Finally! An update! Sorry it's been so long; I was working on some cute little one-shots. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.


After Charlotte finally left, I dressed in a sweater and jeans and ran a brush through my wet hair. I slipped on some boots and headed reluctantly towards the door. There was no way I could get around it; they would be suspicious if I stayed behind. I would have to go along and try to figure out a plan on the way.

I walked slowly to the clearing where the five members of the clan were waiting. Charlotte spotted me and turned towards the forest, excitement radiating from her pale body.

"Ready?"

I gulped and nodded.

"Let's hunt!"

Struggling to stay composed, I ran behind them. My feet barely touched the snow as I dodged the thick evergreens and raced the wind through the mountains of northern Alaska.

Every so often we stopped to try catching a scent, and finding nothing, moved on. Luck ceased to accompany us until suddenly Charlotte came to a dead-stop. Raising her nose to the sky, she inhaled deeply and gave us a wicked grin.

"Mmmmm...Campers."

Excited whispers broke out amongst the group, and Charlotte gave the signal to follow her. Heading west and towards innocent humans, I was running out of options.

When we reached a clearing minutes later, I still had no idea what to do.

"There," Charlotte pointed.

Five unsuspicious campers were huddled around a campfire, enjoying their breakfast. Watching them happy and unaware made my stomach lurch. These men, who probably had family waiting for them at home, were enjoying their vacation, unaware that they were about to become a meal. Even though it's impossible for vampires to vomit, venom filled my mouth and burned my throat. I had to swallow it to keep from dry-heaving into the nearest bush.

The humans' blood was a tantalizing fragrance, but the thought of killing innocent people for my own needs was enough to keep me from attacking them.

I had to do something now, or I would never forgive myself.

"Charlotte," I said, too low for any of the campers to hear, "there isn't enough food here for all of us. I'll go in search for more."

Focused on her prey, she dismissed me without a glance.

"Go. We'll be here waiting."

I nodded and set off at full speed, ignoring the questioning glances from the other vampires. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, but it wasn't fast enough. I was only a mile away when they started. Screams echoed through the mountains, loud and terrified, until they gradually dwindled and stopped completely. The silence left behind was more horrifying than the screams that it surpassed. I grimaced and ran faster.

A minute later, I stopped, convincing myself that if I didn't drink now, I would have to go hunting again soon. Then they would surely discover my secret.

The air held a whiff of something delicious--deer, maybe? I followed the scent and discovered a buck grazing on bark from a tree. Realizing that Charlotte and the others were probably wondering where I was, I attacked it, letting its sweet blood mix with the venom in my body. After finishing, I discarded the carcass and antlers and ran back to the clearing.

"Find anything?" a newer vampire named Jeremy asked with an eager and hopeful look.

"No. Sorry," I said nervously, trying not to notice the drained bodies burning in the campfire.

I noticed Charlotte tucking an object into her pocket, something dark brown and made of canvas. It looked like a man's wallet. So that's where she got her money. I was repulsed.

Minutes later, she doused the flames and led us to the clan home twenty miles away.

As the trees whipped by me, I imagined what it would be like to be human again--to hunger for ordinary food, and not someone's innocent blood. What would it be like to live among others without feeling like a freak? How would it feel to just be normal? But I would never be normal again.

All thanks to him.

Anger boiled inside of me and I scorned myself; it was unreasonable to think about impossible things.

We arrived at the clan home then, and Jeremy gave me a lopsided grin.

"So how'd you like your first hunt? It's too bad you didn't find anything. Maybe we can try again tomorrow."

"Ummm, yea. Sure. Of Course." I was wringing my hands, something I did when I was nervous. I hoped he didn't notice.

"If only I was human," I whispered miserably. Jeremy hadn't answered me, and I looked up to see if was even there. His pale body was still, not moving an inch. He was staring at me, his mouth and eyes stretched wide.

"What?" I asked, looking around, frantically trying to see what was wrong.

"Wh-What's happening to your hands?"

I looked down.

My hands looked like they were dissolving. They tingled seemed to be melting. Icy hard skin was softening into warmth, and not just in my hands. My whole body was changing—I could even feel my eyes fading from dark gold to a lighter green and warm blood pulsing through my body. What was happening to me? I was suddenly cold and scared. I needed to find Charlotte. Maybe she would know what was wrong with me.

I looked up to see if she was around, and was met by the blood-red eyes of five suddenly ravenous vampires.

Jacob POV

"Help!"

I looked around frantically, trying to find my way out of the forest and to the source of the screams. They seemed to be coming from every direction, surrounding me, suffocating me. I felt like a mouse in a maze, only this time the prize at the end was much more important than a slice of cheese--it was Bella.

"Jacob!" her cry sounded again. I pushed my way through the dense brush, looking for a way out. I had been running for hours, the screams never ending, and getting louder with every minute.

Searching the forest for an opening, I was met only by hordes of trees with no pattern to them, no clear path to anywhere. Frustration was building up inside of me. I was ripping at the seams, anger and sadness and despair eating up my body. Every time I thought I had found a pathway out, it just ended in the same clearing that I had started in. Finally I collapsed, weeping, the screams still echoing all around me.

I was jolted from my sleep by a shriek. Bathed in sweat and head pounding, I listened again, trying to separate dream from reality. Was I still asleep? Was this the end of the nightmare?

The scream came again and I raced towards it, phasing as I ran. Is it Bella? What's she doing here? Why is she screaming?

A million thoughts ran through my mind in the few minutes it took, none of them comforting and all of them making me angry and confused. I pushed my emotions aside when I got to the source.

Standing before me was what looked like some kind of campground. Six cozy log cabins were arranged in a circle, and everything looked normal. It was silent, and I wondered if I had heard any screams at all.

To be sure, I peeked around the corner, hoping that no one would notice a giant wolf-head coming from behind one of the cabins. I stopped dead in my tracks, infuriated at what I saw. Five vampires were circling a human girl. She had dark brown hair, and at first I thought it was Bella, but then realized she was too young. She looked barely fifteen.

The bloodsuckers kicked and taunted her. Blood gushed from a wound in her head, and I could tell their resistance was weakening. So focused were they on their prey that they didn't even acknowledge my presence. Her suffering would end any second.

My instincts now uncontrollable, I leaped into the air, landing right beside her. Ferocious growls ripped through my chest and my jaws snapped at the shocked leeches. They recovered quickly, but not quick enough. The girl was on my back and I was running before they had time to attack.

I ran faster than I had ever before. I had no idea what I was doing, but I couldn't let them kill this innocent girl. My padded paws were well equipped to handle the thick snow, and I was sure I was far ahead from the vampires following me. I looked back and growled. The stupid bloodsuckers were in quick pursuit. I raced through the forest I now knew better than the ones at La Push, and I was gaining more ground with every minute. Finally, there was nothing behind me, no flashes of white or infuriated growls. They must have given up. Taunting them for their weakness, but also glad for their retreat, I found a safe place to set the girl down.

Leaning her up against a thick tree, I examined her wounds. Her dark, curly hair was matted and painted with blood, giving the snow around it a pinkish tint. Her clothes were ripped and dark lines ran across her arms. It was a wonder her glasses were still on. She was small and slim. I was surprised she was still alive. She was barely conscious, murmuring something like, If only...If only… I waved a hand in front of her face.

"Umm...Hello? Can you hear me?"

Her green eyes widened for a second, and then she fainted.

Great.

Groaning, I picked her up and looked until I found a den big enough for both of us. There was one far enough away from the coven, and I laid her inside. Cautiously, I brushed my finger against the deep wound on her scalp. She flinched slightly as the pain registered and then she went stiff. Repulsed, I wiped the blood on the dirt floor. I hated playing doctor. Putting pressure on her head, I waited for the bleeding to slow and then wrapped the wound tightly with a tear of my T-shirt.

I had no idea what I was going to do with her, but I knew that I couldn't just leave her while she was like this. While I waited for her to regain consciousness, I went out in search of firewood. She was going to be cold when she woke up.


Review and tell me what you think, or point out any mistakes you see or advice you can give. These past few chapters have been a little...morbid, but I'll try to get some light-heartedness in soon! Thanks for reading :)