A/N: Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed. I was so touched. And if I didn't respond it was because you'd turned off the PM feature so I couldn't. But really – thank you all so much. I hope this next chapter is what you were hoping for! Also the Breaking Dawn trailer is now out on IMDB so if you want to check it out you can. (I still don't get why she married Edward! Arghhhhh. At least I can rectify that situation here!

I couldn't move from the kitchen floor. I sat there, staring blankly, numb and shocked. And it seemed like hours passed. I had no notion of time. I kept playing back the night before with Edward. At last, I was distracted from the ugly remembrance by the door opening and closing.

I looked up and saw someone I didn't expect, or want to see.

"Bella."

Her heels clicked with purpose as she walked across the kitchen dressed smartly in a silver suit. She knelt down when she got near to me, her eyes as golden as her hair.

I looked up at Rosalie. "What are you doing here?" My voice came out in a whisper.

She holds up her hand. "We don't have the time. You need to listen to me."

I let out a half-hysterical laugh. "You finally decided to tell me that your so called brother is an insane asshole? Guess what? I already know."

She purses her lips and lets her eyes drift down to my bruises. She shows no reaction. "Edward is not good for you – he never was. I did my best to convince him to leave you alone, but I was obviously unsuccessful. I'm going to do my best to keep him distracted and away from you – at least buy you enough time to get out. You need to run."

She opens her bag and pulls out a credit card with my name on it, a passport, and a thick stack of cash held together with a gold money clip engraved with an "R".

I looked up at her, totally surprised, and not a little afraid.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I know his dark side. There's a reason he hasn't been with anyone – not seriously – before. Most people had the good sense to stay away from him, but not you. He even warned you but you were too stupid to listen. If you value your life, you will get away, as far away as you possibly can. You need to disappear."

"But, what about Alice?"

She smirks. "I love Alice – but you cannot trust that pixie bitch. She will side with him every time. She enjoys playing matchmaker – and she loves having a project. That's all you are to her. She'll do anything to keep you," she trails off.

I swallow nervously. "Why are you helping me? I thought you hated me."

She smiles. "I don't know what to say. I'm glad you've finally woken up and saw him for what he is. Edward reads minds – he can come across as the most perfect guy in the world. He has the rest of the family wrapped around his little finger. He can be whatever he wants to be – he's the best actor out of all of us. He might not be able to read your mind, but he knows more about you than you'd ever think and he uses that knowledge against you." she sighs. "My family is going to be furious with me but I'm used to being on the outside. I'm sure they are on their way back now. I can't help you again – they'll be watching for that."

She tucks her offerings into my pockets before standing and walking halfway out of the kitchen. Suddenly she stops and goes ramrod straight. She turns back for a moment. "Don't ever let a guy treat you like shit no matter WHAT he is." She walks swiftly out the door and I hear her car start in the driveway and peel out.

Moments later, before I can even begin processing what had happened, the door bangs open loudly. Jake jogs in, covered in sweat, his nose wrinkled in disgust.

"Bells?" He runs to my side and drops on his knees in front of me. "Honey?" he whispers.

He tilts my head up, his eyes filled with concern. He strokes my cheek and pulls back my hair in a gentle caress. His concerned eyes take stock of my face, and drift down to my neck.

His eyes go round as saucers and the air around him vibrates. He's shaking all over. He scrambles back as fast as he can knocking the kitchen chairs out of the way and explodes into the wolf.

I shield my eyes as he takes his fury out on the kitchen around me. I hear the splintering wood, the falling tiles, the crashing and banging of pots and pans as they fall to the ground. It's like a tornado is going on all around me.

I know I should be scared to death, but I know, intrinsically, that he would never allow himself to hurt me. It was time to get the cabinets redone anyway.

I wait it out.

Jacob in wolf form finally stops his destruction and zeroes in on me. He stands there, his flanks heaving for a moment before he bows his head and walks forward slowly, not breaking eye contact. He lies down and puts his head in my lap looking up at me.

I recognize the gesture for what it is; an apology.

I stroke his head absently, while tears slide down my face. Even after all I've put him through, he's still here for me.

"Thank you for coming," I whisper, threading my hands in his fur.

Slowly he backs away and in the blink of an eye he is himself again. He stands in front of me, not a hint of discomfort for his nudity. He looks at me as though he has tunnel vision and his eyes are glowing. I've never seen him look so intent, so focused before. Something has happened but I'm not sure what. He radiates calm, and power. I look up at him in awe and as he looks down at me, he grins suddenly.

He leans down and picks me up easily without asking. He carries me out of the house and into the woods. He walks quickly and for what seems like forever before I hear rustling noises. He stops and waits.

My heart beats faster. I'm terrified Edward will show up.

"Don't worry," he whispers.

His brothers come out of the underbrush, all in wolf form. They walk forward slowly and the largest of them phases back into his human form. Sam.

"What has happened?" he asks. "We heard your call for help."

Jacob licks his lips and looks down at me. "The bloodsuckers have violated the treaty. They have harmed a human. See the evidence on her," he tilts my head back and Sam walks forward, inspecting the marks, but not touching me.

"So they have. The treaty is broken," he looks around at the other wolves. "They will die."

The wolves howl in agreement, and the sound is eerie in the now silent woods.

Sam looks at me, and at Jacob. He lifts an eyebrow – asking something but I'm not sure what.

"She doesn't know," Jacob says quietly.

Sam nods. "We will watch your back. Take her to safety."

Jacob strides forward, holding me. We pass his brothers and when they are out of sight he stops.

"I'm going to put you down for a moment."

He sets me on my feet and I wobble but he steadies me. He stares into my eyes.

"We can get to the reservation faster if I phase and you hang onto my back. Do you think you can do that?"

I nod, unable to speak.

He steps a few paces away and his form blurs. He's the wolf again.

He stands there patiently and lowers himself so I can climb on. I wrap my arms around his neck and lock my knees into place on either side of him.

Suddenly, he launches through the air, and lopes forward so fast I can hardly believe it. His pace is steady and even, and I feel the wind whipping through my hair. His body is strong beneath me, completely hard and muscular, and I doubt that there is anything in the woods that could stop him.

The run to La Push doesn't take nearly as long as I would have imagined, and we stop in front of his house.

I pry myself off of him and fall onto the wood porch. Jake phases back and helps me into the cabin.

Billy looks up in surprise.

He says a few words in Quileute, clearly asking something.

Jacob responds in the language of his ancestors and I look up at him, slightly surprised. I'd never thought of him speaking his native tongue – had never heard it before. It was beautiful.

Billy wheels himself into the kitchen and I hear him pick up the phone.

"Wait here, I'll get dressed."

I stand awkwardly in his living room. He's only gone for a moment, and comes back in a pair of shorts and a tight white shirt – old oil stains on one shoulder.

He takes my hand and leads me to the couch. He sits and pulls me into his lap.

I might have been embarrassed by such behavior before, but right now, all I want to do is be close to him. I lean back into his chest and his arms wrap around me protectively. I can hear him breathing behind me.

"I'm going to keep you safe, I swear it."

I try to think of something to say – anything, but nothing seems quite right. I'm so overwhelmed and grateful and scared…

"You believe me – don't you?" he asks after a minute.

I let my fingers run up and down his right forearm. "Yes."

"I'm going to need you to trust me, sweetheart."

Billy wheels back into the room. If he's surprised at how we're sitting he doesn't say it. "Meeting in ten minutes."

"Good."

Billy comes a bit closer, and this time he's looking at me. "You can make yourself at home, Bella. You're welcome here."

I stare at him, surprised, and touched. "Thank you."

He turns to look at his son. "We're meeting in the front yard- she should stay in here."

I feel him go rigid. "No. She will not leave my sight."

Billy sighs but doesn't argue.

The clock ticks by and I hear some commotion and voices outside of the cabin. Billy wheels himself out.

Jacob stands up and steps away only to claim my hand. He gives me a look – and I know there's some sort of significance I'm missing. He sighs. And then we walk outside together.