The day and night passed and Emmett had only been left with more questions and no answers. Nolan explained it to him, the earthquakes, the strange feeling he'd gotten, finding his sister naked and buried in the forest. He explained how she'd been unconscious since practically that moment. His family knew as much as he did at this point. Anala had come seemingly out of nowhere. Emmett didn't know what she remembered or didn't, didn't know what had happened to her after the day Carus took her away from them, him. In that period Emmett had enough time to catch up with everyone, but he also had time to realize that there was no reason for him being there. He couldn't throw something like this on her. He'd spent the better part of the past two years killing and enjoying it, shamelessly. He should leave, let her start over away from this, all of it. Of course, thinking something and putting it into action were two very different things. He couldn't bring himself to do it, each time his mind told him the same thing. This was Anala. His Mate. He couldn't just leave, his inner monster wouldn't let him. But he was less than deserving to call her his. He was left with his conflict while Anala lay comatose in his bed. The following morning and afternoon continued in the same fashion as the previous. Emmett was trying to avoid his bedroom for a multitude of reasons. He ran through the woods, watched TV, anything to keep him busy enough to not go up there. Looking at her did nothing to strengthen his resolve. Nolan was up there often however, coming down for short intervals every few hours. He had only gone back upstairs for about half an hour, when the he heard the steady heartbeat shift and a frightened cry filled the air, making Emmett freeze where he stood.

She was screaming, not entirely sure why she was doing so. Her awakening was sudden and disorientating and Anala was swiftly becoming afraid. She didn't understand what was happening to her. Her lungs seized, forcing her to gasp breathlessly. She hurt but she couldn't figure out why, her mind was fuzzy and unfocused, images of rain and earth assaulting her. Warm hands were touching her, cupping her face and a soothing voice was in her ear. She was shaking, but the touch was calming her enough to listen to what was being said. It was familiar, the feel of the warm fingers on her skin was almost habitual, assuring her.

"Anala?" She blinked unfocusedly, trying to make sense of what was happening, her surroundings, but still couldn't clear her head.

"It's okay, you're alright Anala, try and breath."

"Nolan?"

He was looking at her. Messy black hair fell into eyes the palest of blue. They stared into her own, shining in the low light. Anala reached out and touched him. He was solid and warm. Nolan. She was suddenly calm. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around him. Her brother was broader than she remembered him being last but she also knew he had looked a lot like this long before then. The material of his shirt was well-worn under her fingertips, she had seen him in this shirt often, one of his favorites. She closed her eyes and tightened her hold on him as she felt his heart beat against her own. Her heartbeat. Nolan was saying something, his voice quiet and filled with regret. "I'm sorry."

He was repeating it, and Anala pulled back in confusion. "Why are you apologizing?"

His brows drew together and anger slipped into his voice. "I should've got you out. I was too late to save you from—". Anala shook her head, looking at him, horrorstruck. She couldn't listen to him blame himself, put an insupportable weight like that on his shoulders.

"No." She touched his face, brushing away his tears. "Nolan, no. You have done . . . so much more than anyone should ever have to do." He never once questioned or complained, doing whatever he felt necessary. Her brother had fought long enough.

"That was my chance! We've fought for so long, I trained my entire life and waited a millennia to drive a blade though his heart. The day came that I could finally end this war and I was too late. I lost you. I felt you . . ."

"The war would have happened one way or another. There was nothing you could've done that night. You can't put this one yourself. I won't let you do that to yourself Nolan. I can't." Nolan sighed and touched her hands. He looked like he wanted to say more, a lot more, but she squirmed, suddenly noticing how full her bladder felt. Nolan released her and stood. "I'm sorry, this all must be a lot for you. Are you feeling okay?"

She nodded.

"I'll give you a few minutes. Come down when you're ready."

She pushed back the covers and slid her legs off the bed as Nolan walked out of the room. Anala swayed, suddenly dizzy. After a few moments it dispersed and she stood in the quiet. Anala was alone. She walked into the bathroom and dealt with the tension in her bladder, relieved. She splashed cool water on her face and dried off before looking at herself in the mirror. Green eyes stared back at her. She pushed her bangs away from her face and put a hand over her heart feeling the steady thump under her hand. Anala was elated to see Nolan, but she was terribly confused and a bit afraid. A shiver traveled down her spine. After a short search through the cabinet she found the unopened toothbrush that had been there for as long as she could remember it ever being in here. Anala saw she was in a soft peach cotton shirt and a pair of comfortable black shorts. She couldn't remember if they were hers or not. How did she even get here? She brushed her teeth mechanically, her mind reeling and scattered. She ended up drinking half her bodyweight from the sink faucet, parched. Anala exited the bathroom and looked around herself. This was Emmett's bedroom. His bed, large and soft, his closet she could recall his clothes hung along with various jerseys, his books and movies and . . . despite how it looked it felt empty and like it had been empty for a long time, the lived-in feel absent. She walked over to the door, the light wooden floorboards were warm beneath her bare feet, and pulled open the door.

Anala saw him immediately.

The hallway was dark and she hadn't even fully stepped out of the bedroom but her eyes caught sight of his shadowed figure quickly. At the end of the hall, on the other side of the staircase he stood. Tall and brawny and motionless. The dark blue jeans and black sweater helped him blend with the shadows but his pale neck and face glowed in the little bit of light that came from the floor below. Penetrating crimson eyes stared at her. Anala's heart jumped and she stepped into the hall completely.

"Emmett," she breathed.

Her eyes stung. He was in front of her then, staring down at her. Surprisingly warm fingers touched her cheek. They were warm, much warmer than she had ever felt them be, his flesh was as heated as hers, if not more so. The hand slipped to hold her head, long fingers against the base of her skull and neck. His thumb brushed her cheek and his burning eyes met her own.

"My god," he murmured. His voice was a soft, deep rumble that warmed her from the inside out. He was beautiful. Happiness swelled in her chest.

"You're eyes . . ." her hands reached instinctively but he was already gone. The abrupt departure had stunned Anala for a moment, her hands were still half outstretched, fingers grasping air. Her eyes scanned the hall. Why did he leave? Why were his eyes red, and not gold? She moved, walking down the staircase. The second floor was quiet and she continued downwards. There was a slight shift in her peripheral and she looked over. Carlisle was a small ways away from the staircase. The pale vampire was silent, watching her closely, and Anala smiled. "Carlisle," she spotted Javan, and Esme and Jasper and Rosalie, and Anala paused. They were all watching her, varying expressions of disbelief and wonder on their striking faces. She looked down at herself, touched her neck.

"What? What is it?"

Nolan appeared just then with Alice and Edward. Carlisle stepped towards her, stopping in front of her. He was looking at her closely, as if examining her and Anala took the time to look at him. His amber eyes picked up on her motions, his pale hair shone gold and Anala was pulled in for a hug. He was cold as ice and his sweet, crisp scent filled her nose. Hands were at her back and she turned, smiling. Rosalie. The blonde woman hugged her tightly, and Anala cried as Esme was suddenly there, eyes shining tearlessly, then Jasper and Alice and Edward. They were talking, touching her, hands smoothing her hair, arms wrapping around her and her body registered the contact but her brain stalled in forming it into something she could understand. Then Javan was there, and the hands fell away. They all moved away, leaving her and Javan at the base of the steps. The dark-haired man had been silent and as Anala looked to him, he was there in front of her, grabbing her and pulled her against him. He gripped her chin and stared into her. His eyes were fiery, and Anala reached up and touched his fingers on her skin. His hold loosened and he wrapped his arms around her. Anala smoothed her hands down his back, feeling him relax. He kissed her temple. Her cheeks. Her lips. In an instant the tenderness was dismissed and he was looking at her, gripping her shoulders and shook her firmly.

"I'm done with these fucking surprises. No more." Anala smiled slightly. She and Nolan knew this man, unpredictable and vicious but Javan was a Wolf. He was dangerous, sure, but once he decided someone was a part of his Pack it was real, he cared, no matter what it may seem and Anala understood that. She nodded and his hands slipped away.

Esme took her hand, guiding her to the sitting room.

"Are you hungry? Would you like me to make you something dear?"

Anala shook her head, smiling in thanks. "No, thank you Esme." Anala moved forward to sit in a comfortable loveseat, tucking her legs underneath herself and tried to connect the pieces in her mind. She looked out the glass wall and out to the river and trees beyond it. Nolan sat next to her and Anala looked around, a bit nervy by the stares.

"Anala what's the last thing you remember?" Nolan asked. "Before you woke up?"

She looked at her brother. She saw Emmett, his large frame in the doorway, watching her with those crimson eyes that baffled her. She didn't understand why everyone was looking at her so strangely, as if there was something she was missing. "I was in the forest, I was in the ground and I climbed out. It was raining, and you were there."

"What about before that? What do you remember?"

Before? Anala didn't like that question. There was a lot of before. Before today, before their capture, before the war. Years upon years of memory and information and emotion. It was overwhelming, the things she had forgotten, never knowing there were other ways to live from the small world they existed in of hiding and running. "Everything," she told him. "I remember everything."

Nolan shifted restlessly. "We found where Carus was—"

"Carus?" Flashes of pain and shaking walls and falling stone.

"He was dead Anala. Him, whatever demons had been there, all of them, and your blood was . . ." tears welled in Nolan's crystal blue eyes. "Anala, what happened to you?"

She looked at their faces, wondering and expectant and Anala realized how confused they must be. The last time she saw them, Carus had very nearly taken her soul. "I . . ." she paused, forming the words for the first time. They tasted bitter on her tongue, sending a decidedly strange sensation through her.

"I died."