His joviality dropped instantly from his voice. He was stern and straight to the point. "What's wrong?"

"Well, I can't be sure. Maybe it was nothing. Probably was. I am sorry. Maybe I am just a bother."

His sigh had me pausing my rambling better than any words could have. "Isabella, please. Just tell me what has you so flustered. I will not be bothered by it."

"Okay, Sor- "

"No. Stop apologizing. It is not necessary."

"Right, umm, right. When leaving your place, I thought I saw some red in the trees. It is probably nothing."

I could hear rushing and the wind rustling past the phone piece. It took me a moment before I realized it was him running while on the phone.

"Where? How far from the house? How long ago?" His questions came rapid fire.

"Umm, about halfway back to town, on the east side of the road. Maybe 10 minutes, perhaps 20?"

The rustling stopped and then he swore. "Pardon my language. She is close. Where are you now?"

My body started trembling. "Bathroom, at the pharmacy in town. Charlie is next door at the diner."

"Damn it! I can't get to you fast enough. Get into a crowd, don't be alone anywhere. Stay in the sun. Go now! I'm calling in some help. If you can get home, do it. The wolves should keep her at bay."

I hung up and rushed from the bathroom, eyeing everyone in the store. I stopped long enough buy stuff so my dad would believe my lie and then rushed back next door. I was eying every shadow and trying not to bring attention to myself. Once I was inside, I quickly strode up to my dad who was talking with some of his friends at the counter.

"Hey Dad, ready to go?"

He turned and nodded before saying his goodbyes. We went outside and I paused in my stride, shaking. There, straight across between two stores stood Victoria. She was glaring at me. I gulped.

"Hey kiddo, something wrong?"

I turned to look at dad. "No, sorry. Just thought I saw an animal across the street." I looked back over, and as suspected, she was no where in that spot anymore. She only wanted me to know that she was there, that she was out to get me. So I could panic. So I could feel the fear of her on my tail.

I opened the truck door to get in when Dad spoke. "Hmm, large animal? I need to check it out. Can you take me to the police station, drop me off so I can get my back up gun and another cop to join me. If the beasts that have been killing in the woods are coming into town, we need to deal with it before anyone else is hurt."

All I could do was nod. I had used the wrong excuse, and now my own father was going to be out searching for Victoria. I didn't want to lose him but didn't know what to say to change his mind. We drove the short distance to the station.

I went to follow him and get out, but he stopped me. "No, Bells. You should head back to the house. If it is a bear or large wolf in town, it isn't safe. You can't help me here and you will have no fun waiting around at the station either. Go home. I will call and check in after a while once I get a feel for the situation."

I buckled my seatbelt. "Careful. And dad?" He paused and looked back at me. "I love you! Always know that."

He coughed before replying, "I love you too, kiddo."

With that, he turned and went inside. I pulled out and started to head home. It was the first time since I met the Cullen's that I was wishing our house didn't back onto the woods. What was I going to do? Yes, the Cullen's wouldn't come to my home because of the pack, but what about other vampires. Would they really stay away? I highly doubted it.

At a stop sign, I paused, and the passenger door opened. I screamed!

"Hey, easy now. I'm a friend." The man looked straight at me, his red eyes holding my gaze.

My lower lip trembled as I whispered out, "Please don't kill me."

The smile that quirked up the left side of his face was the only response before his cell phone rang. He faced the road and waved with his hand for me to drive on as he answered.

"Major, got yourself into some trouble, eh?"

"Don't worry. Already on it. With her right now. Though, not too sure she likes who you want as her bodyguard currently."

"You know why. I just know shit."

The one-sided conversation was pulling my nerves raw, but I carefully drove forward, continuing to my house, not knowing what else to do.

"Alright, Major. You are probably right." He pulled the phone away from his ear and hit a button. "Okay. You are on speaker. Calm her if you can from this distance."

"Bella? Are you okay?"

I gasped and swerved, shocked to hear Jasper on the other side of the phone. The strange vampire reached across and held the wheel, correcting the vehicle just as quickly. My heart leapt into my throat; his hand so close to me.

"Bella, speak to me. Are you alright?"

"I – I am not sure." Even to my ears, my voice sounded weak and strained.

"Shh. Easy now, Isabella. You have a good one with you in the vehicle. Peter will not hurt you."

"But his eyes. They are red. Am I not his choice of meal?"

A soft chuckle echoed both through the phone and from the seat next to me. "Isabella, calm. Peter can't hurt you because then he would have to deal with me. And he knows he can't win against me."

The hand that had been on the wheel rested gently on top of one of my hands. It was cold and hard, but also ragged, like Jasper's. I spared a glance towards him, but he was no longer looking at me. His nose was scrunched, as if he was dealing with a repugnant smell. Facing back out the front window, I realized it must have been the smell of the pack as we were on my street.

I laughed and my whole body relaxed. "Okay, Jasper. You say I can trust him, then I do. I'm almost home. Problem is - the pack. Is he covered under the Treaty?"