Jacob was gone for the night. His dad mentioned Bella invited him to go to the movies, some dumb action flick that was really stupid. But anyway, Billy and I took that opportunity to relax and watch a comedy together.

The past few weeks were fun with the pack...those who actually wanted to be around me anyway...but when I was at the house I was almost always holed up in my room. One time I was in the bathroom and heard Jacob walking toward it from the kitchen...it wasn't my best day. I had to clench and run. Leaving me to wait till he left before I could do my business.

I sat in the comfy recliner with an ice tea in my hand laughing as the girl on the screen came out of the tanning salon looking orange. Billy and I were having a blast.

"I wish my daughters would sit and watch a movie with me once in a while, neither of them were ever home when they were here," he sighed watching the screen.

I shrugged, "I know it's not the same, but I'm around. And I love watching these kinds of movies," I gave him a small smile.

Billy looked over at me, "It must have been hard. Losing everything, having to live with people who don't really understand you."

My smile faltered, "It was a change. But they still accepted me and loved me. That's all I really wanted. I know you and the others don't like the Cullens...but they took me in and I love them."

"I understand. Really. I'm just glad you're with us now," He put his hand on mine comfortingly. The moment however was ruined when we got a phone call, "I'll get it," he said wheeling himself over to the phone, "Hello? Sam...he did! Okay, she'll be right- he's coming here? Okay we'll be waiting for him. Get here quickly," he spoke fast and hung up almost as quick as he answered before turning back to me, "Jacob's turning. You need to be ready for him."

I nodded getting up and running outside to phase. A few moments later I heard it. Honestly I was glad to hear his voice again; even if it was in these circumstances.

"What the hell is happening?! What happened to me!! I-"

I followed the whines he was making and he froze when he saw me. His fur was a russet brown color, blended in nicely with the colors of the trees;

"Hey Jake." He tensed at the sound of my voice through the link. His head was swimming with thoughts, questions. I saw Sam standing in the back, he gave me a look wondering if he needed to phase too so we could get through to him, I shook my head, "Jake listen to me, everything you're thinking now is perfectly normal. All of us thought the same thing when we first shifted. You're going to be alright, we're all here to help you."

He quieted down, it seemed like he now had only one question; "Cate is that you?"

I nodded, "Nice to see you too."

Once we got him to calm down and phase back, we walked him back to the house where his dad was waiting for us. We both changed back into some clothes while Billy and Sam went on to explain to Jacob about the pack and the secret of the tribe. Then came the big question; Jacob was the son of a chief, making him the automatic alpha. But when Sam told him that Jacob got mad again;

"I didn't ask for this! I don't want it, keep it."

With that said, Sam also gave his usual alpha command, ordering Jacob that he cannot tell anyone what he is, our existence has to be kept a secret.

"You're also going to have to keep your distance from Bella," Sam added, "It's for your protection and hers. You don't want to get mad and shift in front of her, you could hurt her."

The look on Jacob's face was sad, I put my hand on his, "I didn't want to leave her either. But at this point...her safety is important. You know that don't you?" He nodded.

Jacob's eyes were glossy as he looked at me, "You left-"

"No," I shook my head, "I've been keeping an eye on Bella from afar the whole time," I chuckled, "I've been freeloading in your sister's room for the past few weeks."

A shallow laugh came from his throat, "That was you?" I nodded and he brought me into a tight hug.

~

Jacob was not as enthusiastic as Embry when he officially joined. I was with him every step of his initiation, cutting his long hair and sitting next to him as he got his tribal tattoo. I reminisced on how Sam and Billy asked if I wanted to get their tribe's tattoo on my other arm and I politely declined. Stating that at least for now I liked only having my tribe's symbol.

For days Bella kept calling, asking for Jake. The cover story Billy gave was that he had mono and she couldn't see him. Kinda dumb considering that's a "kissing illness" but whatever. But Bella is one persistent person. She called at least once a day, at first Billy would answer but it's gotten to the point where we just send her to voicemail.

It's upsetting, I could only imagine how bad this must've been for her, I haven't had the chance to go check on her because now I'm helping Jacob adjust and trying to get him to loosen up. Sam took him out to meet the boys but Paul refused to come, saying he didn't want to be around the "leech's pet".

When we explained to Jacob the whole story about my tribe I was anxious he was going to push me away. He clearly hated vampires as much as the others, holding a special kind of hatred for my family because of what they did to Bella. However from the look in his eye I could see that now there was a small bit of resentment towards her because of her particularly intimate relationship with "the bloodsuckers".

"I don't blame you though Cate," he told me one day, "You didn't ask for the bloodsuckers to kill your tribe. Although it's ironic that after that you go and live with a coven of them," he growled at the word.

I looked at him curiously, "So you aren't mad at me?" I confirmed.

He shook his head, wrapping his arm lazily around my shoulder, "If I got mad at you for something that was outside of your control....I think I'd go crazy trying to deal with those lunatics by myself," he nodded his head over to where Jared and Embry were play wrestling.

I smiled as I watched, "See I got everyone on my side now. Only one left is friggen' Paul!" I yelled exasterbated.

Jared laughed, "He'll come round eventually Cate. Besides, you're too cute he can't avoid that forever," He eyed me up and down and I laughed while Jacob protectively put a jacket over my front. I was only wearing a sports bra and shorts.

I rolled my eyes, who knows how many weeks passed and that pompous ass still refused to even meet me. At this point I was over it, if he didn't want to see me then fine that's not my problem. I never did anything do him, he's just being a little bitch.

It started to rain and we all groaned, I got to my feet and started the short walk back to Billy's.

"Cate, think you can take another quick perimeter run? I'm gonna grab Paul and-" Sam asked.

I smiled looking over at Jacob, "Actually Sam, Jacob owes me for helping him with his car, so he's gonna take my next three runs," I patted my bud's back while he hung his head annoyed, "See you back at the house!" I cheered before running so I wouldn't get caught in the rain.

~

When I got in the house there were multiple miscalls from Bella. The most recent one said, "I don't care I'm coming over, I'll be there soon." I sighed and sure enough a few minutes later I could hear her truck pulling in, I snuck a glance out the window and saw Jacob walking up with some impeccable timing. He trudged through the rain, it was coming down hard now, there was a scowl on his face. I saw her approach him and they had a heated conversation that ended with him telling her they couldn't be friends anymore.

I knew that must have been hard for him to say. It must have been even harder for her to hear. A few days later I got another email from her;

"Cate...things are bad again. Without Jake, I just...I can't stand it. I didn't see you when I was on the bike, but I saw him again. But I don't see him anymore. Will it really feel like he never existed? Like you never existed? I will find the place where I can see him again."

I know where's she's talking about. Edward showed me that meadow before he'd left. I hesitated, there were a lot of trees for cover...but would it really be worth it to go? Screw it.

I went outside and phased, the link was quiet. Which was okay for now, I didn't want the others to know what I was doing. I ran through the forest until I came to the edge next to the meadow. I could see where once sat all these beautiful little flowers, everything was barren. Dead. How poetic.

Bella just stood there shellshocked as she looked around her, I stayed low, practically laying on the ground as I watched her break down. Again, all I wanted to do was go over there and comfort her. But I couldn't.

Then I smelled it. I shot up, keeping hidden. And there he was. I thought I'd seen the last of this guy.

Laurent.

And there I was thinking that the Denali clan was going to turn him vegan. I was sourly mistaken, his eyes were about as red as they come. He's fed, and recently.

He was about twenty feet away from her, just staring and she looked at him shocked.

"Bella."

Her voice was practically a whisper, "Laurent."

He sped forward so he was about ten feet away, I was racking my brain trying to see if I should attack or wait for backup. But how would they even know if they were in human form? If I made a noise he would hear me.

"Why are you here?" Bella asked snapping my attention back to their conversation.

He sighed, "I came as a favor to Victoria," I held in a growl. This bitch was still around? "She asked me to see if you were still under the protection of the Cullens. Victoria feels it's only fair to kill Edward's mate, given he killed hers. An eye for an eye."

"Edward would know who did it. He'd come after you. And Cate killed James," her voice cracked at the mention of our names, "She'll kill you too." I love the confidence she has in me

Laurent however, shook his head, "I don't think they will," he whispered, "And that little girl got very lucky with James. Besides. How much could you really mean to them if they left you here unprotected?"

"Unprotected my ass."

"Victoria won't like my killing you-" he was right in front of her.

"Oh hell no," I yelled in my head.

"Cate are you okay?" Sam's voice came through the link.

"Get the guys and get over here NOW."

I could feel the others joining and running in my direction. They were getting closer, but I was completely focused on the monster in front of me. I was itching to pounce right then and there.

"Wait for us Cate! We're almost there!"

Laurent looked like he was working slowly to make this exciting for him. One of the things I hate about vampires is that the hunt is a game for them; and that's because usually the humans don't have anyone looking out for them. Well lucky for Bella I was there, and my backup came just in time.

"This one's mine." I growled getting looks from the others but Sam simply responded with;

"Let's go."

I started growling as I stepped out first, Sam and the others right behind me.

"I don't believe it," Laurent looked at me shocked. Good to know we still had the element of surprise. Our existence was so endangered many believed we were extinct.

I snarled at Laurent, felling a bit giddy I was gonna get to kill this traitor after all. I looked over at Bella who was watching us. Of course, she didn't look scared. She was good with the abnormal. But the way she looked at me, it was almost as if..she recognized me. Then oddly enough, she found Jacob rather quickly. It was interesting but I was more concerned about the vampire.

I could feel the pack around me. And I could hear Paul through the link, I realized that for the first time since Jacob phased, we were all together. And I never felt stronger.

I sent out a roar as I couldn't contain myself anymore and lunged. Of course the dude started running in the opposite direction, I didn't even hesitate before chasing after him. The others following in formation. I knew that him getting away was not an option, he would just report back to Victoria which would only make things worse.

"He's not getting away," Sam snapped as he passed me trying to cut him off. What surprised us was when Laurent stopped running and in the split second that Sam would've been on him, Laurent turned and punched him away. Sam landed back to where Bella stood, frozen in her place. When Sam started running back that's when she started to run away.

I kept pushing, chasing after him. Until finally he seemed to falter in a step giving me just enough time to tackle him. Once I got to him it was a piece of cake. Ya'know sometimes being underestimated only makes the kill more satisfying.

One of the benefits of killing vampires; very satisfying crunching noises when you're ripping them apart. Laurent was nothing more than a memory.

~

Once he was taken care of I ran to go check on Bella. I hid in the trees and listened to her frantic voice as she told Charlie it wasn't bears in the woods. Charlie asked Harry Clearwater if he could round up some of his guys to go hunting. Harry was a nice man, he lived pretty close to Billy and he was on the council so he already knew about me. He was skeptical at first considering I remembered his tone that night my family left, but Billy was able to convince him I was no harm.

I'm glad I'd hid a sports bra and shorts back when I was keeping an eye on Bella at her house, I phased back and put on the clothes, opting to just stay the night and keep an eye on her. Sometime around one or two in the a.m. I heard jogging.

"You shouldn't be here," I said not even looking at Jacob.

"Neither should you," he responded.

"Yeah but I didn't get the official alpha order, tell me- how much pain are you in right now?"

"A lot," he cringed.

I sighed, "And yet you're still going to go talk to her aren't you?"

He nodded, "She needs to know about us Cate."

"I miss her too Jake but you're not supposed to tell her-"

"I know!" He snapped, "But if I give her enough hints, maybe she'll find out on her own."

I chuckled as I got to my feet, "You're swimming in dangerous waters my friend, I'm gonna head home then. I'm sure you don't need me here."

"Cate," he called, I turned to look at him, "You're a good friend."

I smiled, "Right back at ya."

I stayed up and waited for Jake to get back, but I don't know what I was expecting to hear. He told me he asked her to remember something he mentioned last year. And there I was disappointed because how the hell was she supposed to remember one conversation she had so long ago?

We both went to sleep, both of us got off perimeter run duty for the night so we practically fell onto our beds. I slept like the dead that night. I almost missed the yelling the next morning.