Disclaimer:
All characters and known situations belong to their respective owners. Everything else came from my own mind- scary place that it is sometimes. In no way shape or form have I made or intended to make a profit from this story…. All rights still belong to Stephanie… though it's a shame she never did anything more with the wolves… ah well.. There's always fan fiction

Authors Note: Thanks for so many awesome reviews =)

Chapter 5

Bella sighed contently as she sat on the second step of her back porch in between Jacob's splayed legs while he sat on the first step. They were enjoying the cool night air from where they sat watching stars while Billy and Charlie watched some game in the living room. They were content with each other's presence and didn't need to fill it with inane chatter. They had finally come to an accord after the shouting match that took place at the beach earlier in the day. Bella found out from Leah- who had been hanging out at her house practically every day since the attempted kidnapping incident- that Jacob had a wolf on rotation at all times of the day watching her house. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but she was only human and if Edward was to try something else, she would be useless to stop it.

"I'm sorry Bells. I know I should have told you." Jacob said again. He kissed the crown of her head and wrapped his arms loosely around her shoulders.

Bella smiled and leaned further into his warmth. "Don't worry about it Jake. I get why you did it. I really do. I just wish you had talked to me."

Jacob rested his chin on her shoulder and pulled her a little closer. His wolf rumbled in content when she let her fingers caress the smooth skin of his toned and well muscled arms. "If I ever go to make a decision like that again that directly involves you and your safety, I'll talk to you first- unless we're under direct threat. Deal?"

"It's a deal handsome. Thank you." She cooed before turning her head to meet his lips in a sweet kiss.

Jacob took advantage of the situation and deepened the kiss after a few moments. His hands rested- one on her hip, the other on her upper thigh- and ignited a burning need within her. He grinned when she whimpered, trying to scoot closer still to him. In the past few months they had become more bold and the sexual tension had grown larger between the two.

"Bells… damn… we have to stop." Jacob groaned when she gently nipped at his lower lip. He didn't know if he really wanted to though.

Bella pouted. "Why? No one is out here with us." She cajoled gently. She turned and stood before moving to sit in his lap, her lips attacking his neck with teasing nips and kisses. She smirked against his skin when she felt him harden beneath her.

"Baby… our dads… they'll see us." He moaned when she started grinding against him. His hands moved to her waist- to guide her or push her off, he wasn't sure.

"I want you so bad Jake." She whispered hotly in his ear.

His control was slipping as he closed his eyes and swallowed audibly. "You know I want you too. I dream about it every night." He growled. "I want you on your hands and knees while I fuck you. I want you screaming my name before I mark you as mine forever." He all but hissed as he gave in to his body and started guiding her hips to move against his.

"Hmmm… is that the only way you want me?" She all but purred.

Jacob grinned. "Nuh uh. I want you on your back with your feet by my head while I pound into you until you can't scream anymore." He whispered before sucking a kiss from her neck.

Bella moaned and leaned her head back to give him better access to her neck. Her fingers carded through his cropped hair as their hips moved faster against each other. She gasped when she felt his fingers tweaking her nipples through the fabric of her shirt and bra and all but shuddered when he gently bit the flesh at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. "What else?" She begged.

"I want you to ride me. I want to watch you come undone over me so I can catch you as you fall into my arms. But you know what I really want?" He purred in her ear.

She groaned and closed her eyes. She was close now and knew he knew. He pulled her body tighter to his as their hips worked against each other faster and harder. "What do you want Jake?" She whispered huskily.

A shiver ran down Jacob's spine as liquid fire began to spread through his lower abdomen. "I want to watch you, after we're wed. I want to see your body swell with the life of my pups. I can see you Bells. I see the light dancing in your eyes and the smile on your face every time I come home from work. I see the passion we hold for each other at night, when we're by ourselves, lost to the world of sinful pleasure. I want a life with you. And I know that's what you want too. Say it Bella. Tell my wolf and I… you're mine." He growled knowing how close she was.

Bella's eyes dilated as she found her release. His husky, needy voice had her winding on his body wantonly. It wasn't but a few moments later that she heard him grunting as bliss crashed over his body as well. They sat panting with their foreheads touching, lost to the world around them as they stared into each others eyes. It was only a few minutes after Bella's eyes had closed that Jacobs growl jolted them open again.

"Jake?" Her voice shook as she said his name wondering what was going on.

Jacob squeezed her hand gently in assurance, his eyes trained towards the woods. "Call Sam." He whispered in her ear.

Bella turned to where he was staring to see Edward, Alice along with Carlisle and Esme walking out of the trees. "Jake, come inside with me. Please. You can't take them all on your own. Your strong, but they don't play fair."
"She's right you know." Edward sneered. "It'd be one less dog to step in my way." He spat.

"Edward, enough!" Esme hissed.

Bella's hand tightened on Jacob's arm- her terror for him growing at Edward's statement. "Jake, please, come inside with me. We can call Sam together."

"I won't fight them Bells. It'll be ok." Jacob soothed.

"Five minutes. You hear me!" She made him promise.

Jacob looked down at her, his hard eyes softening immensely as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I promise. Five minutes. If they don't leave on their own, I'll come inside. Ok?" He watched Bella go inside, heard the phone lift out of the cradle before turning back to the vampires in front of him.

Alice sneered. "Where are the rest of the dogs?" She growled, little more than frustrated that she couldn't sense them at all.

Jacob shrugged. "They're around. Why? Frustrated you can't get to Bella anymore? Do you not take hints pixie? She doesn't want you around at all!" He growled.

Edward scoffed. "It's you who doesn't take the hint. We want to talk to her, and yet you step in when it's not your place to step in! You're not needed here. My family and I can keep her safe."

Jacob snarled. His thoughts turned to the one thing he knew would bring him to his knees. He pictured Bella in his mind: the night she was found, next day after, the first month when she started to not eat, all that followed by the six months where she nearly wasted away due to what he and his coven had done to her. His wolf rumbled in satisfaction when he watched Edward drop to his knees at the onslaught of memories. When he deemed it long enough, the memories faded. It had all happened in the space of a mere moment as Jacob stared at the three remaining vampires. 'One down, one to go.' He mused.

Alice sneered. "You're not playing fair dog." She hissed petulantly.

Carlisle sighed. "Jacob, we mean Bella no harm. We came to say we're sorry. Edward and Alice have been beside themselves with grief since we left here. They don't understand why Bella doesn't want to talk to them anymore. I only wish she would talk to us so we could tell her ourselves that we were sorry."

Jacob arched a brow. "Is that right?" He was amazed at how calm he sounded, even in his own ears. "And tell me, after the way you left her, no goodbyes, no returned calls, no texts- NOTHING- why would she ever want to be civil to you?"

"We just want to see Bella!" Alice pleaded. "We want to tell her we shouldn't have left. We never intended for her to hurt the way she did. If we had known-"

Jacob growled slightly interrupting her speech. "But she doesn't want to see you. YOU made the choice to leave HER in the first place. YOU made the choice to ABANDON her when she needed you the MOST. YOU left HER!" He growled quietly enough that Charlie and his dad wouldn't hear it. It was no less menacing in it's intentions and Jacob let a smug smirk cross his lips when Edward flinched.

"You think we don't know that?! We want to make up for it, but you damn mutts are always in the way!" Alice seethed.

"And it's a damn good thing too! No telling WHAT would happen to her if she was to stay in your… company. Need I remind you about the damn leech that wants to KILL her because of you and yours?" Jacob's growl was scary, even to his own ears. His body was quivering as his anger rose higher and higher. He stared from one vampire to the next and became that much more intent to keep Bella safe from harm.

Edward sneered having caught the last of his thoughts. "We would never hurt her like that. I was wrong to leave her like I did. I only want what's best for her. She needed to know that I lied. I could never live this life without her. She's my mate. The only one I love." He groaned.

Jacob spat at his feet. "No tick. She's MY mate. And right now, you're pushing the envelope when it comes to that fact. She doesn't want you or your family back. She's made it clear time and time again that she wants you to leave her alone. Next time you come to talk to her, you better pray that I'm in a good mood like I was tonight. If not, there will be hell to pay and it would be YOU in ashes. Do NOT take my threats lightly either. You may be centuries old, but I promise you, I'll still beat you at any game you try to play." He growled taking a menacing step forward.

"Easy Jake. Easy." A deep voice sounded out. Jacob stopped growling when he heard his alpha's voice.

Bella had called Sam as asked and was waiting by the kitchen window. When she saw Sam, Paul, Embry and Quil walking out of the trees, she rushed out to Jacob's side. She started checking him over subtly causing Paul, Embry and Quil to roll their eyes.

"They didn't fight Bells. Its ok." Embry soothed.

Bella growled. "You think I care that they didn't fight?! This is Edward we're talking about!" She snapped. "I wouldn't put it past him to try and hurt Jacob just so he can try to prove to me how much better off I am with him. The only thing I want him to prove to me is that he'll listen and leave me the hell alone."

"Bella." Edwards voice sounded pained.

"What?! You… I'm SO tired of you! You selfish copper topped jackass! You think you can come on to MY property uninvited, threaten MY boyfriend and I'd be ok with it? That I'd just look away? You think you can walk up with Alice, Carlisle and Esme and think it'll be ok because you've brought the most quiet vampires of the coven? You think I'll suddenly leave the wolves- abandon my family- for you? FUCK that. You can take your old fashioned ass and LEAVE!" She hissed.

Quil snickered just loud enough for the vampires to hear it. "Remind me to replay this later for the pack." He told Embry from behind Paul's back so Bella wouldn't see it. He didn't think she'd find him so amusing right now.

Embry chuckled. "This is almost popcorn worthy." He said with a grin meant to antagonize the vampires they were standing in front of.

Paul snorted. "Almost?! It IS popcorn worthy!" He commented before their attention was turned to Edward who had moved towards her.

"Please, my love. They're not right for you. Listen to the way you're speaking now! This isn't you…They're not…they're not good enough for you!" Edward insisted.

"And you are?" She arched an eyebrow. "Tell me how you figure that one. They wouldn't leave me alone to fend for myself in the woods at night. The pack lets me be myself. Leah and the other girls don't try to constantly play Bella Barbie and above all else, I don't have to change myself for them. So, coppertop, how are YOU better than the pack?!"

"We're better than these dogs Isabella. We're not uneducated mongrels. We're more sophisticated and well versed in the splendors of the world. We can offer you more than any of them EVER can! They'll never be able to leave their little hole in the ground! You can see the world with us!" He snapped.

"Watch it leech. That little hole in the ground is our home, where WE'RE welcome ALL the time, not just a few months every other decade." Paul growled.

"You're playing yourself out. The insults are just that tick. Insults. Over time, they grow old. However, I won't stand for you talking to Bella like she's a misbehaving child. She has the right to make up her own mind and you WILL respect that, or you will deal with the pack. Now. What. Do. You. Want?"

Esme sighed. She had had enough. "Edward. We're not here to throw insults. Please, just behave or go home."

"But, Esme…" Edward couldn't believe she would take their side.

"She's right, Edward. Getting them riled up isn't helping. And it's insulting Bella which doesn't help us at all." Alice said quietly.

Bella lifted her chin slightly and crossed her arms over her chest. She watched as Edward eyed Jacob before drawing himself up to his full height. He was still no where near as tall as Jacob, though he towered over Bella. She had to stand on the very top step to match him in height. She still felt safe though, as the wolves of her pack stood beside and a little in front of her just as a precaution.

"Please, we just want to talk to you, Isabella." Edward told them, his eyes not leaving her. "Preferably alone if we can." He insisted.

"Go home. I was relaxing before you got here. You need to leave me alone. I'm not going to tell you again that I don't want you. I'm happy with Jacob." Bella sighed.

Carlisle sighed and Esme hung her head. "We'll leave. Forgive us for intruding Bella." He said. He and Esme were gone with a nod of their heads.

"Please, Bella. I would never hurt you. I love you so much. Please, just, come back to me." Edward begged when they left.

"It's too late for that, bloodsucker." Embry spat. "You almost broke her once already!" He growled. "You won't have that chance again. The wolves of this pack would die before we saw it happen."

Edward smirked. "I can see to that quickly enough." He threatened.

Bella shook her head and sighed. She closed her eyes for a moment to gather her thoughts. "You both need to go home." She said again. "Please, just listen to me and leave. I don't want to hear anymore about it. I just want to spend the rest of the night with my boyfriend relaxing. I've already shouted enough today."

Before Edward could say anything else, Alice went motionless briefly. Bella eyed her warily and moved even closer to the wolves helping to keep her ex at bay. Edwards head shot towards his sister as the wolves watched with baited breaths for her vision to end. Bella's hand found Jacobs and squeezed it when Alice gasped and looked at straight at her.

"Alice?" Bella asked hesitantly.

"We'll need to move her." Edward conceded.

"She can't stay here, you're right. It's too open." Alice agreed.

Paul growled breaking up their conversation. "Will ONE of you start talking before I break the treaty and light you both on fire?!" He snapped.

"Alice had a vision…. Victoria and Laurent have created three newborns. They're coming after you Bella. Very soon at that. We need to go now. If not then she'll come after you here. We can send you somewhere safe. We'd be with you too, of course, to protect you." Edward said gently reaching for her.

Bella backed away from his searching hand, hiding herself behind Jacob and Paul. "I'm NOT leaving." She insisted.

"But Bella. You need to be protected!" Alice said.

"The wolves have been doing a wonderful job so far." She snapped. The wolves gathered sensed her rising distress and instinctually laid a hand on either her arms or shoulders to offer their support and comfort.

Edward growled. "It's not THEIR territory!"

"What?" Bella asked suddenly confused when Jacob sucked in a sharp breath.

"You ASS!" Quil hissed. Embry growled readily along with Jacob and Paul.

"What are you talking about Edward?" She asked her very smug looking ex. "Guys? What does he mean?" She asked them when Edward didn't reply.

Sam sighed. "Bella," His voice was gentle as she turned to him. "As per the treaty, Forks is technically under the protection of the Cullen coven." He tried and failed to say what needed to be said.

"What does that have to do with any of this?" Bella asked them.

Jacob closed his eyes and sighed. "Bells…. Honey… if- if they say…" He stopped to swallow thickly, trying to gather his thoughts.

"What… Jake, if they say what?" Bella asked quietly, though there was panic in her voice.

"Swan… if they say we can't be here in our wolf forms…. Then you'll have no one from the pack to watch you properly." Paul said, his eyes never leaving Edward or Alice.

Edward's smirk was victorious until he saw the fire in Bella's eyes- the hatred shining there for him. "Bella… it would be for your own good. They're too temperamental to be around you." He tried.

"Jacob has been around me all night!" She shouted. Thankfully the game inside drowned it out. "The guys have been around me for MONTHS for that matter!" She hissed.

"She has a point there Edward. Loathe as I am to admit it. They've not lost their tempers with her yet." Alice sighed.

"This is still OUR territory." Edward spat. "I'll not have these inferior mutts sniffing around what is MINE!" He seethed.

"Fine… you want to play that card…wait here for a minute guys." Bella said before she stalked angrily inside.

Everyone waited on baited breath while Bella muted the game. She waited for their protests to stop and schooled her face into one of pure worry. "Hey, dad… I was wondering… Leah is having a rough time of it right now… what with Harry… with him not here anymore… Jake just told me he's been REALLY worried about her. She's not eating right, she's not talking to anyone… and I don't want to see her do what I did. It would kill her family." She was playing it up good.

"I had heard the same thing from Sue." Charlie said quietly. "Both she and Seth are really broken up and out of sorts right now."

"Do you… I mean… would it be alright if I spent a couple weeks there with her… I'd still go to school every day, and I'll do all my homework too.. .but Leah is my friend and I don't want her hurting like this." She said quietly, purposely making herself appear more upset than she was.

"That's a great idea Bells… wait… you want to STAY there?! Meaning you won't be in your own bed at night?!" Charlie growled quietly. Edward smirked. He was sure Charlie would refuse her request.

"Dad… I'd be at Leah's! And I'm sure Sue wouldn't mind! I could come here first and cook for you, or cook there and send Seth here with some food. Come on dad! Please? She needs someone who understands what it's like to have someone you loved ripped from you so suddenly." Edward winced at the blatant barb.

Charlie sighed. "Sue did say Leah could use a friend. What do you think Billy?"

Bella eyed Billy, pleading with him to understand why she was asking this all of a sudden. Billy smiled. "I'd say Bella has a huge heart. And I would let her use some of that kindness in it to help Leah while she's in pain." He said. "Besides, it's not like you won't be there every other day. You sly old dog." He roared with laughter when Charlie only blushed crimson.

"Alright Bells. Just for a few weeks! A month at the most." He said finally. Edward and Alice stood in front of the wolves glaring at them, not wanting to leave just yet.

Bella grinned and hugged her dad tightly, doing the same thing to Billy. "I'm gonna tell Jake." She said told them before skipping back outside.

Jacob smirked. "Well now… THAT'S solved!" He said when she walked back outside.

Bella only giggled at him before turning to the two unwelcome guests on her lawn. "Now I think I asked you to leave." She all but growled.

"Bella, you can't do this! Please, love! I won't allow this!" Edward finally growled reaching for her.

Within seconds Jacob, Paul, Embry and Quil had Bella boxed in between them. Sam growled as he stared at Edward and Alice. "She said. leave. So leave."

"Edward, come on. We need to go. Now isn't the time." She said cryptically.

Ten tense seconds passed before Edward and Alice blurred off into the trees. Bella sighed and slumped against Jacob. "Ok, back off guys. I'm gonna sweat to death!" She griped good naturedly.

Paul smirked. "Yeah, yeah Swan… you're awesome by the way. The look on his face… I didn't even expect you to do it." He said wrapping her into a gentle hug before returning her to Jacob's arms. It still floored the pack to see him so openly affectionate with her.

Bella only rolled her eyes. "Thanks you guys." She said as they all sat down with her and Jacob. She knew they would each need a few "wolf moments" to make sure everything was ok before leaving.

"Its nothing Bells." Quil grinned.

Embry merely waved her off and bumped shoulders with Jacob. Quil shrugged and patted Jacob on the arm. This was their way of saying it was alright. The touching, the comradeship, the brotherhood was all for the enforcement of the pack. Sam was the last to physically touch Jacob, it was only a hand laid on his shoulder, but it was enough.

"Come on guys. It's late. I'm sure Bella needs her rest. I'll send Leah over, tell her to cry. That way you can invite her over for the night while she's here. If the leeches come back at least you won't be alone with them." Sam told her.

Bella smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Thanks again you guys." She said giving them each a hug. It was her way of showing them that she cared. And it was something that touched them- that she took the time to understand their wolves just as much as them. She leaned up and kissed the underside of Jacob's jaw- something that floored Paul, Embry and Quil- before trailing chaste kisses to his lips. "I'll see you at school tomorrow." She whispered before heading inside.

Jacob sighed. "You know guys," He said jumping off the porch steps, "Life is good. I'll still kill that tick if I see him again. But for now, life is good." They phased at the tree line and ran home, each to their own beds to gather a few hours of sleep before waking in time for another drama filled day.