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When I got home, I wrapped my arm with an Ace bandage, because I didn't want Charlie to get too curious about the hand-shaped bruise on it. My story was that I had cut myself on the edge of the Blacks' countertop. Considering my usual klutziness, I knew this was a plausible lie.

I didn't blame Jacob for his anger. I had expected it as soon as Edward popped into my head; Jake was so insecure about him. I was almost proud of him for not doing worse; he was able to control himself before he phased. These were the reasons I was not angry, and I didn't expect it to happen again.

All the same, I was a bit anxious as I drove down to La Push the next day. I didn't know if Jacob would say anything about what had occured, or if we were supposed to forget about it and move on. However, as soon as I walked in, he enveloped me in a gentle hug and harassed me with apologies.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. I should never have gone off like that. Just thinking about that stupid bloodsucker makes me angry, but that's no excuse." Eyes full of despair, he looked down at my clumsy bandage. Slowly and carefully, he unwrapped it, and I almost thought he was going to cry when he saw the angry purple and yellow bruise that lay underneath. Applying no pressure so as to not hurt me again, Jake matched up his fingers to the lines of the injury. His face was begging for forgiveness when his gaze met mine.

"It's ok, Jake. I know you never would have if you hadn't been upset."

We didn't say anything else, but he sat me in his lap and wrapped his arms around me, being very tender this time. I could feel his hot breath on my neck, and it was calming. I was actually starting to fall asleep when the front door swung open and three huge boys walked in.

Jacob groaned. "Don't you guys have homes of your own?" he asked irritably. Quil grinned, but Embry looked uncomfortable to have walked in on our intimate embrace. Paul barely even noticed us, plopping down on a kitchen chair that he dwarfed.

Embry was eyeing my hideous bruise. "Is that-" he began, but then cut himself off. Of course he knew. All of Jake's wolf brothers- and sister- would know, since they all knew each other's thoughts. Jacob scowled at him, and he instantly changed the subject.

The boys chatted easily about anything and everything, making for a very comfortable day. It was getting on into the afternoon before I noticed that Paul was being uncharacteristically quiet. Intrigued, I watched him, and it almost seemed like he was trying to watch me, too. I wrinkled my nose. He was probably trying to find out if I was angry about Jacob hurting me. But, obviously, I wasn't- I was here, wasn't I? But what else could possibly be so interesting about me?

Suddenly, Paul jumped up from his seat. I was surprised by the sudden intensity in his eyes; whatever he had been thinking about all day must be pretty serious. "What cruel destiny is this?" he cried. Quil snorted, thinking that he was trying to sound poetic. Paul turned on him. "You think it's just so cool, don't you? Well, I think it's pretty awful that we're all doomed to hurt the ones we love. First Sam, now Jacob…" Here Jake flinched, sending me a fleeting glance. "You could be next, Quil! It wouldn't take very much! Just one wrong comment, and you could have scarred Claire forever. How would you feel?" Embry was bracing himself, eyeing Paul's quivering hands. The phase was coming. Jake knew it, too; he placed himself in front of me. "I don't want this!" Just then, Paul exploded- but before the huge wolf could take the place of the boy, Jacob had jumped up and pushed him back. Hit mid-phase, Paul rammed into the wall, his human self falling to the ground with a loud clatter. Several plates fell off the counter in the commotion, but Quil flicked out his hand and caught them before they hit the floor. For some incomprehensible reason, he still had a grin plastered across his face.

"Calm, Paul," he laughed. I was frozen, speechless. How could Quil find this funny? Did he not realize how dangerous this whole thing was?

"Right," Paul answered, still seated on the kitchen floor. He was breathing hard, hugging his knees to his chest. "Calm." I turned my baack to him, feeling like an intruder watching him. Jake smiled apologetically, taking me in his arms.

"It never gets boring, does it?" he whispered into my hair. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

I looked up at him. Jake was so tall, it was unreal. Craning my neck to see his face, I replied, "It's no biggie. Just another wolf thing." I basked in his answering smile, pulling myself closer to him. The other boys were practically invisible now; Jacob and I were lost in each other's eyes. I can't say I would have minded if that moment had lasted forever, but then he leaned in to kiss me, and I quickly rethought my hypothesis. These were the best minutes, when our lips locked and moved together as one. His were so warm, it was like I was melting into him, and it was so wonderful…

I protested quietly when Jake tore his lips from mine, and I reached out, trying to pull him back to me. Gently, he placed his hand on my chest and pushed me back, like I was a little kid. Confused, I looked to see what the problem was.

Leah was standing in the doorway, frozen and staring at me with fiery hate in her eyes. She really was a pretty girl, but the way her revulsion for me distorted her face made it not so. My breath started to come through my mouth, and I saw her fists clench. It wasn't until then that I realized I was afraid; but then again, didn't I have reason to be? Surely Leah was every bit as strong as any one of the boys surrounding me, with the exception of Jacob. Her animosity obviously burned with more fuel than even I had imagined possible, and when she walked in to see me kissing Jacob, it seared even higher. For the second time today, Jacob stepped in front of me, reaching his big hands back hold mine.

Leah still didn't say anything, but she slowly sidestepped farther into the house. Jacob's growl was loud enough for me to hear behind him. "Don't touch her," he snarled. Leah pulled her teeth back, canine-style. Though I knew I probably shouldn't, I peered around Jake's huge mass to see what the others were doing. Quil and Embry were in protective stance, too, and I felt slightly touched that they would defend me.

To my surprise, this stand-off only lasted a few moments. Without warning, Leah darted out the open door. I could have sworn I heard a yelp.

As soon as she was gone, Jacob turned around and lifted me in his arms. Even though I knew that my weight was nothing to him, I still felt kind of uncomfortable being thrown around like a Raggedy Ann doll. Planting several kisses on my face, Jacob whispered, "Such is the risk of hanging with werewolves. Pretty creepy, huh?"

I laughed. "Not nearly so much as you would expect."

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That night, the star in my dream was different. Not a person, exactly, but more of guilt itself, incarnated into a thick white fog. I walked through the mist, unable to shake the blame from myself. The blame of what? I didn't know. But it was unbearable, overpowering. Impossibly, it was growing stronger, crippling me now. With one big wave, it washed over me intolerably. I fell to my knees, but managed to look up, searching for someone who would do this to me. The answer sent me choking for air.

Above me stood a glittering white figure, with auburn hair and black eyes. He reached down a statuesque hand to help me to my feet, but I refused it. I would not think of Edward again! I would not hurt Jacob! But it was irresistible; I had to look up again, just to see that he was real. To a huge consequence. A monstrous russet brown wolf came padding in, tackling the pale statue. As soon as the werewolf had the vampire down, he turned to me, growling. I backed away, my eyes wide with fear. He wouldn't hurt me, surely! But he was advancing toward me. A wild, ripping snarl sent me screaming, and I awoke, sweating in my bed.

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A boundary line away, Jacob was having the exact same dream, except for him, the white mist represented anger and hurt. Seeing the shimmering vampire standing above his love, he attacked, feeling betrayed and unwanted. With a wave of emotion, he turned on the girl, snarling and showing his teeth, snapping at her. But as soon as they closed around her leg, he startled awake, sweating and shaking. What a horrible dream! Guiltily, Jacob realized that it wasn't a dream; this is what he had done to her in reality. With a trembling horror, he knew that he would do it again if Edward were to interfere with them again. A terrible nightmare, yes, but he couldn't assure himself that it would not come true. It was just that that damn leech had gotten in the way so many times, if he did it again, there was no promising that Jacob wouldn't loose his control, even if it meant hurting Bella. Gasping for breath, Jacob shook the thought from his mind and closed his eyes again, trying to go back to sleep.

Okay, so I admit that last bit was a tad odd, but I felt like I should give you guys a bit of a warning. So, um, I didn't feel like this was one of my best chapters, but I think it was necessary. Tell me what you think! Review! I'll love you forever if you do!!

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