A/N: Thank you to all of those who reviewed, including Twisted Musalih, Jessie the twilight girl (here is an update so you don't go crazy- although, I wonder if life would be less complicated if you lost your mind), and cloudshadow22 (a nickname should come about at least... otherwise, you'd just be calling her "hey, you").

Hey: Language.


The shrill ring of the telephone made both of us wince. The hand that had been firmly planted on my ass pulled me tighter towards him. He simultaneously guided my face in towards his throat via the hand that was tangled in my black hair. A ripple of shivering cascaded down my spine as I inhaled his potent and deliciously spicy scent. We were both panting loudly, as if we had just sprinted through the forest.

Another loud ring had effectively severed our lust filled haze.

"Could one of you guys grab that?!" Charlie shouted from the living room.

Jake growled lowly in frustration, sending another ripple of awareness throughout my body. I choked back a moan from escaping my throat.

Jake's grasp on me never loosened as he strode towards the landline. The hand that had been tangled in my hair caught the blasted phone in the middle of the third ring. "Swan's residence."

Mmm! That voice. Even though he was positively fuming at the interruption, his voice still had that same effect.

"Fuck, Black." I heard another male voice curse on the other end of the line.

"Jared." Jake growled irritably as another wave of vibrations wracked his body.

"Get your ass down here now." The man named Jared barked impatiently, "It's Seth and Leah! God damn it! Sam needs everyone."

Jake didn't have an opportunity to respond, the line went dead immediately after Jared finished speaking. Jake's vibrations intensified as he set the phone roughly back into the receiver. In an effort to calm him, I gently dug my nails into his scalp and dragged my fingers back towards his neck. Jake's eyes nearly rolled back into his head in response. He groaned and closed his eyes in pleasure.

Almost three minutes passed. I continued my task, dragging my fingers through his cropped hair. Over and over.

"I have to go." He sighed, reluctant as he slowly released his hold on me.

I figured as much after hearing what Jared had to say.

"I know." I replied, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice as both my feet touched the kitchen floor.

Jake stepped back slightly, his neck bowed down to look at me. He was gigantically tall, I had to strain my neck to look up at him.

"I'll be back." He whispered as he brushed some of my hair behind my ear. I shivered in response to his warm touch.

"I know." I repeated. He would have to come back to pick up Billy, right?

Jake gracefully headed towards the front door, pausing briefly to meet my gaze. His eyes held promise right before he went out of sight. The front door closing gently behind him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

That night he didn't come back.

After the game and an empty plate of desserts, Billy asked if he could use the phone. He didn't seem surprised or upset by his son's unannounced desertion after dinner. Billy called a woman named Emily, who agreed to come pick him up. As we waited for Billy's impromptu ride, Charlie asked if Billy wanted to plan a fishing trip. The two men chatted for the next hour about the future trip and past fishing experiences.

It was nearly ten by the time a car pulled up Charlie's driveway. The breaks squealed harshly alerting the two human men that Emily had arrived. Charlie helped Billy out of the house and down the front porch steps. There were two young women in the car, one of them had significant scars covering half of her face. Both of the women had an aura about them. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Billy introduced me to Emily and Kim briefly before saying his goodnights to Charlie. Kim returned to the car with the noisy breaks while Emily and Charlie placed Billy's wheelchair in the back of the truck. Charlie and I waved as the two women eventually drove off towards the reservation.

I fell into a restless sleep at some point that night. Exhausted from my lack of sleep over the past 48 hours. I woke up periodically throughout the night to look out the window, as if I would see Jake walking up any moment. I felt exhausted through the day, sleeping on and off until three, when I decided to cook dinner. After all, we had eaten all the meatballs Saturday night.

Another day passed. No sign of Jake.

Then another. Nothing. I reluctantly went to the store to pass the time, using the money Charlie leaves in a jar in the fridge.

On Wednesday, Sue called the landline and cancelled Charlie and I's weekend plans. Explaining that both her children had gotten sick with mono. She informed me that she would call back once they were better.

I sat on the hard wooden kitchen chair after I ended the call with Sue.

This is kind of what I needed. A reality check.

I knew almost nothing about Jake. Other than he had responsibilities, just like Sue and Charlie. Just like everyone else I've met. Everyone had something or someone they had to take care of. Family. Friends. Jobs. Chores.

All I had was Charlie and my debt to him.

I couldn't keep this up. This waiting. What was I even doing?

I felt pretty useless. Purposeless.

I sure as hell wasn't going to just make dinner for Charlie for the rest of his life. I wanted to contribute more. Not just for his benefit, but also my sanity.

"I was thinking." I said to Charlie as we ate dinner that night, "I should get a job."

Charlie looked up from his plate, surprised.

"I should try to be productive at least," I stated to him, "I realized that I'm getting nowhere. I can't rely on you forever."

"Legally, you can't work, you don't have a social security number or any tax identifiers." Charlie said with a frown after setting his fork down.

"Oh, I didn't even think about that." I slumped in my chair as my stomach dropped and clenched. I set my fork down, any feelings of hunger I had were effectively stomped down. "But I can't wait around forever, what if they never find out who I am? What can I even do?"

"I'll look into it." Charlie sighed picking his fork up again, "This kind of thing…" he waved his other hand around, "…doesn't happen often, but there's got to be a way to get things rolling for you."

"Thanks, Charlie." I said earnestly, "I don't know what I would do without you."

Charlie's lips turned slightly upward as he took another bite of his dinner.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

A week passed by. Nothing.

I had become officially crazy.

The more time that passed, the more trapped I felt.

I literally had nothing to do besides cook and I needed to keep my mind busy. I woke up early, around noon, and I couldn't fall back asleep. So I decided to walk Ackley for her to get some exercise. The sky was grey but it wasn't supposed to rain until later this evening.

I happened to be walking passed the high school in the community when I caught a faint whiff of that horribly familiar bleach smell. I stopped dead in my tracks, and just like she had been trained, Ackley sat next to me immediately. Panting happily.

I felt a slight prickling sensation erupt within my skull. I tried to ignore the unpleasant sensation as various thoughts ran through my mind. What was the monster doing here? I thought it was dead? Maybe there was another one? I panicked. What if it was stalking some unsuspecting human? I didn't know what to do. Do I go home? Was there really anything I could do anyway? I had Ackley with me after all. I forced myself to take a step forward.

The slight prickling within my skull was intensifying. Threatening to become a full blown headache. There was nothing that I would do about the scent. Not with Ackley here. I couldn't put her in danger like that. Plus, this headache was becoming more intense by the second.

Just one step in front of the other. Just go home. But... What if they were looking for me because I had killed one of them? What if I lead them to Charlie's house?

"You're being paranoid." I lowly whispered to myself. "Great now I'm talking to myself." I huffed loudly.

I hadn't noticed before. About fifty feet from the sidewalk stood a man next to a bright red Jeep. I was caught off guard, as I hadn't noticed him before and there wasn't much that slipped passed me.

I froze when his unnaturally golden eyes met mine.

He definitely wasn't human, as that horrible stench I smelt was coming from him. Unlike the monster I met before, he would be able to blend with the human population quite a bit better than the she-monster. He looked well dressed, his hair neatly combed, and a pair of car keys dangling in his hand.

The prickling headache had morphed into a vicious stabbing within my skull. The unrelenting stabbing pain brought me to my knees. As I grabbed my head I glanced over towards the parking lot to see the golden-eyed monster was running towards me at a human pace.

Panic seized me.

No! Please, not like this!

Like that I was choking, freezing water filled my mouth. Thrashing, my hand found a pocket of air. I kicked my legs in order to push my head towards the surface. I coughed and sputtered violently, blinking in attempt to clear the water out of my eyes. The air had a biting chill, numbing my cheeks and nose. The water stung at my throat as I continued to cough up drops of cold water.

Through the rain pelting down, I could see darkened mountains sprinkled in snow in the distance. I was treading water in a lake. I needed to get out of this freezing water. So I swam. The muscles in my arms and legs ached, as my sedentary lifestyle didn't prepare me for the enduring water and the freezing cold. It wasn't long before my limbs felt numb and stiff, but I continued to drag myself through the water.

How did I get here? One minute I was kneeling on the sidewalk next to Forks High School, then not a second went by before I found myself in the water. Maybe I was dead? However, my heart was still racing from the encounter with the golden-eyed monster. I felt a wave of sadness as I feared what fate I left Ackley back in Forks. However, there wasn't anything I could do about it now. Seeing that I was no longer in Washington.

The burning ache in my lungs was all I could feel as I crawled up the wet, sandy shore. Exhausted and numb from the cold. I could hear a set of footsteps in the sand. Willing what strength I had left, I turned in the sand to see a naked woman standing above me. Her black hair was damp from the rain. She had a physical resemblance to me, with some slight variations in her facial features. I couldn't help but notice the look of pure hatred in her dark brown eyes.

I saw the flash of light before the blinding pain in my face. I could hear ringing and a muffled enraged scream from the woman. I blindly lashed out in the direction of the scream, feeling the intense energy leaving my body. I don't know how, maybe it was the adrenaline, I was suddenly on two feet.

All I could see was black. My heart was pounding. I was gasping as I stumbled blindly through wet sand. My face felt like it was on fire.

Why? Why did I leave Forks? I couldn't remember anymore, the overwhelming pain in my face made it difficult to concentrate. I just remembered feeling trapped there. Like I wasn't in control of my life. Like I was helpless.

Fuck me. Well… I am certainly helpless now as I blindly staggered through the sand.

I wished I could go back to Forks and live quietly with Charlie. Ignorant.

Something solid caught my foot causing me to fall towards my side and back into the numbing water.

My body was tossed and turned like a rag doll by rough waters.

This didn't make sense! Why was I being thrown about? The lake water had been relatively calm!

There was nothing that I could do but ride it out until my head hit something solid. Hard. Disoriented from the blow, I was able to grasp onto jagged rocks . The water receded, allowing me to take a gasping breath in. Immediately I realized that I could see…

Another icy wave coming in.

I clung to the rock for dear life as the wave smashed into my back. The rock was tall enough that I could climb out from the ocean's fury. As soon as the wave receded, my muscles shook and seized painfully, but I fought through my body's protest in order to ascend to safety. The sharp rocks cut at the thick skin of my fingers and palms.

I quickly scanned my surroundings. The shore wasn't far away, but the ocean was relentless and…

My vision was clouded with red.

Blood. I had cut open my scalp when my head hit the rock.

It was foggy and raining slightly, but I could see someone sitting on the beach.

"Help!" I screamed, my throat hoarse from swallowing and choking on the lake water.

Relief washed over me as I saw the woman on the beach snapped to attention. She immediately spotted me and didn't hesitate to enter the rough water. Suddenly, I feared for her safety. But the fear ebbed as I watched her powerfully fight her way towards my rock. She was a fantastic swimmer. Finally my luck had taken a turn for the better. There was no way I could have swam to shore myself. I was completely exhausted and numb.

She reached my rock and started to climb up towards me. Pausing briefly to brace the strong waves. Over the salty ocean smell, I could smell the strong odor of dog and fresh pine as she climbed towards me.

"Are you alright?" she shouted over the crashing waves. She had an awful resemblance to Sue, in fact, she smelled a lot like her.

I couldn't feel more relieved. Was I in the reservation?

"Y-y-yes." I shivered as I spoke at a normal volume. I knew she could hear me just fine. I don't know why I knew, but I had a feeling that she was exactly like Jake—not human. "Th-thank you for c-coming out here-re. I don't kn-know w-what I w-would have d-done."

"It's alright, let's get to shore." She said urgently as she examined my face.

Remembering the blinding pain back at the lake, I wondered what my face looked like.

"I-Is m-my f-f-face okay?" I shivered violently from the cold.

"Yeah, you just have a little cut on the top of your forehead." She replied, "What's your name?"

If she really was Sue's daughter, I think it would be fine to explain to her… "I d-don't h-have one. I l-live w-with Ch-Charlie Swan."

"Right, my mom told me." She stated as I watched steam rise from her skin. She must be really hot.

I couldn't help but giggle through my chattering teeth. Causing her to give me a sideways frown in concern. She was really good looking, her skin was rich in color, several shades darker than mine.

"Y-You're S-S-Sue's d-daughter, yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm Leah." She replied before demanding impatiently, "Hold onto me."

I held her tightly feeling relief by her body heat. She felt as warm as Jake did in the kitchen two weeks ago. We counted down as we leapt inhumanly far from the rock, into the swells below. The freezing water caused my muscles to tighten up. Thankfully, Leah did ninety percent of the work.

It wasn't long before we made it to shore.

She seemed unfazed by the swim, while I collapsed onto the wet sand. Shivering violently, "I-I n-need t-to get o-out of-f th-these clothes."

I was able to wiggle out of my sopping-wet jacket, but my numb fingers did nothing to the buttons on my shirt. I don't know why, but Bella only wore button up shirts and tank tops. It was infuriating.

Leah saw that I was struggling and she helped me unbutton the top.

We were alone on the beach. I couldn't smell anyone besides Leah. I couldn't hear anyone besides Leah. So I didn't care that we peeled off my tank top and bra. Leah helped me wiggle out of the jeans, which clung tightly to my thighs, like a second layer of skin. Who knew how difficult it was to remove wet jeans?

"You're getting really pale," Leah stated in a worried voice, "It doesn't look good on you."

I laughed as she hugged me tightly, enveloping me in her warmth. Thanking silently that she was here.

"Town is a pretty far hike through the forest." Leah informed me as she pulled me to my feet with ease, "But we are better off in the trees, we will get a break from the wind chill."

I was able to keep myself upright for the most part as Leah dragged me towards the forest.

She was right. Once we were in the forest. It felt much warmer. I collapsed onto the damp forest floor. Leah seemed to have dropped me.

"I'll be right back." She spoke urgently.

"N-no!" I was barely able to grab her hand, stopping her.

"I need to get help." She protested, "You're going to freeze to death!"

"I w-will i-if y-you l-leave." I promised.

I could see her struggling to find words, trying to find a way to argue with me.

"I kn-know, L-Leah." I shivered as I pulled her gently before I let my hand fall. "Ch-change w-with m-me."

I willed myself to turn into a fox.

She gasped as she looked down at my new body. She seemed to be frozen in shock for a couple seconds before she made up her mind.

She started undressing herself, haphazardly piling her wet clothes at the base of the tree next to me. She stepped back, her body trembling before she morphed into a giant wolf.

Holy shit!

My fox-self couldn't be bigger than her front leg. She was huge.

She carefully stepped over me before wrapping her body easily around mine. With Leah's fur, it didn't take long for me to warm up. Exhausted. I wanted to close my eyes so badly.

The events of today left many questions in my mind and no answers. Who was that hateful woman? It seemed like she knew me. How else could she hate me so much? No matter. I never wanted to go back to the lake. Ever again. Did I really have a choice in the matter? I don't even know how I was able to travel there, into that lake. Somehow I made it back to the reservation? Did any time pass during my travel? Another concern was that poor Ackley was left with the golden-eyed monster. What had it been doing at the high school? It seemed like whenever they were around, I ended up getting fucked over.

A low growl from Leah caused me to peak over her mass of fur. I saw a man in khaki shorts approaching. He looked similar to Jacob, only slightly older with a thicker brow bone and a wider nose. Another man in khaki shorts appeared, this one's face was rounder with a square chin.

Obviously, Leah didn't like either of them. I felt her body tense and her fur stand up on her back, slightly obstructing my view.

"Leah." The first man spoke patronizingly as he set down a backpack by his feet.

"We came bearing gifts." The second man spoke jokingly as he grabbed and unzipped the backpack. Tossing it towards Leah. I could see the dry clothes within the bag

"Phase back, both of you." The first man spoke firmly, "Now."

Leah's body changed back besides me, "What the fuck, Sam!" she shouted angrily, her body shaking as she attempted to cover herself.

I had to suppress a shiver at the timber of his voice. I could tell that he was the alpha male of this wolf pack.

The second man had the decency to look slightly uncomfortable as he averted his gaze from Leah's naked body. Whereas Sam stared down at her angrily. She was obviously stuck between a rock and a hard place—she could either grab the bag which would expose herself or she could continue to sit, unmoving, covering herself with her arms.

I "phased" back, not giving a flying fuck who saw what. My situation was a little different from Leah's—who was obviously being used. I don't know how the man did it, but he obviously had some control over Leah's free will. He took away her dignity with less than five words. I at least had a choice.

I grabbed the bag and hastily dumped all its contents onto Leah. Effectively covering her sensitive areas. I stepped between her and Sam, causing him to scowl and evert his gaze just like the other man had long before.

I glanced back at Leah, who managed to pull an oversized shirt over her head despite violent shaking of her entire body. I noticed that her downcast eyes were filled with tears of—most likely—embarrassment and anger. I picked the other oversized t-shirt that lay crumpled in her lap and slipped it easily over my head. It engulfed my smaller body like a dress. Leah's t-shirt, however, barely covered her even though the t-shirts appeared to be the same size. Leah just had at least a foot of height on me. It didn't help that her breasts were so large either, not in an overbearing way… they were proportionate to her tall body.

"What are you?" Sam asked me, cutting the silence.

"A fox." I replied shortly, angry at the way he treated Leah.

"I'm serious." He growled, "You're in our territory, Fox. I need answers."

"I am too," I huffed, "I turn into a tiny fox. I happen to have two tails. It's not like I'm dangerous to you, Wolf."

"Are there more like you?" Sam barked.

"Before you ask any more questions, let me tell you that I know nothing about anything else." I explained to Sam, "I seem to suffer from memory loss."

"Are you dangerous to humans?" Sam questioned accusingly.

I heard Leah scoff behind me.

I motioned to my five foot six frame, "Do I look dangerous?"

"Sorry." Sam cheeks pinked in embarrassment, although, I'm not sure why, "I have to ask. It is our job to protect our people and the reservation."

I felt my shoulders relax slightly, "That's alright."

"What were you doing out in the ocean on a day like this?" The second man asked bluntly.

"I don't know how I got there, honestly." I defended myself, knowing that only a crazy person would go on a swim on a day like today, "One minute I was in front of Forks High, the next I was in the water."

I omitted the rest of the story. I didn't have a good feeling about Sam or the man standing beside him.

"Has that happened before?" Sam asked.

"No, it hasn't." I sighed, tired of all of the accusing questions, "And I sure as hell hope it never happens again." I turned back to Leah, "What time is it? Do you think I could get a ride back to Forks?"


Tell me what you think.

Where is Jacob?