Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Stand-Off

The call came just after Jacob dropped Bella home. He left his car in her driveway and took off running in the shortest line toward the forest. He ripped his way through the briars, feeling the little tears as the thorns cut into his skin. He ignored them. They would be healed within minutes anyway.

Something about that call sounded urgent, which made him lengthen his strides to get there quicker. As soon as he entered the true forest, with quick practiced moves, he kicked off his shorts and tugged his t-shirt over his head. Rolling them up, he tied them to the leather cord around his ankle. As he was still pulling the ends tight, he started shifting. The fire trembled down his spine, throwing spasms throughout his arms and legs. It only took a second. The heat flooded through him, and he felt the silent shimmer that made him something else.

Phasing was easy when he was centered like this. He threw his heavy paws against the matted earth and stretched his back in one long rolling motion. All at once his head was assaulted by a myriad of different voices. He winced, trying to sift through the chaos.

"I can't believe she would do this."

"She's so self-absorbed."

"What does she think she's going to achieve."

"That's women for you."

"Can it, guys." Sam ordered.

Instantly the voices died down much to Jacob's relief. His head cleared and he was able to think. "What's happening?" He asked.

Sam didn't answer him right away. Instead, he asked where Quil and Jared were. Jacob told him that Quil had Claire and was still at the beach when he and Bella had left. Embry piped up and said that he saw Jared with Kim, and everybody could guess what they were up to now.

This comment was greeted with raucous laughter by the others. Sam barked at them to shut up again and show some respect for Jared's imprint.

There was a low grumble through the pack. Jacob stayed out of it. He guessed that when Jared finally did show up, his head would be full of Kim. After the revealing talk he had just had with Bella, he really wasn't in the mood to have his pack brother's imprint shoved in his head.

Sam sat on his haunches and let another howl rip into the air. It was a signal and an order rolled all into one.

The pack was gathered a few miles east of where Jacob was. He loped through the thick forest toward them. He could sense Embry and Paul all working their way towards them, too. Leah was the only other one who seemed to be missing, apart from the two already mentioned.

"'Sup, boss?" Paul wanted to know.

Jacob emitted a low growl when he heard Paul's voice in his head.

"We need to talk. Somethings happened."

"We gathered that." Jacob thought back at him. "Tell us what it is."

Jacob felt Sam's thoughts flicker to his-not just Sam's, but Seth's, as well as the two newbie's-Collin and Brady. With the Cullens still in the area, the pack was still increasing all the time, the newer wolves getting younger and younger. Collin and Brady were only fourteen. Sam had been coaching them-in fact they had been running patrol with the Alpha wolf, so they knew whatever he knew.

"Seth, tell them what you know." Sam told him.

Jacob sped up, wanting to be there. Foreboding was building inside him the closer he got to the others. It had something to do with the Cullens, he felt sure of it.

"Yes." Seth answered him directly, after picking up on the thoughts travelling through his head.

Sam growled when the others started chattering all at once. "Quiet!" He commanded. "Seth?"

"Lee Lee…" Seth whined in embarrassment as his pet name for his sister slipped out, much to the amusement of the other wolves. Being the youngest wolf up until now, he usually bore the brunt of most of the teasing-although, Collin and Brady were getting their fair share now. "Um…I mean Leah and I were out patrolling near Forks, when we caught sight of Edward Cullen skulking around. So, while I went back to find Sam, Leah followed him, but he caught wind of her, and fled back the way he came."

Jacob felt a jolt of anger go through him and he growled.

"Stay focused." Sam warned him.

"I am focused." Jacob snapped, forcing himself to breathe, though his lungs felt kind of stiff suddenly.

So, the creep was still stalking Bella. He must have been heading to her house when Leah and Seth caught him. There was no other explanation as to why he would be in the area.

"Where is Leah now?" He demanded.

Seth became edgy. "Well, this is where it gets confusing. Leah was royally pissed when she found Edward Cullen hanging around. She assumed he had been stalking Bella-and she hates that kind of thing-when he found out we were following him, he ran off, so she chased him."

"And?"

"And then I don't know." Seth's anxiety was almost through the roof. "She must have phased back or something. But I can't find her, Jacob. I'm worried that she's gone after him in her human form. Why would she do that? Its dangerous."

The mental silence when Seth finished was profound. They all understood the implications of what this meant.

Jacob finally entered the clearing at nearly the same time as Paul. He dropped on his haunches across from Sam, while Jacob trotted over to stand at Sam's side. He wondered why he was the only one on his feet. His hackles were raised, he was bristling with impatience.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" He asked.

No one said anything, but he heard their feelings of hesitation.

"Oh, come on! The treaty's broken."

"We have no proof of what happened."

"OH, PLEASE!"

"Okay, so the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong. Still…Jacob."

For once Sam seemed at a loss what to do. Everyone could sense his edginess, the rash part of him wanting to go in all guns blazing and rescue Leah. But the she-wolf was no damsel in distress. It could simply be that she had phased back and was off somewhere on her own, wanting to be alone. He doubted that Edward Cullen would hurt Leah-he wasn't that stupid-although hanging around near the Swan's could be considered idiotic. Now she was with Jacob, Bella's house and the surrounding area had been added to the wolves' territory. For any of the Cullens to step one toe near the place meant they were breaching the treaty.

"Why are you hesitating?" Jacob demanded.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do? I think Leah is fine. I know that she wouldn't appreciate us turning up out of the blue on a rescue mission, she would think that we thought she couldn't handle herself. And Bella? Is this what she would want? We need to think things through very carefully."

"He broke the treaty, Sam!"

"Seth told us he wasn't actually near Bella's house when they came across him. We have to be cautious."

"Sam," Seth thought frantically. "He was on a direct path there. And Lee Lee…Leah I mean…she would never keep me in the dark. She knows I would worry."

"And as for Bella-she doesn't give a shit about the Cullens anymore. Stop making excuses, Sam. You're just worried about Leah's reaction if you go after her. That's what this is all about, isn't it? You're worried she might read too much into it?"

The black wolf's eyes looked haunted as he met the russet wolf's piercing stare.

Jacob knew then that he was right on the money. "I'd rather risk Leah's wrath then risk something happening to her." He said curtly.

Sam couldn't stop himself from wincing. He knew Jacob was right.

"Come on, Sam. She can't hold a grudge forever."

"Leah could." Paul muttered.

"Shut up, Lahote." Jacob warned. Instinct took over and he crouched forward, snarling at the dark silver wolf across from him. He had been spoiling for a fight with Paul for ages.

"Jacob!" Sam commanded. "Now is not the time for fighting amongst ourselves."

"I can take him!"

"Shut up, Paul." The whole pack chorused. They had heard this pointless boast from him countless time. Jacob always ended up besting him in the end.

"Dang, what did I miss?" Quil's thoughts suddenly broke through. He was running for the gathering place full-pelt.

"We're getting ready to go to the Cullens place." Jacob told him. "Why don't you swing by Kim's and drag Jared out with your teeth? We're going to need everyone."

"Since when did you become Alpha, Jake?" Quil laughed.

Sam wasn't pleased upon hearing Quil's light hearted quip. "Come straight here, Quil. We've decided nothing yet." He countermanded Jacob's order.

Jacob growled.

Sam growled right back.

For the first time in the pack's history, there was dissension. Jacob and Sam remained in a standoff, and none of the others had any idea of which way it would go.

Bella was just getting dinner started, when a knock on the door interrupted her. She muttered an oath under her breath, as she quickly wiped her hands with a paper napkin, and went to answer it. The last person she expected to see when she flung the door open was Leah Clearwater.

The she-wolf looked angry. Her brows were drawn down. Her lovely face twisted into a fierce scowl.

"Um…hi?" Bella greeted her hesitantly.

Leah just glared at Bella, pushing he way rudely inside.

"Hey!" Bella said, quickly losing her temper. "I didn't invite you in."

"Save it, Swan." Lean snapped. "You've got a bigger problem than me being a bitch. You need to come with me."

"Where?"

"You'll see." Leah said cryptically, grabbing Bella forcefully by the arm and dragging her back outside.

A/N-thanks for reading!