A/N - LOL so this chapter turned out to be very different from what I originally thought. Those plot bunnies sneak up on you and lead everything in a different direction ... but I think I liked this idea better than what I originally had in mind. Let me know what you think :D.

A/N 2 - As always huge thankyou to those who read, alerted, favourited and of course those who reviewed (reviews really are love). If I ever don't respond please let me know, cos sometimes I read them and don't have time to respond then and there, and so go back later. Enough blabbering from me :).

Chapter 7

Unlikely Rescue

"I'm going out for a run," I said, as I walked through our front door. George and Sandy nodded, heading upstairs, Will waiting until their door closed before turning to me, concern in his eyes.

"Want some company?" he asked. I shook my head and threw my bag on one of the couches. The Cullens' had left the same time from school as we had and the whole time I had avoided making eye contact with any of them. I could feel the guilt gnawing at me and knew that I needed to work it off somehow.

"Maybe next time?" I replied, hoping Will would let it lie. He squeezed my shoulder before turning and heading upstairs. Taking a deep breath, I turned and ran out the door. Moving at vampire speeds still amazed me. Watching the world whiz by, feeling as if the landscape was moving and you were standing still, it was one of the things I loved most about my new abilities.

Although apparently I didn't know all my abilities. Edward's words about not being able to read my family or me were puzzling. And Alice not being able to see my future anymore. I wondered if Jasper could still feel my emotions. I would have to ask him tomorrow in class.

I slowed, and stopped, as I neared a lake. Sitting on a nearby rock, I gazed down at the water and tried to relax. I wasn't sure how long it was until the smell I had noticed my first day back in Forks, reached my nose. Standing, I glanced around the clearing, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

Every warning bell in my head was going off and I cursed myself, silently, on not inviting Will along with me. Hearing twigs break, I whirled around, trying to keep my back away from the noise and the enemy.

A snarl left my throat as three people emerged from the trees in front of me. Victoria walked out with a smug smile on her face with Laurent and another young man walking behind her.

"Hello Isabella," she said, "How lovely to finally catch up with you."

I glared at the three, noticing that Laurent and the other man were moving to opposite sides of me. I took a few steps back, trying to keep them in my field of vision. It wasn't long until my feet met the water.

"What no hug?" Victoria mocked, walking slowly towards me, her smirk widening. "And where is that lovely family of yours?"

I gritted my teeth, a hiss escaping. For some reason Victoria, as had the Cullens, always focused on Will when coming after our family, even though she made it clear that she was after me. We had come to the conclusion that she wanted to destroy my new family and then me. This was the first time I had ever met her face to face on my own. I wondered what had made her change her M.O.

"And," she continued, gasping in mock shock, "the Cullens are also in Forks? What a twist of fate that they would be here the same time as you and your family. The fates certainly have an odd sense of humour."

I watched her approach warily, still trying to keep my eyes on the other two.

"But now here you are, alone, and here we are. It's so amusing," she said, a harsh laugh leaving her before she continued. "Both your family and the Cullens' want to protect you … and both have failed."

I eyed them and tried to calculate whether I would be able to outrun them. If I could make it closer to home, the others would be able to help. I wondered why Jenny hadn't seen this. Her visions were usually spot on.

I crinkled my nose as the smell reached me again. And for the first time I took my eyes off the other three and looked around. I gasped when a large russet wolf stalked into the clearing, four others followed and I was sure there was more in the woods.

"Jake?" I gasped as I took in the big wolf. It had been years since I had last seen him but the wolf looked exactly as he had when I had last seen him changed. The wolf glanced briefly at me before growling and stalking towards Victoria, the others focusing on the other two.

"Until next time," Victoria hissed, obviously realizing they were outnumbered, taking off along the lake. Laurent and the other man following her, the wolves not far behind them. I ran a shaking hand through my hair and sat down, staring at where they had all ran.

"Bella?" I shut my eyes, trying to remain calm, and stood up. Edward, I replied silently.

It was easier seeing him this time. And I looked at him coolly, raising an eyebrow in question. He walked over to me and I stepped back as he tried to take my hands in his. Ignoring the look of hurt, I kept my face as blank as possible. Not wanting him to know what I felt when I was around him.

"What do you want?" I asked, looking back to the spot where Jacob and the other wolves had chased after Victoria and the others. Edward was staring at the same spot and frowning.

"I was hunting and I heard their thoughts," he replied, looking back at me. "What was that all about?"

"You left Edward, but that didn't change everything that had happened." I glared at him and stepped closer. I could feel my anger and guilt rising and I poked him in the chest, noting the surprised look on his face.

"You all left me here," I snapped. "Defenseless! After going on about how fragile and human I was. How you couldn't change me because of my humanity. And Victoria and Laurent and her little band of friends came back. You killed her mate, so she was going to kill yours."

I walked away from him, pacing in front of the lake, and gave another short laugh. "She obviously missed the memo on that one. I'm no more your mate than … than the … well I'm just not. I mean you said so yourself. Maybe you can do me a favour? Go tell her that you never loved me? Tell her what you told me that day in the forest? Then she might actually leave me and my family alone."

As I glanced back at him I saw pain cross over his face. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair again.

"What?" I asked, voice softening without me realizing.

"I never stopped loving you Bella," he replied quietly, taking a few steps closer to me. I searched his face and tried to see the signs that he was lying, but there didn't appear to be any there.

"What?" I said again, confused.

"I lied, Bella, that day in the forest. I could no more stop loving you, than make my heart beat again."

I took a deep breath and shook my head.

"No, no you said," I replied, but looking into his eyes I could tell he was telling the truth. "Then why? Why did you leave? Why did you leave me here alone? Do you have any idea what happened? What happened to the people I care about?"

He shook his head and I saw the sadness creep into his eyes.

"I thought that you would be safer," he said. "I thought that if I left that you would have an easier life. But I never once stopped loving you Bella. It hurt me to stay away. Alice's visions of you became dark, she couldn't see anything. And then … the last vision Alice had of you was of your … Will biting you. We thought he had killed you, that you were gone. The others thought I would follow you and, truthfully, I would have. But first I had to make him pay. I had to hunt down and destroy him, for killing you."

I stared into his eyes, seeing the truth there. He would've done it, would've followed me if I had died. I felt confused, for so long the one thing I had known was that Edward hadn't really loved me. If he had of he would've come back, he would've helped, he would've stopped my dad from … I stopped my thoughts and shook my head, the thoughts still too painful.

"What happened, Bella?" he asked softly. "Alice couldn't see anything. Your future went dark in so many places."

I shook my head, looking out over the forest. Before I could answer, I noticed a figure coming out from behind a tree, looking exactly as I remembered from all those years ago.

"Jake?" I whispered.

A/N - So what did you think? Some people guessed back in chapter 3 that the smell was werewolves (so cookies for you guys ;)). No snippet this chapter cos I couldn't pick my fav part. Review and let me know what you think is going to happen.