No infringement intended, it all belongs to Stephanie Meyers.

Well here we are again. A new chapter, sorry it took so long, I rewrote some stuff in this chapter. I hate it when you write something one way and then come up with a better idea like the next day and have to re-write but I guess that is the process. I hope you like this!

My chest ached as I thought about the people I left behind. Somehow I had managed to care for them and fill some of the void in my heart. Laurent had rushed into an ill prepared excuse about trust and managed to shuffle us out before we were forced to answer any hard questions. Irena had looked confused, but followed Laurent in a heartbeat. We were just over the Wyoming border when she finally couldn't take the silence anymore. She stopped abruptly, forcing Laurent and I to come to a stand still as well.

"What happened, Laurent? I won't wait anymore, explain yourself!" she shrieked.

"He was trying to turn her against me, he is just jealous that we have someone so powerful in our family and he didn't find her. I won't be judged by him or the rest of your sisters anymore. Don't you believe I have our best interest at heart, my dear?" he told her, putting it on thick. I stood there while they argued and looked back toward the way we came. Everything had been going so well, I felt like I had a family and friends again. I knew it wouldn't last though, I mean how long can I pretend to not be Bella, if the Cullen's ever showed up. They were their family, could I be selfish enough to ask them to avoid the Cullen's for the rest of their existence. Would they even choose me, if I had the guts to ask them? Would I really ask them to give up their longest friends? No, the answer was no. I would never hurt them like that to ask them to give up part of their family. So eventually I would have had to leave them. I could never face the Cullen's again after the heartbreak they put me through; even as a vampire I wouldn't survive their rejection twice. I was still barely holding my emotions together now, but to actually see them and have all those memories come rushing back.

Just then the sun came through the tree tops as I watched as Laurent and Irena continued to argue. They were absolutely beautiful in the sun light the way they sparkled. I stretched my arm out and looked on in quiet awe as my skin shimmered in the sun light. I didn't sparkle yet, but it wouldn't be long before I would have to be more careful in the sun. And suddenly, I thought of Jacob. Soon I would be a full vampire and I would not be as controlled as I am now. These next few weeks or months would be my last chance to see Jacob and confide in someone what truly happened to Bella Swan. He deserved the truth, I owed him that much after I had asked him to take care of Charlie for me. I was afraid at first to leave Laurent and Irena, considering I had not been really been alone since I started to change, but then I felt liberated. Only thirty minutes later my phone was vibrating.

"Hello Laurent."

"We are ready to continue to the hotel, but your scent is heading in the opposite direction, do you want to explain to us where you are going Sophie? Laurent said.

"There is something I must do, I will meet you there in a few days. Why don't you and Irena take advantage of some alone time" I told him.

"You aren't going back to Denali, are you?! Laurent fumed.

"No! I am not going back to Denali; you need time with Irena so just try me. Where else would I really go?" I said.

"Okay…but I am not pleased with our family being separated. Whatever it is, make sure you finish it and come home" Laurent said sternly.

"I will" I said as I hung up. I looked at the phone in my hand and warred with myself. The whole point of doing this was to talk to Jacob and now I was so scared I was shaking. I didn't know what he would say when he finds out we are enemies now. Will he hate me as much as he does the Cullen's? This started to feel like a bad idea, but I had already made up my mind that I needed to tell him what happened. Deciding I needed to just do it quick, like ripping off a band aide, I dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" the man's voice said on the other side and I hung up. I let the breathe I was holding out and slumped against a tree. There was no way I wanted Billy to know I even contacted Jacob if it was at all possible, so now I knew I would wait until Jake answered to let him know it was me on the other side. I took a couple of deep breaths before getting up and started my journey back towards Forks, even though I was pretty sure I wasn't going to actually want to see him or maybe I did want to see him… Five hours later my mind was still swarming with what I should do. I had just called Jacob's house and Billy answered again, which in turn I promptly hung up again on him. It was already getting late and even though my resolve was dissolving I held on. Only two hours later I was just outside Forks in the Olympic National Park waiting for a decent hour to try again. I was extremely impatient and nervous, so by 7am I just couldn't hold back anymore and dialed the number for the third time.

"Hello?" said Billy on the first ring and I shook my head about to hang up.

"Wait, don't hang up! Bella? Bella he is here, let me get him. Just wait…" Billy said as I could here him rolling down the hallway to Jacob's room. I was stunned, never had I even breathed a word and Billy knew it was me calling. I almost had to laugh, when I thought about it though; I mean who else would be calling. I heard muffled voices and shuffling then.

"Hello? Bells are you there? Bella?" Jacob raced to say as a smile grew across my face. It felt like my heart even swelled as I heard his voice.

"Jake…" I whispered as I sighed content just to hear him say my name. Then before I could stop them traitorous tears rolled down both my checks as I took a couple of ragged breaths.

"Just tell me where you are and I will come for you" he said clearly hearing my distress. God, I just wanted him to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay. But I knew it wouldn't work that way, as soon as he knows what I am becoming and he tells me he never wants to see me again, what's left of my life will be over. My own personal sun will drop from the sky and I will be enveloped in a darkness that I will never recover from.

"It's not that easy Jake, I'm scared." Yeah scared you will hate me.

"What are you scared of? Because everyone misses you, they won't hold it against you for running away, I promise" Jake said.

"I'm not the say person any more Jacob. I can't go back to who I was." I wanted him to know I was different, but I just couldn't come out and say it. The hope in his voice was so contagious; that I couldn't help wanting to see him and pray for some miracle that he wouldn't try to kill me when he saw me.

"I'll be the judge of that, just tell me where you are."

"I'm near the river that runs along Road 29 in the state park." Jacob hung up and my heart dropped. I really wasn't sure how this was going to, but I knew how I wanted and needed it to go.

Jacob's POV

I practically flew from the house into the woods and phased immediately. I could hear the pack going over the conversation I just had with Bella and they were hopeful, but I was worried. I didn't know what had happened to her since she left and clearly she upset when she called me. But this was Bella, my best friend and the girl I loved, no matter what happened I believed it was something we could get through. After all this time, I still loved her like she never left and now I was going to make her see that we were meant to be together.

When Bella first left, I had spent weeks trying to find some sign as to where she went. I don't know if she was purposefully making it hard to track her or if she just got lucky that it rained so hard the night she left, washing away her trail. I had followed all the major roads out of Forks and never picked up her trail. Charlie and I had asked sheriff departments three states out to be on the look out for her truck, seeing as we thought it would stand out like a sore thumb, but no one had ever seen it. I just couldn't understand how she could be so lucky or smart enough to evade us so well with absolutely no leads. So this one human had managed to out run an entire police force with years of experience under their belts and a mythical creature with super heightened senses. No wonder I couldn't get this girl out of my head, right?

I made it to the state park quickly following along side the road Bella told me she was near until I got close to the river. Suddenly, the road shifted and my senses were assaulted by her scent and a vamps scent? It was strange the scents were so tangled in each other and yet so faint on their own. I couldn't quite describe it and so I approached with caution. Then ever so slowly as I came to the edge of the tree line and I saw her. She was sitting on rock by the water with her head resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs. I didn't see any vampires and Bella's heart beat was slow and steady so I knew she wasn't afraid, but she was so still. She didn't move as I approached, even a human should hear me this close but she made no reaction. I took one more look around making sure everything was safe and transformed, pulling my shorts on quickly while Bella was still facing the river. I stood directly behind her, and I heard her let a steady breath out and she began to turn herself around to face me, but she kept her face down.

I reached out putting my hand under her chin. "Bells, what's wrong?" I asked her as I raised her face up so I could see her eyes. Ever so slowly she brought her face up and I could see slight differences in her features, but it was her eyes that made me suck in a sharp breath. Her eyes were white or silver at the center and faded out on the edge which was still brown. Tears were pooling in her eyes as I tried to figure out what could have done this.

"Do you hate me?" Bella mumbled as the tears escaped her eyes.

"I could never hate you" I told her as I scooped her from the rock and held her tight against my chest. I could feel her chest heave as she sobbed so I kissed the top of her head wanting her to know it was okay. But as I kissed her head, I could smell her scent and the vampire scent mixed together and then I realized she felt cooler than I remembered. I tensed as I processed all of this information, but I kept holding her. It can't be, I kept thinking…her heart is beating I hear it and she is crying and she's not pale enough to be one of them although she is rather close to their coloring. It was more than my head could handle.

"Bella, I don't understand…I hear your heart beating, but your smell…" I said trailing off not wanting to offend her. I put her down gently and waited for her to respond.

"It's hard to explain Jacob. I am sort of changing, but it is happening very slowly. I was bitten a few months ago. I am not really a vampire, but not really human anymore. I think I will finish changing eventually, but it's going extremely slow, because I didn't have a lot of venom in my system" she told me. My heart nearly stopped as she told me she was going to be a vampire.

"So there's nothing we can do to stop it! How did this happen? Why did you leave if you were only a bitten a few months ago? This can't be happening to you Bella…not when I love you so much…we can't be enemies" I said while cupping her cheek in my hand.

"It's too late Jacob, I can't stop it. I didn't plan for this to happen; in fact I didn't even want this. I just wanted to talk to you before it was too late. I'm still human enough to not crave blood like vampires do, so I wanted you to know that I wasn't lying in a ditch somewhere dead. I really wish things would have worked out differently" she said putting her hand over mine which was still on her cheek.

"Why did you leave then and who did this to you?"

"I left to protect the people I care about. The vampire that bit me told me there was someone after me and I didn't want her coming to Forks." I was confused, she said she left to protect people, but it's my job to protect her. And how did the one that bit her know that yet another vamp was after her.

Seeming to sense my confusion she spoke "maybe I should start over, do remember the vampires I told you about when I went to Phoenix?"

"Yes"

"Ok the one Edward killed had a mate named Victoria and Laurent used to be a member of Victoria's coven with her and James. Victoria spoke to Laurent and asked him to visit the Cullen's to collect information. It was obvious the Cullen's were gone so when Laurent found me he asked if I wanted to stay and wait for Victoria or go with him and help him to live more like the Cullen's. Victoria was planning to attack all of the Cullen's if that's what it took to get to me, so I left with Laurent and he told her the Cullen's took me with them."

"Why wouldn't you tell me? I could have protected you."

"Whatever she was planning would have been strong enough to take out all of the Cullen's. It would have been bigger than five wolves could have handled and I didn't want you fighting my battles. I never would forgive myself if anything happened to you or the others because of me."

"So now what? Are you just going to keep traveling around on your own?"

"I'm not alone, the one who changed me and his mate are sort of my family now. I have nowhere else to go."

"Wait, so the vamp that made you decide between dying and coming with him is your new daddy? I thought you said you didn't want to become a vampire now, but what he just changed you anyway."

"No, he didn't mean for this to happen… he just lost control." I almost believed her, but something was telling me she wasn't telling me the whole story.

"So he accidently sunk his teeth into you? I don't buy it Bells."

"The damage is done Jacob, what do you want me to say. I am trying to make the best of my existence now. It's not like I can just move back and we can still be friends. In a few months time my transformation will be complete and I don't know how long it will take for me to learn control. Even if I did learn control then what…do you think we can just go back to being friends like we aren't mortal enemies? What will the rest of the pack say about that and as long as there are vampires around you will never age. You will be doomed to walk the earth while the people you love and care about grow old and die until you are alone. I won't do that to you or the rest of the pack." Suddenly, I was worried she was just going to disappear again.

"You can't leave yet, please stay for a week at least. I will talk to the pack, there are things I should tell you." And there were things I needed to tell her. The pack had grown, Charlie was finally doing better since Bella left, the Cullen's had been here a month ago looking for her. There was so much more yet that I needed to say, but I needed time to process all of her changes too.

"Fine, go talk to Sam. I guess I am not in too much of a hurry seeing as I will live forever" she said smirking. "I'll be here." I turned and headed for the trees, within seconds I could here the whole pack waiting for me anxiously. They were taking in my new knowledge as I went over my whole conversation with Bella. Their thoughts were jumbled at first, but soon they were understanding. Sam appreciated that she tried to take the danger elsewhere, but everyone was upset that she was changing. Seth's thoughts intrigued me the most; he was the first to think about spending time with her as she is. She wasn't human anymore exactly, so I wasn't likely that we could hurt her, which is why Sam had made me keep my distance. I couldn't stop from smiling as everyone came to the same conclusion, they wanted to see her. The pack was coming and they were planning to welcome her home for however long she wanted to stay. Sam was careful to demand someone stay with her at all times, but he was willing to allow her in La Push.

As soon as the pack determined they were coming to us I went back to tell Bella. To say Bella was overwhelmed by the packs reaction to her was an understatement. She was elated as all her favorite people gave her hugs one by one. That day we all spent the day by the river going over some of the big things that had happened since she left. The pack was now made up of eight people; including myself, Sam, Jared, Quil, Paul, Embry, Leah and Seth. We told stories about all of the clothes Paul destroyed with his not being about to control his temper to the fact that we were all eating our families out of house and home. Bella shared stories of living in France and even told us she was gifted. We were all immensely intrigued to see her put such a gift in action and had a blast as she deflected everything we could think of to throw at her and I mean everything. It felt like all the times we hung out down in La Push before all of the wolf stuff and it was exactly what everyone needed. Finally, Seth piped in and tried to get everyone to calm the laughter.

"Bella, there is something else that has happened since you left. When my father died, Charlie was there to help my mother with anything she needed. He hasn't stopped helping her and last month they made it official. Bella, we are family now." Bella sucked in a sharp breath and then smiled.

"I almost can't believe it, but I could never ask for a better brother or sister than you two she said as she got up and hugged Leah and then Seth.

"See so you have to stay" Seth said laughing.

"I wish I could more than anything, but if I do you will never stop changing, stop me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that is fair to you."

"We appreciate your consideration Bella. As alpha I am going to allow you on La Push as long as you are accompanied by one of us at all times, just for precautions, I hope you don't take offense.

"Not at all" Bella said.

"Well with that being said, we need to head back so we can get some dinner before patrolling starts.

Over the next two and a half weeks, Bella and I were attached at the hip. She patrolled with the pack, ate with us occasionally when she found something she could stomach, and she even bounced around to spend the night between my house and the Clearwater's, without Charlie's knowledge of course. She seemed sad to be so close to her father and not be able to tell him she was okay. And even more strange than that, Bella and Leah became real sisters. Before Leah never paid Bella any attention when she used to hang out with us, but now they had developed some kind of unspoken bond in all of the craziness. But all good things come to an end and every week, Bella would try to tell us she needed to leave. Her so called parents had called her twice since she came to stay with us. And I knew eventually she would really go, but in the mean time we were beginning to think the problem in Seattle was something we wouldn't be able to ignore much longer. We had all gathered at Sam and Emily's place to discuss the situation.

"We have all seen the news reports about what is happening in Seattle and I think it is time we send a party up north to check it out. Bella I was hoping I could count on you for this mission" Sam said and Bella nodded. "Jacob is going to accompany Bella and I am willing to let one more go with them, but that's it."

"I will" Leah said quickly.

Two hours later, we were swiftly racing through the forest. The rest of the pack continued there patrols, but we could hear their restless thoughts as we got closer to Seattle. About thirty miles outside the city we started to pick up old and fresh trails, of multiple vampires. Leah and I stayed in wolf form, as we spread out trying to get a hold of how many vamp and trails there were. Suddenly, Bella stopped dead in her tracks and started following a trail not more than a few hours old. Leah and I followed her, but she held up her hand telling us to wait. She slipped through the night carefully and was out of sight in blink of an eye. After a few moments, Leah thoughts became restless, she was worried. We both knew Bella could handle herself especially with her shield, but we couldn't help feeling at least a little anxious. Within minutes Bella returned, looking even paler than she normally looks. I watched her open her mouth and close it a few times while she paced back and forth until she finally turned to us.

"Go back to La Push. Tell Sam it's bad, more than a dozen new vampires have been gathered, but I am not certain why they have been created. There's a trail of five or six that head east and the others are waiting for them to return. I…I have a bad feeling, just go back and I will call you when I know more, now go!" she told us while pushing my shoulder. Our thoughts were racing at the grave tone in Bella's words, but we did as she said as she took off after the trail that led east.

Bella/Sophie's POV

My thoughts were running frantically through my head as I followed the trail of five vampires heading east. When I had gotten close enough in Seattle, I had heard some of the vampires talking. There were so many of them and they were bickering and fighting. But what startled me the most was the one, that yelled at the other for fighting saying the red head said she would be back soon enough and then we would have our fun and she would have her revenge. I couldn't stop the chill that ran down my spine at the newborns words. Newborns, Eleazer had told me a lot about newborns, because he was so intrigued at how differently I acted. He even told me about the Southern Wars, between enemy vampire covens. How they created armies of newborns to wage wars with other coven in order to get the biggest territories.

And now an army of newborns was being massed by a red headed vampire after revenge. It had to be Victoria behind all of this, but who was she targeting? Did she know I was in La Push? Why wasn't she after the Cullen's? I was the only one near by, so I had to be the target, but why an army? Why wouldn't she want to face me one on one? And worst of all, how much did she know about me, my change and Laurent's part in hiding me? I kept switching off between calling Laurent and Irena, but I never got a response. The longer I waited for them to call me back the faster I ran, but I wasn't as fast as full vampire's yet, it seemed like I just couldn't close the gap between me and the danger ahead. When the sun rose, I kept moving making sure to keep to the less populated areas, but I couldn't slow down when they had such a head start.

By the time I crossed into Wisconsin the trail was only a few hours old, but it was clear where they were heading. Right to the hotel where Laurent and Irena were and the odds were not in their favor. Six to two, would have been nothing if I were there, but I left them unprotected. Finally, the trees gave way and the hotel was in sight, but there was smoke in the air. The smell hung in the air, as I burst through the doors to see a smoldering pile of ashes on the floor in the middle of the ball room. I shook as I dropped to my knees before the ashes, their scents were all around, but didn't leave the room. No…no…no…my head kept repeating willing it not to be them. I turned away from the ashes to see a card sitting on the table with my name on it.

Dearest Bella,

My, my how things have changed in the past year. Did you really think I wouldn't come for you or that I wouldn't find out Laurent lied to me? No matter, he and his mate paid the consequences for crossing me. Now all that is left is you and your precious Cullen's. When the time is right, I will meet you where it all began.

Victoria

The letter fell from my hand as I read the last line. They were gone…Laurent and Irena…destroyed because of me and my mistakes. I should have never left them…I should have stayed and this would never have happened, because my shield would have protected all of us. Irena, she didn't deserve this…it's all my fault. I stumbled to the ground as sobs broke from my chest. It was difficult to cry but not impossible…my breaths were unsteady as I tried to let it out. I was completely and utterly alone now, with only my memories to keep me company. Memories of a human family I could no longer see, memories of the Cullen's who never loved me, memories of the pack with whom I couldn't stay with, and memories of a vampire family who paid the price for my choices. The grief and despair washed over me in waves, I felt like I didn't deserve to have anyone. I clutched my legs against my torso and rocked as my tears slowed, I needed to get a grip and just accept the fact that this was my fate. And then thoughts of the Denali's entered my mind, I cost them a sister. I lied to them and took their sister away from them, because I was selfish and needed a family only to let her be destroyed. I was a failure…I failed to be a good daughter, niece, everything. How do I tell Tanya, that Irena is gone?

Gradually, my tears came to a stop as I realized that it wasn't over yet. Victoria wanted me to meet her where it all began. The only comfort I could give the Denali's would be to make sure I avenge Irena's death. No, this wasn't over yet and in a few days time I was going to kill Victoria with my own two hands. Rage ripped through my body as I let the anger consume me, I was so blinded with hate I just wanted to destroy something. I screamed as I pounded the floor with my fists, but it wasn't enough. I moved on to shredding the furniture and breaking the walls, before the fury inside of me made me feel like I was burning from the inside. I was so angry I just wanted to burn the whole place down! And before I gave it another thought fire engulfed my hands, but it was no ordinary fire. This fire was white with hints of blue and as I tried to breath in and out to calm myself the fire seemed to expand and diminish. The calmer I got the more it went away, but if I thought of all the hate I had in my body for Victoria it burst from my hands to the devastation I had created in my outburst. Soon the whole hotel was consume by my flames and I watched from the trees as it burned, saying my own goodbye to this place, to my life with them.

Once there was nothing left to burn, I turned and headed back toward Forks. I knew exactly where it all began and I needed to warn Jacob of what I had discovered. Luckily, for the wolves, vampires went joining forces to destroy them; no Victoria was massing a whole army just to destroy me. Clearly, she must have found out I was gifted and if I couldn't stop them she was going to go after the Cullen's next. I dialed Jake and tried to tell him what I discovered. I managed to get out all of the important stuff, before I just needed to hang up and breathe before my emotions took over me, but it was no use. I just couldn't stop a few tears as the scene at the hotel replayed in my head while I talked to Jake. After I hung up I took a moment to try and collect myself again before continuing, when my phone rang.

"Sophie?" Felix called out. "You haven't talked to me in weeks, are you alright?" I took comfort in Felix's voice. The truth was that I wasn't okay, but now I realized I wasn't completely alone. Felix had always been a good friend to me and clearly the Volturi were more than willing to make room for me, but that wasn't something I wanted to think about right now. For now my focus was devoted to the demise of Victoria as quickly as inhumanly possible. I told Felix what happened and he was very distraught. He wanted me to wait for him to come and help me seek out Victoria, but I told him I couldn't do that. He pressed me for all of the details about when it would come to a fight and made me promise to keep him informed. I knew he would run off and tell Aro, but at this point I didn't care and I kind of wanted Felix to be here to help me. This was his area of expertise and it would be nice to have another vampire on my side. I told him I would try to wait for him by the end of our conversation and finally hung up with him as I neared La Push. Seth and Leah were both waiting for me at the treaty line and I couldn't stop myself from hugging them even in their wolf forms when I reached them. More tears escaped my eyes as I held onto them, until Seth decided to lick me, gross! Being back with the pack and knowing Felix was coming brought me some comfort, but now I had to prepare for the fight of a life time.

I had originally planned some other things to happen in the Chapter with the Denali's but it made it way too long, so next chapter is what is happening with the Denali's and maybe the Cullen's if combining those two sides doesn't come out too long. Please review as always and thank you to all of my loyal readers your dedication to my story keeps me motivated to keep going even when real life gets busy :)