The drive to Forks High school was torture, Luciana had been giving Paloma the silent treatment since their encounter with Paul. It was clear that her older sister was just dying to scold her but was trying to hold back, but her silence was worse. Paloma had hoped that Emiliano would go to school to ease some of the tension but was skipping school again.

Considering that Emiliano was set to graduate in three months she had no idea how he was passing any of his classes when he rarely showed up at school. She found it odd that her father was willing to make doctors notes saying the Emiliano had a serious medical condition but wouldn't even consider Paloma skipping one day of school.

"If there's something you have to say just say it." Paloma annoyed with the award silence and how Luciana had a judgmental look in her eyes. There was no doubt in Paloma's mind what all of this was about, it had to do with Paul.

Luciana sighed looking incredibly tired. Whether it was due to all the work she was doing with her father or just Paloma's actions it was unclear. But what was incredibly clear was that some part of Luciana didn't want anything to do with this, but she felt that it was her duty to her and not back at college. "I just want to make sure you're not getting into any trouble."    

"Everything that is going on is trouble." Paloma replied softly annoyed that the reality was that they were the ones looking to trouble to begin with. Even though she knew that being ignorant to all the killings was not the answer, she also didn't know what they were supposed to do. It felt so much larger than what her family was capable of.

"A couple of months ago you told me you were talking to one of the Cullens and now you're talking with a werewolf."

"Well, maybe I wouldn't have associated myself with either of them to begin with if I would have known the truth." She snapped back still resenting her family for keeping her in the dark. Paloma hoped that there was some truth in her words, that had she know about what the Cullen's were that she would have never gotten close to Edward. That she would have hated what he was in the same way her family did.

But the truth was that Paloma wasn't so sure. Not when that pull she felt with Edward was so strong.

"I already told you that we did that to protect you."

"Maybe by trying to protect me you put me in more danger." Paloma suggested just as Luciana pulled into the school parking lot. Knowing that their conversation was going to go nowhere Paloma opened the car door and stepped outside.

All the anger and frustration that Paloma felt disappeared the moment that she stepped into the hallway as saw Saira getting books from her locker. She couldn't help but feel surprised and incredibly relieved to see her friend. The last time they had spoken Saira didn't seem the slightest bit ready to return to school. She wondered what caused the sudden change, but it didn't really matter.

"Saira?" Paloma said as she rushed through the hall before quickly pulling Saira into a hug.

"Paloma." Saira said returning Paloma's hug but there was something in her voice that sounded off. Like she was uncomfortable or embarrassed, and as Paloma pulled away from the hug she realized that Saira was looking around the hallway like she was afraid that they had drawn in unwanted attention. There were a couple of glances in their direction from curious eyes that no doubt wanted to know more about Kennedy's disappearance. "Don't make a big deal about this. It's just time for me to come back."

Paloma nodded understanding why Sara didn't want to make a big deal about her return. It was probably just easier not to address the loss. It was something that Paloma knew all too well, considering that her family never even mentioned her mother anymore. It was almost like it was easier to pretend that she hadn't existed. But there was no ignoring the hole she had left behind.

Now Saira seemed to feel like it was easier for her to ignore Kennedy's existence, and maybe it was the only way that she could try to get her life back on track. But as much as Saira didn't to walk about what happened she couldn't hide the emptiness that was reflected in her eyes now.

"Thank you for dropping off all the work I missed." Saira said acting as if there was nothing wrong and everything was like it was before. "I was able to catch up with all of my classes."

"Now you just need to catch up on all the gossip." Paloma replied wanting to respect what Saira wanted and to act like everything was okay. The truth was there wasn't much gossip that was even remotely interesting to share, but Saira loved all gossip no matter how small.

Saira's face lit up a little at the realization that Paloma attempting to give her some sense of normalcy. "You have to tell me everything."

As the bell rang Saira and Paloma began to walk down the hall to their first class. Before Paloma could even get her thoughts straight to begin to catch Saira up on Fork's High School's stale gossip the words died in her mouth at the sight of Edward walking in their direction down the hall.

Their eyes met only briefly as the crossed paths but the slight tug on his lips as they did spoke a hundred words that they would never be able to tell each in public. Everything between them was something that was confined between small glances and brief glances.

"How about you start with whatever the hell that was?" Saira said as the turned a corner and Paloma could help but feel irritated at herself for not having hid whatever it was Saira had seen in those few seconds. The worst part was that she knew that Saira would never let it go because it was the perfect distraction for everything that she was going through.

"What do you mean?" Paloma replied choosing to act oblivious to see how far that would get her, though from the look on Saira's face she had not intention of letting it go.

"You know exactly what I mean."

Paloma stopped as she looked around the hall making sure that no one was paying attention to them, she especially had to look out for Jessica Stanley. If Jessica overheard anything the entire school would know about it by lunch and that like a death sentence for Edward.

"You have to promise not say anything."

Saira's eyes widened slightly at the serious tone in Paloma's voice. "My lips are sealed."

Feeling little paranoid Paloma looked around the hall one last time, luckily the hallway was almost empty everyone having already headed to their first period class. "There isn't much to tell. We've just been... we've been talking I guess."

"Talking as in..."

"We may have kissed a couple of times."

"You and Edward Cullen?" She said in disbelief and Paloma didn't even know if there really was a her and Edward in the way that Saira was suggesting.

"Not exactly." Paloma felt the need to clarify. Sure what they felt for each other was intense and he had told her that he loved her but she couldn't really put words or trying to explain what was happening between her and Edward. There was also a part of her that believed that what they felt for each other was just a fleeting moment. The reality was that they had no real future together. "I don't think it's anything serious."

Saira nodded looking like she really didn't believe Paloma's claim as she smiled a little. "Why are you making it seem like it is some big secret?"

Paloma realized that her desire to keep everything a secret was undoubtedly odd considering that any other girl would happily announce her involvement with who everyone considered the most attractive boy in Forks. In any other circumstance that would be exactly what Paloma would do.

"Because my family absolutely hates Edward and they would lose their minds if they found out about us." Paloma replied knowing that she sounded insane from the confused look on Saira's face. She recognized the desperation and fear in her own voice, and she couldn't blame Saira for not understanding why it was such a big deal. "That's why you can't tell anyone."

"Don't worry I won't." Saira assured her as the final bell rang signaling that they were already late for class. "But you have to fill me in more during lunch."

Paloma nodded knowing there was no way that Saira would accept not knowing the fully story about what was happening with Edward. Luckily she would have enough time to think about and prepare what she could tell Saira about her relationship with Edward.

Edward and his siblings had disappeared after lunch, and after Paloma got a text from Luciana saying that she wouldn't be able to pick her up from school she knew that the two incidents had to be related. Refusing to take the bus she had asked Saira for a ride home, but the day seemed to go by painfully slow with her sense of worry increasing the longer she didn't her from her brother or sister.

Paloma froze at the top of the stairs at the sight of Paul Lahote in the parking lot standing next to an old motorcycle. She knew that if he was willing to risk seeking her out again that it has to do with something serious and Paloma wasn't sure she could handle any more bad news.

There was a part of her the just wanted to ignore the fact that we was even there, but she was also incredibly curious by nature. With a sigh Paloma walked across the parking lot to him, the look on his face giving her absolutely no clue about the reason he was here.

"What are you doing here?" Paloma said already annoyed with the frequency that she was having to see Paul's face. She knew that he wasn't going to be able to stay away now that he had that weird connection with Luciana.

"I need you to convince Luci to get out of Forks." He replied looking like he would rather be anywhere but standing in the parking lot of Forks High School.

"Luci?" Paloma repeated making no attempt to hide how disgusted and amused she was by the ridiculousness of Paul giving her sister a nickname. He knew nothing about her and he thought he could just give her a nickname like they had know each other for years. "Really?"

Paul didn't seem very willing to say something to annoy her as he had the other day. He was serious which was a side that she hadn't really seen from him. "This is serious Paloma."

"She would never do that." She replied simply knowing that even if she begged Luciana for them to leave that it would never work. No amount of begging would convince Luciana to get out of Forks.

"Why not?"

"I don't know." Paloma said with a frustrated sigh because just like Paul she wished that she understood her family a little more. Their hatred for vampires ran so deep it was almost hard to believe, it almost seemed personal in a way. Much more than just a sense of duty. "They all just hate vampires so much. It's like they're eager to get to kill them."

"I understand that feeling completely." Paul stated as he crossed his arms over his chest looking a little proud of himself for his reply. "See Luci and I at least have one thing in common."

Paloma rolled her eyes absolutely hating the fact that Paul believed he had any kind of say in their life and especially because he was giving her sister that nickname. "Stop calling her that."

"You don't think she'll like it?" He questioned looking genuinely concerned.

"She doesn't even like you."

"She just has to get to know me is all." Paul replied not at all concerned with what Paloma had just said. In fact he seemed just as confident as before, like he really believed that there would ever be a reality where Luciana would ever even consider him.

"That would only make her like you less."

"Funny." He said though he clearly found her comment anything but funny.

Paloma began looking around the parking lot hoping that no one was really paying any attention to them and knowing that Saira was probably already waiting for her at her car. "I wasn't trying to be, it's the truth."

"Come on." Paul said instead as he handed her a helmet as he positioned himself on the bike.

It wouldn't have been the first time that she took a spontaneous trip with a boy. But she couldn't help but hesitate not knowing Paul's intentions. "And go where exactly?"

"I'm going to show you why you have to convince your family to leave."

Paloma laughed a little in disbelief. She had just had a conversation with Luciana about he Involvement with the supernatural and now she was seriously considering leaving with a werwolf. She couldn't explain why she knew that she could trust Paul, maybe it was because if he did anything to hurt her his chances with Luciana would go down to the negatives.

"Fine." Paloma said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and sent a quick text to Saira telling her that she no longer needed a ride. Grabbing the stupid helmet she reluctantly put it on knowing that it was going to mess up her hair when she removed it.

She shouldn't have been surprised that he had taken her to the middle of nowhere. He had left his motorcycle at the side of the road and now they had been walking for at least twenty minutes.

"And why exactly are we walking in the middle of the forest?" Paloma said doing her best not to sound too whinny, but her feet were starting to hurt. The boots that she was wearing were not made through long walks in the forest.

"The pack is training with the Cullens to fight against that vampire army."

Paloma almost wanted to laugh because the thought just seemed so ridiculous to her. As much as she had spend the last couple of weeks reading as much about vampires and werewolves as she could she supposed that she just hadn't fully accepted just how real they were. "You're joking right?"

"Does this look like a joke to you?" He replied dryly as the stepped out into a clearing and the sight before them had Paloma frozen in place. There were wolves that had to be three times larger than the size of a normal wolf. What was more surprising was seeing the Cullen's fighting against them. They were clearly training, but seeing the way that Alice Cullen was able to pick up one of the wolves was shocking.

Reading about how strong and powerful vampires were was very different than witnessing their strength and speed in person. Regardless of everything that she read and everything that she was told she had still seen Edward as human in a way. Seeing the Cullens now made it clear that they really weren't human anymore.

But in a matter of seconds Paloma wasn't the only one that was frozen in place, the training suddenly stopped and all eyes were on her and Paul.

"Paloma." Edward said and he was suddenly at her side. He looked confused but the confusion suddenly became anger as he turned his attention to Paul who was standing beside her looking unfazed. "Why did you bring her here?"

"So she could see the danger she's in." Paul replied simply as he took a step closer to Edward almost like if he were challenging him. Like he wanted the fight.

If it really was a fight that Paul was looking for Edward gave him exactly what he wanted as he reached forward and gripped Paul by his shirt. "You're putting her in more danger by bringing her here!"

"Get your hands off of me or I'll kill you." Paul said through gritted teeth a deep growl coming from the back of his throat in response. But there was a slight smirk on his lips that revealed that there was a part go him that enjoyed the conflict.

It all happened so quickly. One second Edward was gripping Paul by the shirt and the next Paul had shifted into a large dark gray wolf. Paloma had been frozen in place as the next second the Cullens, well all except Rosalie, had created a barrier against her and the werewolves. But it didn't seem like Paul was going to be much of a threat as he was now pinned down my an even larger black wolf. 

"Edward!" Dr. Cullen yelled at Edward who hadn't moved even after Paul's transformation. Paloma had seen plenty of emotions from Edward but this kind of anger had not been one of them. Luckily hearing his adoptive father's voice was enough to snap him out of whatever state he was in.

The forest felt like it had gone deadly silent, and Paloma knew that practically everyone could hear how rapidly her heart was beating. Everyone except Bella Swan who was standing at the edge of the forest, Paloma hadn't noticed her before but Bella always did have talent for never standing out in the crowd.

Bella looked entirely unfazed by what had unfolded but from the little Edward had shared Bella had been through a lot worse than a fight between a werewolf and a vampire.

"Come on." Edward said as he placed a hand on her back and guided her away from the group of vampires and werewolves. Normally Paloma would have liked someone giving her orders the way Edward had, but considering what has just unfolded moments ago she knew it was better to follow along and allow him a couple of more moments to cool off.

Once they were far away enough that they wouldn't be in the view of the others Paloma stopped and looked at Edward who still looked incredibly tense and upset. "You don't think you're overreacting?"

"I don't want you involved in all of this." He replied simply as if there were really no other explanation needed.

Paloma couldn't help but feel a little frustrated by his response. They had discussed her involvement in the past and she had hoped that he wouldn't bring it up again. Now it had become a topic that they simply could not avoid as their lives now were completely tied to it. "But I am involved in it."

"I just want to protect you."

"I know that but my safety is not your responsibility." Paloma stated feeling that although he claimed to love her, he still hadn't known her that long for him to feel that level of responsibility. At least not to the point where he had failed to mention that he was even working with the wolves.

Though she had to admit her own hypocrisy. She hadn't told him that she had spoken to Paul the other day knowing that it would upset him. Seeing the way that he had reacted just a couple of moments ago it had been the right call at the time. 

"Paloma, we shouldn't even be around each other. If Victoria found out about you..." Edward began but then he seemed to hesitate to continue any further, or maybe he simply couldn't say the words. Instead he stepped a little closer the intense look in his eyes was still there but his touch was gentle as he placed his hand against her cheek.  "she will do anything to destroy me."

Paloma immediately knew what he was suggesting and if she was honest to herself she had never even considered that possibility. "You think she would kill me?"

"Protecting you is my responsibility." He insisted and she could see how from his point of view he saw it that way. Ultimately he had put Bella in this position during the time they were together. Now there was an entire vampire army headed to Forks.

"Paul brought me here cause he wants me to convince Luciana to leave before Victoria arrives." She admitted knowing that even after everything that happened Paul did have good intentions. He hadn't brought her here to get her involved in the conflict he wanted her and Luciana as far away from it as possible.

Edward's eyes widened slight in surprise, he almost even seemed a little hopeful. "Do you think you can?"

"You want me to leave too?"

"If it means you'll be safe then yes." He replied almost desperately and Paloma couldn't help but feel a little panicked by his feeling for her. She wasn't sure if she exactly felt the same way, only that the attraction that she felt for him almost didn't feel real. But for him it all was very much real. "I would find my way back to you when I know Victoria is no longer a threat."

Paloma took a step back feeling a little overwhelmed by everything that was going on. As much as she wanted to pretend that she was okay with the knowledge that supernatural beings existed it all felt so much more real. Seeing the werewolves in person changed everything, and that had clearly been Paul's intention. "It doesn't matter, I know that she would never leave."

"Why not?"

Paloma knew exactly why. Luciana felt a responsibility to the family and wouldn't leave until she felt that they were all out of danger, even if it meant that she pretty much dropping out of college. There was nothing that Paloma wanted more than to finally get out of Forks, but she wasn't going to do it without her family.

"Because my dad and Emiliano would stay."

Edward was silent for a moment, but luckily he seemed to understand as he didn't push the subject any further. Surely, he understood because he would never leave his own family behind when they needed him the most.

"Let's get you home." He told her clearly eager to get her as far away from the others as possible. It was like he was afraid the Victoria was hiding somewhere in the forest waiting for the right moment to attach. Edward had taken a step forward but he immediately realized that Paloma hadn't followed.   "What's wrong?"

Paloma shook her head not sure why she had hesitated. There were so many thoughts running through her head she still needed a moment to organize them all. "Nothing."

"I'm sorry about the way I reacted." He said suddenly almost like he had read her mind, or understood her hesitation even before she did. The guilt on his face had Paloma feeling just as guilty in that moment. "I know what I am. If you want to never see me again... I understand."

It wasn't that she was afraid of him. Or that she now saw him as a monster.

It was the realization that they really didn't have any kind of future together. It had been something that she had been telling herself since she found out what he was but now it was clear. After the threat of Victoria was over she and her family would move out of Forks. Edward would just be a fleeting moment in her life and she would probably never see him again.

But she found that it didn't really matter. That even if their encounter was brief it had meaning.

Paloma didn't say anything and instead she stepped forward pulling him into a kiss. He returned her kiss without a moment of hesitation and she wondered if he really could read her mind even though she knew it was impossible with the pendant around her neck.

Maybe that was what made Edward special. That somehow he did understand her in a way that even her family didn't. Or at the very least he made the effort of wanting to understand her when everyone else just cared to know what she let them.

A/N: Another very long chapter and I am sorry that you've had to wait so long. So many of you have been asking for an update which I absolutely don't mind because I know that it comes from a  place of place for this story. I really do appreciate and love all of you who vote and comment. I really do feel your love and appreciation through those comments. Five more chapters to go until the end of part two. Oddly enough I have most of chapter 30 written because I am just so excited to get to it. I just know you will all love it! But for the mean time I hope you have enjoyed this update.