flooded her. It was hard not to when a man she loved like a brother looked so disappointed in her.

"I will keep the guys off the Cullen property for the next few days," Jacob said. "Please, just let me know if he comes back and when he leaves if he does. Just so there are no issues."

"You got it, but I truly don't think it will be a problem," she said. "It's probably the first time he's visited this place in fifty years. He doesn't have many happy memories here."

Jacob frowned again. "He's from Forks?"

Carefully she answered, "He lived in the area for a while."

Jacob remained silent, though she could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he wondered who it could be.

"Jake." Rose reached for his hands, squeezing them gently. "Don't worry about it, okay? Just leave it be."

Jacob was logical. She knew he would figure it out if he kept wondering about it. Outside of his belief his great-grandfather was dead, the answer was obvious.

To her surprise, Jacob yanked Rosalie to him and wrapped her in a hug. She greedily embraced him back, grateful she seemed to be forgiven.

Pulling away, he said, "Be careful, okay?"

"You too."

Jacob turned and walked away. "Come see Bells before you go home," he hollered over his shoulder as he slipped behind the trees.

Rose raced back toward home, eager to crawl into a hot bath. All the warmth and happiness she had soaked up from Ephriam had drained from her during her conversation with Jacob. She hoped a hot bath would help bring a little of that back.

A familiar scent hit Rosalie as she stepped inside the house, and she froze.

"Rosie," Emmett said in surprise as he stepped out of the kitchen and into the main room. "I didn't know you were here."

Her guilt rushed back like a kick to her gut as she scrambled for something to say to her husband. "Hi, Emmett."

"Did you go swimming?" He chuckled as he took in her soaking-wet form.

"Yeah," she said, "I'm about to shower real quick. I'll be right back." She raced for the bathroom, discarded her clothing, and stepped into the shower quickly.

Why the hell was Emmett here? Did Jacob know he was coming? Did he call Emmett before confronting her? She and Ephriam had been out there for a few hours. Surely Jacob wouldn't do that.

Rosalie couldn't escape the dread that flooded her as she rushed through her shower. Despite their arrangement and knowing full well where she had been, Rosalie couldn't help but worry that as soon as she went back downstairs, life as she knew it might blow up in her face. She trembled as she stepped out of the shower and cursed as she realized she'd forgotten to grab a change of clothing. Wrapped in a towel, she gathered her dirty clothes and dashed toward their bedroom.

When she emerged a few minutes later, the house was eerily silent. Rosalie called out for Emmett as she walked down the stairs. She found Emmett sitting on the porch, staring off into the forest silently.

Tentatively she asked, "Is something wrong?"

Emmett held his hand out to the side, her locket dangling from his large fingers. It was open, the hidden compartment with Ephriam's picture on display.

Emmett's voice was barely audible as he asked, "Did you bring him here?"

"He was in the area, yes," she admitted. "But I didn't bring him here."

"You met him here?"

"I ran into him here," she said.

Angrily he asked, "Were you with him in our house?"

"No. I have never done that. I wouldn't do that. Emmett, I came to Forks to be alone. As a last-minute decision."

Emmett chuckled bitterly and stood, dropping her locket on the porch railing. "I didn't know Jake did that for you."

"Please don't be mad at Jacob," Rose pleaded. "He didn't know everything. He did it to be kind because Ephriam was my friend."

"I'm not mad at Jacob. I am mad at you," Emmett said, finally facing her.

"Why?"

"If I had that fucking answer, this situation would be a lot easier," Emmett grumbled, turning his back to her again. "I know what I've agreed to, Rose. Believe me, I've faced it every ten fucking years. I love you. I would do anything on this planet to make you happy. When you came in that door tonight? The look on your face?"

Emmett turned again and strode over to her, lifting her chin to make her look him in the eye. "That you didn't expect to see me was obvious. I didn't expect to see you either. You straight-up avoided me to go wash off his fucking scent, Rose." Emmett dropped his hand and stepped back. "As if I couldn't detect him and Jacob all over you, anyway. Then I found your fucking locket."

"I will not lie and pretend anything you just said isn't true, but Emmett," Rose said. Wait… "If you knew I didn't bring him to the house, why did you ask?"

"You just looked so goddamned … guilty," he said, shaking his head. "Honestly, I'd much rather you pretend it wasn't happening at all than look at me like that."

"Like what, Emmett?"

"Like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Like I was intruding on something you were trying to hide from me in our home. As if I didn't know exactly who you were with for the last few days or that I don't know what the hell you were doing with him during them. I can't explain it, Rosie. It's like you're trying to keep a secret from me, and it fucks me up."

"I looked guilty because I felt guilty, Emmett," Rosalie said, "but not because of Eph."

Emmett's brow furrowed in aggravation as he visibly braced himself and sighed. "What happened?"

"Jacob knows," Rose confessed.

Emmett looked up at her in surprise. "How?"

"He saw us. Sort of, but not well enough to know who it was. Maybe he only heard us saying goodbye. I don't know. Jacob asked who it was, but I wouldn't tell him," Rose said. She walked over to sit down on the steps. "He was furious with me. He asked me why he shouldn't call you right now." Emmett couldn't help but chuckle, and she rolled her eyes.

As he sat beside her, Emmett asked, "What did you tell him?"

"The truth, except for who it is," Rose said. "Jacob doesn't get it, really, but he seemed to at least understand that it is between us, and everyone else needs to stay out of it."

Emmett nodded. "He's a good dude, Jake."

"If you decide to talk to him about it, could you just… try not to make him hate me?"

"He won't hate you. I don't hate you, so why would he?" Emmett reached over to rub her back. "I'll talk to him before I leave."

"Are you still angry at me?"

Emmett sighed. "Pretty sure I stopped being mad as soon as I told you I was mad," he admitted. "I still love you. I'll still see you when you get home, and I'll deal with it again in ten years. As long as you come home to me."

"I will always come home to you," Rose said firmly. "I love you."

Emmett leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "I know."

Rose grabbed her locket from the porch railing as she watched him walk toward the garage and put it around her neck before heading inside.