CHAPTER 24

"What the hell have you done to her, Cullen?" he demanded, barging up against Edward. My lip curled and I snarled at the man squaring up to my maker. Edward on the other hand seemed unfazed by the aggressor.

"You knew this was a possibility, Jacob," he said, calmly.

"No, what I know is that in one breath you are refusing to change her and in the next she is a fully fledged vampire full from her first kill!"

"Jake," I started and he whirled round to face me, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Shit, look at you, Bella! How could you let him do this to you?"

"Because if James comes for me, I need to be able to protect myself," I said, folding my arm across my chest and meeting his eyes. Jacob gave a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his black hair and then nodded curtly.

"I can see you've found an excuse, Cullen, but I can't help but think there's more to it than keeping her safe. I've managed to keep her safe the last three years without changing her into some damned supernatural being! She doesn't need this shit on top of everything else. Do you know how difficult newborns can be; how unpredictable they can be?"

"She is doing very well up to now," said Edward, smoothly. Jacob took a step forwards, towards me and I stared at him, as if seeing him for the first time. His arms bulged with muscle and his chest was perfectly sculpted. His stomach had the most perfect six pack and my eyes followed a thin line of black hair down from his navel, curiously. Having just phased, Jacob was completely naked. Jacob followed my eyes and flushed beet red.

"Like what you see?" he suddenly bit out. I met his eyes without a flinch and felt a surge of lust.

"Very much," I replied, my voice husky suddenly. Jacob's eyes widened as I took a step towards him, but then Edward grabbed my wrist tightly and forced me to look up into his black eyes.

"Isabella, keep your eyes off of him. He is not for you," he growled.

"But he is so beautiful," I breathed, my eyes finding Jacob again, who was standing staring at me as if I had grown another head.

"Bells, I'd be flattered if it weren't for the whole newborn vampire thing, but seriously..."

"I want him," I said, stubbornly looking up at Edward. Edward growled again low in his throat and his eyes narrowed to slits.

"Jacob, could you excuse us for a moment? Perhaps meet us back at the house. Esme will make you welcome."

Jacob looked from Edward to me and then held his hands up in surrender.

"Sure thing. You made the problem, you sort it out," he said. He glanced back over his shoulder and then phased into a wolf before galloping towards the house. Edward kept a tight hold of my wrist as Jacob vanished and then began to circle me, his eyes never leaving my face.

"You don't frighten me," I said, after a lengthy silence in which Edward had continued to prowl around me, as if ready to pounce.

"Is that so, Isabella?" he asked, his voice deceptively quiet. I felt a shiver, but managed to squash it before he could see. "You need to control your base instincts a lot better than that."

"Why?" I asked. "Why didn't you just let me have him?" My voice sounded a bit whiny now and I shook my head, as if trying to clear it. My entire body and mind were fixed on the lust that had rushed through me when I looked at Jacob.

"Because, Isabella, you are mine. And no one else will have you, ever."

My eyes narrowed as a surge of defiance swept through me, before the Bella I had been before the change fought inside my head for some attention. A wave of embarrassment swept through me as I pictured Jacob's face; the man who to all intents and purposes was a brother to me.

"Shit, Jacob!" I suddenly exclaimed and covered my face with my hands.

"While I share your sentiments, Isabella, some control over your language would be appreciated," he said, smoothly.

"Edward, what is happening to me?" I asked, feeling panic welling inside me. He laughed, darkly.

"You are vampire now, Isabella and all your darker instincts will come to the surface. The person you thought you were is still there, but she will be guided by the side of yourself you have always consciously repressed. The more animalistic side of your nature shall we say?"

"Are you mad with me?" I asked, looking up to find him standing directly in front of me, his eyes meeting mine forcefully. His expression was closed though, giving nothing away, bar the blackness of his eyes, which suggested some sinister emotions just beneath the surface.

"We shall see how you answer this question, Isabella. Who do you belong to?"

"You, Edward," I mumbled, bowing my head. But he tilted my face back up to him and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"The next time you feel such carnal emotions, remember that the only person you give in to those emotions with is me. I am your maker and any decision about whom you share your desires with is mine to make. Are we clear on that?"

"Yes, Edward," I murmured, feeling surprisingly subservient. He nodded and let go of me.

"Come, we will return to the house. And remember what I said; if you feel that you cannot keep your emotions in check, tell me." He sounded so stern that I looked away and nodded. Edward sighed and then spoke again, very quietly. "Isabella, I still love you, but I have to help you get control quickly. You are doing really well, but we cannot afford for any slip ups. I need you strong and ready to fight, because he will come for you and I want you to be ready."

I simply nodded, his words giving me some comfort, but already the vampire in me was fighting to regain control, pushing against me at the mention of James, ready to fight him now, whatever the consequences. But I repressed the urge to run and followed my maker.

We entered to find Jacob sat clothed at the table in the dining area, with Esme and Carlisle. They were deep in conversation and didn't seem to notice us come in.

"Where is James?" Edward's sudden question made Jacob give a sharp intake of breath and then he shook his head.

"We've lost him. When we went got into the house, there was a kid in there, wearing his jacket. That's where the scent came from. He had been in there but was somehow able to get in and out without us seeing him. I can't tell you how he managed that."

"He was desperate for Bella's blood; I am sure he was able to formulate plans that would allow him to exit his self-imposed prison in order to get to her," replied Edward.

Jacob glanced across at me and his skin reddened again. He pushed his chair back and got to his feet.

"Thanks for the drink, Esme," he said, politely. "I should get back on patrol. I'll see you later." He paused when he reached me and I looked up at him, before ducking my head.

"Sorry, Jake," I mumbled. Jacob smiled down at me and placed his thumb under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"Hey, Bells, it's fine. I know I'm irresistible to women." He grinned and I giggled, softly. "Stay safe, ok?"

"Ok," I murmured, watching as he disappeared out the door. Edward's hand tightened over mine briefly.

"It's ok, they won't let him get to you," he said.

"Let him come," I said, my heart filling with such a rush of hatred that it nearly caused me to stumble. "I am not the frightened little girl he left."

"Indeed you are not," said Esme, getting up from the table with a warm smile. She crossed the room and embraced me.

"Amazing for a newborn. Edward, you must be so proud!" said Carlisle, staring at me. Edward looked across at me from the corner of his eye, but didn't respond to his father's comment.

"I need to hunt," he said. "But she needs watching very carefully. She does have admirable control, but the slightest thing could tip the balance. I would suggest that you take her into the basement, so that you have the option of locking her in if she becomes too much of a handful."

"I don't need locking away!" I protested, feeling a wave of anger mingled with panic sweep through me.

"You will do as I say," said Edward, sternly.

"It might be for the best, dear. I will come with you," said Esme. "Come on. Edward will not be gone long."

"Fine," I huffed and followed her down to the basement, glancing over my shoulder to see Edward looking at me through hooded eyes. I was thankful for my improved hearing as I overheard him and Carlisle speaking quietly as I was led away.

"She is doing amazingly well, Edward. How have you achieved such control?"

"I remembered how you told me you changed Esme," he replied, quietly. "That you held her in your arms as she made the transition and it made your bond stronger. I hate having to be this way with her though."

"Newborns crave a strong leader, Edward," countered Carlisle.

"I know, but I don't want her to hate me or worse fear me," he said.

"Edward she loves you; remember she may be a vampire now but she is still Bella. She is still the girl you fell in love with and the girl you would risk everything for."

"I know that; but will she see me as the man she fell in love with or the vampire who changed her?" His voice was so full of sadness that I nearly turned back up the stairs, but then my shoulders slumped. He would see my reappearance as defiance of what he had asked me to do and most probably force me into the basement, locking the door behind him; all he saw was the animal-like vampire I had become, not the girl who was still in here, despite the changes to her body and her mind.