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TPOV

"If you think for one second that I'm going to let you anywhere near Bella, you're a bigger idiot than I thought," I spat as soon we were out of earshot.

I usually liked to communicate with Edward through my thoughts but it seemed like vocal yelling would just be more satisfying right now.

"Tanya, I really care about Bella," Edward said trying to be earnest but I just saw it as pathetic.

"Oh please Edward," I scoffed crossing my arms over my chest. "Are you serious? Do you really want to go that route with me?" I asked incredulously. "I've heard it all before and I'll do everything in my power to keep Bella from having to hear those same lies!"

Edward sighed and shook his head. He took a step closer to me but I took a step back. I wouldn't give him the chance to charm me into submission, dazzle me into surrendering. If he had the slightest opening, I knew he would take it, and he would succeed. Edward always had been and probably always would be my weakness.

"Tanya I'm not going to use her!" Edward exclaimed.

"You aren't? Because I can totally see your angle. Really, Edward I get it. Bella's so pretty. Her face so lovely and angelic but her personality passionate and fierce. So small yet so strong and fast. I understand your desire for her but Edward please don't do this. She's my sister for Christ sake! She may not always seem like it but she's innocent and I won't allow her to be your next play thing!" I said.

"I was a dick to you Tanya. I know that but I won't be that way with Bella. She's special and I've never felt this way about anyone before. I wouldn't hurt her," Edward replied.

I couldn't help but feel stung by his words. He had, had no problem hurting me. The wound was still fresh and I didn't want to hear about him having feelings for anyone else. It wasn't so long ago that I was the person he was saying he cared about. I knew that they were lies but I had believed them. I wouldn't make that mistake again and endanger Bella's feelings. Edward was a great liar. I had been sorely disappointed upon learning that about him but I was glad now. I could save Bella from him.

"I'm not the villain you're trying to make me out as! Please understand that it was never my intention to hurt you. I would have stayed with you. I really did and still do enjoy your company," he told me. "I was lonely Tanya, I've been alone for over a century...," he began but I cut him off.

"A century? You think it's okay to use people because you've been lonely for a measly century! Carlisle was alone over three hundred years before he met Esme and he never used anyone! I've been alone for a fucking millennia and I've never used anyone!" I yelled starting to really get pissed off.

Did he really think that was a good excuse?

"You didn't have to live around three mated couples either, Tanya! And I won't believe for one second that you were lonely! Because actually you do use people! You've used thousands of men! You and your sisters go out, find men, get off, and move on!" Edward yelled.

I never made a real conscious decision to slap him but that's exactly what I did. I didn't even realize what had happened until I felt the slight sting in my palm.

"One, we find men that we actually do like and carry on real relationships for as long as we are able. Two, just because I don't choose to sit around and mope about not having someone to share eternity with doesn't mean I'm not lonely. Three, Bella fucking hates you. She could see how big of a prick you were before she even met you! You don't have a shot in hell with her! She wouldn't touch you to save her own life!" I seethed.

I replayed every negative word Bella had said about him in my head. I watched the dismay that settled over his features as he saw it all. I wasn't ashamed to say that I got a sick satisfaction out of it. I was glad that I could hurt him back.

"You stay away from her, Edward. Bella deserves someone with way more than you have to offer. You're just a pretty face and while that may be good enough for you I know that Bella is looking for something real. I don't want to hurt you Edward, but for her I will," I said before storming off.

EPOV

I didn't want to believe Tanya but all the memories she had of Bella talking about me were true. I couldn't always tell the difference when someone tried to show me fabricated memories. I wanted to be sure that Bella was my mate but really it just didn't seem like it could really be true. I didn't have much reason to believe that it was. Proof of Bella's feelings for me was hard to come by and I was starting to think that Esme may have been mistaken.

When I got back to the house, I could hear in the minds of my family that there was some kind of trip to a beach being planned. I didn't really feel like going but Bella was and I couldn't pass the opportunity to see her wet and in a bikini. I knew that alone time with Bella was going to be hard to come by with Tanya on the case now but I was still going to try. I had to.

We all piled into cars with tons of crap for the trip. It was cold outside and no human would be caught dead at a beach right now. It was the perfect time for us to go. Temperatures had no effect on us and we could be free to be ourselves and have some real fun.

The beach was enclosed in a forest and we had a twenty mile hike into the woods after a two hour drive. When we reached the beach Kate and Carlisle began setting up a volleyball net, Rosalie and Irina began setting up beach chairs and Emmett who fully intended to make the best of this trip was running back and forth to the car bringing back jet skis that he'd bought for the occasion.

I looked around for Bella, the person I'd come on this trip for and I found her kicking off her shoes and making her way back into the woods. She was wearing a tiny jean skirt with a tattered and frayed hem with some sort of bikini top that was just a black scrap of fabric going around her bust. I knew that Bella was probably about to go and explore the woods. She did that often.

I looked around to see where Tanya was and she was already out in the water with Alice and Esme. If I was going to get a chance to talk to her anytime today, this was it. Once Bella was in the trees I made sure that no one was paying attention to me and ran to catch up to her.

"Please go away," Bella said the instant I appeared at her side.

"I just want to walk with you," I replied.

She stopped walking with a sigh and placed her hands on her hips, "Look, Edward I'm really tired of whatever it is you're trying to do here. All I want is for you to leave me alone," she said sounding truly exhausted. I considered backing off. Maybe I was really chasing her for something that wasn't real, but that draw that I feel for her told me different.

"Bella I just want to walk with you. We don't have to talk and I won't touch you. Can we just walk," I pled staring into her eyes imploringly.

She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again. I tried not to get my hopes up because that's what led to me being hurt on the hunt. I waited for her to say something but she never did. She just started walking again and when I followed she didn't object.

I threw myself a congratulatory party in my head. It was a small victory but a victory none the less. We walked side my side at a human pace in complete silence. It was comfortable and I found myself enjoying the sound of her odd but measured breathing as her scent swirled around me. She inhaled deeply and slowly but exhaled quickly, like she was savoring the air as it came in and let it out quickly eager for the next intake.

I watched her closely as we moved through the trees. Bella observed everything around her, letting her fingers graze every tree, leaf, flower, and plant her slightly outstretched hand could reach. She stopped every once in a while to lean in and smell certain things. Her eyes swept over things, constantly moving inside the sockets. She was entranced by our surroundings, I was entranced by her.

We had been walking for about a half hour when Bella abruptly stopped and emitted a small strangled yelp. Her body went rigidly still as her eyes widened in sheer terror. The expression of pure horror on her face was one that I would never forget and I instinctively pulled her into my arms to protect and comfort her. She wrapped her arms around my waist squeezing me almost painfully tight as she buried her face in my chest.

"What is it, Bella. Tell me what's wrong?" I asked frantically scanning the woods to try and see what had scared her. The only thing I could see was a pack of wolves about 50 yards away feeding on a deer. I didn't know why or if they had caused her fright I but let out a fierce growl loud enough for them to hear me causing Bella to clutch me tighter. The sound had it's desired effect as it sent them scurrying away and I brought up a hand to rub the back of her head.

"It's okay baby, they're gone now. I made them go away, you're alright," I whispered to her. I rested my head atop hers and held her close until I felt her body completely relax again. She let out a sigh of relief and I leaned my torso back to see her face but kept her in my arms. She felt right there.

I felt good seeing the fear was gone as I looked into her brilliant golden eyes. I was overjoyed that she had not only allowed me to comfort her but that she had come to me for it. She sought protection in my arms and I was proud to have insured that she found it there.

When she averted her eyes and pulled away from me I could see that she was embarrassed but there was no need to be. She started walking back toward the beach but I grabbed her hand.

"Bella wait! What just happened?" I asked searching her face for the answer.

"Nothing, it was nothing. Let's just get back okay?" She said trying to turn back but I held firm.

"Bella talk to me. I've never seen anyone that afraid before. Just tell me what happened to you."

She chewed on her bottom lip and fisted her hand in her hair. She was so flustered and the fear was starting to creep back into her eyes. I pulled her into my arms again and soothed her like I had before.

"You can talk to me, Bella," I told her.

She stayed silent for a beat longer before she started her story. "They attacked me and my step dad. He died but Tanya saved me. The wolves were hunting a deer and we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The deer crashed into Phil, the antlers tore straight through his face. The wolves smelled the blood and decided we would make better prey than the deer. I watched them tear him to pieces. He was just screaming so loud as they ate him alive. When they got to me...it just hurt so bad," she cringed as she remembered the pain. "And Tanya and Kate came. Kate took care of the wolves. Tanya tried to get me to the hospital but I wouldn't have made it, so she saved me herself."

I pulled her tighter, not even able to imagine the pain she must have felt and then thrust into more pain as she began her transformation. The events leading to Bella's change had been similar to Emmett's except he hadn't had to watch a member of his family die first all the while knowing he was next. I knew something of his pain whenever he randomly thought of it and I had no way of knowing if Bella had felt the same or worse. Neither option sat well with me. I didn't want her being in any pain.

"They won't be able to hurt you anymore Bella. You're so much more powerful than them. You don't ever have to fear them again. They should fear you now," I murmured.

"I know!" she exclaimed looking up at me. "That's why I'm so embarrassed! I know that they can't hurt me but I just got so scared thinking back to the last time I saw a wolf and that was stupid!"

"It wasn't stupid! It's only natural to feel some fear for something that wanted and tried to kill you," I said.

She groaned not seeming quite convinced and covered her face with her hands. I pulled them down not liking not being able to see her.

"You don't have to be embarrassed in front of me, you don't have to hide from me."

She looked up into my eyes with a look of wonder. There was something else there that I couldn't quite make out...longing maybe. She blinked, shaking her head as if to clear it and suddenly pulled away from me.

"What am I doing?" she muttered to herself.

"Bella don't," I begged not wanting to lose her, not wanting to ruin this moment. She had been comfortable with me, she had let me protect, hold and comfort her. We had talked without all the inexplicable rage and it felt good, it felt great.

"Edward I won't! I can't do this with you!" she exclaimed. backing away but I pursued her.

"Why not? Bella I know that you feel the same way about me, as I feel about you. I know because it's impossible for you not to," I said. I caught her wrist and pulled her to me. She tried to wriggle free but I slid my hand up the nape of her neck and into her hair. She calmed and looked into my eyes with too many emotions swimming in her own. Yearning. Distress. Fear. Defiance. Anger. Determination.

"Bella I know you feel it because you're my mate." She groaned as if in pain but I kept talking. I had to make her see. "We're made for each other. The moment I saw you, everything else ceased to matter. Everything is about you. All of me, is for you," I said.

She shook her head as if in disbelief or to deny it but I could see the truth in her eyes. She did believe. She did know.

"This would kill Tanya. This would hurt her. I would hurt her and I refuse to do that. She saved me. She's my sister. She loved you and you used her. My sisters are all I have. I won't mess this up. I won't give up my family, the first real family I've ever had. Don't make me do this, Edward," she said.

She pulled away from me and this time I let her go. She ran back to the beach and though I understood her fears and knew that they posed a legitimate problem for us, I couldn't help but be happy for the progress we'd made. I now knew for sure that she felt the same. There were still so many hurdles but her admission had given me the much needed boost of encouragement to take to jump them all.