A/N: Hey guys, if you have been waiting for an update, I'm sorry for the delay, real life got busy. I am scaling back to weekly updates, although I'll try to make the chapters longer. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight Universe etc. etc.

"What?" Jake shakes his vigorously, as if to shake out water. "What did you say?"

"The redhead, her name is Victoria. She's looking for me, she wants to kill me." I can hear my voice, drained of all emotions, I'm barely holding myself together, one little push, and I will collapse like a sandcastle in a tide.

Someone grabs my shoulder and gives it a good shake, Oh right, Jake, he's leaning over me, worry etched over his face, why is he worried? He's too young to look so worried and angry. He is saying something, his lips move, but I can't hear anything over the roaring in my ears.

"…Bella! Hey! It's gonna be okay! Bella! Look at me!"

"Huh?" I blink, I'm sitting on the beach, with Jake, he just told me Victoria is already looking for me, right.

"It's okay Bella, we'll protect you. Don't worry about it."

"Okay, okay" I breath deeply, trying to bring myself down from a panic attack.

Jake waits for me to calm down, but he can't stop himself much longer, "How do you know she's looking for you? Why would she want to kill you, I mean specifically?"

"Laurent told me." I shrug

"That leech with dreadlocks?" Jake clarifies

"Yeah. The Cullens killed her mate, he wanted to hunt me. Guess she has chosen the easier target for revenge." I try to sound light.

"This is not happening." Jake grabs two fistful of hair, they have started growing, I noticed, he had shorn them short after he wolfed.

"Okay, okay" He breathes, "The Pack needs to know. We need to have a meeting. Will you come?"

I nod, surprised, I didn't know I have a choice. But I do want to join this meeting, I want to know what was going on.

"Come, we'll meet at Emily's." He pulls me up by my arms, but instead of letting me go, he pulls me into a hug, "We'll figure it out, trust me." He whispers as he holds me steady. I nod against his chest, my throat closing up with gratitude.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jake leaves me with Emily and runs out alone, presumably to gather the Pack. Emily takes one look at my face and disappears into the kitchen, only to come back and hand me a steaming cup of cocoa. "Thanks" I croak as I hold onto the cup like a lifeline. The Pack gathers in ones and twos.

Sam joins Emily from inside the house with a jaw-cracking yawn, his eyes half-closed, he grabs Emily by her waist and plants a kiss on top of her head. She blushes and whispers in his ear on tip-toes. Sam looks at me and smiles, "Hey Bella, haven't seen you around in a while, How are you? Emily won't stop talking about you." Emily smacks him lightly on his pecs and goes back to the kitchen counter, probably to cook up a storm for the Pack.

I try to smile, "Um, actually, Jake and I have something to share about the red-headed vampire you have been hunting."

There is a subtle but immediate change in his body language, in the blink of an eye, Sam the boyfriend has been replaced by Sam the Alpha. He gives a sharp nod, "Lets gather in the living room." He gestures. Soon the living room is full of Seven foot tall muscular men, and hot as a furnace with their feverish body temperature. I grab a barstool from the kitchen counter to sit.

"So Bella, what do you know about this Vampire we are hunting?"

"Her name is Victoria, she came here last year with her two coven-mates. One was Laurent, the other one was her mate, James, the Cullens killed him when he tried to hunt me down for sport." Multiple voices swear loudly, but I continue my tale, as if talking about a character from a book, starting from the cursed baseball game to the day I saw Laurent in the meadow.

"Wow, you sure do make it rough, for a human." That was Embry.

"Yeah yeah, not all of us can be as cool as you, you big bad wolf." I roll my eyes.

"You know it, baby." He winks. Jake glares at him.

"Okay, so now that we know She's targeting Bella, we can arrange our patrol area accordingly." Sam crosses his arms. Rest of the Pack nod.

"You'll also need to keep an eye on Charlie." I realise with a slow feeling of horror creeping on me. "She has been drawing him out on more and more remote areas, by killing hikers and living the bodies to be found. They always make the bodies disappear otherwise. This is what those 'animal attacks' been all about." I air quote.

The Pack looks thoughtful, "That will leave us thinly spread" Sam muses, "Jake, you shadow Bella when she's out of the house. Jared, you do the same with Charlie. Paul will relieve you both at night. Embry and I will patrol the Rez and around Forks as much as we can manage." The Pack nod in agreement, a strong sense of apprehension fills me.

"I'm- I'm sorry." I say shakily, "Maybe I shouldn't comment on Pack business, but- Um- I really don't think it's good idea for any of you to come across her by yourself, alone. You really don't need to put yourselves at risk because of me. I have already caused more trouble than my life is worth."

Paul scoffs, "Damn right, you shouldn't comment on Pack business, Vampire Girl. You put too much faith in them and not enough on us. We can protect you, and we will do it whether you like it or not. We were created to kill them, we are as strong as they are, as fast as they are. Maybe we should have taken you with us when we chased your friend Laurent, you should have seen how many pieces we tore him into." He has left his place on the sofa and was looming over me menacingly. "You think vampires are scary, we can be scarier than them, we are-"

"Children!" I have had enough of Paul's attitude. "That's what you are, over-confident children. You have no idea what you are up against. How many vampires have you fought against? One! Laurent was a coward, he ran the moment he realised his coven-mates will ask him to fight. You think killing him makes you invincible? Victoria has a talent for evasion, in case you forgot what I told you five minutes ago. You say she comes and goes, slips through your fingers, but never hunts where you are patrolling. Has it ever crossed your thick skull that she's toying with you? Scoping you out?" I'm out of breath when I finish. The entire Pack is staring at me in stunned silence.

"Thank You!" Everyone's head swivels towards Emily, "Finally someone said it. I have been telling Sam, there is something wrong."

Sam looks at me gravely, now I have done it, now I'm going to get thrown out the Rez.

"You have a point." He finally says, almost everyone in the Pack gape at him. Jake shoots me a proud look.

"But you cannot suggest that we leave you to fend for yourself when we know she is targeting you specifically. As Paul said, we were created for protection. Any life lost on our watch is a failure for the Pack. So put that thought out of your head. Besides, it gives us a chance to catch up to the leech faster." I purse my lips and give Sam a nod, unable to refute that logic. He nods back and continues, "Okay, here's the plan. Paul and I will keep an eye on the house while both you and Charlie are home. Jake, you shadow Bella while she's out. Jared, you shadow Charlie, Embry will be on standby for both of you. I'll talk to Billy and Harry so they can have Charlie over on his off days as much as possible. Bella, your spring break is starting soon, right?" I nod in reply, surprised to be included after my outburst. "I'd like you to spend as much time around here as you can manage. I'm sure Jake, Emily, Sue all of them would love to have you spend time with us. It will give us a chance to keep close to the Rez and rotate our patrol." I can't help but agree, they are spreading themselves dangerously thin as it is.

Someone nudges my side, Jake has left his chair and is leaning against the counter beside me. "Don't worry, we have managed so far. It helps to know what her agenda is. Besides Quill's gonna join us any day now." Embry grins at me, they will be glad to have him back in the fold, I think.

"Um, thanks you guys, I think I should head home." I say, preparing to head out.

"Nonsense Bella, dinner's ready." Emily protests. "I'll pack some for Charlie too. Jake, tell him Bella will be late?"

Jake is heading to the kitchen before Emily could finish. He comes back in a few minutes and announces, "Charlie is fine, he'll be late from the station, I told him I'll drop her home."

Soon we are busy with Emily's scrumptious casserole and apple pie. The Pack switches seamlessly between a bunch of teenagers and warriors. As soon as dinner is finished, Jared runs out to catch Charlie before he can leave the station, Paul and Sam leave to stake out our house before either me or Charlie reach there. Emily packs dinner for Charlie in a couple of Tupperwares, and she only lets me leave once Sam calls from the woods behind our house that everything looks okay.

Embry stays back to patrol the Rez and Jake climbs on the passenger side of my truck as I drive home. He'll turn back once I am safely inside, he tells me, Jared will do the same once Charlie is back. Then the three of them will rotate between sleeping and patrolling the reserve.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sure enough I have a wolfy shadow when I go out for my jog in the morning. I recognise Jake from his copper coloured coat, and I take a more secluded trail so he doesn't have to hide as much. He seems to find it fun, he shoots ahead, lopes back, criss-crosses my path, all with his tongue lolling out as if to make fun of my slow pace. I roll my eyes and continue.

I take a quick shower and prepare breakfast as Charlie sips his coffee, he seems entirely unaware that he has acquired a full-time bodyguard. There is knock on the backdoor as soon as Charlie leaves for the station, Jake grins at me as I let him in. Presumably Jared will shadow him and Embry will stake out somewhere in the middle to provide back up. I offer Jake breakfast, "I had breakfast before leaving, but I wouldn't mind some snacks." And then he proceeds to inhale six slices of toast, eight eggs and three mugs of coffee. Then he notices me gaping at him, "What? I'm a growing boy." He shrugs. I laugh and grab my backpack for school, only three days till spring break.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next day Jake informs me that the much anticipated event has come to pass. Quill has shifted last night. I take my time as I stretch, sore from a satisfying run. Jake is sprawled on the grass beside me, clad only in a cut-off shorts.

"Wow, how's he doing?" I am not sure if I should send congratulations or condolences, Sam and Jake seems to see shifting as a curse, Embry acts as if this is the best thing to have ever happened to him.

"He's doing okay, I think he's relieved to finally know what's been going on." Jake says, he sounds relieved as well, happy to have his friend back no doubt.

"Maybe I should spend the spring break here." I still remember being persona non grata when Jake shifted.

"No no, don't be stupid. He will be shadowing Sam and Sam will keep him busy with patrols and away from humans. Frees up Paul to help in the Rez."

"Ok then, let's get back." I start jogging back towards my home.

"Can you go any slower?" Jake pretends to be an old man hobbling around me.

I take the mature route and stick my tongue out at him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have been anticipating the spring break for a much needed calm before the finals. That is all everyone's been talking about, and college plans. I have been keeping my fingers crossed, but every time someone asks me about my college plan, I have to fight back a wave of nausea. I haven't heard back from anywhere yet, my applications can't have been that bad, I sent them on time, I have been keeping my grades up and everything. True, I didn't really do the volunteer work, but will that reject all my applications? I keep arguing with myself as I drive towards La Push, my backpack full of books sits by my side. I'm just hoping for a quiet day at Emily's where I can get some studying done.

Jake rushes to greet me as soon as I drive into the village, "Hey Bella, come over to my house today, Emily is babysitting her niece and Sam is catching up on his beauty sleep."

"He has been patrolling around my house all night, you oaf." But I do take the turning towards his house. Billy greets me at the door as the thunderous roar of my truck cuts off.

"Hi Bella, how's Charlie? Haven't seen him around in a while."

"Yeah, he's been busy, he says he'll come over on Saturday." I smile at him.

"Hear that old man? Your boyfriend will be here soon." Jake laughs as he moves to grab the wheelchair. Billy aims a swat at him, Jake dodges without looking, "Come on, let's get you to Harry's."

"I'll be fine, you guys have fun." He waves him away and wheels himself out.

Jake watches him go, "Harry's not doing so well, he had a mild attack last night." He sounds worried.

"Oh, shouldn't we go visit?" I ask as I pull my mobile out to text Charlie, he mustn't have known, or he would have mentioned it at breakfast.

"Nah, their house is full of visitors, we'll go check on him in a couple days." He says finally as we step into his house.

As I get settled on the couch in the living room, Jake let out a huge yawn. He has huge bags under his eyes, I notice for the first time, a surge of guilt washes over me, I'm running these boys to the ground.

"So, what should we do today?" Jake asks, rubbing his eyes.

"Actually, I was hoping for a quiet day today, Finals are coming up, you know." I reply, should I tell him to take a nap, in his own house? Like a toddler? He looks like he needs it though.

"You look exhausted." I finally venture as Jake can't stop himself from yawning again, "Why don't you get some sleep while I do some revision, then we can figure something out after lunch?"

"Yeah…" he nods as his eyes droop, "yeah, good, yeah, we'll do that. Come… my room… I have a desk." With this cryptic message he stumbles away.

I interpret as an invitation to use the desk in his room for studying and haul my backpack and follow him. Indeed, I find him in his room, he has a desk, the chair overflowing with jeans and t-shirts, some of them torn to shreds. Jake has thrown himself diagonally across the bed and snoring loudly enough to shame my truck. I move the clothes to the hamper at the corner and start with Physics.

In the end, it's his stomach that wakes Jake up, almost three hours later, with its growling, I snort. Jake sits up, his hair flat on one side, his face mushed, and marked with pillow creases. "You're adorable." I laugh.

He lets out an unintelligible grumble as he goes to freshen up. He comes back looking awake and refreshed. "Let's go out for lunch!" He grins at me. I nod and put my books away, we drive to a burger joint. Jake alone scarfs down five big ones while I finish mine and swirl my french fries in the ketchup. We walk out happily slurping our chocolate milkshakes.

"So, what's the plan?" I ask as we near the beach.

"Hmmm, I don't know. Hey, you wanna try cliff diving?"

"And lose my lunch? No thanks, maybe tomorrow?"

"Yeah, it'll be fun. Come on then, let's take the bikes for a spin."

No more needs to be said, we take our babies out and that's just what I need. The speed, the rumble of the engine under me, the wind in my hair, freedom, I don't remember smiling so much before.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

True to his word, the next day we hike up to the cliff. For some reason Paul decides to join us lowly mortals. He seems to be in a good mood today though, laughing and joking with Jake and tolerating my presence without the usual glares.

He goes first with a backward dive, the show-off.

"You go next Bella." Jake tells me.

"Why? Afraid I'll chicken out?" Jake snorts.

"No, so you're not alone after I jump." I nod, that makes sense.

"Okay, see you down there." And before I look down and actually change my mind, I jump.

My hair flows straight up as I plummet. It's a long way down and I scream all the way, half in fear half in sheer exhilaration. Theoretical knowledge did nothing to prepare me for the impact with water though. It knocks the air from my lungs, the cold a shock to my system. I flounder in the water, I can swim well enough to get by, but the water is too choppy to be safe for humans, and I guess I am not swimming with humans. Before I can panic, a large and warm arm wraps around my middle and I am deposited onto an equally warm and muscular back. Jake must have jumped right after me. I wrap my cold and skinny arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as he swims toward the beach with easy broad strokes of his arms.

As we clear the water, Jake grins from beside me and with a start I realise I am clinging to Paul like a limpet. Before I can stutter out an apology and detach myself, he grins at Jake, "Race you." And takes off towards the cliff, me still attached to his back.

I curse out loud and tighten my grip on him, he barks out a laugh. The run is not as fast as when they are in wolf form, I think. But it's fast enough that I don't want to fall off his back.

They reach the cliff almost at the same time and without even a pause, dive straight from the cliff side by side. I shriek my head off all the way down, they both laugh and whoop in glee. This time there is no struggle as I make sure to hold onto Paul as he swims ashore.

"You asshole! I'm gonna kill you." I scream as I slide down his back and flop onto the beach. Paul looks back at me, his eyes shining with mirth, he opens his mouth, no doubt to make a cutting reply when a boy shouts his name.

He has come from the village, panting and calling Paul and Jake in turn.

"What's it Colin?" Paul is alert immediately, so is Jake, a faint trembling running down their arms.

"It's Harry, he's not waking up, Sue sent me to get you." Paul takes off without another word, leaving us to follow in his wake. Thankfully I had parked my truck nearby, we pile into it and drive to the village. Paul has reached before us, almost the entire village is gathered in front of the Clearwaters. They part as Jake pushes inside, I follow behind him. Sue Clearwater is sitting beside Harry, holding his hand, twin tracks of tears running down her face. Neither Leah nor Seth is around, I note with surprise, I see Embry, but not Sam. What's going on?

I hear Charlie's cruiser stopping in front of the house. Charlie rushes in, his face pale, he looks at Harry, then at Sue. She shakes her head wordlessly, his face crumples. Jake guides him to sit beside Billy. I have never had a close experience with death, not with someone I cared for. I was too young when grandma died. I didn't know Harry very well, but well enough that my eyes prickle with tears, poor Seth and Leah, if anything happens to Charlie…

I willingly ride with Charlie on our way back. When I first came back, I was embarrassed at the thought of being driven around in Charlie's cruiser, but today I need the reassurance of his presence. He seems to understand, we finish our dinner in silence and when I get ready to go up to my room, he pulls me in for a hug. If I hold on to him for longer than necessary, he doesn't seem to mind.