DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Not even a computer. I upload these chapters by using the intergalactic mind-frequency highway, and if you're reading it, it's two thousand lightyears in the future. What's up, Earth? Y'all still just dinosaurs or have you evolved enough to read this yet?

A notable quotable from this chapter was " smeyer give me the strength to fix eclipse," and if that isn't a mood I don't know what to tell ya. Shoutout to NeedMoreZzz's, as always, for understanding which nouns get capitalized and which don't. (Shameless plug) Go read her story On the Run which we've been working on together. As a stalker of the jacobxbella tag on multiple platforms, I can confirm that it is one of the better fics out there.

Also, Peach Pit just so happens to be the band I listen to while writing this fic. If you wanna check them out, I recommend starting with Tommy's Party and just puttin' that shit on repeat for three years. That's what I did.

XXXIV

I carried Bella back to Charlie's house in my arms, expecting her to fall asleep on the way there. For once, she didn't surprise me. I crept in through the front door and carried her up the stairs, dumping her on the bed unceremoniously before flopping down next to her, too exhausted to move.

My body was crooked next to hers, trying to keep as much of myself on the bed as possible, but even with my head pushing against the wall, my ankles dangled off the end of the bed. I bent my elbow so my hand rested between our faces, feeling her warm breath brush my knuckles every time she breathed out. Charlie wouldn't be happy if he caught us together, but she was fully dressed, and I was careful to stay on top of the blankets. He couldn't get too angry if it was obvious we hadn't been doing anything fun.

I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. At first, my dreams were a blur of colors and the smell of Bella's hair, but then they became darker, the shadows growing. Out of nowhere, Edward was there, with sharp fangs dripping blood. He was holding Bella, who stared up at him with horrified eyes, a mortal terror freezing up her body. As his mouth bent down to her neck, I lurched forward, sitting up in bed so suddenly that my vision went dark for a moment with the head rush.

It was still early; rosy-fingered dawn was just breaking above the mountains, and I could smell a pot of coffee brewing downstairs. Charlie's shuffling footsteps groaned on the creaky floor in the kitchen, and he grunted before scratching a chair against the tiles and plopping into it.

I groaned softly, flinging my feet down to the floor with my head in my hands. I wondered idly if I would ever get a full night's sleep. With a sigh, I stood up and grabbed a pad of paper from the desk adjacent to the bed.

Bella, I scrawled.

Had to leave before Charlie caught us. Not because I'm scared, but because I love you, and I knew you'd be embarrassed. I'll see you tonight for dinner, after patrol, if you'll make me a plate.

Forever yours,

Jake

I turned to leave it on her pillow. She was sprawled out on the bed, her hair a halo of brown tangles around her. She looked peaceful, serene, all the lines of worry smoothed out. For a second I wondered if I should stay and hide in the closet if Charlie came up to check on her, then thought better of it. Sam would be wondering where I was, if he didn't already know. And Emily might have pancakes.

My stomach rumbled at the thought. With a quick kiss to Bella's temple, I left the note next to her face and slipped through the window, landing on the ground with hardly a thud.

I smelled Edward before I saw him, reminding me of the dream that had pulled me out of sleep. I shifted quickly and ignored him skulking in the woods behind the house, hoping to get out of range as soon as possible.

Had a nice night? Quil asked immediately, raising his eyebrows as he appeared on my right.

Nothing you'd be interested in, I grumbled, still not fully awake.

The leech is still there, Embry noted, materializing on my left. He's been there since the meeting at the clearing.

We have bigger things to worry about, Sam chided.

He'd sent Paul, Jared, and the boys home to sleep, though Seth was being stubborn and insisted on running with his sister. She pretended to be annoyed, but she secretly enjoyed having her brother nearby to confirm his safety.

We were all on edge. Sam had gone back to check on Emily – sleeping, as most people were at five in the morning – and the others had tense, stiff muscles. The accumulation of leeches on our border was messing with all of our heads.

You already made plans to hide Bella? Leah asked, though it sounded more like an accusation. Why wasn't I consulted?

I pushed my legs harder against the well-worn path snaking through the forest, propelling myself faster along the patrol route and quickly overtaking the others. Leah responded in kind, accepting my challenge.

We can't keep her on the rez, she's been back and forth too much, apparently. I rolled my eyes as Leah caught up. But she's got tickets to a concert on Saturday. She's gonna give those to Emily and Kim, to get them out of town.

Sam nodded, pleased. That's good, he thought. Where does Charlie think Bella will be?

I paused for half a second, slowing down enough to let Leah get ahead by a hair.

I hadn't thought about that, I admitted, straining to reclaim my lead.

He's already suspicious after what happened at his house, Sam reminded. We'll have to think of an explanation for why she's gone.

I've got it! Leah exclaimed, hopping over a fallen log and landing deftly back onto the earth. Tell him she's going with Emily and Kim to this concert out of town, and they want to go shopping in the city, or something. She can spend the night at my house, and then the next day you can go and lay the trail for the bloodsuckers. Then you can keep her up in the mountains the night before the battle.

Not bad, Sam said appraisingly. You'd be okay with her sleeping over?

As long as Jake doesn't do what he's planning, Leah snapped.

What? I asked defensively, knowing exactly what she meant. As soon as she suggested Bella sleeping over at La Push, I had already started to work out a way for her to sleep over with me.

You're not invited, Leah growled. It's a girls' night.

Are you inviting Kim? Seth wondered, his feet falling heavy on the ground about fifty yards behind the pack, held back by exhaustion.

Go home, Seth, Leah nagged for the eighth time that hour.

Make me, he growled back, tired and hungry and irritated. I felt bad for the kid, who was unwaveringly compelled to protect his family from anymore tragedies.

That's a good idea, Sam interjected. Kim and Emily can go, too. She misses you, Leah.

She growled. Reconnecting with her cousin hadn't been part of the plan.

They're going to be in Seattle, right?

Someone ought to listen to the concert… I thought, fantasizing about what plans she might have had to thank me…

Ugh! Leah spat in disgust. That's all you guys think about.

You're just mad 'cause you're not getting any, Quil quipped.

Neither are you, dumbass, Leah reminded him.

They only need to be gone the day of the battle, Sam insisted. I'd rather not let her out of my sight until absolutely necessary. I'm sure Jared feels the same.

I guess, Leah agreed reluctantly. But we're not doing nails. And none of you perverts get to come.

We'll be patrolling that night, Sam said sternly, catching the tenor of Embry and Quil's thoughts. They were fantasizing about what happened at girls' slumber parties – something I was curious about, too.

You girls can stay at our place, since it's bigger, Sam said.

Leah involuntarily recoiled at the word 'our,' but we all ignored it.

Fine, she muttered, regretting her idea more and more.

What about tonight? Seth asked eagerly. When are we going?

I don't think it's safe for all of us to go, Sam responded. We need some of us here in case the red-head changes her mind. The psychic leech could be lying, too, he added. Although her predictions are better than nothing.

I'll go with Bella, I volunteered quickly, grabbing at the chance to spend the night with her again.

You two can't go by yourselves, Sam said. You won't focus if she's there. Embry and Quil can go with you.

Okay, I agreed, still excited. Embry and Quil were my usual wingmen; I knew they wouldn't cramp my style.

You wish, Embry howled, and Quil joined him.

So, when do we have to tell Charlie? Leah asked.

Later, when he gets home from work, Sam replied, distracted by his own hungers. Let's go back and tell Emily, and she can call to invite Bella over. He was already veering off the trail. Get your story straight before going to Charlie's, he told Leah.

I'll go with her, I offered.

Absolutely not, Leah growled, offended. If you're there, you'll give it away. It's supposed to be a girls' night, after all.

I told her I'd be back after patrol, I whined.

Then run around her house while I go in.

Fine, I barked. But I'll be listening.

Emily's house still had the familiar cracked white-and blue teapot – now full of birch branch sprigs holding tiny pink buds – and the smell of blueberry muffins, but it felt dimmer, like the heavy fog outside filtered in through the window and masked the overhead light. Emily had always kept her house tidy, but now it was immaculate – too clean, too organized. She had been going crazy over the last couple days, wiping and re-wiping counters and excessively scraping at the frying pan. Her anxiety was palpable in the air; but when Sam walked in, her face melted with relief, and her arms opened up to embrace him with tightly clenched fists.

The entire pack had made their way to Emily's. Seth joined Brady and Collin on the couch in the attached living room, picked up the bowl sitting there waiting for him, and joined his friends in slurping up cereal like vacuums. Embry joined Paul and Jared at the table, betting on which one of the boys would finish first. Quil was busy scarfing down his own plate of scrambled eggs, but he slammed a five down on the table and pointed at Seth without even looking up. Leah sat across from them with her legs up on the counter, eyes closed, breath coming in and out evenly. She could fall asleep anywhere, doing anything. Emily was at the stove, pushing more eggs around a pan, with Sam at her side.

I kicked Leah's chair on my way to grab a plate, waking her up with a start.

"What the hell?" She shouted indignantly.

"Thanks for foiling my evil plan," I grumbled. "I was gonna invite her to my house for a sleepover."

She snorted, standing up with her empty plate, and turned towards the sink.

"Oh, let me get that for you, Leah."

Emily had already taken Leah's plate from her hands and was running some water over it in the sink.

Leah huffed, watching her cousin. Emily had been going above and beyond lately to make things up to her, always following her around, anticipating her every need. Leah, for her part, had been less outright hostile, holding her tongue in places she would have lashed out before. But Emily was worried, and in need of a sister, someone to talk to. Kim was just a girl, and Bella was clinically insane.

"Did Sam tell you about the plan for Thursday night?" Leah asked tentatively, taking a step towards the sink.

The clamor of the kitchen stuttered to a halt. Seth had just knocked back half a bag of Cheerios at a dizzying pace, and the others had been cheering on the underdogs – Brady and Collin – who were chewing through Kix like they had a vendetta against the little balls of flour. But now they had all paused to stare at the girls, feeling the change in atmosphere.

"No," Emily gushed, looking over at Sam and then back at Leah, a bright smile on half of her face.

"They're going to have Bella lead a false trail to the clearing, to lead the bloodsuckers in, and then they have to hide her somewhere in the mountains."

"What does that have to do with Thursday?"

"Well, Bella's going to need to stay the night. You see, she had these tickets to a concert in Seattle, and Jake says she was going to give them to you guys anyway, so to avoid making Charlie suspicious, we're going to tell him you, Bella, Kim, and I are going to the city early to do some shopping, or something, and then go to the concert. But we know you don't want to leave Sam that early," Leah said hurriedly, as if the words hurt to say, "so we figured she could stay here that night, and make it a…" she trailed off, gulping.

"Girls' night." Leah finished, grimacing.

"Does Charlie know?" Emily asked quickly, ignoring our looks of surprise.

The world kept turning, even after Leah said, "girls' night," out loud, and soon Quil was excitedly claiming that Jared and Paul each owed him five bucks, and Sam picked up washing the plate where Emily left off, allowing the cousins to talk. I downed my plate in five seconds flat, then rose to hand the plate to Sam, who was still listening intently to their conversation.

"I need to call Bella first, I think," Leah said. "And you should probably tell Kim."

"I can do that!" Jared volunteered. "I'll head over there now,"

"It's six in the morning on a Wednesday," Leah said, throwing the words over her shoulder. "Are you sure Kim's mom will let you inside?"

Jared smiled, and a memory of him sneaking into her room the other night danced behind his eyes, as vivid in my own mind as if I had been there.

"I can be sneaky," he sneered.

"Gross," Leah muttered.

"I'll call her," Emily said sternly. "And then you can call Bella. She must be exhausted!" Emily exclaimed, drying her hands on a towel hanging from the oven door, her weary eyes downcast.

"We could all use some sleep," Sam announced, and the room fell silent once again. "We've done well tonight, guys," he allowed, nodding.

The group dispersed as quickly as we had appeared. We knew Sam, and how to interpret his way of saying, "Get out of my house or so help me."

As much as we loved Emily's place – her kitchen was practically a holy shrine in the younger boys' minds – there were boundaries we didn't cross. Personal space while we were human was cherished; those days, it was mostly because we had life to attend to, and family to make sure were still alive. I took a couple muffins for the road, jogging over to Billy's place.

The air was different today; damper, heavier. Rain drops pinched the skin on my shoulders with how hard they fell to the ground, bouncing in puddles on the edge of the gravel roads, ricocheting off roofs and colliding into muddy driveways. When I got home, to the faded-red, rain-washed little house, I wasn't surprised to see Billy peering out the white lace curtain of the front window.

"Hey, Dad," I said, throwing him a muffin as I plopped on the couch.

"How'd it go?" He asked, skipping the pleasantries.

I leaned forward; elbows bent on my knees. I told him everything, besides the fact that Bella had come with me. He didn't necessarily need to know that Bella was there, and he already had to hide enough from Charlie. His grave eyes absorbed my story like he was committing it to memory.

"Do you think it will work?" He asked once I was finished.

I sat back, resting one of my hands on my stomach and letting the air blow out of my lungs.

"It might. I don't trust the mind-reader, though, but Bella seems to like the psychic. I think we can trust her, but I don't know about him," I spat.

"Have you spoken to him alone?"

I hesitated.

"Once," I admitted. "Sort of. He read my mind and responded."

"What did he say?"

I ran my hand down my face. "I don't remember," I lied.

"Like hell you don't!" He scoffed. "Something he said could be important to future generations, Jacob. Think of the tribe."

"I'm not a warrior in a story," I growled, clenching my fists. "I'm a person. I'm your son. Isn't going through it bad enough? Why do I have to hash it all out to you?"

"Jacob," he said, in that old, oh-so-familiar way. I almost groaned.

"I'm really not in the mood for a lecture, Dad," I said, standing up and making it to the hallway in two steps. "I need to sleep. We can talk more later."

In truth, I wanted to ignore Edward Cullen's entire existence. But I couldn't. When I slept, he was there, smiling broadly and sinking his teeth into Bella, lifeless and pale in his hands. The hand with her scar kept twitching, like she was still trying to fight, stubborn as she was.

Once I'd tossed and turned my way through the day, and the foggy light of day turned into a dark blue hue upon the twilight dew, I shifted and raced along the boundary line, not gaining any comfort from the action.

A battle was brewing, and I was waiting impatiently for the damn fight to start.

Finally, Leah shifted, and we raced to Charlie's house.

I don't see why you need to be here, she muttered as we ran.

I'm coming over after, I assured her, thinking of my note.

I hovered in the trees while she put on a gray tank-top and cut-off jean shorts, listening for my cue to cut in.

"Hey, Bella," Leah greeted, her stern face cracking a smile. "Is Charlie home?"

"Yes," Bella replied smoothly, like she had rehearsed her lines. "Come on in, do you need something?"

"Well," Leah began, strutting inside confidently, "I wanted to thank you for helping me pass Algebra Two, so I got us all tickets to that concert in Seattle, you know, the one with the…" Leah faltered, trying to think of the band name, which no one had thought to tell her.

"Oh, Peach Pit?" Bella supplied, her voice a little higher than usual.

"Yes! Peach Pit," Leah recovered. "And we were going to make it a girl's trip – you know, shopping, sightseeing, then the concert. Oh, hey, Chief Swan," Leah added innocently.

I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, Leah," Charlie said cheerily. "Call me Charlie. It's been too long, kid." I heard him clap her on the shoulder.

"It has," Leah agreed. "Is it alright with you if we go to Seattle?" She inquired subtly.

"Who else is going?" He asked, though I could tell he'd checked out as soon as he heard "girl's trip."

"Kim will be there – you met her at the funeral, I think – and Emily, too."

"Oh, that sounds fun, Bella!" He said brightly.

"Yeah," Bella said. "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow night – that way we have the whole next day in the city. The concert's going to end late, so we'll be back sometime Saturday afternoon." Leah explained, all for Charlie's sake.

"Cool," Bella replied awkwardly. "I can't wait!" She added enthusiastically.

Leah was invited to dinner but politely declined, saying she was just in Forks to run some errands for her mom, and Charlie eagerly offered his help with anything that needed doing around the house. When she left, scowling, I went inside for dinner.

Charlie wasn't surprised to see me. "Hey, Jake," he said. "Haven't you got food at your own house?"

"Not as good as Bells makes," I replied, throwing my arm around her shoulders and planting a wet kiss on her forehead.

She blushed crimson. "Maybe I didn't make enough for you this time," she said. "You've put a serious dent in the grocery budget, Jake."

I grinned from ear to ear, unrepentant. "My bad," I chuckled.

Later that night, Charlie called Emily in the other room, affirming that there was indeed a trip to Seattle and she would be going with the young, impressionable girls – though Emily was only twenty herself. I wondered why she was treated like one of the adults when she couldn't even legally drink. Was it her unofficial place on the council, as Sam's imprint? Was it her scars? Did Charlie give her some credit for being mauled by a "bear," and surviving? Whatever the reason, he trusted Emily implicitly, and afterwards paid strict attention to the baseball game while I helped Bella with the dishes.

Bella rode on my back more easily than the night before. Embry, Quil, and I stationed ourselves around the edge of the practice ring, spaced far apart to watch from different angles. Bella sat next to me, her back up against a tree. It was a brighter night than the one before, the moon shining through the thin clouds, illuminating the field and elongating the shadows of the trees.

I was starting to recognize the different vampires and attach names to their unnaturally beautiful faces. Jasper and Emmett were already wrestling when we got there – just warming up from the sounds of their laughter. Alice and Rosalie lounged on the hard ground, watching. Edward still hadn't appeared, which was fine by me. Esme and Carlisle were talking a few yards away, heads close together, fingers linked, not paying attention. It seemed like an intimate moment, and I didn't want to pry, but from what I could hear of their hushed conversation they were praying. It didn't make any sense to me, for vampires to be talking to God – but then again, these creatures didn't act like normal bloodsuckers.

Maybe they got lobotomized, Embry theorized. Or neutered. You know, like how male dogs calm down when you cut off their balls?

Please don't talk about neutering dogs, Quil begged. It makes me paranoid.

Embry sat patiently on my left, watching the Cullens with a scientific eye. Quil twitched constantly, dying to join in the mock fight. Bella's heart was hammering in her chest as she watched Emmett and Jasper. They shot at each other, faster than cobra strikes, while the moonlight glinted off their granite-hard skin.

I caught her eyes and smiled the same wolfy grin as the night before, my eyes scrunching the way they did when I was human. Bella tried to smile back, but the slant of her mouth and her furrowed eyebrows didn't fit together. She swallowed hard.

Edward appeared at the edge of the clearing, closer to us than he was to his family. I ignored him and put my head down to Bella's level, cocking it to one side. A low whimper escaped my muzzle, trying to ask her what was wrong.

"Just worried, you know," she said, sighing and looking down at her lap.

Suddenly, Edward was with us. I stood up instinctually when he approached. I noticed him before he spoke, but Bella looked up at the sound of his voice, eyes wide with surprise, and stood up with me.

"He wants to know why," Edward murmured.

I growled – not threatening, just annoyed – and Edward's lips twitched.

"What?" Bella asked, looking between us.

"He thinks my translations leave something to be desired. What he actually thought was, 'That's really stupid. What is there to be worried about?' I edited, because I thought it was rude."

Bella halfway smiled, her heart still racing anxiously.

"There's plenty to be worried about," she told me. "Like a bunch of really stupid wolves getting themselves hurt."

I laughed, a coughing bark in this body.

Edward sighed. "Jasper wants help. You'll be okay without a translator?"

We get on just fine without you, I growled.

"I'll manage," Bella said.

Edward glanced wistfully at her for a second, his expression hard to understand, then turned his back and strode over to where Jasper waited.

Bella sat back down on the cold ground. I leaned my head to the side for a moment, watching Edward's back with suspicion. Then I folded myself back on to the ground with a rumbling sigh, resting my head down on my paws.

I glanced up at the bright silver clouds, wondering what the bloodsuckers plan was with Bella. Did he think getting rid of the newborn army could fix all the pain he'd caused her? Did he think it would make her come back to him? Was that his plan all along?

Would she go back to him? If he got on his knees and begged, I couldn't imagine Bella being able to say no, not with the way leeches were able to lure and seduce their prey. It would be only too easy for him to have her under the same spell he'd put on her before. I whined, turning my head over to look at her with one eye, trying to figure out what she was thinking.

A breeze blew through the clearing, and Bella shivered. I scooted myself closer to her, pressing my fur against her left side.

"Thanks," she sighed, leaning against my wide shoulder.

I settled into the ground, feeling less paranoid now that I could feel her pressed up against me. The clouds marched slowly across the sky, dimming and brightening as thick patches crossed the moon and passed on. Absently, Bella began pulling her fingers through the fur on my neck. I hummed in contentment, the sound rumbling in my throat.

"You know, I never had a dog," she mused. "I always wanted one, but Renée's allergic."

I laughed, my body shaking beneath her.

"Aren't you worried about Saturday at all?" She asked.

I turned my head towards her so she could see one of my eyes roll.

"I wish I could feel that positive."

I leaned my head against her leg and started humming again. Bella's heart slowed, and her hands stopped shaking in my fur. We settled into each other, leaning on one another for support.

"So, we've got some hiking to do soon, I guess," she said sleepily, a yawn breaking free of her mouth.

I rumbled enthusiastically, though I was more excited about being alone with her in a tent overnight.

"It might be a long hike," she warned. "I don't think Edward judges distances the way a normal human does."

I barked another laugh. I'm not a normal human, I thought.

She settled deeper into my fur, resting her head against my neck.

I hadn't expected to feel this way with her as a wolf, let alone while watching a coven of vampires try to rip each other's throats out. But here we were, the same as always, with our effortless relationship that was as natural as breathing in and out. I had thought that being a wolf would have taken it away.

I watched the vampires continue practicing in the clearing, while Bella stared at the hazy moon with far-off eyes.