Disclaimer: This story is based off of the characters written by Stephanie Meyer in the Twilight Saga. I do not own any of these characters.

Jacob

The role of Alpha wasn't something I ever imagined would feel freeing. Knowing it ran in my blood didn't mean much to me before. It wasn't something I wanted when I joined the pack, so maybe I had ignored the pull.

But as soon as I phased I had an overwhelming feeling that everything was falling into place. Like this was where I was supposed to be. I felt more at peace than I had since the night of my first phase.

I had more control from the beginning than anyone else in the pack. It had only been two weeks and I could phase at will, I could calm my anger easier than the rest too. For most of us it had taken months to gain that sort of control.

But this feeling was different than just having that control over myself.

I felt more powerful than I ever had, and that felt right. I could feel that power in my muscles as I ran. The anger I had already been able to tame easily, had all but disappeared.

Everything was clearer, sharper. There was nothing clouding my thoughts, nothing getting in my way. I wasn't wandering, I wasn't waiting for anything. I knew where I was going and I knew what needed to be done, in more ways than the literal. It was natural, and instinctual.

I felt more myself than I had ever felt in my life.

It was strange how easy this transfer of power had come. Sam must had relinquished control immediately following our conversation. I probably would have noticed the moment he did, if I'd been in my wolf form when I'd headed back to the Cullen's.

None of the pack was with me in their wolf form while I relished in these changes, and I was a little grateful for that. Not just because of how good I felt, but also because of how terrible.

Me taking this title was a good thing, and the closer I got to my dad's the more I knew that. But it was crappy that it had to be under these circumstances.

I hoped that Sam and the others would forgive me for the reason I decided so abruptly to step up.

The closer I got to the house, the more I slowed down. My hour was pretty much up, but I wasn't entirely ready to face the council yet. I phased a half mile out from the house and walked the rest of the way.

I wouldn't want to bring Bella up right away. I wanted them to know I was serious about taking on all the duties that came with the Alpha title. But I knew that I needed to tell them today, and I needed to find out if they knew anything about what the transformation looked like.

I wanted to be as prepared as possible when Bella finally did wake up.

The edge of the trees came up faster than I was expecting. I stood there for a moment, even though I knew the pack had already heard me coming.

I took a deep breath, and jogged toward the little red house. Jared, Paul, Embry and Sam were all standing outside, I could hear my dad, Harry, and Old Quil in the house.

I stopped at Sam first, "Just like that?" I asked.

He shrugged, "I was a place holder, I could always feel that." He smirked, more to himself than to me, "I never really wanted the Alpha title to begin with. But someone had to step up."

I nodded.

Before this run, I hadn't really wanted it either. "Follow me in?" I asked.

As we walked toward the front door I caught Paul's eye, he glared at me. I could see why he'd be upset, but I knew somewhere deep, deep down, he knew this was inevitable.

Still, I wasn't looking forward to his response for why I did it.

...

The next hour wasn't far from what I'd anticipated. There was a lot to cover, a lot of duties to fulfill and decisions I would be in charge of. Now that I had accepted my role as Alpha, I would also take over and chief for the tribe.

None of it seemed as overwhelming to me as it had. The entire idea of it had been something I didn't even wanted to consider before. A sixteen year old as a the leader of a tribe just wasn't a good idea. But somehow it didn't feel like that anymore.

I felt like this was something I could do well, now that I could think clearly about what needed to be done. I knew that I would make the right decisions for the tribe. I knew that I could keep them safe.

The only place I worried I would falter, is if I couldn't maintain control of Bella's situation. Not from the pack side, but Bella's side.

What if she didn't want to live the way the Cullens did? If she became a threat? Would I be able to have the pack stop her? Would I be able to stop her? There were so many what ifs that I started to talk myself out of telling the council and the pack about it.

I knew that wouldn't go over very well, because there was no way I would be able to keep her out of my thoughts all the time when I was running with them. And even if I could, eventually they would find her.

Not only that, but telling them was the responsible thing to do. What sort of leader would I be if I didn't come forward with the truth of potential danger immediately? I wouldn't want to follow someone who kept such selfish secrets.

I tried to pay as much attention to the rest of the meeting as I could, but it had already turned mostly into side conversations, and I could hear the pack outside getting restless.

This couldn't be put off any longer. I looked up from the table, and was a little surprised when I met my dad's eyes. They were shining, he had a hint of a smile on his face and his entire body looked like it was radiating with pride.

I realized that throughout the entire meeting, I hadn't looked at my dad once. Maybe I was hiding a little, knowing he may not approve of what was about to come out of my mouth.

My heart sunk a little in my chest, and looked back down at the table.

I cleared my throat and Sam stopped his conversation with Harry.

"I have some," I paused not quite able to pick the right word, "news." I frowned.

All eyes were trained on me, and I could hear the pack outside shift their attention. I stared at the table grateful for this new sense of control, only a couple hours ago my hands would have been trembling. I sucked in a deep breath.

"What is it son?" My dad pressed, and I met his gaze.

"Bella was in the woods today." I paused, "when we found the blood sucker, it was with her."

I tried to continue but the words didn't want to come out. I was in more denial about the situation than I'd thought.

In the silence, everything was still.

My dad's eyes turned grave, "Yes, Sam said you went back to check that she was okay."

I nodded, how was I supped to tell my old man that his best friend's daughter was currently turning into a blood sucking monster. The kind he and many others of the tribe feared. I swallowed and shifted my eyes to Harry.

"Everyone was so focused on getting it away from her that no one noticed..." my throat tightened. This was more painful than I thought it would be.

"It had bitten her." I finally choked out.

...

I was strange how I felt everything happen almost instantaneously. Harry and Old Quil gasped, my dad's eyes shifted from serious to horrified. Sam's nostril's flared, and several growls echoed from outside. Embry shouted "Paul don"t!" There was the sound of ripping fabric, and I was out of my chair.

"No one will lay a hand on her. Do you understand?" I screamed, storming out the front door. Paul crouched to pounce and I leapt across the yard, jumping into my wolf form.

You will not touch her. That's an order. I growled. The double timber voice of the Alpha had Paul almost kneeling under my fury.

I regretted my command immediately.

This was not something I would make a habit of, this was not a power I enjoyed. I didn't want anyone to feel like they had no free will. But this command was necessary to keep Bella safe.

I relaxed my stance. Paul stood straighter, cautiously, and shook himself off. She wont be Bella anymore, Jacob.

I'm sorry Paul, but until she shows me otherwise, she will still be Bella.

He huffed at me. I could hear his train of thought. I knew how disgusted he was, You took role of Alpha to make us protect some disgusting blood sucker? Are you kidding me?

No, Paul. I just want to offer her a chance to uphold the treaty like the Cullen's did.

And if she can't? Or wont? What then? I cant see you offing her.

We can have this conversation when the rest of the pack, and the council, can hear what we're saying.

Embry had grabbed Paul and I shorts while we'd been arguing. He was the only one of the pack who wasn't pissed about my revelation. He didn't really even seem surprised.

He patted my back when we sat down to discuss things again, "I don't blame you dude." He said, sitting down next to me.

Before anyone else could say anything, I turned to my dad.

"I need to give her a chance." I told him. "We need to see if she can be reasoned with once she turned. Give her the option to keep the treaty we had with the Cullens."

He seemed careful with his response, but I realized that was more for the other's benefit than for mine. "I think that's a rational decision, son."

Harry was staring off into space and sort of half-nodded in agreement. Old Quil was a little harder to convince, but he wasn't close with Charlie. He didn't know Bella.

"Bella is a good person. And I don't know what Bella will be like as a vampire. But if any part of her is left after the transformation, I know she wouldn't choose to be a murderer."

Paul snorted, and Embry punched him in the shoulder.

I turned to the pack, "I'm not asking you to protect her. I know that goes against everything in our nature. All I'm asking is you give her a chance."

Embry smiled, "Of course we will, Jake."

I turned to Sam, "Look man, I'm sorry for doing this. I really am taking my role seriously. But I can't see hurting her for something she didn't choose. If she can't stick to the treaty, we'll figure things out a...different way. But until then, we need to give her a chance."

It took him a minute, but he nodded.

Jared seemed to accept it easily after Sam. Paul was the only one who didn't want to back down. He had his command, he couldn't hurt her. But I knew he may never be totally on board.

...

The rest of the meeting was a long discussion on how to handle it in a way for Charlie, and his town to understand. Things were already complicated for the pack since the start of the disappearances. But now that the leech we had been hunting was gone, that would come to an end.

My dad and I knew that Charlie wouldn't give up on looking for Bella though, so we'd all have to be careful on our nightly rounds.

I'd mentioned to Sam where Bella used to leave her truck when we'd go looking for the meadow. He told me he'd be the one to let Charlie know we'd found it.

I explained that I had brought Bella to the Cullen's house, not to Charlie's. That it had been her unconscious decision that he couldn't know what was happening to her.

I didn't add that that is exactly why I didn't think she would be an issue once she was turned.

Sam agreed to help lead the search parties, so that no one outside of the pack would get close enough to the Cullen house to know she was there.

It hurt me, and my dad, to know what Charlie would be going through. But we couldn't plan for Bella to come back. We didn't know what it took for the Cullen's to decide to be vegetarians, and I had a feeling it wasn't something that came naturally.

At the end of the meeting I asked the pack to take their wolf form and made my order that none of the pack members, alone or in groups, could hurt Bella except in life threatening defense.

I told them it was a precaution. That though I trusted them, I needed to make sure she was safe until we knew if she was a threat.

When I was done Paul, Jared, and Embry headed off in their own directions. Doing their rounds on the far side of the reservation, or heading home, and Sam and I ran together.

We were quiet for a long time and I could feel that I wasn't entirely forgiven for my intentions. As we ran, I couldn't help but make the comparison in my head. If this were Leah who had been bitten, he would have made the same decisions.

Not only that, but Jared and maybe even Paul would have backed him up. They knew how much it would hurt to lose her completely. And even though whatever Bella was turning into, could seem like she'd died. I would rather know that, before I lost hope completely.

You're right. Sam thought.

And after a moment he continued, Honestly Jake, I think you're doing a good thing. I may not be too happy about it right now, but I think this is the best option for the situation.

Thanks.

We were silent again. After a couple minutes we reached the dead end where Bella left her truck. Sam let out a low breath. I could feel the dread in his thoughts as he remembered night he'd found Bella in the woods. Charlie had been so worried, Sam thought he was going to have a stroke.

I can do it, I sighed, I should be the one who does it anyway.

Sam shook his head. I don't think you can be the one who does it Jake. I think it hits too close to home. And that's okay. You don't need to take everything on yourself, it may technically be your responsibility, but we're a pack. You have to be able to rely on us.

I didn't say anything, I knew he he could feel how grateful I was.

I'll bring you food later Jake, you should get back to Bella. I nodded, but he had already pushed off toward Charlie's house.

...

When I got back the the house Bella was curled into a tight ball on the couch. I sighed, running my thumb over the crease in her forehead again.

She was so still, if I couldn't hear the pounding of her heart I would have thought she was dead. I stared at her for a minute longer before I decided to explore the rest of the house.

I didn't have a clue how long her transformation would take, and if I was going to be stuck here for a while I might as well check things out.

I looked in the kitchen first, I already knew I wouldn't find anything but it was still interesting to look through the cupboards and drawers. It was sort of funny seeing forks and dishes there, knowing none of them had ever been used. They thought through their facade pretty well.

I looked briefly through the first and second floor, but didn't make the effort to reach the third. Most of the rooms I didn't actually go in, it felt wrong to look through someone else's house, even though I knew they didn't really live here anymore.

They had left a lot behind, which I thought was weird considering they'd cut all other ties fairly permanently. The hospital didn't really know where they went, and I'm sure Charlie didn't either.

If he had, he'd probably have called the doctor up to get ahold of Edward, just so he could scream at him for what he'd put Bella through. I'd forgotten to ask if anyone on the council knew how to get in contact with them. But I figured if my dad had known, he would have told me.

Besides, it's not like we'd ever willingly called the blood suckers up before.

I smiled to myself and thumped back down the stairs.

...

A blood curdling scream jarred me awake. I shot to my feet from my place on the floor. The sun was up, and it took me a minute to get my bearings, to realize that I hadn't woken up to some crappy joke of an alarm clock.

Bella laid stiff, all her limbs outstretched tensely. Her eyes were wide open, but she didn't seem to be looking at anything. The only part of her that moved was her chest while she heaved rapidly.

"Shh, Bella. It's okay. I'm here."

I knelt to her and cupped her face in my hand. Her body relaxed and she murmured "Charlie." As she drifted back to sleep.

Once she was relaxed again, I blinked my eyes awake.

"Is she okay?" Embry's voice whispered. I turned around and my eyebrows pulled together. He looked at me guiltily. "It freaks me out that you're staying in the vamps lair." He gave me a half smile.

I smirked back, "I'm not super thrilled about it either." He laughed.

"Sam's bringing some more food for you, Emily's worried you'll starve yourself staying here."

"I appreciate that, but I'm hoping I wont her here too much longer." I looked over at Bella. I could already see things changing in her.

Her face was a little less rosy already. I sighed and leaned down grabbing the hand that had been bitten. There was only a scar left.

I frowned, I pulled her hand closer to my face. Two scars. I hadn't seen the second yesterday because the new wound had looked so rough. My body tensed as I remembered the night at the movies.

I'd noticed the cold crescent scar then, and after I phased I had figured out why she wouldn't explain how she'd gotten it. I'd been mad at her for it, it had felt like a betrayal at the time. But I'd forgotten about it since then.

"Jake what's up?" Embry asked, still in the doorway.

I shook my head, "It's nothing." I told him. "I'll come out in a minute. I could use a break from all this leech stink."

"Yeah I bet," he said, already out the door.

...

Another day and a half went by, and Bella had only half woken up one more time, screaming. Since then she'd been stiller than before.

When I woke up this morning, I could tell it was almost over. Her weak human heart was slowing, her body had almost entirely turned to an icy marble. It was uncomfortable to hold her hand now. I watched her from across the room, not wanting to be to close when she did finally wake up.

I hadn't left her since the first day. I watched the color slowly fade in her cheeks, and a redder shine coat her hair. She still looked like Bella, but she looked less and less real at the same time.

I was getting impatient, but also dreaded the moment she opened her eyes. Worried that her first act as a vampire would be to poison me with her bite. How great would that look to the pack.

Around 11:30am, her heartbeat picked up. I stared at her, watched her.

The beating was getting more and more rapid, and I knew it was just a matter of time before it stopped completely.