Ch1 BPOV

After hiking several hours and miles away from home, I finally came across the place that held the most memories of Him. As I gazed around the meadow I didn't see the beautiful place it once was. Everything died. Gone were all the colorful wildflowers He used to tuck behind my ear. The grass has turned brown, all leaves gone from the trees. It was as if his leaving not only affected me but our meadow as well.

As I fell to my knees and clutched the earth I couldn't help but wonder what exactly I expected to find. This place held nothing for me now but painful memories. He was gone.

I got up and dusted myself off. I gathered my things, looked up and saw…Laurent.

"Laurent! What are you doing here?" I asked waiving to him as if his perfect vampire vision couldn't see me from across the dead field.

"Bella. You seem…pleased to see me," he said conversationally. "I went visit the Cullen's, but their house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of a…pet of theirs?" His red-eyed gaze seemed to go right through me.

And ouch. A "pet of theirs?" I wondered if that's all I ever was to them. A pet human that they got sick of taking care of.

"S-something like that" I stammered nervously.

Laurent nodded. "Do the Cullen's visit often?"

Something in me told me to lie, something I have never been any good at. But right now, I had a very distinct feeling that my life depended on it.

"Absolutely, they visit all the time. I'll tell them you stopped by." That sounded pretty good, even to my ears.

"I probably shouldn't tell E-Edward," I practically choked on the name. "He's pretty protective."

By now Laurent was circling me like a piece of meat. His eyes were pitch black. I didn't have much time left.

"If you kill me," I said in the strongest voice I could manage, "Edward will know who did it. He'll come after you!" Even I didn't believe what I was saying. It was obvious Edward no longer cared about me, and even Laurent saw it. He shook his head slowly and looked at me with what looked a lot like pity…and hunger.

"I don't think he will. After all how much could you mean to him if he left you here unprotected?" He continued to walk around me. "If he ever found out…He wont be too happy with me. But I can't help myself…you are simply…mouthwatering."

All that was left for me to do was beg for my life. A futile attempt I knew wouldn't work.

"Please don't! You helped us once," I tried me hardest not to sob, and to stare death in the face.

"Shhh," he placated me in a soothing voice. "I'm doing you a favor! I'll make it quick…"

I closed my eyes and silently bade Edward on last good-bye.

But death never came.

I opened my eyes to see Laurent in position to strike but looking towards the trees in awe. "I don't believe it…" he whispered to himself.

Following his gaze towards the trees, I saw five of the biggest wolves I had ever seen. They were as big as horses and had to be the ones responsible for the local murders. As I stared at them individually, my brain cataloged everything in what seems to be slow motion. I registered that Laurent seems to be scared out of his mind, a huge black wolf, a brown russet colored wolf…and grey wolf. The grey wolf is staring back at me in a way an animal shouldn't stare at a human. He seemed so aware. It was as if…he knew me. And strangely, I felt like some part of me knew him too.

And just like that the moment was over. Laurent whipped around and ran away. The huge black wolf let out an ear-splitting howl and the five wolves chased the vampire out of the clearing.

I stood there for a few seconds, dazed. There was a ringing in my ears and I could hear my own heart pounding. I clumsily gathered my things off the ground and ran the opposite way home. I don't think I ever ran so fast in my life. I was in the woods with a hungry vampire and five killer wolves. I ran like the wind.

As I ran through all of the greenery, and jumped over roots and rocks (thankfully not stumbling even once) I had a fleeting thought. I was filled with sudden remorse and quickly prayed that nothing happened to the grey wolf.