A/N: Hey guys! So, if you haven't checked out my profile in the last half hour, note the sarcasm, you'll now see that I've changed my updating technique/schedule. In any case, that means more chapters for you, yay! Anyways, sorry about the long wait, and here's the next chapter.

Chapter Five

The three trails crisscrossed each other through the trees, before making a sharp turn, following after the invisible trail of raspberries and sunshine. My beast and I were in agreement when I felt the tug on my skin. I would protect what was mine.

Bella

I crouched low to the ground, claws digging into the dirt below me as I propelled my body forward. My sunshine and raspberries was growing closer, the scent on the tip of my tongue, keeping my human mind close.

I noted as I ran, the strangeness of being aware as the beast. All times before when I changed, my human consciousness was cast aside to drift in empty space, but now, I was in complete control.

My running slowed as I approached a clearing, ears twitching to pick up sounds in the area. My beast knew the sound of the unknowns, the near silent thrum of the liquid that ran through their bodies. Now that I was beast, its memories flooded me, settling into the blanks in my thoughts. It remembered tearing through granite flesh and tasting sweet venom flow. I was glad to know that my body was capable of protecting her.

My thoughts were punctured by the sharp grinding that was quickly labeled as ripping limbs. I surged forward, my eyes taking in the scene before me in moments.

A redhead was hovering over her, venom still dripping from sharp teeth from where they had ripped my girl's arm off.

Red immediately clouded my vision as I tackled the closest body to me, jaws crunching easily through my opponent's neck as my claws raked across his chest. My chest heaved as I slowly turned towards the redhead crouched in front of mine. The beast and I roared, saliva flying out of our mouth as we bared our teeth at this thing that dared to touch ours.

The redhead screamed and lunged at me, but my large hand swatted her to the side with ease. She stood up, clutching the gashes before she darted to the side, pulling another enemy with her, abandoning her fallen comrade. We stood on our hind two feet as our vision cleared, glaring at the spot that they disappeared in, before raspberries and sunshine wafted towards us.

Inhaling deeply, we, no I, turned to the girl, looking down at her. Tears pricked in my eyes as I noticed her torn arm again. I walked closer to her, attempting to appear less threatening. She scrambled away from me, trying desperately to move backwards, but not getting far enough before I was right in front of her.

My heart ached at the fear in her eyes, and I felt another skin beneath my own. My human self.

I imagined pulling it around me, like a cloak, and slowly but surely, I felt myself shrink back into a human.

Alice

I could feel my body trembling as I stared in horror at the Beast. It had plowed through James, ripping off his head as though it had been smushing butter. I whimpered quietly as it easily flung Victoria into the trees. And she ran. And Laurent ran.

The Beast stiffened and turned towards me, as if remembering I was there. The pain in my arm was agony, but I still tried to run away. Staring into its large eyes, I scrambled backwards, stopping when my good arm slipped out from under me.

Well, this is goodbye, I thought. Jasper and Nash would be killed, just like I was about to be.

But as I watched, its skin rippled, fur melting away to reveal a woman underneath with tears streaming down her face and powdered sugar playing with the air around her.

I gasped even as I continued to examine her, my eyes trailing down the soft curves of her body before meeting her hazel eyes. There was so much pain in those eyes.

Her mouth opened, before she shut it again, a frustrated expression on her face. She motioned to my twitching arm, lying on the ground off to the side, before gesturing towards where I was lying.

I tilted my head. What was she… Oh. I nodded as I waited for her to bring me my arm. She immediately was crouched by my side, arm in hand. I blinked at how fast she had moved, but shook it off.

The sting of my healing cleared my head fully and my eyes whipped up to look at my savior suspiciously. She was the Beast. She was the monster that murdered thousands of innocent people and vampires. She was the reason my family was going to die. So why did my arm tingle and flush where her skin made contact with it. Why was I anxiously waiting for her eyes to look back into mine, to see into her soul?

As if reading my mind, her eyes flickered up, away from where she was tenderly holding my arm, locking with mine.

I smiled softly at her. "Thank you."

Her eyes widened at my words, and she shook her head vehemently.

I placed my hand on her shoulder and stared into her eyes, trying to convey my feelings. "Thank you for saving me. I mean it."

She sighed. I flexed my fingers slowly, testing how well my arm had healed. It seemed to be fine.

A hand was put in front of my face. I glanced up and notice her standing in front of me, looking down expectantly.

I put my hand in hers and hauled myself up. I brushed off my pants and looked up at her, holding out my hand as she had a moment ago.

"Hi, I'm Alice. What's your name?"

She glanced warily at my waiting appendage before carefully placing her own in mine. Her slender fingers squeezed mine lightly as she shook my hand.

Her voice came out low and quiet, but I heard it nonetheless.

"Bella."

A/N: Finally, the next chapter! Woohoo. I know it's somewhat short, but hopefully I'll be updating more so this shouldn't be a problem. Please let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions. Hopefully someone's still reading this :3

-Ally