DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. The only way to summon me is dance around a fire naked on the first full moon of summer and chant in the ancient language. You have one question, but you won't like the answer.

I hate leaving you guys with cliff hangers! I really do! But sometimes it has to happen. Feel free to yell at me. Nursing school has decided to kick me directly in the ass right before graduation and I no longer feel pain. Apparently a pandemic needs a lot of nurses. Who knew?

In a non-sarcastic way, I implore you all to listen to your local guidelines and health authorities and stay safe. And you can do that by sitting on your couch reading twilight fanfiction! What a time to be alive! So, without further ado, here's another chapter to encourage y'all to stay home and wash your fucking hands.

XXIX

When we finally pulled apart, gasping for air, I glanced down at the clock.

It was nearly eleven-thirty. I had less than half an hour left to be human before I was sent to spy on the monsters who would kill us. Like Cinderella, except I was the pumpkin, ticking down to midnight. I wondered idly where Billy was, or if Charlie was freaking out about Bella not being home, but it didn't really matter. We were there, in bed together – perhaps the only time we would be intertwined like this – and I wasn't about to let that be taken away.

She laid on my chest while I drew patterns on the skin above her spine.

"You have to leave, don't you?" Bella mumbled, turning up to gaze at me.

I shifted onto my side to face away from the clock. "At midnight," I sighed, trailing my fingers down her waist.

"Charlie!" Bella gasped, sitting up abruptly. "He must have called the National Guard by now!" She hopped out of bed, wrapping the sheet around her.

I grunted, sitting up reluctantly. "Maybe he's out with Billy," I mused, pulling on a pair of boxers.

"They said something about going to the Lodge before I left," she muttered, putting on her bra inside-out.

"Oh, yeah," I said, remembering the shock I had finding her in my house. "When did you get here?"

She grinned sheepishly. "About ten minutes after you left. I couldn't stay in that house without making Charlie suspicious." She shivered. "They were working on a way to distract him when you two didn't come back."

Tires came to a slow stop on the road, parking on the curb. I hopped up to the window, trying to squint through the rain.

Billy and Charlie were together alright. Sue was driving them, a dubious look on her face. At first, I didn't understand why she looked like she was suppressing laughter, but then I heard the slurred, drunken speech of my father, and knew exactly what had happened.

It wasn't often that Charlie and Billy really drank – they only had a couple beers while watching the game – but once in a blue moon they went absolutely buck wild. Before Harry died, he used to go with them, and often Sue got stuck picking them up from the bar and driving them home.

"I wonder if –" A resounding belch echoed from Charlie's mouth. "Y'think Bells's worried?" The Chief slurred, leaning over Billy's wheelchair like he was using it to keep himself upright.

"Nah," Billy replied, waving his hand away. He had his head tilted back to stare up at his friend with his eyelids half-closed. "She'll be fine. Jake's watchin' out for her, y'know?"

I felt my ears turn red.

"Bella!" I hissed, hooking her around the waist as she stepped into the hallway, still wrapped in the sheet. "Get dressed, quick. Charlie's here."

"Crap!" She exclaimed.

Shitshitshit, I thought, hopping into a pair of old cut-off sweats. Charlie's footsteps were slow and staggering, but they would make it to the door soon enough.

"What is he doing here?" Bella squeaked, throwing on the first clothes her hands touched. By chance, she threw on a sweatshirt I had thrown on the ground a few months ago and completely forgotten about after becoming a walking space heater. It was too big for her, stretching halfway to her knees.

"I think they went out to the bar," I answered, rolling my eyes. "Figures."

Bella grappled with her underwear for a moment, having to sit down so she didn't lose her balance. I smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Don't try to distract me!" She exclaimed, jumping from the bed to grab her jeans. "Now I have to explain to him what we've been doing here."

"I'll be good," I promised, letting her use my shoulders to balance herself while pulling her legs through each cuff of her pants.

"And don't look so smug," Bella murmured, biting down on her lower lip.

The door banged against the wall as the two of them stumbled into the kitchen, laughing at a joke I didn't catch.

"Jake!" Billy yelled.

I pulled Bella along with me down the hallway and into the kitchen, where our fathers were leaning over the kitchen table, faces red and plastered with careless smiles. Bella relaxed next to me. Charlie was much too drunk to notice our disheveled appearance.

"Bells!" He cried, throwing his hands up in excitement. "How ya been, kid?" He stood up shakily, a broad and goofy grin stretching across his face.

"Just fine, Dad." Bella's laugh was slightly manic, but Charlie's smile didn't fade from his face.

"Where've you guys been?" Billy asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Took her out to a movie after you guys ditched us for dinner." I lied easily, shrugging.

My arm wrapped around Bella's shoulder of its own accord. I didn't know how much time we had left, so I had to make the most of it.

Billy wasn't too far gone to notice the protective stance I held or the fear as my eyes darted from his face to the clock on the microwave, counting down the minutes until I had to leave. I was impatient for Charlie to leave so I could fill him in.

"We called to ask for a ride," Charlie announced accusingly. "No one picked up."

"Oh, um..." Bella looked up at me, eyes wide and panicked.

I laughed, trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere before our parents noticed it. "I guess we missed it," I chortled. I didn't bother apologizing, or explaining, but I did look down at Bella with an adoring smile, remembering exactly what we had been doing when the phone rang.

"Hmph," Billy grunted. His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, thinking of another loose end to tie up. "Bella, honey," I turned back to her, smile widening with amusement.

Her eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Didn't you wanna tell Charlie?" I asked, raising my eyebrows innocently.

Her mouth opened wide, then shut, and her head swung mechanically over to her father, then back at me with horrified mortification in her eyes.

I leaned my head back in a throaty belly laugh.

"Tell Charlie what?" The Chief asked, resting his hands on his hips. He was still drunk, but his eyes were sizing up my arm around Bella's waist.

"Uh, Dad," Bella began, cheeks flaming. "Well, Jake and I, we… you see, we're sorta… dating?" Her words flicked up at the end in a question. She didn't take her eyes off the floor.

To our surprise, both Billy and Charlie erupted into howls of laughter. When they finally caught their breaths, which took longer than it should have, they explained.

"We know!" Charlie hollered, leaning against the counter in relief. "Seriously, Bella, you think that's news?"

She laughed along with them, the same nervous edge from before marring the sound. "I guess not," she conceded.

I laughed along with them, but my mind was elsewhere.

Would this be the last time I laughed with my dad? Did I have enough time to explain to Billy what he meant to me as a father and a friend? How was I supposed to say goodbye to the only parent I had ever known?

"I thought you were going to tell me she was pregnant," Charlie gasped, still clutching his sides.

"Dad!" Bella shouted, her face turning the color of a ripe tomato.

Our dads chuckled together, shooting a glance at each other in solidarity.

"We oughta get goin', Bells." Charlie paced over to the door, missing the doorknob by a couple inches and grasping at thin air with a frustrated expression.

Bella looked up at me, eyes full of anxiety. I brushed my fingertips across her cheekbone while Charlie grappled with the door. Was this our goodbye?

"I'll meet you out in the truck, Dad." Bella replied, eyes fixed on me.

"'Kay," Charlie grunted, stepping out into the dark night and closing the door behind him.

Billy was silent, processing the sudden shift in atmosphere as Charlie got farther away and the weight of our farewell hung in the air. It was easy to pretend he wasn't there and get wrapped in our own bubble, but his questioning eyes tickled the back of my neck.

"Bells – " I began, but she pressed her finger to my lips to stop me.

"I love you," she whispered, brushing her fingers through my hair.

I grabbed the hand she held against my mouth and pressed it against my chest. "I love you more," I murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Tears were brimming on the edge of her eyes, something I couldn't bear to watch. I gently brushed our lips together, bristling at the taste of goodbyes on my tongue.

She turned away, running out the door as if she couldn't bear to stay any longer. I watched as she left, head down and hidden beneath a thick brown wall of hair. Would Charlie notice how distraught she was? Would he blame me, like he should?

"What's that about?" Billy asked, his voice higher than usual. When I turned back to him, he looked taken aback by the expression on my face. I had no idea what he saw, but I knew it wasn't anything good.

"The boys found where the leeches have been hiding," I said, my voice heavy with gravity. "The red-head has been busy there, making an army." I couldn't say anymore through the lump in my throat.

The color drained from Billy's face, collapsing all the leathery wrinkles until he looked more ancient than usual.

"How many?" He croaked, then cleared his throat.

"Seth said more than twenty." My voice was no more than a whisper, but I knew he could hear. The whole house felt too still, too silent. It bore down on us with the force of a semi barreling ninety miles an hour down the highway.

"Jacob," Billy whispered, rolling over to me. His eyes were wide and panic-stricken.

"We're surveilling their territory," I continued, looking down at my feet. "Trying to figure out the best mode of attack." My fists were shaking by the end of the sentence. I tried balling them into fists, but that only made my arms rattle in their sockets.

Billy was silent. Without a word, he wheeled down the hallway and into his room. It was bigger than mine by one square foot, with barely enough room to fit his wheelchair next to the bed. He dug around in the tattered bedside table for a moment, then turned back to face me, holding something in his right hand.

"I made this for you when we knew you'd be shifting soon," he explained, handing me the bracelet.

It was a small wolf carved in soft wood, its head thrown back in a howl. The charm was affixed to a rubber, stretchy cord, loose enough not to break if I wore it when I phased.

"You remember when I taught you how to make those?" Billy asked gruffly while I stared down at the bracelet in surprise and awe.

I remembered the summer afternoons we'd spent working at the table, sun setting the room on fire in orange and pink strokes of light. Billy made intricate wood carvings and sold them to make ends meet. I begged him to teach me every day until my fifth birthday, when he finally conceded and taught me how to hold the knife correctly. I began by carving a circle, which ended up being a lopsided heart, and painted it red. Eventually, I got good enough to work on a few of Billy's more complicated pieces, and became sort of a geek when it came to different types of wood. I'd done it up until I turned fourteen and decided it wasn't cool anymore, leaving my Dad to sit at the table and carve alone.

"Sure, sure," I responded, pulling the bracelet onto my wrist. It hung loose, dropping to my knuckles when I lowered my hand. "I remember how much better you were at it."

"You made a few, too." Billy said, pulling out another bracelet with a wolf made out of reddish-brown balsa wood. This one was attached to a metal chain.

"Can you…" I trailed off, biting my tongue against the flood of emotions barreling through me. "Can I give that one to Bella?" I asked.

Billy, eyes grave, nodded solemnly.

"When do you have to go?" He inquired, moving closer.

"Midnight," I replied, eyes glancing over to the clock automatically. I had fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes left to be human with my father.

"Dad," I said anxiously, plopping down on the bed so we were eye-to-eye. "I want you to promise me something before I go."

"Anything, son."

"Don't unplug the phone this time," I laughed, though the sound was wrong, more like a bark. "I know Bella is going to be annoying, but try not to cut ties with Charlie over it."

Billy patted me on the back, then rubbed my shoulder.

"I'll watch over them, Jake," he promised. "I'll make sure Bella and Charlie stay safe."

"Tell Rachel and Rebecca that I love them," I instructed, almost formally. "Let Emily and Sue know that I appreciated all the food." A half-hearted smile pulled up one edge of my mouth. "And I'll say 'Hi,' to Mom for you."

Billy's eyes were wet and overflowing with emotion, so he simply nodded, but it was enough. I knew he wouldn't deny me these final, dying wishes. I stood up, clapped him on the shoulder, then turned and ran out the back door.

I didn't bother to get undressed before shifting into a wolf. The cut-off sweats were riddled with holes, anyway. The elastic cord on my wrist stretched and strained, but didn't break. I ran quickly, absorbing the new information the pack had gleamed overnight.

The surveillance team was bored, which was a good sign. It had been easy enough to find the abandoned house where the leeches hid, and it happened to be just upwind from the ridge Sam had instructed them to go to. So far, they hadn't seen any movement, but the smell was excruciating. They could easily make out at least twenty different distinctly sweet scents, including Mike Newton and Victoria. My legs pushed harder against the ground, practically flying through the forest.

Collin was taking over cell phone duty, switching off with Brady. Seth insisted he wouldn't need a break until morning, though he had been running all night. Leah whined, trying to get him to take a nap, but he resisted her coaxing, trying to convince Sam he was strong enough to fight along with 'the big dogs.'

Hey, Jake, Embry greeted when I made it to the ridge. His tongue was lolling out in a wolfy grin, the tenor of his thoughts teasing. So, you're not dying a virgin, huh?

Bask in the glory, Em, I goaded. Must suck being you.

I'm not as morbid. Embry rolled his eyes, standing up and stretching as I came to relieve him from his spot.

God! Jakey, c'mon, we need DETAILS! Quil jumped onto my shoulders, trying to engage me in some playful fighting to loosen my guard.

I'm not giving you perverts anything, I answered.

Thanks, Jake, Leah jibed sarcastically. I'm SO grateful I never have to see Bella Swan naked. As if we don't already know everything. Seth ran too close to your house, heard the screaming, and ran for a closer look. Nearly had a heart attack after catching sight of YOU buck-ass naked, going on like the world was about to end. I'm surprised we couldn't hear you from the mountains.

The reminder was enough for a memory, fuzzy around the edges with euphoria, to jump in the front of my mind. The boys hooted and howled while Leah covered her ears with her paws to try and block the image from her mind.

After that first taste, it was hard to keep my thoughts under control. I was glad when Sam and Jared phased seconds later so the guys would stop pestering me to show some more explicit images. Leah thought idly about calling Bella and having a sleepover to help her deal with all the 'unnecessary angst.'

I was itching to think about Bella, like a junkie craving his fix, and with nothing to do but wait and watch…

My stomach churned, remembering how her chest had vibrated beneath mine, moaning my name, running her hands through my hair. Her skin, flushing pink with heat, was soft and giving under my hands. I could still feel the way her nails dug into my back when she cried out, panting in my ear.

Listen, Jacob, Sam intervened. We get it. You had sex. You're not the first one to figure it out, and you're not the last. Stop torturing us. Plus, the boys are still listening. Well, Seth and Brady are. Collin fell asleep. COLLIN!

Huh – yeah?

Try to stay awake, bud.

Sorry, Sam.

It's okay. You're not missing anything. Sam sighed, laying his head on his paws.

We were positioned about twenty yards away in a triangle around the house. It was a dilapidated old building, preserved by the Quileute historical society and abandoned when funds ran low, with a fifty-foot barn standing crookedly behind it. I took the northeastern side, across from the river, which snaked along the edge of the property, the inky black water sinking stealthily into the valley. Jared sat to the southwest, among the dense vegetation lining the edge of overgrown farmland. Sam was laying over the ridge, with the highest vantage point.

Come on, bloodsuckers. Jared goaded in his head. We know you're in there. Why don't you come out and play?

Patience, Jared. Sam cautioned. The best hunters know that patience is key. Wait for one to break off from the herd, then go for the easy kill.

Since nothing is happening, Seth began, trying to sound persuasive, can I come and watch, too? Brady and Collin have got this.

COLLIN! Sam yelled again.

Oh – oh! Sorry, Sam! It won't happen again.

Seth, you take over as cell phone. Sam ordered. Collin, go home and get some sleep. Your dad is probably worried sick.

I'm awake, Collin insisted, standing up and pacing over the entrance to the forest behind Emily's house.

Stay that way, then.

I will.

Is she thinking about me right now? I wondered to myself, slipping back into my reverie.

Jacob. Sam, exasperated, pleaded wordlessly with me to focus on the vampires nearby. Please.

Sure, sure. Sorry.

He can't help it. Jared added. Still riding that first time high. You remember how annoying you were? Jared snickered.

You were unbearable, Sam joked good-naturedly.

Collin? Seth asked quietly.

I'm awake, the boy insisted.

Are we gonna see some action or not? I groaned.

Waiting for a bloodsucker to appear was excruciating when their smell was so concentrated and strong and close. It felt like ignoring the scent of burning toast in the morning, only this hurt my nose.

You already got some action tonight, Jared retorted.

Patience, Sam interrupted, they will come.

Speak of the devil… I trailed off, eyes catching a flash of movement at the long house door.

In the shadow of the porch, two ruby eyes glinted in the moonlight beneath a fiery red haze of hair. She was at the barn door in half a second, and inside before I could blink. My muscles coiled tensely at the sight, recognizing the leech immediately.

Collin, no! Stop barking. Nothing changes, he commanded, mostly to me. We wait for one to break off from the group.

How do we know the rest aren't in the house?

Sam rolled his eyes. Too close. Wait until she's across the river, at least.

Sure, sure. I snarled, drool pooling in my jowls and dripping onto the ground.

This was one bloodsucker I would be more than happy to get rid of. I wanted to kill her almost as much as I had ever wanted anything. More than my driver's license, more than new shorts, more than even the Rabbit and the Harley. I craved to rip Victoria's head off with my teeth. I had never really hated a bloodsucker in particular other than the Cullens, and that was a large group. But this one vampire would die if I had anything to say about it.

Dibs, I declared.

Aw, no fair! Seth whined. We're the ones who found them!

COLLIN!

I'm up! I'm up, don't worry, I'm up.

C'mon Sam, let him run. Brady implored. Seth can come and help you guys while Collin and I run patrol.

What part of 'no,' do you not understand?

Stop! Jared exclaimed, suddenly standing up on all fours, hackles raised.

I saw through his eyes the back door of the barn opening slowly, and then a small, pale face peeked out, looking in all directions. The girl couldn't have been older than I was, but that didn't matter. She was a leech, no doubt about it, with blazing red eyes gleaming like jewels atop her full, alabaster cheeks. Her face was cherubic in its beauty, but underneath that was the jarring symmetry of her bones, too alien to be human.

She paused for only a moment, then darted into the trees across from Jared, headed towards the ridge. Two others followed, a burly man with legs like tree trunks and a tall, skinny teenager who managed to look gawky and awkward while sprinting across the yard in a blur.

Let's go, I urged, taking a roundabout route across the river and catching up with Jared as he caught their trail among the spruces.

I'm coming! Seth exclaimed.

We need to catch up with them, Sam panted, pushing us faster.

One for each of us, Jared noted, pleased.

Focus, Sam ordered.

I hear 'em, I announced, excited.

The bloodsuckers were up ahead, near an almost-abandoned campsite. The park was closed to the public since so many people had gone missing, but there was always someone out there stupid or desperate enough to try.

If we were successful, they would live to be stupid or desperate another day.

Sam was hopping down the ridge from the other side, getting ready to corner them. Jared was about twenty yards to my right, his mouth watering in anticipation.

Seth was flying over the ground, closing the gap between him and us faster than even he thought he could go. I was glad he would be here so we had the upper hand, but also worried he would overestimate his strength.

Don't worry, guys, I got this, he assured us.

Seth wasn't seasoned enough to give into his instincts when hunting, but Sam, Jared, and I were already too deep in the zone to pay him much mind. The bloodsuckers had paused on the edge of the clearing, centering around the sole tent pitched on the far end, inches from the border of cedar trees towering over us.

I was on the opposite edge, farthest away from them, but I would be the first one they saw. The wind shifted, and the tall one caught my scent, turning on his heel so fast I barely clocked it.

"Hey, Dan?" He asked, his face falling from a snarl to a confused grimace.

"What?" The large one rumbled, in a voice like boulders falling down the side of a mountain.

"Are wolves supposed to get that big? Or that smelly?" The tall one took a step back, his voice going an octave higher.

I growled, a low, lasting vibration in the back of my throat. Crouching, I prepared to lunge for their throats.

The girl turned around, a spritely laugh erupting from her full, pink lips. "You're scared of a dog, Damien?"

"Hey," the tall leech spat back, "I would pick on someone my own size, pip-squeak."

The big one, who was watching me with wide, panicked eyes, grabbed both their arms with an iron-tight grip.

"Animals don't come near us," he whispered, though we all had supernatural hearing.

Stupid bloodsuckers, Jared muttered. Don't even know a werewolf when they see one.

I continued to slink closer. The humans in the tent were stirring, but I doubted they would be too upset if they knew the reason we'd woken them up. To my right, Jared exited the trees, entering on the side of the teenage girl. She turned to face him, eyes getting even bigger.

"Nice… doggy?" She asked, taking three stunned steps backward.

Try again, he snarled.

The three leeches were back-to-back. The tall one was facing me, while the girl was fixed on Jared. When Sam stepped out from the trees, the big one turned to stare at him with wide, stunned eyes.

"She didn't tell us about these things," the girl whined, her voice high and unpleasant.

"Then they must not be anything to worry about," the big one replied.

In your dreams, I growled.

I'm here! Seth panted, running up beside me.

And then we lunged.