Bella

The snow storm lasts a few days and does nothing but give me time to ruminate in all the strangeness that has happened since returning to Forks. There's been no hint of my stalker. No mysterious presents left or lingering shadows out on the treeline in the meantime.

In fact, other than Charlie calling once to make sure I still had power, it's been overwhelmingly uneventful. I've caught myself more than once staring out the windows, hoping to see my stranger standing out there watching me.

Now that the roads are clear again, Jacob promised me he'd be by today and help me start some of the rennovations. I don't know the first thing about fixing up old houses. I'm starting to wonder if it was a good idea to let Charlie make this deal for me to live in this house. The pile of new grey floorboards stares at me menacingly from the corner each time I'm in the living room.

Jacob's truck pulls up just in time, before I can spiral into a pity party over all the work that needs to be done. Poor Bella, living in this giant manor for free, is going to have to pick up a hammer. At least I can still laugh at myself.

"Bella," Jacob shouts entering the house. His arms loaded up with bags and beer. "How's my best girl?"

"Jake, I'm right here. You don't have to yell," I groan, running up to help him unload at least half a convenience store's worth of snacks.

"I just like the way my voice echos through this old place. Sounds kind of like I'm howling." He laughs and then mimics a wolf howl. The noise makes a tingle of unease shoot down my spine. Jacob seems to notice because he laughs nervously and pulls me in for a hug and gently rubs my back. "Alright then, let's get to it."

We spend hours laying out all the new flooring and connecting it into place, like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I pull out a case of beer from the fridge and heat several frozen pizzas. Jacob eats two on his own, leaving my mouth hanging open in shock as he finishes off the second.

"It takes a lot of food to keep up with my metabolism and look this good," he shrugs with a mischievous smile.

"Right," I laugh rolling my eyes and throwing the cap off my freshly opened beer at him.

A sudden howl from the trees right outside the house puts me on edge. I stiffen and strain my ears to hear anything else that might be right outside my door.

"Oh don't worry about that, Bella. The wolves around here keep to themselves, you should actually feel safer knowing they're around and chasing anything else away."

"Chasing anything else away?" I question, raising one eyebrow. His phrasing seems strange, as if I have a pack of wolves outside my home just to protect me.

"Oh you know, like bears and stuff. Anyways, I should get going. I promised, Sam, you remember him right? I promised him we'd get together tonight. Boy's night," he rushes out, awkwardly, running his hand through his silky black hair.

"Sure," I say, nodding. "Thanks so much, Jacob. Really. I couldn't do this whole home renovation thing without you."

I wrap my arms around him and can't help but notice how warm and comforting his embrace is. He's his own sun and I don't mind soaking up all the warmth before I'm alone again in this drafty house.

He heads for the door, but stops as he opens it to turn to me. "Bella, tomorrow there's something I want to tell you."

Unease settles in my stomach. I hate when people tell you that there's something they want to say, but then make you wait for it. Just tell me now and get it over with. I know my anxiety will eat at me until he tells me, even if it's something completely mundane.

"Okay," I say, drawing out the 'o' sound. "Why not just tell me now?" Please. Just. Tell. Me. Now.

"I've got to go now, but I promise we'll talk tomorrow." And then he's out the door and gone. I'm stuck left wondering and listening to wolves howling.

I head to the window to watch Jacob head down the driveway, slowly making his way back to civilization. That's when I see him, out of the corner of my eye. He's there, standing just in front of the trees, illuminated only by the moon and stars. My shadow. My stalker. And now he knows I'm alone again.