DEFINED

Only silence followed.

I lay there thinking that I must be dead for only heaven could feel like this – blissfully cool in the aftermath of all the agony. But then I heard a slow, faint fluttering start up in my chest. That couldn't be right. Surely I wasn't still alive after all that? Perhaps your heart started up again after you were admitted into heaven. Yes that was it.

Someone moved beside me and then a musical voice as quiet as the wind whispered close to my ear; maybe it was God coming to welcome me to his humble abode.

'Isabella,' it whispered. 'Isabella, open your eyes and look around you.' Somewhere distantly I remembered that voice but I could not recall the owner of it.

Carefully, I obeyed the instruction and opened my eyes, expecting to see myself standing in pearly white clouds or an extravagant castle made of brilliant flowers and a stranger standing next to me but instead I found myself lying exactly where I had been before, though through these eyes the scene was completely different.

Every person, object and colour had been sharpened and defined so that I could see everything in microscopic detail, from dust motes swirling in the sunlight streaming through the windows to individual strands of cotton that made up the stray piece of string on one of the couches standing ten yards away. It was simply amazing and I couldn't stop looking around me, whipping my head from side to side at extraordinary speed.

Then I spotted the people that crowded around me and some strange instincts sent me flying into the corner on the other side of the room, with my eyes narrowed and a low hiss breaking through my bared teeth. I surveyed the scene and saw everyone gathered in a tightly knit group for the first time and was distracted by the sight.

Everyone was so breath-takingly beautiful that I gasped and took an intake of breath for the first time since the pain had ceased. But the action felt wrong – there was no relief connected to it. My lungs reacted indifferently to the influx but although the air wasn't needed, I liked it. It was full of all sorts of aromas – frangipani, freshly mowed grass, cinnamon, lavender and some I wrinkled my nose at like something that smelt suspiciously of wet dog.

And then the most beautiful, mouth watering smell reached my sensitive nose, a smell that ripped at my throat and made the fire course through my body, filling me with desire and longing. My muscles leapt into action and in no time I was in another crouch, searching for the source of the delectable aroma. My eyes fell on Renesmee and I realized exactly where the smell drifted from. Her beautiful brown eyes were wide, transfixed on my monstrous expression-her mouth open in a little O of shock.

As I watched from my frozen position, the scene changed – Renesmee was pushed roughly to the back of the room and Jacob, Edward, Emmett and Jasper took defensive stances at the front, hisses issuing from between their sharp teeth.

I straightened slowly from my crouch, giving them time to understand that I was under control of my thirst – for the time being; the burning in my throat was getting increasingly harder to ignore as her scent continued to torture me with every breath so I stopped my breathing completely – it helped to a great extent but the scent still lingered on the back of my tongue and the memory of the sweet aroma was still fresh in the front of my mind.

'Isabella? Are you all right?' I looked up to find Edward walking towards me, arms outstretched with palms facing me in a gesture that supposedly meant that he meant me no harm. The sight surprised me and I only just managed to suppress another gasp that surely would have sent me flying in the general direction of Renesmee; he was so beautiful it was almost painful to look. I slid down the wall to sit on the floor and wrapped my arms around my legs in an attempt to stop them charging at Renesmee. I was fighting a losing battle.

'Isabella? Are you alright?' Edward repeated crouching down beside me.

I looked into his eyes and was instantaneously mesmerized by their colour which was now as rich as honey opposed to the depressing black. I noticed too that the bruise like shadows beneath his eyes had also almost vanished.

It hurts I thought desperately. Edward heard and gently took hold of my forearm and pulled me towards the door. I didn't resist as he guided me down the steps and across the lawn, heading towards a particularly dense clump of trees. Once we were engulfed by the sea of thick trunks of every brown imaginable Edward broke into a run that I immediately imitated. We flew about one hundred yards per second and as the cool forest air whipped at my face I thought it would finally be safe for me to breathe again. The relief was immediate; I could still clearly remember Renesmees scent but as the clean forest air washed through me, the memory was becoming fainter and fainter.

We ran for about ten minutes with only the sounds of the forest animals and soft thuds as our feet briefly made contact the leaf strewn ground for company. The sky, already cloudy, was turning an even more forbidding grey and I could hear little misty drops of rain hitting the canopy of leaves overhead.

'What are you looking for, Mexico?' I asked. We had now travelled so far from the house I was getting worried that we would never find it again.

'No,' he replied sounding amused. 'I'm looking for the best place for your first hunt.'

Oh no.

'I don't have a clue how to hunt!' I exclaimed.

'You don't now, but when you see your prey your instincts will just take over. Take what happened back at the house for example. Were you in control of your body then or did your body act on its own accord?' he asked looking around at me with a perfect eyebrow raised and still managed to avoid collisions with passing trees.

After a minute or so more, Edward started to slow, almost to a normal pace but it felt way too slow; I liked the feel of the wind in my hair and to be able to breathe without feeling the need to go on a rampage.

Just then we stepped out into a clearing where, on the far side I could easily make out a herd of wild elk grazing happily on the dew soaked grass. I could hear them chewing on the crisp green blades that were so rare in these parts of America. I started to get extremely nervous and my little fluttering heart beat took off like a bird startled into flight. Edward looked astonished and just shook his head as if this was just one more thing about me that was inexplicable. We had a lot to discuss about my predicament when my more basic urges had been satisfied.

'Go ahead, take a whiff,' said Edward beside me.

I looked at him apprehensively and then inhaled deeply through my nose. The smell that met my nostrils made me wrinkle my nose in disgust, but then as the scent settled, my mouth started to water and my throat burned in longing for the blood that pumped through the veins of the innocent animal.

'Just let your instincts take over,' Edward instructed as he backed away into the shadow of a large maple tree growing on the outskirts of the meadow. 'Close your eyes and let the scent of the elk's blood fill you. Try to think of nothing else but how much you want that blood.'

I obediently closed my eyes and continued to breathe deeply through my nose. Then I was suddenly down in a crouch, my eyes snapped open and focused on the elk in front of me. I was propelled forwards towards the unsuspecting elk and brought one down to the ground before it had even seen me coming. The rest of them scattered after a few seconds when they finally realized that I was there and a potential danger to them.

But I hardly noticed. My teeth sank through the struggling animal's skin and muscle on its neck like it was nothing more than butter. I found the jugular and took long drags at the thick, warm blood. It soothed my throat as I continued to suck the life out of the animal that was caught in my iron grip.

After a few minutes the beast stopped its feeble attempts to free itself and slumped into my arms as I continued to drain its blood.

The last of the blood dribbled into my mouth but as soon as the flow stopped, the burning in my throat returned. I stood up taking in the sight of the remnants of the elk I had just killed. It was a horrible picture; the elk looked slightly deflated, its eyes were wide and glassy. There was also a large bloody bite mark on the animals' neck where my needle sharp teeth had bitten deep into its skin.

I heard three sets of footsteps advancing through the grass and turned to see that Edward had been joined by Carlisle and Jacob.

'I can't believe what I just did,' I sobbed. Jacob hurried forward and placed a comforting arm around my shoulders – the heat radiating from his body was astounding, like I was being hugged by a heater.

'It's alright,' he soothed ,but he had nowhere near the comforting ability of Jasper who was the one I really needed in this moment as anger started to build up in my system and boil the stagnant blood left in my veins. A shiver started to rock my body in all my rage. It started at my toes and travelled to the top of my head. A tingling that ran up my spine in a continuous cycle accompanied the shivers that were getting wilder by the second.

Not again I thought. This can't be happening again.

I was now out of control; my whole body shook madly and then suddenly an intense heat tore through me and there was a loud ripping noise.

I now stood on all fours; my clothes lay in tattered pieces beside me. I distinctly heard three gasps and then someone swore quietly beside me. I looked up to see that all three held the same expression – shock- though that was nothing compared to how I felt.

I looked out across the meadow and found that there was a long and incredibly hairy snout obscuring my vision whenever I looked down. I shouted out in surprise but all that issued from my mouth was a loud bark. I looked back up at Jacob and found that he was convulsing wildly and next second, after another loud rip, stood a humongous shaggy black wolf with large black eyes.

It's OK, came a thought wafting across the front of my concentration; a thought that I realized was not my own, though the voice sounded familiar.

No it's not, I thought back in answer. I swivelled my head so I could look at my body and found that I now had a tail with long, curly black hair, the same that covered my body. I looked back around at Jacob for some guidance and another thought crossed my brain.

Come with me, it said and Jacob turned and trotted across to the other side if the clearing to where I could hear a small creek gurgling quietly.

I followed him through the dense trees to the small pebbly stream that flowed slowly from a spring. Jacob walked with the flow of the water down to where it made a small pool. The water was still and I could see every leaf of the trees above reflected in its clear surface.

Jacob let out a deep breath and I heard a sigh enter my mind. He turned his great shaggy head toward me and I saw that there was pity shown in his eyes.

I was hoping you wouldn't have to experience this, I heard him say in my mind. I wondered if I could read minds.

Why? I thought. It couldn't be that bad except I didn't know how to change back to my human – well vampire – form.

Well, the voices for one thing. He looked back into the pool before continuing. And you've been through enough to last you for eternity without this. That was true.

I moved over to stand beside Jacob and looked down into the pool to observe my appearance. My face held a long snout, beady, blood red eyes and was completely covered in long, silky black curls. It gave my face a look that greatly resembled a giant monster that had just been to the hairdresser for a perm. I let out a laugh that sent loud barks echoing off the trees. I heard a flock of birds take flight in surprise squawking as they went. Jacob sent me a questioning look.

What's so funny?

Have you seen what I look like?

Well yes actually. I see what you mean. His mouth opened and his tongue lolled out in what I could only guess to be a grin but it disappeared quickly. There are a few things you need to know first though, so you know how to avoid these transformations in the future. First of all the transformations can be triggered by immense anger; if you can keep your anger in check then the wolf in you will be kept at bay and you will keep quite a few more clothes in your wardrobe. Jacob let another smile escape onto his shaggy features.

Second, if you do happen to lose control and the wolf escapes from within, you must be completely calm before you can change back.

That sounds pretty straight forward but then how come I'm still like this? I asked confused.

Listen to your heart. Is it back to a normal, calm speed?

I hadn't even noticed I had a pumping heart let alone that it was thumping faster than a normal tempo. I tried to concentrate on getting it back down to that normal rhythm then stopped, if I changed back now in front of Jacob then, well it wouldn't be pretty since my clothes lay in tattered shreds back in the clearing. Instead I changed the subject.

So are there any other cool things about werewolves? It was the best I could come up with but at the same time I wanted to know.

Well there are a couple of things. For one, if we ever get hurt, the wound will heal itself a lot faster than a human. If it's a paper cut it will heal in around ten seconds. Would you like a demonstration?

Ah, no thanks. Wow. What would happen if I broke my leg?

That would take a little longer though only up to around an hour or two.

Wow, that was unexpected.

I don't suppose there's anything else?

No, they're the main things though we can run just as fast as vampires and are just as strong, and can hear and see as well as them too.

Jacob turned and started back to the clearing whilst I took one last look into the water's surface. I only just managed to suppress and another bout of laughter as I took in the hilarious sight before, I too, turned and made my way back to the meadow where Edward, Carlisle and Jacob waited patiently for my return.

As my figure came into view, Carlisle rushed over to where I stood and scratched my ears. I could see why dogs liked it so much; it was oddly relaxing.

'You all right?' he asked and I nodded my great, black head before we all headed back into the forest at full speed, back to the house.