Author's Note: You guy's kick a**. Thanks for all the awesome reviews! Here's the next chapter! Hope you like it!
War is in the air.
Jacob takes me down his front steps and stands with me at the head of the circle that has formed. There are grim expressions on every face. Some questioning looks are thrown my way but no one says a word.
We are waiting.
A few minutes later, I understand why. The pack has returned.
Sam walks up to Jacob and I, and stands directly to Jacob's left side. He takes hold of Emily's hand, kisses it briefly and then clears his throat.
Everyone is silent and riveted, waiting to hear what he has to say.
"The treaty with the Cold One's has ended. They have gone back on their word and have harmed a human girl – Bella Swan! See their cruelty on her neck! She who was once a pet of theirs is no more. See how they have turned on her!"
I'm too shocked to move but Jacob pulls my hair back, exposing my throat. I hear a few people gasp. Sam waits a long moment before continuing.
"It was an unnatural treaty from the very beginning. Our fathers made a mistake trusting our natural enemy – our only enemy! And no more will they be welcome to come and go as they please – to hunt and kill friends of the forest! They will leave or they will be destroyed. We are not a war making people. But we have a responsibility to protect our people and our land. This is our duty and we will face up to our duty as our forefathers have done. We will all do our part. We will sacrifice. We may die. But we will not lose. We will fight to our last breath and we will take them to the fires where they belong!"
Sam raised his right arm, his hand clenched tightly in a fist. "Brothers and sisters! We are not safe! Our neighbors are not safe! We must keep our eyes open lest the enemy approaches! Our fires will burn brightly for fire is life and they are enemies of life! They are an abomination on this, our Mother earth!"
He closed his eyes, and knelt to the ground, his head on his knee. "Spirits of our ancestor's – hear us! We ask for guidance from our spirit warriors! We ask the nature spirits to protect us and shield us from harm. And we ask the wolf – our brother, for strength to see us through to the end!"
The rest of the circle knelt and Jacob pulled me to the ground, his arm circling around me, holding me close.
"Death to the Cold Ones!"
Everyone rose, cheering and yelling. The sound reverberated all around me and felt like a physical thing. It brought tears to my eyes.
Sam left Emily's side and came to me. He pulled me free from Jacob.
"You see now what true monsters are. We will return tenfold the damage they have done to you. You – Bella Swan – sister of the wolf, shall be protected as any of us are protected. But hear me – there is no going back. You help our enemy and you become our enemy. Do you understand?"
I sucked in a breath of life sustaining air. "Yes, I understand."
He nodded, looking pleased. He motioned Jacob over.
"She is one of us now. But she holds the same place as anyone here – and we can offer only the same protection, unless you're willing to step up. Jacob – now is the time."
I looked up at Jacob and saw his jaw tighten in defiance.
"I won't do it, Sam. It's your place, not mine."
Sam gave him no reaction, merely stared down at me meaningfully. "We'll see."
He walked away and joined a huddle of people across the driveway.
"Jake? What did he mean?"
Jacob sighed and reached down to take my hand. His hand covered mine. "He wants me to lead the pack."
"And you don't want to?"
He ran his free hand through his short hair. "I don't think I can do it, Bells. It's more than a title, a position. It's the power of life and death. It's the kind of responsibility no one should ever have. I'm not even eighteen years old. I'm not fit to lead everyone through this. I'm not strong enough."
I looked up at him and though my mind was blank, my mouth seemed to have a mind all its own."Jake, you're one of the strongest people I know. I'm not telling you that because I want you to do it. I just want you to know that, I think you can do anything if you really wanted to. You're Jacob Black – and I believe in you."
I didn't plan on saying it – hadn't consciously thought of what had come out of my mouth. But it seemed like the right thing, because it made him smile.
He looked down at me and his eyes were nearly glowing.
"Are you okay?" I whispered.
He stared at me intently without saying anything.
I watched him watching me and took a step forward without telling my body to move. I was most definitely in his personal space. His arms came around me, and he pulled me flush against him. I closed my eyes and felt truly warm for the first time in a long time.
He made this rumbling sound in his chest and I wanted to purr with contentment.
All too soon he released me, when Quil came bounding over and demanded his attention - pulling him towards Embry to discuss some boundary. I watched him as he was dragged several feet away, looking back at me with a hunger that I felt physically.
I couldn't keep my eyes off of him as he stood there, arms crossed, deliberating with the others. His voice was full of authority, and he seemed so much older than his years. I noticed that I was not the only one watching him. People were looking to him for his opinion, his advice. While Sam had to yell and be fiery to command those around him, Jacob did it with a calm assured air of someone who knows all the answers and holds all the cards. I was seeing a new side of him – one that I had no idea existed.
And it bothered me that he was across the driveway and not standing next to me.
I shook myself to try and snap out of whatever spell had been cast upon me.
Before I'd truly succeeded in disentangling my attention, Leah walked over and stood in front of me. Her eyes were as black as coal and she looked like she wanted to throttle me.
"You white witch," she said under her breath, "You don't belong here on the res, and you certainly don't belong to Jacob Black. You are so unworthy of him… it's a disgrace that he stands by your side. I wish that leech had finished what he started – I'd love to face you across the battlefield. I'd relish tearing your bony, pale ass apart."
My mouth dropped open before I slammed it firmly shut. "You have had it out for me from the beginning. I never did anything to you, Leah. And Sam said I'm welcome here. No one else seems to have a problem, why are you acting like this?"
"I don't answer to leech lovers. What was it like in bed with a dead corpse on top of you?"
I slapped her.
Everyone got quiet, and looked at the two of us. I knew if Edward was here he'd be over here, in front of me, protecting me needlessly. I was fervently grateful that he wasn't. I could fight my own battles.
To my utter surprise, Leah flashed a feral grin and then pushed me.
I stumbled backward, unable to keep my balance and fell on my ass.
Someone shouted, "Go Leah!"
I looked away at Jacob, and he was watching with a tense jaw. I could tell he wanted to step in, but something held him back. It was like he knew how much I would hate it if he did.
I picked myself up, taking a handful of dirt in my fist, and flung it at her.
"Bitch!" she shrieked as she frantically tried to clear her eyes.
I knew I only had one chance to take her and it was while she was distracted. I launched myself at her, knocking her over and taking her to the dirt. I could barely see through all the dust but we struggled, rolling over each other as we each tried to gain the upper hand and be on top. I wasn't strong – and I knew that I'd lose, but I had to fight. I had to stand up for myself.
We fought like longtime rivals, and we fought dirty. Hair was pulled. Skin was scratched. Teeth ended up in the mix.
But she was stronger, and had more experience, and she soon had me pinned beneath her, unable to move.
We were both breathing heavily. She looked down at me, her face neutral. She got off of me and offered her hand. I took it wordlessly and she pulled me up. She nodded once, and walked away.
I was instantly surrounded by the boys of the pack and they were all speaking at once.
"Damn Bella! I didn't know you had it in you!"
"Shit! I didn't know you could fight like that!"
"That was the hottest thing I've ever seen!"
"White girl's got guts!"
Jacob muscled the guys out of the way and looked at me. "You okay, honey?"
I brushed some of the dust off my shirt. "Yeah – I think so."
"Good for you, baby," he kissed my cheek and amidst the hooting and hollering took me back inside the cabin.
He pulled some of his sister's clothes from her closet and steered me into the bathroom. "You take your time, sweetie. I'll be right out here. And if you need bandaids or anything, they're in the medicine cabinet."
Jacob left me alone and I stared at myself in the mirror.
I was not the same girl I was yesterday.
Not even close.
For the first time in a long time I felt like I was something – that I was someone. And it felt good.
