From the first day he'd shifted, Jacob was determined to keep himself separate from his wolf. Maybe he hoped he could somehow hold back the inevitable, never giving himself fully over to the spirit animal inhabiting his body. He would not become a monster, he would not lose himself. For three years, the man had beat back the wolf and it's animal instincts and urges at every turn. But today, the man no longer cared about being a monster and he let the wolf's instincts surge through him. tear. kill. burn. Every muscle and bone and nerve was focused on the bloodsucker threatening his mate. bella. mine. protect.

"Jake."

It was barely a whisper, but she might as well have shouted. bella. Jacob felt her voice wrap around him and sink into his bones. mine. He slunk forward, his teeth bared, a dark, hair-raising snarl breaking through the unnatural silence. tear. kill. burn. The leech's black eyes widened and his grip tightened on Bella. He tried to take a step backwards, and Embry's teeth missed his ankle by a fraction of an inch.

don't move. Jacob said, his voice echoing with the Alpha timbre.

The rest of his pack had the leech surrounded. There was no way out. The leech glanced around the circle. A half beat passed. A whispered 'forgive me, love.' In a blurred flash, his hand shifted from Bella's waist to her neck.

let her go, Seth whined. please, edward.

The leech turned towards Sam, who still stood at the treaty line. "Call them off, Sam Uley."

never. Jacob snarled, holding the empty, black stare. The leech needed to feed, and it had it's hands on Bella. tear. kill. burn. Jacob stepped forward again, his mind running through every possible scenario of separating her from the bloodsucking bastard. His pack tensed, moving in with him, tightening their circle. you will yield, cold one.

"You can't do this. The treaty—"

"The treaty is the only thing keeping your ass in one piece," a new voice broke in. Charlie Swan stomped through the group of wolves, his shot gun hanging loosely in his hands. "Hey there, Jake," He gave Jacob a wide berth, before pausing next to Seth, and pumping the action on his shot gun. "Get your hands off my daughter, Cullen."

"I assure you, I don't want to hurt her,"

"Fantastic," Charlie interrupted. "So the choke hold is what? A vampire version of undying affection?"

The leech's expression tensed and he glanced pointedly at Jacob. "Surely you understand my current dilemma."

"Should've thought of that before dragging my daughter over the treaty line against her will." Charlie shrugged one shoulder. "You alright, Bell-Bell?"

She gave a small nod and the leech's grip tightened a tiny fraction. Jacob's growl sharpened and his pack tightened their circle again. bella. mine. protect.

"I am sorry, Charlie, but—"

"That's Chief Swan to you, dickwad."

Paul and Jared snorted, pawing the treaty line. chief -1, bloodsucker - 0

quiet. Sam snapped at them.

The leech blinked unnecessarily, watching Jacob carefully. Bella shivered, tugging at the cold hand gripping her throat. A whining snarl erupted from Jacob. protect. mine. bella. He took another step closer, a tearing, rumbling growl building in his chest. you will yield.

"Tell your wolves to return to their side of the treaty line," the leech spoke to Sam again. "Once I feel Isabella is safe from your pack, I'll return her to her father's home."

no. The leech flinched as Jacob continued to inch forward, his booming voice a painful force. The pack followed his lead, shrinking the circle to an arm's length, all five wolves snarling. my pack, cold one.

"You're barking up the wrong tree there." Charlie commented dryly. the leech's black eyes widened, nostrils flaring. "This here's Jacob's pack now, and you've got his, uh...his mate."

"No." The bloodsucker shuddered, his grip faltering. "Isabella gave herself to me first."

"Apparently not," Charlie snorted. "Seeing how that baby back at the cabin looks just like Jacob."

"I hold her heart.

"Sure, sure." Charlie rolled his eyes. "You're a regular Romeo, ain'tcha? Personally I always thought Romeo was a bit of an asshole. Juliet could do so much better."

The leech stared at him blankly. "Chief Swan—"

"Have you decided what you really want, kiddo?" Charlie interrupted again. The leech opened his mouth, as if to answer, but Charlie raised his shot gun in a fluid movement, his face suddenly hard and immovable, seamlessly shifting from father to chief of police. "I wasn't talking you." He stepped closer. "Bell-Bell?"

Bella swallowed, her eyes shifting from the wolves, to her father, then finally settling on Jacob again. bella. mine. protect.His whole body shook with the effort of waiting, his teeth bared and snarling.tear. kill. burn. She raised her hand, fingers brushing Jacob's muzzle. A ripple of warmth washed over him and he shuddered. "Jake."

The leech jerked her back, "Isabella, that thing is—"

"Mine," she said, straining to touch Jacob again, her fingertips barely brushing the short fur. "He's mine." She shifted, trying to look up at the bloodsucker. "And I'm his."

"You were mine first." The leech shook his head. It was a small, cold denial. "You can be again. Mistakes can be forgiven."

"I told you part of me has always been his," Bella said, sharply, almost pleading. "Long before I met you, Edward."

"You've got your answer, Cullen," Charlie said. "Let her go."

Jacob heard a crunching wrench behind him as Sam shifted back into human form, then stepped deliberately over the treaty line and crossed his arms. "You have one option, bloodsucker." He shot a hard glance at his pack, and they all shifted back. "This ends here."

Jacob growled at his former Alpha, but he didn't move. Sam was right. shift. Seth obeyed first, followed immediately by Leah. She crossed her arms over her breasts, ignoring Charlie's muttered protest. One by one, the rest of his pack shifted into human form. Jacob kept his focus on the bloodsucker, softening his threatening snarls to a steady rumble.

"And you." The leech glared at Jacob and curled his lip, not quite a smile, not quite a sneer. "You shift too."

i yield to no one.

"Edward," Bella's voice was hard as she pried his fingers from around her neck and stepped away. But the leech's grip tightened on her hand, refusing to let go. "Edward, please don't." She suddenly sounded tired, so tired Jacob could feel her exhaustion in his own bones. "You know how this ends. You've known for a while. Why did you come back?"

"I hoped Alice was wrong." The bloodsucker dropped his eyes and smiled. It was bitter and wistful. "She never is." He paused. "I can wait, Isabella. I will wait, if you wish."

"No." She pulled her fingers free. "Don't wait for me."

The bloodsucker's eyes widened in surprise at the echo of Bella's voice, his arms falling limply to his sides. She stepped firmly away and Jacob sprang between her and the leech. The bloodsucker sighed and held Jacob's gaze for a long moment. Then he turned and walked towards the road. Jacob followed at a steady but tense pace, every muscle quivering. He threw a quick look over his shoulder, satisfied to see Leah and Seth back in wolf form, keeping close to Bella and Charlie. He locked eyes with Sam. They would have to settle things. And soon. Sam nodded and turned towards the woods, his pack close behind.

"You needn't follow me any further," the bloodsucker had paused, his whole posture twisted in a reluctant acceptance. "I...yield."

there is no longer a treaty between us.

"Will you kill me now?"

not today. Jacob bared his teeth, a low snarl uncoiling from his chest. do not return.

The leech nodded and let himself into his silver car. "Take care of her, dog."

When the fancy vehicle finally disappeared from view, Jacob felt something loosen in his gut; a year's worth of terror, anxiety, worry, and turmoil. He tossed his head, ignoring his trembling legs which threatened to buckle underneath him, and howled long and low and triumphant.

Jake?

bells.