AN: thanks for the reviews and thanks to Georgia Dawgette for being an amazing co-author and beta.

Chapter 20

JARED'S POV

Jared and Isabella were both quiet as they walked back to his place, he was mulling over all that had happened in the past few hours. He was still shocked that Jacob had tried to come between them, and that she thought there might be a chance that she could break the imprint. Also, he had felt for the first time the fear of losing her, finally cementing in his mind that he really was in love with her.

He took the key from its usual hiding place, and because he could never resist an opportunity to touch her guided her in with his hand at the small of her back. As he closed the door behind them his mind was consumed by her warmth and mind numbing smell. He always thought she looked beautiful, but tonight especially she looked like an angel; more than anything he wanted some uninterrupted time just to show her how much she meant to him.

As he closed the door and turned the lock, he took a deep breath in what he knew would be a vain attempt to clear his head. Immediately a sweet sickly smell assaulted his nostrils, vampire! Fuck, he had closed the door!

Swiftly he put Isabella behind him, between him and the door. Her safety was his only priority right now. "Jared?" Her surprised voice asked, "What are you doing?"

He took a deep breath; the smell was thick in the air and he knew the leech was still here. "Isabella, get out your phone and call Billy or Alice. Tell them to send someone, there's a leech here."

Isabella started to shuffle through her bag behind him. He was standing still, all of his senses focused on the bedroom's closed door. When it opened, what he saw took his breath away."Kim!"

The beautiful leech in front of him used to be the center of his universe, but at the same time it wasn't the woman he had loved. The bright red eyes gave her away; also he didn't feel any pull towards her. Did it mean that she no longer had a soul?

She eyed him strangely, and took a sniff. Her crimson eyes immediately focused on Isabella. He stiffened, and tried to catch her attention. "Kim, how... how are you?" They were so fucked! He heard Isabella whisper on the phone and then click it shut.

"They'll be here as soon as possible," said his mate quietly.

"Hello Jared, did you miss me?" Kim's bell like voice asked.

Leech, she was just a leech. There was nothing left of the woman he had loved. He closed his eyes, Isabella was his priority. He needed to buy some time for help to arrive. "Of course I did. What... what happened to you?"

Kim took a step forward, and he crouched. He wasn't going to let her near Isabella. He felt tears in his eyes; how could he fight against Kim? "It doesn't seem like you did Jay. Why are you here with Bella Swan? Is it possible you have already forgotten about me?"

He let the tears fall down his face; he knew that she was preparing for an attack and that no one was going to get here in time. He would have to kill her. "Isabella, we are going to move left, you see that door there? It's a closet, when we get there you go in and don't come out until I tell you. Are we clear?" He chanced a look at Isabella, and saw tears in her eyes too.

She nodded, and said, "Jared... no matter what... I'll be there for you."

He knew that she understood what he was feeling, "I... thanks... and Bella... I'm sorry for everything... I promise that I won't let anything happen to you."

For a moment, he felt like telling her how thankful he really was for how patient and understanding she had been since the imprinting. He recalled the moment when he realized that she was going to be his mate. He would never admit it out loud, but he had been ecstatic about it.

He had felt guilty for how this was going to mess up her life, and jealous because Jake and Edward had something he might never get, her love. Moreover, the idea that he had been happier about having Isabella as his imprint than he had been about the one with Kim, had given him even more grief and guilt. Kim didn't deserve that betrayal, but it was true. Isabella was what he and his wolf needed and wanted. He recalled all the times he had threatened her, or the wolf had felt the need to prove that she was his. Isabella never backed down; she was exactly the woman he had always wanted.

Bella Swan had always fascinated him; first by running with vampires, and then with her reaction to the news that her best friend was a werewolf. She had been a mix of shyness and strength, and somehow he had never really been able to figure her out. He had to admit that she intrigued him since the first time he met her.

She shook him out of his reverie. "Be careful, Jared..." she said when they reached the closet, she went inside, and he closed and locked it. He then kneeled and passed the key under the door. It wouldn't help if Kim managed to get to her, but if he stopped her and got injured she would have a way to get out.

His attention was back to the woman that for almost a year had been his reason to live, the one he had planned to marry. His love for her was there, but the need to be a Protector and his new feelings for Isabella shadowed everything else. "Kim, I'm going to give you a chance. If you leave now I won't follow you."

She shrugged her shoulders, her beautiful dark hair was luscious and looked soft. He shook his head; probably remnants of his bond were still present. "Jay, where exactly should I go? You are everything that I have. As soon as I managed to escape from Victoria, I came to see you."

Jared knew her too well; her words seemed sincere, but the almost unseen movement of her shoulder told him that she was lying. She had even sniffed Isabella; the clothes stolen in her room had been for hunting her. "Kim, I really don't want to hurt you, but if you give me no choice I'll have to. Please, leave before it's too late."

Kim smiled softly. "It's already too late. Victoria is advancing; it won't take long before she gets to La Push. She offered to spare our people, in exchange for little Bella. What do you say? It's just one life in exchange for the tribe."

His breath left him; he remembered back in Isabella's room when they had talked. He had been so ready to sacrifice everything for his tribe, and even his mate had told him to do just that. But he realized grimly that he couldn't. "I can give myself up for my tribe, but I won't give my mate."

Kim gasped, and then narrowed her eyes. "You imprinted again? On Bella?"

Jared saw her pain, and then the anger exploded and she attacked him. He burst into a wolf, and they started fighting, in his mind he was chanting -protect my mate- protect my mate-.

Kim was strong, but inexperienced; and after tumbling around breaking furniture and objects. He finally managed with his paw to break her neck. She was lying not yet dead on the floor when the door exploded behind him and Jake came in. Jake phased and said, -Jared I'm so sorry, I couldn't come before. I'll take care of... Kim...

Jared looked at Kim for the last time; she was trying to crawl to him and he felt his heart break. For a moment nothing existed but him and Kim. He took a step towards her, but then he heard a quiet cry, it came from the closet. Bella! His sweet innocent Bella. He closed his eyes and phased back. "Thank you Jake, I ... would appreciate if you could... There's something else, Victoria is coming towards La Push; can you tell the Cullen's to get ready to fight?"

He turned his back; and felt Jake taking Kim with him; Jared walked to the closet and whispered. "Bella... can you open the door?" He saw the key being pushed out from under the door. He opened it, and she threw herself into his arms.

He closed his eyes and inhaled her unique scent, since the moment he had met her, even before imprinting, he had thought that she smelled delicious. He walked them into his bedroom, and lay with her on the bed.

She was crying softly, and he was caressing her hair. "It's okay Bella; nobody will ever hurt you as long as I'm alive."

"I know you'll protect me Jared, it's just... I... poor Kim!" she wailed.

Jared was stunned into silence. Her life had been in danger and she felt sorry for Kim? He held her even closer; this soft sweet woman was his to keep and cherish for life. Her kindness was astounding.

"It's okay now. That thing wasn't Kim. Kim has been dead since Victoria changed her. The body was there, but the soul wasn't." whispered Jared, trying to convince himself as well as her.

Bella cried harder. "It's just not fair... she didn't do anything wrong... and oh God! Edward was right! I would have lost my soul if I had gone through the change..." she was even more upset, but then her customary strength came back. "Jared... about Victoria..."

Jared held her closer. "Bella I won't give you up, not now not ever." Then he felt the need to kiss her, and he did. Though she was upset, she answered back with passion.

He craved her so much!

When she had told him that she hadn't slept with Cullen, his wolf had rejoiced, but at the same time he knew that he had overreacted by marking her. How was she going to react to the thought of marrying him within the year?

Jared sighed. She tried to leave his side, but he held her more firmly. "I just need a few minutes to balance myself. Bella, I'm going to take you to Emily, you'll be safe there. The pack and the Cullen's will take care of Victoria."

Bella cried and kissed him. "Come back to me Jared. And if you think that there isn't anything else you can do, please come and get me. I'll willingly give my life for your tribe."

He kissed her again. His strong and kind mate was everything he had ever wanted; he whispered. "I'll never give you up, Bella and I promise you that until my last breath, I'll always come back to you. Let's go now."