Authors note; beta'd by Frannie, remaining mistakes are mine.

I awoke early to find Jasper gone. He'd warned me in the early hours of the morning he would have to leave briefly to feed. I tried not to dwell too much on what that actually meant. Feeding on humans...ugh. But the thought made me feel guilty instead of repulsed. I buried those thoughts in the deepest part of my mind and concentrated instead on the small pleasures of life.

Jasper's scent hung heavily on my sheets, hair, and skin. It was masculine and mouthwatering, so good my eyes slid shut as I buried my nose into the pillow he'd rested on. I'd slept spread out across him, naked and more content than I could ever remember feeling in my life. He eased the nervous energy I'd been feeling. I was no longer on edge.

Jasper had kept me coming all through the night, each orgasm releasing the tension trapped inside me. Plaint, breathless, and utterly sated, I'd was finally spent around 3 am. There wasn't an inch of me he hadn't explored, and my knowledge of men and sex had grown exponentially; a lazy smile tugged at my lips as memories surged untamed through my mind.

Sex with Jasper was mind blowing.

A loud growl sounded from my belly; the sound shook me out of my pleasant reverie and reminded me I hadn't eaten for an entire day.

At that exact moment a soft knock sounded on the door, and I jumped to my feet, pulling on my dressing gown as I went. I belted it firmly around my naked body and headed down the stairs, taking them two at a time. I was surprisingly nimble for someone half asleep. This came as a shock to me because I usually found it hard to function before coffee. In fact, I was usually downright clumsy before 9 am.

It was Jessica. I smiled at her warily as I shaded my eyes from the bright early morning sunlight, which hurt my eyes more than it usually would.

"Bella! I've been trying to reach you all night! Don't you check your phone anymore?" Jessica demanded, dropping her purse on the counter and turning to face me, her hands on her hips, face displeased.

My phone? I hadn't even looked at it.

"Oh, I was a bit...distracted last night, sorry," I told her, going to turn on my coffee maker.

"But this was important, Bella. Jacob is still missing, I've reported it to the police. All his things are still in his room, but he's just gone."

I sighed and flipped the switch, the familiar gurgle of the old-fashioned coffee maker made me crave a caffeine fix. Soon the pleasant scent filled the small kitchen, and I relaxed somewhat.

Jessica and Jacob had been roommates since college, and I knew she had always had a crush on him despite his obvious feelings for me.

What was I supposed to tell her?

I knew Jasper said that he would release Jacob as soon as my transformation was complete, but a small piece of me wasn't so sure he would. I was surprised at how little it worried me. These seemed to be trite human problems that didn't interest me anymore.

I suddenly realized I saw Jacob differently now. I was so far removed from his situation it scared me for a moment. It felt as though there was a 'them' and 'us.' Them being the humans and us being the vampires. When had I changed so much? Was I already a vampire? But no, I still felt human...sort of.

Jessica came closer, "Bella, did you hear me? Jacob is missing, and I'm so worried. What's wrong with you? You're acting really spaced out. Aren't you worried? Even after everything, he's still your friend." She paused, and I hoped it was to catch her breath. Had she always talked so much? My head hurt. "What's wrong with your eyes?" She blurted out, leaning in to examine them closer.

I turned away abruptly. I'd forgotten about my eyes!

"I'm sure he's fine, Jess," I said softly, dodging her question and her. The scent coming off her skin hit me squarely between my ribs - right in the solar plexus. I was winded by just how good she smelled.

She was delicious.

I saw her in my peripheral vision, and I felt a growing ache in my jaw as I watched her pulse jump faintly beneath her skin. The ache grew to such proportions that I ran for it. I pushed past my friend in an effort to hide how painful it was. It felt like my jaw was breaking! What was wrong with me? Where was Jasper! I needed him. I shouldn't have let Jess in, I realized belatedly. I hadn't thought of the consequences. It had seemed innocent enough to let my best friend into my home, but it was anything but, due to the changes I was going through. Was Jessica in danger? I didn't want to hurt my best friend!

"Are you okay?" Jess asked again in concern, following me closely. She was right behind me; I could feel the heat from her overly inquisitive body.

Weird.

"I'm fine!" I almost shouted, desperate to get away from her. "Can we talk later? I'm feeling nauseous. I had too much wine last night."

When in doubt, blame it on the booze, I thought with wiry sarcasm.

Jess still followed me, so I darted into the downstairs toilet just to escape her.

"Bella!" She said up against the door I'd shut the moment I'd entered. She sounded shocked. Annoyed. Panicked. I could hear her heartbeat.

"Please leave," I said softly, sitting down on the closed toilet abruptly.

I stood a moment later and examined myself in the small mirror on the wall above the basin. I was startled by what I saw.

My eyes were distinctly red, no sign of my original amber! I opened my mouth cautiously, terrified of what I might find. The pain in my jaws intensified, and then there was pressure, unlike anything I'd experienced before. I moaned in pain. It felt as if my teeth were going to fall out!

"I can't just leave you if you're ill!" Jess countered; I could hear her breath hitting the wood of the door. Why wouldn't she just go away?! I knew she needed to leave.

Now.

Relief flooded me at the sound of the front door opening. I could sense Jasper's presence. He'd come back! He knew Jessica was here because he never used the door usually.

"Good morning," Jasper said to my startled friend. "Jessica, is it?"

"Yes," she replied cautiously. "And you must be Jasper." She sounded shocked to see him just walk into my home as if he lived there.

I suddenly wondered if she believed what I'd told her about my speculations concerning Jasper. I now wished I hadn't confided in her at all!

"It's nice to meet you, Jessica, but I'm afraid Bella is feeling a little rough today. Maybe you could drop by another time?" Jasper's voice was smooth, deep and ridiculously attractive. I heard Jessica's heart rate double. This was seriously weird.

I could feel his regret at leaving me; he was worried. Jasper was trying to save my friend from me.

Was that why she smelled so good? Did I want to eat her? I grimaced at the thought. Yuck. I wasn't that far gone yet!

The pain increased so much I barely stifled a whimper. I gasped and saw in horror that my canine teeth were longer than they should be! Oh my god, what was happening to me? Was I growing fangs?

Jasper ushered Jessica out the door as fast as he could without appearing suspicious. He handed her bag to her and I sagged against the wall in relief as I heard the front door close.

Jasper came to get me from the tiny bathroom and I fell into his arms with a sob.

"I'm sorry." He murmured onto my hair. "I shouldn't have left you, even for a moment."

I nodded into his chest, clutching his shirt with desperate hands.

"It's time for another feed, Bella," Jasper told me, drawing me towards the sofa.

"What's happening to me, Jasper?" I moaned, clutching my cheeks, trying to stop the pain with pressure.

"You're simply in transition, Bella. Once your fangs have erupted for the first time, the pain will cease, and they will retract unless you want to feed."

I grimaced. Fangs. I'd been right. I was a monster.

"No, you're not a monster Bella. Its completely natural for one of our kind."

He sat down beside me and tore open the skin at his wrist just as he'd done before. I felt copious amounts of saliva flow and my new teeth lengthened even further. A dry burn began in my throat; I was so thirsty!

Jasper enfolded me in his arms as I latched onto his wrist ravenously. His blood was sweet and delicious; it soothed the burn. I sucked harder. Our gazes met, and the bottom fell out of my world. I felt bonded to this man in a way I'd never been to anyone before. He was my lover, sire, protection and even my sustenance. His harshly beautiful angels face mesmerised me, he was so beautiful, my belly flip flopped even as I drank.

Eventually, the hunger quietened, and I stopped feeding.

Jasper smirked at me as he stroked my hair off my face. "Better?"

I nodded slowly. "Can't I just feed off you instead of killing someone?"

Jasper wiped at my lower lip with his thumb, catching whatever I'd spilled. "Sharing one's blood with a mate is a bonding experience more than a lasting solution, darlin'. You'll need sustenance soon; your body will demand it."

I leaned in and kissed him, "Thank you." I said simply.

"Just a few more hours, darlin', and then I will take you hunting."

I shivered as an eerie sense of rightness flooded my body. I wanted to feed. My view of right and wrong had altered in the space of a few short hours

All my protests about Jasper changing me without my permission faded to nothing as this new, startling hunger took over. My focus had shifted. Nothing mattered anymore except this hunger and him.

This.

Us.

Forever.