Golden Moon has won in the category "Best Non-Canon Couple" at the Cullen Clan Awards. Thank you so much to everyone who voted. I am beyond excited!

Now, back to the story. Did you make the mistake of thinking you could stop to take a breath after the last chapter? Make it a quick one, 'cause we're still speeding ahead and the next curve is coming up!

All the Twilight characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.


Chapter 49: Stalked in the Forest

Sunday morning Charlie took me to the Newtons' house to pick up my truck. I explained to him that Jake and I had a disagreement and that I really didn't want to go to La Push with him for Sunday brunch. Instead, when we got back home, I made mountains and mountains of pancakes that the guys could easily re-heat via microwave, and packed them up for Charlie to take with him for Jake and Billy. Charlie tried to press me for details of my argument with Jake, but I resisted and he finally let it go.

"I just hope you kids work it out soon," he said gruffly. "I don't want to have to deal with any awkwardness with Billy."

"There doesn't have to be any awkwardness," I said, "Jake's getting more and more busy and so am I. We probably wouldn't have much time to spend together anyway. Plus, now that the game and the party are done, I'll be hanging around more with Mike," I thought I might as well get Charlie ready. The rumors were bound to reach him soon anyway.

"Oh? Something finally happening there?" he asked, suddenly more alert.

"Um, yeah. Kind of," I cringed internally. There was no way to explain how Mike and I went from pure friends to a steady relationship.

"Kind of, Kid? Care to elaborate?"

"Well, we kind of decided last night not to see other people. He gave me his class ring."

"Whoa! Back in my day that was serious stuff. What's going on, Bella? I didn't realize you two were seeing each other at all. You kept jumping down my throat every time I asked you about him and insisting that he was just a friend."

"Well, at the time you made those comments, we were just friends. But over the last few weeks things started to change. I guess I realized what a good guy he is and how much I enjoy spending time with him."

"What about Jake? Is that what you guys are fighting about? You've been spending an awful lot of time with him for someone who's dating another guy."

"No, Dad," I rolled my eyes. "It was never like that between Jake and me. We were never more than friends."

"Right," Charlie didn't look convinced but, again, did not push it. "Well, I suppose if you want to invite Mike for dinner some night, that would be okay."

I smiled. This was the equivalent of Charlie making a huge effort, and I really appreciated it. "Thanks, Dad. Maybe I will."

So began my life without vampires or werewolves. Jake tried calling several times throughout the week, but I didn't talk to him. When Charlie was home I simply refused to take the phone and when I was home alone I would let the calls go to the machine. There was just one time when I accidentally picked up the phone out of habit, but as soon as I heard his voice I asked him to stop calling and hung up. I realized I was being somewhat petty, but now that I had driven Jasper from his home, I couldn't justify spending time with Jake and the rest of the pack. The only way I could live with what I had done was to treat both sides of the supernatural divide exactly the same.

Tuesday of the following week Quil came by to apologize. Respecting my wishes to stay away from the pack, Emily drove him to my house. Initially she stayed in the car, giving Quil and me some privacy. I made it as easy for Quil as I could, explaining that I had no hard feelings and that Jasper had misunderstood the situation. I even apologized for the injuries he suffered.

"Oh, Bella, it's all right. I seem to be healing pretty well and I had it coming anyway. I should have known better. I feel like a complete idiot. I heard you and Mike were going together now, but I swear I had no idea at the party, else I would have never tried to . . . well, you know. I just don't get how he could have watched all those guys drooling over you and not done anything."

"Yeah, well, Mike's note really that possessive, you know. He would have stepped in if any of the guys got out of line, though." I was amused at the fact that I had to defend my faux boyfriend against an attack on his masculinity. The truth is, if Mike and I were really going out, I was sure he would have been just as possessive as Jasper. But there was no way to explain that to Quil.

"So I heard you decided not to come out to La Push anymore. That's not because of me, is it?"

"No, Quil. It has nothing to do with you and don't let anyone tell you different. It's strictly between Jake and me. And it's better that way, anyway. I'm a senior, you know, and I have a lot of stuff going on right now."

"Yeah, sure. We miss you, though. You could still come out every once in a while. You could even bring Mike."

"We'll see, okay, Quil?"

He let it go and went back to the car. I expected them to leave, but Emily got out of the car and came walking towards me.

"Can we talk for a minute, Bella?" she asked.

"Sure," I said, though I was far from certain this was a good idea. I opened the door and she came into the house. We both sat on the sofa.

"Would you consider talking to Jake, Bella?" Emily asked. No beating around the bush for her. "He's been absolutely miserable and he's making the whole pack miserable by extension, since they can't get away from his thoughts. Sam told me what happened and we all understand how you feel and why you did what you did, but Jake was only trying to protect you. If Sam had been there, he might have been able to coach Jake better and stop the whole fiasco before it started, but Jake is the Alpha now, so he gets to make the decisions. Unfortunately, he still needs to mature, so sometimes his decisions are not as wise as they could be. But Bella, you know him, he would never do anything to deliberately hurt you."

I sighed. I knew Emily was right. Jake wasn't trying to hurt me. But this did not change the fact that he acted in the most hurtful way possible when he tricked me at the party.

"I made Jasper leave." I said quietly, as though that explained it all. Amazingly, Emily understood.

"I know," she said as she put her arm around my shoulders. "And I can only imagine how painful that must have been for you. I also know how terrified you would have been if he had stayed. I know it's not exactly the same, but I go through a similar fear every time Sam runs patrol. Only unlike you, I can't do anything about it. I can't remove him from a dangerous situation."

I leaned into her body heavily and closed my eyes. I was glad that I didn't have to worry about Jasper being injured by the wolves, but it didn't make me feel any better.

"Do you want to talk about it, Bella? I know the only person you've been able to talk to about him has been Jake and he . . . well, he wants the best for you, but he has a specific point of reference. And he's never been in love before."

The ache spread out from my heart throughout the rest of my body and tears pushed against my eyelids.

"I love Jasper so much, Emily. He is so perfect for me. I feel so empty without him." Suddenly I needed to do more than tell her. I pulled away from her and got up. "I'll be right back," I said as I headed up to my room. I dug out the sketch and brought it downstairs, unrolling it to show her. She studied it carefully, looking back and forth from me to the sketch.

"I met you after you had already left him." It wasn't a question. I figured Sam had told her.

"You're not the same as the girl in this picture, Bella. There is something missing from your eyes. It's never been there the whole time I've known you. Even when I've seen you happy it never reaches your eyes. When I look into your eyes I can see that your soul is hollow, like a part of you is missing.

I nodded. "When I first saw you and Sam, you reminded me so much of this sketch. When you're together you look so in love – it's as if you were the only two people on earth."

"What happened, Bella? You had that love too. I can see it in this sketch. Why did you let it go?"

I looked at her, surprised. How could she ask that question knowing what he was?

"His being a vampire isn't a good enough reason for you?"

She laughed sadly. "Bella, I'm in love with a man who shifts into a wolf. A man created to fight vampires. A man who is designed to protect people, but who can be very dangerous to us as well if he ever loses control. Who would know this better than me?"

Involuntarily, my eyes flew to her scars.

"Your vampire and the others in his family have worked very hard to avoid hurting humans. His being a vampire is not why you left him."

"No," I shook my head, then told her about Alice and her vision, and how Jasper refused to see her.

"Oh, honey," Emily said, "I see how he looks at you in this picture and believe me, he has no intention of going back to any other woman. It's the same look Sam has in his eyes when he looks at me. You have nothing to fear from her."

"But with you and Sam it's genetic. No offence, Emily, but imprinting lasts forever. You don't have to worry about losing his love. Jasper hasn't imprinted on me. Even if he feels this way about me now, he could change his mind in the future."

"What you say about imprinting is true, Bella, but you're underestimating the power of love. You haven't imprinted on Jasper, but do you think it is possible for you to ever stop feeling about him the way you do right now?"

I looked away. I couldn't imagine a time when I wouldn't love Jasper just as strongly as I did right now.

"But Alice's vision . . ." I said weakly.

". . . Could have been a fabrication of a woman desperately trying to hold on to someone she lost." Emily finished. "And even if it wasn't, you yourself said that it was not a certain outcome, that it could still be changed. And Jasper was trying to change the vision, wasn't he?"

I nodded.

"If Jake heard you talking like this, actually trying to convince me to go back to Jasper, he would never forgive you."

"Jake has more forgiveness in his heart than you think, Bella, and a huge capacity for understanding. He just doesn't have a lot of experience. Right now he sees everything in black and white – he needs to learn about shades of gray. Life is not as simple as werewolf versus vampire versus human. There are nuances to every relationship. When you find a true love you have to fight for it, not let these black and white concepts get in a way. If Jake ever saw this side of you, if he knew just how in love you were with Jasper and, even more importantly, how in love he was with you, he might change his mind. But he never will see it if you don't forgive him, Bella. Please, just hear out his apology the same way you heard out Quil today, and find it in yourself to give him another chance."

I considered Emily's words carefully. I knew she cared about Jacob and I appreciated how honest she was being about his shortcomings. I wondered if she was as right about his capacity to some day understand exactly how I felt about Jasper. I didn't have her certainty on that point. But that didn't matter. I had ruined things with Jasper and there was no way to fix them, so Jake's compassion and understanding would never be put to the test. In the meantime, I would continue on the path I chose, staying in the human world, and soon it would be time to leave Forks and the supernatural altogether. I had managed to part with Jasper without anger. I should do the same with Jake.

"All right," I agreed. "If he wants to come over here I will speak with him. But I won't go to La Push anymore, Emily, even if things get resolved between us. I just can't."

'It would feel like a betrayal of Jasper to hang out with the wolves?"

I nodded.

"It's only been a few days, Bella. You could ask Jasper to come back. I'm sure he would come back if he knew you were ready to trust in his love and in your future together."

I allowed myself to imagine the possibility, then remembered Jacob.

"Do you think Jake has magically developed some sort of understanding about human/vampire relations in the last few days that would allow him to accept the idea of Jasper back in town and together with me? If I asked Jasper back, I might as well forget the apology and pack my bags to leave Forks. Jake would never leave Jasper alone if he thought we were together. I would be the equivalent of me taking a hit out on Jasper."

Emily didn't say anything, but I could see her understanding and agreement reflected in her eyes.

"One step at a time, then," she said. "Patch things up with Jake and let him grow up a little, then find a way to bring Jasper back."

"If it's not too late by then," I sad softly.

"I can't imagine it will be. And you'll never know unless you try." She hugged me close and I responded in kind.

"Call me if you ever need to talk," she said. "I'm not a wolf and I can meet you in Forks."

I nodded. "Thank you so much, Emily. You'll tell Jake?"

"Of course," she affirmed. "And I wouldn't be surprised if you saw him later tonight."

Emily read people very well. Not even an hour later I heard a knock on the front door and knew it was Jacob. He looked absolutely terrible, as if he hadn't slept for days. I instantly felt guilty for having been so petty. I invited him in and closed the door, then enveloped him in a hug as best as I could as soon as the door was closed.

"Bella," he said, "I'm so sorry." His head hung to the ground and he hadn't made a move to respond to my hug the way he normally would. I sighed.

"Jake, let's sit," I pulled him to the sofa and we sat down next to each other. "What you did Saturday night really hurt me, and the way you trivialized my feelings when you came back hurt even more, so it took me a while to get over it, but I finally did, and I forgive you. I know you weren't trying to hurt me."

"I would never . . ." he said earnestly, looking up at me for he first time.

"I know. So it's all right. What's in the past is in the past. We're fine now, right?"

"So we'll go back to normal? You'll start coming out to La Push again the way you did before?"

I shook my head. "No, Jake. I can't do that. I can't choose werewolves over vampires. You wanted me to be human, and the only way I can truly do that is here, in Forks."

Jake looked like he was going to protest, but I kept speaking before he had a chance.

"You have been an amazing friend and a brother to me, and I love you, but I love Jasper too. I know you can't understand that or accept it, but I can't be with you and the pack knowing you'd kill him and his family if it wasn't for the treaty and if you had half a chance. I asked him to leave for his and your safety, but now that he was forced out of his home, I can't just go back to acting like nothing's changed. I need to be fair. I need to stop seeing you too."

"I don't want to lose you, Bells," Jake said.

"He didn't either. And I didn't want to lose either of you. But life's like that. It's not fair and it doesn't always give us what we want. Maybe, in the long run, this will be what's best for all of us. And maybe the ache will never go away. I don't know. But I do know that my life now has to be confined to the human world."

We talked for a while longer, Jake using all of his powers of persuasion to convince me that I didn't have to cut myself off from the pack, but my mind was made up and deep inside I knew I was doing the right thing. Eventually we said our goodbye and Jake went back home.

I was getting so tired of having to say goodbye to the important people in my life, I started to wonder if it wouldn't be worth it to say goodbye to everyone and just leave, start over on my own somewhere new, with no vampires, wolves, friends or family. Just me against the world. But I knew that my running away wouldn't really solve any problems, just hurt the people I cared about. So as attractive as the option sounded, I dismissed it almost as soon as I thought of it. I had made the choices in my life that led to the problems I faced, and I had to stay and deal with them.

The human aspect of my life was actually improving. My "relationship" with Mike was progressing well. It helped that we genuinely liked each other and had many things in common, so spending time with him was easy and comfortable. We filled both Angela and Ben in on our scheme, and they went along with it without protest, even "doubling" with us on occasion. Angela told me Ben suspected Mike was using this fake relationship as an excuse to be closer to me, in the hopes that this would eventually get me to fall in love with him, but if that was the case, then he was the master of subtlety. I saw no evidence of any feelings or expectations from him beyond friendship.

Mostly Mike and I hung out together the way any friends would. We did our homework together, read, watched movies and some TV. He even got me to play some videogames, and had me wishing that there was a pinball machine somewhere in Forks so I could share that pastime with him, though in the end I decided that pinball would have reminded me too much of Jasper. Surprisingly, the hardest part of the charade was handling our respective parents. Both Charlie and the Newtons approved of our "match" and it was difficult to keep lying to them, especially when they wanted to include our "significant other" in family activities. I was happy when Renee insisted I come out to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, so that I had a reason to decline Mrs. Newton's request that Charlie and I join the Newtons for the holiday meal. I knew Charlie would have much preferred hanging out with Billy and his other friends at La Push watching sports, anyway, and I wouldn't have been able to do that with him had I stayed in Forks.

I spent a bit more time exploring colleges and culinary schools, and found some programs that would allow me to study both culinary arts and restaurant management. I thought this combination of disciplines would be easier to sell to my parents, and it would provide a more versatile experience when it came to looking for work after school was done. My conversation with Ben's cousin was very helpful, though it also made me aware of the difficulties women faced in that profession. Still, I wasn't about to let sexism scare me away from doing something I really loved. The only real fear I had of culinary schools was trying to master knife skills. Even thinking about it reminded me of cooking with Jasper, and how reluctant he had been to let me hold a knife, much less use it. However, I was convinced with a lot of practice even someone as clumsy as me could be taught to properly handle these essential cooking implements.

Charlie pulled me out of school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and took a day off work so he could drive me to Seattle for my flight to Phoenix. As usual, we didn't talk much during the drive to the airport. I had mixed feelings about going back. I was looking forward to seeing Renee and Phil and maybe some of my other friends, but I also remembered that the last time I was in Phoenix was when I had to be rescued from James. It was my first serious brush with potential immortality. It was also the first time I spent any time alone with Jasper. I remembered all the care he took to make me feel as calm and comfortable as possible, the way he tried to help me feel more self-confident and less guilty about placing all the Cullens in danger. Even then, before we were even friends, he was taking care of me and looking out for me. And I've repaid him time and time again by cowardly running away.

I thought back to my conversation with Emily. She was right. I shouldn't wait much longer. Jasper and I had been through too much together and I trusted him too much to lose him over a stupid vision that may never even come true. I made up my mind that when I returned to Forks I would talk to Jake and let him know that I would ask Jasper to come back. I would secure Jasper's safety and then I would beg him to forgive me for the pain I've put him through with my foolish insecurities. Maybe if I got really lucky he will have meant what he told me and would be willing to forgive me and come back.

At the airport Charlie hugged me, told me gruffly that he'd miss me, and reminded me that he'd pick me up at the airport Sunday. And then I was off to sunny Phoenix, when even in November the weather was nicer than on the sunniest summer day in Forks. Renee and Phil welcomed me warmly and we had a wonderful holiday weekend together. They regaled me with stories of their time on the road traveling with Phil's team, and at night we watched our favorite movies.

Renee and I went shopping together on Black Friday and I allowed her to buy me some of the girly clothes she was always trying to get me to wear. To her surprise, I didn't even protest when she insisted on purchasing a new set of slinky pajamas for me at Victoria's Secret, and I shocked her by expressing an interest in buying other items as well. We ate lunch at the mall food court, where in her typical unabashed fashion she grilled me about my new boyfriend, whom she assumed was the reason behind the sudden interest in clothes and lingerie. I blushed furiously as I tried to convince her that Mike and I were not at that stage of our relationship yet, but that it wouldn't hurt to plan ahead. I wished I had been able to tell her that Mike would never even see the receipts for these purchases, much less the clothes themselves, and that I was really buying these in the hopes of a reunion with Jasper. But that conversation would have to wait for another visit.

While I enjoyed my time in Phoenix and loved seeing Renee and Phil, I was glad when Sunday morning came and I boarded the plane for Seattle. In my mind I had gone over and over my conversation with Jake, prepared answers to all objections and outlined all my demands. I hoped he would be reasonable and issue an order not to harm Jasper based simply on the fact that I was in love with him and needed to be with him, but if he refused, I was prepared to play hardball and to threaten to leave Forks. It wouldn't be a bluff. As much as I loved Charlie, I needed to be with Jasper more, and if Forks proved to be too dangerous for him than I would have to leave. By the time the plane stopped at the jet-way in Seattle, I was ready to put my plan in action.

Coming out of the restricted airport area, I was surprised to see Ben instead of Charlie. I was instantly alarmed.

"What's going on, Ben? Is Charlie okay?"

Ben's grave face was not at all reassuring.

"Your father's fine, Bella. He couldn't come because he's organizing the search."

"The search? What search?"

Ben took my hand and led me to the seats. "You may want to sit down, Bella."

"What? What are you talking about, Ben? What's going on? Where's Angela?" I was getting slightly hysterical.

"Angela's fine. She's watching the twins. Please, won't you sit?"

I sat down, realizing that he wouldn't tell me anything unless I complied with his request.

"All right. I'm sitting. Now, please Ben, tell me what's going on. What search?"

"Bella, Mike's missing. He went out for a jog this morning and never came home. No one has seen or heard from him. He just vanished. The police can't do anything officially until he's been gone for 24 hours, but your dad mobilized a lot of people and they're doing informal searches. They're afraid he's been kidnapped, but so far there's been no ransom demand."

My hand flew to my mouth and my eyes were as wide as saucers. This couldn't be happening. There had to be a mistake. This kind of stuff just didn't happen in Forks. But I knew that was wrong. This kind of stuff happened everywhere, and worse. Kidnapping could very well be the best of all possible scenarios.

"Let's get your bags and go home. Maybe by the time we get there they'll have some good news."

I got lucky to have my bag be one of the first ones off the plane. We grabbed it and practically ran for Ben's car. We were both extremely tense and didn't talk much on the drive back. Periodically Ben would call Angela for an update, but her response was always the same – no news.

Ben dropped me off in front of my house. "The central location for all search activities is the parking lot at Newtons' store. I'm going over there now. Join us after you unpack, if you'd like."

"Thanks, Ben. I'll be there soon. And thanks for picking me up at the airport. That was really nice of you."

"No problem, Bella. I was glad to help. See you later."

I walked into the house and placed my luggage on the floor next to the door. I walked to the kitchen, intending to grab something to eat before heading to the Newtons' store to join in the search efforts. A blinking light on the answering machine distracted me and I veered off my path to listen to the message. I reasoned it would have been something important dealing with Mike or the search.

"Hello, Bella," I frowned at the eerily familiar deep voice on the machine, "I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk longer the last time I was in town," suddenly I recognized the voice and gasped in horror. There was no mistaking it – this was Laurent.

"I thought it was quite a shame" the recording continued, "and now I'm ready to remedy that situation. I know you are just coming back to town and will probably be very busy, so to give you a little incentive to contact me, I just want you to know I have some information about the friend who was with you the last time we saw each other. If you are interested in catching up please call . . ." I grabbed the pad and pencil and jotted down the number with a shaking hand. I sat down and stared straight ahead. Laurent had information about Mike? I broke out in a cold sweat and shivered. Without needing to talk to anyone I knew for certain Laurent had kidnapped Mike. Kidnapped or worse! Oh God! I sobbed. Even when I tried to be human I brought supernatural danger to everyone around me.

I looked at the number I had written on the piece of paper. I didn't want to call, but I knew I had no choice. If there was any way I could still help save Mike, I had to do it. I pushed the buttons slowly, dreading what awaited when the connection went through.

"Hello," his voice was deep and mellow.

"He . . . hello, Laurent," I stammered.

"Bella, how nice to hear from you. We've been anxiously awaiting your call."

"We?"

"Yes, Bella. I'm here with your friend, Mike, and also with someone else you might recall meeting last spring? My dear friend, Victoria."

"I remember Victoria," I whispered.

"Oh, she'll be so pleased. In fact, she would like to speak with you. Hold on for one moment."

"Hello, Bella," I heard Victoria's high, almost childlike voice. "It's so good to know I made an impression the last time we met. It's been much too long, but you see, I had to take some time to prepare for this meeting."

I knew she expected me to ask about her preparations, but my throat was so constricted with fear I knew I wouldn't be able to speak.

"Oh, come on, Bella, don't be dull! This is supposed to be a fun game for me and you're refusing to play nice. Well, no matter. There'll be plenty of time for me to really play when we see each other in person."

"There's no reason for us to see each other in person," I croaked out, earning a tinny laugh from Victoria.

"Oh, but you see, there is! How else am I going to get my revenge for your mate's murder of my James? You must see how imperative it is that I see you and make you suffer a very slow and painful death."

I gasped. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked weakly. "Why would I agree to see you knowing you plan to kill me?"

"Finally a good question, Bella! Maybe you're not as dumb as you looked last spring. But I have an answer for you. You will come to see me, because if you don't your little friend Mike will suffer the fate I intended for you. And then, if you still refuse to come, we'll move on to all your other friends and your dear Dad, one by one, and if we finally run out, then we'll come and get you anyway. You can run, Bella, but you can't hide. And the only way to avoid us hurting everyone you love is for you to come to us willingly."

I was trembling so violently I had to sit. I couldn't believe this was happening to me again.

"How do I know Mike is still alive? I want to speak with him," my voice shook as I spoke.

Victoria laughed again. "Don't you trust me, Bella? That's rather insulting! Lucky for you, I am feeling generous today. Here's your little friend."

"Bella," I heard Mike's voice. I nearly cried out in relief. He was still alive! Then I remembered the trick James played on me."

"Mike, listen to me, this is very important. What was the score of the basketball game with La Push?"

He told me the score, sounding very confused, but confirming that it was him on the phone, not some recording.

"What's going on Bella? Who are these people? Is this some sort of a joke, cause it's really not funny?"

I could hear Victoria's laughter in the background, indicating her disagreement with Mike's assessment. Oh, God! He still didn't understand, which means that they still hadn't hurt him. There was still time to save him.

"Yes, Mike. It's a joke. But you can't let on, okay? Just stay there and play along and wait for me. I'm coming to get you."

"How very touching, Bella." Victoria had clearly taken the phone away from Mike. "Hurry, dear, we're all waiting for you at Edward's home. Don't take too long and don't bother bringing anyone with you, unless you want to cause more people pain."

She terminated the connection and I replaced the phone in its cradle. So this was it. After cheating death so many times this year I have finally arrived at the end of the road. There was no escape. My best hope was that no one else would have to suffer with me.

I looked around the room. There was no way and no time to say goodbye to Charlie or Jake or any of my friends. If things worked out for the best I would have a chance to say goodbye to Mike, and that was the best I could expect. My glance fell on my bag and I remembered the cell phone, still charged, resting at its bottom. As if pulled by some invisible force, I got up, walked to the bag and took out the phone. I knew I shouldn't, but I had to call him. I had to hear his voice one more time and I had to keep my promise. I flipped open the phone and pressed 1.

"Bella?" he sounded as though he didn't quite believe it could have been me.

"Jasper," I whispered his name. As much as I wanted this, to hear his voice one last time and say a proper goodbye, it was still so hard.

"Bella, Darlin', what's wrong?" even from far away he could tell that I wasn't myself.

"It's nothing, Jasper. I just . . . I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that those weeks we had together were the most beautiful weeks of my life and I wouldn't trade them for anything. And also that I was a fool, and I realize that now. I should have never let Alice come between us. I should have trusted you. And if I could change things, I would.

"And I wanted to tell you that I want you to be happy, and to hear your voice and say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" he sounded panicked. "What are you talking about, Bella? Why are you saying goodbye?"

I hesitated. I shouldn't be telling him what was happening, but he was far away somewhere and he wouldn't be able to do anything, so it was safe to tell him. Plus I had promised him that I would call if I was in danger, and I really did not want to break that last promise. He would have hated it if I hadn't called him to tell him the truth.

"Bella, Alice has been trying to contact me. What's going on? What aren't you telling me?"

Alice must have had a vision of the outcome. I wondered where she was and if she and Jasper had had a chance to talk yet.

"Bella, what's happening?"

He sounded like he was driving. I had a brief flash of a memory of him behind the wheel of the Shooting Star.

"Bella, damn it, talk to me!" He sounded more and more frantic. I took a deep breath.

"It's Victoria. She's here, in Forks, with Laurent. Apparently she's trying to avenge James' s death and decided to kill me, mate for mate. I was in Phoenix for Thanksgiving and she couldn't get me, so she took Mike. And if I go to her now, she'll let him go.

"No," he shouted. "Don't go to her, Bella. She'll never let Mike go. He might as well be dead already. If you go she'll just kill you both. Get in your truck and get as far away from Forks as possible. Go to Seattle to the marina and wait for me there."

"I can't, Jasper. Mike is alive. I spoke with him a few minutes ago. It wasn't just a video this time." My face twisted with the memory of the trick James played on me in the spring. "If there is any chance that he can live through this, I have to take it. He has nothing to do with any of this. He can't die, Jasper. I can't just let him die."

"Bella, please listen to me. It won't make a difference. Now that Mike has seen her she cannot let him live. You going to her will not change this. She will kill him and you. You can still save yourself. You must save yourself. For me, Darlin'. You have to live for me. I can't lose you so soon after I found you, especially after you said the things you just said about Alice. Call Jake, tell him what's happening. Let the wolves deal with the vampires and head straight to Seattle."

I closed my eyes. He didn't understand. I wasn't explaining myself well enough.

"Jasper, if I don't show up she'll not only kill Mike, she promised to kill Charlie and Angela and everyone I love. And I won't call Jacob, because this is not the pack's fight. Victoria and Laurent are at your house, on Cullen land. I will not expose the wolves to danger for something that doesn't involve them. I wouldn't have called you either, except that I promised I would and I wanted to hear your voice one last time and tell you that I love you and say goodbye."

"No," he roared, "Bella, I love you. You cannot do this! You must run!"

"I love you too, Jasper," I said quietly. "Please be happy."

I hit the end button over his continuous loud protests. I felt the phone start to vibrate and knew it was Jasper calling me back. I turned off the power and threw the phone into my bag.

I took an extra few minutes to bring my bag upstairs to my room. I didn't want Charlie to have to face that when he came home to find me gone. I wanted to leave a note, but I couldn't think of what to say. I looked around my room one last time and headed out to meet my end.

An overwhelming feeling of dread filed me as I got into the truck and started driving to Jasper's house. I had once been willing to die in place of my mother, and I was just as willing now to die in place of my friend. But I couldn't help wonder why I was continually forced to make such life and death decisions. It was as thought fate had pre-determined my death and resented my cheating by making the sacrifices more and more demanding.

I pulled onto the Cullens' long driveway and drove the last several miles with even my thoughts silent. I wasn't ready to die, but I couldn't live knowing the sacrifices that would be suffered by others if I chose to be selfish.. So death was the only option.

When I got to the clearing in front of the house, I pulled the truck to a stop. I got out, not knowing what to do next.

"We're in the back," I heard Victoria call as if she were welcoming a barbecue guest. "Won't you join us, Bella?"

I walked slowly to the back of the house. The scene I saw there was as bizarre as it was terrifying. Victoria and Laurent stood side by side, with Mike between them. Victoria had her hand on Mike's left arm in a gesture that looked friendly enough, but I knew allowed for no movement. Behind them stood three other vampires, cowering low to the ground. Based on their subservience I had to guess that these Vampires had been created by Victoria, which made all three of them newborns.

"Well, well, well, Bella. You actually came!" Victoria said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "And so promptly, too. You must actually feel something for this worthless human." Victoria tightened her grip on Mike's left arm and then twisted. I could hear the cracking bone followed by Mike's howl of pain.

"No! Stop! You promised!" I cried.

Victoria laughed and tossed Mike aside like a doll.

"I did promise, didn't I? And I'm so flattered that you actually believed me. Unfortunately for you and your little friend, I lied. When I'm done with you he's going to make a nice little snack for my new coven. But for now, it's your turn."

I watched as she started to walk towards me. Laurent, who up until now had been standing by her side, suddenly launched himself at me. I closed my eyes, preparing for the first bite. I felt him land in front of me, but nothing thereafter. I carefully opened my eyes to see Laurent positioned in a protective crouch in front of me. I saw Victoria stop, a mixture of fury and disbelief twisting her face into an unattractive grimace.

"Have you lost your mind, Laurent?" she screeched. "Step out of the way and let me have her!" she commanded.

"Her new mate spared my life, Victoria, in large part based on her request. I cannot let you harm her. I've been with you all along to make sure you don't harm her." Laurent's voice was typically pleasant, betraying no stress over the deadly situation.

"I can't believe you were foolish enough to come here. Run for the truck, Bella, and for God's sake get out of here.," Laurent growled at me low enough for only me to hear. "I can hold her back for a while to give you time to get away."

I turned to run, but then remembered Mike. I turned back to see him lift himself up from where he had landed and run headlong into Victoria in an attempt to stop her advance. I heard a sickening crack as his body collided with Victoria's hardness. She grasped Mike's shoulders and held him up away from her effortlessly.

"Looking for something, Bella?" Victoria asked in a falsely sweet voice. "You wouldn't want to leave your friend behind. As for you," she was speaking to Laurent now and her voice was hard and cold, "I'll show you what I do with traitors. Riley, Bree, Frederick," she screeched, "rid me of this human lover."

The three vampires who up to now had been cowering behind Victoria in subservient poses, rose as if waking up from slumber. Even from where I was standing I saw their vivid crimson eyes and heard the snarls exploding from their chests as they started running in our direction.

"Bella, run!" Laurent commanded, and this time I didn't hesitate. Knowing there was nothing I could do for Mike while he was in Victoria's grasp, I ran as fast as I could towards my truck. Behind me I heard yowling and screeching and then the horrible metallic sound that I knew was the sound of vampire flesh being shredded and torn. I turned my head slightly to look back, but the lapse in concentration caused me to trip, and I fell onto the hard ground, my ankle twisting painfully. I tried to get up but the ankle failed and I fell again, slamming my knee into the ground. I cried out in pain and looked back to see the three vampires ripping apart the remains of Laurent's body. I pulled myself to my hands and knees and, doing my best to ignore the shooting pain in my knee and ankle, I started crawling away from the horrifying scene.

I heard pounding feet behind me and knew one or more of the vampires had finished with Laurent and were now pursuing me. I tried to move faster, but the pain in my knee prevented any increase in speed. I felt a cold, hard hand wrap around my twisted ankle and screamed in agony as I was yanked backwards. My arms and knees collapsed and I was flat on my face and belly, being dragged along the ground back to Victoria. The stones and rocks on the ground scraped my cheeks, chin and palms as I desperately tried to grip anything I could with my hands to free myself from the dragging force or, at the very least, slow down my return to Victoria.

I began to hear more snarling, and wondered if I was finally starting to hallucinate. Then the grip on my ankle was gone and I was no longer moving. I lay still for a moment, not knowing what to do or think. I slowly pulled myself to my hands and knees again and took another look back. I saw that where before the clearing only held the vampires and Mike, they were now joined by four giant wolves, including Jake.

Three of the wolves were stalking the vampires who had attacked Laurent, and who were now clearly confused and disoriented by the creatures before them. The vampires' vivid red eyes kept darting from the wolves to each other to Victoria, obviously looking to her for orders. Victoria, however, was busy using Mike as a shield to defend herself from an attack by a viciously snarling Jake.

Suddenly Victoria's face lit up with a bright smile. Holding Mike's body in front of her with her left arm, she curled the fingers of her right hand into talons and dragged them across his chest, ripping his shirt and opening five deep gashes. Mike screamed and his body convulsed, then fell limp in Victoria's arms


The title of this chapter comes from a line in the song Hungry like the Wolf by Duran Duran. You'll find the link in my profile.

Only four more chapters to go. What did you think?