I would like to formally thank a few of my reviewers here, because they are being more helpful than I would have ever dreamed. So, thank you SagaObsessed for the helpful criticism. Thank you for your advice on the wolves, it is appreciated. And, last but certainly not least, thank you KarinAC2913, for your beautiful words and inspirational faithfulness in my ability.

I also would like to mention to readers that I love answering any questions, suggestions or anything of the sort you would like to send. I promise you will be answered!

Thank you for your continued support! I, as always, am nothing but a poor ragamuffin without any twilight to her name.

Chapter 4:

Starting the instant I pounced in front of Bella, the emotions that swirled in me left me breathless. I have, obviously, never had a large emotional rage outside of frustrated, angry, indifferent, and depressed. Jasper would more than willing contest to that. Only once or twice have I expressed emotions out of the norm.

The first time was roughly three years after my rebirth, when Esme joined the Carlisle's and my family. I was upset that she was in love with Carlisle, and frightened that she would, unknowingly, take the only father I had left away from me. I felt like a toddler being denied their favorite toy—possessive. It was only later that I was finally able to understand that I wasn't loosing a father, but rather gaining a mother.

The second was when Rosalie was changed. In that moment, I was not afraid of loss, but scared at the concept of change. I have almost never liked changed, preferring everything stay at one happy constant. When Rose joined my family, I felt like the eldest child who suddenly had a younger, stubborn, and bratty sister thrust upon them who took up all of the attention. The analogy, funnily enough, wasn't all that far off. And again, I felt possessive.

But as soon as I heard James's thoughts of her being his, I felt so much more than possessive of Bella. I had a horrible, wonderful mixture of emotions settling themselves rapidly in the pit of my stomach. I felt things that I have only experienced before through others.

I felt protective.

Envious.

Enraged.

Guilty.

Helpless.

Hopeless.

And, of course, a little possessive.

But it was a new type of possessive—more powerful than anything I'd felt before. It didn't feel like I was in anger of loosing a favorite toy. Instead it was like all of the blood in the universe was sitting on the edge of one proverbial cliff, about to be destroyed forever. I needed to save Bella, because I needed what was rightfully mine.

I could explain this; couldn't even begin to comprehend what was happing to me.

I looked over at Jasper, silently pleading for his help, but all of his focus was pinned on the form of James retreating out of the door. I could detect the same type of feeling rushing through his thoughts as were mine. He was upset because James threatened his mate.

His…mate.

I felt like there was something I should know, sitting directly in front of me and yet I was unable to grasp it.

As soon as James and his coven had successfully left—not even their thoughts close enough to hear any longer—everyone turned to look at a horrified Bella.

He beautiful lips were parted, her jaw hanging slack. She looked she would be crying if it were possible. She crossed her arms over her chest, holding her shaking frame together. Other than the trembling, Bella stood completely still.

Then, so quietly I almost missed it, Bella whispered "I'm so sorry." Carlisle, Esme, Alice and I all began to object; to tell her that it wasn't her fault, that she was just doing the right thing. But the correction, surprisingly, came from an entirely unsuspected source.

"You shouldn't be sorry," Rosalie mutter angrily, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Emmett mentally noted that she often did this when she was uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable? Since when is Rosalie anything but confident, in front of strangers, at least?

Bella mumbled, appearing as though she had not even heard my sister speak. Her ruby gaze was flickering between staring at the faces of my family and looking down, ashamed, at the floor. "Unleashed James on you. I can't believe I did that. Acting foolish."

Rosalie, I saw, was growing irate with Bella. She rolled her eyes once, finally stared up and walked towards the red eyed angle without one thought of hesitation. There was my sister. She stepped around me—for I had yet to move form Bella's side. The very thought made panic swell up inside me, threatening to turn my sight into a red haze of franticness.

Beside me, Rosalie took Bella's chin in her indestructible hand and lifted it up until they were looking eye to eye. "Listen." She instructed Bella, who looked almost terrified of my sister, "This is not your fault, understand me? You are doing the right thing by staying here, by not hurting innocent people." Rose's nose scrunched up, as if she was tasted something bad before she continued on, "You are not a hassle for us. We can take James easily, with all our fighting skills—"

"You don't know what he can do!" Bella cried, trying to back out of Rose's strong grip. "He's unstoppable—"

For all that's holy! Rose thought, annoyed, before she interrupted Bella again. "And I don't care. None of us do. Bella," her tone took on a serious edge, as if she were trying to be persuasive. "You should have left him along time ago, Isabella, if James thought you were his property. Men should never have that kind of power over you, understand? Never." And besides, my sister finished in her thoughts, it looks as if your part f the family now. Esme and Alice have certainly taken a liking to you. And think of what you could mean to E—

Her thoughts cut off sharply, immediately changing into a repetition of Brittney Spears lyrics. She took a glanced at me and I narrowed my eyes, suspicious. What didn't she want me to hear?

Finally, Rosalie released a shocked Bella's chin, shrugging causally and walking outside, heading to the garage. The song lyrics were continuing to play, and she knew she would be thoroughly distracted by the engine of a car. Emmett smiled warmly at Bella, his thoughts concerned, before he darted off after his mate.

The rest of us stood here for a few seconds, each engulfed in the awkward silence. I tried desperately to find something to say to this beautiful girl, wanting simply to talk to her. Before I could open my mouth, however, Esme did the job for me.

"Isabella," she asked politely, then frowned. "Or is it Bella?"

Bella shrugged, confused. "Whichever you prefer."

Esme smiled again. She already thought of Bella as a new child, only having known her a little than an hour. Such a sweet, innocent girl. And so pretty! My mother thought happily, stepping closer to Bella. "Please, come sit down so we can get to know you."

"And answer any questions you may have, of course," my father interjected, his usual soothing manner echoing through his words.

Bella looked over at me, and I smiled back, purely on instinct.

I was so confused. Since when was smiling an instinct of mine? Since when did I have feelings like this? Since when didn't I have control over my actions and—more importantly—my reactions!

What was this girl doing to me?!

Esme led Bella back over to the couch, sitting her beside Alice, and my parents began to chat happily with her.

Before I could follow Jasper put his hand on me shoulder. Can I talk to you? He asked mentally. I looked at Bella, a longing feeling beginning inside of me. I didn't wasn't to part from her.

Nevertheless, I nodded and followed Jasper out of the back door. I felt Bella's eyes on my back until I had completely exited the house. It left me feeling heated and nervous. Excited and anxious all at the same time.

He walked me down, into the forest, far enough that no one would be able to hear us. Finally, he turned, facing me.

"What's going on, Edward?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. One of the crescent shaped scars on his forehead stretched in response. "Why are you feeling this way?"

I threw one of my hands on t a tree near us, leaning against it as though I couldn't support my own weight any longer. "I don't know." I answered him. "Do you have any idea?" Maybe it was part of Bella's gift, to capture the attention of males. Maybe she was using it on me.

Jasper nodded, his voce somber. "I do. But I don't know if you're going to like it." He kept his thoughts carefully blocks.

I clenched my teeth, a snapping sounded booming through the keep woods. Why were two of my siblings blocking me out today? What could be so damned important to keep from me?

Jasper pointedly ignored my outburst, his amber his topaz gaze flickering to mine. He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for whatever he was about to say. I waited, quite impatiently, before he began. "You look at Bella the same why I look at Alice. Feel the same way Emmett feels about Rose. You look at her as a mate. You're protective of her."

"I'm protective of Rose and Alice too," I demanded, panicked. No, I couldn't. I just met her. There no possibility. No…

Jasper raised an eyebrow, incredulous at my contradiction. "Do you feel possessive of them, too? No. Do you feel lustful? No." His voice dropped, turning harsher. "You feel very strongly about her, Edward. I can feel it."

"I just met her!" I cried, grasping for any straws I had left.

Jasper laughed loudly, throwing his head back. "And how long id you think I talked to Alice before I knew." He shook his head. "It was less than a second, and I was hooked for life. If anything, you're moving a bit slow, Edward."

I was out of arguments. Out of reasons.

And I found, selfishly of me, that I didn't care either.

This was wrong of me. Bella deserved better. I knew she did. How could I have done this to her?

I felt like Atlas—the entire weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders, yet I was unable to hold it up properly. It was crushing me, pounding down on every dead cell and nerve inside my body. I was unable to fight the feelings, the pull towards Bella.

Oh god, what I have I done?