I instantly froze my run. Panic raced through my mind as I considered the tight spot I was now in. I fought the instinctive urge to flee. It might not do any good to try to turn and make another run for it. I created this situation, and I needed to try and end it as peacefully as possible. My danger to human life was the single largest problem that the wolves had with me. This would be the first major step to try to earn their trust.

I took a deep breath, tasting the air – it was unpolluted now, with no trace of the compelling perfume to torment my thirst.

It took Jacob and Embry a quick minute to catch up. I turned to watch them join up with me. Jacob's face was filled with alarm, his hackles bristled slightly. Embry looked upset, ears low and tail flicking from side to side.

"Did I… accidentally enter La Push?" My bell voice squeaked, twisted by panic.

Jacob turned his serious gaze to me, and very slowly, he nodded.

"And Sam knows." It wasn't a question. I could hear two of the La Push wolves now as they hurried to converge with us.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered. Embry trotted ahead of me, positioning himself between me and the oncoming wolves. Jacob hurried off a short distance into the woods. His heart beats, loud from a massive wolf heart, quieted as he took on his smaller, human form.

"Um, Bella, if you don't mind… don't turn around. My clothes kinda got shredded."

That situation might have been awkward or embarrassing on another day, but right now a more serious situation was at hand.

"I'm sorry too, Bella. It's my fault Sam knows. I panicked, and told him, when you were able to outrun us." Jacob continued, sounding guilty.

I simply nodded, and swallowed heavily. The scent of Jacob and Embry had helped temper the burning in my throat. It had returned to the dull ache.

My sharp eyes suddenly picked up movement deep in the forest. Dark as a shadow, the giant black wolf snaked through the trees, straight towards us. Sam's expression was hard and inscrutable, his hackles standing straight on end. A few second behind him, Jared, in the form of a brown wolf, followed.

Sam's dark eyes flashed as they focused on me. The growl that rumbled from him as he took in the sight of us waiting was grisly. My forehead creased with worry and I bit my lip. Would he be reasonable and stop? Or had he decided I was too much of a menace? Would Jacob end up fighting with him because of me again?

The first break of relief came. Sam paused just out of sight, where he phased and changed into clothes. At least he appeared willing to talk. He charged out from behind a tree, just finishing tugging a pair of shorts into place.

"Damn it, Jacob Black. I knew I should have just killed you both myself!" Sam yelled. I was shocked at his aggressive tone. My image of Sam had always been one of self-possessed authority. Sam stood before us, face twisted into a disgusted scowl. His limbs twitched and quivered, and his hands were balled into fists. He glared at Jacob, still standing behind me. Jared took position on Sam's flank, never removing his menacing gaze from me.

"This was exactly what I was talking about!" Sam continued, "You were a fool to think that you could control a bloodsucker so easily. She just about killed whoever the unlucky hiker was!" Sam turned his baleful glare towards me, before shaking his head. I couldn't argue with him. It was frightening how quickly out of control I had become. I truly had almost murdered someone. I mentally shuddered.

"But Bella didn't, did she?" Jacob retorted, "She clearly snapped out of it and made a run for it!"

"Straight into La Push!" Sam snapped back. His hands were trembling harder, and I felt more unease. Was it purely because of my sudden risk to the humans he had dedicated himself to protect? Or was it that whole two Alphas thing? Whatever antagonised him, I'd never seen him less composed before. Embry bristled at his tone. I was also irritated that I was being left out of an argument about myself.

"I'm truly sorry." I interrupted both of them, "I… had no idea. About both La Push, and about the hiker. It seriously caught me off guard."

Sam snapped his teeth together angrily, behind him, Jared snorted. I continued, wondering if this would be my only chance to explain myself.

"I caught the scent," I spoke, struggling not to recall the nearly irresistible fragrance, "and I had no idea what it was at first. So I kept trying to smell it… and I won't lie, the scent made my thirst burn and made it hard to think straight. Jacob and Embry helped snap me out of it… and I really am horrified at myself. I'm so sorry. I think I should be able to catch myself before it can escalate like that again next time. I didn't realise until too late that I had crossed into La Push. I was trying to run where I wouldn't have to keep smelling the scent."

I was worried that maybe I hadn't told the truth. I wasn't truly sure I'd be able to catch myself next time. The thirst and instincts had so quickly overpowered all common sense. I had never imagined it would be so hard to resist human blood!

Sam openly glared at me, his jaw clenched and unclenched, like he was chewing on the words he wanted to spit out. His angry stare remained locked onto my bloody crimson eyes. I had no idea what he thought in that moment, what he saw as he measured my expression.

The stress had rendered me completely motionless. It had a differing effect on the werewolves. Sam's hands continued to fist open and closed. His fingers trembled. A shudder of movement rippled along his shoulders and down his spine. Jared broke his unrelenting watch from me for the very first time. For less than a second, he chanced an anxious glance at his Alpha.

An air of unnatural silence seemed to press over the forest in that never ending moment. Unnatural amounts of heat poured off of the four, I could feel the warmth roll over me as I stood frozen.

Sam's dark eyes flickered to his pack member, releasing me from their iron grasp. When they returned, something in his face had changed. The anger had been replaced by an expression that looked like disgust.

His quivering slowed only very slightly. He had now switched his deadly glare to behind me, towards Jacob.

"Let me make it perfectly clear. We will not hesitate to kill her the moment that she attacks a human. If you want her to live so badly, you will help keep her under control. There are bound to be many other hikers out on a sunny day like today. And I want you to take her around the treaty line. Make sure she knows it perfectly. Then there shouldn't be any excuse if she crosses it."

There was a long second of silence. I couldn't turn around to see whatever Jacob's expression was.

"Any other orders, Sam Uley?" Jacob sneered with a shocking level of acid in his tone.

It was like time had frozen. For a piece of a second, even Sam's trembling halted.

Suddenly, time shifted into overdrive. Several things happened very fast.

Sam's eye's bulged, and his nostrils flared with utter outrage. His shaking returned, more violent than ever. Jared let loose a livid snarl. Embry's hackles immediately stood on end and he gave a strange exasperated yelp. Jacob snorted, like he had confirmed something with disgust.

Edward's growl echoed through my head.

Sam hunched forward, vibrating violently. His teeth ground together and his knuckles looked like they were about to break through his russet skin.

"Bella, get back!" Edward's furious voice demanded. I wasn't about to ignore him in this situation, my instincts shouting at me to take physical action. My muscles bunched and prepared me for fight or flight. Warily, I quickly stepped backwards, faster than human speed. Sam's eyes wheeled towards the sudden movement, a real growl tearing from between his clenched teeth, before he seemed to fall forward. Halfway to the ground, there was a loud ripping noise, and Sam exploded.

Pitch black fur blew out from the man, coalescing into a shape more than five-times his size – a massive, crouched shape, ready to spring.

The wolf's muzzle wrinkled back over his teeth, and another growl rolled through his colossal chest. His dark, murderously enraged eyes flashed between Jacob and me. He started yowling a long stream of snarls through his teeth. His claws tore into the forest floor, and the muscles under his thick fur tensed and released as he struggled to remain stationary.

"Bella!" Edward hissed in my head. I immediately leapt back several more feet, unable to suppress my screaming instincts. With a jolt, I registered a massive russet wolf as I skipped past him. Jacob let loose a vicious warning growl.

Neither wolf moved a single inch. Embry quickly backed up to join me behind Jacob's flank. Jared moved father behind Sam as well.

The severe noises the two emanated echoed heavily off the trees. Sam snapped and gnashed his dagger sharp teeth, froth flying from his jaws. His massive eyes danced with rage. Jacob's entire body vibrated from the deep growl rumbling out of his chest.

Still, neither of them dared break the standoff. A low wind played through the trees, ruffling all of the wolves' already bristling fur.

Gripped with fear, I still managed to feel deeply uncomfortable. I was the only one currently in the dark. The two Alphas continued to stare each other down, almost certainly screaming at each other through their mental link. You could almost hear the profanities in their ripping snarls. The wolves Jared and Embry were also privy to the invisible conversation.

For one wild second, I wished Edward were here to read their thoughts. I flinched as my wounds ripped with pain. I scrambled to quickly beat back the unrestrained thought and forced myself to stay completely still.

The snarls eventually quieted and died out, but the wolves continued to stare each other down with burning intensity.

I counted to a hundred in my head, but there was still no change. Anxiety twisted its way through my body and I would have done anything if I thought it would peacefully end this madness.

Just then, the low wind quickly picked up. A sudden gust of air rocked sideways through the trees, swaying branches and causing the leaves to hiss with movement.

And just like earlier today, the repulsive stink of the wolves was replaced by the desirable aroma of a human.

The dry ache in my throat was surprisingly easily ignored in this situation. I quickly swallowed back the burning sensation along with the sudden excess of venom flowing in my mouth. Without a doubt, it was probably another hiker enjoying the unusually fair weather today.

I jumped as the wolves broke their standoff with unintended synchronization. Sam and Jared both twisted their heads in my direction, instantaneously focussing their attention towards me. Jacob's massive head flipped around, to check me as well. Embry turned towards the source of the scent, raising his nose to confirm the taboo smell in the air.

Sam moved half a step towards me. Jacob wheeled his head back to snap violently at him.

I raised my hands slightly, palms forward, quickly trying to reassure them. Just as fast, I spoke.

"I'm in control. It's easier to ignore, now that I know what it is." I was surprised at the truth of my statement. Last time, I had let myself get wound up by the smell as I tried to figure out what it was. But then again, even if it was easier, it was still an unexpected struggle to keep in control. I could feel the deep rooted urge to hunt. I stilled my breathing.

The wolves returned their focus back to each other. But there was no longer the intense impression of the face off. The wolves exchanged glances between each other. The glances eventually settled on Jacob, whose own focus was back on Sam. Jared rolled his massive eyes at something. Embry barked a laughed.

I gaped in surprise at the sudden flip in the atmosphere. I watched as the bristled fur settled and the wolves unconsciously assumed positions of ease. Sam huffed.

And just like that, I watched as Sam and Jared turned tail and returned to La Push.

Jacob and Embry turned around to see me. Jacob chortled at my shocked expression. I blinked a few times as I tried to imagine just what I'd missed out on.

Jacob led the way as the three of us returned back to the meadow. I felt ease just to be out of La Push. There was no longer the drifting perfume of human on the wind.

With all the delicacy that his immense jaws could muster, Jacob gingerly carried the backpack of clothes into the bushes for himself and Embry. I noted pieces of the destroyed pants tangled in the grass. The scraps of fabric littered the meadow.

"Okay, Jacob, just what the heck did I miss?" I immediately demanded the moment he returned as a human.

"Settle down, it wasn't that big of a deal." Jacob rolled his eyes.

"Are you serious? Sam almost attacked us!"

"I wish he would've. It would've given me an excuse to get Jared back for a bet he'll probably never pay good on." Embry mused nonchalantly. I whirled to face him, if there had been any blood in my face, I would've blanched. He had to be kidding me! He merely laughed at my expression.

"If you're wondering, he now owes me ten bucks since you proved you can control yourself." He winked.

"Anyways," Jacob interrupted, "Like I said, you didn't miss much. Really, these things happen all the time between the wolves. Maybe it was a little more tense this time, but still."

"And?" I prompted, my voice still strained.

"Sheesh! Not much! It was probably better that Sam phased, I don't regret you not hearing the first chunk of our conversation. Well, it wasn't much of a conversation. The word 'leech-lover' was probably the most polite word thrown around. That was us snarling. After we both shut up enough to be more rational, I asked Sam if he'd also traced the red haired leech's path last night. Paul had, and he reported it to Sam as he was relieving Paul of his patrol. Thank god Paul was off patrol."

Embry laughed and nodded. "Seriously. He probably would have pitched a fit that it didn't turn into a fight. I'm glad I don't have to be in his head anymore."

"We talked a little more strategy," Jacob continued, "discussed how we were planning to coordinate our packs, then Sam threw a couple more insults over the Alpha issue." – Jacob paused to roll his eyes again – "Then the wind blew in the scent, we all freaked, but you were fine. I told Sam that Embry was demanding pay up from Jared, Jared refused and we had a laugh. Then we all decided to split."

I was thoroughly irritated now that I knew that the argument had only lasted briefly before their mental discussion had quickly turned on its head. It wasn't my fault for assuming the worst. The image of the positively giant wolves, appearing to all the world as though they were about to tear each other to bloody shreds. I shuddered at the now-memory.

"We did consider letting you help patrol as long as you're just going to be sitting out here in the woods doing nothing." Jacob informed me offhandedly. My eyebrows rose in surprise. Did they really trust me enough to let help them?

"Sam says it's a very distant possibility, and he's not at all comfortable with the idea yet. He's thinking that Quil will join us any day now, so he's not that desperate for extra help."

"Quil's going to be a werewolf?" I struggled to understand the sudden expression of hopelessness that filled both Jacob and Embry's face as Quil's name was mentioned. I quickly realised they must not wish the same fate they had for their friend.

"Yeah. He's had direct wolf genes passed down. That and the fact that Quil's grandfather says the kid could fry an egg on his forehead. It won't be long now. There's no exact age… it just builds and builds and then suddenly –" He broke off, and it was a moment before he could speak again. "Sometimes, if you get really upset or something, that can trigger it early."

I felt concern over his feelings of helplessness. I wished there was something I could do. With a sickening jolt, I realised that if what Jacob said was right, my very presence in the woods was probably directly influencing the changes happening to the nearby Quiluete population. Just great. Now I was messing up even more people's lives. I didn't even have to know these people, and I was helping to turn them into monsters like myself.

"Don't worry too much about it right now." Jacob said quietly, misreading my upset expression. "Being a wolf isn't so bad. Pretty cool sometimes. Especially when there's leeches like the redhead out there to fight." He smiled weakly.

I sighed. Jacob turned his attention to Embry.

"Look, Embry, you can take off if you want. I'm just going to be showing Bella the treaty line better. Just remember to bring back my pants. We only have a limited supply here."

"Eh. I don't have anywhere I need to be right now. Maybe I'll restart patrolling. I've already skipped school today, and if I go home, my mom will probably start screaming at me again for 'sneaking out'." He made finger quotes around the last two words, rolling his eyes.

"Geez, y'know you are allowed to tell her if you want."

"Naw, I don't mind. I'd rather not let her in on the secret."

"Suit yourself. Bella, you ready to run the treaty line?" Jacob turned his attention back to me.

"Sure, let's go."

Embry did decide to patrol after all. He returned Jacob back his pants and headed off to run a couple passes to the north. After explaining the rough size and shape of the land that the treaty line encompassed, Jacob and I headed out so that I could more personally memorize the border. We headed the opposite way of Embry, starting at the most southern point of the treaty land. Jacob ran as straight as possible through the trees. I could see he took the exact line as seriously as possible. It only took a portion of my head to map and keep track of the land as we flew through the forest. With my perfect memory, the task was more than easy.

Part of my brain used the excess space to replay today's confrontation in my mind, analysing more deeply everything that had been said.

I shuddered as I remembered Sam exploding before my eyes. My fear of his hulking black form was still as strong as ever. Maybe it wasn't so hard to believe that they had killed Laurent so seemingly easily.

I applied my knowledge of what had really been said to the silent conversation. It still didn't entirely alleviate the anxiety and frustration of knowing you were the only person out of the loop.

As I replayed the explanation of my actions I had said to Sam, I acknowledged two things I had said that had been lies. At the time, I had known I had fed them a half-truth when I said that I thought I could control myself. Maybe it wasn't so much a lie now. As long as I held my breath in time, maybe it was possible.

But I couldn't really be blamed for lying about the second thing. Even if they heard each other's voices in their heads, it didn't mean they would approve of mine.

I had said that it was Jacob and Embry who had snapped me out of it. Far from it. They had only managed to infuriate me in my thirst-hazed state. It had been my delusion of Edward's voice. It had managed to break through the thirst fuelled haze in my head, and probably saved my life.

Suddenly, I thought I understood better why the subconscious wish fulfillment had pierced through the haze to my rational mind. I recalled the idea I had invented last night.

Before, the sound of Edward's furious voice had motivated me to be reckless and dangerous. In an ironic twist of events, I now wanted to conform to the hallucination's demands. The voice had finally succeeded to motivate me to want to be safe, to want to live. The voice reminded me of the one last burning hope I had for my now almost meaningless life. I had finally found a reason to keep up my side of the void promise.

I smiled as we continued to trace the treaty line. I quickly doubled my efforts to memorize it. I was suddenly as eager to know it as Sam wanted me to. I would do everything I could to keep myself alive. In any form.