Let me start off this chapter with a humongous thank you to all my readers. I'm thankful for you all, and I invite all my new readers to continue with us on our journey with this story. I can't wait to continue hearing more from you all. I must say, I was extremely happy when one new reader mentioned they got recommended to read this story. I appreciate you guys spreading the word!

Enjoy the chapter. I'm hoping to get more up asap.

Chapter 35 – Information

Victoria's POV

I let out a toxic feeling breath and shut the cabin door behind me. I closed my eyes and leaned against it. As I did, a smile spread over my face. The smile began a tickle in my throat. It broadened into a laugh. I put my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound. Jesus, these feelings could make a person go crazy. I quieted and then opened my eyes to take in my surroundings.

The cabin was beautiful, and spacious. Edward would have picked nothing less for me. Just yesterday we had been walking through the forest between Forks and Port Angeles. We had come across this place. I would later find out this place was 'Piedmont, Washington." A little forgettable town. But very convenient for us.

There had been a man out in the yard, cutting down wood for fires. I hadn't the slightest clue what the idiot was doing. It was still mid August. It wouldn't start getting snowing against for another month or two at least.

I had leaned in on a tree, watching the man axing away the wood. I was there for two minutes easily, spacing out, before Edward's hand eased my shoulders. He was at my ear.

"Do you want him?" he asked me. My knees almost buckled. How could he ever think I'd lust after a human when I had him? I turned to look at him, smiling coyly.

"I want his house. I want his possessions, his fire, his yard..." I said, glancing back at the house once more. Though I never wanted a place to settle down, I always wanted the finest things. I would never get them. I was a rouge, a loner, a traveler. But it would be nice. I had started to walk away. After two steps, I noticed Edward wasn't following. When I turned around, he was gone.

"Edward?" I had called out, glancing around. I took a step back and then my eyes focused on the human. Edward had his teeth buried into his neck and my eyes widened. I ran down to them both.

"Edward, what are you doing?" I asked, watching the man slump to the ground, bled dry. Edward's eyes flashed like stars. He wiped his mouth with his hand and then swung his arm wide, revealing the house.

"It's yours, my love," he said. If my heart had worked like a human's, it would have melted. I took a step toward him, looking up at the cabin, my whole body yearning for it. He had given it to me. Even though he knew we wouldn't stay, even though it would never be home, it would be mine for now. I went into his open arms.

"You should have at least kept the man," I said into his chest. I felt him shaking his head with his arms wrapped tight around me.

"We don't need him. We have everything we need now. With our plans set into action, we've been ok. But now I have somewhere for you to call home. I won't have you relaxing in the woods," he had said. Again, melting heart.

I looked around my cabin now and moved forward, touching a hand crafted wooden table. I smiled, feeling warmth flood through my cold, steel body. Edward had given me one thing James would never have done. I walked over to the comfy recliner in front of the tv and set myself down comfortably.

James would never have gotten me a home. My home had been beneath his arm. We often rested in the trees, in abandoned warehouses, in boats. Places with easy, quick getaways and fast routes for him to track. We never stayed in a place for more than a day. He never noticed the way I yearned for my own place.

But Edward... God, how mistaken I had been about him. James who? Edward was so much more sadistic, so much more satisfying and loyal. He was passion at its finest. James had always been too thrilled about the chase. The second he had his new target, everything else came second. I had never been his priority. Never the most important thing. He had always left me needy, always yearning. For more than a house.

I got to my feet quickly and walked to the fireplace, resting my hand on the hanging above it. I closed my eyes, feeling everything so overwhelming.

Not Edward.

Edward was always passionate. He was always tuned in to what I wanted, what I needed. It was as if he could read my mind sometimes. I was always satisfied, in every way possible. A laugh slipped from my throat again. Jesus, I'd only known this man a day and a half. It was so odd knowing that just two days ago I had been seeking revenge against this man. He had turned my world upside down. It was as if I were in a different galaxy.

I backed away from the fireplace and observed the paintings on the walls on either side. I would show Edward how much he meant to me now. I was in love. I hadn't know what it was when I had been with James. He had never made me feel this way. But now I knew. Now I would never be alone again. I would give Edward everything he had given me.

Peace.

I would help him kill this witch who had broken his heart. In just three, maybe four more days, we would attack La Push. I walked over to a vase that was on a stand in the corner of the house. It was porcelain, and didn't match the rest of the house. I hadn't liked it the second I'd stepped inside and saw it. I picked it up and started running my fingertips absent mindedly over the rim.

In less than four days, the werewolves would heel like the dogs they were. I would kill the idiot mutt that had won over Edward's human. I would rejoice in ripping his head from his shoulders and then forging on with the rest of his body. Once I was done, I would turn to him. Edward. He would have that heartless bitch in his hands. He would look at me, call me over.

I grinned and felt the vase shatter in my hands and fall to the floor.

I would do anything for my Edward. And it included ripping that girl to pieces.

We just needed to wait until they were ready...

Bella's POV

I watched Jake leave and wished I was at his side. I wanted his warmth around me. I needed his presence. I turned my head back as my dad called for my attention. He was here to visit us. I needed to stay with him. Jake and I had forever.

"How's the monkey business around here?" he asked me, a grin on his face. My heart sort of pitter pattered to a stop in my chest. No. There was no way my dad knew about last night. There was no way, even though Emily might know, that anyone would have told him. I knew I looked like a fish gasping for a air. Was my face beat red yet?

"Wh-What business?" I asked, reaching for the remote. I turned up the volume a little, pretending to be interested in a score. Billy began to laugh out loud. I looked at him, shocked.

"Oh, you know the boys, Charlie. Still having their bon fires and pow wows at the beach," Billy said, clapping my dad on the back. My dad was laughing with him.

"Still eating you out of house and home and stealing from the local store because they're starving?" my dad asked him. I felt relief flood through me. Billy turned to look at me. I could have sworn I saw him wink. He had saved me. My dad had asked me an innocent question about what it was like living here and I had made it about last night. How the hell was I going to get out of this? I was a horrible, terrible liar.

I let out a little breath and tried to laugh with the both of them. Emily came and sat next to me. She put her arm around my shoulder. I'm sure she felt me shaking. The conversation ensued. Talking about the pack, the food, the parties.

"You have a wonderful daughter, Charlie. We're more than grateful to have her down here with us. Especially with me. She's been helping out wit h the cooking," Emily said, glancing at me. I smiled. My dad wore the proudest look I'd ever seen.

"Yep, that's my Bells. I really miss her cooking," he joked and I blushed.

"Thanks, Dad."

"So how's work, Charlie?" Emily asked, removing her arm from around me. She leaned forward, just like everyone did when they asked my Chief of Police father how everything was going. I looked to my dad and saw an expression I didn't want to. I had seen that face before. My body ran a little cold at the memory.

"Well, now that you bring it up. I wanted to talk to you guys about some happenings," he said. Emily, Billy and I exchanged a glance. They knew the same as I did. I recognized that face for what it was. It was the same expression he wore when-

A security guard at the Grisham Mill got killed by some kind of animal...The thought flooded back into my head. Emily linked arms with me. It was as if she was anchoring me here. I glanced at her and she nodded. Somehow, I felt her saying 'it's ok.'

"It's nowhere near us. There was one in Port Angeles, but then it went East. There's missing people, deaths... In towns like Sequim, and Port Townsend," Charlie went on. I felt my world seeming to close in on me. What was happening? Was it Victoria? The Volturi? Had Vict-

"It's ok, Bells. It's not happening here. It's not like last time. They're getting farther away," my dad said. He got up and came to my couch. I felt Emily leave my side. I looked up to see her resting her hand on Billy's shoulder, then walk quickly to the kitchen. Billy caught my attention and he breathed in deeply. I followed suit and he nodded as my dad put his hand on my forehead. I tried to get myself under control.

"Gee, Bells, I didn't mean to worry you like that," he said and I tried to smile as I looked up at him.

"It's not your fault. I guess I've just... I've been jumpy, ever since... Everything last year," I finished, trying not to say too much. I couldn't separate what Charlie already knew from what he was never supposed to know. I just needed some time-

"Hey, Bella?" Emily called from the kitchen. I looked up. She came into view, setting something down on the counter.

"Why don't we go see Jake and Sam? I'm sure they're done and Jake is just eating us out of house and home now," she said. Her smile radiated warmth and happiness. I couldn't thank her enough. I don't know how she did it. How she stayed so calm, so collected, even when something as horrible as this was happening. Would I ever become like her?

I nodded and turned to my dad. No matter what, the fear was always in my mind.

"You'll stay here?" I asked. His mustache twitched up in a smile as he looked at Emily.

"There will be left overs? And the game?" he looked at Billy. They both nodded and laughed. Billy took over the conversation. I gave my dad a quick hug and then felt Emily helping me up off the couch. I couldn't have been more grateful. As I stood, my legs shook and I felt ready to collapse. She was at my ear.

"We're going to see Jake, just focus on that," she said. I nodded and she helped me out of the house. Who would die because of me?

Jake's POV

I felt the cool sand slipping through my toes and reveled in it. It would have felt better as a wolf, but this would do just fine. The walk to Sam's went quickly and within minutes I was walking up his porch steps.

"Hey, Sam?" I called inside. The front door was open, only the screen keeping me from entry.

"Yeah, come on in," he called. I opened up the screen and stepped inside, searching around for him. "I'm in the bedroom."

I made my way to the room, knowing it well. Our whole pack sometimes piled into the room for a short, secret meeting. I hated those meetings. There was no way to fit inside without all of us touching. But with just me and Sam? It was the perfect size. I leaned against the door frame to the room.

"So, this is what you do on your days off, huh?" I asked, jokingly. He was laying in the center of the bed, arms and legs stretched wide. He was grinning at the ceiling.

"Don't think that in front of the other guys. They'll never let me have any time off," he said, already sitting up. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and faced me. I scoffed.

"That's... kind of impossible," I said. We exchanged a grin before the seriousness set in. A quick silence, a survey of me and-

"Wow, what were you up to last night?" Sam asked, a knowing a grin all over his face. If I were Bella, you'd see the blush.

"Well, since it's obviously written all over my and Bella's face, I don't need to answer that question. But I do have a few of my own," I said, pushing away from the door and taking a step into the room. His laughter died away and he become more serious, more alpha, as he moved over and made room for me to sit. I didn't object.

"What's wrong?" he asked, as I ran a hand through my hair after taking the spot next to him. I ran through the thoughts in my head. I laughed a little. Then I glanced at him.

"Nothing. Honestly, nothing is wrong... Everything went perfectly, as far as I know... But just..." I fumbled, not knowing how to say this. Sure, we all felt each others feelings when we transformed. We all knew each others thoughts. But we had the choice there to ignore them. This was straight out talking about them...

"Just?..." Sam urged. I let out a breath.

"Is it always going to be like this? Is she always going to be so irresistible? Will I never be able to look at her without wanting to jump on her?" I blurted out. Now I was pretty sure I looked like Bella, no matter how dark my skin was. I know Sam was trying not to laugh. He did a good job.

After a moment of composing himself.

"Sadly, and not sadly, yes," he said, resting his hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to look at him. He smiled and looked down into his hands. "I still feel the exact same way with Em. Sometimes you guys catch it. We've become pretty good at masking it though. But I always want her. I always need her, desire her."

I smiled slightly, looking into my own hands. Knowing that he and Emily still felt like love stricken teenagers... It was a sweet thought.

"I'm just so afraid I'm going to hurt her, Sam... It gets so... Intense, it's like a primal need, like this wolf inside me wants to claim her," I said, standing up from the bed and pacing. Just thinking about it... I wanted to run home to her and do it now. There was silence for a minute or so.

"Again, it's the same here... You'll never want to stop. You'll always want to be dominant. You'll want to mark her, claim her. Some imprints don't mind. Some do. You have to learn how to control yourself... but it never gets easier," he said. I sighed and turned to look at him. He offered a small smile. My last fear...

"... Will I be able to protect her? Am I enough for her?" I asked. Even as the words left, I felt the dread of knowing his answer. What if it wasn't what I wanted to hear? What if I wasn't enough for her?

Sam smiled and stood from the bed. He braced both his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. I waited. For a moment, he just looked at me. Didn't say a word. Then-

Shake. Shake, shake, shake. I vibrated violently. Almost to the point where I needed to grab onto Sam for support.

"You ARE enough for her, you idiot," Sam said, loudly. Strongly. "You CAN protect her. Listen to me; there is no other wolf in this pack I would trust to guide us. If you ever wanted control here, I would gladly step down. I have more faith in you to protect us than I do myself."

He was smiling slightly. Some cocky, knowing smile. Even as I wanted to punch him for his cheesy smile and the shake I had received, I soaked in his words. As he said them, I felt lighter. I felt competent. I felt able. He released my shoulders now and pushed me back a little so I stumbled.

"Now, come out of the ditch you dug yourself into and stand strong, Jake. Bella needs you. She'll always need you. And you'll always be there for her," Sam said. I gave a short nod and then stepped closer to him. I opened my mouth, as if I were going to say something. He stepped closer.

I reached out and shoved him backwards. He landed on his bed and I turned around and ran to the living room. He came jogging out a moment later. I was sitting, propped up on the couch, my hand behind my head. He grinned, shaking his finger at me.

"You wait... I'll get you back," he said. I made a face, one that said 'Oooo, I'm scared' and then chuckled. He laughed as he came to sit next to me.

"Where's Em and Bella?" he asked, after we had settled.

"Charlie's over there. I'm sure they're stuffing themselves silly still," I said. He gave a nod. I took in a breath and then turned to face him. He gave me his attention.

"Another strong point to bring up, but we're running out of time. I don't want to spring this one them," I said. He nodded, indicating I should go on. "Bella says she does want to meet up with Alice. But Alice and only Alice. I was wondering if you could call Carlisle and tell her to meet her and I at the diner at three, this afternoon." He watched me for a minute and then sat up fully, leaning towards me.

"Do you want us to follow?"

"No, I just want it to be the three of us. You guys can surround the area, maybe thirty miles in all directions, but I don't want the vampire to bring any of her family either. I'm just going to even the odds, in case something happens," I said. He gave a short nod.

"I'll make the phone call now then," he said, reaching over for the phone. He dialed the number for Carlisle and we both waited in silence as the phone rang. I heard someone pick up.

"Hello, Carlisle. It's Sam Uley, down at La Push," Sam said, getting to his feet. I followed suit.

"Bella's fine. She's doing a lot better today," Sam said, looking up at me. He grinned. I only hoped he could keep it out of his voice. I raised my hand to smack him.

"I was actually calling about her. She wants to meet with Alice, but only under our conditions," Sam said. Their was silence on Sam's end and Carlisle's response.

"It will be at the diner, at three o'clock today. I only want Alice there. You guys can be within a thirty mile radius, as will we. But no steps within that radius. And Jacob will be outside the diner, in case anything goes wrong," he said. I waited, not bothering to listen too hard for Carlisle's voice. Supernatural hearing, for the win.

"That won't be a problem. The sun's not out today, so I'll inform Alice and she'll see Jacob and Bella there at three," he responded. I gave a brief nod and Sam did too. Sam opened his mouth to respond. There was a loud beep, signaling an incoming call. Sam pulled the phone away a little to look at the caller info. His eyes narrowed a little and he put the phone back to his ear.

"I have another call, Dr. Cullen. Jake and Bella will be there at three," Sam said, rushing his words. He didn't wait for a response as he clicked over.

"Hello? Billy?" he asked. My ears perked up. Emily's voice responded.

"Sam, we're coming over. Bella's unstable and we have some news for you," she said. My blood ran cold. I swallowed and got to my feet, starting for the door. Emily's voice caught me.

"TELL Jake to stay there. Charlie's already seen her shaken up. He doesn't need a crazed werewolf bursting into the living room," she said.

"Got it, be careful, Em," Sam said, looking at me. He hung up the phone and put it on the couch. "You heard what she said."

I breathed in and out, quickly. I glanced to the door and then back at Sam.

"Screw what Charlie's going to think... Sam, she needs me-"

"Emily knows what's best, Jake. She cares about Bella too. If something was really truly wrong, she wouldn't have told us to not barge in," he said. His fists clenched a little. It didn't appear that he liked Emily's demand either. I felt my skin crawling. I paced back and forth, once. Twice. Three times. I ran my hands through my hair and then walked to the door.

"Jake, stay here!"

"She said not to go in front of Charlie! I'm just going to meet them half way. I need to see her, Sam," I said, looking back at him, pleading with him. He looked as if he wanted to go running with me. I waited a moment more.

"Fine, let's go," he said, walking to the door. We both jogged down the steps and towards the girls.

A/N: Oooooo, I am SO excited! We're coming to the end of this story and I have the sequel mapped out in my head! I'm starting to put it down on paper. Honestly, that's why I took so long to get this chapter up! I'm super excited to get to writing the next fanfic. Alllllssssooooo, I've got three OTHER ideas for JXB stories. Alllll too extreme. Next chapter coming soon!