I hadn't intended on writing this story from any other POV's. But I wanted to know how Jake felt that night, the night of his and Bella's date, the night that things went terribly wrong and he began to change. I wanted to feel what he felt and see how he dealt with the change. So, this chapter is from Jake's POV. I hope it lends perspective to the story. Thanks to everyone for reading.

Chapter Twelve

The Night Of The Wolf

Jake's POV

After leaving Bella's house, no, after leaving Bella standing in her front yard watching me drive away, wondering what in the hell was wrong with me, I drove as fast as I could to get home. I couldn't believe how everything had fallen apart tonight, the night I had been looking forward to for, well years, the night that I was going to tell Bella how much she meant to me.

My chest was hurting and no matter how much I rubbed it, it wouldn't stop. My arms and shoulders and even my legs were aching and I felt worse than the time I'd had the flu, the chicken pox, or any other ailment I could think of. I was actually starting to get scared, even if I wouldn't admit that to anyone.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and managed, somehow to pull my shirt off while still driving without having a wreck. But that didn't even help, I felt like I was on fire, from the inside out.

When I pulled up at my house, I got out and slammed the door to the Rabbit. It wasn't supposed to end like this tonight. I would have still been with Bella for a few more hours, had everything went according to plan.

I kicked the tire of my car as I walked into the house and threw my shirt on the couch. My dad looked at me and his eyes grew wide and he took a deep breath. What in the hell was his problem, I thought, as I slumped down on the couch and kicked off my shoes?

"Jake, how did it go.....tonight?" he asked, almost with caution in his tone.

"The night sucked. What else do you want to know?" I bit back and could taste the venom in my words.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?" he asked, rolling his wheelchair over in front of me so he could get a better look at me.

"If something could go wrong, it did. I don't want to talk about it," I said.

He reached out to touch me and I immediately took offense to it and jerked away, "don't touch me," I screamed.

It was like I was on the outside, looking at myself and I knew I was being rude and disrespectful, but I couldn't seem to stop it. Everything was getting to me and even the little things were making me feel out of control. I didn't know what to do.

"Jake, let me call someone over here to help you. I'm going to call Sam and he....."

"What? Are you crazy? You're not calling Sam now, or ever to come here. And you sure as hell aren't calling him to help me," I screamed, and that's when I began to shake.

My body seemed to have a mind of it's own. I grabbed onto my legs and tried to push them down to the floor, but my body was casting off tremors so fast I couldn't hold on—I couldn't seem to hold myself together.

I jumped up and glared at my dad. I knew this wasn't his fault, whatever was happening to me, but he was there so I seemed to be lashing out at him, I felt bad, I didn't want to do it—to behave like this, but I couldn't get a grip on myself—on anything.

"Jake, just try and calm down, it won't be long now and then everything will be okay," my dad reasoned.

But all I could do, was look at him. Why was he talking to me in riddles and why was he looking at me like that? He even seemed afraid of me or something, and that made things even worse.

"Dad, you don't understand, there's something wrong with me....." I screamed and then my body began to shift around inside me own skin.

My dad made his way over to the front door and opened it, turning back to look at me just as I fell down on my hands and knees on the floor and began screaming at the top of my lungs. The pain was unbearable and I felt everything start twisting inside of me.

The sound of popping and pulling, and I could almost swear the sound of things tearing inside of me was, echoing in my ears. Then it felt like something burst and I felt stronger—stronger than I ever had before.

I threw my head back and let the sound of agony escape from my lips, but the sound that came back around to my ears, was the howl of a lone wolf.

"Jake. It's going to be okay now. Just try and focus and calm yourself from the inside out. You are strong, son, and this is your destiny. You are like your grandfather, Ephraim. It's in your blood son. It's okay," he said, looking at me with eyes as wide as saucers.

It was then that I saw in those eyes, the reflection of what I had become and it scared me. I've never been so scared in all my life. And when I looked at my dad, I knew that he had known all along and I was hurt. Why hadn't he told me? Why had this been kept from me? I needed answers, but before I could get them, I had to find out how to get control of myself.

I turned and bolted for the door, he had wanted me to leave anyway, after all he had opened the door. He didn't want this monster, this creature in his home—in our home and I didn't want it in me. What was I going to do? Where would I go? I was so confused and lost and alone. Or so I thought.

As I ran into the darkness, seeking comfort and safety among the trees in the forest, I felt like I was the only person, that's right a person, I was still a person, I had to be, on this earth. I ran, until my chest was aching and then I feel down on the ground feeling so defeated, like I had lost everything. I screamed and cried, but all I heard was the lonely howl of a wolf—of me calling back in the night.

I don't know how long I lay there, trying to find myself and make some sense out of this life altering change that had occurred, when I first heard the voice, in my head, everywhere, screaming at me, talking to me, and invading my mind.

"No. Get out of my head. Leave me alone," I screamed, to whom I didn't know.

I got to my feet and ran faster and further into the dense forest, and as I did, I began to hear a voice that sounded almost familiar, a voice that sounded strangely like, like Embry. I skidded to a halt, right there, dead in my tracks and listened.

"Jake, hey man. Wait up. I'm almost to you, stop running. I need to talk to you."

"Embry? Embry is....is that you?"

I knew that I wasn't actually speaking, but I was running the words over in my mind, like I was using my voice there.

"Yeah, man. It's me. Almost there. Hang on."

I stood there, looking around and realized that even though it was dark, I could still see perfectly, maybe even better than before. I could hear things too, everything from the small mouse that scurried along under the leaves, to the owl overhead searching for its prey. I could even hear the wind whistling as it shaped and formed around—around Embry, as he too came into view.

But it wasn't the Embry I had known, for he too was in the shape of a mammoth beast on all fours covered in fur. His fur was grey with black spots and he wasn't quite as tall or large as me. As he came into the clearing where I had been waiting and I could see his eyes, I knew it really was him.

"Why, Embry? Why didn't you tell me? I thought we were friends?"

"Jake, I couldn't tell you. I've been sworn to secrecy and I can't tell, not even my own mother," he said, and lowered his head as if he was ashamed.

"How did this happen to us? Embry, what have we become?"

But before he could answer me, I heard another voice, loud and clear in my mind and it caused the hair to stand up on the back of my neck. I felt like it was feeding direct orders into my brain that I had to obey, no matter how much I wanted not to. It was the voice of, Sam.

"Jake, I'm on my way. You stay right where you are and don't leave Embry. Understood?"

"You get the freaking hell out of my head! I'm not going to listen to you. You're the reason this happened to me!" I screamed, and tried to ignore his words, but my feet were firmly planted there and would not move.

I wanted to run—to run as far away from him as I could. I didn't want to hear anything he had to say, because I knew it could only cause me more grief—more grief than I was already feeling. But for some reason, unknown to me, I was obeying his every word, like my life depended on it.

I stood there waiting, looking around, ready to defend myself, if the need arose, and then I saw him, step out of the shadows and walk toward me. He was solid black, and his fur was thick and shiny, even in the moonlight. Then I saw two other figures emerge on either side of him and it clicked, it had to be Paul and Jared. They had been his puppets for so long—it had to be them.

"Jake, I'm not the reason you have phased—become the wolf. The reason for this is the Cullens. They are vampires Jake and they have caused the gene that lay within us to no longer be dormant and now we are wolves—the protectors of the people of La Push, the protectors of our people, Jake. We have to keep them safe from the vampires."

"You knew about the Cullens? I can't believe this. How can it be?"

"Think back to the legends, Jake. Let your mind go back to the things you've heard all your life and feel them. It's all real. We are real."

"But the Cullens weren't hu....killing anyone. Were they?"

"No, as far as we know they have never killed anyone around here, but their kind—the others have. They're out there, Jake, and it's up to us to stop them," Sam said with a tone of sheer determination in his thoughts.

"I don't understand. This is all so confusing, I have to go see Bella and talk to her about the Cullens."

"No! No, Jake. You can't see Bella."

"What? What do you mean? You're not telling me what...."

"Yes, Jake, I am. You are not stable right now and you might hurt someone. You can't be around others for a while and you are not to see Bella anymore," Sam said and the conviction in his voice made me began to shake.

"You. Can. Not. Tell. Me. I. Can't. See. Her," I thought and with every word, my teeth clinched tight and my lips curled back exposing them.

"Yes I am and you will do what I say," he growled.

And then I saw flickers' of thoughts and feelings and I stood there watching, feeling, and listening as I filtered through his thoughts and those of the others. I saw Sam and he was confused and enraged. I felt his hurt and his love and I saw a woman standing before him pleading with him and then Sam was gone and replaced by the mammoth, black beast. I felt his remorse—his hatred for himself, and his disgust for what he was and what he had done, the moment his paw slashed through the beautiful woman's face.

It was then that I understood Sam's concern for Bella, but I also knew that I was not like him. I hadn't felt the things he had felt such as betrayal, loss, yearning, love for one woman, and all out adoration and devotion to another.

I wasn't sure what it all meant, but I knew that I would never hurt Bella, or anyone else that I loved, ever. He had to see that. He had to understand that I was different. So, I turned and started running. His spell had worn off of me, so I ran as far away from him—from them, as I could.

When I had run at least ten miles, I collapsed in a lush thicket of green ferns and moss. As I lay there, thinking over all that Sam and Embry had shown me and the fact that I couldn't see Bella, now and maybe never and I fell apart.

How could something so wonderful be taken away from me? I hadn't done anything to deserve this. All I wanted was to be normal and have a normal life and be able to spend it with Bella.

As I began sinking deeper inside of myself, I felt my body start to relax. The feeling of power and strength lessened and my muscles twitched as my shape began to change, until I lay naked and alone in the forest. And I began to sob. My heart was breaking, my body was no longer my own, and my thoughts were never to be private again.

The Jacob Black that I had been, the things that had been so dear to me, seemed like a distant memory and I didn't know what to do. I don't know how long I stayed there like that, fighting my inner demons and coming up empty with every new round, but I finally resolved myself to having to live with what had happened and with finding a way to get back to Bella.

I heard a rustling in the leaves and turned to see a grey wolf standing just a few yards away. It was Embry and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was concerned about me. But he gave me my space as he lay down where he was and rested his chin on his paws.

After some time, I began to form my words into something that could actually be spoken, something that might actually make sense.

"It's not fair, Embry. We don't deserve this. What is Bella going to think when I just never show up again?"

He whimpered and whined and I knew he understood and felt my pain, but that was all he could offer. He too was in the same sort of predicament only it was his own mother he had to hide things from.

It was almost morning, when I finally pulled myself together enough to try and make it home. I decided that since I was naked anyway, I might as well use my new found abilities to get me home, so I thought about the speed, the strength, and how the wind felt in my fur, and I leapt into the air, only to come back down on all fours, as I once again became the wolf.

I ran back, with Embry by my side, to my house. When I got to the woods behind my house, I stopped and looked at my friend.

"I won't let you go through this alone, Jake. I'm here for you. We have each other," he said, wagging his tail.

"I know, Embry. Thanks."

Then I focused on letting myself relax and I began to change. It was getting easier now and before I knew it, I was standing there in my human form once again.

As I made my way in the back door, I stopped to take a quick shower, then went to my room and fell in my bed. I was so tired, after everything that had happened, and I feel asleep immediately. I was glad, because I wasn't ready to face my dad yet.

The next day or so were tense. My dad seemed like he was avoiding talking with me, like he was afraid of what he might provoke. Sam was over, I don't know how many times, wanting to work with me and teach me how to control myself, and the others were always lurking around, like they were waiting to swoop in and take me down, if I made one wrong move.

Then there were the phone calls. The times that I was in the house when the phone rang, I felt it rip my heart to shreds, knowing that I needed desperately to talk with Bella, but also knowing that I had to obey what Sam had ordered me to do. I had no choice.

I hadn't gone to school on Monday or Tuesday and had spent most of those days with Sam in the forest, working on my phasing. I had begun to accept what I had become, to the extent that I wanted to learn to use it to my advantage.

But things weren't going to be easy. Quil had come by trying to talk with me and I had told him to leave. I know he must have been hurt and confused when I met up with Embry at the edge of the forest and he saw us going off to meet Sam and the others.

Embry and I missed Quil, but we didn't want him to be drawn into the world that we had been drawn into. We wanted him to have a chance at a normal life. He deserved better than this.

When I came home on Tuesday, and I saw Bella's truck at my house, I lost it. I wanted to go to her and hold her and tell her I loved her, but Sam's orders rang loud and clear in my mind. So I turned and started back into the woods when I heard them talking softly in my garage. Then I heard Bella sobbing, then the sound was muffled, and I knew Quil had her in his arms.

I began to tremble and I saw red at thought of one of my best friend holding Bella. My mind was racing and I could imagine all sorts of things, but I couldn't even hold it together long enough to just listen to the conversation, before I had phased. I ran for about an hour, before I could calm down enough to go home and get on some clothes.

When I got dressed, I found myself walking through the rain to Quil's house. I was following Bella's scent, the scent that was now imbedded in my senses—a part of me forever. When I got to his front porch I was trembling, but I had to talk to him. I hadn't heard her voice in while, so I pounded my fist on the door.

When Quil opened the door, I spoke through gritted teeth, "You keep away from her."

"You can't come here and tell me what to do? She needs me and you're not the hell around to take care of her," Quil said, and I found myself letting out a low warning growl before jumping off the porch and landing on the muddy ground.

I ran into the woods and phased, staying as close as I dared to Quil's house and I listened as I heard Bella finally talking again.

"What's going on?" she asked, and I could hear the emotion thick in her voice, almost chocking her.

"Nothing. Hey, come here," Quil said, and I could only picture him pulling her into his arms.

"It was him, wasn't it? He didn't even want to see me, did he?"

"Bella. I don't know what's going on, but I told you before, he's not himself right now, but maybe in time....."

"No, he's just like Ed....ward....he's gone too," she said, and that was it for me.

I knew I would have to fight to get her back, to have her trust me again and be able to make it up to her. And I would not let anyone take her away from me, especially not one of my best friends. I didn't care what Sam said. He couldn't stop me from getting to her. The will and determination I had inside of me were so much stronger than his words.

The night closed in around me and the rain soaked me through and through, but maybe that is what I needed, along with hearing what Bella said, to bring me to this point—a point of utter determination and desire to make things right with her.