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。
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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　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。
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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　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
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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
  completely　amazed。〃
  〃Why？〃
  〃You　shouldn't　be　able　to　do　any　of　this。　You　shouldn't　be　so。。。　so　rational。　You