Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything. I just play with the characters.

We got back to my dad's house after riding around aimlessly for awhile. It was starting to rain when we pulled up to the garage. Rain in Washington—who'd have thought.

We got into the house, thankfully making it inside just before it started really storming out. I shook my head like a dog to get the water that had found its' way on my hair

"Ugh, Jake!" Bella complained. I chuckled.

"What's all the hilarity about in here?" Billy wheeled himself into the kitchen, a grin covering his face. "Hey, Bella," he added. Bella waved.

"Please tell me you're staying long enough to cook dinner," Billy said. I wasn't actually sure if he was kidding. Bella grinned.

"I suppose I'd better—you cook about as well as Charlie does." I snorted in laughter. Damn right.

"By the way, Jacob, Sam called. He wants you to give him a call. Sounded kind of important." I grabbed the phone off the hook on the kitchen wall and started dialing the numbers. Sam didn't make calls just to chat.

"You want me to step out a minute?" Bella asked softly. I shook my head; she was probably curious, too. I saw her smile a little, looking grateful.

Sam picked up on the second ring. "Jacob?" he asked immediately.

"Yeah, it's me. What's up?"

"We caught scent of another one."

I was flabbergasted. "Where?" I hadn't smelled anything remotely like a vampire all day.

"Up north, towards the woods. Smells like just one, but it's nothing we've smelled before. This one's new."

I was internally kicking myself. I should have phased sometime during the day, just to check in with everyone. I'd dropped the ball.

"Sam, I'm really sorry—"

"Don't worry about it," Sam cut across me. He actually didn't sound too upset. "We all understand."

I snorted. I could bet that Paul, at least, wanted to kick my ass.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." I shot a look at Bella. "When does Charlie expect you back?" I asked, covering the mouthpiece of the phone with my hand.

"Not for a few hours," she said.

Sam spoke up in my ear. "Bring her with. Emily won't mind staying with her."

"I'll be right there then." I hung up the phone quickly, then dashed to my room, grabbing a raincoat for Bella. On my way back to the kitchen, Billy glanced at me. He tried to look calm, but I could see that he was tense.

"Sam thinks there's another one in the area," I said before he could ask. There was a hard look in Billy's eyes. I could guess what he was thinking, because I was thinking the same. This had to have something to do with Bella.

I handed her the jacket, which she put on without question. We strode back outside, where it was pouring rain. It didn't bother me, of course, but Bella looked a little chilly.

We got into my Rabbit and I took off quickly. I noticed Bella double-checking her seatbelt to make sure it was securely fastened. I grinned. Definitely the daughter of a cop.

We made it to Sam and Emily's place in about two minutes. Bella and I rushed inside, where everyone was standing in the kitchen. I saw Paul glare at Bella, and I growled. He looked at me, then smiled sheepishly. I was still pissed at him.

"Hey, Bella," Emily greeted her warmly. I was grateful for that—Bella put up a great front, but I was willing to bet she was a little weirded out.

"Alright, let's get going," Sam said. Without comment the rest of the pack made their way out the door. Sam stopped and kissed Emily goodbye, running his hand down the scars covering half her face. I turned to Bella, kissing her on the forehead. She blushed.

"I'll be back soon," I promised her. I could see that she was afraid. I smiled.

"Stop worrying," I grinned at her. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth, then put her small arms around me, hugging me close to her.

"Hurry back," I heard her whisper. I hugged her tightly, then turned and strode out the door.

I tried to keep my mind focused on the task at hand—no easy feat. My mind was reeling, thinking of her arms around me, and of our conversation earlier by the beach.

Awesome! She took it really well, huh? Embry congratulated me.

About time, Paul grumbled. I ignored him, still pissed at the way he had looked at Bella earlier, although I could tell he was also happy for me.

All that worrying for nothing, I guess. She still hadn't given me a definitive answer, but I was willing to give her time to think it over. She hadn't run away screaming—that equaled a victory in my book.

Congratulations, Jacob, I heard Sam say inside my head. I was glad he approved of her; I respected Sam, and thought of him as a mentor in some ways, though I didn't tell him that aloud.

Thanks. Hey, I'm really sorry about earlier today. I should have phased and checked in with you guys—

Don't worry about it, he cut across me again. We've got you now. I don't know what this vamp is doing—it doesn't really seem to have much of a destination. The scent is all over the place—we found it in a meadow before, way out in the middle of the woods. Seems like the bloodsucker's been coming back to that spot regularly. That's where we'll go first.

I could see the spot in his head. It didn't make any sense to me why the vamp would pick that spot—maybe because of the location? Perhaps the leech was trying to be inconspicuous.

We got there relatively soon, due to the speed at which we were running. The meadow was relatively small, as meadows go, but I could understand the draw for the vamp—Bella's scent was here, as well as Cullen's. I growled low in my chest.

Easy, Jacob, Sam said. Everyone else smelled it too, and it made us all the more focused. My brothers felt almost as angry that someone was after Bella as I felt.

We searched for a few more minutes, thoroughly checking to make sure the area was clear.

It's not here, Sam finally acknowledged.

So where do we look now, I asked. This was irritating. What was it with these leeches?

Well, I would suggest one or two of us staying here to make sure this area is covered; I have a feeling the bloodsucker will be coming back here eventually. The rest of us should keep an eye out around Forks and La Push.

I'll stay, I immediately offered. This seemed the most likely place to have a chance at getting this bloodsucker. I wanted to make sure I was the one to take it down. I was surprised at how furious I was.

Sam nodded. He understood. Jacob stays.

I'll stay too, said Embry. I was glad for that; he was always a good one to have with me. He kept me sane.

Alright then, that's settled. Paul and I will stay around Forks. Jared, if you wouldn't mind covering La Push… Jared nodded. Usually it would be Jared running with Sam, but in cases like this, Sam wanted to keep an eye on Paul—specifically, Paul's temper. I tried not to think about that—I couldn't really blame Paul for getting angry where the leeches were concerned.

Alright, let's go. Sam looked at me and Embry. You two be careful. No unnecessary risks. I knew that last part was directed at me. The older three wolves turned and bounded off through the trees.

Embry glanced at me. Looks like just you and me.

We found a spot to lay down near some shrubbery—it would provide cover and a good place to keep an eye out for the vampire.

I wonder what Bella was doing here, Embry mused. I wondered the same thing. The vampire smell was definitely Cullen's. Why on Earth would he take her out here in the middle of nowhere? It was profoundly stupid. He could have killed her, and no one would be any the wiser. I pictured Bella here, lying dead on the grass, and I growled.

Easy, Jake.

I took a deep breath in to control myself. Embry was right.

We sat in silence for awhile, just keeping an eye out for any movement. The others weren't having any luck, either; they had looped around the same spots numerous times, making sure to cover every area. The pouring rain didn't bother us, although it was annoying. The others could have tried to follow the scent, but the rain helped to dilute it. Besides, no one really wanted to leave the immediate area—too much could happen if we left for even one second.

It was starting to get dark out. I sighed. Come on already. Embry chuckled.

I heard Sam's voice in my head. I don't think we'll catch the leech tonight—it's been hours. I didn't like the tone of defeat in his voice. I wanted to stay.

Sam caught on to this. We'll continue the search tomorrow.

I sighed. At least Bella was still waiting for me at home. I would probably stay near her house tonight, just in case.

Alright, I sighed again. Embry and I got up, shaking the wetness from our fur. Ugh. We started running back through the trees, heading toward La Push again. We made it there quickly.

We phased out in the woods, so people wouldn't see our phasing or our lack of clothing. I grumbled the whole way; not catching that vampire really pissed me off. My brothers felt the same way. We trudged through the rain back to Emily and Sam's house, and I felt better when I smelled Bella's lavender shampoo. I couldn't help but grin.

Emily and Bella were both in the kitchen. This can only be a good thing. It looked like spaghetti and meatballs—enough to fill either a whole football team, or the five of us werewolves—with garlic bread. I could hear my brother's groans of delight. I was right there with them.

Sam kissed Emily hello and sat down at the table. Bella looked up at me and smiled, then slipped her arms around my waist. I tried to ignore what that did to me.

"Missed you," she murmured. "I'm glad you're okay," She said.

"Pft. Of course I'm okay." I rolled my eyes teasingly. She smacked me on the arm.

"Did you catch whoever it was?" she asked. I shook my head. I'm sure my irritation showed on my face.

"Don't worry about it," she told me. She was worried, though—I could tell by the look on her face and the way she worried her lip. I was determined to not make her worry about it, at least not tonight. I smiled at her.

"I'm not worried," I half-lied to her. It was mostly true; I wasn't worried for myself. She nodded, seeming pacified with my response.

"Now sit," she instructed, turning back to the counter o continue putting spaghetti in a huge bowl.

I grabbed a spot at the table next to Embry, who was visibly salivating. The girls set the spaghetti on the table, as well as about three dozen breadsticks. We dug in immediately. Bella took the other seat next to me, and Emily say down in the next seat.

"What is it with men and food?" I heard Emily mutter to Bella. Bella shook her head, smiling.

"It's a little endearing, actually," I heard her reply.

I grinned up at her and made a show of slurping it. Bella rolled her eyes.

A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews, and keep 'em comin'! For those of you who may have missed it last chapter, I also have a Twilight fansite that we've just started—mostly a forum kind of site. .com/penombrapersempre/index/ Thank you in advance if you decide to take a look! Next chapter should be up soon—I'm trying to wrap this story up, but I really love writing it ^_^