AN: I hope that readers of my other story, The Wolf and His Girl, will be willing to give this one a try. The first chapter did use heavily from chapter 17 of Eclipse, but this one is in a blank spot for SM. I've long wondered how the pack reacted to Jacob's news of the threat and of the alliance with the Cullen family. Here's my version.

Jacob POV

Once we hit the main road, I stopped the car on the shoulder. I bailed from the car, pausing only long enough to strip off my shirt and shoes and toss them back in. As Embry slid over into the driver's seat, I reiterated my earlier instruction. "Drive straight home and ditch the car the first convenient spot you find." I was off in a flash, and hit the woods at a run. As soon as I could jerk off my pants and tie them around my ankle, I phased and bolted for home.

Jacob, Sam's voice was rich with relief, then filled with concern as he caught the timbre of my thoughts. Did something happen?

No, we're fine, I assured him. But there is a problem we'll need to address. I know what's been going on around here lately, and why. We need a pack meeting.

Sam grew wary. He hadn't agreed with my decision to help the Cullens watch over and protect Bella after that strange leech's scent had been detected in her room, which was why I'd been running so many double shifts lately. He probably feared that I planned a resumption of my earlier argument.

What? He asked, finally.

The Cullens' fortune-teller saw something just before we got there. Apparently there's this bloodsucker army about to come to Forks looking for Bella. Seems the one we scented in Bella's room was some kind of advance scout.

The silence my pronouncement fell into was quickly broken by Sam's howl. It took only a minute or so before Jared's and Paul's minds joined us.

Meeting, now, Sam ordered us.

What's up now? a new voice asked.

I'm here too, chimed another.

Great, I groaned. Seth wasn't too bad—for a 14-year-old, but his sister…We still hadn't gotten our minds fully wrapped around that whole idea yet.

Thanks so much, Leah snapped acerbically.

Not now! Sam was clearly in no mood to put up with our usual bickering. Meet in the clearing. Jake has some information.

We all started running for the clearing Sam had visualized. Soon, Quil and Embry were racing to join us. Once we were all gathered, Sam turned to me, Jacob?

I quickly filled everyone in, running my mind back over the encounter with Bella and the two newest Cullens. Everyone growled when I remembered Alice's answer to my "Who is coming?" question. Our kind. Lots of them. For Bella. And again when Jasper and Alice discussed these others coming into Forks itself. I think the thing that made the most impact was my memory of Alice's face as she stood at the top of the stairs, of the stress and fear that were there before being masked. We were all raised on stories of how strong, powerful, and fearsome vampires could be, and what was coming had one of that kind acting scared.

But the growls choked into stunned disbelief when they saw my solution to the problem.

Ally with them? No way! Paul snorted in disgust.

They don't want these others here anymore than we do, Quil reminded us.

What about everyone who might be in danger if this army comes here? Jared asked. Kim… his thought-voice trailed off into veiled panic at the thought of his imprint in danger. Quil and Sam both echoed that sentiment; Claire and Emily would be at risk too.

A leech is a leech, Leah's opinion was clear.

Bella. But when I suggested us getting involved, her vision disappeared.

What does that mean? Seth wanted to know.

She can't see us—wolves. If she can't see what's going to happen now, it must be because we're a part of it. I turned back to Sam. This isn't just about Bella now; it's about everyone who lives here. These leeches have been killing in Seattle for weeks now; we can't let them come here and do the same. I was guessing, but only a little, about that last part. I knew that the city had been dealing with a serial killer lately, and Bella's comment about Seattle suggested a connection.

Sam's mind was a swirl of confusing thoughts. His long-standing cultural, and personal, hatred of what the Cullens were was pulling him one way; his inbred determination to protect the people here, as well as his imprinted drive to protect Emily, was pulling him the other way. He paced back and forth restlessly, wrestling with the decision we were all waiting for.

Our duty is to protect everyone we can. The Cullens have not violated the treaty; they have not been a threat to the people here. Everything Jacob has shared says they're as concerned about collateral damage as we are. As difficult as it will be for us, an alliance to deal with this threat does make sense. How do they want to proceed?Sam turned back to me.

They're planning a strategy session for 3 am, north of the Hoh Ranger Station, I related.

We know how to fight a leech, Paul sneered.

Twenty of them? Quil interjected. That's not something any pack has had to deal with, not since the very beginning, he reminded us all. Maybe numbers make a difference. I mean, what can it hurt?

Us, if this goes sour, Jared retorted.

Enough, Sam directed. Okay, Seth and I will patrol this evening. Everyone else, get some sleep. Meet back here at 2.

I headed back to where Embry and Quil had left my car, then drove home. I was grateful for the chance to stand down and get a little sleep. I wasn't worried about Bella tonight, knowing that the Cullens weren't about to let her out of their sight. Somehow, that didn't bother me right now.

"Jake?" Billy called when I came in.

"Yeah, dad?" I replied.

"What's up?"

"Cullens have word that there's an army of bloodsuckers coming here after Bella. Pack's going to meet up with them later tonight for a strategy session on how to deal with the threat.

"An alliance?" my dad clearly found that hard to believe.

"Common enemy. Working together on this makes sense. Won't change things otherwise. Listen, I gotta get some sleep before we meet up again, okay?"

"Okay. Just be careful."

"Sure, sure," I told him as I headed to bed.