"Jasper." I cried.

Before Victoria could snap his neck, a rolling ball of black fur leaped from the tree line and latched onto her shoulder.

Victoria released Jasper who immediately jumped to his feet. I could hear teeth shredding through her vampire skin, attempting to drag her away. It was a werewolf. Paul.

My stomach plummeted in horror. He hadn't went for help. He had stayed to assist me...and by coincidence the Cullen's.

I jerked forward, toward him to help. Exposure be damned. My skin was twitching. I was fixing to phase.

Victoria's screams thundered as Paul dug in more to the exposed flesh.  Her hands grabbed tufts of his fur and twisted. Paul yipped and lost his hold on her as she broke free.

She stood with vengeance smeared on her face as her lips curled ferociously. Her hands moved to grab a hold of more fur when Emmett hit her from the side. Jasper appeared on the other as Paul made to his feet.

He stood between two vampires now and they turned to face Victoria together.

The scene was like a blur. As supernatural creatures, we moved so fast. So the scene in front of me all took place in a matter of seconds. My eyes felt confused on where to look. My heart felt close to bursting in worry.

For everyone.

Victoria looked on menacingly as she bared her teeth at us. Her eyes swept over the clearing and lingered on me, causing a chill to sweep up my neck, before she took off into the forest.

Emmett, Jasper and Paul closed in behind her. And eventually followed Rosalie.

I took a step that way too when Edward's arm wrapped around my waist.

My eyes narrowed on him as he said, "Oh no, you don't. Are you crazy? You could get killed."

As if that would change my mind. "Edward, that is my fa....." I cut myself off. I almost said my family, which Paul was. All those in the pack were family to me now. We shared a bond and a bloodline that connected us. But he didn't know that. And I wasn't ready to tell him.

If he didn't already know.

I was still coming to terms with who I was. I definitely didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes when I told him or the disgust.

Just because the Cullen's' were tolerant of my kind didn't mean they wanted  to be up and personal with one .

I tried to not think about the hurt brewing at the possible outcome and instead tried to stretch around Edward who seemed unwilling to let me go.

His arms enveloped my waist as he stood in front of me now blocking my way. I could get free if I wanted too. The determination blazing in my eyes caused him to shake his head adamantly as if he was up for the challenge.

"I won't let you."

"You won't let me?" I questioned. He wasn't the boss of me. My imprint bond strongly disagreed.

Before he could speak, Alice's head peeked over his shoulder as she came near.

Her hands were balled up at her stomach showing her nervousness. Carlisle and Esme approached but didn't come as close as Alice had.

I couldn't be sure but I think it was for my benefit. They probably thought I was scared.

And I was, just not of them.

"Are you alright?" Esme asked softly.

I nodded. Edward had to know I was okay because he had stood in front of me the entire altercation, but that didn't stop his eyes from glancing over my body anyways.

Alice's voice chimed in the darkness of the night. "I think she is in shock." She turned to Edward. "Maybe you should slap her." She suggested.

My eyes widened. Edward's lips twitched in exasperation.

"Uh...that's not necessary." I helpfully replied. I grabbed her hands to assure her and to ensure they didn't fly up to my face. "I'm okay, honest." I promised.

"Are you sure?" Carlisle asked doubtfully. He had his arm wrapped around his wife.

"How can she be?" Edward scolded. 

Alice appraised me with the narrowing of her eyes. "Well, she does seem to be taking this all in stride."

'I know I wouldn't be.' She said under her breath but I caught it.

I took a deep breath. I walked to stand beside Edward instead of behind the wall of protection his body was providing.

"Let's just say, I'm good with weird." I responded.

Carlisle and Edward shared a look before his eyes stared into mine. "You knew." He stated after a brief pause. "You knew what we were."

I bit my lip. My eyes shuddered closed as I nodded. "I live on the Res, Edward. Did you really think I hadn't heard the stories? Did you not think I didn't know about the stories of our own creatures of the night?" I gestured to where Paul had just fled the clearing in his werewolf form with Edward's brothers.

"I was well accustomed to weirdness long before I met you." I said. I could see the weariness in his eyes and the distress at being discovered.

It pulled at my heart and I didn't like it one bit. I put my hand over his chest where his heart laid still beneath my palm.

"What you are doesn't matter to me." I swore. "It never did. All of this is overwhelming and confusing.  But if you believe anything I say, let it be this. "

His hands raked through his long, luscious hair frantically. My hands twitched as they longed to join them. "So, you showing up at Forks. What was that about?"

Oh man. I could come clean, right here, right now. Why was it so hard to tell the truth?

Deep down I knew it would hurt him to know I was sent to spy. And the thought of seeing that killed me inside. Or worse, what if he was repuled. I knew I would never recover if that were the case because of the way I felt about him.

"What I told you in Biology class that one day was true. I just wanted a fresh start. A place that was mine where all of this, " I gestured around me. "Didn't follow. This place here. The Res." I clarified.  "It's a different world than on the other side of the border. Its judgemental and harsh. It's strict and controlling. "

Carlisle's face fell. "Because of us?" He asked.

I exhaled in defeat.

"There are many who speak up for you." Like me until I was blue in the face. "But some of the others are no fans of yours."

"Like your father?" Alice asked.

My heart felt like it somersaulted out of my chest.

I recalled the day he had picked up Seth and I from school when the vampire had first attacked. He had glanced up and saw Alice walk out to the school parking lot with a look of such repulsion and distaste.

My hand fell to my side in shame. "Prejudice is a hard thing to unlearn when it is what you were taught to do." I explained in his defense.

But knowing that didn't make it better or any of this okay.

"Fear guides them all. They don't know you like I have gotten to. They will come around...." I paused. Would they? I didn't see Billy every responding with anything remotely reasonable.

I swallowed down the fear that threatened to engulf me. I stared back at Edward.

"Even so.  You should not get so close to the border line. Its dangerous. You could accidently cross it without knowing. The pack could catch you off guard especially if you are treading there solo."

Edward wanted to say something but it was Carlisle who spoke.

"We have been hunting the rogue vampires in teams, separating to cover more ground. They seem to be circulating in your area more than ours. And that paired with the fact that Alice is having problems 'seeing them' has made it hard to dictate where they are going next."

I looked at Alice. He was talking about her visions.  She couldn't see them or their future. I wonder if it was because of me when I was out there or if she was blind to all werewolves.

And if it was me, how long until they made the connection that I was a werewolf.

Edward's arm wrapped around my shoulders.  "We can't stop Bella. Even if it is dangerous." He continued on before I could protest. "The rogue vampires are hurting innocent people. We won't sit idly by."

Carlisle stepped forward, Esme was right by his side. Her eyes seemed to smile as she glanced at the arm Edward had wrapped around me and where I was nestled in his side.

"I understand your concern and we are appreciative of your support and acceptance of us. Especially for my son's sake." He glanced at Edward with fondness and love.

"We are of no threat to the wolves." Carlisle promised. "I made that treaty long ago and I stand by my promise then just as I stand with the wolves now even if it is not reciprocated. We won't lay a hand on them, no matter what."

I shuddered. It was the first time since turning that I felt cold inside.  Edward started rubbing my arms to see if the friction would heat up my frigid skin.

But nothing could unfreeze the ice forming around my heart.

I believed Carlisle when he said he would never make a move to defend himself against the wolf pack because to him they were never his enemy and he respected them. Us.

Which meant if a war was brewing and my pack attacked.... I looked around in horror at the Cullens standing before me and the one wrapped around my side.

They would stand still and let themselves be killed.