Chapter 9: Hunting

(Jpov)

I could feel curiosity and wonder coming from bella in waves as we ran through the forest at top speed. I could tell she wasn't going to be like a typical newborn. she has already shown so much restraint.

newborns were unpredictable. as I learned in my years of the southern vampire wars, training them for maria. I scowled at the name, the things she made me do, the things I did...

my head cleared when I smelled the scent of human blood, I flashed infront of bella, but she had already stopped. "bella?" I said warily. she growled at me "I need to get out of here" she said forcibly. I nodded, then she took off, back the way we came. no, she is definitely not a typical newborn.

I ran right next to her, ready to stop her if she changes course, but she didn't. she ran right back to the house and stopped by the garage. she looked at me, her red eye zipping around wildly. "bella calm down. hold your breath" vampires don't need air to live, holding hre breath will help her to clear her head of the scent. she shook her head and looked around. she is so calm. its strange for a newborn. I watched her rigid form slowly relax. there, that's better.

then she took off. "bella!" I ran after her, but she was just fast enough to stay out of my reach. newborns are stonger and faster in their first year then they ever will be. because their human blood is still in their system. it gives them an advantage in fighting.

I shook my head, there is no fight, I need to stop thinking like that. instead I tapped into her emotions. she wasn't angry or aggressive. she was calm. where was she going.

we broke into a clearing then, not 30 feet infront of me bella was ontop of a cougar, teeth at its throat. amazing. not even a experienced vampires can ignore the scent of human blood on a hunt. but she did it like it was the smell of garlic, no pun intended.

I watched as the fight slowly drained from the cougars body, as it slowly stopped moving. then she stood up and looked at me, if she was human I could tell she would be blushing. "sorry" she said quietly, I shook my head at her. "bella, I have never seen a newborn leave a hunt like that. you are so calm. I don't understand it."

I heard a twig snap behind me and spun around, crouching down, ready to attack. "jasper whitlock don't you dare attack me" I straightened up instantly. "sorry ma" esme smiled softly and touched my cheek. "alice was getting antsy, I wanted to come make sure everything was going ok. but I can see everything is fine" she walked over to bella and slowly pulled her into a hug, I smiled at the sight.

leaving bella has been hard on everyone, but esme took it the hardest. she already lost a child in her human life, then for us to leave another of her adopted children alone, especially a human like bella. she hasn't been like the esme we all know and love, she has been a shell. making a show for us, but I can tell she was hurting. I knew. I could feel it, feel everything.

I know when Edward finds out she is with us, that Carlisle changed her, he will be angry. but he will get over it. I knew he still had feelings for bella, even if he wouldn't admit it. leaving her was stupid. childish. all because he wanted to protect her. well look where we are. she wasn't happy, she never moved on. and when we left everything just got worse for her. I would never let her get to that point again. if that meant leaving my family then so be it. it was my fault we left in the first place. I wasn't strong enough to stop myself on her birthday, just that one tiny drop of blood.

I shook my head, enough of that thinking. she is here now. she is part of our family again. and that wont change. I wont let it.