AN: Hey all, again this is kinda a filler chapter but it has important vamp information that will be needed for later.

Also the chapter is a little shorter than I would like but I cant see a way to expand it. For the record next chapter is one of my favorites!

Also big thanks to my beta kaligurl2008 for her work on this chapter.

Bella's POV

The entire time we were shopping Jacob kept his arm around my shoulder or his hand in mine. The old Bella Swan would normally find some way to deflect his physical advances, but after 5 months without him, I needed his physical presence. Besides I had made myself more than clear as far as where the lines were, and told Jake frequently that he was like my brother.

Sure there were days when I enjoyed ogling him, and even times when I wished I could be in love with him, but I knew that it wasn't that simple. The heart wants what it wants; my aunt used to tell me, and for the longest time I thought it would never want anything but Edward. Lately though all my heart craved was freedom. Distance had given me the perspective I needed to see my relationship with Edward in a new light and what I saw, I didn't like.

I had allowed him to drive us home from the store, my head was too full to concentrate on driving, and knowing me I would have killed us both if I had attempted to get behind the wheel. My fingers were still laced with his, and every few minutes he would gently run his thumb over the back of my hand. It was a simple gesture, but still it made me smile. I turned to study his face.

Jake was undoubtedly good looking with a strong jaw and chiseled features. He had full lips that seemed to always be curled into a smile. When he noticed my staring his smile grew as he turned to face me.

"If you think any harder your head might explode," Jacob said laughing. "Come on Bells, were here and I'm starving."

"You're always starving Jake," I told him laughing as we both got out of the truck. Jacob carried everything into the house as I trailed behind him into the kitchen. The remainder of the pack was still in the living room lounging around with the exception of Jared, who I was guessing was on patrol. Jake placed the bags carefully on the table and began to unpack them for me. Once everything was in its place, he relinquished control of the kitchen to me, knowing I didn't share well when it came to my cooking space.

Our arms brushed as he walked by me into the living room, and I remembered how a similar touch from Edward used to be able to make my heart race. I wished that Jake's touch would cause a similar reaction, but no, there was no spark, no tingle just the comforting warmth I had come to associate with Jacob. I shook my head, it seemed like I had been doing that a lot lately, and got back to the task at hand, making a mountain of food for the army in the living room.

An hour later, I had finally finished pulling the last of the pans off of the stove. I heard Jacob's voice whining from inside. He had been officially banished from the room after he had attempted to steal a tray of dinner rolls. I had made a huge array of food considering I wasn't sure who liked what; roasted potatoes zucchini and squash, chicken cutlets, and baked ziti with extra cheese.

"Please tell me it's ready Bells, we're dying out here from the smell." Jake called and I laughed, he sounded like a whiny three year old.

"Come and get it guys," I yelled and then jumped out of the way as the pack stampeded into the room and swarmed the food. Good thing I had already made myself a plate, I thought.

"Damn, Bells," Jacob moaned through a mouthful of food. "This is better than the pot roast you made the other day." I smiled at the compliment.

"Not bad vampire girl," Paul smirked.

"That's former vampire girl to you, wolf boy" I smirked back. Paul choked on the food in his mouth as he began laughing and my smile grew. There was something about Paul that brought out the wicked side in me. I could be sarcastic, but my banter with Paul had reached a new level, and as strange as it was, it was fun. Most people would describe him as an asshole, but I didn't think so. Sure he was blunt, and definitely crude, but I didn't really think he wanted to be hurtful. He was just going to tell you the truth, and sometimes the truth hurt.

Once all the wolves had finished their first round the eating had slowed to normal levels. "Bella," Sam said, "We still need to know what you know about the leech."

I froze momentarily. "Of course," I told him. I took a deep breath and steadied myself. "Tell me, what do you guys actually know about vampires?"

It was Sam who answered for the group, "We know only what our legends tell us. We know how to kill our enemy, we know of their speed, strength and physical appearance and we know of the existence of the Cullens; that they claim not to feed from humans." I nodded my head at each characteristic.

"Do you want me to be honest, or do you want me to be nice," I asked him. Paul smirked, but it was Sam who answered.

"Just tell us everything Bella," Sam replied gruffly.

"You really don't know much," I told him, "There is more than one type of vampire. You can define them by how they live. You have families like the Cullens. They don't think of themselves as a coven, but a real family. Because they don't kill human's they retain more of their humanity; at least that was what Carlisle thought. It allowed them to form real bonds."

"Most vampires however are nomads. They form small covens, three or four vampires at the most. Anymore than that and they end up turning on each other. They're less civilized, less humane, more animal. The only real bonds that they have are to their mate. Vampires mate for life and nothing will stop them from seeking revenge if their mate is destroyed."

"Then there is the Volturi, vampire royalty. As far as I know they are the only other vampire coven to have a permanent residence. There are three of them," I scrunched my nose up as I tried to remember all the details of the Volturi's story. It had been a while since Carlisle had told it to me. "I can't remember their names, but I know their old. Carlisle lived with them for a short time, 300 years ago when he was first changed."

"The Volturi are responsible for enforcing the laws." I said.

"Vampire's have laws?" Paul interrupted surprised.

"Not many," I told him. "Mainly they make sure that vampires don't expose themselves to humans. They haven't been needed often; I think that last time was during the Southern Vampire Wars but I could be wrong about that." I looked up and noticed the shocked looks on the wolves' faces. "Anyway, the reason the Volturi are so dangerous, is because of the guard they control."

"Not all vampires are created equal. According to Carlisle, when a human is transformed into a vampire they take their most dominant feature with them. For Carlisle it was his compassion, for Esme it was her mothering nature."

"Sometimes though, that dominant feature transforms into a specific gift. For Jasper, well he was really charismatic in his human life. When he became a vampire that talent transformed into the ability to control people's emotions. Alice had visions when she was a human; people thought she was crazy, but when she became a vampire that transformed into the ability to see the future." I paused to steady myself. "Edward, Edward could read minds."

"You mean that bloodsucker has been in our heads," Paul asked angrily. "How the fuck could you stand to be around him?"

"Yes, if any of you have ever met Edward, then he could probably hear every thought you had," I told them. "He could hear everyone, with only one exception. Me." The room was completely silent as that fact settled in.

"Why you," Jacob asked confused.

"Not sure really," I sighed. "I've always been different; I guess my brain just operates on a different wave length." I shrugged. Jacob laughed, "I always knew there was something wrong with your brain."

"The bitch ran around with vampires," Paul said harshly, "Of course something is wrong with her brain."

I glared at him in response, trying to hide the affect his words had. That one stung. Jacob growled at him, his form beginning to vibrate, and I knew I had to distract them before this got ugly. "The Volturi guard is made up of the most talented vampires," I told them loudly, bringing the attention of the room back to me. "That's why they're so powerful, they have an unfair advantage that pretty much guarantees there victory."

"What about this other leech, the female who we might be facing," Sam asked, "Does she have a talent that you're aware of?"

"When we first met the group, Edward read their minds. He was more focused on James at the time, because James was focused on me, but he got a good look at all of them. James was a tracker, one of the best apparently, but Victoria; she was a strategist with a talent for self preservation. Simply put, her talent was escape." I told them.

"I'm not sure what else I can tell you," I said looking at Sam. "I'm sure there are a hundred little details I'm forgetting."

"You've done enough Bella," he said. "We'll give it a day to let all the information sink in and then have a pack meeting to discuss a new strategy. Hopefully it won't be necessary."