I own nothing from the Twilight franchise. It all belongs to Stephanie Meyer.

CHAPTER 2

I haven't stopped since that moment.

At times I'm sure that I've been going around in circles. Does he know that I'm coming? Is he ready for the impending horror that I have intended for him?

A sudden chalky grinding from my engine informed me that my car was in need of refuelling. I scanned the area for a moment, and pulled into a garage. I filled the tank and paid the cashier.

As I headed back to my car I took in the scene surrounding me.

It was nearly dusk. The dusty road I was one was quiet and desolate. I wouldn't have been surprised if I had been the only customer this place had had in a week.

A light breeze hit me. I don't know why but it alerted my senses.

"Christ Jake, you look like crap!"

A familiar voice came from behind me causing me to jump. That made me doubt myself. Surely my instincts would have known that someone was coming.

I spun around.

Seth. I couldn't believe it. Now fully grown with ripped muscles that would put all of us to shame.

"Why aren't you with the others?" I snorted at him.

"I am." I blinked at him, and glanced around for the rest of the pack.

"Well, kinda, distantly. The other's are back in La Push, but Leah and I have been scouting for you for the last year." He enphathised the last word. Why would Sam do that? Sending two of the pack

out on a completely futile mission. He knew that I wasn't about to give up this chase. They had all seen everything through my mind, felt everything that I had felt. The rage that still burnt furiously inside of me must have been a clear enough hint that I wasn't gonna stop.

The voices of the pack had stayed with me for a while, until I decided to stop phasing, unless it was absolutely necessary. Perhaps that was why my instincts weren't as sharp as they should be. I thought that after a while they had just given in, knowing that I couldn't be swayed.

"Your Dad wants to know if you're alright for money?" Seth mentioned, undoubtedly attempting to pull at the heart strings. Nice try, I thought. I didn't think that Billy was that concerned about me. Sure, I missed him, he was after all my dad. But I knew that he was fine without me. I hoped that he was giving Charlie all the support he needed. I had no idea how or when he had been told the news, and I kinda didn't want to know. It hurt to think about Charlie as it would always lead me straight back to Bella. Not that she was ever out of my thoughts.

"I'm OK for cash." that would be my assuring reply message for Billy.

"You're hunting for food, aren't you." It wasn't a question. And it was true. It probably saved me a small fortune. I needed money for other things.

"We want you back with us, Jake. Sam wants to pack it in now. He and Emily wanna settle down, have a normal life. He can't do that till you come back and take Alpha."

A growl stirred from my chest.

Seth heard it and looked at me sympathetically.

"Jake...we know it's been hell. But please...stop now. You'll get your chance at the Cullens."

This surprised me. Seth had always been very fond of the Cullens, practically idolized Edward.

"We need you. Let the dead lye." There was longing Seth's eyes. But there was agonizing heartbreak behind mine.

"My child's not dead!"

"You can't think that they'd let her...after all..."

Seth was trying to be careful. Not wanting to let his words release any uncontrollable monstrous actions. Seth had always been good at keeping his cool, despite being a hyperactive kid, and I would always envy that side of him. He also had an unnaturally honest nature, and I realised that I could use that to my advantage.

"What was the last you heard of the Cullens?" I ordered him.

Seth licked his lips and shifted his gaze.

"You have to tell me!"

Seth struggled. He was lousy at lying, plus I hoped that my supirior rank would come in useful. He would have no choice but to tell me.

He let out a huge sigh, as though he was lifting a heavy weight from his chest.

"We think they've split into smaller groups. We've seen Carlisle and Esme. They seem to be heading home to Forks. Alice and her guy, last we heard, were in Seattle."

I couldn't believe it. They were headed home to Forks? I'd have thought that they would hve waited a few centuries, at least until everyone from this current wolf pack was dead and buried.

"Pretty ballsy!" I said.

Seth nodded "Sam thinks that Carlisle will wanna meet. Try to explain things a little. Maybe there's other things going on, ya know. We've been so distracted with just concentrating on this..."

I scoffed, and looked at the ground. My child ...Bella...now just a DISTRACTION??!

The treaty had been broken, plain and simple.

"There's no sign of Edward." Seth said sternly, trying to get me to focus.

I thought for a moment, considering the situation. Sam and Emily definitely deserved their lives back. All of us did. But if the Cullens were returning this would not happen. There would always be a wolf pack if there were vampires.

I looked at Seth. So young, and yet put so far ahead in his age. How much of his youth would he miss out on. I knew he thought it was kinda cool being a werewolf, but at some point he would come to resent it, just like the rest of us.

But then, rather selfishly, I thought about me. My happiness, my life. I thought about Bella. I thought about the constant pull that my child had upon my heart. My only image of her flashed into my mind. Those eyes, Bella's eyes. I couldn't just abandon her.

"Tell Sam I'll be back as soon as I've got my daughter."

Seth balled his fists up and punched the air.

"JAKE, THEY'RE DEAD!!"

"No, no she isn't. I have to find her." I stared staight on at Seth, trying to make him understand, there was no two ways about this.

"You think that by some miracle, in all the anger, hate, and revenge he felt, you think he would leave her alive. I saw him run out Jake, I chased after him. But what I saw in his eyes..."

"It's a fairy tale Jake. Forget it. Come home, where you belong."

We stood silently for a moment, just glaring at each other, both clenching and unclenching our fists.

"Ya know those stories never end well for the big bad wolf."

I looked away from him then, processing all the information he had given me. I gave him another glance, then turned to head for my car.

"Where are you headed now?"

I didn't even bother too look back over my shoulder at him.

"Following the bread crumbs." I called as I sluncked into the drivers seat, and sped off.

OK, people. How am I doing. I so don't wanna suck at this.