I woke up in bed by myself. I sat up and started to panic. Had everything been a dream? Edward had promised me that he wouldn't leave and yet I couldn't see him anywhere. My chest started hurting and I wrapped my arms around myself, holding me together as I had so many times lately. I swallowed to hold back tears. My dream had been so real. I felt like he was really there with me last night rather than just the illusion of him. I laid back down but was surprised to see a hastily scribbled note on my pillow in his handwriting. "I'm not far."

Oh, it was real. But what prompted him to leave? Maybe Charlie had come home early or something. It was still dark out though. I'm not far, I thought. Would he hear me if I asked for him? "Edward?" I whispered into the darkness, but he didn't respond. I was still dressed in the sweats I had on earlier, so I grabbed a hoodie and stepped outside. "Edward?" I asked a little louder, this time to the darkness outside, rather than the darkness inside. When he didn't answer, I started to panic a little bit more. His vampire hearing was amazing, there's no way he couldn't hear me if he were close by.

"I'll be right back, Bella." He called from the woods. "Please go inside where it's warm. I won't be long."

I knew that he wouldn't dare hunt this close to the house. I heard what sounded like a slight bark and then I realized, the wolves were here. He was outside talking to them. I walked towards where I heard the sound and found them just inside the edge of the forest, barely out of sight. "I should know you better than to think you would stay where it's safe and warm shouldn't I?" he asked as I approached them.

I was shocked. I expected maybe Sam, Jacob or two or three of them. The entire pack was present, in wolf form, in a line facing Edward. When I got close enough to touch, Edward put his arm out, holding me behind him protectively. "They won't hurt me." I whispered, stepping to stand beside him instead, holding his hand. "What's wrong?"

"Your friends wanted to check and make sure I hadn't had you for dinner yet." he said, clearly angry.

"Guys, I appreciate all of you looking out for my safety, but Edward would never hurt me. I'm not afraid of him. I'm really glad he's here." I said, looking at the large wolf I knew as Sam, the alpha. The wolves couldn't speak out loud in this form, but I saw Edward wince in pain and look down at something they were thinking.

"They want me to leave." Edward stated, quietly and clearly shaking a little.

"No. I won't let you." I said, still looking at the Sam. "I want Edward here. I've made him promise not to leave me again. I love him. He won't hurt me or any human here." This caused a russet colored wolf beside Sam to start growling.

"Jacob!" I yelled, releasing Edward's hand, and taking a step forward towards the angry wolf. "Stop interfering! I can't even begin to tell you how absolutely pissed I am at you right now. I thought you were my best friend." I started crying. "You were one of the few people I enjoyed spending time with when Edward was gone. But you lied to me! You know I love Edward. I will never be anything more to you than friends. You know how much I wanted to see him, how much I hurt without him, but you hid him from me. I really don't want to see you right now. I know you can keep us off from the Rez and that's fine, but you can't stop Edward from coming to my house. He's not leaving again. Deal with it!"

Jacob stomped his paws, glaring at me and Edward and then took off into the woods. Many of the wolves followed. Sam stood back, clearly telling Edward something in his thoughts and then he nodded and was heading after the others.

"Seth?" I called, softly, causing the smallest wolf of the pack to appear in front of me. I knelt down to look him in the eyes. "Seth, I hope giving me that note didn't cause too much trouble for you. That was so brave of you standing up to the pack like that. I appreciate you more than I can tell you. You're a great friend. Thank you for giving me my happiness back." I said, reaching out to pet his head like I would ruffle his hair in his human form. He winked and stuck his tongue out at me, causing Edward to laugh a little, as he took off to rejoin the pack.

"That was his way of saying you're welcome and calling you silly." Edward said as he reached for my hand, holding it as we walked back towards the house. "So that's how you knew I was outside?"

"Yeah, Seth slipped a note in my pocket at the feast letting me know you were outside the house. But, Edward, why were you standing in the tree by my room? I thought you'd be in the woods or something."

"Because I missed you, Bella. I wanted to be as close to you as I could."

"Why didn't you just come in and talk to me? Why did you hide from me?" I asked as we got back in the house, still upset about waking up without him.

"I was terrified. I knew that if I came in to talk to you, I could never leave your side again even if you insisted. I was so sure that you couldn't possibly take me back after how I hurt you, or if by some miracle you did, I was upset for endangering you again and condemning you to this life by being around you."

"What did Sam want before he left?" I asked, changing the subject on purpose.

"He was just reminding me about the treaty and that they couldn't hurt me as long as I stayed off their lands and as long as I don't bite any humans."

"Oh. Why were they here?"

"Jacob." he said softly, leading me back up to my bedroom. "Bella, I hate to see you having to give up one of your best friends for me. I left so that you could have normal friends and family."

"No, don't start that. He's not a good friend if he was willing to just let you go knowing how badly I needed you. I would have never forgiven him for that. Besides, we both know the wolves aren't who you would consider normal. I know you don't like them and me hanging out with them. I wish I could do more to thank Seth though."

"I'm sure we can think of something to do for him together tomorrow after you've rested." Edward replied, lifting the covers up on my bed for me to crawl back in.

"Edward, at the risk of hurting myself" I started, pulling him to lay down with me and hold me in his arms. "Were you ever going to talk to me if Seth hadn't given me that note?"

"My strength to stay away was weaking by the second. It was only a matter of time before I came in your window begging for your forgiveness. My plan was to watch over you for a few days, to see how you were doing and not interfere, like I promised, but then when you came outside to talk to me, at first I thought you were telling me to leave and it was breaking my heart. But then, when you told me that you loved me and that I took your heart with me, I couldn't stand to see another tear fall from your eyes or be without touching you for another second. I'm sorry I scared you jumping out of the tree. I didn't want you to go back inside until you saw me."

"Edward," I whispered to him, "I love you. Please don't go anywhere."

"Never, love. I will never leave you again." he answered, holding me tightly to him as I fell back asleep.