Sorry for such a dramatic pause with the updates. I was having mad writer's block and re-wrote this chapter numerous times until I got it just right. Even now I'm not so sold on this one but I hope you'll prove me wrong. In other news Tiger Woods and his mistresses have been the topic of conversation in my house over dinner; he's gone from Obama to OJ in their eyes. Ha! Oh well, I also saw T-Lauter of SNL; he was very good. If you have time you have to see the opening and the 'Biology Twilight-Partner' skits, Taylor in a mini skirt! Always funny.

Also... my school is sponsoring something called Mercy Beyond Borders. It's to help women and girls in Africa. I'm asking everyone just to check it out. Collect donations wherever! Every little bit counts!

So this is a really looooong A/N but I promise I'm done.

For real.

Chapter Twelve: Cuts like a Buffalo

I'd never felt so tense in all my life. Everyone was on edge as the new wolves emerged from the forest. It was five large males and one female and they did not look happy. All six sets of brown eyes narrowed at us. I heard Edward let out a warning hiss. Three were brown like the grime on windows and the others were mottled white and grey.

"They want to talk to you Jacob." Edward said, his jaw was tight.

I shifted away from Bella but she didn't let go of my arm.

"Jake don't."

I gave Bella a small hug, "I'll be fine. I'm the strongest guy I know."

Bella let out a strained laugh, "Just be careful."

They were about a yard away from us. I could tell they couldn't stand the Cullen's vampire scent as their noses were wrinkled.

'Shit don't do this.' Damon said, 'These guys are bad news.'

'What are you so afraid of?' I asked, taking off my jersey so I wouldn't ruin it when I shifted, 'Do you know them?'

How could Damon know anyone but me? I mean he was me and I was him. How could he know wolves I'd never met? It baffled me.

"No Seth!"

I turned around sharply when I heard Jasper's furious voice. He was holding Seth's elbow, I guessed Seth was coming with me. He'd become my new wingman in a way.

"I'll be fine!" Seth said indignantly.

I'd never seen Jasper like this. He was usually so stoic and cold. It was actually creepy to see his emotions.

"They asked for Jacob. Not you."

Seth tugged his arm away from Jasper and ran as fast as he could over to me. Jasper made to go after him but Alice stopped him. Jasper and Edward must've been feeling so helpless.

Seth and I reverted to our wolf forms but didn't approach the new pack. I didn't want to rush head-first into a fight.

'Who are they?' Seth asked, cocking his head in my direction.

'I don't know but they smell different. They're definitely not from Forks. I doubt they're Quileute either.'

This was weird. Six wolves show up unannounced and miraculously found where Seth and I were playing baseball with vampires? It was too much of a coincidence. Someone set us up. Seth and I stalked forward; well I led the way because I was older. One of the bigger wolves, a black one, took a defensive stance but the grey-white one growled at him. He was obviously the alpha.

'Brothers,' he said, his voice was deep, 'where is your Alpha? We need to speak with him.'

I wasn't buying it, 'Then go to La Push. We don't belong to a pack.'

The hulking black one snarled, 'You run with vampires!'

'Got a problem with that?' I asked indignantly.

'Peace Jesse,' the alpha said, 'we don't want to cause any trouble. But I must agree with my son. The company you keep is disconcerting.'

Seth sighed, 'You and Sam would get along great.'

I wanted to disseminate this situation quickly. It could turn ugly at a moment's notice and I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Especially Edward and Bella. I gave a submissive pose to show I wasn't threatening,

'This is our territory. So I'm gonna ask nicely, leave for La Push and don't come back.'

'Listen! Can you hear it?' Damon said.

'Hear what?'

Closing my eyes I focused my attention on the inner thoughts of the other wolves. I doubted even Edward could hear this. They were plotting against us. And not only Seth and I, but the entire La Push wolf pack. They were threatened that our pack was expanding and that we lived in such a close proximity to vampires. But they also wanted me. Somehow they knew about my visions. How could they? These were different wolves, ancient and powerful, maybe as old as Carlisle. They'd been around the block a few times, if you catch my drift.

'Jake… are you okay?' Seth asked worriedly.

I narrowed my eyes at their leader, 'Do you really think I'm an idiot? I know why you're here and I'm telling you now. If you mess with my pack I'll fucking kill you.'

I'm guessing I crossed a line because the next thing I knew I was flat on my back with someone's teeth around my throat. Seth had been cornered by the others. But the pressure stopped the one who had me pinned, Jesse, looked up and growled. Edward had one of the wolves in a choke-hold; he didn't show any signs of letting him live,

"Release him." He hissed. I'd never seen Edward so angry. Ever.

I scrambled away once I was free, barking and snarling at the other wolves to keep their distance. The Alpha silenced his pack mates,

'Come. We'll leave for La Push now.'

They stalked away, leaving me wounded and embarrassed. Why had Edward intervened? Now I looked like a weakling or something. I knew he was only trying to help but I could take care of myself.

"Jacob…" he said, trying to touch me.

I growled at him 'I was handling it fine. I don't need your pity.'

Edward's butterscotch eyes softened, "I just want to protect you Jacob. When I heard their thoughts I just…"

'Just leave me alone.' I said, shaking the dirt off my fur. I could smell the clean scent of rain in the air and not a second later it started to pour.

This was fucking messed up. I shouldn't get mad at Edward but I needed some time alone to think. I was going against everything I thought I believed in but I had to be sure. Ignoring Edward I sped into the woods towards La Push. I needed answers.

Fast.

I knew he followed me. Of course my over-protective vampire followed me but for once I wanted him to give me my space. I raced as fast as I dared to my old house. My heart fell when I saw claw marks on the door. I could smell those nomads everywhere! They'd been in my house! I didn't bother phasing into my human form; I needed to be on the offense, and stalked into the house. The inside of the house made the outside look like the Ritz. Everything was ransacked; tables overturned, carpet slashed, mirrors all shattered. I treaded carefully into through the kitchen and living room, my paws crunched over the debris from my broken home.

Why would they do this?

My nose tingled with two familiar scents, ones that I never wanted to mix. I smelled my Dad but I also smelled blood. Lots of it. I ran into my Dad's bedroom. Nothing could've prepared me to see my Dad like that. The bed was flipped and all our pictures on the walls had been knocked off and stomped on like they were nothing. My mom's Quileute traditional medicine woman blanket had been shredded purposefully. In the center was my Dad. I shifted closer, tossing the chair away that had fallen on him with my snout. It was the first time in my life I felt helpless. I didn't realize I'd phased until my bare knees hit the blood smeared floor. They'd killed him in cold blood.

"Dad…" I managed to whisper. My voice sounded so weak- it felt so wrong.

He hadn't been dead for long, I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. My fingers curled around his limp hand and gripped for dear life. They'd ripped him up like meat on a bone and just left him to bleed out. Just the sheer carnage had me reeling with anger and remorse; anger that I hadn't killed those bastards at first sight but remorse that I couldn't see this coming. How could I see Edward and Bella but not Dad? These visions didn't make any sense.

'I told you kid.' Damon said in a small voice, 'Bad news.'

'Why don't you just shut up for once?!' I snapped at him.

'Fine.'

I was alone. It was the first time I'd been alone in almost two years. No Damon chattering in my ear. No Dad always checking up on me to make sure I wasn't dead in a ditch or rotting in jail.

I hated it.

This aloneness made me almost suicidal. What was wrong with me? I whimpered, pulled the un-shredded part of the quilt over my body, and crawled to sit beside my Dad's old trunk next to the bed. I felt the blood crust on my knees as I tried not to cry. I hated myself for not preventing this from happening. Everyone was so busy protecting me that I'd forgotten to protect them. The pulling sensation from before started up again but I fought it. I didn't want this! I didn't want to see this horrible future where I'd be alone. The tugging was followed by a loud rumble, almost like an old diesel engine. I pressed my palms over my eyes,

"I don't want this!" I yelled to the darkness.

But the darkness wanted me.

"You have to stop him," Alice said fearfully, "he's going to get himself killed!"

I was standing in the Cullen's living room; everyone had grave looks on their faces. I noticed immediately that Seth and Jasper were missing. Oh God, not them. Please not them. Carlisle's face was hard and determined,

"Jasper knows what he's doing."

Alice was near hysterics, "No he doesn't! He's rushing into a trap!"

No one seemed to notice I was even there. It was like I was a ghost. Rosalie and Emmett were actually calm but I could tell under the surface that they were just as frantic as Alice. Esme was tight lipped beside Carlisle. What was going on? Being a mediator or whatever I was didn't give any answers. Edward suddenly burst through the door, his whole body was shaking furiously and his eyes were the blackest I'd ever seen.

"Edward!" I said, running over to him. But the funny thing was I didn't exactly run to him; it was more like I ran through him.

Okay so this was new.

"They killed them." Edward said softly, sinking to his knees.

It broke my heart to see Alice's face twist and turn with so many emotions. If they could cry I was sure every member of the Cullen clan would've been bawling. Alice was dry-sobbing into Edward's chest as he held her. They were both trembling like they were cold.

"I can't believe they're gone." Rosalie whispered, her eyes dropped to her shoes when Alice turned to look at her.

Esme's lip quivered, "They were only boys."

Jasper and Seth…dead? I gritted my teeth and prayed this vision would never come true. It was the first time where I could see but not be seen and I didn't like it. Why wasn't I present?

"What about Jacob?" Carlisle asked.

Edward shook his head and I almost thought I heard him whimper. "I have to find him." he mouthed as he held Alice, "Jacob's still out there. I have to find him."

"Jacob! Jacob can you hear me!?"

My vision focused on two deep amber eyes staring directly into mine. Edward was hovering over me; he looked so scared. I'd never seen him look scared. Ever.

"Edward?"

Edward let out a sigh of relief, "Thank God." He pulled me up quickly into his arms, "I thought I lost you, my wolf. You… you weren't breathing."

Edward stroked my cheek with his finger lightly, as if he was afraid I was a dream and the lightest touch would spirit me away. He rocked us back and forth in a calming motion as he whispered incoherent words of affection and love in my ear. But I was too far gone to listen. All I could think about was Jasper and Seth.

"Jacob you have to tell me what's wrong." Edward said, "Please love, please. I can't lose you, you're my world."

Even I didn't know what to tell him. But I knew someone who could.

"We have to get to the Clearwater's. Now."

Sorry I killed Billy. I hope no die-hard Billy fans were saddened. He was a good Daddy!

Should I run an hide? Did you like it or should I be running for the hills as you sharpen the pitchforks? I hope not. I will update much quicker this time, especially with Christmas break rolling around. Next chapter Jacob's dreams are explained, more trouble with the new wolves, and we figure out who Damon REALLY is. Until then...

XOXO -Mystery