Disclaimer: I don't own them.

Everybody following this okay? I hope so. As usual, let me know what you think.

Bella gave Jacob until ten. She was seriously behind on the laundry. It had taken her two and a half hours to catch up on it. She pulled up to the Black's, seeing Billy at the window. He opened the door as she reached the top step.

"Hey."

"Hi stranger." He said smiling up at her.

"Is Jacob here?"

"He's still asleep."

"It's after ten thirty." She said with a laugh.

"Not everyone can be early risers Bells."

"Can I come in?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea. I'll tell him that you stopped by when he wakes up."

Billy started to push away, but Bella grabbed the door before he could close it.

"Bella!" he called after her as she made her way down the hall to Jacob's room.

Jacob was sprawled sideways on the bed. He was draped over the side of the bed, with his mouth hanging open. She saw something outside, and she knelt down to look out the window. Sam, Embry, Paul, and Jared stood in the middle of the yard. She was down the hall before Billy could warn her. She charged the four friends, singling out Sam.

"What did you do to him?" she yelled when she was a few feet away.

"We, didn't do anything." Paul said, clenching his fist.

"Easy, Paul." Sam said quietly.

"Bella, you have to talk to Jake." Embry said, walking towards her.

"I have."

"What did he tell you?" Sam asked giving her a quizical look.

"Not much. He was afraid of you. And now he's friends with you? What happened?"

"We don't have to explain ourselves to you." Paul said, getting in her face.

Bella lashed out and slapped him with all the force that she had. Her hand was on fire as Paul started to shake.

"Bella! Run!" Jacob said opening his front door.

She turned to run, but found her feet planted where she was. Jacob came running towards her, pulling his shirt over his head as he ran. He was only a few feet away when he phased. She crouched, not wanting to get in the way. Embry was at her side, helping her up as Sam ordered Jacob and Paul to stop. Bella watched in horror as Paul pushed Jacob into the boat. The boat splintered into a million pieces, as Jacob regained his balance just in time to shove Paul into a tree.

"Enough!" Sam yelled, getting their attention.

The two wolves looked at him. Then Jacob looked at Bella. She was gasping for air as Embry let go of her.

"Thank you."

"Are you okay?" Sam asked, turning his attention to her.

"I'm fine. Does that happen a lot?"

"No. It's only happened one other time." Sam said with a smile.

"I guess the wolves out of the bag now." Embry said with a laugh.

"You two take her to Emily's. I'll take care of them." Sam said, gesturing towards the woods.

Sam was walking towards the forest as Embry helped Bella into the passenger side. Jared jumped in the bed as Embry started the truck. Jared banged on the top. Making Bella jump.

"So, now you know." Embry said, breaking the silence.

"I guess so."

"You're not freaked out?"

"It's still sinking in. Ask me again tomorrow."

Embry laughed as he pulled up to Emily's.

The ride to Emily's had been short. Bella looked out the back window to see Jared with his legs stretched out, yet crossed at the ankle in front of him.

"He's not as tall as the rest of you." Bella said as they got out of the truck.

"We can't all be Jake's size." he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"That's not what I meant." she said, shaking her head.

"He's always been small for his age. It just carried over into wolf form." he said loud enough for Jared to hear him.

Jared flipped him off as he jumped over the side of the truck. Embry shouted for some reason, and the next thing Bella knew there was someone standing in the door way of the cabin.

"Now you know the warning call." Embry said, standing next to her.

"Is that what that was?" she asked with a laugh.

"It's only for Emily. It means we're hungry." Jared said, walking up the stairs.

"Before we go in, I should warn you. Don't stare at Emily. Sam doesn't like it." Embry said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Why?"

"Embry, let her come in." A female voice said from inside.

Bella looked up at the girl holding the door open for a fraction of a second. She was beautiful. What could Embry have meant? She brushed her hair out of her face as Bella passed. That's when she saw her scars. The image would forever be burned into her brain. Emily turned back to the stove as she filled a basket with muffins.

"Who's this?" she asked gesturing towards Bella.

"This is Bella Swan. " Embry said grabbing a muffin as she set them on the table.

" And she knows." Jared said dragging out the last word.

Emily and Embry laughed, before Emily turned around. She smacked them both on the shoulder before picking up the basket. She walked towards Bella with a smile.

"These two have no manners. I'm Emily. So you're the vampire girl?" she asked smiling.

"Not anymore. So you're the wolf girl?"

"It appears so. An engaged one anyway. Muffin?"

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. And save some for your brothers." she said as she set the basket back down on the table.

"Leave it to Jake to find away around Sam's gag order. I mean this chick runs with vampires!" Jared said around a mouth full of food.

"I do believe she said that she doesn't anymore. So leave her alone. It can't be easy for her, or Jake right now." Emily said, as she broke eggs into a frying pan.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Bella asked from across the room.

"No. I think I hear Sam's car. The rest of them must be here. Plus, I've been doing this for two years. I'd die of shock if someone helped me." she said with a chuckle.

"Which means no one gets to help her." Sam said from the door.

"Only you." Emily said with a smile.

Paul came in next, pushing Jared, and laughing. He sat down in front of Bella before turning around

"Sorry." he said, flashing her a smile.

Bella nodded, before shoving her hair out of her face. She watched Sam and Emily as they embraced. He ran a hand down her scars, before kissing her hair. Bella smiled, wishing that one day she would feel that kind of love, and adoration from someone. Her focus was pulled back to the door, where Jacob stood watching her. He smiled warmly as he pushed away from the door, to walk the few feet to her side.

"Do you want to take a walk?"

"Sure."

"You should bring her around more often. It gets lonely being the only girl in a group of boys. You and me are going to get along just fine, Bella." Emily said as Jacob pulled Bella across the room.

"It was nice meeting you." Bella said as Jacob pulled her out the door.

"You too!" Emily called, loud enough for her to hear.

XXXX

Jacob led her to the beach. It didn't take them long to find their piece of driftwood. This was where they'd had their last conversation about werewolves.

"Now you know." he said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah." Bella said, laughing.

"And you've met Emily."

Bella nodded, looking at him through squinted eyes.

"There's more that you need to know."

"There's more? What? Is Frankenstien real too? What about Mummies? Or Swamp Thing?"

"Don't joke. You're gonna make me laugh." he said, grinning at her.

"Sorry. You were being so serious."

"The conversation calls for it. Look, I don't have to explain much, because you know the basic details. The wolf gene is passed down from generation to generation. It doesn't happen to anyone. Only when the blood suckers show up."

"Which means Edward's family started it."

"Yeah. The dreadlocks made Embry turn."

"What about you?"

"I think I turned because of the red head." he said absentmindedly drawing circles in the sand with a stick.

"Vic...Vict...Victoria has been here? You've seen her?"

"You know who she is? Of course you do. Why did I even ask?"

"When did you see her?"

"The first time was the night after we tracked down dreads. We keep losing her. Now if only I knew why she was here."

"I know why. Me." Bella said, between ragged breaths.

"Tell me everything." Jacob said, grabbing her hands as she turned to face him.

"Last year, I went somewhere with the Cullen's. To watch them play baseball. Laurent and Victoria found us. Along with Victoria's mate, James. He was a tracker. He caught my scent. Long story short, he tracked me all the way to Phoenix where Edwards brother and sister had taken me. James tricked me into meeting him somewhere. Edward found us, but not before James could do some damage." she said holding up her wrist.

"You've been bitten by a vampire?" Jacob asked, as the wind was knocked out of him.

"Edward was able to suck the venom out. He killed James that day. Now Victoria is after me. I guess she thinks killing me will justify James' death."

"Oh, she's not going to get close to you. I won't let it happen." Jacob said through clenched teeth.

"Are you okay?"

"I need to take you back to Emily's. Then I need to talk to the rest of the pack. We have to protect you. Because if I lose you..."

"You won't. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You'll get her. I know it." Bella said, pulling her hands from his grasp.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, as he buried his face in her hair. She turned her body towards him, as she pulled him into her lap. It took a few seconds for the shock to wear off. Once it had, it seemed natural. Almost like breathing.

XXXX

It took less than two minutes to get back to Emily's. Jacob swooped her into his arms, and held her close to him as he took off at jet speed up the incline back to the house. He looked down at her, as they stood in the yard. She was breathless, but she wasn't scared.

"That's never happened before." she said, with a sigh.

"You mean to tell me the leech didn't do that?"

"Sort of. He carried me on his back."

"Well, a real man carries a girl in his arms. Remember that." he said with a wink.

"What are you two doing back here? I didn't think you'd be back until patrol tonight." Sam asked, stepping out of the house.

"I need to talk to you. Embry, Jared, and Paul too."

"What happened?" he asked, stepping off the porch.

"Get the three of them. I only want to explain this once."

Sam, Embry, Paul, and Jared stood in the middle of the yard, crowded around Jacob. Bella watched from the window, as Emily cleaned the kitchen. Jacob's eyes met Bella's, and he gave her a reassuring smile.

"How much did he explain to you?"

"Not much. He told me that the wolf gene was passed down from generation to generation. Then again, he told me about the wolves last year. He said that they don't change unless the vampires are close by."

"That's right." Emily said nodding.

"He carried me over here."

"So you've noticed the speed."

"Yeah."

"I can answer whatever questions you have."

"It will give me a reason to help you."

"You dry, I'll wash." Emily said, handing her a towel.

"Will all the boys on the Reservation change?"

"I don't know. There's talk that Quil Jr. might be next."

"Really? He's big enough as it is. I can't imagine him becoming one."

"Oh, so you've met him?" Emily asked with a laugh.

"A couple of times. I don't know what else to ask."

"That's okay. I'll do the talking then. Just so you know, there are no secrets in the pack when their phased."

"Phased meaning wolf form."

"Mm hmm."

"Can they read mine?"

"No. It's just a wolf thing. There are also no secrets from their mates."

"So if Jared when out on a date, and got lucky then Sam found out about it he would have to tell you?"

"Nothing that personal. Usually just things between the wolf and his imprint."

"Imprint?"

"Jacob's not going to like that I'm telling you this, but oh well. An imprint is someone who is genetically, and spiritually matched with a wolf. By genetically, I mean that they are matched so that they can possibly carry on the wolf gene."

"So you're Sams' imprint?"

"I am. It's wonderful. Let me explain it a little better. The wolf feels a gravatational pull towards their imprint. Nothing means more to them than that person."

"So when Jacob finds his imprint that will be like, his soul mate?"

"Exactly like that." Emily said nodding.

"What about strength?"

"They have supernatural strength. Paul likes to compare it to the Incredible Hulk. Which is true, in a way. They not only phase when a vampire is near, but also when they are angry. They can also phase at the drop of a hat if they want to."

"Don't you worry that Sam will get hurt?"

"They heal very fast. I've never heard of one dying."

"Never?"

"Not until they've decided to give up wolf life. Then they have died of old age."

"They can give up wolf life?"

"When they find that certain someone. It's completely up to them. No one can force them to stay or go."

"So I'll have compition for Jake's time when he imprints." Bella said as she placed a mug on a hook under the cabinet.

"I have a feeling he won't let that happen. You mean too much to him."

"About the heat..."

"It will take some getting used to. But, you will save on your heating bill."

"I should probably go. My dad will be at Billy's soon. And he'll wonder where I am."

"I'm glad we got to talk."

"I am too."

"You can come by anytime you like." Emily said smiling.

Emily followed Bella to the door, then did something she wasn't expecting. Emily engulfed her in the warmest hug she had ever felt. Bella felt awkward for a few seconds, because she wasn't used to being hugged by anyone other than her dad, Jacob and she hated to admit, Edward. Bella caught the scent of Emily's shampoo and was surprised to find out that it was the same kind that she used.

"Sorry, I'm a hugger." Emily said, laughing nervously.

"I'll remember that for next time." Bella said, with a smile.

They stepped out onto the porch and Jacob looked over Jared's shoulder to meet Bella's eyes.

"I'm gonna go. My dad will be at your house soon."

"Hold on a minute. We're almost done." he said holding up a hand to stop her.

She sat on the porch steps as Emily went back inside. Sure enough, Sam was walking back towards the house while Embry, Paul, and Jared took off down the driveway. Jacob stood in front of her with his hands in his pockets.

"Are you ready now?" she asked teasing him.

"Yes." he said sarcastically.

"Okay then." she said taking his hand as he offered it to her.

She started down the driveway, but he put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. He stood infront of her, and she gave her a weird look.

"Hop on."

"I thought you said real men carried girls in their arms."

"Do you want me to?"

"No I'll hitch a ride on your back." she said linking her arms over his shoulders.

He hooked his arms behind her knees as he lifted her.

"Hey."

"What?"

"Run as fast as you can.

"You sure?"

"It's not like you're going to drop me."

"You asked for it." he said tightening his grip on her.

She threw her head back in laughter. They were back at his house within seconds. Her dad and Billy were inside watching them wondering what was going on.

"You ever wonder why they became such good friends? I mean, she never wanted anything to do with the girls when she was younger." Charlie asked as Bella jumped off of Jacob's back.

"They were meant to be friends. Like fate." Billy said with a smile.

"Well, I guess since you put it that way I can't argue with you. I can't picture her with anybody else."

"I can't picture him with anybody else."

They watched the two best friends interact. Billy knew that something had happened. He knew the whole story. He would let Bella be the one to tell Charlie.