Iz walked into the apartment to find a wet haired Kenzi sitting on the kitchen counter in a towel. She was preoccupied in pouring herself a shot of tequila. Iz walked up to the girl until there was no longer anything resembling personal space left. "Honey. I'm home," Iz said jokingly. Kenzi rolled her eyes and kicked Iz away, but not before she managed to get a big whiff of the girl's hair.

"Using my shampoo, I can understand, but you really need to get your own deodorant." Kenzi's little pink tongue made a flippant appearance.

"I thought I said you could crash here until you found a new place. It's been six months, are you even looking?" Kenzi took her shot and smacked her lips.

"When I'm gone

When I'm gone," Kenzi sang.

"No. Stop. Stop now or so help me."

"You're gonna miss me when I'm gone."

Iz shoved her hand over Kenzi's mouth, but the girl bit down hard. Those teeth could draw blood.

"You're gonna miss me by my hair

You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone," Kenzi finished with a bow and poured herself another shot.

The girl's singing brought out her Russian accent charming her, but there was something false in her carefree air. For Kenzi, throwing back shots on a Friday night was nothing new, but the girl usually went for wine and ice cream. Tequila was for "partying so hard you forget who you gave your underwear to" according to Kenzi. The little alcoholic only wanted to party like that when she was really upset and trying to hide it.

"Did Nate try to find you again?"

Kenzi shove the tequila bottle across the counter, but Iz managed to grab it before the fall. "It sucks meatballs Iz! He's perfect and I can't have him or he will die. I wish he had just been some sleazebag and then I could curse his name and be done with him."

Iz attempted to comfort the girl, but the pats on her damp back felt mechanical. Kenzi laughed, "You suck at this." "I know." "Wanna know what would make me feel better?" "Being vampire bait and then watching them die?" "You know me so well," Kenzi said batting her lashes. "Go get dressed punk."

There wasn't much Iz had to do to prepare. She stayed ready for an encounter at all times and her attire was form fitting enough that she didn't have to worry about it working against her. Yoga pants with a hole, bleach stained black shirt, two-day-old braid, and a makeup free face wasn't exactly the right combo to catch a vamp's attention, but she wasn't the bait. She heard Kenzi's hair dryer come to life from the bathroom. White noise is not something that Iz often lets herself indulge in, but it had been a hell of a week. Lulled by the whirr of the dryer's tiny motor she is caught off guard by the memory that has eased in close, tugging to be let inside. She allows it to replay in front of her eyes. She has the time.

"Well if it isn't little Jacob Black collecting his frequent flyer miles," she said smiling and giving him a once over. He had grown considerably since the last time she had seen him at her junior prom, but a year had passed away. They were both bulkier with considerably more muscle than before.

"Hey Bells!" She enjoyed the warmth that radiated off him when he wrapped an arm around her giving an enthusiastic side hug. She'd been heartbroken when she found out that he turned along with the rest of his friends on the reservation. If only they had gotten the Cullen's out sooner. Maybe then his generation would be safe from a life so alienating, but there was not enough time in the world for all the maybes she could think of. It was their lot in life to protect and no amount of regret would take away the responsibility.

"I must be pretty darn important to have gotten your butt all the way out of Forks, or something like that." She enjoyed the way he stopped mid appraisal of her to look at his feet and blush.

"Yeah, something like that."

Werewolves were one of the few creatures who actively hunted vampires. Her Aunt Avery had let her know that if approached correctly they could be a great asset to a fellow vampire hunter. However, pack dynamics as well as territory wars between packs typically dissuaded her from working with them. Nonetheless she felt it was imperative for Iz to get a firsthand education. With Jacob turning there could be no better option. They all trusted him implicitly and with the pressure for him to step up and claim the alfa spot that his ancestors had held, he was more than happy to take a little vacation away from his pack.

He stayed with them for a month. Iz and Avery's time together was solemn at best. She mourned the loss of her normality and had not yet come to terms with the responsibility that was hers now. Jacob brought light and warmth. They were friends in a way that her and Edward could never have been. Equals in responsibility and strength. Avery would often come into a room to spot them pressed together in close confederacy. Sitting side by side on the couch Bella loved to feel his warm arm and leg pressed against her. She knew he wanted more than friendship from her, but that was as unrealistic as Edward becoming human and they both knew it. Their paths were too different. Jacob and his tribe had some buffer between them and the world that did not believe in the mythological creatures the wolves protected them from. Iz though had no tribe. When her training was done, she would be living as a recluse. A life resigned to the shadows and fake identities.

So, they enjoyed Jacobs light hearted joy. Where Iz felt ancient, Jacob was a boy. Resilient to hardship and inexperienced with true misfortune. To be a wolf was as natural as having ten toes. He never resented it. The sparing he did with Iz was play for him not training.

The familiar click of Kenzie's impractical shoes drew Iz out of her thoughts. The girl was in full costume mode and Iz knew better than to try and persuade her out of it. This looked like her Ninotchka Alexandrovich look. Iz didn't exactly make her cash in the most acceptable form. Trading mythical heads into a woman who was definitely up to no good in exchange for under the counter cash—not the type of job people liked to discuss over dinner. How Kenzie chose to make her money was none of her business, so Iz looked the other way when she saw the girl counting cards. She knew at some point she would have to save that girl's ass, but it was an obligation she didn't mind. So, she took in the blond old Hollywood style wig, glamorous floor length black dress, and stiletto heels and just cocked an eyebrow in response.

"Before you say anything I am not changing," Kenzie said emphasizing her point by thrusting her bottle of tequila in Iz's direction.

"Not even the shoes… something a little more flat would do."

"The shoes make the look. How dare you insult Gucci? I bet you would like it if I just left this apartment naked wouldn't you?"

Iz rolled her eyes at the girls tipsy dramatics. She never asked how Kenzi managed to feed her shoe addiction. Not legally. "Get your butt downstairs."

Iz was ready to drop Kenzi at a table and get into the shadows as soon as possible. It didn't matter what sort of gambling it was Kenzi would make a profit. Anything would be better than the apparently inexhaustible reasons why Kenzi wanted to set her up with her pal.

"He is sooo dreamy Iz. Common it's not like you have someone else in your life. He is strong and sexy and would take care of you."

"I do a pretty good job of taking care of me and you. I don't want to meet your wolf. If I stink I can't hunt. Now go con some poor fool and I'll give you the signal when our vamp comes onto the scene."

Kenzi left her and instantly fell into character. An extra swing was added into her walk gaining the attention of an old perv. The less Iz knew the better. She was raised a good girl. Charlie was a cop after all and though she had a habit of lying, she tried to stay clean of anything too illegal. Killing is illegal and she without a doubt was a killer, a hitman, an assassin. But, was it against the law if the person was already dead? Or more technically if there was no real documentation of them? These were the questions that burned her to the core. Was she a murderer?

She could hear Kenzi working the table. The high pitch lilt of her voice was a comfort. There was something truly innocent about Kenzie. It was intoxicating. The world beat her down at every turn, but her spirit, there was not one smudge on it.

She checked and decided that her attention was in no way necessary. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the padded wall. The research she'd been working on wore hard on her. She didn't know where Avery found the documents or how she got the boxes into her apartment. Their current project kept her up through the night. She felt like her 8-year-old self, stowing away under the covers at midnight with a flashlight and a Magic Tree House book. This though was not the light reading of her childhood. Avery was on the trail for answers like a bloodhound and it looked like for once they had found something.

The documents she was working her way through dated back to World War Two. When she first opened the box and saw the note she figured that the time period was chosen for more of a nostalgic than logical reason, but the further she worked her way in the less she discredited her aunt. She'd learned in school about how disgusting the Nazi's experiments on humans were. Using human skin to make leather rated G in comparison to her readings. Vampires were not just playing war for the feasts, but were also using it as a chance to research with no ethical boundaries.

The most recent study followed a young Jewish woman who was repetitively raped by a vampire. This resulted in an accelerated pregnancy where the woman could only keep down human blood. The birth was gruesome. The spawn impatient to be free of the womb ate his way out, killing his mother in the process. They called him a hybrid. He grew at an accelerated rate and could feed on both blood and traditional food. His bite was poison. Would he have continued aging quickly until his death? She wanted to know, but all vampire experiments were ended and most evidence, including the boy, were destroyed once the Voltaire took notice. To be caught with that kind of knowledge would have been grounds for execution. If this information was true it could mean that her and her aunt were not the only byproduct that the vampires might have left behind.

The sudden burning in her palm pulled a sigh from her. There was not enough time in the day to consider the information to the extent that she wanted. Especially when the less desirable, but considerably more beautiful side of her work kept butting in. she flicked the left side of her nose and judging by the sound of retreating heels, Kenzi had taken her cue. She was remarkably good at picking out a vampire in a crowd, but the girl was remarkably good at most tasks she took on. Iz kept her eyes shut for the count of ten Mississippi's and then pushed herself off the wall with all the enthusiasm of a sloth.

Eyes open and the blond wig is out of sight. They'd hunted here a few times so she knew the route Kenzi would take. She was safe if Iz kept her pace. Shoulders back, head high, and the swagger in her step made her unapproachable. One step, flashing lights. Heel to toe brought her closer, bass beating a new pulse through her. Almost there, heavy smoke changing the chemical makeup of the lungs. Hand around the bicep, fist remolding a nose.

"Shit lady. Ok. Ok. I get it. I scared you. We can still be friends though." Iz looked the man up and down. Too thin and high to be a threat. Scraggly beard, greasy hair, and beer stained shirt.

"I'm not interested," Iz said and attempted to step around him.

"No, you need Steve. Your face says no, but your body says yesss Steve. Can't you feel our chemistry," Steve stepped closer and she could smell the remnants of cheese burger on his breath.

"If my patience regenerated as quickly as your self-esteem the world would be a much safer place. Now fuck off," she said administering a gentle push to send him away.

She'd let too much time pass. Kenzie could only hold the demon off so long and in her state… She felt Steve's dirty fingers wrap around her wrist and she was done with this shit. She turned fast enough to dislodge her trapped wrist and planted a sensibly shoed foot firmly into Steve's chest. For the only time in his life he flew, directly into a table of drinks.

"I said FUCK OFF," Iz said and then broke into a run.

The air outside of the club wasn't much fresher, but she hadn't come out for a breather. Kenzi. Her time slowed and she spotted her instantly. He had her pinned against the brick and she was kicking with every bit of her strength, but how could that possibly compare. He was easing his way in towards her pale neck. Iz's blood ran cold. Even now he moved fluently through her slowed time. She would not make it to them before-

Iz had two personal rules while hunting. One: never let go of a dagger and Two: Kill the vamp first the victim comes second. Well that all went to hell.

A dagger was in her hand and sailing through the air before she had registered her thought process. It sunk hilt deep into the side of the vamp's neck. Her numb legs carried her to where Kenzi had been forgotten on the pavement. Her neck had a single trail of blood running down. The Cullen's hadn't told her that most humans bodies reject the poison, only few made it through the transformation.

Iz's lips closed against Kenzi's neck and she pulled deep. Her mouth filled with the warm Iron of Kenzi's blood. Relieved she let it flow down her throat. No poison. He hadn't managed to taint her blood.

"The fuck kind of hybrid are you?" the demon asked. The dagger now deposited on the cement.

Iz didn't bother wiping the blood from around her mouth. She could smell the sickly-sweet scent of the vampire's fear.

"The kind from your worst nightmares," Iz whispered and lunged like a harpy of death at her victim.

The first time Avery tasked them with hunting down and disposing a newly made male vamp that refused to learn control Iz was terrified, but Jacob just laughed.

"Hell Bella you can fend me off with your eyes closed. What do you have to worry about here?"

She just shook her head and continued her tracking. Jacob could sniff the vamp out easier than she could track him, but he had already done so numerous times with his pack, so he let Iz take the lead. Though Anchorage was the biggest city in Alaska it did not have a big enough population for nine people to go missing in a week without people noticing.

She stooped low to the ground to check the trail more closely, though she didn't need to. If the vamps age was not shown by his blood lust it was made abundantly clear by his carelessness. They would write it up as a grizzly attack, but bears didn't typically drag a large man bleeding away from the gas pump deeper into the woods. He would be a goner by the time they found him, but they would be saving the future victims and that had to be enough.

She swiped her finger in the muddy bloody snow and stood back up. Jacob was shifting from one bare foot to another ready for the chase as Iz gave her finger a sniff. 20 minutes? That was plenty of time for the vamp to get where he wanted to be and drain the poor bastard. Iz just hoped that he was relaxing in the after effects of an overly engorged stomach.

She gave Jacob the signal and he grinned. She slipped into the woods more silent than the residents sleeping inside their warm homes. She perceived the sound of Jacob's zipper sliding downward. There were many aspects of her own body she had learned to manipulate. Though she could now slow her heart rate to an imperceivable rate, she was not the master of the blush that forced its way up the back of her neck and around to color her cheeks. The rustle of his jeans falling from his body sent a burning from her core up to the tips of her ears. Being shirtless when they started their trek from home she knew he was now naked. Deep breaths.10 were not enough to settle her discomposure. She didn't regain herself until she felt his canine head budding against her shoulder blade.

Back to business. They followed the trail of morbid bread crumbs the vamp left behind. Blood on the ground, a patch of skin against the tree, and a fingernail among the roots and dead leaves led them to a clearing where the stars danced on the blood-soaked snow. A lifeless body and a crouching vampire were the nights only audience. She felt her supper making its way back up her throat as they watched the vamp still sucking on an already drained body. She had visions of him in his desperate state collecting the bloody snow into a cone and licking it as if he were a kid at the summer fair.

Jacob nudged her towards the clearing with his snout and she fell into character. She forced a few tears that felt natural enough and stumbled into the clearing. The vamps head turned towards her with uncanny speed. His red irises appraised her. Edward described a vampire's blood lust with absolute clarity to her. She knew he wanted her to fear them, to keep her safe. But what he failed to inform her about was their other enhanced lust. Perhaps he felt like his kind were monstrous enough with their cannibalistic diet without also painting them as rapists. Now approaching this young sated vamp she knew in what direction his quick mind was running despite the fact that he had a mate. He made her scar burn.

"H-help me. Please will you help me," she said and more tears fell, "my dog- he ran into the woods and I chased after him and now I'm lost."

A smile spread across the unnaturally beautiful face. She could see a glimmer in his faceted skin awoken by the glow of the moon. The effect would have transfixed her if not for the smile stained almost black from his meal and juices of a lost man dripping down his chin. She pretended not to see these details. A human may have been able to miss them and be excused by their poor eyesight. Though every bone in her body screamed for her to pull out her daggers and lunge she resisted. A slight shaking had taken control of her hands, but she worked to lure him closer still.

"I twisted my ankle on a root. I won't be able to make it back on my own. You look like a strong guy. Please help me."

Forward he crept as if she were a doe not to be frightened away. If she were to run she could not stand a chance.

"I am sure my pup must be close," she said and forced her eyes away from him, "Jaaaaake, Jaaaaakeeyyy, Ja-"

A very cold hand cut off her calls and she felt his icy chiseled torso press up behind her. She let out a squeal for show and felt him grow behind her. Every hair on her body stood up in repulsion. His nose pressed hard against her scalp and he inhaled deeply. She would allow him to believe the shudder that ran through her was caused by her pleasure.

His free hand released her hip and ran slowly along the waistband of her jeans. The thumb he'd forced inside her pants burned a path across her skin. He was enjoying this and Iz could smell the sweet scent of his partner on his skin. He closed in on her button and it was time. She shoved back against him thankful his hard bulge pushed against her lower back and not her ass. He purred. With exaggerated slowness, she ground into him moving her hips in a circular motion, at the arc of either side's rotation she grabbed the hilt of her daggers. "The dog can wait," he breathed into her ears. He licked up the length of her neck and Jacob growled.

No sound filled her with more confidence then that deep guttural threat. She smiled beneath the vamps hand. His hand abandoned her waist and she liked to imagine the wide eye look that must be covering his face as he watched Jacob stalk out from the trees. Her mouth was released and she couldn't help herself.

"Look you found my puppy!"

"What kind of goddamned demon woman are you," he said and she felt herself being spun so quickly the trees blurred. She slowed her time before she fully faced him. Still she was moved as if on a carnival swing, but this gave her time to prepare. She prepped her daggers and took a swipe. Not fast enough. She'd slashed a deep gash into his neck and would have taken his head off if he wouldn't have jumped backward. Pain shot up her spine as the ground caught her with a heavy hand.

Jacob, no longer able to resist the fight, lunged forward sinking sharp canines into the vampire's shoulder. With grip secure he proceeded to shake the vamp like he was a doll. Flight being a stronger instinct than fight the fiend pulled away to run, but this force caused a great tearing noise. Iz was back to her feet with a one, two, step and jump she propelled herself directly at the vamps chest before she had even registered that Jacob had ripped his fucking arm off. Her daggers sunk in, one in his heart, one in his opposite shoulder. He swiped hard with his remaining right arm digging deep gouges into Iz's cheek and knocking her across the clearing.

The blood dripped hot across her cheek and she locked eyes with the vamp as he smelled it. The blood that was too tempting for any to resist. She knew that this was not her end, but as he raced towards her with her daggers still in his chest she knew that this would hurt like one hell of a bitch. But before he could reach her Jacob lunged from nowhere and closed his powerful jaws around that granite neck. Off came the vampire's head. It hit the ground and rolled with a terrible bloodless finality. Avery told her that some demand the head in exchange for payment, but that was just too bad. If Avery wanted a head she had better start paying.

Jacob helped her stack the pieces and without ceremony Iz lit and dropped a match on the pile. They watched the body burn. With so much blood in his belly the poor bastard burned slow. From some great distance in a voice too sweet and melodic to be anything, but vampire called out.

"Michael sweet heart come back to me. I know you are hungry. I'll take care of you baby, but we can't eat the humans."

Her snow soaked boots were no longer the coldest part of her body. They needed to go now. She respected Smokey the bear, but this fire would have to put itself out. With a uniformity of mind both boot and paw hit the snow with a quickness. To be found by this burning body meant death.

"Mike! Come to me love! If you are playing with another of those girls I will have to teach you a little lesson."

The endearments paired with Iz's image of the brutal man made her sick. She knew without hesitation that this man was a newly made vamp was a part of the Denali clan. They long ago converted to drinking the blood of animals and were therefore considered a non-threat. This though, this was a completely irresponsible move on their part. The thought of the woman finding them caused Iz's feet to move faster. Jacob who was undoubtedly faster took note and matched her wild pace.

She. Wasn't. Running. Fast. Enough.

It was just the wrath of the undoubtedly beautiful vampire she was running from. Every piece of her being felt dirty. The man left dead on the ground. Abandoned. Trash. The blood, oh god there was so much blood. She could still feel those cold fingers sliding their way, leaving a path of violation—

"Damn Bella slow down," Jacobs voice called from somewhere behind her.

But her feet were not her own; they moved of their own accord. This was the fastest she had ever gone. The scenery was undistinguishable at this pace. This was her life now and everything would not be better when she was back at the gym within Avery's protection. Tonight was the first time and Iz would have to continue this until she died. She was the type of dirty that never comes clean.

She didn't stop when the gym came into view. She ran herself right into the brick exterior and welcomed the pain. It was better than the other feelings taking up too much space in her body. She could hear Jacob approaching her slow, like a wild animal, and at this moment she very well could be one. She was disgusted, but she knew the experience left Jacob feeling something closer to fury. To see her used as bait did not sit right with either of them. His warm hand was a welcome addition to her back. Though he was trembling, close to losing his form to the wolf inside, he steadied her. The bricks, rough under her fingertips and rough against her cheeks, brought her to the present. There were little ice crystals within each little pit that sparkled in the moonlight and she was alive to see them.

She turned away from the frozen wall and buried her head in Jacobs solid chest. He tightened around her reflexively and then pushed her an arm's length away. She knew he wanted her to meet his eyes, but she wasn't ready for that. He cupped her face with his hands and forced the meeting.

"Are you ok Bella?"

"I'm alive. This is my life, I can't complain."

"But it's not the life you deserve."

She opened her mouth to respond, but what was there to say. That was what she wanted to hear. That she was good enough for a normal happy life. So she stood, his hand on her face, open mouth gazing into the earnest eyes of her best friend. He leaned in stealing her space. He was going to kiss her and she was not going to stop him. He inched closer, but she was no longer the rabid animal that he was fearful of earlier. The sweet anticipation of this kiss she made her aware of his scent. It was completely Jacob, man and wolf and it seared her core.

She lunged at him and he met her with a crashing kiss. There was no asking permission to deepen it. She forced his lips to part getting the first taste of him. She felt his hands sliding down to her thighs and gripping hard. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her jeans were too thick to give away her soaked panties, but with his sense of smell he knew. She dove in again and again each kiss becoming more frenzied. Her lungs burned, but every time she gave herself a chance to breathe she could feel those too cold vampire hands closing in around her hips, penetrating deeper until they felt at her soul. She wouldn't be damned. Jacob kissed her hard and she let him cleanse her.

It wasn't fair to him, but she'd never claimed to be a good person. It wouldn't take much convincing. If she unbuckled her jeans he would take the hint. The relief? She knew it would only last as long as the act. She wouldn't lose herself like this. If she seduced him she would be no better than the vampire now reduced to ashes. So, she pushed away from Jacob, dropped to the ground, wiped her mouth and headed in. Just like that with no explanation.

She could feel his eyes on her. Willing her to turn around and stay. But, she only had so much willpower.

The Morrigan had been in a particularly teasing mood tonight, but the head was delivered and Iz's pocket was heavy with cash. Kenzi had given her disposable phone a call. She was too far gone to make it home on her own. So here Iz was standing outside of the Dal Riata. She was worn physically and emotionally. The sooner she opened that front door the sooner she could crawl into bed, but the scent kept her boots screwed firmly into the sidewalk. This was the place Kenzie's fae played. She did not trust their smell.

She had told Kenzi under no circumstances would she hang out at this bar. Yes, she was a freak, but a very productive freak and if she got involved in the politics of the fae her position in this town could be compromised. She hated to move.

In she went. Accustomed to blending in she stayed by the walls. The lighting was brighter than her hunting grounds and everything else was too clean. The blood stains and dirt clinging to her made their presence known here. These people were happy and comfortable, a juxtaposition to her own attitude. She spotted the blond wig before Kenzi herself. It was making itself at home on the bar. Sitting just so basking in the calming tones of Irish folk music. Whimsical with a curl falling just so over the edge of the counter.

Kenzi was not fairing as well as her wig. Her dark hair was matted into clumps and dress falling low on her back. She was guarded on either side. On one was a muscular form that smelled so strongly of wolf it made her ache for Jacob. On the other a lean handsome man dressed too sharp for this bar. Good, she was glad she had protection. For Iz the girl was precious. She was stupid. So, stupid tonight for almost letting her get hurt. Carelessness got you killed. Avery had pounded that into her skull. Well apparently, it could get your friends killed to. Here Kenzi was straddling two very dangerous worlds with only her instincts to fight her way through it. Iz hated herself for her part of the danger, but everyone was addicted to something sex, drugs, alcohol, or adrenalin.

She eased in closer silent. Anyone could see her, but few payed enough attention. They didn't live like her. Always diligent, always in danger.

"Come on little mama," the leaner one said, "we gotta get you sobered up before your guardian comes to get you."

"I'll have you know HALE," Kenzi said with a hiccup for flourish, "that I almost became a badass vampire slayer tonight. Soo you better watch out."

Just feet away from the bar the wolf caught her. Head turned and nostrils flared he took her in. So this was Dyson. Curled golden hair and a cocky smile. No, he was not her type. She didn't play games with fuck boys.

"Dyson, you found her. Isn't she so pretty," Kenzi said. "So pretty" were not the right descriptive words at the moment. Maybe after a shower and with some proper clothes.

"Iz? Sit. I'll buy you a drink. You're going to need it to get this one home," He said. She couldn't identify his accent, but it made something inside her stomach twist.

"Hey! I'm a badass," Kenzi added in before laying her head back down on the bar.

"No. I'll manage. Come on Kenz." Dyson grabbed her wrist and the sincere look on his face pushed her right over the edge. She slapped him hard. "I didn't give you permission to touch me," she said tired to the core of men not respecting her boundaries.

A silence fell over the bar until the bartender made his way over. He had more authority than his position let on. Iz took note of his watchful gaze.

"Damn Dyson," Hale said, "looks like you are losing your charm."

"She's a good girl wolf man. She reads all day and kills vamps at night," Kenzi added in, "you aren't gonna be able to seduce her like old Bo Bo."

"Ok, time to go little one," Iz said. Hale stood up to help walk her out to a cab, but Iz had her in a fireman's carry before it was necessary. She gave the three men a nod and made her way out. Time to go home.

Childish. Avery let her know that was how she was acting. She had been avoiding Jacob and he knew it. She was ashamed of herself. For using Jacob, for the way she reacted to her first kill. To say she had no romantic feelings for Jacob would be a lie. He is a good person. Sunshine to drive away her rainy days. They both had responsibilities more important than just themselves, and she was done being a child. She would not pine after or chase a relationship that was destined to fail. If she was just Bella and he was just Jacob who knows what could have been. There were just days before he had to go back to his pack. She could be strong for that long.

When he found her she was lounged on a couch deep into Persuasion. Oh, Anne Elliot, how she felt the woman's pain.

"Hey nerd," he said ruffling her hair. She lifted her legs allowing him access to the couch and then plopped them back into his lap. It was cold outside and although it was no longer a danger to her she welcomed his warmth. He's fidgeting and she pretends to continue reading. He'll show her whatever he is hiding in his fist when he is ready.

"Bells I want you to come home with me. Now or when you finish your training. I don't care when, but I don't want to live without you," she tries to gage how serious he is. "We make a good team and I want you by my side."

"Jake-," asking her what she is already craving the most is a low blow that she isn't sure if she can deflect.

"You know that isn't a possibility. When you leave here I may never be able to see you again."

"I couldn't forgive myself if I left without trying."

"I love you Jacob," and she did. He was the truest friend she had ever had. Fate may not allow her to have him, but it couldn't take that away from her. She reaches over and strokes his short dark hair. Her touch barely there, callouses on silk, and electricity shocking her nerves as it courses from her fingertips deep into her soul. He grabs her wrist and for a moment rejection hits her like a cold wave ready to pull her into the ocean's depths.

She closes her eyes in self-defense. She can feel him tethering her by her wrist back to reality. She opens her eyes, curiosity winning out over fear. Her wrist is now home to a sturdy braided leather bracelet with a lone wolf charm carved from wood. The craftsmanship is excellent and she can feel the little beast guarding her.

"So that we won't ever be apart," he said and she can tell by his discomfort that he crafted the token himself.

"When life gets hard there is a field in my mind I like to go to. It is always sunny and no matter how far or fast I run it continues on, sheltering me. Will you meet me there?" He nods and she knows he understands.

He cups her face in his hands and gives her a tender kiss. They lay together in the bittersweet acceptance that this is all they can ever be. It hurts. God, it hurts. She can feel the injustice of it all grating her innards into a mess of blood, tissue, and muscle. She begs those three cruel fates to allow Jacob to imprint, so that he at least could be spared.

She had never been this happy to reach the dingy hall leading into her apartment. Kenzi had thrown up three times from the bar home, so Iz had been holding her breath. She let it out now and pulled in deep the smell of home and… another sweet familiar smell. She could feel the tingle of each goosebump raise on her skin. She didn't need this tonight.

"Look Kenz I need you to concentrate. There is a vampire inside of our apartment, but you aren't in danger. Ok?" she was practically pleading with the girl to come to and sober up.

"Don't worry Buffy. I got you," Kenzi said and proceeded to pull her sword out of the back of her dress. Iz smacked herself hard. She needed to get Kenzi a weapon that could actually do some damage one of these days.

"Ok, good girl," she said and unlocked the door of their apartment.

Alice sat primly at the foot of her bed. There was a fogginess to her perpetually 16-year-old face that let Iz know she was coming out of a vision. Doubtlessly confused as to why she still couldn't spy on Iz's future. Iz was a shield, Avery had helped her to realize her power, and she had made sure to hide herself well from Alice's roaming eye. The silence was thick.

"Bella!" the little pixie said and danced to her. A hug or maybe a kiss was on the agenda, but she pulled up short. With a wrinkle to her delicate nose she said, "Oh my, you smell like a dog." It was a racist and ignorant statement, but she didn't have the energy to fight.

"Yeah, well you smell like a bitch," Kenzi said stepping into view.

The retaliation came within a second. The tiny dancers fist shot out, but Iz intercepted stopping Alice as if she were a toddler. She had given herself away. A small part, but now the girl knew. Her eyes widened questions running fast behind them, but she was storing them for later.

"Bella, we need your help. Edward is in danger."