Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, I just enjoy borrowing her characters for a while.

AN: Thank you to everyone who is still reading and especially to those reviewing. I'm very grateful and I genuinely love to hear your thoughts. I've written and rewritten this chapter a few times, it was a tough one for me and I've struggled to balance it. I'm not sure how it comes across. Still no beta so thank you in advance for overlooking any mistakes. Hope you like it.

Sets

Charlie was waiting for us when we arrived at the house Bella had lived in as a human. I wondered whether there might still be a trace of Bella's human scent there but as we entered the house it just absolutely stunk of wolf. Two of Sam's wolves were lounging in the living room like they owned the place. It was obvious that even if Charlie hadn't been here for a while before today, some of the pack members had been regular visitors.

"I've spoken to the neighbours and told them you'll be visiting so they won't be too surprised to see you. They're already used to Sam, Jake and the boys coming and going. For some reason, the redhead was drawn here even after I moved out. Actually," Charlie looked suddenly concerned, "I wonder if you staying here is the best idea. She will probably try and get back here at some point. I need to know you're safe, Bella."

"You don't need to worry," I told him. "This could work out to our advantage. The sooner we can confront her the better. We need this to be over as soon as possible and it won't be until she's dead. She's no match for Bella and I together and I don't intend to leave Bella's side."

One of the wolves let out a derisive laugh.

"Collin…" Charlie said warningly.

"No Charlie," Collin interrupted. "It talks like it's so easy. If we could get our claws on the redhead, it'd already be dead. It never comes to the house when we're actually here. No matter how we sneak in, set traps, lie in wait…it always knows."

"No harm in us trying though, is there?" I asked him, ignoring his simmering hatred, "If Victoria dies, it doesn't matter how. You or us…I don't care as long as she's dead."

"As long as it's dead," Collin echoed. "Brady needs to be able to rest in peace. Knowing his sacrifice was worth it. Knowing his family is safe."

Charlie winced at the sound of Brady's name. His face a mask of grief and regret. "If I'd of known what was happening, I'd if been more careful. I would never have left myself exposed like that. I'm more careful now."

"It's not your fault," Bella, Collin and I all said at the same time. Collin scowled at me, clearly not likely that we were in agreement again.

There was a long, awkward silence and Charlie cleared his throat.

"The boys seem to think you'd prefer it if I continue to stay on the reservation, but it doesn't feel quite right not to be here with you," Charlie said the last part in a way that was almost a question.

"Whatever you want to do," I reassured him. "If you want to live back here again, we can protect you from Victoria but it will definitely affect Bella living in close proximity."

"I'd never hurt him!" Bella cried indignantly.

"I know Bella, but it will hurt you and it will be another consideration if Victoria does come here, a distraction which could make things a little difficult." I didn't think the argument that I intended to spend every spare second showing Bella exactly how much I needed her and I really didn't want to worry about what her father would see or hear would go over particularly well with either of them.

"What do you want to do, Dad?" Bella asked gently.

"Well, I'm pretty settled at Sue's," Charlie hesitated thoughtfully. "I like being there, all my stuff is there. I'm happy to stay there but I missed you so much, Bella."

"It's still your house even if you're not living here. You can come and see us as often as you like," Bella said. "Obviously we won't be visiting you, but don't take that personally, we'd just rather not go to war with the wolves."

"No, we really don't want that," Charlie agreed, "Well you know where everything is, Bella. Help yourself to whatever you want. I don't suppose it matters that there's no food in the house."

"No, Dad. Food is not an issue," Bella said with a sad smile.

"Okay, well I need to try and get a little sleep before my early shift tomorrow so we'll head out now but I'll be back soon," Charlie told Bella, pulling her into a tight hug and holding on almost desperately. "Look after my baby girl, Garrett," he growled at me as he turned to leave.

"Of course," I reassured him although I thought we might have different ideas about exactly how I'd be accomplishing that.

"And remember to be a gentleman," actually it seemed like Charlie was onto me. "I may not be able to do much to you if you don't treat her right but I know a few people who can and they won't hesitate to act if they ask them." Sam's guard wolves were suddenly at his back, looming menacingly, literally backing him up.

"She's safe with me," I told them. "In every way." It was the truth.

Charlie grumbled under his breath and left, Collin and Sam's other wolf trailing after him.

As soon as they were gone, Bella's face twisted in disgust. "Oh god! The smell…it's so bad. How can we stay here?"

I laughed out loud and started opening windows. Bella pulled out every cleaning product in the house and started scrubbing everything made of fabric that wouldn't go in the washer while I took down curtains.

It wasn't just about how awful it smelled. The scent of wolf was so intrusive that I worried it could mask Victoria's approach. Thankfully upstairs wasn't as badly affected, although Bella and I cleaned it all just as thoroughly. By the time we'd finished, it was bearable and I couldn't resist Bella any longer. I'd rehung the curtains still wet so that we had privacy. I didn't want any wolf, vampire or human to intrude and if anyone got close enough to the house to be a threat, I would know. My need for Bella was all consuming and she matched my desperation. It was dusk the following day been before we allowed some reality to edge back in. We were meeting the packs again soon and we still had so much looming over us.

I watched as Bella turned on her computer. It was completely new to me. I'd never used one.

"I can't believe this," she said as she read her emails. "It's not just Renee. There are emails to Jessica and Angela too. Why would they do this? It can only have been Alice. Who else could get into by emails and know me well enough to mimic me so closely? Look when they started. Straight after Victoria changed me. Victoria was right…they knew what was happening and they did nothing to help me," My fury at the Cullens flared again at the heartbroken waiver in Bella's voice. "But why get involved after I changed? They had ignored me for months. Why start communicating with my friends and family but not come and find me? I was so lost and alone and they just left me like that…" Bella trailed off and I knew we were both thinking of what she had been like when I found her. I lifted her off the chair and sat down myself, pulling her back into my lap, stroking her hair and murmuring reassurances that were both for Bella and for myself.

"I think Alice must have seen that Charlie was going to go to the FBI or something," she said eventually. "He would never have stopped searching for me if I disappeared with no word. Maybe they saw the FBI investigating Edward as my ex-boyfriend. Maybe she saw it causing them problems."

Bella was so distressed and dejected that I couldn't help trying to make her feel better, despite my anger at the Cullens and my strong belief that almost everything they had done from they met Bella was unforgivable. "It could be something less sinister. Maybe she just wanted to give you the option to stay in touch with your family?"

"Even if that's true, it's beyond creepy. Such an invasion of my privacy," Bella shuddered. Sitting together with her still cradled in my lap, we read through all the emails that had been sent. We needed to know exactly what had been said to who so that we didn't contradict anything. Bella was most upset by the pictures of her in locations she had never been.

"How did they even do this?" she wondered irately. "I'm going to set up a new email address and then email Renee, Jessica and Angela from it. I'll change the password of this one and shut it down. Hopefully that will stop Alice impersonating me. I'll let Jessica and Angela know I might be around. They'll hear about it anyway. I won't let Renee know or she'll come here and that's all we need," she paused thoughtfully. "I should tell them about my new boyfriend," she slowly turned in my lap and her gaze met mine. All traces of anger ebbed away as her eyes began to heat. "How exactly should I describe him?" she asked, eying me up and down playfully.

xWx

We met up with the wolves every night. Bella and I trained as we always had. To start with they would only watch, but it wasn't long before they couldn't resist joining in. We had to battle our instincts hard not to turn on each other but it got easier with practice. Once we eventually learned to trust each other to an extent, it was actually a lot of fun and I enjoyed the challenge they presented. I'd never had such a test to my fighting skills before and sparring with them was challenging enough that it constantly tested and honed my battle skills. Bella's too. Her dedication to becoming as an effective fighter as possible had turned her into quite the fearsome warrior and I was grateful to this alliance with the wolves that it was making her even more difficult to kill. I would take any protection for her that I could.

After much disagreeing about the best way to communicate with each other, Bella and I went out and bought a system of pagers. The wolves were obviously not keen to carry anything with them but I didn't like relying on howling to communicate. It was vague and difficult for us to interpret and it wouldn't help me in trying to persuade any nomads I was trying to divert that Victoria was crazy and had fabricated the stories about giant wolves killing vampires.

We finally agreed that the pagers would be left with the wolves guarding the houses at La Push. There was always at least two of them in wolf form patrolling there in case their first line of defence was breeched. I'd discovered they'd instigated that after Victoria had got through, attacked Charlie and killed Brady, while we discussed strategy.

If the wolves caught sight of vampires they would communicate it via the pack mind with the guards in town, one of whom would shift and activate the pagers. Bella and I would need to respond quickly though because if the vampires got anywhere near the boundary line, the pack wouldn't wait for us before destroying them.

The first time our system actually worked, I initially felt relief that we'd intercepted the approaching vampire in time. It was Oliver. Someone I knew and liked. He was not in any particular hurry and seemed fairly nonchalant so I wondered if Victoria had actually sent him. Maybe he was randomly passing through.

"Olly!" I called out, rushing to stop him getting any closer to the reservation.

"Garrett!" He smiled when he saw me, closing the distance between us and pulling me into a friendly hug. "Your eyes?! What on earth has possessed you?" He asked humorously as he clapped me on the back and drew away.

"It's a long story," I said with a laugh.

"I look forward to hearing it…Well, hello beautiful," he said as he spotted Bella over my shoulder. I instantly retreated to Bella's side, growling low. I wasn't ready for the possessiveness that was clawing at me and Olly raised his eyebrows at my reaction and cocked his head speculatively. I did my best to get myself under control. It was the first time we'd come across another vampire together before and I was startled at how possessive and protective I felt, especially as I'd known Olly for almost two centuries and considered him a friend. Although that also meant I knew Oliver well enough to know that he'd successfully seduced almost every female vampire he'd ever met.

"Bella, this is my friend, Oliver. Olly, this is my mate, Bella," I introduced them formally.

"Your mate?" Olly was surprised.

"That's right." I told him.

"Congratulations," Olly said. "She's absolutely stunning." I could detect a flicker of lust in his eyes as he regarded Bella admiringly and it was all I could do to not rip his head off and gouge them out. I restrained myself to growling threateningly again and Olly's reaction was to laugh disbelievingly at me.

"I never thought I'd see you react like this to a female, Garrett. You were always a gentleman with your previous companions, but easy going and not at all possessive."

Bella tensed under my touch at the mention of my previous relationships and my desire to kill Oliver deepened. Hurting her, even inadvertently, was unacceptable to me. Oliver watched me pull Bella closer to me, inhaling her scent to try and find some calm and balance. As my hand stroked along her hip and I saw jealousy flash across his face.

"And I don't suppose you'll be willing to share her like you did the others either?" he said with an air of hope, blatantly disappointed at my immediate and furious denial. In my mind, I was already killing him for even imagining being with her but Bella tightened her grip on me and tilted her head, kissing gently under my jaw. It anchored me to her and I wondered if she truly understood the power she had over me.

"It's nice to meet you Oliver," Bella said quietly while keeping her full focus on me, "but please don't continue to antagonise Garrett if you ever want us all to be friends."

"My lady," said Oliver bowing gracefully, every inch the English gentleman he once was. I knew that was part of his almost seduction technique and my fury flared again. "It is not my intention to upset Garrett in any way. I'm genuinely happy for him. It gives me hope that one day I might find someone to share this life with. I can't help teasing him a little though."

"You're playing a dangerous game," Bella told him.

"Don't worry, Bella. Garrett wouldn't actually do me any harm," he said confidently.

I glared at him. If he survived tonight and found his mate one day, then maybe he would realise how untrue his last statement was and how close he was to me attempting to end him permanently.

"Maybe next time we meet things might be different," Bella said, still nibbling at my jaw and somehow instinctively holding me in place, stopping me attacking my old friend. "At the moment things are very new and unfortunately we are under threat. You can understand why it might make Garrett less receptive to your teasing than he usually is."

"Threats? To you?" He was instantly outraged and more alert. "If you need help, my friend, you only have to ask."

Here was my friend. The one who would help me protect Bella and not try and take her from me. I took a deep breath of Bella's scent and was able to marginally relax and refocus on my purpose.

"Victoria has a vendetta against Bella," I told him. "She is causing problems."

"Victoria?" Realisation dawned across his face. She had been the one to send him here I realised. "Why?" he asked.

"Bella's previous coven were responsible for James' demise," I explained.

"She told me a pack of giant wolves was responsible?"

"That's not true," Bella said. "I was there when James was killed. He was warned to leave us alone and when he wouldn't, he died for it. We didn't realise who Victoria was to him. Since I parted ways with that coven, she has been coming after me."

"Why isn't she attaching directly?" Oliver asked.

"We believe she had an extrasensory gift. Essentially self-preservation. A sense about when any course of action may adversely affect her," I explained.

"Of course," Oliver said thoughtfully. "If that's the case she would never attack Bella with you protecting her. Her gift lets her sense you would kill her easily."

"Instead she continually sends other vampires at us. She must be hoping one of them will kill me so she can get to Bella," I said, letting him see my frustration.

"Why make up stories about giant wolves though?"

"I can't even begin to guess what she's thinking. She is very unstable. Crazed with rage and grief. More than once she has created groups of newborns, raised to attack us. I think she's building up to armies. We've tried hunting her but I think her gift protects her and she always manages to evade us."

"I'll stay to help you," Oliver offered.

"Thank you, Olly, but it's unnecessary. I've been training Bella to fight, she is already a force to be reckoned with. We can easily handle whatever she sends." Oliver's gaze glided appreciatively over Bella again, lingering where it shouldn't and I narrowed my eyes and hissed "and I'm not ready to be around others, especially those that covet her. She is mine!"

Oliver shook his head with a rueful smile, "Don't worry. I can tell."

"Maybe you can spread the word for us instead Oliver?" Bella asked. "That Victoria can't be trusted. That she's making up lies and manipulating others to do her bidding."

"That I can do for you both," Oliver said. "I will keep my eyes open for Alistair too. Maybe he would agree to help you track her. It's unlikely but I can still ask him."

"Thank you," I said, trying and failing to keep the residual irritation out of my voice.

"I hope that one day you will allow me to get to know Bella better," I tensed and held Bella tighter. "I can see that you're not ready for that yet though. I wish you both well."

I glared after him as he left, spinning Bella to me and brutally capturing her mouth in mine. She responded instantly to my need, matching my desperation. I broke apart from her panting, tracing her face with my fingers. Forcing myself to be gentle. "I'm sorry," I told her.

"Don't apologise to me, Garrett, especially for that. I am yours just as you are mine."

Jake, Embry and Quil chose that moment to materialise out of the trees, glaring after Oliver. All were their human selves, Embry and Quil recently feeling comfortable enough to be predominantly out of their wolf forms around us.

"I hate letting him go," Jake told us gruffly. "Knowing he'll be hunting people and we could have stopped him. Are you sure it's the right thing to do Garr…" He trailed off at whatever he saw on my face. "Wow, you look like you want to kill me more than I do."

"He wanted Bella," I ground out. For a moment Jake looked confused but then his face split into a smile. "Oh, I see."

"It is the right thing to let him go," I knew didn't sound at all convincing and Jacob laughed at me.

"I think you could be persuaded otherwise fairly easily," he said.

"He's very well placed to do what we need him to do. He's well liked amongst the nomads and friendly with many covens as well. I trust him to spread the word that Victoria is crazed with grief, out to get Bella and me and making up outrageous lies to manipulate others into causing us problems. It could help us immensely. Hopefully it might make anyone think twice and ignore her efforts to send them here. If the Volturi hear Oliver's rumours first, hopefully they will dismiss and ignore anything they see Victoria has said about the pack."

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself to let him live?" Jake continued to needle me and it was too easy for him. I was upset with myself that I didn't have better control of my jealousy.

"Leave him alone," Embry said finally, ironically taking pity on me despite the fact that I was a vampire and his mortal enemy. "You're one to talk, Jake. You were even worse around Leanne when you first imprinted. Remember that time that Paul…"

"You made your point," Jacob cut him off with a growl.

AN: I'd really love to hear what you think.