Jake's POV

"Nessie!"

I came bounding through the back glass doors. I had already phased into my wolf form because I intended to playfully tackle Nessie as soon as I saw her; that is, if Edward wasn't around.

The smell hit me full force as soon as I opened the door and went inside. As much as I hung around this place, the smell never failed to resurrect an instinctual part of me that wanted to rip apart anything that moved around me. However, I had imprinted on Renesemee, Edward and Bella's half-vampire daughter, and, loosely speaking, I considered the rest of the Cullen's my friends. But they were bloodsuckers all the same.

I tried to beat down that other side of me as I called out again, "Nessie!"

She sometimes didn't like her nickname depending on what kind of mood she was in, maybe she was ignoring me.

There was lithe movement flitting down the staircase that caught my eye. For a moment my heart raced with happiness until I saw that it wasn't Nessie. My heart sank a little until I realized who it really was. It was Bella…next best thing to Nessie herself.

I whined as if to ask, "Where is everybody?" after I half-ran over to her.

Bella started laughing at my expression. "Don't…don't get…so…uptight, Jake." She said between giggles. It was almost as instinctual to be that way when I didn't have Nessie in my sight. In some small way, I suppose I could understand how Edward felt about being protective of his wife and only daughter.

I rearranged my face slightly to hide the disappointment and sudden worry. And in case Bella saw through me like usual, I gave her arm a reassuring nudge with my muzzle.

Bella stroked the top of my head as she told me, "Edward and Renesemee went hunting. Sort of a father/daughter deal, you know."

I whined again. Honestly, I was beginning to sound more like a baby than a wolf.

"Aww, Jake. They won't be gone long and Edward is more than capable of taking care of her." Bella tried to reassure me. "Why don't you go find something to eat in the kitchen and then hang out here until they get back. You know Renesemee would be disappointed if you didn't stay and wait for her."

I had to admit, she had me there. I plopped down right where I was and sighed. This set Bella off into a new round of giggles. I tried to scowl at her but she wasn't buying it.

"If it will make you feel better, you can come help me." She told me. "I'm rearranging the furniture in her room to make room for her birthday present."

I lifted my head, curious as to what they had gotten her that took up so much space. I gave a small, enthusiastic bark encouraging Bella to let me in on the secret.

"No way, Jake!" Apparently, she knew what I wanted without Edward's interpretative abilities. "If I tell you, you'll spill it to Nessie!"

I growled playfully in protest.

She laughed, but argued her case. "All she has to do is look at you, smile and ask and you'd be spilling your guts."

Again, she had me. I growled again and put my head back down.

"Suit yourself." Bella said and then went back upstairs.