I trotted across the lawn, my footfalls making soft splashing noises on the wet grass, slick with the recent rain. On reaching the foot of the tree I climbed it easily, as if it were routine. As a matter of fact, it was.

Testing my weight on the thick branch nearest the window I inched forward as much as I could without causing it to break. I peered through the window and let out a wolf equivalent of a sigh as I spotted the object of my desire.

Bella.

There she was, as fragile and beautiful as ever, fast asleep on her bed. Her dark hair, still damp from the recent shower, fanned out over the pillow. I sniffed the air as the cold breeze rustling the leaves on the tree brought a whiff of her scent through the partially open window.

Strawberry.

Settling myself more comfortably, I contented myself to listening to her strong steady heartbeat and the whisper of anything that might escape her lips.

Hours later, when the sky was starting to get lighter she finally stirred in bed. I raised my head, alert.

"Jacob" Bella sighed in her sleep.

It took every ounce of my self-control to not climb through that window right then. Instead, I inched a little closer, aware that I was risking it, and planted a paw on the windowpane, leaving an imprint on the dewy glass.

Bella would know what it meant.