Edward POV:

"It will be okay Bella, Carlisle and I are on our way to the station now." I kissed her forehead before leaving. She had to stay at our home until we returned. "If anything happened to Charlie...because of me..." I leaned in, whispering comforting words to end her panic.

"Nothing will happen, I won't allow it." She looked into my eyes, her worries swam in hers, hope seemed to be drowning. I would throw a life line. "Bella, it is okay, if James decides to go anywhere near you or Charlie, Alice will see it."

The hope was saved, she smiled a little. I returned the smile that always left her breathless. It was a dirty trick but all was fair in love and war, it was also for her own benefit.

Carlisle appeared at my side, signalling it was our time to go. One more kiss, she leaned into it, clinging to me, never wanting the kiss to end. I felt the same but sadly there were more important issues than my own needs.

We left, driving to Forks police station. I didn't tell Bella, but there was another reason he had to go to the station, a body of a young Quileute girl was found in the forest, many broken bones and bruises.

I suppose her skull would also be damaged, I could claim that as cause of death.

Carlisle hated to think this way yet, it was necessary. It wouldn't do well to say cause of death to be loss of blood through biting. Cannibals ate flesh, not blood. All too soon we arrived in the parking lot which was alive with flashing lights, officers and medics talking and also, in the corner....

"What are the wolves doing here?" I questioned aloud. "Well, one of their people was the victim." Carlisle answered as we approached. Carlisle was quickly taken by two medics to examine the body, leaving me to talk with the pack.

Sam, Jacob and Jared were accompanied by an elderly man in a wheel chair. I knew him from Jacob's thoughts to be his father. "Edward." He addressed me, I nodded in return. The grim news about the young boy murdered stopped any hatred between us all, even from Jacob.

"He was at Bella's house; Charlie could also be in danger." I decided to let them know the extent of James' hunt. "Bella." Jacob said worryingly, I ignored my harsh feelings towards him.

"She's safe, with my family." I ignored Jacob's thoughts of how my family wasn't exactly safe. "This isn't good." The elderly man whispered. "If James plans to harm Charlie he's gonna have to go through us!" Jared pounded his fist into his open palm.

"And if he even tries going near Bella." Jacob never finished her sentence but growled darkly. His thoughts led to old memories of him running patrol around Bella's house, he felt the need to start again.

"That won't be necessary, we shall watch over the house." I answered his thoughts. All turned to him, wondering what he was thinking. "Stay out of my head!" his temper rising to a dangerous level. Sam stopped him, keeping a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"If James is attacking Bella's home, I'll be outside ready for him." The pup was pushing it. I lost my temper, "And I shall be inside, protecting Bella." His thoughts consisted of him, brutally beating me in battle.

I smiled in return.

"Jacob...you may watch the Swan residence if you choose to, but only as a Protector." Sam spoke strongly and I couldn't disagree, despite how I hated this mongrel an extra pair of eyes and ears would be useful.

Once Carlisle had examined the body, concluding the girl was beaten to death, head trauma was the supposed C.O.D. I collected she was only 20, family known by the community of Quileutes. The police were suspecting a psychopath living in the woods, human killing humans.

They were half right.

We soon left, no longer needed and began driving home. I stared out the window while Carlisle drove, his thoughts focused strictly on the road, avoiding the thoughts during the exam, of how brutally the girl was killed.

It occurred to me, if James fed from the girl, why didn't he hide the evidence? He had been burning and burying his past victims around Forks, but this one was left and from Carlisle's thoughts, she hadn't been drank from.

Then why did James bite her if not to feed?

Thinking of hunting ignited the inferno in my own throat. It has been almost a full week since I've hunted, this knowledge added more fuel to the flames. I desperately needed to hunt, possibly tomorrow.

After parking in the garage, I went back to the living room where Bella was, her heart seemed to pick up pace when she saw me approach, she was nervous. "Edward!" she squeaked, jumping up from the arm chair and running towards me. I caught her in my arms as she hugged tightly, or at least tight for a human.

"Where's Charlie? Is he okay? What happened? Did-" her hyperventilating cut off her own words. "Shhh... Bella, Charlie is fine, he is at the station, the Quileute's will watch him until he gets home, I shall watch over both of you from there."

I didn't feel the need to tell her Jacob Black would also be there.

Do you need someone to cover outside?

I glanced to Alice, she then began thinking of myself been outnumbered should James and Victoria showed. I looked left, then right, signalling I would not need her help.

She was quick to guess why.

Wolf watchers?

I sighed, our secret sign for yes. She laughed internally at the idea of guard dogs. Bella didn't notice our silent conversation and yawned. "I need to get you home before Charlie." I murmured in her ear, she didn't disagree, most likely anxious to see her father.

Understandable.

I guided Bella to the car as we left for her home, afraid she may collapse of exhaustless. She curled into my shoulder as I drove, murmuring unintelligible words. She seemed to be pulling in and out of consciousness; the stress of today had taken its toll on her.

I carried her inside and upstairs, Charlie was only around the corner with the wolf following him through the trees. I lifted the covers, placing her underneath before wrapping her in a cocoon of blanket.

As I watched her sleep, my throat ached again, alerting me I needed to hunt. Jasper would also need to hunt and I could use the company when we went, Alice could watch Bella at school and then Bella could spend the afternoon at my house, surrounded by vampires, perfectly safe.

I chuckled out loud at my own dark joke.

I could hear Jacob outside in the forest, alert and also listening for any noise. I was about to go to Bella's window, to also keep guard when she grabbed me, clinging to me like a life preserver. I turned to face her, watching sweat bead across her forehead as her heart raced.

"Edward!" she whispered worryingly. I lay down next to her, stroking a hand across her clammy brow. "Don't leave me!" her whimpers tore at my chest, stabbing my heart a thousand times.

"I'm here Bella." I told her, hoping to convince her dream self that she was safe. "I'm scared." I soothed her ruffled hair and placed my forehead to hers. "Edward?" she repeated, calling."I'll always be here, always." I chanted the word until her heart beat slowed to a steady pace.

I kept our bodies pressed together, cooling her fever despite the covers between us. Bella eventually fell into a deep, fright-less dream, occasionally murmuring my name as usual, I smiled each time, knowing she dreamt of me always sent tingles through my body. My thoughts squashed all happy feelings though.

With Jacob outside her door, and James out there as well, I couldn't leave Bella alone, not even if my wind pipe turned to ashes. My own needs would always come second to Bella's, she always came first.

Always.


Oooooo, Edward's very protective, but is he also jealous? Keeping Bella from Jacob and not telling her he was outside watching will have some dire consequences!

But I won't tell how!

MWHAHAHAHAHA!

Mel out :)