Jacob's POV: I could hear them still. Try as I might to get rid of them.

'I can't believe he's dead; he's always been so strong.'

'Jake'll be crushed.'

'He's gone, you dolts. He left, and isn't coming back. Damn that Bella, ruining his life. Such dishonour to one's father when the son doesn't attend the funeral.'

'OH can it already. He's not the first, he's not the last."

"Be glad he can hear you anymore, otherwise he's shred your face off.'

'If I see that witch again, I'll remove her face.'

'No wonder the word bitch means an irritable woman and a female dog. They both seem to apply here.'

'He may still hear things, even if he chooses to ignore it. Jacob, your dad is dead. Cancer caught him and was relentless. I'm sorry. The funeral's today at noon. It's at his favourite cliff face. It would really please him if you came.' Cliff face? I could see...her… swan-diving off the cliff. MAKE IT STOP! I howled. I can't get rid of her. I want this to stop! Now I was sobbing, listening to the voices arguing and speaking to one another, occasionally sending words of sympathy towards my mind.

'LEAVE ME ALONE!!'

'Jacob, it's your dad. I know it hurts, but you have to come back. If you don't you'll regret it, if you do, we'll withdraw. Please Jake…'

I snarled and stalked back to where my latest kill lay, half-eaten. I suddenly felt ill. They were right. I had to go. I just hoped with all my might that she wouldn't be there. At the same time, I really wanted to see her. But I was afraid of what I'd see. Damn if I do, Damn if I don't. All I could see was the image of the wedding pictures. Charlie had showed them to Dad, and Sam saw them too, projecting them to everyone else. She looked so beautiful, and the leech looked damn good in a tux…WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST SAY?! NO! I just complimented my greatest enemy. The picture when they shared their first kiss as a married couple was an epic profile shot. I felt myself longing to be the one locking lips instead. All I could see after looking at that picture was the scene of the leech caressing her throat with his lips, and giving her the kiss of death. Maybe the marriage had been a ploy for lunch, unless he wanted to take advantage of her first…

MAKE IT STOP! It was driving me insane. Four years of ripping my fur out in anxiety, waking up from nightmares of ripping her to shreds and burning her, or of fangs piercing her soft, delicate skin. Or most recently, her and him rolling on a remote beach and laughing and swimming with dolphins and kissing and- OH, PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!! You will never know torture until you are confined by your mind. You will never know pain until you watch the dreams like television, or suffering when you can't escape or concentrate- she's everywhere. I looked to the sun for the positioning. I had half an hour to make it almost 50 miles west. I took off. Now my dad was dead, and I was completely alone. I couldn't think straight, my already fractured insanity and widening gorge that was my heart [sure, sure…dramatic. seeming to crack further. I drew nearer to the clearing, picking up a variety of scents. I had been running for 20 minutes, and only now realized that if I was to turn back to human form, I would be naked. Oh shit. I completely forgot. I actually started laughing at my own stupidity. Way to make a statement at a funeral- come in your birthday suit. I must have been really stupid, 'cause at that moment, I got tackled on both sides by two wolves, roughly my size. Their fur bristled, then Quil and Embry were all over me, hugging me and crying – what wusses- since they'd missed me so much. I tried to hug them back. Truth be knows, I had missed them a lot too. However, I couldn't do it.

How do I change back again? I asked sheepishly.

"Dude- seriously? Just think of, like, walking upright. Actually want to be human." Replied Quil.

I have no clothes, biscuit-breath!

"Ooooh…right…" hummed Embry.

"Way to make a statement, man- showing up in your birthday suit."

Did you hear me say that?

"Yeah. Much taunting yet to come. I'll go get you something from your room, Jake."

'Kay. Embry ran his hands through my fur. "Long enough…"

No kidding. Squirrels don't make good barbers, don't trust them with scissors.

Embry roared with laughter. I heard the crunching or gravel of a police cruiser and Charlie Swan rested his forehead on the steering wheel. He took out a cell phone after a moment and began dialing a number. He spoke with an expressionless look on his face. He ended the call and sighed, holding his head in his hands. Sam trotted across the property to greet him. I pricked up my ears to hear the conversation.

"…Yes, she's coming. Bad accident on the highway, she'll be a while."

"Here, you look exhausted. Come have something to drink, I'm afraid you're going to pass out." Welcome back, Jake.

No. Oh no. She? The only female in Charlie's life was her. That means she's on her way here. As we speak. Oh. My. God. Images came swirling back through my mind. Smiles, crying, sarcasm, tripping, carrying her, holding her, kissing her, losing her, the dreams…MAKE IT STOP!

Jake…let it go, man. She isn't your problem anymore. Think why you're here- remember your dad? B-day suit? Not her. You're killing yourself, man! Embry was right, but I couldn't control the unease. A shiny dark silver Volvo pulled up. A Volvo? Oh no.

The treaty is unchanged! What the hell is- I cut myself off when I realized there was only one person in the car. A head of thick, shiny brown hair rose from the open door and then disappeared. I heard the door shut, and saw Isabella Swan stand up from where she'd lost her balance on the loose gravel. I craned my neck to get a better look at her. She'd gotten so pretty…more so than before. I couldn't help but notice how pale she was, but where had she said she was going for college? It wasn't really sunny there often anyways. Her lips were still soft looking. Wait- the Bella I knew would never wear anything like that… too fancy. A chilly breeze caught her light scarf attempting to carry it off, but she managed to catch it- and herself- before it flew away. She rewrapped the scarf, tugging a pair of black leather gloves over her snow white hands. I noticed the glint of a diamond on her third finger, and felt sour taste of bile slide its way into my mouth. Quil trotted up behind us, and breathed "Wow…" as Embry knelt there, jaw practically at his knees.

"Is it just me, or does she look a little different to you?"

"Four years can do a lot to a girl…"

I hope you're not thinking what I'm thinking.

"We know what you're thinking, and no. She doesn't really have the stench. She still smells the same. She smells a little leech-like, but it's probably just 'cause she lives with them. I felt my body quivering, but I wasn't paying attention. I was watching her walk. She was almost graceful. She must have felt the eyes on her, because she spun around, as if trying to locate where it was coming from. I looked at her eyes. They weren't black or gold like the other Cullens, but the same as they'd been before. She might actually be okay… I thought with a sigh of relief, until Leah emerged from the bushes looking thoroughly pissed.

"Off our land, traitor!" she spat, eyes bulging and hatred streaming from her like crazy.

Quil and Embry did rock/paper/scissors to see who was going to go drag her off this time. Embry lost and sprinted over to restrain their psychotic pack member. The commotion of yelling and swearing as Bella stood there silent but wide-eyed brought out Sam, Emily and Charlie, who ran over to his daughter and threw his arms around her. She hugged him back, whispering something to him that made him hold her tighter. I tugged on the black jeans Quil had brought me and reached for the dress shirt, not letting my eyes stray from the group. Sam made peace and kicked Leah out for a while. They retreated inside to wait until everyone else showed up. Bella took one more tentative look around before retreating inside.