I could see the vibrations of the glass in the window shaking with the roll of thunder that was fading away in the south. The wind was beating hard against the walls, the lights attempting to flicker on only to fade back down. Bella murmured my name in her sleep, twisting in my arms as her warm body pressed into my coldness. I felt everything. The brush of her thighs against me, her breasts pressed into my chest as I felt myself trying to contain my hand motions. She sighed contently, her forehead sprinkled with the sweat due to the hot air clinging into the room. I wrapped my arm around her, rubbing my hand across her forehead and down her cheek. Her body chilled, her lips puckering as I laughed, crossing my thumb past her bottom lip.

She settled back into a peaceful sleep, just as the lights flickered to life. The bedside lamp shined against her bare body and it took every small amount of strength I could gather up not to touch her. The ceiling fan began blowing, the air conditioning quickly changing the temperature of the room as Bella now tugged on the covers over her body. I leaned down to kiss her temple, just before my phone began vibrating against my pocket.

I made my way to the balcony just outside of the bathroom, the slight sliver of sun peaking just above the ocean as the phone in my hand pressed to my ear.

"The plan worked. Victoria is in Canada with the rogue." Alec said quickly.

"Who did you hear this from?"

"Eleazar. He was hunting in the woods, came across the rogue – Riley. Said he could smell Victoria's blood on him. Fresh." Alec replied.

"She is dead?" I asked, hopeful.

"No."

"Then she is Riley's donor."

"Riley is a rogue, Edward. Donors mean nothing to him. I'm sure Victoria is just a distraction. But I am sure she is dangling something over his head. Something… He wants." Alec said.

"What are you trying to say?" I snapped.

"He is a tracker, Edward." The words forced my fingers to crunch against the metal of the railing, it creaking in protest as it twisted within seconds. My jaw was taut, my chest broadening and my eyes turned and narrowed at the door. I could hear Bella waking, her lips producing soft mewls as she stretched her hands over her head. I felt her from here, her light touching across me and forcing me to relax. I sighed and slumped my shoulders, leaning against the slightly broken railing.

"Are you certain?" I asked.

"Yes… You know how trackers are. They will go after anything they want. And they will find it. One way or another." Alec said.

"Why does he want Bella?!" I growled.

"It's a scent, Edward. No one can explain it. Victoria some how coaxed him to her and he liked what he saw. Victoria is orchestrating the whole thing. She knows how to play this game." He said strongly. "The only way we can stop this is eliminating the both of them."

"The first plan worked. We can devise another, we can send another human in Bella's clothing… We will keep them off our trail." I began.

"It will only delay the inevitable; we need to take action – now. Eleazar has them in his domain, we can ambush." Alec hissed through his teeth. "The more we send humans in her clothes, the more risks we make. They will catch on, Edward. And Riley will find her. Trackers always find their mark."

"I can't leave her yet. I just got here." My voice was in shambles – I was being weak.

"Do not be so selfish, Edward. Don't you understand? If you want her, you need to break free of these chains. You will always have someone after you. Whether it is Victoria or Aro. But you can take one out effortlessly. It won't take long if we take action soon." He stressed, my eyes closing as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"How long?" I asked through my teeth.

"However long it takes." He simply stated.

"How long, Alec." I snarled.

"I'll give you less then a week. Riley will stick around. Her scent is still lingering." He said. "When the sun sets next Saturday, I will meet you in Denali. Destroy this phone."

The line disconnected, the storm rumbled quietly in the distance as I brought my phone to my palm, squeezing it in my grip as it crumbled to pieces.

-TSIPWR-

"Good morning," The doe-eyed girl whispered sleepily, pressing her forehead into my neck. We stood out on the deck, my body had not moved until I heard her coming to me. She was wrapped in the white sheet, her bare toes pressed to the wet wood as her rosy cheeks were filled with blood. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her waist, bringing her closer to my chest.

"Good morning." I whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I did. You kept me very cooled. Thank you." She said, leaning forward onto the tips of her toes to kiss me. I smiled against her warm lips, my fingers tracing along the veins that pulsed with blood under the skin of her wrists. She mewled and brought her arms around my neck, pressing harder against me.

"You only just woke up. Aren't you at least hungry?" I asked her with a chuckle. She shook her head and played with the hair at the nape of my neck. "You are delirious." I grinned and she laughed, pulling away to stare out to the ocean. Her fingers reached out, touching the edge of the railing where the metal curved inwards and outwards, shards sticking as pieces were broken and fallen off.

"What happened?" She whispered, trailing her fingers along the black rod of the railing that stuck out in the opposite direction than it was supposed to.

"Nothing." I whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Let's go make you some breakfast."

"Edward." She stated firmly, looking back to me. "Did you do this?"

Her jaw was tight, her brows furrowed and her lips curved with worry. She was as feral as a kitten, though she knew how to use her claws. I smiled at her weakly, touching her arms but feeling her pull away. The action was nothing to get upset over, but I felt the hole in my chest become heavier than usual, the primal monster inside of me growling at her lack of affection.

"Please don't pull away from me." I begged, closing my eyes.

"What's going on? Why did you do this? Did something happen?" She asked, leaving me no room to wiggle out free from her questions. "Edward, answer me."

"It's being taken care of, alright? Do not worry." I told her, grasping her chin gently into my hands.

"I'm tired of everything being kept from me. Please… Just let me in." She begged, bringing her warm hands to cover mine. "Do you not see me as an equal?"

"Of course I do." I growled.

"Then you will tell me why you are so angry. Tell me why you had to do this to my beautiful deck railing." She gaped, looking back to the deck.

"Your deck railing?" I smirked impishly.

"Well this is my new home, right?" I asked.

"Yes." I answered.

"Then so, it is my deck railing. And I do not appreciate you destroying it." She said strongly and I grinned, bringing her closer to me as I kissed her openly on the mouth. Her lips were warm against mine, her breath minty and cool as I could feel her heat against mine. "Stop…" She said, setting her hand onto my chest. "Edward please tell me what is going on."

"I don't want you to worry." I sighed, pressing my forehead against her own. Bella brought her head down, pressing it to the crook of my neck as I ran my fingers through her hair.

"I'm already worrying." She whispered. I kissed the side of her head eagerly, my lips slipping down to her ear as I kissed her lobe.

"You have to promise me when I tell you this you will not be hurt. Or angry." I said to her, feeling her tiny fingers grip my shirt. She nodded her head and murmured a soft yes. I kissed her temple, and pulled her to me. "I have to leave again. I do not know for how long. Victoria and Riley are in Canada. Alec and I agreed to meet, to eliminate them."

"Eliminate?" She sighed deeply.

"Kill them, Bella. It is the only way." I told her.

"When do you leave?" She whispered, avoiding eye contact.

"Saturday." I said softly.

"Saturday?" She said breathlessly, "That… That wasn't very long." Her voice was meek and soft, her interior breaking, tears streaming in her eyes.

"I don't want to leave you, Bella. But… I have to make sure your safe. If I do not go after them soon, they will disappear again." I brushed her hair behind her ear. "I'll come back. It will be a short trip. And Esme and Carlisle will come to stay with you."

"It's not the same." She said, holding in a staggering breath. I brought her to me, holding her in my arms as she shivered. I nodded my head as my fingers trailed down her spine, kissing her hair attentively.

"The sooner this is over, the sooner we can be together. In the way we both want." I whispered, watching as her head came up, her big brown eyes uncovering the truth behind it. "I know what you want, Isabella." I said softly, my voice tentative and seductive. "You want me in the same ways I want you. Withering and moaning my name…" My fingers brushed down the side of her face, her breathing hitching as her eyes close. "We will be together wholly. But I have to do this. Do you trust me?"

She sharply nodded her head, her hands gripping harder at my waist. At the time my hands had trailed down to her sides, running up along her breast and her hips. Her breathing was off balance, her pupils dilated with her lust that over came her. I used my sexual frustration to channel into hers, I sent the vibrations racking through her body as she gripped me tightly.

"You are… Doing this on purpose… So I won't ask anymore questions…" Her voice was soft and breathless. I smirked at her eagerness to catch on and was enamored with her brightness.

"You are very smart." I whispered, kissing her jaw line. "You need to know nothing else. I promise." Her neck was pulsing with the beat of her heart, her eyes rolling back as my lips pressed hard to her mark. "This is not a ploy to get you to stop questioning… You should know that when you are around me it is hard to control my urges…" I growled against her neck, hearing her throat let out a guttural moan. "I want you forever, any way I can take you… For now it will be only to please you and nothing more."

"Edward…" She cried as I gripped onto her a little tighter, whisking her away to the bedroom. Everything of the phone call was forgotten, the broken railing disappearing from my mind when I had the vision of Bella's naked form in front of me.

Short update, trying to squeeze in a few before the holidays.

As far as I know you all *SHOULD* be able to review now. Sometimes when deleting a chapter it sets everything back and it was just a huge mess. So sorry to anyone who could not review, but know that if there is a problem like that again you can always review as a guest.

If you are on twitter and have not followed me well then - what the fuck is wrong with you? ;) slash Isisivy

I will try and get another chapter in before the holidays but no promises. Things are going to start rolling soon, though. So glad you are still on this journey with me. Happy Holidays to all, enjoy lots of food, love & family time.

xoxo

ii