Disclaimer: My wand and genie are still missing. Sorry.
The last chapter took me a whole day to write. So much happened. I'm glad you all liked it.
It was a week before Jacob learned how to control his phasing. Sam had been teaching how to reign it in, and keep it under control before he finally let him do it. Ironically enough, it was because of something
Paul had said that made him do it.
"You're telling me that he's second in command? He doesn't know anything!" Paul said, arguing with Sam.
"Shut up! I'm trying as hard as I can." Jake said, as he started to see red.
"Paul, apologize." Sam said in a calm voice.
"Nope." Paul said, giving them a cocky smile and folding his arms over his chest.
"I'm gonna knock that smile off your face!" Jake said just before his clothes shredded.
Jake was in wolf form before Sam could think. It had taken him less than three seconds. Jared and Embry stared in shock as Paul shook with anger. Thirty seconds later, Paul phased and Jake lunged at him
knocking him back into the trees.
"Enough!" Sam said, gaining control of the situation.
Jake phased back into human form, crouching in front of Paul. Paul was still shaking being thrown into the trees off.
"Don't do that again." Sam said as he walked up to them.
"I can't make any guarantees. Everything about him pisses me off. Next time I won't wait until you phase." Jake said, glaring at Paul
"Learn to control it." Sam said, putting a hand on Jake's shoulder.
"Back off so I can get up." Paul said, starting to stand.
"Both of you go home. Meet us in the mountains in half an hour. I want to run a patrol."
Jake headed off in one direction, while Paul headed off in another. He wished that whatever was making this happen would end. Sam had explained that the vampires had made it happen. The Cullens had been
gone for months. Had they come back without Bella knowing? Were there other vampires in the area? He had never known any accept the Edward.
XXXXX
Bella had come up with the crazy idea to go back to the meadow. Maybe seeing it again would be a kind of closure. She was willing to try, if it meant that she wouldn't think of Edward every second of every
day. He had come back with a vengance once Jacob had decided that he didn't want to be friends with her. What had she done to deserve him treating her like this? She tried to think back to the night that she
had last seen him. Had he thought that the movies was meant to be a date? Had he gotten jealous when he found out that Mike was there? Neither of those things sounded like Jake. She had made her feelings
of friendship known not long after they had started hanging out again.
She didn't tell her dad what she was doing. He would just try to stop her. He had left a few minutes ago to go fishing with Harry. He was finally trusting her to be home by herself again. He thought that she
was going to sink back into depression after what had happened with Jacob. So far she had been able to keep a clear head. She was determined to find out what was going on. Billy had been coming over once a
week since the night at the movies. Charlie had yet to go over to Billy's though. He had been leery of going over because Bella wasn't allowed over.
She packed her book bag with a sandwich, enough bottled waters, granola bars, and apples that she could carry. She grabbed her jacket, and the map that she had been studying all night before she walked out
of the house.
XXXXX
They'd been tracking the trail for over an hour, and had lost it for the third time. Whatever it was, it was fast. They'd almost had it last time. Sam sat on his haunches, looking out over a ridge.
We'll find it. Whatever it is. He thought as Jared started to whine.
That's the thing. We don't know what it is. It could be a vampire. It could be a deer. How are we supposed to know? Jake thought answering Sam's open statement.
You've been around vampires before. You tell us. Paul thought angrily.
Leave him alone. Embry thought rearing back to retaliate.
Enough. Paul be quiet. Sam voice thundered through all of their thoughts making them cringe.
The forest beneath them was quiet. None of them realized, that three miles away Bella was reaching the meadow.
XXXXX
Bella stepped through the clearing, taking in her surroundings. Everything around her was brown and dead. She thought coming up here would give her some clarity. It looked as empty as the hole in her chest.
She sighed in defeat, as she stepped farther into the clearing. It wasn't anything like she remembered it. She turned in a circle, taking it all in. Who had she been kidding? She was holding onto a memory of
someone who didn't think she was worth staying for. She angrily wiped at her eyes as tears stung her eyes. A twig snapped behind her, making her whirl around.
"Hello."
"Laurent."
"Bella, is it?"
"Yes, that's right."
"What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you that." she said, giving him a quizical look.
"I came to find the Cullens. They are not here. Is that right?"
"They come back once a month." Something told her lying was her best defense.
XXXXX
Sam, Jacob, Paul, Embry, and Jared took off down the side of the mountain. They hadn't planned on coming across the scent so soon. They were in the trees, just above the clearing watching what was going on.
The guy with Bella clearly made her uncomfortable.
XXXXX
"Do you talk to them often?"
"All the time." Bella said, with a shrug of nonchalance.
"I see." Laurent said, with a nod.
"I'll tell them you were looking for them."
"I won't be here that long. You see, I came back for one reason. And for one reason only."
"What is that?"
"Victoria asked me to come and find you. Imagine my luck to find out that you are defenseless."
"You wouldn't hurt me."
XXXXX
We should do something. Jake thought angrily.
Wait. Sam said patiently.
That thing is what we've been tracking Sam! Jacob yelled.
We move when I say we move. Jacob to the back.
What?
Don't question me. Get behind Jared.
Jake growled as he got in the back of the formation. He hadn't expected seeing Bella to upend him the way it had. He felt some sort of gravatational pull towards her. He knew they were friends, but it had
never been like this before. And when had she gotten so beautiful? He had never thought of her that way. What the hell was going on? The guy with Bella lunged at, her making Jacob howl.
Now! Sam commanded as he took off through the trees.
The five of them broke through the trees at the same time. A line of gigantic wolves stared Laurent and Bella down. Bella stared with wide eyes, as Laurent took off in the opposite direction. The first four
wolves took off after Laurent, while the russet colored one stopped in front of her. There eyes met, and Bella thought she recognized those eyes.
Jacob, stay with her if you want. We're going after him. Sams voice broke through his thoughts.
Jake shook his head, before taking off after the others. Bella stood, frozen where she was. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Had she been outside so long that she was suffering from heat stroke? Was
she dreaming? She blinked a few times, hoping to find herself at home in her bed. She was still in the meadow. She took off running back the way that she had come. She was at her car fifteen minutes later.
XXXXX
Sam stayed back, as everyone else headed into Emily's. He put a hand on Jacob's shouder making him stop.
"I want to talk to you."
"If it's about questioning you, I'm sorry." Jake said, facing him.
"It's not that. Seeing as we can read each other's thoughts when we're in wolf form, I couldn't help but hear yours when we saw Bella."
"And?"
"How long have you had feelings for her?"
Jacob stared at him with wide eyes.
"This is a new thing then. Have I explained imprinting to you?"
"No."
"Let me ask you a question. Would you do anything to protect her?"
"Absolutely."
"I thought so. Even if that meant keeping your distance?"
"It hurts. More since I just saw her."
"Then I don't need to explain that much. You have found your mate. The person you would do anything for. You would give your life them. You know beyond a doubt, that you would give up everything for
them. You're world revolves around her. Quil Sr explained could better than I can. But I'm going to try. Every wolf has a match. Meaning, someone that was made especially for them. This is so that we can
carry on the wolf gene."
"You mean that I'm attracted to her so that we can make wolf babies?"
"Of couse that would be what you would get out of it. You're only seventeen. Let me explain. You can make the choice to not be a wolf. If you feel that it would complicate things between you and Bella. If
you think that she could ever be put in danger. You could leave the pack. But, I suggest you at least talk to her before making that decision. Frankly, because I need you. Embry respects you more than he does
me. And because I respect you. I wouldn't lose that respect if you decide that you do not want to live this life. Let me explain something else. You'll feel a little weird the first few times that you see her. Like
you always have to touch her. From what I've seen in your head, she won't think any less of that. You can't keep anything from her. Just like you can't keep anything from us. When you tell her, I'd like for you
to bring her to Emily. She could explain things from her perspective."
"You mean I love her?"
"Pretty much."
"Yes, I have very strong feelings for her. I always have. But love?"
"It's not that easy to explain. Like I said. Go see her. Get your bearings."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"What if I phase in front of her? What if she doesn't understand?"
"You can not tell her. Not until I tell you."
"Then I really can't go to see her. Me being a werewolf would be the first thing I tell her."
"Then hold off for a few days. And about phasing in front of her, technically you've already done that." Sam said with a smirk.
"She didn't know that it was me." Jake said rolling his eyes.
Jake followed Sam into the house, thinking about what Sam had said. He had imprinted. On Bella. Could the world get any weirder?
XXXXX
Bella was standing in the meadow again. The meadow the way that it looked when she was with Edward. She turned, thinking that she would see Edward. She came eye to eye with the russet werewolf with the
caring brown eyes. She reached out tentively to touch it's snout. It turned it's nose in her hand, not taking it's eyes off of her. She smiled, as the wolf nudged her hand.
"You don't seem so bad. You're nice." she said, as it leaned down.
She scratched behind it's ear, as the other four wolves stepped out of the shadows. They seemed to be looking at something behind her. She turned her head, as the wolf in front of her started to whine. Edward
was less a hundred yards away.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" she said, facing him.
"You have made friends with them?" he asked, gesturing behind her.
She turned to look behind her, and saw the four wolves flanking the first one.
"They saved my life."
"Something that I tried to do."
"You did. You saved me from James. They saved me from Laurent."
"Who is going to save you from Victoria?"
"Maybe you can join with them." Bella said, shrugging towards the wolves.
"I can not come back." Edward said, shaking his head.
"I know that. So why don't you finally severe ties with me? Once and for all."
"As you wish." Edward said, before vanishing.
She turned to face the wolves again, noticing that the other four were retreating.
"Looks like it's just you and me again. Why do I get the feeling that I know you?"
The wolf bowed down on it's front paws.
"What do you want me to do?"
He gestured with his head, behind him.
"You want me to climb on your back?"
The wolf smiled. She didn't know how it was possible, but it did. She climbed on it's back, and grabbed hold of it's fur. It righted itself before taking off at a run. Bella shrieked, before leaning down to burying
her face in it's fur. It's smell reminded her of something or someone. She couldn't place who. It let out a happy bark, getting her attention. She looked up, noticing that they were at her house. They were right
outside her window. She climbed in before rusteling her fingers through the wolves fur one last time. She smiled, watching him make his way across the yard to the street. He vanished into the trees on the other
side of the road.
Bella sat up in bed, as her alarm clock went off the next morning. That was the strangest dream she had ever had. Her dad knocked on her door, when she hadn't turned off her alarm clock. She hit it with a
sigh, as she ran her other hand through her hair. Her dad stood in the doorway, watching her.
"You sleep okay?"
"I slept great." she said, with a smile.
"Do you want me to close the window? It's too cold for it to be open."
Had she opened the window? She didn't remember doing that. Her shirt clung to her with sweat, because she was so hot. She nodded, as she tossed her legs over the side of the bed. She hoped that she would
be able to shake the dream off and get through the day.
