Writer's comment: Here is yet another chapter which I owe you. Signed and delivered! :)

Jacob's POV

Leah pushed me back and I looked around to find the source of the sound only to see Seth standing behind me. Clearly traumatized. He quickly shook his head and cleared his throat with a small frown forming between his eyebrows. ''Uhm. Edward said I should look for you, Jake. He's waiting for you on the porch.'' He said awkwardly. ''Right. Hey Leah? You wanna join Embry for now? I'm sure he's getting a little lonely.'' I said, turning my head back to face her.

She glanced at her brother before turning and disappearing into the woods. ''You should still be sleeping, Seth. But if you're already good then I think you can join Embry too. Tell them it's okay to widen the perimeter.'' Seth followed right on Leah's heels without hesitation. Clearly looking for answers from her.

I walked back to find Edward sitting by the door. He looked thoughtful but worried about Bella. He knew that she wouldn't survive giving birth. Not to that monster that was already eating her from the inside. She may have been getting better from the blood she was drinking but was that enough? ''If you would just take that parasite that's draining the life out of her out, then maybe you wouldn't have so many things to worry about.'' I spit. He looked down and frowned.

''I know, Jacob.'' I blinked. I didn't expect him to agree with me. ''But it's not just Bella that wants to keep... it. Rose and Esme agree with her. And Emmett and Jaz won't let us hold them down.'' he shrugged. ''Chances are that her heart won't make it through.''

I sighed and decided to sit on the opposite side of the door. ''So why did you call me here?'' I asked, deciding to forget about Bella for a sec. I had someone else on my mind for now. Edward smiled at that thought. I was still her werewolf best friend that would tear him to shreds if she died. His smile slowly faded. ''Maybe I'll deserve to die after that. But that's not why I called you.'' He reached behind the door to grab a basket similar to the one I'd taken for Leah.

''Earlier, when you were speaking to the pack, I was giving the others a play-by-play so to speak. And the matter of clothes and a home came up. Esme suggested that it wouldn't be right to have you all here protecting our family problem while having to consider yourself homeless. We have human food here. And beds. You're welcome to any of them. About clothes, I heard you thinking about Leah not being the 'biggest fan' of dresses. Esme wanted you all to be comfortable so she went shopping for something a little simpler than what Alice brought last time.''

He handed the basket to me. In it was three pairs of shorts and T-shirts for Seth, Embry and I. A tank top and denim shorts were there for Leah too. They smelled a lot better than the clothes we got before. ''We have more inside the house if anything happens to these. Esme tried to touch them as little as possible.'' He said. ''Thanks leech. You might be good for something other than taking the girl I loved.'' I nodded. He laughed at that. ''Keep an ear out. We'll howl if anything goes wrong.'' I mumbled.

I stood and started walking back to the treeline. When was Bella due though? I turned to ask him but he was already gone. Oh well. I dumped the clothes under a tree, stripped off mine and shifted. Jake! Finally. These two can't shut up. Embry's voice rang in my head.

Seth and Leah were having a sibling argument. Aww. But you're not being fair Leah! You catch me with one girl and blow a gasket but you can do whatever you want?

I'm your big sister you idiot! It's my job to do that. As soon as you were born I was automatically assigned as your deputy parent.

I couldn't help but wolf snicker at that. I lengthened my strides. With more of us here there was an almost 0% chance of being surprised by Sam's pack. We could now cover all the way to where the treaty line was. Seth. Cover the inner perimeter. Leah, Embry and I will go a little farther out. Seth was the youngest and the smallest. I didn't think he could keep up with us and I didn't want him on the frontlines of a fight. He sulked but did as I said.

We ran out until we couldn't smell our scents anymore and started a new loop. In a few areas I could smell a few fading Cullen scents passing through and back. They were at least five weeks old though. Leah was also enjoying getting some wind in her face now. We finally got to run full speed. Speaking about full speed, I think I beat you back there. Leah thought menacingly.

We've gone over this Lee-lee. I'm way faster. I corrected.

Fine. Let's race then. Whoever gets to the treaty border line first, wins.

C'mon guys. Really? Embry thought, irritated.

Without warning, Leah went full speed, straight towards the finish line. I wasn't about to be beaten. I dug my claws deeper into the dirt and allowed them to launch me forward. I could tell by where she was in the forest that she was in the same general area as I was. We were tied. When we were less than a mile from the finish line, I spotted her silver fur a few yards to my left.

When our muzzles were just a few inches from crossing the invisible line, I noticed Collin and Brady standing like sentinels. I lost concentration on the race to focus on them. Why would Sam send the two newest pack members on patrol together. They were clueless. Suddenly realization hit me. Seth! Howl! Warn Edward. The pack is coming. Our race had caused a small gap behind us. But that's all Sam would need.

Leah and I were turning to run back when Collin and Brady attacked us. We shook them off with ease yet that didn't matter. Every second counted. We ran back not racing against each other, but racing to save lives. We arrived to the sound of growling and tearing. Seth was facing Quil, Embry was facing Jared, Sam had Carlisle down on the floor while Esme and Alice were trying to hold him back. Paul was fighting with Emmett and Jasper who were taunting him from a tree. But Edward and blondie weren't in plain sight. Were they dead? Where was Bella? Leah went to help her brother.

Then a felt a fire begin to stir up in me. I was the one meant to truly lead the pack, but I had resisted the longing to. My lips pulled back and I ripped out a snarl loud enough to get the attention of everyone in the battle. There was stillness and silence now. I walked past every pack member, asserting my authority and they all lowered their heads as I passed them. I didn't like doing this, making them submit. But I had to. Not only for the safety of the entire pack, but Bella too.

Everyone's mind in the pack was connected again. When I reached the last wolf, Sam. He stood and stared at me with dark eyes. I stood a few inches taller than him in wolf form now. Are you going to fight against your alpha, Jacob? Protect these blood drinkers? When that creature is born it will wreak havoc on Forks. We don't know what it is. Sam thought.

''Actually, we do.'' Edward retorted, with the missing blonde ice queen next to him. She held a baby in her arms. Those little brown eyes moved to face me, and my mind was soon filled with the same feeling brought up by Sam on Emily, Quil on Claire, and Paul on Rachel.

Oooh. Tension :O. I'll be finishing up the next chapter tonight and I hope you're having a good read. Don't hesitate dropping a review if you feel the slightest urge to. Thank you!