(Bella)

'You're nothing without me, Bella.'

'No man will ever love you like I do.'

'I've given you my heart, Bella, all I ask is yours in return.'

'You're mine, Bella, forever, for all of eternity.'

His velvet voice echoed in my skull, in the dark. There was no light to be found, only his crystalline skin, haunting in the void that engulfed us. The same words that had haunted me since he first uttered them to me, on perpetual repeat. I stood in the void, completely paralyzed. He stalked closer, his eyes never leaving mine as he continued. I was completely helpless, I couldn't get away, I tried and tried to scream but not a sound could be made, finally he had reached me, his face not even an inch from mine, his sickeningly sweet breath cold against my face. The breath of death. He was death, he was my death.

His ice cold hand darted out and gripped my neck, tight. I held onto his wrist for dear life, fighting for air, fighting for freedom.

'I can't bare the thought of you in another man's arms while I'm gone, love'

'I'm a forgiving man'

His grip tightened. I tried to cry out. Silence. The only sound was his voice. I had always known this would be my fate, since the day he invaded my life. I knew he would be my end.

I dropped my arms in surrender, how can one fight death? How can one fight destiny?

There could be peace in surrender. In an end.

I had given up all hope, accepted my fate, my death, when a meteor of light suddenly shot across the sky.

In its wake was the silver wolf, its dark eyes speckled with gold lit by the moonlight. Above it the moon glowed in the sky, lighting the dark void and revealing the stars.

The wolf howled and the monster turned his head, seeing the silver wolf, his face, once furious, crumbled into fear.

He dropped me, and I fell among the stars, among the moonlight, I careened downwards, with no end in sight.

Then, I was floating, suspended in space, surrounded by the cosmic dust of a nebula. I was a star, dying, my light long gone, stolen from me.

I jerked up in a strange bed, in a strange room. I couldn't remember how I had gotten there, why I was there to begin with.

No, wait, that's right. I came here last night. This…is…Sam Uley's house.

I held my head in my hands, trying to remember everything from the night before. After a moment or two of struggling, I finally remembered that I had been 'invited' to stay the night, since I had so gracelessly invited myself into their home.

Damn it, that's right. I- why had I come here anyway?

I heard a gentle knock on the bedroom door, and Emily gently peaked her head in.

"Can I come in?"

Confused I nodded my consent, isn't this your bedroom, shouldn't I be the one asking permission? She came in and sat down on the corner of the bed, she held an outfit and a fresh towel.

"How are you feeling?"

I didn't know how to answer. "I… feel… lost."

"How so?"

"I… I don't remember why I came here- I- no, I had fallen asleep on the couch. And… I- what day is this?"

"It's Monday."

I paused and thought about that for a moment. That's right, I met her yesterday. When….

Don't I have class today?

She eyed me patiently, I blushed and stammered, trying to find something to say.

"I… think I have school today…?"

"That might be a little… ambitious for you right now," She looked down at the fabric in her arms, having apparently forgotten about them. "Here, I brought you some clothes and a fresh towel, so you can clean up…."

I slowly looked down at myself and internally groaned. I can't believe I'm in this poor woman's bed with dirt covered clothes… idiot. I blushed crimson.

"I'm- I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me-"

"It's okay, it can be… a little jarring, the next day. Why don't you take a shower and join us for breakfast? I'm sure Pa- Jacob will be eager to see you."

"I- oh, right. Jacob. Is he okay? Did Sam punish him, you know, because of me?"

She gave me a sympathetic look. "No, Jacob's fine, really. He should still be on patrol, I'm sure you'll get a chance to talk to him yourself soon."

"Yeah, right, okay. I'm sorry, I'm-" I could feel tears threatening to form. Stupid crybaby.

She scooted closer and gently placed an arm around my shoulders.

"You have nothing to apologize for, it's okay. It'll be okay, even though it doesn't feel like it right now, it does get better."

I wish that were true. I didn't know how to respond, I didn't want to upset her… not when she's done so much for me, an outsider.

"I-..I hope so."

"Here, the bathroom is just down the hall, you can leave your clothes in the hamper, I'll wash them for you, I have a lot of experience with grass stains." She patted my arm. "Take all the time you need." She handed me the bundle with a kind, gentle smile. She stood and excused herself out of the bedroom.

God, I'm so useless.

I was angry with myself, for all the trouble I had caused, for the absolute idiot I'd made of myself. I will make this right. I took a few more deep breaths before I took my bundle and made my way to the quaint little bathroom.

Clean, slightly less disheveled and more aware than after I had woken up, I reluctantly made my way down the stairs, vaguely wondering what my chances were of sneaking out of the front door, when Jake came by the foot of the stairs.

"Bell's, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

He fussed over me as I stopped on one of the bottom steps. I internally cringed, I did not want Jake to know about the most humiliating moment of my entire life. Vaguely, I wondered who had tattled.

"Jake, stop, really, I'm fine." I gently reached out and grabbed his hands, mostly to settle him down. It was then that I noticed he had what looked to be like old bruising on the right side of his jaw. "It looks like I should be asking how you are doing, Jake."

"This?" He asked as he pointed at it. "'S nothing, Bell's. Really." He took my hand gently in his again. "C'mon, we should get you some food."

"Actually, I was kind of hoping for a jail break."

"Nice try, Bella." I heard Emily's voice gently call from the kitchen. "Now come on in and eat!"

Damn it, haven't I imposed on these people enough?

Reluctantly I allowed Jacob to guide me to the kitchen where Emily and everyone else seemed to be. Jared and Embry were already elbow deep into their own plates, Sam stood behind Emily with his arms wrapped around her waist, I quickly averted my gaze in embarrassment. I looked around and noticed that Paul wasn't there. Part of me was glad, but deep down I felt… disappointed, I had wanted to make amends with him, I couldn't figure out why but I felt… like he wasn't a bad guy. That…maybe we had both gotten off on the wrong foot yesterday. I have a lot of people I need to atone with.

A sudden silence seemed to encompass the room, even Jared and Embry stopped eating to look up at us as we entered. Sam seemed to shoot Jacob a steely stare. Are they ever going to get used to me? Still hesitant, I allowed myself to be guided to one of the seats in front of the counter, Jacob sat beside me.

Emily placed a plate in front of me of fluffy pancakes topped with fruit and homemade whipped cream, with a side of crispy bacon. The woman's a domestic goddess. Slowly, the conversation around us picked back up.

"Would you like some coffee?" Emily asked me.

"Y-yes please, just a splash of milk- if that's okay."

"Jacob, I'm going to Billy's, you're coming with me." Sam told Jake after placing his empty coffee mug in the sink.

"Sure, sure." Jacob answered, before turning to me, "I'm going to come by and check on you later, okay?"

"Sure, sure." I parroted back to him, I didn't want to make him worry over me anymore than he already had.

I picked up my fork and took a small bite of the pancake. It really was good, and I realized I had been more hungry than I had thought. I looked up, intending to thank Emily when I noticed her watching me. Do I really seem that broken? I quickly looked back down towards my plate. You know you are.

"T-thank y-you, for the f-food." I finally spit out. Stupid nervous stutter.

She smiled. "I'm relieved to see you eat. So how do you feel now?"

I swallowed. "I-I feel… b-better. I- I r-really am s-sorry about l-last n-night."

She gently took my hand in hers. "Don't be. Really. I'm glad you made it here."

I hesitated, but then said what was on my mind. "I- I r-really w-want to r-repay you and S-Sam." Damn it, pull it together Bella!

She tilted her head. "There really is no need, you didn't do anything wrong, Bella."

"I- s-still. I-" I paused and took a deep breath, then tried again. "I-it would make me feel b-better."

She sighed and then thought for a minute, "Well, I did want to ask if you would be willing to come over Wednesday, my four year old niece needs a babysitter and I have plans I can't reschedule…. Of course, I'll pay you."

"Okay, I'd love to. And I'd rather you didn't pay me, I- I've- it would make me feel better."

"Alright, if you're sure. You won't be here alone, Sam always insists on a pack member being here when it comes to my family, he really is way too protective of them."

"Oh, t-that's fine! It shouldn't be a problem." I was relieved she was letting me do this, I hated feeling like I was in someone's debt.

"Uhm, well, it's Paul who'll be watching over you two."

My cheeks burned. At first, a large part of me bulked, but… I did want to make amends, show him that outsiders aren't so bad. That I'll keep his secret.

"T-that's o-okay, I-I'll be there."