A/N: Thanks to the reviewers! And to the others who are following! :)
I don't own Twilight.
I was trying to hide behind Embry when I remembered that they wouldn't recognise me. Thank God Edward couldn't read my thoughts.
Carlisle turned to us. "Sorry, it seems we did your job for you," He said softly.
"Why can't I read the little white one's thoughts?" Edward asked.
I cowered further behind Embry.
Jake - That's none of your business. What is your business is that you left Bella in the middle of the woods!
"She would have found her way," Edward said. "I had to pretend I was leaving to keep her safe."
I growled at him.
"What's up with her?" Emmett asked.
Jake - Go phase.
I don't have clothes…
Jake - Embry has yours as well.
Embry passed me my clothes. I took them and trotted behind the trees. After phasing I marched back to the boundary line.
"Bella? What are you doing here?" Alice asked.
"I've been here from the start, Alice." I said, and watched with satisfaction as their faces became identical with shock.
"Bella, love," Edward whispered.
I snarled at him. "Oh, so it's all about keeping me safe. I didn't get a say in that decision, did I? Oh, let's all leave Bella in the middle of the forest and pretend we left! You treated me like a fragile little doll. I can look after myself, more now than ever. I'm a fucking werewolf, Edward! And you made another mistake in leaving me today, because guess who turned up right after you ran off? Victoria, to kill me."
Esme gasped. "You left Bella in the woods?"
Edward stiffened. "It was the only way."
I scoffed, and Edward turned towards me. "But that doesn't matter now, love. If Sam is happy with it, we can be together now."
I rolled my eyes. "Again, making a decision for me. Even if I did forgive you, which I don't, a werewolf and a vampire? I don't think so."
"Love…" Edward began.
"Don't call me that unless you want me to rip your head off." I began to walk back to the trees before adding, "Literally."
"But, Bella." Edward called after me.
I turned around. "What?"
"You love me." He said, certain.
"Not anymore, Edward."
I continued towards the trees, took off my clothes, and phased.
Embry - Well, Dickward didn't see that comin'.
I trotted back to Jake, Paul and Embry.
"Bella, can't we talk about this?" Edward asked.
I shook my head.
"Please?"
I growled, baring my teeth at him.
Jake - You've changed, Bells.
What?
Jake - I don't know how, but you have. Something to do with being a werewolf, probably.
I grinned, hanging my tongue out of my mouth. The Cullens stared at me.
"Bella…" Alice spoke up quietly. I looked up. " Are we still friends?"
I shook my head, still grinning.
She began to smile as well. "Best friends?"
I wagged my tail, nodding once.
"Call me whenever you want. If you want someone to talk to, or even to go shopping."
I dipped my head once.
Jake - Charlie will be with my dad now. We'd better go.
Ok. He has some explaining to do.
I waved my paw at Alice, causing her to laugh. Then we turned as one and sprinted off towards the trees.
It only took us five minutes to reach Jake's house. I phased quickly, pulling my clothes on, not caring that the guys saw me naked.
I stormed inside.
"Hi, Bella." Billy said from his place by the armchair.
"Uh, hey, Bells." My dad said uncomfortably.
I took a deep breath. "I don't care about why you knew, I just want to know how this happened."
"Somehow, Bella, I am distantly related to the Quileutes. It's extremely distant, this connection, and you are the first in the Swan line to phase. You will probably be the only one to." Charlie slumped back onto the sofa.
I shrugged. "Ok."
"Ok?" He asked.
"Yeah. All I wanted was the truth."
Charlie smiled up at me. "Love ya Bells."
"Love you too Dad."
He became glued to the game on TV again. I wandered into the kitchen and began frying eggs and bacon.
Jake walked in. "Smells good Bells."
I handed him a heaping plate and he began wolfing it down. I carried some into Billy and Charlie before beginning to gulp down my own.
A howl broke through the air. "Cwap," Jake said, his voice muffled and full of bacon.
"Do you want me to come?" I asked him as he headed to the door.
"No, I got it." He shut the door behind him.
I stayed at Billy's until the game finished, then Charlie and I went home. "Thanks for the food Bella!" Billy called as we headed out to Charlie's cruiser.
"No problem!" I yelled back.
Once we were home, I said goodnight to Charlie then went to my bedroom. After picking a book off of the shelf, I lay down on the bed to read. Half an hour had passed when I heard someone say, "Bella!"
It came from the direction of the window. I got up and looked out.
Emmett and Jasper stood in the shadow of the trees. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked, jumping out and landing on the balls of my feet.
"It's Edward," Jasper said.
"He won't believe you don't love him, and he's going to be here soon, so we suggest you leave if you don't want him to try to make some big romantic gesture." Emmett finished.
I folded my arms. "Why must he be such an ass about this?"
Jasper grinned. "Because he's always had what he wants. Whenever he wants. He's not used to not getting it."
"And he's crazy in love with you, or he thinks he is," Emmett said.
I heard Edward before I saw him. He ran out of the trees.
"Bella," He began. I held up a hand to keep him quiet.
"Just stop it. I don't love you, okay? End of story. Nothing you can do will change my mind!"
Edward's eyes brightened suddenly. He looked…unstable. Mad, almost.
"But there is something I can do," He said suddenly. In a split second he was upon me, and I felt his teeth graze my hand. It didn't break the skin, but the venom burned as if I'd put my hand inside a forge. Emmett and Jasper pulled him back.
It hurt. A lot. I phased suddenly, and held up my paw. The fur had burned away, and the place where Edward's venom had touched me was burning through my skin.
Jake - BELLA! What did he do?
Sam - We're coming, hold on,
I showed them what had just happened. Jake was seething. Sam was shocked.
Sam - He tried to change you? If he broke the skin… Bella, did he?
No, but it burns, I whimpered.
"Bella, love," Edward said. I growled and was about to attack when Jake and Sam thundered into view.
Sam - Bella, phase, and Jake will take you to Old Quil. He'll fix you up.
But the wound was healing itself.
Jake - What the hell…?
I watched in amazement as the cut healed and the fur grew back before my eyes.
Sam - How?
I don't know,
Emmett and Jasper had Edward in a headlock. They began to drag him away. Jasper stared at me.
"I'm sorry," He mouthed.
I dipped my head once, then turned to Jake and Sam.
Jake - How did you heal? It was venom!
Sam - Probably because you spent time with them, became accustomed, immune?
A new voice burst suddenly into our heads.
Unknown - Whoa! What's happening? Dad?