"Bella..."

I stiffened instantly. I couldn't do it! I couldn't do it! I couldn't talk to him without breaking down! Em warned, "Bella..."

I took a deep breath... And another... Then I spoke, "Liz, Luxe?"

Together, they chorused, "Yes, Bella?"

I directed, "Go back to the house. Em, you go with them and call wherever for some take-out. I'll... be awhile, so don't order me anything."

Liz nodded, shot an untrusting look at the Cullens, and loped off as a bear. Luxe snapped a salute, hugged me, and ran off after Liz. I could see her phase as she flew over a log.

Em said to the Cullens, "Y'all wanna come back to the house with us? I think Bella and Edward," she sneered his name with obvious dislike, "need to talk."

There wasn't much conversation, just Esme saying they'd like to go to our house. There was a gentle wind from their passage, and then I was alone with Edward. Everything seemed to change in a millisecond. I ran my fingers through my hair and asked, drawing on all my waning courage, "Would you like to come for a walk with me? I know a place where we can talk with no interruption."

Edward's velvet voice replied, "Of course."

I bit my lip and started walking north. With my speed, it didn't take long to reach my special place. I pushed easily through the honeysuckle carpet surrounding it and breathed in the fresh, cool air. Shafts of sunlight fell from between the clouds, making everything come alight. In the direct center of the little clearing was a small waterfall, coming from a spring and feeding right back into the ground after a short stay in a natural pool. A ray of sunlight hit it at an angle, making the usually murky water crystal-clear. I turned, slightly more serene, and motioned Edward to come forward. He did so, and I sat fluidly on the dewy grass. I murmured, trying to keep off the hard subjects, "I come here when I want to think."

Of course, he stayed silent as he gazed at me, guessing I wouldn't talk until I was ready. I breathed deeply and then went into the worse subjects, "I've not been the same since you left me. You could say I went into a depression. In case you're wondering, it was the high emotion that led to this," and I gestured to my slender, graceful body.

"It took a long time before I realized what I was," I continued. "When I finally did... it wasn't pretty. I ran very far south, to Texas by Em's story, and holed myself up in a cave near the border. I came out only to hunt animals, and that was not often. I lived that way for forty—maybe forty-five—years, until Em found me. From what she says, I was in a very sorry state.

"When I'm a wolf, I have brilliant gold eyes and shocking white fur. Em says my fur was matted, tangled, and a deep rust color from mud and my eyes were dead. She seemed to think that being a shape-shifter was amazing, of course, but Em has her own viewpoint on life. I guess you can tell I absolutely hated it at first? I was out hunting at one point and I found her—unsuccessfully—attempting to catch food. I tried to get rid of her but I grew to like the abnormal creature. She made me more... human."

I smiled bitterly at my words and then wiped my face clean to continue. "Fifteen years after, Liz and Luxe found us. They're cousins, in case you're wondering, and they were on a vacation in northern Mexico when they phased for the first time. Luxe—though very strange—is very perceptive, and she just knew that Em and I were still residing in Texas. I was out running patrol around the small cottage we had rented when the duo showed up. Truthfully, they scared me senseless, and I seriously considered considered heading for the hills. But I heard their thoughts and felt their emotions. They meant no harm; they were scared, lost, and half-crazed.

"Luxe spoke to me, though, and told me of what happened. I led them home and—after a quick talk with Em—I let them stay with us. For the past forty years, it's been us four. We've had little conflict, other than an occasional nomadic vampire. Though there was one run-in with a male and female of our kind... But that was just before we left Texas."

I trailed off, memories tugging at my mind. I shook my head to get rid of them.

Edward murmured quietly, "I didn't think this would happen."

I rose and asked harshly, "Didn't think what would happen? My depression? Me being able to turn into an animal? What?"

He flinched with each question, and I took a moment to compose myself. I said softly, gently, "You don't seem to realize how deeply my emotions ran. It wasn't a silly crush, Edward. Many men have expressed interest in me. I never stopped thinking of you, though."

As I watched, the tension seemed to melt out of his body. Edward rose and I met his gaze. He spoke then, "Bella, when I left you, it wasn't because I didn't want you. It was because I do love you and I wanted you to be in a world without monsters."

I bit back, "What good has that done? What did you expect? Me to stand right up and just say, 'Oh, he left. What's for dinner?' No! I died inside, Edward. I felt more pain than I thought was possible. That's why, if you truly are here to stay, you will need to earn my trust again."

The brush rustled and two people emerged, ruining our little moment. The woman was breath-taking with brown hair shot through with blonde and pink and slate blue eyes. The male was tall with shaggy blonde hair and cool eyes.

My teeth came together with a snap and I said, trying to keep my voice even, "Edward, go back to the house. Get the others, bring them back. But hurry!"

He took one look at me and bolted into the forest. The two people—Duane and Raven—almost immediately recognized me. Raven cried, her voice the perfect façade of joy, "Isabella! Finally, we see you again!"

Duane was silent, just like the last time I had chanced upon the duo. I pulled out the calmest, most serene smile I could and said, "Ah, my old acquaintances. Raven, Duane, how have you been?"

I needed to stall so that the imminent fighting would happen once Em and the girls were there. Raven's smile did not fit her face, but she pulled out a gentle smile and said, "Just amazing, Isabella. And even more amazing since we found you. We can now fufill what we came here to do!"

Those slate-colored eyes darkened to near-black and she finished, placid smile turned into a smirk, "We will kill you."

I kept my voice even as I asked, "Why would you want to kill me?"

Duane spoke then, "Not just you; your pack too. We have pride. Until we have won against you, we will not cease to try."

I tried another approach, "We have done nothing. Please, leave us alone! Certainly there is honor in making us surrender?"

Raven shook her head, looking absolutely devastated. She replied dramatically, "Oh, how I wish there was! Alas, there isn't!"

I dropped my head, trying to show defeat as I heard rustling in the woods. Then, my head snapped up with a faint smile replacing my desolate appearance and I spoke, "But you didn't account for one thing!"

Taking that as their cue, Em, Liz, and Luxe came from the woods with the Cullens no more than two paces behind. I said, my tone gentle and even, "Rethink this, my old acquaintances."

Raven's smirk was back and she beckoned something from the woods. At least eight creatures came from the wood. All were in the form of black animals—panthers, bears, wolves, and the like. I sighed. There would be no easy ending. With no more than a cock of the head from Raven, they stormed forward. I phased smoothly and pounced at Raven; if I forced her into retreat, the rest would follow. But a large black bear caught my scruff and knocked me down. I couldn't hear their thoughts, but I knew there would be malice if I did. I heaved upward, and everything became a blur around me as I went into my match. I feinted one direction and lunged in another, causing the other shifter to scuttle along in a shaky dance. I was much more experienced, and I had the poor creature high-tailing for the woods in minutes. I found a clear path to Raven—or so I thought—through the brawling around me and began running. Something small grabbed me and I was down. I was up in an instant and let out a loud snarl at the small coyote. Immediately, it cowered and ran. I continued running and reached out with my consciousness so I could hear Raven's thoughts. 'Here comes the little kit. Let's end this. Oh, crap. She can hear me.'

I snarled, 'With pleasure, pup.'

Then, we smashed together. She let out a whine as my strong maw caught her leg. A paw hit me very hard around the head and sent me stumbling backwards. I smelled magnolia. Alice! My tail brushed against her and Raven's thoughts grew jumbled, 'Oh my... Holy- How the fuck- Oh my holy Mary, mother of God! That's unnatural.'

I took advantage of her confusion and lunged. I felt teeth dig into my scruff and I was pulled back from the black wolf. I was then face-to-face with both Raven and a Siberian tiger—Duane. I was outnumbered, but I wouldn't give up. If I could just get them to high-tail it, then the little army would follow and our battle would be over. I reared up on my hind legs and crashed down on Duane. Raven hauled me off him. Duane's thoughts: 'Frick! That girl's a good fighter. Good thing it's two against one.'

'How about two against two?' Em's voice entered my mind.

I heard her warn Liz and Luxe to help the Cullens as she galloped towards us. A huge silver coyote slammed into Duane, and I once again circled Raven. Neither of us gained the advantage. She let her guard slip, and I took the opportunity to slam my paw into her face. In retalliation, she attacked. I blocked and then something ran along my right side, slicing deep into the flesh. I froze. The smell of blood filled the air. I wasn't strong enough to stay a mountain lion and I shimmered up to human form. I gasped in pain, stumbled slightly, and fell to my knees. I heard shouts of my name, and everything went black.