Disclaimer:

Jacob: Donna doesn't own Twilight. But she does own the idea for this story, please don't steal it.

Bella held a hand on the roof of the truck to keep from hitting her head on it. Jacob had warned her that where they were going had pot holes and dips, and promised her that he would check her suspension and alignment when they got back to her house.

Once they were at the top the ocean spread out forever in front of them.

"What are we doing here?"

"We are going cliff diving."

"When you told me to wear my bathing suit I thought you meant that we were going to the beach," she said in a panicked voice.

"You're the one who said that you wanted to do this. Are you backing out?" he challenged.

"Will you jump with me?"

"Does little Bella need big, strong Jake to hold her hand?" he teased.

"Yes, she does," she confirmed.

"I promise that I will hold your hand."

She stripped down to her bathing suit and he pulled off his shirt before getting out of the truck. It was warm, even for late March. He took her hand and led her to the edge.

"Don't look down," he warned.

"How high up are we?"

"Three stories, at least."

"Oh God," she said gripping his hand tighter.

"We can step off if you want. That would be easiest."

"Is that what you did your first time?"

"No, I did a back flip."

"I am not doing that," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Then what do you want to do?"

"We can dive."

He nodded before asking if she was ready. She nodded, gathering all of her courage. He counted to three before they both sprung off the rocks. Bella clenched her eyes shut as they nosed dived at rapid speed towards the water. She shrieked as she felt the wind whipping around her. They both hit the water at the same time. She surfaced first, feeling someone watching her.

Jacob surfaced a hundred feet away, facing away from the beach.

"What do you see?"

"Get out of the water, now," he said turning around and swimming as fast as he could.

He pulled her up the incline to find Sam standing beside her truck.

"Get her to Emily's, Jared is there. I need you to meet me in the forest."

"What's going on?" Bella asked impatiently.

"I'll explain on the way to Emily's."

"Is it Victoria?" she questioned in fear.

"She was in the water. I couldn't even smell her," he growled.

"But you saw her?"

"Yes," he said as the truck kicked up rocks.

The ride to Emily's took less than five minutes. Jared stood in the yard in wolf form.

"Take care of her," Jacob warned as he tied his clothes to his ankle.

"Come inside Bella," Emily called.

Bella watched Jacob leave from the door. Paul was more than likely already on Victoria's trail. She knew that she didn't need to worry about him or any of the rest of the pack, but that didn't stop her from saying a desperate prayer. She prayed that they would finally catch Victoria so that all of this could be put behind her.

XXXX

Jacob picked up Victoria's scent before he got to the forest. He raced through the reservation trying to find her.

She's on the Rez. He thought.

We're coming. Sam thought.

He heard Harry and Charlie not far off and that was where the smell was the strongest. He had to warn them.

Wait for us Jacob. Sam thought.

What if she gets to Charlie?

Don't do anything unless you have to.

As he got to the group of hunters he saw Harry bringing up the rear. Most of the hunters were from the tribe so they wouldn't be too worried about seeing Jacob. He caught sight of Victoria in the trees watching the men. He took off, running as fast as he could.

Harry didn't see her until she was right behind him. Jacob bounded down the incline as she threw him out of the way. She lunged towards Charlie silently. Jacob crashed into her as Charlie disappeared over the hill.

Sam and Paul flanked him as he pinned Victoria to the ground.

Do it. Sam thought.

Jacob pulled her arm off easily. Paul detached her head with a snap before she could protest. Sam phased before picking Harry up. He walked up the hill yelling for help. Jacob and Paul quickly gathered the body parts before taking off. They could hear the men asking Sam what had happened. He explained that Harry had had a heart attack. He was already dead by the time Sam got to him.

"What should we do with her?" Jacob asked.

"Burn her like the other. That way no one can find her," Paul said as they walked through the forest.

Paul made a fire then Jacob threw the remains in one piece at a time.

"What were you thinking? Bella could have been hurt," Paul said once they were done.

"She was in the water. You know we can't smell them in the water. I got Bella to safety."

"What if you hadn't? You never think of the consequences!"

"Calm down, Paul. Go and see her, she's at my house," Sam said.

"I have to get her home. Charlie is going to be wondering where she is."

"Go with him."

They raced to the house. Jared phased and Jacob told him to come into the house with him. Bella came out then threw herself into Paul's arms. He held her tightly as she buried her face in his neck.

"She won't be a problem again. Jacob and I took care of her."

"Thank you," she said into his neck.

"Your dad almost found out. She killed Harry."

"How?" she asked quietly.

"She threw him against a tree. His neck and back were broken instantly. As far as your dad

knows he had a heart attack."

She nodded as she tightened her grip on his neck.

"You aren't hurt?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine," she said as she pulled away from his neck.

He brushed his lips to hers before pulling away.

"You should go home. Call your dad and let him know that you're okay. He's probably worried about you."

She nodded before kissing him. It was cut short when the door opened. Jacob came out making as little noise as he could. Paul pulled her arms from around his neck before stepping away. He nodded to Jacob as he passed him to walk into the house.

Bella was already in the truck when Jacob got in. She was on the phone with her dad assuring him that she was fine. She had been at Sam and Emily's all day out of harm's way. Jacob started the truck once she was off the phone.

"You're getting pretty good at lying to him," he said quietly.

"You're such a hypocrite. You lie to almost everyone," she muttered.

"No one would believe me Bella, there's a difference."

"I don't want him to worry about me," she answered, folding her arms over her chest.

"He worries about you constantly."

"Can we please not talk about him?"

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I was going to thank you for what you did today."

"You're welcome," he said as they pulled up to her house.

She opened the door but he stopped her from getting out.

"Wait," he said quickly.

She looked over at him with curious eyes. Something caught her attention across the street. Her attention was turned to the car on the side of the road. Even in the darkness she would know that car anywhere.

"One of the Cullen's is here," she said hurriedly.

She pulled away from him quickly to run through the yard.

"Bella, wait. It could be a trick," he said running after her.

"I know it's them. That's Carlisle's car," she said once he stopped her.

"If they have come back I can't protect you."

"You won't need to," she said trying to get away from him.

"Please let her go," Someone said as they opened the door.

"It's Alice, its fine," Bella said reassuringly.

He let her go before stalking towards the truck. The truck door slamming shut made Bella cringe as she stepped into the house.

"Who is he? And why do you smell like wet dog?" Alice questioned quickly.

"He's Jacob, he's my best friend. He's also a werewolf."

"Bella, why would you become best friends with a werewolf?" she asked exasperatedly.

"He wasn't one when we became friends. What are you doing here?"

"I had a vision of you jumping off a cliff. I thought you were dead! I came to comfort Charlie.

How did you not die?" she asked in a panicked tone.

"I jumped with Jacob. I was perfectly safe, until Victoria found me."

"Victoria has been here?" Alice asked with wide eyes.

"Jacob and another member of the pack killed her."

"Oh, thank God!" Alice said with a sigh.

"You haven't told anyone else what you saw did you?"

"No."

"Is he alright?"

"He isn't with us. We don't hear from him often."

"I've tried to e-mail you to let you know how I was doing."

"We changed everything so that you couldn't get in touch with us. I'll give you my phone

number before I leave," she promised.

The front door opened and Paul came in.

"He's not Jacob is he? He looks taller."

"He's Paul. He is the other wolf who killed Victoria."

"Thank you for protecting my friend," Alice said politely.

"I didn't do it for your benefit," he said in acid tone.

"Could we have a few minutes?" Bella asked Alice.

"I'll come back once he leaves."

Paul crossed the room to sit next to her.

"Who is she?" he accused.

"She is Alice, she's a Cullen."

"What is she doing here?"

"She had a vision of me jumping off a cliff. She thought that I was dead. She didn't see Jacob."

"She can see the future?" he asked in concern.

"It's selective. If the person changes their mind she loses the vision."

"Are the rest of them here?"

"No," she confirmed.

"Do you need me to stay here?"

"Everything is fine. It is good to see you and Jacob working together for once."

"Don't expect it to happen all the time," he said with a heavy sigh.

"I'm hopeful, not an idiot," she said with a teasing smile.

He cupped her face in his hands before leaning in. He kissed her roughly, putting everything he had behind it. She sighed against his lips. He crushed her against him as his tongue passed her lips. The door opened and Alice was next to them less than a second later. She was holding out her phone to Bella.

"It's Edward. He found out somehow. He doesn't believe that you're fine," she explained.

"Go ahead," Paul said before pulling away.

Bella took the phone from her before sitting on the couch.

"Edward?"

"Where are you?" he asked.

She expected to feel some sort of reaction after not hearing his voice other than in her mind for the past six months. She felt nothing. His voice wasn't the way that she remembered it. It was flatter and more lilting. She sighed before finally answering him.

"I'm at home. How did you find out?"

"Jasper noticed something was wrong when Alice took off so quickly. The family put two and two together and called me. I'm on my way there."

"No, don't come here," she objected.

"Why not?" he asked, his voice hurt.

"Everything is fine. Victoria is out of the picture."

"She is?"

"She's dead."

"Who killed her?"

"Jacob and someone else that I know." she answered honestly.

"How?" he asked credulously.

"They're wolves."

"I'm coming whether you want me to or not," he said, his voice tight with anger.

"Be forewarned that things have changed," she broached.

"What has changed?"

"Nothing will happen between us," she informed him.

"I know that I shouldn't have left you the way that I did. If I could just explain…" he said quickly.

"I'm seeing someone else," she said as she cut him off.

"Alice hasn't seen him?"

"She met him today," she explained.

"Why couldn't she see him before?" he asked in confusion.

"He's a wolf," she confessed.

He growled in frustration before hanging up on her. She handed the phone back to Alice solemnly. Paul looked down at his feet when Alice asked what Edward had said.

"Well you already know that he's coming here even though I told him that it wasn't necessary. I never knew that he didn't like being put in his place."

"Yes, it's his only pet peeve. He doesn't take it well," Alice said with a nod.

"He's going to have to get over it," Paul said pointedly.

Alice called Edward back and asked him to meet her at the house. Paul left later after Charlie had come home. Bella was getting ready for bed when Jacob climbed through the window.

"Leah Clearwater joined the pack."

"I didn't realize that she was back," she said in concern.

"No one else did either. Harry and Sue have been hiding her in the house for over two weeks,"

he said with a sigh.

"Did you see her?"

"No, my dad, Quil Sr. and Paul went to see her earlier."

"I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier," she said coming to stand in front of him.

"It's okay. I can't stay mad at you for long."

"I can't stay mad at you either."

"I have to tell you something. I don't want to upset you."

"What is it?"

"I know that I have no chance with you but I want you to know that I love you," he said, looking deeply into her eyes.

"You love me?" she asked with wide eyes.

"I was frustrated when Paul imprinted on you. I was hoping that if anyone imprinted on you that it would be me. Spending time with you over the past few months has made me realize how special you are to me."

"You're special to me too. No one understands me the way you do except for Paul."

"But you don't love me," he said sadly.

"I do, in my own way, but my feelings for Paul are stronger," she explained.

"Do you love him?"

"It's too soon to tell. We only officially got together the other day."

"I would never pressure you to choose between us," he promised.

"Good, because I would choose him," she said with finality.

"I know, and I understand," he said as he nodded.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"All of the Cullen's are back. Carlisle and the blond one went to see Sam and Paul."

"The blond is Jasper. I'm surprised that Edward didn't go."

"Carlisle said that he had ordered him to stay home. Apparently he's pretty mad that you are with someone else," he said with a lopsided smile.

"I got that impression when he hung on me."

"What a jerk," he scoffed.

"He's being very closed minded. I'm not used to him acting like that."

"Peoples true selves come out when they don't get what they want," he said rubbing her back.

"What's with you then?"

"We're friends, we always will be."

"Thank you," she said smiling up at him.

He smiled back before he pulled away.

"I should go. We've got school in the morning. Prepare to face Edward."

"I'm looking forward to it." she said rolling her eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said with a laugh.

She watched him jog through the yard before getting into bed. She knew that she should be mad at him for unloading his feelings for her on her but she wasn't. In a small way she had feelings for him too, in a strictly platonic way. There was a chance that he could imprint, and once he did he would forget about his feelings for her. Maybe then the feeling of guilt that she'd felt since Paul had imprinted on her would go away. She didn't like hurting Jacob, but that's what she had been doing for the past month. She was going to make up for that.