Chapter 8

Silently, we ran through the forest, I was in lead next to Jacob, following the distinct scent of Victoria. To an outsider I cant even imagine what we would look like. Five large wolves, all different shades in colours surrounding one small brunette human who was strikingly pale in the moon light. Apart from the lighter tone of my skin and the noticeable improvements to my face and body, I still looked more human than any of the Cullen's. My eyes were the only real problem and even they were the same dark brown they had always been, only the slightest hit of red which was lightening everyday.

It took a surprisingly short time for us to reach the border to Canada and we didn't stop to look back. Within minutes we were running through the lightly falling snow, my foot steps and the wolves paw prints barely leaving marking in the soft snow that blanketed the ground. Victoria's scent came to a stop at the top of a hill, below was a large house hidden well behind the trees and surrounding mountains. We all stood and looked below. I couldn't help notices the resemblance. Jacob made a huff beside me and I knew he also noticed it. This house could easily be the white house that sat on the lake, hidden away from the prying eyes for the Forks towns people. We listened for some sign of life below.

"Jasper, I have to go, I can't just let her die!" the familiar voice hit me at once and I realised it was the musical tone of the tiny spiky haired sister I had lost.

"Alice" I gasped barely audible. All the wolves looked at me. Jacob threw his head back and forth.

"I know you think it's the right thing, but you said you think its already happened. That it wasn't clear…" Jaspers voice sent an electric shock through my body. They were so close.

The voice that cut Jasper off shocked me. Rosalie's tone was filled with worry and concern " Does it matter? If she dies Edward will never get over it. If there's a way to stop it…"

"I'm going!" Emmett's voiced chimed in

"NO… its not right, we promised Edward. If we break that promise he wont forgive us" Jasper threw back at them.

What did they all mean by Edward would never forgive them? Or get over it if I died? He had left me and told me he didn't care. Why would it make such a big deal to him?

"Alice, look ahead" Carlisle's calm voice came in "see if you can see Bella's funeral. Maybe she survives it?" my funeral, see if I survived it, huh? the wolves all stared at me looking for some kind of response.

"I donno" I answered shrugging my shoulders.

"I knew it, I told Edward something like this would happen. I mean look at the mess of him, how did he ever expect a human to live through that!" she screeched out "no I can't see anything. Its like she's blocked from my visions! DAMN IT!" Alice yelled. I had never heard her sound so caught before.

"Edward a mess" I whispered without meaning to make any sound, I felt Jacobs nose prod into my back as if a sign of support.

"Maybe we should call Edward, tell him what you saw. He's only looking for a reason to go back to her" Esme's loving worried tone was undeniable as she added in her opinion to the discussion.

Alice screeched again in a fury "And say what exactly. Oh hey Edward, how's being depressed working for you? Well don't worry anymore, I had a vision of Bella throwing her self off a cliff… then she completely vanished from my vision just like when someone dies, so you no… no worries just thought you should know the love of your life is dead! Wanna come home?" the sarcasm in her voice was deadly. I could imagine the glare that went with that tone. I had only ever witnessed it once and that was when Edward shouted at me in his panic the night that the hunt began with James.

"Maybe I should tell them that I'm not dead, well at least not in the way they think" I voiced my idea and all five wolves glared at me. "you know, its really annoying that I cant hear your thoughts!" I added sulking.

Esme's voice turned vicious, never had I heard the tone from her, I almost didn't believe it was possible. "Alice is right! Edward would understand if it meant saving her! Lets go!" I heard her tiny footsteps head towards the door, followed by Alice's ballet dance.

"Well I already said I was going. I love my little sis, let Edward get mad, at least we know she safe then" Emmett was practically barging out the door, when Rosalie spoke.

"What if Bella hates us now for leaving her, I mean …" she took a few breaths and I could imagine the look they were all giving her "I would hate us if I was in her position. We didn't even say bye." Rosalie's voice was low and full of aching. Everyone stopped moving. Silence spread through the house and I was intrigued to know what they were thinking.

"Hate us or not, at least she will be alive. That's all that matters. We don't have time to waste, come on" Carlisle's voice was more was filled with despair and again the movement started towards the door. I spotted the Mercedes and jeep and knew that they would have to come our way to get in the cars. I watched them as they turned the corner, the look on all of their faces.

Alice's face looked completely crushed as she bent down to get into the back of Carlisle's car. "Alice" I whispered, my own voice full of heartbreak, seeing how losing me was affecting all of them. I had been completely convinced that I was the only one who was hurting, that they all had there distractions to keep them busy.

From the side of me, a mighty roar ripped through the silent hilltops and I looked to see Jacob, his neck arched towards the sky letting out the attention call. Immediately we all starred down to the cars. They had all frozen and simultaneously they had all looked up to spot the five wolves and one human.

For the first time ever I witnessed a vampire lose there balance as Alice nearly fell back out of the car. As they starred, we starred. Confusion covered there faces almost as clear as the snow covered the ground.

Esme was the first to speak, she clasp her left hand over chest and her right over mouth as she spoke my name so quietly.

Paul Jumped first, followed by Sam. It was just the same as the cliff only this time there was no water below to break the fall. Jacob looked at me and I knew he was asking if I could handle the fall, I nodded in the positive as Embry and Quill followed after Sam. I took a deep breath and Jacob and I flung ourselves off the top and glided gracefully down to the ground. Jacob landing on all fours took up the protective position immediately, just as the others had. I simply landed on both feet, bent slightly and straightened back up.

Two things happened in the space of one second. The pack got into a position of attack, and the Cullen's moved to defend themselves.

During all of this, not one of the Cullen's took their eyes off of me. "But how …?" Esme asked. Ignoring the wolves.

"Bella is that really you?" Alice beamed "I had a vision that you, well…"

I cut her off "I know. Cliff diving is actually very fun" I laughed and the wolves laughed with me. I strode past the wolves until I was standing in front of them, face to face with the Cullen's. "Hi" I whispered gently. I could see them, especially Carlisle examining me closely looking for the blood red eyes, trying to make sense of what he saw in front of him.

Without warning I had Alice's arms wrapped around me in a tight hug "I missed you! What happened to you? don't ever try that again!" he happiness turned into a lecture and I pulled away. She froze and stepped back.

It was quiet for a long couple of seconds, while I examined them and vice versa. "who's your friends?" Emmett finally broke the silence.

I turned around and gestured to each one by name "they are the Quileute Pack"

"Jacob Black, why do I know that name?" as Jacob couldn't answer I felt that I should.

"His grandfather was the Quileute elder that made the truce with you" I answered simply. Carlisle nodded remember and he seemed please to have that answered. I watched as another question popped into his head. He looked at me and I knew what he was going to ask, I didn't want to go into a big detailed description so I gave them the run down. I knew that Tanya was here somewhere and the thoughts that crossed my mind about what I would want to do to Tanya frightened even me. Short was definitely the best idea. "I got bitten, not a lot of blood mixed with a small amount of venom…"

Carlisle finished my answer "takes a longer transformation, yes I read about that" guilt flickered across my face and I suddenly felt the need to tell him.

"Yeah, I kinda borrowed that book from your office" I smiled an apology. Carlisle smiled at me.

"Glad I could help" Alice's head popped up then and she eyed me and I knew she was wondering if I received the letter. I looked at her and nodded a yes. I was finding it really hard to talk to them all, after all it had been weeks and I didn't know where to start.

Jasper walked towards me "You're a new born?" he seemed completely unconvinced. To save me the trouble, Carlisle explained the details of it all and everyone turned to look at me. Once again I just smiled. It felt awkward standing here in the snow, feeling it falling around my face, landing on my cheek. "why are you feeling so awkward Bella, we are still the same?" damn I forgot he could sense my emotions. I just shrugged. I heard a huff from Sam and I knew what he wanted me to ask.

"Have you seen Victoria? We followed her trail to the top of that mountain but it ends there" I asked trying to sound as normal as possible.

Emmett let out a growl as he bellowed at me "Your chasing Victoria, are you insane sis?" his words cut through me and I could feel my heart beginning to break. I knew my façade wouldn't last much longer.

Rosalie answered my question in an off tone, I knew that she had realised how hard I was clinging on to my façade "we think she is with Laurent. A few days ago he got a call and took off, we haven't seen or heard of him since" all five wolves smirked and I heard rumbles of laughter. I couldn't help but smile.

"Do you know something about Laurent?" Carlisle asked obviously assessing the situation.

"Just that he's dead" I answered cold and disconnected. All of their eyes grew larger and shock dominated everyone of their beautiful features.

"But why?" Esme's shocked words were filled with sadness and so I warmed up a little to answer her.

"Victoria sent him to kill me, he tried, he lost. That's really all there is to it" I shrugged as I spoke and I knew the wolves behind me didn't think it was no big deal. I heard Jacob growl.

Alice was seething and I thought it was at me. "HE TRIED TO KILL YOU?" she screeched, the fury clear in her words and the murderous glare pointed at me as she waited for more information. I saw Jasper put his arm on her neck to calm her down, the glare turned on him and he backed off slowly. "he saw" she continued "the mess of Edward the last day he had checked in, he saw the pain it was causing us all and he betrayed us for her!" I noticed from the corner of my eyes that all the Cullen's were nodding, the fury becoming more evident on each of their faces. "why is she still after you? Edward left to stop that nonsense." I couldn't breathe, that was the reason Edward left… no I couldn't believe it.

I took a deep breath to steady my voice "I guess she wanted to finish off what she started." All of their faces dropped. Silence over ran us for a few seconds.

"Our leaving did no good at all for you, did it? when?" Carlisle asked his voice was no more than a whisperer.

"not long after Edward…" I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence "she found me in the forest before I could make it home."

Deep growls erupted from Carlisle's chest, I never expected that he could do that, he always seemed so calm compared to the others. One by one they followed his lead and eventually even the pack joined in.

I couldn't find the words, I wanted to beg them to come home, not to leave me again, especially Alice, but the words would not leave my mouth. I took one last long glance around at each of their faces, burning them into my memory for eternity and then turned to the wolves. "We should go…" I began walking away when I heard Esme's small pattered steps behind me.

"Bella" she called out. "Wont you stay, we can clear everything up, Now that your like us he can come home, come back to you" that idea was more than powerful in my mind, and I nearly agreed. Yet, there was this small nagging feeling that was driving me insane. I want him to come back for me, not because its easier now, not because of what I am but for me! I glanced at their faces again and copying Edwards cold hard empty stare, I felt my eyes freeze over.

"Who said I wanted him back?" My tone even shocked me, it was full of so much anger and hate. I raised my eyebrow at her devastated face, and I couldn't do it, I just wasn't able to be that cold not yet. I noticed Jaspers head turn as he glared at me, knowing exactly what I was feeling. I shook my head, the ice melting in my eyes, I took hold of her hand that was still stretched out to me "Esme, I cant stay here" I said softy "I don't think it's a good idea" I took a deep breath, dropped her arm and walked away into the steep forest that would eventually meet back up with the cliff we just jumped off. The wolves followed on my tail and just as I thought I was out of hearing reach, I heard Rosalie's broken voice.

"Told you she hated us" her tone, shocked me. We continued moving, it was one thing to break down in front of Jacob but a whole other game to do it in front of the others. I ran even faster through the forest and I noticed Jacob keeping up with my stride. I could see the look in his eyes, I turned, he saw the vacant expression and dropped his head. He knew what was coming.