It didn't take long to clean up; the wolves they attacked were just seriously maimed, halfway to dying. As Charlie and the boys dragged the unconscious wolf bodies to the edge of the forest where the other Quiletes would claim them, they hissed at the half-lucid boys a warning.

"I hope this serves as a lesson," Charlie warned, hefting up Jacob's limp form. He whined uneasily. "You don't mess with my daughter, you hear? Or me and the boys will mess with you," Charlie threatened, throwing Jacob's mutilated body heartlessly on the forest floor.

"You can just howl for your little brothers," Dean sneered. "We ain't helping you. Not after that trick you pulled with Bella," he grimaced in remembrance. "You better keep that in mind, mutt," Sam added forcefully. "Or we'll drill in it your brain when we burn your reservation down."

Seth hissed as Sam flung his bruised body carelessly beside Jacob's. "Remember that," their parting words went, trotting away, back to Bella.

Jacob growled weakly; his mind screaming out expletives as he heard his brothers come to his aide, their paws thumping loudly through the forest floor, an even tempo that could not calm his rising rage.

We'll get her, Jake, Seth soothed, wincing in pain as he clutched at his side. Leah let out an angered growl that surprised most of the animals in the forests.

Goddamn vampire girl! she snarled. Thinking she's so fucking great. I'll show her great when I rip her throat out!

Leah! Sam warned. Even in circumstances like this, we cannot harm her. She is Jacob's imprint.

She hissed. You blind bastards! You know how imprinting works. The imprint loves the imprinter back! She doesn't love Jacob, she sneered. She's nothing but a selfish bitch.

Don't say that! Jacob snarled. Say that again and I'll rip you to shreds! She's brainwashed. Those goddamned rednecks have her and Charlie in a spell. When we save her, she'll snap out of it.

He briefly imagined her turning around to face him, a thankful grin on her beautiful face as she would run to him, arms flung wide open, and when he would catch her, she'd wrap her legs around his waist and lose her fingers in his hair as she kissed him senseless-

JACOB! The pack howled in disgusted harmony.

I'll get her back, guys. I'll save her, and you'll fucking see she's my imprint, Leah. You will fucking see.

"Hi guys!" Bella called cheerfully from the kitchen, surrounded by the fragrance of her sizzling burgers on the pan. "Sit down!" she commanded with a smile. "It's almost done."

Three heavy, tired bodies hauled ass to the tiny kitchen chairs. "Damn Bells," Dean groaned. "That must be fucking Heaven." Sam grunted in agreement, as he reached up to the fridge and grabbed three beers, passing one to Charlie and another to Dean.

Charlie thanked Sam with a nod, popping open the bottle and tipping his head back with gusto, gulping the cool beverage down easily. Dean and Sam did the same. Bella turned her attention back to her cooking, humming faintly.

It took a few more minutes for the burgers to completely cook and for Bella to heap them on plates and slide them on the table for the boys. "Dig in," she remarked, leaning back on the countertop, poking at her burger to see if it was cool, before taking a bite with great satisfaction.

"What a day, huh?" she smiled.

Dean rolled his eyes, mouth bulging with burger. "Understatement," he mumbled. Charlie swallowed and turned his attention on his only daughter. "When are you and the boys packing up?" he asked gruffly and with a touch of nonchalance, but no one was fooled. They all knew Charlie hated Bella hunting.

But he could never stop her, he realized a long time ago. It was her life. It made her happy. He had no right to interfere.

"Maybe tomorrow," she replied carefully, watching her father keenly. She winced as her father visibly drooped. "Oh, okay," he mumbled.

"Oh dad," she murmured, putting her plate down and walking over to him, enveloping him in a tight hug. "I'll miss you." She swallowed thickly as the tears fought to surface.

Charlie was her most precious father, not that she didn't love Renee. But Renee would never love her in the intensity Charlie did, so fiercely protective and endearing. Letting a few tears fall, she clasped her father's face and bit back a sob. She memorized every line, every wrinkle, hoping and praying to God above he'd stay safe and healthy while she was gone.

"I'll miss you too," he choked out. "It'll kill me with worry, but there ain't a thing I can do," he smiled weakly. "It's your life, Bells, and I shoulda never forced you to stop hunting, if it made you miserable."

She shook her head vehemently. "You didn't force me! I chose it, Dad. For you and me and Renee. But Renee was never happy," she sniffled sadly, squatting on the kitchen floor, still hugging her father tightly. She watched the tears drip down sullenly, as if unwilling to fall.

"Just keep her safe," Charlie groaned, burying his face in her hair. "She's my little girl," he muttered.

Dean and Sam looked on, solemn and saddened. Sam shot his brother a worried glance. Are we doing the right thing? he asked hesitantly with his eyes.

Dean shrugged helplessly. His shake of the head told Sam, it's not like we can stop her, man. It's her life.

They both knew what was on each other's minds.

"We'd end the world for her, Charlie," Dean voiced it out seriously, Sam nodding vigorously. "We'll never let anything happen to her," he affirmed.

"Thank you boys," he surrendered with a teary-eyed sigh. He dropped his arms around her, and attempted to bite his burger heartily.

"You take care, okay Charlie?" she babbled, wiping away tears furiously as she stood up. "You eat at the diner, their food's okay. Good enough for you. Stay away from the rez, will you? Billy will surely hold a grudge." She sniffed again, burying her face momentarily in her hands. "Don't drink too much, and put on some snow chains in the winter, okay? Wear your parka. We know how cold it can get-"

Her rambling was cut off as Dean stood up abruptly, knocking the chair away as he strode over to Bella and wrapped his arms around her, shushing her softly and stroking her hair, tucking her head under his chin. "Stop crying honey, I can't stand it," he rumbled.

"I'll miss him!" she cried hysterically into his jacket. "We'll visit," he soothed. "I'll be okay, Bells," Charlie looked up with a gruff expression. "Did okay without you, and I'll still do okay. Don't worry about me, kid."

"I love you Charlie," she blubbered, buried in Dean's chest.

"I love you too, kid."