Edward's POV

Why...why?!

This whole thing was insane. But it felt planned. It was this girl, who had this scent, that I wouldn't be ble to resist. I wasn't angry about it. Bella Swan was an angel on earth. She wasn't afraid, she didn't think I was a monster. She always only saw me.

She understood me, she comforted me. I always felt detached from the world. In a lot of ways I was. So to meet someone and know there was at least one person who understood made feel like everything was real. That this was my life, that I was alive. It made my heart beat. She did.

I could hear that she understood, that she cared, but I wanted to taste it. I wanted my lips on hers, and taste the remnants of the words she spoke.

Her lips were soft and...delicious. I wanted more of it, I took more. I could feel her against me, I hungered for her. But her blood rushed through her veins, it's sound and her strong, pumping heart filled my ears and then my head. The monster was fighting to return but I didn't want to hurt her. This wasn't what it was, I refused that it be. I only want her.

She was the reason I was able to stop then. Perhaps with practice my life could be more than feeding and fighting. Perhaps my life could be with her.

I wished things were different. That I talked to her that day in biology. Even Jasper had more control. I grounded my teeth as I drove through the crowded streets. Too slow.

I wouldn't be in trouble, I wouldn't have taken away this gift from myself. Bella wouldn't be in danger. No matter what happened, she would be safe. I've dug my grave.

"Bella. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well...It's out of our control, I can't blame you for that."

"I mean-"

I never thought about how I would die. But dying for the sake of someone I loved seems like a good way to go.

My family and the Wolves were behind me, our chasers infront. I want to fight, I want to live many tomorrows with this girl. But her tomorrows were more important.

"STOP!" I yelled at them. They were massive bears, with the same capabilities as the wolves but with longer claws.

In their minds they recounted stories of sickly sweet scents and bloodless bodies and at the same time, looked at us, trying to see if I truly was a vampire. They've never seen one before and I had a healthy human girl with me. They wondered if it was I who killed those animals.

"Bella...run." What is she still doing here?!

"Go!"

"No." The determination in her eyes was power that I've never seen before. She tried to pull me behind her, to shield me; I was too strong so she stepped in front of me and stretched her arms out.

"If you want him you have to go through me!" Is she insane?!

"Bella!" Some boy yelled. Pretty, you say. I'll keep tabs on your thoughts from now on...

"Jacob?!"

"They merely wanted to find out what killed the animals. Because the scent left behind wasn't human. Now they feel threatened because there's two species and they're very concerned about themselves and their country. I didn't hurt a human." I said, speaking their concerns for them. The bears were shocked, scared I could read their minds. I'm a monster, who was the girl, why is she here, is she just a blood bag for me.

"She's..." She was special but I'm a monster. She was an innocent, and I brought her here to use her. I hung my head in shame.

"I'm his friend!" Bella yelled. "This isn't his fault-I wanted to come!" They didn't believe her, thought she was mad.

"They think you're under a spell. It's over Bella."

"Over my dead body! There isn't a decision to make; no one can decide if you live or die, only you! I know you want to live, you're scared right now so I know. I won't let you die Edward!" She said, her eyes trying to stab mine with the truth that believed in and inject it into me. The bears couldn't believe what they were witnessing and at the same time didn't believe she was lying. She was putting herself in danger to protect me. Would I fight to protect her.

"I wouldn't hurt one of you. I won't." Nevertheless, they didn't want foreign creatures in their country. Just in case.

"Wait, what are they saying?" Bella asked.

"They are angry I killed a bear, I illegally hunted a moose because I didn't have a permit, and they never want any vampire to step foot in their province." What about the other vampires.

"These people don't hunt humans nor would they eat a half-man. My crimes are my own so don't charge them with it." I said in my family's defense.

"My name is Carlisle Cullen, this is my family. Our neighbors are the Quileute wolves."

"Is it true you only feed on animals." I asked for them.

"Yes. We have hunted in Canada before but to keep the peace we are more than willing to keep hunts within the US."

"Same as you can control your strength and shifting, so can we. They want to talk with you, you're allowed to cross."

"Will the ladies please avert their eyes," Emmett joked. Sweet, sweet Bella turn around.

"Hand her over blood-sucker." Jacob said. "Get out of me," He growled at Jasper.

"It's up to her." I really don't like this one...

"I'm not going anywhere. Do you have pants or something?" Bella said.

"Bella, Charlie's been worried sick about you. So come, I'll take you home." I bit down hard, to keep from growling.

"I already said I'm not going; Edward will take me home."

"He's not going anywhere if he hurt you. Well did he?"

"She clearly isn't dead."

"I wasn't talking to you. The treaty says 'bite' not 'kill'. Did he bite you Bella?"

"No."

"You heard her."

"Let's go Jacob." Someone commanded.

"They sort of became friends with their neighbors. Thank goodness Canadians are generous." I relayed to Bella. They shifted back to wolves and crossed over. Jacob glanced at before following his pack into the woods. He decided he would protect Charlie and his daughter for him.

"Are the bears not going to, you know?" Bella asked.

"I didn't kill anyone so the only thing is I'm not allowed in their province, and most likely a few others or all of them. They're going to tell the other tribes about this. Right now Carlisle is trying to say thank you for their mercy by offering to tell them everything he knows about vampires. It benefits them greatly and since they think they aren't lying about the vegetarianism, it's enough to form a friendly agreement. Carlisle said I'm his son, so I'm free for now."

"That's good." Her stomach then growled.

"All this talk about food is making me hungry." I chuckled through a grin. Emmett guffawed but he was losing it in his head.

"You're an enigma."

I always thought I was unlucky. I lost my parents, I died, I didn't fit in. I was lonely, and I didn't have a special person. I had forever to go in circles in my head. I had nothing, I had my family. So it was a welcomed surprise that I wasn't going to die. A wonderful end, learning Bella would defend me from death. She was beautiful, strong, fearless. A bit crazy maybe but she was my special person.