creating another vampire。 The wolves knew a breach was ing； but the Cullens had no idea how they
would react。 Before the alliance； it would have meant an immediate attack。 A war。 But now that they
knew each other better； would there be forgiveness instead？
As if in response to that thought； Seth leaned toward Edward； arms extended。 Edward returned the hug
with his free arm。
I saw Sue shudder delicately。
〃It's good to see things work out for you； man；〃 Seth said。 〃I'm happy for you。〃
〃Thank you； Seth。 That means a lot to me。〃 Edward pulled away from Seth and looked at Sue and Billy。
〃Thank you； as well。 For letting Seth e。 For supporting Bella today。〃
〃You're wele；〃 Billy said in his deep； gravelly voice； and I was surprised at the optimism in his tone。
Perhaps a stronger truce was on the horizon。
A bit of a line was forming； so Seth waved goodbye and wheeled Billy toward the food。 Sue kept one
hand on each of them。
Angela and Ben were the next to claim us； followed by Angela's parents and then Mike and Jessica
—who were； to my surprise； holding hands。 I hadn't heard that they were together again。 That was nice。
Behind my human friends were my new cousinsinlaw； the Denali vampire clan。 I realized I was holding
my breath as the vampire in front—Tanya； I assumed from the strawberry tint in her blond
curls—reached out to embrace Edward。 Next to her； three other vampires with golden eyes stared at me
with open curiosity。 One woman had long； pale blond hair； straight as corn silk。 The other woman and
the man beside her were both blackhaired； with a hint of an olive tone to their chalky plexions。
And they were all four so beautiful that it made my stomach hurt。
Tanya was still holding Edward。
〃Ah； Edward；〃 she said。 〃I've missed you。〃
Edward chuckled and deftly maneuvered out of the hug； placing his hand lightly on her shoulder and
stepping back； as if to get a better look at her。 〃It's been too long； Tanya。 You look well。〃
〃So do you。〃
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〃Let me introduce you to my wife。〃 It was the first time Edward had said that word since it was officially
true； he seemed like he would explode with satisfaction saying it now。 The Denalis all laughed lightly in
response。 〃Tanya； this is my Bella。〃
Tanya was every bit as lovely as my worst nightmares had predicted。 She eyed me with a look that was
much more speculative than it was resigned； and then reached out to take my hand。
〃Wele to the family； Bella。〃 She smiled； a little rueful。 〃We consider ourselves Carlisle's extended
family； and I am sorry about the； er； recent incident when we did not behave as such。 We should have
met you sooner。 Can
you forgive us？〃
〃Of course；〃 I said breathlessly。 〃It's so nice to meet you。〃
〃The Cullens are all evened up in numbers now。 Perhaps it will be our turn next； eh； Kate？〃 She grinned
at the blonde。
〃Keep the dream alive；〃 Kate said with a roll of her golden eyes。 She took my hand from Tanya's and
squeezed it gently。 〃Wele； Bella。〃
The darkhaired woman put her hand on top of Kate's。 〃I'm Carmen； this is Eleazar。 We're all so very
pleased to finally meet you。〃
〃Mme； too；〃 I stuttered。
Tanya glanced at the people waiting behind her—Charlie's deputy； Mark； and his wife。 Their eyes were
huge as they took in the Denali clan。
〃We'll get to know each other later。 We'll have eons of time for that！〃 Tanya laughed as she and her
family moved on。
All the standard traditions were kept。 I was blinded by flashbulbs as we held the knife over a spectacular
cake—too grand； I thought； for our relatively intimate group of friends and family。 We took turns shoving
cake in each other's faces； Edward manfully swallowed his portion as I watched in disbelief。 I threw my
bouquet with atypical skill； right into Angela's surprised hands。 Emmett and Jasper howled with laughter
at my blush while Edward removed my borrowed garter—which I'd shimmied down nearly to my
ankle— verycarefully with his teeth。 With a quick wink at me； he shot it straight into Mike Newton's
face。
And when the music started； Edward pulled me into his arms for the customary first dance； I went
willingly； despite my fear of dancing—especially dancing in front of an audience—just happy to have him
holding me。 He did all the work； and I twirled effortlessly under the glow of a canopy of lights and the
bright flashes from the cameras。
〃Enjoying the party； Mrs。 Cullen？〃 he whispered in my ear。
I laughed。 〃That will take a while to get used to。〃
〃We have a while；〃 he reminded me； his voice exultant； and he leaned down to kiss me while we danced。
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Cameras clicked feverishly。
The music changed； and Charlie tapped on Edward's shoulder。
It wasn't nearly as easy to dance with Charlie。 He was no better at it than I was； so we moved safely
from side to side in a tiny square formation。 Edward and Esme spun around us like Fred Astaire and
Ginger Rogers。
〃I'm going to miss you at home； Bella。 I'm already lonely。〃
I spoke through a tight throat； trying to make a joke of it。 〃I feel just horrible； leaving you to cook for
yourself—it's practically criminal negligence。 You could arrest me。〃
He grinned。 〃I suppose I'll survive the food。 Just call me whenever you can。〃
〃I promise。〃
It seemed like I danced with everyone。 It was good to see all my old friends； but I really wanted to be
with Edward
more than anything else。 I was happy when he finally cut in； just half a minute after a new dance started。
〃Still not that fond of Mike； eh？〃 I mented as Edward whirled me away from him。
〃Not when I have to listen to his thoughts。 He's lucky I didn't kick him out。 Or worse。〃
〃Yeah； right。〃
〃Have you had a chance to look at yourself？〃
〃Urn。 No； I guess not。 Why？〃
〃Then I suppose you don't realize how utterly； heartbreakingly beautiful you are tonight。 I'm not
surprised Mike's having difficulty with improper thoughts about a married woman。 I am disappointed that
Alice didn't make sure you were forced to look in a mirror。〃
〃You are very biased； you know。〃
He sighed and then paused and turned me around to face the house。 The wall of glass reflected the party
back like a long mirror。 Edward pointed to the couple in the mirror directly across from us。
〃Biased； am I？〃
I caught just a glimpse of Edward's reflection—a perfect duplicate of his perfect face—with a
darkhaired beauty at his side。 Her skin was cream and roses； her eyes were huge with excitement and
framed with thick lashes。 The narrow sheath of the shimmering white dress flared out subtly at the train
almost like an inverted calla lily； cut so skillfully that her body looked elegant and graceful—while it was
motionless； at least。
Before I could blink and make the beauty turn back into me； Edward suddenly stiffened and turned
automatically in the other direction； as if someone had called his name。
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