My jaw was set; I refused to let her become my prey. The monsters inside me were clawing and breaking my bones now. My mouth was dry and frozen. I needed the warmth of her blood in my mouth but I continued to struggle with Jasper. Carlisle took charge, as I knew he could. “Emmett, Rose, get Jasper outside,” he ordered.

Emmett nodded. “Come on Jasper.”

I knew this was going to happen one day, Rosalie thought smugly while pushing against Jasper’s chest. I ignored her.

Pebble sized droplets of blood were now trickling down Bella’s arm. I leaned over her, facing away. I looked at my remaining family and I growled threateningly letting them know that there was to be no more harm to come to her. A wave of terror hit while grief and worry drowned out the thirst when I realized how much I had actually injured her. The scent was stronger than I thought. My stomach gave a jolt of uneasiness. I was trying to master myself while acting the hero. Dread and panic burst through me.

I heard a howl of fury out in the woods.

At the sight of Bella lying on the floor like a wounded animal, I inhaled several gulps of air. Each breath was tearing at my lungs so I quickly held my breath. My panic at the fact that I hurt Bella finally erupted through my stomach like poisonous gas.

Her eyes were wide with terror.

I can’t take it anymore. “I’m so sorry, Bella,” Esme said while backing out of the door. Everyone had exited now except Alice, Carlisle and I.

“Let me by, Edward,” Carlisle demanded with a kind and fatherly look.

His thoughts were relatively calm. He barely noticed her blood. It was so easy for him. Once I realized it was safe I nodded and moved for him to get to her. I knew he would fix her. Agony crashed into me as the thought I broke her kept reverberating through my head. I was dissolving in misery. The room had fallen silent. Carlisle knelt down slowly and examined her arm. I looked away; disgusted with myself.

My brain was still in limbo; in between thirst and horror. Copious amounts of blood were still spilling from her arm. Alice was still in the room holding her breath. She grabbed a towel and brought it over to Carlisle, doing more then I could at the moment. “Here, Carlisle,” she said softly.