EPOV

The woman vampire ripped off the head of the so called John and my family and I stood there aghast. Who is this woman? She had long mahogany hair which covered her face. She was taller than Alice but shorter than Rosalie and she was really thin, sickly thin. I have never seen a vampire look so… ill. She trembled all over and fidgeted nervously looking to the floor where John's body lay.

Seeing this strange woman in this state caused strange feeling stir within me that I was not able to clearly identify. I felt sorry for the girl, I wanted to do something for her. I felt a strong urge to go to her.

"Um … are you… are you alright, miss?" my father asked the girl. I waited eagerly for her response, wishing she would look up so I could see her face clearly. During the fight she had been filled with rage, her eyes had burned and she had almost been beaten. My family had been to shocked to do anything to help. She didn't answer Carlisle, but remained silent. That's I realized I couldn't hear her thoughts, at all. My eyes widened and I opened mouth to ask her who exactly she was when I saw Jasper walk confidently towards her.

"She's a newborn. Don't get to close, she is hostile and dangerous." He approached cautiously and the woman growled low in her chest. She shook even harder.

"Jasper don't!" I yelled and he stopped looking at me in surprise. I had surprised myself, but I didn't want him to go near her. I took a step toward her and her eyes snapped up to meet mine. I froze. My world stopped and my mouth fell open as I stared at who I now know is my mate.

Jasper shook his head at me, "What's wrong with you?"

I didn't register what he said, I sped up to the girl, Isabella, as quickly as possible. I went to grab her and she gasped in surprise. She jumped back before I could get her, and snarled at me, lowing into a crouch. I looked at her in shock. Never had I heard of a vampire rejecting their mate. Ever.

"Edward… stand back," said Carlisle. My family was confused at my behavior. Isabella, my beautiful mate, was growling at me! I growled back at her hostility. "Stop it."

She didn't stop, she backed away from me, searching for an exit. "I won't hurt you, I want to help you" I said.

She laughed, "Don't come near me" she croaked.

"Isabella…"

"Don't call me that, you fucker! Bella! It's Bella! What, were his friend?!" she screeched, pointing at John.

I snarled, "I would never befriend him. Stop this now, let me help you, Bella."

"Edward, don't provoke her, this isn't how we should handle this!" Jasper yelled, astounded at my behavior. But I didn't care, Bella was my mate. She was hurting, and I had to help her. I was enraged at how she had been treated, and angry at how she was behaving towards me, her mate!

I went towards her as she was backed up against the wall, she snarled and I growled a warning at her. She looked around, eyeing Alice who was near to her and went to grab her, trying to hold her hostage, but Alice was too quick and got away from her grasp. Jasper growled loudly, earning a growl from me targeted at him who threatened my mate. I continued to get closer and closer to her.

"Don't come near me! Let me leave!" I closed the gap between us and she growled and lunged at me, going for my neck. I gasped, startled, I stumbled backwards as she bit down, hard. I pushed her and her light body flung backwards. She hit the wall and I stared open mouthed, worry gripping my heart. Oh God, I don't want to hurt her. I went to see if she was alright but she lunged again, raising her arm to hit me. I caught it easily, she was very weak in her starved state. I looked into her coal black eyes and pushed her arm back towards her, holding firm. As her arm neared her face, her eyes widened. She gasped and let out a strangled cry filled with pain. Her knees buckled and she threw her head back, trying to get away from her arm frantically. I realized it was still covered in human blood. She was resisting it, and she was in pain.

"Oh no… Bella!" I held her to me, apologizing profusely. Why was this happening? She trembled in my arms and gasped over and over again. She tried to claw at her throat but I stopped her, looking to Carlisle alarmed.

"Carlisle, please! She needs to feed!"

"…no…" she gasped.

"We will go get something for her, Edward," Alice assured me, grabbing Jasper and headed towards the door. Alice had been hiding something from me in her thoughts recently, and I realized that this was it. She knew I would meet my mate. That was why she wanted to let John in and talk to him.

I held Bella to me as she groaned in pain. She blinked her beautiful eyes over and over again rapidly, not focusing on anything.

"Edward…" Esme whispered amazed. "Is this…?"

"Yes," I said. "She is my mate."

Carlisle looked at me and from his thoughts I could tell he was both happy and worried for me and Bella, my beautiful Bella. "Edward, may I examine her?"

I looked up at Carlisle wearily, I trusted him more than anyone, but I was newly mated and felt the urge to protect her at all costs. I beat the irrational instinct down and growled at myself and the situation as I nodded look at Bella. Carlisle approached and shone a pen light into her eyes. They were black as night and did not focus on the light as she shook. Carlisle gently lifted her face and examined her neck, then pried open her mouth to check her throat but she snapped it shut almost taking off his fingers. I looked at Carlisle expectantly.

"I've never seen anything like this, she is obviously very hungry, who knows when the last time she fed was." I only nodded.

Soon I heard Alice and Jasper approaching. They had brought a large buck, and two deer for Bella. I looked at Bella, she was in so much pain, her thin body covered in dirt and jerking violently in my arms. I stood with her in my arms and headed for the yard. Emmet smiled and said, "Time for Bella to get a nice big meal!" he laughed. I stepped out the door and the smell of blood hit us. Bella lurched at the smell and screamed.

"NO! No, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

"Bella it's okay, calm down." Esme said worry etching her voice.

"Bella, please listen, you'll be alright, trust me."

She screamed again, "I won't trust you! I'll starve if I want! NO!"

I brought her weakly struggling body to the animals as she closed her eyes screaming.

"I've never seen anything like this, never seen such restraint," whispered Carlisle.

I crouched down to the animal and its blood, putting some on my hand, I held it up to Bella's lips. She gasped, becoming still but breathing hard. "It's okay," I said, smearing it on her lips. Her tongue darted out and she moaned at the taste of the blood. I set her down closer to the animal, and with closed eyes, she drained it. Half way through the last animal, she opened her eyes and finished with shock covering her face.

She was quiet for a moment, and she looked slowly up at us. "They're not human," she whispered. We all laughed at bit at that.

"How could you think they were?" Rosalie asked.

Bella stood up, ignoring her question and looked towards the forest line. "…John?"

"We burned his body," Emmet stated happily. Bella shuddered.

"Good."

We were all quiet.

"…Why did you do it?" Jasper asked.

"Because he was a terrible person," I said staring at Bella. I approached her and reached out to her. She growled at me and I froze in shock. I thought after she ate, she would accept me.

"Why-" I began angrily.

"Because," she interrupted, "You called me your mate, you don't even know me. John called me his mate, and he ruined my life."

"I'm not John and he wasn't your mate! I heard his thoughts, he wanted you for his own selfish purposes."

I have not met many other vampires, but I know how male vampires get when they mate. I don't want to be possessed. I want freedom. You can never own me, I am my own person."

I stared in shock at her. "I… I belong to you, Bella. You hold my heart, you are the reason for my existence, I feel it. You don't?" I knew she had to. We were connected. We had a bond that would transcend time. Mates could not ignore that.

"You don't even know me," she hissed.

"It is true we have just met, and this is your choice. You can choose to leave. I stepped towards her, getting even closer and she growled. This is only the first phase, we will get to know each other, learn about each other. We have an instinctual need for one another, and both you and I will grow and know and love each other. That's what mates are."

BPOV

"That's what mates are," he said.

"Ha!" I scoffed. "Thank you all for your help, and I'm sorry about your house and the trouble I caused, but I don't trust you. I want my freedom. I don't even know your names."

"I'm Edward," he said. I looked him up and down. He was beautiful. He looked tense and he kept running his hand through his bronze hair. Fear and worry colored his eyes. Was he afraid of my rejection? I did feel a connection with him. A connection I never had with John. I wanted to be close to him, and when I was in his arms I felt content. But I was afraid to trust my feelings.

"Please," he begged, "give me a chance."

I observed him, torn. I could stay with this family. I did not want to be alone. But I didn't want to leave one so called mate for another messed up life with strangers I had just met. Edward must have seen my hesitation, he came forward and took a hold of my arms, pulling me towards him. I growled and he growled back. I snarled and ripped my arm away. He captured me in his embrace, and the contact filled my aching body with pleasure and content. I felt relief from all the pain. I pushed away suddenly and he whimpered. I gasped for air and growled.

"Bella, my name is Esme," she said approaching me slowly and introducing the rest of her family. "I realize this is a big adjustment, you've been through a lot, and we don't know the whole story. But please, we would love to give you a safe place to stay a while, we can show you how we hunt, and you can bathe. We will give you some of your own clean clothes," she smiled. "If you ever choose to leave, we won't stop you…"

Edward growled frustrated.

"…But Edward might follow you. It's in our nature. Will you please stay and allow us to get to know you a little bit?"

Carlisle looked at his wife with pure love, happy she was able to calm down the situation and offer Bella a safe place.

I looked at the family and at Edward. I trembled, I don't want to be alone. I wanted to know more about their diet and lifestyle choices. They acted almost human. Maybe… maybe I could stay. Deep down a small voice said "You mean stay with Edward." I looked over at him and was filled with the desire to be near him. I took a deep breath, tucking the feeling away. "Okay, if it's alright… and if you won't force me to do anything…"

Edward smiled softly and reached out for her hand. He brushed her hand with his and she tensed for a moment but curiously allowed it. It's going to be okay. "I'm sorry… about the fight."

"It's fine Emmet piped up laughing. "Gave us a good show."

We started back towards the house to go inside. "Will you answer some of my questions, Bella? I'm very curious about how you were able to go so long without feeding," Carlisle asked.

I looked at him cautiously. "…Sure, I guess." He smiled at me.

I felt an arm go around my waist and I jumped and growled lowly. Then I felt how comfortable the contact made me and looked up to see Edward's dark eyes gazing down at me. I felt better, fuller, the shaking has stopped but I was still edgy. He leaned down and whispered, "Can I give you the tour and talk with you in private perhaps?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. He was very polite, as if he was from another era. I nodded slowly and he smiled.

"How old are you exactly?" the one named Jasper asked. He had been able to tell I was a newborn before. Should I tell him? I don't think it would hurt. "I was turned three years ago.

Esme gasped, "So young…" she mused.

I felt Edward breathe in deeply my scent and he stroked the side of my waist as he watched me with dark eyes. A lump rose into my throat and I hoped I was making the right decision as I stepped into the home of the vampire who proclaimed his love for me.