A/N: I know it's been a bajillion years since I've updated but I'm back now. I got stuck in the middle of this chapter and it took me awhile to get unstuck but I had to because I wanted to get to the stuff coming up :)

My senses woke before the rest of my brain and my whole body jolted at the scent in the air. I didn't actively process my movements as I flew to the bathroom and slammed the door shut, locking it. As if that would really protect me. I started shivering uncontrollably as his scent enveloped me; cedarwood and something floral I couldn't pinpoint.

I slid to my knees and I think I screamed, but I couldn't be sure because of the ringing in my ears. It was like my body was on auto-pilot and my mind was unraveling. Tears blurred my vision and I jerked when I felt hands on me, only relaxing when I registered their heat. I grabbed onto him and sent him my panic, unable to form coherent thoughts. I strained to calm myself because I thought he was shouting something at me, but I couldn't understand it over the roar in my ears.

I blinked away my tears and saw his agonized expression directly in front of me, suddenly feeling his hands wrapped around my face. His lips were moving, but I only heard the distorted sound of his voice, no words. I squeezed my eyes shut and buried my face in his chest, forcing myself to focus singularly on his rapid heartbeat.

The rest of the world melted away. The fear, the roar, everything dissipated as I listened to the steady beat beneath my ear. My rigid muscles began to relax as I slowly let the outside back into my mind.

"Ness, please honey. Are you hurt? Renesmee?" Jake was running his hands all over my body frantically.

"No." I croaked out and he sighed, pulling me from my safe place to stare at him.

"Then what the hell happened?"

"I thought I… I smelled him." Jake was bewildered for a second and then shot up like he was electrocuted, flying through the busted down bathroom door and over to my nightstand. I hadn't noticed the vase of white roses sitting on top and I was grateful to be next to the toilet because I realized Jake could smell it too and I emptied the contents of my stomach. He had been here. In my bedroom.

Jake was examining the flowers and began shaking violently. I jumped up to try to calm him but his Alpha voice rang out. "Renesmee, do not come near me."

No sooner had the words left his mouth did he burst into wolf form, shredding his clothes. I had never seen him actually lose control and phase before, since he always managed to calm himself down. I approached him slowly and my heart shattered at the silent tears leaking from his eyes. He wasn't sad though, at least not on the surface. Outwardly, he was livid, snarling in rage and howling loudly. I winced at the volume, but continued to walk closer until I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He nuzzled into me and I sent him all my love and whatever calm feelings I could muster. He whined softly and trotted out of the room, probably to go find some clothes and phase back. I stood and went to survey the flowers. With my head about me, I could clearly detect the scent and that it was a few hours old. Maybe it was morbid curiosity, but I saw a small white card that Jake threw on my bed and I wanted to read it.

I carefully picked it up and noted how thick the material was. The front had a gold crest slightly raised on it and I ran my fingers over the foreign emblem. I flipped it over to see a brief note written in elegant, black script.

Dear Renesmee,

I miss you already, so forgive me if I could not stay away. I must say I was hurt to see you being unfaithful to me last night- and with such a vile creature as well. When I come back to collect you, I will have to dispose of your little pet. You are mine and you would do well to remember that. - L

My initial reaction was molten fury that he watched us and then reality and crushing fear set in. I hurried back to the toilet and wretched until my throat was raw. I didn't hear Jake come back in, but I felt his warm hand rubbing my back as I dry heaved. I didn't know when I started crying but my gags turned to sobs and Jake wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his chest.

"We'll get through this honey, I promise." His conviction was there but all it did was make me sicker. I knew he would protect me and he was going to die for it. Someday he would die protecting me and that thought sucked all of the life from my body.

"He's going to kill you." My throat burned at the words and my heart writhed at their truth. Jake squeezed me tighter against him.

"No, he won't. I told you I'm never leaving you again." His voice was adamant and I willed myself to believe him.

"I won't survive it."

"You won't have to. I'm not leaving you, Renesmee."

I didn't answer, leaning back against his chest. I knew I loved him. More than a best friend. More than a boyfriend. More than anything. I was tethered to him in every conceivable way and even at my weakest, I survived because he was with me. I had witnessed the bond between my parents, my aunts & uncles, and my grandparents. I saw how devoutly they loved each other and it wasn't a matter of circumstance or development. It was fate; they were soulmates.

I thought about my relationship with Jake from the beginning. He was always there whenever I needed him. He understood my emotions and my thoughts inherently, sometimes even better than I could. He was my lifeline and I could barely breathe without him. He was my soulmate.

I stood up quickly and Jake followed. "What are you doing?"

I grabbed the toothpaste off my bathroom counter and put some on my toothbrush. "I just threw up. I'm brushing my teeth so I can kiss you."

He smiled and stood there patiently as I brushed my teeth for an exorbitant amount of time. I then used the mouthwash twice for good measure. I jumped up onto the counter so I had more height and looked at him expectantly.

He grinned and moved closer, running a hand through my hair. "Ready?"

I nodded and he kissed me. It wasn't the hesitant start from last night. It was strong and confident and loving. I just went with it, molding to his frame and moving my mouth with his. It wasn't rushed or frenzied. Jake took his time and I tried to believe it was because he knew we had more.

I did stop to breathe this time and he did too, resting against my forehead and brushing his nose with mine. I never got over the adoration in his eyes when he stared at me and it took my breath away now. I reached up and cupped his cheek, exhaling my nerves.

"Jake, am I your imprint?" I held my breath and watched a rare blush rise on his face.

"Yes, you are." He looked terrified speaking the words. Jake was almost 25 and I watched the years fall off of him as he turned into an anxious teenager before my eyes.

"Thank God." I laughed, wrapping my arms around him. All the tension left his body and he held me back. He kissed my hair, my forehead, the side of my face. Anywhere his mouth could reach over and over.

"I love you so much, Ness. You're my whole world." I put my hands on his neck, flooding him with all the love I'd bottled up for years. I showed him all the memories of how he morphed from my protector, my best friend, into something much stronger. I showed him how I loved the way he nuzzled into my neck as a wolf and the sound of his heartbeat under my ear. I showed him how I felt when he kissed me, even the embarrassing ripple when he called me baby. I showed him a brief glimpse of the emptiness I felt yesterday morning at Emily's and the way it lifted when he came in the room.

Our connection broke when he crashed his mouth to mine. I fought him for dominance, and he almost relinquished as I wrapped my legs around his waist. His body went slack, but his fingers pressed into my hips and he groaned into my mouth as I flicked my tongue against his.

He gently detached my face from his and I pouted. He chuckled, pecking my nose. "We have the rest of our lives for that, Ness. I need to make sure you're safe first."

I cringed at the reminder, but I knew he was right. We couldn't just be absorbed in each other and shut out everything else, especially with the current situation. We moved to sit on my bed and he picked the card up, examining it.

"L?"

"Luca." I supplied, recalling his name. He flipped it over and seemed just as interested in the emblem as me.

He scrunched up his nose in concentration and I tried not to dwell on how adorable it looked. "I can't place that, but I know I've seen it before."

"Well, we can have Jasper or Carlisle look too. I bet one of them has seen it."

Jake took my hand. "Okay, they'll all be back soon. I don't want you to have to think about this anymore, but can you tell me anything else he said about himself?"

I wracked my brain, running through our conversations. They were mostly about me, since I was the oddball. "He said he was passing by on a trip through the States and that he lived in Europe. I didn't ask where, but he said he lived with his own coven there and he wanted to get away for a while. He also mentioned having a gift, but I guess he never got around to showing me. I remember he was turned in the 70's while he was studying abroad in college."

Jake just listened intently, but I felt his frame shake as I continued and I stopped to kiss his cheek. I fiddled with our hands in my lap. "I can't believe he saw us."

I scoffed. "I can't believe he got into my bedroom." Jake started panting and I worried he would phase again, so I avoided that line of thinking.

"What are we going to do?" I asked, leaning my head against his chest and feeling the shaking subside automatically.

"When I phased, the pack got his scent, so they're scouring Forks and the borders for it. Rosalie and Emmett went hunting around midnight, but the rest of your family left too since Alice saw a vision of him on the Canadian border. It must have been a diversion, so he could come here."

I didn't want to press him any further, but one more thing stuck with me from the note. My voice came out in a whisper. "Do you really think he'll come for me?"

I cursed internally as his shaking resumed with a vengeance and he planted feverish kisses on my forehead. "Let him try."

I moaned and clutched him to me. I reached for his face and pulled it down until it was level with mine.

I stared at him fiercely. "Promise me nothing will happen to you."

"Ness, you have nothing to-"

"Promise me."

His eyes were smoldering on mine. "I promise baby."

I shuddered and he grinned. "Don't change the subject." I muttered, hopping off the counter.

Jake sat with me in the living room until the rest of the family came back. He had to nudge my shoulder since I was dozing off. Everyone passed around the note and became more livid. Unce Emmett uprooted several of the trees on the front lawn and Grandma was mad enough not to scold him for it.

Grandpa took in a sharp breath and passed the note to Uncle Jasper. They exchanged a look. "This is the Volturi crest."

"What does that mean exactly?" Aunt Rose stroked my arm and I leaned into her.

"It means if this Luca isn't a member of the Guard, he's at least affiliated with the Volturi." Jasper explained.

Jake kissed my temple. "Could they have known about this?"

Grandpa seemed to be growing more and more uncomfortable. "I don't see how they could condone something so atrocious. What would they have to gai-"

He cut off with a startled expression and stared at me. Grandma grabbed his hand. "Carlisle?"

Aunt Alice gasped and her eyes glazed over. When she came to, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "They want your baby."

A/N: I guess they have to call Edward and Bella now.