Disclaimer: I do not own twilight or any of the characters.

Author's note: Let me know what you think :)

The Natural Path

Chapter 5- New Life

When I awoke there was pain, so much pain. It was as if fire raged around me. But I did not panic. I retreated into myself and the pain disappeared. I could feel the presence of others when I did. And if I concentrated hard enough on one presence I could hear their thoughts.

'I still can't see whether she'll wake'

'There are no feelings coming from her it's so strange'

'Poor girl on her wedding day as well. Stupid men'

'She's still not moved. I can't tell if she's woken yet'

The last thought was littered with sadness. It was Edward. I had succeeded in getting Edward to change me, even if I didn't quite understand how. He was concerned about even after what I'd made him do. I wanted to tell him I was alright. But I dared not return the fire that lay outside my mind. I would have to wait till it was over.

I drifted in my mind while I waited. It was dreaming, but it was more vivid. I could also control what I saw. If I focused on what was around me instead I could hear everything; a fly beating its wings nearby, the rustle of leaves from the forest outside and two people talking.

"Do you think something went wrong? She's not woken yet. The change has finished, why doesn't she wake?"

"Give her chance Edward." I searched out Edward's presence and called out to him with my mind.

'Edward'

"Carlisle did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

I tried to focus on both of them at once and after a while succeeded.

'Hello?'

"Bella?" Carlisle said surprised. "How are you doing that?"

'I retreated into my mind during the process so I couldn't feel the pain. But when I did I could sense the presence and thoughts of others. But I can't move while in this state.'

"Can you sense about else besides me and Edward." Carlisle asked.

'Emmett and Rosalie upstairs, Esme outside the room, Alice and Jasper outside the house and Sam, Jacob and Quil in wolf form heading this way. They think you've broken the treaty.' With this I left my mind and sprung to my feet. I was shocked at how quick I was.

"It takes a while to get used to." Edward said.

"I don't have time to get used to it. We have to find the wolves. They're not here to ask questions. We have to stop them and talk to them. Otherwise they will try to destroy you." They nodded and with that we made our way outside. We waited for the wolves in a clearing away from the house. They approached and slowed as they saw me. I knew they were confused. But still they did not wait for an explanation; instead they launched themselves at us. I ran towards them and yelled.

"Stop!" They froze mid-leap. The Cullen's were shocked and so was I. But I had to every opportunity I could get.

"You will not harm the Cullen's. They have done no wrong. I forced them to change me." I said and then I walked up to the wolf that was Jake and looked him in the face.

"I couldn't stay on the reservation Jake. You know I wouldn't cope if I became like Leah and hated you. I may not be able to love you anymore. But you're still a friend. I have a new life now, just like you have. It was this or giving up." Then with a wave of my hand they dropped to the ground. Edward came up behind me.

"Jake wants to know what to tell Charlie."

"Tell him you found my bouquet on a cliff edge. He can make his own mind up. It's what I was going to do anyway." He nodded sadly and turned away. With that they left. I turned back to the Cullen's to find they were all staring at me. It was Emmett that broke the silence.

"That's some awesome power you've got there. Want to see if you can stop me?" I smiled and nodded. He tensed and then came charging at me. This time I tried to do it without using my hands. I thought of what I wanted and it happened. Emmett froze and I could see he was trying to break free. Then I threw him to the side and unfroze him.

"That's quite a gift Bella. But for the meantime perhaps you should hunt. Edward will accompany you." Carlisle said. The others left for the house leaving me and Edward alone. I turned to him.

"I'm sorry. I know you didn't want this to happen. But truthfully you saved my life. If you hadn't have turned up, then I would have followed my bouquet over the edge. But one thing, how did you know I was there?"

"Alice told me. She has a gift too. She can see the future. She saw what you were going to do and I rushed off to stop you."

"But why?" He looked away for a second.

"This is going to sound crazy. But after that day in forest I couldn't stop thinking about you. I've been alive for 100 years and I've never come across anything like this. I feel as though we were destined for each other." I stared at him. He felt the same. How was this possible? People didn't just fall in love after meeting someone once, did they? I couldn't explain it.

"I understand. I… I haven't stopped thinking about you either. You don't know how hard it is getting ready to marry someone when someone else is on your mind. I wanted to forget you and spend my future with Jake." I subconsciously rubbed my arm. Edward grabbed hold of it.

"What happened there?" I looked at my arm and was surprised to see the marks were still visible. There was a quick flash in my mind to Jake springing at me.

"Jake got angry and changed while I was too close. I had to pretend that it happened in the forest. I forgave him everything, but it didn't matter in the end."

"Why did you run away? Was it because of that?" I looked at him with a sad smile.

"No it wasn't. He fell in love with someone else. The wolves have this thing where if they come across their true soul mate they fall in love at first sight. They say it feels as though your world doesn't revolve around the sun anymore, but that person. I was walking down the aisle and he looked at my best friend. That's all in took one look. He walked up to me and whispered that he was sorry and picked her up in his arms. It just wasn't fair. It was the first time they'd met and Jake loved her more than he'd ever loved me. That's when I ran away. It didn't really know what I was going to do other than escape. The plan didn't really form in my head till I reached the cliff. I was getting ready to jump when you arrived. But I'm glad you did. You gave me a second chance of life." I reached my hand up to my eye and I was surprised, there were no tears.

"Vampires can't cry" Edward said to me. Then he held out his hand and asked.

"Ready?" I nodded and took hold of his hand.