A/N:Okay, so this is only my second full fanfiction story. It's about Jared and Bella. This is for you wolfgurl23. You were the first to request this story. Hope it lives up to your expectations.

This first couple of chapters or so will be about Jared and what he was like before becoming a wolf, the events leading up to his change, and then afterward but still before meeting Bella. Hang in there, and Bella will come into play. But this story will be most if not all from Jared's POV, so I can't just dive into them meeting. We know Bella's background, but we don't know that much about Jared, so I am giving you my take on him.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Jared, or Sam, or any other Twilight Saga character, they all belong to Stephanie Meyer.

My life was pretty normal growing up. I was an only child and my parents both worked. We lived on a small reservation in Washington. I grew up listening to stories about spirit warriors that protected the tribe. It all sounded pretty cool to me, way more exciting than life in La Push these days. The biggest thing that happened in the last five years was when Sam Uley disappeared. He was normal, getting ready to head to college and marry his high school sweetheart one minute to coming back stalking around the place like he owned it with the Elders' heads stuck up his ass and getting engaged to his sweetheart's cousin. I, like most, found him to be obnoxious and arrogant. I was a more straight-laced kind of guy. I worked hard in school, made good grades, listened to my parents, and followed the rules. I had plans, and staying in La Push wasn't included in them. I wanted to be successful, at what I didn't know, I just wanted to be somebody special, someone to be looked up to. Now, I never had anything against my hometown, but La Push didn't offer a lot of opportunities like I thought I wanted.

Even though I was smart, I was never considered a geek. I was in with the popular crowd. Everyone in the small school knew who I was. I wasn't just popular with the in crowd, but with everyone. That may sound a little conceited but its not. I was just a friendly guy that made a lot of friends. I didn't discriminate against anyone; I could float around the different lunch tables and talk to anyone.

So, being well-liked, as I was, it wasn't hard to find a date for Friday night if I was so inclined. It helped that I was pretty good looking, too. I had recently hit a growth spurt. All my baby fat had melted away and revealed a hard and toned body. Girls really noticed. But, I never really got serious with any one girl, though. Just none of them ever blew me away. I was looking for the complete package. She didn't have to look like a model, but needed to be pretty, have a sense of humor, not materialistic, compassionate, well-read, intelligent, and a sweet laugh. The last requirement may sound silly to most, but I have learned from past dates, that there are some truly heinous laughs out there. And if she's the one, I don't want to listen to some stupid sounding laugh for the rest of my life. And as for intelligent, I needed someone that I could have a real conversation with, not one filled with 'like's' and 'as if's' or 'whatever's'. Again, it goes back to a lifetime of love just can't survive certain character flaws. Oh and the last requirement. She needed to be a great kisser. I am a guy after all.

But enough about my life 'pre-change.' Things got a great deal more interesting after the day of my SAT's. It was going to be the first time I took the test. It was the beginning of my winter break and I had to head into Port Angeles for the test. It was about a two hour drive, and the test started at nine, so I had to leave at like six thirty to make it in time for check-in. I went to bed the night before early, so I could get a good night's sleep. I woke up feeling stiff, like I had slept too long. I looked through half closed and blurry eyes at the clock. 7:00 a.m.

I jumped out of bed screaming. It was too bad I screwed up and changed the alarm clock time to p.m. by accident the night before. I scramble around my room throwing on whatever clothes I grabbed. Luckily I packed my backpack the night before. I threw it over my shoulder and went down the stairs two at a time and ran through the front door to my truck. As I was getting in, I noticed I was shaking, I was so mad at myself. I took a few deep breaths and put the truck in drive. I was flying down La Push Road and turned onto US-101 in record time. I was only a few miles away from hitting the Olympic National Forest when the flashing lights came into view. Great, an accident. I started to get angry again, and the shaking returned. Turned out, a logging truck flipped over due to the rain. Amateur Washington driver, I am sure. It looked like they were clearing off the road. I could take WA-113 to WA-112; it's an extra twenty minutes though. I looked at the clock. 7:45. Shit! I didn't have time for that, the shaking started to get worse. I had to take ten deep breaths to stop it. When I did, I got out of my truck and walked over to an officer who appeared to be solely supervising.

"Excuse me, sir." He turned around and faced me.

"Yes, son, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering how long this would take. I'm trying to make it to the SAT's in Port Angeles and need to know if WA-113 would be my better chance at making them on time."

"I think we can clear a path in about five minutes. Sit tight and I'll get you through real soon."

"Thank you very much, sir."

"Not a problem, kid."

I got back into my truck and waited. The officer was right; I only had to wait for five minutes. Many of the people both in front of me and behind me had made u-turns and left by then though. That was fine by me though. Less people to get in my way, in fact there was only one car left in front of my truck. It didn't take me long to get around them. I was traveling at a good speed soon. 8:30. I could still make it there by nine, I thought. But that was when my truck starting making a choking sound. The engine cut off and I was gliding down the black top road. I turned the wheel so that I stopped on the edge. I was pretty decent under the hood; I could take care of any small thing. Right before I got out, was when I saw it, the blinking, little, yellow light that had just ruined my day. No gas. I have got to be the stupidest person in the world. Why would any college want someone that can't set an alarm clock right or remember that an automobile requires gasoline?

I was so pissed off at myself. I just condemned myself to missing my test. I could be such a screw up sometimes. And it was always the stupidest and smallest things, but they always exploded in my face. I noticed the whole truck was shaking, and then I noticed it was because I was shaking so hard. I was so mad I could see red. I knew logically in the back of my head that there would be other test dates, that I would still get into college and that this was just one of those days that you tried to forget and move on. Problem was I couldn't think rationally, and I couldn't let go. I was just was mad. I wanted to punch something. I got out of the truck and doubled over in pain. My whole body hurt and I felt like I couldn't move. I felt a sharp pain shoot through me and it began to feel as if I was being pulled apart. I could hear a ripping noise. The pain increased then suddenly stopped. I opened my eye and everything looked clearer, more defined. What just happened? I looked down and my eyes bulged out. I was looked at brown paws and worst of all, they were connected to me. I jumped up on all fours and looked all around. I was going in circles trying to see myself better. I'm a dog. What the fuck? Why am I dog?

Actually you're a wolf, if you want to get technical.

Who is that? Oh my god, now I'm hearing voices in my head, too. I seriously think today has got to be the worst day EVER!

Not voices, just one voice.

Because that makes it all better.

What's your name, kid?

I'm not a kid. And it's Jared.

Yes, Jared Mahan. I'm Sam. Sam Uley.

Are you a wolf, too?

Yeah.

Maybe this is why he's so weird.

Thanks.

Sorry. I didn't mean for you to hear that.

Yeah, this is going to take some getting used to.

What do you mean?

Only two of us have phased. I've never had to share my thoughts before now.

Phased?

Changed into a wolf, a shape-shifter, a werewolf. The legends are true. We're the protectors of La Push.

Protectors from what exactly?

Vampires.

Well, that's fucked up. How did we get this job? 'Cause I didn't sign up for it.

It's in our blood. It's passed down from father to son, but not every generation phases.

Okay.

So, where are you?

On the side of US-101.

Why are you on the side of the road, and please tell me you're in the trees so that no one can see you.

I'm in the trees and it's because I ran out of gas. I really didn't want to admit that to anyone, especially to another guy.

Okay, stay where you are. I'll grab my truck and a spare tank of gasoline and come to you. Then, I'll explain more about your new life.

That sounds good to me. I don't think they'll let me take the test like this.

He didn't laugh. I felt a faint ripple in the air. Then I couldn't hear Sam anymore. I figured he went back to being human. I just sat there and waited for him to come and get me.

A/N: So, I thought I would let you know how this story will work. If you have read my other long story, you know my chapters are relatively long (2,500 to 5,000 words each) and I updated once or twice a week. My goal for this story is to write more consistently twice a week and maybe shorter chapters (1,500 to 2,500 words each). I'll be working on the sequel to another story here shortly as well, so this is simply my goal. It could be more or less, only time will tell.

**Reviews are enjoyed, I like to hear what you think of the story, and if you have any suggestions.**