So, I hope I'm getting these updates out fast enough. I feel like I'm going slowly! I have this idea in my mind, and I hate having to slow down enough to type it out. I'll try and have out a couple more chapters tomorrow. Please leave a review once you finish reading this. I'm not going to hold chapters ransom for reviews, I think that's really tacky. I do, however, ask that you give me a little feedback on the story. Thanks so much to everyone who already has reviewed!

"Who are you, and why are in here?" she whisper-yelled.

"Erm, I'm Jacob Black. I'm in here because, um, well…" I stuttered. There was nothing I could say that wouldn't freak her out.

"Where's the dog?" she continued, "What did you do with him?"

I decided to just tell her the truth, "I am the dog. Ashley, I'm a werewolf." She burst out laughing.

"Yeah, and I'm a vampire," she joked, "Jacob, really why are in here? If Ricky finds out, he'll kill both of us."

"Damn Ricky," I whisper yelled, "Damn him to hell. No one should mistreat you that way. Why do you let him do that to you? I saw the handprints, and the bruises. What he did tonight, he shot me! That should show you the type of person he is! Not that I doubt you know it already."

"You really are a werewolf, aren't you?" Ashley asked, stunned. After I nodded, she continued, "Wow. I thought…only legends…it's…wow! And the thing with Ricky, he did shoot you. How are you ok?"

"I can heal quickly," I informed her, "It's a wolf thing. Look, I'm going to be honest with you. There's another wolf thing. It's called imprinting. I've imprinted on you."

"What does that mean?" my angel asked, confused.

After I gave her a quick definition of imprinting, she sat silently before speaking. "Jacob, you seem like a smart guy. You should know, loving near me is not a smart thing, for either of us. You saw what Ricky can do, what he will do if he finds out. He'll kill you, and probably me as well. He doesn't like other guys around me; he wants to protect my virtue, like any good boyfriend. What he does, it teaches me a lesson, it's for my own good."

"If you believe that bull crap, you're an idiot," I told her, walking her over to the bed, "He's an asshole. Why are you still with him?"

Ashley pulled her legs up to her chest, and motioned for me to join her on the bed. I did, gladly. "I love him," she whispered, "And he loves me. He's the only one who ever could. Look at me, I'm absolutely ugly, I have no friends. I'm not all that smart, and I misbehave. He's trying to help me, make me better. He loves me. Besides, if I broke it off with him, he'd come after me and my family. I know it. It wouldn't be safe. I need him."



I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, and said, "That's not true, Ashley. I love you. You are beautiful. You are pretty; you are warm, and kind and amazing. I love you. That's not strong enough to describe the way I feel about you. I adore you. Every time he touched you tonight, I wanted to kill him. he doesn't deserve you, Ashley. You are perfect."

She shook her head. "I'm not," she whispered, "Jacob, please. You need to understand, I can't love you, even if I want to. Ricky is the one for me, I know it!"

I pointed towards her leg, at the purple bruise there. "Yeah, he loves you alright. I want you to look at yourself. See these bruises?" I asked her, pointing at the ones on her leg. I carefully took her wrist, it was pretty swollen. I brought it up to her eye level. Skimming across her skin, lightly, I lay my hand on the bruise he made on her cheek. "That's not love, Ashley, it's a crime. All of these injuries, they are abuse. He doesn't love you, not in the way you deserve. I do! I will protect you from him, I promise. Please, even you don't end up with me, stop torturing yourself like this! Please! Eventually, he might kill you, and I can't bear to let it happen. I won't let it happen!"

"Jacob, look," Ashley said, snuggling closer to me, "It's just me and my dad now. Mom died when I was twelve, she was in car accident. My little brother was also in the wreck. He lived, but was in a coma. The doctors said he'd never wake up, so my dad and I made the decision to pull the plug. That's when I met Ricky. I was in the hospital cafeteria, and he saw me crying. He wrapped his arms around me, and we never looked back. The first time, we were at a school dance, and he thought my dress was too low cut. I was stupid for showing myself off like that; it was vain and stupid of me. I know I should have broken up with him, Jacob, I really do, but I can't bear to think what he'd do to Daddy if I did. He'd kill me, I know it. He might kill me eventually, but it's only a might. If I broke up with him now, he defiantly would. I can't Jacob, he needs me."

I just held her even closer, lightly stroking her hair. "Ok," I said, "I won't bother you about it, at least not tonight."

Ashley grinned. "Thank you," she said, "Now I'm going to let you stay here for the night. This bed should be big enough for both of us. But first…" She went to her dresser and pulled out a pair of boxers and a tee shirt that looked like it would be huge on her. "Put these on, please. They're my dad's; I sleep in them some times. I don't know if they'll fit you, but it beats nothing." I pulled on the clothes she handed me. The boxers were way too small, and I didn't even try the shirt. "Ok. So you can't wear them. Um, I guess you'll just have to stay naked."

"Fine by me," I told her, "Where do you want me to sleep?"

"I think this bed is big enough for two," Ashley responded, lying down on the left side of her king size bed. I took the right, trying not to touch her. I was afraid of hitting a bruise, or freaking her out.