Emily and I sit at the table in near silence. I hold a mug in my hands, not drinking from it but trying to focus on the burning warmth it brings to my hands. It's a good distraction from what I know is happening in Forks.

I was nervous when I woke again and Jake wasn't there. I knew immediately where he had gone. A part of me feels that I have betrayed Jacob. And this makes me feel literally torn. While I know Jacob is doing this for me, to protect me, I know he's blinded by his rage and fear. Funny how I'm the exhausted one and I can see better than he can and think more logically. I know he'll be angry that I've gone to Sam. Actually, he'll probably be very furious that I've turned to Sam to control him. But it's not like that. I know how he feels about being controlled. I understand. But it's just too dangerous to even think about keeping my mouth shut. One wolf against seven vampires? That's not good odds.

I grip the mug a little tighter when I hear a howl. Emily reaches across the table and gives my hand a squeeze. I smile a sad little smile at her over the rim of my mug and decide to take a big gulp of hot chocolate to burn my whole mouth and have something else to focus on. Please don't let him be hurt. Please. I close my eyes and inhale slowly, trying to calm my nerves.

It sounds and feels like an earthquake. The porch groans and cries out under the weight and abuse it's being put to. The front door slams open and nearly punches a hole in the wall as the pack tumbles through, all in a rush to be the first to get in. Emily jumps up, ready to yell and scold but one look from the boys shuts her up.

I scan the faces frantically and look for my soul mate. He enters second and immediately goes to my side. I'm not prepared for the tight embrace he pulls me into. My feet dangle above the floor. And I can barely breathe pressed up against his chest. Jacob buries his nose in my hair and inhales deeply. I think I hear him say, "You're ok" but I can't be sure. He places a kiss on my lips before placing me back on the floor.

I look up at him expectantly. "It's the baby" he says the same time the others start unloading the information on Emily and anyone who didn't get the chance to see the mental images in the run over.

And now I'm confused. "What do you mean? Bella's baby? But…" And then it clicks. A baby that's part leech. It's powerful. "How?"

He shakes his head and his eyes glisten with unshed tears. "I don't know. It's like all the others how they can do strange things. The baby is causing the nightmares."

It's quiet now as the others listen to Jake and I.

I don't know how to feel. I have an answer to the question that's literally been driving me insane for months. But even with the identity of my torturer, I'm no closer to peace. It's almost worse knowing that it's a baby. And this baby. The pack can't just go out and kill it. It's a baby. It's not even really alive. Or will it ever be? God this is so wrong! And why did it have to be Bella and Edward's baby. The Cullens, no matter what the pack says, are a force to be reckoned with. And this baby is still a part of Bella. Whatever is inflicted on the baby may be inflicted on Bella. And to kill it… Oh God what would need to be done? Must they kill it? Of course. There's no reasoning with something that's not even alive. We could wait till it is born but how long will that be? How many more torture filled nights? It only gets worse. How many more before it kills me? And even if we waited, how long would we need to wait before it understands what we are asking? I won't make it that long. It'll...

Jacob again pulls me into his arms and holds me tight. "We'll figure it out. We'll fix this" he assures me and takes the pressure off of me. I don't have to figure this out alone. The whole pack will be here to help me and they will more likely than not solve this.

"Yeah" chimes Jared and I look at him through blurry eyes. "We got this Em."

I nod as best I can. Sam and Emily guide everyone towards the living room. Jacob hangs back with me. He runs his hands over my arms. "Are you alright?" he asks.

"I don't know" I answer truthfully. I'm not sure at all what is happening. I feel just as trapped with this information as I did when I was in the dark. "I don't know what to do."

Jacob shakes his head. "Don't worry. I'm going to protect you" he promises. "I won't let this happen anymore. I've got a target." His eyes cloud over with an emotion I don't recognize as he speaks.

I shake my head as well. This target is the problem. He doesn't have a target because this target happens to be inside of Bella. A human. How can you kill a leech baby? Can you even kill a half breed like that?

"It'll be alright" he says and rubs my back soothingly. Suddenly, he bends down and kisses my lips with intensity. I can't kiss him back. I'm too worried. My mind is in a thousand places. Jacob doesn't seem to care though and continues to kiss me. "It'll be ok."

We follow the other and sit down at the foot of the couch that's packed with the boys. "Alright," Sam says and draws all the attention. "I think we need to get the council's input on this."

"Why?" Embry asks. All the boys are a little wary of the council. I can't blame them. The council will make a decision for something they have to handle and fight. It's scary when their fate is out of their hands.

"Because… this has the potential to become something much… greater than the pack."

War. It's what he means and what he's not saying. And we all know it. This has the potential to become a war depending on how the situation is handled. The Cullens aren't going to be happy no matter what. But I don't think anyone is too worried about the wants of the Cullens.

There's silence for an answer.

Jacob is the first to say something. "If we can get them to make a quick decision then I'm fine with it." He is tense beside me and pulls me close.

Sam nods. "I'll go make the calls. Emily…"

She nods without him having to say the words and steps up and out of the room. That leaves the rest of us in an anxiety filled stupor. A few glances come my way. Even Leah nods at me and that makes me worried. Sure, the nightmares were something to cause me panic. But now knowing, although we figured, but actually knowing, that I'm the target of some leech makes this all more frightening. The pack may be able to deal with this kind of thing but I sure can't. I stand no chance against a leech of any type. Not even a baby.

I shudder and lean against Jacob. He wraps his arm around me and rubs my arm. He kisses the top of my head and pulls me even closer. "You'll be alright" he breathes.

I nod trying to assure myself the same thing. But that's kind of hard to do when you know the thing that wants to kill you is going to be so much more tricky to apprehend.

…

The council meeting wasn't much help. They were just as confused by all this as we are. The one thing I credit them with is holding strong to their values of protecting all of the tribe. At any point they honestly could have said screw it, just let me die and avoid the war (although I don't think that would sit well with the pack), but they were adamant that we fix this. That and they want to protect the rest of the reservation that is unaware of this strange world we live in.

So that left us no better than we were before. Except now Sam has gained permission to choose how we will act. Immediately after the council members leave, the pack goes into another meeting. Normally someone would complain or beg Emily for food, but not today. The sense of duty and urgency is high in the air.

Sam paces back and forth for a moment. "Our first goal is to talk to the Cullens…" There's a beginning of protest, Jacob included, but he silences them with a hand. "We don't want to escalate this if we don't have to."

"And what are we going to say?" Paul demands. "Kill your fucking baby before we do?"

Sam nods. "That's exactly what we're going to say." He shoots me a sympathetic look. It may be a good thing in this situation that we are now family. Not that Sam wouldn't fight hard for any imprint or tribe member, but he just seems to have a fire behind his eyes because it is me. "Maybe they don't want the thing too. Jacob said it looked like it was killing Bella. Maybe we can convince them."

"And if not?" Jacob speaks up. "We need a plan if not."

He seems to want to rush through this. Not that I blame him. This affects him just as much as it does me. I'm sure he's had just as many, if not more, sleepless nights as I have. But he seems to be so urgent. How long does he honestly think this will take?

"If they refuse…" Sam glances at all of us individually. "Then we don't have a choice and we attack. Our goal is to kill the baby. We don't have time to reason. They either do it or we do."

"When?" Jacob pushes. "How much longer…?" He doesn't finish but I know. How much longer will Emma suffer?

Sam again glances at me. "I don't know. We'll go today, tonight, to talk. If that doesn't work then we go back tomorrow…"

"To kill it" Jacob finishes and Sam nods. "I'll talk to Bella" he offers and I stare at him warily. Jacob couldn't even control himself this morning before he ran off to confront her. How will he be able to convince her to kill her own child? And will he act rashly if she refuses. I don't want to think of Jacob in a situation as dangerous as that, filled with fury and incapable of clear judgment.

Sam thinks the same but for some reason he doesn't protest. "Alright. She might listen to you. You two are friends."

"Were" he corrects. "No friend of mine does this."