Edward's mistake

…But as my muscles bunched in preparation, the wind shifted, blowing stronger now, and from the south. I didn't stop to think, hurtling out of the trees in a path perpendicular to my original plan, scaring the elk into the forest, racing after a new fragrance so attractive that there wasn't a choice. It was compulsory.

The scent ruled completely. I was single-minded as I traced it, aware only of the thirst and the smell that promised to quench it. The thirst got worse, so painful now that it confused all my other thoughts and began to remind me of the burn of venom in my veins.

There was only one thing that had any chance of penetrating my focus now, an instinct more powerful, more basic than the need to quench the fire, it was the instinct to protect myself from danger. Self-preservation.

I was suddenly alert to the fact that I was being followed. The pull of the irresistible scent warred with the impulse to turn and defend my hunt. A bubble of sound built in my chest, my lips pulled back of their own accord to expose my teeth in warning. My feet slowed, the need to protect my back struggling against the desire to quench my thirst.

And then I could hear my pursuer gaining, and defense won. As I spun, the rising sound ripped its way up my throat and out.

I dropped into a defensive crouch, hunching my shoulders in aggression towards my attacker.

But as I studied the attacker, looking for a flaw in defense or weakness, I saw a god-like figure, a figure that I would never hurt, and straitened up. His gold eyes flashed dangerously, and he only had one chance to take a cautious step towards me when a slight breeze distilled the air.

Immediately that irresistible scent wafted into my already parted jaws, and I didn't stop to think this time, the burning in my parched throat deciding for me, I darted away from Edward into the dense enclosure of trees. Instantly he was on me, trying to pin me to the ground, trying to prevent me from reaching my final destination. There was just one slight problem with that plan.

He may be faster, but I was stronger. By far. Forgetting the fact completely that this was Edward, I flipped over onto my stomach and twisted around, snapping his arm back with a crunch muffled by the dense forest surrounding me. In vain he struggled, but I pushed him down, leaping to my feet nimbly.

Again I was drawn to the scent, darting from tree to tree, the fragrance luring me with its way-more-than-appealing aroma. I could tell I was drawing close with my pray when the scent strengthened.

I stopped short of the unlucky human, concealing myself behind a tree as I calculated the distance between us.

As I flexed my muscles, preparing to close the distance between us in one bound, a restraining arm wound its way around me, restraining me.

It was Edward. And he way crossing the line. He wouldn't make me loose my pray this time. I writhed, trying to free myself, and managed to sink my teeth into his unharmed arm. He didn't need to scream: his eyes did that by themselves. I could see a fiery pain building up within them and saw my chance.

I released my hold on his arm, untangling him from my body. I darted towards my pray, moving in for the kill…