Please enjoy, and don't kill me when you're finished!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, SM does, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for giving them for the world to enjoy! (Although she didn't know the value of them when she wrote it, or Jacob and Bella would have wound up together!)

For what feels like a life time I stood my ground
I felt nothing could touch me until now
Fall, and then you watch me, Fall
The warrior inside me is crying out
Set your face like a flint and stand your ground
Fall, and then you watch me, Fall
Never wanted, never wished for
My failures to hold me back
The only thing worth meaning
Is falling through the cracks
Will I find what I am looking for?
My very own existence
May cost me everything
My existence is overtaking me
I'm hoping and praying for a chance to live…
Eternal - War of Ages

Jacob trotted slowly, stopping intermittingly to sniff the air, huffing his warm breath into the cold darkness. His anger had dissipated, for now. He shook his shaggy head, almost angry at his human brain for distracting his simple wolf one.

He sighed, and chose a soft mossy place where he could lay down, facing the cliff, and see the crashing waves below. It was easier as a wolf – run, sleep, kill vampires… mate. The word sent shivers through his long body and he heard snarling – only to realize the only thing he was growling at was himself. It snapped him out the morose thought pattern he had found himself in, and he almost laughed, but it came out sounding more like a bark.

Jacob raised his huge snout, taking a moment to sniff the air. Something made his hair stand on end, but he could smell nothing – just the water, the trees, the dirt, and the forest surrounding him.

Another sigh rippled through him as Bella filled his mind once more. He wished their relationship could be simple. But it wasn't – and never had been.

He had spent the last year imagining how it would feel to have Bella as his – without the complication of the leeches. As much as it had ripped him apart to see her in so much pain, he had almost been grateful the bloodsuckers had left town. And if they had only stayed away, he could have finally proved to Bella that he was the one that could make her happy. He rolled his huge wolf eyes. Not that it mattered. He could sit there and play the "What if?" game until the day he died but that didn't change the way things were.

He wanted to be mean – to play the façade, open the door to the inner asshole that he kept hidden inside him. It was difficult to play nice sometimes – she just couldn't let go and allow anything to be easy. She had fought him, every step of the way. There were moments when she had been so cruel that he had almost wanted to rip her throat out right then and there – but then she would smile at him, and then it was if the whole world just fell away. He felt stupid for forgiving her so easily, but it happened time and time again, and there was no reason to fight anymore. He was in love with her – and nothing else mattered anymore.

Jacob wanted to gag, hearing the mushy thoughts dance around in his head, but he knew that it was futile. He had fallen for her, years ago, when the most entertaining thing to do with her was make mud pies. His large wolf eyes narrowed he considered what would be fun now. She didn't make that easy either. He had had her lying underneath him on the beach only a few hours ago and it took all his self control to not rip off her clothes and bury himself inside her. Not that he was experienced. Sure, there had been plenty of girls, and not just ones on the reservation, that had made it very clear that they were more than willing to get naked with him. Quil and Embry had encouraged him to go for it – Bella or no Bella, sex was sex.

But he couldn't bring himself to do it. He would be out at parties, or a club, and he could smell their arousal, their need, their desire for his body. He loved the attention, reveled in it. He wouldn't deny the fact that their yearning had blown up his ego to unnatural proportions, but whenever they reached for the button on his jeans, the image of Bella filled his head. It had almost felt like cheating. And Jacob wasn't a cheater.

Why he continued to feel this way when she had chosen the bloodsucker over him time and time again, he would never know. But the Great Spirits had brought them to where they were now. For the first time, Bella was a blank slate. Nothing to influence her one way or the other. He could only hope that this time, she would realize that Jacob was the perfect fit for her, and not Edward.

He shuddered at the thought of her becoming one of them. It made him sick to think that if she did, he really would lose her. Forever. Permanently. The point of no return. He could not let it get that far. There had to be a way to show her how much he loved her.

The hair on his neck tingled again, and he snarled in frustration. He quickly inhaled, breathing in the cool night air, and again, he smelled nothing but the forest. Jacob growled.

Something was coming.

He rose from his spot on the cliff, and quickly found his way back down the mountain, racing towards Sam's house. He howled, twice, making sure they knew he was on his way. Be ready.

Jacob should have felt pleased to find every wolf waiting outside of Sam's for his return, but he was too worried to feel anything but rage.

It briefly crossed his mind that emotions were simpler in wolf form, if he shut out his human thoughts. There was anger, there was joy, and there was possession. Nothing more. Much less complicated than his typical feelings.

Shoving the thought away, he quickly explained his sudden appearance to his fellow pack members. I don't know what it is, but it's out there. Something's coming for us. I can't smell it yet… but it's definitely out there.

Vamp? asked Quil, his large feet dancing in excitement.

Don't know, Jacob huffed, sending hot clouds of breath into the night. Probably. We've been waiting for Victoria to come back.

That leech again? sneered Leah. She's only after Bella. I'm tired of chasing that red-haired bitch around.

Jacob's lips pulled back in a deep growl, exposing every sharp, white fang in his mouth. He snapped his jaws at her angrily, his teeth gnashing. His ears flattened and he lowered his head, preparing to launch himself at her. She braced herself for his attack, deep snarls rumbling from her chest. How dare you, you fucking bitch! He snapped at her. The only reason you don't want to help is because you know that no one-

Jacob! LEAH! rumbled Sam's authoritative voice. We are not just the protector's of our people, but of all people. We exist for the purpose of defending humans against vampires. Her eyes narrowed at him, but she didn't respond. If you have a problem with that, Sam continued, you can leave now. We don't need you tonight if you're not going to be helpful. We have a job to do. I don't need to hear your bitchy complaints for the rest of tonight. So shut up and help your brothers, or get the fuck out. Her eyes widened as his tone got nastier but she lowered her eyes and sat back on her haunches. Sam waited to see if she had any comments. When he was satisfied that she didn't, he turned once again to face his pack. We need this taken care of once and for all. Everyone on patrols, now. In pairs. Quil and Seth, go – northern perimeter. Leah and Embry, watch the east. Jared and Paul, I want you to cover our western border while Jacob and I head south to watch Forks. Now go. Be on alert.

Each wolf found their respective partners and begin to move in their assigned directions. Jacob was grateful to be alone with Sam, knowing the older man would not ask him questions. He needed to be a wolf, for just a little while, and he could not have done that with Quil, Embry or Seth at his side.

Together they raced along the border between the reservation and Forks, quickly inhaling and dispelling the cold air, listening, waiting, searching for that one smell that they knew would find.

As they reached the western corner, Sam slowed his pace, and Jacob followed his Alpha's lead. Jacob, we don't have time to talk, but I do have one question for you.

What, Sam? Jacob asked, his snout searching some nearby shrubs and trees for any tell-tale smells of leech.

Can you handle this?

Handle what? was Jake's growled response, not liking where the conversation was headed. He thought he could trust Sam not to distract him from the hunt, but he was, bringing up the last subject he wanted to discuss.

Everything that's going on with Bella, Sam answered, not at all concerned about upsetting Jacob. I know you don't want to talk about it, so all I need to know is that you're not going to go off the deep end again. You're Beta in this pack now, and I need your support, your strength, to hold this pack together. If you cannot give me 100%, then I need to know it now.

Jacob stopped, letting his wolf eyes study the beast opposite him. Not being the best possible Beta to his pack had not even crossed his mind. Have I failed in fulfilling my duties since I took the position as your Beta?

No, replied Sam. But for the safety of the pack, I need to ask.

No, you don't, Jacob snarled. A little trust would be appreciated.

It's MY pack, Jacob Black, Sam snapped back. Until someone else takes on the responsibility, it's my job to make sure everyone else does theirs. And that includes you. And don't you DARE question my authority again.

Jacob flattened his ears against his head and didn't reply. He buried his snout in the earth again, determined to forget about Bella until the leech they were chasing had been caught and destroyed.

Two deep howls resounded from the northern edge of the reservation. Quil and Seth.

LEEEECH! cried out Seth, and every set of paws turned in their direction.

As a pack, they answered their brothers' call for help, and their howls echoed through the forests, their feet pounding the dark, wet earth, their snarls of anticipation replaying their eagerness for the fight that was about to come….

They found her, dancing across a cliff line, taunting them as she jumped easily along the jagged rocks.

Seth and Quil had almost cornered her several times, but she was fast, and each time, they had missed her by inches.

Seth, Embry, Quil and Jared, Sam shouted. Take the northern edge of the rock line. Let's try and push her south – if she gets to far north, she'll be out of our territory so fast that she won't get the fight that we know she's looking for!

A chorus of growls came from the wolves, echoing their agreement. Seth, Embry, Quil and Jared broke away, heading in the direction that Sam had indicated. The red-haired bitch jumped further away again, finding her way to the top of a large pine. Her laughter floated down to them and Jacob snarled at her, furious with the creature that dared to threaten Bella.

Jacob! Sam ordered. Fade back, come in the from eastern side. We'll try and lead her your direction.

Jacob dove back into the darkness, circling back around to find the rocks from the opposite direction. His nostrils were filled with the sickening scent of leech and he fought against the sensation it caused in his nose. He heard the snarls and snaps of his brothers and sister as they pushed Victoria in his direction, but he forced out the sounds of their shouts and instructions to one another. He cleared his mind, totally focused on the sounds Victoria made as she jumped from tree to tree.

He heard her nails puncture the tree bark, her quiet snarls as her eyes watched the wolves give chase on the ground below her. She sucked in her breath, and then coughed, as their smelled filled the air around her. He heard the sound of her muscles coil as she prepared to launch herself towards another tree. The resounding thump her marbled body made as she found her wooden target told Jacob exactly which tree she had landed in.

His body tensed, his eyes searching her out in the darkness. He waited, patiently, anxiously, excitedly, as the crimson tressed bitch flung herself one tree closer to him.

A surprised howl ripped from his throat as a body hurled itself into his shoulder. His large head slammed into the closest tree and he felt it shudder from the impact of his massive body. He struggled to recover, his jaws snapping at the new vampire that appeared before him.

This leech was blond, and strong. Stronger than any other vampire that Jacob had faced before. His vision was hazy, his shoulder throbbing. He staggered towards the intruder, but it jumped over his head. He whirled to face it, but not fast enough. He heard his pack as they thundered towards him but he knew that they were not going to be quick enough... that it was already too late.

Jacob heard the tree as it splintered, its' dirt foundation giving way. It groaned and creaked as it spun in the darkness, and before he could move, he felt it slam his body into the ground. Pain enveloped him, and before he could be afraid, he welcomed the darkness.