A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Bella appears!! I promised an appearance, and you get it. Though, it may leave you wanting. You'll just have to continue to read and review to get your Bella fix.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters. Stephanie Meyer, selfishly, owns it all.

We both turned our heads toward the woods. We heard another howl. Sam needed us. We quickly ran to the woods, where once deep enough, we she our shorts and phased.

What's wrong, Sam? Are there leeches in the area? I asked as Paul and I made our way toward Sam's direction.

A girl from Forks has gone missing. There is reason to believe that she is somewhere in the woods near her home.

No leeches? Then why are you calling us in? 'Cause we were cliff diving and today is great day for it. It's crappy enough weather that most people stay in doors. We've got the whole beach to ourselves and don't have to hold back.

I called you because we will be helping in the search, Paul.

But why? Can't the police do it? Don't they train dogs for this?

We are dogs, Paul.

You know what I mean, Jared.

Enough! We protect all human life, from any danger, that includes whatever is in the woods. And I'll add that, that could include bloodsuckers.

So, how exactly did we get this job?

Why must you make things so difficult, Paul? Billy Black asked me if we could help. We can smell and hear better than even the cop's canines. We're best for the job.

Why does Billy Black care about a girl from Forks? I voiced my curiosity. I was all for helping, but I didn't understand why Billy Black would go through the trouble of calling us in.

The girl missing is Bella Swan, the chief's daughter. You know Chief Swan is Billy and Harry's very close friend.

You're talking about the leech lover! Who the fuck cares? Let the bloodsuckers go in the woods and get her. Paul exclaimed.

It appears that they have left Forks. According to what Billy heard, the doctor resigned from the hospital this week. The girl left a note in her home saying she was taking a walk with the boyfriend in the woods behind her home. That is what seems to be hours ago and there is still no sign of her. We will be looking for her, and we will find her. You got that, Paul?

Okay, okay.

We're coming up on the house soon. Where do you want us?

Jared, you head east of her house, Paul I want you to cover the north area, and I'll head west. Paul and I separated heading to our assigned areas.

Okay, Boss.

Jared, I have asked you not to call me that.

I know, sorry. I just like it, I think it fits you. Plus, I kind of like that it bothers you.

Say it again and I'll go alpha on your butt.

Okay, Top Dog.

I could tell he was choosing to ignore me. I continued to run with my nose to the ground in my assigned area. Suddenly I came across an invisible wall of stink.

Oh God, it reeks here.

The bloodsuckers have the area around her home covered in their scent. Just ignore it.

I have a question, Sam.

Just ask and be done with it, Paul.

How the hell do you ignore it? It's clogging my nose up, and funking up my sinuses. I was wondering the same thing internally. I had smelt the scent of vampires plenty of times, but this was different. The air and ground seemed to be saturated with the sickly sweet stench. There was no escaping it.

Mind over matter, boys. I didn't think Paul's mind was strong enough to accomplish that goal.

Hey! I heard that. He snarled at me.

Whatever. I kept up my pace, but all I was picking up was the boyfriend bloodsucker's stink.

I smell a fresh scent made by the boy leech. A human girl's scent is mixed in with it. It must be Bella's. I think she's close. I took in the smell through the link. It was an incredible smell. It was a mix of strawberries and magnolias. She smells beautiful.

Really, Jared? 'She smells beautiful.' Can you not smell the bloodsucker that is practically covering up her scent beyond recognition? Plus, that comment is just weird in general. How can a scent be beautiful? I think you've finally lost it. While Paul rambled on, Sam was following the scent and it was becoming stronger. I was getting lost in her fragrance.

I've found her. I heard Sam think. I stopped running and looked through his eyes to survey the scene. There she was lying on the ground in a fetal position. She wasn't moving.

Is she alive? Please say yes. Please say yes.

Yes, I can hear a quiet heart beat. Sam quietly moved in closer for a better view. The bloodsucker scent is not that fresh. I think the light rain washed it away some. He's been gone at least a couple of hours.

He just left her out in the middle of the woods? He knows what monsters are out there. He is one! How could he just leave his girlfriend like that? I felt so much anger toward this bloodsucker, even more than usually.

She was probably just a play thing. You know, sleep with the human and then crush her by leaving.

Thank you for that wonderful insight, Paul. I was going to kill that bloodsucker if he really did that.

That's what I'm here for. Sometimes I wished he would take things more seriously. My thoughts were cut short, because in Sam's mind I could see that she was beginning to stir.

"He's gone. He left. No more. Alone. Gone." She muttered. She was slightly shaking now. I wanted to hold her in my arms and warm her up with my body heat. I could help her. I want to help her.

What's she going on about?

Gee, Paul, I don't know. 'He's gone.' I'd say she talking about the damn leech that left her there in the rain, lost and by herself in the dangerous woods. I want to rip that guy apart, treaty or no treaty.

Calm down, Jared.

I am calm, Sam. Now just tell us what should we do?

I'm going to phase back and carry her back to her house. I'm sure that everyone is getting more and more worried as the minutes pass.

What about us? I asked. Throughout the whole conversation, I never took my mind of Sam's thoughts of her, how she looked, how her heart beat. I wanted to see her for myself.

No, that won't be necessary. You and Paul start normal patrol. I'll take her. I concentrated on her for the last few seconds before Sam phased. Even, curled up in a ball, wet, and passed out, she was beautiful.

She looked gross, if you ask me.

Well, no one did, so shut the fuck up! I growled at him.

Damn, Jared, you got a crush on the leech lover?

What? No! I don't even know her. I was just making an observation.

Right. How could I ever like someone in love with a bloodsucker? You must be kidding me. Like that would ever happen.

I spent the rest of the night trying to not think about her, which only led me to think about her more. What's happening to me? Why did she leave such an impact on me? I need to just shrug it off.

Yeah, you do. I'm tired of hearing about her.

Well, I'm tired of thinking about her.

Then don't.

What do you think I've been trying to do for the past two hours, Paul?

Bore me to death.

You are so- Then I felt the shimmer. Sam?

Yes, Jared.

Is she okay? She's still alive, right?

Yes.

And? Why did he have to be such a thorn in my side? He knew I wanted more than that.

I'm not being a thorn in anybody's side. And the doctor on call thinks she's gone into shock, but that physically she is alright.

So, she will be okay though?

That's what they said, Jared. Why all the interest?

He's been thinking of her none stop for the past two hours, Sam. Who knew seeing someone for less than five minutes could give someone two hours worth of things to think about?

Jared?

I don't know, Sam. I just felt worried for her.

Do you think you imprinted?

No. It's not like what you feel for Emily. It's a lot less. I just felt like I needed to keep her safe. No love, I mean I think she's beautiful, but I don't feel in love with her or anything.

I felt a notion to protect her as well. Maybe it's our inner wolves telling us something.

Like what? That one day the leech lover will be a part of the pack? Paul said leaking with sarcasm.

Paul, I think you are on to something there.

Really? I mean, of course, I am the smart here. I chose to ignore Paul's last comment.

What do you mean, Sam?

Jared, I am thinking that maybe when more of our brothers phase, that one of them may imprint on her. Our inner wolf knows this and we need to protect her until her wolf can. I wish I could have imprinted on her. I want to be the one to protect her.

A few hours you vehemently denied having feelings for this girl and were repulsed by the idea, and now you want the bloodsucker's leftovers.

Don't talk about her like that! I snapped at him.

Are you sure you didn't imprint?

I told you, Sam. It's not nearly as strong as you with Emily.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see who does then, if anyone.

You really think we'll get more wolves?

Yes, Paul, I do. I expect Jacob Black will join us, even if no one else does. It is afterall his birthright more than any other.

The next few months went on without any more phases. I spent a lot of time thinking of Bella Swan and how she was doing. Every once in a while Sam would ask Billy how she was and let me know, to try and shut me up some. I just felt a nagging pull to care how she was doing. Then in December a new leech came into the area. The stupid redhead just wouldn't give up. I had to hand it to her, though; she was mighty good at escaping our advances. Later in January, Billy informed Sam, that Bella was spending a lot of time with Jacob. She was becoming a little more like her old self.

I felt a strong jealously of the kid. He got to spend time with an angel that I had yet to even see in person. Sam had ordered me to keep my distance from her. He knew from my thoughts that I was itching to meet her and didn't think it was a smart idea. Sam's now convinced that she'll be Jacob's imprint. Apparently Billy has the same idea. I hated that idea. It made me sick.

I woke up sweating from dreams that were filled with her face. I couldn't stop thinking of her, and the thought that she might belong to that kid, Jacob Black, infuriated me. Sometimes, I thought if Sam let me see her, that maybe my dreams would come true and that I would imprint on her. At first he considered it a possibility and almost gave into me because of all my thoughts were consumed by her, but after hearing of her great connection with Jacob, he threw the thought of me imprinting on her out the window. Everyone, including the Elders thought the born to be alpha would imprint on her. Billy said Jacob had been infatuated with her since they were small children. Only time would tell the truth.

Valentine's Day was around the corner and I wanted nothing more than to see her. I had to figure a way around that stupid injunction that Sam put on me. I wanted to see her face. I needed to.

A/N: Reviews are always treasured. They are like little drops of gold. So Bella makes a bigger appearance next chapter. Yay!! I know many will be excited to know that.

Also, I have a huge request. If you've read my story Another Twist in Fate and enjoyed it, I would be overjoyed if you went and voted for the story in The Sparkle Awards. The story is up for The Venom Award - Best Non-Canon Pairings award. You can vote as many times as you want below for all the categories.

http://thesparkleawards(dot)webs(dot)