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"You smell like a dog," Rosalie comments as Tashi entered the room, everyone waiting for Jasper and Emmett's return. "I had a run in with one of the mutts. He wasn't very pleased to see me." She muttered in disdain. Carlisle looked to her, his arms crossed over his chest, "you didn't go on their side, did you?" She shot him a look, one that would intimidate most, but he knew her long enough to know she wasn't trying to intimidate him. "And suffocate myself with their stench? No thanks. I rather be publicly executed."

"Did you find anything?" Rosalie asked. Tashi shook her head, "no, I searched all over, came up empty. Do you know who this person was? Perhaps, someone you know?" Tashi questioned towards Edward and Bella, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. "This stranger, I didn't recognize his scent," Edward claimed.

"A nomad passing through?" Esme suggests.

"A passersby wouldn't have left Bella's father alive." Rosalie adds. Tashi sighs, she was so sick of all the problems the human girl was bringing them. If they had just turned her already, this wouldn't be happening. Jasper and Emmett walk in, Jasper going to stand a few ways next to Tashi, choosing not to comment on the scent. "The scent disappeared about 5 miles south of Bella's house." Jasper informed them.

"Someone's orchestrating this," Carlisle states. Bella's first thought was the redheaded woman. "Victoria?" Alice shook her head briefly, "I would have seen her decide." Tashi raised a brow, it would make the most sense if it was the red head.

Her eyes found Edward's, already able to see what he was thinking. "Has to be the Volturi," he suggested, everyones eyes falling onto the telekinetic vampire. She scoffs lightly under her breath, "Don't look at me. I have no contact with anyone from there and I don't want it. Whatever they do has nothing to do with me, but something tells me they aren't stupid enough to do something such as this. They enjoy confrontation." Alice nods in agreement, "I don't think it's the Volturi, either. I've been watching Aro's decisions, too."

"So we keep looking," Emmett said.

"We'll also take shifts guarding Bella at her house," Carlisle said. Rosalie and Tashi weren't so fond of that, hating that they had to keep guarding Bella anytime someone even showed interest in her. Rosalie just held annoyance and frustration, but Tashi's anger with this choice was far deeper than hers. "Another protection detail?" Carlisle gives Rose a warning look, Rosalie just ignoring him and glancing at Tashi who she knew would take her side.

"No, she's right. You can't protect me, watch my dad and search for the intruder," Bella says. Tashi cleared her throat, "don't forget the pretty redhead." They all knew she was talking about Victoria, though Bella didn't understand the need for the "pretty" comment. "And keep yourselves fed." Bella continued, choosing to ignore Tashi's comment. The last thing she'd ever do is question that woman. Not when she needed her protection.

"I'm not leaving you here defenseless." Edward objects. Tashi rolled her eyes, becoming quite annoyed with the boy. "Well, I'm not gonna let you starve. And I wouldn't be unprotected. I have..." A smirk grew on her lips, well aware the girl was talking about Jacob Black. She didn't much care for the love triangle or Bella leading him on but she enjoyed seeing the look on Edward's face when his name was mentioned. "What?" Edward questions obliviously, not being able to read her mind.

Tashi clears her throat with a heartless chuckle. "She's talking about the little pack of mutts, more specifically, one of them, about yay high," Tashi raises a hand above her just a bit, "and killer abs. I think you know him. He's uh, what do I call it, oh yeah, he's Bella's pet." Everyone stifled their laughs at her joke, not wanting Edward to be more furious them he already was. But oh did her comment piss him off.

"You can't really talk seeing as you have one yourself. What's his name, again? Uh, Paul, right?" Edward shot back. Tashi turned to glare at him as Bella's mouth dropped. "Wait what? You're dating Paul?" Tashi scowled, taking a step towards the boy, and it was clear he was tense and nervous by her daunting closeness. "Let's get one thing clear. No one is dating anyone. I spared him, just that once, and you would've done the same. So stop bringing it up before I rip your fingers off one by one."

"Tashi, let's go upstairs." Alice spoke, taking ahold of the girl's hand with a soft smile.

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Over the days, they all took shifts guarding Bella's house, and to say Tashi hated it was an understatement. Having to switch off with the wolves who hated her guts, four of them in specific. Leah, Paul, Sam, and Jacob. As of now, Tashi was in her car, following after Edward and Bella who were meeting up with Jacob so Edward could hunt. They just had Tashi there for extra protection. It was per Edward's request. She was the strongest, more skilled, and nobody was gonna kill her if they knew Caius was her mate.

Tashi wasn't exactly complaining about helping her pseudo-brother, but it was very inconvenient for her. All she wished to do was stay in her room and play her piano, maybe even paint if she felt like it. Tashi stepped out of her car, waving her fingers at the shirtless wolf boy, a smirk present on her face as he scowled. Edward and Bella followed after her. "Doesn't he own a shirt?" Edward comments. 

Tashi raising a brow teasingly at Edward, "I think you're the only one with a problem, I quite like him shirtless." She shrugs, winking at Jacob who just rolls his eyes. He knew she was just trying to get under his skin, and sometimes it worked, but he was getting back at controlling it.

Bella awkwardly looks at Edward, but she was always awkward. "I'm good here. You should go." Tashi rolls her eyes, leaning against her car. "I'm not gonna be gone long." He says to remind them both, not wanting Bella to be with Jacob any longer than she needed to. "Don't rush. You need to hunt." Edward pulls Bella in for a kiss that deepended, purposely doing this to spite Jacob.

Tashi rolled her eyes, "okay, that's enough sucking face. Don't be an arse." Tashi grabbed Edward's jacket, tugging him back a bit.

Jacob just sighed in relief, actually grateful that Tashi got involved, the whole kiss making him and her uncomfortable. Bella looks at Edward, wishing they could kiss more. "Maybe rush a little bit." Bella walks towards Jacob, the wolf greeting her with a smile, "Hey, beautiful." They hug as Bella replied with a "hi." Tashi watched as Edward was quick to drive off, leaving her behind.

She rolled her eyes, leave it to Edward to run away like a child denied candy. "How's my sweet Leah doing?" She smirked. Jacob cleared his throat awkwardly, "she told me to tell you to go to hell." Tashi chuckles, and they both noted how confused Bella was at this. "How lovely of her. Tell her I miss how good she tasted," she smirked, Jacob just grimacing and shaking his head. "I'll leave you to it. Take care of sweet Bella or I'll kill you and deliver your head to Sam on pike."

"What a sweetheart," Jacob comments sarcastically, the two watching as she drives off. "I'm so confused. What were you guys talking about? What happened with Tashi and Leah?" Bella asked, climbing into the car with Jacob.

"Before Leah turned, she and Tashi sort of, well, they had a thing. Nobody knew about it at all, not until Leah turned and her memories with Tashi were revealed to the whole pack. When they found out, they attacked Tashi and she mostly got into it with Paul, because she had also been with him before he turned. He was pissed that she did the same thing to Leah. She roughed him up pretty good, and she could've killed him, but she didn't." Jacob explained, starting up the car.

"Why didn't she?" Bella asked, furrowing her brows, still wondering how nobody found out what Tashi was doing.

"We still don't know, but I think it's because, maybe she actually cared about him. She probably still cares about both of them. But they're wolves now, and she's a vampire, so it'll never happen again. And Paul has an imprint now, but he did still love Tashi. We're not sure about Leah. She says she hates Tashi, but we catch her thinking about her sometimes. It's a very complicated situation. But Carlisle and Sam made a deal that Tashi wouldn't pursue anyone else on the reservation, or they were allowed to kill her."

"And Tashi's okay with that?" Bella asked in shock, that definitely did not seem like a deal she'd agree to.

"Yes, but only because she has no interest in anyone else." Jacob answered, shrugging a shoulder.

"Sounds like she caused a lot of problems," Bella mumbled.

"Oh yeah, everybody on the res hates her guts," Jacob chuckles.

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Tashi leaned up on the wall with her arms crossed firmly over her chest, watching the news with Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper as they reported something about Seattle. "Seattle is in a state of terror. Police are baffled by the escalating murders and disappearances. Theories range from a visious new gang to a wildly active serial killer." Carlisle turns off the television just as Edward and Bella walk in. "It's getting worse. We're going to have to do something." He said. 

"It's takes more than one of our kind to cause the damage they're reporting. Quite a few more. And they're undisciplined, conspicuous." Jasper theorizes. Tashi huffed, rolling her eyes, of course they had another problem among them. "It's newborns," Edward says, reading Tashi's mind. She looks up to shoot him a glare, always hating when he read her mind without permission.

"What, like new vampires?" Bella questions. Tashi looks up from her nails, "no, like newborn babies," she says in a sarcastic manner. "Yes, new vampires. In the first few months after the change. They're quite the dreadful ones. Always so sloppy," Tashi answered, getting a look from Edward for her previous sarcasm. Jasper goes to add onto Tashikah's statement. "That's when we're at our most uncontrollable. Vicious. Insane with thirst."

"Something to look forward to," Emmett smirks.

"No one's trained these newborns, but this isn't random." He looks to Carlisle, both of them having a similar idea. "Someone's creating an army." Emmett hops down from the couch with a grin, a little too excited about this. "Well, now we're definitely going to Seattle." Tashi didn't think that was exactly a good idea as she knew the Volturi were probably already investigating it themselves. She went to warn them of that but Bella cut her off. "An army of vampires?"

"And they've been created to fight someone." Jasper said. "We're the only clan even close to Seattle," Edward spoke, yet again was Tashi cut off. She just gave up at that point when Carlisle goes to talk. "Regardless of why they were made, if we don't put a stop to them, the Volturi will. I'm surprised they've let it go on this long." She tensed as their eyes landed on her, anytime the Volturi was mentioned, she was the immediate thought. It pissed her off. She hated being linked into every conversation about the Volturi.

"Maybe they're behind it. In Italy, I read Aro's mind. He wants me and Alice to join him. Tashi too because of her mate status with Caius, and because of her telekinesis. But he knows we'll never choose him as long as our family's still alive." Edward theorized, everyone minus Tashi starting to consider this option, but she knew better. That wasn't something the Volturi was dumb enough to do. Maybe the guard would, but the Kings would never allow that. It created unwanted attention from humans, and that was strictly prohibited.

Tashi turns to Edward with a sharp glare. "Let's get this clear, I do not have a mate. Stop linking me in with every conversation about the Volturi just because that King is delusional enough to think we're bonded. And please be serious, they're not stupid enough to turn a bunch of random locals. It's against their rules. It draws unwanted attention. If they wanted a fight, they wouldn't need any help. Their guard is enough to take all of us on." Tashi kicked off the wall and exit the room.

"Does she always get defensive about the Volturi?" Bella questions.

"No. Not until recently," Edward sighed.

A loud creek echoed throughout a small condo hidden deep in the forest, providing the ultimate privacy from any unwanted guests. Tashi pushed open the door, ascending up the steep stairway to the top. The lights were off, the place filled with darkness. "Come on out, darling. It's only me." She encouraged, flipping on a lamp. With hesitation, a figure stepped out, the dim light of the lamp shining over her features. Tashi smirked, her arm outstretched in front of her for the woman to take. The hot hand met her cold one.

"Thought you told me to go to hell?" Tashi chuckles, bringing the woman closer to her.

"I changed my mind." Leah breathed out, the closeness between them providing her comfort.

Tashi reached her hand up, brushing away the strands of hair that covered Leah's face. She glanced down her body, and smirked, "wearing my clothes, aren't we?" She nods, shrugging a shoulder, "it was either that or walk around your house naked. Hope you don't mind, I used your shower." Tashi shook her head softly, her fingertips brushing down the warm arm of the woman, leaving a trail goosebumps behind. "I don't mind at all."

"Nobody knows I'm here, by the way. I came here alone." Leah reassured, aware of the deal with Carlisle, and Sam about Tashi getting involved with anyone on the reservation. "That's good. Wouldn't want you to give up my hiding spot. Family can be quite suffocating. I much prefer to be alone, naked under the sheets with you." Leah smiled, leaning up to connect their lips, savoring the kiss.

She pushed off Tashi's coat and the vampire quickly kicked off her heels, her hands ripping off Leah's shirt. "Let's take this to the bedroom, shall we, darling?"

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"Are you sure this is where you saw her?" Carlisle questions. They were currently in the woods, at a specific spot where Alice claimed Victoria would show up, courtesy of her vision. Tashi stood near Emmett and Rosalie, looking everywhere she could. It was silent, everyone waiting for movement or a signal. Alice granted it. "On your left!" They all ran towards Victoria, Emmett and Tashi the closest, both at the same speed with Tashi just a tease faster, courtesy of her being the oldest.

Emmett ran faster, getting ahold of her shoulder, she easily threw him off, making him roll over into a tree. Tashi kept her speed, figuring Emmett would catch up again. Just as Tashi was close to getting her, she jumped across the river, officially on the wolves territory. Carlisle stopped everyone from going after her, putting his hand out. "Wait. She's on their territory." He warned, specifically to Emmett and Tashikah who acted on impulse.

"She'll get away!" Tashi exclaimed in anger, running after her, everyone following, Victoria still on the other side of the river. "No, she won't!" Jasper says, spotting the wolves start to run after Victoria on their side. Victoria jumps back onto the vampire side, escaping the wolves. Tashi, Emmett, and Jasper all sped up to catch her. Victoria jumped on the trees, Jasper doing the same, attempting to tackle her mid air until she moves, Jasper missing her.

Tashi and Emmett get faster, Victoria jumps back to the wolves side, Emmett and Tashi making zero attempts to stop. "Emmett, Tashi, no!" Rosalie warns. They don't listen, jumping across, only in mid air, they get thrown back by a wolf she could recognize as Paul. Emmett and Tashi fall into the water, immediately coming back up, snarling at the wolf, his teeth bared at them. Tashi glanced behind the growling Paul, seeing Victoria look back at her with a smirk before running off.

Tashi immediately jumped up, "Tashi! Stand down!" She ignored their calls, running after Victoria, wolves ran after the two, the vampire still following her. "Not getting away this time!" Tashi tackled Victoria to the ground, both of them rolling around. They stop, Tashi on top of the redhead, she paused, the air growing tense as the wolf pack surround them. Victoria took this distraction in her favor, throwing the vampire into the tree, she jumped up, retreating away quickly.

Tashi groaned, breathing heavily, she eyed the wolves in front of her. Another wolf runs over, she recognized it to be Leah. A smirk rose to her lips, she rose to her feet slowly, a few of them growl at her. They were all ready to tear her to shreds, but her calm reaction is what had Sam uneasy. "If you kill me...you'll be upsetting a very powerful vampire king. You're smart, Sam. You don't wanna upset the Volturi. You don't want to make an enemy of Caius. You don't wanna kill his mate. Stand down. Now, if you know what's good for you."

The wolves all backed up and she nods, "smart choice." Tashi slowly backed away, the wolves moving away to give her a path. She quickly runs away and back onto vampire territory. She ran back to the Cullen house, everyone sighing in relief when she stormed in, hitting the wall in frustration. "Bloody hell! Those filthy pack of mutts! I had her, right in my hands." She rested her head against the wall that now had a hole in it. The objects around her raised from their places, causing everyone to tense.

Jasper slowly approached her, using his abilities to calm her down. "Easy, easy. Calm your mind."

After a few seconds, the objects returned back their place and the atmosphere was more relaxed. "How'd you get away?" Carlisle asked, completely shocked that the pack didn't rip her to shreds. Sam hated all the Cullens, but he hated Tashi the most. There was good reasons for it. "How'd I get away? Let's see, since none of you were there to, oh I don't know, save me, perhaps? I had to...you know what? Ask Edward. I'm sure when he returns home from his little vacation, he'll read my mind. I'm done helping his human pet. Kill her yourself."

Tashi brushed off Jasper's hand and stormed out of the house, nobody knowing where else she would go. "We're just gonna let her go? Where does she even go? She's always disappearing and we have no idea where to. She could be sneaking off with Caius for all we know." Rosalie said in alarm. "She's not, I would see it. I've been watching him, he hasn't even stepped foot out of the castle. I don't know where she goes, but she has the right to be alone. That's the least we can give her." Alice defends, taking Jasper's hand for support.

"Alice is right. She has the right to her privacy. Just give her some space." Carlisle says.

Tashi walked into her condo, walking up the steep stairs, she tugged off her coat and hung it on the rack. She unzipped her boots next and kicked them off to the side. "You have a mate?" The vampire looked up from her phone, her eyes landing on Leah, the wolf girl just having got there, standing naked, not caring to put on any clothes. "Leah-" the girl quickly cut her off, "no, don't talk, stop talking. I know what you said. I heard you. You have a mate, and you didn't tell me."

"I don't have a mate- not technically," Tashi responded.

"Stop lying to me! You already said it, there's no point in lying. Does he know about us? Is he gonna kill me?" Leah's voice cracked with emotion, tears pooling in her eyes. Tashi shook her head, taking a step towards her. "No, no, I would never let him lay a finger on you. I will always protect you. Nobody will ever hurt you as long as I am alive. He may be mated to me, but I don't care about him the way I care about you. That man- that man killed my brother. He means nothing to me. I promise you."

"He's the one who killed Takashi?" Leah questioned in disbelief.

Tashi nods, taking another step towards her, she cupped her face gently, her cold thumbs brushing away the tears that fell. "I promise, he means nothing to me. I hate him, with everything in me. You are the only one I care about. You have to believe me, darling." Leah sighed, pressing her forehead against hers, "I believe you." Tashi reached for her coat and pulled it around Leah's naked body, covering her up so she didn't feel exposed.

"You should go back. If they see us both gone, they'll start to suspect." Tashi stated, her curled up finger tilting up Leah's head. She connected their lips, hot meeting cold.

"Can I stay just a little longer?" Leah requested, enjoying the feeling of Tashi's arms wrapped around her.

"You just have me wrapped around your finger, don't you, darling?"

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a/n: my bae leah doesn't get enough love 💔💔 i always see a love triangle with paul & caius (did it in my previous book) so i decided to switch it up and pair up tashi with leah bc it just makes sm more sense and their personalities clash better ☺️ this isn't necessarily a love triangle tho

fair warning, this book will literally put you in your feels 🏃‍♀️

caius will appear (sort of) in the next chapter 💗

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