Chapter 4
The family gathered in a room upstairs to discuss whatever it was they were on about. I stayed in the living room and played with Renesmee, who was now pretending to prey on a stuffed lion. It was a bit absurd, but what wasn't now that all my beliefs had been thrown out the window? The door was shut where they congregated, but with my new senses, I could hear most of what they were saying.
"I can't believe you would risk our lives for that stupid girl! You should have just let her die." One of the voices growled.
"And should I have done the same for you, Rose?"
"You might as well have. We're all going to die now anyways."
"There must be something we can do." A rational voice sang out. "Maybe Jake will understand. He wouldn't want to hurt Renesmee or her family."
"This isn't just about Jacob Black. Sam will be furious when he finds out. He'll probably be here any minute."
"Jake will tell him to stop. He'll have to listen."
"This is a total breech! They won't have any other choice."
"They did with Bella."
"It was a different story with Bella. She wasn't a complete stranger!"
After that, I couldn't hear them anymore.
So many things were clashing inside my head. I wasn't supposed to be here. I'd been saved out of pity and I didn't belong. I was a threat to Carlisle's family. It was all my fault.
When the family joined me back downstairs, it was late. All were silent except for Carlisle, who I knew now would defend me, but to what extent? I didn't want any of them getting hurt.
Edward and Bella took little Renesmee back to their cottage in the woods. Carlisle offered me Edward's old room for the night, not to sleep in, since I didn't need to rest now, but to just be alone for a while.
It was full of books and CD's and computers. I wasn't interested. Instead, I lounged on the chaise and looked out the grand windows. The forest was dark, but I could still see each individual leaf on the trees swaying in the ocean breeze. An owl called as it passed by, and flew up into the murky purple sky.
It was a wonder to watch, yet I couldn't get my mind off of the trouble I was in. The trouble we were all in.
I eyed the glass door at the end of the room. Maybe a walk would do me some good, I reasoned with myself. I hesitated, wondering what my real motive was, but then it was like I leaped to the door involuntarily. I tried to be as quiet as possible, as to not give myself away. If any of the Cullens had known that I was leaving, they would have stopped me immediately. They didn't trust me yet. I trusted myself, though, and I gathered a bit of speed and jumped into the forest.
Without realizing, I was running faster than I had been this afternoon. I didn't know where I was headed, or if I would be able to find my way back, but I used my sense of smell to guide me.
I was exhilarated. The wind slashing against my hard face made no damage and it gave me the feeling of adrenaline that I no longer had. In less than five minutes, I was stopped by the coast of the ocean. I thought about going back before any of them noticed I was missing. I gave myself another five minutes.
Out of the darkness of the bush, I heard a crunching noise, like the sound of gravel underneath feet. But the sound was too big to be of a human foot. It must have been magnified five, maybe even six times. I could smell it before I could see it.
A great black wolf stood before me.