*Jasper's POV

      Aware of Annabell's stubbornness I wanted to believe, when she promised to take it easy. I hoped she'd keep her word. That she apparently never intended to do so, hurt. She basically lied. Unable to listen to her apology and probably another empty promise, I was thankful to hear Peter coming.

      When I flew outside, our eyes met. He could see I was ready to kill something, but I knew he'd drop some funny line causing me to take my frustration out on him. So I just ran past Peter, Leaving him confused standing by the door.

     I ran aimlessly through the forest. When I stopped, I couldn't believe my eyes. Somehow I found myself in the spot where I met Annabell for the first time. I could see her emerald eyes as if she was standing in front of me again.

     Why couldn't she bear the thought of being cared for? Couldn't stand relying on someone? Does she trust me so little? Frustrated, I swung my fist on the huge trunk of a pine tree with enough force to break it. Realizing what tree it was, I stopped my fist just before I'd touch it. This tree means a lot to her...

     Resting my fist and my forehead on the enormous piece of alive wood instead, I wasn't sure there was anything I could do. If there was anything that could change her mind at all. Annabell obviously hated the idea of depending on someone so much, she was willing to risk everything, including her own life. Just so she wouldn't have to ask for help. If she was oblivious to it or intentionally disregarded the fact that she was getting weaker and weaker, I didn't know. Ultimately making me completely helpless.

     Time passed by as I stood there, lost about what to do. All of a sudden I would swear I heard Annabell's voice say my name. It was as if the wind itself whispered it into my ear and I felt a pull towards her house. Something was wrong.

     Without a second thought I ran back as fast as my legs would let me. Entering Annabell's house I could see her sitting in the chair where I left her. Unlike before, now she was resting on the table. The peaceful image in front of me, however, did not correspond with the anxiety that I felt from her. Peter, standing by her side and worried, looked at me from his phone. "Man, I was about to call you. She seems to have fallen asleep, but she was calling your name and wouldn't wake up."

     Getting to her in a blink of an eye, I gently picked her up and took her to her room. Sitting in the leather armchair with her in my arms became a habit of mine and I did it again without thinking. Putting all my effort into calming Annabell down I refused to think about her not waking up. "I'm here, angel..." I whispered with my face buried in her hair.

     Nearly suddenly losing her was bad. Watching her slowly kill herself was worse, but I still couldn't imagine leaving her.

*

     It's been a while since the sun passed its highest point in the sky and began its travel down to the horizon again when Annabell clutched my shirt with her unharmed hand, inhaling deeply. "You're here." She breathed out, relieved. "I was afraid you wouldn't come back..."

     "You called for me, Ann, so here I am. I told you I would stay by your side for as long as you allow me to." I reminded her. "Now you may be able to understand how I feel though." I couldn't help a soft remark.

    "Yes..." She admitted, pausing. "Wait, how did you know? You weren't anywhere nearby. I couldn't feel you." She said, confused. "And I was calling you in a dream. I was alone in that dark place you came to with me, when I was trying to get my memories back."

     "Yet I heard you call my name, my love. I don't know how, but I did." Somehow I was able to feel that she needed me.

*

     That night around midnight, I left Annabell to sleep in her bed with Peter watching the house and went to hunt. After taking down two deer, I was ready to return, when I came across a familiar scent. Without a doubt, it's her. I thought, following it.

     The moment I was sure that I'm about to get her, the ocean opened up before me. Standing at the edge of a cliff with no further trace of the bitch that wanted my mate dead, I clenched my hands in fists and gave out an angry war cry into the night.

     "How is she?" I asked Peter, when I came back.

    "She seems to be sleeping calmly tonight." He replied, giving me a quizzical look. "Bad hunt?" I noticed him trying to keep the corners of his mouth from rising. "Did the rabbits kick your ass?"

"No." My voice hard. "I caught a trace of that psycho but I lost her by the ocean." I informed him and he turned serious.

     "So she's occasionally still snooping around." Commented Peter. "She didn't come anywhere near the house, though." Rustling of bed sheets brought the attention of both of us to Annabell's window. Dawn just started to break out, slowly coloring the eastern sky with various shades of yellow to red, making them appear to be burning. Nevertheless, it seemed that Annabell was already getting up. "I'll go check the shore to see if she got out of the water again around here." Said Peter and when I nodded in acknowledgement, he left.

    I jumped in Annabell's room through the window, just in time to catch her attempting to stand up from the bed.

    "Damn, I hate when you appear out of thin air." Complained Annabell, surprised while I steadied her on her feet.

    "Good morning to you too, angel." I chuckled, noting that the dark circles below her eyes were almost gone today, giving me hope. "Did you sleep well? You are up unusually early today. Sun hasn't even come up yet." Not that it could be seen, behind the clouds again.

    "I did, thank you." She bit her lip. "I know it's awfully early but... I'm hungry." Admitted Annabell, lightly blushing.

*

    After breakfast she asked me to walk with her around the house. It surprised me but I was glad that she seemed to have a little more energy.

    We slowly made a big circle around her house, ending it by sitting on the bench swing on the terrace. Well, I sat and Annabell laid next to me with her head on my lap. Stroking her dark silky hair, lightly swinging us, I soon saw her doze off. Taking off my jacket I covered Annabell with it to keep her at least a little warm. Thankfully it wasn't too cold today.

    In the afternoon she spent some time listening to an audiobook on the couch, where she also ended up taking a nap. I noticed that she didn't sleep as long throughout the day and that she didn't look so pale anymore.

    When she finished her dinner, Annabell let me carry her upstairs. It was the first time she was and stayed awake while I did so, since the day of her injury. I could feel her being somewhat embarrassed since lunchtime but the closer the time for bed came, the more embarrassed she got. Walking into her room with her in my arms she turned completely red. "Ummm..."
     I waited but Annabell appeared to be struggling to say what was on her mind. "What is it, angel?" I asked curious.

    After another long moment of hesitation she finally got the words out. "Would you help me shower today, please?" Biting her lip, I swear her cheeks turned even darker shade of red.

    "Oh, umm, of course." I stammered, momentarily stunned by her request and that she really asked for my help again. It made me happy. "First we need to make sure your cast won't get wet. Wait, I'll be right back." Getting an idea I slowly sat Annabell on her bed, and ran downstairs.

    Returning to her with a roll of plastic wrap in my hand, she was still nervous but smiling at me. "How are we going to do that?" Inquired Annabell, slightly tilting her head in thought.

    "With this." I told her, placing the roll in her hand. At first she frowned in confusion, then her face lit up with recognition.

   "Ohh, that's so simple yet brilliant!" She exclaimed excitedly but then hesitated again. "Umm, we need to get me out of my clothes before we can use it..." Commented Annabell, still deeply blushing.

   "Yes." I agreed. "Do you really want me to help, Ann?" I was happy she asked me to, but her constant hesitation worried me.

    "Yes, I do." She replied slowly. " It's just... I'm still getting used to it... you. To us... That there is someone I can truly rely on, is quite foreign to me." Annabell reached out to me and I helped her stand up, embracing her around her waist. Touched, that she was finally honestly opening up to me, I listened as she explained.

    "First I had mom and Chris, later also Peter... but then Chris died and mom made me forget Peter. I started to remember only after she died as well... but Peter wasn't around anymore." Gently wiping a tear that rolled down her cheek I let her continue. "Even when it was still mom and me, I knew that she loved me and would do anything for me but I was alone a lot."

    "I understand my love. But you need to learn that you are not alone anymore. I told you before and I'll tell you again. I am here and I will always be here, unless you don't want me to be." I reassured her. She reached up and placed her palm over my mouth.

    "Our promise..." Reminded me Annabell quietly. I knew what she meant. We made a promise to not talk about leaving again. "The thought of you really gone, scares me."

    Gently covering her hand, I freed my mouth and held it on my chest. "It is the same for me, Ann. I can't imagine life without you anymore. The idea of eternity with you not by my side is just as scary to me, my love."

    Letting go of her hand, I cupped Annabell's cheek and leaned down to kiss her. As if waiting for me to do so, her sweet lips met mine in a short yet hungry kiss.

    "Let's make my cast waterproof then". She smiled shyly when our lips parted and Annabell attempted unbuttoning her shirt with one hand. After a bit of struggle, getting only one button undone, she stopped and faced me. "Ermmm, can you please..?" It was clearly very unnatural to her, asking for help, but she was finally trying.

    "Of course." I replied, making sure Annabell was steady on her feet before slowly letting go of her waist. Reminding myself that the only reason she's getting undressed now is to shower. When I was about to undo the last button on her shirt, she caught my hand.

    "Are... you sure you're alright?" She was nervous and blushing and I could only guess she's worried about my reaction, when we're done undressing her.

    "Yes, angel. I was hunting last night, so it's much easier to ummm... handle myself while close to you." I explained. "I will not do anything you don't want me to." Aside from the fact that she obviously wasn't ready, she was still hurt. It didn't escape me, how she winced, when she stretched her hurt arm for me to pull her shirt off of it easier. "Please bear with me, Ann. I'll try to be as careful as possible." I gave her heads up before circling her arm with the roll, wrapping it in the plastic foil. Careful to not make it too tight but enough to not allow water to get under it, I put it down again when I was done.

     Noting, that there was no trace of bruises on her delicate creamy skin anymore, I made sure to keep in mind her still painful injuries to not let my thoughts wander too much.