My eyes were fixed on the stalking figures in the trees. The shadows were moving very slowly for vampires…they seemed to be very deliberate and careful. In a few seconds, they'd be in the clearing. I tried to count them. One, two, three…there didn't seem to be more than five or six, but I couldn't see if there were more behind them. I was terrified, yet couldn't look away from my potential death.

The wolves snarled viciously, loudly. The rumblings in their chests seemed to shake the ground on which I was standing. Emily and Kim were grasping either side of me and trembling themselves, making the vibration even more apparent.

Suddenly, the dark black wolf I knew to be Sam stopped growling and gave a sharp bark. I braced myself for the attack I knew was coming, closing my eyes and whispering, "Jacob," softly.

"We're not here to harm you, or the humans," a ringing male voice called out. My eyes flew open in confusion and fixed on the golden-eyed speaker. "We honor the treaty between our kind."

I gasped violently. My voice sounded feeble and unsteady, filled with disbelief. "Carlisle?"

"Bella!" he said in relief, his smile expressing his joy and love in seeing me again. Around him, more figures came into focus. Rosalie. Jasper. Esme. Emmett.

Alice.

Her pixie face was alight with delight as her eyes met mine. If I could have soared over the wall of wolves in front of me to get to her, I would have. Instead, I stood there staring at them all, quaking with adrenaline, my wild eyes shining with tears and gratitude over seeing them again.

To my left, Sam had phased back into his human form, but kept close to the pack. He was naked, but I hardly noticed because of everything happening. Directly in front of me, Jacob had resumed his throaty growls, but was being nudged roughly by the two wolves on either side of him, as if they were telling him to settle down. I began to walk to Jacob's side to try and calm him, but when he heard me moving behind him, he turned and gave me an angry bark, as if to say "stop." I froze.

"Why are you here?" Sam demanded, his voice strong and unwavering. "We understood you to be gone from the area permanently."

"We know of the pending attack by the newborns from Seattle, and we've come to offer our assistance," Carlisle said. "If you'd like, we can work together, but either way…we're staying and fighting. We won't let any harm come to Bella."

Several eyes turned my way, both human and wolf. I just gulped, stunned.

"We have this under control," Sam seethed. "Bella will be fine."

"I can't know that for sure," Alice's chiming voice called out. "My latest visions have several more newborns…as many as nine."

A rumble went through the pack at this news.

"Please," Carlisle took another step forward, his hands up as if in surrender. "My son Jasper has experience with newborn vampires. He can help prepare us for their attack. I only ask that you let us help. We do not want to see any blood shed either. You don't need to sacrifice any of your lives to defeat these vampires…please."

The wolves looked to Sam, who was obviously struggling with the decision. Jacob continued his growls, backing up slightly until his haunch nudged my leg. I reached over and threaded my fingers through his fur, but my eyes never left the Cullens.

"Alpha, we have always respected the agreement your leaders made with us so many years ago," Carlisle gently reminded him. "We are on the same side." Another rumble passed through the wolves.

"I must confer with my brothers," Sam said gravely, phasing to his wolf form as soon as he said it. The pack grew still, yet their eyes were still wary. I knew they were communicating with the pack mind.

I studied the Cullens, wanting more than ever to run to them, kiss them, feel them to make sure they were really here. Alice bounced from one foot to the other, anxiously watching me. It was obvious she wanted to reunite with me just as badly. Emmett gave me a broad, dimpled smile and winked. Esme's hands were clasped in front of her heart, and she mouthed "Bella" when she saw me glancing her way, her eyes joyous. Jasper gave me an embarrassed smile. I was sure he still felt ashamed for what happened the last time we saw each other. I returned his smile, trying to assure him that all was forgiven. Carlisle was gazing at me with great pride. Even Rosalie's eyes looked relieved to see me. I tried to ignore the fact that one member of their family was nowhere to be seen. Like he'd care...

The wolves continued their silent conversation. After a few minutes, Jacob snarled viciously and made a motion to leap toward the vampires, and several of the wolves pinned him down. My attention returned to my struggling, furious wolf-man.

"Jacob!" I pleaded. "Please!"

Sam again stood before us on two legs, turning to address the Cullens once more.

"We will accept your help," he said, "but don't expect this partnership to last beyond this battle. We are natural enemies, regardless of your lifestyle and our treaty. We will not seek to continue this alliance."

Carlisle nodded. "We understand. And we will let you take the lead if you'd prefer, but I hope you use the talents of some of my children to your advantage," he said, motioning toward Alice and Jasper. "If you might, could you share the plans you've discussed thus far? We have so much to be caught up on."

It was obvious that Sam was struggling with the idea of working with vampires, but he was doing what was best for the tribe. He turned to the wolves. "Jared, Paul, Seth, and Leah — please phase to your human forms and join me. Collin, Brady...? Why don't you run some laps around the area and check for unfamiliar scents?. Quil…Embry...? Take Jacob home to cool down." Speaking directly to Jacob, Sam added with gravity in his voice, "Jacob, phase back and go. You will calm down and accept my decision."

At once, the wolves disappeared and I found myself surrounded by several tall, naked people. They dressed themselves with speed. Leah pulled her t-shirt and shorts on so quickly I barely realized she had phased. I saw my chance and pushed past Jacob, running with all of my heart toward Alice. In true Bella style, I stumbled a few feet from her and fell into her arms awkwardly, sobbing as I did. She held me tightly, cooing in my ear and stroking my hair softly. Her chilled embrace reminded me of Edward, but I shoved that thought away quickly. Suddenly another cool set of arms encircled my waist. Esme.

Emmett rumpled my hair affectionately and Jasper put one cold hand on my arm, projecting intense feelings of relief and love my way. Carlisle and Rosalie stood a few feet away, watching our group embrace with smiles. In the background, the pack watched with disgust.

"I missed you all so…so much," I gulped, laughing shakily.

"As we did you," Esme said warmly. "You're a part of our family, Bella…we hated to have to leave."

"Well, why did you?" an angry voice behind me growled. I whirled around, still holding Alice's waist, annoyed by Jacob's hostility but struck by the reality that I wanted the answer to that same question.

Rosalie stepped forward, her eyes flashing with fury, but Carlisle held her back. "We were honoring a request from a member of our family," he said softly, looking at me apologetically. "Edward felt that our presence was a danger to Bella. He loves her so much, that he would do anything to keep her safe...even if it means not being with her. I didn't agree with him then, and I don't now, but it doesn't change the fact that he is family and we had to respect his wishes."

I inhaled sharply, hearing their reason for the first time. I always knew that Edward asked them to leave even before talking to Alice on the phone, but hearing them say how they never wanted to leave me behind was all I needed to hear. However, I was struck to the very center of my heart to hear Carlisle saying that Edward loves me — loves...not loved in the past tense. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea, it was so unexpected and so contrary to his words to me the day he left.

Emmett whispered a low "sorry" and Esme looked stricken. I smiled sadly at them as my mind raced.

"Why would you respect his wishes," Jacob was seething, "when he never gave Bella that same respect?" I snapped my head toward him, miffed at his tone but feeling incredible guilt for my split-second doubt at the mention of Edward and his love for me. Jacob might be wrong in this instance, but at least he was here...sticking up for me. That was more than I could say for Edward.

"Jacob, they had to," I replied firmly, looking at the furious face of my boyfriend, still being held back by his friends, trembling from head to toe. "Edward is their son, their brother. Wouldn't you do anything if someone in your pack asked you to?"

Jacob snorted. "Seemed pretty easy for them. You're the one who had to suffer."

"Do you think we didn't suffer?" Alice's voice was cold, like I'd never heard it. "Every day of the last seven months has been torture for me…for us! We love Bella, as much as we love each other." The tears that had been dwelling in my eyes for the last few moments finally spilled over. They still loved me. They had missed me.

Jacob was silent, but fuming. I didn't want to leave the cool embraces of my beloved vampire family, but I knew I had to talk with Jacob.

"Please, don't leave," I whispered to them, knowing that they meant to stay for the battle but unsure how long after that they would remain. A moment of intense panic hit me as I took my first step away from them. "Stay in Forks…you don't have to go away again." I took one more step away. "I have to go with Jacob right now, but I promise I'll come see you as soon as I can. I love you," I finished, looking at every one of them as I said it.

A warm hand encircled mine and I flinched involuntarily, surprised. Jacob's eyes on me were sad and uncertain. "Come with me, Bella."

We were silent on our walk back to his car, Embry and Quil flanking us on either side. Every step I took away from the Cullens forced a soft sob from my chest.

**

"So does this just make everything he did to you okay?" Jacob seethed. It was a half hour later, and Jacob and I were parked down the street from my house. Quil and Embry had taken off into the woods near my house as soon as the car had stopped. I knew they were close, but they didn't want to be around for what was sure to be an intense conversation.

Jacob had been venting to me for the last five minutes, while I sat patiently and listened. "They all left you, Bella. They didn't even say goodbye. How can you just…forgive...I mean, they don't deserve it!"

He held his head in his hands and was finally silent. I touched his arm gently.

"Jake?" I murmured quietly, choosing my words deliberately...wanting to convey how much I meant everything I said. "Jacob, it doesn't change a thing between us. Remember? It's me and you against the world…"

He looked up at me through his lashes, still furious — but listening. I continued.

"They are like my sisters and brothers and parents. You have to understand that. They left because they felt they had to when Edward requested it…but it hurt them to do it. They're not Edward...they…they didn't leave because they wanted to…" My voice broke with a small sob. "They wanted to stay here," my chin was quivering uncontrollably. I was voicing harsh realities that still stung me to my core. "They didn't hurt me. Edward did…when he left me. And he hurt me again when he asked them to leave me. Please…I need them. They're my family."

I was crying at this point. I needed him to understand. His face softened at my anguish and he gathered me in his arms, where I sobbed against his shoulder for several minutes.

"Don't cry, Bella. They're not worth all this pain."

His words only made me cry harder, and I wailed, "What makes them so different from you?" I felt Jacob stiffen in my arms and I pulled back to continue. "You left me. You became a werewolf and were told to stay away from me, and you just left. After you promised you wouldn't hurt me."

"That's different! I had no choice!"

"Neither did they, Jake," I said, the sobs causing my chest to heave. "Not when Edward insisted. They're a family and they'll stay together no matter what. It's their nature."

"Their nature?" Jacob scoffed, and I couldn't hide the disappointment in my eyes at his sneering tone.

"They're not the bad guys…they came back here to help me," I said softly, the tears continuing to spill. "To help you and the rest of the pack. They're risking themselves here…how can I not forgive them?"

He sighed and held me closer, allowing me to cry as much as I needed.

I could feel a shift in the argument and I knew he was seeing reason. It was a start. I clung to him — my warm lifeline — and felt entirely comforted.

Finally, the tears lessened. My sobs subdued. I pulled back and took both of Jacob's large hands into my own, gazing into his eyes with intensity.

"Jacob, I want you to know…I'm…I am not crying over Edward. He is my past. You are my future, and I love you. You know that, right?"

He nodded slowly, and I leaned in to kiss him swiftly.

"Just because I forgave the Cullens for leaving doesn't mean I forgive Edward… You're starting to help me realize a lot about my relationship with him, now that I see what we have. Jacob, you're my friend and my boyfriend…I never realized how important it is to have both. You treat me like an equal. We're a team. It was never like that with him, and you were right when you said he didn't respect my wishes. You listen to my thoughts, my feelings…what I want, and you don't overreact and make my decisions for me. And that's how I know that you'll be okay with me spending time with them."

A grudging smile began on his face as he comprehended my words.

"I just have a feeling that we'll always have that bond for the rest of our lives," I said with confidence. "You were meant to be in my life. All this talk about fate and imprinting we've been having lately…well I'm telling you, that's fate!"

"I love you," he whispered, stroking my cheek with his thumb. "If you tell me you'll be safe around the Cullens, then I'll get used to it. I have to respect what you want…and my only concern would be for your safety in a house full of vampires. But if you really feel that it will be okay, then I only have one request…"

I lifted my eyebrows. "What's that?"

"Take a shower after you visit them…otherwise you'll absolutely stink!"