A/N: I'm really surprised by the number of people who've read my work so far. Please review guys, don't be afraid. I can take it, haha. Thanks, and enjoy!

Jacob's POV

I hate funerals.

Charlie was family though, Billy's best friend, so I came to support him.

Normally my dad is cool, calm, and collected but Charlie's sudden death hit him hard. I actually saw Billy shed a tear for the first time since my mother passed.

My muscles felt confined in the black dress shirt I wore, tense with frustration. The collar around my neck felt stiff. I tugged at it, turning my head from side to side. I searched the crowd for her, immediately finding her walking with her mother to their seats up front. My eyes stayed on Bella, her head hung in despair with sagging shoulders. She looked so fragile, like at any moment she would disappear into thin air.

Billy gave the eulogy, sitting in his wheelchair beside Charlie's silver casket. I stood behind Billy, Sam and Paul on my flanks. Seth and Leah were in the crowd with Sue, along with the rest of the pack. I had the younger wolves running patrols. They didn't need to be around death any more than they already had to be. As he finished his speech, people gathered in a line to lay flowers over the casket.

I shifted my weight when Bella walked up. She stood over Charlie's casket, one hand pressed against it, she wasn't crying though. Then she walked away without ever looking up, but she kept walking past her seat.

Renee called out, "Bella?" and started after her, but Billy grabbed her hand and silently shook his head. She nodded in understanding as she wiped away tears with a tissue.

I stepped around Billy, placing a hand on Renee's shoulder, and kissed her cheek. She hugged me for a moment, before I pulled away to follow Bella.

She was heading towards the cliffs. The very cliffs she'd jumped from so long ago, and I pulled her limp body out of the pounding waves. I remember thinking I had lost her for sure, and my heart had felt like a jackhammer in my chest.

Suddenly she bent down, removing her shoes.

She's gonna jump again.

I could smell her emotions, but I didn't think she would do this. Had she really become so selfish? What about Renee?

Tremors started to roll up my body.

Of course she had, look how easily she left Charlie the first time. Figures.

Bella stopped short, five more steps and she'd walk off the edge of the cliff.

"Don't do it." I said, anger in my voice. The last thing she needs is me yelling at her as she's on the verge of jumping. I rubbed my face and took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. This girl was going to kill me, along with herself.

She was so still, I wondered if she heard me.

With caution, I paced towards Bella, not wanting to startle her.

I brought my hand to the back of her small neck, and slowly pulled her around to me.

Trying my best to sound neutral, I whispered, "Look at me."

Then, Bella raised her tiny hand to my wrist, and wrapped those long fingers around it. I barely felt her hand, she seemed so weak.

I closed my eyes in frustration. I didn't know what to do with her, what to say to her.

Fuck.

The wind picked up, her beautiful brown locks blowing around her. I closed my eyes, allowing her scent to calm me down. Her hair smelled like lemons, but it wasn't an overpowering smell.

I opened my eyes again, and brushed Bella's silky hair away from her face, holding my hand to her head. She was silently crying.

I closed my eyes again, wishing I knew what to say.

"Jake…"

My heart jumped at the sound of her voice, the sound of my name spilling from her lips.

"I-I'm… I'm sorry." She gasped, crying.

I opened my eyes then.

Large chocolate orbs consumed me, reaching down so deep I felt my heart lurch in my chest. Bella's eyes searched mine, finding every emotion I'd ever hidden from the world, including myself. She bit her lip then, so hard, it bled; she shut her eyes. With my thumb, I lightly rubbed the blood from her plush lip; drained of its color from her teeth still bearing them down. I realized, then, I could feel Bella. Her sorrow felt draining; I imagined that it must be how a toy feels when its batteries ran low. I couldn't bring myself to release her though, I needed to touch her. Although my wolf had been in a constant state of rage, he somehow felt more at ease, but I sensed the concern from his whining.

I had imprinted.

After all this time…six years…I imprinted. I thought I never would. After all I had gone through quite a few women in six years, but it never happened. I didn't understand, but at the same time I didn't care. I braced myself though, because I knew this wouldn't be easy for Bella to accept. With Charlie dying, and her first reaction to me, this was going to be like pulling teeth.

Bella turned her head and kissed my arm, her cool lips pursed against my skin, causing it to tingle. I pulled her into my chest, one arm around her lower back, the other hand cradling her head. She was sobbing now, her thin arms dangling at her sides.

"Jacob, I-I don't know if I c-can do this." Even her voice was broken.

I looked out over the ocean, looking for the right words to say.

"I d-don't know…if I'm ready for this, either. I've been s-so caught up in my own world, for the last six y-years, I didn't care about anyone really. H-how could I when I'm too m-messed up to even sleep at night?"

This was literally the most she's said to me in six years. I was surprised by Bella's confession. All I could do was listen, not moving from our position.

"I know how wrong….how wrong I was for leaving so suddenly. I didn't know what to do! I never know what to do." She seemed to be calming down some.

She pulled back, my wolf whined again. This was going to take getting used to. Bella was lost, I could see it in her face. I wiped away tears from her cheeks with my thumb.

I could hear people getting into their cars, I guess the funeral was over.

I cupped her face between my hands, "Bella…" I said, hoping the words would just come, but they didn't.

She looked at me expectedly, and when I couldn't…didn't say anything, she walked away.

I stood there not knowing what else do.

Next thing I knew, I was in front of a tree, punching through the trunk.

Leah's POV

Leave it to Bella to run off during her own father's funeral.

She still wasn't back and of course Jacob had run after her, again. You know, for someone so angry and solitary, Jake was sure running after Bella a lot. 'Guess not much had changed between those two after all.

The pack had lowered Charlie's casket into the grave, everyone had said their final goodbyes, and people were leaving now. Billy was off to the side talking to Renee, others lingered around talking as well.

"You ready to go?" I asked my mother, who was talking to one of the deputies.

She tried a half-smile, "Sure sweetie…Seth?" she turned to my brother, "Honey, will you give Renee a ride? See if Billy needs one too, OK."

I overheard Bella take off in her old red truck, without Renee. Such a selfish bitch.

"No problem." Replied Seth.

She reached out and squeezed his hand before she turned towards the car.

I pulled the car up to our small brown house, taking the keys out of the ignition. Sue got out of the car.

"You hungry, Le?" she asked, as I shut the car door.

"No, I'm good. Think I'll head to Emily's, call me if you need anything." I jogged over to her kissing her cheek and ran off to the tree line.

Walking up to Emily and Sam's place, I could tell most of the pack was already here. Then I saw Emily standing behind the screen door.

"Hey Leah", she said putting on a soft smile. Ever since Sam imprinted, she'd made her efforts to reconcile. I admit I've been stubborn about it, it's hard to completely avoid someone who's always around the pack. Not to mention, she's a great cook. I actually missed hanging out with her.

"Emily." I responded matter-of-factly.

Opening the screen door, Emily tried again, "I saved you some food, and it's in the oven."

"Thanks, Em." I looked at her, and half smiled. I heard the guys talking in the kitchen, as we stood in the living room.

"I'm sure it's good." I told her. Emily paused her eyes widened a little, she smiled then.

"Thanks Leah." She nodded, and walked towards to kitchen.

It was progress.

Paul's POV

"Did you guys catch that?"

"I smell it!" sniff sniff, "the scent leads to the road."-Quil

"There's something else… Gas!"-Embry

We sprinted, full speed, weaving through the trees towards the road. We followed that familiar copper scent of blood.

"Hurry!"

Howls ripped through the forest. Signaling our brothers.

"What the fuck?!"-Quil

"Leech!"-Embry roared.

Oh no…

After a few minutes, the three of us came up to the scene. We all growled in unison. A bloodsucker's scent was all over the place, burning our nostrils.

"Bella…"

More howling rang through the air.

The front of Bella's red Chevy was crumpled up. I leaped around to the driver's side, there was blood in the cab of the truck.

"She's not here"-Quil

"Shit, man."

Sam's POV

Some of the pack were sitting around Emily's long kitchen table, talking, eating, and horsing around.

Emily was leaning against the counter, drinking something, talking to Leah.

After the funeral I'd sent Paul, Quil, and Embry for patrols, giving the younger wolves a break.

I still hadn't seen Jacob since he went after Bella.

Something felt wrong all of a sudden…

Howls.

Distressed howls.

I bolted out of the house, to the trees, and phased.

"Blood...Vampire…Wrecked Chevy."

My brother's thoughts had flooded my mind. Bella was in trouble. I phased back, pulling on the shorts I left by a tree, and ran back inside.

Jared, Seth, Leah, Collin, and Brady snapped their heads around to me.

"It's Bella, she's been taken by a vampire." I informed them.

Low rumbles began to vibrate in everyone's chest.

"Oh no" Emily gasped.

"I need your phone." I said looking at Emily, my hand reaching out, and marched outside.

I dialed a number.

"Jacob?"

"I heard. What is it?" He growled.

"Bella's gone. The guys caught scent of a leech-"

The phone hung up.

I heavily sighed and waited.

Five minutes later, I sensed him near, before I saw him emerge from the forest.

Jacob growled, "What-happened?"

Just then, Paul, Embry, and Quil, showed up.

"We caught scent of blood and followed it to the main road. The closer we approached the scene we smelled leech stench everywhere. We saw Bella's truck, the front end was crumpled up, like something crushed it. There was also blood in the front seat." Paul reported.

Everyone was outside now, and a chorus of growls began to rise.

"How could one slip past like this?" Jacob demanded, eerily calm.

No one answered, everyone lowered their eyes to the ground. The air was thick with tension and rage.

"Sam, Paul, Seth, Leah, come with me. Quil, find Billy, tell him everything. The rest of you run a perimeter around the edge" Jake commanded in an Alpha tone.

"We're going back to the scene. Search for anything you think could be a clue. Let's go!" barked the Alpha, then we were off.

Bella's POV

I had walked away from Jacob, yet again. This was different though, I wasn't ready to deal with the comprehension that I was Jacob's imprint. He didn't say it, but I knew the instant I looked into his eyes and he rubbed his finger over my lip. I tried to explain, but it probably made no sense to him. I'm not even sure why I said those things, but it felt good to say those words out loud, to someone else. When he hugged me it was the last thing I thought he'd do after six years of silence, and after my initial reaction to him. I admit the feeling was nice, and I basking in his woodsy scent for a moment. I didn't expect him to say anything, and to spare him I walked away.

I headed to my old red truck, when Renee got into town she'd picked me up in it. She apparently had been by Charlie's doing something, I was half listening, drove the truck over.

I started driving, not really sure where I was going but driving seemed like a logical thing to do.

As I was driving down the main road, something crashed into the hood of the truck. My head violently richocheted off the steering wheel. I blacked out for a moment, before my vision returned. Leaning my head into my hands I felt the moisture, and saw the blood on my hands. My eyes darted around me surrounds.

What the hell did I hit?

Out of nowhere the passenger door was torn from the hinges, and I was dragged out of the truck. Cold marble hands tightly wound in my hair; my hands automatically reached for the hand in a vain attempt to remove it. I tried to scream but I couldn't, a rock solid grip was surrounding my throat. I was getting lightheaded from the lack of oxygen.

Please, let me just pass out.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…Oh no, my pet, I'm not letting you give up that easily." A female voice sneered.

I felt a blow to my cheek and knew something had fractured, "Open your eyes! Look at me!" she screeched. I realized it was a slap.

One hand remained at my throat, but the grip slightly lessened; her other hand cupped under by chin and crushed my cheeks.

"You've been very busy, little girl. No you're back home, so sorry about your daddy." She taunted.

I could see now. Victoria. I knew she'd find me one day, just a matter of when.

"Aw, don't cry little girl…What do you humans say? Daddy's in a better place now."

I didn't have the energy to fight her off. I welcomed the easy out.

Her hand moved from my face, but then a sharp pain pierced the side of my neck and dragged down the length of it. I screamed then.

"Mmm, you're despair makes your blood even more mouthwatering. I'm truly going to enjoy slowly killing you. There's no one here to protect you now. Are you and Eddie fighting?"

She really had no idea.

"You have no idea." I breathed in a thin voice.

"Aww, the first love is always the hardest. Don't worry, I can help you forget that pain. In fact, I can show you a very different kind of pain." Victoria's soprano voice dripped with malice.

"Do your worst." I groaned.

Then I was flying through the air and crashing into a tree and plummeting to the ground. The plush green floor was deceiving. Hard rocks were scattered underneath, my legs and arms dragged across them breaking my skin. I was covered in grime and blood now; how could there already be so much blood? I tried pushing up against a tree.

"You think you can get away with killing my mater!" another high pitched screech rang in my ears.

I felt a kick to my stomach, but that was a gross understatement. It had to have been a sledgehammer, not a woman's foot. I coughed, air escaping my lungs, I was crawling now.

A sinister laugh, "Oh honey…Where do you think you're going?"

She stalked towards me as I scrambled backwards on my hands and feet. I had no idea what to do. She reached for my head, hairs slowly pulling from my scalp. I let out a piercing scream.

"That's right scream for me. No one's coming to save you." Her tone snide.

She threw me into the air, caught my by the throat crushing my windpipe, and slammed me to the ground. I'm paralyzed, I'm sure of it. I felt my eyes roll to the back of my head, finally, oblivion.

Cold lips were at my wrist, and I felt them part over the skin. Sharp teeth bit through flesh, and I heard a suckling noise.

She's literally going to drain the life out of me. Slow and painful, like she promised.

My body involuntarily contorted, trying to fight for itself, since my mind wouldn't. Breathing became harder to do, becoming labored and far apart. I didn't bother trying to move, fear had paralyzed me. My eyes continued to roll under my lids, despite my efforts to keep them open. I tried to pacify myself, focusing on my breathing, but that was no use. Then I thought of happy memories: eating dinner with Charlie, seeing Renee and Charlie together at my graduation, walks with Jacob on the beach.

Jacob… I'm sorry Jacob. This wasn't supposed to happen.

I could almost hear him growl in response. Funny, even in my delirium he's the same.

The draining seemed to stop and the ice cold grips on me released. She was hissing now, and the growling grew louder.

My eyes rolled under sealed lids for a moment, before they fluttered open. The sky had grown dark, it was twilight now.

There was more screeching, hissing, and growling, but I couldn't see anything. The sky and trees were moving now and I felt a warmth pulling me under. I embraced that warmth, hoping it'd placate the pain…It had grown quiet…Then suddenly everything went dark.