to taint every other thought in my head； leaking into the more pleasant thoughts of running and Edward's
lips and kissing and。。。 scorching thirst。 I couldn't get away from it。
〃Hold still for a minute；〃 he said； putting his hands lightly on my shoulders。 The urgency of my thirst
receded momentarily at his touch。
〃Now close your eyes；〃 he murmured。 When I obeyed； he raised his hands to my face； stroking my
cheekbones。 I felt my breathing speed and waited briefly again for the blush that wouldn't come。
〃Listen；〃 Edward instructed。 〃What do you hear？〃
Everything；I could have said； his perfect voice； his breath； his lips brushing together as he spoke； the
whisper of birds preening their feathers in the treetops； their fluttering heartbeats； the maple leaves
scraping together； the faint clicking of ants following each other in a long line up the bark of the nearest
tree。 But I knew he meant something specific； so I let my ears range outward； seeking something different
than the small hum of life that surrounded me。 There was an open space near us—the wind had a
different sound across the exposed grass—and a small creek； with a rocky bed。 And there； near the
noise of the water； was the splash of lapping tongues； the loud thudding of heavy hearts； pumping thick
streams of blood___
It felt like the sides of my throat had sucked closed。
〃By the creek； to the northeast？〃 I asked； my eyes still shut。
〃Yes。〃 His tone was approving。 〃Now。。。 wait for the breeze again and。。。 what do you smell？〃
Mostly him—his strange honey…lilac…and…sun perfume。 But also the rich； earthy smell of rot and moss；
the resin in the evergreens； the warm； almost nutty aroma of the small rodents cowering beneath the tree
roots。 And then； reaching out again； the clean smell of the water； which was surprisingly unappealing
despite my thirst。 I focused toward the water and found the scent that must have gone with the lapping
noise and the pounding heart。 Another warm smell； rich and tangy； stronger than the others。 And yet
nearly as unappealing as the brook。 I wrinkled my nose。
He chuckled。 〃I know—it takes some getting used to。〃
〃Three？〃 I guessed。
Page 245
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
〃Five。 There are two more in the trees behind them。〃
〃What do I do now？〃
His voice sounded like he was smiling。 〃What do you feel like doing？〃
I thought about that； my eyes still shut as I listened and breathed in the scent。 Another bout of baking
thirst intruded on my awareness； and suddenly the warm； tangy odor wasn't quite so objectionable。 At
least it would be something hot and wet in my desiccated mouth。 My eyes snapped open。
〃Don't think about it；〃 he suggested as he lifted his hands off my face and took a step back。 〃Just follow
your
instincts。〃
I let myself drift with the scent； barely aware of my movement as I ghosted down the incline to the
narrow meadow where the stream flowed。 My body shifted forward automatically into a low crouch as I
hesitated at the fern…fringed edge of the trees。 I could see a big buck； two dozen antler points crowning
his head； at the stream's edge； and the shadow…spotted shapes of the four others heading eastward into
forest at a leisurely pace。
I centered myself around the scent of the male； the hot spot in his shaggy neck where the warmth pulsed
strongest。 Only thirty yards—two or three bounds—between us。 i tensed myself for the first leap。
But as my muscles bunched in preparation； the wind shifted； blowing stronger now； and from the south。 I
didn't stop to think； hurtling out of the trees in a path perpendicular to my original plan； scaring the elk
into the forest； racing after a new fragrance so attractive that there wasn't a choice。 It was compulsory。
The scent ruled completely。 I was single…minded as I traced it； aware only of the thirst and the smell that
promised to quench it。 The thirst got worse； so painful now that it confused all my other thoughts and
began to remind me of the burn of venom in my veins。
There was only one thing that had any chance of penetrating my focus now； an instinct more powerful；
more basic than the need to quench the fire—it was the instinct to protect myself from danger。
Self…preservation。
I was suddenly alert to the fact that I was being followed。 The pull of the irresistible scent warred with
the impulse to turn and defend my hunt。 A bubble of sound built in my chest； my lips pulled back of their
own accord to expose my teeth in warning。 My feet slowed； the need to protect my back struggling
against the desire to quench my thirst。
And then I could hear my pursuer gaining； and defense won。 As I spun； the rising sound ripped its way
up my throat and out。
The feral snarl； coming from my own mouth； was so unexpected that it brought me up short。 It unsettled
me； and it cleared my head for a second—the thirst…driven haze receded； though the thirst burned on。
The wind shifted； blowing the smell of wet earth and coming rain across my face； further freeing me from
the other scent's fiery grip—a scent so delicious it could only be human。
Page 246
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
Edward hesitated a few feet away； his arms raised as if to embrace me—or restrain me。 His face was
intent and cautious as I froze； horrified。
I realized that I had been about to attack him。 With a hard jerk； I straightened out of my defensive
crouch。 I held my breath as I refocused； fearing the power of the fragrance swirling up from the south。
He could see reason return to my face； and he took a step toward me； lowering his arms。
〃I have to get away from here；〃 I spit through my teeth； using the breath I had。
Shock crossed his face。 〃Can you leave？〃
I didn't have time to ask him what he meant by that。 I knew the ability to think clearly would last only as
long as I could stop myself from thinking of—
I burst into a run again； a flat…out sprint straight north； concentrating solely on the uncomfortable feeling
of sensory deprivation that seemed to be my body's only response to the lack of air。 My one goal was to
run far
enough away that the scent behind me would be completely lost。 Impossible to find； even if I changed
my mind。。。
Once again； I was aware of being followed； but I was sane this time。 I fought the instinct to breathe—to
use the flavors in the air to be sure it was Edward。 I didn't have to fight long； though I was running faster
than I ever had before； shooting like a comet through the straightest path I could find in the trees； Edward
caught up with me after a short minute。
A new thought occurred to me； and I stopped dead； my feet planted。 I was sure it must be safe here； but
I held my breath just in case。
Edward blew past me； surprised by my sudden freeze。 He wheeled around and was at my side in a
second。 He put his hands on my shoulders and stared into my eyes； shock still the dominant emotion on
his face。
〃How did you do that？〃 he demanded。
〃You let me beat you before； didn't you？〃 I demanded back； ignoring his question。 And I'd thought I'd
been doing sowell！
When I opened my mouth； I could taste the air—it was unpolluted now； with no trace of the compelling
perfume to torment my thirst。 I took a cautious breath。
He shrugged and shook his head； refusing to be deflected。 〃Bella； how did you do it？〃
〃Run away？ I held my breath。〃
〃But how did you stop hunting？〃
〃When you came up behind me。。。 I'm so sorry about that。〃
〃Why are you apologizing to me？ I'm the one who was horribly careless。 I assumed no one would be so
Page 247
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
far from the trails； but I should have checked first。 Such a stupid mistake！ You have nothing to apologize
for。〃
〃But I growled at you！〃 I was still horrified that I was physically capable of such blasphemy。
〃Of course you did。 That's only natural。 But I can't understand how you ran away。〃
〃What else could I do？〃 I asked。 His attitude confused me—what did he want to have happened？ 〃It
might have been someone I know！〃
He startled me； suddenly bursting into a spasm of loud laughter； throwing his head back and letting the
sound echo off the trees。
〃Why are you laughing at me？〃
He stopped at once； and I could see he was wary again。
Keep it under control；I thought to myself。 I had to watch my temper。 Just like I was a young werewolf
rather than a vampire。
〃I'm not laughing at you；Bella。 I'm laughing because I am in shock。 And I am in shock because I am
completely amazed。〃
〃Why？〃
〃You shouldn't be able to do any of this。 You shouldn't be so。。。 so rational。 You