Jacob POV

From the side of the road, taking cover within the dense foliage, I watched as Bella's old truck sputtered past me towards Forks High, its engine straining to putter forward on the morning dew covered road. Thankful of my enhanced eyesight, I could see through the worn interior of the truck despite the glare of the early sun. It was obvious something was wrong with the thing bit she would never take it to me to fix it for her like she would have done in the past. I was no longer that person to her. Damn the leeches for their interference!

Brow, her eyes are still brown. The knowledge of it escalated my mood. I still had time. Though I had spoken with her yesterday, I still wasn't ready to believe her. After all, wasn't deceit just another bloodsucker trait? I could still recall the absolute panic I felt when Charlie told me that Bella went away for the weekend with them. I was so sure that at some point over the weekend Charlie would receive a devastating phone call telling him that Bella was dead. Only I would know that she wouldn't be- that it would just be a convenient albeit cruel cover for her imminent transformation. It wasn't the case however and I allowed myself a breath of relief. There was still time, I repeated over and over; a litany in my head.

An idea started to form at seeing the laboring truck and I smiled outwardly as pieces of the plan started to fit together. Images of a broken down truck – a helpless Bella standing on the side of a deserted stretch of road filled my mind.

I hid the image away quickly as I heard the footfalls of another pack member. In human form I turned to see who was approaching. Seth. Poor kid. It was hard enough for any of us to accept that one day you were just a guy on the verge of adulthood and the next; you'd be walking on all fours praying you wouldn't get fleas. But he was just a kid, barely a teenager. I did have to admit, he took to it a lot better than I did. But then again, he doesn't have a Bella in his life; someone he was told he had to stay away from. I snorted, yeah like I had listened to that.

"Hey Jake, Sam sent me to come get you." Seth said cheerily as he peered suspiciously at the road to try to see what had caught my attention. I wish I remembered what it was like to be like Seth, so unnervingly happy.

"What does he want?" I asked gruffly, still eying Bella's truck as it slowly made its way down the stretch of highway.

Seth shrugged. "Dunno. But I think it's important…at least Sam thinks it is."

I rolled my eyes. Sam thinks everything is important, especially himself. "Okay kid" I said ruffling Seth's hair with a smile. "Let's go see what the lord and master wants."

Seth returned the grin as I knew he would and I followed him back to the reservation. I needed to be careful from here on in and not let anyone else detect my plans even if they were a direct defiance of the order of the Alpha.

Sam met me outside of his cabin not wanting to disturb Emily as she slept. I tried to gage his mood but his face was closed off to me.

"I have news of the red haired one." He finally said and paused for my reaction.

"Did we catch her and I wasn't aware?" As preoccupied as I was, I really didn't think that was the case. No, something else was going on here, something that Sam was hesitant to tell me about.

He sighed heavily and looked away from my gaze. "No. The Cullen patriarch came to the border and told me that she was out of the area and would not be back until close to the end of the summer."

Sam met with Carlisle and actually trusted information given to him by that bloodsucker? Granted, he was the most benign of the bunch but he was still the enemy. I forced down the need to shout but my voice was seething nonetheless. "And you believed him? How do you know it wasn't a trap?"

"He has no reason to lie." Sam tried to explain.

"He is a vampire. Isn't that reason enough?" This was too rich, even for me. Since when did Sam trust a vampire? Was he even fit to be Alpha at this point?

"The red haired one is as much a danger to his family as she is to us." He did look at me then. His eyes were hard but were imploring me to listen to him. Instead I just saw a red haze of anger blurring my vision.

"Bella is not part of his family." I spat, feeling myself tremble with rage. Even though I said the words, in the back of my mind I didn't believe them…not really. Even without a legal ceremony, the Cullens had pretty much claimed Bella as one of their own and as much as it galled me, Bella was a willing participant.

"Yet." Sam finished. His expression turned sympathetic then and the last thing I wanted was his pity. "Listen Jacob, I know this is painful for you but you need to move on. Bella is marrying Edward…as distasteful as it is…it will happen. We cannot interfere and not break the treaty. I have assurances from Cullen that they will be far removed from here before the change happens and they won't ever be back."

So, Bella, in her insane desire to be with her leech lover would abandon Charlie and everyone she loves? This was crazy and I was not going to let it happen even if Sam was resolved to let it go. Wasn't intent to break the treaty enough cause for action even if it would be broken out of our boundaries? And what of Victoria? It was just a bit too convenient for me that the parasites just happened to know when the bitch would come after Bella again.

"How do you know about Victoria's time line? Did Carlisle tell you how he came by that particular piece of information?"

Sam shook his head. "I won't tell you that Jacob. You are too angry right now to hear it. Perhaps when you are in a better frame of mind I will share with you the entire story. I only told you this much so you wouldn't feel the need to patrol so much." He cocked his head and looked at me as if he were seeing right through me. "You've changed, Jacob. You're not yourself anymore."

"Who am I then?" I asked flexing my jaw. I knew I was being belligerent but I didn't care.

"I don't know but there is a growing darkness inside of you. Perhaps you should seek the Shaman for advisement."

"Sure, sure." I muttered not listening anymore as I walked away. I wanted to escape from Sam before he could elicit a promise I had no intention of keeping.

Bella POV

"Alice! You're not supposed to sign a knee brace." I squealed when Alice signed her name with a grand flourish in blue permanent marker to the flesh colored fabric that covered me knee. I wanted to avoid attention, not attract it.

"Says who?" Alice asked, one eyebrow rose in query. I knew that look. It was the "don't argue with me look", although it was usually reserved for our shopping escapades when she wanted to buy something for me I would never wear.

"I don't know, 'they'. " I replied with a frustrated wave of my arms. "You know the same omnipotent 'they' that say you can't wear white shoes after Labor Day."

"Oh no, Bella." Alice shook her head in mock censure. "That's not 'they', that's Vogue."

Edward chuckled at our exchange, his hand entwining with mine. "You won't win, love." He said placing a kiss to my temple and let his head rest on mine. His attention turned back to the office door as Carlisle walked back in the room with his supplies. I paled when I saw he was holding crutches. He couldn't…he wouldn't.

"Uh, uh. No way Carlisle." I started to shake my head, staring at the offending things. "Just give me the pills and I'll be out of your hair." I was all set to jump off the examining table until Edward stopped me and eased me back gently.

"Sorry, it doesn't work like that Bella." Carlisle managed in a patient and indulgent tone. "You will find it incredibly difficult to walk with just the brace. The crutches will aid you."

"I can always carry you everywhere." Edward told me with an upward tilt of his lips and a leering gleam to his eye making me blush profusely at the image he presented.

As much as I relished the feeling of being held in Edward's arms, I could not fathom him carrying me around to every class like a helpless child. He would do it too. Of that, I had no doubt.

"This is starting to feel like a conspiracy. Give me the stinking crutches." I said with a grumble holding my hand out for them. Carlisle, obviously pleased that I was going to comply, handed them over to me.

"You wound me, my love." Edward playfully put his hand over his heart.

"If you use those crutches like you're supposed to, you won't need them by the time of the graduation party."

"Alice." Edward warned. Apparently, he wasn't too excited about the prospect of a party either.

Alice's statement made my insides curl in anxiety. Graduation party? Since when? Hadn't Alice learned her lesson considering how well the last party, my birthday, turned out? I couldn't help the groan that escaped past my lips and it had nothing to do with the pain in my knee. "Alice, why are you doing this to me?"

"Oh, c'mon Bella. It will be your only human high school graduation. It should be celebrated. And besides it's good practice for me to get ready for the most important party of all…your wedding. I haven't had much experience in throwing human parties, you know." She sounded indignant and almost reprimanding and I couldn't help but feel the slightest bit ashamed. Deep in my heart I knew she was doing this for me because she loved me as a sister and this was her way of showing it.

"Sorry, Alice. I know you're just trying to be a great sister. I promise not to complain too much."

With a broad smile, Alice clapped her hands in delight. "I knew you'd see it my way. I already sent the invitations this morning."

I saw Carlisle roll his eyes as he gave me an indulgent smile. "Please forgive Alice, Bella. If you really are uncomfortable with this, it can always be cancelled."

"No." I said trying to fake a smile but I knew it came out as a twisted grimace instead. "It's fine."

Edward insisted on helping me into the house after driving me home as I was still getting used to the crutches. I smelled the aroma of pepperoni pizza as soon as we walked in the door and briefly wondered if I would be condemning Charlie to a life full of take out once I left. Not that he would mind so much but I am sure his body would.

Charlie sat perched on the couch with a slice of pizza in one hand and a beer in the other. His attention was solely focused on the Mariners game on the television set.

"I'm home." I called out as both Edward and I entered the living room.

Charlie took one look at me and tried unsuccessfully to prevent the gulp of beer he just drank from spewing out of his mouth.

"Jesus Bella! What did you do to yourself this time?" He exclaimed. I couldn't help but notice the suspicious glance he gave to Edward. As if Edward would ever hurt me, vampire or not.

"Relax dad. I just fell out of bed."

"Must have been some fall."

"She has a slightly torn ligament in her knee. My father already examined her." Edward told him, explaining further.

Charlie shook his head in exasperation. "What am I going to do with you, Bells? I hope you're prepared for a lot of emergency room visits with her, Edward."

Edward wrapped his arms around my waist. "I guess it's a good thing my father is a doctor."

"At least it will save on the paperwork. If I had a dollar…well let's just say I'd be living more comfortably."

"Or at least be able to afford a personal chef." I mumbled caustically. "Pizza again, Dad?"

Charlie had the grace to look abashed. "Guilty as charged." He held up is hands. "I thought you were working late tonight and the game was on, so…"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." I interrupted him. That was Charlie. Stick him in front of a baseball game with a pizza pie and a six pack and he was a happy man.

"You're welcome to join us." Charlie said clearing his throat, offering a rare invitation to Edward.

"Thank you, Charlie but I have to go home. Finals are coming up." Edward declined gracefully as I knew he would. With the exception of the time I dared him, I never saw him eat human food, aware that it would make him the vampire equivalent of sick to his stomach. He had assured me however that he would indulge in a bite of wedding cake to keep up appearances.

"Oh, right. Well good luck with them. Not that you'll need it…getting into Dartmouth and all."

Edward presented an awkward smile, shifting his weight onto his other leg. "I'll pick you up tomorrow for school." He told me giving me a kiss on the forehead. He never seemed to kiss me on my lips when Charlie was around.

"You don't have to. I can drive." Not that I wanted to but Edward was doing too much for me already.

"With your propensity for accidents, I'd rather not take the risk." He said sincerely cupping my cheek in his hand looking at me tenderly.

Well, there was that. I couldn't really argue with him given my track record. I was beginning to feel like the proverbial damsel in distress with Edward always coming to my rescue in some manner or another and I didn't like it. I had always been self sufficient, standing on my own two feet…more or less if you didn't count tripping on those same two feet.

"I don't think I have ever seen that boy eat." Charlie mused after Edward left. "He's not one of those vegetarians, is he?" He made a face that let on how distasteful he thought the idea was. No one would ever mistake Charlie for being anything but a meat and potatoes man.

I felt my face turn heated with color. "Uh, sort of."

If Charlie only knew what type of vegetarian Edward really was, he would flip. I almost laughed at the thought. A carnivorous vegetarian. What an oxymoron. It did bother me, keeping this whole other life from Charlie as I looked at him, his attention turned back to the game. He was so blissfully ignorant of the supernatural elements that existed in his peaceful corner of the world, elements that it had only taken me mere months to pick up on. How was it that I could see it when nobody else could?

I never was one to indulge in fantasies about vampires or other mythical creatures. The novels I chose to read were more classical in nature and that didn't include Bram Stoker's Dracula, although I never thought to ask Edward if he actually did exist. My life had always been centered in reason and logic mostly because Renee had been the complete opposite when I was growing up. I needed to balance it out somehow. And yet here I was engaged to a vampire, my ex-best friend a werewolf and to me they were as real as my own existence. Funny that.

Reflecting back on that fateful day in biology when we first met, I was aware that the same traits that repelled the other students from the Cullens were the same traits that attracted me to them perhaps because they were so much like mine; their desire to avoid attention yet the need to blend in despite standing outside the circle of society. Yet they could never blend being as they were whereas I never had the problem…well before my involvement with Edward anyway. I was used to being part of the framework; invisible unless one actually took the time to look for it. An observer, never a participant. Except now I was the one being observed. It wasn't the most comfortable feeling but I could never be regretful for whatever it was that brought Edward to me. He was my other half; the better part of me even if he didn't think so.

Edward POV

Bella called it practice. I called it pure, sensual torture; the delicious feel of her body beneath mine, my legs encased between the silken feel of her bare thighs, the scent of her womanly arousal. As I devoured her mouth, the monster in me roared to life, demanding me to take was rightfully mine, to cross the line into unchartered territory and fuse us together irrevocably. My hands unconsciously wound themselves in her hair as I relished the feel of her hips undulating against my painful arousal. My inner conscience begged. You need to wait Edward. Not until the wedding night can you do this.

It was that voice that called forth my sanity. With reluctance, I pulled back. Hands shaking with dissatisfied lust, I buttoned the shirt that she had so expertly unbuttoned so I could feel her skin against mine. I looked over at Bella whose face was petulant and suppressed a frustrated chuckle.

"You have to go to work." I told her gently removing her hand as she tried to pull me back to her.

She angrily glanced at the clock next to her bed. It was a Saturday morning; nearly a full week since she had hurt herself and she had promised Mrs. Newton that she would go back to work today.

"I suppose you're right." She admitted as she brushed a hand through her brown waves. She looked adorable and sexy with her kiss swollen lips that I had to force myself not to succumb to my baser instincts and finish where we left off. "Can we practice some more later?" she asked with a sly grin.

"Everything but the final act." I agreed. The more we were together like this; the less terrified I was that I would actually kill her on our wedding night. The monster in me wanted to claim not kill and for that I was grateful.

I drove her to work, still reluctant for her to drive herself. There were squad cars parked outside of Newton's and I was instantly on high alert.

"My dad's here. I wonder what happened." Bella spoke asking the same question that entered my head.

I parked across the street and we both went inside. Nothing seemed to be out of place though Mrs. Newton was highly anxious as she spoke with Bella's father. Her hands were gesticulating wildly as Charlie asked her questions.

"Over $10,000 worth of camping equipment gone. I don't understand." I overheard her lament to Charlie.

"I'll need to see a detailed list of the inventory that's been taken, Ma'am."

"Of course." She nodded and went to her computer to print out a list. In terms of burglary, it could have been a lot worse but this was a local mom and pop store. $10,000 was a lot to them.

"Dad, what's going on?" Bella asked her dad while Mrs. Newton was preoccupied.

"Bella, I forgot you were supposed to work today. Hello Edward."

I nodded a greeting. "Has there been a robbery?" I asked him though I already knew the answer.

"Yeah. Looks like the place was hit in the middle of the night so thankfully no one was hurt. The back locks were jimmied and the door busted down." He said nodding to the back door. Even from this far away I could see the splintered wood of the door frame. It looked like a battering ram got to it.

"Oh, Bella. I'm sorry I didn't call you. It's just been so…" Mrs. Newton said to Bella as she handed Charlie the list.

"It's okay Mrs. Newton. I understand."

"Do you have any security tapes?" Charlie asked her once again turning the conversation to the matter at hand.

Mrs. Newton visible paled. "No…I…uh…My husband never installed a security system. We never thought…we always assumed…" The woman was frazzled, looking this way and that cursing herself for not arguing with her husband when he refused to put an alarm system in.

"It's okay. It'll just make our job a little tougher but we'll do all we can." Charlie tried to assure her. Why do people never learn…precaution is the best protection. Charlie was clearly bothered with the woman's lack of foresight.

"Hmm," Charlie muttered looking at the list. Cabin tent, portable grill, catalytic heater, sleeping bags, first aid kit, portable generator…"looks like someone is taking a mighty fine camping trip and doesn't want to foot the bill." He finally said.

That summed it up, I thought as I listened inside Charlie's mind ticking off the items stolen. It was curious that no one touched the cash register.

"Do you still need me to work today?" Bella asked politely. Personally I would rather not have Bella stay here knowing the place was just burglarized. Without thought my hand tightened around hers in a subconscious effort to keep her close to me out of the way of any potential harm.

"Huh? Oh I hadn't thought of that…I know I should stay open to recoup some of my losses but I don't think I can focus today."

"Do you have insurance?" I asked her knowing full well that it would take hours just to deal with any insurance she may have.

"Oh. Thank you for reminding me, Edward. That will probably take a better portion of my day. Bella, dear, you don't have to stay."

"Are you sure? I can handle the store while you deal with the rest."

I sighed. I wanted to tell her not to push it, to take the day off gracefully with no argument. But this was Bella; always concerned about doing the right thing.

"No. It's okay. Really. Go home."

After Bella said goodbye to Charlie, I drove her back to my home.

"Well, that was bizarre." Bella muttered as we got into my car. "I wonder why no cash was stolen."

I wondered the same thing but I wasn't going to let it concern me any longer. I had better things to think about. Bella was here, next to me and we would have the whole day together. The entire town could be burglarized for all I cared.

Alice and Esme were going over the RSVP's for the graduation party when we walked in the door. Right away I noticed the fierce scowl on Alice's face. She couldn't even make it to her graduation, one of the most momentous occasions in her life. I would have even bought the plane ticket. Well, I'll make damn sure she makes it to the wedding if I have fly there and drag her here myself.

Alice apparently was on the war path and I instantly felt sorry for the person that provoked her wrath.

"Alice, what's wrong?" Bella asked her nervously. Alice looked up at her, the scowl replaced by a sweet smile. I don't think it fooled Bella and it certainly didn't fool me.

"Your mom won't be able to make it." She said agitatedly waving the rsvp in front of her. "Phil." She sneered the name. "Broke his leg and they won't be able to fly out here."

"It's okay Alice. You don't have to be angry on my behalf." She shrugged pasting an insincere smile on her beautiful face.

Bella was upset and understandably so as much as she tried to hide it. I didn't need Jasper's gift to read that. I found myself angered and hurt for Bella's sake. As much as I should be thankful for Renee's flightiness where he daughter was concerned; it did after all mold Bell into the woman she became, the woman I loved, it was the complete lack of regard for Bella and her feelings that galled me. Renee could have decided to make the trip by herself even if her husband couldn't make it. Bella, as her daughter, should be her number one priority.

Rein it in, Edward. This is Bella's mother. She didn't mean to hurt Bella. Esme's thoughts reached out to me. No, she may not have meant it but the results were the same. Esme was right though. Bella wouldn't like to see me upset at Renee. She would only place the blame on her own shoulders.

"Mostly everyone else is coming though." Alice said trying to be cheerful.

"Did you expect anything else, Alice? Everyone has been dying to see the inside of this house."

"Good. They can get it out of their system them so by the time the wedding rolls around everyone's focus will be where it should be…on the bride." She replied.

XXX

A/N: Sorry no evil cliffhanger on this one but I have set up much drama to come. Stay tuned…