After the silver truck pulled into Billy Black's driveway, Bella could almost feel Sue's gaze on her skin. Bella couldn't move, a firm immovable weight settling on her shoulders. She stared at the house, her heartbeat too loud in her ears. Sue said nothing, and simply sat with her until the porch light flicked on. It was like a jolt of electricity, forcing Bella from the silver truck. Her sneakers crunched over the loose gravel drive, her eyes glued to the grass and dirt. But she heard the squeak of Billy's chair and the slam of the screen door and the rough catch in his throat when he saw her.

Soft padding footfalls and the smell of wolf announced Leah's presence before Bella could raise her eyes. She blinked—once—twice—grateful for Leah's support. Then she looked up.

"Bella."

"Hey, Billy," her voice sounded strained, far away, as if she were speaking through a pane of thick glass. She saw the same tired look her father had worn reflected in Billy's dark eyes. "How are you?"

He frowned a little, then sighed, "Glad to see you."

"Are you?" It was barely a whisper. She tried to smile, "I—"

"He's not here." Billy cut her off. "If that's why you've come."

"I know." She wanted to hang her head, to slink away in shame. But shame and regret wouldn't change anything. "I'm not just here for Jake." She held Billy's hard stare, ignoring the sounds of padded feet as more of the pack stepped from the cover of the trees. "May I come in?"

He considered her for a long silent moment. Then he nodded and turned his chair. She barely registered the wrenching crunch of bones until she felt a warm hand on her lower back. She looked up and blinked hard, but the tears came anyway. It wasn't Leah.

"Sam?" He was the last person she expected to see. Almost. Bella glanced around the clearing, but Leah was nowhere to be seen. "Why are you here?"

"Leeches," he said. He nodded at Sue. His other hand slipped under Bella's elbow, until she was cradled in his warmth. "Let's get you inside."

Bella allowed him to help her up the rickety stairs and into Billy's cramped kitchen, Sue following close behind. Bella sucked in a slow painful breath, the smells and sounds and memories clear and cutting. Jacob was everywhere and nowhere. The old house was nothing but a painful echo. She almost fell into the chair Sam pulled out for her.

"Tea?" Billy offered, holding up a couple of worn mugs.

"Please."

Sam grunted and stepped into the kitchen, his sturdy hands taking over the tea preparation. Billy rolled his chair back to the table and settled himself, studying Bella with a familiar determination. If she let herself, she could see her Jacob in that stern look.

"You look well." He said at last. "Better than you did a year ago."

"I'm alive." His face never changed, but she saw the amusement spark in his eyes. He was pleased she was alive; pleased and proud. Even before Jacob had learned about the Cullens and his own wolf heritage, it had been Billy Black who'd fought for Bella's humanity. "You were right," she reached out across the table, and laid her hand on his. "I owe you one, Billy."

Then he did smile, even if it was a little begrudging, and he took her hand. "If my grandbaby's a boy, name him after me."

She chuckled and squeezed his hand, "Charlie would have a fit."

"Charlie Swan can kiss my ass," Billy's smile softened, and she knew she was forgiven. "Give him the middle name."

"It could be a girl," Sue commented, setting down two steaming mugs of tea.

Sam snorted and Bella stiffened. She'd almost forgotten he was there. The mood in the room slowly shifted, silence descended over them like a weight. Sam waited until Sue settled and gave him a small nod, then he joined them at the table, his dark eyes fixed on Bella. But still he said nothing. Bella crossed her arms, glaring right back.

"Say something, Sam."

"You're being here is a problem."

"I know."

"You were followed by—"

"I know, Sam." Bella interrupted. "Get to the point."

He scowled at her, a low rumble in his throat. The hairs on her arms stood on end, and she had an odd urge to growl back.

"Wherever you go, those bloodsuckers follow," he finally said. "There are two of them at the treaty line."

She stiffened, a protective hand shifting to rest on her stomach. "Are they?"

"They're asking for you, leech lover," Paul Lahote's deep voice came from the back door. He tramped inside, Jared, and two younger boys on his heels.

"Back off, Paul."

"Why? We don't even know if that thing she's carrying is Quileute or something worse—"

A snarling growl interrupted Paul before he could finish. "Fuck you, Lahote," Leah came storming into the kitchen, Seth, Quil, and Embry following. "Get your nose out of your tight ass and take a whiff." Leah glared around the room. "She reeks of Jacob."

"This is his house," Sam added quietly. "She's wearing his clothes."

"She's carrying his pup."

"Without him, all we have is her word."

"You've got some nerve, Uley,"

"Lee,don't," Bella said, her voice low and hard. Leah's mouth snapped shut and the other werewolves looked up, startled. "Paul's right."

"Is he?" Sam asked.

"You don't trust me." She'd felt the edge of an echo in his voice, crawling along her skin. She didn't like it. "I've lied, gone behind your back with your worst enemies, and," she swallowed, looking at Billy, "I've hurt Jake in the worst way, which hurts you all." The room settled into a new kind of silence. "All you have is my word about my baby. I don't blame you for not trusting it. I wouldn't."

"Jacob would," Seth Clearwater said quietly. "He always trusted you. So do I."

"Yeah, look where that got him," Jared said.

"Bella's word is good enough for me too." Embry cut in. "Besides, we all saw what happened. Jacob mated her."

Billy raised his eyebrows at Sue, who nodded. Bella blushed, the mark on her shoulder burning hot, but she still felt a tug of gratitude and affection; for Embry, Quil, Seth, and Leah. Even for the other wolves. They were here for her even after she'd abandoned them all. Her belly tightened under her hands. She knew she didn't deserve their friendship or their loyalty. She wouldn't let them down again. Never again.

"That doesn't explain why the leeches are here now," Paul was still talking. "If she's Jacob's mate then why the hell are they asking for her?"

"I don't know," Bella said. She raised her chin and held Sam's steady glare. "The leeches are my problem and my pack will handle them."

"Your pack?" This came from Billy. His lined face was stern and more serious than she'd ever seen it.

"Your pack my ass," Jared grumbled. "Sam's Alpha."

"Until Jake get's back." Bella hoped her voice sounded more confident than she felt.

"You're not even a wolf," Paul spat. "I don't care if you do smell like one."

"But she is a wolf's mate," Sue said firmly. "An Alpha's mate."

"Does she have proof of this?" Billy asked. His demeanor had changed completely. At this moment he was Billy Black, member of the Quileute Council. Bella's blush deepened but she pulled her shirt collar to one side, exposing the bright pink bite mark Jake had left on her shoulder. Billy took a steady breath. "Why didn't you tell the whole council?"

Sam folded his arms, "Jacob's not full Alpha yet."

Bella didn't understand all the Quileute tribe dynamics at play, but she knew something had shifted. This was a challenge from Sam as Alpha, and Jacob wasn't here to answer it, which left his pack mates without a clear leader.

Jake, where are you?

...Bells?

Bella's eyes widened, the odd whisper of his voice like a memory trickling over her skin. She hugged her arms around her belly. Her muscles tightened, a dull ache building at the base of her spine. If Jacob were here—

"He's not here," Sam said, as if he could read her thoughts. "No Alpha, no pack. You're nothing without him." The same odd compelling echo tinged Sam's voice again as he stared at each member of his old pack.

"He'll come back," Bella said suddenly. She didn't know exactly what to do, but she knew she had to stand in Jacob's place. "He'll come for me."

"Will he?" Paul challenged. "I wouldn't."

Bella blinked as her pack growled low in their throats.

Jake, we need you.

She struggled to her feet and nodded to her pack. They followed her in silence.

"Where are you going?" Billy asked.

"The treaty line," Bella said simply. "If I don't talk to them, they'll linger." Her eyes shot to the two youngest members of Sam's pack. Collin and Brady. So young, too young to be pulled into this fight. She wouldn't let it happen to any more Quileutes. "Ten wolves is too many already."