**You all are awesome. That is all. xo

27.

Elizabeth.

She named her after my mother.

I close my eyes—breaking my connection with Bella—and let that sink in.

I abandoned my wife. Left her to wonder and grieve. I can only imagine the heartbreak she felt. Is still feeling. Despite that, she still named our daughter after my mother.

It's beyond my comprehension.

My daughter will carry a small piece of me with her for as long as she lives.

A daughter I can only watch from a distance.

I deny the urge to grab Bella and Marisol and pretend I'm not a monster … and I run.

For months, all I've done is run. When I woke up to an unfathomable, unquenchable thirst, I ran. After I hunted my own wife and drank from her, I ran. When I realized what I'd become, I ran.

I'm so damn tired of running. All I want is to go home.

Regardless of the fact that I no longer have a heart or soul, Bella owns me. She owns every broken, darkened piece of me.

If only I could trust myself to be with her.

And then there's the small detail of James still being out there.

The night I committed the unforgivable sin of drinking from my wife, I heard Victoria's thoughts. She'd planned to go and finish Bella off after I'd left her bleeding on the forest floor.

It would be a shame to waste it, she'd thought.

I couldn't allow that.

I tore her head off and ripped her limb from limb. Only because of Victoria's final thoughts—pleading with the devil that I didn't know about burning her remains—did I know to light what was left of her on fire.

James had stumbled upon her ashes in the forest. He'll spend the rest of his miserable existence regretting this, he'd thought as I listened from a mile away. He took my mate from me. It's only fair that I take his.

I've been playing a game of cat and mouse with James ever since.

He's gotten close a few times, and every time, I'm able to drive him away. The Cullens' presence has been a blessing, too. The times I've read James' thoughts, he's aware of the coven and their protective circle around my family.

I may be wary of them and their intentions, curious even, about their lifestyle, but for the simple fact that they're protecting my family, I owe them everything.

The snap of a twig draws my attention. It's the small one. The seer, Alice.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?"

Silent, I nod.

"It would be a shame for her to grow up and never know her father."

"You know I can't," I hiss.

"Bullshit."

I narrow my eyes at her.

"I know you know," she says, her words fading into thoughts. I know you can hear my thoughts. You know I can see the future. So, I know you can see Bella—

"No! Stop!" I roar, terror surging through me. "Not her!"