Dark Matter: Edward's Eclipse

by AMusefan77

Eclipse from Edward's point of view. Follows canon and will cover the entire book. Corresponds with a story I have on Twilighted called Event Horizon. You don't need to read it first, but I would love it if you did. Rated for language and violence.

15. Chapter 15 Partnership

Warning; Long A/N;

Here we are again. I know this chapter has been a long time coming. I'm really sorry for keeping you waiting, but it isn't for a lack of trying. My personal life has been insane all year this year.

I hope that its length will make up for the wait a little. It's over 19,000 words long, so find a comfortable seat. I hope it's not too over the top. I really wish I'd gotten a beta for this story from the beginning but I didn't and I felt it wouldn't work well to get someone else involved in the process at this point. Also, this chapter does reference a few things that happened in my New Moon story, Event Horizon, primarily because of the conversation Edward and Bella have about Victoria. I don't think it's anything too confusing, though.

Songs for this chapter;

Batten down the hatches, by Snow Patrol

It's beginning to get to me, by Snow Patrol

-She does, by Collective Soul

-I Will Follow You Into the Dark, by Death Cab for Cutie.

That last one might seem like a strange choice, but it just reminded me of the way Edward feels about Bella's mortality. With threat of death hanging over their heads in the first part of the chapter it seemed fitting to me.

In closing, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my late sister Leeann, who was killed in a car accident five years ago this month. She was 26. She was the first person who ever took my writing seriously. I miss you, sissy.

Chapter 14-Partnership

"She'll never agree to that," Jasper was saying as I gathered up the papers I'd had him obtain from Jenks for Bella.

I was sitting behind Carlisle's desk putting the finishing touches on Bella's passport photo. Or rather, Isobel Anne Masen's passport, which would soon be her new assumed identity. Jenks never processed our papers with the photographs. We didn't like to circulate pictures of ourselves; it was too risky, and even though Bella was still human I didn't want to take any chances with her either.

"She won't have a choice," I snarled angrily as I tossed the finished passport aside and laminated her new driver's license.

"So, let me get this straight," Alice said, placing her hands on her hips. "You're going to try to send Bella to Rio and then on to Isle Esme alone before the newborns show up." You've really lost your mind if you think that's going to work. She thought.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do", I answered curtly as I stuffed the pertinent documents into a manila envelope. It landed next to a pile of Carlisle's medical journals that were faintly vibrating from the loud music that was still entertaining the blissfully ignorant partygoers downstairs.

Carlisle was watching the entire exchange without commenting. He was still reeling from what Alice had just told him of her vision. She'd kept the particulars from him about Esme's death but the look on her face when she'd relayed what she'd seen had been enough for him to deduce the horror of the truth. His normally warm and vibrant eyes were flat and haunted as he tried desperately to think of a way to avoid a fight and protect the townspeople at the same time.

There was no hope of that, though. There was no hope for any of us.

"Bella won't go without you," Emmett insisted. You should leave with her, bro. You could save yourself too. He thought.

"I'll find a way to make her go without me. My talents would be too useful in the fight for me to leave." I said adamantly, hiding the doubts in my mind.

I knew it was going to be nearly impossible to get Bella to leave me behind but I had to do it. Every fiber of my being screamed in protest at the idea of being separated from her; but if I was going to save her life there was no other solution.

"I can see that she'll insist on staying no matter what I tell her about my prediction," Alice chimed in. She won't care about what happens to her if you aren't with her. She added mentally.

I winced as I recalled Alice's vision of the tiny female vampire standing over Bella's bloodless body. The thought that my own death would come soon after if Alice's prediction was accurate provided me with a small amount of comfort. But I still had to try to get Bella out before any of those visions could come to pass.

Bella would rather die here than live without you somewhere else. Jasper thought.

And then I was reliving the worst moment of my life in my head for the millionth time…

"I don't understand what you are saying, Rosalie," I'd snapped into the phone.

"She's dead, Edward," Rose had said.

Once again, the memory of the unendurable grief I'd felt when I believed Bella was dead back in March coiled itself around my chest like steel bands and I nearly collapsed under the weight of it.

The sound of Carlisle's voice in the here and now forced me back into the present.

"Bella shouldn't go alone. If you aren't going with her, perhaps Esme could," Carlisle said quickly. He knew that nothing could keep me from fighting alongside my brothers and sisters, and he was desperate to save his mate.

Esme was currently keeping a stealthy eye on our three werewolf guests at my request. I hadn't wanted my mother to know what Alice had seen, and I knew that the wolves wouldn't be as defensive in her presence as they would have been with Rose, Emmett or Jasper.

Rosalie had tried to argue with Carlisle about allowing them to remain on our land, but since Jacob was invited by Bella, they weren't breaking the treaty. There was a stipulation in our agreement that allowed for the crossing of boundaries by either party at the invitation of the other. Since the pack leader understood that we counted Bella as a member of our family, he knew we would not consider Jacob's presence to be a violation. Rose was still angry over what had happened during the hunt for Victoria, as was I for that matter, but now was not the time to pick a fight with the wolves.

"I don't understand! Why can't we all just go? If we stay, we're as good as committing suicide!" Rosalie interjected, throwing her hands up into the air in exasperation.

"If we're their target, they'll hunt us down anyway," Emmett replied as he clenched his large fists in anger. I refuse to run like a coward, He thought.

We can't just allow all the people in Forks to get massacred," Jasper added. "We have to try to head the newborns off before they get to town." Even if we did survive, we could be implicated if there were a mass human killing in the area.

I snorted angrily at his thoughts. Jasper's primary concern about the loss of human life boiled down to his fears that the Volturi would take action against us for it. It was a ridiculous thing to worry about since it was likely that they were the ones responsible for this situation to begin with.

"I know you believe the Volturi are behind this Edward, but it just doesn't feel like the sort of thing they would condone…" Jasper began as though he had read my mind, but Emmett cut him off mid-sentence.

"It doesn't matter who is behind it right now," Emmett interjected impatiently. "We need to plan our attack. There will be plenty of time to mull over the newborn's motives after we've destroyed them."

Rosalie glared at Emmett in response to his impetuousness but for once she didn't argue with him.

"Can you all be quiet for a moment," Alice asked impatiently. "I need to concentrate."

Alice closed her eyes thoughtfully as she desperately tried to see in spite of the three werewolves downstairs. It was difficult but she finally managed. I could see a blurred image of us confronting a dozen vampires on the outskirts of town near the meadow that was so special to Bella and me. Where were the rest of them?

My question was answered a moment later when Alice's vision shifted and eight vampires surrounded our vacant home. They'd been instructed to split from the others and follow our scent trail here. They would track us.

"Trying to intercept them before they can get into town won't work," Alice told the group at large as the picture in her mind faded away. "They'll come here to search. They'll track us and we'd still be outnumbered even if we won the first fight without losing…anyone."

She choked on the last word and I could hear the agony in her thoughts.

Esme

Edward

Bella

The music downstairs changed and Blue October began to sing of self-loathing. I could hear the sounds of shuffling feet as some of the high school couples began to dance more closely together and I ached to be beside Bella. I could hear her anxious heartbeat amid the music, voices and pointless thoughts below me.

"When?" Carlisle asked in a flat voice.

"This Saturday," Alice replied bleakly.

My Bella's life was in danger again, and I had a very short amount of time to try to save her.

I swore loudly as I jumped up from Carlisle's oversized leather desk chair.

"This is getting us nowhere," I snarled angrily. We were wasting time that I could be using to convince Bella to leave the country.

Jasper nodded and his thoughts were calculating and rational.

"We need to discuss strategy and fighting techniques," He said calmly. "We'll go out tonight after the party."

"Very well," Carlisle said formally as he stared unseeingly out of the large window. His desolation was nearly too much for Jasper to bear.

A second later, I heard Bella's heart rate accelerate and I focused all my attention on the conversation she was having with Jacob Black. He had apparently figured out that something was going on and he was trying to get Bella to fill him in. A low growl escaped from my chest as I looked at Bella through his eyes.

Bella's face was pale and terrified as the three large boys towered menacingly over her.

"Now explain," Jacob was commanding as he and his pack brothers crossed their arms in unison and waited for Bella to tell them about Alice's vision.

Anger burned through me and all my self-restraint vanished. Jacob Black was as good as dead. In a split second I had bolted from the room. I was halfway down the stairs when Emmett grabbed me.

"Let me go," I growled warningly as Jasper stood behind us and tried to subdue me with his gifts. If it weren't for his extra talents I would have already thrown Emmett aside and Jacob Black would be headless.

"You know we can't start a fight with the wolves in the middle of a house full of humans," Emmett said as Alice zipped past us.

"Do you really expect me to just stand idly by and allow that boorish mongrel and his litter mates to exploit a loophole in the treaty to come over to our side of the line and intimidate Bella!" I hissed as my fingers grazed Emmett's sweater, leaving a large hole behind

"Of course not," Jasper said as a wave of artificial serenity washed over me. "Let Alice deal with it." They'll be less likely to get aggressive with her. If you go down there all hell is going to break loose.

"Alice!" I heard Bella cry with relief as my sister approached her and the three massive boys.

Just let me handle this Edward. I won't let them hurt her, I promise. Alice thought.

"I need to talk to you," Alice whispered softly as she started to pull Bella upstairs. I relaxed without any assistance from Jasper.

"Er, Jake, I'll see you later . . . Bella muttered nervously as she tried to get past the wolves with Alice.

My relief was short lived, because a second later Jacob was blocking their path. I started toward the stairs again, but Emmett tightened his hold.

You need to stay here. He thought as Jasper utilized the full power of his talents. I stopped resisting and listened.

"Hey, not so fast," Jacob growled as he stuck his meaty arm out to keep Alice and Bella from leaving the room. Filthy little bloodsucker isn't going to keep us from doing our job. He added mentally.

Alice's mouth fell open in surprise.

"Excuse me?" she said, and I could hear the dangerous undercurrent in her voice, but Jacob was too arrogant and obtuse to pick up on it. If he doesn't move his arm in about five seconds I'm going to do it for him. She thought.

"Tell us what's going on," he demanded in a growl, and I could hear the fresh threat in his voice and in his thoughts. Jasper felt the aggression in flowing through him just as clearly as I heard it.

Jasper was at Alice's side in a flash. His thoughts were defensive and murderous at the thought of someone cornering his mate.

Jasper was a colossal hypocrite.

Without his calming influence, my rage flared and blazed again, but Emmett's hold on my arms was so tight that if I tried to get away from him I ran the risk of losing a limb. It would be easy enough to repair the damage but I didn't really want to fight three werewolves with only one arm.

Jacob slowly pulled his arm out of harm's way as he took in the deadly glare on Jasper's scarred face.

"We have a right to know," Jacob hissed, still speaking to Alice.

He has a right to know that I'm about to decapitate him with my teeth. Jasper thought as his posture became even more aggressive and he inserted himself between Alice and the wolves.

Geez, how many fights has this leech been in! He's an even bigger freak than the rest of them. Jacob thought warily. The other two boys, Quil and Embry, took a couple of steps back as well. At least they had a little bit of sense.

Wish Jake would calm down a little. We're on their land right now and even though Bella said Jake could come to the party the vampires could attack if we gave them a reason. He needs to remember the conditions Sam set for us. The boy named Quil thought, but his intense expression didn't change.

"Hey, hey," Bella said in a shaky voice. "This is a party, remember?"

They all ignored her as Jasper continued to glare menacingly at Jacob, who remained focused on Alice. The two boys on either side of him were trembling anxiously. They were so close to Bella; far too close.

I tried to pull away from Emmett again, but he tightened his grip.

"If you go down there right now, a fight will break out and Bella will get hurt," He said in a forceful whisper.

I was just about to try to persuade Emmett to go downstairs with me when a sudden idea in Alice's mind shocked me into an absolute still silence.

They need to know. Maybe they can help. She thought.

"It's okay, Jasper. He actually has a point." Alice said.

"Help," I said disbelievingly. Emmett stared at me in confusion until Alice voiced her thoughts.

No way, Emmett and Jasper thought simultaneously.

Jasper gave Alice a swift, searching look as he assessed her mood. He felt the serene honesty in her words, but he did not relax his defensive pose. He didn't want Alice to discuss the coming attack with the wolves. In his mind it was none of their concern. But I knew that the wolves would be more than willing to try to head off the newborns. Maybe their interference could buy us some valuable time.

I relaxed an infinitesimal amount, but Emmett did not loosen his hold on my arms.

"What did you see, Alice?" Bella asked desperately. Alice hesitated for a moment as she debated on how much to say in front of the wolves. But she believed they could be helpful and decided to be totally honest.

"No," I growled, just loud enough for Alice to hear. I didn't want Bella to hear the gruesome details of what she'd seen.

I'm just going to give her the basic facts, Edward. Alice thought in response.

"The decision's been made." She said finally.

"You're going to Seattle?" Bella said as her heart rate accelerated.

I wish we had already gone to Seattle. I should have known better than to wait. Jasper lamented silently. He was unfairly blaming himself for our current predicament.

"No." Alice said with a heavy sigh as terrible images from her vision flashed through her head.

Bella's already pale face turned the color of sour milk and she stopped breathing for a long moment.

"They're coming here," Bella said in a thick, horrified whisper. It was a statement, not a question. The three wolf boys were really shaking now.

"Yes." Alice replied simply.

"To Forks," Bella choked.

"Yes." Alice repeated.

"For?" Bella asked urgently. I could tell she was growing tired of Alice's one word answers, but Alice wanted to be truthful without revealing too many details. She nodded at Bella to let her know she'd understood the question.

"One carried your red shirt." Alice said with a sigh.

Through Jasper's eyes, I could see and feel Bella's terror intensify and my insides twisted with pain. I wanted to run to her and wrap my arms around her. I wanted to pull her close and whisper promises that everything was going to be okay, that she was safe, but I couldn't.

"We can't let them come that far. There aren't enough of us to protect the town." Jasper said deliberately as he assessed the shift in the boys' moods. Their thoughts were more curious than aggressive now, and he was sure that mentioning the potential danger to nearby humans would help shift their focus from us to the newborns.

"I know," Alice said miserably as Carlisle's future screams of grief over Esme echoed in her mind. "But it doesn't matter where we stop them. There still won't be enough of us, and some of them will come here to search."

"No!" Bella gasped. "Alice, I have to go; I have to get away from here."

A rush of shock and hopefulness surged through me. If Bella thought that her absence might prevent anyone else from getting hurt, it wouldn't be as hard as I'd thought to get her to leave. But, I needed to act immediately if I was going to take advantage of her current mindset.

"Maybe I could get her to leave after all," I whispered as a tiny sliver of hope settled into my chest.

Emmett's grip on my biceps loosened and I ripped my arms out of his and raced off to Carlisle's office to call the airline to reserve the necessary plane tickets. I picked up the folder with all of Bella's new and fabricated personal information inside it and listened to the automated prompts with an increasing sense of impatient urgency as I tried in vain to reach a real human being. I refocused my attention on the conversation that was still going on in the midst of the party while I waited.

"Everything just disappeared, of course," Alice was saying happily. "That's inconvenient, but, all things considered, I'll take it."

I froze for a brief moment as I tried to absorb her thoughts and her words.

An alliance with the wolves!

I could see that Jacob and Embry were remembering the way they'd easily managed to kill Laurent and I felt a surge of hope. If they were willing to work with us, killing the newborns would be no problem. I hung up the phone just as a man with a thick Calcutta accent answered my call.

"We'll have to coordinate," Jacob said. "It won't be easy for us. Still, this is our job more than yours." We exist to protect humans, not kill them like they do.

"I wouldn't go that far, but we need the help. We aren't going to be picky." I heard Alice reply in a falsely irritated voice. She was too relieved to really be offended by Jacob's comment. She and Jacob had unconsciously moved closer to one another and the site of the two of them standing side by side was strange. They were both mentally lamenting about the repulsive smell of the other.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait," Bella interjected with a wave of her hand. I noticed something silver glinting on her wrist. What was she wearing?

"Coordinate?" Bella repeated through gritted teeth.

"You didn't honestly think you were going to keep us out of this?" Jacob asked in genuine surprise.

"You are staying out of this!" Bella hissed vehemently with another wave, and I saw the intricately carved wooden charm that was attached to a bracelet on her wrist. A wolf…the graduation gift that Jacob had been thinking about the last time I took her to La Push. A gift that she'd accepted. A pang of jealousy and hurt filled my chest.

"Your psychic doesn't think so." Jacob replied with a shrug.

"Alice — tell them no!" Bella begged. "They'll get killed!"

Jacob, Quil, and Embry laughed sycophantically.

Was that why she didn't want to tell me? She was worried about us instead of herself. That's so stupid, but so Bella. Jacob thought.

"Bella," Alice sighed in exasperation, "separately we all could get killed. Together —"

"It'll be no problem," Jacob said eagerly.

Yes! I finally get to kill some bloodsuckers. I missed the fun the last time. Quil thought as he laughed out loud.

"How many?" Quil asked excitedly. I hope it's at least enough for each of us to have one.

"No!" Bella cried. Her exclamation caught Ashley Dowling's attention, but Ashley was distracted a moment later when a pimply faced boy asked her to dance.

Alice ignored her and addressed Jacob instead. "It changes — twenty-one today, but the numbers are going down."

"Why?" Jacob asked curiously. I bet they've done something to piss off another coven. I really wish they'd never come back here. He mused.

"Long story," Alice said as she noticed that Ashley had started to watch them from the arms of her dance partner. "And this isn't the place for it."

"Later tonight?" Jacob pushed.

"Yes," Jasper replied reluctantly. He wasn't really thrilled with the idea of working with the wolves, but he could sense the genuine enthusiasm they were feeling. "We were already planning a . . . strategic meeting. If you're going to fight with us, you'll need some instruction."

The wolves' expressions shifted from eager anticipation to mild indignation at Jasper's words. They found the idea of getting any kind of training from us to be insulting, but Jacob at least was willing to agree to meet with us later as long as Sam approved.

"No!" Bella whimpered desperately.

"This will be odd," Jasper mused. "I never considered working together. This has to be a first." I don't like it but what other choice do we have besides getting killed? He thought.

"No doubt about that," Jacob said with a nod. "We've got to get back to Sam." He's not going to be thrilled I've committed us to taking lessons from the leeches.

Jasper and Alice nodded in understanding as Bella continued to look desperately around the room as though she was searching for someone to help her talk some sense into all of them.

"What time?" Jacob asked.

"What's too late for you?" Jasper replied with another question. He knew wolves had to sleep almost as much as humans.

The oversized boys rolled their eyes in unison. The synchronized way their minds worked was unsettling.

"What time?" Jacob repeated with a roll of his eyes.

"Three o'clock?" Jasper proposed.

Jacob nodded. "Where?"

"About ten miles due north of the Hoh Forest ranger station; come in from the west and you'll be able to follow our scent in."

"We'll be there." Jacob said as the two other boys nodded in agreement as they turned and started to make their way through the throng of teenage dancers. They were oddly agile in spite of their overwhelming size.

"Wait, Jake," Bella called over the sound of a remix of Sympathy for the Devil. "Please don't do this!" The fear for his safety was evident in every word she spoke.

Seriously? She knows better than to think I'd miss a good fight. Jacob thought as he turned to look at her from the middle of the dance floor.

"Don't be ridiculous, Bells," He replied with a patronizing smile as Quil and Embry pushed ahead of him.

How I detested that nickname!

"You're giving me a much better gift than the one I gave you."

"No!" Bella cried desperately as Jacob headed out of the front door without another word, her arms dropped to her sides in a defeated way.

And for a moment, the indescribable relief I felt was eclipsed by pure jealousy.

************************DM:EE****************************

For every bit of worry Bella was experiencing, the rest of my family felt profound relief that bordered on the edge of elation. Carlisle was especially giddy. He'd laughed much harder than he would have under normal circumstances when Emmett told the story of how he'd given Tyler Crowley and Lauren Mallory a safe sex speech after catching them in rather compromising position earlier in the evening. He'd cornered them outside the little cottage Esme was renovating when he'd seen them disappear out the back door together.

"You should have seen Crowley's face," Emmett guffawed to Rosalie as the last of the partygoers made their way out the door. It was so red I thought he was going to burst into flames!"

"He's lucky," Alice said with a delicate snort as Bella showed Lee Stephens out of the front door with a polite thank you. "He would have been very unhappy next week when Dr. Gerandy treated him for an unpleasant medical condition."

"Can we please talk about something more important and less disgusting," Rosalie said with a roll of her eyes.

"Like the fact that those newborns don't stand a chance now," Emmett said gleefully as Bella rejoined us.

"I never thought I'd be grateful for those dogs, but I am now," Jasper agreed.

Bella winced at his words and I rubbed my hands up and down the small of her back in a soothing gesture.

"Isn't there some other way? Do we really have to involve the pack?" Bella asked, biting her lip anxiously.

The answer was a resounding no; otherwise we never would have wanted their assistance in the first place. But in our current situation, working with them was essential.

"Everything is going to be fine, Bella," Esme said gently as she planted a cool, motherly kiss on Bella's forehead. The poor little thing; she's such a misguided little worrier, always thinking about the safety of everyone else. I wish I could make her understand how hard it is to kill a vampire or a wolf. She mused.

My mother had no idea just how close she'd come to her own death. I shuddered slightly.

"The wolves are well equipped to handle this kind of a fight," Carlisle said with a reassuring smile. Thank God. He thought.

"Yeah, Bella, why should you be the only one of us who can fight with werewolves?" Emmett teased. I would've paid to see the look on that kid's face when she hit him, even if it didn't hurt him. He thought.

I gritted my teeth at this reminder of how Bella had broken her hand. I glanced down at the brace on her right hand and the silver bracelet glittering around her other wrist caught my eye again.

I felt a stab of anger mingled with the hurt that burned in my chest. She was wearing jewelry that another man had given her when I knew she wouldn't accept so much as a trinket from me. Why?

My throat thickened a little at the idea of the ring that was still waiting for her in my room. I was more desperate than ever to get it on her finger.

Rosalie noticed the expression on my face and she shot a nasty look at the back of Bella's head. I could hear in her thoughts that even though she understood why I tolerated Jacob's presence in Bella's life, she was tired of seeing the tortured look in my eyes. For all of Rose's flaws, she loved her family above and beyond everything else. To her, Bella would not be a part of that family until she severed all ties to Jacob Black and agreed to be my wife.

We stood in a circle for a few minutes after the house was empty, finalizing plans for our meeting and discussing the best area to practice in. We decided to use the baseball clearing since it was relatively flat and secluded.

Bella's tense demeanor did not relax at all during the course of our conversation. I finally shot a significant glance at Jasper. He nodded once before turning his attention to Bella.

I felt Bella shift her insubstantial weight slightly as Jasper unleashed his talents on her. All the tension left her body and within a few seconds she was suppressing a yawn.

"I need to get you home, love," I said quietly as I pulled her close. She was exhausted and emotionally drained. "Charlie will be waiting for you."

"Charlie will be asleep on the couch when you get there," Alice said as she gave Bella a gentle pat on the head.

She's going to ask you to take her with you tonight and I can't see what will happen if you do because of the wolves. She thought.

I led Bella out to the car without responding and hoped vainly that I might manage to win an argument with her for once.

"THAT HAD TO BE THE LONGEST PARTY IN THE HISTORY of the world," Bella said with a weary sigh as we drove down the twisted highway toward Charlie's house.

"It's over now," I said as I rubbed her arm gently. Tonight had been such an emotional rollercoaster; all I wanted was to hold her and never let go.

She was still terribly anxious about the coming battle, and I knew she was blaming herself for the peril she believed we were in. There was no danger now, or at least not the kind of imminently fatal danger we'd been facing just a few hours ago. Thanks to the unexpected assistance we were getting from the wolves, we would have no trouble defeating the newborns.

The Volturi were going to be sorely disappointed.

"You're taking me with you tonight." Bella said after a short silence as we entered the city limits.

My body tensed and I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Thanks to Alice's warning I'd been expecting this, but it didn't make hearing Bella's demand any easier.

"Bella, you're worn out." I argued wearily.

"You think I could sleep?" She grumbled, crossing her arms like a defiant child.

I frowned at her. I could tell by the growing dark circles under her eyes that she was exhausted, but naturally she would never admit it.

"This is an experiment. I'm not sure if it will be possible for us all to…

Defy our natural instincts and not kill each other

". . . cooperate," I finished untruthfully.

"I don't want you in the middle of that." I added.

The second the words left my mouth I knew I had made a huge mistake. I should have known that my choice of words would make her all the more desperate to go with me. Bella stiffened, and her chin jutted out in a familiar way that let me know she was digging in her heels.

"If you won't take me, then I'll call Jacob." She said in a determined voice.

I was so shocked that I actually made the car swerve slightly, though the movement was too subtle for her to notice.

In an instant, pain and rage flooded through me at her words. How could she make such a threat? After everything we'd been through in the last 12 hours, she had to know that I had scarcely ever been so worried about her safety. My entire family…her family…had been in grave danger. Tonight had been stressful enough without this…

A thousand angry words formed on the tip of my tongue. I longed to hurl accusations at her about her feelings for him, to tell her how I felt about the bracelet and her protectiveness of him; the way she always forgave him no matter what he did.

But then I remembered all the times she'd forgiven me for much graver offenses, including the inexcusable way I'd abandoned her in the very woods I could see through the windshield as I pulled into Charlie's driveway.

"See you upstairs," She said quietly. The guilt and shame in her voice was blatantly obvious and she couldn't meet my eyes as she got out of the car.

Charlie was deeply asleep, so it wouldn't have mattered if I had accompanied her inside, but I couldn't move. I was still in the throes of the pain of her threat and the ever present guilt that consumed me every day because of the separation I'd forced her into.

Bella had tried to survive without me, and Jacob Black had kept her alive, literally and figuratively. Now she felt as though his life was at risk because of her, and she was afraid for him.

And she loves him. A dark and unbidden voice said in the back of my mind.

"But she loves me more," I said aloud, and I knew that was true, even if I was unsure of the depth of her feelings for Jacob. She was mine.

But she could still choose a mortal life with him…

No, she couldn't…

She wouldn't.

But maybe she should.

"She's made her choice, Edward", Alice had said time and again.

The sound of Bella urging Charlie to go upstairs jolted me out of my brooding trance. I couldn't afford to dwell on my petty insecurities about Jacob Black just now. There were more pressing matters to attend to. I got out of the car and climbed the familiar tree that grew outside Bella's bedroom and crawled lithely through her window.

I perched in the familiar rocking chair and waited for Bella to join me. I tried to think of something that would make her reconsider her desire to attend this potentially disastrous… meeting, for lack of a better term. She certainly wasn't going to listen to any of the concerns I had for her safety, and she'd dismissed my pleas for her to rest. The only hope I had was to try to get her to fall asleep. Maybe if she succumbed to her exhaustion I could slip away without disturbing her.

I felt a twinge of guilt at the idea. I knew Bella didn't sleep well when I was away, and the image in my mind of her waking in the dark to find me gone make my chest ache.

A second later, the door opened and Bella reappeared, but instead of being dressed in pajamas, she was wearing a deep blue flannel shirt and jeans. Her face was freshly scrubbed and perfect, save for the purple shadows underneath her tense brown eyes. I watched her intently as she put her graduation outfit away.

She was so beautiful and breakable, but I could tell from the rhythm of her heart and the stubborn set of her jaw as she approached me that I would not be able to persuade her to stay behind. I scowled.

"Come here," she said as she grabbed my hand. The surge of electricity that I always felt at her touch radiated from her warm fingers to my cold ones, and peace overwhelmed my inner turmoil. In that moment, Jacob Black and the newborns didn't matter.

I allowed her to push me onto her well-worn little bed. She curled up beside me and I enveloped her in the familiar quilt to protect her from the chill of my skin. She wrapped herself around me the way she always did when she fell asleep.

"Please relax." I begged as I held her against me. The feel of her made me almost giddy with relief. We were going to survive this.

"Sure." She replied sarcastically.

"This is going to work, Bella. I can feel it." I promised her. It was true. I had complete confidence in the wolves' ability to defeat the newborns. Newborn vampires were all instincts and brawn, and while the same was true for the wolves to a degree, they would still have the element of surprise and a certain unique skills on their side.

A worried frown marred Bella's delicate features and I knew that she was not convinced.

"Listen to me, Bella. This is going to be easy. The newborns will be completely taken by surprise. They'll have no more idea that werewolves even exist than you did. I've seen how they act in a group, the way Jasper remembers. I truly believe that the wolves' hunting techniques will work flawlessly against them." I said emphatically.

"And with them divided and confused, there won't be enough for the rest of us to do. Someone may have to sit out," I added lightly, hoping to ease her tension.

"Piece of cake," she said into my chest. Her voice vibrated through my core, and even now, when she was needlessly frightened and tense, the sound of it was music to me.

"Shhh," I whispered as I caressed her cheek with my index finger. "You'll see. Don't worry now."

I inhaled the sweet scent of her skin and was grateful for the heat in my throat. Love and a desperate need to comfort her overwhelmed me. I held her tighter and began to hum her lullaby. It was an anthem of my love for her and the sound always seemed to soothe her even on the most restless of nights.

It didn't work tonight.

I remembered seeing images in Jasper's mind of how distraught she'd been when James was tracking her. Jasper had told me that the majority of her fears had been for the safety of our family. The situation with the newborns was far more complicated, and although it was irrational, she felt responsible. No amount of assurances from me would make her feel better. The worst case scenarios we'd faced earlier this evening had been replaced with hope and optimism, but she was too worried about her friends and family to see it that way.

So she lay in my arms, wide eyed and tense until it was time to go.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay and sleep?" I asked pointlessly as I got up to put on my shoes.

She glared at me without even bothering to answer. I sighed, feeling exasperated as I pulled her onto my back and jumped fluidly out of her bedroom window.

I thought of Aro's smug face as I ran with Bella through the dark, seemingly endless evergreens and imagined how he would react when he found that his plans to destroy us had failed. I realized that I wanted to defeat him almost as much as I wanted to kill Victoria. He had tried to manipulate Alice and me into joining the guard to further his agenda and forced our hands to make a promise that would end Bella's mortal life.

I was thrilled at the thought of beating him at his own game, but mostly I was just eternally grateful and elated that we were all going to get through this.

Bella, on the other hand, was still just as tense as ever as we drew nearer the large clearing where the rest of my family was waiting for the wolves to arrive. Their voices carried through the thick trees and although we were still too far away for human ears to hear them, their lighthearted chatter was crystal clear to me.

"That's the worst joke I've ever heard, Emmett," I heard Rose say from the clearing. I could hear that her thoughts were much less pessimistic than they had been for the last several weeks.

"That's what you always say about my jokes, babe," Emmett said with a laugh.

"This time she means it, I can tell," Jasper replied somberly. I chuckled as I stopped running and gently pulled Bella off my back so that we could walk the rest of the way.

I stared intently at her as we approached the clearing. She was silent and deeply immersed in her thoughts.

As usual, I wanted to be immersed there too.

"You know what I think?" She asked me a moment later as though she'd sensed my intense curiosity.

I laughed loudly in reply.

"No." I answered with a smile. Bella's lips twitched slightly as though she was about to smile in return.

"What do you think?"

"I think it's all connected. Not just the two, but all three." Bella said cryptically. Her beautiful brow was furrowed in concentration.

"You've lost me." I prodded when she didn't explain immediately.

"Three bad things have happened since you came back," Bella continued as she counted on her fingers, "the newborns in Seattle; the stranger in my room. And — first of all — Victoria came to look for me."

I frowned slightly as I took in what she'd said. I couldn't fathom what could possibly have made her think there could be a correlation between the three, so I asked. "Why do you think so?"

"Because I agree with Jasper — the Volturi love their rules. They would probably do a better job anyway."

I considered what she was saying for a moment.

Aro certainly loved his rules, but he also believed that rules were made to be bent to suit his purposes. I didn't believe that he would perpetuate an outright attack against us without cause, but that wouldn't stop him from allowing someone else to do it. The Volturi had been more than willing to turn a blind eye to the carnage in the south so long as the newborn creators didn't expose them. But the moment the guard felt their position could be compromised, they acted swiftly.

The army in Seattle was attracting far too much attention. Under normal circumstances they would have already been eradicated. In my mind, I couldn't think of another reason for their seemingly unprovoked aggression toward my family besides the Volturi pulling their strings. It wouldn't be a stretch at all for Aro to find some lawbreaker and "grant him a reprieve" in exchange for dealing with us.

"Remember when you were tracking Victoria last year?" Bella asked.

I cringed at the thought of the catastrophic consequences of my ineptitude at tracking. Victoria had figured out what I was doing and in response she'd returned to Forks with the intention of killing Bella.

"Yes." I replied with a frown. "I wasn't very good at it."

That was a gross understatement, and my failure still stung. Why did Bella want to discuss this now?

"Alice said you were in Texas. Did you follow her there?" Bella asked.

My frown deepened. When had Alice told Bella I was in Texas? And why had she done so if not to explain that I'd been chasing Victoria?

A light bulb went off in my mind and I understood. Bella thought Victoria could be responsible for the newborns.

"Yes. Hmm . . ." I mused. Victoria had been in Texas, and it was common knowledge among vampires that the most successful newborn battles had taken place in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I supposed it was possible that she'd gotten information about newborn creation while she was there, but there was no way she could have gotten this far without help.

"See — she could have gotten the idea there. But she doesn't know what she's doing, so the newborns are all out of control." Bella continued.

I shook my head. It was an interesting and clever theory, but even if Victoria did have a hand in creating the newborn army, she didn't know how to get around Alice's visions.

"Only Aro knows exactly how Alice's visions work." I reminded Bella.

"Aro would know best, but wouldn't Tanya and Irina and the rest of your friends in Denali know enough? Laurent lived with them for so long. And if he was still friendly enough with Victoria to be doing favors for her, why wouldn't he also tell her everything he knew?" Bella argued.

It was true that Laurent and Victoria had remained on good terms until the wolves had gotten to him. And it was also true that Laurent had learned things about my talents from the Alaskan vampires (I simply couldn't think of them as family at the moment); I'd seen that in his head during my brief encounter with him last fall. However, there were still some holes in Bella's theory.

"It wasn't Victoria in your room." I reminded her as I thought of the unfamiliar male scent I'd found all over her little bedroom. Whoever he was, he would pay dearly for what he'd done, and I sincerely hoped I'd get to collect that payment personally.

"She can't make new friends?" Bella countered insistently. Her expression became more animated as she continued to argue her point. "Think about it, Edward. If it is Victoria doing this in Seattle, she's made a lot of new friends. She's created them."

I paused, thinking hard for a moment.

In less than three seconds, a torrent of memories about my time in Dallas came flooding back to me. I could see the remains of the two college professors Victoria had murdered…. and the tiny broken bodies of little twin girls still strapped in their infant seats and their mother's bloodless corpse lying beside them in the back seat. Another swell of anger and disgust washed over me. Victoria was a barbarian; she was capable of anything. She was still so hell bent on getting revenge for James that she'd been trying to get around us and the wolves for months. But she valued her own life above all else, and she would never take on our whole coven alone. Suddenly, the idea of Victoria creating the newborns to do the dirty work for her didn't seem quite so far-fetched to me.

"Hmm," I said after a long pause. "It's possible. I still think the Volturi are most likely . . . But your theory —there's something there. Victoria's personality. Your theory suits her personality perfectly. She's shown a

remarkable gift for self-preservation from the start — maybe it's a talent of hers."

Surely that sense of self-preservation would compel her to try to avoid getting into trouble with the Volturi. Hadn't she seemed to know exactly how indiscreet she could be before she got their attention? She'd killed brutally in an effort to taunt me while I was tracking her, and yet she'd never gone far enough for them to take notice.

"In any case, this plot would put her in no danger at all from us if she sits safely behind and lets the newborns wreak their havoc here. And maybe little danger from the Volturi, either," I continued aloud. "Perhaps she's counting on us to win, in the end, though certainly not without heavy casualties of our own, but no survivors from her little army to bear witness against her."

Victoria destroyed life without a second thought. Her disregard could easily extend to destroying something she herself had created.

"In fact," I elaborated as I considered the matter further, "if there were survivors, I'd bet she'd be planning to destroy them herself. . . . Hmm. Still, she'd have to have at least one friend who was a bit more mature. No fresh-made newborn left your father alive. . . ."

I thought back to the various places I'd chased Victoria during my dark and disastrous time away from Forks. I hadn't encountered any other vampires besides Samantha and Matthew, the mates I'd run across in Canada. Even before I warned them about how dangerous Victoria was, they'd wanted no part of her. I was sure Victoria had left Dallas alone, and it wouldn't have been necessary for her to enlist Laurent's help when she'd needed someone to check on Bella if she had another accomplice. Did she meet someone in Seattle after Laurent's death?

"Definitely possible," I thought aloud. Bella studied me intently, and I could tell she was hoping I'd agree with her. It would be so much easier to believe that all of the trouble we'd been having had come from a single threat rather than several.

"Regardless, we've got to be prepared for anything until we know for sure. You're very perceptive today," I said with a proud smile. She was more observant and intuitive than anyone I'd ever known. "It's impressive."

Bella sighed wearily as we continued to walk toward the clearing.

"Maybe I'm just reacting to this place. It makes me feel like she's close by . . . like she sees me now." She said, and there was an undercurrent of fear in her thoughtful tone.

"She'll never touch you, Bella," I promised through clenched teeth. It didn't matter if Victoria showed up in Forks with 100 new vampires I would find a way to make sure she didn't harm a hair on Bella's head.

My eyes darted quickly over every corner of the thick forest as I remembered the way Victoria, Laurent and James had approached us in this very place just over a year ago. How I wish I had killed them all right then and there!

Tides of anger crested inside my head and the desperate longing to destroy Victoria that had festered beneath the surface of my every thought boiled to the forefront of my mind. I would make her suffer for what she'd tried to do to my Bella. James' death had been too quick and painless to satisfy me, but I would savor the chance to make Victoria pay dearly for her crimes.

"Yet, what I wouldn't give to have her that close," I muttered broodingly. "Victoria, and anyone else who's ever thought of hurting you; to have the chance to end this myself; to finish it with my own hands this time."

I imagined the savage pleasure I would take in slowly tearing her apart, piece by piece…

I felt Bella shiver involuntarily as she tightened her grip on my fingers. I could smell the unpleasant scent of the pack now, and I knew they were getting close. I needed to get to my family.

As we got to the large diamond shaped clearing where the others were waiting for us, the first thing I noticed was how relaxed they all seemed. Jasper was stretching his limbs unnecessarily, like an athlete preparing for a big game; Emmett and Rose were talking casually while Carlisle and Esme sat huddled together beside a small spruce. There was a certain level of intimacy in their posture. I tried not to listen to Carlisle's tender thoughts as he stared lovingly at his mate. For a long two hours, he'd been sure he was going to lose her.

I knew exactly how that felt.

I turned my gaze to the opposite side of the clearing, where a very disgruntled Alice was wordlessly lamenting the temporary blindness caused by the approaching pack.

Why can't I see them? Stupid smelly mutts, she thought.

"Is something wrong with Alice?" Bella asked in a soft voice.

I laughed. "The werewolves are on their way, so she can't see anything that will happen now. It makes her uncomfortable to be blind."

Bella nodded in understanding as Alice stuck her tongue out at me.

Keep on laughing Edward. I'll remember this the next time you want a heads up on some little tidbit about Bella.

I laughed again in spite of myself.

"Hey, Edward," Emmett called. "Hey, Bella. Is he going to let you practice, too?" I bet she'll still manage to trip over her own feet even after she's changed. Ha!

I groaned as I suppressed the urge to throw something at him. Emmett could find the humor in any situation, but the idea of Bella trying to learn to fight was one of the furthest things from funny that I could imagine.

"Please, Emmett, don't give her any ideas." I implored. Bella frowned slightly in response and Emmett chuckled again.

"When will our guests arrive?" Carlisle asked a second later as the smell of the wolves intensified.

I listened carefully for a long moment, tuning in to the approaching brains.

It only took a second for me to locate Sam Uley, the acting Alpha. Jacob, his official second in command, was following close behind him. The wolves' thoughts were just as clear as a regular human's, but they were different in a way I couldn't really explain. They were just as complex, but they were more instinct driven.

Jacob, are you sure the mind reader will be able to hear me when we're wolves? Sam thought. Not that I trust them enough for us to attend this pow wow as men.

Yep. Unfortunately he's pretty good at what he does. If you're listening, don't let that go to your head, bloodsucker. I didn't mean it as a compliment. Jacob thought. I nearly laughed in response.

We're almost there. Sam said wordlessly to the others.

"A minute and a half," I replied in response to Carlisle's question. "But I'm going to have to translate. They don't trust us enough to use their human forms."

"This is hard for them. I'm grateful they're coming at all." Carlisle replied. I could hear the emotion in his voice and in his thoughts. He would do anything to keep Esme safe, and he was overwhelmed with gratitude that the pack was even attempting to work with us.

A second later, I heard Bella gasp audibly.

"They're coming as wolves?" She asked in a shaky voice.

I nodded as I stared intently at her expressive face. She was clearly afraid, but why? Was it the wolves themselves or the threat of a possible fight that worried her? I remembered again the way she'd reacted that day in Charlie's kitchen when I warned her about the dangers of fraternizing with werewolves. Her behavior then had convinced me that she'd had some kind of close shave with them. I wondered idly if I'd be able to discern what had happened from their thoughts tonight.

Can you hear their thoughts clearly when they're not human? Carlisle asked wordlessly.

I nodded at him as I focused on the approaching mental signatures, turning automatically in the direction of their footsteps. I was frozen in shock for a moment as I got a read on each individual mind.

There were ten of them.

This pack was more than twice as large as Ephraim's had been; the size of our family had clearly caused the pack to grow. Jacob had carefully concealed this from me, it hadn't been easy, but Sam forbade him to think of it when he was in my presence. That explained a great deal about the way he'd acted when he came over to catch the scent of Bella's intruder.

"Prepare yourselves — they've been holding out on us." I warned the others as the wolves were almost close enough to see now. I suppressed a smile. Defeating the newborns was going to be easier than I thought, and yet, the size of the pack made me nervous. They outnumbered us and if things were to become too tense…

Instinctively, I tightened my hold on Bella.

"What do you mean?" Alice demanded. If this is some sort of trap that I didn't see…

"Shh," I replied in a soothing tone just as the wolves moved into our line of vision. Everyone shifted automatically to make room for the newcomers as they loped through the trees.

"Oh my God!" Alice breathed.

Holy hell! Jasper thought.

"Damn," Emmett muttered under his breath. "Did you ever see anything like it?" Why are there so many? There were only four the last time we were here.

Esme and Rosalie were gaping at each other in astonishment as they too registered the size of the pack.

"Amazing! It looks like they were right about the presence of vampires triggering the wolf gene," Carlisle murmured to me almost inaudibly. His mind was racing with plausible theories about the scientific mechanics of this correlation.

"What is it?" Bella hissed from beside me. "I can't see."

"The pack has grown," I whispered gently in her ear.

Eww, the smell is awful…don't know why we don't use this as an excuse to get rid of all of them…Paul, Emmett's would-be attacker, thought.

…so tired of being out this late…a brownish grey wolf named Colin mused.

…still can't believe we're training with Vampires…Jacob thought.

…this is going to be so cool…a sandy colored wolf named Seth Clearwater added.

…we should be training on our own tomorrow too…Quil Ateara

…just want to get this over with so I can get home to Kim…a short haired wolf named Jared thought longingly. I sensed a love in his mind that was so powerful I nearly gasped. It was almost as profound as the love some vampires have for their mates. Kim was his…soul mate?

Imprint!

Amazing!

Just as Jared's thoughts had drifted to his Kim, Sam's mind fleetingly wandered to his scarred fiancée, Emily, and I immediately learned that his feelings for her were just as pure and intense. He had imprinted as well.

Quil's thoughts lingered on someone named Claire. He had apparently imprinted too but there was a curious difference between Sam and Jared's feelings and his. They were more…parental and not remotely romantic. I couldn't pinpoint the difference.

Ugh guys, enough with the mushy crap already! Colin thought with a disgruntled snort.

…mom's going to kill me if she catches me out this late again…Embry Call, one of Jacob's sidekicks at the party.

…speaking of parents, Embry, have you figured out anything new about who your DAD is yet? Leah Clearwater.

Leah?

A female wolf! How strange!

Leah's thoughts were maliciously aimed at the possible paternity of the boy named Embry. Unlike the others, Embry was not supposed to be a direct descendant of the original pack. His transformation meant that he was the illegitimate child of Sam Uley Senior, Quil Aetera the third, or, much to Jacob's dismay, Billy Black.

What a mess!

…Give it a rest, Leah…Jacob added silently.

...yeah Leah do you always have to be such a...bitch…get it?...Brady joked. The other wolves let out soft, humorous barks in response.

I'll give it a rest when you two grow brains, Leah retorted wordlessly.

Leah clearly hated being a wolf and wanted to make the others as miserable as possible, and I knew why. She had loved Sam; she loved him still and he'd been unable to stay with her once he'd seen Emily. I felt a stab of pity for the bitter and obnoxious silver wolf.

I could hear in Sam's head that he had a great deal of love and regret when it came to Leah and Brady's joke made him angry. Because he had also loved her just as much as she loved him before he'd imprinted. His feelings were a sad and tangled web of drama and emotion. But he pushed his own turmoil aside and took control of his pack.

Enough! Stay focused. Sam commanded mentally, using his alpha powers.

The internal bickering and idle chatter in the wolves' heads dissipated just as soon as the command formed in Sam's mind. Instantly, their thoughts became...synchronized, for lack of a better term. It was phenomenal.

"Fascinating," I whispered. I saw Jasper nod slightly. He could sense the anxiety and complex collective and separate emotions emanating from the pack.

A moment later, I heard Bella gasp from beside me as the wolves came close enough for her to see them. She tightened her hold on my hand and I could tell that she was afraid. This pleased me; at least she had some sense of the threat the wolves posed.

Are you going to approach them since you'll be translating or should I? Carlisle thought in my direction. He didn't want the wolves to hear him ask the question, since it might give the wolves the misconception that we weren't well organized and strong.

I nodded to Carlisle in response, indicating that he should take the lead in addressing the pack. They considered Carlisle to be the equivalent of Sam in terms of leadership because he had orchestrated the treaty with Ephraim.

Carlisle took a careful step forward so as not to frighten the already wary wolves.

"Welcome," he said in a placating but clear voice.

"Thank you," I replied for Sam. I did my best to make my tone match the timbre of his thoughts. He and the rest of his pack were studying us with shrewd and cautious eyes and I wanted to reassure him by conveying his messages with perfect accuracy. "We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control."

Are you sure we can't test our self-control a little more, Sam, Paul asked as his deep brown canine gaze focused on Emmett. Rosalie glowered at him in response, but he was too arrogant to care.

Yeah, I would love to try my strength against the big one, Leah added in agreement as she too took in Emmett's large stature.

Whatever, Leah, Seth replied.

We will watch and that's all! Sam told them firmly.

"That is more than enough," Carlisle answered. "My son Jasper"-he went on as he pointed in Jasper's direction- "has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."

What does he mean by how they fight? Embry thought curiously

Yeah, don't they know they're filthy bloodsuckers too? Brady joked. He was quite the comedian.

What do they know about our hunting style? Quil thought in a somewhat indignant tone.

Please ask your leader to explain the differences between you and the ones we will be fighting, Sam thought in an oddly detached way.

"They are different from you?" I asked for Sam in the inflectionless way he seemed to phrase his thoughts.

Carlisle nodded, grateful that I was able to verbalize for them.

"They are all very new — only months old to this life; children, in a way. They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you — it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves." At least I hope the coven decreases in size. Alice doesn't see them creating any more vampires before Saturday. He added mentally.

The wolves began to make oddly enthusiastic noises that reflected the collective eagerness in their minds.

One for each of us! Embry thought

Is that all? Paul thought in a disappointed way. He was foolhardy and overconfident in the extreme. And I'd thought Jacob was bad…

If Colin and Brady stay behind we'll have more…Jared added silently with a slight nod of his furry head.

No way! Colin and Brady thought in unison

You will do as you're told, Sam insisted.

You're staying behind, too Seth, Leah thought fiercely. For all her bitterness she loved her brother above all else. I can handle two bloodsuckers with one paw tied behind my back.

I hope you're ready to put your money where your paws are, Jacob goaded.

I sure am! Maybe your brother Embry will let you have one all to yourself. Leah replied viciously.

The entire pack seemed to tense in unison as they all wondered again how Embry became a wolf. My sympathy for Leah was waning fast as I picked up the pleasure she took from the pain of her male counterparts.

Piss off, Leah, Embry thought uncomfortably.

Damn it! Have you all forgotten that the mind reading leech can hear you! Shut up and focus! Jacob thought angrily as his shaggy chestnut colored fur stood on end. I didn't blame him for admonishing them. The pack sobered at once, and I realized that his statement was a command.

I could see that while Jacob had chosen not to claim his birthright as the Alpha of the pack, he was comfortable with assuming a secondary leadership role.

Sam dipped his muzzle in approval at Jacob's order. He was eager to prove that the wolves were mature and capable of fighting a large group of vampires. His eyes, which were as dark as his jet black fur, met mine and he silently asked me to repeat his thoughts aloud verbatim for the others to hear.

"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary," I said for him in a more enthusiastic voice than before.

Emmett frowned slightly as his competitive nature and willingness to fight showed as clearly on his face as it did in his thoughts.

Carlisle smiled in response to Sam's words and Emmett's expression.

"We'll see how it plays out." Carlisle said diplomatically. I hate to fight, but I will for my family.

We finally get to take out some leeches, Quil thought.

I want to do this for the safety of our tribe, Jared said silently. Sam and Jacob bobbed their muzzles in agreement.

I knew from the thoughts of everyone around me, the pack and my family, that no one was more eager for this battle than I. These monsters had threatened my Bella and I was furious. I had never been so desperate for a fight. Not even when those worthless excuses for men had accosted her in Port Angeles, or when James had lured her to the ballet studio. This attack was far more calculated; it was a premeditative war, with my love at the center of the controversy. For whatever reason, they wanted her and I was going to make them pay with their lives for it.

I was pulled out of my brooding fury when Sam nodded at me again, indicating that he wanted me to ask a question for him.

"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?" I asked on his behalf.

"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path." Carlisle clarified. She predicted their arrival time while you were with Bella. Part of her vision was blocked due to the wolves, though. He added mentally.

"Thank you for the information. We will watch." I said graciously for Sam as the wolves lowered their gazes in an almost submissive sort of way. They were trying to stay relaxed, but it was difficult for them to let down their guard in front of seven vampires. The feeling on instinctive unease was entirely mutual.

A profound silence fell as we all waited for Jasper to take charge of the conversation, but he didn't for a long moment; he was too anxious.

Jasper's survival instincts were much more highly developed than the rest of our family's. This was due in equal measure to his talents and his past experiences with newborns. He was very uneasy with the wolves, and thanks to the tense atmosphere surrounding all of us, it was even more difficult for him to compose himself. He felt every subtle nuance and emotion of the pack and our family, and it was an overwhelming sensation.

Alice gave him a reassuring nod, and he sighed.

I'll just focus on us and try to pretend they aren't watching everything I do, Jasper thought determinedly as he turned his eyes away from the wolves.

"Carlisle's right." Jasper agreed, trying to calm himself. "They'll fight like children. The two most important things you'll need to remember are, first, don't let them get their arms around you and, second, don't go for the obvious kill. That's all they'll be prepared for. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively."

"I want to go first," Emmett whispered too softly for anyone but us to hear. Alice giggled.

"Emmett?" Jasper replied in affirmation as he gestured for Emmett to join him.

Yes! Emmett thought eagerly as he stepped forward.

"Okay, Emmett first; he's the best example of a newborn attack." Jasper went on. He knew this would annoy Emmett, but he was more concerned with training us properly than the state of Emmett's ego.

"I'll try not to break anything," Emmett grumbled menacingly in reply. Newborns will be the last thing on his mind when I knock him on his ass. He thought.

Jasper grinned in response to the annoyance that was radiating through Emmett.

"What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength," Jasper clarified.

"He's very straightforward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle, either. Just go for the easy kill, Emmett."

Emmett looked slightly mollified but he was still extremely determined to prove himself. Jasper took two methodical steps backward as Emmett approached him.

"Oh, it'll be easy, alright. It just won't be easy on you, brother," He taunted quietly.

"Okay, Emmett — try to catch me." Jasper replied with a slight smirk.

A fourth of a second later, Jasper was running. Emmett continued to try to charge him directly, but Jasper was always a half step ahead of him.

Maybe the big one isn't a tough as he looks, Paul thought smugly.

Again and again, Emmett lunged toward Jasper, but it was like trying to catch smoke in his bare hands. Jasper twisted and turned as gracefully as a lion. I watched with complete fascination. I'd seen my brother in action through some of his recollections, but actually watching it firsthand was an entirely different experience.

The wolves were equally enthralled as the standoff between Emmett and Jasper continued. They were impressed against their will at Jasper's methodical movements. He was like a military virtuoso.

For a millisecond, Jasper slowed, and Emmett reacted at once.

He's mine this time, Emmett thought eagerly as his beefy hands reached for Jasper. But he'd claimed victory in his head a split second too soon. Emmett's fists closed around the empty night air as Jasper grabbed him from behind and went for his throat.

"Again," Emmett growled angrily as Jasper tightened his hold. His pride was wounded, and he hated the idea that the wolves had seen him lose the fight. He was still bitter over what had transpired on the border with Victoria.

I can't believe he took the big one that easily, Seth and Paul thought together.

That scarred up bloodsucker is even scarier when he's fighting, Embry thought.

They do fight differently; it's interesting that they both have their own style, Sam observed.

Yeah, it's almost like they have their own personalities, like people, Brady thought, only half joking.

Yes, the wolves were here in a show of diplomacy, but their disdain for us would never change; they didn't see us as complicated beings capable of any emotion besides bloodlust and aggression. In their eyes, we were just predators.

When do we get to see you try to fight? Jacob thought at me as he glared at the sight of Bella's fingers intertwined with mine. I wanna know if your creeptastic mental defect helps you out.

How about right now, dog. I thought, wishing that I could answer him aloud. I shifted my position infinitesimally so that Bella and I were standing even closer together. He snorted in irritation.

"I want another go," Emmett grumbled quietly as Jasper let go of him.

"It's my turn," I insisted. Bella tightened her hold on me apprehensively and I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles in an attempt to reassure her.

I was even more desperate to prove myself than Emmett. It was immature and primitive, I suppose, but I wanted to show Jacob Black that he was no match for me on the battle field any more than he was for Bella's affections.

"In a minute," Jasper said with a sly smile. He knew how I was feeling and he was amused by my almost animalistic need to try to show Jacob that I was the superior fighter.

Bella's worried about Alice because of her size and I want to reassure her. Plus, the wolves seem to think that there is a correlation between size and strength with vampires. For the sake of the fight they need to be taught differently. Jasper explained silently as he crooked his finger in Alice's direction.

Sure enough, I could read the skepticism in the wolves' heads as they took in Alice's small stature. They were all sure that this fight would be an easy victory for Jasper.

However, size had little to do with strength in our kind. Fighting was something that any immortal could master, and Alice had learned all she knew from Jasper. Teaching her to fight effectively had been his way of protecting her from any potential threats. She was more skilled than any of the rest of us.

My turn, Edward; you'll just have to wait. I'm really going to enjoy scaring the crap out of these stupid dogs after the way they cornered me at the house. Alice thought as she moved gracefully toward Jasper.

"I know you worry about her. I want to show you why that's not necessary." Jasper said to Bella with a reassuring smile. She knows I won't hurt Alice so it would be best for her to spar with me.

Bella's breathing and heart rate sped as she watched Jasper sink into a crouch, poised to strike.

He lunged at Alice a split second later, but she danced effortlessly out of his way.

Time and again he tried to catch her from a variety of angles, but she was a blur even to the superhuman eyes in the clearing. I glanced down at Bella and saw that she was trying desperately to keep up with the fight but it was moving too fast for her to take it all in.

Twice, Jasper very nearly had her; he reached out his hands to grab her around the waist but she breezed past him as easily as if he were a human child. He continually quickened his pace, but it did no good. Alice was too fast, too graceful and she knew Jasper inside and out. They moved with the grace and rhythm of seasoned dance partners.

Finally, Jasper's patience was wearing thin; he was frustrated. A split second's preoccupation was all it took. In the time it would have taken a human to blink, she was on his back, her mouth hovering at the base of his throat.

"Gotcha," she said as she brushed her lips tenderly against the place where his jugular had been once upon a time.

"You truly are one frightening little monster." Jasper said with a satisfied laugh. He was so proud of Alice.

I never expected that…Paul thought uneasily.

This should prove to all of you that we can't assume anything about our enemies…Sam thought.

These bloodsuckers are really making me nervous…Colin thought as a shudder vibrated down his spine.

Wow, that little one is something else…Quil added with reluctant respect.

She's a lot tougher than she looked at the party earlier…Jacob agreed grudgingly.

"She certainly is," I replied, just loud enough for the wolves to hear. Bella was watching them intently, and I could tell that the change in their demeanor hadn't escaped her attention.

"It's good for them to learn some respect," I muttered, trying unsuccessfully to keep the amusement out of my voice.

Respect is earned, bloodsucker, so let's see what you can do, Jacob thought in response. The other wolves dipped their muzzles in agreement. I smirked at them.

"My turn." I replied coolly.

Bella looked up at me with an expression of longing for a brief moment, and I could tell she didn't want to let go of me. If it hadn't been absolutely necessary, the look on her face would have compelled me to stay by her side indefinitely.

Go on, Edward. Show off for the mutts. I'll stay with Bella. Alice thought. I gave Bella's fingers a gentle squeeze before I walked over to join Jasper.

"Cool, huh?" I heard Alice say smugly as I walked away.

"Very," Bella agreed sarcastically, I wasn't looking at her, but I could hear the burning jealousy in Jacob's head, and I knew her eyes were still on me. I felt a surge of pleasure in response to his envy, but I was much more interested in my training session with Jasper.

Your talents will give you an edge, but I'm not going to make this easy for you, Jasper thought. I could tell that his strategy was going to be much more instinct driven with me than it had been with Alice and Emmett. He saw me as a greater challenge because of my speed and my mind reading capabilities.

A feral snarl rumbled in Jasper's throat as I came closer in a fast but methodical way.

My own automatic growls filled the clearing, and the dance began.

Jasper came at me from the left first, reaching out to close his hand over my bicep, but I flitted out of his way easily, turning in midair. He jumped over my shoulder and landed lithely on his feet a yard behind me.

I twisted to face him just as he moved to my right, but I knew from his thoughts that he was feinting before he shifted abruptly toward my left side. I lunged before he'd gained enough ground, but he was expecting me, and he dodged my attack.

We continued in the vein for nearly a quarter of an hour. Jasper was using a technique I'd never seen before. His skill and experience were superior, but my speed and telepathy kept him from gaining a clear advantage. He was putting all of his considerable focus and energy into the fight, but we were in a dead heat.

"Are you ready to stop?" Jasper asked finally.

"Not a chance in hell," I growled, thinking of the threat to Bella. I wanted to memorize his every move.

The wolves were watching us with fascinated interest, and I knew they were learning way too much, but there was no point in thinking about that now. They didn't have any plans to break our treaty and we were united for the moment.

Check out the way they move. Colin thought in an awestruck sort of way.

Coming at them from the sides certainly would be more effective, even when you're dealing with an older vampire. Sam observed.

After another five minutes had passed, Carlisle coughed in a very practiced and human way to get our attention.

I think that must mean someone else wants a turn, Jasper thought with a laugh as he retreated.

I stood in a gesture of agreement. The others needed to train.

"Back to work; we'll call it a draw." Jasper said as he motioned for Carlisle to join him.

I guess you can fight, bloodsucker. Jacob thought grudgingly. I smirked at him.

I walked back to Bella's side and she leaned sleepily against my shoulder. I really wished she would have agreed to stay behind. She was in desperate need of rest. I wrapped my arm around her waist as I watched Jasper train each member of my family.

Carlisle's scientific approach helped him to catch on quickly, but Jasper still had a clear advantage. Jasper worked with him until Carlisle finally managed to pin him.

Rosalie's approach was patient but tenacious, and Jasper was impressed at her intense focus.

My eyes never left the battle scenes in front of me, and the wolves also remained transfixed. They were thinking that we were much more skilled than they'd anticipated. It seemed that they'd underestimated our mental ability to think about anything but blood. I wondered fleetingly if most of the stories about vampires in Quilleute legends involved young ones.

As time wore on, Bella leaned ever closer into my side. She was in danger of passing out on her feet. I needed to get her home, but it was important that I remain in the clearing in case I needed to communicate for the wolves once our training session was completed.

I'm just going to show Rosalie one more thing and then we'll wrap it up. You need to get Bella home. Jasper thought as he showed Rosalie the most effective means of decapitating a vampire.

"We're about finished," I whispered into Bella's hair as I tightened my hold on her.

"We'll be doing this tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again." Jasper said, speaking in the direction of the wolves for the first time that evening.

"Yes," I replied calmly for Sam. "We'll be here."

He and the rest of the pack were eager to see more in preparation for this weekend. They were making wagers among themselves about who would get the first kill. They were young, eager and arrogant.

In the interest of making sure we are focused on the right…vampires, I think we should try to memorize your scents. Sam thought. Jacob, Quil, Seth and Embry agreed with a certain degree of reluctance, but Paul had other ideas.

Mistakes happen, who cares? Paul thought sarcastically. I ignored him and relayed Sam's message.

"The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents — so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it will make it easier for them." I said to the group at large. I didn't really think that the pack could take us down, but I wasn't about to express that thought aloud.

"Certainly," Carlisle agreed without hesitating. "Whatever you need."

Obligingly, I let go of Bella and stood closer to my family.

Great. I've always wanted to be sniffed by a giant dog who wants to kill me. Rosalie thought sarcastically.

This is going to be hard, Jasper mused.

Yeah, like I want to get any closer to that smell, Colin thought in disgust.

They're either really brave or really stupid for letting us do this, Jared thought.

They just want to protect Bella, Sam thought as he stared intently at us.

Protect her! She wouldn't need to be protected if it weren't for you anyway, leech. Jacob added angrily to me.

I'm surprised at the way they treat her. It's like they think she's one of them. Seth mused silently.

More like she thinks they're people. Quil thought with amusement. He was fond of Bella even though he didn't agree with her choices.

Let's do this. Approach them carefully. I know it's hard for them to ignore their instincts too. Sam thought as he led the pack toward us. The wolves moved slowly and deliberately, never taking their eyes off of us.

We all stood deathly still and waited for them to approach us. I could hear the tension in nearly every mind around me; only Emmett remained unconcerned by the approaching pack. But, it was Bella's reaction that interested me the most.

I was desperate to see whether or not the close proximity of the wolves would frighten her. To my satisfaction, her heart accelerated and she held on to me more tightly as they drew nearer. It was a relief to know that she had enough survival instincts to understand the danger of this situation. Jacob also registered her anxiety and he felt a stab of anger and disappointment as he wondered how she could possibly be afraid of him when she was completely at ease with us.

Sam stepped forward first, his nose twitching uncomfortably as he walked from one of us to the other.

That was painful, Sam thought as he got to the end of the line. Jacob followed close behind him.

Filthy leeches. If I weren't so excited about killing this army that's coming I'd love to get rid of all of them. Paul thought.

Disgusting. I don't know how Swan puts up with it. Not that I care. She's a self centered, heartless backstabber. Leah thought. The contempt in her thoughts was obvious. I realized in that moment that she truly hated Bella for the way she'd hurt Jacob, especially since Leah felt that Bella had abandoned him for a vampire.

My anger flared at her unfair judgment. She was projecting her bitterness about Sam and Emily on us.

That's enough Leah! Jacob thought angrily as he sniffed Emmett's chest. He didn't like the way that Leah felt about Bella at all.

Stop worrying about Bella Swan and focus on what you're doing, Sam commanded. Leah and Jacob put their other thoughts aside and returned their attention to memorizing our scents.

Ugh, you guys reek, Jacob thought as he made his way down the line toward Jasper. His reaction wasn't as pronounced as some of the others since he'd been around us before. Quil and Embry also had an easier time of it. The young tan colored wolf named Seth actually whined as the fragrance of our skin burned his sensitive nose.

The wolves were an odd site as they passed in a line parallel to our formation.

Bella was staring intently at the procession and I could see her expression changing slowly from fearful to curious. Her eyes traveled down the line of wolves as though she was trying to distinguish who was who.

Her eyes stopped moving abruptly when they met Jacob's gaze.

I don't want her to be afraid of me, Jacob thought as he stared at her with an almost tender expression.

Jacob and I wanted very different things. I watched the exchange between them with bated breath as the seconds ticked by.

I saw the remainder of her fear evaporate as recognition filled her eyes. Her expression was almost one of awe as she took in his appearance.

Disappointment flooded through my chest as I watched the last vestiges of her anxiety disappear. I wanted her to be afraid of them; to understand the threat they posed to us. Most of all, I wanted her to turn her back on the wolves in favor of standing with my family. We might have a common goal for now, but we were still mortal enemies who were bound by a delicate and decades old truce that had nearly been broken a few short weeks ago.

I'll make sure she knows it's just me, Jacob thought as he met her gaze.

A second later he pulled his teeth back over his lips and stuck out his tongue in a humorous way that he hoped would reassure her.

To my chagrin, Bella laughed softly in response.

Don't look so disappointed that she's not afraid of me, bloodsucker. Jacob thought as his grin widened. He made a stealthy move in our direction. I stiffened.

Don't panic, son. We need to keep the peace. You'll put her in more danger if you get aggressive. Carlisle said wordlessly to me.

Here I come, leech. Jacob thought as he moved away from the rest of the pack to approach us. His eyes never left Bella's as he walked past Alice and I without pausing to sniff us. He was already familiar with our scent.

The entire pack was watching the scene unfold with mounting tension. They didn't like what Jacob was doing at all, but Sam stopped short of ordering him away from Bella.

I remained stock still, knowing that if I made any sudden movements with all of us standing so close together a fight could ensue, and Bella would get hurt. Jacob lowered his head until he was at eye level with her. Every nerve ending in my body was on fire at the sight of him standing less than two feet away from her. It took every ounce of self control that I had not to force my way in between them like a shield.

Don't interfere, Edward. I can't see what would happen if you do. Alice thought, and I felt her tiny hand on my shoulder.

"Jacob?" Bella asked as she gazed at him.

Jacob grumbled in amusement, and Bella took the sound as affirmation. Slowly and carefully, she reached for him and buried her tiny fingers in his fur. His eyes closed and he leaned into her touch. My terror intensified, and I started to move, but Jasper felt the shift in my feelings and he soothed me just enough to keep me from behaving rashly.

That feels so good. Jacob thought happily as he savored the feel of her fingers.

Jacob was relieved and pleased that she wasn't afraid of him. He let out a contented sigh as Bella continued to run her fingers through the chestnut colored fur at the base of his throat.

What the hell, Jake! I like Bella and I know you love her, but she's with the bloodsucker. Embry thought.

How can you stand to let her touch you after she's been all over that leech, Leah thought angrily.

I can take care of the smell, Jacob thought.

I realized what he was going to do a quarter of a second before he acted. My insides twisted with disgust and horror as he raked his tongue over Bella's cheek.

That worthless beast just licked my mate as if she were a meat flavored Popsicle.

"Ew! Gross, Jake" Bella cried in mock anger. She jumped away from him and smacked at his muzzle. The blow missed, and Jacob let out a bark of amusement as Bella laughed with him and wiped her sodden face on the sleeve of her shirt.

She thought this was funny, and her behavior toward him was almost flirtatious. She didn't see him as a monster any more than she did my family and me. He was just an ordinary person to her.

For a moment, I could see the humanness in him in spite of his current form, and I envied him for it. He was still a living breathing man and I was not.

Ugh, I'm definitely going to get her cleaned up tonight even if she's asleep while I do it. Alice said wordlessly.

That's the nastiest thing I think I've ever seen and I'm nearly 250 years old, Jasper thought.

Good grief, Jake! Stop acting like an untrained St. Bernard, Quil thought.

You're one sick puppy, Embry snorted.

Not the most hygienic thing for him to do, Carlisle mused with a grimace.

Now I've seen everything, Esme mused.

I'd vomit if my stomach still worked, Rosalie thought.

Hey Edward, maybe if you get Bella a dog she'll get over her werewolf fixation. Go to the pound and get a puppy. Problems solved. Emmett thought jokingly.

Jacob made that strange wheezy sound that was his canine version of a laugh in response to Bella's reaction. I glowered at him.

Aww, come on bloodsucker, it was just a little taste. I was just trying to wash your stink off of her.

Sam took in the distaste and anger on my face and decided to order his pack home.

It's time for us to go. The training session is over. Sam commanded

The other wolves retreated at once. They were clearly uncomfortable with the tension that was radiating off of me because they knew that if an argument broke out between Jacob and me, things could get ugly very fast. Sam was highly disapproving of his behavior.

Jacob, you need to monitor your actions carefully. Now is not the time for this kind of behavior toward a human that a vampire considers to be his mate no matter how you feel about her. Sam admonished

I let out a deep and weary sigh and moved closer to Bella. I looked at the deep dark circles under her heavily lidded eyes and knew that she would probably fall asleep on the way home. I took her warm soft hand and laced my fingers through hers. Thank heaven this night was over!

"Ready to go?" I asked. It was a rhetorical question. She was exhausted.

Hang on, Sam. I'd like to go over a security issue with Bella's bloodsucker. Do you mind? Jacob thought.

I really don't think Bella Swan is your concern, Jacob. This evening has been tense enough. Sam replied.

I'll behave, I promise, Jacob assured him wordlessly.

Sam took a deep breath, but agreed with a reluctant dip of his muzzle.

Quil and Embry will stay close by in case you need any assistance. He thought as he and the others set off into the forest. Quil and Embry waited in the shadows behind two large spruces, watching warily.

Damn it all to Hell!

Jacob Black might have wanted to talk to me, but I didn't really give a damn. My patience was thin and frayed like a worn out rope and I didn't really trust myself to be around him at the moment.

I know you're pissed at me, but I really don't care. I want to talk to you about where Bella's gonna be Saturday. Do you have a place to hide her? Jacob thought.

"I've not quite figured out all the details yet," I replied in a voice that sounded just as exasperated as I felt.

The truth was, I hadn't figured it out at all. I knew she wouldn't agree to leave me behind and leave the area, but I couldn't possibly allow her to stay in Forks. I was stuck between the rock and the hard place as usual.

You can send her off somewhere. You carted her off to Florida to see her mom when the red head paid us a visit. He thought with an impatient grumble.

"It's more complicated than that," I snapped. "Don't concern yourself; I'll make sure it's safe."

It was bad enough that we had to stoop to an alliance with the pack just to stay…alive…for lack of a better term, but I would not allow him to stick his mangy nose in to security arrangements for Bella. His overbearing attempts to come between us had gone far enough.

I'll concern myself wherever I want to when it comes to keeping her safe. We need to go over our options together. The Jacob wolf thought angrily.

"What are you talking about?" Bella said irritably as she stared back and forth between the two of us.

I suppressed the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. The last thing I needed was for Bella to realize we were talking about her.

"Just discussing strategy," I replied evasively.

Ugh. You haven't talked to her about how you're going to protect her while the fight's going on. You were gonna discuss it when she's not around. You never learn, do you bloodsucker? We need to talk while she's here. Give me a second to shift back.

I clenched my teeth in anger at his presumption. I had no desire to discuss options with him right now, but I had no intention of keeping Bella in the dark about the measures we would be taking to ensure her safety. I just didn't want to do it here and now, when she'd been awake for nearly 24 hours and was on the verge of collapsing.

"Wait," Bella called after Jacob as he took off through the trees to change.

"Why did he leave?" Bella asked in a hurt voice. My chest twisted again at the expression on her face.

"He's coming back," I assured her with another heavy sigh. How I wished that I could sleep for once. "He wants to be able to talk for himself."

Coming back? What in the world does he want now? Alice thought. No wonder I still can't see…

"He wants to talk about our plans to take care of Bella during the battle," I muttered to the others in a voice that was too soft for Bella to hear. She was still staring through the black trees, waiting for Jacob to reappear.

As if it's any of his business, Jasper thought irritably.

Maybe he's got connections at the humane society with a dogcatcher who likes to babysit on the side, Emmett thought.

Leave it to Emmett to make a joke out of the situation.

Maybe you should hear him out, son. He might be able to offer us some additional options. Carlisle said silently.

"Okay, bloodsucker," Jacob said a moment later when he reappeared, wearing nothing but a pair of well-worn shorts. "What's so complicated about it?"

Why couldn't he ever wear a shirt?

"I have to consider every possibility," I replied calmly. "What if someone gets by you?"

Jacob gave an incredulous snort in reply as if I'd just suggested that I'd discovered life on another planet.

"Okay, so leave her on the reservation. We're making Collin and Brady stay behind anyway. She'll be safe there." I know you think you're so much smarter than me but I can help you. We have the resources to make sure she has someone with her at all times. He added mentally.

I could see from his mind that he was well-intentioned and I calmed down a little.

Bella's face furrowed into a frown as she stared back and forth between the two of us, and I saw understanding flash in her eyes.

"Are you talking about me?" Bella said incredulously.

"I just want to know what he plans to do with you during the fight," Jacob replied.

I suppressed a growl at his blunder. He really had no tact whatsoever. I knew that his choice of words would infuriate her.

"Do with me?" Bella spat indignantly. I could feel a surge of adrenaline pulse through her as her anger started to build.

"You can't stay in Forks, Bella." I said gently as I rubbed soothing circles on the top of her hand. "They know where to look for you there. What if someone slipped by us?"

Bella's face paled. "Charlie?" she said in a choked whisper. Naturally, her father would be her primary concern but since she was the main target, protecting Charlie wouldn't be that difficult.

"He'll be with Billy," Jacob promised her.

"If my dad has to commit a murder to get him there, he'll do it. Probably it won't take that much. It's this Saturday, right? There's a game." Jacob added in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"This Saturday?" Bella asked in a high pitched panic. She leaned in closer to me and I tightened my hold on her waist. This day had been too long and overwhelming for her. I needed to get her home.

"Well, crap! There goes your graduation present." She babbled.

Of all the things to enter her mind, this was the last thing I expected and I laughed at the absurdity of it.

"It's the thought that counts," I said, remembering the conversation we'd had less than two weeks ago about her change and marriage. "You can give the tickets to someone else."

"Angela and Ben," she replied a split second later. "At least that will get them out of town."

My eyes softened as I took in the anxious expression on her face. She was the primary target of a hoard of angry newborn vampires, and yet all she could think about was keeping her friends and family safe.

"You can't evacuate everyone," I said softly as I brushed my fingers across her warm, soft cheek. She leaned automatically into my touch, but she didn't relax.

"Hiding you is just a precaution. I told you — we'll have no problem now. There won't be enough of them to keep us entertained." I assured her.

Ugh, I really don't need to see you acting all mushy with her, leech. Jacob thought irritably.

"But what about keeping her in La Push?" He pressed, forcing me to turn and face him again.

The guy is so jealous it's almost making my head hurt, Jasper thought as he watched the exchange between the three of us intently. I nearly smiled.

"She's been back and forth too much," I argued. "She's left trails all over the place. Alice only sees very young vampires coming on the hunt, but obviously someone created them. There is someone more experienced behind this. Whoever he" — I stopped in mid-sentence to glance at Bella, remembering her theory about Victoria's involvement.

"…or she is, this could all be a distraction. Alice will see if he decides to look himself, but we could be very busy at the time that decision is made. Maybe someone is counting on that. I can't leave her somewhere she's been frequently. She has to be hard to find, just in case. It's a very long shot, but I'm not taking chances." I finished vehemently, knowing that I had to come up with an infallible plan. However, I had no intention of admitting that I didn't have one yet.

Bella's forehead creased with worry again, and I did my best to soothe her.

"Just being overcautious," I said.

Jacob waved his hand in the direction of the vast trees. For a split second I wondered if he was gesturing toward his companions, who were still waiting in the shadows for him to return.

"So hide her here," Jacob said as though it was an obvious solution. "There's a million possibilities — places either one of us could be in just a few minutes if there's a need."

I shook my head. Neither of his suggestions were really viable options, but this was the worst idea he'd had thus far.

"Her scent is too strong and, combined with mine, especially distinct. Even if I carried her, it would leave a trail .Our trace is all over the range, but in conjunction with Bella's scent, it would catch their attention. We're not sure exactly which path they'll take, because they don't know yet.

Don't remind me, Edward, Alice thought irritably.

"If they crossed her scent before they found us . . ."

The image of the tiny newborn vampire standing over Bella's prone, bloodless form flashed in my mind again, and my face twisted.

Jacob's expression mirrored mine, and he was thoroughly stumped.

"You see the difficulties." I said with a nod.

"There has to be a way to make it work," Jacob grumbled in a frustrated voice. He stared thoughtfully into the trees, thinking hard.

Bella's knees buckled a moment later, and I wrapped my arms around her waist. I stared down at her pale, tired face in alarm. She was going to pass out from exhaustion soon.

"I need to get you home — you're exhausted. And Charlie will be waking up soon. . . ."I said as I started to lift her onto my back. This conversation could wait until our next training session. Perhaps by that time I would have come up with a plan of my own without Jacob's unwelcome assistance.

"Wait a sec," Jacob said a moment later. "My scent disgusts you, right?" he asked. His expression was hopeful and I could see the plan formulating in his mind before he spoke.

We could mask her scent with mine. My scent would repel them and they wouldn't want to get near her. He thought eagerly.

"Hmm, not bad." I replied coolly. I was impressed against my will.

"It's possible." I conceded.

Let's test it out, then. I'll take her a little ways into the woods, and we'll be able to tell whether or not my scent is strong enough to cover hers.

I gritted my teeth together to try to hide my disgust at the idea of allowing him to carry Bella in his arms. The undertone of eagerness in his head at the idea of getting to be that close to her was almost more than I could stand.

"Jasper?" I called, more loudly than was strictly necessary.

Jasper shot me a wary glance before he and Alice approached. Alice looked more frustrated than ever as she glared up at Jacob.

"Okay, Jacob." I nodded in his direction.

Jacob took an eager but cautious step toward Bella. She frowned at him in confusion.

"We're going to see if I can confuse the scent enough to hide your trail," Jacob explained in response.

Ah, Jasper thought as he grasped the plan.

Bella stared warily at his open arms without moving away from me.

"You're going to have to let him carry you, Bella," I said in an even voice that didn't match the disdain I felt.

Eww. As if she didn't smell bad enough already, Alice thought.

Bella frowned without moving any closer to him. She didn't like the idea of allowing him to carry her any more than I did. This pleased me, but that wasn't enough to quell the mad desire I had to rip his arms out of their sockets as he scooped her up roughly.

"Don't be such a baby," he grumbled in disappointment. He'd been hoping for a less reluctant reaction from her. She didn't respond, but her posture stiffened in displeasure.

Both he and Bella simultaneously glanced in my direction to see how I was coping with the sight of him holding her, but I refused to acknowledge how much it bothered me. I didn't want to give Jacob the satisfaction of knowing that I was jealous and I didn't want Bella to worry about my feelings. This was a necessary test for the sake of protecting her. So I pushed my personal feelings aside and focused on the task at hand.

"What is it that you need me to do?' Jasper asked me quietly.

"Bella's scent is so much more potent to me — I thought it would be a fairer test if someone else tried." I replied.

Jasper nodded as Jacob loped off through the trees.

I watched them intently as he made a seemingly random trek through the trees. He didn't go far enough away for them to be out of my line of vision. He wanted me to be able to see him with his arms wrapped around her.

Enjoying the view, bloodsucker? He gloated as he jogged back to where Jasper and I were standing. I suppressed a growl with difficulty.

"You can put me down now." Bella grumbled in a sulky voice as they approached.

"I don't want to take a chance of messing up the experiment." He slowed down and I saw his hold on her tighten defiantly.

"You are so annoying," Bella grumbled irritably.

"Thanks." Jacob replied unconcernedly.

The only reason she's so uncomfortable is because she's attracted to me. Repressing all those feelings must be frustrating for her. It's not like you can help her out with that kind of thing, bloodsucker, Jacob taunted silently.

Anger surged through me, and Jasper put his hand on my shoulder.

"Don't give him what he wants by letting him get to you." He said quietly as he sensed the feelings of rage radiating from every part of me.

Jacob took in the murderous expression on my face as Jasper and Alice moved in to stand on either side of me. He realized at once that he'd crossed the line and sat Bella down at his feet without further hesitation. Bella didn't spare a backward glance for him as she moved quickly to my side and laced my fingers between hers. I sighed with relief at the feel of her touch.

"Well?" Bella asked.

"As long as you don't touch anything, Bella, I can't imagine someone sticking their nose close enough to that trail to catch your scent," Jasper said, grimacing. "It was almost completely obscured."

Newborns are almost totally instinct driven. It would never occur to them that his repulsive scent was there to hide something else.

"A definite success," Alice concurred as her face contorted with distaste.

"And it gave me an idea." Jasper said abruptly. We should leave a false scent trail for them to follow. It would lead them right where we want them.

"Which will work," Alice said as she saw a group of nine newborns following Bella's scent eagerly into a clearing where my family would be waiting to ambush them. I can't see the other half, which must mean they'll split up and the pack will head them off. She added silently.

"Clever," I agreed with a nod.

"How do you stand that?" Jacob muttered to Bella. Can't you all stop acting like freaks for five minutes and say stuff out loud, He thought.

"We're — well, you're — going to leave a false trail to the clearing, Bella," I explained, ignoring Jacob's latest jab.

"The newborns are hunting, your scent will excite them, and they'll come exactly the way we want them to without being careful about it. Alice can already see that this will work.

When they catch our scent, they'll split up and try to come at us from two sides. Half will go through the forest, where her vision suddenly disappears. . . ."

"Yes!" Jacob said eagerly as he caught on.

His eagerness was so contagious that I actually managed to smile at him.

It's a great plan, but it would be even better if we could actually have Bella in clearing. It would be the perfect ruse…Jasper thought impulsively.

"Not a chance," I growled. I was furious with him for even entertaining the idea for a second.

"I know, I know," Jasper replied quickly in an attempt to quell my anger. "I didn't even consider it, not really."

Jacob, Bella and Alice looked back and forth between Jasper and I with looks of confusion and irritation.

Ugh. If I have to sit through one more of these one sided conversations I think I'm going to scream, Jacob thought.

Alice stepped on Jasper's foot in irritation as she waited for him to tell her what he was thinking.

"If Bella was actually there in the clearing," Jasper explained to her, "it would drive them insane. They wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything but her. It would make picking them off truly easy. . . ."

I gave him a look that was so murderous that he was actually afraid of me. He could feel the fury rolling off me in waves.

Is he serious! That filthy leech! Over my dead body! Jacob exclaimed in his head.

No way! As if she needs some other motivation to try to get more involved in this mess. Alice thought angrily as she glared at Jasper.

"Of course it's too dangerous for her. It was just an errant thought," he said quickly in an attempt to placate all of us.

But I think the risk to her safety would be minimal. I know it would work…He added wordlessly before he could control himself.

"No," I said fiercely. This was not up for discussion. I would die a thousand deaths before I allowed her to be used as bait.

"You're right," Jasper said with a nod of his head. I knew he would never want to put Bella in danger. But the seed of the idea was planted in his head, and he just couldn't put it out of his mind entirely.

I growled softly at him in warning.

I'm sorry Edward. You know I didn't mean it, really. I would never do anything deliberate to risk her safety. He thought as he took Alice's hand. He could sense her anger as well, and he knew that she was going to give him an earful about voicing his ridiculous idea in front of Bella.

"Best two out of three?" He asked as he led her back to where the others were continuing to practice.

Worthless, cold hearted leech; and Bella loves these so called people; thinks of them like her family and he'd dangle her in front of a bunch of parasites like a piece of cheese for a mouse. Jacob thought furiously.

"Jasper looks at things from a military perspective," I said softly in response to his thoughts. "He looks at all the options — it's thoroughness, not callousness."

Yeah, whatever. I guess he was a five star general when he was alive. Goody for him. Jacob thought with a bitter laugh.

Jacob and I were standing closer to each other now, and I could feel the tension that had been building between us all evening pulsing in the air like the heat of a small sun. I could tell by the nervous glances that Bella was shooting between the both of us that she felt it too.

I decided that I needed to move the conversation back to strategy before an argument ensued.

"I'll bring her here Friday afternoon to lay the false trail. You can meet us afterward, and carry her to a place I know. Completely out of the way, and easily defensible, not that it will come to that. I'll take another route there." I said calmly.

Jacob stepped back away from me a little, an instinctive gesture, before responding.

"And then what? Leave her with a cell phone?" Jacob asked sarcastically.

Actually, that had been part of my plan, but I wasn't about to admit it. Hearing him say the words made it sound feeble and foolish.

"You have a better idea?" I replied defensively.

"Actually, I do." He said in a superior voice.

I can leave her with Seth. In his wolf form, he'd be in direct contact with the whole pack at all times. He could handle most potential threats on his own, but he could call for reinforcements immediately if he needed to.

It was a good idea, I had to admit. After seeing the way the pack's minds worked together tonight, the instantaneous communication would be an invaluable tool to help them in the fight. They could use that to their advantage.

"Oh. . . . Again, dog, not bad at all." I answered, trying not to sound impressed.

Bella gave us a puzzled look, and Jacob explained.

"We tried to talk Seth into staying behind with the younger two. He's still too young, but he's stubborn and he's resisting. So I thought of a new assignment for him — cell phone."

Bella still didn't appear to understand the plan.

"As long as Seth Clearwater is in his wolf form, he'll be connected to the pack," I clarified.

Bella was too tired to wrap her mind around all of this at the moment. There was an oddly glazed look in her eyes. She was just a few minutes away from passing out.

"Distance isn't a problem?" I asked.

"Nope." Jacob replied smugly.

Still loud and clear at a distance of three hundred miles, He added silently.

"Three hundred miles?" I repeated in shock. "That's impressive."

I had thought there were some similarities between my talents and the wolves' telepathy, but apparently what they could do with each other was far more profound than my skills. My range had never been a tenth of that.

"That's the farthest we've ever gone to experiment," Jacob explained. "Still clear as a bell."

"It's a good idea." I admitted reluctantly. This arrangement was going to keep Bella safe; I had no choice but to acknowledge the brilliance of it.

"I'll feel better with Seth there, even without the instantaneous communication. I don't know if I'd be able to leave Bella there alone." Even as I said it, I still couldn't wrap my mind around the words. I was actually comforted by the idea of a wolf looking after Bella.

"To think it's come to this, though! Trusting werewolves!" I mused aloud.

"Fighting with vampires instead of against them!" Jacob agreed with a scowl.

"Well, you still get to fight against some of them," I pointed out.

He smiled at me. "That's the reason we're here."

That's the pack's reason. I'm here for Bella.

As the silver bracelet around Bella's wrist caught the light, I knew I had to put a stop to Jacob Black's interference in our lives one way or another.

I was going to have to ask Bella to make a choice soon.

Very soon.

I hope you liked it. It was a long one and it took a lot of time to get through it. This part of the story was sort of complex to me. There were so many mental voices to sift through that it took me some time to sort it all out. Between the dynamic of the pack and Edward's own internal struggles during the scene in the clearing with the wolves, his feelings about Jacob's gift to Bella and the nature of their relationship, things got complicated. I hope it went the way you envisioned it.

My intention with this story was to write a plausible EPOV of this book but it's turned into me getting a little creative with some of the details. I hope you all don't mind. I just felt that there was a lot of unexplored territory in Eclipse.