You sit in the passenger seat of Edward Cullens car.

Your stomach twists tighter as the huge white house appears through the trees — modern, bright, surrounded by endless forest.

The Cullen house.

Edward notices your nervous expression immediately.

“They won’t hurt you,” he says quietly. “They already know how important you are to me.”

Edward steps out first and walks around the car to open your door. His skin is cold when he takes your hand, but you’ve gotten used to that now.

And suddenly you’re surrounded by impossibly beautiful people.

Edward moves slightly closer to your side.

Then a huge grin spreads across the face of the tallest vampire there.

“Finally!” he booms.

That’s Emmett Cullen.

He’s broad-shouldered, muscular, with dark curly hair and a playful expression that somehow makes him less intimidating than the others. Edward already told you Emmett was turned into a vampire after a bear attack decades ago.

Emmett is married to Rosalie Hale, though because the Cullens pretend to be siblings in public, they introduce themselves as brother and sister at school.

Rosalie steps forward beside him gracefully.

She’s breathtaking — pale blonde hair falling in soft waves, icy beauty that almost doesn’t look human. But unlike Emmett’s warmth, Rosalie watches you cautiously.

Protectively.

She loves Emmett fiercely, Edward once explained, and she’s very protective of the family.

“So this is Bella,” Rosalie says coolly.

You swallow hard. “Uh… hi.”

Emmett laughs loudly. “Don’t look so scared. You smell good, sure, but we’ve got self-control.”

“Emmett,” Edward warns sharply.

You go pale instantly.

Emmett raises his hands innocently. “Too soon?”

Before you can answer, a blur practically crashes into you.

“You’re even prettier than I thought you’d be!”

That’s Alice Cullen.

Tiny, pixie-like, with short black hair and excited golden eyes. She grabs both your hands before Edward can react.

Alice is dating Jasper Hale, the blond vampire standing quietly behind her.

Unlike the others, Jasper looks tense.

Very tense.

His honey-colored eyes lock onto you for a second too long.

Edward subtly moves in front of you.

“Jasper struggles more than the rest of us,” Edward says quietly.

Jasper immediately looks guilty. “Sorry.”

Alice squeezes your hands excitedly anyway. “Ignore him. I’ve been waiting forever for Edward to bring you home.”

“You’ve seen this before?” you ask carefully.

Alice grins. “Pieces of it.”

Right. Her visions.

Still weird.

Then two more vampires enter the room, and instantly the atmosphere softens.

Esme Cullen smiles at you warmly, almost motherly. She has soft caramel-colored hair and kind eyes that make you relax a little.

Beside her is Carlisle Cullen, tall and calm with blond hair and a gentle expression.

Carlisle is the leader of the family — the vampire who created most of the Cullens. He works as a doctor in Forks and believes vampires don’t have to kill humans to survive. That’s why the Cullens call themselves “vegetarians,” because they only drink animal blood.

Esme is Carlisle’s wife, and together they treat the rest of the Cullens like their children, even though none of them are biologically related.

Carlisle offers you a polite smile. “Bella, it’s nice to finally meet you properly.”