This is a work of fanfiction, all recognizable elements belong to S. Meyer. All original elements belong to me.

Welcome back, and I apologize for the delay. Real life and three re-writes can do that! I'd like to thank my lovely pre-readers (Taoist Elf, littlefurrycannibals, and WovesCanEatMe) for their encouragement and comments. This chapter would have taken longer without them!

This chapter would not have made it 'to press' at all without (chef) Diamondheart. Her guidance on this chapter made it worth posting. Please check out her new story, The Fractured Angel. It is a companion to her award-winning Moonshadow, which was the first Jacob/Bella that made the pairing viable to me. While you're at it, read everything she has written, because it's that good.

Please enjoy.

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Sam POV

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I saw Jake as he reassured Seth once again. The scents, images and emotions that we conveyed while phased, mixed with the need to protect, were so disturbing to him that when he saw Bella at the bonfire he couldn't handle it. Seth had to run into the woods. Jake had been there and talked him down until Bella walked away from the rest of the crowd, toward one of the less frequented nooks on the beach.

Jake rushed off then, Leah taking his place to calm her brother. I stepped away, knowing my presence could not possibly help and returned to the beach to prepare for the circle to mourn Harry's passing.

The crowd at the beach had thinned, leaving only a handful of people besides the pack and the official Elders. To most of them we were a group of kids and young adults of the tribe who were dedicated to preserving tradition. Emily and Kim joined some months ago, so when Leah "joined" no one really batted an eye. That is, until they saw the tattoo; those who knew the truth, though, never said a word.

We sat, circling the fire, and Old Quil and Billy began to chant. It was plaintive and simple, the modulations of pitch creating a rhythm that the pack picked up on. With our bare hands we drummed on the hollow driftwood logs of red cedar as the rest of the elders added their voices. The weathered gray wood resonated with our strikes, the echoes in harmony with the singing.

The song went on for some time, the volume rising and falling, and we set the pace to accompany until the other council members dropped out, leaving only the original singers. They stopped too, ending the chant, but we thundered on, creating a song of our own until I looked around the circle. Without giving instruction, we all finished at the same moment, leaving the night eerily quiet, the silence broken only by the crackles and snaps of the sparks as they drifted up into darkness.

We rose together and left the elders, walking toward the woods. Emily and Kim departed, heading to the car they came in while the pack made for the trees. Leah and Seth walked side by side, hardly a foot of space between them and waited by the edge of the wood, waiting for their mother to signal to them to return. The Elders would speak together without us, anyway we had our own business to attend to.

"Jake. Wait up." He was heading toward a trail that took him toward Forks and clearly had somewhere to go.

"What's up, Sam?" He was tense.

"I heard what happened," He immediately hung his head a degree, jaw clenching and the muscles in his neck tightening. "I'm so sorry, Embry had no right to say that, he just didn't know. I want to have a special pack meeting tonight to go over some of, ah, the realities of our lives."

"Uh, okay. Tonight?" He glanced anxiously toward the path he had been on.

"Yes Jake. In about ten minutes." He faced me again, his lips tight. "Jake, I'm Alpha and I need you there as my Beta. I know have somewhere you really want to be, but I need you here now."

He tightened his grip on his shorts, holding them up as he had already undone them.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jake's expression was carefully blank.

"I'm not dumb, man. You get something we don't all get: a choice. I wouldn't change anything now, but..." I let it hang there, just leaving the thought unfinished. "Whether it works out or not, at least you get to find out. That's all I'm saying."

He stared for a moment, rolling the thought around before nodding and heading off into the night, pulling off the shorts to tie them on before springing into the dark.

I sighed. I would have to talk to her now; she deserved to hear it from me face to face, not in a pack meeting. I would let her rage at me if she wanted, with her mind to herself to do it, not forced mute by the pack's desire for peace within the group.

"Jared and Paul, I want you guys to split up with Embry and Seth and do a quick run around the rez. No one patrols alone on the far grids until further notice, and I want everyone back in ten minutes." I waited until they all left.

Leah made no move to leave- I had not instructed her or given her permission to. She stood staring at the bark flaking off the nearest tree, acutely aware of, but ignoring me. She had every right to.

"Leah, we need to talk."

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Jake POV

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It felt like ants were crawling under my coat and across my skin. I was so anxious to leave but I knew I had to be at the meeting. The barely perceptible glow over the town of Forks was tempting, but my ass had to stay parked in the trees by the beach, waiting for everyone to arrive.

I couldn't help it. I started thinking about her and how much things had changed over those few days, going from being just friends to… Tuesday night.

Damn, man! That was hot! Please tell me there is more to that! Embry whined. I swiftly halted my thoughts as he came through the brush and I stood to walk with him to the clearing Sam wanted us to meet at.

No, there is no more, and if there was, what makes you think I'd show it to you? I grumbled. I was still having trouble coming to terms with the way I'd sent her from the beach, and I was nervous about seeing her. Nervous didn't begin to cover what I was feeling. I kinda wanted to puke.

Whatever, dude. There are no secrets. The harder you try to hide stuff, the faster we usually find out. Paul had joined us near the clearing. His loping walk was careless, and he made more noise than an elephant.

No crap. Embry guffawed. A series of images and sensations started flowing over us, courtesy of them both. Embry was young but appeared to have some adventurous tendencies and a thing for using trees for… assistance. Paul's mind was more conventional but certainly more extensive and detailed. My own belly began to clench from the images, and I fought to block them.

Paul laughed, barking and yipping like a hyena. Consider that a tutorial, bitches. Ten bucks says you're substituting her face within a day. Embry? Want a piece of that action?

No way, Paul. He'll be yanking it in four hours after that. Embry's teeth gleamed in a wolfy grin.

You guys suck. I muttered, completely busted. Embry, one of those trees was near my house you sick fuck! They laughed, and I just shook my head and padded to the little area we agreed on for the meeting, sick fucks in tow.

Sam was human, and was waiting for us assemble. As his Beta, I sat on his right, the rest of the pack forming a semi-circle in front of us. He gingerly rubbed his face from his jaw up to the side of his eye and gave me a look that told me not to ask any questions about it. I took a deep breath and focused.

When the whole pack was seated, Leah and Seth arriving last, Sam stepped behind a tree and returned phased. As he walked back the chattering and murmurs of conversation quieted, leaving just the ever-present discomfort we felt whenever Sam and Leah were phased together. Leah was more distant and numb than usual, though, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Our numbers have increased rapidly in just a few days, and events have occurred at the same time that have kept me from doing other aspects of my role as Alpha properly.

Sam's solemn voice sounded a bit pompous and I was wishing he'd just get to the point so we could break and I'd be able to run to Bella's. His next words took me by surprise.

Embry, Jake, Leah and Seth, I owe you all an apology. Sam took a deep breath and soldiered on. You four deserved more attention and information than we gave you at the time. Things have happened, he glared at Embry and then gently nodded to Leah, that demand that we take a step back and start over from square one.

After you phased you became aware of knowledge you didn't have before, feelings you never knew you had, and memories that aren't your own. You became physically stronger and larger. Your bones are harder than steel and you can run faster than most cars can drive.

Each wolf was still and attentive, but there was an impression of nodding: we all understood this part.

You can see each leaf on a tree a quarter mile away, and you can tell the difference between the track of a deer from an elk and how long ago it walked there by the smell.

These changes are for one thing and one thing only- to kill vampires.

Any wandering minds became fully focused at that statement.

Sam ran through his memory of the fight with Laurent and the process of disposing of him afterwards. Seth shook, and a flux of disappointment came from Embry, who desperately wished he had been there.

He continued on to cover the treaty and our relationship with the Cullens, as well as the positions of the old and new treaty lines and our patrol boundaries. Exclamations of shock and revelation ran through the pack, shushed quickly by Sam's influence.

So that's pretty much the purpose we exist. Unfortunately, that's the easy part.

Bitterness leaked into Sam's voice and he quickly quashed it. The spirits are not very… forgiving when it comes to the rest of our lives. Years ago, it was - it is- an honor to be a spirit wolf, but it limits us personally and binds us to the tribe and La Push for the rest of our lives.

The realities of our lives will likely be poverty and isolation. Our duty to the tribe ties our time into patrolling and training, taking time away from school and career training. Our appetites require about three times as much food as a normal person; I don't have to remind any of you how expensive that can be. In the weeks and even months after first phasing, your control is bad; you'll ruin most of your clothes. We don't need much, but even shorts and sundresses cost money just the same.

The legends are not specific on our lifespan, but if you keep phasing, you will live a very long time. Even if you retire your wolf, you will have an abnormally long life. Living off the reservation means you'll have a longer paper trail; if your driver's license says you're eighty and you look forty you might put yourself or the rest of us at risk. We can't afford to take those chances.

Sam paused, letting it all sink in. Dreams of college, moving away, travel and success all melted away, leaving a sad collective void behind. Seth bowed slightly and Leah rested her gray head gently against his. He'd planned on being the first in his family to go to college directly out of high school without taking a break in between. Now he might never go at all.

The other big issue relates to your personal lives. We're all pretty young, but most of you should prepare for the possibility that you may imprint.

Leah turned sideways, no longer facing Sam, and laid on her belly, resting her head on her forelegs and paws. Sam paused, but made no action to correct the mild disrespect.

Someday you may find yourself bound, willingly or not, to another person. As I cannot express the sensation in words, we'll just show you. Jared?

Jared sat up straighter and replayed a mundane scene of the school. He walked through the hall, fighting the tremors that occasionally rippled over his skin, only just keeping himself in check. Many of the teachers looked at him doubtfully, he'd been gone for a couple of weeks, and generally on the rez, once you left school, you didn't come back. If you did, it wasn't for long. Sam demanded that he try, if for no other reason than to maintain the appearance of the tribal youth group.

He entered a classroom and sat, anxious and a little scared. Sitting still was not a pleasant sensation, and the urge to simply move was excruciating. His hands twitched, legs bounced, and the desk kept squeaking from the shifting of his larger and heavier body on the old screws and joints.

A girl, a row away and in front of him, turned and he could see her in profile. He was compelled to watch her, not really knowing why.

Then she turned the rest of the way around.

Sam was right, there were no words.

…

The meeting wrapped up with a review of the coming week's planned patrol schedule, and we were paired up for any patrols that took us to the farther corners of our territory.

We began to disband when Sam pulled me over to the side. We went over the schedule again as the other filed away and phased back. If anything came up, he wanted me to help shuffle the schedule so there was never a time that someone wasn't phased and with their nose on the ground.

After we hammered out some details, I felt compelled to ask Sam about the meeting.

Why did you have Jared show it? Is it because of Leah?

He sighed. Yes. I spoke with her earlier and told her what I planned to talk about, and what happened with her and me. I wanted her to know the truth before I talked about it in the meeting.

She didn't know before? I wondered.

No. All she knew was that she was jilted and I was the village asshole. I can't even explain to people on the rez what happened. Sam became tense and irritated. All anyone in this little town knows is that I dumped Leah Clearwater for her cousin. It may just be a talk show drama at the café, but it was our lives. His words colored with a twinge of shame.

How did she take it when you told her?

I got an image of a lightning fast clenched fist, the skin of the knuckles white against the bones then a loud CRACK, my own head recoiling from the sense-memory.

Does that answer your question?

With that, Sam turned and headed out, letting out a sharp yip to summon Seth. He was in no mood to talk any longer and he headed out to take the first patrol, Seth joining him moments later.

When Sam was a few miles away, I felt him in my mind again, searching through a block he had against Seth for a moment. He showed me snips of the peaceful home life he had with Emily, the quiet dinners, the oasis that she was for him, and an inkling of the passionate love he felt for her. He hadn't meant to be so short with me, but the subject was as delicate for him as it was for Leah, and far more complicated.

We apologized to each other, I for my clumsy questions and Sam for his overly harsh answer. Once the air was cleared between us and we were comfortable with our relationship again, I took another deep breath and turned to the distant glow over Forks.

I had given her all the pieces, but she had to put them together. When the puzzle was complete, would she want the picture anymore?

…

She could do this. She could do this.

The rhythm of my feet striking the ground spoke the words over and over. I sped by the ashes where we burned the leech, through the clearing and finally to the edge of the trees by her driveway. I peered up to her closed window. My heart was pounding as I caught little glimpses of her in the crack between the curtains, pacing around her room, pausing occasionally, only to walk again.

Then I heard a gasp, followed moments later by a little clicking sound.

…

When she finally stood at the window I could see the look on her face as she glanced into the darkness where I crouched. It happened to everyone who knew about us; somehow knowing made you look older or hold your expression a little differently. She waited and it was only when I heard Charlie's door that I figured out what for. Her head bowed, and she drew a deep breath as I held mine, watching every move she made.

She opened the window.

I jumped up and phased, throwing my shorts back on before I walked into the lit yard.

Her eyes looked haunted but unafraid as she searched in the darkness. When saw me, she mustered a small smile.

"Jake?" She whispered. I could hear her very clearly and I nodded. Neither of us said or did anything for a moment, unsure of the territory we were venturing into. I pointed to myself then to her, flattening my hand and making a pushing gesture telling her to move back. If I tried to tell her, I'd have to shout, risking waking Charlie up and that was the last thing I needed right now.

She disappeared into her room and I took a couple steps before launching myself at the tree, moving up between the branches and the house in soundless leaps and hops. With a push and a pivot, I slung myself feet first through the window, landing with a muffled thud at her feet.

Moving slowly, I stood from the crouch of my arrival, unfurling my new height. What would Bella make of the changes in me?She just looked at me, her eyes wide but steady. I wasn't being sized up, exactly, but in her silence she seemed to be rearranging her thinking, realigning reality. Her movements were cautious; while it hurt to see her watching me so carefully, I was proud of her for using her head.

"It was you last night... wasn't it?" Her voice was soft and quiet.

"Yes."

She was quiet and appeared to be thinking again. Her damp hair fell over her shoulder as she lowered her head to look at the bracelet in her hand. She ran her fingers over the wolf and then the ivory bead.

"You killed him, didn't you? You and the others killed Laurent?"

I gritted my teeth. "Yes. It's what we do. We are the Protectors." I extended my hand, offering the bead I had brought with me on the flat of my palm. "The others were Paul and Sam." She took the bead, her fingertips skimming my flesh, sending zings of sensation up my arm before setting the bead on the table, holding it for a moment so it did not roll.

"Do you kill all vampires?" She did not look at me as she asked it, instead concentrating on the bracelet and running a finger along the cord.

I swallowed hard. "Only those that pose an imminent danger to humans." She raised an eyebrow. "We have a treaty with some. They are free to live here as long as they do not bite or feed from... people."

Her eyes grew wide and she blinked fast, trying to stop the tears as the last piece fell into place for her, but she stayed calm. The bracelet was still the focus of her gaze, but her body was turned to me. My insides clenched over and over from tension.

"You made it? All of it?" She tapped her fingernail against the bead.

"Yes." The events leading to its creation washed over me: ribbons of confusion and anguish wrapped around love. "Yes." I sighed the word again.

She stood in front of me, rubbing the cuts in the wooden figure with her fingers, feeling the coarse marks. "You couldn't tell me, so you made this." I nodded. "Why did you say those things on the beach?"

"If you decided you didn't want to be... involved anymore, I had to give you a chance to say no." I drew a deep breath, frowning to force the words out. "It had to be your choice."

I choked back the raw emotions that began to flare in me, my hands trembling to touch her but still in fear of what might happen. Just because she opened the window to see me didn't mean she still wanted me.

"So, now that you're a wolf and you kill rogue vampires," Her voice wavered and caught on every word. "Does that mean I can't have a gorilla hug?"

My arms were around her so fast I that she let out a little grunt from the impact. Her cheek was pressed against the top of my chest and I felt her tears smear on my skin. I dropped to my knees, falling away from her slightly, unable to hold myself up. She brought her hands up and stroked my face tenderly.

"Bells..." I murmured. I turned my face into her palm and kissed it as I reached for her again. She stepped into my arms and wrapped hers around my head and neck, burying my face into her chest and I nestled there, wrapped in her scent and the comforting thump of her heart.

She bent slightly and I felt her lips against my shorn and sensitive scalp. The breath rushed out of my lungs as she tilted my face up, brushing her lips against my forehead, then the bridge of my nose. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold back the torrent of feelings.

The last time we had been together had been intense and euphoric; I'd missed her touch since I dropped her off at her house that night. Afterwards it seemed that every hour had been met with new highs and desperate lows; my mind had been assaulted with knowledge of every kind, as my body was stretched and molded into new forms. Responsibility I could never imagine before was thrust into the forefront of my mind every waking moment, only to leak into my subconscious to disturb my dreams.

Her hands cupped my face, drawing me up to her lips as my hands went to her waist and hips. Bella's touch was gentle and healing, the tender movements along my lips beginning to erase the hurt of the days we had been apart.

Bella pulled back from the kiss, lips deep pink and shining, and ran her hand over my now very short hair, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Please don't cry, Bells." She made a sound like a half laugh, half sob and wiped her eyes. I stood and glanced over at her clock; it was already a quarter till midnight. "I don't have much time right now, I have to get home and help my dad. But," I leaned back and blinked hard before I continued. "I need to know something, right here and right now."

Bella frowned. I had never demanded anything from her before, but I had to know and I had to know now, before I let myself get hurt.

"You know what I am. You know what I do." I stopped for breath, my heart racing and leaping. Bella opened her mouth as if to ask a question but I stopped her.

"Wait, Bells. I have to know. Do you still want me? If not, I won't bother you anymore."

"I don't understand what you're ask-" I cut her off mid sentence and she winced a little.

"Do. You. Want. Me.?"

She was tense for a moment, glancing back and forth between my eyes. Finally she softened and pulled me to her, lightly touching her lips to mine. They were still touching when she spoke. "I always want you, Jacob. I love you."

I pulled her to me and kissed her hard, unable to hold back. I bit at her lips and drew them into my mouth to suck on them, relishing her intoxicating flavor and scent. She gasped and did the same, then went lower to kiss my neck, lightly running her teeth along my jaw. Her hands grasped at my short hair pulling me to her and pressing her body to mine; I could feel every curve and angle of her body.

A chiming ring came from her phone. I felt her head turn to look but I didn't loosen my grip on her.

"Ignore it, Bells." I breathed in her ear, but she strained and must have seen the screen.

"Um, I think it's your dad. I have to get it. Does he know you're here?"

I groaned. "Probably. He seems to know everything else these days." I reluctantly let her answer the phone. She gave me a funny look when she greeted my dad. They said their usual hellos, and then he asked if I was there.

"Um, yes Billy. Jake is right here. One second." Bella looked worried when she handed me her phone.

"Hey dad. Everything okay?"

"I'm fine." He hesitated. "You, er… you have a visitor- here. I think it's important." I was about to ask who was there, but I realized it must be a pack member if he hadn't said already.

"I'm with Bella, dad. Can't it wait?"

"You need to come home, Jake. Now." He left no room for protest.

"Okay. Be there in a few." I sighed and handed Bella the phone so she could end the call. She gazed at me with concern.

"Jake, are you okay?" Her forehead wrinkled deeply and I could see that days of worry had left her tired and pale. I smoothed her brow with a kiss.

"I have to go. I have… work to do. I'll call you when I get there, though. Okay?"

She sniffed and nodded against my chest, then let go and watched me take the few steps back to the window.

I had my hands on the windowsill and one leg out, about to leap through when she dashed forward, placing her hands on my arms to hold me there.

"Jake… aren't you going to say it, too?"

I smiled and played dumb. "Say what?"

She blushed furiously over the color already in her face, giving her a cherry red hue.

"I- I said I love you. You didn't say it back." She was fidgeting. I sat, straddling the window, bracing myself with my legs as I leaned inside to take her face in both of my hands.

"I've been telling you I love you with every breath for the past six months- longer even. It was nice to finally hear it back." I kissed her, barely suckling her lower lip.

"I love you, Bella." We smiled at each other and I flew out the window. When I glanced back, she was watching me from her window, so I flipped my shorts off just before I got to the trees to give her a show.

I was already phased when I heard her gasp, and I yipped and howled my laughter and joy as I ran to the meeting.

…

I didn't know what was waiting for me back at home, so I tried to clear my head. I hated to do it, but I dove through a creek on the way to dampen Bella's scent. I wanted nothing more than to just inhale her hair and skin a bit longer, but this was important. The pack had to be a priority.

I phased and pulled my shorts on as I walked up to the house. I barely had myself covered when I walked through the screen door, my father's tired face brightening when he saw me. He wasn't alone at the kitchen table.

Leah Clearwater sat across from him, finishing off a plate of what appeared to be another one of her mother's casseroles. She glanced up at me, her lips tightening to swallow a mouthful. She just sat there, shifting her eyes a little nervously between my father and me.

"Well, goodnight kids. I'm going to hit it." My dad started wheeling to his room.

"Dad, wait. I'll help you. Leah?" I raised my eyebrows at her and she waved her hand, staying seated. She wanted to see me, not my dad, and she was going to wait until I was free.

We were silent while I helped him through his routine, and as I transferred my dad out of his chair and onto the edge of the bed, he leaned his head in the direction of the kitchen. "She got here about twenty minutes ago minutes. Small talked with me. Something is going on." I nodded, knowing she could hear every word we said, not wanting to speculate why she wanted to see me.

My dad settled into bed to read for a few minutes, the rocker switch on the cord handy so he wouldn't need to call me to turn it off, and I put on what I hoped was a game face to see Leah.

She was formidable before she phased, and now she looked like an Olympic class athlete.

She was probably six feet tall now; quite a bit smaller than the rest of the pack but startlingly tall for a woman and her features were striking, beautiful even.

Her mind, however, was a scary dark place and disruptive to the pack mind. It swirled with loathing, fear of abandonment, self hate and guilt. We all withdrew from her when phased.

"What can I do for you, Leah?" I gulped as I greeted her. I was Beta, after all, the go-to guy. I was supposed to help handle the little issues of the pack, freeing up Sam to do the job of protecting the tribe and surrounding areas.

She rinsed off her plate, setting it in the sink and set her hands on the counter facing the cabinets and letting her head droop.

"I want to run, Jake." Her voice was flat.

"Okay. You and I can take the outer patrol and give Jared a break tonight." I started walking toward the door.

"Dammit, Jake. I don't mean for my fucking health." She slammed a hand down on the counter, cracking the formica. "I want to run away. I can't do this." She whipped around, her recently bobbed hair flipping into her eyes at the motion and she ran a hand through it angrily, snapping a few strands.

"You want to leave home?"

"Jesus Christ, Jake. What the hell kind of home do I have now? What kind of life do I have?" She stalked around the table.

I opened the refrigerator and got out some of the same casserole Leah had eaten. I opened the microwave silently and let her talk, trying to figure out where she was going with this.

"You don't get it. He had his shit together, didn't drink, had a job- a future. I thought it was all figured out, then all... this happened. I lost Sam." Her voice choked to a whisper. "But now I have to see him, hear him, and see in his head every single fucking day."

"I'm sorry, Leah. I really am, but there isn't anything that can be done about it. I'm not going to be a prick and tell you to move on, because I'm not sure what I'd do if that happened to me. I thought I lost the one thing I had going for me until about an hour and a half ago, so I don't have any room to talk." The microwave beeped and I got the plate, setting it on the table and eating quickly, not caring that the center was still cold.

She sat across from me, tense and controlled. "He said we could quit phasing. We could stop and make it go away. I'm going to do that. I can't be in his head anymore, and I can't stand the way you guys pull away from me like I'm something rotten."

My mouth fell open. "Please Leah, not yet. We don't know why you phased, why the spirits thought you were necessary, but-"

"What the fuck, Black? Are you a shaman or some crap?" She raised a finger, waving it in the air as her voice began to crack. "If they gave half a damn about me they wouldn't have done this to me at all, and they sure wouldn't have made me do it front of my dad! Don't talk to me about spirits, little chief."

I slammed my fork down on the table. When she jumped, I immediately regretted my outburst. Strong, fierce Leah Clearwater started to cry.

The pull to comfort my pack sister was powerful, and I left my plate behind, immediately on one knee by her side. I knew I needed to calm her because something else was bothering her. We had to get it out in the open quickly.

She was pissed at herself for crying in front of me, and when I touched her shoulder, hoping the move was reassuring, she jumped and started to run out the door. I could see her skin crawling and vibrating as I ran after her.

Just a few feet from the door, she phased violently, the light dress shredding into pieces. Scraps of floral print were caught here and there in her gray coat. She whimpered, and moved with intent to the woods.

"Stop, Leah." She didn't even bother to look back at me, picking up her pace.

"Leah, STOP." A resonance I'd never heard before was in my voice and she halted. I pulled my shorts off to phase and walked beside her, sitting down. Others were in our minds and I sent them the message to bug off.

She was lost in her confusion, and while it made me dizzy to stand near her, it was so clear, why she was hurting so badly. She had just come of age and had responsibly built her plans for her future as Harry had always guided her to do.

Her father had approved of Sam and the future they were mapping for themselves, encouraging them to explore their options both inside and outside of the tribe. She'd been dreaming of the day her adoring father would give her away to the man she loved... a man who loved another now.

Her shoulders shook with emotion. It was the coldest guilt and hate, and it wasn't for Sam.

She hated herself.

Why, Leah? It wasn't your fault, Sam- Her mind quickly cut me off. It wasn't only Sam that was hurting her. She could handle that, sort of. It was her dad's death, and she relived it unwillingly.

She was lying in bed, body wracked with the familiar pain and heat, bones burning from the growth. Through her memory I could feel every tendon stretched to its limit, like a rubber band about to snap but just held until it could be pulled a fraction more. Sweat dripped down her neck and rolled into her long hair, making it wet and clammy on her scalp.

Her mother was panicking. Both of her children were in the midst of the highest fevers she'd ever seen, bodies convulsing, and she was trying to dial for an ambulance. Harry, who had just gotten home, came into the hallway where Sue was, the doorways to their children's rooms directly opposite each other letting Sue watch the horror in visual stereo.

He tried to take the phone, explaining that Seth would be fine and he would explain everything later when he looked in Leah's room.

He froze, face blank then contorted with shock. "No, not Lee-lee too!"

His last coherent words.

Leah's eyes were already highly acute and detected the change in color even in the dim hall light. He turned gray, his lips losing their reddish tinge. Her mother let out a strangled cry as Harry fell to the floor, clutching at his torso and grasping at the walls for anything to anchor himself. His breath gasping, and with each exhale he mouthed words that she could just make out in the wind that was his voice:

"…didn't know…pack…safe…"

A howl began to cut through the chaos, then another. It was Seth and to her horror, her own voice joining him. She had phased, half destroying her room and she and Seth raced out of the house, knocking over furniture and breaking lamps on their way out. She could barely squeeze her shoulders out of the doorframe and she followed her brother out into the night.

She knew it was Seth, it felt like him, even if they were something completely different. Within moments her mind clouded with the voices that were now familiar and they talked as they came along side, escorting them safely to familiar places to calm down.

I knew what happened afterwards.

I did it, Jake. The spirit did it. I hate it, and I want it gone.

The words were so familiar, just the day before I had said the same. My dad saved me, and I would try to help Leah. She saw some of my less composed moments from the night before. Her mouth muzzle gaped open and she nodded in recognition.

Leah, we don't know why we were selected. Sure, sure, we're the right bloodlines, but it can't just be that, right? There must be something about you that we need. I nudged her shoulder and thought softly, And it's not your fault. He was sick.

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. I don't care. You're all strong enough. You killed that dreadhead one pretty easily .

Only as a team, though. I wasn't alone in that clearing; that's what's special about us, we never face things alone. She heard this. You may be a hard-ass, and we may be a pack of jerks, but we'd never make you do anything alone.

I can't take orders from Sam. It hurts too much. I could feel her shrink from the idea.

Then take them from me. I'm Beta for now. We'll figure it out from there.

She sighed. I still want to quit. This is not what I want from life, and what I want, I won't find it in La Push anymore. Everyone thinks there's something wrong with me now.

Please Leah, give it a month. Give it a month to figure out what's going on and deal with it, then you can decide what you want to do. If you still want to quit and I'm Alpha, I'll- I'll throw your going-away party. If I'm not, then I will do everything I can to make sure you can go.

I stared into her dark eyes, hoping she'd agree. She swallowed and glanced at the repaired brick on the house, the stacked wood left over from her father's bonfire, and she bowed fractionally in acceptance.

All right. One month, then we'll see. Her mental tone was reluctant, but I thought I could detect a slight easing of her emotional tension.

I exhaled. Wait here. I'll be right back.

I trotted back to the house quickly and grabbed my shorts as I phased. I went into my sisters' old room and found some of their old clothes. Some dresses my sisters had left behind were in there, and I grabbed two and headed back out.

"Jake! Everything all right?" My dad was still sitting up in bed, the book suspiciously on the same page as when I left him.

"Yeah, be right back." He nodded and I ran out of the house and past Leah to hang the dresses on a branch.

"Keep them, Leah. There's a few more in the house if one of those doesn't fit." She blew a hard breath out her nose as she nodded, then loped tiredly to the tree. Within a minute she was pulling one over her head before stepping out and walking toward me.

She was exhausted, the release of so much emotion kept bottled up had worn her out, but her shoulders were looser and her posture straighter. Leah blinked, a slight sad smile on her face.

"Thanks." She walked past me and headed toward the gravel to walk home. It wasn't much, but was something.

I went inside the house, my plate still half unfinished on the table. It was cold all the way through now but I really didn't care. I took the fork and plate with me to my dad's room.

He looked up calmly, the book in his lap still open to the same page. "How is she?"

I moved my mouthful to one side, "She's okay. Better now, but I don't think she'll stay long."

He knit his eyebrows together. "She's leaving? La Push? Or the pack?"

"Both, as soon as she can. I talked her into staying at least a month. We need her, I don't know why yet, but we do. I'm sure of it." My dad was quiet. "What are you thinking about?"

"I think you must have done a really good job talking her down. That was your first real test of leadership, I believe, and you did really well." He smiled proudly. "Now get some sleep. We have to help Emily and Sue tomorrow to get ready for the funeral, and you have patrol tomorrow."

My hand was on the doorframe when he cleared his throat. "Ahem. So, how did it go?"

"What?"

He rolled his eyes. "With Bella. How did it go?"

All I could do was smile and nod. He did the same back and I went to my bedroom. I was exhausted, and I lay down but couldn't sleep yet. I had unfinished business.

.

Bella POV

.

Wolves flanked me on all sides. They snarled at the pale visitor, snapping their teeth and lowering their heads in aggressive crouches. Our bonfire had been rudely interrupted and the bracelet broke off when I stood to see who had joined us without invitation. I wanted to pick it up but my scarred hand hurt so much that I couldn't grip the leather strand. The wolf carving slid through my fingers, but the bead caught between them, the leather lacing around my wrist and crawling to my elbow.

Edward's golden eyes turned red as the cord snaked around my arm, lengthening and stretching upwards to my neck. More beads appeared and they clicked and rattled as he paced nearer, the pack closing in on both of us. I tried to scream but the cord wrapped around my neck and mouth, gagging and strangling me.

Edward's mouth opened, leaning toward me and leading with his teeth; the pack started lunging at me (us?) in slow motion. I could do nothing but wait for a set of teeth to sink in- would they belong to a mouth that was dripping with venom or letting out a howl I wondered dimly as the song started chiming.

Song? A stupid tinkling song was in my nightmare?

I roused, hearing my phone on the bedside table. My hands shook and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the number.

"Hi Jake. Thanks for waking me up." My voice was raspy with sleep.

"Sorry Bells. I shouldn't have called you this late."

" No, I'm glad you did. I was having a nightmare." I sat up a little, leaning back on the pillows using my good arm to prop myself up.

"I can't imagine why you have nightmares. Maybe a nice walk in the woods would clear your head?" Jake's voice sparkled with humor and I laughed- my first real laugh in days. It felt good.

"Jake?" I ventured.

"Yeah?"

"Are you really, you know… okay?" I wasn't sure how to word my real question. I really wanted to know if he was the same Jake as the one who had taken me on picnics and sat on the beach watching a sunset. Was the Jake who came to my window the same Jake I knew?

He didn't say anything for a while, but I could hear him breathing. Finally he inhaled to speak.

"Bella, if you're asking me if I am the same as on Tuesday, then the answer is no. I look different, I have a lot of responsibility, and I learned a lot of things about… everything." He paused, and I felt my heart fall a bit. If he was so different, then maybe things couldn't be like they were before.

"You didn't get hurt last night, did you?" I said, abruptly changing the subject. I knew what a vampire could do, and the idea that Laurent may have hurt Jake gave me chills, but I saw more of Jake tonight than I ever had, and I hadn't seen any bruises or damage.

It seemed like the phone itself shook a little with his laughter. "No, I'm fine! We outnumbered him pretty badly, so he wasn't getting away in one piece." The mirth fled his voice, "Bella, you're… okay too, right?"

"Laurent didn't hurt me, Jake. He didn't really have a chance." Jake didn't respond, but I could hear a little… growl? He exhaled and was quiet again before speaking.

"Are you and Charlie coming to the funeral on Monday?"

"Yes, he didn't want to go alone, so he pulled me out of school for it. You?"

"I'll be there. Maybe not for very long, but I'll be there. We all will." He was quiet a moment. "Charlie won't be around tomorrow for lunch, will he?"

"No," I snickered. "So, are you trying to avoid him or are you even more food obsessed now?"

"Both, actually. I want to see you again, and since you're still on a leash, I guess I have to come to you."

I shoved a pillow to my face to stifle my giggle. "A leash? Really, Jake!" My laughter was more than the mild witticisms deserved, but I felt giddy with relief. The lighthearted banter sounded like my Jacob, the one had so recently discovered I loved. Whatever changes he had been through, that part was still the same.

He chuckled. "Well, I have a patrol in the morning and it takes me near Forks around noon. We'll need a feeding. I"

My hysterics stopped. "We? How many, and do they all eat like you?"

"Plan for two. Which means cook for six."

"Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it." I scoffed.

"Prepare to believe, baby."

My face reddened. He never called me pet names, but it was...nice. It was...normal.

We were quiet again, and it reminded me of the times we would just sit on the logs on the beach or watch TV together. I would always want his company, even if it were just over the phone.

"Jake, are you really okay? You still…want me too, right? Now that things are so different?"

"After tonight I think I love you even more." He reflected a moment. "Things aren't as different as you think they are. I helped you recover from one of them. Now I can stop them from ever hurting you again."

I was stunned and struggled to make any response, but I was so physically and mentally worn I could only stammer a little.

"Bells, it's late and we both need to sleep. Lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure, sure. It'll be ready. So I'll really see you tomorrow?" Would I really see him in daylight again? Somehow the day would make it all real.

"Yep. Good night, Bells." His voice was soft and gentle, caressing my ear.

"Good night, Jake."

"Hey, Bells?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Ooga-booga."

…

How did you like Leah? It's rarely mentioned, but I think there was a lot more going on with her than just getting set aside by Sam.

A huge thanks to everyone who reads, review, alerts and favorites this story. I really hope this was worth the wait!

Ooga-booga, ya'll. Thanks for reading.