My most humble, humble apologies everyone for the huge delay in posting, I am safe, so there is no need to put out that wanted poster Nessiejakeluver… that one really made me smile...What can I say there have been so many things going on since I came home but I am hopefully back on track…so the original chapter from my teaser has now been spilt into two so the juicy stuff is not gonna come just yet (please don't hurt me) but will be with us very soon I promise. That said I hope you enjoy this and let me know what you all think. Love to all. Tink. XX


I winced as I landed flat on my back again, the air knocked out of me momentarily and I looked up to see Leah bending over me her lips stretched in a smug grin. Bitch.

"You gotta be quicker than that Nessie, these leeches don't stand around waiting for written invitations you know" she crowed laughing down at me.

I scowled blackly. This was like the thirtieth time in as many minutes that I had ended up on my back in the dirt and it was starting to get old. Convinced she was doing it on purpose I really, really wanted to throttle her but a little voice inside reminded me that was the whole point.

I wanted to learn to fight and she had agreed to help me, so she attacked me as she would any other leech. Course she had never shifted into wolf form, so it wasn't as though I was getting a real insight into how to attack and destroy my own kind but it was enough for now.

My lower back throbbed and I rubbed it, hoping to take away the pain. It wasn't as bad as if I had been all-human but I bet my ass would be black and blue tomorrow and it was still damn embarrassing. I was a Cullen, a vampire and was supposed to be the world's most dangerous predator. At the moment I was the worlds most dangerous doormat.

Screwing my eyes up and I jumped lightly to my feet, braced myself and gathered my wits, totally missing the kick she aimed at my legs, sweeping them from under me. God Damn it.

I lay there winded, for a few seconds as Leah backed off, and my eyes followed her. She came to a stop, her feet looking suddenly tiny as another familiar pair of much larger naked feet appeared in my eye line. Lifting my chin I forced myself to look up and meet the mocking grin I knew I would find there.

Jake stared back down at me but instead of the humor and the smirk I'd expected, he simply stared. His face was impassive, carefully devoid of any emotion. His arms crossed over his massive chest, yet it was his eyes, which caught my attention, his dark eyes so stormy and troubled.

"Don't you think she's had enough?" he said to Leah as she lounged against him, her head resting on his shoulder casually. Anger prickled inside me, how dare he interfere? It wasn't like he cared about me anymore, now that he had her.

"I can say when I've had enough thanks Jake and anyway I'm here to learn" I muttered and got quickly to my feet.

This was my fourth day in La Push and our relationship was again at breaking point. At best it was strained, at worst non-existent. Jake seemed to do his best to avoid being alone with me, and was quiet, withdrawn. I spent most of my time with Leah, and yeah I hated every second of it.

It wasn't her I didn't like, so much as the fact she had the one thing I wanted, needed most in this life. She had Jake. The downside to this was that I had to be around them, the up side was I managed to see to it that they spent very little time alone and thankfully wasn't privy to any more of their intimate moments.

I winced as I brushed the dust from my palms, ignoring Jake's eyes on me and my body's answering tremble. My entire body was an aching, throbbing pulse of pain, my human side not keeping up with my vampire side. Squaring my shoulders to attack, I rounded on Leah, pouring all my hurt and anger into the blow I aimed at her solar plexus. Grinning she danced away from me and aimed another swift kick. I was ready for her this time and caught her leg, twisting and yanking it from under her, smiling as she slid onto her stomach. Fangs bared I jumped onto her back, my teeth only inches from her jugular vein. Ignoring the slight smell from her skin I continued to hold her down.

"Impressive Ness but remember most leeches aren't just going to lay here and let you do this to them" she smirked over her shoulder at me and I flexed my knees, gripping tighter to her body as she attempted to buck me off her.

She may have been a wolf but I was strong and fast too, holding her easily in place once I was comfortable and sure what I was doing. I could feel the slight tremor in her body, hear the rasping growl at the back of her throat and I knew I was inflicting a little pain on her. No more than she had me.

"Okay let her up"

I glanced up to see Jake watching us, concerned, and my eyes narrowed. Always looking out for her, he always intervened before things could get really interesting between us. I knew he was afraid I would hurt her and it made the monsters inside me want to. The vamp and the green-eyed one.

"Ness" he repeated in his alpha tone, glaring down at us. Sighing I shifted my weight and went to move away from her. Suddenly the world span and I found myself flat on my back once more, as Leah chuckled.

"Never back down Ness, and never, ever take your eyes off them"

I snarled, a defensive sound coming from deep inside me and then hissed at Leah as she continued to watch me with obvious amusement. I was tired, embarrassed, sore and sick of having my ass kicked. I was getting nowhere fast. As soon as I thought I had one over on her, she would turn on me and I'd end up on my ass again.

It was humiliating, especially when it happened in front of Jake. Everyone in my family knew how to fight; it was practically an Olympic event in my house. The guys in my family made the WWF look like a bunch of girls. I'd even wrestled with Uncle Emmett and won but then I had been only four, so he probably had let me win. But why now when it counted could I not even manage to take down a shifter? Because I was still half human and this time my opponent was not going easy on me.

Scrambling to my feet I brushed the dirt from my ass and shifted immediately into a defensive posture. Leah was not going to do this to me again I vowed. She was going to be the one to end up in the dirt this time. She came at me once more in a blur of wolf like speed and grace. I caught her wrist, swinging her around, twisting her arm behind her and wrapping my other around her neck, exerting just a little more pressure than was probably needed.

Fighting the triumphant smile on my face I pressed a little harder, wondering if she saw spots yet. But she began to wriggle and as I struggled to hold onto her sweat-slicked body, she bucked and twisted, grabbing my arm from around her neck. I had less than a second before I felt her kick my knees from under me and I went down once more.

This time I stayed down, as pain exploded in my head, my skull cracking against the floor. The noise of the impact so loud that even I gasped, or maybe that was just in sheer blinding agony. Blinking, I tried to focus but everything was swimming in and out and I was dimly aware of someone calling my name urgently. Jake. It was Jake. I wanted to answer him but my eyes felt heavy and there was too much pain. As the blackness closed in around me from all sides, I gave in to it.

I froze, the events of the last few seconds playing out in front of me as though in slow motion. I saw Leah twist her body and buckle Nessie's knees from under her, and I knew instantly what was going to happen before it did. The noise of her skull thudding against the unyielding ground is something that will live with me until I die, which knowing Edward, would be very soon if Nessie got hurt.

Yeah she was half vampire and her skin was impenetrable but that didn't stop her getting bumped and bruised. She was still half human. But that hadn't stopped her; she wanted this so badly and was pushing herself so hard to learn to fight that although it went against all my natural instincts to protect her, I could not deny her this opportunity.

This had been going on for days. Nessie and Leah would be out here for hours, sparring, neither one willing to back down even though they both took some licks. Nessie mainly, she still had too much in human in her to make her as deadly a predator as the rest of the leeches. But she never gave up, falling down time after time and still getting up, ready and willing, if not able to fight back. She was a stubborn little thing.

There were times when I had to intervene and stop them, when their instincts to kill or maim came too close to the surface. When I could hear the warning in their growls and hisses. When I could see the shift start in Leah and the venom gather in Nessie.

But this time I had been too late and Nessie was still acting cold towards me, since our talk things were tense between us. I knew she must feel awkward for rejecting me and keeping me at arms length was just her way of handling it. It killed me knowing she didn't want things to change between us but I was still hopeful that when this was all over she would come around.

She was my imprint and despite all my other royal fuck ups, letting her get this badly hurt, to the point where she blacked out- was my worst fuck up to date. I wondered briefly which god's shit list I had managed to end up on for this to have happened.

I thought my heart had stopped, as she lay motionless on the floor, I was beside her in half a heartbeat, fear making my stomach clench and my heart stutter.

"Nessie!" I groaned "Nessie, talk to me baby please"

Beside me I was aware of Leah's tremors "Shit Jake, I'm sorry…I didn't mean for this to happen, I was just trying to help you know" her voice was as shaken as her body, and though I could hear her regret I found I couldn't make myself accept her apology. She had hurt Nessie. My Nessie. My imprint.

"How?" I barked out "By kicking the shit out of her…she is still half human Leah, you can't go at her like that"

I turned my attention back to Nessie; her eyes were still firmly closed and counted quickly in my head. She'd been out what thirty, forty seconds? I expelled a breath I didn't know I had been holding as I touched her face gently, pushing away the stray curl that obscured my vision of her.

"Ness, come on baby, wake up" I pleaded, staring down at her pale and prone form. This was just like my nightmares, only so much worse because it was real and happening.

"Get her inside Jake and if she hasn't come round in a few minutes we need to call Carlisle" she said firmly, bending over Nessie reaching for her hand.

Unable to help myself I snarled a warning to her, the sound ripped from my throat. Do not fucking touch her. She stiffened instinctively and I knew she had recognized the anger and warning in the noise.

Stooping I swept her up into my arms, marveling once more at just how tiny and delicate she was, how she weighed barely nothing in the circle of my arms. Holding her unconscious form close to my chest, I hurried inside the house, praying silently that she would come round, that I hadn't lost her forever.

Gingerly I set her down on the sofa, hovering over her and moved my hands into her hair to check for knots and bumps. I tried not to think about how soft and silken it felt against my fingers, how good it smelt and instead concentrated on gently tracing her scalp. Bingo. There was a knot the size of a golf ball. Ah my poor, poor Nessie.

"Fuck" she muttered as I traced the shape of her bump and my eyes flew back to hers just in time to see them flicker open.

"Nessie, Jesus, you nearly gave me a heart attack" I couldn't help the shit eating grin which spread over my face at the familiar sound of her voice.

"Who are you?" she asked, her brow furrowing in concentration, a wary look crossing her face.

My heart stopped for the second time that day as I gazed down at her. This could not be happening.

"Who are you?" I repeated, the banging pain at the back of my head distracting me from the look of terror on his face.

"Nessie, it's me…honey it's Jake" he said urgently, the hand still tangled in my hair trembled lightly.

"Do I…do I know you?" I croaked, licking my dry lips, which wanted to smile despite the pain I was in. Coming to, I'd been hit with an instant urge to be close to Jake, despite the distance of the last few days. I wanted to see him smile at me to see the light in his eyes and I figured this joke was a way to do it.

He looked down at me, his face aghast, his eyes wide and haunted, full of pain. Instantly part of me regretted the path I had chosen when I muttered those words.

"It's me, Jake"

"Wha-" I winced and tried again "What happened to me?"

"You hit your head, when you were fighting with Leah, you blacked out but it was only for a few seconds…shit this shouldn't be happening" he murmured almost as an after thought to himself.

I drew in a deep shuddering breath as pain exploded behind my eyes and my noise wrinkled in distaste, as I smelt something unpleasant.

"Is Leah our dog? I stink… whew she stinks, you really ought to bathe her once in a while" It was true, I smelt like dog.

"A dog? No honey, she's our friend…maybe we should get you to a Doctor" he seemed frantic with worry.

"Can't you take care of me? I don't want to go anywhere…I don't remember you but I feel safe here…are you my… boyfriend?" I widened my eyes and batted my eyelashes, alright it was corny but it seemed to have the desired effect.

Jake's eyes almost bugged from his head and I thought I saw the beginning's of a blush start on his beautiful cheekbones. He was gorgeous, even all flustered and I wanted to taste him badly, to see if his lips were still as soft as I remembered. Not stopping to think about what I did next, not wanting to think about the repercussions, I snaked an arm around his neck and a split second later tugged his head towards mine. It was an impulse and as impulses go it was so, so worth it.

As my lips met his, I let out a sigh of pleasure, and tangled my fingers into his hair, moving my mouth under his, surprised when he took control of this kiss and kissed me back. This was not what I had expected at all. This was heaven. This was bliss, feeling Jake against me, the weight of his body pressing down on me as his mouth stole over mine.

A loud coughing noise distracted me and I turned my head away from Jake, our lips disconnecting, leaving me wanting more as we both gasped for air.

"When you two have quite finished, she needs medical attention Jake" Leah hissed at him, her face twisted and I felt sick with guilt.

"Just give her some time Leah, if we call Carlisle he's sure to call Edward and I'm damn sure you don't want to meet him after knocking his daughter unconscious…can you just leave us for a few minutes? " Jake asked her grimly but continued to stare down at me his brown eyes melting me from the inside.

I didn't hear her reply, I was too busy staring back at Jake and wallowing in guilt but I knew within seconds she had left the room and we were alone again. It was like as soon as she was out of my sight, she was out of my mind and the guilt disappeared like magic. Swallowing a smile I reveled in the feeling of Jake being this close to me after such a tense and strained time between us, all the barriers he had erected, since his relationship with Leah, now breached.

"Are you okay Nessie?" he asked, the concern in his voice sending shivers dancing down my spine.

"I think, think so" I mumbled weakly, grinning on the inside, wanting to do cartwheels.

He may have been with Leah but I was a Cullen and had learned a few feinting tricks from my family. So playing the "I've lost my memory card" wasn't very fair on Leah but this was too good an opportunity to waste. Jake was treating me like he always had and I wasn't about to let him in on the secret just yet. I moaned weakly and panic flared in his eyes. I should have felt bad about worrying Jake but somehow I just couldn't.

"You want me to get you anything Nessie?"

"No I'm feeling better…so you're Jake and I'm Nessie…how long have we been together?" I asked hesitantly, innocently.

I held my breath as I waited for him to tell me he was with Leah, that we were only friends but he didn't say anything. Looking away from me I saw him suck in a deep breath and was shocked to see a look of torment cross his face, as he appeared to battle with himself.

When he turned back to me, his hand reached out and touched my face hesitantly, as though he couldn't quite help himself. Leaning into his touch I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of his skin against mine. It was amazing. Shivers raced through me as his thumb caressed my cheekbone and traced the shape of my bottom lip.

My stomach flip-flopped when I nipped at it gently, taking the earthy, salty taste of him into my mouth. Hearing the low moan he made, I struggled to sit up and close the distance between us, desperate for one last kiss before I confessed that I was faking, that a practical joke had gone too far.

I tried to stop the moan as our mouths met once more and what had begun as a soft hesitant exploration of his lips, shifted and evolved into something much more wild and dangerous. My thighs clenched as I heard Jake make a rough sound against my lips and I gasped, inviting his tongue into my mouth.

Jake thrust inside me, our tongues meeting and dueling in a passionate dance that sent sensations skittering through my system. He took control claiming me, his tongue thrusting, teasing, and stroking the inside of my mouth.

My hands wrapped themselves around his neck, pulling the heavy weight of his body down on mine as I leant back against the couch. Desire flared inside me and I fought to be closer to his clever, questing tongue. I was trapped beneath him, his hands cupping my face, tilting me, changing the angle of the kiss to allow him deeper.

But kissing was no longer enough for me, I felt as though I was no longer in control of my own body and I wanted more, needed more. I wanted to feel the shift and play of his muscles beneath my hands, feel the gentle strength of his arms where they held me close. So I gave into the urge, let my own feelings guide me.

Shaking with nervousness and need, I allowed my hands to wander down over the heavy corded muscles of his broad shoulders, to the smooth muscles of his chest. I was amazed to feel the furious race of his heartbeat, his lungs moving quickly as his breath came in rapid pants against my mouth. Urgent hunger splintered inside me and I wanted something more, something that I did not understand. I needed something to take away the ache between my legs. Damp and needy I heard Jake make a low rough sound again, his hands tangling into my hair as my legs tangled with his. My stomach flipped as his hips brushed mine and I felt something heavy and solid against my thigh. Heat burned inside me as I realized what it was and my own breath came in sharp rapid bursts.

Suddenly an ear splitting howl echoed around the room. With a snarl of frustration Jake pulled away from me, his mouth still so close that I could taste him, feel the heat of his breath as he panted, fighting for air that we both needed.

"Fuck, Ness" he groaned, his forehead dropping to rest on mine "I have to go, but when I get back we'll talk…don't be scared, you're safe here baby, I'll be back before you can miss me"

I wanted to tell him that I always missed him but the words lodged in my throat, I just stared up at him, my heart thundering in my chest.

Swooping down he pressed a quick, hard hot kiss against my now swollen lips and then was on his feet, moving with inhumane speed, hurrying out the door. Stunned I stared after him, not understanding what had just happened.

He was with Leah, wasn't he? How could he do that to her? If he loved her, wanted her how could he do those things with me? What had started out as a practical joke had backfired in a way I had never imagined and now I was here needy and aching inside, restless, shaking.

Licking my lips I could still taste him, smell him all around me, feel the heat and muscled strength of his body pressing down on me. Rather than feel crushed, I had felt protected, felt as though I could never be close enough to him. I wanted Jake badly but guilt wormed its way into me as I thought about Leah. As much as I loved him, I couldn't do this to her could I? Could I betray her? And why would Jake?

I shifted in an instant and hit the ground running, following Leah's scent, unable to believe what had just happened. Nessie had kissed me, despite everything she had said, despite the fact she didn't want things to change between us. I tired to stop myself responding but I could no more stop my reaction to her than the sea could fight the tide. And when she made those soft sweet sounds against my mouth, I was lost. All the barriers between us had been swept away as though they never really existed in the first place.

She tasted amazing, the sweetest nectar, like a drug, making me shake badly with a need I have never known. When her tongue had hesitantly touched mine, heat had licked up my spine and I fought my natural instincts to possess her, to claim her. I'd allowed my tongue to thrust into her in the only way I could, hoping it would ease my aching throbbing erection. I was wrong, it only made it worse but it was a bittersweet torment one I would gladly get used to if it meant I could be close to her again.

She felt so soft below me, so alive, so fucking good that I wanted to bury myself inside her, to feel her tremor and convulse in my arms. Nessie was addictive and I would never be able to get enough of her. I thought I'd come apart when she slid her hands over my heart; I needed her so badly, needed to possess her and make her mine. Needed her to touch me, needed to touch her, to seek out the velvet soft skin of her hidden recesses.

"Jake, this isn't the fucking time…we got a rogue" Leah's disgusted voice came into my head as I pictured Nessie below me, her hair disheveled, lips swollen and red, her breath coming in little hot pants.

"A rogue?" I forcefully shifted my thoughts away from Nessie, needing to focus on what Leah was saying. It was hard to believe it could be a rogue. We were the only wolves in this area and each of us instantly knew the others scent.

"A rogue…a young male, I think"

"A shifter?"

"Could be, I can't really tell...want me to track him?" she offered. I knew she was still trying to make up for braining the love of my life but that shit still rankled.

"No wait for me…I'm not far behind" I commanded, my alpha tone appearing and preventing her from disobeying the order.

I picked up speed and in only a few minutes I picked up the scent of the other wolf. It was fresh, full of musk. Leah was right, a young wolf and a powerful one too. There had been no attempt made to cover his scent or his tracks, which worried me. The pack scent was a strong one. If he were a pure wolf he would smell us and avoid us, if he were a shifter he would know we were around, should be naturally cautious of a pack like ours but he wasn't. He was dangerous because either way he did not seem to care and leaving his scent in the way he had seemed to state that he was almost marking his territory. My hackles rose instinctively. This was my pack and my land.

"Leah I want you to go back and stay with Nessie, she's still pretty confused about who she is-" I told her as I drew nearer, the males scent growing stronger still.

"Well kissing her within an inch of her life isn't gonna help…oh and thanks for the memories… never knew you had it in you" she smirked and I could hear her patronizing tone.

"Shut up Leah, just go and keep her safe…keep your comments to yourself, I'll be home as soon as I've established if there is any threat here"

"Is that wise Jake? It could be a trap...could be those bloodsuckers"

" There's no way this is down to them…we both smell wolf Leah not bloodsucker…Trap or not I need to know what's going on…besides he's a wolf not a leech, I can handle this shit… it'll be fine…go home Leah" my alpha commanded when she still had not moved.

Seconds later I saw a gray blur rush past me with a snarl and I knew she didn't agree with my decision but I was alpha. I needed to know what danger there was. I could handle this alone. I had to. I could not risk my pack until I was sure what I was dealing with.

Lowering my body closer to the floor, I flew through the forest, hurtling through the trees when a loud cry brought me to a stop. A warning howl but it was not from my pack. I stopped running as a massive wolf with rich brown fur and intelligent green eyes appeared before me. He was huge, bigger than Sam and myself and was obviously a shifter. I felt a moments concern.

"Who are you?" I snarled into his mind, unsurprised when there was no reply. I was unable to hear his thoughts, so not part of my pack then. He was not from these parts, I couldn't even be sure he was a shifter, only his size giving him away.

The wolf lowered into offensive position, snarling, bearing its bloodied fangs at me, as I responded in kind. Hostility rolled off it in waves, forcing my own primitive instincts to the surface.

I didn't stop to wonder where this wolf was from and why it was here as it launched itself at me. Teeth and claws bared I threw myself at it, swiping at it's fur, trying to get my teeth around it's throat. Rolling across the ground I ended up on my back, scrambling to my feet as I felt claws slash against my skin, the scent of my blood filling the air.

Dammit. This wasn't as easy as I had expected. This was a fight for dominance. Because that's what it would come down to, this was a challenge, a fight to see who would come out of this as alpha.

Time and time again he came at me, trying to take me down, ripping into my fur, his teeth tearing at my skin until I was weakened and in agony. Blood poured from my wounds but I refused to back down, I was alpha here and for whatever reason this wolf wanted my position I wasn't about to give up.

Lunging for him with a snarl I felt my fangs connect, inches away from his throat, the taste of his blood filling my mouth. It tasted strange, acidic, burning my mouth and throat, not like the blood of other shifters or animals I had tasted. Something was wrong here, it was too strong, I was struggling, weakened, loosing too much blood. My vision was blurring, my limbs trembling and I was struggling.

"Jake! We're coming, just hold on" it was Embry and Quil, I could sense them close by and huffed out a breath of relief as I prepared to fly at the rogue again.

Before I could it shifted it's weight; it's massive head pulled back, sniffing the air as it growled, backing slowly away from me. It must have caught the scent of Quil and Embry on the air and as it turned to run I felt the fight slip from my body, weak from blood loss. I stumbled a little, my paws feeling as unsteady as the rest of me. Quil and Embry approached whining softly nudging me with their damp noses.

"Leah told us what you found, why didn't you come for us" Quil growled as he nosed around me, taking in the scent of the other wolf and of my blood.

"I thought I could handle it…but there's something not right about that wolf…it wasn't pure shifter"

"No shit Sherlock, look at the state of you…we better get you home and cleaned up" Embry nudged me as he whined, worried.

I rose to my feet and managed to take up a run, though every muscle in my body screamed in protest. As we darted though the forest I searched for the scent of the rogue but he had gone, lost to me….for now.