Chapter 3

"Sit." Alice ordered, gesturing toward a couch, where Jesse and Lydia sat. Lydia smiled relieved, as I sat beside her, but I could feel Jesse's glare from the other side of her. For the most part I ignored him and watched as the yellow eyed vampires—now added with four more—surrounded us.

"Welcome young ones," A blond, yellow eyed vampire said warmly.

"Who are you?" I snapped. "What do you want with us?"

"I'm Carlisle and this is Esme," The blonde vampire said calmly, gesturing to a caramel haired vampire at his side. " You know Edward, Bella, Alice and Jasper. Your friends met Rosalie and Emmett."

I scowled as he gestured toward a curly haired male and a beautiful blond female. I didn't understand why they couldn't just leave us alone.

"We only want to help you." Esme said— her soft caramel curls draped over her shoulder.

"We wouldn't be held hostage if you were going to help us." I muttered sourly. I had to watch my thoughts—Edward was suddenly there. Bella stood beside him watching us curiously.

"Why is Xavier chasing you?" Edward suddenly asked. I stared wide eyed at Edward and then turned on Lydia. She was staring at Edward eyes wide and frightened.

"Keep your thoughts in check!" I growled low, dangerous. She cowered away from me.

"No need to get angry." Carlisle soothed.

I turned on him. "Would you mind your own business."

"Like Esme said we are only here to help," Edward said calmly "You're young, and apparently you have someone after you."

"Well it's none of your business." I said curtly, standing. "If you don't mind we will be going."

"As you wish." Carlisle said placing his hand on Edward's shoulder—he had opened his mouth to object.

Lydia stood tentatively, but Jesse sat stubbornly.

"What kind of help would that require?" He asked ignoring my glower.

"Anything you want." Carlisle said quickly.

"If we asked to temporally join your family, will you help us get rid of our pursuer?" Jesse suggested. "If you do we won't touch a single human in this town and including Bella. After Xavier is destroyed we will leave, but will be your allies. When you need us we will be here."

My jaw dropped at his proposal. The very thought of being allies or even having their protection made me sick. They took my meal away from me twice. Now Jesse was proposing not touching any human in town.

I watched Carlisle eyes glance at Edward. He stared down at Bella and back at Jesse. Edward's face took on a studiously expression. He glanced at me with a smile on his face.

"If you want we could show you a way to hunt while you're here. You won't be as strong but it's efficient." Edward said directly to me. "That is the only way we could have you stay."

"That's fine." Jesse said before I could even form the word 'no'.

"Could I have a word with you alone, Jesse?" I said as pleasantly as I could, but my eyes were blazing. Jesse stared at me evenly.

We both flashed out of the house and into the forest.

"What is that all about?" I yelled.

"Knowing you and your hardhead… I decided to save our butts." Jesse said calmly.

"You had no right!"

"Of saving your life? Xavier has returned on our path, he is four days before he catches up to us." He said sharply. I froze at this statement.

"We'll run…" I said, hearing my own unsure voice made me bite down on my lower lip.

"He's coming faster than originally. I think he might have picked up a couple of trackers." Jesse said, forcing me to stare into his eyes. "This family is all we have to become free."

I bit down harder on my lip. What he said was absolutely, positively right, but my body rejected it completely. It wasn't in my nature to trust other vampires—other than Jesse and Lydia. It was our freedom at stake now.

"All right," I said with a sigh. "But do we have to do everything they ask?"

"Remember, freedom." Jesse said with a smile.

"Yes…..freedom." I said slowly. I loved the way it rolled off my tongue. Freedom.