Author's Note: Okay, so I just want to thank herokenz for originally sparking this idea, although I also have to apologize because it took off in a completely different direction then I thought and Victoria somehow snuck herself into the story too. I swear I'll try to write an Irina/Bella only story someday! Anyways, as for the rest of you, please tell me what you think, if I should continue, and so on. Thanks for reading!


Chapter 1

Bella was pretty sure she was getting used to this whole being alone thing. Sure, there was still a gaping hole in her chest from having her entire family ripped away from her, and she was now ostracized at school because of the weird near comatose state she had ended up in, but she alive...and yeah, she had currently nearly died at least four times trying to get to her and Edward's meadow, but she was getting better.

She didn't even think she loved Edward anymore. If anything, she missed his family more than him. She missed big, goofy Emmett, and cool, calm Jasper, who were like the two big brothers she never had. She missed Alice, who was the best friend she never really had, not even once growing up. Then there was Esme, who was the best mom Bella could have ever believed existed, Carlisle who was like the weird, cool uncle, and Rosalie...well, she still wasn't sure what Rosalie was to Bella. Maybe the bitchy older sister?

Even now, as Bella tried for the hundredth time not to get impaled on a twig as she struggled to get to that meadow, she wondered why she was doing it. How much of her pain involved Edward, and how much involved trying to remember all that she had lost?

"Finally," Bella puffed, nearly falling over in exhaustion after her incredibly long, painful, dangerous––did she mention painful?––hike up here. While the sun was blinding her, she was sure this was her meadow. After all, she recognized the log that nearly took her feet out from under her that was a few feet back.

It was then that she noticed a lone figure standing in the sunlight, glittering enough to be the real source of her blindness.

No. It couldn't be. Bella squinted hard, rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things, and squinted again. Yeah, I was right; it wasn't. "Laurent?"

"Ah, Bella," Laurent said with a jovial smile as he turned to face the human. "What a pleasure it is to see you."

"Yeah, no kidding. How are the Denalis treating you?" Bella asked. She felt herself relaxing in the familiar vampire's presence. It just felt so good to be near a vampire again that she couldn't help herself.

"Oh, they're treating me quite well––especially Irina," Laurent said with the kind of grin Bella remembered Mike getting when he thought he was going to get in her pants. Only, from the gleam in Laurent's eyes, she was sure that he was having better luck than her classmate.

"That's cool, I'm really happy for you," Bella said, and meant it...although a part of her wondered if she should find a way to just give Irina a little heads up. While they were probably all over each other or mated anyways, Bella felt a strange warning that made her think Irina was getting tricked somehow.

"As am I, as am I," Laurent said, still grinning as he took a step towards her.

"I just realized something...why aren't you in Denali right now? Why are you here?" Bella asked as the warning bells in her head got just a little bit louder.

"Well you see, I came here to see how you were doing...and what do you know, but I find you all alone, with no one to protect you…" Laurent told her, his voice getting lower, almost seductive as he stalked closer. It was only then that Bella realized that while his eyes were dark, they weren't a dark gold. No, they were a dark red. "It really is strange; a mate shouldn't be able to leave your side like this…"

"Yeah, well, the Cullens have been gone for awhile," Bella said with a nervous shrug, then froze as the warning bells in her head got louder. Stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid! What was she thinking, admitting to being alone and defenseless? "They should be back any moment though, their camping trips rarely last much longer than this," Bella quickly tried to backtrack, but it was too late; she could see a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. Taking a deep breath as her heart pounded fast and furious in her chest, Bella whispered, "I take it you didn't just come for a social visit?"

"No, I did not. You see, Bella, Victoria is quite furious that Edward killed her mate. So furious to the point that I don't believe she would listen to reason, even if she heard that he left you all alone, at her mercy." Laurent was circling her now, sizing her up, eyeing her like she had seen Charlie eye a particularly good looking fish. Stopping behind her, he inhaled deeply, groaning at her scent. "You should thank me, Isabella. I'm going to make your death swift and sweet. Victoria, on the other hand, would have tortured you for days and days. She would have made you suffer every kind of pain imaginable before ending your life."

"Why me?" Bella asked softly, trying not to let her voice quiver in fear.

"That's just how some vampires think, I'm afraid. A mate for a mate," Laurent said as he stepped closer, running his nose up her neck as he savored her scent.

"And if I tell you I don't think I'm his mate?" Bella asked, her voice breathy with fear, which only made it more potent and delicious to the vampire.

"I doubt she'd believe you. She's way too far gone; obsessed with you even. Now, if you would be so kind as to tilt your head to the side. I always love to taste and sample before I drink, you see." Laurent twisted his hand in her hair, jerking her head to the side to expose her neck, and opened his mouth to take a bite.

Just like that, Laurent was gone.

Bella whirled around, trying to see where he went, and for a moment, she could have sworn she saw a flash of red. Then out of nowhere, giant wolves burst out of the clearing, and Bella could only stare, stunned, as they rushed past. A moment later, she heard Laurent's screech and the ripping of granite...and then came smoke from a fire.

Unable to hold her up anymore, Bella's legs gave out, and she slumped to the ground, beyond dazed. She had no idea what had just happened. What had made Laurent...run? Yeah, that was the only explanation. Laurent, for some reason, ran when he saw or sensed the wolves, the wolves chased, managed to somehow kill him and make a fire to burn him in…

Shaking her head, Bella groaned and brought her legs up to her chest, resting her forehead on her knees and taking deep breaths.

This was all just too much. All Bella wanted to do was check out the meadow, try to sort out her feelings, do a little soul searching...not nearly get murdered by some dirty jackass vampire only to get rescued by giant wolves.

This was all just too much. She needed something normal, needed a friend...yeah, that's what she needed. A friend. And the only friend she had left was Jake.

I'm going to call him, ask if he wants to hang out, Bella decided, trying to stand as she dismissed the weird day from her mind. She couldn't even stand up completely before her legs gave out again, and she landed on her butt hard enough to bruise. Letting out a groan of pain, she checked her phone to see if she could call without having to get up, only to realize she had no cell phone service.

Okay, I'm going to go home and call him...as soon as my legs start working again.

Bella tried to keep that plan in mind as she fell back on the grass. Taking deep breaths, she closed her eyes, just for a moment. And then they didn't open.


Victoria stared down at the human, completely enraptured as she knelt down. Carefully, so as not to wake her, she maneuvered the girl so that Bella's head was in her lap. The girl was fast asleep, so deeply asleep that Victoria doubted anything would wake her, and it seemed almost sweet to the vampire. Absently, her fingers traced over the girl's face as she memorized everything about her.

Yes, Victoria was obsessed with Bella alright, but not in the way her stupid ex-coven mate had thought. It still enraged her to know that he had tried to kill her because of what he believed Victoria had wanted, and that Victoria had almost not made it in time...that she had almost lost the one thing that suddenly made her feel so alive all because of the man's own selfish desires and refusal to even ask Victoria what she felt for the girl.

She was furious at James, too. Furious because he had tricked her, used her limited knowledge to make her believe that he was her mate. It wasn't until her eyes had met the brunette's that she realized just how much of a liar he was...which was why she lied to him about the hunt, told him it was safe, just so he could die.

Of course, that was another thing that now upset her. She hadn't realized that in pretending that there was no danger for James would have nearly killed Bella in the process. She had felt danger closing in on her, but by then she was already so far away, that by the time Victoria had gotten to her, Bella was already in the hospital, recovering. It had been hard for Victoria to leave her, but she had no choice; they would only see her as another threat. She knew the girl would be safe with the Cullens––that is, until she had found out that the Cullens had completely abandoned her. Victoria didn't know the details, but she had a feeling it was all that fru fru haired boy's fault.

Next time she saw him, she'd kill him. Just like she would have killed Laurent, had those wolves not intervened and done the job for her.

Almost as if her thoughts had conjured them, she heard a howl to her left and felt her instincts telling her to leave to avoid danger. She hesitated, considering taking Bella with her, but knew waking up alone with Victoria would only terrify the girl after what Laurent had told her. It didn't make it any better that humans didn't feel the mating bond like vampires did and would have no clue to the real reason Victoria wanted her. Checking her instincts to make sure Bella would be safe if left behind, Victoria relaxed and let out a sigh full of longing.

"Soon, my love," Victoria swore softly, kissing the girl's warm forehead. Soon I'll have you. Soon you'll be mine, and I'll be yours. With one last lingering glance, Victoria gently settled the girl back on the grass.

Those wolves better take you home this time, Victoria thought with an annoyed hiss as the wolves got closer. Then she was gone.