I felt cold inside.

School ended, there were no Cullens at graduation, and then summer began.

I didn't want to move, I didn't want to speak. After a month of solitude, Charlie had enough.

"That does it, Bella! You can't sit here all summer and mope!"

"I'm not moping…"I moped. Charlie frowned.

"I'm taking you to La Push today, and you're going to hang out with me and Billy."

"I really don't want to watch football or go fishing, dad."

"We're not doing that, come on just get in the car."

"Fine," I said, indifferent. Charlie sighed. After a short drive we arrived at Billy's house. He rolled out and gave us a warm welcome.

"Hey Bella, it's nice to see you out and about. I see your dad got you to come and help an old man out."

"You're not old yet, Billy. Now would someone please tell me what I'm helping gout with?"

"Right," Billy said, following us back to our car. "You know that way, Charlie." Charlie helped Billy into the car and soon we were driving up a dirt path. We pulled up to a large wooden gate. I raised my eyebrow.

"What is this, some kind of zoo?" I asked.

"Animal Shelter," Billy explained, "Wolves specifically."

"Wolves?"

"Yup." Billy led me through, showing me where the food was kept, and then he stopped in front of a pen. I squealed when he opened it and a handful wolf pups ran out. A Black one, slightly larger than the other ones came up and started sniffing me.

"That one there is Sam, he's going to be Alpha someday." Billy said.

"What's he doing?" I asked.

"Just hold still, he's sniffing you, trying to decide if he likes you or if you're a threat."

"Oh." I said, stupidly. After a few second Sam stepped back and barked, a goofy looking grin on his face, and the other wolf pups ran over and swarmed around me. "Um, I'm guessing they like me?" I laughed.

"So, now you have a worker to help you keep this place running, Billy." Charlie said.

"Thank god, I was starting to think I was going to have to shut this place down, I can barely get up here as it is."

"Why'd you open it up in the first place, though?" I asked.

"The wolves…they called to me. Most of them were abused or abandoned."
"Why would someone do that?"

"Some people are just cruel, Bella."

"Yeah," I scoffed, "No kidding." Billy laughed and introduced me to the other two puppies.

"These are our newest rescues, Embrey, Quil, Jared and Paul."
"What's with the people names?" I laughed, with three puppies in my lap.

"Wolves are just like people…want me to start calling you fluffy?"

"I guess not," I laughed. Just then another puppy ran out and knocked me the rest of the way down, licking my face and wagging his tail, acting more like a domestic dog than the russet colored wolf he was. Billy and my dad laughed.

"That one's name Jacob."

"Hello Jacob." I smiled.

From that day on, I was at the wolf shelter 24/7. When it came time for college, I got a degree in animal training. I watched my friends get married, start careers, and have children, but I didn't long for that life anymore. I had a purpose now, I felt warmth again.

"Jakie! You're getting so big!" I exclaimed, as I always did when first arriving to the wolf shelter. Billy was waiting for me.

"Bella, can I talk to you?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure, what's going on?"

"Bella, I'm an old crippled man. It gets harder and harder for me to get up her every day. The fact of the matter is I can't take care of these wolves anymore."

"What? You can't sell this place! How will I be able to cope if I can't see Jake every day?"

"I know, that's why I've decided something very important." He said, "I'm giving you the shelter."

"…you're giving me the shelter?"

"There's no one else I could trust it to. There a plot of land behind the Shelters that was made into a small neighborhood. I bought it out, planning on extending the shelters, so that's yours too."

"Billy…I don't know what to say. Why are you doing this?"

"I told you! I'm old and crippled! Besides, you've been coming over here so much, if I were paying you, you could buy this place three times!" I laughed along with Billy. "There's just one more condition. You have to make sure to bring the wolves down here to visit me once in a while!"

"Thank you." I said, bending down to hug him.

I soon made the house closet to the wolf pens my home, building a pathway that lead straight into the wolf pens. My brother and Rose and their kids moved in next door, and then my friends and their small families moved into the house's across the street, leaving the house on the end of the cul-de-sac empty…

I was happy; I was secure…but deep inside there was always a small, but never fading, piece of me that was missing…

~o~

Yeah, it's a little shorter than normal… Edwards POV is coming next, and maybe we'll find out what REALLY happened with Tanya…. *dun dun duuuuuuuuuun!*

Kyo&Luka: o`.0?