Author's note:

Hay! So I said I'd be back in October, or maybe November, and here I am on 10/15/15! So glad to get yet another chapter out there, and in a rather timely (well, timely for me) fashion.

Twilighted – So I know I used to say that I released chapters on twilighted days before I did on ffnet, but considering Chapter 11 has been in the queue since Sept 18, 2015, its looking like ffn will be ahead for a while. I don't know if my chapters will ever be validated there since its been over 4 weeks. My original V-beta I think has left the fandom, and its looking like they're only publishing certain fics. Also I'm having some technical issues uploading to that site as well. If anyone out there knows how to solve this problem, please let me know. Leave it in a review or shoot me a PM. I'll be forever thankful, and who knows? Maybe I'll send you an early copy of chapter 13 in gratitude. Anything can happen.

Wattpad – I found a link to this cool site where you can post written things and fan fiction to test out an audience, and with my rotten luck with Twilighted, I may consider posting there additionally to here on ffnet. However, I'd probably go back to clean up chapters 1-10 of this fic first, as well as clean up Vanity & Patience and Strength & Remorse. I'll keep you guys posted on that as well.

I had a tough time deciding whether to go with the book or the movie with this chapter. I did a mix of both. I hope it make sense together.

Playlist:

Sia - Elastic Heart

D'angelo (or Matt Bomer) - How Does it Feel

Nine Inch Nails – Closer

Bando Jonez – Sex You

The Weeknd – Earned It

Prince – Take Me With You

Chapter 12 - Traitor

A honeymoon could only last so long before you have to return to your normal life—when you have to return to reality.

For Paul and I, reality was about to smack us dead in the face.

Time stood still when you waited impatiently. Waiting for Paul to get back to report to me; it was long enough for me to formulate different scenarios in my head. Jake and Edward fight to the death, my brother winning, but the Cullens finish him off, tearing into him with their venomous teeth, which I know are fatal to our wolves—the one form of kryptonite to our shape shifters. Jake comes in to fight Edward, but Edward kills him instead tearing him apart. Jake kills Edward, and new vampire Bella kills Jake. The outcome just wouldn't be pretty, and I knew that. No matter how civilized these vampires supposedly were, I don't believe they'd retaliate if you pushed them far enough, and I know that killing one of their own would do that. There were too many of them for Jacob to take on at once.

I knew we were unable to talk with Chief Swan in the house so I practically ran into Paul when I spot him coming towards the house from the woods. My father followed me out, though I sensed some strange reluctance in him as he left Charlie alone with Sue inside.

"Can't stay too long," Paul said, barely winded, though I know he'd travelled far to get to me. "Still got some business to take care of."

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Everything's fine," he assured me. "Well, in terms of Jake's health, he's all fine. He did go to their house."

"He's not harmed?"

"Nope. Not a scratch on him."

A huge sigh of relief escaped my body with confirmation that Jacob was okay, and slowly I was able to think more clearly. "Did he fight Edward? Is Bella one of them now?"

"He didn't fight Edward. As for Bella—I'm not sure."

"What do you mean? What happened to Bella?"

"Not sure yet. They're convening to discuss it right now. In fact, let me go and get the rest of the scoop. I'm sure Sam's well on his way to formulating a plan."

His lips locked with mine before I could say anything back, kissing me feverishly before rushing back into the forest.

Returning to the house, I could hear my father and Sue try to comfort Charlie about Bella extending her stay in Brazil, that she was sick as I headed to Jake's bedroom. If I weren't so dead worried about my own brother, I'd have enough sense to pity him. Charlie was being lied to by everyone around him, just like I had been. I had to stay away from that room because I knew I couldn't keep a straight face—that his worry would be mirrored on my face.

At this moment, however, I felt that maybe being kept in the dark was the better option. My stomach sloshed with an uneasy pang of concern. I tried to sit still, but I couldn't. I began pacing, fighting the urge to throw things.

I tried desperately to hold onto Paul's words. In terms of Jake, he's fine.

He's not harmed?

Nope. Not a scratch on him.

But something seemed out of step. There was something tugging at me that wasn't right and I had a huge feeling that it wasn't really all that fine. My eyes were fixed on the forest from the window in the bedroom.

I stepped out onto the porch as soon as I spotted Paul coming up from the trees.

He approached me with a mixture of anger and defeat in his eyes; shoulders slumped forward, feet dragging.

His expression brought weakness to my knees. "Oh, God. What happened?"

"I don't know where to start."

"How about just start from the beginning," I prompted him, a little too impatiently.

"This is where it's complicated. Bella's… well…"

"What?" He looked a little confused himself, but I was beyond reason to care. "Paul, tell me."

"She's still human." His face was still bewildered, much like I felt about his cryptic answer.

"So what's going on?"

His head tilted to the side as he regarded me slowly. He then uttered, "Bella's pregnant."

It took me a while to process this piece of information. He watched me with expectant eyes. "Pregnant?"

"And it's growing fast, but they don't know what it is because they can't see through its womb tissue or whatever you call it. The leech's too strong for her body. So it's killing her."

"She's pregnant?" I asked, still trying to process the first part. "Is that even possible?" It took a while to absorb the rest of what he said.

"Apparently. And it's growing fast as shit."

I let it all sink in. Grabbing his arm like a vice, I shut my eyes at the sound of that. A baby strong enough to tear me in half growing inside of me. I shivered at the thought. "So what's going to happen?"

He held me for a moment, and then pulled back, his eyes barely able to meet mine as he tried to collect his thoughts. "Sam decided we fix the problem by killing it tonight."

My brows furrowed at the mention of 'it.' "The baby, or Bella?"

"Both," he answered in a cough, seeming to be cautious with his answer.

"You're gonna kill Bella?" Not that I ever favored the girl, but I never wished her any harm, nor did I condone the idea of killing someone. Human someones, at least. Cold ones, I could live with, but even the thought of killing one of the harmless Cullens, no matter how creepy they were, brought me great unease. Paul let me process this as my brother came to my mind, how much he cared about Bella. Missed her. Surely, he wouldn't be behind such an idea. "How does Jake—"

But as I mentioned my brother's name, Paul began to tremble, a sure sign that he was close to phasing. He stepped back immediately breathing through it.

I stood as patiently as I could, though half of me wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him myself. I held myself together, though, bracing myself for the rest of the story that I'm sure he still has yet to tell me about.

He tried to catch his breath, letting the trembling subside before speaking again. This time, he spoke through clenched teeth. "Jake was against it. He tried to defy Sam." He shook his head. "And succeeded."

I was so confused. "What do you mean?" I searched Paul's face as if it would give me some sort of explanation. "Defy Sam? How?"

"He broke away from the pack." I was alarmed by Paul's voice, registering in my ears like a snarl.

"He did what?" His sentence didn't make any sense to me.

"Jacob left the pack. We can't hear him anymore."

"What do you mean you can't hear him anymore? I thought you all belong in the same pack?" Was that even possible?

The expression on his face was torn. "Not anymore."

"Can he do that?"

"Apparently so," he said, still angry, yet tired—resigned.

I felt my knees give, and Paul was immediately at my side, holding me up by my elbows. I could barely see a clear picture of Paul as I tried look him in the eye. My brother left the pack? "Where did he go?"

But his eyes were fixed somewhere to the left, no doubt hearing something my human ears couldn't. Paul began to mutter under his breath, "That stupid fucking idiot traitor..."

The room began to spin quickly, but I was still able to ask, "Paul, where did he go?"

I was vaguely aware that his eyes snapped to me. "To the Cullens. To protect Bella."

"But you just said Sam wants you to kill her and the baby."

Paul's eyes met mine as if to answer me, before he looked away.

It took a moment for me to put two and two together. My brother was going to fight with the Cullens. Against the pack. Against Sam and the boys. Against Paul. My balance left me, everything before my eyes began to blur.

My brother had chosen the opposing side. Chosen her over his own pack. His family.

And then everything went black.

I awoke with a sudden jolt of uneasiness, confused for a moment as I tried to place where I was. In the soft, silver moonlight that filtered through the window above me, I could almost recognize the room, except for the posters and artwork that didn't belong to me. A pang of disappointment plagued my chest, and my heart constricted as I realize I was in my old room—Jacob's room. I turned my head to the sound of a deep, heavy inhale.

In the corner of the room sat Paul in an upholstered chair, exhaling in a loud snore. It was a chair from the living room, which he must've moved into this room. His neck was bent to the right, head resting on his fist, face smashed against his knuckles.

Paul's head shot up when I stirred. "Rachel,' he whispered, walking over to kneel in front of me.

I wasn't sure why I bothered asking, because I was almost sure of the answer, but I guess I foolishly hoped for the impossible. "Has he come back?"

A frown stretched across his features in the moonlight. "No."

A wave of disappointment crashed over me, and I was hit with the realization that this could be a permanent thing. That Jacob had left us for good. There was something more in the way Paul's eyes looked at me. As if there was more news that hadn't reached my ears. Though I was sure to dread the answer, I had to ask away, "What is it? What else is it?"

"It's Seth. He left the pack, too. Followed Jacob to the Cullen's house."

"What?" I thought about this, how sweet little Seth would've taken the news about them killing Bella. "Maybe he went to go talk some sense into Jacob," I suggested.

A sigh came from Paul. "Let's hope so, but we stopped hearing his thoughts, too. He wasn't happy with Sam's plan."

"And still no word from him? Or even my brother?"

Paul head shook silently, his face solemn.

My vision blurred, tears filling my eyes and I had to stop the sob that threatened to climb up my throat. I didn't know how bad my brother could break my heart. The choice he made was such a blow, not just to his pack but also to my father and I.

Paul was at my side before I could blink, his warm arms encircling me. The feel of him was all I could bear at the moment, and my feelings unleashed against him. I sobbed into Paul's shoulder. "He's a traitor," I mewled. "My brother betrayed us."

"Shh," he comforted me. "It'll all work out."

Somewhere in my crying, I feel asleep in Paul's arms, and I assume he left, probably to either at the protective request of my father or Sam's alpha orders. I tossed and turned through the night, my former nightmares of my mother's last day on earth now replaced with nightmares about my brother going head to head with Paul and the pack.

I jumped when I heard the door knock., the morning sun beating through our living room window.

Paul stood at the doorstep in the same shorts he had on the night before.

After he kissed me hello and walked in, my first thought was my brother. "Jake?" It was a one-word question, I realized, but I was sure he knew what I was asking.

He shook his head. "Nope. Not a word."

"Has Seth come back?"

"No," he sighed.

I grabbed my phone, and sifted down my contact list to Leah's name.

Paul's hand was on my phone in an instant. "I wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because she left us too." This news did not come as a shock. Of course she would. She would leave Sam's dictatorship happily. She would leave to protect her brother, no matter how much she hated vampires.

I planted myself on the couch, massaging my temples with my fingers. It was like a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from. I could hear my father wheel into the room, although I didn't look up immediately.

"We think Jacob may have formed a pack of his own when he left us. And I think when they made the decision to leave us, they joined him." He spat out the word pack as if it was allegedly what Jacob started.

My fathers let out a large exhale. "Sam's ordered a council meeting. Emily's house in about an hour."

"Sure. I'll take you both," Paul offered.

At Emily's, the pack along with their imprinted, had convened, including, my father, Sue, and the Quileute Elders.

After deliberating with the elders and the remaining pack members, Sam decided to send Jared, along with Paul, Quil, and Collin, to meet with Jake—in a peace offering—to convince him to rejoin the pack. Jared was to go as human, the rest flanking him in wolf form as "back-up." I didn't understand the choice in Jared, when it was Quil or Embry that Jake was closest to, his best friends since Kindergarten. I would figure his friendship with them would help Jake's decision, and coax him back to us. But of course, it wasn't my decision, and though I'd come to like this pack and was beginning to accept it as extended family, I was beginning to resent Sam and his choices.

As I took in Paul's stoic expression as Sam gave his orders, all I saw was respect, loyalty, and a drive to do the best for his Alpha. Because of this, I chose to remain silent about this new resentment, though I knew it was building pretty quickly inside of me. My brother was able to defy Sam. Why couldn't Paul?

Granted, Jake's purpose for leaving wasn't one I would fully back up. And the fact that he was from Ephraim's bloodline, I guess he had the power to do so. But then what of Seth and Leah? They had made the decision to follow Jake. I would guess Paul would need another alpha to follow, if he were to leave Sam. If he followed Jake that would make things only a little bit easier, but then I had to keep in mind that Paul would never take the Cullen's side over Sam's.

I sighed and shook my head. It was a fruitless train of thought.

"What's up?" Paul asked, alerted by my sigh.

"Nothing," I replied.

"We'll fix this," he said to me. "Don't you worry."

I nodded in response, thankful we didn't share a mind like the pack did.

The boys left all of us behind. I approached the window where Embry stood, staring after them in silence.

I felt his gaze switch to me for a moment and then back out to the trees was they had disappeared.

"I really don't get why you weren't sent with them."

He cleared his throat, looking around to check to see if anyone else was around. "Sam is being cautious." He spoke under his breath, and I caught that he didn't care to share his answer with anyone.

I dropped my voice down as well, following suit. "I don't get it." I turned my eyes to the woods as well, as if to not draw outside attention to our conversation.

"Right now, as it is, we're outnumbered, with those three on the other side of this fight."

I couldn't help but turn to him at that. "Okay?"

"It's pretty obvious to me; I don't have someone like you, or Kim, or even Claire to keep me here."

He must've taken in my bewildered expression as I tried to follow his train of thought. He turned back to the trees. "I think Sam is… ensuring my loyalty. Making sure no one else is tempted to join up with them."

"So in the case of Quil, it's okay because he's got Claire."

Embry nodded once. "He won't leave LaPush with her here."

I studied Jacob's friend from a side-glance. "Would you?"

He shrugged. "I'd like to think I wouldn't. That thing she's pregnant with," Embry breathed, shaking his head. "It shouldn't be allowed to live. I stand behind Sam on that."

"But?"

"But Bella… I mean, I know her, kind of, you know? And then there's Jake. He's like a brother to me more than any of these fools."

Of course he was. He and Jake grew up together. With Quil they made up the three stooges.

However, I was immediately reminded that there was a possibility that Embry could be our brother as well. His wolf gene had to be from someone from the wolf lines, his mother was not married to the Ateara, Uley, or Black bloodlines. That only narrowed his father to either be Harry Clearwater, Joshua Uley, or Billy Black… resulting from an extramarital affair. My eyes immediately found my father, talking to Old Quil and Sue. Considering how much I loved my mother, and how much I truly believed he did,too. I couldn't imagine it was my dad. That didn't stop the town of LaPush from talking, however. I wrestled uncomfortably at the thought. "I see."

Joshua Uley was an absent father and husband, leaving Sam with his mom when he was young. As far as this rumor went, my money was on him anyway.

I hadn't realized Embry watching where my eyes went, a frustrated sigh leaving him. He was also very aware of the town gossip.

"Sam's insecure about your loyalties, in short," I vocalized softly, trying to keep the focus on the present, and not on the unpleasant thoughts of Embry's paternal truths.

He nodded silently, breathing in relief as I steered the conversation to its rightful direction.

"How about Collin?" I asked.

"What about him?"

"Is he not concerned about Collin's allegiance? He's my cousin—Jake's cousin, too."

He scoffed. "Collin worships Sam."

"Hmm," I contemplated.

All of us were full of anticipation as Jared and the boys arrived, only to be disappointed that they came back, and with a look of resignation on their features. No Jake. No Leah, no Seth.

As we heard Jared's account of the discussion he had with my brother, I realized it carried with it the hope that all of us had to be able to do this task without any challenges that would hit so close to home. And in that it account, as he confirmed Jacob's refusal to rejoin us, all hope was crushed.

Overall, moral was low, Sue and my father, with broken hearts over their children. Sam sent us home, deciding to give it a day and wait it out while he thought this through with the elders. And eventually formulate a plan with his second and third in command: Jared and Paul.

That concrete plan would for to end the life of this unborn threat, no matter the cost. Even a human life, or the injury or harm of one of our own—my brother, Seth or Leah.

After the planning with the elders, Paul followed came to my house. He was only able to stay for dinner, but was ordered to come back to Emily's afterward. Even when he offered to get me some dinner, I could hardly say yes. I couldn't find my appetite to save my life, and I was too upset to try.

My father and I were at Emily's yet again the next morning, right after breakfast. I watched helplessly as the decision was made. Paul and I met eyes for a split second before he diverted his sight elsewhere. I was pretty sure my expression was not thrilled.

To be able to even rearticulate this plan of attack was a challenge for me; maybe because I didn't care for this attack to happen. There was a collective mood of uniform determination and positivity, even with the underlying dread and minute hesitation that they would face off with Jake and the Clearwater siblings.

The plan was concrete, and everyone was in agreement, but I was still plagued with the whole idea, our community's safety be damned.

My mouth opened of its own accord. "That's wonderful. We've just legitimized homicide in the case of Bella Swan and fighting our own kin to accomplish it."

The room went dead silent. I felt the incredulous eyes of the pack on me. Sam's brows scrunched over his obsidian eyes, his dark gaze and scowl directed my way. Paul's head whipped between us both, his expression stunned, like I had just punched him in the face.

My father insisted that he drive home with Sue to keep her company, which left me alone with Paul, as he drove me to his house.

I could the very cold side-glances he'd make in my direction during our very tense drive. I marched to his room, Paul hot on my trail.

He wasted no time, standing square in front of me. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket, landing in a thud on his dresser, and then his eyes, still incredulous locked on mine. "So do you mind telling me what that was all about?"

I met his eyes in a stare down. "How could you even think about doing this?"

"What we do is for the good of our people. The protection of this town. La Push. The reservation. Our reservation. We protect people. Humans. We protect Billy. We protect you."

"How about Bella?" I countered. "She's human."

"She chose to carry this abomination to term," Paul answered, shrugging noncommittally. "What else can I say? You were at the meeting. Haven't you been listening to anything?"

"So you've all decided her fate?" I seethed, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Sam has decided the value in her life is nothing."

"Not if it means bringing in danger to this world that would have us losing more lives."

My eyes rolled at his reasoning. "Just listen to you. Its like you're one of Sam's clones."

"Rachel, what the fuck?" His face was full of shock. "Where the hell is this all coming from?"

"It's been there," I assured him. "I've just been quiet." I glared at him, his face perplexed. "You do realize this puts you at odds with my brother."

"Yes, I do realize that," he acquiesced. "Jake is a bastard traitor. You said so yourself."

"No one was more hurt and disappointed that he turned his back on us. But that bastard is still my brother. He's still Billy's son."

Paul was shaking his head even before I finished speaking. "We have to put your safety first. This child cannot be allowed to live. Bella can't bring this thing into the world." He spoke slowly—calmly—despite my confrontational tone.

"So now that's grounds to kill Jake? To kill Seth and Leah too?"

He winced, bemused by my questions. "Who said anything about kill? Why would I try to kill them? It's Bella that we're after. Bella and the devil's spawn."

"And what if they got in your way? Jake, Leah? Seth?"

"I wont harm them…. That much." he said last part softly, as if he hoped I wouldn't hear him.

"You are unbelievable."

"We heal, Rachel. We heal and we heal fast. They'll be ok."

"That's not the point. Hurting them—It's the principal of it."

"And what if I get close to killing Bella, and your brother is the only thing in the way? What if he's ready to kill me in order to protect her? What do you make of that, Rachel?"

"He… he wouldn't do that," I countered, yet I suddenly realized I wasn't sure he wouldn't.

"I see it in your eyes. You don't even believe that for sure."

I shook my head. "Jake would never hurt me like that." But then I pictured it, how much he felt for Bella versus what he thought of Paul. Contest over. Could I trust him to keep me in mind, that I love Paul? That he would keep him alive for his sister?

"You can't even say that without doubting yourself, I see it on your face." He stepped towards me. "You're saying you won't allow me to defend myself? If he was trying to defend her, at the expense of my life?"

His eyes were probing as he watched me. I was speechless for a moment, but he began to speak again.

"You'd want me to just ignore him when he's the only one standing in the way? That I couldn't disable him for just a little bit—just a few moments so that I could get at the freak of nature and then be on my way? You know I won't be able to stop myself if I had the opportunity to finish this. Or would you just rather let him kill me?"

My mouth scrunched, nose flaring, a tear escaping my eye in all the hostility. "Jake wouldn't hurt me like that." My voice went up a few octaves with that statement, faltering at the end. "See! This is exactly why I want you to sit this one out."

His fist came down on his nightstand in a loud boom. "God! Rachel! Listen to us! This argument here. We're just going in circles!" He paced. "Why are we having a discussion about this? You know I can't defy Sam."

"Ugh! Sam! Yes, your precious Sam!"

"Yes! My alpha. Sam is my alpha."

"Well your alpha can go suck it," I spat out. "You know sometimes I hate that you're part of this stupid pack. I hate that you're a wolf."

"Funny, without being a wolf, you and I would've never gotten together. So what do you make of that?"

Glowering back at him, I seethed, "That wouldn't have you fighting on a side opposite my blood either."

"Bella is dying already, Raych. I saw it in your brother's memories right before he left us. The fetus is killing her from the inside. She probably won't even survive full term. We'd just be advancing the process."

"And putting her out of her misery?"

"Essentially."

"Oh, well, how noble of you all," I mocked back.

He scrubbed his face with his hand. "Why the hell are we arguing about things I can't change?"

"I just hate that you can't have your own mind."

"I have my own mind, too."

"Do you? Because Sam seems to make all your decisions for you. And if that is what happens with you as a wolf, I think it's bullshit. You could probably choose to sit out for me if you really wanted to."

"You really expect me to sit out of this? If we let this thing live it won't be able to control its thirst like the others. And what if it got a hold of your father? Of you? Don't you see? I'm doing this for you."

"Don't try to manipulate me into thinking this would be a good idea. That it's for my own good. I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were!" He stepped away from me, pacing on the other side of the room. He began to tremble, I could easily see, but all the bottled up anger from the last 48 hours had me far past reasonable. "Rachel," he tried to breath calmly, but it was said through his teeth. "I would appreciate it if you would just drop this. I can't phase like this in my house. And be this close to you? Are you crazy?"

"I don't give a fuck!" I yelled. "God, be your own man. Make your own decisions!"

Taken aback, he flinched and stared at me as if I'd slapped him. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I challenged him. "Grow some balls, Paul!"

"Will you stop? You're acting like a.." his voice trailed off, though a word was uttered under his breath, so low that I had to strain to hear it.

But I did. The word turned my blood to a boiling hot mess. I was breathing through my teeth as I asked. "What was that?" I shot him an incredulous glare. "Did you just call me a bitch?"

"I didn't call you anything."

I stalked over to him. "No, you did," I growled. "You called me a bitch."

He rolled his eyes, sending my anger over the edge. "I didn't call you anything, God damn it. I said you're acting like one!"

My hand flew up to slap him but he caught my wrist before I could.

"Don't do it," he snarled. "Don't push my temper." Throwing my hand aside he stepped away from me, backing himself against the opposite wall from where I was standing, the loud clunk of his dresser punching against the wall and then back onto the floor, his things on top rattling around. Breathing through his trembling, I could almost imagine a halo of silver fur around him.

My temper was gone. I was being foolish, I knew, risking my life to be in such close proximity to him when he was so teetering on the edge of phasing. But knowing that he'd associated me with the word "bitch" made my concern for my own safety less than my desire to inflict physical pain, unable to vocalize my anger in a satisfactory way. I launched myself across the room, intending to hit him, claw at him, make him hurt. But he wheeled around, grabbing hold of my wrists before I could even register anything—a benefit, no doubt, of his advanced shape-shifter reflexes.

I struggled to free my arms from his hands but it was to no avail. As his coffee gaze held mine, in a single moment, he seemed to make a decision. As if he replaced his instinct to phase with another, he yanked on my arms so that I was flush against him, grabbing my head, pulling my mouth to his. I wanted to fight him but his mouth was moving decidedly against mine, and my body responded once again to his biology. His arms snapped around me, holding me hard enough that I couldn't breathe. As his tongue shot into my mouth, he picked me up and carried me to his bed.

We were tangled across his mattress in a split second, my jeans off just as fast. I struggled beneath him. "Why can't you just grow a pair?" I growled against his skin, but resistance was futile.

He shoved his body between my thighs, grinding his pelvis against me, my body followed of its own accord. Regardless I tried my best to keep my mind focused. "How could you call me a bitch?" I felt his arousal through his own jeans, against the thin material of my underwear, and I instinctively pressed against it, my own arousal saturating that same material.

"I said you acted like one," he groaned as he thrust against me. "I didn't call you one." It was funny how quickly the pre-phasing shake had gone from him. His instinct to phase with his anger was quickly replaced with a feral need to mate as a result of the anger. Was it because I was an imprint? I wasn't too sure but that would be a good answer. Was this the result of two imprints fighting one another? Maybe. Paul and I had never fought this way before.

"Same thing," I retorted in a gasp. He gyrated against me with no answer. "Make your own freakin' decisions," I managed to say, my voice weak.

"Will you quit being so damn stubborn?" he demanded through his teeth. With a quick motion of his hand, my panties were torn remnants on the floor. He bent down, licking up my center in one fail swoop and I gasped in response. Pulling away, his eyes sparkled with mischief as he watched me, knowing that I couldn't possibly form a sentence much less argue with him like this. "I have my own mind," he whispered in a raspy tone. "Stop trying to argue about shit I can't change." And then his head dipped down towards me, and Paul's tongue swirled around as his hands clamped down on my thighs.

He drove me hard, clouding my thoughts. I wanted to be angry, but how could I? My body responded instinctively, arching upward, pushing myself against his mouth. He was so raw, so voracious, that I was at the cusp of shattering apart completely. I had to bite into a pillow to keep quiet, careful to not wake the neighbors.

I was helpless beneath his ministrations, the feel of his mouth, hungry against me, his tongue flicking around, his fingers moving in and out of me. My eyes rolling back in my head, I felt the beginnings of my orgasm…

Rudely and abruptly, Paul stilled his movements, his fingers and mouth pulling away from my body as my eyes attempted to refocus on his face in confusion. I watched as he pulled away from my center slightly, whimpering in an acute frustration as he once more began tracing that very flesh with the pad of one finger. The chill that I felt when he left contact brought back some clarity. "Sometimes you can be such an ass—"

"Look who's calling who names now?" he interceded under his breath. Before I could even discern what had happened, I was suddenly face down on the mattress, and my ass was being dragged into the air by his large hands. I gasped brokenly, overcome by desire as I once more felt the heavy heat of him throbbing insistently against me. "Why do you have to push me like that?" he growled against my ear.

"Your alpha," I breathed, "can suck it. Why can't you make your own—" and then he entered me before I could finish my thought, and I cried out as I knew absolute and complete bliss.

Paul drove into my body unrelentingly; brutally, our grunts and the wet, slapping sound of skin-on-skin contact permeating the room. I mewled helplessly, the noise muffled as my face was buried against my pillow, while he continued to plunge erratically and forcefully into my body.

"Can't be stupid," he breathed raggedly against my ear, unable to form a coherent sentence, and I felt a small moment or relief that I wasn't the only one with difficulty keeping up with the conversation at hand. "So crazy—Push me to phase—too dangerous."

"I don't," I panted, "care. You won't fucking listen—" but his hand that was bracing my hips interrupted my thoughts. It suddenly snaked around, stroking my most sensitive, swollen flesh in the front with each feverish thrust. Gasps escaped my mouth instead of words. My eyes were losing focus as the pleasure built rapidly in my gut, ready to travel downward.

"Tell me," he growled, slamming against my body, "tell me that," –thrust—"I need to"—thrust—"grow a pair"—thrust—"now."

I screamed, my climax abruptly tearing through my body in response to the overwhelming sensations that positively assailed my senses, leaving me thunderstruck. I was so thunderstruck that I hardly recognized that he'd stilled as I convulsed around him, breathing through my release.

I was suddenly flipped onto my back, my legs hoisted up above me, my ankles up by my face. Once again, he was inside of me, driving into me again. His espresso gaze locked with mine, though my ankles by my face kept us from actually touching foreheads. My limbs were a quivering mess from my previous climax, held up only by his weight as he slammed into me from above. I moaned loudly, the friction of caused by the new angle sending me to the very verge of release. As the orgasm ripped through my body, I all but screamed my pleasure.

Paul gave a roar of his own, his face twisted in acute bliss that was almost painful in its intensity as waves of my own climax sent him hurling into his own. He pulsed inside of me as he groaned in broken, strangled cries against my skin.

Once it was over, he sat up and helped me straighten out my legs along his bed, his own body crashing beside me. And then we were still, our hearts beating in sync with one another. His arms blanketed around me, tightening their hold, and he placed a tender kiss on my forehead, a stark contrast to his earlier more ravenous motions.

We lay resting for a moment, catching our breaths, before I spoke and broke the silence. "That was so not what I was going for."

He snorted in response. "It was either that, or making you Emily's twin." His hand touched my face. "Or worse."

I recalled Emily's face, three scars running down the left side. He had a point. "How'd you switch gears like that?" I wondered.

"I learned the trick from Jared."

"Jared?"

"When we teamed up with the Cullens against the newborn parasite army, Kim begged him to stay. Got in his face like that. He channeled his rage into lust and… well… fixed it."

"He shared that with you?"

He shook his head, and tapped his temple with his finger.

"Pack mind link," we both said in unison, but the humor ran out of the moment quickly, leaving reality to set in.

Sighing, I ran my hand through his hair. "I love you, but this isn't easy."

"Since when is anything ever easy, Rachel?"

"I know, but I wish all of you would just go about this in another way."

"This is the best way we know how. If there was another way, trust me we would try it. But there's just no way we can sit out and let this happen. I can't make the pack do anything. I can only control my own actions."

I considered this, and realized I could never have any control over the pack or Sam's orders. They were going to do their duty, with our protection as their priority. That didn't mean, however, that Paul couldn't make certain promises to me. I considered a way to work around it—for him to fulfill his own duties, yet somehow compromise with my wishes.

"So then promise me you won't hurt Jake."

"Rachel—"

"Focus on something else, like distracting the vampires. Instead of distracting Jake, Leah, or Seth, you know? Can you do that?"

He deliberated for a moment, and then his eyes turned to me, his expression confident. "I can avoid him."

"All of them. Promise me," I demanded.

He nodded eagerly, the back of his hand gliding down the side of my face. "I promise."

I nodded back to him.

A smile turned on one corner of his mouth. "I'll concentrate on one of the Cullens instead."

I snorted. "The large one you always talk about?"

A fierce gleam of excitement sparkled his eyes as he said, "Emmett, yeah."

The humor left the moment as I imagined a large vampire go head to head with Paul, even though as a wolf he was pretty majestic. If anything where to happen to him… "Please be careful. Please come back in one piece for me."

"Raych, stop worrying." He put his hands on either side of my face, his eyes intent on mine. "Don't underestimate us. Please, don't underestimate me."

"But Paul—"

"Please don't insult me with doubt in my skills, Black" he ensured me.

I just stared back at him as he ran his fingers through my hair, drenched with sweat.

"Emmett should be the one to worry," he uttered. "His Blondie wife should be the one to worry about him."

The next day my father and I stayed home, watching television—trying to go about our day as normally as possible. Sue came over our house, unable to stay in her own place, too empty for her sanity with the absence of her late husband and her two children. We were all worried about family to a degree that surpassed the rest of the pack or the tribe.

My ringtone startled us all, and I practically sprang out of my chair when I saw Paul's name on the Caller ID. "Hey," I answered, walking to take the call in Jake's room, even though Billy and Sue's eyes followed me. I suddenly felt like I needed the privacy, regardless of the fact that they'd want an update as well.

"Your fucking brother," Paul snarled, with not so much as a greeting hello.

Fear arrested me in my chest, my gut taking an uneasy churn. "What happened?"

"That fucker played us. He pretended like he was going to meet and try to arrange some sort of truce. Told us he'd kill the spawn himself once Bella's separated from it."

"Okay? So what's the—"

"But it was all a roués," he cut me off. "He was just trying to distract us so that a few of the Cullens could bypass us. They crossed our lands with only two of our rookies tailing them."

My mouth pressed into a line at his reference to Brady and Collin as "rookies," but also I didn't miss his tone when he uttered the name Cullen like it was a profanity. "Oh, God. Jake."

I heard a crunch, and a loud sound from Paul like he'd punched something. "That fucking asshole."

My stomach took a sickening turn as I realized that this would work against Jacob in the fight. With this news, dread filled me that everything I'd discussed and compromised with Paul earlier could be lost. "Paul, I know you're angry at him, but please remember—"

"I've got to go, Raych. I've got to do some recon on their house. Sam's plan is dependent on it."

"But Paul, before anything, please…"

I heard him let out an exasperated sigh. "Yes, Rachel."

"Remember, you promised me—"

"I know, baby, I won't hurt Jake."

I exhaled. "Good." The door momentarily distracted me. I could hear my father get the door and a familiar voice, its strong tenor reverberating through the house.

"I promise. Is Sam there now?" Paul asked.

"I guess. Someone's here."

"I can hear, and it's most likely him. Look, baby, I love you, but I have to go. And depending on what's going on over there, I may not have time to call you before it… all goes down."

A sob escaped me. "Please be careful. And I love you, too." Silence on the other line, and then we were disconnected. He was really in a hurry.

The muffled voices of my father and Sam began to grow in clarity as I walked back into the living room.

"Do you realize what he's done? Distracting them so that they could get past us?"

"Sam, come on," my dad pleaded. They were in view now, my dad rolling his chair to follow Sam as he paced the room, brooding. Jared stood by the doorway, Brady and Collin beside him. I saw two figures listening from out front, probably Embry and Quil.

"We can't forgive this, Billy. This has to end now." With that, Sam stormed out the door, following the rest of the pack who had turned at his words towards the woods..

"I don't care what he's done," my father yelled after Sam as he sauntered towards the forest. "He's still my son." He followed Sam out, with Sue trailing after him.

Relief washed over me. Through the trees, Paul appeared, heading straight for Sam instead of me. He whispered something in Sam's ear, and I fought the urge to run out and yell at him..

Sam's eyes grew wide at Paul's words, and then fixed on Billy. "Bella's dead," he spat out. "It killed her."

There it was—the news we all dreaded. There would be no hope for the baby's life now.

My eyes filled with tears, my hand coming up to cover my mouth. My knees weakened at the update, and with my freehand I held onto the doorway for support.

I could see how the news of her death affected my father. He was fond of her, I knew, and Charlie was his best friend. Heartbreak was inevitable.

Paul and I locked eyes for a moment, and I knew there was no time to talk things over.

Bella's death would devastate all of us, including myself, admittedly. I'd played with her when we were children. Charlie was like an uncle to me, and this would no doubt destroy him.

Secretly, selfishly, I wave of relief came over a small part of me. I couldn't help but feel this way. With Bella out of the way, they would be able to attack the Cullens and get to the baby with little to no resistance from Jacob and his pack. This would impact the fight in a positive way. As Paul nodded to me, I gave a nod back.

They melted into the woods in the next instant. Sue and I wheeled my father back into my house, his expression defeated. Sue and I tried our best not to fall apart in front of him. Neither of us knew the Swan girl the way my dad did, but the news didn't hurt us any less.

He excused himself into his bedroom, and I could swear I heard him weep in his bed. Out in the living room, Sue and I cried together, hugging one another. Consoling each other. I then realized that she not only cared about her kids, and my brother, and their well-being. She also cared deeply for Bella, which I was beginning to think was an extension with the now obvious feelings she had for Charlie. There was nothing more we could do.

Somewhere in the night, I drifted off too much needed slumber on the air mattress. Sue fell asleep on the couch beside me.

My foot pressed onto the gas pedal of my father's truck, with my dad in the passenger seat. Sue sat behind me, and his wheelchair was folded in the back. Receiving the call from Emily to come to his house was all I was waiting for, and all three of us jumped immediately at the chance to see everyone. I t was about 5:45 am, but we didn't care.

I spotted some of the pack outside already, while some of them were in doors. Emily was dressing Paul's wounds, helping his arm into a sling. "Really, it's not necessary, Em," I heard him tell her. "I'll be healed once you're done with this thing."

I practically jumped out of the car and ran over to him before she could respond to him.

"Ouch," Paul breathed as I tackled him, a little too carelessly, my eagerness getting the better of me.

"Sorry," I whispered against his hair. "Is it bad?"

He shrugged the opposite shoulder. "Dislocated shoulder, and I think a fracture in my upper arm." He read my expression of worry and said, "Give me thirty minutes. It'll mend."

I hadn't noticed Seth standing on the other side of the porch, Sue running into his arms in tears. Leah came out and joined them wrapping her arms around them both.

I looked at Paul after saying hello to Emily as she went to go and care for one of the others. "My brother?"

"He's just fine," Paul answered, his face positive, even though he was tired. "Not a scratch on him."

I let out a breath of relief, my father echoing my sentiments with his own exhale, having just been helped into his wheelchair by one of the guys.

Gently fingering Paul's sling, I had to ask how it happened, hoping that it wasn't my brother.

"Emmett," he answered, shrugging again.

"And how did he fair?"

"That chicken. He was able to evade me; he scaled a tree to avoid my jaw ripping him to shreds. He smacked me down when I jumped a little too high, and this happened when I hit the ground," he motioned towards his sling. "Guess I was too close for his comfort. And then Jake finally showed up and pretty much shut it down."

"How is Jake now, emotionally?" I heard my father ask Sam, distracting me from what Paul said. "With Bella and all."

"Bella's not actually dead," Sam told him, slowly.

I looked up at that, and my father looked like he'd seen a ghost. "She's not?" His hand pressed against his chest. "Oh, thank God."
Shaking his head, Sam answered, "Edward was able to save her. She's going through her transition right now."

"And the baby? What made you guys stop?"

No one would look at me at first, his or her expressions somewhat awkward and embarrassed.

Sam hesitated for a moment, his features unreadable. "Jacob…"

"What? What about Jake?" My dad asked, worried.

"Bella gave birth to a girl…"

My father and I both looked at Sam, unable to catch his drift.

"Jacob..uh… imprinted on the baby."

"What?" my father and I both exclaimed.

Well that was something I wasn't expecting.

Jake didn't come home that night like I had hoped, but he finally checked in with my dad to let him know he was staying with the Cullens to help with the baby in case she has trouble sleeping through the night, her very first night on earth, especially since Bella would be experiencing her transition for the next three days. Hearing about this—my brother wanting to help with a newborn baby—was so surreal.

The following day, I was back to work, with Paul back at school, but once they day was over we spent the late afternoon together at the house. My dad was home, and we'd offered to get him dinner. Of course he agreed, knowing that he'd get a break from Paul if we were to go out. We picked up some General Tsao, Fried Rice, and Chow Mein at the local Chinese.

"It's a shame," I mumbled to myself on our ride to the restaurant, turning back onto the 101.

"What is?" Paul asked.

"Both of our parents are home. We haven't had any privacy in the last day or two to celebrate."

"Celebrate?" I felt his eyes on me, a bit befuddled at my statement.

"You know, the drama with Bella is all over. The killer baby is saved. Jake is finally over Bella. He's imprinted. No one was harmed, or worse. And you're home safely."

He chuckled. "You're telling me. Good riddance to all that bullshit."

His hand brushed my thigh momentarily, and I turned to his chiseled profile as he smiled to himself, looking at the road. I realized I really, really needed to be with him tonight, no matter what.

I turned my Camry into a side road where I knew there was a dark street, with a gravelly area behind some trees.

"Uh, Rachel? What are we doing?"

Throwing the car into park, I gave him a small grin, leaning over to kiss him.

Taking him by surprise, his eyes stayed open for a few moments before they shut, his lips hesitant before they moved with mine.

I broke free and stepped out of the car, and into the back seat, as Paul watched me speculatively.

"Aren't you afraid someone will see?" he asked, over his shoulder, still in the passenger seat.

I grabbed him by the collar of his leather jacket and pressed my lips to his, plunging my tongue into his mouth roughly and finishing it off by taking his lower lip between my teeth, pulling and sucking on it.

That was all he needed to join me in the back, his arms snapping around me to continue the urgent kisses, our hands searching each other's bodies.

My mouth left his lips, moving onto his chin, down his throat, His expectant eyes were on me, his breath quickening as my kisses moved lower and lower down his body, my hands finding the fly of his jeans.

My hands did a quick work of his belt, parting the front of his jeans open. I was now kneeling in front of him on the car floor, my body cradled between his knees, and his eyes followed me, the steady rise and fall of his of his chest accelerating. He was silent, seemingly too afraid to speak and interrupt. My hand found him, fully erect through his boxers, and I pulled his length free through the front opening. His breath left him in a sharp whoosh as my hand felt his smooth, supple skin, and he gasped again when I closed my fingers around it and began to stroke him.

I leaned forward and brought him to my lips, slowly, but surely taking what I could of himself into my mouth. I glided him in and out, slowly at first, picking up my pace with every movement. His hips buckled beneath me, but I kept at it.

The gasps spilling from his lips only encouraged me further, his hands encasing my heads, fingers threading though my tresses, nails raking my scalp. My named escaped him over and over, turning me on at the thought of giving him such pleasure.

His grip on my head suddenly hardened and he pulled me from him, his mouth descending upon mine. "Get those jeans off, now," he demanded under his breath.

Complying happily, I kicked off my boots, shimmied out of my jeans and panties, his eager hands assisting while his mouth moved hungrily against my own.

He moved to get on top of me but I pushed him back against the seat, his eyes alight with amusement as I took the reigns so infrequently. He was enjoying this. I straddled him, putting one arm around his neck, and the other hand guiding him to my entrance. I sat down slowly, letting every inch of him impale me so leisurely, leaving both of us crazy and crying out with anticipation. But I wanted it this way; I wanted to feel him stretch me out, with both the pain and the pleasure of his size consuming my body and my mind as he filled me to the hilt.

My other arm went to join the other around the back of his neck, and I began to ride him, languidly at first and building speed with every pass. My name left his mouth with a cry as his eyes held my gaze in both pleasant surprise and unmistakable lust.

We had been through so much these past few weeks, and the fact that he'd made true with his promises to me were so important. He kept his word that he'd never harm my brother or my friends, and he didn't. I needed to let him know how much I appreciated him for it. I needed him to feel appreciated, and as I rolled my hips against his, and kept a rhythm above him, I knew I was doing a great job.

His hand snaked up my shirt, cupping my breast, as the other hand held firmly at my hip, guiding me back and forth, nails digging into my skin. The steady, practiced tempo of our bodies brought with it my release, and his followed suit. His mouth ravaged mine as his pelvis pumped erratically against my own movements, his broken gasps against my mouth. We ended it with a soft kiss, our breaths heavy. I tried to move off him but he kept me there for a moment longer, his hands threading through my hair.

"You're amazing," he whispered against me through ragged breaths. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," I answered.

His mouth kissed both of my eyelids softly.

"We should go," he said, peering over my shoulder at the clock on my car. "Billy's probably hungry as hell."

Laughing, I grabbed my jeans. "You're probably right."

Dinner was great, and after a while of TV, my father retired to his bedroom. It was probably close to 10 pm when Paul and I were watching Heroes that I heard someone walk up to the door with a set of keys.

I sat up to see Jake walk through, with a noticeable pep in his step, and I jumped up and threw my arms around him. "Jacob!"

His laugh was both stunned, but happy—happier than I'd seen him in almost forever—and a bit tired. I pulled back to look at him, stepping back to study his face as he greeted me. There was a light in his eyes that wasn't there when I last saw him. Even his posture had improved.

"What up, Jake?" Paul greeted, and I turned from my brother to look at my boyfriend.

"Hey," my brother replied.

I gave Paul a look, inclining my head towards the door.

"I'm gonna head on home," Paul excused himself. "I'll talk to you later," he said to me softly. He planted a chaste kiss on my lips and then walked towards my brother, holding out a fist to Jacob. "Good to see you back at home, man."

Jake narrowed his eyes playfully, before he gave a smile. Giving Paul a fist-pound back, he responded, "It's good to be home."

I turned to him after Paul shut the door. "Now you're going to have to tell me everything," I demanded.

"What?"

"Tell me about her. What's she like? How are you feeling?"

"Hold on, Raych. I just got home," he said, his hands raised in a haulting gesture. "I need a shower first. And I need some serious sleep."

"Well then when you're out of the shower, before you go to bed, catch me up."

He deliberated for a small moment.

I sighed. "Come on, Jacob. I haven't seen you in forever."

A grin cracked across his features, and I saw the boy I once new in the man before me. "Ok, after my shower," he promised. "I've been dying to talk to someone about her, to be honest."

"Great, because I want to know everything."

Paul's Mustang rang with percussion and melody as an old 80's song by Prince pounded through its speakers. We'd spent most of the morning filling out Paul's college applications, and hanging up my Class of 2006 diploma from Washington University. We also stopped by Emily's to say hi to Sam, the pack and the rest of the family for about an hour or so.

My fingers tapped anxiously against the dish I carried in my lap of the pumpkin caramel bars I baked for the dinner. There was also a casserole dish of fancy mac and cheese that Paul helped me make in the back seat. Curiosity about the young child that my brother would once marry was palpable as we approached Charlie's house.

It had been well over two months since Jake came home for the first time since all of the pregnancy drama at the Cullen house. Over two months since he'd come home to shower and sleep for the first time in days. Every single day since he'd come home to sleep and shower, and always head out directly after breakfast, if not for school, directly back to the Cullens to spend the day with the new little girl or "the hybrid," as they'd coined it.

"You all right there, Black?" Paul asked, his eyes snaking over to me once in a while during the drive.

"Yeah," I answered a little too quickly.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No, I want to." I fought rolling my eyes. This was his overprotectiveness kicking in.

"Remember, the moment you feel any sort of discomfort, or that they may be looking at you like you're dinner, these leeches, you just let me know and we're out of there."

"It's not about the leech—er vampires, rather." Though I did have to admit I felt a bit apprehension at the mention of the word "vampire" from my lips. I'd forgotten about that completely, and now I realized it would be the first time I'd meet one. Edward and Bella would be there, so that would actually make two.

I felt Paul's glance at me from the corner of his eye. "You sure about that?"

Somehow I couldn't answer him.

"Your pulse is racing," he noted. I hated that I could never hide anything from him. "You say the word and we come back home. I realize they're about to become family one day, but I only trust them as far as I can throw them."

"It's fine," I said, though I'd basically choked out my response. "I'm just trying to get used to the idea." My fingers kept drumming against the plate. "To be honest I'm more… anxious about meeting Renesmee."

"Oh, Nessie," he nodded in understanding. "okay."

"Well, aren't you?" The Cullens, including my brother, were very protective of Nessie. Given her accelerated growth rate, it was tough to introduce her to outsiders. Even Sam's pack hasn't met her in person.

"Besides, I thought you liked Bella? Didn't you all get along with her when she was still human, and hanging with Jake?"

"She always brought an adventure with her, sure," he agreed. "She punched me once, though."

I flinched at that. "Did she?"

He nodded, a smile threatening at his lips.

"Something you did? Said?" I arched a brow in his direction. "Were you being yourself?"

"Maybe," he chuckled.

"What happened?"

"She'd figured out what we where. What Jake was. She came to your house one morning, I guess to talk to him about it. She confronted all of us when we arrived on our way to patrol, thinking it was somehow our fault that Jake was acting funny. She got in my face and I got in hers. And then bam. Her fist in my face."

"I thought you had better reflexes."

"I was too busy laughing at her to notice she was going for my eye."

'"So what did you do?"

"Lost it. Lost control and phased."

My eyes were wide saucers.

"Don't worry. She was standing far enough from me to not be in harms way. Before, I had a difficult time controlling my temper."

"Jake come out of your house and phased. And then your brother and I had it out." He shrugged dismissively. "As wolves," he tacked on after he took in my reprimanding face.

"Of course you did."

My nerves were slightly sedated when we reached Charlie's house and realized the only ones there were the Clearwaters. Jacob and my dad were in my father's truck behind us.

We all piled into the living room where they'd moved the dining room table. Sue had laid out an impressive spread of roasted turkey with all the fixings: gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce. Seth and Leah had helped, of course. I was glad to contribute the macaroni and an option for dessert. Charlie's contribution was the venue of his humble abode; he wasn't a great cook as I understood it.

"They're here!" Jake nearly exclaimed, busting out of the door.

My heart kicked into overdrive and immediately Paul was at my side, a defensive hand on my arm.

Bella was the first to walk in. I hadn't remembered Bella being so striking when we met as children, but then that was even before puberty. Boy, did she clean up well now, especially as a vampire. Her husband was equally as beautiful—this Edward Cullen that I'd heard so much about for months now. They were nice enough, shaking my hand as Jacob introduced us, their disarming smiles as dazzling to me as Seth had once described to me during one of my visits to the Clearwaters. The smiles didn't help the shock I felt at the frigid temperature of their skin or the feel of their stone-like hands.

A head of copper curls came running through the door, and when she turned around to wave shyly at Jacob, I couldn't help but sigh and how beautiful she was. Of course, I'd seen photos before on Jacob's phone, but nothing compared to her in person. Large, brown eyes, perfect little face with skin as white and iridescent like I don't know what. I was prepared to be standoffish about her, to maybe even hate her even, but there was no way anyone could hate a child so beautiful.

And I saw. I saw the draw, the reason why Jacob was so absent from our house. How he so willingly would skip class so often just to spend the day with the beautiful young child.

"You're half a foot taller from last week." Charlie noted.

I didn't miss the glances that were exchanged between Jake, Edward, and Bella in reaction to Charlie's observation.

I'd spent a few late nights with Jake talking about his fears with Nessie, her accelerated growth rate, and how much time he'd have with her. There, in the privacy of our little home, he'd choked out his fears to me, one night even holding back his tears. It bothered me as well, knowing that Paul would hardly have a will to do much if he ever lost me. What then would happen to Jacob if he were to lose Renesmee?

Whatever he felt for her mother, this was multiplied times ten. If he would leave for Bella, what would he do if he ever lost Nessie? My brother's happiness was every bit as important to me as my own. I wanted to know he was safe, healthy, and emotionally stable, especially all that he'd been through.

All of this I pondered silently as we ate dinner, which was wonderful. All the humans ate at the table, while Edward and Bella sat on a couch near by, flipping the channel between football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I wasn't sure what to expect with Nessie, as I knew she could sustain herself on both blood and human food, but she ate with us, in a chair beside my brother.

It was sometime after dinner, when I heard an unfamiliar voice from behind me. "Rachel." I spun around at the sound of my name, and my breath caught when my eyes found whom it was.

Bella Swan… er… Cullen now, I guess. She smiled that gleaming smile again, and I was momentarily taken aback by how much I didn't know her. This was the girl that my brother had been pining over for months, the reason why he'd left home for so long. The same girl who had punched my boyfriend for making fun of Jake, and broken Seth's arm when she found out Jake had imprinted on her daughter. Yet somehow, now sitting in front of me, I didn't have it in me to hate her like I probably should. The disdain I'd held for her all these months since returning home seemed to suddenly come into question.

"I don't know if you remember, but we used to play together," she said.

"Ah, yes," I answered, and it was the truth. Charlie and Billy would bring their girls around each other in hopes that we'd be friends. Becky and I were two years older than she, and nothing of a true friendship developed.. "Of course I do. You played dolls with us when our fathers would go fishing ."

"Yes," she said, her eyes lighting up. "I was worried you wouldn't remember."

I was actually surprised that she did, as I had learned earlier that through the transformation, vampires didn't remember much of their human lives. "I don't forget many things," I said, but then I realized my statement carried a lot with it, especially concerning her. "Did you want some dessert? I made pumpkin bars."

She gave an apologetic smile, scratching her head awkwardly. "Uh, no I've,"—she cleared her throat—"eaten already." Her eyes didn't meet mine with the last two words uttered.

It didn't dawn on me what I'd asked until I heard Jake and Edward stifle a laugh.

"Damn," I breathed, my cheeks flushing. "Sorry, I forgot." At that, Paul was at my side, his arm around me protectively, his grip like a vice—an unnecessary thing.

"No problem," she laughed. It was strongly musical. Her eyes switched to him, a small smile turned the corners lips. "Hello, Paul."

His eyes narrowed but he returned her smile with a huge grin of his own. "Sup, Bells?"

She nodded once in his direction. "Long time, no see?"

"Yes," he agreed. I could almost feel something coming and then he said it. "How's life as a leech?"

My elbow met his rib, tickling him.

"Better than life as a dog, I imagine," she quipped back as he chuckled at my elbowing, and this time Edward was at her side.

"Paul," Edward greeted, his voice smooth. His eyes were that strange golden color that I heard about, and I found myself a bit mesmerized by them. I suddenly realized that if he actually were like most vampires out there, women and girls alike stood no chance at survival as his prey.

"Eddie," Paul nodded.

Edward's eyes narrowed at the slightest in reaction to Paul's addressing him as "Eddie" before his face was cleared from any expression.

Paul gestured to me. "You've met my better half, Rachel."

"Ah, yes." His smile was alluring to say the least. "Charmed." He held his and out to me again.

I took it gladly, shaking it with less reservation as the first time, his cold skin not as shocking as I'd come to expect it. The vampire was so beautiful, my voice couldn't find me. I thought, maybe he wasn't hot in the sense that Paul was. Edward was more like a work of art than a sex symbol.

Paul's hand came to my elbow to guide my hand away, clearly uncomfortable that a so-called "leech" was touching me.

A smile played on the male vampire's lips, and I flushed over my fawning of him, as I remembered his mind-reading ability. He seemed to bat his eyes at me quickly as if to acknowledge my thought. "You must be one hell of a woman to… endure such a colorful young man."

I heard Jacob snicker from the corner, with Seth and Leah doing the same from the other side of the room.

"Humph," Paul grunted, his eyes narrowing at Edward this time. "How's your brother?"

"Emmett is well, thank you for asking."

"That's too bad," Paul answered.

I shot him a cool look and nudged him again. "Paul!"

"Do give him my best," Paul offered, ignoring me. "And that I'm up for a good scrimmage anytime."

A small chuckle left the vampire's lips as Bella and I yanked our better halves towards opposite sides of the room. "I will do that," Edward called over his shoulder. "I'm sure the sentiments are echoed."

Paul smiled at him before he turned back to me, kissing my forehead.

A few moments later, Paul was busy with Charlie and my dad watching the game, when Jacob called me over to him and Renesmee.

"Rachel, I want you to meet Nessie."

He turned to her. "Ness, this is Rachel, my sister."

She smiled hiding behind my brother's back.

"It's okay, Renesmee," Bella coaxed her.

She stepped around him and held her hand out, silently, her grin timid.

I took it, and was surprised to find how warm it was, warmer than mine. Just as warm as Paul's and Jacob's skin, actually. I was expecting an onslaught of visions from her talent that Jacob had described to me more than once, but they didn't come.

"Hello, Nessie," I said, kneeling down so our eyes would meet. "It's so great to meet you." She smiled, so perfectly, her teeth a complete set of pearly whites. "Jake won't shut up about you."

She giggled, her other hand covering her mouth as she turned to look at him.

He smiled back. "It's true, Ness."

She jumped and hugged me, her small harms wrapping around my neck. That's when it happened. I was momentarily blinded, in a mental sense, and my mind was flooded with images of Jake, one in particular of them sitting on a front porch where he told her about his two older twin sisters. How much he loved us. How much he would love for us to meet when it was time. That he'd have to wait to introduce her to Rebecca who wasn't allowed to know about how special everyone was. That once things were better he could introduce her to Rachel, who he was so happy to share his secret with. "He talks about you, too," she whispered in my ear.

I stared at my brother beyond the curls of Nessie's hair. He winked at me, and I tears stung my eyes.

Watching my brother light up around her, I was placated. The laughter that came from him wasn't forced. He was just happy; completely content playing The Cat's Cradle game with a long piece of yarn with her tiny yet able fingers. Her intelligence was both shocking and alluring. Skeptical as I was before, now I was completely won over.

My Corolla was booming with Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds album as I pulled into our driveway, which I know I'd get heat from Paul about, but I didn't care. It was about two weeks since Thanksgiving. Things were going pretty well for the last two months that I felt that nothing could get me down. My brother was finally happy. My father was happy to have two of his children home with him. I was finally happy.

I was still singing "My Love" when I came through the door with the groceries, when I assessed the tone of the room.

My dad sat at the table with Paul, their faces unreadable as they both stared into space.

My intuition kicked in then, my stomach lurching. "What's going on?"

"A couple of the Cullens asked permission to cross our lands last night," my father told me.

"Okay?" I sat down to try to meet their eyes. "Yes, Paul told me about that last night." Their eyes were still weary. "What's wrong with that?"

"Well Sam went to update Jake this morning. Jake went to the Cullens with the news."

"Jake just called," my father said. "There is an issue."

Paul finished with, "The Volturi, that bunch of Italian leech-bullies that try to front like they're something special—their governing group."

"Yeah?"

"They're coming for them," my dad replied. "The Cullens."

I flinched. "Why on earth for?" My eyes switched between them both.

Paul was antsy as he said, "One of the Cullen's leech friends from Alaska saw Nessie from afar playing with Jake and Bella." I must've had a confused expression so he answered with "Jake was in wolf form, which probably doesn't look too good to a bloodsucking outsider."

My father and Paul tried as best they could to explain to me the law against immortal children.

Shaking my head, I had to say it. "Nessie's so far from one of those kids."

"Well this group is all about clean-up. And they're coming to collect."

"You can't just explain to them that she's a hybrid, and not one of those vampire babies they're talking about?"

"I believe they are not ones that yield to reason," my father stated in a placating manner.

"I think this group, who should be the most powerful of their kind, is threatened by the Cullens. They've got Edward who reads minds, and the brunette tinkerbell Alice who can see the future. I've heard through Jake's mind from when we were fighting the newborns last spring. These guys are into acquisition, and building their own army of special-talent bloodsuckers. They'll take anything down they consider a threat."

The room began to spin as I realized the implications of such an event—that this all too powerful coven of vampires were to go after my brother's imprinted. That there was no way that my brother would stand for it. He would die trying to protect her. And in turn, so would his pack. I thought about the current members of Jacob's Pack: Leah, Seth, Quil and Embry. And then my eyes focused on Paul, his chocolate gaze already fixed on me. "Sam," I gasped. "He wants his pack to fight along with them."

Paul inhaled wordlessly at my conclusion, his gaze not wavering from mine. The silence was enough confirmation.

Here we go again, a voice thought in my mind.

I was on my feet before I knew it. "You're not going to do this."

"Rachel, we've been through this before. You know I can't—"

"No!" I exclaimed, making a beeline around him for the door, and rushing out to my car.

"Rachel!" He yelled after me, but I was already shoving the seatbelt round me.

Throwing the car into drive, I pressed on the gas, and flew out down La Push Road and out of range.

To where, I wasn't sure. But I needed to get away.

Endnote:

Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to drop me a line and review the piece! Reviews are very encouraging for fan fiction writers. They keep us going, and we are forever grateful for them.

If you're a new reader, welcome! Feel free to also check out my Rosalie and Emmett story called Vanity and Patience, and its companion sideshots, Strength and Remorse!

Here's to hoping that I get the Chapter 13 in before Thanksgiving of this year! I know exactly what going to happen, I just haven't written it yet.

Happy Halloween, and Happy Thanksgiving (but lets hope you hear from me before then)! For updates follow me on twitter at achelle131!