A/N: These wonderful characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. She is just nice enough to let me borrow them for a while!

A shorter chapter than usual, but only because the next chapter is Jacob's turn….

BPOV

Jacob had a look of sympathy in his eyes for a moment as he considered what I had gone through. "I am sorry about what happened to you, Bella, you have to believe that." he said softly. "But that doesn't change anything." He now looked directly at Edward, seething. "You violated the treaty!" Jacob screamed. "You bit a human!"

I quickly realized that there was more to the treaty than just the rules against hunting humans and trespassing on Quileute land. The Cullens were not supposed to create more of their kind - our kind. They had gone against that part of the treaty because I had begged for it, because I could not survive the knowledge that someday I would have to leave Edward behind while I went wherever I was going in the afterlife. So, in that respect, Jacob was right. The treaty had been broken.

"So, Jacob," Carlisle began to calmly search for answers as to Jacob's purpose. "As the rightful Chief of the Quileutes, and leader of the Protectors now, have you made your decision as to how you will proceed?" Carlisle wasn't disagreeing with Jacob's assessment of the situation, and I gave Edward a questioning look. He turned his face toward me and whispered, "Carlisle needs to keep things civil so that Jacob doesn't phase. If he does then it will be more difficult for them to communicate. My mind reading abilities could help to interpret, but Jacob may not appreciate my involvement."

It struck me as odd that Alice couldn't see when a werewolf was around, but Edward could hear his thoughts. Apparently, they (or Jacob, anyway) weren't immune to all vampire abilities, only some. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was important, but I couldn't place my finger on why.

"I came here to see for myself what the other members of my pack were claiming." Jacob stated matter-of-factly. "So the predictions from so long ago were right, then – bloodsuckers can't hold up their end of the bargain, and now I'm supposed to decide whether or not to declare a war." Jacob snorted, and looked directly at me when he said this. I knew from the pain that showed in his eyes that, as much as he hated to see me like this, it was even worse for him to have to be the one to decide what to do about it.

"Jacob, you can't be serious," I pleaded with him. "This is my family, my life!"

"Bella, these leeches that you call 'family' made their own bed. They are the ones who negotiated the treaty decades ago, and you can't expect me to just look the other way. My family – a true family, I might add – and the future of my tribe rely on my judgment now to uphold the law."

"The law, Jake? Isn't it the leader who makes the laws?" Jacob just shook his head, still glaring at me. "Then answer Carlisle's question, Jake." I fumed. What exactly do you plan to do now?"

He looked deep into my eyes for the first time, and for a moment I saw my friend, before we made the mistake of trying a romantic relationship, before Mike, before werewolves. It seemed like he was making the connection that whatever fate his tribe decided for the Cullens, it would also include me. He knew from my tone and my stance that I would fight not ony with them, but for each of them.

His reply was cold, but calm. "I don't' know."

Edward spoke then. "Jacob, this is not a situation that the treaty took into consideration. Bella is not a victim here, and I think you know that."

Jake considered Edward's statement for a moment, then glared at him as he spoke. "You know, every time Bella cried over you, every time she wrapped her arms around her waist to hold her insides together, every time I wished there was some life left in her eyes, I promised myself that if I ever had the chance to destroy you, I would. You took her life long before you turned her into a monster, leech."

"Would you destroy her then, also?" Rosalie spoke up for the first time. "You claim to have cared about her, yet where were you when she lived in hell? Where were you when she needed to be rescued and you were only a few miles away - busy giving yourself a flea bath?"

Jake ignored Rosalie, but spoke directly towards me. "Bella will have a choice. If it comes to a fight, she will be considered innocent unless she fights with you. If she chooses to fight, then I will not be able to allow my brothers and sisters to be harmed by her." I could feel Edward flinch beside me. I'm sure he knew where my decision would lie, and that he would never convince me to sit out while everyone else defended our family.

"I think you need to leave now, mongrel, before we make your decision for you." Emmett said. He was reaching his limits of patience, as were Edward and Rose. Carlisle, of course, remained calm, and Esme stood next to him looking as though she could cry. Alice and Jasper held hands, both seeming to just take everything in, analyzing it in their own way. And me…. well I was just numb.

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