We sat in the house with Billy, waiting to see how Jacob would handle the rest of the conversation. Sam made a sound gesturing it was time for Jacob to finish.

It was painful to listen to Bella, god. She sounded like, I don't know how to explain it, she knew she was using Jake, she didn't feel the same way. But instead of letting Jake go like she should have, she latched on harder. She may not have intended to led him on in the beginning, but she was now. It was all she could do to hang on to something.

The moment Jake entered the home he holed up in his room, not speaking to anyone. We left him for some time, if we tried to talk to him then it would only cause him to phase and with Bella still standing outside there was nothing to be done.

I shook my head when Billy had to go out and send her away. Once she was out of hearing range, Sam went to talk to Jake, who ran off phasing like I thought he would.

"he's taking this hard" Embry said suddenly gaining the attention of all of us. I shook my head and said the truth, the one thing we (the pack) was thinking.

"no, he's taking it exactly how we should have expected. Bella is leading him on, she may not have intended to do so, but Jake thinks he's in love and wont except no for an answer. And Bella isn't giving him the right signals that says just friends. She told him that maybe she will eventually feel the same. She gave him hope, again. And she'll keep doing it because she needs someone. Jake kept her distracted, kept her busy and he would do anything she said. That's all it is, he was naïve enough and 'loved her' enough to let her do those crazy dangerous things that she knew others wouldn't."

The others looked at me, some with shock, some questioningly. "Jake's not exactly quite about how he feels about Bella, nor is he secretive about their interactions before. We've all seen it. Bella's leading him on because it's all she can do to keep him around. I guess her other friends aren't really her friends." I finished bitterly thinking about the months I tried to get Bella out of her funk. All those months I tried to make friends with her only for her to ditch me the moment a boy with supernatural abilities came along.

It wasn't long before the phone rang. Billy answered it to find Charlie on the other side. Bella had convinced him the Sam was some sort of Cult leader and the rest of us were terrible people.

I rolled my eyes as Charlie kept accusing us of brainwashing Jake. Of course, Billy had to admit that Bella was leading Jacob on, and Charlie defended Bella saying she made it clear that they were just friends. If only she knew we could see everything, all those looks, the times she let Jake hold her hand or the way she praised him.

She never specificized they were just friends. Maybe she didn't think she needed to, that it was obvious. But Jacob saw it that way, so, so did we.

I didn't hear the end of the phone call because I was heading home, I promised my mom I would be there for dinner. Once I was out of sight of the road I phased and ran the path to home, avoiding traps, hunters, or campers the whole way.

It was late and raining so I wasn't expecting anyone to actually be out.

The closer I got to home the more my skin prickled. Something was wrong and I pushed myself faster. No one was in their wolf form yet so I couldn't tell them. I was close enough to my home to smell dinner, and my mom.

But there was another smell, it was sickly sweet smell and sage. It was like the other vampire different slightly but sweet all the same. I stepped into the clearing to see something from my worst nightmares.

A vampire, a red head, she looked wild- chaotic with a feline like posture. She had a hold of my mother's shoulder much like James had a hold of me. I let out a feral growl, the monster turned towards me her eyes wide and searching frantically.

In an instant I heard the snapping of bones and the shrill scream as my mother was tossed aside without a care. The leech threw her into the window shattering glass everywhere, but the blood didn't seem to bother the beast.

All I saw was red, nothing mattered more than the death of the red head standing in front of me. I let out a howl to alert Sam and the others before launching myself at the monster.

She was fast, moving on instinct like she was gliding across the earth. I got close to her once, close enough to snap my massive jaw around her middle but she turned and swung her fist knocking me away before bolting out of range. My mind and body fought against itself.

Do I chase the beast whose teeth were so close to my mother's neck, or do I help my mother? In the end Sam decided for me.

'Help Val, Alex. We'll take care of the leech'

With one last growl I quickly phased, dressed, and ran to my mom.

"Mom?" I panicked; she didn't open her eyes. I didn't know what to do, I really wished she was awake to talk to me, to tell me what to do. I checked her over, there were no bites, but she was bleeding like crazy.

"it's okay. I'm gonna- "I choked back a sob "I'm going to get you to the hospital. I'm gonna... shit" I reached under her picking her body up carefully. By the time I got to the garage Sam was in the drive waiting for me.

"Alex." He helped me get her into the car, Paul showed up not to long after. "Paul, take the keys to Val's car. Make it look like a car accident near one of the trails."

I moved to get in the driver's seat, but Sam took the keys. When I got in the passenger seat I turned to look at my mom, I had covered her wounds the best I could, but she was still bleeding.

Once we got to the hospital I pulled on my jacket, and Sam grabbed one of the t-shirts I kept in my car before carrying my mom into the building. Dr. Gerandy saw my mom immediately, but I was forced to stay in the waiting room.

I sat in the chair my eyes glued to the floor, i let the leech go and the pack didn't catch her. She's still out there and my mom was lying on a bed.

Eve showed up at some point, I don't know when because I was too focused on trying not to break down. Sam gave me the details on what to say but I couldn't even form words at this point.

I remember feeling Eve wrap me in her arms, and that's when I lost it. The tears flowed down my face and blurred my vision the only thing I could do was break own into sobs. What if she killed my mom? I couldn't lose her too. Eve whispered words of reassurance, but I couldn't believe them, I saw the damage.

Charlie appeared not to long after with Bella in tow. She glared at Sam the whole time. Charlie gave him a look before checking up on me asking what happened. I was too distraught to say anything, but Sam filled in.

I guess my distraught and tear stained face paired with blood was enough to convince Charlie who tried to comfort me and Eve.

Dr. Gerandy appeared giving his response. I let out a sob—laugh when he told us the injuries. They weren't nearly as bad as I had thought, they were still bad, but she would be okay. A concussion, linear skull fracture, broken shoulder, arm both would need surgery to fix and broken ribs. The leech had to be more focused on escape than killing.

Charlie and I went to the room together. My mom was asleep, but she was okay, I kept repeating that over and over to myself. Eve was already in the room looking over her file.

"she's okay. Nothing life-threatening. Some broken bones and after a surgery she'll be back to normal." She smiled, a real smile as if the last three hours didn't happen.

Eventually Charlie left when visiting hours were over. He wasn't going to get me to leave, and I was grateful he didn't try, he only patted my shoulder on the way out. Sam left shortly after, telling me he would take care of everything.

Then it was just Eve, my mom and me.

Sam told me to take as much time as I needed, but I knew I would be back out searching for that bloodsucker as soon as I could. That night I passed out with my head on my mom's bed, Eve wasn't any better as she curled up on one of the chairs in the corner of the room.

It was morning before I knew it, there was no sign of my mom waking up and it worried me. Eve assured me that she would be okay, her body was resting just like I did when I was hurt.

Eve returned a cup of coffee in her hand; I could feel her eyes on me as she stepped into the room. I couldn't stay any longer, I needed to find that leech, I needed to find the beast responsible for my mom's position in this bed.

I stood up a face of determination as I looked at Eve. "it was a car accident" I said monotonal.

"yeah, that's what Sam said."

My eyes bore into hers "It was a car accident, nothing else. Anything she says is a result of the concussion"

Eve's eyes widened and she realized what I was saying. I could see she wanted to say more but Dr. Gerandy appeared. He did a basic checkup before informing us of her condition. No Change.

I could have told him that.

"I have to see Sam"

"Alex?" Eve grabbed my arm "I don't understand, what's going on?"

I looked at her "I can't tell you, but I'm going to fix this. I'm going to find the- "I shook my head, I couldn't tell her "I'm going to fix this. Please call me when she wakes up"

Eve nodded. She was gazing down at my mom, tears prickling. "I spent my whole life watching Val grow up. She's more than my sister, she's my best friend. I don't want to live without her"

I looked up at her, our eyes meeting and sealing my fate. "I will... I'm going to Sam's. I'm gonna fix this"

With that I left the room hearing a few rumors along the way, rumors that made me speed home, I quickly washed the blood off my body then ran out of the house and into the forest, not even bothering to put clothes on.

I got to Sam's early in the morning, grabbing a pair of clothes hidden in the trees. Only Sam and Emily were there, but Paul and Jared were on the way.

"I thought you'd be with your mom" Sam replied careful not to push my buttons, I understood that. I was angrier more recently.

"I was, she's still sleeping"

"you should be there when she wakes up"

I shook my head "Eve's with her, I couldn't stay... I would tell Eve everything and I can't watch her lying in that bed. But worse there's a hunting party. I heard about it in the hospital, there rangers are taking anyone who's armed and their giving out rewards for wolf carcasses"

Emily gasped in shock, Sam's eyes looked wide and concerned. "I'll call the others, no one goes out alone."

I sat at the table silently replaying everything. Emily sat some food in front of me "it will do no good for you to be hungry."

"I don't feel much like eating"

"maybe not, but your mom would tell you to eat. So do it for her. Neither of us need her to come down her and scold us" she smiled and for the first time I gave a real smile.

"you know, if you and Sam ever have kids, you'd make a great mom" Emily patted my shoulder a bright smile on her face.

"I already see the pack as my kids, I should make sure they are capable first" then she chuckled and walked off bringing more food for the others who soon joined.

Each of them engulfed me in a hug and promised we would get the leech. Sam returned informing us that Harry was going to join the hunting party, he was going to try and throw them off and hide evidence.

Mark would join as well; he was part Quileute and was in the know. He didn't know everything, but he knew about the wolfs- he knew about my dad. Actually, he was there when he phased the first time. And it was good to have an officer in on the secret, he could help out far more than anyone else. He was the one who officiated the police report from my mom's 'crash'.

He could help Harry cover it up.

But until then we still needed to find the leech, she was in the woods, and we couldn't allow her access to dozens of hunters. Even if we got shot. It was a price we were willing to accept to protect our people. So, after everyone ate, we left for the Blacks, Jacob was still sleeping but we had other pressing matters to attend to.