Jacob POV

There was fighting all around me. The newborns fought viciously against my family, my brothers. Their eyes were the only part I could see. They looked like a red, glowing orbs attached to blurs of color and motion.

"Jacob!" I turned around and saw Adrian across the clearing. There was a straight line of clear space connecting me and her. She looked exactly the same, and she was smiling.

She began to turn towards me and kept calling my name, but the orbs of red swallowed her up.

"No!" I screamed. I was running towards her, but I never seemed like I was getting any closer.

"Jacob! Jacob!" her voice kept calling. It sounded closer and closer. It slowly morphed into a different one- Bella's.

Everything around me was falling apart. The dark blurs and red eyes seemed to consume everyone in the clearing and the grass and sky. Everyone was screaming my name, but I was being swallowed too.

{0}

"Jacob!"

I opened my eyes and found that I was breathing heavily in gasps.

"Jake," Bella sighed in relief over me, "You were having a nightmare."

"That's a switch," I whispered. I tried not to look as shaken as I felt.

"That's not going to happen," Edward said kindly. He must have lived my dream with me.

"I know," I said. I had faith things would work out- they had to, right? Yet, I was still completely terrified they wouldn't.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Bella asked.

"No, it's fine," I said, getting a little embarrassed. Toddlers had nightmares.

I wiggled out of the sleeping bag I had been sharing with Bella last night. Some weeks ago, Edward and I would probably have caused an avalanche fighting if we had to spend a night in the same tent. But last night, Bella was cold, and he let me in with gratitude.

Bella started rolling up the sleeping bag when something on her finger shined.

"What is that?" I asked loudly. Bella flushed deep red, and Edward smirked.

"Well, um," Bella stuttered.

"It's not a promise ring, is it?" I asked knowing the answer.

"No. Edward proposed," Bella said, finding her words. Then she said in a lower voice, "But it might as well be." Edward gave an indignant short laugh, and Bella smiled widely at him.

"Oh, God, when's the big day? Very far off, I hope. I think you should be allowed to drink champagne at your wedding." The idea of Bella getting married was way too weird.

"We compromised. This summer, before we go to college."

I snorted, "You mean night school?" She rolled her eyes at my admittedly lame dig. Bella didn't have to lie to me about the whole vampire thing. It still bothered me that she wanted to be changed so soon, but I had other things on my mind, and I get that it's her choice. I was too emotionally involved before that it felt like what she wanted to be a betrayal to me.

"No, actual school," Bella said. She added softly, "I didn't want you guys to have to deal with two newborns."

"Oh." I was a little taken aback. I knew she didn't want to be any older than she was already so pushing her own date farther into the future was really considerate. That's Bella, always taking care of people.

"Jake, your mom's here," Edward said.

"What? Why?" I asked, confused.

"This is what you call a last ditch effort," she said from outside. I crawled out of the tent. She was wearing all blue so it was easy to see her standing in the fresh snow covering everything on the mountain.

"Mom," I sighed. I knew what this was about. She had tried to talk me out of the fight countless times. I would not be moved. This fight was personal.

"I know what you're going to say, but what kind of mother would I be if I didn't try?" she said with a sad smile. Mom guilt was the worst guilt. I took one long stride and wrapped my arms around her.

She was so much smaller than me which was still sort of weird and kind of awkward for hugging situations. Then there was the whole hot and cold thing, but that hardly bothered me anymore like it did at first. You learn to live with it.

"Be careful. Remember your training. Don't take on more than one at once," she said after we let go with a stern look.

"I know, I know, no being a hero," I said with a grin.

"Exactly," she said, "What are you going to do when you see Adrian?"

"I can't make any promises that I won't do something really stupid," I said. After such a long and terrible separation, I will be too overjoyed and relieved and excited to be held responsible for my actions. I was sort of worried about what I might do, now that I think about it. And then I thought about what I would do if something went wrong or if I completely panicked. Like I was beginning to right now.

"I figured. I don't think any word of caution will make you keep your head. I'll just have to keep my eye on you."

"Okay," I said, "But…not the whole time. I have to fight something."

She laughed, "Two if you're good."

"I'm pretty good at this stuff. I could get two done no problem."

"Fine, kill whatever you want. Just remember that if you get hurt, I will scream at you until you can't hear anymore."

"Noted," I said, "Seth's going to be here soon. We should go."

"I'll see you after," she said firmly, "Good luck, honey."

"Thanks, Mom," I said, and without warning, she hugged me, tight.

"Oof." She forgot her own strength a lot.

"Sorry," she said, backing off, "I love you."

"Love you too," I said.

Mom disappeared into the trees. I had to go soon. While Bella and Edward were still doing whatever they were doing in the tent, I took off my shorts and tied them to my ankle. As I secured them, the fire ran down my back, and I turned into a wolf.

"It's been a while," I thought. No one had wanted me in their heads since Adrian was gone so I hadn't patrolled or phased at all.

"Happy to have you back," Paul greeted.

"Seth, you almost here?" I asked.

"Yes, I see the tent. You can go."

Bella and Edward walked out of the tent with pleased smiles.

"Bye, Jake, good luck," Bella said. Edward smiled with encouragement. I nodded and ran.

"Are you nervous?" Paul asked.

"Extremely." I didn't have to answer. Everyone could feel it. I was the only one who was worried. Today would be an easy win so excitement was the predominant feeling in the headspace. I wasn't worried that anyone would get hurt today besides Adrian. I sent her a bunch of messages, but the only one she sent back was days ago. I didn't know how to find her or if she would be here today. Everyone kept telling me to have faith, and I believe in her so much. But she's my imprint. Worrying sort of comes with the territory.

"You will get her back, Jacob," Sam said.

"Thanks, but just in case I try to do something stupid, I want you to stop me, Sam." I didn't know if an Alpha command would work under extreme circumstances like the ones I was anticipating, but I needed him to try. If the worst possible thing happened today, well, I don't want to do anything with my parents right there. If what I was hoping for happened, I would need something to reel back my mind so I don't do something that gets me or somebody else killed.

"Okay," he said, "I promise."

"Thanks." I felt better, knowing that I had some insurance.

The wolves were lined up in the trees. When the newborns came, we would jump out and surprise them. None of them had ever seen one of us before so that will give us a good edge.

We heard them first. They were loud. Some were already making victory calls. My family started running towards them, and when they were halfway there, we ran after them.

Many of them were so surprised that they were easy to take out. I was a good fighter, but I was so distracted looking for Adrian. I barely moved out of the way in time to miss a head-on attack from an angry blonde girl.

"We'll tell you when we see her, Jake," Sam said, the voice of authority loud and firm, "Pay attention."

I told myself that when all the newborns were gone, I could look for her. My determination and love made all my senses go into override. I don't know how many, but the amount I tore apart was ridiculous.

A big guy tried to come at me diagonally from the right. I jumped at him and clamped his torso with my teeth.

I heard the air move behind me, and my instincts told me that I was about to be attacked from behind.

It's been said that in certain high-energy situations, such as when an angry newborn vampire is in the middle of pouncing on you, time slows down.

She was inches from my body, her face contorting with rage and clear bloodlust. I knew that I didn't have a fraction of a second to move away. I flinched right before she made contact. The sounds of battle floated away.

And then nothing. No pain at all. Crap, am I dead?

I gathered my senses again. The pack mind was still putting images and sounds in my head so no, apparently not. My wet, beating heart still thumped swiftly and loudly. There was still noise all around me-growling and screaming and ripping and burning and the sound of boulders knocking against each other.

There was one particularly close yelling that became clear very suddenly.

In a low and deadly voice, I heard a threat, "Don't you dare touch my boyfriend."

Reviews are nice!