Bella PoV

We made our way back to the beach where the pack was gathered in a tight circle. They looked angry and tense.

Emily was standing at the side, her towel, and the sunhat in her bag. She seemed equally tense and worried, watching Sam who was standing in front of the other werewolves. With a quick look in my direction Jacob made his way towards them, leaving me to stand beside Emily.

"What happened?" I whispered, my eyes not leaving the pack.

"I don't really know. One of the tribe members just called Sam and said there have been some unusual activities around the area. A kid from the reservation hasn't returned from a trip with his friends and someone saw a red-haired woman stalking around the forest near Forks."

Victoria

I shot a look to Jake, but he was looking at Sam who seemed to update them on the situation and put them into groups.

"But why would she come at a time like this? She cannot go anywhere with the risk of being seen. And why would she hunt so close to the reservation?" This all didn't add up for me.

Emily shook her head. "Maybe she saw all the wolves leaving the reservation unguarded and took her opportunity?"

"Her opportunity for what? I am here, surrounded by werewolves, that is probably the most adverse situation for her to get me. Besides, the sun is shining like crazy today. Not the ideal weather for a vampire to travel if she doesn't want to get spotted."

Emily shrugged. "Sam's coming over, maybe he has some answers?"

Indeed, the pack leader was coming over to us, Jacob, and Paul at his side.

I looked at him questionably. "What happened?"

"We don't know exactly but the signs are worrying enough for us to check out. We don't know what she wants but we can't take any risks here", Sam informed us. "Jacob and Paul will escort you back to my house. You'll be safe there until we are sure what happened exactly."

I frowned. "Sam, why would she attack on a day like this? I am here, surrounded by her mortal enemies and with all that sunlight she risks being seen and recognised immediately."

"That's what we intend to find out." He walked over to Emily, taking her hand, and giving her a small kiss on the mouth. "Be careful", she whispered. "And come back to me."

"Always." He gave her one last smile before he tore away, leaving with the rest of the boys who were already getting away from the beach and towards the forest where they could safely phase and check out the area.

I tried not to worry too much as we made our way towards the reservation. Paul was almost running, full of energy and anger that he had to play babysitter instead of running with the rest of the pack.

Jake on the other side was walking at my side, my hand securely in his. He didn't speak, just looked straight ahead, maybe thinking about all the ways he would tear Victoria apart when he finally found her.

I, for my part, was thinking about Victoria and her reasons for attacking the reservation on a day like this. Why would she do that? Wouldn't it make far more sense of coming over at night when I am alone with Charlie? Charlie...

"Jake, what about Charlie? Someone has to protect him too."

"Yes, we know that Bella. Sam already sent someone out to where he is always going fishing. Don't worry, everything is gonna be alright." He probably meant it in a reassuring way, but he couldn't convince me entirely. The worry still nagged at my stomach. Worry for him and the rest of the pack. I had seen what vampires could do and even though I knew that even Victoria couldn't fight against a whole pack, someone might still get hurt.

We arrived at my truck. Emily and Paul were sitting in the back, Jake took the driver's seat and I sat beside him. Still, he wouldn't look at me but his knuckles turned white, and my steering wheel would probably have some new dentures in it the next day but I didn't care. All I wanted right now was for the boys to be okay.

Back at Sam's house, Jacob told us to wait inside until somebody came and gave the okay. After a small kiss and a last smile, he and Paul went outside, phased, and began their patrol.

Hour by hour tickled by. We changed in dry clothes and tried to watch TV to pass the time but none of us could focus on what was playing. Worry hung thick in the air and even though we were in the exact same situation, each one worry for a werewolf lover, we didn't talk. There was nothing to talk about.

The day went by, the sun vanished, and Emily went up to prepare dinner. I went to help her and together we prepared enough food to feed and entire army or a pack of hungry wolves. Somewhere around eight, Jacob came in, looking bone tired. "I am gonna bring you back to your house. There is no sign of Victoria or any other vampire and Charlie will be worried. We'll patrol the area around your house, so you'll be safe." His voice sounded so tired and so bare of any emotions that for a moment I could think of nothing else than to hug him as tight as I could. I tried to give him strength and hope and the knowledge that everything would be alright.

He returned the hug, burying his face in my hair and holding me as tight as he dared. For the first time I felt like I was stronger than him. We stayed there for a couple of minutes, just enjoying each other's presence. Emily had discreetly left the room to give us some privacy. When we finally separated, I went in the kitchen to say goodbye and found her standing at the window, looking outside, searching for her own wolf. I placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. "He'll be back soon." I tried to comfort her. She turned a little and smiled at me. "I know."

I thanked her for sharing her home with me for the last hours then followed Jacob back to my car.

We were silent for the drive. It reminded me slightly of the night when I had wanted to go cliff-diving to see Edward again.

Had it only been a few weeks since then? So much had happened that it seemed to be ages ago. I looked over at Jacob, the boy who had slowly but surely won my heart and I smiled. He had brought back the warmth and the light back in my life and for that I would be eternally grateful. He hadn't given up when I had so clearly and completely been addicted to Edward and his family. He had waited, had been there for me all the time without me realising it.

I put my head against his shoulder and when I felt his arm going around my body it felt like home.

When we arrived, Charlie was waiting at the doorstep. He raised an eyebrow when he saw us approaching.

"Didn't I say always home before dark?" he asked.

"It's not his fault." I immediately went forward, protecting Jake. "I forgot about the time."

Charlie sighed. "Bells..."

"I'm sorry. I will never happen again, I promise."

"It better not." Charlie looked from me to Jacob, making his point. "Come on now Bells, it's a school day tomorrow."

"One minute!" I called and turned to Jacob who leant against my truck and seemed ready to fall asleep any moment. "Is everything alright?" I asked quietly, taking his hand in mine.

He nodded slowly and squeezed my hand. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine, werewolves are a tough lot."

"I am sorry the day went like this." I sighed and laid my head against his chest.

"Me too. But we'll have plenty of other days, even sunny ones. We'll go down to the beach again and the next time nothing will interrupt us, no vampires, no friends, nothing." He kissed me. "Goodnight Bells. Sleep well. I love you."

"I love you too. And get some sleep Jacob, you need it. You use far too much time and energy, always patrolling and seeing me. You have to think of yourself sometimes." I felt like a mother scolding her child at this moment and he knew it too.

"Yes mommy." He grinned. "But you won't stop me from seeing you, even for a short time. Go on now." He pushed me lightly towards the door where Charlie was already getting impatient. "Or he will use his gun on me."

I didn't sleep well this night. I dreamt again of Edward and Jacob fighting, Edward clearly winning against the werewolf. I woke up screaming and even though Charlie didn't come up and look after me, I knew by instinct that someone was here.

I had left the window open because it was too hot to sleep otherwise, a fact that I now cursed. It was stupid with Victoria still outside...

I looked around but there was no sign of the red-haired woman who wanted her revenge on me for killing her beloved mate.

But then I looked at my desk chair and stilled. It wasn't empty as usual. Instead, there was someone sitting on it. Someone very familiar. I breathed her name before my mind realised who it was.

"Alice..."