Author's note here. I'll do my best to utilize most characters in the Twilight-verse, in roles obviously different from the series and more than likely non-canon in terms of characterization. For example, my version of Jasper is a bit...openminded and hedonistic, so take that for whatever it may be worth. Also, I have an original character in here that acts as Jake's rival, named Carson. I made him because I couldn't really find anyone in the story that could fit as such, and besides, I like making original characters. Anyway, please enjoy!

"Ugh...what the hell?" Jasper jolted from his slumber with a groan, some stunning bit of news considering he hadn't slept in nearly two centuries. Everything in front of him was a blurred haze and blinking didn't seem to help.

"You're up," a voice announced to his right. Jasper propped himself up on his elbows and saw Paul sitting on a chair across from him. Wait a minute...I'm on a bed?

"What happened?"

"You were trying to help me sleep, but then you blacked out in the hall outside. I dragged you back in here." Paul looked down at his hands and started fiddling with his fingernails. "I didn't even know vampires could pass out."

Jasper rubbed his eyes, again, a very unfamiliar action that did not help because he was more than likely doing it wrong. "What time is it?"

"Almost three in the morning."

With a heavy sigh, Jasper dragged a hand through his hair and swung his legs off the edge of the mattress. "Are my brothers back yet?"

"No, Sam's getting worried."

"Why am I in your bed?" Jasper asked, his words purposely lifting an octave. Paul's reaction was to say the least, a surprise. No snappy remark or overt disgust, he just bit his lower lip and looked out the window.

"I didn't know if you were dead or not. You don't exactly have a pulse or heartbeat. If I told Sam, he might've just tossed you back in the woods."

"That's never happened to me before but I appreciate the sentiment." In a move that surprised Jasper enough to stand, Paul left the room, only to return with a something furry in his hands.

"I uh, managed to find something, since you said you were hungry." Paul held out a rabbit that was covered in dirt but by all other accounts, looked fresh. Not the most delectable item in the world or even these woods, but it was more than Jasper could have gotten on his own and for that, he was grateful. Paul, seemingly frustrated with holding the carcass, began to wave it in front of Jasper's face.

"Well, take it. I may be part dog but even I don't like raw meat." Jasper didn't bother hiding a smile as he took the long departed rodent from Paul's hand. It was still warm, a very good sign.

"How'd you get it?" Jasper asked holding it up for study. Poor Thumper. For a small moment, Jasper wondered if Bambi and Flower shared the same fate.

"We set up traps and snares in the forest. Found him before anyone could take it." Well, if that wasn't reason enough for him to dig in… Jasper sank his incisors into its tiny neck and almost moaned in delight when the copper flavored liquid gushed into his mouth. Screw ambrosia and nectar of the gods, nothing could beat the first taste of blood when vampiric dehydration reared its nasty little head. Once he was sure the rabbit had been fully drained, Jasper unlatched his teeth from the flesh and let out a content sigh. It didn't take long for him to realize that Paul was staring at him, his expression fluctuating unevenly between morbid fascination and sheer nausea. Either way, it took Jasper from his high and he set the rabbit down, then wiped the residue on his jeans with a thin cough of humiliation.

"Thanks again. It's been a while since I've been pampered," Jasper said with his hand extended. Paul reached for it with visible reluctance, only for Jasper to continue his mischievous teasing. "By another man at least."

Just like that, Paul jerked his hand back and walked across the other end of the room.

"Are you gay?" he asked in a humorously straitlaced tone.

"Considering you saw images of my wife a few hours ago, I'm sure you can figure out the answer to that. But if I were, would it bother you?" Jasper was just toying with him now. Was it cruel and slightly manipulative? Yes, but this kind of goading was a very pleasing form of entertainment.

"No. But I want you to know that I'm not."

"I never said that you were."

Paul huffed, crossed his arms, then looked out the window yet again. "Whatever."

"I take it you didn't get any sleep," Jasper asked. Relief washed through Paul's body at the change of subject.

"No."

"My offer still stands." Paul looked back at him.

"After what happened earlier and what I saw, I'll take a pass."

Respecting his decision, Jasper put his hands behind him and backed away. "Again, I'm sorry about that. I just—I have a lot of issues."

"We all do, it's cool man." Their awkward little hallmark moment didn't last too long, because Paul's head suddenly perked up in an amusingly canine manner. Jasper was almost going to ask what was wrong, until he heard the heavy footsteps and shouting just beyond the window. Paul didn't say anything, he just bolted from the room.

"Something always has to ruin the fun," Jasper muttered to himself before quickly heading outside. A rather large kerfuffle had broken out on the main street, consisting mainly of armed male shifters. Not to his surprise, Edward was in the thick of it and to make things even better, there were two humans huddled behind him like sick little children.

Sam was standing across from Edward with a rifle in hand.

"Where is Jake?" Sam asked with his finger inching dangerously close to the trigger.

"Taking out the rest of the people at the hospital. They're cannibals." Edward, always the chivalrous knight in glittering armor, said it in his almost holier than thou way.

"And who are they?" Sam said, turning to the teenage humans.

"They were being kept prisoner in the hospital."

Much to everyone surprise, the woman moved in front of Edward, her hands raised up high. "We have information to trade, if you guys allow us to join you."

This should be good. The gasps and audible murmurs from the crowd were practically vocalizing Sam's emotions, which Jasper could already tell was filled with doubt and suspicion. Jasper chuckled to himself, knowing that those words were too stilted and choppy to have been her own. At least Edward thought ahead of time.

"Information?" Sam asked.

"This is the only medicine there," the woman tossed two paper bags to Sam, before continuing Edward's little speech, "but I know a place that has a lot more. A place with food, water, weapons, gas, you name it."

Jasper stopped paying attention when his eyes caught sight of something in the distance. He pushed through two wolves until he was standing beside Sam and glaring at his brother.

"Where is Emmett?"

"With Jake," Edward answered, still unaware of what was coming behind him.

"Apparently," Jasper replied. Emmett was carrying Jake, princess style no less, and jogging towards them at a frantic speed. They were both drenched and more than a little bloodied.

"What happened?" Sam asked as they arrived.

"This idiot thought jumping off a cliff would be a good idea," Jake said with a frustrated growl while looking up at his savior.

Emmett just rolled his eyes. "Stop being such a baby, you're alive aren't you?"

"Can you walk?" Sam asked as he examined Jake's leg.

"Do you think I'd let this moron carry me if I could?"

"Hey, this wasn't exactly a cakewalk for me either fruitcake, when's the last time you bathed?" Emmett retorted with a snort.

"About the same time you grew a brain cell."

"All right, that is enough." Sam ordered, before looking at Emmett. "Now what did you mean by thirty vampires?"

Emmett set Jacob down before tucking his hands in his jeans. "Relax, we threw them off."

"Temporarily," Jake mumbled angrily. "We need to keep moving Sam."

"How exactly do you propose we do that with Seth still unconscious?" Sam said. The ever increasing grumbles from the crowd were making Sam's temper flare, much to Jasper's delight. Who would've thought watching shifters fumble through their emotions would be so damn amusing?

"You know what," Sam started with his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "I can't concentrate with everyone huddled around me. I only want Jake, me, and the vampires here. Now everyone do what you were doing earlier!"

The shifters all obeyed without much disagreement and dispersed swiftly. To be frank, Jasper didn't want to stay either, the inevitable shouting match that would ensue might push him over the edge of sanity. He noticed Paul returning to his house and decided to tag along, even against Edward's suspicious glare. The wolf wasn't too smart, considering he left the front door unlocked. Jasper walked inside and back to the bedroom where Paul was sitting on the bed.

"Still tired?" Paul jumped up in surprise, only to look back towards the ceiling with a sigh.

"What are you doing here?"

Jasper pressed his back against the wall and leaned against it. "Unfortunately that whole rule of vampires can't come in uninvited isn't true."

"Look, I need to try and get some sleep—"

"What happened earlier was believe me, a momentary lapse in both judgment and execution. I swear to you that I can get you sleeping." Jasper felt slightly ashamed that his explanation was also a way of convincing himself that he didn't completely fuck up their last "session".

"It's fine—" Paul tried to say but Jasper just rushed forward and shoved the wolf down so that he was lying flat on the bed.

"What the hell man!"

Jasper ignored him as he paced to the other end of the room. "Now there are many things that can get someone sleepy. Drinking milk, taking a bath, listening to New Age music. Since most of those things aren't exactly feasible in the world today, I think we should use one foolproof method of getting you to sleep."

Jasper gave a smile that sent Paul's heart into jackhammer mode. Well, he'd done this plenty of times, but never on a man. With Alice, and a few women he met before her, sure. But back then, he hadn't honed his empathic abilities to the fine point they've turned into today. With a snap of his finger, Jasper projected a tidal wave of arousal into Paul, powerful enough that he suddenly clutched the sheets beneath him and a bed shaking groan left his lips.

"Just let it flow through you," Jasper said watching in fascination as Paul writhed all over the bed.

Jasper took a seat on the lone chair and crossed his legs. "Can't believe I didn't think of this earlier. Would have saved us both the trouble, not to mention give you a bit of relief."

"What the fuck are you d-doing to me?"

"What do you think? It's an orgasm for Christ's sake, just shut up and enjoy it." Jasper sent another flood of lust into Paul until the only sounds hitting the air were incoherent gasps. He kept hammering Paul with a relentless series of urges and desires. Vague yet specific enough that Jasper could control how and when Paul would lose it. It didn't take long for Paul to reach climax and once he did, his back arched and he bit back a piercing cry as the muscles in his body tensed.

Now for the coup de grâce. Jasper slowly trickled out the calmest of scenes into Paul's thoughts, a particular one being a New Mexico sunrise he recalled from his youth. It was one of the few memories he still had of his human life. Paul's glazed eyes eventually closed, and soon he was snoring like a baby. Jasper stood up in satisfaction, only to stop when Paul's stained sweatpants gave new meaning to the word tented.

He shouldn't have done it. He should have just let Paul rest, then leave. But Jasper went ahead anyway and removed Paul's shoes. He lifted a stray foot off the bed and even tucked Paul under the covers.

"Fuck you're big," Jasper said quietly as he tilted his head to get a better look at Paul's ample appendage. Big was putting it mildly. It looked like a goddamn flashlight was jutting from his crotch. Unfortunately, with his focus lingering far too long on Paul's nether regions, Jasper didn't even notice the dumbfound figure standing at the doorway. It was the wolf he met earlier, Quil. Shit.

Jasper opened his mouth to say something but Quil darted from the room like a roadrunner.

"Fuck," Jasper grunted as he followed the shifter outside.

"Double fuck." Quil was standing in the street, flailing his hands in a conversation with Jake, who was looking none too pleased. Everything happened in such a flash that Jasper didn't even realize Jake sprinting for him, even with the limp in his leg. The ensuing blow nearly tore his head off.

xxx

Rest. Edward couldn't even get one brief minute of peace because the moment he left Riley's house, Jake was on top of Jasper, pummeling the un-living daylights out of him.

"What the hell is going on now?" Sam asked in exasperation as he slipped by Edward.

"That leech was having sex with Paul," another wolf shouted. Sam yanked Jake off with surprising ease, while Jasper quickly jumped to his feet and dusted himself off in his typically reserved demeanor.

"Damn it Jazz," Edward muttered under his breath as he ran towards them.

Sam still had his arms around a clearly belligerent Jake, struggling to keep him under control. Once Jake started thrashing about, Sam's grip was obviously weakening.

"Hold him Quil, that's an order." Sam shoved Jake into Quil's hands, then turned to Jasper.

"What is he talking about?"

"That idiot," Jasper said pointing at Quil, "walked in on me and Paul, completely misinterpreting everything."

"Misinterpret?" Quil countered, "He had a fucking boner and you had your hands all over him."

"He asked me to help him sleep, I did it. Did I use an unorthodox method to help him get there? Yes, but I did not have sex with him," Jasper said with a childlike huff.

"Liar, I can smell him on you," Jake snapped.

Jasper looked at his hands with just a very slight hint of embarrassment. "Again, that has a very awkward but valid explanation behind it. Why are you so concerned about this anyway?"

Jake said nothing, but that wasn't what worried Edward. It was the realization that suddenly spread across Jasper's features. His brother let out a malevolent smile that made Edward's hair stand on end. "Oh Christ, you're jealous aren't you?"

"Jazz..." Edward warned, praying that Jasper would be smart enough not to play this game. Then again, this was a guy with not much to lose.

Jasper's grin grew even wider. "I knew it, you're jealous of me."

Jacob tried to break free from Quil's grip but failed. "If you guys let him stay, I will murder him!"

Jasper shook his head dismissively. "I'd like to see you try."

Jacob elbowed Quil in the ribs and tried to tackle Jasper but he easily avoided it. Sam took control yet again, this time pinning Jake's hands behind his back.

"Relax, guys aren't usually of interest to me," Jasper quipped before looking back at Paul's house. "Although there have always been exceptions."

"You piece of shit—" Jake tried to say until Sam clamped his free hand over Jake's mouth.

Then Sam gave Edward a glare that could melt steel. "Keep him the fuck in line or we will have a fight that neither of us want."

"Goddamn it Jazz, that's enough!" Edward bellowed as authoritatively as he could. Jasper looked at him, his expression filled with disbelief.

He shot me with an arrow, after I saved his friends. He punches me based on one moron's speculation. Only fitting that I get a little payback, Jasper replied in thought. Edward latched a hand on Jasper's shoulder and squeezed with enough force that he got the message.

They were stuck in a staring contest for God only knows how long, before Jasper finally gave a curt nod of submission. Jasper crossed his arms and walked down the street with heavy steps that could crater themselves into the concrete. Sam gradually eased his restraint on Jake until the younger wolf pushed him away. For a second, Edward thought he was going to chase after Jasper, but Jake just focused his enraged glower on Sam.

"He's a vampire we just met and you're letting him stay with Paul?"

"I'm not letting him do anything. Paul isn't a child, he can make his own decisions."

Jake pointed to the house Paul was staying in. "He's still hurting, he's looking for anyone to help take away the pain. I'll be damned if that asshole is the one to do it."

Edward stepped in, hoping to defuse the tension. "My brother may be…a jerk at times, but he's not a bad guy."

Jake didn't look one bit convinced. "Sure, let's just take your word for it then."

"Listen, he lost his wife. His mind isn't in the right—"

"Hey, news flash leech. You guys aren't the only people who lost someone during this. Every single shifter you met so far had a friend or partner or family member killed."

"If Paul asked him for help and they did whatever they did without harming one another, how exactly does any of that impact you?" Edward asked calmly.

He could see Jake teetering on the brink of another emotional eruption."Why don't you mind your own business?"

"I see your thoughts. If Paul isn't your boyfriend or lover, and whatever he and Jasper did was consensual, how should any of it involve you?" Jake made a fist, it looked serious enough that Edward readied himself to dodge. Sam thankfully stepped between them.

"Jake, if you don't calm the fuck down, I will have every able bodied man here to restrain you if necessary."

Jake sneered at everyone before turning around. "Whatever. I'm outta here."

Once he was far enough, from earshot at least, Sam turned to Quil. "Follow him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Quil obeyed the order immediately.

"Goddamn it," Sam said as he rubbed his temple.

"I'm sorry, about Jasper. He's a little out of it," Edward said with a regretful sigh of his own.

Sam didn't respond. At least not about that. "I need to know now if you are going to stay with us."

Edward raised his brow. "You'd be willing to let us?"

"After that stunt your brother just played, I'm reconsidering. Then again, I know Jake's temper can get a bit over the top."

"Yeah, a bit."

Sam looked up, almost as if he were pleading to the heavens.

"He told me that you're all headed south?" Sam asked, eyes still staring at the dark dull sky.

"We're headed to South America, but if you need the extra help, I'm sure we can accompany you guys until you reach the militia's base."

Sam scratched the back of his neck and nodded. "Like I said before, keep your brother under control and we won't have a problem. I'm checking back on Seth, you can come if you want."

They made their way to Riley's house, or as Emmett lovingly called it, Riley's Veterinary Center.

"Is he going to be all right?" Edward asked as Sam opened the front door for him.

"Jake? Yeah, the kid will cool off. That outburst has been building up for weeks now, it was bound to come out at any time."

Once they stepped inside, the mood got a lot more jovial. He could actually hear laughter echoing down the hall. Angela and Eric, the two humans he had found at the hospital were being treated by Riley at the far end of the living room. Two other people were talking with them, humans that Edward hadn't yet met, a blonde guy with a ponytail, and a redheaded woman. Seth was still asleep on the sofa with new sets of bandages wrapped around his thin torso, while Embry was sitting nearby scribbling in a journal. Emmett was standing up and watching the teens with enough paternal attentiveness that Edward couldn't help but feel impressed.

Sam immediately knelt at Seth's side, mumbling hushed words of comfort.

"What's with all the yelling?" Emmett asked, his eyes still on Seth. Edward walked beside him.

"Jasper saw a fire and decided to pour gasoline all over it."

Emmett started to laugh but he held back. "Anyone put it out yet?"

Edward smiled. "Jazz is getting more firewood as we speak."

"And Jake?" Of course Emmett would veer this conversation down a more uncomfortable road.

"What about him?"

"Where is he?"

"He started the fire—" Edward shook his head, "I mean, he started the fight. I don't know where he went." Edward paused when he read Emmett's thoughts, all of which were focusing on Jake's "coming out" during the journey to the hospital.

"What?" Edward asked in agitation.

"The dude was checking you out like you were the finest piece of ass this side of the Mississippi."

Edward ignored the crude analogy. "I don't want to talk about this."

"Come on, what was he thinking?" Emmett insisted.

"Em, for God's sake."

"It's just funny whenever you get your pretty little feathers ruffled, so he must have been thinking pretty dirty stuff right?"

A sound rescued him from Emmett's immature pestering, a groan that came from Seth. The teen's eyes were half-lidded but open, staring at Sam.

"Seth?"

"Where am I?" he asked weakly.

"You're on a sofa right now, at Riley's." Sam, Embry, and even Emmett leaned forward, waiting for a more conscious and alert response, but Seth quickly fell asleep again.

"Did Riley treat him?" Edward asked Emmett, whose mode changed considerably.

"Yeah. The wolf chick sister said he should be fine in a day or so."

"You mean Leah?"

"Yeah. I told her to sleep, that we'd watch over him."

"Are you okay?"

Emmett nodded silently.

"You can talk to me if—"

"I'm fine Eddie." Christ did he hate that nickname.

Edward threw his hands up in defeat and started walking away. "I'll talk to you later. Bring up Jake again and I'll keep badgering you about your feelings."

Emmett waved him off with a muted chuckle. Edward decided to check up on Angela and Eric, both of whom looked considerably better since he brought them here. They were nibbling on energy bars, laughing happily with Riley and the two strangers Edward noticed earlier. Angela was on the dining room/operating table, getting her the wounds on her shoulder treated while Eric was waiting on a chair next to her.

"How are you two?" Edward asked while leaning on a nearby cabinet.

"Fine, thank you again," Angela said while trying to sit up, but Riley pushed her back down on the table and continued to bandage her cuts.

"For everything. We know you risked a lot to help us," Eric added.

"You must be the vampire everyone's been talking about." An unfamiliar man spoke, and greeted Edward with a bright smile. He was tanned and brawny, a fairly rare sight in the sun-deprived Pacific northwest, with his blonde hair tied into a fairly neat ponytail.

"I'm James, Jamie for short and this here is Victoria," he said tilting his head to the redheaded woman sitting across from him.

"Edward," he responded.

James leaned forward, eyes bristling with interest. "Were they really cannibals?"

Edward groaned. This was not something he wanted to bring up in casual conversation.

"Yes," he answered simply.

"I'm just glad there are more humans here. Treating giant canine anatomy is still a little freaky for my tastes," Riley remarked.

"How did you guys end up with a werewolf pack?" Edward asked as he took a seat on an empty chair.

"We were holed up in a small office building near Olympia," Victoria explained, "we're originally from Vancouver though."

"Just you two?" Edward asked.

"There were more of us that escaped from UBC, but Jamie and I were the only ones willing to go with the wolves."

"They didn't want any of us at first, but I told them that I was studying mechanical engineering and that I could help them out with making weapons," James clarified.

Victoria stood up and sat on James' lap, leaning into a half embrace. "Good thing he was my boyfriend, sociology courses don't really help much in a post-apocalyptic world."

"You weren't with them?" Edward asked Riley.

"Nope, Jake and Paul found me in Tacoma, hiding in my bedroom from a vampire that said I smelled like cotton candy," Riley said with a shudder, as he switched over to tend with Eric's wounds.

"Cotton candy?" James asked, as if he were hearing this for the first time.

"I was out of shampoo and they only had kid's shampoo at the local mart I went to. He kept calling me Sweet Cheeks in this really creepy voice too." James and Victoria immediately broke out in laughter, it was infectious enough that even Eric and Angela joined in.

Edward just smiled and asked Riley, "Do you have what you need?"

"I guess, but who knows how long this'll last. I personally think that your idea of going to that stronghold is our best bet. They're more than definitely stockpiling stuff there."

"Not that Sam would listen to any of us," Victoria said. Her words almost drifted past him. For a moment, Edward actually thought the room started to spin. The lack of blood this past week was starting to wreak vengeance on his body.

"You okay buddy?" James asked.

"Yeah, just a little thirsty." Everyone nearby flinched at his admission.

"Relax," Edward assured them, "I haven't had human blood in over seven decades."

"You're that old?" Angela asked curiously.

Edward nodded. "I'm a baby compared to others though."

"Baby indeed," Victoria added with a lascivious wink.

James looked insulted. "Uh, I'm right here."

Victoria tittered. "What, it's not everyday that three hot guys just waltz into town."

James almost looked like he would drop her. "What am I? The creature from the black lagoon?"

"Yeah," Victoria answered while hugging him, "but you're my hideous creature."

Once his hunger and thirst were full blown pangs, Edward decided it best not to hang around injured humans. "I'm gonna take a walk, I'll see you guys later."

Heading back outside helped ease the thirst somewhat. Jasper was nowhere in sight, and only a few shifters were walking about on patrol. What caught Edward's eye was Jake, sitting on the front porch of a house at the far end of the street. He sat on the railing, legs swinging lackadaisically like a bored child's. Edward argued with himself on whether to approach or just walk around the neighborhood aimlessly. He ultimately chose the former.

"What do you want?" Jake asked as Edward climbed the steps.

"Mind if I sit?" Jake just shrugged his shoulders. Edward took a seat on the sturdy wooden railing, and stared off into the distance.

"Is Jasper gay?" Jake suddenly asked. Well, that caught Edward off guard.

"He has a wife," Edward answered.

"There have been plenty of gay guys who get married."

"No, he's not."

"Bi then?"

"I don't know."

"So he just said all that to piss me off?"

Edward waited a second or so before speaking. "Probably. He's still a bit angry about the arrow in the leg deal."

"Look, everything's just been building up inside me and when Quil told me what he saw, I lost it."

"Is Paul really that special to you?"

"He's the only family I have left. I mean, in terms of being my would be brother-in-law."

"Would be?"

"He was supposed to marry my sister." The word sister brought up a slew of images and thoughts in Jake's head. Most were spiteful and full of pain, so Edward didn't venture any further.

"I always had a crush on him," Jake said with a wistful smile, "even when he imprinted her. For a while, I hated her. I kept telling myself that she took him away from me, even though he was never mine to begin with."

Jake started to laugh. "What kind of fucked up logic was that?"

"Human," Edward said.

"When she died, it's like a part of him went with her. Whenever he smiles or jokes, I can tell he forces it. A year ago, I would have done anything to get them to break up. Now I just wish she were here so he doesn't have to keep hurting anymore."

"I'm not trying to defend whatever he might have done with Paul, but Jasper isn't well either. His wife, yes she's still alive. But he knows that he'll never see her again, and for a relationship that lasted seventy years, that pain is impossible to deal with." Edward knew his defense was a feeble one, hell, it may well have been a lie. Jasper was probably making everyone else feel miserable just because he was. Still, Jake's confession deserved a decent answer or at least an explanation.

"Sometimes I don't know who he is anymore, and if he thinks I'm looking in his head, he bombards me with the worst possible images to keep me out." Edward could still see the sick images of war and death that Jasper used as a mental barrier.

Jake turned to him with a frail smile. "Thanksgiving and Christmas must be fun with your family."

Edward smiled in return. "You don't know the half of it."

Jake closed his eyes, covered his face with his hands and inhaled. "Everything is just so fucked up now."

If there were ever a motto for anyone left alive today, that would be it.

Silence descended on them rather quickly, with neither he or Jake willing to strike up a new conversation. They didn't have much reason to anyway, because soon Sam was jogging towards them.

"Jake, we're having a meeting on what to do next. Get to my place."

Sam turned to Edward next. "You too."

"Me?"

"Someone needs to represent you and your brothers." Being a part of a meeting between shapeshifters, this would definitely not end well. Still, Edward said nothing as he followed the two wolves back to Sam's house.

Once they were in Sam's living room, Edward finally saw how large this pack really was, if these were just the representatives of each family. There were about a dozen people gathered inside, most of them either middle-aged or older. There were two women, one of whom he recognized as Embry's mother Tiffany. The rest were unknown entities.

"What's going on here Sam? We're a bit busy right now," an elder man asked.

"The girl we met outside, Angela, told us that those militiamen are using Portland as their main headquarters. I think it would be a good idea to look down there. Our supplies are low and we all knew this neighborhood was a temporary hideout anyway."

"How do you even know if she's telling the truth?" a different voice asked.

"She is, I could see her thoughts," Edward said almost unconsciously. Once all the shifters centered their attention to him, Edward knew it was a costly mistake.

"Who is that?" The guy who asked that question was enormous, standing at least a few inches above Edward's six foot frame. His biceps and arms were covered in tattoos, not to mention as thick as tree trunks. The hate and contempt on his face only added to the menacing aura. Edward didn't want to imagine what kind of wolf he could turn into.

"Everyone, this is Edward. He'll be accompanying us for a bit," Sam said matter-of-factly.

The giant man stood up from his seat and pointed threateningly at Edward. "You're letting these vampires stay with us?"

"Without these vampires, Seth and Embry might have been killed," Jake countered in a low voice that sounded almost like a growl.

Another pack member stood up. "From what I heard, they attacked those two in the first place."

"Enough everyone," Sam declared.

"Not enough! Did you already forget why we are even shifters in the first place? Because his kind roamed around the Earth murdering innocent people," the giant man yelled, getting more than a few approving comments from the rest of the pack.

"I haven't killed an innocent in my life," Edward responded.

The giant man just sneered at him. "And we should believe you why?"

Edward almost yelped when Jake tugged him back by the hem of his shirt. Jake moved past him and confronted the giant without any visible trepidation in his body. They stood just a foot apart from one another, their bodies frozen in confrontational stances.

The giant man looked at Edward, then back at Jake again. "Why don't we put it to a vote then, since this whole system was your idea Black."

"If he wants to stay, he stays. I am more than willing to maim you to make my point Carson."

"I would break your spine before you even lay a scratch on me."

"Carson," Sam warned, "that's enough."

Their face-off ended when Jake strode to the center of the room and faced the rest of the shifters. "What other choice do you guys have? You all see a dangerous vampire, I see a guy who's willing to help us survive just a bit longer. Which do you think is better for us, for your children?"

Edward now felt like a prisoner, and Jake was his lawyer trying to persuade the jury. As flattering as Jake's intentions were, the final result was not a pleasant feeling.

"You wanna know what I think?" Carson suddenly asked with a grin. "I think you're just hard for him."

Jake was about to throw a punch until Sam commanded him to stop, just before it connected. Carson didn't quiver, not even when Jake's knuckles were about an inch from his face. In fact, he had a complacent smirk that was making even Edward angry.

"Maybe I should go—" Edward tried to say but Sam silenced him.

"You've proven your worth, you and your brothers. That should be enough for everyone standing this room. If it isn't, then they'll have to deal with me." If Jake's excessive defense didn't make everyone's jaw drop, Sam's did.

Carson scoffed as he took back his seat on the large leather sofa. "You've gone off the deep end Sam."

"So did the rest of the goddamn planet," Sam snapped back. "If working with vampires ensures the survival of our people, then I don't see where anyone can disagree. Now can we get back to our previous discussion?"

"You mean the suicide mission?" Carson asked bitterly.

Yet another member stood up. "Carson has a point Sam. You're asking us to take fifty people, half of whom are women and children, to face off against an army?"

"That's where my brothers and I come in handy then," Edward interjected. "You won't have to risk much, we can do the work for you."

Jasper and Emmett would not be happy when they'd hear this, but that was a problem at another time. For some reason, procrastination felt good right now.

"What about Seth? We can't move him right now," Embry's mother said.

"We're going to wait here until everyone is well enough to travel," Sam answered.

"I asked you all to come here not because I want you to fight, but because I don't want anyone to feel like their voice wasn't heard. But now you know the plan. A plan that involves minimal risk, and countless rewards. Rewards that we need Edward's help to get. Since every respective leader is here to represent their family, we're going to handle this with a simple vote.

"For those in favor of heading to Oregon, raise their hands." About three quarters of the room put their hands in the air, Carson and his group of friends unsurprisingly abstained.

"It's decided then. Everyone, dismissed." Carson and friends were the first to leave, followed shortly by everyone else until it was just Sam, Jake, and Edward left in the room. Sam mentioned something about his wife Emily, before asking them to leave. Once they were back outside, Edward watched as Jake started walking away.

"Jake, wait." Edward called out, expecting him to stop or at least acknowledge his request. He didn't. So Edward charged ahead and cut ahead of him.

"Why did you defend me?"

Jake averted his eyes and kept them trained on the floor, a trait that Edward was growing increasingly tired of. When Jake attempted to depart again, Edward latched his hand around Jake's wrist in an attempt to stop him. Instead, they both shuddered from the contact of skin. Hot and cold, it was a brutal contrast. Jake yanked his hand away, but didn't move. His brown eyes were boring into Edward's, filled with so many conflicting emotions that Edward was at a loss on how to help. The answer was, not much.

Jake didn't say a word when he spun around and ran back to his house. He said nothing as he slammed the door, leaving Edward standing in the middle of the street. Edward looked back at his hand, still feeling the warmth tingling through his fingertips.