Over the next few weeks Bella and Jacob were almost inseparable except for during school hours. She tried to talk him into transferring from the reservation school but once she thought about the possibility of him phasing when some guy acted like a jerk around her, that idea was scrapped. Life was good, really good, for the first time in quite a while. She and Jacob were happy and so was Charlie, her Mom, Billy, and the other pack members. If only things could have worked out so well for everyone, she thought.
Edward had left school immediately after she broke things off with him. The story was that he had transferred to some school in Alaska. Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett were still in Forks living with Dr. and Mrs. Cullen and she saw them at school occasionally. Rose stared at her with such fury that it was frightening while Jasper and Emmett just seemed annoyed whenever they saw her. Alice was another matter. Alice always looked at her with such sadness. It broke Bella's heart. She wanted so desperately to talk to Alice, find out what was happening with the family, to tell her about Jacob. Alice had been one of her closest friends and now she couldn't even call her. It was for the best, she knew, but it didn't make it easier.
One morning in early November, Bella woke up to feel Jake crawling into bed beside her. It had become a habit for him to stop by and climb up to her room whenever he got the chance. She kept telling him that Charlie was going to catch him one day but it was hard to tell him to stop when she wanted him to be there every day as well. She turned in his arms and snuggled against his warm chest. He felt tense. She could sense that something was wrong and looked up at him, "Jacob, what is it?" He looked almost stunned as he told her. "One of the young ones who had just changed, Derek, he was only 12. We found him last night in the woods. He'd been killed, Bella, crushed to death. His throat was torn out. You know there's only one thing that can do that to us."
It took her a moment to even register what he was saying, "You mean… a vampire killed him. But, why? The Cullens wouldn't do that, ever. You know…" Jacob shook his head, "No, we know it wasn't the Cullens. We think it's the redhead again. There was one set of footprints, small like a woman." Bella couldn't believe what he was saying, "Victoria? You think she's back? But why, I'm not even with Edward now. Why would she come back here? There's nothing here for her now." She realized she was crying as she talked. The thought that Victoria could have murdered another member of the tribe because of her was too much.
Jacob pulled her closer, "You aren't with Edward anymore but he still loves you Bella. He always will. She knows that. She still wants to hurt him and you're the easiest way to do that." Bella sobbed into his chest, "Oh, God. I thought all this was over, the killing, being afraid, worrying about Charlie and you. Will it ever be over?" Jacob kissed her forehead and whispered softly, "I'll never let anyone hurt you, my Bella. Never. You don't have to be afraid." Bella held tightly to him for a while letting his warmth and strength calm her. He'd have to leave soon because Charlie would be up but she didn't want to let him go. "Jacob, I know you love me and will protect me but we're going to need help. Victoria is too strong and when she comes for me, she won't come alone. I have to talk to the Cullens," she told him. He grabbed her arms, almost shaking her, "NO, I don't need their help. They are our enemy now Bella." She pulled back from him, "Jacob, you're hurting me. Let go." He instantly released her, shocked at his own actions, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Are you okay? I just…you can't talk to those things. We don't need them in our life anymore."
Bella wasn't really hurt but she was angry, "You are the man I love but not my owner or master. I don't need your permission to talk to people who have always been my friends and been good to me. We need their help and I don't care about your wolfy pride right now. I want us to all be safe. You can't protect me, and Charlie, and the tribe and yourself. The Cullens need to know for their own safety as well. She may be going after Edward or one of the other family members. It makes sense to let them know. I'll call Alice. Edward probably isn't even in town. Just please trust me to handle this. Okay?" She could feel the heat coming off him in waves. He wanted to phase. He was holding back for her sake. "Okay. I guess you're right. I don't like it but I can handle it. I love you, Bella and I trust you but I don't think I'll ever be able to trust the Cullens," he told her finally.
About that time, they heard Charlie stumbling down the hall towards the bathroom.
Bella whispered, "You'd better go or face the wrath of Charlie. I'll see you later." Jacob kissed her and then was out the window and down the tree in a flash. She walked to the window and waved to him as he disappeared into the woods.
Bella reached for her phone to call Alice but before she had even finished dialing, Alice was calling her. She answered and Alice immediately began questioning her, "Bella, what's wrong? I saw you in trouble. What happened? Is it that dog you've gotten so attached to? Has he hurt you?" I should have known, Bella thought, that Alice would already know, "No, it's not Jacob. Alice, she's back. Victoria is back and she killed one of the young tribe members. Jacob thinks she's after me again but it could be that she only wants one of you or Edward personally since we're no longer together. Have you seen her in any of your visions?" Alice gasped at hearing the news, "Are you sure it's her? I haven't seen anything and we haven't detected her on our land anywhere." That was definitely puzzling to them both, "I don't know. Jacob is pretty sure it's her. They found tracks and maybe she's just staying on their land but how is she hiding from you?" Alice sounded worried, "Let me talk to Carlisle. We'll do some checking and get back to you. Are you safe for now? Jasper or Emmett could come protect you." Bella looked down from her window. She could see Jacob and two other wolves hiding deep in the shadows of the wooded area just across the street from her house, "I'm okay. I've got Jacob and the pack. They'll stay with me. Just please call me later and let me know what's happening. And Alice, thank you. I know this isn't easy for you." "You'll always be a friend, Bella. I'll call you tonight," Alice reassured her before hanging up.
Bella didn't really feel like going through a day of school. She'd rather spend it with Jacob where she would feel safe but she knew Victoria wouldn't try anything while she was at school and it would give the wolves some time to investigate further and to get some rest.
She got dressed and headed down to the truck. She opened the door and threw the backpack across the seat. It wasn't until she'd climbed behind the wheel that she noticed something hanging from her mirror. It was a small leather pouch on a braided leather cord. It was the type of thing she had seen several of the young Quileutes wearing – a protective charm. Where had it come from? She reached up to touch it and the back of it felt wet against her fingers. When she pulled them back, there were streaks of what could only be blood on her skin. She grabbed the pouch and pulled it down, turning it over in her hands. The back of it was covered in mostly dried blood but it was still damp in some spots. She realized that this had probably belonged to Derek and whoever killed him had left it for her as a message. Her heart was pounding loudly in her ears as she stepped out of the truck and searched around the area for any sign of who might have left the macabre gift . There were no tracks in the driveway or near the truck. Her eyes went up, looking into the tree tops. Victoria had always loved hiding up in the tops of the tallest evergreens.
Bella's jaw clenched and a tiny cry escaped her lips when she glimpsed for only a brief second the unmistakable red hair as Victoria leapt out of sight. Of course, she had stayed to watch until her package had been found. Jacob was quickly at her side once he realized her panic. He must have kept extra clothes nearby so that he could phase back if needed. He saw the flash of Victoria at the same time she did. He stopped only long enough to ask, "Are you ok?" to which she could only nod. He instructed Seth to stay with her and was off with the other pack members chasing the vampire who had haunted Bella for the past year. She was so shaken that she couldn't drive. She decided to just stay home with Seth. Charlie wouldn't mind if she told him she hadn't felt well. She needed to just sit for a while and she definitely had to call Alice back.
Once inside, Seth started searching room to room to make sure no person or vampire or any other surprises were waiting for Bella. While he did that, she called Alice again, "It's definitely her, Alice. I saw her. She's back." Alice agreed, "Yes, Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper have been out searching since I spoke to you. They caught her scent just faintly near the river that separates our land from the reservation. We've got to try and get a plan together and figure out what's she after this time." Bella quickly replied almost in tears, "Oh, it's definitely me, again." Then she told Alice about the pouch she'd found in the truck. "Bella, she's trying to pull Edward into the fight. She knows he won't allow her to terrorize you without stepping in." Bella agreed, "That's what Jacob says, too. I don't know what to do, Alice. I don't want to hurt him any more but he already knows, doesn't he?" She could hear how much it hurt Alice to talk about him, "Yes, he knows. He's coming back, Bella. He'll be here by tomorrow morning if not sooner. You'll have to see him, let him see the pouch and get her scent so he can track her. We'll need to get a plan together." Bella knew she'd have to see him again but hadn't expected it to be so soon, "I know, Alice. I know," was all she could say.
They made plans to meet the next day at the Cullen's house. Bella would drive there instead of going to school. She didn't know how Jacob was going to handle the news, but it was the easiest way. She'd have a hard time explaining what Edward was doing back in Forks again so soon and why he was visiting her if Charlie should find out.
She and Seth sat watching mindless television shows for a couple of hours until Jacob got back. Bella ran to him and threw herself into his arms. He was still breathing hard from trying to run down Victoria all morning and that animal scent still clung to him. She wasn't sure why but she found him almost irresistible when he was like this, just having changed from his wolf form back into the incredible man she loved. Without even realizing what she was doing, she started nuzzling against his neck and running her hands over his chest. He was responding in all the right ways. Bella suddenly heard Seth clear his throat very loudly and say he had to be going. She ducked her head in embarrassment for a moment or two but as soon as the door closed behind Seth, she wrapped her arms around Jacob's neck and began kissing him. He quickly lifted her off the floor as if she weighed nothing and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He turned and pushed her back against the wall, never breaking their kiss. She was lost in the feel of his skin and his lips when she heard him whisper, "Here?" It took a moment for her brain to register what he was asking but finally she understood, "Upstairs," was all she could manage. He had her up the stairs and in her room in under a minute. For a while, she forgot about Victoria and Edward and anything that was outside the circle of Jacob's arms.
Later, lying in her room with Jacob sleeping next to her, she was trying to figure out how to tell him that she was going to the Cullens tomorrow and Edward would be there as well. He wasn't going to like it no matter how she told him. Her fidgeting around had interrupted his sleep, anyway. He turned to her, smiling his dazzling smile, with his eyes still half closed and drowsy looking. "Hi, gorgeous," he said as he reached for her. She tousled his hair, "Hi, sleepy head. I thought you were going to snooze the whole day away." "Well, I have had a very busy and physically demanding day what with chasing vampires and keeping my woman satisfied," he said with a sly grin. "You did a very good job with that last part by the way," she teased him in return.
"So, okay, what has got you so fidgety? Something is up so go ahead and tell me," he sat up and looked directly at her. Bella squirmed a bit but she knew she had to be honest, "Don't freak or phase or anything because you're not going to like this." He pushed himself up from the bed and went across the room to give himself some space from her. She knew he did it to protect her in case he wasn't able to control his reaction. "Tomorrow morning, I'm going to meet Alice and the rest of the Cullen family at their house to talk about this whole thing with Victoria. They want to plan out a way to catch her and end all this," Bella told him. She could see his anger building but he was in control. "And Alice told me that Edward will be there as well," she quickly added.
At the mention of Edward's name, Jacob almost lost control but he reigned himself in, "You're not going out there alone. I'm going with you." Bella had hoped he would go but it also frightened her to think what might happen if Jacob and Edward were in the same room together, "Are you sure that will be…safe? I mean you have trouble controlling yourself when I just talk about him. Do you think you can actually see him face to face without trying to rip his head off?" Jacob actually smiled when she mentioned ripping Edward's head off which she didn't take as a good sign. He was calm though and told her, "As long as the bloodsucker keeps his distance, I'll be fine. But I don't care what you say or what the Cullens say, I AM going with you." It was decided. Tomorrow morning she and a werewolf would be guests at the home of a family of vampires. Reality had become stranger than fiction a while ago for Bella Swan so she simply took this latest development in stride.