Once again, thanks to all who have been reading this story. :-)

Chapter 4

The pack made it home just before the sun slipped behind the horizon they all agreed to meet up tomorrow to check out the outskirts of Forks for anything unusual Sam advised it was better they have the night off considering where they've been today.

'Jacob, I'd like a word with you before you go.' Sam added.

'Oh Jake's in big trouble!' Jared quipped.

'Come on man leave him alone let's get out of here,' Embry remarked, Jared just shrugged his shoulders and followed him, Paul and Quill back up the pathway leading away from Emily's house Seth and Leah had already gone back home.

'Sit,' Sam said he pulled up the chair at the small dining table beside his own Jacob remained stood by the doorway looking at Sam and folded his arms.

'So what's this about?' He asked.

'Well for starters is there anything you want to talk about, like how you're feeling and if something is bothering you,' Sam remarked.

'No.'

'What is the problem then?'

'Nothing. I just need to be alone. It is not a big deal Sam, I don't have to be around you all day.' Jacob replied.

'I know but you can't just run off and not tell anyone. What if something happens to you and none of us are near by to help you?' Sam asked Jacob sighed he ran his hands through his hair.

'I can take care of myself.'

'Yes we know you can Jake but running off and trying to hide from facing the real world doesn't help you.' Sam added.

'It doesn't concern you.' Jacob snapped he stormed out of the house mumbling under his breath Sam could only shake his head.

'All he does is nag and nag.' Jacob grumbled he stormed up the pathway angrily pushing aside low slinging branches.

'What does he know, nothing just because he has the rosy life style doesn't mean he can tell me how I should live my life,' he added breaking into a casual job.

When Jacob arrived back at his father's house a deep frown immediately crossed his face seeing the dark metallic silver Volvo parked in the driveway just in front of Charlie's police car.

'What do they want?' he grumbled they were the last people he ever wanted to see let alone in his dad's house. Before he walked inside he stopped just short of the window and peered around the corner to see inside they were seated together in the lounge Charlie appeared to be doing most of the talking Edward looked uncomfortable at being there and Bella kept staring at her hands, the floor any other object probably also feeling slightly uncomfortable. Jacob walked back around to the front door he wasn't going to be nasty but certainly nowhere near being polite they'd all already put him through enough torment and he wasn't about to allow them to do it all over again. Charlie paused talking and all heads turned towards the door when they heard it creak Jacob strolled in his facial expression didn't change he stopped short of walking in and instead hung by the entrance.

'Hey.' Bella said.

His gaze skipped over her and Edward and looked to his father.

'What's going on?' he asked.

'Jake, Charlie was just telling me he has gotten word of you being around Washington DC.' Billy said Jacob shrugged his shoulders.

'Yeah, its not a big deal. I've just been out and about, Sam found me anyway and now I'm back here.' He said.

'I've got something else to ask you too,' Charlie said he got off the couch shuffling some papers in his hands walking over he held out his hand Jacob burrowed his eye brows at the folder.

'Have a look first,' Charlie said. Jacob accepted the folder and flipping it open he held his breath the photos showed the outline of dark animal shapes through alleyways, past buildings and cars he knew instantly these weren't just any animals their outline shape looked like wolves. * Surely Charlie hasn't figured out about us. If he has, then he must know about the damn vampires too. * He thought.

'What do you think they are?' Charlie asked.

'Just some wild animals.' Jacob remarked out the corner of his eye he noticed Bella giving him a worried look.

'Yes that is exactly what I think too but those in Washington seem to disagree and they think people are involved with those animals.'

'It is why we are worried about you, Sam and the others because people out there have mentioned seeing you specifically,' Charlie added.

'They've seen me do what exactly?' Jacob asked.

'Some people are getting suspicious of you.'

Jacob shook his head he laughed.

'I've never been to DC,' he answered.

'You're sure.'

'Yeah. Wouldn't it be natural for a visitor to be curious about a new city?'

'I guess so.' Charlie replied Jacob closed the folder and handed it back and stepping past Charlie he headed towards his own room not so much as giving a glance back to his dad. He closed the door and for a minute stayed silent straining his ears to listen.

'Bells I don't know maybe it isn't such a good idea,' Charlie remarked.

'Why not? He probably feels better talking to me and Edward don't give that look,' she said. He heard footsteps nearing his door he quickly leapt onto his bed Bella knocked and pushed open the door he glanced her way and raised his eyebrows.

'Can I come in?' she asked he shrugged.

'If you want.' He replied. Bella stepped further into the room shutting the door behind her she shifted on her feet pushing her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

'So.' He said.

'Um-yeah-so.' She added.

'How are you?'

'Fine. You?'

'Fine.'

'Jake are you really ok?' she asked.

'No. How else do you expect me to feel, you're the one who made your choice and we both just have to live with it now.' He replied.

'I said I was sorry,' she said he made a face.

'Yeah like I haven't I'm sorry thousands of times before, look why don't we just stop pretending to be friends and you can go back to your simple little life with that blood sucker,' he answered.

'Jake that isn't fair.' Bella protested.

'Fair?' he demanded she backed up against the door he strode up and stood directly in front of her very close he rested one arm behind her head and leaned on the door.

'Funny you think I'm being unfair when all this time its' been you giving me the unfair treatment.' He snapped.

'I-I-'

'Bella?'

The door handle jigged Bella sighed inwardly Jacob took a few steps back he turned his back on her.

'Edward I'm fine just give me few more minutes,' she said she heard him move away from the door she looked back at Jacob he was stood at the opposite end of the room still with his back to her he stared at an array of photos containing shots of his family and friends.

'So.'

'Do you want to tell me anything?' she asked gently.

'Like what?' he asked.

'Is there-something in Washington for you?'

Jacob snorted he went to sit down on his bed.

'What I do in my time isn't your business and I've got nothing to say to you so maybe its best you leave,' he answered Bella opened her mouth about to protest he shook his head she slumped her shoulders a little disappointed.

'Ok. I—I'm sorry,' she mumbled she fiddled with the door knob for a few seconds then managed to get it open she hesitated for a moment glancing back to look Jacob kept his eyes on the floor ignoring her so she walked out.

Ashley could hear her mother bustling about in the kitchen as she began preparations for tonight's dinner and her dad had moved off to his study room to catch up on his paper work. She looked outside of her bedroom window at the darkened night sky she could only see a small sprinkling of stars blocked out by shadow-coloured clouds though it was unable to lock out the sight of the moon it shined ever so brightly among the dark sky.

'I'm sure mom and dad won't mind if I take a little walk.' She said she was old enough to take care of herself and she didn't need her parents to baby her anymore. She looked at the pieces of sheet paper on her desk each of them contained detailed sketched drawings she shoved the paper into the drawer she knew her parents wouldn't be pleased they thought she spent too much time drawing things she didn't need to and less focus on her studies. Ashley headed out of the room and bounded down the stairs nearly flying into the dining area her mother looked at her a disapproving glare.

'Honey what did you dad say earlier?' she asked.

'Sorry mum.'

'Just where are you going in such a hurry?' Mary asked she continued to chop carrots.

'Just out.' Ashley said her mother stopped chopping she lay the knife on the chopping board.

'You know your dad won't like this.' She remarked.

'I'm a big girl mom I shouldn't always have to get permission off you or dad to do something I want to do,'

'We just worry about you honey, there are a lot of dangers out there.' Mary explained.

'I know.'

'It is dark as well it doesn't look like such a good idea,' Mary added Ashley pouted at her mother.

'It is not that dark. The moon is out and I'm not going to be wondering like in the trees and stuff I promise.' She said.

'Please mom, please you said so yourself ages ago that if you wanted me to learn about all these danger things I had to experience it by myself,' she added.

'But—'

'Come on mom. I'm not a little child anymore and you need to stop treating me like one,' Ashley added Mary leaned on the kitchen bench counter studying her daughter's expression carefully.

'Are you sure about this?' she asked.

'Yes.'

'All right, fine you go ahead but don't be gone long.' Mary replied Ashley grinned she ran around and hugged her mother.

'Oh, thanks mom thanks so much!' she exclaimed Mary just smiled.

'You are welcome now go on and get out of here before you father finds out.' She said.

'I promise I won't be long,' Ashley answered she raced out of the kitchen through the sliding back glass door and tripped over her own feet on the back step of the deck. She only just managed to miss hitting her head on the step and tucked into a forward roll and came to a stop next to the clothesline.

' Phew, that was close.' She remarked. She stood up and dusted her clothes down, the backyard wasn't particularly small there was plenty of room to run around she was not interested in circling the yard though she walked confidently to the far end of the yard where it had been fenced off; she unlatched the gate and taking a look back at the house she walked out locking the gate behind her.

Ashley strolled casually through the thick trees and shrubs she could see pretty well even in the dark helped by the moonlight and her own senses. There was plenty of times she had walked this area without her parents knowing she did it and she knew ever inch of the ground and where the shrubs and trees stood so she easily avoided them. A sudden rustling noise from her left-hand side caused her to stop she stared straight ahead, not wanting to make a move. The noise came again only this time it sounded a bit closer.

'Who is out there?' she asked. It rustled again.

'Whoever it is don't hide!' She yelled.

'He—help me.' A voice quivered she looked up her eyes wide.

'Oh my god.' She mumbled. A shadow of a person half-slumped over started working towards her she stepped back terrified by this sight.

'Who-who are you?' she said.

'Help me.' The voice of the shadow said again trying to outstretch their arm she couldn't tell if this was a man or a woman.

'What-I-who-' She started to say but quickly jumped back as the shadow figure collapsed onto the ground. Ashley looked around her having no idea of what she should do, she didn't want to touch the person but she couldn't just leave them there and she wasn't sure just how badly injured they were or if whatever had come after them might still be in the area. * Oh man what am I supposed to do? * She thought.

'Well, well look at this boys!' a loud booming voice echoed Ashley whipped around she looked left-to-right then right-to-left and in front and behind.

'Who is out there?' she cried.

'Wouldn't you like to know?' The same voice said she spun around again when she heard a crunching sound, a strange smell tickled her nose now unsure what it smelt like she slowly took a few steps backwards.

'Aw now don't tell me you are afraid? We have been looking for you for a long time as I'm sure you are aware,'

'I don't know who you are or what it is you want.' Ashley answered.

'If I were you little one I wouldn't try and run away because some how I get the feeling you won't escape us this time.' The voice added she picked up the laughter in his voice she kept moving.

'You talk as though I am suppose to know who you are, but I think you are mistaken.' She remarked.

'My you have much to learn,'

Ashley continued to move she looked for somewhere to escape she spotted a gap in the trees and faintly in the distance she saw the lights of the streets. * I'll have to take my chances *

'Don't you even think about it!' the voice warned.

'You can't tell me what to do.' She said. She still couldn't see who was talking to her though she felt uneasy and the smell was atrocious. * This is my chance now! *

She turned around and dashed for the gap her feet carrying her quickly across the ground.

'Get her!' the booming voice screamed Ashley didn't dare to look back she just continued to run effortlessly but the weird smell gained on her second by second. She put her head down and ran faster everything blew by in wraps of dark colours faster and faster more blurred with each passing second. She didn't know what happened next she only felt the desire to keep on running her feet stretching out gaining more ground almost gliding over the tangle of grass, tree roots and loose dirt. She heard a snarl from somewhere behind her this time the smell came on a lot stronger she took a whiff of it and it made her blood boil. * I shouldn't have let them get so close! What if they know where my parents are? * She thought her worry was quickly replaced with anger.

'You can't run away from us!'

'Just try and catch me!'