A/N:

On The Brightside- Never Shout Never

Previously…

He sighed. "Why would there be a war? I thought we had decided to let you guys around the treaty."

"Looks like you missed a lot while you were out playing around." I growled, holding on to my frustration with him.

Well, if I'm being honest with myself I'm more hurt than angry. He didn't tell me anything before leaving. Not even a phone call. Hell, I would have even been happy to get one of those childish notes I had Charlie pass between the two of us.

"Bells." Jacob said quietly, his dark eyes softening. "I know I shouldn't have left without saying anything. It just took me awhile to get my head around having my best friend turning into something I was taught to hate."

"I know. You're here now though. For good?"

"For good. And I'm going with you to find out what's going on with the pack." He confirmed, hesitantly reaching out and lightly touching my shoulder, as if to anchor me in place, before continuing.

"Now why don't you tell me why you aren't on your honeymoon with your vamp?"

BELLA POV

"What do you mean he cheated on you? He put you through all that crap that nearly got you killed by the Volturi, practically blackmailed you into marrying him, and then he decides to sleep with some stranger!" Jacob exploded.

"It wasn't exactly a stranger…It was Alice, Jasper's wife."

"How have you not ripped Edward's head off yet?" He asked incredulously. "And Jasper's the tall blonde one with all the scars right?"

I nodded.

"Damn. Edward should be scared shitless. I'd hate to have him as an enemy." He commented, barely suppressing a shudder.

I laughed inwardly at Jacob's view of Jasper. Typical. After seeing his scars and rough demeanor Jacob immediately concludes that Jasper's dangerous. I guess he is, but it's difficult to picture him hurting anyone.

I know that it's impractical of me to think this way, but Jasper is completely different around me. He's easily the one Cullen I trust the most. I know that I can depend on him in any situation. Jasper told me all about his past, going into even more detail after I was changed, but still it's maddening to picture him in the horrible fights he was in with Maria.

Her very name makes anger swell up inside me. I swear she better stay the heck away from Jasper now. I won't let her get her claws on him again. Ever.

"Anyways. We should probably continue to the treaty line. The rest of the pack has probably caught our scent already since we're so close." Jacob continued, pretending not to notice how I zoned out.

I nodded in response and followed him to the boundary where the whole pack was already waiting.

Swallowing my surprise at seeing so many huge wolves, I walked calmly to meet them with Jacob.

Damn. Had they always been this overwhelming?

Jacob seemed to have a silent conversation with a midnight black wolf- Sam.

My eyes flickered down the line of wolves. I recognized a few of them.

There was Seth, the sandy brown one, who nodded towards me in recognition. There was a light grey wolf next to him, I assume that is Leah. Next to her was Paul, a bigger silver colored wolf. Followed by a dark grey Embry, dark brown Quil, and three other wolves I was not familiar with.

Finally, Jacob and Sam both disappeared behind the trees and re-emerged a few seconds later in their human skins.

"Bella, I guess the rumors are true." Sam commented, his dark eyes accusing as they moved over my immortal body.

"Depends on which rumors you're referring to." I responded cheekily, smiling to reveal my fangs.

"You're a vampire now which means you were bitten, by the Cullens I presume. Well, we're planning on delivering retribution for this…offense."

"Offense?" I questioned. "You know just as well as I do that I wanted to become a vampire. I thought all this was solved before my…marriage to Edward."

"It was." Sam continued, looking slightly perplexed. "But we were made aware that the marriage was dissolved."

I nodded.

"And that they went ahead and changed you anyways. Something about having to change you to protect themselves. Well, this definitely breaks the treaty." Sam continued.

My mouth dropped open at this. Changed against my will? Who would tell them that?

"Well that is just ridiculous." I replied quickly. "Yes, I broke up with Edward but I still wanted to be a vampire."

This only seemed to confuse the pack leader even more.

"Who told you that lie?" I asked.

"We don't owe you any answers blood sucker!" One of the wolves called. Oh, some of the other wolves changed back to humans too.

"Hey, back off Paul." Jacob growled.

"What are you doing Jacob? Being a traitor to your pack? Dude, she chose them. Get over her." Paul called spitefully.

Noticing the quiet look overcoming Jacob's face, I intervened.

"He is not a traitor. If anyone is it's you. How dare you talk to him like that and still call him a friend?" I demanded outraged.

"Bella, s'okay." Jacob muttered. "Don't get him any angrier."

But it was too late.

Without warning Paul changed into an enormous silver wolf and leapt towards Jacob.

It was so quick Jacob had no time to morph into a wolf before Paul would reach us.

"Jake!" I screamed shoving him out of the way and moving into a defensive crouch in front of him.

I noticed identical looks of horror on each of the wolves' faces before Paul seemed to stop midair and go crashing into the ground as a human.

What the hell?

"Dude, what the hell?" Jake yelled, voicing my thoughts.

Paul looked up from where he lay on the ground, astonishment and humiliation covering his features.

"Put some clothes on!" Someone hissed before a pair of jeans were thrown in his direction.

Seriously. No one wants to see that shit.

I laughed quietly before noticing something. It was barely visible, but there seemed to be a force field surrounding Jacob and I. I looked around but no one else seemed to have noticed it.

As if to prove my point, a newly clothed Paul extended his hand forward but stopped at a certain point as if unable to move it any more.

A frustrated look overcame his face before he glared at me.

"How are you doing that?" He demanded accusingly.

Me?

"I'm not doing anything! Maybe you're just not as good a fighter as you think you are." I replied sarcastically, but knew that it wasn't true.

I was doing this. I could feel the protective shield around Jacob and I, but was completely at a loss as to how I was making it happen.

"Bells?" Jacob questioned before experimentally moving towards Paul and successfully walking past him.

"Paul, try to walk up to Jacob." Sam called.

He shot me a glare before doing as he was bid. He stopped a few feet from Jacob, incapable of moving closer.

A smile overcame my features. It seemed like the people inside the bubble could move anywhere but those outside it couldn't go anywhere near those who were protected.

I did have a power. And a wicked cool one at that.

Seeing my smile Jacob laughed, figuring everything out right after I did.

"Well I guess I owe you a thank you." Jacob said, looking at me.

"Bella? She's doing this?" I heard Leah say in disbelief.

Then all of the sudden Sam suddenly transformed back into a black wolf and snarled lowly.

"Really Sam? Come on, this is Bella. I seriously doubt she will hurt any-"

Seth's argument for me was interrupted by a sharp, commanding bark from his alpha.

I heard a ripping noise behind me and knew Jacob had changed into a wolf also.

This is not going as I had planned.

Sure enough, I felt Jacob's hot breath against my back before he stepped up beside me in a protective stance.

Okay, this is enough. I didn't come here to start any fights. I just want to get to the bottom of why the wolves decided to plan an attack against my family.

I noticed Jacob and Sam locked in that telepathic, 'read each others thoughts' thing and looked towards Seth for explanation.

"Sam thinks your shield thing is threatening to the pack." He said shortly.

I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Why on earth would I want to hurt them? That mutt has some serious trust and common sense issues.

I brought my eyes back to Sam just in time to see him stiffen before he whipped his head over to look at Leah.

She locked her canine gaze with his before trotting over to stand on my other side.

What's Leah doing? Why would she want to help me? I barely even know her.

Oh. She wasn't doing this for me. She's doing this for Jacob. Leah feels like she owes him since she didn't go with him last time he needed her. Well, good for her. Maybe she isn't as bad as I first thought.

Everything fell into place after that. Seth, without hesitation, followed after his sister and stood beside her.

This is something I had not expected; support. I had planned on showing up here and facing the wolves alone. But now I have three wolves by my side; one of which was still in his human form.

I looked at him in wonder but he merely smiled and winked at me before turning back to face his pack…or former pack?

Sam let out a furious noise somewhere between a growl and a whine and dug his claws into the dirt.

Leah merely sniffed in response and turned as if to walk away. Jacob nudged her and she stopped her retreat.

Sam suddenly let out a mournful howl, startling me. Then Jacob quickly turned to me, a wolfish grin on his face before he dashed into the forest.

"What?" I turned to Seth, a confused look on my face.

He chuckled at my expression before exclaiming gleefully "Looks like the battle is off!"

"I know Jacob and Sam were talking through that weird wolf connection thing. What did he say to change Sam's mind?"

"Jake threatened to leave the pack if Sam went through with it." Leah answered, rejoining us as a human again in a pair of jeans and a tank.

He did what? Why would he do something so stupid? What if Sam wouldn't have backed down? Then Jacob would have been alone with no pack! Wait, that means…

"You guys said the same thing, didn't you?" I stated, looking at the two siblings.

Leah suddenly found the ground interesting as Seth answered me, his blue eyes bright.

"Well yeah! We couldn't just let you be killed for nothing!"

I heard Jacob approaching our group and turned to look at him.

Seeing my expression my friend smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

Then, I smacked him in the shoulder.

"Ow, What the hell Bella! Why'd you do that?"

"Call me sentimental." I said sarcastically. "That, Jacob Black, was for risking your life pointlessly."

"I'd hardly call you pointless." He pointed out, holding his hand against the shoulder I punched.

I guess it actually hurt him this time. Serves him right.

"Eh, don't be such a sissy, Black." Leah remarked as she tugged her brother back towards the pack.

"Come on." I said following Leah towards where Sam stood.

I actually felt a little bad for Sam. It must be embarrassing to be undermined by your own pack. Especially Jacob, who was really supposed to be alpha. Honestly, Jacob would make a good leader. Sure, he was capricious and hot-headed, but he was also fiercely loyal and trustworthy.

"Bella. You and your family are safe from us. We won't attack any of the Cullens as long as the old treaty continues to remain intact." Sam said tiredly.

"Of course." I agreed readily.

"Okay well if that's all then-"

"Actually, I did have a request." I said resolutely.

He waited.

"Well, the Volturi are coming to Forks in a few weeks time." I started.

Immediately, his brown eyes hardened in recognition of the name. Ah, so he did know who they were. Maybe since he knows how dangerous it is to have them here he will be more willing to help us.

"And you want our help." He finished.

"Well, yes. Of course we would listen to any conditions you want in exchange for helping us."

"If, and only if, the pack agrees to help I would want Jacob's word that he will never use his freedom to leave the pack to gain leverage against me again." Sam said authoritatively. "Secondly, I would want a promise that the whole Cullen clan will leave Washington for good after the battle."

I agreed without hesitating. I figured he would demand something like that. And, I didn't blame him. If he got rid of the vampires no more innocent lives would have to change into wolves.

"Well, we have an agreement. We'll be there as soon as they arrive."

"And we'll let you know when they do."

I extended my hand for him to shake. He did so with a wry smile before saying goodbye and leading the pack away.

Jacob lingered by me a second, encouraging Leah to continue without him when she hesitated by him.

"Thank you. Really." I finally said, expressing my gratitude.

Yet again Jacob had been there for me. When will I ever stop owing him for everything he's done for me?

"That's what friends are for, right?" He said offhandedly, the tan skin of his face flushing.

Yeah. Friends.

A sad smile overcame my face. At least maybe he was finally accepting that we would only ever be friends; nothing more. I guess seeing me as a vampire only solidified the fact that we could never be together. I can only hope that we can continue to be close despite everything. I really didn't want to lose my best friend again.

"Well don't make everyone wait on you." I said shoving him towards where the rest of the wolves disappeared earlier.

"Eager to get rid of me eh?" He commented, shooting me a grin.

"You better keep in touch Jacob. Don't wait till I'm in trouble to show up again." I scolded him, pursing my lips.

"Sure, sure." He agreed easily before turning and jogging towards the woods, waving as he went.

I watched him until I lost sight of him in the trees and took off back towards the house.

I'm glad I could keep a lid on my emotions enough so I didn't alarm Jasper.

In fact…

I focused on sending him a good dose of success and contentedness.

I hope he felt that, I mean I'm still pretty far from the house.

I immediately felt a wave of pride and admiration wash over me. Jasper.

A/N: Well? I hope that wasn't too confusing. Miss Jasper yet? I know I do! Plenty of our favorite blonde in the next chapter though!

NEXT CHAPTER:

"You did what?" Emmett exclaimed.

"You heard me. I convinced the wolves to not fight us, but to join us against the Volturi instead." I explained, feeling slightly smug.

"Why would you do that? I don't want those mutts anywhere near me!" Irina yelled, her anger filled eyes focused on me.

"I just got us another ten fighters and you want to scream in my face?" I asked darkly, glaring at the platinum blonde.

"Well, they killed my Laurent! They are monsters that we should have taken care of a long time ago!"

"Oh god, not this again. Seriously bitch, I am sick and tired of you. So take your intrusive self out of my face and away from my family!" I hissed before extending the protective shield out and slamming it into her, sending her flying across the room and straight through the wooden door.

Finally. Quiet.