Hello everyone! Here's another update for you, and I hope it finds you well! Enjoy :)

SM owns everything.

Jake ran toward Forks with a disorienting speed, leaping and weaving between trees, over boulders, and under large overgrown roots effortlessly. The dense growth of the forest flashed by in a blur of brown and green. The only experience I'd ever had that was similar to this... was on Edward's back. It was hard for me to judge with my imperfect human perception, but it seemed just as fast. I held on as tight as I could, wondering if I was grasping Jake's fur too hard. He didn't seem to notice, or at least didn't care too much. I wondered if he was excited to share this part of himself with me, and to give me a glimpse into his world.

It seemed like just a few minutes had passed when I thought I felt Jacob slowing his pace. Could we really be there already? When we entered into a less dense portion of the forest, and then eventually into a small unfamiliar clearing, he came to a stop completely. It took a moment for my brain to register that we weren't moving anymore... I continued to cling to Jake's back for another few moments as I adjusted. Then in the waning evening light, I suddenly noticed with a jolt several sets of eyes looking back at me between trees at the edge of the clearing. Those eyes belonged to large faces attached to even larger, well camouflaged bodies. Five additional wolves stealthily emerged from the shadows to meet us. They'd gained another member since the day Laurent was killed, I noted. Six total. I also took special notice of one wolf that was jet black, and significantly larger and more imposing than the others... Sam.

I recognized him. Yes, he was there during my first encounter with the pack, when they saved me from Laurent's attack. However, it was more than that. When I looked into his golden-yellow eyes, I knew that I had seen him that night... when I was in a dreamlike state, lying on the floor of the forest in the dark on the day Edward Cullen left me. Sam was the one that found me. Whatever wolf eyes I had seen then, I dismissed as some kind of hallucination. Now of course, I recognized them for what they were; the eyes of the alpha of the Quileute pack, the day the wolves of La Push began to protect me. I felt a swell of gratitude in my heart toward the wolves. As I looked at Sam, he seemed to nod at me.

I slipped off Jake's back then, and not gracefully. His wolf form was tall, like a horse, and I misjudged the distance to the ground. As I landed awkwardly on the heels of feet, I stumbled and fell backwards, falling squarely on my posterior. That same rolling, rumbling sound that I heard from Jake before, that I interpreted as chuckling, resounded throughout the pack. I found myself laughing too as Jake nudged his snout under my elbow to help me up.

I adjusted myself and my dress, dusting off the moss, leaves, and dirt. I observed the wolves, who were shifting glances from one to the other, every once in a while making deep, guttural noises from their throats. I realized they must be having a conversation, one that I couldn't hear. I wondered what they were talking about.

Abruptly, several of the wolves whirled and fixed their eyes in the same direction. Some of them growled menacingly. Then I remembered why we were there... the thrill of flying through the woods with Jacob had almost made me forget. We were meeting Carlisle.

I imagine the wolves could see him far quicker than I could. I waited, my breathing growing uneven from the anticipation. Then, I saw him.

Carlisle's golden hair and topaz eyes seemed illuminated even in the dim amber light of the coming sunset, his pale skin a stark contrast against the growing darkness of the forest. He moved gracefully, and silently toward the center of the clearing. It was the same fatherly, benevolent figure that I had grown to see as family over the the course of the year that Edward was in my life. A time when I believed I was as happy as I could ever be.

However, seeing him now... it did not bring back those feelings of comfort and happiness. This man, this vampire, was a cold reminder of the joy that was ripped away from me. I felt a pang in my heart, a remnant of the hurt that I endured. If I was honest with myself, that pain was still very real. The esteem issues brought on by an abandonment such as this, like what the Cullens inflicted on me, doesn't wash away easily. I wasted away for months, drowning, until Jacob taught me how to access the joy I really needed. This new happiness was not fleeting like what I had with Carlisle's adopted son.

If I was honest with myself, looking upon Carlisle after all this time... it dredged up some deep-seated feelings of bitterness and even a touch of anger. Although I knew those feelings were directed toward Edward more than anything, Carlisle was still a direct association with him in my mind.

"Bella," he said, nodding his head in greeting. His eyes told me that he knew this was a heavy moment. He gave me time to speak when I was ready.

After a few deep breaths, I spoke. "Hello, Carlisle."

"I imagine you have a lot of questions. I came here today because I have a lot of questions of my own. Seeing you alive... my first question has been answered," he said. He spoke with a hint of an old British accent, very subtle. His voice sounded like a song. Carlisle was about 20 yards from where Jake and I were standing, with the other wolves forming an arc just behind us. He walked forward to close the distance between us, until a couple of the wolves emitted threatening snarls in warning. 10 yards was close enough. Carlisle held his hands up in a gesture of peace.

"Bella, you have the right to ask me any question you'd like," he said.

"Why were you checking that I was alive?" My voice was guarded, almost monotone.

"Alice has always continued to keep an eye on you," he responded. At the mention of Alice, my heart jolted painfully again. Her leaving broke my heart almost as much as Edward did. She had become my best friend... my sister. "After a few months, you began to disappear from her visions every once in a while. Then, it grew more frequent. Recently, you disappeared from them completely." He paused. "Now I realize. It was the wolves. Something in their evolution has formed a protective barrier against our kind, their natural rivals. Very fascinating indeed."

I was silent. Eventually Carlisle continued. "Alice has also been keeping an eye on Victoria. She could see her... still seeking revenge, attempting to get close. But she would often disappear from her mind's eye as well. I now understand fully. Sam explained to me this morning that she's continued to make attempts on your life, and that the pack has intercepted her several times in an effort to keep you safe. I can't thank you all enough," he finished, making eye contact with all the wolves in turn. One of the wolves growled, as if to say we aren't doing it for you. Carlisle seemed genuine, but it still did not make sense to me.

"Why?" I asked. "Why do you care if Victoria is still after me?" I attempted to put more power behind my voice, but it came out sounding shaky.

"Bella, we never wished you harm. Victoria is after you because you were Edward's mate, as a form of revenge against Edward himself. We sincerely thought that if we severed our relationship with you, killing you would become meaningless to her, and she would perhaps seek out another method of revenge."

"You all abandoned me," I whispered, knowing he would be able to hear.

He met my eyes. "We can see now that we were wrong. And we will never forgive ourselves for it."

"We?" I asked.

"I know what you are asking, Bella. And I'm sorry to say that Edward no longer regularly associates with my family," he replied, and I could see genuine pain in his expression. "After we relocated, he disconnected from us. He does call... albeit very infrequently."

"I'm done talking about him," I said, this time actually succeeding to put force behind my voice. Carlisle fell silent. "You've seen what you came to see. I am alive and well." I instinctively reached for Jacob next to me, grasping his fur and letting his radiating warmth comfort me. "I imagine you'll be going back now," I said a bit coldly, not bothering to ask where they call home now. I didn't need to know. I expected him to disappear as quickly as he came.

Carlisle let my words hang in the air for a moment. He stood unmoving, like a statue, until finally he broke the silence again. "Bella, Victoria is still trying to kill you. And we, my family, are solely to blame," he said. He gestured to the wolves. "Sam told me of the wolves' efforts to protect you, and they have done an admirable job. However, Victoria is cunning, and it is yet unclear what she might be planning next. We hope that you, and the pack, would accept our help in bringing an end to her."

At this, I could feel myself turning my body toward Jake, facing him and grasping his fur with both hands now. He turned his huge head toward me, nuzzling and headbutting me gently, gestures of comfort. After a few moments, I noticed in the corner of my eye that Sam turned and disappeared back into the woods.

I did not want them to come back. I bristled at the thought of having them so near again, a constant reminder of the family I once had that was now lost to me. Their presence would hurt me, anger me, drag me down, undo some of the happiness I had found with my Jake. They would distract me from the life I had now. I had come a long way in only the past week... and I just wanted to be done with them now so I could move on with my life.

But the more rationale part of me followed a different line of thinking. I couldn't move on with my life, could I? Not while being hunted by Victoria. Not to mention Jake and the pack were sacrificing beyond what anyone would expect in order to keep me safe. Every single day, every night, they were putting their lives at risk for me. Would it be selfish for me to turn Carlisle away? To deny them such an edge in the fight to capture and defeat Victoria? They would never be able to rest until she was no longer a threat. Perhaps it would be best to accept the Cullens' help.

And maybe there would be opportunity for healing too. For closure.

Just then, Sam returned from the forest, having returned to his human form. He wore tattered shorts, and was barefoot and shirtless. His human body was imposing too, tall and muscled. He made his way to where Jake and I stood. "Bella, it is our duty as guardians of the Quileute tribe to protect this land and its people from the cold ones," he said, his voice resolute. "We will do whatever it takes to end this bloodsucker." He turned to look at Carlisle. "Including accepting help from them." I could hear venom in his tone, a relic of the strained relationship between the Cullens and the wolves. The treaty was unnatural... but it was still binding. They would be able to work together with some effort.

"But we also need to know that you approve of this," he said, turning back to me. "We will not ask you to put yourself in league with vampires again if you don't want to."

I turned to meet Jake's eyes, searching in them for the right answer. The danger I was in was so much bigger than myself. This wasn't just about me and my life. It was about Jacob's life, and the packs', and Charlie's, and all the innocent people of this area that Victoria would murder and feed on in the meantime while she hunts me as her ultimate prize. And when I looked in Jacob's eyes, I could see conveyed there all the love he had for me and his desire for me to be okay. He would do anything. So that settled it.

"I'll accept their help," I told Sam. I glanced to Carlisle, and gave him a curt nod. He bowed his head in return respectfully. Sam in the meantime looked to the pack, meeting each one of their gazes in turn. They no doubt had already discussed this, but this seemed like the final vote.

I thought I could see in their eyes their reluctance... and their resolve despite that. They knew they couldn't dismiss this offer of help, not when the pack was being pushed to its limit. Better to suck it up and be done with it.

Sam turned to Carlisle and gave him a final nod of acceptance. "Very well," Carlisle said, smiling gently. "We will do everything we can to help you against her."

Sam replied, forcefully, "Do not forget that you are still bound by the treaty. We will accept your help. But you will not enter Quileute lands under any circumstances, and you will not harm any human."

"That will not be a problem," Carlisle said. "And when Victoria has been dealt with, we will depart again, if it is Bella's wish."

I didn't reply. Obviously there was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts in my mind, and I just couldn't interpret them all right now. I supposed we would cross that bridge when we came to it. But I knew this was the right call, as difficult as it would be.

"When I leave you all and return to my home here, Alice will be able to see the decision that was made today. She will bring Esme and Jasper here with her soon," he declared. He noted my puzzled expression, and guessed my question. "Rosalie... I will put it bluntly, she does not intend to help in this fight. She will remain in New York, and Emmett with her."

I nodded. I never had a strong bond with Rosalie... out of all the Cullens, she was the one I got along with the least. So ironically, I felt it wouldn't have been as difficult to see her as it would be the rest of them.

"Bella, say the word and you will not need to interact with any of us. We will guard you from a distance, and let that be all," Carlisle said.

I made eye contact with him and shook my head. "I... I just don't know yet, Carlisle. I might need some time."

"I understand," he said softly. "I will take my leave. Thank you all. Sam, we will be in contact with you soon." With that, I saw his body turn slightly at a speed that I could see, and then in a blur of movement he was gone.

I released a breath that I didn't realize I was holding, and leaned against Jake's body. I could feel an emotional exhaustion setting in. He took a few seconds presumably to say something to the pack, and then crouched down low to the ground, willing me to get on his back again. I did so as best I could, not worrying about trying to look graceful. Then we were off. He ran mercifully slower this time, being gentle on me. I didn't watch the forest as we ran like I did before. I just wrapped my arms around his neck and held my body close to his warmth, eyes closed and breathing in his musky scent.

When Jake stopped, I opened my eyes to see my house through the trees. Absently, I noticed that Charlie's police cruiser wasn't there... he must be fishing still. I slipped off of Jake's back, and he glanced to my bedroom window. I felt I knew what he was saying. "Meet me up there?" He nodded his large head, giving me one last loving headbutt and nudging me toward the house.

By the time I made it upstairs, Jake was already there, standing in the middle of my bedroom barefoot and bare-chested. I wasted no time... I ran and crashed into him, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face in his chest. And I cried.

That was hard... not because the reminder of Edward made me want him again, but because the reminder of his abandonment opened up my newly healed wounds just a little bit. I had been finally getting a grip on myself, and I didn't want their return to steal that away from me again. I clung to Jake, willing him to ground me.

He squeezed me back tightly, whispering "shhhh" into my hair and rocking me back and forth. After a few minutes, he swept me up from the floor and carried me to my bed. He laid me down and then climbed onto the bed next to me, and I continued to hold him and sniffle into his chest.

"I'm so sorry Jake," I said, my voice muffled by his embrace. "I didn't mean to get upset, I... It's just going to hurt seeing them again."

"I know... I'm not too fond of this arrangement myself." I detected some anger in his voice. "I will not hesitate to kill them if they do anything to hurt you."

"Oh Jake," I replied, lacking the energy for a more detailed response. I didn't want them to die, I just... wanted them to leave me alone. The sooner Victoria was gone, the sooner that would happen.

"I know though... I know this is the right thing to do. We have a much better chance of destroying the leech with their help," he said, then snorted. "But I don't have to like it."

I laughed despite my exhaustion. "I just hope this helps the pack. You all have sacrificed so much for me."

"Don't get me wrong, Bella, I mean I do it for you. But to the rest of the pack, it's more than that. Sure they protect you, but it is also in our blood to protect against bloodsuckers like her. We can't stand for one intruding on our land. It's our duty, our sole function."

I didn't hear Jake speak about duty very often. I couldn't imagine the obligations he felt, but I knew it must be a heavy burden. I hoped that the comradery of the wolf pack, and the power to protect those he loved, made it worth it to him.

"Maybe with them here, we'll be able to spend more time together," I whispered. My emotional exhaustion was growing into physical tiredness, and I felt myself fading.

"Maybe," Jake said with a smile in his voice, squeezing me. I floated closer and closer to sleep, enjoying the calming, rhythmic rise and fall of his torso as he breathed. You don't get that with vampires... was my last thought before I drifted off.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know there are some serious things happening, but don't worry there will be some parallel fluffiness (and more!) coming up... Bella and Jacob have to develop their relationship, after all!

Please consider leaving me a review! They give me writing fuel!