Bella PoV

I hadn't imagined the morning after to happen like this. I imagined waking up in his arms, feeling safe and warm and him asking me how I felt and a lot of cuddling and maybe some more sex... But then, nothing about us or our relationship was normal, wasn't it? So why would this morning be any different?

I sighed and moved around a little bit. My body hurt in specific places but it was a good hurt. I felt a little raw and maybe wouldn't exactly be able to run around all day long but this was okay. I smiled when I remembered last night.

It had been so sudden and so new and so good. I didn't regret any of this, not for one minute. It had been perfect; not like anything I could have ever had with Edward, I was sure of that. He had always held back, whereas Jacob had let go of everything, had put his whole self into this, into me and I was so happy.

I felt his hot breath in my neck and longing rose up in me. "Do we have to get up right now?" I murmured sleepily. Jacob's body vibrated with a quiet laugh behind me. "I think we can spare a few more minutes."

"That's good." I rolled around till I laid face to face with Jacob, who smiled back at me. "How do you feel?" he asked softly, tracing my cheekbones with one finger.

"Perfect." I placed a kiss on his nose, his cheek, his chin, his lips. His arms went around me and he drew me on top of him. Our hips collided and I could feel how much he wanted me. It felt strange sitting on top of him while we were both completely naked, somehow exposed but then I remembered that this was me and this was Jacob and there was nothing to be embarrassed about. He had so often said he liked my body so why hide?

I bent forward so I could kiss him again and heard him moan when I moved my hips in the process. "Bells…" he murmured in my mouth. "Are you ready for this yet? Do you need more time to...?"

But I stopped him right there when I reached down between us and stroked him once. His body jerked up and he moaned again, harder, louder.

"I'll take this as a yes then", he grinned. But when he wanted to roll us around so he was once more on top of me, I placed a hand flat on his chest. "Can't we stay..." My face reddened like a tomato but I simply had to ask. "Like this?" These last words I whispered, not knowing where they had come from. Why would I think of this just now? Our first time had not even been twelve hours ago and now I was asking if I could stay on top? What was wrong with me?

Jake seemed as surprised as I was but he didn't object. "Are you sure?" he simply asked and when I nodded timidly he shook his head. "My Bella...Always so full of surprises." But he still liked the idea and after he had gotten the condom from his trousers and got himself ready he helped me get on top and guide him in me. This time, the possession was a lot rougher and deeper and I winced in pain for a second. Immediately he frowned and touched my cheek with the back of his hand. "You alright?"

I nodded. "Yes, I just didn't expect it to be so... I don't know... intense?" I was at a loss for words but Jake didn't ask. "We can change if you want?"

But I didn't and so I tried to move a little. Jake put his hands on my hips and thus helped me find the right movements and speed. Soon we were both panting heavily. My cheeks were flushed and I knew that this would be my favourite position from now on.

When his hips began to jerk up rapidly and he closed his eyes, still holding my hips he drew me with him over the edge.

Afterwards, when he had disposed of the condom and I was again in his arms, both our bodies covered in sweat it finally felt the morning after I had always imagined.

Way too soon our time together ended. The little bubble we had created for one night (and one morning) had to burst and we had to face reality once more. None of us spoke as first I then Jake went into the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed. Jacob put on his trousers from yesterday and I made a note in my mind to let him bring some clothing over here. Since Charlie had officially allowed him to stay during the night he might need some spare clothes.

I pulled my damp hair in a knot and (considering the dry but windy weather today) I put on an old sweater I had "borrowed" from Charlie and a pair of black jeans. After I had slipped in my sneakers I was ready to go. Neither me nor Jacob felt like breakfast and besides we didn't really had much time left. Between our morning bed-rolling and the two showers we were already on a tight schedule. Outside, Jake gave me a quick peck on the cheek before he ran into the woods to phase and fill Sam and the others in on the latest developments. I waited at the door, hands buried deep inside the pockets of my sweater. I didn't trust myself to go into the woods alone and get lost again.

After a few minutes, Jake re-appeared in his wolf form. A magnificent huge wolf, with shining red fur and honey-coloured eyes, every bit the proud hunter, nature had designed him for. His eyes searched mine and when they found them, a soft look came up which didn't really fit in with the rest of this deadly vampire hunter. But this was only the outside. Inside he was still my Jacob, the sweet and loving boy I had always seen in him.

He turned and I followed him on the clearing. The air was not that cold but the wind blew sharply and I stayed close to Jacob as if he could protect me from the cold.

On the clearing the Cullens were already waiting. Carlisle and Esme were quietly discussing something but Alice jumped up as soon as she saw me. The look on her face was, despite the circumstances, bright and happy and I found myself returning the smile. Emmet tagged along and greeted me with the usual clap on the shoulder (another bruise tomorrow) before he nodded in Jacob's direction. "Must say, I'm glad to have you on our side. A pack of you and us together? Man, Victoria won't even stand the slightest chance."

"Let's hope you're right." Carlisle and Esme had finished talking and came over with the rest of their family. "Good to see you, Jacob." Carlisle smiled at Jake, who eyed him suspiciously but neither growled nor stepped back. A huge improvement comparing the first meeting when he didn't approach them any further than a mile.

"How are you, Bella?" Esme asked softly, every bit the loving mother she was. I shrugged. "Been better. This whole Victoria business is starting to get to me. I just want this whole thing to be over."

"We all do", Carlisle answered while Jake pressed his big body closer to me. Soon after the rest of the pack arrived. They gathered in a half circle on the west side of the clearing, facing the Cullens. As usual, only Sam and Jared had appeared in their human form while the rest of the wolves stood rigid like body guards, eyes never leaving the Cullens. Only a smaller, sandy coloured wolf looked in my direction and when he caught me staring at him he huffed and grinned a wolfish grin. He obviously remembered the patting and when I felt Jake shift a bit at my side I knew Seth had no scruples telling Jacob all about it again. I rolled my eyes and tried to focus on what Carlisle and Sam were discussing.

"So, Alice had another vision today. Victoria has finally made up her mind about the attack."

Sam lowered his head a little. "So?"

"She'll attack tomorrow." As if to underline his words, a huge breeze came up and I had to shudder. As the only human on this clearing, I was the only one being affected by something like warmth or coldness. Sometimes, being human sucked.

I sighed and made myself smaller to avoid the wind as much as I could. I didn't know what to say at Carlisle's words. What did I feel? Fear?

No, more like relief. Relief that by tomorrow evening everything would be over, this way or another.

"Do you know where?" Sam asked. Carlisle shook his head. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. We have to find a spot where we have the advantage. We know this area, she doesn't. So we can choose something that is far enough from the humans but also suits our needs."

Sam thought for a moment. "Do you have anywhere specific in mind?"

"Indeed I have. It's an old plain, up in the mountains. It's far enough so that nobody can see us but it gives us the advantage of a lot of free space so we can position our army."

"Hm..." Sam, deep in thoughts, looked first down, then at Jared, then at the rest of the pack. When he looked at Jacob, who was not standing beside the others but beside me, his eyes widened for just a moment before he returned his gaze to Carlisle. "It's done then. The battle will begin tomorrow in the great plains in the mountain."

Carlisle nodded again, a small smile on his lips. "Be there as soon as you can. We don't know exactly when she'll arrive, and we have to regroup before she comes."

""Don't worry, we'll be there. We've hunted vampires long enough; we know how these things work", Jared replied rudely, and Sam didn't stop him. The other wolves growled quietly, even Seth and I sighed. What was wrong with them? They were allies for god's sake, why couldn't they behave like decent people for ten minutes?

The minute these thoughts came to my mind, I found myself jogging over to Jared who was backing up, ready to leave with Sam and his brothers.

But before he could leave entirely, I was already at his side, one hand locked around his arm. He hadn't expected this otherwise I would have never managed to hold him back. But as it were, Jared stumbled back, a cry of surprise on his lips. He looked around. "Bella?"

I had narrowed my eyes and looked at him furiously. My hands were clenched into fists and my whole body shook with emotions. For days now these emotions had been bubbling up inside me, the fear, the pain, the sadness, the anger and I had been looking for a way to let them out. Well, Jared had provided me with one.

"Jared, what you said was incredibly rude and selfish. You are allies in this, for God's sake, and allies at least respect each other even if they don't like one another."

Jared frowned. "Finished now?"

I shook my head. "No. I just don't understand you, all of you." I shot a quick look over Jared's shoulder where Sam and the other wolves had stopped and watched our "fight". "They are nothing but kind and polite towards you but the only thing you do is show how much you hate them and that you would like nothing better than to rip their throats out. I get it, they are your mortal enemies, nature has designed you to be their eternal doom, blablabla. You act all grown-up and wise and like you've already seen every nasty thing the world has to offer but honestly, you are like a bunch of children being forced by their mother to play nice with the rudest bully in the street. Even enemies can respect each other you know?"

By the time I had finished my little rant Sam was standing at Jared's side, arms crossed front. He didn't look exactly happy but Sam never looked exactly happy so I didn't give a damn about that. I matched the gaze of his eyes with my own.

"Bella, you don't know what you are talking about, so I won't hold this against you." Sam tried so sound calm but I could practically feel how pissed off he was. "But I think it's better that you leave now. Get some rest; it will be a hard day tomorrow."

"Sam, I have lived in this world for quite a while so don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. They are not monsters, no more than you are. They didn't choose this life and neither did you. We all have to deal with what destiny has foreseen for us. I know that most vampires are evil, deadly, bloodsucking, horrifying, undead, sun-fearing monsters but they try so hard to be different. But for you, it's all the same. Just think about it. Why did your ancestors made this treaty, had they not known that Carlisle and Esme and Alice and everyone else were different?"

"Bella, stop it, now," Sam replied through clenched teeth. At his, side Jared shot me looks that would have killed me on the spot if something like this were possible. Behind them the wolves growled, their fur rising. I gulped. Maybe it had not been the brightest idea to anger them like that. Maybe I should have closed my mouth and stayed back.

But all this unnecessary hatred had made me feel so angry. I had held back too often to ignore it again. Because, what would happen after the battle?

With their common enemy gone, werewolves and vampires would once again turn against each other, resulting in either the Cullens moving away or another unfair treaty or worst of all another battle. I didn't want any of this to happen and so I had felt it my duty to negotiate between them. With someone who had roots in both the vampire and the werewolf world I was the most neutral person they could get for this job.

I shook my head. "I am sorry Sam, I really am. I like you all as much as I like them, and I will be eternally grateful for everything you did to me when Victoria started chasing me, but I can't step aside and watch while you turn against each other as soon as Victoria is gone. There is enough room for all of you around here. Only because nature designed you a certain way does this really mean we have to act like this our whole lives? Your ancestors knew that they were different, and I think you know it, too. Why can't we have peace?"

But Sam shook his head. "As I said, you don't know anything about what you are saying. It's in our blood, Bella. There can never be peace between vampires and wolves. Do not think that, only because you are lucky enough to know everything about this world and are still alive, that you have any special rights. We'll talk about the future when this whole business is dealt with but I promise you, that it won't be a And they lived happily together as a big family-ending."

I opened my mouth to protest but suddenly felt a cool touch on my shoulder. Esme's soft voice talked: "It's alright Bella. You have made your point. Let them go. We all need rest."

After shooting me another deadly look Sam and Jared turned around and followed the rest of the pack into the woods. My eyes followed them till they disappeared in the forest. Some tears of anger stood in the corner of my eyes and I quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of my sweater. Why did they have to be so stubborn?

"Bella, are you insane?" Alice' voice made me turn around I could see all of the vampires standing in front of me, a look of disbelief, shock and amusement in their eyes.

"You cannot challenge a werewolf like that! They are out of control once they get too angry!" Alice scolded me.

"But the way they treat you... It's not right." I protested. "You are good people but they refuse to see that. To them every vampire is a Victoria or a Laurent."

"It's alright Bella. We've been called worse," Jasper chimed in, stepping up beside Alice, taking her hand to calm her.

"But I like what you said. Sun-fearing... That's a new one." Emmet grinned.

Esme smiled. "It's been so nice of you to step up on our behalf after the way we've treated you." I made a gesture. "That's the past. You're back now and I won't let them drive you away just because they can't stop being so damn racist," I mumbled.

"Racist? Man Bella, you really are one of a kind." Emmet laughed while the rest of the clan smiled.

That's when we heard the yelp.