What's on your mind Cate?" Carlisle asked as I picked up the unused gauze.

Of course he'd know right away there was another reason why I was helping out, there was no point in trying to deny it.

"Edward mentioned you stayed with the Volturi for a little while, I got a weird vibe when I heard about them but I'm not sure why. Care to enlighten me a bit?"

He paused, sadness and regret swam through his eyes when he looked at me. He stopped cleaning and sat down in his chair, "When I tell you, you have to remember that we've loved you the moment you came into our lives and the actions of others do not in any way reflect the way we feel about you," he told me.

Confused I agreed, "Carlisle what is it?"

"Esme you can come in," He spoke to the closed door, I turned and saw Esme step in, a worried look on her face.

"Is it that bad?" I questioned, I felt myself start to get nervous.

Esme joined Carlisle, sitting lightly on his lap as he spoke, "I take it Edward mentioned some of the laws the Volturi work to uphold?"

I nodded, "The general theme amongst them being keep yourselves secret."

"Well there's another large rule that they keep," he looked at Esme who just watched me sadly, "It's basically to eliminate any creature that they deem is a threat to our kind."

I wasn't an idiot. They were talking about werewolves. My kind, "Okay...?"

"Sweetie, when Carmen and Eleazar called and told us what happened to you we knew the Volturi must have been involved."

That's when everything seemed so much clearer, and there I was maybe thirty minutes prior dismissing the possibility that the Volturi could've been responsible for the massacre.

I felt sick, "So the Volturi killed my pack," I stated flatly.

Carlisle gave me a reluctant nod, "We're unsure of why, however. For millennium they've been frightened of werewolves, the ancient ones at least."

"You mean the ones that actually phase on full moons," I nodded in understanding.

"Yes. We don't know why they chose to eliminate your tribe. But we promise we won't let them anywhere near you," Esme's voice was sad, in return it made me feel bad. I hated seeing her upset.

I hugged her and we stayed that way for a moment. Of course I was angry, I finally knew the identity of those responsible for my tribe's death. But I also felt a bit of relief, it wasn't a mystery anymore. And I wasn't alone. I still had a family. And we weren't going anywhere.

"We need to leave."

~

I looked at Edward in horror, "What the hell do you mean we need to leave?"

"I can't keep putting her in danger Cate!"

"So instead you're going to uproot our lives?!" I screamed, "I like it here I have friends!"

"No Cate! You have , and her being around us only puts her life at risk!"

"Bella isn't my only friend Edward!" I snapped.

"As if, Jacob is only nice to you because he hopes that it would put himself in Bella's good graces!"

I felt the tears but fought to push them back, "You're lying!"

He stopped, a triumphant smirk slithered onto his face, "I heard him the day you met him. He doesn't care about you Cate. He's not your friend," the others started slowly entering the room, they could hear what was happening so might as well be in the room too.

I wasn't sad, whatever he could tell me about Jacob was irrelevant. I didn't care if it was true or not. I was pissed-I refused to leave. He scowled at my thoughts

"I'm not leaving," I concluded, looking at the others, "The rest of you do what you want but I'm not going anywhere."

Esme stood up from Carlisle's lap, "Cate-"

"Esme I'm sorry," I gave her a hug, "I'm not leaving. Not yet anyway."

Everyone looked to Carlisle, as if he was going to say or do something that would get me to leave with them, he sighed and stood up, "It's Cate's decision," he spoke after pondering for a moment, "But you know you're going to have to be extremely cautious right?"

I nodded looking back at Edward smiling, he frowned knowing he wasn't getting everything he wanted. But he sighed, there was nothing he could do, "I'm telling Bella we're leaving tomorrow. I'm gonna tell her that people have started to notice Carlisle doesn't look the age he's supposed to be passing for. Cate, promise me something."

His eyes were pleading with me, no matter how much he annoyed me, he was my brother and I loved him, "What?"

"Don't approach her, don't be seen around town. If we're supposed to be gone it would seem weird if you're still in town. I want her to have a normal human life and she can't do that with us around. Please."

I hated that I was agreeing to it, but I knew it was for the best, "I'll keep an eye on her from a distance. No one will ever know I stuck around," He brought me in to one of those hugs, telling me thank you.

"We'll call to check in on you," Emmett told me when I separated from Edward, "We'll let you know where we're staying if you wanna come stay with us again."

I nodded, the rest of the evening we started packing the house up. Not entirely but enough where everyone had enough to seem human wherever they were moving to. The only room that remained untouched was mine. By morning everyone had left. It was odd hugging everyone goodbye, even though I knew it wasn't going to be forever.

~

We didn't go to school that day. Edward told me he was breaking the news to Bella in the forest by her house when she got home. I hid in a tree, pro of living with vampires for over a year is getting enough strength to do so in my human form, lord knows I'd never be able to do it in wolf form. Edward didn't know I was there until he caught my thoughts.

When he saw me hiding he whispered, "Remember to keep an eye on her for me," just as Bella's truck pulled in.

Of course she saw Edward right away, the two of them walked deeper into the woods, I kept my distance but stayed hidden in the trees above.

"We have to leave Forks," he told her.

Bella looked clearly taken aback by his abrupt statement, "Why?"

He hesitated, I don't know why, considering he already came up with a cover story. It's got to be hard lying to the one you love, he finally answered, "Carlisle is supposed to be ten years older than he looks and people are starting to notice.

"Okay. I've got to think of something to say to Charlie," she responded dumbly. There was a pregnant pause before she seemed to notice his demeanor, "When you say 'we'...." She trailed off.

"I mean my family and myself," he finished quickly.

She physically looked broken, I think that was the first crack, "Edward what happened with Jasper...It's nothing."

"You're right," he nodded I could see the look in his eye from where I hid, he was devastated at what he was going to have to say to her, "It was nothing but what I always expected. And nothing compared to what could've happened."

"Don't hurt her too badly please Edward." I told him through my thoughts.

He visibly swallowed before continuing, "You just don't belong in my world Bella."

"I belong with you," her whisper was microscopic I almost didn't catch it.

"No, you don't."

She looked more determined when she said, "I'm coming," as if she had a choice.

Edward forced himself to look agitated, "Bella, I don't want you to come," he emphasized.

She took a sharp breath, "You don't...want me," that was the second crack.

"No," Third crack, "Promise me something, don't do anything reckless. For Charlie's sake," I rolled my eyes it was obvious it was more for his sake but okay, "And I'll promise something to you in return. This is the last time you'll ever see me. I won't come back, and you can go on living your life without any interference from me or my family," he added the last bit for me but of course she didn't know that, "It'll be like I never existed. I promise."

I watched as she went from sad to angry, "If this is about my soul? Take it I don't want it without you!"

"It's not about your soul," he dismissed, "You're just not good for me."

She nodded, "Not good enough for you," I knew a part of her always believed that and it was devastating to watch this unravel.

"I'm just sorry I let this go on for so long," through her stuttering protests he told her goodbye and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Once his lips left her head he sped off, leaving her by herself. I stayed, feeling sad watching the way she responded to it. Bella and I were close, all I wanted to do as I watched her break down was go and hug her, tell her everything would be okay. But I held myself back, balancing on the tree out of her view. She started calling for him, trying to find him in the forest to no avail. She screamed and cried for him, I followed, keeping my distance just to ensure she didn't get physically hurt.

I knew it would happen eventually, it was dark and the crickets were chirping, yet I wasn't surprised when I saw her trip and fall on a branch. Instead of getting up she curled into a ball and laid there shivering in the cold. She stayed like that for hours, having fallen asleep. I wanted nothing more than to grab her and put her in bed but I knew she would wake up the moment I grabbed her.

In the distance I saw the red and blue lights flashing, I could hear the commotion. Charlie was worried sick about her. I was at the brink of saying screw my promise and going to get her when I heard deep breathing next to Bella. It was dark, even with my advanced eyesight I couldn't completely make out what it was. It blended in with the darkness, all I could see was the two glimmers that came from the creature's eyes. It huffed and I thought I saw it look directly up at me.

In fear of being spotted I jumped away as fast as I could, following my old scent back to the Swan residence. I jumped onto the roof of the house without being spotted, I thanked the darkness and the fact I'd opted to wear more earthy tones to camouflage with the environment. Creeping forward I saw Charlie leaned over his cruiser shaking with anxiety. I saw a familiar head of long black hair, Jacob was there with his dad.

"I'm gonna try the Cullen's place again," Charlie spoke pulling out his phone while I flinched guiltily.

Billy's voice was deep and authoritative when he spoke, "The Cullens left town Charlie."

I saw Jacob's face snap to his father's, there was a hint of shock on his face. Aww my only friend, sucks I couldn't see him.

"Good riddance," someone next to him spoke, by his tone I inferred he was another member of the tribe.

Charlie hesitated, "Maybe I can call Cate, she might know-"

The same man who spoke before put his arm comfortingly around Charlie's shoulder, "We'll find her Charlie."

"Charlie!" Jacob's voice peaked with panic when he saw movement coming from the forest.

I looked over and saw this big guy, and dude was big, walk out with Bella in his arms. He was tall, muscular- and I could tell cause he wasn't wearing a shirt- olive skin and short/dark cropped hair. I watched the guy curiously as Charlie ran and met with him in the middle, taking Bella from his arms. I caught the guy's name as Charlie was thanking him. Sam.

As Charlie made his way with Bella into the house everyone started to leave, I stayed on the roof crouched as low as I could go. Suddenly there were eyes looking up at me, I held my breath as I quickly slid down the back out of sight. I raced home and didn't look back.

There's no way Billy and that guy Sam saw me up there...Right?