I slid my fingers through Jasper's hair, moving myself closer to him, deepening our kiss. He kissed me passionately, wildly, without restraint. He tasted cold and wonderful, and I knew that he wanted to devour me. Excited by this knowledge, I lightly bit his lip, testing him. He growled and rolled me onto my back, his face feral…

The dream changed then, phasing swiftly and seamlessly into another scene. I did not seem to be physically present there, just observing, as if on a screen. It was Volterra. The Volturi stood in a neat row of cloaks and scowls. Edward was kneeling before Aro, head bowed. He did not appear to be hurt, but he was as still as a statue. Nobody spoke. There was a tense aura of hesitation in the air. But something else was strange. Even before I even saw her, somehow I knew. For a single second I could understand it all, I saw why it had to be this way…but then it disappeared, I lost it. She turned and looked in my direction, as if she knew that somehow I was watching, and she nodded her head. Standing beside Aro and Caius, clad in a long, black robe, was Alice.

When I woke abruptly the next morning, my heart pounding from the memory of the strange dream, Jasper was gone, but there was a note on the pillow beside me.

''My Dear Miz Swan,'' it read,

''Come meet me at the house later. Carlisle wants to talk to both of us. There's been some new developments. Nothing to worry about, though.

Jasper

I frowned down at the piece of paper, then set it aside and climbed out of bed. Stretching, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. Ugh. My hair looked like a rats nest. My face also seemed thinner, more angular. I looked…well, like someone whose life had just been shaken like a snow globe.

I was rummaging around in my dresser drawer looking for a hairbrush when I heard a knock at the door downstairs. Sighing, I made a face at the mirror and descended the stairs. Yanking open the door, I couldn't help but cringe and turn bright red when I saw Alice standing there.

''Hey, Bella,'' she said warmly, her little pixie face lighting up.

''I…um…hey, Alice,'' I mumbled, turning away slightly. Alice clucked her tongue and bounced past me into the house. ''Really, Bella,'' she called over her shoulder, ''you don't need to look so guilty and distressed. I already know, remember?''

''Ah,'' I said, closing the door and following her, ''yeah, Jasper told me. I can't help feeling guilty about it, though. Edward….''

''You can't help feeling in general, Bella; it's all right.'' Alice walked into the living room and plopped down onto the couch, crossing her legs and staring at me earnestly. ''Really, did you think that you would honestly never feel something for anyone other than Edward? You are only 17. Very rarely does anyone fall in love forever at that age. Why do you feel like you should be any different?''

''I…don't really know,'' I admitted, sinking down onto the sofa beside her. ''I guess because Edward seemed so certain. And because, well…because of what he is.''

Alice nodded. ''So, you think that because Edward will stay young and unchanged forever, you are somehow obligated to make your love for him eternal?''

''No, not necessarily…I just…can't believe that this is happening now. I can't believe that I could actually have…'' I trailed off, trying to figure out the right words to express my confusion and guilt.

''That you could actually have feelings for someone other than Edward,'' Alice finished for me, simply. She shrugged. ''You had feelings for Jacob, too. You're allowed to feel, Bella.''

''But this is different!'' I exploded, jumping to my feet and beginning to pace the floor, ''Jasper is supposed to be with you. And I'm supposed to be with Edward. Me being with Jasper is…unnatural.''

Alice cocked her little pixie head to the side and pondered this for a moment. ''Why?'' she asked. ''I don't remember seeing it written anywhere in stone that you are absolutely supposed to be with Edward. You have free will, Bella. Even destiny sometimes is forced to adapt to human whims. That's why the future always changes.''

She took my hand and smiled at me. ''Bella, what if I told you that, based on my most recent visions and insights, your destiny is to become one of us, but not to be with Edward. That, in reality, for you to continue to stay with Edward would lead to terrible consequences?''

I didn't answer right away. Then, I swallowed and said ''I guess I would have to let him go.''

Alice nodded. ''I couldn't have said it better myself, Bella. Sometimes…it's better to let him go.''