Chapter 7

I do not own any of the characters. This time it's from Carlisle's point of view.

Usually I am the cool, calm, and collected one in my family, but when I heard him say that Bella was a shape-shifter, I couldn't help but be surprised. From my studies, I have learned that abilities are passed on to the vampire form and are enhanced into a special power according to what that special connection was. What could this girl have possessed as a human that would allow her to change her shape? In addition, vampires are already the highest on the food chain, so what would be the point in changing to a lesser being?

"Sorry, I didn't mean to look so surprised, I just hadn't heard that news yet," I clarified looking over at Edward and Bella who both looked a little guilty. Realizing how close together they were standing, I smirked and turned back to the werewolves.

"What I came here to tell you is that we didn't change Bella, Edward saved her, "I continued. They looked surprised, but they probably would just forgive us so easily. "Bella was attacked by a nomadic vampire while she was camping in the woods with her mother. Neither of our groups smelled the vampire until Edward was out hunting. He followed the smell to find him feeding off of Bella who was barely clinging to life. He chased off the vampire who sadly escaped, and brought Bella back to our house. She woke up a few hours ago and hasn't hunted any human which is also very strange. Her eyes also can be deceiving," I added as an afterthought.

They looked over to where Bella and Edward stood. "I guess we can go on with the treaty, but if any humans are killed by one of your kind, the treaty is off," the leader finally agreed, sensing no danger. "Just remember that there is no hunting in our territory and we would very much appreciate it if she would shape-shift anywhere near our land."

I nodded and we shook on it. Glad that everything was resolved peacefully, we got back to the car and Bella let out a deep breath. I hadn't noticed until that moment that she had been holding her breath throughout the whole conversation.

"Bella, excuse me for asking, but why were you holding your breath the whole time we talked to the wolves?" I asked as politely as I could. She didn't seem embarrassed and answered almost immediately.

"Oh, cause after we went hunting and were confronted by one of the wolves, the scent of the wolf caused me to shape-shift into a wolf," she answered. I was really surprised and wanted to ask more questions, but I didn't want her to feel even more overwhelmed than she already was.

"I actually have a question of my own if you don't mind, "she said timidly. I nodded without taking my eyes off the road even though I could drive home with my eyes closed. "Well, when the wolf boy saw me transform in the woods, he muttered to himself 'not another gifted one.' I was just wondering what he meant by ANOTHER gifted one. Is it normal for vampires to change into wolves?" she asked. I waited a moment trying to figure out how to tell her, but Edward answered before I could.

"Well, Bella, I was going to tell you eventually that sometimes vampires have an enhanced ability passed on to them from their human lives depending on what they were like as humans," he started. "When I was human, I was always good at being able to know what others were thinking, so when I became a vampire, I was gifted with the ability to hear other people's thoughts. Alice can see the future and Jasper could read and change people's emotions."

"Wait, have you read my mind," Bella asked. Edward hesitated slightly before answering, "Yes, but only once to find out what your name was." Bella looked shocked but was happy to realize that he had the decency to give her some privacy.

"Thank you Edward," Bella said sincerely. A huge smile lit up Edwards face. You seem very happy Edward I thought, knowing he was listening to know what I thought of what was going on. I'm glad I added as an afterthought. Edward smiled even wider as we pulled into the driveway. We all go out and came inside to see Alice, Jasper, and my love Esme sitting watching a baseball game.

"I take it that Rosalie and Emmett returned to their honeymoon," I asked already knowing the answer. Alice nodded and Edward walked over to her and sat down almost right on top of her. Everyone in the room started laughing at Alice's expression.

"What, it's true," she huffed. When she saw Bella still standing by the door, unsure what to do, Alice pushed Edward off of her and ran over to her. Knowing Alice, she and Bella would be best friends by twilight.

"Alice," Edward said, on the verge of growling.

"It's okay Eddie, I wasn't going to force her into liking me," Alice said with a giggle. She took Bella by the wrist and sat her down in between herself and Edward. I sighed and went to sit on the arm of the chair Esme was sitting in. I gave her a quick kiss and turned back to the rest of the family. Jasper still looked on edge, uncomfortable with Bella's comfort and control.

"Alice, would you please turn of the TV," I asked even though no one was paying attention to it anyways. "Bella, would you mind if I told them what happened when with the wolves and your hunting trip," I asked. She nodded and I told them what had happened. Bella seemed a little embarrassed, but Alice and Edward comforted her, whispering to her that there was nothing to be embarrassed about. I could tell that Edward was trying hard not to read Bella's mind. When I was done telling them what had happened, Alice got crazy excited.

"Bella, you have to show us, PLEASE," she almost screamed. She was jumping up and down so fast that I thought she would burst through the ceiling. Bella giggled and nodded. I was glad that she agreed because I wanted to see her transform as well, but I didn't want to ask. Excited to make some new discoveries, I quickly got a pen and paper even though I have photographic memory.

"Why don't we go outside, just in case," Bella said. Esme smiled gratefully; glad that her careful decorating wouldn't be ruined if something went wrong.

"Okay, I don't really know how to do this," Bella said when we had all gone outside. Alice was still jumping up and down while Jasper tried fruitlessly to calm her down. I could tell that Bella liked Alice already and I wouldn't doubt that Alice knew it would happen. "What should I do?" Bella asked.

Before I could answer, Edward said, "Just focus on your favorite animal and imagine its smell, looks, and feel. Relaxing will probably help." Bella smiled at him and a wide grin spread across his face for the third time that day. Wow, Edward really is in love. I think Bella returns his feelings I thought, knowing that Edward would hear me. I looked at him to see his reaction, but he was too happy to comment. I looked back to Bella who had her eyes closed and was concentrating on something very intently. Suddenly, Bella's mouth and nose sort of morphed together to create a beak. Every one gasped and Alice finally stopped hopping up and down. Bella somehow kept her focus and continued changing. Where her arms once were, wings grew and she started shrinking. The transformation completed and in front of us stood a hawk with Bella's intriguing golden eyes.

"Bella, can you fly?" I asked wondering what it must feel like.

I think so I heard a voice in my head say. Everyone gasped so I guessed that I wasn't the only one who heard her say that. Can speak while transformed I wrote then added kind of. I looked up and saw the hawk slowly flapping its wings. It built momentum and soon the hawk was flying through the air. It still seemed a little shaky but learned quickly. I wrote down everything I observed even though I knew I would never forget this moment. The sun peaked out of the clouds and I looked up to Bella who was shimmering but not quite to the extent as in vampire form.

"Bella, can you land and change back for us?" I asked.

Sure she said. The hawk landed and quicker than she turned into the hawk, she turned back into Bella. She was still wearing her clothes which I wrote down quickly. She was kneeling but quickly stood up.

"Wait, Bella I was wondering, could you feel the thirst when you were a hawk," I asked curiously. I wanted to know a lot more, but that was my main concern.

"Thirst?" Bella asked. Edward looked at her and went over to wrap his arm around her shoulder. I noticed that she didn't pull away and obviously Alice noticed too, but neither of us said anything. "What is thirst?" Bella asked. We all looked at her, surprise written clearly on our faces.

"Don't you feel thirsty at all? Doesn't your throat burn?" Jasper asked.

"Nope," Bella answered.