Author's Note: WARNING. This fic has rape, abuse, violence, sex, and language. Also MPreg. There will be a male getting pregnant in this story. So if it isn't your thing, just move along, but I do recommend you give it a chance; I myself am quite excited about this story. :] There will also be major disregard for the rules of science (obviously) and Stephanie Meyer. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Threefold

Chapter Nine

Less than ten minutes after walking through the door, I was in my room, having taken a shower to rid me as best I could of the leech smell; it was faint, but more like background scent than anything else. Quil had commented on it several times, and finally I had to silence him with my Alpha voice, which I hated doing, but I didn't want anyone else getting suspicious, any more than I wanted to confess to my best friend that not only did I want a leech, but that it was Edward Cullen; a male, married leech that until last week had been my sworn enemy.

Things had moved so fast, and now I found myself pretty unprepared to face the consequences of my actions; Billy knew I was home, of course. Seth and Sam had told him. All I was greeted with when I'd entered was a stony look and an even colder silence.

My phone began to ring, and it took a few minutes of searching to find it, buried underneath a pile of clothes in a pair of cut-offs. I flipped open the device and saw Bella's name flash across it. And I almost hung up, but something stopped me; what if it was about Edward? I had to know; my Wolf had to know.

"Hello?" I asked upon picking up, and was automatically relieved when it wasn't the voice of my ex-obsession over the phone.

"Jacob!" The relief was short-lived hearing the desperation, the sheer terror in my mate's voice. Edward was afraid, for whatever reason, and he was using Bella's cell to call me…Both my Wolf and I were in agreement; this couldn't end well. "Oh God, Jacob! She found out…I don't know what to do; she thinks I bit you, that I've killed you and now…Jesus she almost killed me. She's going to kill me. Carlisle called a family meeting, but I don't know what to say, what to do!"

I'm sure he said more, but it was lost among his panicked breathing, heavy and harsh against the phone and at once I felt three things; anger at the bitch who'd instilled such fear in my vampire - something I only had the right to do, someone he trusted and loved had turned against him and made him afraid. Anyone who did this to my Edward was going to die. The second thing I felt was sympathy, a need to run over and comfort Edward, my vampire, make him feel safe and protected. He sounded so young, the voice completely out-of-place from within the century-old consciousness that I knew he possessed. A long neglected paternal and Alpha instinct was now becoming almost unbearable, crushing me with the force of it. I wanted to erase all of the negative emotions from his mind.

The third emotion was determination. I was going to help him. After all it was my fault he was in this position in the first place.

"Alright, Edward, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to get Seth and Quil - they already know, or suspect about us - and I'm going to go over there. Bella will see I'm alive, and she won't hurt you," I replied hurriedly, and with a sigh began removing what little clothing I had put on.

"But that'll raise all sorts of questions, Jacob! Besides, I broke the Treaty!"

That stopped me. "What? How?"

"I bit Bella, changed her into one of us, and I also bit you and drank from you. That's under the line of hurting or attacking one of your people, and that puts me at fault. Even as the Alpha, you can't ignore those laws set down by your forefathers; you would be exiled from the pack and cast aside, even if you weren't already for unmasking what we've been doing." I could only be silent as I listened to him rambling into the phone for a long minute, aware of the fact that his time was ticking away quickly. "Maybe it's just better if I face the punishment. After all, I am guilty…"

"But not of what they are accusing you of! You haven't killed me; I'm living and breathing right here and I can prove that. I don't care, Edward. I know Seth will back me up, and I trust the others with my life. I'm sure we can trust them with yours."

I waited just long enough for his tentative 'Okay' before I hung up, tossing the small device aside, and I jumped with ease out of my bedroom window, phasing mid-flight. There was no one phased, and for that brief second I was afraid again; like that first time when I'd just kept running, and I hadn't heard any of the Pack minds and it felt like I had been severed again; maybe Quil had gone blabbing, or Seth or even Sam, spreading rumours and I'd been exiled.

You can't be cast off from your own pack.

True that.

Even as I thought it I felt the little niggling in my mind that was Quil, mid-phase. As soon as he had gone fully Wolf I caught his attention with my thoughts, giving him the low-down of the situation. And I didn't spare any of the gory details. Summed up though, our conversation went something like this;

"Quil, the Alpha's mate's in trouble. Get Seth; we're going to the Cullen house."

"Jacob…you're the Alpha…" But even as he voiced his confusion I sensed him running towards the Clearwater place. Of course, he wouldn't know immediately that I had achieved such balance with my Wolf, such oneness, that we were essentially each other. The Alpha's mate was my Wolf's mate, and therefore my mate. It was a beautiful connection.

"I know, and Edward's in trouble. We're helping him. End of discussion."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Good boy." Wow, he was saying that a lot lately. Within seconds I had felt the younger mind of Seth join the two of us and we were off running. I didn't feel them next to me, but I didn't need to; Edward was my priority; I knew the rest of my Pack could take care of themselves. Thank God the Treaty didn't prevent us going onto the vampires' land. I was a few hundred feet from the Cullen house when Seth and Quil finally caught up with me; my desperation to protect my vampire had driven me to speeds that could even rival the sandy pup.

"Hey! I'm not a pup!"

"Sure you're not, Seth," I replied with a small smirk in my tone, shaking my thick pelt - it had grown a little with the lack of cutting my hair - of any leaves and shizz that had lodged themselves in my fur. Nothing so far; yay.

It was silent inside the Cullen house; too quiet to be good. Straining my hearing, I could just make out a few muttered, angry whisperings coming from the downstairs, and frenzied pacing from above. I knew immediately that Edward must still be from wherever he'd called me from; it sounded like his room. I wanted to go up and comfort him, to take him into my arms and tell him everything was going to be okay but of course…that was impossible right then.

"Go on, boss. No one got anywhere by ignoring their Wolf's wishes." Holy hell, could Seth read my mind?

Oh…wait…

The wolves next to me snickered, the sound of spastic growling filling the air, and immediately I felt all the voices, and the pacing, stop. Lights flooded the house - of course as vampires they would have no need for artificial light to be able to see - and it sent a stream of harsh fluorescence right across the field they called a front lawn. The dining room light glinted off their cars, parked in a line in the driveway and it also let us see the seven vampires gathered around their large, unused table. The place only used for Family Meetings, I'd been told.

They were all staring at the three of us, still and quite obviously speechless, until I saw the only pair of eyes still crimson lock onto me, and it took everything I had not to snarl at her for daring to injure my mate. I would make her pay; I made that vow to myself right then and there. Isabella Swan would rue the day she ever moved to Forks. If she didn't already.

The next thing I knew they were all in front of me; damn leech movement. That was going to get really annoying. And when I say all…I meant even Edward was there. He'd joined the family rush to get outside, to see me. They each stood in their little pairs; empath and psychic; blonde and bear; doctor and mother…And I couldn't help notice smugly that one of Carlisle's hands was restraining Bella, keeping her as far away from Edward as possible. My vampire had taken up the end closest to me.

"Communicate for me," I sent him, and his head snapped up to meet my eyes. There was panic underneath the normal unruffled mask, and I wanted nothing more than to wipe away any trace of it; my heart was thundering in my chest, mind screaming at me with pain of my mate being so close…and yet forbidden to touch him, to look at him more than cursory glances. It hurt to treat him as expendable. Then, he nodded, a small flicker of a smile in his eyes, which I could now see had returned to their normal bright honey after hunting; one less question to answer.

"Alright," I began, and immediately he repeated my words in a monotone. "I'm here. I'm not dead; Edward didn't kill me, nor did he infect me with his venom." Edward briefly snapped out of his part as translator to glare at me, but I continued onwards. "However…there is the small matter of the Treaty. Naturally, I cannot keep this from my Pack; two of them already know and it is only a matter of time before news of this…incident spreads across the Rez."

"We understand that, Jacob," Carlisle answered me, and I shifted my gaze to him, keeping one ear locked on Edward, listening to his breathing. Just that was soothing me, calming my initial reaction of rage upon seeing Bella, still at Carlisle's side. "But we do not know what truly happened; if Edward is at fault then of course he will be punished for it, and by your laws if necessary, but I do not want a war."

"And neither do I," Edward interjected, sincerity dripping from his tone and desperation clear in his gaze as he looked at me. "What I did…was a stupid mistake…I was just…hunting, and you were there and…" What a brilliant actor my mate was; his voice was getting more hysterical, as it often did with humans when they were trying to get believed a story; it was like the boy who cried Wolf….Haha…

I was interrupted from my musings by the heavy shudders of my Pack members. It was strange, knowing how immersed I was in Edward's subconscious, my little drift into fantasy land of what exactly had happened - how we'd both got bitten - had become a little too much more than PG. I felt immediately bad for Seth and Quil, and sent them an apology which quickly followed with a sincere 'Forget about it.' It felt good to have such loyal friends, and it said something about them that they were willing to stick by you after watching your memories of having sex with their mortal enemy. Man porn isn't for everyone.

Jacob, concentrate! Right…conversation. Cullens. Treaty. Right…damn why had I brought up the damned thing? Now they would think it was too easy for me to forgive Edward, and the punishment for an outsider attacking the Alpha was severe beyond belief. I couldn't hurt him like that.

"You could bite him," Seth suggested, and for a moment I thought he was making a smart-assed comment - making a joke at my or Edward's expense - before noticing how Edward's eyes had widened a little, hearing the suggestion, and his fingers had curled into fists by his side. His eyes flashed a strange mixture of black and green for the briefest second, and that was enough to intrigue me; why did his eyes turn green?

I would love to find out.

"I don't think we should need to concern the Elders with this…but punishment is necessary." I had to wait while Edward controlled his voice; it had gone low and husky, and repeating my thoughts in that tone would definitely raise suspicions, especially if he knew what was going on in my head - which he did - and was still speaking that way. Awkward, to say the least. "I think it's only fair we exchange flesh for flesh; bite for bite."

"You can't do that!" Carlisle answered before anyone else could, and as one his Coven turned their heads towards him, obviously shocked at his vehement exclamation. "I mean…Jacob…I need to talk to you, without others overhearing." His eyes passed between me and Edward quickly, and I knew then that he had put two and two together and come up with the right answer. Fuck, we were screwed. I could only hope he was trustworthy enough not to go running his mouth about the discovery.

What the hell? This was Carlisle! Of course he wouldn't.

Trust no one, Jacob.

Even Edward?

Especially Edward.

The voice in my head was really starting to confuse me.

"Dude, you have to answer." Seth's thoughts snapped me out of my internal monologue and I shook my head in an unsuccessful attempt to clear my thoughts. There was an uneasy tension around the Pack and the Cullen Coven as I remained silent…well, more silent than usual, without Edward to speak what I was thinking. Carlisle just kept staring at me; it was a little unnerving, his eyes beseeching me to listen to him, to take his words to heart.

Eventually, I nodded. "Yes, Carlisle," I responded, and Edward repeated it. I saw the Alpha vampire almost deflate in his relief. "But…Edward comes with the two of us while we talk." There was a stirring as unease spread through the Cullens. "I don't want him running off," I added quickly, an excuse for wanting him close.

"I promise that he won't," Alice said, and Bella hissed in the affirmative, giving a sharp nod of her head. It took all I had not to growl at her. "Just because I can no longer see the future doesn't mean I'm completely blind. I know Edward won't run."

"I'm afraid that condition is non-negotiable," Edward replied, keeping the monotone that meant he was translating my thoughts. Weird thing was, I didn't think it at him. Quick-thinking vampire. However, that 'answer' of mine had stirred the rest of the Cullens towards me, barely disguised looks of anger and surprise on their faces. I tensed for the attack, but Edward spoke again, this time with his normal voice, making it clear he was speaking for himself now. "You needn't worry." His eyes shifted to mine. "I'm sure Jacob will do nothing until a punishment is agreed upon." I nodded once, and the psychic leech visibly relaxed, along with her husband; they still believed in the odd camaraderie that had been created when we were fighting the newborns - that connection hadn't been lost. I found myself hoping it never would be.

"Very well," Carlisle said after a few more long seconds, and I nodded again. He released his hold on Bella. She stepped back, quite obviously still angry as her arms crossed over her chest, lips still bared in a silent snarl. I just wanted to attack her, rip her fucking throat out and burn it in her chest. Edward forced a fake cough out, moving his hand up to cover his laugh and smile, and I joined in his laughter with my 'spastic growling'. I paid no heed to any of them as I walked past, leaving Seth and Quil behind with the rest of the Cullens as Edward walked ahead of me, Carlisle taking the lead in the procession. We kept walking for several minutes, until the lights of the house faded into nothingness through the trees, even by vampire and wolf sight, and the darkness deepened under the deep foliage. Scents of vampires gradually got stronger, mixing with the scent of blood and I realized that we must be getting closer to their hunting grounds. Great, just what we needed - me, Edward, blood, and almost no witnesses. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Once again, Edward had to cover up his laugh, louder this time and much more relaxed. When I was certain that Carlisle wasn't looking - not that I really cared - I leaned my muzzle down and lightly traced my nose along his shoulder. His hand came up and his fingers lightly traced along the side of my face, teasing at the fur there. I could see the lift of his cheek as he smiled, and it made my heart warm. I purred lightly and ran my jaw along his neck, right above his scar. He still smelled a little of the mountain lion blood, and my own, and I liked the fact that my scent was all over him, covering him possessively.

Mine.

"Yours," he whispered, and I automatically cocked an ear forward to hear him, but that was all he said. My heart felt like it was going to burst from the force of my Wolf's feeling, breaking through that tenuous barrier that had been put in place between us. I wanted nothing more than to just…shout out what I felt from the mountaintops; let everyone in the fucking world know he was mine, even his wife.

Especially his fucking wife.

Abruptly, Carlisle stopped and turned around, and hurriedly I wrenched my head away from Edward, almost whimpering at the loss of contact. I took a step away, so that the three of us made up a rough triangle. Without a word I shifted, wanting the only people to hear this conversation to be me, Edward and Carlisle. There was a brief shout of 'No!' before Seth's consciousness drifted to nothingness, and I was a human again. I pulled on the cut-offs ever-tied around my leg, and was glad I had thought to bring them before running over here…or maybe they had always been tied around my ankle. I don't know, neither did I really care. It was for the sake of modesty more than anything else.

"Jacob." I looked over to Carlisle once I was dressed. He seemed edgy, unnerved. His hands twisted together in front of him, fingers toying with the wedding band around his finger. "Look…I'll just be blunt about this. You can't bite Edward."

…How to handle this situation? I mean, if I just ignored him, then I would either be proving myself an idiot and put to death any ideas he might have come up with, or I would actually confirm his suspicions, and we could end up in a lot of trouble. I knew that in this situation Carlisle's loyalty was torn between Edward and the rest of the family. I also knew what would happen if Edward lost, which he most certainly would. Carlisle wouldn't break up the Cullens for the sake of the one, even if it was Edward; his first companion.

In every sense of the word.

I would have to ask about that.

"Dad…." Both of us turned to Edward, who was looking down at the floor, expression one of guilt. He looked like the kid who's been caught next to the shattered window, bat in hand. "Jacob already knows. About everything."

"He knows what you are?"

Edward nodded. "An incubus," I said before he could reply, only causing him to nod again. His posture was tense; as though he was in trouble. Was he? Was he afraid? Afraid of the bitch that still lurked around his home, or of his father, or even of me? There were so many unanswered questions floating around in my head, stinging my mind like bees.

Screw that; bees sting once and they die. These keep coming back. They're like hornets. "The research I did, it was because of him. It all just seemed to make sense, and Edward confirmed it for me today; I definitely know now."

That was a mistake. Carlisle's eyes snapped to his son, narrowing in anger. It was so strange, the emotion seemed really out of place on his features, and I was afraid for Edward. So was he; my vampire took a step back, away from his Sire and closer to me. I placed a hand on his shoulder, and he was so tense, his body was shaking lightly. I could feel it against my skin, and subtly I pulled him back, closer against me so I could feel his chill, and he my warmth. He relaxed just a little, raising his head to look his father in the eye.

"What was that?" Carlisle asked, his voice as acidic as venom. "You told him?"

"No!" Edward cried, shaking his head vehemently. "He just…told me. And I wanted to know how he knew. I guess that was confirmation enough. Sire, please believe that I would never willingly tell what I am!"

"I should hope not!" Without another word he stepped forward, quickly closing the distance between Edward and himself. His eyes were dark with anger, and it seemed too out of place; this situation was so surreal. Must have been some secret, that the Alpha Cullen would get so angry at it's discovery. Of course…if I was one of the Cullens and I'd found out Edward was an incubus - especially considering how they're made and everything - I would definitely be curious. I would start asking questions.

Was instilling fear in my mate Carlisle's way of covering his own ass?

No way in hell.

With a snarl I pulled Edward back, placing him behind me so that I stood between him and the furious vampire. If looks could kill I'm sure Carlisle would have killed the both of us many times over.

"Listen, leech," I growled; he needed to listen to me, because I sure as hell wasn't going to let him hurt Edward while I stood by watching. Strange how such a turn of events had caused that huge change in direction of the conversation. Carlisle hadn't wanted a war, but there would be one if he laid a finger on the Alpha's mate. I waited until his eyes rose to mine before I continued. "I don't want a fight, and so I'm offering you a deal; I will not tell anyone about any of this; the bite, Edward's true nature…none of it. I'm confident in my abilities to do so, and to silence the Wolves that know already. And in return you will not harm Edward, you will not allow anyone else to harm Edward, and you will keep whatever there is between us a secret. There will be no concern around the Treaty or Bella or anything like that. You will not have a war on your hands - a war I assure you we will win." I had to pause, to control my shaking; my threat was making me angrier and angrier by the second and I didn't want to phase right then; that wouldn't be conducive to the whole 'We come in peace' thing. Sigh. "Are we clear?" I asked once his eyes had returned to gold; he'd calmed down.

After a minute - a minute that seemed to last for-freaking-ever, and was making me more nervous with each passing second, because I had no idea what he was thinking - Carlisle nodded. I was tempted not to believe him, but Edward relaxed behind me; he would have read the pacified thoughts and known Carlisle was telling the truth. I nodded and carefully stepped away from the two vampires, fully prepared to go back to my Pack, and to the Res - I had to call a Pack Meeting and lay down the rules for this new agreement, but I was stopped by an icy hand around my wrist. I turned and caught sight of Edward. His eyes were once again that beautiful green; luminous and near-glowing in the darkness and gloom of the Olympic National Park. I smiled a little at him, but the happy moment was short-lived. I knew that with this new tentative contract between me and Carlisle, I wouldn't be able to be around Edward…at all. I had essentially sealed the deal for both of us to be apart forever.

"Thank you," he murmured, pain reflecting in his dark emerald irises. I couldn't stop myself; I wouldn't be able to continue without that last touch; the last contact between us for some time, I was sure. I pulled him to me, my hand knotting in the thick hair at the back of his head and pressed a kiss to his forehead, before letting our lips meet. I would remember this taste, this moment, for the rest of my life. It would drive me mad to ever forget it.

I could feel his own desperation, the fierce passion behind his kiss and it tore at me. I loved him. I love Edward Cullen. And every day I would shout it in my mind. Maybe he would be able to hear it, even as far away as the Rez. I'd go to the boundary every day if I had to; I don't care. I wanted him to know that I wasn't abandoning him, though I knew we could never be together now.

Not until the bitch dies. Not until Edward can separate himself from his family.

He has already. He did it before.

It almost killed him.

But he would have you.

It's not good enough.

He whimpered lightly when I pulled away, both of us breathless and wanting more, but I forced myself to increase the distance between us. I had to get away. Carlisle had stood impassive, watching and there was something in his eyes; unidentifiable…but it almost looked like sorrow. I'd kill to be able to know what he was thinking, or feeling, right at that moment. I hoped he felt just exactly what he was doing; how serious this was.

I was a Wolf before I could think about it further, and running back towards the Rez. I practically flew through the trees, dodging them with ease. Could Edward run this fast? If I ran, could he catch me? Seth and Quil joined me as I passed the Cullen house, and they were silent - sympathizing. Pitying. I didn't want their pity.

"Spread through the Rez. I'm calling a Pack Meeting," I told them tersely, before they could say anything. I knew that as soon as everyone was gathered I would have to tell them everything - all the details, and I would need to answer all the questions, listen to all the accusations. And hopefully, come out of it the other side still the Alpha, and still with a Pack. I could easily see the Usurper trying to take back his position using this, but I didn't care. I was going to try my best, and hopefully I would still be the rightful Alpha. If not… "Quil, if this ends badly, I expect you to take care of the Pack as I would."

To my friend's credit, he didn't try and feed me any cock-and-bull about how it will be okay, that I was worrying senselessly and that everything would work out in the end. He knew he couldn't promise any of that, and so he didn't even try. Instead, he just murmured a quick "Yes, Jacob." and ran his jaw along mine briefly, before spreading out the opposite direction of Seth, towards the most Southern part of the Rez, towards Embry's house. Seth went to get his sister, Paul and Sam, and I headed straight to the clearing designated for all our meetings. The setting for the dream where I had first kissed Edward. What a lovely place to come clean in.

I didn't have to wait long - First I sensed Paul and Embry join Seth and Quil. Paul had, of course, been at my place, hanging around with my sister who he'd imprinted on when I was away. I hadn't had the opportunity to kick his ass about that; Paul was the least controlled out of us, which was sad considering he was one of the oldest and also had been a shape shifter for the second-longest amount of time, after Sam. He would have been Beta if Sam had stayed in command, and he resented my rise to power, however entitled I was to it. He would be one of the problematic ones, along with Sam. I knew already that Seth and Quil would back me up, and Embry was one of my closest and oldest friends, so I hoped I could count on him. I'm sure Leah wouldn't have a problem with me wanting Edward…I mean apparently women liked guy-guy action or something. The only problem would have been from Edward being a vampire. Jared…Jared was difficult to guess. I mean, he wasn't that close to me and he had been one of the originals with Sam, but he always just seemed to be background noise…tactician but other than that he didn't really contribute. He was withdrawn…

Speak of the Devil. There he was, joining the minds and the last one to phase. All wolves were heading towards the pack area, herded by Seth and Quil. I was so indebted to Seth; I owed him a lot. If it weren't for him, Edward would have been killed by that red-headed leech and her lover, her creation. I owed him the meaning of my existence.

Before I knew it they were all there, in a semi-circle around me. Seth sat at my left side, one tip of the shape and Quil on my right as the other side. Embry lay on his stomach on Quil's right, followed by Jared, Paul, Leah and Sam sat directly opposite me. The black wolf was glaring at me but I paid him no heed. My ears followed each mind voice as my Pack individually voiced their queries about the reason for the meeting, for my behaviour. Demands and requests for me to explain myself.

My breath left me in a huge sigh and I shook my pelt lightly, wanting to order my thoughts. I was so nervous…now that my intentions had time to catch up with me. My Wolf stepped forward to try and calm me, but it did little. I needed Edward; I needed his reassurances that everything would be okay, even if it was just trying to make me feel better.

The little push that I needed to get talking came, surprisingly, from Leah. "Hey, boss, penny for your thoughts?" She sounded impatient, but there was a genuine note of concern in her voice, and I was grateful for it. Sam, however, growled at her, murderous thoughts flashing through his mind. Without thinking I snarled back at him, the Alpha's anger roiling through my voice. I bared my teeth, fur on my back and neck rising a little and looked straight at the Omega until he backed down. No one threatened a brother or sister of the Pack without facing severe consequences. That was a warning, and it wouldn't be extended twice.

"Yes, Leah, thank you," I finally answered, once Sam flattened himself to the floor, soft whine of submission coming from him. I was beginning to love that sound, and that worried me; I would not become a tyrant. I didn't like having to threaten Sam - the male had been my Alpha, after all… "As I'm sure you've all noticed I've been acting a little…weird lately." There were various mumbles of assent, and I continued, feeling my Wolf imbue me with his strength and confidence. "Well, I might as well come out and say it. Earlier today I made a discovery…and…well basically I think - wait, I know, that I am in love with Edward Cullen."

I don't know what reaction I was expecting to get - cries of outrage, of anger; the sharp sensations of knowing my Pack members were one by one severing themselves from my mind; even the accusations of Fraternizer and the Usurper taking his place again…but there was silence. And in a way that was worse. So I kept on, just wanting to get the whole tale over with before I lost my nerve; "Due to the obvious complications this would cause, I have made an agreement with the Cullens; I will not let it slip - and this means you guys as well - that Edward bit me, nor will I bring up the issue of their breaking the Treaty, and in return none of us will bother the Cullens. This means not going onto their lands, just as they have never been allowed onto ours, and not communicating with any of them. This will last for as long as I am Alpha, or until the Cullens move away as they are likely to do in the next few months." I had become so used to the stab of pain at this reminder that I barely felt it this time.

Again surprising me, Leah spoke first; "So…you and Edward, huh?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"That's…kinda hot."

Various looks of surprise, as well as muffled sniggers accompanied her thought, and I looked to her in shock; I'm sure if I were human my jaw would be on the floor. "Are you kidding me?"

"What? Edward's a good-looking guy, and so are you…and the two of you together…" Across her mind flashed an image of me and Edward…up against a tree. There was one problem though;

"Other way around, Leah."

"What?"

I snorted. "Please, there's no way I'd be dominated by a leech." Again, laughs broke out among the pack. All except Sam and Paul. I felt my brothers shudder heavily as Leah's little fantasy switched and continued. "Okay, stop it now. We don't want to traumatize everyone."

"Too late," Seth muttered, shaking his great sandy head. "That was awful."

This was so surreal. I could hardly believe that my news was being accepted so readily. Was it because of the condition that Edward and I wouldn't be allowed to see each other as well? Because it was hard to believe that a bunch of people who'd been brought up to hate vampires would accept that their Alpha was in love with one, smelled like one, had been bitten by one…that they would be cool with it? Next to impossible.

"Jake, chill. We've all got your back. I mean…you can't control who you love; we all know that by now. Admittedly this isn't Imprinting, but it's like you told me; you can't control it, and you can't explain it. I was still phased when your Wolf broke through and…I can't say I understand, because I've never felt like that, but I can definitely accept it. No one got anywhere by ignoring what their Wolf wanted." Nods accompanied Seth's little speech.

I sighed. "Well I'm not going to see Edward anyway. That was a condition of this new contract, and I'm not going to break it and risk an all-out war. However, I will say this; you guys cannot tell anyone outside of the Pack about this. This includes our parents, our unphased siblings, our friends. This cannot spread outside the Pack. Do you all understand me?" They nodded again, and I sighed, in relief this time. "Good. Alright, you can all go. And thanks."

"No problem, boss," Seth replied with a laugh, pushing himself to all fours. I huffed a few times - our laughter - and he turned off running, his grey sister following quickly behind. Sam let out a little growl, one I didn't bother to reprimand him for, and as one he, Paul and Jared stood and padded off. I got an uneasy feeling about that; it felt like a Pack within a Pack, and that couldn't possibly end well.

Oh well; I would burn that bridge when I got to it.

With a sigh I turned, heading back towards my house, and Quil joined with me until he had to leave to get to his house. I jumped up towards my bedroom window, not really feeling in the mood to talk to my father right now, and phased just in time to fit through the open window - yeah, major skills, I know. I rock.

It was several days before something happened. And when I say 'something', I mean it's fucking monumental. Like…holy-hell-what-the-fuck-just-happened huge.

And it had started out as such a normal day…A few hours patrolling at night, and looking over my shoulder at Sam's activities. The uneasiness I felt around my Omega had just kept growing over the past few days, with every thought he attempted to shut out, every time he phased out of Wolf when I phased in, and vice versa. I knew he was planning something, but I had no idea what, and it was unsettling me, and my Wolf. Every day, though, I kept the promise to myself; I went to the boundary line and sat for a good hour, listening for any sign that Edward might come to meet me, having heard my thoughts. Nothing so far, but I wouldn't give up. Still, the emotional pain was starting to wear on me and my wolf; I had begun to get snappy, moodier than a usual teenaged male shape shifter, and that was saying something.

Typical morning routine; wake up, go back to sleep for another hour, then actually get up. Shower, breakfast and then stretch, because my body was far too long for my tiny bed in my tiny room in my tiny house…grrr. When I was gone, it had only served to remind me of how little I knew outside my home town; the town where I had been born and raised and the place where I was permanently bound by my pack to be. Unless they agreed to move with me. But there were too many Imprints on the pale faces that I could never ask that of them should it come to that. Still, with the new Contract I'd made with Carlisle held firmly in place, there wouldn't be anything to draw me away from Forks. I would live past the age I was meant to die; forever if it came to that, until I finally Imprinted, or everyone else did and gave up their Wolf to grow old and die with their love.

Every option I thought of ended in me being alone.

Stop thinking about this. It's only causing you pain.

It was just another day…I was heading towards the boundary line, and no one else was on patrol. Not that they should be, because it was the dead of night and we no longer had to look over our shoulders at a vampire threat. I was only beginning to notice how lonely the night-time is…how cold and vacant and just…stifling it could be. It made me want to run until my legs gave out from under me, to a place where it's warmer and the sun beats down on you through every day. Where the right people would become even more dazzling in the sun, while those who wished to separate us were burned. I wanted to run to a place I could be myself, Wolf and all, and where I could take Edward. It would just be the two of us for eternity. I wouldn't have to give up being a Wolf, nor an Alpha, if I had him. I would never have to choose, or get into a situation where that choice was taken away from me.

Suddenly, I became aware of a scent. It was slightly bitter, and it had been a few days since I'd smelled it, but the smell was unmistakeable; vampire. I knew it wasn't Edward, because I wasn't called to this one. I didn't feel an overwhelming need to seek this trail out, to find the owner and…well...let them know how much I'd missed them.

No. Instead, it was Jasper, the blonde soldier leech. I remembered him teaching us fighting tactics on newborns. The Pack owed him a lot, for we would have died trying to defend Bella with our usual style.

"Jacob, we have a problem." He knew it was me; of course he did. He sounded relieved - too much so. It made me know that before he'd found me he'd been panicking. For a moment my heart was in my throat; not even a week had passed between my deal with the Cullens and now there was a problem? Had Sam blabbed? Was this what he had been planning…Oh God I swear, if he caused anything to happen to Edward I was going to kill him. Edward…was it about him? Had something happened to him, or around him? Oh God…

"Calm down, Jacob," the empath said, stepping forward from between the trees so I could see him as more than just an outline; a darker shadow amongst the others. I could feel calm envelop me as he used his unique gift, and my body posture relaxed. "You have to come with me."

I couldn't talk whilst being a Wolf, and I wasn't going to turn into a human just so that I could voice my confusion; my protests. He would be able to feel it. I couldn't cross the boundary onto the Cullens' lands. That had been expressly forbidden as one of the terms of the contract. I think it's what drove Carlisle to agreeing with me.

Carlisle. If he'd hurt my vampire against my wishes I was going to tear him apart.

"Jacob, I know this is confusing." Good; he'd guessed right. "But I need you to come with me. It's about Edward; he needs you."

Um…complicated much? Why would Edward need me, when he has his family? He has Carlisle…he has his wife, and no one except for Carlisle knew for definite about me and him. Whatever you could classify the relationship as. Edward belonged to me, with me, and he knew that as much as I did. He had shown it to me in the forest in front of his Sire; he had given himself to me completely, body and mind; and though he never said the words, I knew them in my heart. Edward loved me. But he didn't need me.

I remained silent, impassive, an ear cocked forward as the only sign that I was listening at all. I could have just been ignoring him, for all he knew. But my roiling emotions were probably enough to give me away.

"…He asked for you. We were hunting, and suddenly he just…collapsed. He needs you Jacob, he asked for you and no one else knows about this yet. Please, just come with me. If it turns out I'm wrong or this is a trap then…" He didn't finish it. How could he? But I could hear the sincerity in his voice, and so I believed him - his eyes were dark, dark gold anyway. It gave proof to the hunting story. With a nod of assent he smiled a little, turning back the way he'd come and shooting off. I was close behind, keeping up with him easily. I was glad that none of my pack members were phased at that point; this would have been…difficult to explain. To justify.

Looking back on it now, I should have listened to the little alarm bells going off in my head.

We arrived soon in the middle of nowhere, having run for several long minutes, but it seemed like hours. I was so on edge that every movement of mine was in slow-motion, my impatience to be near Edward again growing. My Wolf could feel it too, and he was adding his own enthusiasm and impatience.

I smelled him before I saw him. And what I did see made me stop immediately. There was Edward…in the middle of a small parting in the trees. The moon shone down, half-full but bright through the autumn leaves, lighting his skin and making it shine almost as beautifully as when they were in the sun. But that's not what stopped me; he was surrounded by a pool of blood, blood that I knew from Jasper's expression hadn't been there before. It smelled like an animal's, but it also smelled like him, like venom. He'd thrown it up.

He was panting heavily, knelt down on his hands and knees in the steadily growing, dark puddle. And even as I kept watching in horror his entire body shuddered, and he heaved again, dryly this time; only a little blood left his mouth. He followed that with a cough, and it was the worst sound I'd ever heard; it was dry and racking. It sounded like he was very, very sick. If he were a human.

Without hesitation I was in my two-legged shape again, kneeling down next to him just in time for the coughing fit to end, leaving him sobbing and breathless. He didn't look to see who I was when I wrapped my arms around him, but I think he knew anyway; his entire body just seemed to give up again as he collapsed into my chest. He was saying something, but I couldn't make it out. Muttering the same words over and over, becoming less understandable by the minute as his words became hysterical.

"Edward…" I murmured, stroking a hand through his dark hair and cradling him to my chest, not mindful of the blood. He was still shaking; he was terrifying me. I was afraid, because I didn't know what was going on. I didn't understand. "Edward, it's okay. I'm here." I just kept talking to him, like one would do with a frightened animal until he calmed underneath my touch. Jasper was standing near us, trying and failing to calm the mood with his gift. I just shook my head at him, and he stopped; I was doing fine on my own.

Finally, I could understand what Edward was trying to say. "It's happening again."

"Again?" This had fucking happened before? What the hell was going on? "Edward, what are you talking about? What's happening?"

"This!" he cried frantically, fear returning to his shaking limbs. And I still didn't understand. How could I? He wasn't making any sense to me and he was starting freak me the hell out.

"Edward, calm down. We'll take you to Carlisle, and he'll -."

"No!" He shifted in my hold, trying to get away. As though just by suggesting it I was summoning him here. His eyes were panicked and dark, but still that weird green shade. That was starting to confuse me; his eyes kept turning the colour they were when he had been a human. At least, that's what I'd heard his eyes used to be. Or whatever. But why? Did it have something to do with what had been happening, because as far as I know there are no legends that speak of Cold Ones with anything but red or gold eyes. Why were his green? Another incubus thing?

He froze, then, as soon as the thought crossed my mind. He looked like a cornered animal; ready to fight fiercely at the slightest provocation. My mind raced desperately for a way out of this; to calm him down and get my answers at the same time. "Edward…Alright, I won't take you to Carlisle, but you have to tell me what's going on. And calmly, alright? I can't help you if you won't let me, and I want to help you. Jasper told me you called for me?" I prompted, and he nodded. "Why?"

"Because you have a right to know."

"A right to know about what?"

He looked so guilty, like he had committed a horrendous sin and I was somehow suffering for it. Without a word he took a hold of one of my hands, and placed it over his stomach. I was still confused before I felt something…move.

I tore my hand away, understanding washing over me, hitting me with enough force to knock the breath from my lungs. My wide eyes found Edward's, and in them I could see it all; the fear, the panic and the pure self-loathing that was in his emerald eyes. I wanted nothing more than to erase them all, but there were so many things that had to be explained.

"How…how is this possible?"

"It's happened before," Edward replied, hanging his head again. I felt a subtle shift in the air as Jasper came closer, wanting to hear us. Neither of us really cared; I knew Edward trusted Jasper like a brother, loved him like a brother, and that meant he had no quarrel with me either. Of all the Cullens I'd seen, the empath showed the most care for my mate. Especially the brief encounter I'd had on the night Carlisle and I had made that deal; he stood the closest, protective. He was the best guardian I could ask for, for Edward, aside from me. Without a word the blonde vampire sat cross-legged in front of me, side-on to my vampire and reached out a hand, placing it on Edward's shoulder. Any flinch or negative reaction was calmed by him, and I nodded my thanks.

"Is this…because of what you are?" I asked, forcing the question to come out of my mouth; it was getting harder and harder to speak, to think. I couldn't breathe, couldn't see properly; the image was blurring around the edges, but I stayed focused as best I could. I had to. I had to know the answer.

Edward sighed lightly, and the sound was so utterly heart-breaking, it tore at me. I felt like a huge hole was being punched through my chest. "Yes," he answered, breaking me out of my inner rambling. "It's happened before. But…" He stopped, looking away, and another sob ran through him. I knew what he wasn't going to say; he'd lost it. Or it had been taken from him. I was dying to ask so many questions, but I couldn't right then. Speaking seemed impossible at the moment. I all could do was hold Edward tightly to me, which I did, and try and reassure him that everything was going to be fine.

"Well?" he finally said after almost half an hour of our silence, the three of us just sitting, being. Drowning in each other's company and hurt and distress. I looked at him.

"Well what?"

"You haven't told me what you think about this." As much as Edward tried not to let it show, I could tell how much it was hurting him to speak of this subject. He was afraid of being rejected, afraid that I would turn my back on him.

No way in fucking hell, Cullen.

"I think that's it's freaky, goes against nature and is confusing as hell," I began, and he stiffened in my arms, prepared for my rejection. He should know better; one look in my thoughts, and those of my Wolf's, and he'd know I'd never cast him aside like that. I love him. "But, I also think it's a weird and wonderful miracle. I think that…this happening to you could turn out to be a good thing. And I think that everything will sort itself out, but I will be by you all the way."

"Say it, Jacob. Out loud. Say what I am."

I merely smiled.

"You're pregnant, Edward."

Author's Note: Okay, so when I say he's not going to turn into a scrawny little man-boy...he is a little. But let's face it, a pregnant, hormonal weak Edward would be HILARIOUS. At least for my dark, twisted mind and what I have planned for him. And thus begins the MPreg. I hope I don't freak anyone out by it, but I don't think I go into any awful gory details. And I do have my justified theory of how Edward could theoretically get pregnant, as an Incubus. So if anyone wants me to explain it I will do so gladly.

Let me know what you think; Reviews and Criticism mean a better story for you!

Loves!

HigherMagic x