Jacob's lips were still before mine were. I opened my eyes and he was staring at me with wonder and elation.

"I have to leave," he whispered.

"No."

He smiled, pleased by my response. "I won't be long," he promised. "But one thing first..."

He bent to kiss me again, and there was no reason to resist. What would be the point?

This time was different. His hands were soft on my face and his lips were gentle, unexpectedly hesitant. It was brief, and very, very sweet.

His arms curled around me, and he hugged me securely while he whispered in my ear.

"That should have been our first kiss. Better late than never."

Against his chest, where he couldn't see, tears of joy welled up and spilled over.

"Ah, Bells, I said I wasn't going to be long. I just have to meet up with the pack for an hour or so."

"I'm n-not s-sad," I stammered, "I'm so h-happy that I f-found you."

"Oh."

"D-don't stay on my account."

"Don't worry, I'll be back before ya know it."

We hugged one last time and I watched him leave my house and transform into a wolf with one paw still in the doorway.

I waved at his retreating form and closed the door to keep my thoughts from escaping.

The tears cascaded down my face without any intention of stopping. I didn't mind. I needed this. I needed to release all that Zachary's death had been forcing me to hold back.

Jake was right, I'd never completely be over him, but that was okay. I would be okay.

I went back up to my room and checked my calendar; it was Saturday and I had no plans.

I wanted to see him again. But where does he go when he's a wolf? I shook my head. Take it slow, I reminded myself. Don't ruin this.

I lay on my bed daydreaming about what Jacob would bring that Zack could no longer.

I saw myself in a new family with Charlie and Renée mixed in with Billy and Sam. I saw my future pass me by and when it slowed again, I saw how the wedding would be; wolves and non-wolves would all attend. I would beam with the joy of a new bride. My daydream fast-forwarded again and bobbing heads of two small, black-haired children ran away from me into the familiar forest. I saw myself sitting in a great house, having room for all Jacob's pack members. Fragile as I was, they would always watch over me until the day my life had to end. Until I got too old and would wither away. I saw him giving up his life as a wolf and joining me soon after.

I opened my eyes and heard footsteps downstairs. Lost in my thoughts, I'd forgotten about Charlie. There was no dinner for him. I hurried downstairs developing the necessary apology on the way.

"Bella?"

It wasn't Charlie. Where was he anyway?

"Jake, hi. I was expecting someone else."

"Your dad, I hope."

"Of course, do you know where he is?"

"He's down at the station working on the so-called "serial killers" case of Seattle."

"Oh, right."

Jacob took this momentary silence as an opportunity and rushed over to hug me, gentler this time. After admitting our feelings for each other, he seemed to want to do it right, though I'm not sure why. I like his goofy self just as much as his romantic self.

"I knocked," he said into my hair, "but no one answered."

"Yeah," I blushed, knowing exactly why I hadn't heard the door, "I was kinda busy."

"Well, did I call it or what?"

"Call what?"

"I said I'd be back before long. We just had to regroup. We lost Victoria's trail, but it's alright now."

I cringed at her name. It brought back so many awful memories.

I was only minding my own business when that tracker, James, found my scent. Of course, being only human and only barely knowing about the magical world that surrounded me, I had no hope of fighting him off. That's when the wolves descended on him and killed him. As it would turn out, he was Victoria's mate and she sought revenge on me.

Why me? It was his fault that he died. Well, actually, if I'm being honest with myself, it was the wolves' fault, yet Victoria hunted me. It was later discovered that she killed the object of James tracking rather than those who killed him. Why? Who knew? And now, she was still out there, trying to find a hole in the wolves' defense system, trying to get to me.

And all the while, developing an army in the hopes she could one day kill all the wolves and finally kill me.

I hugged Jacob tighter and hoped that the images would dissolve in his shirt, but when I closed my eyes, they only got more vivid having nothing to distract them now.

"I'm sorry," said Jacob, "Did I say something wrong?"

"I know you guys are trying to keep me safe, but I can't help it. I'm still so scared."

"It's okay, Bells. She can't get through. Lord, she is trying, but our defenses are just too great a match."

Hard as I tried, I just couldn't repress the image of the vampire with the fiery red hair.

"Can you spend the night tonight?" I asked.

"Anything for you, Bella."