Chapter Five:

"I'm telling you it was the smell that drew me so close to town," Jacob stated with his teeth clenched and his hands curled into fists at his sides as he stood head to toe to Paul Lahote.

"I think it was the scent of that skinny white bitch that drew your horny ass that close," Paul replied, his own hands curled into fists as he purposely insulted Jacob's feelings and the girl he was so damn crazy about.

"Shut your mouth!" Jacob's chest heaved as he took a step closer without flinching when Paul locked eyes with him. He knew Paul was daring him to make a move so they could fistfight. Paul always won. He was a mean son of a bitch who spent his whole life fighting. Jacob lacked experience but when he got mad enough he stood his ground and fought a hell of a lot better than his brothers.

"Or what? What are you going to do Jake? Go cry to your Daddy." Paul spat at the ground and glared with fire in his eyes as he continued to piss off Jake. The others, Sam, Jared, Quil, and Embry watched like spectators at a sports event. They weren't sure however who they hoped to win. Both men were in the wrong.

"Go fuck yourself Paul!" Jacob's fists lifted slightly as he prepared for Paul to swing at him.

"Enough! Stand down, Paul." Sam ordered his voice sending out strong signals that both man and wolf knew to obey.

Paul took a step back but Jacob remained planted where he stood. He didn't flinch from the direct order his Alpha had commanded.

"Jake. Back off." Sam warned him again but his voice was less domineering.

Jake exhaled and uncurled his fists but his eyes still gleamed with hatred as they continued to stay locked on Paul.

"Tell me about the smell." Sam ordered.

"It was extra sweet. It made me want to gag." Quil spoke up as Jake continued his staring match with Paul.

"Jake. What about you? How did it make you feel?" Sam ask.

"I wanted to go after it. My wolf wanted me to locate it and kill it." Jacob answered his voice was steady but a hint of anger still lingered.

"It was a cold one. Now you both know. Next time you will be prepared to kill when your wolf catches its scent." Sam sighed heavily.

He hoped after he killed the last one that none of his pack would come into danger of another one. The council had been wrong. There were more vamps nearby and that was why Jake and his best friends had made the change. There was still a serious threat to their people. Luckily for Jake and Quil it had not picked up their scent or it would have no doubt attack them.

"Why was it in Forks?" Quil asked curiously.

"It might be passing through town." Jared offered a reasonable answer.

"Hopefully." Embry agreed.

"We should go into Forks and make sure it has left." Jacob spoke up with his concerns.

"No. We can never kill them in town. In our human form, we are at risk. We can only truly take them on in our wolf form if we want a chance of surviving." Sam disagreed swiftly.

"We can scout as humans. See if we can locate it. Then later draw it out here." Embry offered a plan that would help give Jake an excuse to go to town and check on Bella.

"No. It's too smart. If we can smell it, then it can no doubt smell us as well." Jared shook his head in disagreement with the idea.

"So what? We are going to just stay out here with our tail between our legs and hope that it gets bored enough to come to us?" Paul asks.

No one was more surprised than Jacob when Paul spoke and made sense for a change.

"I agree. What if it starts attacking the town folks?" Embry looked at the others with deep concern.

"It's not our place to protect them directly or to put our lives in danger to help the townies. We were created to protect our people and our people alone." Sam's voice was harsh but his eyes showed his own frustration at the rules the council had firmly put in place.

"Sounds kinda selfish." Jacob snickered.

"Maybe. But we can't risk anyone finding out what we can do. We were not designed to be superheroes. What we do and how we do it comes from the magic that only our people know." Sam reminded them of the many legends they had learned about as children but until recently thought they were just stories for entertaining people.

Sam could see that the pack wasn't a hundred percent happy with his decision but it was what was best for all of them until they knew more.

"Go home. Get some rest. We will need to be on extra alert mode when we patrol." Sam waved them off as Jared stood next to him.

"Is it just me or does Jacob seem to be getting stronger and more brazen?" Jared looks over at his Alpha who appeared to be worried.

"I don't know. He is a good choice for a wolf. He is smart, determined and learns fast. But he needs to use his head and not his heart when he makes decisions. I know he went close to town in order to see Bella but it was a good thing he did bend my rule. We wouldn't have known there were more of them. Jacob and Quil both now know the scent of danger. They will be wiser and more prepared the next time they come across a vamp." Sam stated.

"This is true. Maybe you should just let him see her. Get it out of his system. Have some of the other guys with him in case he loses it. Jacob keeps a pretty cool head on his shoulders. I think he will be fine around Bella. We need him to focus on the danger instead of coming up with ways to get around your rules." Jared offered some advice on the current problem with Jacob constantly fighting for a chance to see Bella.

Sam knew Jared was right. Maybe if Jacob saw her he would no longer resist listening to him and doing what was asked of him. They were all around girls all the time and other than the one incident no one had been harmed from it.

Something had to change. He needed Jacobs's head in the game. This threat was real and he would need his best guys tracking this demon and killing it. The others were strong but Jared was right, Jacob was growing stronger and braver with each passing day. He just wasn't entirely sure if that was going to be a good thing or a bad thing for him and or the whole pack.

Bella woke up early the next morning and snuck out of the house before her father had his first cup of coffee. She was determined to drive out to LaPush to confront Jacob about the lapse of time since they saw one another last. She was tired of having sexually driven dreams and waking up with a terrible ache that she sensed that only Jacob could cure.

She didn't have much experience with boys or love for that matter but she knew that her feelings for Jacob ran deeper than friendship and she needed to confront her own fears along with Jacob himself. If he did not want her in his life then it was time to know the truth and deal with the consequences. The not knowing was killing her.

It didn't take her long to arrive in front of the Black's house. Parking the truck she took a few deep breaths but it didn't stop the anxiety from kicking in. Closing the door softly in case they were still asleep, she walked up to the front door and softly knocked a couple of times. Taking a step back she braced herself for a rude welcoming or the unusual rudeness from Billy.

Nothing. No one came to the door. Taking a few more gulps of air she mustered up the courage to knock again but this time, harder and louder.

Still no sound. She was thinking that the two men were hiding in the house in hopes she would give up and leave. Not letting the silence of the house deter her she walked around the house to locate Jacob's window. Peeping in the dirt-covered window she caught a glimpse of a body moving in the bed. Gritting her teeth together she lifted her small hand and tapped on the window.

Jacob sat straight up in his bed. Whipping his head around toward the sound he climbed up on his knees and stared out the window. She gulped some more air to fill her lungs. Her knees were shaking together nervously. She was fighting back the urge to flee. She knew it was rude of her to just show up but his manners had been far worse by ignoring her calls these last few months.

"Bella?" Jacob's voice was groggy with sleep.

"Hey. Can we talk?" Bella asked, her voice cracking with fear.

"Sure." Jacob climbed out of bed.

Bella saw his bare naked chest and felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. It wasn't like she hadn't ever seen a guy without his shirt on before but looking at Jake's she felt giddy like a silly love-struck teenage girl. She took a few steps away from the house to allow him some privacy and herself some space in case she needed to run fast to the truck. She noticed right away that he didn't wear his trademark smile when he recognized her.

Bella grazed her lower lip with her teeth as she told herself to keep with the script she practiced on her drive over.

"Why are you here?" Jacob's warm satin voice asks. The feel of his warm breath on the back of her neck made her instantaneously dizzy with excitement and fear.

Turning to face him she swallowed the large lump that had suddenly formed in her throat.

"I..I know I wasn't supposed to be here but it's not fair." Bella began her rehearsed speech but with each second that she stared into his dark brown eyes she felt all her anger dissipating into the air. This incredible urge to throw her arms around him and kiss his beautiful face exploded inside of her. The whole world tilted and it felt as if she was just seeing him for the first time in her life. He was different somehow. He was more beautiful if that was even possible.

"No, it's not fair. My dad is going to be pissed." Jacob replied honestly.

Like Bella, Jacob found himself staring into her eyes as his heart raced madly and his body twitched internally. He hoped like hell that his wolf was not about to make an unwanted appearance. Sam had warned all of them that the wolf could accidentally cause harm to those they loved the most. Emily was Sam's wife and she wore a terrible scar on her face as proof of what could happen if the wolf took over without your consent.

Yet he realized it wasn't just his wolf that was making his head feel woozy. Everything around him felt more intense. The colors were brighter, the scent of the air was intoxicating and the sounds of the forest were somehow heightened.

"What..is..what is wrong with me?" Bella gasped as she felt her body swooning. She wondered if she was going to faint again.

"Wrong with you? What do you mean?" Jacob thought he was the only one experiencing this strange phenomenon from being so close to her.

"I..feel...I...need you...touch me." Bella moaned as she reached out and grabbed his hands.

"I know what you mean." Jacob smiled tenderly down at her as he pulled her closer to him.

Their bodies were merely an inch apart as he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. It was like before but this time the urge to explore her mouth was more intense. Releasing one of his hands he placed it behind her head and pushed her closer to him as his tongue slipped between her silken lips and began to explore the sweet cavern within. The kiss was long and filled with an untamed passion that neither had ever known before that moment.

The air around them swirled and sang a melody that was unlike anything either of them had ever heard before. Neither of them wanted the kiss to end but the sound of a wolf howl ripped through the air, breaking the spell they were both under.

Jacob reluctantly pulled away. His eyes stared deep into hers. Both were panting as they stood silently. Neither knew what had just happened but both knew it was not normal in the least.

"Jacob!" Paul roared from the treeline as he marched directly toward the couple. His body and face exposed his ultimate anger at the scene he was witnessing.

Jacob's body tensed up. He knew this was going to cost him big time but he didn't give a damn. That kiss and that moment with Bella was unlike anything he could have ever dreamed of. She was everything to him. She was his anchor. He needed her. She made him feel like the man he once was and could be someday. His wolf seemed to want her closeness as much as he did. It was scratching at the surface as they both watched the threatening look that Paul was glaring at Bella. Rage filled his blood as he prepared himself for a fight.

Jacob placed Bella safely behind him as he lifted his head high and stared unapologetically at Paul and a few other pack members who were cautiously following Paul to his house.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Paul barked, his teeth grinding like a rabid dog.

"She just showed up here." Jacob answered, his eyes never wavering. Neither he or his wolf was about to submit to Paul's disapproval of the situation.

"You know the rules. Why is she still here?" Paul continued to shake as his anger flared up from the lack of fear and respect that Jacob was showing him in front of the others.

"Stop Paul. Take a step back." Jacob warned him as his body trembled.

"Rules?" Bella mumbled against his backside.

"If you don't make her leave I will." Paul continued to press forward. His voice and body continued to display his uncontrollable anger.

Jacob started to fear that Paul might possibly transform in front of Bella. If he did then Jacob would have no choice but to attack him. No one nor anything would ever hurt Bella as long as he was alive.

"You made your point Paul. Let's go." Embry pleaded with Paul as he watched both powerful pack members quivering on the edge of an outburst that might expose Bella to their secret or worse even causing her unintentional harm.

"This isn't over." Paul snorted and gave Jake a menacing glare before he turned and ran back into the woods with the others right behind him.

Bella was shaking uncontrollably when Jacob turned to face her.

"What is going on? What did he mean by rules? Jacob are you safe here?" Bella cried out frantically.

"I'm perfectly safe. He was talking about...the rules due to the illnesses these last few months." Jacob hated lying to her and in fact, it nearly broke his heart when she appeared to believe him so easily. She trusted him and in any other circumstance he would feel on top of the world but at this moment her faith in him only made him feel like shit.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you in trouble. I just thought that if you were able to hang out then the quarantine had been lifted." Bella clumsily explained why she ignored the earlier rules about crossing into LaPush when there were a large number of illnesses.

"I'm a big boy. I can handle it. But you do need to get home." Jacob sighed heavily as he lifted her fragile white skin hands and peppered them with butterfly kisses.

Bella felt her stomach liquefy from his touch. She was going to melt into a puddle of goo at his feet. The boy, no the man, was somehow making her feel like a dimwit. She never saw herself as a hormonal teenage girl but today she found herself wanting to climb up on Jacob and dry hump the hell out of him.

Cocking her head to the side she stared up at him and it suddenly occurred to her that Jacob had cut his hair. Why? Why would he remove something he had been so proud of. Looking out at the trees she realized that all the young men who had just magically appeared out of the woods also had short hair.

"Why did you cut your hair?" Bella reached up and ran her fingers through the small patch of hair on the top of his head.

"I...I...lost a bet." Jacob's face turned beet red.

Bella assumed he was embarrassed by his defeat but in truth, he hated himself for twice now lying to her.

"I'm sorry. At least it will grow back." Bella offered him some hope.

"Maybe." Jacob rolled his eyes and shrugged his broad bronzed shoulders.

"Jacob since I can't come here, can you come to my house?" Bella hoped she might have found a way to solve their problem. She needed to, no wanted him to visit her every day if possible. Being around Jacob today only proved how strong and deep her feelings ran for him.

"I don't know Bella. I have to get permission." Jacob answered honestly at last.

"I miss you. I miss us." Bella confessed. She was shocked at the words that came tumbling out of her mouth. Normally she was tight lipped and in complete control of her emotions but today she was completely acting out of the norm. She wished she could understand why this was happening to her. All she knew for sure was that she belonged with Jacob. He was perfect for her in every way.

"I miss us too." Jacob admitted.

"I guess I should go." Bella looked back at her truck and then back at him.

"Yes." Jacob was fighting like hell with himself and his wolf. Both wanted to pull her into his bedroom and continued their kiss.

"Okay." Bella released her hand from his and ever so slowly walked to her truck. She prayed with each footstep that he would run after her and plead with her to stay for just a little longer.

Opening the door she felt her heart already aching for his nearness.

"Bella." Jacob whispered from behind her.

Bella whipped around with a smile from ear to ear as she looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"Stay away from here. It's not safe for you." Jacob pleaded with sincerity.

"You know there are these things called a phone and a computer. You could always call me or email me." Bella teased despite the pain that scorched her heart at hearing him say he preferred she stay away from him.

"I will try my best." Jacob didn't dare make any promises he couldn't keep.

"I hope so. I really have missed you." Bella whimpered as she threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

Jacob returned the hug. Both of them stood there for a minute before they both released the other.

Climbing into her truck she felt tears filling her eyes as she closed the door and turned the ignition on. Jacob took several steps back, putting his hands in his blue jeans shorts and gave her a knowing smile.

Bella endured the pain of leaving him and driving home while tears trickled down her face. She couldn't explain it but she was sadder now than before. Her instincts warned her that there was so much more to Jacob's story than he was willing to share with her. She suspected that Paul and the others were a part of the reason she could no longer visit but what really intrigued her curiosity was how in the world had Jacob grew several inches and obtained muscles she never saw on him until today. For someone who had been unwell in bed for months, he looked like he just came back from a summer of football camp. There was a mystery going on in LaPush and for now, she was going to keep her nose out of it but if Jacob didn't make good on his word and continue communicating with her then she would have no choice but to seek out the truth on her own.

Rosalie stomped into the house throwing her overnight bag on the couch.

"That was a big waste of time!" She announced as the rest of the family followed into the house behind her wearing their own expressions of disappointment.

"I tried. I really did." Alice sighed heavily.

"Of course you did. WE all did." Esme patted their youngest daughter gently on the back.

"What now? WE can't afford for Volturi to come here." Emmett asked with genuine concern.

They all knew the Volturi had an army of the worst vampires and not one of them gave a damn about the human race. They all saw humans as cattle. They were meant for only one thing in their world and that was for their own survival.

"On the bright side you did get a good look at them and we know their names so now you can try and follow their thoughts." Edward tried to help them see that one good thing came out of their unsuccessful attack on the rogue couple.

"True." Alice agreed.

"We will try again and if that attempt fails then I have no choice but to tell Aro that we failed our mission." Carlisle replied sadly.

"What about you Edward, did you hear any of their thoughts before they got away?" Esme asked curiously. She noticed that Edward had remained in complete silence on their drive home.

"James is angry. He wants revenge for the loss of their friend but more importantly, he needs to prove to his mate that he is strong." Edward revealed.

"Great this is about his ego as well." Emmett growled.

"Yes, he is definitely full of pride and ego." Edward chuckled rudely.

"What about the redhead?" Rosalie asked while she covered her perfect full lips with a new shade of lipstick.

"She is ….I think she could be eviler than he is." Edward exhaled while walking across the room to pour himself a strong drink.

"More evil? Is that even possible? I mean we saw what they did to that poor family." Esme shivered inwardly and outwardly as she replayed the scene they walked upon.

The couple had massacred a husband and wife and their two small children in their home on the outskirts of town. Esme understood blood lust but the murder of two children was just inexcusable. It was more than clear that the two had self-control but just push it aside to seek their desire to inflict pain on helpless humans.

"We need to hunt tonight to regain our strength. If we are going to annihilate them we need to be prepared." Carlisle stated.

Normally they tried to minimize their hunts to train their bodies to go without blood as much as possible. Animal blood didn't quite sustain the thirst but it did keep them alive and strong enough to live and manage anything they came up against.

"I will let you know something as soon as it comes to me." Alice told them before grabbing Jasper's hand and leading him out into the family's own woods.

Edward watched the couples each leave out one by one while he sat at the piano with his pointless glass of bourbon. It wasn't going to calm his nerves exactly, it was more an old human habit than anything else.

Edward took advantage of the quietness of the house and thought about all the personal thoughts he heard from the murdering couple. He knew these two were going to continue their killing spree until someone stopped them. He didn't want to tell his family his biggest fear at the moment was that the couple might return to their area. Laurent the friend who was killed died not far from here. If revenge was indeed their true intent then it only made sense for them to come back and hunt the person who killed their friend. Whoever had the misfortune or dumb luck to kill a vampire hopefully was prepared for the deadly couple because if Edward and his family failed to stop them they would return one day, sooner or later to seek their revenge.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had so much stuff going on at my house. Not to mention I had two kids who needed to use my computer to do their studies and the teachers gave them so much it was unbelievable. Hopefully, I will try and manage to find some time to write. LOL. Thank you for those who have continued to read and especially those who have left such wonderful and sweet reviews. It helps inspire me during these gloomy and crazy days! Xoxo August