Chapter 14- The Hunt For The Hunt

YES! I am finally back! For a long time, after life got too hectic and other focuses came more so into play, I had just resolved myself to the fact that I wasn't going to continue this story. But, I've finally decided to continue with it. It's been nearly a year, but hope that some of you, previous readers or new, will still read Trust Without Warning and enjoy it.

(Side Note: I will be starting and posting The Mortal Instruments fanfic- that I posted about on my profile before, in the near future. For now, the banner is still there. Take a look and keep and eye out, por favor!)

Disclaimer: As awesome as it would be, I don't own any of these characters. They all come from the brilliant mind of Stephenie Meyer.

Summary: What happens when a wolf sees a certain girl in one's mind? Is it an imprint, or not? Will Jealously rear it's ugly head and blur the lines of friendship. Or will Understanding reign? ...And will Bella find her heart with a wolf that she never saw coming, or hush the call of Want, Love, and Trust? Rated M for violence, swearing, and lemons.

Recap: I hold onto her more tightly, frantically. What the fuck is going on?! My mind is racing past capacity, at ten thousand miles an hour. Protect. Bella. Mine! Jacob. Protect. Find. Bella…

All of a sudden, Embry bursts through the door and I try to shield my mate's nakedness. My growl reverberates through the room before I can stop it.

He throws his hands up. "Jared, it's okay…It's me, man. I won't hurt her." My eyes grow wet with confusion.

Embry's eyes mirror my own as Bella digs her nails into my back, head in the crook of my neck.

"We have to find Jacob…"

Shit. I knew it.

Jacob POV:

When I awake, it's like something out of a lucid dream. Slowly, the corners of my sight fade back into view, but it all seems too surreal. The pain, too much to process, and I almost will my mind to recede into a world of fancy. Some place safe, Jake. Think. Some place…home. I blur my reality into the realm of chocolate locks and the smell of jasmine and ginger, and just as I'm about to give myself over to the comfort of her doe-eyed gaze, I feel the stern knit to my brow. Jared…How dare Taha Aki take her away from me! And Tanya, that bi-… No, Jake. NO. Focus, Black. And, just like that, the blackness starts to take over again. That is, until her putrid essence starts weaving itself up into my nostrils. Against my own will, I push the fanciful world of Bella away, and for the first time since regaining my consciousness, force myself to take in my new surroundings. Chained to the wall behind me and the cold floor below me, four stone walls surround me. I allow my gaze to follow two black leather boots, up thin legs, and a lean torso, to that face. Her evil face, so beautiful to a human eye that it's almost ghastly. Tanya's callous laughter burns my ears.

"I see you've finally awakened, pup. Feeling better?"

There is no need for any more laughter; She mocks me with her eyes, alone. My ribs feel like daggers in my abdomen. Why haven't I healed yet? But, I'll be damned if I show pain. I'm a shapeshifter, a protector.

"I don't know what you've done, Shebag, but I assure you. I'm not as weak as you think. Just count yourself lucky that you've gotten me this far."

Her voice is like ice, completely void of emotion. "Do? You did it to yourself really, dog. We just made sure that some of your bones stayed…broken…until you were secured. Then, your form healed itself eventually, just, how should I put it? Not in all of the right places."

"You fucking bitch! You really think that you can slow me down, huh? Just wait- just you fucking wait unti-" Tanya's next works cut through me with force of a thousand knives.

"Until Bella joins us? Oh, I'm sure Vicky would just love for her to come to the party."

My eyes shift as my every sense freezes in time. The worry. The pure, blood-curling anger. Red-hot rage replaces my temporary paralysis. I tremble, trying to hold back my wolf. No sense in re-breaking those bones just yet. "You really do think that you and Victoria," I spit her name like poison, "can get her away from the entire pack alone, don't you? Fucking stupid parasite! You can't keep me in here forever, and even if you try, there's no way that they'll even let you get within an inch of her."

"Don't be so sure," she cackles. That is, until she surveys my unyielding stare. "And why is that? Why is dear Bel-lah so important?"

"Why?" My sardonic chortle paints the air with mock amusement. "Ja-" I swear, I nearly bite my tongue in half silencing myself. Good going, Black. Think, knucklehead. Think! I guess she can tell that my proclamation has rendered itself mute, because the next thing I know, she's practically seething her frustration and sadism out through her amber pupils.

"Very well, have it your way. Stand here and rot, but either way, pooch, I will be getting my answers. And that precious girl, that thief, will be getting exactly the justice she deserves."

I begin to scream something along the lines of fuck you, but she swiftly walks to the door, opening it wide enough for a brown-haired vampire to enter the chamber, and my words are cut short.

"Carmen, you'll take the next watch, won't you?" The brunette gives her nothing in response but the whisper of a nod, before Tanya exists and she regards me with tortured eyes. What? There's no way.

"Oh. So you're one of the ones. I thought I felt icy hands breaking my bones earlier." Carmen, as I would assume her name is, does nothing to respond but to further the gleam in her eyes with unshed sorrow. It's only now that I allow myself to crumple back to the floor in pain, crouched with face and fists to the floor, and chains still binding me to this hellhole. Her voice finally touches my ears, and I swear to Taha Aki, that it quakes.

"My sisters and I…We have our reasons, each, for taking part, but…"

"But, what?!" I choke out with raspy breath. I'm losing both my energy and patience, fast.

"But…" I turn my face up to stare into her confused eyes, "I'm so sorry…"

Jared POV:

I don't even know what to do with myself. All that I can do right now is turn my front back to Bella and grip onto her as tightly as possible. Even as my mind moves at about a thousand pulses a minute and my inner wolf threatens to go bonkers- Protect. No. Mate. Mine. Brother. Protect. No one can take her from us. No one. No one. Jacob. Protect. Bella. Bella. Bella- my body stays frozen in places and sweating with the overpowering sensation of it all. Shielding my mate's nakedness from my packmate and trying to ignore the bruising pain in the newly formed scar on my face, I will my senses to hone in on the feel of Bella, safe, beneath my hands, and Embry's voice, trying to snap me out of it.

"Dude. Dude. Come back to us, Brother." His palm is at my back, "Jared. We'll figure this out, but you have to come back to us, man."

Slowly but surely, I begin to tumble back down to Earth. Bella remains still in my arms, breath quaky with emotion, just letting me breathe her in. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine…" My eyes that had been squeezed shut, now flutter open, and it's only then that I really register the state of our undress.

"Uh, Embry? Can you give us a minute, man?" When he doesn't say anything for a few moments, Bella pipes in for the first time since the he's made his entrance, still folded in my arms. "It's okay, Em. We'll be right down." I chance a glance back at him, over my shoulder, and I don't think I've ever seen him look so serious before. When he speaks, it's even-tempered and simple, but his brow is dipped so far down that I swear it could swallow all of Nose City. All the same, he throws a quick nod our way, mumbles out an "Alright. I'll be downstairs," and quickly turns on his heel to leave Bella's bedroom.

She pulls away from my grip, but only enough to lean her forehead against mine. "Are you okay?" Her voice is slightly raspy from worry, and I can tell that she's trying to be strong for me. My strong, Bella. Don't hide from me…Paul is really going to smack me upside the head when he hears my thoughts. "I will be. But, are you alright?"

She glances up through her lashes, pausing as if deciding whether or not to voice her concerns. "Honestly, I'm worried about you. And Jake. What the f-" she pauses again, suppressing her cursing. I can't help it, I chuckle outwardly. Almost instantly, it lightens the mood, (if only for a moment,) the corners of her lips creasing up into a demure smile.

Rubbing circles on her back, I try to soothe her, and hence trying to soothe myself- man and wolf alike. I can see my lupine nature, shining golden in the reflection of her eyes. "I know. Believe me, I know. Actually, I really don't know," she looks almost defeated, but I continue, "but I do know that we'll figure this out. Jake will be okay. I won't let anybody hurt you. Ever." Nodding, she tries to affirm my comfort. I smile, but it doesn't quite reach my eyes as my cheek still throbs, almost in warning. Wincing as I pull away from her, my protector instincts are screaming inside, lighting an inferno in my every pore. I squish it down, if only to reassure her. Joyfulness finds my tone once more, and reaching around her back again, I deliver a small smack to her behind. "C'mon, Sweet Cheeks, we've got to find some clothes…Unfortunately, I don't think Em's keen on waiting all day." There ya go, boy. Keep her smiling. My chest feels like it's ripping apart with confusion and anxiety, but the determination of keeping my mate happy overtakes it.

Once we've dressed, I grab her by the hand and lead her downstairs. Embry looks like he's about to blow a gasket sky high. Clutching his phone in his hand and staring at it as if he were trying to disintegrate it with his mind, it takes a good clearing of the throat to get him to acknowledge our presence in the room. Shit. This can't be good, for him to be so engrained in the damn cell phone. What. Is. Going. On. Bile threatens the top of my throat with the need to pull my imprint in close again, but I'm still determined not to raise further alarm so I try my best to bury the sensation. My mate must feel it through the new mark- my mark- in the crook of her neck, or by the tremble of my hand in her own, because she looks over to me. A silent inquiry swims in her wild eyes. "I'm fine, I swear." She knows, you're so full of shit, Cameron. "Don't," is all she says before squeezing my hand more tightly in her own and turning her attention back to my packmate, before us. I know exactly what she means. Don't hide from me. Don't pretend that you're not okay for my benefit. My Bella, always sacrificing her comfort for others. I sigh outwardly but turn my attention back to Embry as well, giving her hand a reassuring light squeeze.

"Em, brother. What is it? What's happened?…. Embry?"

He looks up from his phone, a twinge of grief not hidden from his features. "It's Jake."

"Yeah? You mentioned that."

"His scent got mixed in with way too much vamp. Paul, Sam, Leah, and Quil tried to follow it. The scent just…disappeared. Past the Canadian border. We have no idea where…" His sentence trails off into the void as he all but throws the phone across the room. We all know what that means. It means that we have no idea where to begin. Not a fucking trace. Beside me, Bella releases the whimpering of a sob. I turn to her immediately, stroking away the wetness of her cheeks but no longer able to hide the pain within my orbs.

"Your eyes. They're still…"

"I'll be fine. Right now, my focus is on you, and, unfortunately" she rolls her eyes," Jacob. Don't worry about me right now, okay?" I practically coo to her, hoping that she'll see the seriousness in my gaze. And she must, because her own returns to a softer one, even though she holds onto me as if we let go of one another, I'll break. And I just might. I can't be parted from her, not now. Before I can slip any further words past my lips, Embry clears his throat, causing the alarm inside of me to skyrocket.

"There's more."

My free fist clenches at my side, my jaw set firmly.

"That was Sam on the phone…He thinks that it has to do with the Cold One who attacked Harry Clearwater. It's about the only lead we might have. But it gets us fucking nowhere."

From beside me, Bella's voice sings to my senses. Shaking, she breathes "Embry..What Cold One are you referring to?"

"That red-haired demon-bitch!" And only once the words have left his mouth does he realize the harshness of them, coated in the worry for his best friend. "Bella, I'm sorry." His look softens, and I know that it's Embry here, but, dammit! Flying freaking forks on a goddamn pogo stick, am I struggling to hold the Phase down… He must pick up on something, because along with the pure lupine vitality shining through my pupils at the moment, I can practically feel my stare seething with confusion, concern, and even a small amount of anger at his sudden outburst at my mate. The man is trying to be sensible, but this is still… All so new. I need to calm down. I need.. I need…To get away from her. Oh, god, I'm going to hurt her!

She must feel something, for she ghosts a few delicate fingers over her mark before turning to me and forcing my face in her direction. Speaking evenly, she pleads with me to not underestimate myself. Look at you, you were trying to keep her happy and she flipped it around. Way to go! I mentally slap myself in the forehead and let a breathy, but light chuckle out.

"You would never hurt me. Please.." Bella leans her forehead against mine- Mon petite amour..What the fuckenzie is up with that?- "just breathe."

"Dude. You need to phase. Before you implode, or explode into a giant furball right here in this living room."

My eyes plead with hers, but I see understanding in them. I hate to, but I need to let my wolf out before he forces himself out. I know that I'd never intentionally hurt Bella, but it's all too much all at once.

"Bella, I need to run. I'm sorry, but I promise, I'll be right back." I push my face into her palm, now against my scarred cheek, and kiss it gently. "I'll be back right away. You'll stay with her, right, man? No leaving the house until I get back."

"Of course." And with that austere nod and the hint of a pained, knowing smile from my imprint, I jerk myself away before I can't.

Running out the door and into treeline behind the Swan residence, I burst into the fur of my light brown wolf, not thinking of stripping down.

There goes another pair. I guess you really can't teach a wolf how to hold onto his drawers.

Jake. Man. Where are you?

Thank you for reading! Please, please review. It would mean a lot. Good, and even negative feedback if you have any at all is greatly appreciated. I will be updating this story regularly. I have already begun to work on Chapter 15 of this story. As soon as I hit 10 new reviews, I will post it. Love you all! =)

Chapter 14 Playlist:

1. "Teeth" -Lady Gaga
2. "Breathe Hope In Me" - A Day To Remember

3. "Murder In The City" -Avett Brothers

4. "Pressure"- The 1975

5. "Love You No Matter What" -Anthony Green

6. "Never Let Me Go"-Florence + The Machine

7. "Kuroi Ledge"-A Lot Like Birds

8."Far Too Young To Die"-Panic! At The Disco

9."Collar Full"-Panic! At The Disco

10."Black Magic" -The Mumblers

11. "Tonight" -Lykke Li

12. "The Wolf" -Phildel

13. "Comfort Me"-Phildel

14."Sword" -Ashes Divide

15. "Close Your Eyes To See"-Circa Survive

16. "Radioactive"- Imagine Dragons

17. "Mother Nature's Son" -The Beatles

18. "Waste" -Phish

19. "When The Darkness Comes" -Colbie Callait

20."The Moment" -GOLDHOUSE