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EPOV

I was overwhelmed with emotion as I left Bella's cabin. Although I couldn't read her thoughts, I could see the hesitation and confusion on her face. It cut me like a knife. I had declared my eternal devotion and love for her and she had responded with I want to get to know you better.

Immediately, I regretted my declaration. I proclaimed my affection for her too soon. It was all my fault. I overwhelmed her.

When Bella insisted I could talk to her, I believed her. But, it was my fear that restrained me. If she was overwhelmed by my feelings, she would be overwhelmed by the truth of what I was.

"You're not ready. I should have taken things more slowly...been more patient. The fault is mine."

I wanted her to protest, insist once again that I could talk to her, but she didn't. So, I left.

When I arrived home, Jasper met me at the front door, along with Alice, their thoughts full of concern.

Jasper tried to calm me, but I refused.

"Leave me alone," I growled, glaring at my brother and sister as I passed by.

Why are you so upset? Is Bella alright? Jasper imagined Bella being drained by me. I couldn't handle the image and pushed him up against the wall. Alice gasped.

"Bella is fine," I snarled. "I could never do that to her."

Although he could have easily defended himself, Jasper allowed me to pin him against the wall. I had never attacked any of my family members this way and he was mentally cataloguing my emotions.

Hurt, longing, confusion. You're emotions are so strong, Edward. Let me calm you down.

I felt a tickle of calm begin to affect me and I backed away. "I said leave me alone," I grumbled, running up the stairs to my room, leaving Alice and Jasper to stare at each other in disbelief.

I didn't make it any farther than the center of my room before I collapsed into a heap. I remained there for the next twenty-four hours. Jasper did eventually try to calm me down, at Alice's insistence, but it had little affect. My emotions were too strong and I could not be comforted. Rosalie and Emmett came to my side, but I growled until they retreated.

Even though I was clouded by pain and my thoughts of Bella, I didn't ignore the thoughts of my brothers and sisters.

I've called Carlisle sixty-four times. He hasn't responded.

He's in the Denali wilderness, there's no cell phone reception there...

We could go search for him and Esme. It should take less than a day.

What if Edward freaks out and attacks us?

Alice, what do you see? Which decision will work the best?

I monitored Alice's thoughts as she scanned the options. After a long search, she settled on Bella. Rosalie and Emmett would pick her up, she would come to me, and everything would be okay. Except, my true self would be revealed. If Bella came to my rescue, there would be no going back. All would be revealed.

Alice didn't push further into the future, but she liked this alternative. Other decisions led me to continue to lie in agony and lash out in ways I would later regret.

Would Bella decide to go with Rosalie and Emmett? The future wasn't set in stone. She had free will. Did she feel the pain of separation as deeply as I did? I doubted it. What was happening to me was indescribable. I couldn't restrain myself from crying out in pain. I felt like I was dying a slow, agonizing death.

I knew my survival depended on Bella, but I had told I would wait for her. Wait for what, I didn't know. A realization, an epiphany, an understanding. As a human I knew she wouldn't fully understand what our connection meant, but she had to know it was more than I want to get to know you better. I didn't hold those words against her, but I did want her to surrender to what was happening. Her hesitancy confused me.

When I heard Rosalie and Emmett leave the house I decided that I would try to compose myself. I didn't want Bella to see me in such a state of weakness. But, when I tried to stand up, physically I could not move. It scared me. Being without one's mate had the power to incapacitate a strong, immortal vampire. I didn't know such a thing was possible.

As soon as I caught Bella's scent in the air, I relaxed, but I could not stop groaning. I needed to feel her touch. She cautiously entered my room, and to my great relief, joined me on the floor. Her heart rate increased, as if she was panicking. When she touched my face, I was immediately at peace.

"Edward?" she whispered.

"Bella? I was waiting for you..."

My groaning ceased, and I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. Our foreheads and noses touched, as our bodies pressed against one another. It felt as we were wrapped in our own cocoon of electricity. I never wanted to move. Somehow, I was even able to tune out the thoughts of my brothers and sisters in the background.

Because of being in this zone of bliss, when there was a knock on the door, I was caught off guard. Something snapped within me and my human characteristics vanished as my vampire instincts took control. No one was going to take Bella from me.

I jumped up, bringing Bella with me, and stood in front of her protectively.

"Mine. She's mine."

I growled, venom dripping from my mouth, until Jasper and Alice retreated. Then, instinct made me take Bella into my arms and flee. I knew Bella's racing heart indicated that she was probably scared, but my mind wasn't able to interpret it into words of comfort. I had an overwhelming instinctive urge to get us to safety.

We eventually collapsed on the forest floor, I propped us against a tree, tucking her into my lap, and began to comfort her the only way I seemed to know how. I was still too inhuman to speak.

Time passed and I settled myself into the crook of her neck, purring. Very slowly, my humanity began to return, although I felt my vampire instincts ready to take over at a moment's notice.

"Aren't you cold, Edward?" Bella chattered. "Let's go back home."

"Promise me you won't leave," I whimpered, kissing her bottom lip. I remembered the pain of our separation and it was unbearable. I was a fool to think I could wait for her. I had to have her now.

"I promise," she replied immediately.

Feeling back in my right mind, I pulled us up. Bella's blood didn't tempt me, but I needed to take precautions.

"I need to hunt...stay here and don't move."

She nodded and I pressed her against the tree, ravishing her with a kiss. I wanted more, but hunting now would allow me more time with Bella later. I caught the scent of a bear, and took off into the forest.

It was an easy kill and I didn't feel like playing with my food. I drained the animal as fast as I could, until I heard Bella call my name. Immediately, I returned to her.

"You're alive!" she cried, flinging herself into my arms.

I couldn't help but laugh at her relief. "In a manner of speaking, yes," I murmured.

Bella stepped back, searching my body for harm. "Are you hurt...?"

When her eyes reached my face, they widened in alarm.

"Edward...what are you?"

It was time for the truth. However Bella reacted, I would never leave her side again. She deserved an honest explanation...there was no way to hide or lie about my inhuman-like behavior. Nervously, I met her gaze and decided to go for it.

"I'm not human, Bella. I'm a vampire."


What are your thoughts on vampire mating? What do you think it would look like? How would it affect Bella since she's a human? Please review!