DISCLAIMER: I own nothing...the Twilight Saga belongs to Stephanie Meyer.


The next week I followed her like the lost puppy I was. Sam forced me to go to school each day. That didn't keep me from following Bella from her home to her school, then I would run back to La Push, go to school and then as soon as the last bell rung, I phased and ran back to Forks to watch over Bella the remainder of the day. The only times I left her side was to go to school, and then when she slept, I went on patrol and then headed home for a few hours of sleep. I was amazed how my body adjusted to such little sleep. Bella certainly didn't know she had a giant wolf following her every move, but I was there. I would always be there, to protect her and to keep her safe. A couple of days I was forced to watch her hang out with Jacob Black in his garage or on the beach. I tried not to be jealous; after all she was my soul mate. He was just a kid with a crush. I had nothing to be jealous of. Well, except I was lurking in the shadows while the kid got to spend time with her, talking to her, touching her. That last one was the one that caused me to want to strangle Jacob Black on a daily basis. I could tell on Bella's end of things, the hand holding and hugging were simply platonic, but they still drove me mad. I kept trying to figure a way for me to approach her without coming off creepy and desperate. Because I felt like I was both of those, but I didn't want her to know that though. I finally found my first opportunity on Saturday morning.

I was running in the tree line along the road, while she drove her truck down to La Push. Great another day of hating Jacob Black. We were about ten miles from the La Push boarder when I heard her truck go quiet. That doesn't sound too good. Usually I could hear her truck a couple of miles away. I peek through the trees to see the truck coasting to a stop. Huh. What now?

You go help her, moron.

Did I ask you, Paul?

Well that or you're talking to yourself.

And what do you propose I do?

Go see if you can fix whatever it is.

Gee that won't make me look like a stalker.

Well you are. Just go.

And what, just walk out of the woods with no shirt in February?

Hmm, yeah she might find that weird and since she already finds you a bit peculiar, that might not work in your advantage.

She wouldn't think that way if it wasn't for Black.

Yeah, well he told her you're in a gang and now you'll just have to prove him wrong.

I could see her looking under the hood. She looked so cute with her eyebrows drawn together and biting her lower lip in concentration.

Oh, yeah so cute. Now phase back so I can stop thinking of the leech lover.

PAUL! How many times do I have to tell you to not call her that?

I'll stop when she stops and becomes a wolf girl.

She is a wolf girl, even if she doesn't know it yet.

But she still loves the leech, I bet.

Shut up, Paul! I took a moment to figure out what to do. Duh! I'll just run home and get my truck. With that I ran as fast as I could back home. It only took like three minutes. I ran inside the back door, blew past my mom, up the stairs, grabbed the first shirt I saw, flew back down the stairs, out the front door and hopped into my truck. It all took about a minute and a half.

I took the long way around so that when I came across Bella and her truck I would be heading toward La Push as well. As I approached her, I slowed down and pulled over to the edge of the road. I got out and walked over to her. She was still staring under the hood, only now instead of confusion, she was glaring in anger at the engine.

"Hey, Bella." She jumped up and hit her head on the hood while giving a small yelp. Damn it. Way to go, Jared. I quickly bridged the gap between us.

"Ouch!" She said as she rubbed her head. She pulled her hand away and even before I saw it, I could smell the blood. Great I just caused my imprint bodily harm.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I thought you would have heard my truck and then me walking up. I am so, so sorry. Does it hurt badly? I should take you to the hospital. God, I am so sorry. I am so stupid. I shouldn't have snuck up on you. Here let me see." I started rambling on. I wanted to shut up, but I couldn't make my mouth stop sputtering out words. I noticed she was swaying slightly as she stared at the blood on her hand. She started to fall, but I caught her before she could do more damage.

"Sorry, I don't do blood real well. What are you doing here?"

"You have nothing to apologize for. I was just passing by and saw you stopped. I thought I could lend a hand."

"Oh." She looked like she almost didn't believe me. I just kept the small smile on my face. "Well, thanks." She touched the wound again and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Here, let me see." I walked her around the truck and sat her down in the driver's seat of her truck and looked at the wound. "It looks pretty deep. I'd guess around five stitches. I am so sorry, Bella."

"Stop apologizing, Jared. It's not your fault, I'm just a klutz. Things like this happen all the time. The ER nurses know me pretty well." I didn't know what to focus on. The fact that she remembered exactly who I was, and the way she said my name sounded like heaven or the fact that she gets hurt regularly.

"Well things like this won't be happening under my watch again." I mumbled to myself. It was more like a promise I made to myself.

"What did you say?" She asked looking at me with her big chocolate brown eyes. I could get so lost in them. "Jared?" And apparently I did.

"Oh, sorry, Bella. It's still bleeding pretty badly. Do you have anything to hold to it?"

"Umm, I don't think so. Like a rag or something?"

"Yeah."

"No."

"Let me check my truck." I walked back to the truck and looked around. Nothing. I wish I had an extra shirt or something. Guess I'll just have to use the one I'm wearing. I pulled it off and walked back to my Bella. Her eyes widen and her jaw slightly dropped as she saw me. Is she checking me out? I think she is. Take that Black! I grinned slightly at her, and she pulled her eyes down to the ground and I could see the blush rise on her cheeks.

"Here. Hold this to your head. Sorry, it's the only thing I could find." She took it from my head and I could tell she was trying to not stare at my chest and abs. God, she's cute. I was suddenly very happy with the improvement being a wolf gave my body.

"Won't you be cold?"

"Nah, I'll be fine. I'm warm-natured."

"Oh."

"Let me take a quick look under the hood and see if I can tell what's wrong, that way after we get done at the hospital, I can try and fix it."

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm sure Jake can do it for me." I closed my eyes and took a large, deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn't need Jacob to do it, that what I was here for. She was just going to have to learn that.

"Really, it's okay. I don't mind and I am already here. Plus, it's my fault her head it bleeding."

"I told you already, that my injury is not your fault."

"Just the same, I would like to look. Are the keys in the ignition?" She nodded. "Okay, here are my keys." I handed them to her. "You go ahead and climb in and get the heat going. I'll be right there after I look and lock up your truck." She hopped out of her truck and walked back to mine.

After turning the key and nothing happened I had a feeling I knew what was wrong. I looked back under the hood to see if I was right. I tightened a few things, hoping it would be an easy fix. I turned the key over again and nothing happened. Damn.

I locked up the truck and headed for my truck with my angel in it. I climbed in and shut my door.

"So, I am pretty sure that your alternator is dead."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that your battery isn't getting charged and you'll need a new alternator before the truck will work again. I can try and get one by this afternoon. For now, let's just get you to the ER and get that gash fixed up."

"Okay."


We went to the ER and Bella had to get six stitches. I was off by one. After that we headed for the salvage yard outside of Port Angeles. I tried to convince her to stay at her house, and I would come and get her after I was done. But my Bella insisted on making the trip with me, since it was her truck. She didn't have to work to hard to convince me. The whole car ride we talked and learned more about one another. I fell more in love. She seemed to feel comfortable with me despite what Jacob had told her. I was glad for that. Once we arrived at the yard, I found an alternator that would fit pretty quickly. We hopped back in my truck and I decided to push my luck.

"Hey, I'm feeling pretty hungry, you up for getting an early dinner?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry myself. What are you in the mood for?"

"Oh, I am not picky as long as there is a lot of it, so you pick the place."

"How about that Chinese buffet?"

"Sounds perfect."

"Though, we may need to find you a shirt first."


So Bella went into a store and got me a t-shirt and then we drove to the buffet to eat dinner. She ate so little I couldn't believe it. I was stuffing down my third plate when I noticed she was trying to hold in a laugh.

"What?"

"You."

"What about me?"

"Do you always eat that much?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Why?"

"I feel like I'm watching the discovery channel. You eat like you haven't eaten in years or like someone else is going to steal your plate at any moment. Where does it all go?"

"Umm, well, I have a really high metabolism. And if you haven't noticed I am quite the growing boy."

"You are certainly no boy." I heard her say under her breath. "How could you still be growing, you're huge." She said louder, intending for me to hear.

"I don't know. Genetics?"

"So your dad is huge, too?"

"Not so much, more like my great grandfather was. It skipped a few generations." Okay that's the truth. I don't want to lie to her, ever. So just give her half truths if necessary.

"If you say so."

"I say so."

We traveled back to her truck. As we approached I saw a couple of cars parked next to her truck, including a squad car with its lights on.

"Oh, no. Crap. Jacob."

"What?" I asked.

"I was heading to Jake's house when I broke down and I should have called to tell him that I wouldn't be coming. God, he and my dad have probably been freaking out." I pulled my truck over, behind the cruiser. Bella jumped out and walked over to her dad.

"Bells!" I heard Jacob before I saw him. He ran over and pulled her into a strong hug. I had to burry the growl in my chest. "Where have you been? We've been so worried, honey."

"Yes, Bella, what happened? Jake called me saying you didn't show and then he found your truck here. I called the hospital and they said you got stitches. They also said you showed up with some huge and shirtless guy." The chief looked over at me with suspicion as he said the last part.

"What did you do to her, Jared?" Jacob accused. Before I could respond Bella did.

"He didn't do anything to me. He helped me. He gave me his shirt to stop the bleeding, and then drove me to ER to get stitches. Then he took me to Port Angeles to get the part to fix the truck and bought me dinner because I was hungry. And he was going to fix my truck now, so I could head home. I am sorry I forgot to call Jake, so he wouldn't worry, but that is no reason to take it out on Jared. He only helped me today." Jacob was glaring at me, though her dad looked apologetic.

"You know I would have fixed it, Bella. You could have just called."

"I know, but Jared offered and he was already here."

"Well, I am just happy find you safe and sound. Just please call someone next time, Bella."

"I will, Dad. Sorry, again." Her dad walked over to me and stuck out his hand.

"Thanks for your help, Jared."

"Not a problem, sir."

"I need to get back down to the station. See you at home, Bells."

"Okay, Dad. Jacob, sorry I didn't make it down there today. Maybe I can come over tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay, but you could still come down now, too. It's only seven."

"No, I'm pretty tired. It's been a long day. I'll just see you tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll stay until you leave, then."

"Really there's no need, Jake. Just go on home. As soon as Jared replaces the alienator-"

"Alternator." Both Jacob and I saw at once.

"Yeah that. When he's done, I'm heading straight home. Don't worry. Bye." Jacob glanced over toward me and narrowed his eyes.

"Sure, sure. I just wanted to show Jared one thing under the hood first. I walked over to the front of her truck with him. I knew he didn't need to show me anything.

"Look, I don't know what your deal is or what game you're trying to play, but back off." I looked down at him. He was growing, but I still had about four inches over him.

"I'm not playing a game. I was driving by, I saw Bella on the side of the road glaring at her engine and I stopped to help."

"Yeah, right, help. Bella has had a rough few months and she doesn't need some gang member trying to bring her down further. So take your delinquent self and hit the road."

"First off, I'm not in a gang and I don't appreciate you telling people that, especially Bella. Second, I protect people, not break the law. That's you, Black. Don't think no one noticed you drinking that beer with your little friends that Quil swiped from his grandfather last week." His eyes went wide with shock. "Maybe you're who Bella doesn't need to be around. Third, I can't wait for the truth to be revealed so I can watch you crap your pants like the little shit you are." Who did this kid think he was threatening me? Being Alpha may be his birthright, but he wasn't it yet. With that I started to replace the alternator and ignored him until I heard him call out good-bye to Bella and head off in his little Rabbit. I finished up and went to the cab where Bella was sitting.

"Let me pull up my truck. You're going to need a jump." I pulled my truck up next to hers. I connected the cables and told her to turn her key. Her engine roared back to life. She jumped out of her truck and ran over to me.

"Thank you, so much, Jared." She said as she hugged me. I felt like an angel was hugging me, because there was, my angel, my Bella. She smelled so good.

"Really, it was nothing. I wanted to help you, Bella."

"I feel like I should make it up to you somehow. You should come over and I'll cook you dinner. Are you free any night this week?"

"Yeah, any night." Way to sound pathetic, Jared.

"Okay, how about Thursday, I don't work that night. What's your favorite meal?"

"Umm, salmon, but you really don't have to go to any trouble."

"No it's fine. I've never cooked that type of fish but I'll find a good recipe for it. Do you know where I live?" I almost said yes and figured that would add to my creepiness.

"No." So she wrote down directions and told me head over at six.

"Thanks again for today. I'll see you Thursday."

"Yeah, Thursday. Bye, Bella.

"Bye, Jared." And with that she drove away and left me with a smile.


A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Next is dinner... Thank you for all the great reviews. Last chapter put us at 100 reviews! Which is amazing!! You guys rock. Also, for those of you who read my other story, Another Twist in Fate, the first chapter of the sequel Following Fate is up, if you haven't seen it already.

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