I ran at the speed of light,

You running at the speed of light, that's funny. Leah thought,

Shut up, Leah. I thought, as I kept my head in the game unlike a certain gray wolf, who was riding some strange high, I guess it was being away from Sam.

We were racing, I woke up a while ago. I would take over with Seth for when Jake and Leah crashed...if Jake hasn't crashed yet.

Seth's howl stopped us,

We felt Jake phase.

What is it? Jake asks

Incoming. Seth answers At least three

Did they split up? Jacob asks

I'm running the line back to Seth at the speed of light. Leah promised,

I got the other line, I promise

Seth, do not challenge them. Wait for me. Jacob states.

They're slowing. Urg—it's so off not being able to hear them. I think...Seth let the thought trail off,

What? Jake asks,

I think they're stopped Seth answers

Waiting for the rest of the pack? I ask

Shh. Feel that? Seth asks,

The faint, soundless shimmer in the air.

Someone's phasing? Jacob asks,

Feels like it, Seth agreed.

Leah and I flew into the small open space where Seth waited. Leah raked her claws into the dirt spinning out like a race car. My stop was somewhat more controlled then hers. I skidded to a stop.

Got your back, bro. Leah states,

Same here. I second

They're coming. Seth thought nervously, Slow. Walking.

Almost there. Jacob thought, running toward us. He was worried about leaving us to face the others without him there.

Look who's getting all paternal. Leah thought wryly.

Head in the game, Leah. Jacob replies

Four Seth decided, he had good ears. Three wolves, one man.

Jake came to the open space just as the sounds of large paws and human feet were getting closer, Seth took his place as Second, while I stayed by her side. Until Jake realized we weren't going anywhere, I didn't want a place.

So now I rank under Seth, Leah thought to herself, grumbled would be more of a better term.

First come, first serve. Seth thought smugly. 'sides, you were never an Alpha's Fourth before. Still an upgrade.

I growled at him. We left together, numskull. So we're Co-Seconds.

Under my baby brother is not an upgrade nor is being ranked under with Alyssa. Leah replies,

That hurts, Leah. Thanks a lot now I know how you really feel about me. I thought.

Shh! Jacob exclaims I don't care where you stand. Shut up and get ready.

They came into view a second later, just as Seth thought. Jared in front as a human, Quil and Collin on four legs..wait Collin? Why send the kid?

Jacob was thinking along the same lines as me.

A diversion? Leah thought

Were Sam, Embry and Brady making a move alone? That didn't seem likely.

Want me to check? I can run the line and be back in two minutes. Leah asks

Should I warn the Cullens? Seth wondered

What if the point was to divide us? Jacob asks, The Cullens know something is up. They're ready.

Sam wouldn't be so stupid....Leah thought with fear lacing her mind. Imagining Sam attacking the Cullens with only two others.

No, he wouldn't. Jacob assured her,

I felt sick with the image in Leah's mind...Sam was my brother still. Even if we didn't see the same things anymore. Where we were thinking about what could be happening, Jared and the other two were watching us.

Jared cleared his throat and then nodded to Jacob. "White flag of truce, Jake. We're here to talk."

Think it's true? Seth asks

Makes sense but... Jacob replies

Yeah Leah agreed But.

We didn't relax, Jake was trying to figure out why Sam would send Collin instead of Embry.

"Okay, I guess I'll just talk, then." Jared states, "Jake, we want you to come back."

Quil let out a soft whine behind Jared, seconding the statement.

"You've torn our family apart. It's not meant to be this way." Jared states

I snorted, his eyes flickered to me. I bared my teeth at him.

"We know that you feel...strongly about the situation with the Cullens. We know that's a problem. But this is an overreaction." Jared continued

Seth growled. Overreaction? And attacking our allies without warning isn't?

Seth, you ever heard of a poker face? Cool it. Jacob states.

Sorry. Seth apologized

Jared's eyes flicker to Seth and back to Jake. "Sam is willing to take this slowly, Jacob. He's calmed down, talked to the other Elders. They've decided that immediate action is in no one's best interest at this point."

Translation: They're already lost the element of surprise. Leah thought

It was strange to have Leah thinking as I did, that we were already Sam's Pack and Jacob's Pack.

"Billy and Sue agree with you, Jacob, that we can wait for Bella...to be separated from the problem. Killing her is not something any of us feel comfortable with." Jared states,

So they didn't feel comfortable with murder?

Jacob and I snarled at Jared, and Jake just told Seth not too.

Jared raised his hands "Easy, Jake, Lyssa. You know what I mean. The point is, we're going to wait and reassess the situation. Decide later if there's a problem with the...thing."

I snorted

Ha, Leah thought. What a load.

You don't buy it? Jake asks

I know what they're thinking, Jake. What Sam's thinking. They're betting on Bella dying anyway. And then they figure you'll be so mad... Leah replies

That I'll lead the attack myself. Jacob finishes, his ears pressed against his head.

I looked into Jake's thinking, and he was sure that if the thing killed Bella, he would kill it.

I'll remind you. Seth whispered

I know you will, kid. Question is whether I'll listen to you. Jacob replies

"Jake?" Jared asks

Jacob sighed Leah, make a circuit—just to be sure. I'm going to have to talk to him, and I want to be positive there isn't anything else going on while I'm phased.

Give me a break, Jacob. You can phase in front of me. Despite my best efforts, I've seen you naked before—doesn't do much for me, so no worries. Leah replies

I'm not trying to protect the innocence of your eyes. I'm trying to protect our backs. Get out of here. Jake retorted

Nudity was just a part of pack life, it wasn't so bad with just me. Since they already knew what I would do to them, if I caught them thinking about me.

Seth gave a mental wince at the threat.

Leah took off after that,

"Where's she going?" Jared asks

Jake phased, I watched in awe as he was the only one to look like the Beast as he stood on his hind legs to make the change back to human.

"Oh" Jared breathed "Hey, Jake."

"Hey, Jared." Jacob greeted using human vocal cords

"Thanks for talking to me."

"Yeah."

"We want you to come back, man."

Quil whined again. I looked at him and he backed up a bit.

"I don't know if it's that easy, Jared."

"Come home," Jared said leaning forward. He was pleading. "We can sort this out. You don't belong here. Let Seth, Leah and Alyssa come home, too"

The fur on the back of my neck bristled, I chose to go with Jake. I wasn't being held hostage. I wanted to take a chuck out of Jared for even suggesting that.

Easy, Lyss. Seth cautioned

Jake laughed, "Right. Like I haven't been begging them to do that from hour one."

Seth and I snorted.

Jared watched with cautious eyes "So, what now, then?"

Jake was silent for a minute before answering, "I don't know. But I'm not sure things could just go back to normal anyway, Jared. I don't know how it works—it doesn't feel like I can just turn this Alpha thing off and on as the mood strikes. It feels sort of permanent."

"You still belong with us."

Jacob raised his eyebrows. "Two Alphas can't belong in the same place, Jared. Remember how close it got last night? The instinct is too competitive."

"So are you all just going to hang out with the parasites for the rest of your lives?" Jared demanded "You don't have a home here. You're already out of clothes," he pointed out. "You gonna stay wolf all the time? You know Leah doesn't like eating that way."

"Leah can do whatever she wants when she gets hungry. She's here by her own choice. I'm not telling anyone what to do." Jake replies, "Don't start about Lyss eating that way, she lived it."

"Sam is sorry about what he did to you." Jared sighed

"I'm not angry anymore." Jake replies

speak for yourself on that. I thought.

"But?"

"But I'm not coming back, not now. We're going to wait and see how it plays out, too. And we're going to watch out for the Cullens for as long as that seems necessary. Because, despite what you think, this isn't just about Bella. We're protecting those who should be protected. And that includes the Cullens, too." well except that blonde.

Seth yelped softly in agreement.

Jared frowned. "i guess there's nothing I can say to you, then."

he turned to Seth. "Sue asked me to tell you—no, to beg you—to come home. She's brokenhearted, Seth. All alone. I don't know how you and Leah can do this to her. Abandon her this way, when your dad just barely died—."

Seth whimpered and I growled at Jared. That was below the belt.

Jake snorted "Right." Sue was tougher then any of us put together. "Sue's known about this for how many hours now? And most of that time spent with Billy and Old Quil and Sam? Yeah, I'm sure she's just perishing of loneliness. 'Course you're free to go if you want. You know that."

Seth sniffed.

Then a second later, we cocked our ears to the north. Leah was close. Then she appeared skidding to a stop in the brush a few yards away. She trotted in, taking point in front of Seth. She kept her nose in the air, very obviously not looking at Jake.

"Leah?" Jared asks

Great, now it's your turn to come under fire. I thought to her.

Watch this. Leah replies as she met Jared's gaze and her muzzle pulling back a little over her teeth.

Jared wasn't surprised. "Leah, you know you don't belong here."

Leah snarled at him. Jake gave her a warning glance but she didn't see it.

Easy, Leah. Seth warned as he nudged her.

"Sorry," Jared apologized "Guess I shouldn't assume. But you don't have any ties to the bloodsuckers."

Leah looked at Seth and me then at Jake. This went on for awhile, Jared asking questions and Jake responding for us or himself.

"Lyssa, Sam needs you back, you're his true sister. He can't stand to be apart from you. You helped him when he first changed." Jared stated as it was my turn.

I snarled an unbroken stream, I was cussing him out just as Leah did.

"She chose me long ago." Jake replies, I went over and sat down by Jake. Daring Jared to even think about saying anything else.

we watched Jared leave with Collin following. Quil stayed looking at Jake.

"Yeah, I miss you, too, Bro." Jake states

Quil jogged over, his head hanging down morosely. Jake patted his shoulder.

"It'll be okay."

Quil whined.

This went on for a little bit longer, Jake telling Quil to give a message to Embry and telling him to go home.

Jake rejoined us.

Thought you were going to make out with him. Leah snickered.

I thought so too. I agreed

But Jake ignored us teasing him. Was that okay? Did I say anything you didn't want me to? Did I not say something I should have?

You did great, Jake! Seth encouraged

You could have hit Jared, Leah commented, I wouldn't have minded that.

Same here, I wouldn't mind seeing Jared getting decked. I agree.

I guess we know why Embry wasn't allowed to come, Seth thought.

Not allowed? Jake asks

Jake, didya see Quil? He's pretty torn up, right? I'd put ten to one that Embry's even more upset. And Embry doesn't have a Claire. There's no way Quil can just pick up and walk away from La Push. Embry might. So Sam's not going to take any chances on him getting convinced to jump ship. He doesn't want our pack any bigger than it is now. Seth answers

Really? You think? I doubt Embry would mind shredding some Cullens. Jake replies

But he's your best friend, Jake. He and Quil would rather stand behind you then face you in a fight. Seth reasons

Well, I'm glad Sam kept him home, then. This pack is big enough. Jake sighed. Okay, then. So we're good. Seth, you and Lyss mind keeping an eye on things for a while? Leah and I both need to crash. That felt on the level, but who knows? Maybe it was a distraction?

Seth looked at me and I stood up. Waiting.

No problem! Seth answers, You want me to explain to the Cullens? They're probably still kinda tense.

I got it. I want to check things out anyway. Jake replies

we caught his recent images from his fried brain. The Cullens were having Bella drink blood as a human.

Seth whimpered in surprise Ew.

Leah whipped her head back and forth, That is easily the freakin' grossest thing I've heard in my life. Yuck. If there was anything in my stomach, it would be coming back.

They are vampires. I guess. Seth thought after a minute I mean, if it helps Bella, it's a good thing, right?

Leah, Jake and I stared at him.

What? Seth asks

Mom dropped him a lot when he was a baby. Leah told us.

On his head, apparently. Jake replies

He used to gnaw on the crib bars, too. Leah adds

Lead paint?

Looks like, it.

Seth snorted. Funny. Why don't you two shut up and sleep?