Bella Swan, the narrator, having a dream in which she is talking to her grandmother. Edward, her vampire boyfriend, approaches them, his skin sparkling in the sunlight. Bella realizes she is actually looking at her own reflection in a mirror, appearing old and wrinkled. Edward kisses her on her aged cheek and wishes her a happy birthday.
Bella wakes up from her dream and notices the overcast sky outside, typical of her town, Forks, in Washington State. It's her 18th birthday, making her officially older than Edward, who is forever frozen at the age of 17. Bella reflects on the wonderful summer she had with Edward and dreads the idea of growing older while he remains the same.
Her father, Charlie Swan, who is the Police Chief, presents her with birthday gifts including a film camera. However, Bella's mind is preoccupied with thoughts of Edward. She drives her old Chevy truck to Forks High School where she meets Edward and his adoptive sister, Alice. At school, they pretend to be siblings along with three other adoptees of Dr. Carlisle Cullen, the town surgeon, and his wife, Esme. The adoptees are all vampires and must keep their true nature hidden. They chose to live in Forks because the frequent cloudy weather helps conceal their glittering skin.
Alice is excited and has a gift prepared for Bella, but Bella doesn't want a big celebration at school. Alice, who can see the future, reveals that Edward would buy Bella a car and pay for her college education, given his wealth. However, Bella feels indebted to Edward and is hesitant to accept such extravagant gifts from him. Her greatest desire is to become a vampire like Edward so that they can be together for eternity. Edward, on the other hand, wants Bella to enjoy a human life.
Alice insists that Bella visit the Cullen house in the evening for a birthday party. Bella tries to decline the invitation, but Edward supports Alice's idea. Throughout the day, Bella and Edward attend their classes
together, and it remains relatively calm. They eventually drive back to Bella's house, where Edward kisses her. Bella responds passionately, but Edward stops her because his teeth are coated with vampire venom.
Later, they watch the movie "Romeo and Juliet" for a class assignment. Romeo's suicide in the movie reminds Edward of his own plans for death, whichhe had contemplated when a vampire named James tried to kill Bella earlier that year. Edward had intended to go to Italy and provoke the Volturi, the most powerful vampire family, to kill him. Bella becomes angry and insists that Edward should never harm himself, regardless of what happens to her.
In the evening, Bella and Edward take her truck to the Cullen house, which is beautifully decorated with lanterns, candles, flowers, and a birthday cake. Bella is warmly greeted by Carlisle, Esme, and Alice. However, Jasper, who struggles with his bloodlust, keeps his distance, and Rosalie remains aloof, viewing Bella as a threat to their family. Bella feels uncomfortable with all the attention but tries to put on a brave face.
Alice presents Bella with her gifts. The first gift is an empty box, symbolizing a new car stereo that Emmet, another adoptee, installs in Bella's truck while she sits there. The second gift, from Alice and Edward, is wrapped in paper that accidentally cuts Bella's finger. Jasper, overwhelmed by the scent of Bella's blood, lunges at her. Edward quickly pushes her out of harm's way, leading to a struggle between Edward, Emmet, and Jasper. In the chaos, Bella falls onto broken glass and cuts her arm. She looks up to see the othersix vampires, including Carlisle and Esme, suddenly displaying ravenous hunger.
Edward crouches protectively near Bella as chaos ensues. Carlisle, drawing from his centuries of experience as a surgeon, remains calm and gives orders to Emmet and Rosalie to remove Jasper from the house. Esme apologizes to Bella and follows them out. Carlisle and Edward carry Bella to the kitchen table while Carlisle starts removing the pieces of glass from her arm. Edward and Alice eventually leave, as only Carlisle is immune to the overpowering allure of Bella's blood.
While Carlisle stitches up Bella's wound, she asks him why he chooses
to help humans despite his vampire nature. Carlisle explains that he wants his existence to have a positive impact on people's lives and hopes to receive some form of absolution from a higher power. Coming from a religious background as the son of a preacher, Carlisle still believes in God. Bella realizes that Edward doesn't want her to become a vampire because he believes she would lose her soul.
Carlisle recounts how he turned Edward into a vampire when the young boy was dying of influenza. Edward's dyingmother, who somehow knew about Carlisle's nature, pleaded with him to save her son using his unique abilities. Carlisle never regretted his decision as Edward grew up to be a remarkable person.
Afterward, Alice finds a clean shirt for Bella, and Edward drives her back home. Edward seems distant, and Bella blames herself for the events at the party. However, Edward assures her that she is not at fault. Bella enters her house, carrying her remaining gifts, while Edward sneaks into her room through the window, unbeknownst to her father, Charlie. They open the rest of the gifts, which include tickets for a trip to Jacksonville, where Bella's mother, Ren?e, lives with her new husband. Edward's gift to Bella is a CD of his beautiful piano compositions, which brings tears to her eyes. They share a kiss, but Edward's urgency reminds Bella of their farewell kiss before she went into hiding from James. With a troubled heart, she falls asleep in his arms.
Bella wakes up feeling terrible, having had a restless night. Her arm hurts, and she has a headache. Edward gives her a quick kiss before leaving, leaving Bella worried that he spent the night contemplating their relationship. At school, Edward is polite but distant. Bella wants to talk to Alice, who can see the future, but Edward informs her that Alice is away with Jasper for some time.
Feeling guilty about causing trouble for the Cullen family, Bella works her shift at Newton's sporting goods store, feeling distracted. When she returns home, she finds Edward and her father watching sports on TV. Once again, Edward appears distant. Bella wonders if she and Edward should go away together for a while to give the situation some space and distance from the other Cullens. She senses that a big change is coming to her life, adding to her uneasiness.
Wanting to document her time in Forks, as it might be coming to an end soon, Bella takes pictures. She photographs Charlie and Edward, and they, in turn, take pictures of her with each of them. As Edward leaves, Bella walks out with him and asks if he will spend the night as usual. He replies with a "Not tonight" and drives away.
The following morning at school, Edward is even more distant than before. During lunch, Bella asks her friends to take pictures of each other with her camera. Afterschool, she develops the film while working her shift and brings the pictures home. She places them in the scrapbook her mother gave her for her birthday and keeps a second set of prints in an envelope for her mom.
Edward remains aloof, but at the end of the school day, he surprises Bella by asking if he can come over. They go for a short walk into the nearby forest, where Edward reveals that he and the other Cullens are leaving Forks, and Bella cannot come with them. Bella protests, expressing how much Edward means to her. However, Edward explains that he no longer wants to pretend to be human and no longer wants to be with her.
Bella whispers desperately, "Don't do this," but it's too late. Edward makes her promise not to do anything reckless out of consideration for her father. He claims that she is human and will eventually forget about him. He assures her that they, including Alice, who has been close to Bella, will leave forever and not bother her again.
Edward disappears into the forest, leaving Bella desperate. She follows but quickly gets lost. Despite the challenge, she continues searching, refusing to give up. The darkness falls, and she trips and falls, remaining on the ground for hours. She briefly hears voices calling her name but doesn't have the strength to respond. Eventually, she hears more voices and the sound of a large animal. However, she still cannot respond. Finally, a man named Sam Uley with a lantern finds her. He picks her up and carries her to a group of searchers.
The group walks back together, and Sam transfers Bella to Charlie, who carries her to their house. It's well past midnight when they arrive. Dr. Gerandy from town checks Bella's pulse and asks if she's injured. Several people are present, including Sam, two other men from the nearby Quileute reservation, and Bella's friend Mike Newton. Bella overhears Dr. Gerandy telling her father that the Cullens had to leave immediately due to an important job offer elsewhere.
The volunteers leave, and Charlie learns from his friend Billy Black, who is from the Quileute reservation, that some reservation kids are celebrating the departure of the Cullens by lighting bonfires on the sea cliffs in La Push. They believe the Cullens areevil. Jacob Black, Billy's son, had previously told Bella stories about vampires attacking the reservation and the Nativemen transforming into wolves to defeat them.
Bella asks how her father knew where to look for her, and Charlie shows her a note that indicates where she went. She can tell that the note is a forgery by Edward. Charlie asks Bella if Edward left her in the woods, and Bella clarifies that he left within sight of the house, but she followed him into the forest and got lost.
Feeling devastated, Bella retreats to her room and realizes that the CD of Edward's piano music and her pictures of him are missing. It seems that Edward's promise that "It will be as if I'd never existed" is coming true./
Bella's life becomes monotonous as she attends school, maintains excellent grades, works at the store, cooks for her father, and stays out of trouble. However, Charlie has reached his limit with Bella's apparent lifelessness and urges her to do something to break out of her depression. He suggests living with her mother or seeing a counselor, but Bella doesn't want to leave Forks. She believes that if she tells the truth about Edward in counseling, she will end up institutionalized. Charlie insists that she can't keep waiting for Edward and encourages her to go out with a friend.
In school, Bella tries to distract herself with classwork. She asks her friend Jessica to go to a movie with her in Port Angeles. Jessica, still upset with Bella for ignoring her, reluctantly agrees. They watch a zombie movie, hoping it would be a better choice than a romance. However, Bella finds herself identifying with the expressionless zombie rather than the frightened woman in the film. She leaves the theater before the movie ends, feeling disconnected.
On their way to a McDonald's, Bella and Jessica walk along an unlit street that passes by a bar. Outside the bar, four men are lounging, resembling the men who tried to assault Bella a year earlier. A wild urge
compels her to cross the street towards them, but Jessica tries to stop her. It's only when Bella hears Edward's voice warning her not to do anything foolish that she snaps out of it.
Although the voice fades, Bella takes a few steps towards the men, and the voice becomes loud and clear again. Realizing that a part of Edward still exists for her, even if it's just a hallucination, she crosses the street. However, upon seeingthat the men are not the ones who threatened her before, she loses interest in them.
Bella and Jessica eat at McDonald's, but Jessica remains silent and annoyed. On the drive home, Bella convinces herself that the important thing is that Edward still exists somewhere. She fears the pain of remembering him but dreads the thought of forgetting him even more.
Back in her room, Bella feels the pain of her loss return, but she realizes that she has grown strong enough to bear it.
Bella has been plagued by the same dream for months. In the dream, she is in a dark forest, endlessly searching until she realizes that there was never anything to search for and never will be. She frequently wakes up screaming, but Charlie no longer checks on her when he hears her screams.
To avoid going home, where the nightmares persist, Bella drives around after her work shift. She comes across a house with two old motorcycles for sale. She knocks on the door, and a kid tells her that the bikes are free for the taking. With the kid's help, she loads the motorcycles into her truck. She plans to take them to Jacob Black on the reservation because he knows how to repair vehicles.
Bella calls her dad for directions, drives to La Push on the coast, and finds Jacob's house. Jacob is thrilled to see her, and Bella is surprised to find that she feels the same way about him. Jacob, who is now 16, has grown tall, well over six feet, with a more mature face and more developed muscles. They briefly greet Billy, Jacob's father and Charlie's best friend, and then walk to the garage. Jacob shows off the VW Rabbit he has rebuilt, a car his dad bought him after Jacob delivered Billy's message warning Bella to stay away from Edward.
Bella asks Jacob if he can rebuild a motorcycle and teach her to ride it.
She offers the second bike as payment, and Jacob gladly accepts the offer tohelp her for free.
Bella takes the motorcycles to Jacob's garage, where he begins repairing them. Jacob's friends, Quil and Embry, show up and meet Bella while teasing Jacob about her. After promising to return the next day, Bella prepares to leave and cook dinner for her father. As she walks away, she hears the visitors playfully scuffling and cheering.
Back athome, Bella feels much lighter. She feeds her dad, does her homework, and goes to bed, expecting the usual nightly anguish. However, she sleeps soundly and wakes up refreshed.
Bella returns to Jacob's garage the next day. She is in a positive mood, attributing it to Jacob's perpetual happiness rubbing off on her. They go to a junkyard and an auto parts store to buy the necessary parts for the motorcycles. During the drive, Jacob notices a hole in Bella's truck's dashboard where the stereo used to be. Bella lies and claims that it broke rather than admitting that she tore it out after Edward left.
As they spend time together, Bella enjoys listening to Jacob sharing recent events from his life. They return to Jacob's house, where he starts organizing the parts for the motorcycles. Bella finds herself having a good time, even laughing occasionally.
As it gets dark, Charlie shows up with Harry Clearwater, and they invite Bella and Charlie to have dinner with them. Jacob takes Bella's hand and guides her to the Clearwater house. Harry and his wife Sue have brought their children, Leah and Seth, to the gathering. Bella remembers them from her previous visits. With too many people for the dining table, everyone eats outside, sitting on chairs and balancing paper plates of spaghetti. The conversation is lively, and Bella enjoys the company.
Bella drives her father back home and catches up with her mom via email. She fears the return of her nightmares and decides to do extra homework to distract herself. Eventually, she falls asleep, and the bad dream returns. This time, while searching the forest, Sam Uley appears and offers no help. Bella wakes up screaming once again.
At school, for the first time in months, Bella starts paying attention to
the people around her. She realizes that she has become invisible, even to the teachers. Jessica gives her the cold shoulder, and her old friends ignore her during lunch. Bella eavesdrops on their conversations, trying to catch up with what she missed.
During a conversation, Angela mentions seeing a black animal while hiking with her boyfriend, Ben. Lauren dismisses it, claiming that Tyler had tried to sell her the same story. Suddenly, Bella speaks up, mentioning that she and Mike heard the same story at the sporting goods store. This grabs everyone's attention, and Mike, surprised that Bella is talking again, agrees that they heard abouta strange creature.
Mike asks Bella about her weekend activities, and she mentions going to Port Angeles with Jessica and spending time with Jacob. Jessica implies that Bella was too scared to finish watching the zombie movie they went to see, and Bella pretends that she was indeed afraid.
As the students clear their trays, Angela thanks Bella for standing up for her. Angela asks if Bella is okay, and Bella admits that she's not entirely fine but getting better. However, Lauren walks past and cruelly remarks, "Oh, joy. Bella's back." Angela looks at Bella and mutters, "Nothing's changed much." Bella agrees, realizing that it has been exactly one year since she came to Forks High School and feeling like she's starting all over again.
On her way to Jacob's place, Bella drives up the long road to the old Cullen house. She hopes that being there might somehow bring back Edward's voice in herhead. However, the property is now overgrown with ferns, and the house feels empty and abandoned, much like Bella herself. Disappointed, she quickly hurries back to her truck and drives to Jacob's house.
Seeing Jacob again brings a sense of relief to Bella. Her motorcycle is mostly repaired and standing upright. Bella wonders aloud if her visits are bothering Jacob, but he confesses that he worries she won't come over anymore once the bike is fixed. They agree to meet twice a week to study together.
After finishing her work shift on Tuesday, Mike invites Bella to a movie on Friday. This reminds her of a year ago when Mike tried to pursue her
romantically. She declines the invitation for that night, citing a study session, but suggests going out as friends the following week. Mike is slightly disappointed but agrees.
Bella continues studying with Jacob on Wednesday, and he stays for dinner. On Friday, they spend time at Jacob's garage, and on Saturday, they study together again. Despite her improved routine, the nightmares persist, now featuring Bella wandering through a sea of ferns. On Sunday, Jacob calls to inform Bella that the motorcycle repairs are finished. Excited, she quickly heads over to Jacob's place, and they load the bikes into her truck before driving south through the woods.
During their drive near the ocean cliffs, they come across four guys wearing only shorts standing at the top. Bella panics when one of them jumps off the edge, but Jacobexplains that they are diving into the sea. It's a 100-foot drop into the icy water. One of the divers turns out to be Sam Uley. Jacob reveals that they are part of the "La Push gang," led by Sam, who acts as protectors of the reservation and expels drug dealers. Jacob expresses his disdain for them, finding them self-important.
Bella feels puzzled by Jacob's animosity towards the group. They arrive at the practice spot and unload the bikes from the truck. Bella asks Jacob why he's so angry, and he explains that Sam keeps treating him as if he will eventually join their gang. Jacob shares that other boys who were once friendly with him were bothered by Sam, disappeared for a while, and returned behaving oddly, refusing to talk to him. Eventually, they ended up joining Sam's gang. Jacob fears the same fate awaits him. Although his dad told him not to worry, he didn't offer any further explanation.
Instinctively, Bella hugs Jacob and assures him that they will figure out a solution together.
Jacob teaches Bella how to ride the motorcycle, explaining the pedals and handles. With the engine idling, Bella puts the bike in gear and slowly releases the clutch. Suddenly, Edward's voice angrily rings in her ears, warning her that it's reckless, childish, and idiotic. Surprised, Bella lets go of the clutch, causing the bike to lurch forward, stall, and tip over. Edward's voice echoes, saying, "I told you so."
Determined to bring back Edward's voice, Bella gets back up, restarts the engine, and ignores his warning as she slowly lets out the clutch and speeds forward, feeling the wind in her hair. However, she approaches a turn without knowing what to do, leading to another crash. Lying on the ground, Bella exclaims, "Wow."
Jacob catches up to her and notices a bloody gash on her forehead. Worried, he gives her his shirt to apply pressure to the wound. Bella convinces Jacob to drive her home so she can clean up. At home, she breathes through her mouth to avoid the smell of blood, which nauseates her, and cleans up the blood and dirt. They then head to the emergency room, with Bella wearing fresh clothes and Jacob shirtless. The doctor stitches up Bella's forehead.
Back at home, Charlie, accustomed to Bella's clumsy accidents, believes her story that she tripped and hit her head on a hammer inJacob's garage. That night, the recurring bad dream returns, but Bella is eager to get it over with so she can continue her new projects.
Bella becomes proficient at motorcycle riding, and Edward's voice fades from her mind. She focuses on finding the meadow she once visited with Edward, hoping it will bring back good memories. Jacob surprises her with a gift of candy on Valentine's Day, and Bella, feeling embarrassed, agrees to be his valentine. However, she realizes she needs to establish clear boundaries between her and Jacob.
Bella plans a group outing to a movie on Friday night, intending to fulfill her promise to Mike. She also invites Jacob and his friend Quil, hoping to create some distance between herself and the boys. However, Jessica and Lauren decline the invitation, causing a couple of other boys to back out as well. In the end, the group consists of Angela and Ben, Mike, and Jacob.
Jacob arrives proudly in his newly repaired VW Rabbit. Mike is sullen and sits in the backseat as they drive to the movie theater. The film they watch turns out to be a gory one, much to Bella's preference, and while Mike endures it, Bella and Jacob laugh at the absurdities of the story. Midway through the film, Mike becomes nauseated and rushes to the bathroom. Bella and Jacob follow him and wait for him outside. Jacob
admits his desire to be Bella's boyfriend but understands that she is still emotionally attached to Edward. Bella confesses that she enjoys being with Jacob but doesn't want to take their relationship further.
After the movie, they help Mike, who is still feeling ill, and drive him back home. They then return to Bella's house, where Jacob mentions feeling strange and his forehead feeling hot. He expresses his commitment to Bella and assures her that he will never hurt her. Bella appreciates his friendship but privately feels guilty for leaning on him as a crutch. Jacob agrees to call her once he gets home but fails to do so.
Bella tries calling Jacob, but Billy, Jacob's father, answers and informs her that Jacob is sick. Bella offers to help, considering Billy's wheelchair-bound state, but he gruffly tells her to stay away.Late at night, Bella wakes up feeling nauseous and rushes to the bathroom, where she vomits. She spends the next 16 hours alternating between sleeping and vomiting.When she finally wakes up in her own bed at dawn on Sunday, she feels much better. She calls Jacob, who reveals that he is also sick but with something different. He promises to call her once he's better but insists that she waits for him to make the call.
Bella tries calling Jacob, but the phone lines are down, and she can't reach him. She asks her dad to call Harry Clearwater, who informs them that Jacob has mono and no visitors are allowed. Bella senses that something is off but can't get any more information.
Ignoring Charlie's advice to stay out of the woods due to reports of large animals, Bella drives to continue her search for the meadow. The forest feels eerie, and her longing for Edward intensifies. She eventually finds the meadow but realizes it's not the same without Edward. Overwhelmed by her emotions, she crouches down and curls into a ball. Grateful that Jacob isn't there to witness her vulnerability, she suddenly feels the urge to leave.
As Bella stands up, a figure emerges from across the meadow - it's Laurent, a vampire who used to be associated with James, the vampire who tried to kill Bella. Laurent was recently aligned with the non-violent Alaskan coven but has now returned to hunting humans, as indicated by his red eyes. He asks Bella about the Cullens and mentions their empty
house. Edward's voice enters Bella's mind, warning her to be cautious, but she unintentionally convinces Laurent that she is no longer under their protection.
Suddenly, a pack of huge wolf-like creatures appears, one of them glancing at Bella, reminding her of Jacob. The wolves snarl at Laurent, who becomes terrified and runs away, pursued by the wolves. Confused and shaken, Bella quickly leaves the meadow and gets lost. Using a map and compass, she eventually finds her way back to the road. She jogs back to her truck, sobbing.
When Bella returns home, Charlie asks where she has been. She admits that she went hiking against his wishes and encountered a pack of mysterious creatures, but they ignored her, allowing her to escape. Charlie embraces her tightly and sternly orders her not to go hiking again. Bella agrees wholeheartedly.
Upstairs in her room, Bella tries to sleep but is haunted by images of Laurent and Victoria. She realizes that both she and Charlie are in mortal danger, andthe helpless feeling overwhelms her. She presses her fist against her mouth, desperately trying to contain her screams.
Another week passes without a call from Jacob. Each morning, Bella wakes up surprised that both she and her dad are still alive. Charlie notices her jumpiness and attributes it to her missing Jacob. Bella contemplates going to La Push to find Jacob but fears it might draw the vampires to the reservation. She considers that if she stays home and Victoria finds her, the vampire might be satisfied with killing her and spare Charlie's life.
Bella realizes that Jacob must have been drawn into Sam Uley's cult. If Laurent and Victoria haven't killed her by now, she believes she is not their top priority. Finding Jacob and trying to save him seems worth the risk. She drives to his house and parks, waiting for him. Eventually, he appears at her window, accompanied by other large, angry-looking boys under Sam's watchful gaze. Bella wishes she were a vampire so she could scare them. She tells Jacob that she wants to speak to him alone, and Sam and the other boys go into the house.
Bella and Jacob walk into the woods, where he admits that his father
and Sam were right and that things have changed for him and the other boys. Jacob insists that he's not a good person anymore. Bella pleads with him to tell her what's happening, but he only hints that it has something to do with the Cullens without providing further details. He quickly returns to his house.
Feeling another holeopening in her chest, alongside the one she feels for Edward, Bella drives home and shares what happened with Charlie. He gets on the phone to Billy, and they have a heated argument. Bella overhears Billy angrily denying that Bella led Jacob on, making her realize that there is something much bigger being concealed.
That night, Bella has a dream where Jacob slowly transforms into a vampire, further adding to her confusion and distress.
Bella hears scratching at her window and fears it's Victoria, but it turns out to be Jacob, who swings and launches himself through her window. They wait to ensure Charlie doesn't wake up. Bella insists that he leaves, but Jacob is there to apologize. Exhausted, Bella flops back onto her bed, and Jacob sits with her. He wants to keep his promise ofnot hurting her but is burdened with a secret he must protect. Jacob suggests that she already knows everything because he has already told her. He reminds her of the day they met on the beach when he shared stories about the Quileutes and vampires.
Jacob asks Bella to contact him once she figures out the secret, implying that if she does, he won't have betrayed it. He brings up the memory of their beach conversation, hugs her, and then sneaks out of the house. Bella falls back asleep and has a dream where Jacob transforms into a giant wolf, similar to the one that stared at her in the meadow. She wakes up screaming but now realizes that Jacob is some kind of werewolf. She reflects on the fact that she has had two close friends who are mythical creatures.
Bella rushes downstairs, intending to see Jacob, but her father stops her and informs her that another visitor has been killed, and hunters are preparing to search for the wolves responsible. Charlie leaves to assist with the search. Bella contemplates whether she should warn Jacob or if Sam's pack members are cold-blooded killers.
Before dawn, Bella arrives at Jacob's house and demands to speak to him, wanting to warn him about the hunters. However, Jacob is still asleep, so she drives to the beach and waits for him there. She finds the old driftwood log where they had their first conversation a year earlier.
Jacob eventually shows up, and they argue until he clarifies that the wolves aren't killing visitors but rather trying to protect them from vampires. He reveals that they killed the "black-haired leech" from the meadow before he could harm Bella, relieving her from the fear of Laurent. However, the killings have continued, indicating that Victoria is still present. Bella is overwhelmed with terror and feels nauseous.
Jacob confirms that a red-headed vampire, Victoria, has been evading the wolves and continues to pose a threat. He asks if Bella knows what Victoria is after, and Bella realizes that Victoria is seeking revenge and wants to harm her. Jacob briefly disappears and returns, explaining that in wolf form, the pack can communicate telepathically. He called for a pack conference so Bella can share her story, as her knowledge of vampires will help them hunt down Victoria.
They drive to the location where they practiced with motorcycles, and Jacob admits thatthe pack may not be pleased with him bringing an outsider, but Bella's information about vampires is crucial for their mission to track and confront Victoria.
The pack of tall boys, including Sam, appears from the trees, immediately expressing anger that Jacob has brought an outsider. Paul becomes furious and transforms into a huge wolf with silver fur. Jacob quickly transforms into the russet wolf and engages in a fight with Paul. They snarl and snap at each other, but Jacob, being bigger, manages to push Paul back into the forest. Sam orders the other boys to take Bella to Emily's house, while he joins the fight after kicking off his shoes. The forest falls silent once the commotion ceases.
Embry drives the truck with Bella, and Jared joins them in the truck bed. They make jokes about the shredded clothes left behind by Jacob and Paul, even placing bets on which fighter would leave a mark. Bella
feels faint, so they head to Emily's house, where she is cooking breakfast. Emily has three red gashes on the right side of her otherwise beautiful face, caused by an accident involving the wolves. She offers Bella a muffin. Sam enters and shares a loving kiss with Emily. Jacob and Paul walk in, acting as if they hadn't fought at all.
Jacob reveals that Victoria is hunting Bella. The group immediately adjusts their strategy, creating gaps in their patrol to potentially lure Victoria into a trap. Bella agrees to spend as much time as possible in La Push. She spends the day at Jacob's house, and Charlie unknowingly joins them for dinner as a protective measure against Victoria. Later, they drive back home together. That night, Bella dreams about the werewolves.
During spring break, Bella spends a significant amount of time at La Push. When not on patrol, Jacob dedicates his time to being with her. He explains that the werewolves have exceptionally warm skin, with a body temperature of around 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Their wounds heal rapidly. Quil is expected to transform soon, and anger typically triggers the first change. Jacob's transformation took longer because he was happy about Bella.
Bella often sits with Billy, but he is mostly quiet. One afternoon, she visits Emily and enjoys her company, but she leaves when Sam arrives, as their loving contentment reminds her of what she has lost. She frequently goes tothe beach, pacing and contemplating the complications in her life, feeling the persistent emotional void in her chest.
Jacob finds her curled up on the beach and encourages her to have some fun. He promises to take her cliff diving the next day. Bella hasn't heard Edward's voice in her mind for a while, so she agrees, hoping the fear will bring his voice back.
When Bella arrives the following morning, Jacob is off with the pack, pursuing a new vampire scent. Bella walks down to the beach, and although the weather is cloudy yet warm, a storm is approaching. She struggles with the pain of missing Edward and, overwhelmed by guilt because Jacob is risking his life to protect her, she reaches the edge of
the cliff where the wolf boys had jumped off. Edward's voice pleads with her not to jump, but she decides to prove her humanity and jumps.
As she falls, Bella feels exhilaration rather than fear. She hits the cold water and initially finds it too easy. However, a powerful underwater current sweeps her away, disorienting her. In the darkness, she struggles to find which way is up, feeling like she's going to drown. Edward's voice urges her to keep swimming, but her limbs grow numb from the cold, and she becomes exhausted. Despite Edward's angry voice pushing her on, she no longer cares. She remembers his face vividly, and his voice brings her peace. Content with dying, she thinks, "Goodbye, I love you."
Bella's head breaks the water's surface, and she finds herself being pushed against rocks by the waves. Jacob's voice commands her to breathe as he pushes the water out of her lungs with his hands. Sam is standing nearby. Jacob picks her up and carries her away from the beach. She notices something red floating in the ocean as she looks back. Jacob scolds her for jumping without him and tells her to do foolish things only when he's around. He reveals that the pack chased Victoria into the ocean, which led him back home and allowed him to follow Bella's truck tracks to rescue her from the water. He also informs her that Harry Clearwater had a heart attack, and Charlie and Billy are at the hospital.
At Jacob's house, he sets Bella on the couch and instructs her not to go anywhere while he fetches dry clothes for her. He returnswith oversized clothes, sits on the floor next to her, and they both fall asleep. Bella has various dreams, including visions of her mother, a quilt, a flame on the ocean, and Juliet on her balcony. She contemplates what Juliet would have done if Romeo had left her and wonders if she could have married Paris instead. However, she concludes that it would never have happened as it wouldn't have made for an interesting story.
Bella begins to regret her impulsive cliff jump. Considering Harry's illness and the impact her reckless actions could have on Charlie, she feels guilty and irresponsible. Billy arrives with the sad news that Harry didn't survive. Bella feels terrible for Billy. Jacob drives Bella home in her truck, and they share an emotional moment where Bella considers giving her feelings to Jacob as a pale echo of the love she had for Edward.
However, she hears Edward's voice in her head saying, "Be happy," which surprises her. Just then, Jacob senses the presence of a vampire and quickly drives Bella away from the danger. Bella sees a black car parked on the street, one that belongs to Carlisle. Jacob leaves the car and runs into the woods, as he must leave their territory.
The visitor at Bella's house turns out to be Alice. Bella joyfully hugs her. Alice had seen in her visions that Bella had jumped from the cliff, so she returned to Forks expecting to help Charlie cope with Bella's death. However, Bella is alive. Alice assumes Bella was attempting suicide, but Bella clarifies that it was just a foolish idea without considering the turbulent water. Alice comments on Bella's scent, stating that she smells awful. Bella explains that her friend is a werewolf and they rise up when vampires are near. Alice warns Bella about the danger of being involved with such dangerous creatures and mentions that she had warned Edward about bad things happening.
Bella defends Jacob, explaining how he and his pack saved her from Laurent and Victoria. She brings Alice up to speed on recent events. Alice agrees to watch over Bella but says she needs to hunt first. She returns quickly, her eyes once again dark gold.
Charlie returns home, saddened by the loss of his friend Harry. He is glad to see Alice, considering her a dear friend. Alice offers to keep Bella company while Charlie works onHarry's funeral arrangements. Bella falls asleep on Alice's shoulder. The next morning, Bella overhears Charlie talking to Alice about Bella's struggles after Edward left and how Jacob's friendship has helped improve her mood. Charlie doubts that Bella will ever completely recover from the loss.
After Charlie leaves, Alice updates Bella on the Cullen family. They have moved to Ithaca, New York, with Carlisle teaching at Cornell, and Jasper studying philosophy there as well. Emmett and Rosalie are in Europe. Alice has discoveredmore about her own past, including her death certificate and grave marker, which share the same date as her admission to the insane asylum where her parents sent her. She also had a sister whose daughter now resides in Biloxi.
The next morning, Charlie leaves for the funeral, and shortly after, the
doorbell rings. Alice, who cannot see werewolves in her visions, assumes it's Jacob. She remarks that it wouldn't be a good idea to have her and Jacob Black in a room together, gives Bella a kiss on the cheek, and disappears out of the window.
Jacob expresses his dislike for the smell of vampires around Bella's house and asks if Alice will be staying for a while. Bella defiantly states that Alice has an open invitation. Jacob warns that he can't protect her on Cullen territory if Alice is present and asks if the Cullens will return. Bella responds with a no, causing Jacob to leave. Bella feels guilty about the growing rift between her and Jacob.
Feeling upset, Bella puts her face in her hands. Jacob returns, and she lifts her tear-streaked face to him. He apologizes for breaking his promise not to hurt her, but Bella takes the blame and questions why she can't be friends with both him and Alice. Jacob expresses doubt about the feasibility of that arrangement. Bella leans against his chest and utters, "This sucks."
Jacob also dislikes the sickly sweet smell of Alice on Bella, to which Bella points out that Alice didn't like the smell of Jacob on her either. Jacob admits that he will miss Bella, and he leans down to kiss her, but they are interrupted by the ringing phone. Jacob answers it and speaks curtly to Dr. Cullen, who inquires about Charlie. Bella protests, but Jacob suddenly becomes alert as he notices Alice standing at the foot of the stairs, looking troubled. Bella goes to Alice, andshe simply says, "Edward." Bella becomes unsteady, and Jacob places her on the couch while demanding to know what Alice did to her. Alice briefly calms him down and then calls home to get more information.
Alice learns that Rosalie told Edward about her vision of Bella jumping off the cliff and supposedly killing herself. Bella informs Alice that Carlisle had called, but Alice reveals that it was actually Edward on the phone. The call confirmed in Edward's mind that Bella was dead. Alice explains that Edward plans to go to Italy and provoke the Volturi into killing him. If they hesitate due to their respect for Carlisle, Edward will create a public scene to force them to act quickly. Alice believes there may still be time to stop him if they hurry.
Bella insists on going with Alice. She quickly gathers her belongings from upstairs and returns to find Alice and Jacob snarling at each other, blaming one another for putting Bella in danger. Bella yells for them to stop and they all head outside. Alice starts her car, tears streaming down Bella's face. She hugs Jacob, kisses his hand, and then runs towards the car, ready to embark on the urgent journey.
On the plane to New York, Alice uses the airline phone to communicate with Jasper and Emmett, convincing them not to restrain Edward. She explains that Edward can read minds and would know if they were coming, which would only accelerate his plans for self-destruction. Instead, Alice believes their best chance is for Bella to confront Edward before he takes any drastic actions.
Alice provides Bella with information about the Volturi, the largest vampire coven led by three men who are over 3,000 years old. The Volturi have a large family with two women and are protected by powerful guards with psychic abilities superior to Alice's. Their main responsibility is enforcing the vampire rules, especially the secrecy of their existence. Edward plans to break this rule and provoke the Volturi to kill him.
During the flight to Italy, Alice enters a trance to search for signs of the future, while Bella contemplates her next steps in Forks if she survives the trip to Volterra. Alice informs Bella that the Volturi have rejected Edward's request for execution and instead plan to offer him a place among them. This news delays Edward's suicidal plan to force the Volturi's hand. Bellaexpresses her willingness to become a vampire to help more, but Alice explains that the transformation process takes days, which they don't have.
As they approach Italy, Alice reveals that since the Volturi refused Edward's request, he has decided to end his life by walking into the sunlight in front of a crowd during the Saint Marcus Day festival in Volterra. Alice steals a Porsche at the Florence airport, and they race towards Volterra, where a crowded festival is taking place.
Upon reaching the city gates of Volterra, they find the parking lot full, and cars are being turned away. Alice bribes the guard to allow them through. They maneuver through the crowds and narrow streets, making their way to the edge of the main plaza. Following Alice's instructions, Bella pushes through the crowd toward a clock tower. As she hurries, the clock strikes noon. In the alley beneath the tower, she sees Edward, shirtless and with his eyes closed, ready to step into the sun.
Crying out his name, Bella collides with Edward. He looks at her with confusion and utters, "Carlisle was right." He believes he has already passed away and that she is waiting for him in the afterlife. Frantically, Bella warns him to stay in the shadows. He quotes Romeo's words about Juliet's beauty in the tomb.
Bella repeatedly insists that they are alive and in danger. The reality sinks in, and Edward abruptly turns to face two voices in the alley. They are members of the Volturi, sent to stop Edward. They demand that he return to their leader, Aro, for a discussion. Edward agrees to go only if Bella can leave, but they refuse and prepare to fight him.
At that moment, Alice appears in the alley, causing the two Volturi members to hesitate. Another Volturi member, Jane, appears, small and androgynous, causing Edward to lose hope. Surrounded, they follow Jane down the alley. Alice quickly updates Edward about Bella's cliff jumping incident, clarifying that it was for fun and that Bella is into extreme sports these days. Edward learns the rest of the information from Alice's mind, including details about werewolves and Victoria.
The alley leads to a wall with a hole beneath it. Alice jumps in first, and Edward takes hold of Bella's wrists, dropping her into the hole. Alice catches her at the bottom, and they continue through a gloomy passageway, passing through lockedgates until they reach a low, thick, wooden doorway that standsopen.
After passing through the double doors, Bella, Edward, and Alice find themselves in a hallway with fluorescent lighting and a carpeted floor. They take an elevator to an elegant reception area, where they are greeted by a human woman behind a counter. They proceed through another hallway and enter a large circular room with stone walls, filled
with several vampires. Aro, the leader of the Volturi, approaches them in a black robe, attended by guards. He greets Jane and thanks her for bringing the three guests.
Aro compliments Alice on her forecasting ability and expresses envy towards Edward's mind-reading power. Edward quickly clarifies that Aro must touch a person to read their thoughts, whereas he can instantly access their entire thought history. Two more vampires, Marcus and Caius, join them, both with papery skin and unique abilities. Marcus can sense relationships and finds Edward and Bella's connection "amazing."
Aro is intrigued by Bella's ability to block Edward's mind-reading and tries to read her thoughts but fails. He asks Jane to test Bella's resistance, causing Edward to attack her but succumb to intense pain. Aro is delighted by Bella's immunity and offers Edward, Alice, and Bella a place among the Volturi. They all decline, but Aro and Caius argue that Bella poses a threat if she chooses to expose their secret. Aro suggests that if Edward turns Bella into a vampire, they would be free to go.
Alice steps forward and allows Aro to grasp her hand, sharing her thoughts with him. Aro finds Bella's future promising and decides to let them leave. As they exit, they encounter a crowd of tourists being brought into the circular room, and screams erupt from the room.
In the reception room, Bella breaks down in tears, grieving for the doomed tourists and reveling in the fact that she and Edward are no longer doomed. They leave the Volturi building at night and navigate through the bustling street festival. Alice steals another car, and they travel from Florence to Rome, then take planes to Atlanta and Seattle. Bella fights exhaustion by drinking Coke to stay awake and cherish every moment with Edward.
At Sea-Tac Airport, they are met by Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme. Esme embraces Bella tightly, thanking her for her role in their journey. Carlisle expresses gratitude as well. They all head tothe Cullens' cars, with Emmett and Rosalie waiting. Rosalie apologizes to Bella for her message to Edward that almost caused a disaster.
Emmett and Rosalie drive Edward and Bella to Forks, where they are met by an angry Charlie who yells at Edward for causing Bella so much
pain. Edward carries Bella to her room, and though she doesn't want him to leave, she eventually falls asleep.
Bella wakes up and finds Edward in her room, initially thinking it's a hallucination. Edward explains that Charlie told him to never enter his house again, so he snuck in through the window. He apologizes for leaving her vulnerable to Victoria and the werewolves, expressing contempt for both. Bella reassures him that she doesn't blame him for her actions and that his death would devastate Esme and Carlisle. Edward reveals that he felt guilty and would have gone to the Volturi if Bella had died for any reason because he cannot live in a world without her.
Edward admits that he lied when he broke up with her, hoping it would be easier for her. Bella wonders why she believed his lie so easily and not his declaration of love. Edward asks if she has moved on, but she confesses that she will always love him and that her feelings cannot change. They share a passionate kiss, but Bella remains skeptical. Edward discloses that staying away from her didn't keep her safe, and his life was a dark night without her. He was prepared to beg for her back when he heard about her cliff jump.
They discuss the threats posed by Victoria and the Volturi. Bella fears that Edward facing Victoria in a fight would be dangerous, but Edward believes the Volturi won't think about her until she's older. Bella argues that Edward won't want her when she's old, and they debate the idea of Bella becoming a vampire. Edward insists that he will always be with her and will follow her when she dies.
Bella decides to go to the Cullen house to discuss her mortality and puts the topic to a vote.
Edward reluctantly agrees to a Cullen family meeting. Before dawn, Bella climbs on Edward's back, and they run to the Cullen house. Along the way, Edward expresses his fear of not having a real hold on Bella and losing her trust. Bella states that the worst thingthat could happen
to her is if Edward leaves her. Edward assures her that it is no longer possible for him to walk away from her.
Inside the Cullen house, Bella requests her belongings, and Edward reveals that her CDs and pictures are under her floorboards. She explains that she always heard his voice when she did dangerous things and interpreted it as a sign of his love. Edward admits that Bella handled their separation better than he did, as he felt mostly useless except for tracking Victoria.
The entire Cullen family sits at the dining room table as Bella presents her case for becoming a vampire. She suggests that if they don't want her to join them, she will go to Volterra to end things, ensuring their safety. Edward counters that she can hide from the Volturi by blocking mind readers. Bella calls for a vote, and all except Edward and Rosalie vote in favor of her joining the family. Rosalie explains that she didn't have a choice when she was turned and wants to offer Bella that choice. With Carlisle's agreement, Edward storms out of the room and breaks something in the living room. Bella thanks the family for wanting her and expresses her love for all of them.
Bella asks how they plan to proceed, and Edward vehemently objects. Alice, who had promised to change Bella, is now afraid of accidentally killing her. Carlisle offers to do it with no risk involved. Edward insists on waiting until Bella finishes high school and moves out of Charlie's house, and Bella concedes the point.
Edward takes Bella back to her house, and they agree to wait at least a year before transforming her. He proposes that if she agrees to marry him, he will change her himself. Bella hesitates, recalling the failed marriage of her parents. Charlie wakesup and checks on Bella, and Edward hides in the closet. Bella explains to Charlie that there was a misunderstanding and she went cliff diving with Jacob, and then had to go with Alice to talk Edward down. Charlie considers sending Bella back to her mother, but she refuses to go. He then expresses that he doesn't want her to see Edward, but she insists they are a "package deal." Charlie settles for grounding her and not allowing Edward in the house before leaving in anger.
Edward comes out of the closet and asks Bella not tofight with Charlie over him. Bella suggests that she can always move in with the Cullens. Edward expresses his concerns about her eagerness to lose her soul, but Bella reminds him that in Volterra, he believed he was seeing her in the
afterlife, which proves that he doesn't view all vampires as damned. She tells him that if he stays, she doesn't need heaven.
Despite being grounded, Bella focuses on completing her overdue college applications, which Edward had provided for her. Edward now has limited visitation rights, and Bella tries to reach out to Jacob, but he refuses to answer her calls. He even returns her motorcycle to Charlie's house, breaking their secret pact. Bella and Edward find Jacob waiting for them in the woods. Jacob informs Edward that the treaty between the vampires and the werewolves is broken if a Cullen bites a human. Struggling with his emotions, Jacob tells Bella that he can no longer be her friend.
Bella realizes that she is now in more danger than ever before. Victoria continues to stalk her, the Volturi may soon attempt to kill her, and the Quileute werewolves are likely to go to war with the Cullens when Edward bites Bella during her vampire transformation. Additionally, Charlie is furious about the motorcycle incident, and Bella prepares to face the consequences, knowing that her destiny is intertwined with Edward's.