Jacob PoV

I couldn't say I was happy about this whole situation. When I had first smelled the bloodsuckers, my natural instinct had immediately kicked in and I wanted nothing more than to run at them and rip their throats out. The need only intensified when I saw them face to face. I could see that they felt no different towards me than I did towards them.

But then Bella, beautiful and loving Bella, had knelt down beside me, touched me and said all these things, about how she loved me and needed me at her side and, surprisingly, the wolf had listened to her. He still felt nothing but hatred towards the bloodsuckers but his love for Bella was stronger than the hatred. If she said she needed him he would stay at her side. If she needed him to trust her and to trust them then he did. He didn't do it happily but he did it for her. Unlike Sam's orders, which he had to follow whether he wanted to or not, he did this out of his own free will. But he had demanded a reward and she had understood without him saying a word. Take that Seth I grinned while she continued to pat me. The wolf in me barked happily and enjoyed the touch of her soft hands.

See, I told you she has the softest hands

Shut up Seth! I growled so loud that Bella looked frightened, and all the vampires took a step forward, ready to run and attack me if need be. And they wouldn't attack me out of pure hatred but because they wanted to protect Bella. Somehow this realization slowed the animosity I felt towards them and I lowered my head a little to show them that I wasn't a threat to her or to them.

Jacob, lead them here. We can't risk anyone seeing us Sam sent me an image of a clearing I recognised. I was not far away, just a five minute walk into the woods but it was far enough that nobody would see us. I look up at Bella and pressed my head against her hand. Then I shook it und went down into the direction of the woods, stopping every few steps to check if they were following me. Sometimes it sucked not to be able to talk but my trust went only so far. I wouldn't face them in my human form and risk not being strong enough to fight them if things turned out ugly.

The vampires looked unsure but Bella understood.

"They want to meet in the woods. It's safer than, no risk of being seen."

Oh god, I loved her so much...

She smiled at me and made a gesture to lead the way. I heard her following me and after a few seconds other footsteps joined in.

After a few minutes of walking through the woods (and watching out carefully for Bella. Even during daytime she was likely to trip and fall over every stone or root but in the night time the risk increased even more) we arrived at the clearing.

The whole pack was already waiting, six big wolves standing in a row opposite the vampires who had formed a row too. Bella and I were standing in the middle, a clear sign. She was a part of both worlds; she belonged to them and to us. I wished it had been different but her actions the last few days, from the moment she had come up with the idea with the vampire who could see the future until the moment she had tried to convince Sam with her plan clearly showed me that as much as I had wanted it to be otherwise, she would never be fully over the vampires. She had obviously forgiven them, at least a bit and as much as I had hoped it would be different, I had promised to trust her. And they would be gone in a few days anyways, I told myself. As she had said, no harm done.

The vampire with the pale blonde hair, obviously their leader stood up and greeted Sam, the only one of the wolves who had not phased, in the middle.

"My name is Carlisle Cullen." The blond vampire extended his hand. Sam took it but only for a moment. "Sam Uley."

Carlisle nodded. "We are here because we want to help you in the fight against Victoria. She has caused enough damage, we need to defeat her and end this."

Sam crossed his hand in front of his chest. "Yes, I know. It is against everything nature taught us but in this case we have to become allies."

"You are a very wise leader, Sam Uley." Carlisle had a very small smile on his lips. "I don't think that many of your brothers are happy with your decision."

"It doesn't matter. Do you have any news?" Sam asked.

I looked from Sam and Carlisle to Bella. Her hands were clenched into fists and her face hard as stone. I pressed my body close to give her a little bit of comfort. I didn't like Sam's behaviour either. Carlisle at least tried to be civil and respectful but all Sam did was surrounded by rejection. He didn't hide the fact that he didn't like them being here. They were still enemies and ever would be. Victoria was only a temporary truce.

Inside I frowned. Yes, they were bloodsuckers, monsters, undead things preying on the blood of humans and worst of all they had hurt Bella, my Bella, but that didn't change the fact that she still trusted them.

And all six of them stood back, looking not too happy but not as menacing as the wolves. Paul seemed to be ready to attack them the minute Sam gave the command. Embry, Seth, Jared, Leah, Quil... They hated the vampires and made no distinction between the ones with the golden eyes (good ones Bella had called them) and the ones with the red eyes (bad ones).

Maybe Bella had been right and these vampires were different. Not like Victoria or the black-skinned one who had tried to harm Bella. I sneezed and shook lightly. I needed to think and focus right now, everything else would have to wait.

"No, not yet. But Alice is always looking. We will tell you the minute Victoria has made a decision."

Sam nodded shortly. "Now we only have to make a plan." Carlisle nodded. With a quick look at Sam, Carlisle motioned for the rest of his clan to come closer. Sam gave a sign to Jared, who disappeared into the woods to emerge two minutes later in his human form. The rest of the pack stayed where they were.

Sam's personal bodyguards

I stayed at Bella's side, looking at her questioningly. Did she want to go too? After all, it was her battle as well. But she seemed reluctant. Why?