Author's Note: This is my first time venturing into Twilight fanfiction. I love Bella/wolf pairings, and I hope you do as well.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of it! If I did, I wouldn't be a struggling college student, that's for sure. Anything you recognize belongs to Stephanie Meyer.

Bella POV

I am so tired—tired of being bitter, tired of being angry, tired of feeling empty. The trouble is I don't know how to stop. I can't think of them—of him. I can hardly breathe, because everything sparks a memory that more than anything I wish I could forget.

I know I'm hurting everyone. Myself, Charlie, Renee, Phil, Angela—but most importantly I know I'm hurting Jake. I guess he had enough of me, and he decided to leave me too. I can understand it—but I don't understand why he had to promise that he would never hurt me like he did, and then go and break it.

If he wanted to leave me too, Jake should've made it so he never existed. Yet my truck is sitting in the driveway right now, a constant reminder of Jake and his love of cars, his rebuilding of my truck, and all the times in his garage where he started to put me back together again. Well, if he thinks he can get away with leaving me alone, he's got another thing coming. I might be broken, and I might be scarred, but dammit I'm getting answers from someone. Last time he blew me off in the rain—ignoring the fact that he was killing me inside. He had changed—cut his hair and got a tattoo, grown and gained muscle. But deep down, I know he is still my Jacob. I wasn't going to leave this time. I wasn't going to let him or Sam and his lackeys scare me off or intimidate me. I may be a shell of my former self, but that just left me with a lot of anger—and it's about time I stood up to someone.

Grabbing my raincoat and keys, I hurry down the steps, not bothering to leave a note for Charlie, because I know he's working late on cases involving the animal attacks in the woods. Rushing through the morning dew, somehow managing not to slip and fall, I open the squeaking door and take solace in the dry cab.

Starting my truck up and hearing the loud grumble, I notice I can breathe a little lighter than I had been. I'm going to see Jake, and everything will be okay. Because when it comes down to it, Jake can't leave me. He would've done so a long time ago, rather than spending all of his time trying to fix me. He wouldn't put in effort and then give it all up—right?

It took me thirty minutes to get to La Push. I sometimes wish that my truck was faster and could manage to get above 55mph, but this morning I didn't mind. I needed time to get my thoughts together, and to keep this sudden burst of adrenaline and determination flowing through my veins.

Pulling into the Black's driveway, I took a deep breath. I saw the curtains move, and knew someone was inside. I wasn't going to be ignored. Getting out of the truck, I slammed the door, conveying my anger and determination right off of the bat. There was no use sidestepping around. I miss my best friend.

I kept my head down, concentrating on the gravel crunching beneath my worn Converses. Before I knew it, I was climbing the porch.

Out of character, I ignored Billy's pleasantries and attempts to get me to leave. Pushing inside against his wishes, I made my way straight back to Jake's bedroom, ignoring Billy's calls. Opening the door, I saw my best friend in bed on his stomach, looking so much like the sixteen year old he is, as he peacefully slept.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing as I look at Jake. I have told him before he's sort of beautiful, and that hasn't changed. Now though, it's a masculine beauty—he has to be over six feet tall and nothing but bulky muscle. He was even bigger than he was the last time I'd seen him, and that was saying something.

Whooping and hollering tore me out of my Jacob trance, and I glanced out of his window to see Sam and his lackeys stepping out of the woods behind the Black's home. I didn't know which was which, other than Sam, but I didn't really care. They all looked the same anyway—intimidating tall, muscular, dark-skinned. I didn't care to know who was who. I just wanted my Jacob back.

Looking back down at Jake in the bed, in a split second I made up my mind.

Tearing out of the back door, ignoring Billy's calls and pleas, I kept my gaze locked on Sam Uley across the Black's expansive back yard. I didn't know who he thought he was, all I know is that he's the cause of all of this. Jake said he's the leader of the cult, or gang, and he was the one who was going to give me answers. He just didn't know it yet.

"What did you do?" I screamed, all of the anger, frustration, and hurt of the last few weeks, and if I'm telling the truth, since they left, boiling out of me.

"What did we do? What did you do?" I heard one of Sam's henchmen snarl from his side. I ignored him, continuing to stare dead into the eyes of Sam Uley, as I came to stand in front of him. I vaguely noticed his shaking, but my adrenaline was pumping too strongly to feel fear. He was staring into my eyes as well, obviously battling himself for control, and biting his tongue from saying something he shouldn't.

"He didn't want this!" I yelled at Sam, clenching and unclenching my fists to try to control my anger.

"What did he tell you?" One of the lackeys snarled again. I didn't tear my eyes away from Sam, getting frustrated by his lack of answers. He can control his gang members but can't speak for himself?

"He told me nothing! He's afraid of you!" I shouted, beyond fed up with this whole situation. I've never felt more like I wanted to be back in Phoenix—like I never should've moved here in the first place.

Laughter tore me out of my self-pity and stare down with Sam momentarily. I glanced to his right, into the eyes of a meaner looking version of him. As I made eye contact, his look began to soften, but I didn't care. The laughter really rubbed me the wrong way, and I hauled back and slapped him with all of the might my body held. I barely registered the pain surging through my right hand, as I watched the lackey in front of me go through a multitude of emotions—confusion, awe, passion, lust, and some others I couldn't decipher, before I saw anger overtake them all.

"Paul, calm down. Get back, Bella," Sam ordered us both. The other lackeys looked nervous and scared, but I couldn't figure out why.

The lackey I slapped shook furiously enough that he was almost a blur, before he transformed into a massive wolf, just like the ones in the meadow.

I couldn't feel anything but fear. I knew I should be feeling confusion, but right now it didn't matter. The flight or fight response kicked in, and turning around, I sprinted back to the Black's house—as fast as my clumsy body allowed me.

Seeing Jake tear out of the house and jump the rail, I feared for his safety. "Jake! Run!"

I didn't even notice that the wolf behind me hadn't chased after me, or wanted to hurt me, but instead just stood there.

I watched as Jake ran toward me, and I pumped my legs faster to try and meet him. Eventually my clumsiness took over, and I slipped and fell on the dew covered grass. I watched in fascination and fear as Jake turned into a giant wolf and sailed over my head.

Picking up my body into a crab-like stance, I began to shuffle backwards clumsily, trying to get away from the giant wolves. I didn't understand why the one wasn't attacking, but then Jake howled and took off after him at full speed.

"Shit!" I heard Sam yell, before barking orders to his lackeys. Two of them began making their way toward me, as Sam stripped off his shorts and turned into a wolf as well—the largest one yet.

"Come on Bella," one of Sam's lackeys demanded more than asked, holding a hand in front of my face.

"What-?"

"We'll explain. Come on. Sam told us to take you to Emily's," The other one explained.

I reached up and put my shaky hand in the offered one, letting him pull me up with surprising ease. Though really, that shouldn't be the most surprising moment of the last few minutes.

"I'm Jared," the one holding my hand said, making sure I was stable on my feet before he let me go. "And that's Embry, but I think you've met him."

"Embry? No way," I whispered, turning my gaze from Jared's to his.

"Long time no see Bella," Embry grinned. "I guess the wolf's out of the bag."

"I guess so," I nodded, wanting to be so angry with the boy in front of me for leaving Jake, but still not able to believe it was the same one who I'd spent time with in Jake's garage.

"Let's get you to Emily's. Paul's going to want to see you when he gets there," Jared interrupted my thoughts about Embry.

"Why Paul?" I asked, following them back to my truck. Why would the guy I just slapped care about seeing me?

"Ah, I meant Jake," Jared amended, but I didn't miss the glare and look that passed between him and Embry.

Ignoring it for the moment, I began to process everything that had happened in the last few minutes.

"Who's Emily?"

"Sam's fiancée," Embry explained, reaching the truck and opening the passenger door for me. I slid in, giving him a silent nod in thanks.

"Is Jake going to be okay?" I asked, quickly moving from one question to the other.

"Yeah. It's Paul I'd worry about. Five bucks says Little Alpha tears him a new one," Jared laughed from the driver's seat.

Embry grinned leaning forward between our seats through the open window from the bed of the truck. "I agree. Jake's going to rip him a new one."

"What are you guys talking about? Little Alpha? Jake hurting Paul?" I was so confused, and all I wanted were answers.

"I think you should wait for the others to explain," Embry told me, glancing at Jared who almost inconspicuously nodded his head in agreement.

We reached a tiny cottage, almost hidden in the woods. "Whatever you do, don't stare. Sam doesn't like it," Jared told me, before getting out of the truck. I almost jumped when Embry opened my door, but tried to get my nerves under control.

"Come on, let's go in. It smells like Emily is baking," Embry grinned at me, before gesturing for me to walk in front of him. Jared let out some kind of wolf-call, opening the door of the cottage. I stepped into the home after him, immediately feeling warm and comfortable—not because of the temperature, as it was quite cool inside, but because of the homely feel inside the cottage.

"Who's this?" A gorgeous woman asked, wiping her hands on a towel as she appeared from the other side of the counter, in front of the oven. I noticed the scars running up one side of her face, and realized that those must be what Jared told me not to stare at. Surprisingly, they didn't take away from her beauty, but I quickly tore my gaze away.

"Bella Swan, who else?" Embry answered with humor in his voice.

"So you're the vampire girl?" Emily asked me.

I tensed, but tried not to let it phase me. "Not anymore. So you're the wolf girl?" It hurt to detach myself from them, but I was not going to be a coward here.

She laughed, "Yeah I guess I am. Or I'm engaged to one at least."

Jared and Embry had collapsed into seats at the round kitchen table, and I was still standing awkwardly to the side of the doorway. Emily sat a bowl of large muffins on the table, slapping away Jared's hand as he reached for one. "Ladies first," she gestured for me to sit down.

I collapsed into a chair, and reached for a muffin. I might be confused and not have answers, but I had built up a large appetite. I noticed as I reached for the muffins that my hand was quickly turning black and blue. I wasn't the only one.

"Shit," Embry swore under his breath, reaching out and grasping my hand lightly. "I don't think anything is broken, but it doesn't look good. Emily, could you get Bella some ice?"

"Oh no," I interrupted, pulling my hand back from Embry. "That's not necessary—I don't want to be a bother."

"You're not a bother Bella," Jared spoke around a mouthful of muffin.

I wanted to protest, but Emily had already reached my side with ice wrapped in a towel. "Ouch," she murmured sympathetically. "What happened?"

"She slapped Paul," Embry chuckled, likely replaying the memory.

Emily gasped in horror. "Oh goodness!" I assumed she was imagining the worse, but I didn't understand why. It's not like Paul, the name of the lackey I was learning I slapped, tried to attack me or anything.

"That's not the half of it," Sam frowned as he walked in the door, before he looked up at Emily and his entire expression changed. He looked like his entire world was standing in front of him, as he went to pull her in his arms and kiss her. "Bella," Sam nodded when he pulled away. "I take it you've gotten acquainted with Jared, Embry, and Emily?"

"Yes," I nodded, not at all feeling comfortable or pleased with this man, but still feeling grateful for him saving my life that night in the woods.

"Good," Sam nodded, settling down at the table when Emily went back to the kitchen. He grabbed a muffin, and immediately began scarfing it down. He glanced at me picking at mine with one hand, and then looked at my other hand sitting on the table with ice.

"Damn," He swore. "You laid a good one on Paul. That's going to hurt him," he nodded to my hand.

I didn't understand why my hurt hand would hurt him, so I just nodded. I was about to ask where Jake was, and I guess Paul as well, when the two made their way into the door, both looking extremely pissed off at the other.

"Bella, we're leaving," Jake demanded when he crossed the threshold into the house, coming right over to me. I heard a snarl from the other body that just walked in, but ignored it when I saw the intense and furious expression in Jake's stance and gaze. He grabbed my arm, growling when he saw my hand covered in ice.

I didn't have any objections. I had questions and I needed answers, and I honestly only felt comfortable with Jake at the moment, no matter how kind Jared, Embry, and Emily had been. I immediately stood up, grabbing the ice with my good hand to hold to my bad one.

"Bella, you do not have to leave," a voice spoke in a low and firm tone, clearly trying to keep his feelings under control.

I looked to the sound of the voice, and saw it was Paul, the one I had slapped.

I didn't understand his gaze—it was furious when looking at Jake, but soft when he glanced at me. It was clear he didn't know who to look at or what emotion he should allow to take over.

"Yes, she does," Jake growled, pulling me behind him, still holding on to my arm. He was blocking three quarters of my body from Paul.

They were having a stare down, and though I didn't understand what had happened, I could only assume they had already fought. I didn't want them to again.

"Jake, take me to your house please," I murmured softly, but loud enough that the others in the room could hear it.

I didn't miss the look that crossed Paul's face. It was a mix between heartbreak, hurt, and immense anger. I only hoped Jake would be able to give me an answer about that.

Paul looked like he didn't know whether to let us go out the door or not, when Sam's voice broke the stare down. "Paul. Let them go," Sam spoke with a timbre to his voice I had yet to hear.

Paul let out almost a painful moan, before stomping down the hallway and out of sight.

Jake didn't even look at me or the others before pulling me behind him and out the door. "We're leaving," he informed me harshly.

"Goodbye," I mumbled to the others, not wanting to be impolite, but knowing that I needed to be with Jake right now. I needed answers, but a part of me was torn. I wondered if I wouldn't have better luck getting them inside.

Please leave me a review! I have most of the story written/planned, so as soon as they are edited and checked over, they'll be up! Reviews help motivate me =)