PREVIOUSLY-

"What was it? What's going on?" I asked him quickly as he grabbed a bottle of water and came to sit down in the chair across from me.

"A female nomad. She was up around the Cullen's place again but this time Sam saw her. We chased her halfway to Seattle before she cut north toward Canada. Sam is talking to your dad right now while Paul and Jared do a final sweep."

My heart was pounding. "A female?"

"Yeah, a redhead. Crazy one too."

My surroundings started spinning and everything I saw turned to black.

The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes to Sam wiping my face with a warm washcloth. I blinked my eyes a few times then I suddenly remembered what Embry had said.

"Victoria!" I panicked, sitting straight up and looking at Sam worriedly.

"Calm down, honey." He held my face, brushing my hair back with his fingers to try and calm me down. "Yes, it was her." I started panicking again. "Bella, Bella, listen to me." I tried to reign myself in enough so that I could pay attention. "You trust me and Jared to protect you, right?"

Of course I did. I nodded to him.

"We still don't know if it's you she's after. She was skirting around the Cullen's place again, so it might be him she's looking for. Jared double-checked around Charlie's just to make sure she didn't go there, and it was clear. I stopped in and talked to Charlie, explained to him that it wasn't just a one-time occurrence now and that he needed to make sure to stay out of the woods, just in case." Sam continued, still trying to calm me.

"I don't want any of you to get hurt because of me." I cried as he pulled me into his chest and rubbed my back.

"This is what we were made to do." He whispered to me. "Jared and I will keep you safe at all costs."

I sniffled. "That's what I'm worried about. I can't lose you, either of you."

"You have to trust that we know what we're doing, Bella. We're not easily breakable and there's four of us now against one of her." Sam told me, pulling my chin up to look at him.

"I know," I told him through watery eyes before hearing Jared come through the door.

As soon as he saw me, he came straight over and was at my side in seconds.

"What's wrong?" He asked immediately, seeing my tears before wiping them away with his thumb.

I just leaned my head into his neck and felt more tears come.

"She's worried about Victoria," Sam explained to him.

I felt his fingers start to run through my hair and he kissed the top of my head.

"It'll be fine, Bella. We'll take care of her." Jared muttered to me, rubbing my back.

"She fainted when Embry told her," Sam informed him and I groaned against Jared, not knowing he hadn't actually known that part yet. I could feel his worry over me increase.

"I'm fine, I swear," I said, looking up at him before looking over at Sam. "Why'd you have to tell him?"

"How could I not? He'd know either way honey." Sam replied and I knew it was the truth, even if I didn't like it.

"No secrets between us, Bella. You know that." Jared said to me. "Come on, let's go to bed."

"You two go on up, I'm going to head back out for a little while, see if I can track the scent to where she came from before it rains and washes away." Sam kissed me before heading toward the door.

Jared and I made our way upstairs to the bed and I sat down on the edge. He crouched down in front of me and I leaned back with my arms behind me on the bed. He began to unbutton my jeans and slowly slid them down my legs before expertly throwing them into the laundry basket without his eyes leaving mine.

"You need to relax, babe," Jared said to me quietly before leaving a trail of kisses all the way up my leg.

In the blink of an eye, he was pulling my shirt over my head and discarding my bra as well before making his way back down to my hips and relieving me of my last article of clothing as I bit my lip in anticipation.

His mouth was on me in an instant, making my head spin with desire. I threw my head back and moaned in delight as he lapped at my center greedily. I let the feeling take me over completely as I arched into him, my body begging for release which came rapidly.

Before the feeling even faded, Jared was inside of me. His movements were slow and languid, with the intent of savoring. He moved us to where we were both lying on the bed with him over top of me, making love to me sweetly.

I cherished these moments. The moments where I felt closer to my wolves than at any other time. I felt so incredibly loved.

They always knew exactly what I needed, and Jared was right, I needed this.

After we both climaxed, he laid at my side, turning me to face him.

"I love you." He murmured to me with a soft grin.

"I love you too," I whispered back to him, running my finger down his jawline to his chin. "Thank you for that."

He gave me a wolfish grin and leaned forward to kiss me. "You needed to relax… and I needed you."

"Mmm, looks like we both got what we needed then," I replied happily.

I snuggled into his side, not even bothering with clothes. As I laid with my eyes closed listening to Jared's heartbeat, I found myself thinking about how incredibly amazing both Jared and Sam had made my life.

They were everything to me. They consumed me in every way, yet it was never smothering. Instead, we were balanced in a way that ebbed and flowed. We blended and compromised. It was intense and passionate, sensual and caring, but also fun and happy, humorous and playful. I needed them like I needed air to breathe.

Just as Jared and I had spoken about before, Sam and Jared were alike in so many ways but also very different at the same time.

Sam was definitely an alpha. He loved being in charge, but he never tried to control me. He could be tender and caring, but more often he was confident and passionate. He was a natural-born leader and that carried over into daily life as well. He was precise and controlled, but he carried a lot of weight on his shoulders. In a way, I felt like that was part of the reason he imprinted on me. I kept him grounded, steady, whereas in return he was my rock, he kept me focused and gave me the confidence I never had before.

Jared was my tender and caring soul. He was the romantic for sure. Always expressive, comforting, loving in every way. He was affectionate and reassuring, never letting me forget how much I was loved by both of them. His emotions ran deep, but he also had this incredible lighthearted nature of always making me smile and laugh. He was playful and always encouraged Sam to have a little more fun too.

Together, they completed me in ways I couldn't begin to comprehend. It was always seamless, our relationship. Sam knew when Jared and I needed time together and Jared knew the same for Sam. When I had both of them together, they always knew exactly what to do, exactly what I needed, and I loved them both with my entire being.

I fell asleep against Jared with that thought in my mind and when I felt Sam join us later on, I snuggled into the both of them with comfort and happiness.

It was another week before she was sighted again. This time apparently Jared had caught up to her and latched onto her arm, but she'd kicked his leg out from underneath him, causing him to release her while subsequently breaking said leg.

Sam and Paul had carried him home after she'd gotten away. I was alerted to what was happening by hearing Jared's cries of pain from outside of the house. I knew I'd felt something off with him, especially when I felt Sam's fear. I didn't know how I didn't feel Jared being in pain and I didn't like it.

When they brought him inside and laid him on the table, my heart cried out for my imprint. The bottom of his leg was swollen, bruised, and sitting at an odd angle.

"Bella, I need something to make a splint. I'm going to have to set his leg myself. Paul, hold him down." Sam said commandingly and I rushed to find some sort of supplies. I managed to find two wood pieces that would work and a bed sheet that could be cut or ripped.

As I made it back downstairs, I heard a loud crack then Jared's immediate scream in pain and I sucked in a breath. It completely killed me to see him like that. I rushed over to him and grasped his hand in mine, running my fingers over his sweaty brow as he looked at me with tears in his eyes.

I tried to think of reassuring words. "The worst part is over, Jared. You'll be okay."

He didn't say anything and I doubted that he could without crying out in pain again, so I just held him and kissed his forehead, letting him know I was there if he needed me.

After a few minutes, Sam had his splint fixed and Jared's eyes were starting to droop but I knew he was trying to fight it.

"It's alright, Jare. Go to sleep." I said to him before pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

When he finally did fall asleep, I looked to Sam and Paul for an explanation.

They told me the whole story and said that Embry was out on patrol, making sure she didn't double back.

"Alright boss, I'm going out to help the kid for a little bit. Let me know if J needs anything." Paul told Sam before taking off to run with Embry.

I looked at Sam and could tell he was disappointed at what had happened.

"Can you carry Jared up to the bed?" I asked him and he nodded, carefully lifting Jared from the table and walking up the stairs toward our room. After he laid Jared on the bed, I walked up to him and tugged on his hand, leading him to the bathroom.

I started the shower and undressed, pulling him in after me.

I knew Sam was trying to keep a stone façade but I also knew that he wasn't dealing with it well internally. I could literally feel it rolling off him in waves.

"Sam, look at me," I said to him as we stood under the spray of water.

He let his gaze drift to mine and I could see the pain behind his eyes.

"This wasn't your fault," I told him softly.

"I'm the alpha. Jared is my pack, my beta, my brother, family. It's my duty to keep my pack safe…" Sam muttered to me.

"No, it's not," I replied back to him. "It's the pack's duty to protect the reservation, the people. You are their alpha to help guide them, not babysit them. Jared knew what he was getting into. They all do. You couldn't have prevented it, Sam."

"But—" he tried but I placed my hand on his chest.

"No 'buts'. Stop blaming yourself for something out of your control. Jared will be okay."

I could tell he wasn't quite there but nodded his head nonetheless. I wrapped my arms around his torso and he relaxed into me, letting some weight fall off his shoulders.

When we finished with our shower, we dressed and went to bed. As I rested between my two imprints, I worried heavily about what would come next.

A/N- Sorry it's been a few days. (I have tons more written for this story already, I've just not been on my laptop.)

What do you guys think so far? There's more drama coming up (that's not entirely Victoria-related).

Please review and follow :)