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Jacob's POV

Screams tore through the night.

Bella.

Seeing red, I push my four my legs faster.

Hang on Bella.

Galloping paws thunder against the ground around me, following the sound of Bella's screams and the sickly sweet smell of vampire.

"This way."

"Wait! There's another scent!"-Seth

Not breaking our stride, we lift our muzzles, surveying the air.

"Bloodsucker! It's close!"-Sam

"Goddammit!"-Leah

Just beyond a tree, I see the redhead crouched over Bella; one hand on her throat, the other holding Bella's arm to the leech's mouth. Bella wasn't moving. The bitch was draining her.

The pack simultaneously roared.

Leah, her wolf agile and quick, lunged at the hissing vampire. Paul, right behind Leah, took a chunk of out the tic's arm. She screeched something awful.

"Don't Kill her! Not yet!" I commanded.

The female vampire continued hissing, trying to twist out of Leah's and Paul's locked jaws.

I pranced to Bella, nudging her with my muzzle. She still wasn't moving, I could hear a pulse, but it was weak. The man, pounded at my chest in anger. I growled at the redhead.

"Jacob!"-Paul

A pale statue dropped from the trees, across from me, on the other side of Bella. A small female with short black hair, I recognized this one.

Alice.

"I'm here to help! I came as soon as I saw Bella's truck wrecked!" those golden eyes darted between the wolves, her hands were up, palms out.

She looked down at Bella and sniffed.

"Please let me help, she'll turn if I don't! I can smell the venom!" Her voice was high with panic, hurting my ears.

I took a step back and huffed.

Alice cautiously step forward, "I'm going to need to suck the venom out, OK? If after a minute I can't stop, you can kill me."

More growls.

She was down on the ground next to Bella now. I gave what looked like a nod to the vamp, I sat on my haunches staring daggers into the tiny bloodsucker.

"Rip that bitch apart. Slowly. Toes, ankles, calves, piece by piece. Seth, phase and start a fire. Throw every fucking piece into those flames, one by one. Make that goddamned leech suffer."

"With pleasure."-Paul growled.

"Exactly what I need."-Leah

"Hold her down!"-Sam

The vampire writhed, screeching so loudly it made my hackles rise. Then it stopped as Sam ripped out her throat.

Thank God.

The pixie haired leech stopped at the movement, crimson staining the corners of her mouth.

I stood.

"There's no venom left, but she's still weak. Bella should be waking up or screaming in pain, at least, something." She said worried.

Taking a few steps back, I phased.

Turning around to the pack, watching purple smoke rise from the flames, illuminating the darkness.

"Keep going, when you're done report to Billy what happened."

With that, I bent down scooping up Bella's featherweight body into my arms.

"Come with me." I ordered the tiny vamp. Her eyes widened and she started to protest, but followed as I took off running.

Bella's POV

"Stop being so selfish"

Leah's words echoed in my thoughts.

The idea of Jake's warmth slowly crept over my mind, and I smiled internally.

How could I deny such warmth? He was trying…after what I'd done, he was still trying.

Something was pulling at my heart, even in the darkness. Need? Want? I let the pull guide me. I wanted to fight, I needed to fight this. I was strong enough to do this before; I could do it again, right?

Yes. Fight.

I fought to remember the warmth I felt, as Jake held me in his arms on the cliffs. I tried to remember his woodsy scent filling my senses. I wasn't ready to give up. Charlie wouldn't want me to, plus I still have Renee.

Come on Bella.

I focused on the pull I felt, and suddenly it was like I could see the shore after months at sea.

I tried calling out for Jacob, but it was more of a mumble.

Keep trying.

It felt like I was pulling myself out of quicksand, the harder I struggled the more I was pulled under. I paused a moment.

"Jacob."

I heard myself say. A raspy whisper, I doubt anyone could've heard me.

Good.

My eyelids blinked open.

I was in a dimly lit room. I looked down at my body and noticed I was lying in a bed. I was still in my black dress but it was shredded in some parts and stiff with blood. Gazing over myself I saw my arms littered with purple and black bruises. I could see where Victoria had bitten me, the very same place James bit me before. The skin was red and swollen; a dull throb pulsed on my wrist. I swallowed, and I grimaced in pain. I raised my hand to my throat, also swollen.

"Hold still. Your body has taken a beating." A familiar voice said.

I very slowly turned my head.

"Carlisle" I mouthed. I couldn't believe it, immediately tears filled my eyes. Relief relaxed my muscles.

"You have a fractured windpipe and jaw. A few ribs are slightly fractured as well, but that should heal on its own. I've already given you morphine to help alleviate the pain." Carlisle informed me in a soothing voice.

I heard a door open.

"I was actually afraid I wouldn't make it in time." A musical voice chimed in. Alice!

She walked up behind Carlisle with a small smile on her face. "Victoria nearly drained you dry. I also had to suck the venom from the bite. That was the most fear I'd felt in quite some time." She laughed, grabbing my hand. "You don't have to worry about Victoria anymore." Alice said in an assuring tone.

Putting a hand to Alice's shoulder Carlisle looked at me, "Let's give them some time." Alice nodded in agreement.

I felt the warmth in my heart, I knew he was here.

The door shut quietly.

Jacob kneeled down, head bowed, elbows on the bed, hands entwined. I don't know if he'd ever prayed before, but it looked like he was about to for a moment. Then his hands unraveled and laid over my thighs. Heat blazed through my legs at the skin to skin contact, and my heart sped up. He quickly removed his hands.

Maybe he felt it too?

Instead he put one large hand at the crown of my head, the other hand picked at something on the sheets. I reached for his hand, needing to feel the warmth. Our fingers automatically laced together, it felt good.

"I'm sorry about before… I just didn't know what to say." His deep voice was like chocolate, smooth and sweet, to my ears.

He raised his eyes to meet mine. I started to speak-

"Then I thought I was gonna lose you again when I saw you half dead on the ground… Bella this is hard for me too." Jacob's voice was smooth, but there was a hint of pain in his eyes.

I squeezed his hand, hoping he would keep talking.

"You haven't even been back a week and all this shit happens. Bells, just know… you don't need to run away all the time." I could hear the stress in his voice, his gaze was in the distance somewhere.

"I know." Was all I could manage to say in a paper thin voice.

Then Jacob raised his hand, carefully laying it over my throat, warmth spreading out. I noticed the slightest grimace in his stoic face.

"That should help." He said.

I looked at him in confusion.

"Try to talk." He encouraged.

With a breath, I tried, "What did you do?" my eyes widened in surprise. My voice sounded normal and my throat didn't hurt anymore.

"Alphas have the ability to heal others. I can't bring back the dead or anything, but it's helpful." Jacob looked at me warily, it was such a caring gesture. "Bella…Why did the redhead attack you now, after all this time?"

I sighed.

"I thought if I left I could get away from everything…the supernatural, the pain, the memories. I went all the way across the country to New York City, thinking I did; I was wrong."

Jacob patiently waited for me to continue, our hands still intertwined.

"About a month after I got there, I just came home from work one day, and someone knocked on my door. When I opened it, there he was, staring at me with that crooked smile, like nothing ever happened. I was shocked... Then he told me that, Alice had seen Victoria was still searching for me. So, he asked Alice to see where I was, and found me. I told Edward I wanted no part in that life anymore, that it was the reason I left Forks. He pleaded with me, asking forgiveness and a chance to start over, but I was over it. Edward left, but I knew he was still around. I had that knowing feeling sometimes, of being watched. I guess…I guess he was protecting me from Victoria."

Jacob didn't move, he stared at me with a blank face.

"In other words, he's been stalking you." It wasn't a question, I think I heard him growl.

"Since that night I hadn't seen him, and he hasn't tried anything." I quickly attempted to mollify.

Jacob released my hand and stood up with balled fists. Mumbling under his breath, he turned and marched out of the room.

Sam's POV

Talk about blowing off some steam.

I'm not one to take pride in killing, but tearing apart that bloodsucker really helped release some pent up rage.

The pack is usually pumping with adrenaline after a kill, so it takes us a while to come down from the high. The important thing is we got Bella back, alive. Although, having a Cullen around worries me, so we'll have to stay on alert.

"You guys get to have all the fun!" whined one of the younger wolves, Brady.

"Yeah! All we did was run in circles, while YOU guys got to kick some ass." Collin complained in agreement with Brady.

As usual, half the pack was in Emily's kitchen, eating.

"Quit your bitching pups", Leah quipped, throwing a piece of bread at Collin's head. He caught it with his mouth. Leah rolled her eyes.

"Bella's gonna be OK, right?" asked Seth, with a hint a worry in his voice.

We all knew Jacob had imprinted now, after seeing his thoughts during the attack. Bella was family now, and as the Alpha's mate and imprint, we loved her like a sister.

"Yes, she is." I said to everyone. "But listen guys, two of the Cullen's are here, and I don't know how long for or how many may be coming. Just keep an eye out for signs of the change, on the res. We know they've been a trigger before." I warned them.

"Great. Are we gonna have to deal with the love triangle again?" Paul joked.

"C'mon you know Jake imprinted on Bella!" Embry retorted.

"Hey, just saying! I can't listen to that shit again." Paul said laughing.

"It was a pain in the ass." Conceded Jared.

Emily walked over to me, bumping my side with her hip, "You guys, give it a rest. That's in the past now." Always the peacekeeper.

"Alright, enough guys. Jared, Quil, Embry, and Collin, take the next patrol. Jacob will be with you guys tonight."

They nodded and got up.

"The rest of you, I love you, but get out of my house so I can spend time with my wife."

Everyone laughed, making kissing noises, ooh'ing and aah'ing, I simply shook my head.

Finally, some alone time.

I helped Emily clean up the mess in the kitchen; we put away leftovers and washed dishes. Being with Emily centered me, she accepted my good and bad days, and I couldn't be more grateful. I only hoped that I gave her what she needed in return.

Walking into the living room she plopped on the couch in front of the fire place. It wasn't that cold, but Emily liked having it on, so I obliged. Its days like these when I think she's the most attractive; hair slightly messy from dealing with the pack, t-shirt, and a long cotton skirt that hugged her perky butt. She always seemed at ease…relaxed, a confidence that radiated from her and it was sexy.

"What?" she asked looking at me with a smile. Even with the scars I put on her face, it still lit up when she smiled at me.

"Nothing…Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you." I told her walking over to the couch. I sat down next to her, bringing one arm across to rest on her shoulder. Putting her soft hand on my cheek, she looked at me with a serious face, "I'm equally as lucky to have you."

Without a word, I leaned in gently kissing those deliciously soft lips. They moved around each other's in a massaging motion. Then out of nowhere, Emily took control, pushing me down on the couch, her tongue slipping into my mouth, which it willingly parted for. She climbed on top of me, running one hand through my hair, as the other glided over my chest. Starburst lit up behind my lids, and the wolf hummed in pleasure. Slowly moving back and forth over my length, she licked and nibbled on my ear. I shuddered at the feeling, heat blazing through my entire body. My hands moved up her back, and in one motion I removed her t-shirt. Emily looked at me with feigned shock. I chuckled, grabbing her head and rolled her on her back. I kissed her scars, then moved down her neck, my tongue going in circles over the spot I knew she loved. Emily moaned in agreement, slightly arching into me. My hand slid under her skirt, ghosting up her calves, and over her thighs massaging them. Her breaths were growing heavy and I could see the chill bumps race across her chest. Emily's hands moved to my shorts, unbuttoning them with ease. I pulled them off with one hand. I zeroed in on those plump mounds of flesh, gripping them, I placed my lips over an erect nipple. I lightly bit the chocolate bud, and lapped over it with my tongue. She let out a throaty moan, lengthening my member even more, putting pressure between her hips. Unable to stand it any longer, I yanked down her skirt and underwear in one movement. Her legs spread for me in waiting, then my shaft filled her womb, and her fingers dug into my back. Supporting her neck, I slowly pumped in and out of her, igniting the flame in my stomach. Emily's hips grinded against me, pushing me deeper into her. I adjust my angle inside her, and began quickly thrusting inside of her. I leaned down to kiss her, with need and want, then I felt her body rising. I knew what she wanted, pumping faster, I sucked on her bottom lip. With that, her walls clinched around my length, her body shook, and Emily let at a gasping moan. At the sound of her moans, I reached my climax, panting. I slow down, resting my forehead against hers.

I lifted my head to look into those soulful hazel eyes that were clouded with passion. She smiled, mouthing "I love you".