I flinched as Edward began to speak again. This time I couldn't help but look at him. He looked as he always had; absolutely beautiful. An angel with a head full of glossy bronze hair and a face fit for a Greek god. His eyes were darker, which meant he hadn't hunted in some time. His face was contorted in anger, yet the sharp angles were all the same. Model-worthy and flawless. Edward spoke with the same musical quality I had always admired. "Put aside your petty jealousy and insecurities, Jacob Black. She is in danger."

Jacob snarled violently, "I'm aware of that! We don't need bloodsuckers to help in saving our own. We've killed your kind before and we can do it again."

"It is not only Victoria you are up against, Jacob." Carlisle's steady voice spoke again. He took a small step forward and put his hand upon Edward's shaking shoulder. He murmured quickly to his son. Edward nodded curtly before stepping back. He stood by Alice. My curiosity caused me to frown. I opened my mouth, about to ask what Carlisle meant, but Sam barked. Jacob spoke before I could. "We're done here. Waste of our time. Fucking stupid."

He gently tugged on my hand and was steering me toward the shadowy trees farthest from the Cullens. I mumbled, "Wait."

My feet stopped and Jacob's body froze. His long arm was extended between us as he squeezed my fingers. His dark gaze flickered between me and those behind us. Wolves danced around us, circling and keeping guard. He stated, "Let's go, Bells."

Jacob began to steer me once more toward the treeline opposite to the Cullens. I ripped my hand from his grip. He stopped walking again. Dark eyes grew wide and he swiped fitfully at his hair before rasping, "Bella, don't do this. Let's go home."

Gone was the strong warrior who had just faced his enemies. Gone was the demanding tone, the fierce stance, the harsh swear words, and bitter barking. In his place stood the vulnerable Jacob. My Jacob. This was a reminiscent glimpse of the sixteen-year-old boy who had gentle hands, sunny smiles, warm sodas, and a patient nature.

"Jake, trust me." I tried turning around, but Jacob darted in front of me and blocked my path. Only the frantic look on his face kept me from screaming at him. Big hands swept out and held to my shoulders. He rasped, "Don't go over there to them. Please, Bella. Don't."

Fear and impatience and doubts were clouding my mind to the point that I felt as if I might pass out. I demanded, "Jake! I want to know what they're talking about. It will only take a second."

For a long moment, mocha eyes searched my face. With a hefty sigh, Jacob roughly turned us both around until we were facing the Cullens again. His chest was against my back and his hands held my shoulders as if he were afraid that I would float away if I weren't anchored to the ground. Trembles in his fingertips and warmth spreading across my body gave me the strength to look at the ghostly apparitions before me. My cheeks grew flushed.

All were staring at me. I felt Jacob's body as he breathed. The wolves crouched in front of us, allowing me to see over the tips of their shoulders. Sam was growling quite fitfully, so much so that the ground shook beneath my feet. I licked my lips nervously before quietly saying, "I want to know what you meant, Carlisle."

He replied loudly in order for my ears to hear him over the rumbling growls of the wolves. "Victoria has accomplices, Bella. Alice has had visions of multiple vampires. We have no clear indication of how many, but she has seen an alarming number of individuals at Victoria's side. We mean no disrespect, but the protection of the wolves will fail. Alice has seen dozens of images in which a male vampire finds you."

Jacob murmured heatedly, "I would never let anything harm you, Bells."

"I know, Jake." I whispered without taking my eyes from Carlisle. I took a deep breath as Jacob snapped, "I think he's lying."

An irritated hiss escaped from Edward. My gaze riveted to him as he sneered, lip peeling from atop his teeth. "This is not a ploy to get Bella away from you, dog. My sister sees the future, and if you love Bella at all, you won't wish the future we have seen upon her. You will let us help protect her."

Sam's body shot upwards and Paul followed his swift movements. Gasping, I stumbled and would have fallen had Jacob not let go of my shoulders to wrap his arms around my waist. He held me steady as the wolves circled around us. I was irritated by their low barks. Sam had begun to snap his jaws and Jacob had begun speaking rapidly in his foreign tongue. His warm breath and the soothing sound of odd syllables made my tired eyes droop. I hoarsely asked, "What did you see, Alice?"

Her voice was loud and piercing as she spoke. "You are tortured, Bella. Sometimes, it is by Victoria. Other times, an unknown male accomplice finds you first. The scene changes continuously, but no matter the course taken, the actions are always the same. Somehow, the protection you're under fails. If we were to destroy Victoria quickly, we could prevent the situation from occurring."

I gulped and whispered, "…Makes sense, Jake."

"No, it doesn't." Jacob huffed as he spun my body around so quickly that I became dizzy. The giant circling wolves didn't help with my vision problems. Before I knew it, I was looking up at Jacob's fraught expression. His dark eyes, so unexpectedly beautiful, stared with a breathless intensity. Big palms were holding onto my arms as he whispered huskily, "Bells, listen to me. Think of the conversation we had. Remember what Sam said? Remember what I said?"

"I know, Jacob." I replied in frustration, "Will you trust me for a single second?"

"It's them I don't trust. They're the reason you're in danger to begin with."

"They aren't lying, Jacob. Alice really does have precognition." I insisted.

"Fine. Okay. Say she does. How do you know she isn't-"

I cut him off quickly, "I just know."

"What if this ability is faulty?" He asked heatedly.

I huffed in exasperation, "You're grasping at straws, Jake."

"Well, I wouldn't have to if you weren't so damn stubborn." He grumbled.

I demanded, "Just let them give whatever information they have."

"What information? All they've done is give vague bullshit runarounds."

I snapped, "This is ridiculous, Jacob. Just-"

"Bells, listen to me." He softly took my face in between his large, warm hands. I was so tired and cold that my eyes fell shut. He trailed his thumbs across my closed eyes for several seconds before whispering, "We haven't crossed a scent of any other vampire, except the dreadlock leech. And he's dead for good. Trust me. Paul and I killed him ourselves. I burned him. This redhead female is the only other scent for miles and miles. I've run clean to Canada and still smell nothing but her."

Slowly, my eyes opened. I stared at him for a moment. I swallowed heavily, "You aren't listening to me, Jake. Alice's visions don't lie. I believe her. If she says Victoria and a bunch of vampires kill me, then I believe her. If you don't work with them, then she wins and I'll be dead. Is that what you want?"

We stared at one another for a long time. Jacob's dark gaze searched and strained as he took in my face. He never took his eyes from me as he spoke in rapid Quileute. The answering growl from Sam shook the ground once more. There was a pause and then Jacob muttered, "Fine. Cullen, we need to talk again. Name a place and time. I'll meet with you."

The three wolves had been forming a closed circle around us, blocking the Cullens from our view, but sudden Sam turned his massive, black body toward us. He snarled piercingly. Jacob turned his head and snarled back. Sam's wolf took a lunging step forward and my heart jumped into my throat. I jerked backward, but Jacob picked me up with one arm and shoved me behind his body. I fell to my bottom before scrambling upright as Jacob shouted, "STOP!"

I watched in confusion and great fear as Sam's wolfish body slammed backward as if he had just encountered an invisible wall. He stumbled on his four paws and then shook his dark muzzle in a dazed way. As I glanced around to locate the wolves, I noticed the Cullen family retreating swiftly. Emmett and Carlisle were struggling to keep ahold of Edward. His eyes were pitch black. His lips were pulled back in a snarl. He was the angriest I had ever seen him. A barking snarl startled me and had my mind focusing on Jacob and Sam once more.

The other wolves had backed away rather quickly. One silver and one iron-grey. Both were snapping at each other and casting glares at the Cullens, who had long since darted to the tops of the trees. The burliest shadow was clinging to a struggling figure. Emmett and Edward. I could make out a few more shadowy figures hanging from limbs, staying impossibly still, just out of reach.

My breath was starting to shorten as I stumbled to my feet and gripped Jacob's trembling elbow. Jacob didn't look at me as he swiftly said, "Stay on her, Embry. Don't let anyone touch her. Kill, if you have to."

Even as Embry slunk away from the edge of the clearing, still out of reach, but considerably closer to me, Jacob never took his eyes from Sam. He didn't look at the Cullens or his pack brothers. He just stared at Sam. The giant black wolf had his rump in the air, tail swishing faster than the slice of a blade. His teeth were showing, deep growls echoing, as he prepared to bounce. For half of a second, I thought I would die. I thought my life would be over because I was going to be mauled by a supernatural werewolf. I couldn't move and, even had my feet worked properly in that moment, I wouldn't have moved from Jacob's side.

Jacob tensed as he shouted, "I told you no!"

He yanked his arm out of my grip so quickly that I nearly fell on the ground again. Jacob took several lunges forward and snarled inhumanly. The muscles of his bare back contracted severely, rippling in such a way that I was stunned. I feverishly hoped he'd phase to his wolf form because he looked so small in comparison to Sam's massive size. My heartbeat was thumping so loudly that I could hear blood rushing through my head. With every step that he took, Sam seemed forced to step back. Once Jacob was nearly nose to muzzle with Sam, he began to shout.

"How fucking dare you challenge me with Bella on my arm! I refuse to lie dormant underneath a leader who threatens her! I refuse to be underneath a leader who doesn't put all mated females as their top concern!"

There was a strange ripping and popping noise. Where the black wolf had been, now crouched a naked Sam. I was too stunned to turn away. He stood and I averted my eyes from his exposed bottom half. I brought my eyes to Jacob's form and stared at him instead. Sam bellowed, "How childish can you be, Jacob? You wanted nothing to do with running this pack. You wanted to escape your birthright. You bitched and moped like a lovesick brat until you got your way. Now you decide on an impulsive whim that the Cullens can be trusted because they spun a story about Bella. Have you absolutely lost your mind? You need to put Bella aside and think logically."

"She comes first!" Jacob roared in outrage. His frame was shaking so badly that he was a russet blur. The bizarre look brought tears to my eyes. I held them back as best as I could as Jacob unrelentingly thundered on, "She always comes first. Don't talk as if you wouldn't do the same thing for Emily. If this was any other human girl we were protecting, you would be willing to work alongside the leeches. You're unwilling because part of you resents myself and Bella. We can make a choice and you can't anymore. Just because our ancestors saw fit to give you a pre-destined love story doesn't mean yours is the only one that matters, jackass."

Confusion was warring with the terror in my heart. I had no idea why Emily, Sam's fiancé, was brought into the conversation or why Sam seemed to resent me far more than I had previously understood. My body trembled and fought against me. Part of me wished to run to Jacob's side. The other part wanted to punch Sam in the face. For a moment, he seemed stunned at Jacob's words. And then all hell broke loose.

"She isn't your imprint, Jacob!" Sam growled, "And Emily isn't in a mess like this because she would never have gotten into bed with a leech."

The mental blow hit me instantly like a sucker-punch to the stomach. I flinched, but was crushed in utter horror as Jacob let out an unearthly growl, screaming and soaring toward Sam in a deadly lunge. His body transformed instantaneously. For a fraction of a second, I saw Sam's eyes widen in disbelief. In that fraction of a second, Jacob's wolf had pinned Sam's human body to the forest floor with a thunderous shake.

I whipped my head around as I looked frantically at the other wolves. I expected them to attack Jacob, but neither of them had moved from their previous positions. Jarring noises echoed like bones snapping. I turned in time to see Sam's transformation into his wolf form. I barely breathed. My feet were frozen in place.

The wolves were rolling and snapping. Snarling and smashing and ramming into one another. The sounds were so vulgar, so terrible, and so earsplitting, that I felt like slapping my palms over my ears like a child. Tears ran freely down my freezing cheeks. Gasps tore from my sore throat. I still couldn't move.

Jacob's reddish-brown wolf seemed bulkier than Sam's, though Sam seemed just as deadly. The two wolves circled one another, pushing closer and closer to the tree-line where the Cullens were. Pale blurs caught my attention for a singular moment as they climbed higher, switching just out of reach. A tiny part of me was glad they'd managed to escape and not meet the wrath of two werewolves. My werewolf. I gasped, trying to inhale and expand my starving lungs. My throat was so dry that I could hardly swallow.

Sam swiped at Jacob, who tried to dodge the hit, but caught the powerful blow across the muzzle. A high-pitched whine, much like vehicle tires screeching across wet pavement, came from the russet wolf. An involuntary cry ripped from my throat. I took a wobbly step forward as if to help him, but an iron-grey wolf blocked my path. Jacob let out another roar and leaped toward Sam, catching his claws on Sam's side and digging them into Sam's wide ribcage. Sam let out a rumble that was unmistakably a sound of pain. Four long grooves were carved into Sam's side. Bright blood welled. The smell hit me immediately, thick and potent and coppery. I swallowed, putting my hand to my mouth.

Jacob leapt away from Sam and snapped down on his hindquarter before dancing out of the way as Sam took another swipe at Jacob's bleeding, foaming muzzle. I glanced behind me and noticed more wolves had gathered. I desperately wished the rest of the wolf pack would stop the fight, but was afraid they'd try attacking Jacob if I so much as spoke out loud. As guilty as I felt about it, I wished Jacob would inflict a wound fatal enough that Sam would surrender the fight. Not for the first time, I desperately wished Jacob and I were far, far away from Washington. Away from wolves and vampires. Away from death and monsters.

Sam rammed into Jacob's side heavily and Jacob's paws came out from underneath him. He snarled as Sam took a large hunk of beautiful russet fur from his left side. Jacob let out a canine yelp and scrambled to his paws, whirling around in a stunning display of agility. His back bent in ways that should have been impossible. The two struggled, grappling for several moments before Jacob threw Sam's furry, black body to the forest floor. The sound of both bodies connecting was a deafening avalanche.

They both backed away from one another, snarling while their massive sides heaved from the heat of the battle. There was a pause right before Sam came charging forward. He reared up on his hind legs, muzzle foaming and sharp teeth snapping. Jacob struck as rapidly as a snake. His body dove for Sam's exposed underbelly. He slid underneath, closing his sharp muzzle around Sam's front paw. The sickening crunching and cracking of bone, followed by the shrieking whine from Sam was enough to make vomit rise in my throat.

I held the sickness at bay out of complete terror for Jacob. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. His front paw cut across Sam's upper chest, gouging ruby-red furrows. Another nauseating whine left Sam's mouth as he crumpled. Jacob struggled to get out from underneath Sam's massive crumpling body, but he managed it.

Jacob stalked away from Sam's broken form. Several second passed with Sam in the background, lying still and breathing so harshly that I could hear his animalistic snorts easily. Jacob stood within reach, breathing just as harshly, with blood slowly dripping from his muzzle. I could see the fur and skin that was torn from his ribs. The wound was thick with mud and blood. The wolf's large mocha eyes stared at me for a long moment. I didn't take my eyes off of him, not even when I saw Paul in human form, kneeling at Sam's wolfish body.

Out of the forest came a large, darting figure. He had chocolate brown fur and bright hazel eyes. I simply stared as the animal stood up on its hindlegs and shrunk in size until Quil was standing in the middle of the clearing. Butt naked. Squeaking, I slapped my hand over my eyes. I heard a familiar booming laugh as Quil said, "Don't be shy, Bells. You might like what you see."

"S-Shut up, Quil." I stuttered while shivering. I kept my eyes closed, but could hear shuffling behind me and in front of me. My heart was still pounding in my chest, but I could hear two voices trying to coax Sam to transform back to his human body. I gasped as I felt warmth on either side of me. Fur rubbed against my thigh. I could feel it through my denim jeans. I cried out as my eyes flew open to stare blankly at the hulking beast before me.

Jacob let out a huffing growl from nearby. He gave the animal behind me a rather stern glare before trotting across the clearing. Turning slightly, I looked up at the massive head of a dark grey wolf. His eyes were dark green and his muzzle opened, revealing several gleaming teeth. My heart pounded. The wolf's pink tongue rolled out of his mouth and he gave me a wolfish grin. I felt hysterical laughter inside of me.

"Embry? Jeez." I said stupidly right before plopping on the ground at his side. My hands dove into his fur and I muttered, "Sorry. Got to hold onto something."

The wolf moved his head up and down, giving me an odd wolf-y smile. Looking in front of me, I could see a naked Paul and Quil carrying a now very human Sam. He was limp, arms dangling to scrape the ground. One wrist had blood and bones sticking out. Gagging, I desperately pressed my face into the wiry fur of Embry's wolf. A wet nose wiggled near my ear and I yelped. Embry chuffed and thumped his tail. I muttered, "Sam has to go to the hospital. Oh, God. His wrist."

Embry whimpered and it sounded remarkably like the average dog. I patted his big shoulder, rubbing my hands through his fur. I squinted, taking in the sight of Jacob in wolf form before the Cullens. They were much farther away than they had been earlier. In fact, they were completely outside of the clearing and more so in the treeline. I felt anxiety spike as I stumbled to my feet and began trotting across the clearing. Embry kept pace with me easily. I wiped at the tears sticking to my cold, wet cheeks. Jacob's massive head glanced my way and he barked, a yipping sound of reprimand, just once.

I rolled my eyes, but halted when Embry whimpered and placed his big body solidly in front of me. My view of Carlisle and the others was blocked thoroughly. I stared at gray fur as I asked, "Jacob, are you okay?"

There was another yipping bark and then the thumping of paws as Jacob trotted to my side. I turned, but the space where the Cullens had been moments before was nothing more than shadows and blankness now. I sighed wordlessly as Jacob nudged my hand with his bleeding muzzle. Frowning, I squinted at his wound. I swallowed heavily and muttered, "You're a mess, Jake. What just happened?"

Jacob attentively stretched his thick neck and licked at my fingers. I shook my hand and let out a flat laugh. "Stop it. Stop avoiding the question."

There was a ripping sound and then Embry was standing beside me. I averted my eyes upward to meet his somber gaze instead of his naked waist. He quietly said, "We need to go. Jacob's injured and he needs to be cleaned up as quickly as possible. We have to deal with Sam and a million other things tonight, Bella."

I nodded slowly and glanced around. "Okay. Which way do I go?"

Embry asked, "Would you mind if I carried you?"

I shook my head and replied, "No, of course not, Em."

Embry scooped me up as if I weighed less than a feather. He turned his back on the scene in the clearing and took off in a swift run. I was surprised that he didn't trip or falter a single time. The forest was pitch-black, so I couldn't tell how fast Embry was running, but by the soft breeze of wind on my face I realized that wolves couldn't run nearly as fast as vampires. I theorized people like Jacob were limited when they were in their human form. My eyes squinted, constantly searching and not finding any sight of Jacob. Occasionally I heard the snapping of a twig or the splash of hefty weight stepping in a puddle, but I had no way of knowing if it was Embry or Jacob.

We reached my truck much faster than I thought possible. Too tired and exhausted to wonder anymore, I let Embry set me in the truck cab. My fingers, my face, and feet had long since stopped feeling the cold. I was numb. I was shaking. Embry drove us back into familiar La Push territory with the heater blasting me with hot air. My nose was dripping, so I sniffled often. Neither of us spoke until we pulled up to the Blacks' house. It was once I saw the golden light beaming through the living room window that I remembered about Charlie. Sue. Harry's death. Funeral preparations. Charlie's cruiser was hazardly parked near the front door. I cursed half-heartedly and began to wipe feverishly at my face.

"What is it, Bella?" Embry asked quietly as he fully pulled into the driveway and shut off the engine. I muttered, "Charlie can't see me like this…"

"Charlie isn't here." He said simply. I glanced up at him with a frown marring my features. He explained, "Charlie's scent is a few hours old, so he left a couple of hours ago. I think he must be with Billy, helping Sue down at the lodge."

I nodded, relief flooding me. Slipping from the truck seat, I nearly fell on my face. Embry caught me by the elbows with incredible speed. I mumbled, "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He spoke quietly and politely.

I looked all around, turning my head behind me and to the left. All I could see was darkness. I asked nervously, "Where's Jake at?"

"Right here." I heard his voice a moment before he appeared from the side of the house. Tears formed in my eyes all over again as I ran forward. The aching in my chest grew greater until my arms wrapped around his sternum. Jacob embraced me so fiercely that I was sure I'd have bruises across my ribs, but I didn't mind. I smelled pine and spices and rain. I took a moment to let it wash over me. I pushed my face into the side of his neck and inhaled deeply. The rusty tinge of blood had me gulping.

I yanked back far enough to gasp, "Jake, you're hurt. Put me down and let me help you. Do you have a medical kit in the bathroom?"

He slowly allowed my dangling feet to touch the ground. He whispered, "You're freezing. Let's get you warmed up."

Jacob towed me to the front porch with Embry flanking us silently. Jacob threw the front door open and the yellow light from indoors cast a glow over us. With my hand to my mouth, I stopped walking and stared at Jacob's face. Tears spilled down my cheeks, gushing from the brim of my eyelids and splashing down. A choked sob left my throat. I faintly heard the door click closed behind me. He whispered, "Bells, I'm fine. This is just some scratches."

I faintly echoed, "Scratches…?"

He sighed and kept his dark, concerned eyes on my face. He said, "Em, you know where the emergency kit is. Could you grab it?"

Embry stalked down the hallway and returned seconds later with a plastic case in his hands. I stared at Jacob's handsome face. It was covered in thick, chunky pieces of skin. Blood dripped from his chin and splashed on the wooden floorboards. His cheek was swollen and looked as if dark purple ink had been busted across the bone. As Embry set the medical kit on the kitchen table and gestured worriedly to Jacob, I stumbled toward the bathroom with one hand to my mouth. Jacob reached forward, brushing his fingertips across my cheek and saying my name loudly, but I pushed him away in my haste. With my hand clamped tightly across my mouth, I entered the bathroom, fell to my knees, and retched violently. Too much. Too much. Too much.

I heard Jacob swearing colorfully. It took several moments of rinsing my mouth before I could return to the front of the house. Jacob was leaning against the kitchen counter and Embry was dabbing a white cloth across his friend's chin. I stood trembling for a long moment before Jacob's eyes met mine over Embry's shoulder. His gaze softened and he murmured, "I'm not hurt that badly, Bella. These scratches will heal overnight. I heal faster than humans. It's a wolf thing."

I stared blankly at him as I trembled. Too much. Too much. Too much. I opened my mouth to speak, but all I could hear were the screams and yelps and snarls of wolves. Images flashed through my mind. Bright bronze hair. Pale skin. Golden eyes. Sam's giant body crumbling. A spray of dark red from his wrist. I squeezed my eyes closed. When I opened them again, Jacob was gently walking toward me.

He murmured, "I'm so sorry, honey. I didn't want you to see any of that. I don't know if you can understand the way a pack works right now, but Sam challenged me when he came at me so aggressively with you right there. I had to protect you. I'm sorry you saw me like that. Wish you hadn't."

He stood before me, covered in dried blood, sweat, dirt, and gouges. There were purple shadows underneath his eyes. His cheek was swollen to the point that he was nearly disfigured. If I focused enough, I could see that his naked chest was glistening with sweat. His skin was quivering slightly. He had nearly killed a man he claimed as a brother. Too much. Too much. Too much, Bella. I grabbed ahold of the first coherent, rational thought I had. "Sit down. Embry, give me that wet cloth."

I was relieved when they both did as I asked without a word more spoken. Carefully, I brought the cloth to Jacob's upturned face. It took only seconds for me to realize there was mud and debris sticking inside the gouges. I fumbled through the medical kit, pulling out alcohol. I whispered, "This will burn."

"Go ahead." He whispered back.

I went to the bathroom and brought out a handful of towels. I put one in his lap. I held another in one hand while pouring alcohol on his cheek with the opposite hand. He winced, hissing sharply through his lips, but said nothing. Several towels were soaked with alternating bouts of alcohol and fresh, cold water.

"I think I've flushed all the mud out now." I mumbled while screwing the lid back on the alcohol bottle. He croaked, "Thanks."

I grabbed a small spray bottle and said, "Don't thank me yet. Close your eyes."

He did as I instructed just before I spritzed antiseptic across his cheek and chin. Jacob winced and muttered, "Holly hell, Bella. Are we done yet?"

"Don't be a big baby." I muttered, "I'm trying to keep your face from falling off due to infection. Would you rather rot?"

I turned away from him and glared at Embry. I was dizzy from the sight of gore, but a hand to the tabletop steadied me. Embry had leaned against the countertop with a pizza box filled with leftovers. With a glance, I could see he had saved two pieces, which he stepped forward and laid on the kitchen table. Jacob groaned and picked the pieces up, shoving them into his mouth. He started chewing vigorously. I asked, "Are you hurt, Embry?"

"No." He said before chugging a glass of water.

"Alright. I'll be back in a little bit." I said as I bent down and gathered up the bloody towels. Only after I had them in the washing machine did I come back to find both boys rummaging through the cupboard. Jacob was eating peaches out of a can while Embry was fishing pickles out of a jar.

"What now?" I sighed heavily as I sank into a rickety chair.

Jacob grimly stated, "We meet with the Cullens the day after tomorrow."

"Why not tomorrow?" I asked with a frown as I collapsed into a nearby chair.

Jacob sighed, "Harry's funeral is at noon. His closed ceremony will be at two."

I put my head in my hands. "Oh. Right. Okay."

There was a pause before I asked, "What happened with Sam?"

Jacob cleared his throat. "I…took over the pack."

"Accidentally?" I asked as my head whipped up. I stared at Jacob.

"Sorta. Well, not really. I knew what I was doing after the shock wore off."

I demanded, "Shock? From what? Him slandering me aloud for all to hear?"

He explained, "No, Bells. For putting you in danger like he did."

Jacob cut his eyes at Embry, who nodded and set the empty pickle jar aside. Jacob said to him, "Switch out with Jared. Take a four-hour patrol and then hit the sack. I'll relieve Leah soon enough. Let Seth run as long as he wants to. The kid is a nervous wreck and tiring himself out might do him a bit of good."

Only once Embry had shut the front door did Jacob look at me. He said, "Sam has been under pressure for a long time. He was the first to Phase and lead two others long before the rest of us Phased. The Cullens returning only make everything worse. When they didn't want to accept Sam's new terms, he was worried we would have to go to battle with them. He was willing to walk away and let the old terms stand as our ancestors had once set. Basically, the old terms state they stay away from us and we stay away from them as long as one, they don't hunt humans and two, they don't bite a human in order to change them."

Jacob sighed, "Sam wanted to focus on the red-head, but if the leeches are telling the truth, then the old terms don't matter to me anymore. I need access to that coven and their territory just as they will need access to me. The fact that I was willing to step away from the pack, completely separate myself and go lone wolf, in order to work with the Cullens, floored Sam right into a rage. He tried Alpha Ordering me to stay away from the Cullens and not communicate with them. I refused the Order."

I swallowed, "And refusing an Alpha Order is…bad?"

Jacob shrugged and slumped into the chair across from me. "As far as I know, it's never been done before tonight. An Order is impossible to ignore. It's like a metal cage around your chest. If you try to fight the command, you can't breathe properly and you bend until you obey."

I croaked, "Oh…my, God, Jacob."

He stared intently at me before explaining, "I'm Ephraim Black's grandson. He was my dad's father. He was the last Alpha about eighty years ago. He set the treaty to begin with. He was the last really big to-do warrior Chieftain. You know the old stories about the greatest Chieftain and the Third Wife? Well, he's my ancestor as well. My bloodline isn't made to follow another, Bella."

We elapsed into silence. I thought for quite a while before I whispered, "You're made to be a leader. You've always been made to lead even before you Phased."

Jacob smiled sadly before softly saying, "Haven't got much of a choice now, do I? There's only one way for me to make sure you're kept safe. I'm Alpha now and I'm going to meet with the leeches. I'm going to hear them out. And I'm going to increase the protection you have until Victoria and any other red-eyes are destroyed."

I looked away and croaked, "You didn't have to do all of this for me."

"Yeah, Bells." He murmured, "I did. You know I could never stand aside and just let someone, anyone, threaten you."

Our eyes locked again. Jacob asked, "Do you want me to drive you home or follow you as a wolf?"

"I can drive." I said quietly. He nodded and said, "I'm going to patrol once you're safely inside. I should be done around dawn."

As we walked outside to my truck, I turned to him. Jacob reached out and tenderly tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. I said, "I was so scared tonight."

"Me, too." He rasped, "Scared you were going to get hurt."

"Me?" I let out a watery laugh, "You were the one fighting and bleeding."

He smiled softly, "I'll see you tomorrow, Bells."

I bit my lip before slowly hugging him around the middle. I whispered against his chest, "Okay. Goodnight, Jake."

"Goodnight, honey."