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。
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〃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 fernfringed edge of the trees。 I could see a big buck； two dozen antler points crowning
his head； at the stream's edge； and the shadowspotted 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 pulsory。
The scent ruled pletely。 I was singleminded 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 perating 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。
Selfpreservation。
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； ing 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 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；