(AN) My muses are running high folks, you're in luck. If you haven't read the epilogue to WWR, I'd recommend reading that first, then reading the first chapter of EoF. Dear lord, I can't start off with a happy chapter, can I? ;-) Isn't Echo the cutest?

Disclaimer: The pack and the Cullens do not belong to me. However, I do claim all responsibility for the witches, Echo, and Blaze.

Count.Applesauce: Me too! Edgar Allen Poe is my favorite, if I would have bothered to do a preface for WWR, I would have used his poem "Lenore" at the top of it, the second stanza. And yes, the preface for the sequel was in WWR as a sort of teaser (I got really ill and was unable to post for a few days, but I already had that written, so I posted it instead)

BethJavensen: I hope everyone likes it as much . I feel like I have to live up to WWR now! Hope you like this chapter!

EdraCullen: It's okay, I know you were thinking it ;-) And Bella-vampire is really cool, though she won't have her first "official" appearance for a couple chapters.

Sagestar: I like how my stories need to have abbreviations :-p BDWWR is a long one, it could also stand for "Bella Destroys World Wrestling Ring!" Or something like that… The official abbreviation for this one is EoF, because it reminds me of LotR :-p

Chapter 1: The Visitor

I knew I was dreaming, in fact, I'd had this dream before countless times. For some reason, that never lessened the impact of this particular dream. I suppose, when you're a werewolf with a young family, that this dream completely encompassed everything you were most afraid of.

We were walking the well worn path in the forest behind our home. I held a tiny, fragile hand in my own, but she pulled away and I watched her run in front of me with an amused expression.

"Daddy! Daddy!" She called, twirling through the eternal green of La Push. I looked to my left and saw my own personal angel, her smile dazzling, as she cooed softly to our baby boy, my Blaze. Then I heard a tiny scream and Cassie's face fell, broken, staring into the forest. And I smelt the sick sweet odor coming from the direction my daughter had just run off to.

"ECHO!" I yelled, taking off, but I was too late, I was always just a little too late.

"Daddy? Daddy? Wake up." I could feel a cold hand on my shoulder. I sat up quickly, too quickly for a human, and took in the little girl standing by the bed. Her dark eyes widened as she saw me move. "Daddy, don't be scared. It's just me." She said softly in her sweet honey like voice. I sighed in relief, picking her up and holding her in my lap.

Her hair was long and dark as my own, braided carefully in pigtails before bed every night by her mother. Her pink nightgown contrasted with her gold-dusted skin. Her eyes, wide and alert, were the same stunning violet hue as her mother's. I held her close and felt her beating heart, inhaled her sweet honey fragrance. My baby girl was beautiful, precious, and safe in my arms.

"You are a terrifying little monster." I teased her, my heart soaring as she giggled. Cassie liked to tease me that Echo had me wrapped around her little fingers, and I suppose it was mostly true. From the first time she had smiled at me, I had longed to do everything in my power to make my little girl happy. And every time I heard her sweet laughter, my heart swelled with pride.

"Daddy," She smiled, raising her lips to my ear. "There's a princess outside my window!" She whispered, her eyes lighting up. I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head to the side. Echo had been going through an over imaginative stage recently, to which Cassie admitted she was mostly to blame, having gone through the same stage at her age. It meant one of us would get woken up at least three or four nights every week with something in Echo's room.

"Okay, let's go see." I said, hoisting her up into my arms and climbing quietly out of bed. To my relief, Cassie didn't stir. Our dog, Prince, raised his head from the floor to look at me as I padded out the door. In reality, he was more of Cassie's dog. Quil and Claire had found an abandoned litter of puppies two years ago. Almost everyone in the pack had one of the puppies, and the littlest had absolutely fallen in love with my Cassie, pregnant with Blaze then, following her around everywhere. For awhile, the pack had joked that Prince had imprinted on Cassie too.

I shut the door to our bedroom and slipped down the hall sleepily. I was almost to her door when I smelled it, the same hair raising odor from my dream. I growled low in my throat, reflexively tightening my hold on Echo. She squirmed against me and I turned around, heading to Blaze's room.

"Daddy, are you angry?" She asked.

"Not at you, princess." I assured her, relief flooding me as I realized there was no smell from Blaze's room. I cracked open the door and took in my son's sleeping form in his bed. I scooped him up gently in my other arm, quickly returning to my own bedroom. He barely even woke up, brushing his auburn hair from his tan skin, and blearily opening his violet eyes, before closing them again almost immediately when I laid him next to his mother.

"What's wrong?" Echo asked, reluctant to let go of my shoulder. I kissed her forehead.

"There was someone in your room, sweetheart. I just want to find out why." And rip them limb from limb for even getting close to you, I added, as I gently shook Cassie awake.

"Mmm.." Cassie groaned as her eyes fluttered open. She took in Blaze, cuddled against her and smiled sweetly before her eyes moved to Echo, sitting on the edge of the bed, her fingers gripping my shoulders as I slowly pried her from me.

"Jacob?" She said softly. I looked up, meeting her eyes.

"There was a…in Echo's room…a…" I mouthed the word vampire. Cassie's eyes instantly widened and she sat up, pulling Echo away from me.

"Are you going out there Jake? By yourself?" She questioned, worry lacing her voice.

"Quil is on patrol. Call the Clearwaters, Leah will be out for blood when she hears this." I responded, trying to ease her worry with a grin. "Don't worry, I'll be fine, and I'll get her, and this will never happen again." I promised, the steely resolve to keep my family safe rising again. I leaned over the bed, kissing her lightly, her smell and warmth going to my head instantly. I wondered if she knew, even after ten years, that every time I saw her it was like seeing her for the first time all over again. I loved her more each day.

"I'll be back before you wake up again, Echo. Sleep here with your mom and Blaze and take care of them for me." I said quietly, running my fingers over her braids before I left the room.

I made my way to the end of the hall, throwing open Echo's door. The stench drifted through the open window, where it was strongest. I knew the window hadn't been open when we'd put her to be earlier. I looked at it, the latch was broken. The leech had been sitting in this window for some time, doing what I didn't know? Had she been watching, trying to talk herself out of hurting a child? I couldn't think of that, I shrugged off the shorts I wore to bed, and jumped out the window, my shape exploding before I even hit the ground.

Jesus Jake…Quil started, but stopped as my thoughts ran through what had just happened. Shit…Cassie and the kids are okay?

Cassie and Echo are shaken up. My daughter, my wife.

I'm about two miles north, she must have slipped right by me. Sorry man. I'll meet up with you to follow the trail, we'll get her. Quil reassured. I began to run.

The scent was strong, only a few minutes old, but this leech was fast. Five minutes into the chase, another mind entered our world, followed seconds later by another.

Blaze is alright? Leah asked, frightened. I replayed the image of him safe, curled up to Cassie, to give her peace. Leah, cold, bitter Leah, had imprinted on my son the moment she had come to visit us in the hospital. One look into Blaze's violet eyes had melted Leah's ice cold façade for the rest of time. She lived for my family the same way I did.

I tried to tell you that, Leah. You ran out too fast. Seth scolded. I tried to block them out as they joined the chase, all of us running together through the dark, tangled forests of La Push.

I growled when I heard the approaching ocean. Surely enough, the trail ended at the surf, the one place it would be hard for us to follow.

Spread out along the shore. I ordered. See if she doubled back. The four of us slipped down the shoreline, but the scent was gone. I growled angrily, I had promised Cassie…

She won't blame you. Besides, if it comes back, I'm pretty sure Red could take it. Seth said warmly as we spread out through the forest, scouring it.

I would prefer it never get that close again. Leah's voice chimed in and her thoughts dwelled on Blaze.

Seriously. Maybe we should go back to doing three of on patrols like before, when the Cullens… Quil cut off abruptly, because their name sent a whole new wave of emotion over me, anger, pain, betrayal. I fought back the red over my vision. I didn't want to think of the Cullens.

That's a good idea. Two or three on patrol at all times. This won't happen again. I declared, watching as the sun began to rise over the trees. That's when another mind popped into our sphere. It was quiet for a moment, absorbing the information.

Damn. Paul thought. Why didn't you guys call me?

We needed you to do morning shift. I answered.

I'll stay on with him and run patrol. You guys get some rest. Seth said. I nodded.

One of you on the border line at all times. I ordered as the rest of us began to disappear into the trees. Leah followed me.

Can I come and see Blaze? She asked hesitantly. It would make me feel better to actually see him…

Sure, sure. I answered. You might as well try and get some sleep there too.

We ran in relative silence, thinking our own thoughts. When our house came into view, I instinctively raised my eyes to my bedroom window. It was open, and my wife was sitting at the window seat, her knees pulled up to her chin. I only saw her for a second before she disappeared, and a few seconds later she reappeared in front of us, her ruby hair blowing in the morning breeze, two sets of clothing in her hands. I pulled my shape back together, taking the clothing she offered and passing the other set to Leah. This was once awkward, when we were teenagers. Now it was like changing after sports in the locker room. Cassie's eyes stayed on my face the entire time, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Did you find her?" She asked.

"No, I'm sorry. We're running double patrols now until we do." I responded, picking her up. "Did you stay up all night?"

"So did Echo and Blaze, mostly. We were worried about you; I just got them to sleep again." She said softly, burying her face in my shoulder.

"You worry too much." Leah said as she shrugged into Cassie's clothing. Cassie snorted.

"Yeah, I worry too much. 'Oh, yeah, sure Cass, let me tell Leah…Leah, there was a leech at the Black's…shit, gotta go, Leah just phased and high tailed it out of here.'" I couldn't help but chuckle at her imitation of Seth's laid back voice and Leah's skin darkened as we climbed up my porch and up the stairs. Leah opened the door for us, and I sighed as I saw my children, tangled in the blankets. I set Cassie down on the bed as Leah slowly pulled Blaze from the sheets. His eyes opened and he giggled in delight.

"Leah is here." He said, kissing her on the cheek. She glowed happily.

"I'm going to take him back to his room; I'll sleep in that big recliner you have in there." She said. Cassie nodded, snuggling under the covers.

I watched Leah carry Blaze back to his room, listening to her coo softly. Who would have known Leah could be so good with kids? I slid back into my own side of the bed, sandwiching Echo between us. I had to nudge Prince over, he was in my leg room. I wrinkled my nose.

"Since when do we let the dog sleep in the bed?" I asked. Cassie giggled.

"I was under the impression the dog always slept in the bed." She teased. I tried to make my face look wounded.

"I love you so much, and yet you're so mean." I said, lowering my eyes.

"I love you more." She answered, kissing my nose. I grinned, running my fingers through her hair.

"Aw, I forgot you have work and Echo has kindergarten, you've both been up all night…" I said, looking at the bags under Cassie's eyes.

"I called us in sick an hour ago." Cassie said quickly. "I wanted to be with you today."

"Okay. Whatever you want." I mumbled. Cassie's eyes slowly closed and she sighed.

"I'm scared. Why in the world would a vampire come here?" She whispered.

"I don't know. It won't get that close again." I promised, kissing her cheek. "Paul and Seth are out there now."

"Okay." She murmured. "It'll be alright."

"Everything's gonna be alright, rockabye, rockabye." I sang softly and horribly out of key. She smiled, and I fell in love all over again. I watched her fall asleep, and studied the breathing of both my girls.

I remembered vividly the promise I had made ten years ago, the day Cassandra Luwen had 'died'. Nothing would ever hurt us again, I would protect my family with every bone in my body.