Chapter 8:

Bella's POV:

I woke up the next morning, on top on Jake. It wasn't even light out yet, and Jake was still sleeping. And I realized where we were again, the Cullen's place, but... where were they? We slept in their house. And then the memories of yesterday's fight, hit me like a wave. And it made me nauseous. I quickly got up, and tried to be light so I wouldn't wake up Jacob, and than quietly ran to the bathroom, and puked until everything was out of my system. Suddenly I felt a warm hand rubbing my back, and someone holding my hair back. I closed the toilet, and flushed it, and went to sink to rinse my mouth with water, but I found a little bag with my name on it, that had my toothbrush and toothpaste, and felt so grateful to whoever brought it. And quickly brushed my teeth. And turned around to see Jacob. He pulled me into a hug. "Hey... good morning?" I chuckled. I felt him smile. "What time is it Jake?" I asked, as we started to walk back to the couch.

"It's only four in the morning..." He said, yawning.

"I'm sorry, I tried not to wake you up..." I apologized.

"It's ok, it's not your fault." He said, picking me up, and laying on the couch again, he climbed on top of me, and pulled my shirt up again, and put his ear to my stomach.

"What are you doing?" I asked, running my hand through his hair.

"Listening to your's and the baby's heartbeats." He said, quietly. I smiled.

"Where are the Cullen's?" I asked.

"They found Edward, and decided to give the whole house to us for last night, because they went hunting, and the postponed the party for tonight." He explained.

"Hmmm..." I said, understanding, yawning again. He looked up at me, and then looked down the hallway. He got up, and picked me up, and started walking towards one of the rooms. "Where are we going?" I asked.

"There's a guest room here. They said we could use it, and I don't want you sleeping on the uncomfortable couch right now." He said, opened the door, that opened and revealed a huge beautiful bed. He walked to the bed, and gently placed me beside it, and walked over to the closet. He took his hoodie off and threw it on the bed, then took his shoes and socks off, and took his shorts off, and pulled out his black sweat pants of the closet. Then he pulled out a pair of my shorts, and walked over to the bed and picked up the hoodie again, and brought me the shorts and hoodie, and handed me the clothes, and I took off my shirt and bra and put on his hoodie, and then took off my pants and put the shorts on. I turned around and pulled the blankets out so we could get in, and Jacob climbed in after me, pulling the covers back over us, he pulled me close to him, and I was so comfortable and warm, it made me happy and I smiled. He kissed the top of my head, and we both drifted back to sleep.

Jacob's POV:

I woke up again to something cold shaking me awake. I looked over and it was pixie again. "What now?" I whispered, groggily.

"I came here to tell you that while we were just hunting, we found Sam at the boarder line, and he said he needed to talk to you. But he wouldn't tell us anything." I sighed, and looked at Bella. She had been having rough mornings and I really didn't want to wake her up even though we slept until four in the afternoon. "She can stay here with me, I'll let her sleep until the party, and while she sleeps I'll get the party ready!"

"Fine." I groaned, carefully getting up, so I wouldn't wake her up. And went next to Alice, towering over her. "Edward goes nowhere near Bella whatsoever while I'm not here! Got it?" I muttered.

"Yes!" She said, looking at Bella.

"I'll be back at the party." I answered, over my shoulder, walking out the door. When I got into the forest I phased and ran off, when I was sure I was far enough that Bella wouldn't hear me. I howled. And after a few seconds, I heard howls, and started running towards the field.

Bella's POV:

When I woke up, Jake wasn't there. But Alice was... "Where's Jacob?" I asked.

"Sam needed to talk to him. "She answered. I looked at the cups in her hands, then I looked outside, it was about sunset.

"How long have I been out?" I asked.

"Pretty much the whole day." She chuckled. I sat up.

"When does the party start." I asked. She rolled her eyes.

"Well the first group of people arrive in about 15 minutes." She chanted, running off to the kitchen. My stomach growled. I got up and went to the kitchen. When I got there, Alice was making punch.

"Do you have anything to eat?" I asked, embarrassed.

"Yes, there should be a bag of chips on the counter top over there." She said, pointing to the chips on the counter top. I went over and sat down and opened the bag and started chewing on them. After I finished the bag, I went and got changed into clothes and washed my face. When the first group arrived Alice was all over them, and then the second group came, and then people just kept coming in one after the other. But I was only really looking for one. Alice put the music on louder, and everyone started dancing and eating. At one point the Cullen's arrived, and Alice took me away from them at once. I wondered why. She left me after a few minutes, and after a while a tried to look for her again. I stretched on my toes, craning my neck. Right then, a red light flashed across someone's back, and glinted off red sequins of Alice's shirt. The light only touched her face for half a second, but it was enough. I ducked my way through the bodies, getting shoved around a bit. I hurried to the kitchen door. Alice was still there in the dark, her face blank - the kind of expressionless look you see on the face of someone who has just witnessed a horrible accident. One of her hands gripped the door frame, like she needed the support.

"What Alice? What did you see?" I asked, frantically. She didn't look at me, she was staring away. I followed her gaze and watched as she caught Edward's eye across the room. His face was as empty as a stone. He turned and disappeared into the shadows under the stairs. The doorbell rang just then, hours after the last time, and Alice looked up with a relieved expression, that quickly turned into one of disgust.

"Jacob's here. And I need to go talk to Carlisle!" She griped, at me. I looked towards the door.

"Ok, Alice just give me one second, and then you can tell me what you saw!" I said. She turned to leave and I reached for her arm, but she was gone, and my hand clutched the empty air. "Damn it." I grumbled.

"Bella!" Jacob's deep voice caught a lull in the music, and I looked up at the sound of my name. But it wasn't just one werewolf standing there, it was three. Jacob had let himself in, flanked on either side by Quil and Embry. The two of them looked terribly tense, their eyes flickered around the room like they'd just walked into a haunted house. Embry's trembling hand still held the door, his body half turned to run for it. Jacob was waving at me, calmer than the other two, though his nose was wrinkled in disgust. I took a deep breath of relief, and waved back. We started among our way through the crowd of dancing people, when we were together again, we hugged each other. "Hey." He whispered, into my ear.

"Hey." I breathed.

"I brought you a baby present. I made it myself." He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small bag of loose-woven multi-coloured fabric. It was tied shut with with leather drawstrings. He set it on palm. I had some troubles with the string. He chuckled, and took it from me, sliding the ties open with one easy tug of the right cord. I held my hand out for it, but he turned the bag upside down, and shook something silver into my hand. Metal links clinked quietly against each other. "I didn't make the bracelet." He admitted. "Just the charms." Fastened to one of the links on the silver bracelet was a tiny wooden carving. I held it between my fingers to look at it closer. It was amazing the amount of detail involved in the little figurine - the two little wolves together were utterly realistic. And next to the two wolves together, was two other little baby wolves. They were even carved out of some red-brown wood that matched the colour of his skin.

"It's beautiful." I whispered. "You made this? How?" He shrugged.

"It's just something Billy taught me. He's better at it than I am."

"That's hard to believe." I murmured, turning the tiny wolves around as around in my fingers. "Why the two baby wolves?" I asked, curiously. He smiled, and looked down.

"I don't know... just a feeling." He said, chuckling. "Do you like it?" He asked, quietly.

"It's unbelievable Jake." He smiled happily. "Here, help me put it on." I held out my right wrist. He fastened the catch easily, though it looked too delicate for his big fingers to manage.

"You'll wear it?" He asked.

"Of course I will." He grined at me - it was the happy smile I loved to see him wear. I returned it. "Thanks for the present, really. I love it." He kissed me.

"Can we go upstairs?"

"Yes." Jacob stared at me for one short moment, and then turned to catch our pack brothers eyes where they stood in the entry, awkward and uncomfortable. When they took in his expression, they started moving, weaving their way agiley through the partiers, almost like they were dancing too. In half a minute, they stood on either side of Jacob, towering over me. Then I found the stairs, and we headed there, and went up to the almost-silent room. I sat down on the couch, and they all just stood around me. And then I caught sight of Alice going up the stairs, her white skin glowing in the purple light. "Alice." I squeaked, in relief. She looked right at me as soon as I called her name. I waved eagerly, and watched her face as she took in the three werewolves leaning over me. Her eyes narrowed. But before that reaction her face was full of stress and fear. Jacob, Quil, and Embry all folded their arms across their chests at exactly the same moment. It was a little bit funny, but mostly menacing. I bit my lip, as she skipped to my side. Jacob, Quil, and Embry all leaned closer to me with uneasy expressions. Jacob put his arm around my waist.

"I need to talk to you, let me get Jasper." She murmured, quietly. She eased around them. Jacob threw his long arm out to block her way, bracing his hand against the wall.

"Hey, not so fast." Jacob said. Alice stared up at him, eyes wide and incredulous.

"Excuse me?" She breathed.

"Tell is what's going on," he demanded, in a growl.

"Jake..." I started to say, but then Jasper appeared quite literally out of nowhere. One second it was just Alice against the wall, Jacob blocking her exit, and then Jasper was standing on the other side of Jacob's arm.

"We have a right to know." Jacob muttered, still glaring at Alice. Jasper stepped in between them, and the three werewolves braces themselves. Jacob glared at Alice, while Jasper glowered at Jacob. Alice's face was suddenly thoughtful.

"It's ok Jasper. He actually has a point." Jasper did not relax his position. I was sure the suspense was going to make my head explode in about one second.

"What did you see Alice?"

"Their coming here." She answered. My Quileute boys watched silently, reading every unconscious play of emotion. They were rooted in place and eat not completely still. All three pair of hands were trembling.

"Hold it." Jacob ordered, in a low forceful voice. "What is coming?" Alice turned her icy gaze on him.

"Our kind. Lots of them."

"Why?" He asked.

"For Bella. That's all we know." I felt the colour drain out of my face. I tried to swallow. Jacob growled, and pulled me up off the couch and held me closer.

"To Forks?" I whispered.

"Yes." She answered.

"There are too many for you?" Jacob asked. Jasper bridled.

"We have a few advantages dog. It will be an even fight." Jasper said. My head shot up and I glared at Jasper.

"I said... stop calling them those stupid names!" I growled. He looked down.

"I'm sorry."

"No." Jacob said, and a strange half-smile spread across his face. "It won't be an even fight."

"Excellent!" Alice hissed. I stared at Alice's new expression. Her face was alive with exultation, all the despair wiped clean from her perfect features. She grinned at Jacob, and he grinned back. "Everything just disappeared of course." She told him in a smug voice. "That's inconvenient, but all things considered, I'll take it."

"Well have to coordinate." Jacob said. "It won't be for us. Still this is our job, more than yours."

"We need the help. We aren't going to be picky." Alice was on her toes, Jacob leaning down toward her, both of their faces lit up with excitement, both of their noses wrinkled against the smell.

"How many?" Quil asked, eagerly.

"It changes - twenty-one today, but the numbers are going down."

"Why?" Jacob asked, curious.

"Long story." Alice said, suddenly looking around the room. "And this isn't the place for it."

"Later." Jacob pushed.

"Yes." Jasper answered him. "We were already planning a... strategic meeting. If you're going, to fight with us, you'll need some instruction. The wolves all made a disgruntled face at the last part. "This will be odd." Jasper said, thoughtfully. "I never considered working together. This has to be a first."

"No doudt about that." Jacob agreed. He was in a hurry now. "We've got to get back to Sam. What time?"

"What's too late for you?" Jasper said, smug. All three rolled their eyes.

"What time?" Jacob repeated.

"Three o'clock."

"Where?" Jake asked.

"About ten miles due north of the Hoh Forest Ranger Station. Come at it from the west and you'll be able to follow our 'stench' in."

"We'll be there." We turned to leave. When we got outside Quil and Embry we're pushing each other around playfully, and then pulled off their shirts, running into the forest, calling "See you there." over their shoulders. I paused, confused.

"Aren't you going?" I asked.

"No."

"Why?"

"They got me covered. We're going home to relax for awhile."

"Hmmm..." We got into the car. "That had to be the longest party in the history of the world" I complained on the way home. Jacob didn't seem to disagree.

"It's over now." He said, rubbing my arm soothingly.

"Your taking me with you tonight."

"Bella your worn out."

"You think that I could sleep?" He frowned.

"I'm not sure if it will be possible for us all to... cooperate. I don't want you in the middle of that." As if that didn't make me all the more anxious to go.

"Please Jake." I begged. His eyes softened. He knew there was no way I was being left behing. We were at the house now. Jacob waited in my room while I washed my face and changed into jeans and a flannel shirt. He watched me happily from the rocking chair as I hung the outfit Alice had given me in my closet. "Come here." I said, taking his hand and pulling him to my bed. I pushed him down on the bed and then curled up against his chest. Maybe he was right and I was tired enough to sleep. I wasn't going to let him sneak off without me. He tucked my quilt around us, and then held me close.

"Relax."

"Sure."

"This is going to work Bella. I can feel it." My teeth locked together, then I bit my lip hard, and grabbed his shirt into my fists, and hid my face in his chest. He could tell I was about to loose it. "Listen to me Bella. This is going to be easy. Someone may have to sit out." He teased.

"Piece of cake." I mumbled, agaisnt his chest.

"You'll see. Don't worry." He said, stroking my cheek. I did not fall asleep. The minutes passed quickly, to my surprise, and I was still alert and tense when Jacob pulled us both up into a sitting position. "Are you sure you don't want to stay and sleep?" I gave him a sour look. He sighed, and scooped me up in his arms before he jumped from my window. He ran to the forest, and threw me on his back gracefully, and phased, then he raced through the black, quiet forest with me on his back, and even his run I could feel the elation. He ran the way when it was just us, just for enjoyment, just for the feel of the wind in his fur. It was the kind of thing, that during less anxious times, would have made me happy. Just before we got to the field, he phased back and we walked the rest of the way hand it hand. When we got to the big open field, our pack was there. Emmett's booming laugh echoed through the wide space now and then. When we reached them we immediately started.

"Emmett?" Jasper called. Emmett stepped out of the line with a huge smile. Jasper backed toward the north end of the opening between the allied enemies. He waved Emmett forward. "Okay, Emmett first. He's the best example of a newborn attack." Emmett's eyes narrowed.

"I'll try not to break anything." He muttered. Jasper grinned.

"What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength. He's very straight forward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle either. Just go for the easy kill Emmett." Jasper backed up a few more paces, his body tensing. "Okay Emmett - try to catch me." And I couldn't see Jasper - he was a blur as Emmett charged at him like a bear, grinning while he snarled. Emmett was impossibly quick too, but not like Jasper. It looked more like Jasper had no more substance than a ghost - any time it seemed like Emmett's big hands had him for sure. Emmett's fingers clenched around nothing but the air. Beside me, Jacob leaned forward intently, his eyes locked on the brawl. Then Emmett froze. Jasper had him from behind his teeth on inch from his throat. Emmett cussed. There was a muttered rumble of appreciation from the watching wolves.

"Again." Emmett insisted, his smile gone.

"It's my turn." Edward protested.

"In a minute." Jasper grinned, stepping back. "I want to show Bella something first." I watched with anxious eyes as he waved Alice forward. "I know you worry about her." He explained, to me as she danced blithely into the ring. "I want to show you why that's not necessary." Though I knew that Jasper would never allow any harm to come to Alice, it was still hard to watch as he sank back into a crouch facing her. Alice stood motionlessly, looking tiny as a doll after Emmett, smiling to herself. Jasper shifted forward, then slinked to her left. Alice closed her eyes. My heart thumped unevenly as Jasper stalked toward where Alice stood. Jasper sprang, disappearing. Suddenly he was on the other side of Alice. She didn't appear to have moved. Jasper wheeler and launched himself at her again, only to land in a crouch behind her like the first time, all the while Alice stood smiling with her eyes closed. I watched Alice more carefully now. She was moving - I'd just been missing it, distracted by Jaspers attacks. She took a small step forward at the exact second that Jaspers body flew through the spot where she'd just been standing. She took another step, while Jaspers grasping hands whistled past where her waist had been. Jasper closed in, and Alice began to move faster. She was dancing - spiraling and and curling in on herself. Jasper was her partner, lunging, reaching through her graceful patterns, never touching her, like every movement was choreographed. Finally Alice laughed. And they both stopped. "You see what I mean now?" Jasper chuckled, to me. Then Alice came and took the place beside me.

"Cool huh?" She asked, me smugly.

"Very." I agreed. Jasper fought the whole Cullen family, while the wolves watched. Everyone took turns Edward, Carlisle, Rosalie, Esme, and Emmett again. And I watched quietly by Jacob's side. Then Edward spoke.

"The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents - so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it will make it easier for them."

"Certainly." Carlisle said, to Sam. "Whatever you need." There was a gloomy, throaty grumble from the wolves as they all rose to their feet. My eyes were wide again, exhaustion forgotten. Sam was in the lead, of course. Unbelievably huge, black as midnight. Now that I could see them all, match the beauty with each pair of eyes, it looked like more than ten. They were amazing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Edward was watching me, carefully evaluating my reaction. Sam approached Carlisle where he stood in front the huge pack right on his tail. Jasper stiffened, but Emmett on the other side of Carlisle was grinning and relaxed. Sam sniffed at Carlisle, and winced slightly as he did. Then he moved onto Jasper, and the rest of the family. The other wolves were backing away now, not taking their eyes off the Cullen's as they departed. Jacob stood by my side, watching them. Soon they disappeared into the forest. Only two hesitated by the trees watching Jacob, their postures radiating anxiety. It was Quil and Embry. Then all of a sudden Jacob looked at Edward.

"I've been thinking about that." Edward said. Jacob chuckled. "It's more complicated than that."

"What are you two talking about?" I demanded.

"Just discussing strategy." Edward explained. I leaned back into Jacob's side, I was on the point of collapse, but I was fighting it.

"What so complicated about it?" Jacob asked.

"What if someone gets by you." Edward answered. Jacob snorted at the idea.

"Okay so we leave her on the reservation. We're making Paul and Jared stay behind anyway. She'll be safe with them." I scowled.

"What strategy are you discussing?"

"I just want to know what he plans to do with you during the fight." Edward explained.

"Do with me?"

"You can't stay in Forks Bella." Jacobs voice was worried. "They know where to look for you. What if someone slipped by us?" My stomach dropped and the blood drained from my face. "Charlie!" I gasped.

"He'll be with Billy." Jacob assured me quickly. "If my dad has to commit a murder to get him there, he'll do it." Jacob paused. "So we'll hide her here." He suggested. "There's a million possibilities - places either one of us could be in just a few minutes if there's a need." Edward shook his head.

"Her scent is too strong." Both of them grimaced at the same time, their eyebrows pulling together. "You see the difficulties."

"There has to be a way to make it work." Jacob muttered. He glared toward the forest, pursing his lips. I swayed on my feet. Jacob put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer and supporting my weight. "Wait a sec." Jacob said, his eyes bright. "My scent disgust you right?"

"Hmm, not bad." Edward mumbled. "It's possible." He turned toward his family. "Jasper?" He called. Jasper looked up curiously. He walked over with Alice a half step behind. Her face was frustrated again. "Okay Jacob." Edward nodded at him. Then Jacob picked me up carefully. Edward took a deep breath. I looked at them both confused.

"We're going to see if I can confuse the scent enough to hide some trails." Jacob explained. Then he turned away for them and paced swiftly into the woods. I didn't say anything as the dark closed around us. I smiled, comfortable in Jacob's arms. I couldn't help but wonder what it felt like to him. We didn't go far; he made a wide arc and came back into the clearing from a different direction, maybe half a football field away from our original departure point. Edward was there alone and Jacob headed toward him. Out of nowhere, Jasper and Alice stood beside Edward. Jacob took one more step and then set me down.

"Well?" I asked.

"As long as you don't touch anything Bella, I can't imagine someone sticking their nose close enough to that trail to catch your scent." Jasper said, grimacing. "It was almost abscurd."

"A definite success." Alice agreed, wrinkling her nose. I growled slightly, and leaned closer into his embrace, feeling him smirk.

"And it gave me an idea." Jacob mused.

"Which will work." Alice said, confidently.

"Clever." Edward agreed, and looked at me while he explained. "We're - we'll your - going to leave a false trail to the clearing Bella. The newborns are hunting, your scent will excite them, and they'll come exactly the way we want them to without being careful about it. Alice can already see that this will work. When they catch our family's scent they'll spit up and try to come at us from two sides. Half will go through the forest where her vision suddenly disappears."

"Yes!" Jacob hissed. Edward smiled at him. Jasper took Alice's hand and started back to the others.

"Best two out of three?" I heard him ask her as they went to practice again. Jacob stared after them in disgust. I could feel the physical tension in the air. It was like static, and uncomfortable charge. Edward went back to business.

"Bring her here Friday afternoon to lay the false trail. You can meet me afterward and carry her to a place I know. Completely out of the way and easily denfensible, not that it will come to that. I'll take another route there."

"And then what? Leave her with a cell phone?"

"You have a better idea?" Jacob was suddenly smug again.

"Actually I do."

"Oh... again, not bad at all. As long as Seth Clearwater is in his wolf form, he'll be connected to the pack." Edward repeated. "Distance isn't a problem?" He added, turning to Jacob again.

"Nope."

"Three hundred miles?" Edward asked. "That's impressive."

"That's the farthest we've ever gone to." He said. "Still clear as a bell."

"It's a good idea." Edward seemed reluctant to admit this. "To thinks it's come to this though! Trusting werewolves!"

"Fighting with vampires instead of against them!" Jacob mirrored, Edwards tone of disgust.

"Well you still get to fight against some of them." Edward said. Jacob smiled.

"That's why we're here." Edward just started to walk towards his family. Jacob carried me home in his arms, expecting that I wouldn't have been able to hang on. I must have fell asleep on the way there.