Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.

Chapter Twelve

Jacob's POV

Bella sat beside me on the couch, her hands trembling despite the fact that she kept them clutched together in her lap. My arm wound around her shoulders, offering support and comfort as we watched Sam pace the living room. Jared, Quil, and Embry were out on patrols, sticking close to the boarder along the Cullen's property.

We had picked up their scent early this morning and the head leech had called Sam just a few minutes ago to set up a meeting point. They wanted to talk to Bella.

"Where the hell is Paul?" Sam groaned, running a hand through his hair.

"Sweetie, calm down. I'm sure he's on his way," Emily soothed him from her place in the armchair.

"He wouldn't want you going to meet the Cullens, especially not without him," Sam told Bella, as if we didn't all know this already.

"Sam, please. I really don't want to see them. Can't you… Can't you just… ask them to leave me alone?" Bella pleaded, wringing her hands together.

I reached over and took one of her hands, patting it encouragingly as Sam came to kneel in front of her.

"Bella… I know you don't want anything to happen to the pack. You and I both know the pack would have trouble keeping them away from you, especially without Paul. None of us want you to be anywhere near them, but… if it's the only way to keep from bringing on a war…" Sam trailed off, her free hand held between both of his.

"I need to meet with them," Bella sighed, biting her lip worriedly.

"We will not let them take you. You have to trust us on that. We don't want to start a war, but we will keep you safe, no matter the cost," Sam vowed.

"Bells, you know I won't let them hurt you," I told her, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly.

She nodded jerkily, her brown eyes blinking back tears.

"Honey, you are going to be fine. If that asshole takes one step towards you, I'll tear him apart myself," I promised her, resting my chin on top of her head.

She turned into my embrace, wrapping her arms around my waist as her body trembled.

"I want Paul," Bella whispered.

"I know you do, Bells. He's coming," I sighed, kissing the top of her head.

"Will you meet them, Bella?" Sam asked.

She nodded after a pause and Sam let out a breath of relief. He pulled her out of my hold and to her feet, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to draw her close. She clung to him desperately, shaking visibly.

Glancing over at Emily, I noticed tears in her eyes and moved to comfort her. She gripped my hand in her smaller one, squeezing for all she was worth.

As Sam and I worked to comfort two of our women, anger at the Cullens swept over me and I swore then and there that I would make them pay.

Bella's POV

I clutched at Sam's fur as he led me deeper and deeper into the woods, wishing that Paul had come home before we'd left. I had stood at the window, waiting and watching for my wolf to appear, but he hadn't.

"We'll be okay," I murmured, rubbing a hand of my swollen belly.

Sam's body rumbled beneath my hand in agreement as he brushed his side against mine.

The rest of the pack led the way, a protective barrier between me and my previous family. Jake stood at the front, guiding us through the woods, with Jared on his left and Embry on his right. Quil walked beside Embry, his tail swishing as he practically bounced through the foliage around us.

The eager way he went along managed to bring a smile to my face, but when Jake suddenly came to a stop, I knew we had arrived. The worry and fear instantly took over and I found it difficult to breathe. Sam turned to nudge me with his nose, licked my arm reassuringly.

I offered him a shaky smile, wishing again that Paul was with me.

Sam took a few steps away from me and I turned away, giving him privacy to phase. I immediately wished I hadn't as the Cullens emerged from the trees. My entire body began trembling as I got my first look at them after so long.

Unsurprisingly, none of them had changed. Esme was as beautiful and sweet as ever as she stood beside Carlisle, who smiled warmly as he greeted the pack. Alice came dancing from between the trees, Jasper right behind her, glaring at the wolves. Rosalie and Emmett appeared next, neither one looking happy with being there. And, finally, came Edward.

As soon as he came into the area, my heart went into overdrive and I stumbled back. My fight or flight instincts were screaming at me to run away, as far and as fast as possible. Only Sam's warm arm suddenly coming around my shoulders kept me from doing just that.

"Easy, Bella. You're alright," Sam murmured close to my ear.

I nodded, forcing breath into my lungs and breathing deeply to slow the pounding of my heart. Sam's hand rubbed up and down my back, his familiar presence allowing me to calm down faster.

"Bella, are you alright?" Esme asked, moving to step forward.

The pack growled at her and Carlisle pulled her back behind him.

"She was just concerned. There's no need to growl at her," Carlisle frowned.

"We would prefer if you stayed where you are. As you can see, your presence isn't exactly helping her," Sam glared, keeping his arm around my shoulders.

"Bella, we were so worried about you. What happened?" Alice asked, pouting prettily.

I looked up at Sam, unable to bring myself to talk to them. It was as if I'd reverted back to when they'd left and my voice just wouldn't come. As if he understood, Sam squeezed my shoulders before giving the Cullens his attention once again.

"What had you worried about her?" Sam asked, trying to sound calm and collected.

"She disappeared from my visions. I've only seen her off and on for the past few months," Alice explained.

"Ah, yes. She told us about your abilities. I cannot tell you why she disappeared, but I can assure you she has been safe," Sam said formally.

If I wasn't so nervous, I probably would have laughed at his stiff dialogue.

Alice frowned, looking from one wolf to the next, but Sam was already moving on.

"Why did you come back?" Sam asked.

"Like Alice said, we were worried about Bella. Alice saw her jump off a cliff, but didn't see what happened after that. We just assumed, since her future went dark, that she was dead," Carlisle explained.

"The cliff dive? That happened… almost three months ago. Why are you just showing up now?" Sam demanded to know.

I watched as Carlisle looked to Edward, drawing everyone else's attention to the bronze haired vampire. I shrank into Sam's side as I realized he was watching me, his eyes darker than the golden yellow of his family. Sam seemed to realize it at the same time and pushed me behind him.

"Bella. I've missed you so much, love. Please, don't hide from me," Edward urged, his silky voice calling to me.

I shuddered, laying my head against Sam's back as I fought the pull he still had on me. Sam and the pack growled as one at the vampire, but Edward simply ignored them.

"Bella, please. I chased after Victoria for you. I searched for months, but lost her. It isn't safe, love. You need to come with us," Edward insisted, sounding like the perfect worried boyfriend he had once been.

"She's not going anywhere with you," Sam snarled as I whimpered into his skin.

"I think that should be her decision, Uley, not yours," Edward sneered.

"Fuck off, bloodsucker. It's actually my decision and I say she's staying right where she is."

I turned around, giving a shout of relief as Paul strode through the trees. He was glaring at the Cullens, but caught me against his chest as soon as I launched myself into his arms. He pressed a kiss against my hair as I literally climbed up his body until my legs could wrap around his waist. My hands travelled across his chest, down his arms, and back up to skim across his face.

"Swan, you are so fucking lucky I talked to the pack before I got here, otherwise that ass of yours would get the spanking it deserves. What the hell are you doing here?" Paul asked, trying to glare at me.

"Sam asked me to come," I whispered, rubbing my nose against his.

Paul turned to glare at his Alpha, baring his teeth in anger.

"What the fuck, Sam? Really?" Paul snapped.

"Can you discuss this at a later time? We need to talk about how to keep Bella safe," Carlisle insisted, reminding me that we had an audience.

Paul set me down, moving so he was partially blocking me from the Cullen's view. I clung to his arm, unwilling to be separated from him for even a moment.

"Keep Bella safe from what, exactly?" Paul asked.

"Victoria, of course," Edward scoffed.

"Victoria is dead. She has been for two months," Paul informed them haughtily.

"I didn't see that. How could I have missed that?" Alice muttered, turning wide eyes to Jasper.

"I don't know, darlin'," Jasper murmured, smoothing a hand through her hair.

"We'll figure it out, Alice," Carlisle assured her.

"Can we get this over with? Emmett and I have plans and they don't involve hanging around this dump all night," Rosalie complained, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"How long are you planning on staying?" Sam asked, getting everyone back on topic.

"We weren't planning on leaving, per say," Carlisle admitted.

"Well, you better change your plans. There's no reason for you to stay here, so just get the hell back to wherever it is you came from," Paul glared, reaching up to squeeze my hand.

"Not unless Bella comes with us," Edward insisted.

"What?" Paul growled, baring his teeth at the vampire.

"Love, I know I hurt you, but I promise I won't make that mistake again. I love you, Bella, and I'm so sorry I hurt you. I was trying to protect you, love. Come with us and I swear to keep you safe. I'll even change you if that's what you still want," Edward offered.

Before I could open my mouth, Paul had back me up against a tree, snarling viciously at my ex. The wolves were growling and snapping at the vampires who crouched down, hissing at the pack. Sam and Carlisle were both shouting, trying to get their respective families to back down, but no one was listening.

"Paul, please, no," I whimpered, clutching at him.

He spun around, his hands tunneling into my hair as he pulled my head up. His eyes were furious, nearly black as they met mine.

"Please don't fight," I begged.

"They will not take you from me," Paul growled.

"No. They won't, but please. Don't fight them," I whispered, reaching up to hold his wrists.

His forehead came to rest on mine briefly before he spun around.

"STOP!" Paul shouted.

Instantly, the fighting stopped and everyone separated. Paul stalked forward, his hand holding mine, until we stood just a few feet from the Cullen coven.

"You are not taking Bella. She's my mate," Paul said, staring at Edward.

"She doesn't wear your mark," Edward pointed out, smirking victoriously.

Paul's head tilted slightly to the side before turning to look at me. I smiled up at him, trying to offer support and encouragement. He leaned down, kissing me sweetly before his lips moved to my neck and he bit down, making his mark on me.

Ta-da! Chapter Twelve is done! What do you guys think?

Next chapter won't be up for a while. I have some stuff to do to get ready for classes. Bleh, but that's life. Already my reading list is looking extensive and I've only gotten the schedule for two classes. Anyway, point being, the semester is going to be BUSY! Just, be nice if I don't update as often as I have lately.