72.
As the scenery whisked by, the knowledge that Bella didn't really know her daughter weighed on her. They have been pulling away ever since she came back from the tension they had to deal with the Vulturis. But in the back of her mind, she knew someday, Renesme would go away. That her little girl would leave. She wanted to protect her from the world. But all this time, the struggle was inside. The enemy came from within. An ancient power. She had tried to hide her fear. Bella had been plagued with those terrible thoughts that it was her punishment for loving Edward. That somehow, her daughter was paying the heavy price for her sins.
Bella skittered to a halt when she sensed the presence of Edward. She was surrounded by pine trees and the rush of a river murmured further on her right. Little animals scurried away from her path for the cover of the undergrowth. Somehow, the air felt wrong. But she couldn't pinpoint the origin of the unease.
"Edward." The wind carried her voice and the link between them jumped and pulsed like a physical heartbeat. Bella turned to the east and inhaled the complex mix of scents hanging in the air. This was definitely her husband and her family further down the road, but also the musky smell of wolves. Bella's heart kicked in with anticipation. Her senses sharpened at the prospect of violence. Underneath the layers of power lurked something dark. Something far sinister.
Her feet barely hit the carpet of dry leaves and fallen trunks eaten by decay as she ran. Even though the sun was now high in the pale sky, little light filtered down the heavy branches overlapping above. The tension ahead shifted. A slight movement from enemies waiting for the battle of will to end, and escalate to a full-out fight. Bella paused in her mad chase, breathing hard. Blood hung in the air.
"Edward!" Her acute vision peered through the dark vegetation trying to peal back the scenery to what was unfolding beyond. The link between them jumped and hovered in free-fall then pulsed harden. Something was happening to Edward. Bella pushed on her feet with renewed strength. The wind sang in her ears. Hurry, it seemed to say.
The moment, she broke through the thick forest to a clearing, a tremendous wall of raw power hit her. The sight of broken branches and split-up rocks caught her attention before she saw the blood. Shrubs and grass were covered with it. Her eyes trailed over it to the first immobile body. A giant brown wolf. Bella hurried to its side, she kneeled in a pool of cooling blood. Her jeans instantly soaked at the knees. Bella ran her fingers over the coarse pelt.
"Not Jacob," she murmured. But a member from Sam's pack. Even with all that had happened between them, her stomach churned at the thought of something bad happening to him. Jacob had a special spot in her heart. A spot she didn't want to acknowledge. A spot that was her little secret. She looked up from the dead wolf to the dirt road and spotted Edward's car next to a black jeep, Emmett's. Silence reined, and the forest held its breath. There was definitely something wrong here. Bella brushed away her hair, smudging blood over her cheek in the process. Her eyes darted to the slope overlooking the road. Tall ancient trees stared back at her.
"Edward!" she shouted and her voice broke. Bella did a turn, casting a wary gaze around. Nothing. There was no sound coming from the forest. She let out a shaky breath and gathered her strength. She had to move. Glaring ahead, Bella squared her shoulders and marched on. As she did, the air thickened. Each step became heavier. She balled her hands, digging her nails into her palms. The trees swam before her eyes, distorted and menacing.
"Give me back my daughter! Give me back my Edward. Give me back my family!" she said through gritted teeth as the forest pressed against her.