I narrowed my eyes at the stranger before me. My stance was ready to fight; the newborn strength still ran through my body. My body stiffened as she straitened up, showing herself to me. "Tanya," I gasped.

"Hello Bella, it's nice to see you again – even in these circumstances," she glanced at the area behind me – right to Jacob I assumed.

"What are you doing here?" I inquired. "If the Cullens sent you, don't waste your breath," I started, but she cut me off swiftly.

"Actually, I was wondering where they are at the moment. We have a," she paused briefly, "problem in Denali and could use their assistance. No one can seem to get in contact with them as of yet, so we came searching for you," she grinned momentarily. "Imagine our surprise when we found you here. Did Edward leave you after your change?" There was an edge to her voice that stung me, I winced as she spoke.

"They're gone. I don't know where, they were gone as soon as I was changed. They left Tanya, I suggest you leave to," I stole a quick look over my shoulder to Jacob. "There's a treaty in Forks, made by the Carlisle. You can't be on Quileute land," I finished broadly – crossing my arms over my chest.

"Why Bella, then what are you doing here?" She purred. Suddenly, behind me I felt Jacob wrap his arm protectively around my waist, his chest rumbling with a growl.

"Get off our land leech," He snarled at her. Tanya's lips pulled up in a mischievous grin.

"Oh goodness, I understand now. Edward left you," she nodded at me, sneering. "Because you weren't what he thought you'd be as a vampire. You're still ordinary, even by vampire standards." She was laughing now as I fought the urge to leap at her. "And now you're with a Mutt, because you can't get any better," she threw her head back and her hair curtained behind her.

I pushed myself back into Jacob as the lump grew in my throat. Maybe that is why he left. My chest tensed with pain as I watched her laugh at me. I felt his grasp tighten again; if I had been human it would have been crushing – now it was just slightly comforting.

"Leave now and we won't follow you. If you don't leave, we will tear you apart," a new voice spoke. This time it was Sam's authoritative tone that echoed through my mind. Jacob must have called him when he didn't recognize Tanya.

Tanya scrunched her face up at Sam, just like a child. "Bella won't tell me, so maybe you will doggie," she laughed to herself. "Why do you keep her? She's a vampire just like me. She'll live forever, and she'll slip sometime, she'll kill a human. All us veggies have before, it's just a fact. She'll come across someone in her lifetime, who's blood smells so delicious, she'll kill them within seconds, drain them and leave them there without a second thought," she pointed me, a menacing grin pulled back over her sharp teeth.

"Edward didn't," I whispered, shocked at the confidence in my voice. "I was his La Tua Cantante, and he didn't kill me," I spoke as I remembered how he described his attraction to me.

Tanya's face became very serious. "He should've," her voice was hard and serious as her eyes bore into me.

"Why we protect her is our business, but its best you know that we will defend her as well," Sam stepped forward, closer to her. "You have no place here and we do out number you, it would be wise if you left quickly, for your own good."

"Fine then, keep her. She was pathetic as a human, pathetic as a vampire and she was never good enough for Edward in either world." With her final words she turned on her heels and disappeared into the forest without a sound.

We all stood there for a while, taking in the severity of what just happened. "Bella," Jacob broke the silence, startling me out of my thoughts. "You know she's wrong right?" I hung my head, averting my eyes from his as we stood.

Before a sigh escaped my lips Sam stood in front of me, his rough hand holding my face even with his. His eyes were soft and concerned as he spoke. "You are our family Bella, even if we do live in separate worlds. You have a good heart and a good soul. Our pack has ran with you, we've spent time with you, and we've accepted you. Jacob loves you, and we love you like a sister." He glanced over my head to Jacob, who still held me close to him. "The Cullens left for whatever reason, we can't make assumptions and we can't think it's even because of you. No matter what happens, if they come back or if they really are gone, whatever choice you make – the pack is here for you." He took a deep breath and tightened his grip on my chin, forcing me to hold his gaze. "Don't you dare believe you are anything like the leech, you still have a great deal of humanity in you Bella, and no one will take that from you while we're around."