Bella knelt in the dirt, her hands pressed into the ground, her chest tight from the talk with her wolf. Her breathing was uneven, her body shaking like she'd been running for hours, but she hadn't moved.
A low, rumbling growl suddenly cut through the forest, vibrating the ground. It came from the trees behind her, she spun around, her heart pounding. Something moved in the leaves, getting closer fast. Her wolf's voice snapped, "Stand up now, Bella. It's coming. Time to fight."
Bella scrambled to her feet, her legs wobbly, she grabbed a branch from the ground, holding it like a bat. "Who's there?" she called, her voice shaky but loud.
"What are you holding? Do you really expect to fight with that?" Her wolf asked in disbelief. "Oh Bella, if only you know what's coming for you…"
