me； and it cleared my head for a second—the thirstdriven haze receded； though the thirst burned on。
The wind shifted； blowing the smell of wet earth and ing rain across my face； further freeing me from
the other scent's fiery grip—a scent so delicious it could only be human。
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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 flatout sprint straight north； concentrating solely on the unfortable 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 pletely 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 et 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 pelling
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
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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
pletely amazed。〃
〃Why？〃
〃You shouldn't be able to do any of this。 You shouldn't be so。。。 so rational。 You shouldn't be able to
stand here discussing this with me calmly and coolly。 And； much more than any of that； you should not
have been able to break
off midhunt with the scent of human blood in the air。 Even mature vampires have difficulty with that
—we're always very careful of where we hunt so as not to put ourselves in the path of temptation。 Bella；
you're behaving like you're decades rather than days old。〃
〃Oh。〃 But I'd known it was going to be hard。 That was why I'd been so on guard。 I'd been expecting it
to be difficult。
He put his hands on my face again； and his eyes were full of wonder。 〃What wouldn't I give to be able to
see into your mind for just this one moment。〃
Such powerful emotions。 I'd been prepared for the thirst part； but not this。 I'd been so sure it wouldn't
be the same when he touched me。 Well； truthfully； it wasn't the same。
It was stronger。
I reached up to trace the planes of his face； my fingers lingered on his lips。
〃I thought I wouldn't feel this way for a long time？〃 My uncertainty made the words a question。 〃But I
stillwant you。〃
He blinked in shock。 〃How can you even concentrate on that？ Aren't you unbearably thirsty？〃
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Of course I was now； now that he'd brought it up again！
I tried to swallow and then sighed； closing my eyes like I had before to help me concentrate。 I let my
senses range out around me； tensed this time in case of another onslaught of the delicious taboo scent。
Edward dropped his hands； not even breathing while I listened farther and farther out into the web of
green life； sifting through the scents and sounds for something not totally repellant to my thirst。 There was
a hint of something different； a faint trail to the east___
My eyes flashed open； but my focus was still on sharper senses as I turned and darted silently eastward。
The ground sloped steeply upward almost at once； and I ran in a hunting crouch； close to the ground；
taking to the trees when that was easier。 I sensed rather than heard Edward with me； flowing quietly
through the woods； letting me lead。
The vegetation thinned as we climbed higher； the scent of pitch and resin grew more powerful； as did the
trail I followed—it was a warm scent； sharper than the smell of the elk and more appealing。 A few
seconds more and I could hear the muted padding of immense feet； so much subtler than the crunch of
hooves。 The sound was up—in the branches rather than on the ground。 Automatically I darted into the
boughs as well； gaining the strategic higher position； halfway up a towering silver fir。
The soft thud of paws continued stealthily beneath me now； the rich scent was very close。 My eyes
pinpointed the movement linked with the sound； and I saw the tawny hide of the great cat slinking along
the wide branch of a spruce just down and to the left of my perch。 He was big—easily four times my
mass。 His eyes were intent on the ground beneath； the cat hunted； too。 I caught the smell of something
smaller； bland next to the aroma of my prey； cowering in brush below the tree。 The lion's tail twitched
spasmodically as he prepared to spring。
With a light bound； I s