Thanks to my beta, Kate Pedroso.

PLEASE SEE THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END OF THE STORY.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and her Twilight series. Stephenie, I hope I did Jacob justice.

Over the following week we were all anxious and edgy. Paul continued to be irritated by the thought of the upcoming meeting, and now if anyone even mentioned it he ripped himself apart and ran. He seemed to have lost his ability to focus, to control himself. Someone always had to follow because none of us wanted a run in between Paul and a Cullen before our negotiations. I was the last person who wanted to follow him, but in one particular instance I had no choice.

Paul and I had been over at Sam's, helping him start a project that would be a gift to Emily. Sam wanted to carve out a beautiful archway for him and Emily to stand under while saying their vows. It would later be put in Emily's garden, a symbol of that day of love. It was coming along, but slowly; we would have to put in some serious work to have it done in time for the wedding.

Emily was forbidden to come into Sam's workshop, so she politely knocked on the door and asked if we wanted to come out for lunch. Of course we never pass up food, so that answer was a no brainer. Emily had made a mountain of sandwiches and put together some fruit and veggies for us on one of the picnic tables. When we sat, Emily excitedly started talking about the wedding. Our fitting was next week and we wanted to give the store enough time to find suits in our sizes. I had my doubts that they would, but Emily was confident.

After awhile the conversation died down as we all concentrated on our food. Emily's face became sad for no apparent reason.

"What's wrong?" I asked her. If it had something to do with the wedding I knew I would do whatever needed to be done to make this day right for them.

"It's just….I'm worried about this weekend." She looked me right in the eye, hers full of concern.

"What are you worried about? Emily, you know better than anyone that we can take care of ourselves."

"Well, yes, a fight would definitely worry me; but that isn't what I'm talking about."

At the mention of a fight Paul put down his sandwich and closed his eyes, the growling in his chest vibrating the table.

I rolled my eyes as Sam scolded him. "Give it a break, Paul. This is really getting old."

I looked back at Emily for an answer. "No, it's not so much a fight that I'm worried about." she said.

I frowned. "What else is there to be worried about?"

"I'm worried about you, Jake. Bella is sure to be there. After all, this is about her, and you know Bella. She would insist on it; she would feel responsible for making this right."

The thought had crossed my mind. Bella would be there, standing next to him in support no doubt. Watching them together made me want to both puke and rip his head off, especially when he touched her. Out of nowhere an image popped up of him caressing Bella's cheek, looking into her eyes before his lips came down to meet hers. Her arms coming up around his neck, pulling him closer. My heart started racing and anger coursed through my body. It felt like electricity moving itself through my veins and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I shook my head to rid it of the thoughts and cleared my throat, bringing my attention back to the present. No doubt about it, the meeting would be interesting.

I shrugged, though I could still feel the energy surging through me. "Nothing I can do to stop that from happening, and I have to be there anyway, so it's a moot point." I looked at her for a second and then tried again to reassure her. "I'll be fine Emily. I can handle this. Besides, Bella has a knack for attracting danger, and I want to make sure nothing gets out of hand."

We all shot a glance towards Paul who had gone back to eating his sandwich. He must have been trying to ignore the comment, but looked up to see all eyes on him. "What?" When no one answered it made him angry. Paul and his temper; it seemed to boil over at anything.

Emily looked at Sam. "Is everyone going to be going to the meeting?"

"Yes, we have to show a strong, united front. Besides, they are sure to bring the entire coven, and I want to remind them of the size of the pack."

She lowered her voice now. "Yes, but still, are you sure that is a good idea?" She threw a pointed glance out of the corner of her eye toward Paul, who happened to be watching.

He stood up in a second, ripping the bench off the picnic table, which caused me to fall backwards to the ground. "What the hell are you trying to say?" His form started to waver immediately, his image blurring into waves.

Sam instantly pulled Emily off the bench and tucked her behind him before facing Paul again. His shoulders squared and his eyes blazed. His face was still a mask of composure, but he looked downright scary. "Damnit Paul, stop this right now! If you keep this up you won't be coming to the meeting. This kind of reaction is the last thing we need. I will not have this turning into a battle while Billy, Sue, Quil, and Bella are there. Do you understand?" His voice was controlled and authoritative.

I was up off the ground and by Sam's side in a moment. Standing shoulder to shoulder I knew we were not a force to be reckoned with. Paul knew it too, and in his frustration he phased automatically, crouching down in front of us. I had not seen him this out of control since the day they found out Bella knew the truth about us. Emily let out a little scream. I knew our phasing sometimes gave her flashbacks of the day Sam….well, of the day she got hurt.

"Emily, go into the house now!" Sam had his arms splayed out to protect her. She ran and I could hear her sobbing. "You take another step this way, Paul, and by god I will rip you to pieces. Do you understand me?" Paul fiercely growled and took off towards the woods. Sam turned to me. "Will you follow him please? I've got to go check on her."

I nodded, but knew this was not going to go well. Sam headed toward the house as I stripped down, running to the forest. I phased on the fly and caught Paul's thoughts, trying to find him.

--damn bloodsuckers.

Paul, you've got to calm down. You're just going to make this worse for yourself if you keep on like this. I concentrated and could see the forest around him through his eyes.

You of all people! I figured if anyone understood my hate for them it would be you. Look at what they've done to you, Jake.

I was running now, trying to catch up with him. My fur snagged on branch after branch, catching burrs along the way. I know you hate them. I hate what they are too, but there's nothing I can do to stop this Paul! I've done everything I know to try to change her mind.

I don't give a shit about Bella! The rest of you might love that leech-lover, but I see her as nothing more than a pain in the ass. She's done nothing but drive wedges between us!

That comment caused rage to surge through me, and I pushed myself faster to catch up to him. No, Paul, you do a good enough job of that on your own. And if you ever talk about her like that I'll rip into you myself. I've done it before, I reminded him, and I can do it again.

See what I mean, why the hell are you still protecting her? She is going to become one of them, our sworn mortal enemies. Paul had stopped running now, turning in the direction I would be coming at him from. I could see images run through his head now. A beautiful Bella, pale skin, red eyes. Bella hunting, her lips pulled back over her teeth, searching for her prey.

Stop this right now Paul! I didn't want to see this through his head. But the images kept coming.

Bella ripping the throat out of a wolf, not one of ours but a normal wolf. She wouldn't and you know it.

Bella NOW might not, but Bella the leech might. Or maybe something even worse. Now he had an image of Bella with her lips at Charlie's throat. Her eyes blazed as she sucked the lifeblood from his convulsing body. Her satisfied face as she finished her meal and Charlie's lifeless eyes.

He was torturing me and he knew it. He considered it payback for everyone standing against him. Damnit Paul, enough! But he continued with one last image I had never wanted to see again.

Paul now imagined finding Bella and confronting her. In his image she was still a newborn, very strong; but we knew how to fight them. Paul's image of her crouched into a fighting stance as Paul circled her in his thoughts. Paul, if you finish that thought you're dead, I threatened menacingly. But he did.

I saw Bella leaping forward at Paul and him skillfully dodging her, catching her from the side and ripping an arm off. She screamed and her beautiful face crumbled in pain. He continued his onslaught of Bella in his thoughts as I caught up with him. He crouched down in front of me, preparing to fight.

I couldn't move then, his image of Bella paralyzing me. He was on top of her now, one paw on her face, Bella struggling beneath him as he used his teeth to rip her throat out. Lastly, Paul throwing a match on Bella's body and smoke billowing into the air. The smell of incense permeated my brain and woke me out of my state.

Fury took over. You're going to pay for that, I promised. I wasn't thinking of controlling myself, I was just acting on instinct as I flew at my wolf brother. He was waiting for me and he caught my front leg with his teeth before dodging my body. Pain seared through my leg and I could feel warm blood gushing down it. I landed on the ground again, limping from the pain. It didn't stop me. I knew it would heal soon enough. I crouched again as we circled each other. You know you want a fight Paul, bring it on. You've been itching for this for awhile. I was enticing him, giving me the upper hand.

He flew at me and I met him. We were up on our hind legs, jaws snapping at each other, before falling over sideways, wrestling on the ground.

You think you're so much stronger than me, Paul thought.

I never said I was stronger, but I don't let my anger take over every single time I'm upset. It's your downfall, Paul.

I bet I could find a way to piss you off again. He started to imagine Bella and Edward together, lying in the meadow. Edward's hands roaming her body, Bella's eyes closed in pleasure.

My front paw collided with the side of his face and he emitted a yelp. He moved away, shaking his head as droplets of blood fell from a large cut near his left eye. But he didn't stop there as a wolfy grin covered his face. He had found my weak spot and he knew it.

Oh Jake, imagine that first night together, he threatened.

Don't you do it! Don't you dare---

Too late. I was barraged with images of Edward and Bella on their wedding night. Edward unzipping Bella's wedding dress as he kissed her shoulders. Bella naked in a bed, Paul's image not even close to matching what I knew she would look like. It didn't matter; his imagination got the point across. Edward laying across her, his fingers lightly stroking up and down her side as he kissed down her neck. A new view as I could see Bella from behind, her beautiful silky hair cascading down her bare back, sheets pooled around her waist. Edward pulling her onto him.

Between Paul's thoughts and my fighting against them I was completely distracted. Paul took advantage of it and came at me from behind, slicing his claws down my back. I howled in pain, created both from the images and the injury, but it cleared my head and I was focused on Paul again.

You're definitely going to regret that! My wrath burned inside me and I couldn't control it anymore. I turned to him and let him come at me again, but this time I dodged him easily, knocking him to the ground. I held him down with my large body and sank my teeth deep into his throat and ripped. I could feel the salty, metal taste of his blood in my mouth. He howled in agony and I was instantly appalled with myself. I pulled back and I could see that blood was gushing from his neck. Oh my god! The gash was large and I could see the muscle and tendons and vessles in his neck. Paul? Paul, I'm so sorry!

His thoughts were filled with a red haze that was throbbing along with his blood flow. He was losing consciousness. I knew he could heal…but would it be fast enough?

A/N: Dun dun dunnnnnn. I am going out of town for the weekend and I don't know when I'll get the chance to post again so you're all going to have to wait to find out Paul's fate. Trust me, it could go either way. It WOULD however, move things along if you would review. I've had way too many hits on my story and too few reviews. I appreciate those of you who review consistently, you make my day! I'd love to discuss my characters with you all, to see what you enjoy about the story and what might need some work. I will be throwing some of my own characters into the mix very soon.

I will be responding to reviews today (Friday, October 19th) and part of tomorrow and Sunday...IF YOU REVIEW YOU WILL GET A QUOTE FROM THE NEXT CHAPTER, you may find out the fate of these two before everyone else.