It was a couple more days before anything really exciting happened. Charlie promised he had put in a good word for me, but Bella stilled tried to evade me. I tried to shrug it off, to be cool about it, but I couldn't. I spent a lot of time in my wolf form. That way I could always talk to Sam or Embry or Jared. Or, when I felt like it, I could be alone. We were doing really basic stuff, the ABC's of the Quiluete tribe. It was a Saturday night, which kind of bothered me. Shouldn't I be doing something a Saturday night was worthy of? Normal humans were probably at a movie, or a dance, or a party. I was running patrol as an enormous dog, trying to protect my pack from vampires.
Suddenly Embry sniffed and was instantly repulsed. Whoa, Jake, he called mentally. Since Sam wasn't doing patrol, I was sort of the Alpha here. I've definitely got something - and it's not the Cullens!
I galloped over to him and immediately smelled it too - that sickly sweet odor that instinctively burned a werewolf's nose. It was a female, but it wasn't the leader's mate, the blonde, or the little one. Sam! I shouted with my thoughts, and mentally recounted the past few minutes. Get over here, quickly! I turned my keen eyes to Quil and Embry. Follow that trail, and run as fast as you can. Catch up to her, but DO NOT cross the line, got it? If she goes to their turf, let them catch her. I obeyed my own commands instantly, running until I was a blur. I ran until I couldn't feel any longer, but I had to stop with a rude awakening.
Wait, guys! I demanded.
Sam was right beside me, and thinking along the exact same lines. She's crossed over to their side, he groaned mentally. All right, spread out along the treaty line. Embry, you go as far south as you can and Paul, you go as far north. I'll take middle. Jake, go between Paul and me, and Quil, go between Embry and me. It was a good position. I nodded to show I approved, then manned my station. I could still smell that stench. It was like the fragrance when you open a packet of drink mix-ins; so sweet it sears right through your nostrils. I paced back and forth beside the line, just daring the bloodsucker to set one foot on our home front.
I could feel the stink grow as the entire coven joined us. Boy, wouldn't I love it if Edward stepped over the line. I'd tear him to shreds. I let the image fill my mind. Self-gratification is a good thing, until your Alpha snarls in your head, Focus, Jacob.
Right on, I lied, knowing that he knew I wasn't. I cleared my mind of all thoughts of Bella and tried to locate the leech with my nose. No luck. I could smell vampire repugnance, but nothing distinct; they were too far away. They were getting closer, with rapid speed compared to a human. For us, though, it was just somewhere around average. I could sense Sam, straining to be able to make them out. Their scent filled the air as they approached. Suddenly I heard, Go, Paul!
I felt Paul's thoughts. Gotta run - going north - run - run - He was running too fast to think coherently. Then something changed. I'm not going to make it - I couldn't quite make out the odor's position relevant to Paul, but I could see everything from his perspective. He could smell the parasite clearly, and he was going to be just a few miles too far south. The Cullens were in on the chase too, and they were getting riskily close to the line. As we ran to help support him, the larger one stepped over the line. Paul went ADD immediately. He turned on him. Pity he missed. But apparently the blonde didn't agree.
Sam, get Paul's flanks, I advised, and he nodded. He went right behind him, while the blonde was swearing under her breath and was just about to attack. Then their leader put his hand on the blonde's shoulder and spoke softly. I could have heard, but I didn't give a crap. The leader was trying to speak to Sam, but I didn't listen. Then all of a sudden I felt really calm, like I was lying down and relaxing, even though just a minute ago I'd been hyper. I realized exactly what it was - the blonde male, doing that weird stuff with our minds.
"Please," their leader begged. "Victoria is our target. Let's focus."
Victoria. Like I really cared what her name was. I just wanted a leech I was permitted to kill. I saw Edward trying to hide a smile. Since she was on our territory now, we darted after her. I've often wondered what it would feel like to have an entire werewolf pack chase after you - you know, if you weren't a werewolf. It must be pretty terrifying.
Victoria ran right down the line for some number of miles, I don't know, I didn't exactly keep count. Right where the line gets kind of sketchy, she changed direction and headed for the Makah cliffs. We kept right after her, but it was no use.
Dammit, Sam swore. She's in the water now.
Downtrodden, we trudged back to the line to inform the Cullens about everything. Although Bella's bloodsucker probably had read all about it in our minds. Stupid powers. Stupid gifts. Stupid vampires.
As we approached, the leader nodded to Edward. "If you wish," he suggested, "we could go across the line and swim after her."
Heck no! Embry retorted.
Cool it, Embry, Sam directed. No thanks. We'll get her later. Best to stick with the treaty.
As Edward translated, I began the run back to my house. It was going to be a long weekend.