A/N: Hello all! I hope everyone is doing alright, it's a tough time for everyone still. I am so sorry for the hold-up but thank you for dropping in on chapter 8! Thank you to my wonderful co-writer/beta Lizzolukosco :) as always.

To my readers, I appreciate the time you have taken to stop by and read this chapter, it means a lot to me!

Disclaimer: I really hope you don't believe for a moment that I own anything associated with Twilight.

_X_

We woke up by midday to the blinding light of the sun streaming in. Jacob laid beside me, in a peaceful slumber, though he must have sensed my gaze since his eyes fluttered open. We had fallen asleep side by side from the effects of the mortal's rest and woke up entangled as a result. I must have been drawn to his body heat during the night. I felt the cloth of my blouse plastered onto my back, like a second skin creating a barrier between his stomach and my spine. I found it hard to believe I was in the same, chilly house we had fallen asleep in.

I could feel his broad chest pressed against my back and I imagined the deep, intricate patterns of his tribal tattoo as I have seen it before. I peered behind me and gaped at the sight of those dark swirls over his smooth skin and the proud wolf on his bicep, the tattoo artist could not have chosen a more perfect canvas.

I twisted further to steal a glance at his face to find him smirking. Feeling caught, I immediately pulled away and stood up, wiping off any dirt from my skirt.

"I suppose you're feeling better," he said huskily, a yawn clawing its way out of his mouth.

I wasn't, he almost distracted me enough to keep me from thinking about the events of last night. I craved motion; to run away from the memories dancing behind my eyelids. That and my cheeks were still burning from getting caught ogling him as I would a hot meal.

"Good enough to keep riding," I replied, my voice empty.

He remained lazily perched on the blanket we had acquired the day before, looking up at me as I adjusted my ruffled clothes. I was growing more aware of the soreness where I had hit my head. I reached up and winced when my fingers brushed up against the large lump that had formed overnight.

"Maybe we should take it easy," he said as he eyed me.

"Should we stay a while longer?" I quirked an eyebrow, tempting him to suggest we stay longer in this desolate shelter.

"No, probably not," he said with a sigh. He finally stood, his pectorals directly in front of me now. "Are you sure you're alright after last night?" He asked, his voice still gruff.

"I'd feel better if we left," I said, taking a step back, needing space from the immense muscles staring me in the face.

"Sure, sure. I'll pack up our things and we'll head out."

I followed suit, packing what little belongings we had and hauling myself onto Roma. Jacob picked up the immense sword he had left in the corner of the room last night and fastened it to his hip. He also redressed himself in his shirt and coat which I was just as thrilled about as I was over him keeping the sword. That very sword could have killed me or him yesterday, and instead, it rested in the holster against Jacob's hip, hanging as naturally as another limb, ready to be unsheathed at any moment. We had come close to death once again; how soon until we found ourselves in another fight for our lives?

_x_

We had been riding since morning and I was sure if we didn't get there by the end of the week, we might never arrive. I never thought Washington would be so large. Then again, I'd never been anywhere besides Forks and Volterra my entire adult life.

As Jacob rode ahead of me, I watched the tail end of his braid bump against his back and the curve of his rear. I hadn't been bothered to ask him how he was after yesterday, having been so occupied with my own dizzying thoughts. I had bared my soul last night while barely learning anything about him. Was he still hiding things from me? It had taken him days just to tell me where we were going. What else could he be keeping to himself?

"Are we almost there yet?" I asked for the tenth time that hour.

Jacob didn't bother answering.

We hadn't strayed too far from the river, having committed to its direction since we first found it on our journey. Each cold whip of the wind chilled me to my bones. Had I not been wearing layers, it would have been unbearably frigid.

Jacob, however, seemed to be fairing fine in his thin, black pants and leather jacket, like the cold had no effect on him. I continued to watch him as he rode ahead of me, unbelievably gracious in his movements. I wouldn't have noticed when he halted all movement if I hadn't almost crashed into him on Roma.

"What happened-" He held out a hand to silence me.

"There are people coming," he explained in a low whisper.

His grip tightened around his reins as he tugged Woody to his left, turning around and making towards the forest's edge. I followed after him, not wanting to be left behind by, ironically, the only person left for me to trust.

"Ay!" I heard a woman call as Roma galloped off to the forest, though I wasn't sure if they had seen me.

"Benjamin, there's someone here," I heard the voice cry out again.

"Stay back - James, come here!" A man I assumed to be named Benjamin called back, his voice growing closer as I looked at Jacob.

"Jacob," I hissed. "What do we do?" I looked desperately to him for help.

"You run, I'll handle them," he said, his voice grim. His eyes were focused on the woods, sliding over the trees the way a guard dog might scan the horizon before getting on its haunches.

"That's ridiculous, we both should run!"

"Then they'll follow both of us." For a moment it looked like he was going to reach for me, but then he continued. "You, go."

He directed Woody back to the river, expecting me to follow orders, but how could I? We had only barely escaped death last night and now we were spotted by an entire group of people.

"I thought we established last night, I will not leave you behind." I asserted, and it was true. I could have run with Roma last night, never to turn back, but then what would I do on my own? Where would I go, and what would happen to him? If I was his responsibility to keep safe then he would be mine too.

When he reached the clearing of the riverside he turned once again and disappointment marked his face when he saw I clearly was not deserting him. I urged Roma closer to where he stood, and though I couldn't see the others, I heard an audible gasp.

"You're Chief Black!" As I steered Roma beside Woody, I came to see just ten paces across from us was a group of two women and three men with two horses in tow.

"Chief Black, it is an honor to meet you," said the taller of the men, with shaggy black hair, as he walked forward. He wore navy blue trousers and a shaggy fur coat. What stood him out were the scars he bore. On the exposed skin of his forearms and around his face were angry, white, puckered lines scratched down his face that I could see from where I sat atop Roma. His bicep was bandaged and I could see the dark stain of dried blood. His counterparts all appeared to be as misshapen as he, aside from the scars on his face, which were long-healed.

Jacob eyed him suspiciously for a moment before he swung his leg over Woody and approached the seemingly kind stranger.

"I'm Benjamin. I've heard a lot about you and your efforts to free Originals. I was inspired by your work." The man held out a hand to shake with Jacob, though he grasped the man's forearm in a familiar warrior's greeting instead.

"We're just trying to survive." His voice was subtly different than I had grown used to. It was more formal, like a diplomatic greeting. They stood like that for a moment, the silence seemed meaningful.

"And whom else do I have the pleasure of meeting?" Jacob continued.

"The pleasure is ours, I assure you. This is my wife, Angela," Benjamin reached his arm out as a tall woman standing by the others moved forward to embrace him on his right. She had wild, curly, dark brown hair held back from her face by a paisley swatch of fabric but otherwise unhindered in its whirling, flowing movements. She wore a simple, puffy shirt tucked into a wide green skirt, and a thick coat was wrapped tightly around her. Though she stood still, her many bangles and jewelry made it seem like she was constantly swaying, dancing on her feet though she did not move from her husband's side.

"And this is Victoria, her husband James, and Laurent. We're part of a resistance group."

"I wasn't aware there was a resistance group," Jacob replied, his voice a strange mixture of polite curiosity and wariness.

"We're lone travelers, but there are groups all over Washington. We recently lost some good men and women." Benjamin's words started confidently but ended whimsically.

"My condolences," Jacob said, though his voice held no remorse. "We didn't expect to find anyone so far off the beaten path."

"Yes, we heard a rumor but had no idea if it was true," Angela said to Jacob, her arm comfortably stationed around her husband's waist. "The capital supposedly captured an Original. You must have come down to retrieve them."

"Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful," Jacob lied smoothly. "We are on our way back."

"To Elwha, is it?" Benjamin guessed.

"Why don't you join us for a bit, we're on our way towards Cullen Township. You might find it familiar, no?" The man further behind holding on to the reins of one of the horses spoke to Jacob.

"We have other plans," Jacob spoke quickly, the words rushed. "We're riding to another tribe." Jacob addressed the far man and turned his attention back to Benjamin.

My lips narrowed. I made eye contact with Angela, hoping against hope these strangers wouldn't ask too many questions. Jacob was clearly lying. To me, or to them, I wasn't sure. But if I was the one he was trusting, then who were these people? And why did he trust the Queen of Forks over them?

"Why don't we join you, then? We could continue gathering whoever would join us in our efforts. Surely, we could find more support with the great Chief himself."

"The Originals of this land are in danger enough." The man visibly swallowed under Jacob's hard glower, but otherwise, did not falter.

"We're building a rebellion, you see. Originals and non-Originals alike"-his eyes darted to me-"to fight against the Cullen settlements and Original displacement." I felt a chill as it ran down my spine at the mention of the Cullens.

"I don't see many Originals among you now." Another stiff response.

"As I said, we've lost some good people," Benjamin replied, his voice growing dark.

"Well, you're in our neck of the woods now, why don't we host you a while?" The man holding the horses offered. He had long dark hair, and an accent I couldn't place - possibly from south of Forks? "We could set up camp together before the sun gets too low. I can't imagine you planned on traveling through the night."

"No, we hadn't. We do appreciate the offer." His words were kind but Jacob's response was bleak, he was far more stoic and cold now, much like the man I first met days ago. While he remained distant, Jacob had been softer with me in these last few days. This was not the same man I had woken up to this morning; this was Chief Black, doing his best to protect me.

Why? I wondered. Why didn't he throw me away now? Didn't he hear what they were saying? They were gathering a force to take down the Cullens. That was what he wanted, wasn't it?

"Great!" Angela beamed, "We've come up with a system. Two of our riders were going to run ahead and hunt while we gathered our resources. You're welcome to join them or stay with us. Your friend could probably help us gather some vegetables and tow along some wood on her steed," she smiled warmly towards me.

I looked to Jacob for guidance. We'd be splitting up, and I'd be alone with strangers. What if I was recognized? Though if any one of them had noticed who I was by now, they didn't say so.

"I can go ahead as well." He turned back to see my appalled expression, but I could tell an idea struck him. "My wife should probably stay behind and help the ladies."

Wife? I hadn't expected that at all, but Jacob had seemed to be a step ahead of me. I couldn't tell what he had planned, but I knew that if he agreed for us to separate, it was for a good reason.

"I think that would be best," I agreed, though my voice gave away my hesitation. I hopped off Roma and walked up behind Jacob to face the pair across from him.

"Hi, I'm Angela." She held her hand out for me to shake, which I gracefully shook in a kind gesture. "This is my husband, Ben."

"I'm Marie."

"That's a beautiful name."

"Thank you."

"Well, let's get moving before we can't catch a damn thing." The blonde, long-haired man behind Benjamin exclaimed before climbing on one of their horses. He gave the red-haired woman, Victoria, a peck on the lips and the man with the accent followed after him.

Jacob approached me similarly, his arms cradled my small frame in a way he never had, and he dipped his head as far down as he could before he gruffly spoke.

"At first doubt, run north." His voice was stone cold, and as his arm encompassed me I could feel the heavy weight of his words. His tone juxtaposed with the way he held me lovingly, tenderly.

Then he surprised me and laid a soft kiss on my forehead. It was quick, but warmed me from the crown of my hair to the tip of my toes until I felt light-headed and flushed red, soothing away my nerves.

"Alright lovebirds let's move it," Angela said, lacing her fingers with mine as she pulled me away. I glanced back at Jacob who stood in place before trekking off into the wilderness with the other men with Woody in tow.

"How did you manage to tame a wild dog like Black?" The red-haired woman excitedly gasped, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Excuse me?" I was pulled straight out of my boggled mind, and back to reality.

"I didn't know he was married. I heard he was beastly - savage, even."

"Savage?" Fury ignited in my core, slowly building. Jacob, a savage? "How dare you?" The memories of the rumors I heard within the walls of Forks flooded back. I was reminded of the cruel attitude of lowlife city folk towards Originals.

I was angrier than I thought I would be and I immediately found myself back in the castle's grand hall, on my throne as Edward brought in another Original to be slaughtered. The world around me was silent as I rewatched another person fall to their demise. Edward smirked as he watched, the crowd raved, and I sat still. Over time, I had grown to tolerate it all, I was desensitized, but at this moment, on edge as I was, that memory shook me to my core.

It was only a week ago that I thought him beastly, too, after having heard he killed a thousand men. She likely thinks the worst of him as well, but she was supposedly a part of resistance efforts supporting Originals and her leader looked up to Jacob. That seemed highly strange for her to say.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant. Marriage is just - I didn't think someone like him would marry, especially not someone outside the tribe."

"Please excuse her," Angela interjected, her hand grasping the red-haired woman's arm and pulling her away. "Victoria is from Forks, they're misinformed about Originals. She's still unlearning those stereotypes," she mediated, though it was no more of a comfort.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to insult you," Victoria added from behind Angela. While she was being pulled away, I assessed the risks at hand. She must have left Forks before I did, but she was around long enough to hear the same rumor of the battle at Elwha. She must know by now that Elwha is not a nearby town, but a faraway valley. She may not know about the Queen and Quileute Chief runaways, but she will know what the Queen looks like and that makes her dangerous.

"It was my husband you insulted." I was still seething, I didn't feel like myself anymore.

"That's that city attitude, it's a work in progress," Benjamin chuckled, in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the tension between me and Victoria. "I'll go ahead with Vicky if you don't mind, we can gather wood now and strap it on to your horse here as we go." He pulled Victoria by her wrist, walking into the deep forest.

"Fine," I muttered.

"Marie," Angela said as she tied her dark, curly hair back and out of her face. "You'll want to look for plants like these or roots like this." She pulled some herbs out of the pack she had fastened around her back for ease of carrying. The herbs had rough ends and the roots were easy enough to distinguish.

"Sure, I can do that."

"I see you have a bag already, but take this one, too. We should be able to collect a fair amount in this area of the woods, at least enough to feed us all. We'll walk together so we don't get lost."

"Simple enough," I said doubtfully. I was oddly aware of the increasing distance between Jacob and me, and the longer we were apart, I felt my heart grow heavier in my chest. Collecting roots seemed like the opposite of what I should be doing. I remembered the hard look of his eyes, the stubborn furrowing of his brows. This was what he needed me to do. So I would stick to our cover and wait until we could meet again.

We walked into the woods and though I had lost the direct sunlight by the riverside, I could definitely see the roots Angela had told me to look out for. I thought I had gotten the hang of it when one root, in particular, decided it would not be getting ripped out of the ground. I tugged, wrestling against the earth as it clung to its flower.

Noticing my frustration, Angela placed her hands below mine and instead of pulling up, she tugged the plant to the side and forced it out of the ground with ease.

I followed her lead, pulling at the herbs and roots I could identify. Despite the cold weather, I felt beads of sweat trail down my back as we walked. Angela moved with grace, squatting, pulling roots from the earth in a way that shows she's done this many times before. I took advantage of the peaceful silence to calm myself after the conversation with Victoria earlier.

I had to tolerate that attitude over Originals in Forks, but being away from the city brought me to a state of mind I haven't had since my family was alive. My attitude in Forks had been a survival tactic, I couldn't correct the Cullens and other nobles for their attitude, not without insulting major families and complicating loyalties. But this time was different, not only was that comment degrading, it was a direct insult to Jacob.

It had been the 'savage' comment she made that upset me so, but thinking about it now, there was something else she had said. I didn't think someone like him would marry, especially not someone outside the tribe. It hadn't occurred to me that Jacob could already be married to someone from his own tribe, with children even, and I'd be left just as surprised as Victoria. He hadn't mentioned a wife and children, the thought of him having a family waiting for him to return made me feel oddly hurt.

Jacob could have a loving wife and beautiful kids, but I didn't want him to. Not that I want to marry him and have his children, but I didn't want him to be committed to someone else either. Jacob was my key to survival, but maybe it could be something more. We'd come a long way so far, and though he's still very distant, I know now from his embrace before we parted that he has a much softer side. And he kissed me.

Before long, Angela broke our silence. "How long have you and your husband been traveling?"

"Like we said, we came down when we heard of a captured Original."

"Did you know them?"

"No, I didn't. " We fell silent for a few minutes.

"Ben and I have been traveling like this for years now. We were married young, you see. I know you may not be able to travel much, being married to the Chief, but the alone time does wonders for your marriage." Thankfully, she didn't question me further, and I found myself interested in what she had to say.

"What do you mean?"

"We've been away from our families for so long. We're both from east of Forks, so they think more patriotically. Ben and I left soon after being married, and it's been like an extended holiday."

"How did you get into resistance efforts?"

"That was Ben," Angela turned and smiled bashfully. "Ben's always been passionate about equal rights. We ran into some country folk and helped them save a small village of people. He's been dedicated to the cause ever since. We traveled with them after."

"Was that Victoria and her husband?"

"No, that was another larger group from years ago. A lot of them were killed at Cullen Township. We were away in another town." I didn't know where that was, but I hoped we were far from it.

"How did you meet the others?"

"We only recently met them. James Laurent and Victoria were also traveling alone, we thought we'd recruit them. It helps that they already want change for Washington."

"'City folk', you said. What were they doing out this way?"

"All I know is, they were living on the streets in Forks. They had enough of the poor man's city, I guess."

"Oh," I had no more to say about that. I could question more, but I didn't want to seem too interested. I hadn't heard Forks described as a 'poor man's city' but it was incredibly spot-on based on what I saw in my regular outings for prayers with the poor. It's not hard to see why they would have left the city and joined a resistance effort.

Jacob had made a calculated risk in staying with this group tonight. We had no food remaining from Jenks, little supplies, and perhaps this was for the best, however uncomfortable it may be. Jacob would need the benefit of a good night the most. While he had recovered since our first night on the run, he looked like he'd seen much better days. We were tired, hungry, and unsettled after being chased down like the fugitives we were. And maybe it was just my imagination, but he seemed to have lost weight in our few days of knowing each other, most noticeably in his slimming face.

Sleeping together might have been the only real comfort. He was mysterious and hard to read, but in our lighter moments, he was fun to tease and joke with. I had never been in the woods alone, even when I was a child, I'd always had Charlie or Colin. I didn't want to travel alone in this cold forest at night. I've come to depend on him for so much, I hope I haven't been a burden to him. He must be missing his family and friends, and possibly his wife.

I had fallen for Edward's perfection; I wanted to forget where I came from and what I'd been through, willing to see past any flaws and red flags to have the life I thought I wanted. But traveling with Jacob has brought back so many memories, feelings I had stored away to be forgotten. I felt weak around Jacob, but recently he made me feel like I could improve myself. I want to be able to stand my ground against whoever may challenge my wellbeing, against the thoughts of Edward or the Volturi haunting me in my sleep.

Highly aware of the blade slipped under my skirt that Jacob had briefly trained me to use, I continued my search alongside Angela for the roots and herbs.

_x_

As the four of us finished setting up our camp, the other men returned from their hunt with more than enough provisions for the seven of us. James and Laurent appeared first, both carrying carcasses in their hands as they rode in on their horses.

"We should keep these recruits, we're living like royalty tonight!" Laurent yelled happily.

"Not recruits Laurent, they're our guests for the evening," Benjamin called from the tent he set up with Angela, across the campfire from where I had laid down the sheet Jacob and I were to sleep on.

"You don't mind that you're hosted in the woods, Miss Marie, do you?" Laurent smirked, a hand placed at his hip.

"No, sir, this is just what we needed," I called as I allowed myself to relax and sink into the sheet laid over the earth. The feeling was a comfort after being on hands and knees pulling roots for our dinner.

When they came back, the men handed their gathered meat to Angela and Benjamin as I looked for Jacob. Just as I was about to ask where he had gone, Jacob rode into camp on Woody with a few furry carcasses sprawled across Woody's back and another in his hand. Though I was surprised by just how much game Jacob had returned with, it was his gleaming chest and smooth, bare skin that had my attention. He may have lost some weight, but I couldn't deny his ink-clad pecs and abs were still impressive, to say the least. The tribal wolf on his bicep especially stood out as he gripped the reins tightly.

I really thought this man was monstrous only a week ago. He's far more handsome than anyone I've met, the rugged masculine qualities of his only added to the enigma that was Jacob Black. His trousers hugged his thick thighs tightly and his braid perched over his shoulder. He was majestic, riding in smoothly, gaining not only my attention, but all the others' as well.

"Psst," I flushed as Angela caught me ogling Jacob. "So in love..." she muttered to herself and shook her head. "Go help him," she urged and smiled as she whispered from feet away. She already began to slice through the meat and before I could feel nauseous, I turned back to my supposed husband.

"Right," I cleared my throat before walking up to Jacob, hearing Angela stifle her laugh as I left her. Jacob's been resourceful and hunted for us before, but with his hands full, it was clear that he was a natural at hunting. I offered my help by extending a hand to him, afraid he'd accept it and allow me to take a furry critter out of his hands, and was greatly relieved when he declined. Instead, I grabbed his shirt and coat from where he placed them over the saddle.

"Are you alright?" His eyes raked me up and down, searching for any abnormalities.

"Yes, quite. How did it go?" I asked.

I watched him purse his lips for a moment before he responded, almost missing it with my preoccupation.

"It could have been worse. I'll feel better once we leave." I nodded in agreement.

Once satisfied with my appearance, he sat on a log of wood by the fire, where he unsheathed his blade and began to skin his catch. I watched as he expertly worked the knife, careful to avoid cutting out any meat and cutting it into chunks for the stew. With the last two that he skinned, he skewered them and set them aside to roast. Within minutes, our campsite started to smell like the kitchens at the castle just before dinner - oh, what I'd give for a glass of wine right now.

The seven of us ate together around our fire, and as we settled into the night, Jacob remained silent. Victoria split her attention between Jacob and her own husband, occasionally peeking at me. Jacob was either oblivious or pretending not to notice. I guessed he was thinking over our day or how we would excuse ourselves tomorrow.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" I asked as I crawled up next to him at the edge of our sheet, kneeling by his still large frame.

"I'm thinking my family must be worried, we've been away for longer than expected." He turned to face me, reaching for his clothes that I laid behind us; I noticed Victoria finally caved and turned away from us. Benjamin and Angela had gotten comfortable in their tent, the entrance flap still open.

"We'll be home soon. It's been days, we must be getting close." I played along and the corner of his mouth picked up, but not enough to be a smile, just an indication of how he felt.

"We are close but we have a last stop to make."

"Not another bar," I teased, rolling my eyes.

"God, no, not another bar," Jacob agreed. "The last one was enough."

The chase played over in my head and I got a pang of the fear I felt when I realized that man would've cut Jacob down if I had been a moment too late. We sat in an uncomfortable silence, and once again, he stared into the fire. I looked around to be sure the others were not paying us any mind and before I could have another flashback, I started again.

"What do you do for fun, Jacob?"

"Hm?" He must not have expected that. "Oh, I, uh - I carve wood, a little."

"A little? How is that?"

He swallowed before he continued. "My father taught me when I was younger. I was pretty good at it, we sat on our porch to carve for hours until I got older and wanted to spend more time with my friends."

"You stopped then?"

"I get to it when I have time. What hobbies did you keep?" Did, he said, now that I will never have the same life as I did as a queen. What hobbies could I keep now?

"I walked in the gardens, or I read in our library," I spoke quietly, afraid someone might overhear, though Victoria and the other men were engrossed in what seemed to be a great joke. "I couldn't do much and I began to enjoy the time I had to myself." Away from Edward and his sinister sister, I almost added.

He knew I had practically raised myself by then, but aside from playing dominoes on the street for money, I didn't get much free time to do anything I enjoyed, especially with the Volturi. I was wondering what he expected a queen did.

"What would you read?"

"I read novels. Mostly love stories and tales of explorers. I read some botanical pieces so I could learn about the plants and herbs in the garden. Volterra's public library had history volumes, Original histories too."

"You read those also?"

"Not all of them were in the common language, so I couldn't read everything."

"You know," he said, sitting back and getting comfortable. When he spoke again, it was in a lower tone, and the bravado was gone. Suddenly we were back to being Jacob and Bella. "There are many Originals in the valley who still don't know how to read in the common language," he continued. "We really need to establish a library or a school for adults to learn."

"I didn't learn until I lived in Volterra," I whispered, though I knew we were as good as alone for now. "I'd never gone to school before. I learned about money from my mother and playing dominoes. And on rainy days when I couldn't play games, I'd visit the library until curfew."

"You're very accomplished. Do you think you could teach someone else?"

"To read and write?"

He nodded. "In the valley," he said as he also looked back at the others also engrossed in their own conversations. "- if you stay with us, that is. We have to record our traditions, you could help with that. Our histories are usually passed down by telling the stories from one generation to another but we'd benefit from having it in writing." He said thoughtfully, no longer smoldering, but now more pensive.

"I think maybe I could. But I've never instructed anyone before."

At this, he smiled. "Would you consider staying with us?"

I hadn't thought over going anywhere else once we found the valley. I knew I could go anywhere I'd like, I just hadn't thought of any possible places for me to be able to live in peace. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a city independent from Washington, without any of the Cullens? I tried to picture a new life as just Bella.

But Jacob had called me the evil queen. Wouldn't they all think of me this way? I would be in a city of Originals and Non-Originals, all tired of the system I stood by and supported as I married its leaders. I didn't even know about half of the Cullen's evil acts, I'd thought Elwha was a small town near Forks.

But where else could I go? Could I even leave Jacob after this? I felt tethered to him in a way I wasn't sure I was comfortable with.

"Hey," he said, pulling lightly on the hem of my skirt.

I huffed heartily, realizing my emotional turn, but glad to hear his voice turn light at my side. I felt his hand gently cover the small of my back as he leaned in closer to me. We may have been on the northern side of Washington and exposed to the chill of the night's breeze, but the warmth of the fire and his proximity were doing something to me. I felt my heart accelerate and the blood rush to my head, and the heat flood over my face. He smiled for what seemed like the first time today, and my heart skipped a beat, then kicked back into overdrive. In this dim light of the campfire, and under the colorful stars in the skies, the sight of him was compelling.

I looked into his eyes, ignoring the muscles of his chest pressing into me now, and his arms holding me closer to him in our false moment of privacy. I was vaguely aware of the others around us, but they seemed to melt away the longer I stared into his eyes. Suddenly, my body was aching for more of him, and I longed to feel how the rest of him would have pressed against me had the others not been around to witness it.

His face was close to mine, a distance small enough to close if I leaned forward. Would it be wrong if I pressed an innocent kiss to his lips?

"I think I would like that," I said, answering both his and my own question.

I really hope he's not married.

_x_

"Bella, get up."

I woke to Jacob speaking hurriedly in a hushed tone, juddering my entire frame by the shoulders with just his large hands. We had fallen asleep at arms-length by the fire.

It was still dark. The fire must have gone out while I slept, my surroundings barely visibly thanks to the dim light that passed through the white canvas of Victoria and James's tent. I fought with my heavy lids to see Jacob's dark figure over me.

"What's wrong?" My eyes could barely open, still groggy with sleep. My head was blank still and I struggled to get my bearings.

"Take this and go." I felt him place something over my head and onto my shoulder, sliding his hands down my arms and yanking me up by my wrists, practically shoving me away from the camp.

"You haven't told me what's wrong–" I tried pulling his hands off me as we walked farther into the darkness until he cut me off.

"Shh, there's no time. I heard them talking. You need to leave, now. Find the river, you understand?" It was pitch black now. His hands traveled from my arms to cradle my face in his warm palms, and I nodded.

"Take Roma and I will find you. Don't stop until you know you're safe." Just this morning, I told him I wouldn't leave him behind, and now, I would be doing exactly that. But it felt much different this time; it was his urgency that made me understand the seriousness of it all. Something had gone wrong, the odd feeling I felt earlier was my warning and I ignored it, completely forgetting to tell him about it. If he got hurt now, it would be my fault.

"Will you be alright?" My voice sounded smaller than I ever thought it could.

"I'll be fine."

With a resolute hand, Jacob escorted me to Roma, where he helped me up onto her saddle and watched as we left.