All characters and recognizable situations belong to Stephanie Meyer- this is a work of fanfiction. All I get out of this is a fun hobby, your lovely reviews, and some very cool new friends.

Speaking of cool people- huge thanks go out to my wonderful beta Diamondheart who got this back to me remarkably fast for having a house full of boxes and only six outlets, and for putting up with my occasional spastic emails which she repays me by having her cat Chutney do some editing. That's right, I love this lady so much I gave a shout-out to her cat.

Go check out little furry cannibals cool series Hey! Wanna Play? after you read this. She graciously asked me to contribute a short piece (pun intended) and it was posted yesterday. Please review and thank her for creating such a fun series!

Thanks everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter... you complete me.

Sam POV

I left Jake with Jared and Embry. Paul was clearly not a good option to help with the intensive drills I wanted him to do, and Embry could be good moral support. I wanted to remain to see firsthand the talent Ephraim's grandson would have but I needed to check with Paul and get to the meeting.

"Paul! Wait up." I flagged him down and, jogging up beside him, joined him in his walk. We were both heading toward the road that would lead us further toward the main residential areas of La Push.

"You did it. His phase took time, but he did it. If he'd done it in his own time it might have been too unpredictable for safety. I'm not sure we would have had that kind of control over the situation if you hadn't done it." Paul hunched his shoulders a bit, but was clearly a little proud to have ushered in the new member.

"But," I stopped walking and Paul mirrored my action, turning to face me. I made my voice stern with authority. "But, you overstepped your bounds. What made you say that? You knew how far gone he was, so why go for the kill?" I might as well have slapped Paul; he knew he screwed up. I didn't need to bash him. I did need to remind him of his next move, a move he'd had to do a few times before.

Paul hung his head slightly. He knew I'd seen in Jake's mind what he'd said and had yet to be phased with Jake, so he hadn't felt how deep his feeling were for the girl.

I resumed my walk, Paul alongside. "You need to fix it. You're going to have to earn his trust and be better for him than you've been for me. I think he'll understand what you did, but it might take some work to rebuild that relationship. How can you share a mind with him if that's what comes flying out of that melon of yours?"

We both chuckled a little. Paul's filthy and caustic mind had, up to now, been a source of amusement for us all. It could really be a train wreck though. The guy sometimes dwelt on bad things, things from his youth that had made him hard before he ever became a wolf. It was enough to say that he had it tough and that it made him abrasive but fierce in his loyalty to those who showed they were on his side. He'd go down for any pack member without a thought.

I slowed my pace and Paul followed suit. "You went by the Swan place on patrol?" A nod. "Had the bloodsucker been there?"

Paul shifted his weight. "Yeah, I think I just missed him, too. I swear the scent was still falling to the ground when I got there."

I thought. "Did you follow the usual patrol route, the timing too?"

Nod.

Shit.

"It knows our schedule. I want double passes by the Swan place from now on, and mix it up. Don't follow the same routine, change the order you cover the grids and trails in every shift."

Paul looked confused. "But if it was going to kill the girl, wouldn't it have done it by now?"

That had crossed my mind earlier. "It's monitoring something. It may be gathering information, that doesn't mean we give the thing an all access pass."

We continued in silence and our walk brought us to my destination. I waved to Paul as he continued home to rest and to check in on his mother before his next shift. I walked up to Billy's house and, knowing they would be there waiting for me, let myself in.

"Sam! What's happening?" Billy asked hurriedly. His eyes were red and tired with worry. I nodded to Harry and Old Quil who were sitting at the table opposite Billy, drinking coffee and eating some homemade cookies. Harry hardly glanced at me and harrumphed softly in what passed for his greetings to me.

"It's done, Billy. It took longer than we expected. He fought the phase, but accepted it about an hour ago. I left Jared and Embry with him to drill until he can phase or he collapses. I don't want him to think too much about the Cold Ones yet. I want him rested and calm before we delve into that."

Billy nodded thoughtfully. "So he doesn't… know about Bella yet, then?"

I ran my hand through my hair, scratching my scalp. "No, and I've ordered everyone to keep a lid on it. Billy," I sighed and sat next to Billy at his table. "I want Jake to stay here tonight, not in the woods. He needs to be near you to ask you for help. The phase was... bad. He may need you soon."

Billy's jaw set, not liking what I implied, but he nodded again and obviously wanted to see his son. He wiped his eyes roughly with the sleeve of his worn shirt before turning to Old Quil, who gestured with a gnarled hand to call our attention.

"Before we continue I would like to remind everyone here of the issues at stake, and the burdens our young men carry. " Old Quil paused for a moment, as if to let that statement sink in. "Young Samuel here was the first, with no mentor from within a pack. He has taught the new members, leading them in learning control and structure to become a cohesive unit. He has to be prepared for new wolves to join his pack at any moment, and today ushered in his own replacement who he will have to teach as well."

"He's done all of this at the same time as protecting the tribe from gathering threats and-" he looked pointedly at Harry Clearwater, "experiencing upheaval in his own personal life that none of us can even understand. I think we should remember these when we consider how we react to how he runs his pack."

After the old man stopped talking he leaned and sipped his coffee as if he'd mentioned the weather. Harry nodded, and his usually cool demeanor toward me relaxed and he gave me a small smile.

Billy cleared his throat to call us back to order. "So, gentlemen, we have other business to discuss. Jake's joining of the pack triggers a condition of the treaty. As primary signator I recognize the fulfillment of the condition. Sam, as my second, do you recognize the same?" Billy handed me a copy of the treaty bearing my signature.

When Ephraim Black passed, Billy had been too young to sign the treaty according to our customs, so Old Quil was called upon to take his place on the document until he turned sixteen. When Billy was old enough, Old Quil took the place of second, which I took when I phased.

So now, not only was a new Black at the traditional age of maturity, he was in the pack and set to become The Alpha, and the rightful primary signator of the treaty.

My eyes scanned over the heavy vellum -there was an exact copy somewhere in the possession of the other party- and I once again read the line that applied to the situation, effectively negating Billy's position on the treaty. My name would remain as second.

"I recognize the fulfillment of the condition." I handed the document back to Billy, who sighed and set the paper down and drummed his fingers on the table.

"Alright, Sam. Coffee?" Billy gestured and Harry set a steaming cup in front of me. After the day I'd had, I needed it. He followed up with a plate of reheated casserole, a Sue Clearwater special, and I finished it before Harry sat back down with his refilled coffee.

Old Quil leaned forward, strands of his silver hair falling loose from its plait. "So, are we ready to make a decision? Jake isn't ready to take Alpha, but his is the blood that binds the treaty. He is the definition of Alpha, and it won't be long before he feels its pull." He turned to me. "Are you prepared to take an Alpha challenge should we put off the treaty renewal, or will you step down now?"

I considered the options. The problem had occurred to me many weeks before when I realized Jake would be my replacement. I had a solution, but it could be challenging.

"There is another option." Billy and Harry lifted their heads from their cups to join Old Quil's stare. I continued, " It's probably not what you had in mind, but perhaps we should tell Jake that he needs to watch and learn first, maybe as Beta, before he can be Alpha, and have him sign the treaty in Billy's place now. We maintain the terms of the treaty, but avoid the danger of a brand new wolf being in charge of a large pack, possibly endangering us or the tribe."

The three men were thoughtful, weighing my words carefully. Harry spoke first, "Not just large, but sure to grow soon. Even Seth..." Harry paled momentarily and winced, leaning over the table slightly before continuing. "Even Seth has begun to grow, as young as he is. I like the idea of Jake being... trained. Even if it's just for a few weeks."

Harry turned to Old Quil, who picked up a spoon and began to stir his coffee. "It's never happened before and the threats to us make these choppy waters indeed. We must be careful we don't hit the rocks but, yes, I think some time with Sam would be best for young Black." He tapped the spoon on the side of his cup to punctuate his thoughts.

All eyes were on Billy. As tribal leader he really had final say, though he would likely not go against the three of us. If he chose differently, however, it could involve a long night of debate.

He leaned back in his chair. "I would prefer that things were settled before updating the treaty." We all nodded in unison before he spoke again. "It could be seen as a failure of good faith, however, if we were to wait for Jake to be ready to lead. I agree, he should at least have more control before leading such a large pack, but it will have to be on the job training." Billy drew a deep breath, calming his nerves and glancing at the faces around his little table. His gaze stopped with me.

"Sam, can you lead your pack with your replacement by your side?"

I had also given this some thought. If Jake knew everything from the beginning and understood our respective roles, then this could work. The men at the table did not need to know every detail of our dynamics or how I got things done. The other party certainly had no need to know anything more than our names.

"Yes, I can. They will follow where I lead. We will not leave the tribe vulnerable."

The tribe's leaders nodded, pleased with my answer. We turned to Billy once again, awaiting the verdict.

"Sam, would you bring me the phone? I'm going to make the call." I did so, and Billy dialed a number and left a cryptic message, ending the call with a sigh.

He pushed a foil-covered tray to the center of the table and gestured to me.

"Cookies?"

Jake POV

Her soft, warm arms were wrapped around me, cradling my aching body and soothing the burn in my insides until they subsided. The heat was in the background now, just there, rather than scorching me. I nuzzled the skin at the base of her neck, inhaling the aroma that was embedded in her skin and was so rich and alive with her. Something deep within me was aware and yearning... hungry.

Gnawing. A gnawing hunger.

I started to rouse. The shirt still smelled like her, wrapping me in the perfume of her body. My senses were razor sharp, and I could only vaguely make out the smell of her soap and the few other cosmetics she used underneath the more appealing fragrance of her own scent. I needed to remember to ask her to switch to unfragranced versions of her things the next time I saw her.

I clenched my jaw. If there ever was a next time. There had to be a next time.

As I woke further, my stomach actually hurt from being so hungry. I stood and ran my hand over the concave surface of my belly, heading to the bathroom. It was early morning, and still dark out, so I flicked on the light, missing the switch the first two times I reached for it.

Oh my god.

I fought a moment of disorientation. The switch was not where it should have been, and neither were the counters. I had grown several inches literally overnight. I raised my head to look in the mirror. I looked like I was in my early twenties, not about to turn seventeen, and my body...

I had filled out over the last few months, assuming the long hours hefting engine parts and toting around tools had been the reason for the thicker arms and broader chest that had stretched my shirts and reduced my already slim clothing options to just a few second hand shirts, jeans, shorts, and t shirts.

What I saw in the mirror was shocking. It was me, in five years, and apparently with a football career. Or basketball. I could give David Robinson a run for his money. It wasn't just bulk, like decorative muscle. It was the muscle of a runner who just couldn't get out of the weight room, too.

And I was starving.

I strode out of the bathroom and into my room again, carefully rolling the shirt back up to preserve the aroma as long as possible, stowing it in a drawer. Then I headed to the kitchen.

I devoured the casserole first. No, not a serving, the whole tray. I didn't even heat it up. Then I polished off the pizza... both of them. A package of lunchmeat, sliced cheese, a hard-boiled egg, some salmon jerky, half a gallon of milk, and two cups of yogurt later, I felt like I could think again.

Then I saw them. There were just two left. Bella's cookies.

My God, just the day before yesterday...

For a moment, I thought my breakfast was about to make an encore appearance. I swallowed hard and kept it down, but the sick feeling remained. It twisted into irritation and finally a flame flickered in me. I had to run, now.

I burst out the front door in just the boxers and plain t-shirt I had slipped on last night. Within seconds the flicker became a quick flush of intense heat rising up and radiating out, the rush in my ears drowning out the tearing of fabric as I extended and bent into a new shape.

Dammit.

The confusion was far briefer, having dealt with the worst the previous night when I stumbled and careened before finally gaining command over my new form.

Good Morning, Sunshine! You're up early.

Hi Jared. I was hungry.

His laughter echoed in my head. I was hit with images from his memory of midnight trips to the refrigerator, eating everything from leftovers and snacks to downing a container of mayonnaise and eating a stick of butter like a candy bar. His girlfriend had taken to cooking multiple batches of everything and simply leaving them ready for him, sometimes keeping a fork in the trays and containers just to make life easier.

Dude, that's gross.

And pounding Sue's casserole cold is so much more dignified? Did you have to use your hands?

Kiss my ass. I didn't eat last night, or all of yesterday thanks to you assholes. I paced behind my house near the trees. Jared snickered at me and stopped his run to let out a low howl. I felt Sam phase minutes later.

Jake, I'm coming over later. Phase back and get some clothes. Is Billy up?

No, he hasn't asked for me yet.

Go get him up. We need to talk.

I blew a hard breath out of my mouth and nose, snorting like a child. So I should phase. Alright. I looked for the heat and tried to pull at it, concentrating hard. My teeth ground together and I was growling by the time I gave that up. So, seeking that sensation wasn't going to work. How had I done it last night?

I remember the straining, the work, the failures when I'd pop in and out of human form, covered in fur each time rather than skin. How had I gotten back?

Then I remembered the interruption, the change in subject, and the news that others would be joining us. I had stopped trying so hard. I had, in fact, stopped trying altogether.

I sat and relaxed my shoulders, clearing my mind and letting myself just be for a moment. Suddenly I felt my form change and in a fluid motion the fur retracted, my snout receded and bones rearranged themselves with a sensation of movement under my skin that felt like I was closing a pop-up book made of me, the cover camouflaging the intricate folds and angles of a being you didn't expect. The hum and mumble of voices and information quieted and stopped.

I was myself again.

And I was naked. Again. A set of clothes ruined, soon to be joined by others if the pack mind was to be believed. I bent and picked up the biggest bits of fabric on my way back to the house and tossed them into the trash before I grabbed a set of shorts in my room. How often had scenes like this been playing for me during the drills last night? The pack mind was amazing, and I had to admit, very… educational.

In my confusion last night I had spilled my guts regarding what I thought of Paul, Sam and Jared. Jared just laughed, flapping his muzzle, and I could feel his brotherly affection for him. It was the kind of affection you have for the screwed-up brother, but he sincerely liked him. When he told me to go easy on Sam, and to just pay attention, he was all seriousness and respect.

Embry showed scenes of his first phase, running frenzied around the peninsula, and then springing with joy later after he understood more. Sam had spent hours with him walking him through history, our roles, patrol routes, and how to recognize and track scent trails as he taught him to phase back to human. He had only just managed to stay human when he came to visit Quil and me at my garage, having barely slept for two and a half days. Apparently I had set a record for phasing back human, at only a few hours.

Bits leaked through their minds they didn't plan to let out, too. I saw the intense and consuming relationship Jared had with Kim, and didn't understand some of the things he thought about. Embry reminded himself to catch up with a particular girl who had a… knack for certain things, which he dwelled on at some length before Jared told him to knock it off, saying Kim would be pissed if he woke her up at one in the morning by poking her in the back with a stiffy. I laughed at them, but had to admit that his vivid memory was a little disturbing.

I sighed as I pulled my shorts on, turning my attention to my dad's room. He was awake and lying down, and his breathing sounded better today. I lay down on my bed and thought about what to ask him, but was stumped on where to begin. I was still overwhelmed, my head spinning with knowledge that I'd never imagined and pain I wished I could escape.

My heart hurt and I let myself wallow in it. I could imagine Bella's hair fanned out on her pillow, a mist of brown and red in the dawn light. Did she dream of me? Does she wake up and stretch her arms before or after she sits up?

Will I ever get to hold her long enough to tell her how much I love her? What if I didn't?

That thought made rage rocket up my spine and through my arms. One arm blurred and connected with the wall to my side, punching a neat hole into the drywall and puffing a fine cloud of gypsum dust on my face.

Fuck. I have to fix that, too.

My dad moved around and began trying to get up on his own. Ashamed of my outburst, I rolled off my bed and went to his door, tapping carefully before swinging the door fully open.

My dad looked awful. He was tired and nervous, which made me feel even worse for making him wait in bed so I could act like an asshole. I wanted to say something, but was at a complete loss for anything meaningful. My dad gave me a weak smile and spared me.

"Hi. How are you, Jake?" It wasn't much, but to just hear him talk was good. I slouched and leaned against the door frame.

"Um, okay, I guess. Taller." Dad stared at me for a moment and his eyes grew shiny and sorrowful. He was still a little nervous as he scooted to the edge of the bed where I began to help him dress

He answered my unasked question. "Sam and Harry helped me to bed. It was a long night here, too, Jake."

"And Old Quil? Why was he here?" He started a little at my question, but just sighed before answering.

"Council meeting of a few of the Elders."

"He never goes to those meetings anymore. I didn't realize he was still a member."

My dad paused. "Of this group he is."

I stopped as I held his watch out to him. "What group is that?"

"The group that knows. We know about you, the wolves, and the Cold Ones." He clipped the watch to his wrist with an efficient click.

I sat on the bed next to him. "So just Harry, Old Quil, and you? That's it?"

"For now, yes." He was so calm. How could he be so calm when I just found out that the only people I could ever talk to were old men and a couple guys?

"So, those are the only people I can ever talk to about this? No one else? I'm stuck with a bunch of old men and some fucking dogs for the rest of my life?" I was vibrating again.

"Jake! Calm down. Please." It wanted me again and I knew I had to stop it. I drew deep breaths and held on to the image of Bella asleep in bed, sunlight settling in golden streaks across her face and felt contentment wash over me. Now I was just irritated. The best thing for staving off disaster was something I might never have. Fuck me.

After I pulled myself together my dad laid his hand on my arm. "No, that's not all, son. There are a few others who know. But you're right, there aren't many. It has to be this way."

I stared at my hands, clasped tightly between my knees. How many? Who could know? If I did get to see Bella again, could she ever know? Dozens of questions started swirling in my mind and I gasped, again disoriented by the intensity of the feelings and the piles of knowledge dumped in drifts in my mind.

One question was loudest and begged to be asked.

"Why didn't you tell me? " I asked softly, my gaze still fixed upon my hands. "I'm your son, it was going to happen, why didn't you warn me?" As much as I wanted to, I could not rage at my father.

His hand squeezed my arm, barely indenting the iron-hard cords of muscle that had taken the place of my own parts.

"Because it was forbidden." I raised my head to face him. He raised his hand to stroke my hair away from my face. "And you're my son. I wanted you to have as much time to be normal as I could manage. And you were so... happy." His voice broke slightly and I stood to help him into his chair.

I knew he was hurting from all this, but I couldn't help feeling that he could have dropped me a hint. Maybe Hallmark makes a 'Happy Birthday, I Love You, And By The Way You're A Legendary Beast So Kiss Your Life, Plans, And Girlfriend Goodbye' card. I wasn't mad at him, I'm not sure I could be, but I just felt like maybe I deserved a heads up somewhere along the way.

He wheeled out into the kitchen and after I tied my hair back I made breakfast again. I laughed cruelly to myself when I noticed that all we had left after my frenzy were the eggs and some bacon that I hadn't cooked for him yesterday. I cooked the same breakfast for the second day in a row and it might as well have been a different universe- one where werewolves and vampires exist.

Sam arrived as the eggs were nearly done and the bacon crisp, dropping his small backpack inside the door. I went ahead and filled up the pans again, making a tray of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches on toast, which were gone in a moment. We'd have to get in more groceries, stat.

"So, Jake, we have some things to talk about. You and I have a meeting to attend tonight and we need to get you marked." He tapped my shoulder from across the table. "But first," He stood and walked behind me. "We need to trim."

"Trim what?" I asked and immediately realized what he meant. All the guys had short, spiky hair. It hadn't even dawned on me until that moment that when Embry phased human the night before he had the same cut as the others. He had just blended in to me. I turned and looked at my father, shocked at the idea of being... shorn. He looked back at me and ran his hand lightly under the tied mess lying down my back.

Sam walked to the bag and took out a pair of sharp scissors, a clipper, and a plain sheet he wrapped around me to catch the cuttings. He set his hand on my shoulder and began gently, "Jake, the long hair carries over into your wolf form. It will catch in the trees and underbrush. I had to learn it the hard way." He spent a moment freeing the tie in my hair and gathering it into a better formed bundle, retying it, and pausing. "Billy?"

My dad reached out and took the scissors that Sam offered him, his eyes reddening I turned away from him, offering him the back of my head. His hand swept under the bundle and he held it gently. It took four cuts to get through it all, and when it was over I looked over numbly and saw the tidy black coil cradled in his hands. My dad held it to his chest as Sam took the scissors back and started trimming away the mop that was left behind. As he fired up the clippers, my dad wheeled away to his room and gently closed the door. I could just make out a single sob over the buzzing against my head.

...

I knew just why my dad had been so distracted the last several months and the reason behind all the meetings at our house. I had just assumed he didn't feel like hassling with the transfers in and out of the chair, but the reason had actually been Sam's confused and hungry wolf form hiding in the trees just out of sight of the house.

Sam described the crushing fear and sheer lonesomeness before Paul phased and joined him, followed by Jared, to create what would be considered the Fourth Pack. My dad became the confidant and main contact for all the wolves.

I rubbed my face in disbelief and, ignoring the distraction on my arm, gave Sam the look I reserved for bad tires. "Are you telling me," I began "That you were a one-man wolf pack?"

Sam's face froze in shock, then split in a huge grin and started laughing so hard he fell to one knee. I snickered at his watering eyes. Sam clearly didn't laugh enough.

The artist finished and we headed out, feeling his awed stare at our backs as we left.

"So, Jake, how does it feel?" Sam, recovered now, gestured to my shoulder, which was decorated with a tribal rendering of a wolf's head. The skin was already mostly healed, a few flakes clinging here and there, but the ink was embedded under a solid and unbroken layer of skin.

"Fine. The only bad part was when the guy had to keep changing needles because they kept getting dull." We walked from my car toward Sam's house. The guy who did our tattoos was 'in', being a Clearwater cousin and the finest tribal artist in the area.

Sam laughed. "Yeah, he tried to get some special alloy ones that are supposed to be used on animal hide, but they were no better. Paul was the guinea pig for those needles. The tips were bigger and they kept getting grabbed by his skin as it healed faster than the needle could pull back. Look closely at his ink: there are a couple blurry spots, but don't say anything because he gets pissed!"

The idea of worrying about Paul's sensitivity made me snort. Sam gave me an understanding smile and extended his arm toward the stairs to his cabin. I hopped up and waited for him to open the door.

The kitchen was a warm and welcoming place. A woman spent a lot of time here; that much was obvious. Delicious food smells lingered in the air and I felt my stomach take as much notice as my nose. I also detected the rest of the pack here. This was a gathering place, a home base for the pack.

Sam opened the refrigerator and told me to take a seat at the table. I waited as he pulled out a dish of something and set a plate of it in the microwave. He leaned against the counter and bent his head.

"Jake, I need to tell you more about us. Our history and what we do. I told the other guys to keep a lid on it while you were phasing because I wanted to make sure you heard it from me."

"Why?"

Sam lifted his head and ran a hand through his short spiked hair. I raised my own hand and felt the tight buzz cut on the sides of my head, following it up to the slightly longer cut he'd left on the top of my head. I felt air conditioned.

"I wanted you to hear certain things only from me because they don't know all the details. Your dad knows most of it, but not everything, nor does he need to."

I was a little irritated at Sam's evasiveness but he was uncomfortable and I'd rather have food in front of us anyway. I waited until had brought two warmed plates of whatever the casserole was to the table along with glasses of water. My mouth watered, whatever it was smelled great.

After we both got enough in us that eating was no longer a distraction to thought, I set my fork aside and leaned back in my chair. Sam continued to eat, but relaxed between bites, waiting for me.

"What is this about? What did you have to tell me?"

He finished his mouthful and took a drink. "Jake, you know the stories well. A few really haven't been told much because… they're too new to tell yet. Stories about the Cold Ones who returned."

"Sure, the ones who caused the Third Pack, right?"

"Yes, those. What we don't tell is that there was an agreement made. A treaty."

I frowned. We made treaties with vampires? Sam noticed my face.

"Think of it like an armistice, a conditional cease-fire. We have such a contract with a group of vampires. A particular group." Sam watched me very closely, gauging my reaction.

I was still confused. "Is anyone breaking the treaty? Why are you telling me if you haven't told the others?"

"They know we have a treaty, and they know its boundaries. They don't need to know everything." Sam set his own fork down, turning it over and over on the woven place mat. "It's an active document. We update it when there's a change. Changes that affect the stewardship of the treaty."

"Wait, don't you have to update it every time someone phases, then?"

"No... just when the right ones do." Sam looked me in the eyes and I realized what he meant. I was my father's son, a Black.

"So..." I began, but could not continue. Sam thankfully continued for me.

"Jake, the treaty was made between the Cold Ones and Ephraim Black. It is tradition that our primary be from your family. Billy has been the primary for decades, but now... well now that you joined the pack, you've triggered a change and the document needs to be updated."

"What do you mean, primary?"

"Each party of the treaty has a primary and secondary signator. The primary is the individual the treaty is actually agreed through, the secondary is a witness, as well as the back-up should anything happen to the primary."

My head spun. I should have paid more attention in civics class. "Who... who is the secondary?"

Sam did not hesitate. "Me." He tilted his head and reached for his fork again. "I am currently the pack Alpha, and the treaty stipulates that if there is a pack in existence, the Alpha will be a party on the treaty."

I leaned my elbows on the table, grinding the heels of my hands into my forehead. "So, when do we do this?"

"Tonight."

I jumped up so quickly that my legs smacked the table, bumping it several inches across the floor and knocking our glasses over. Sam grumbled good-naturedly and grabbed some dishtowels, tossing one to me.

"Man, do not mess up this kitchen! Emily will be ticked off if we leave rings or water marks on the table, and I don't feel like re-finishing it for her again."

Bella POV

Thursday had been torture for me; I hadn't gone out, the day was dreary, and I couldn't shake the creepy feeling I got every time I sat still, so I spent the entire day inventing chores and cooking. I had an arsenal of baked goods for the detectives tomorrow.

I set plates of my dad's favorite chicken enchiladas and rice on the table as he smiled. He'd had a long day and I hoped dinner could help him unwind.

"So, Bells, you have work tomorrow?"

"Yep, the only other shift I could get during the break with all the college kids back in town." I didn't really mind, but I could always use the money.

"Well, Mrs. Newton is having the employees park in the lot across the street while our units are set up in hers. All the employee spaces are taken by all the out-of-towners and part of her customer lot is still under the tent." The way he mentioned Mrs. Newton led me to believe this was something he'd heard about quite a bit. She had a distinctly non-subtle way of dropping hints as I had discovered myself.

"Why is this part of the investigation taking so long? I thought they just had to secure the car, go over the scene, and then cart the thing away for more testing in a garage?"

My dad gave a derisive laugh. "Ah, Bella, it's not about just gathering the evidence. It's about who gets to gather it where. The district attorneys in Seattle and Port Angeles are having a little contest over who gets it."

He gestured with his hands as if he was pointing to a map.

"Seattle is the home of the original missing persons case tied to the car," he began wearily, plainly he'd made this explanation many times." But, it is linked to a crime spree in Port Angeles. Since each city has a claim, no one is willing to leave town until a decision is made from the top. So we're pretending to gather evidence for the moment, but I'm pretty sure most of the guys from Seattle and Port A are just mapping out their next fishing trip."

He sighed and took a drink of his beer. "Sorry Bells. You didn't need to hear that. I'm just upset because..." His brows knit together tightly and he took another deep swallow from his beer.

"Dad? Did something happen today?" He wasn't normally this upset and talkative about work.

"Bella, there was another missing person report filed yesterday, and there is reason to believe it is linked to the case involving the owner of that car. A girl... your age. It was just too much today." He took a bite and tried to enjoy it.

We sat and ate quietly, the occasional crack of a tortilla chip making my skin crawl in the silence. I had been jumpy all day.

I decided to speak up and change the subject. "Have you talked to Billy today? Yesterday he said Jake was really sick and I still haven't been able to talk to him." I prayed he'd spoken with Billy.

"Sorry Bells. I saw Sue today, and she looked awful. Seth and Leah are coming down with something and she said if Harry isn't better before tomorrow she's talking him to the hospital." Hearing that about the Clearwaters made me worry again about Jake. "I'm sorry. If Sue needs it I can always take a meal her way." I debated asking my next question, but I was sure he knew what I wanted to say. "Dad, if you talk to Billy tonight or tomorrow please find out how Jake is doing for me?"

"Of course Bells. You guys okay?" My dad watched for my reaction carefully.

I smiled, feeling a touch of a blush creep in my cheeks. "We're good. Really good."

He smiled in return, nodding slightly, "I'm happy for you, Bells," and returned to his dinner in a much better mood.

We washed up dinner after he ate one of my cinnamon rolls, promising to take the rest to the station the next day. I headed to bed, feeling a little better now that I wasn't alone in the house anymore, but as soon as I reached my room I felt chill.

My window was cracked open. I hadn't done that... had I?

Damp night air blew in the window. I pulled it closed, leaning out slightly to glance as I grabbed the latch. The yard was empty. What had I expected? Edward?

I shook my head and chalked it up to not sleeping well and the spooky stories I'd been hearing from the police. Who could scale the house to my window anyway? I got ready for bed and climbed in, pulling up my extra blanket to chase the cold away. I thought of Jacob's warm arms, and how quickly they would warm me, but the creepy feeling came and went through the night, robbing me of another night of rest.

A completely dull day without Jacob followed by a night of pointless tossing. I could only hope that Friday would be better. Or at least more interesting.

Little reminder- leelator has updated How To Seduce A Werewolf (on Twilighted). *squeal* Go read it.

So, how do like the 'morning after'? The haircut scene was another thing I always wanted to know about, so I just wrote it. I think Pavarti touched on the concept in I Will Wait For You And I Will Burn, a lovely AH story, and I just loved it so I delved to the moment here. What did you think?

More intrigue for lonely Bella, and a diplomatic meeting are on the way- what do you think will happen? Click the button and tell me. I might give hints!

Thanks so much for reading!