KARMA IS COMING. YOUR WOLF WON'T BE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU THIS TIME.

A dark figure slowly makes its way toward Autumn; she's screaming, her lungs burning in her chest. Her throat, raw and scratchy, becoming more raspy by the second... A russet brown wolf lunges from the shadows, at the figure. A blur, followed by a snap. Jacob's lifeless body crumples to the ground, a pool of blood around him... The figure turns back to Autumn, red eyes staring hungrily at her. Fear washes through her body, turning her blood cold... the sound of footsteps grows closer, almost like a loud drumbeat...

KARMAISCOMINGKARMAISCOMINGKARMAISCOMINGKARMAISCOMING

WOLFCAN'TPROTECTYOUWOLFCAN'TPROTECTYOUWOLFCAN'TPROTECTYOUWOLFCAN'TPROTECTYOU

Can't protect you...

The sound of thunder boomed through the house, jolting me awake. My heart hammered in my chest as I sat up, panting as I tried to regain my breath. The temperature in my bedroom dropped as the cold rain splattered across the windowpane. As another burst of thunder roared outside, a shadow at the end of my bed moved, slowly toward me. Panicking, I reached over and turned the nightstand lamp on. The bright light engulfed the room in yellow; I turned back to face an empty room.

You're just paranoid, I told myself. Just breathe. In your nose, out your mouth.

Even as I told myself that, the sinking feeling in my gut didn't go away. Something was wrong; as I got out of bed and made my way to the vanity where the shadow appeared, I couldn't shake the feeling that something - or someone - had been there just seconds ago. Not immediately noticing anything out of the ordinary, I grabbed my fuzzy robe off the back of the door and headed downstairs, tying the sash around my waist.

The house was eerily quiet and dark as I made my way to the kitchen. Turning the light on, a piece of paper on the counter caught my eye.

Autumn,

If I'm not home by the time you see this, I'm at the bakery. Mrs. Johnson ordered pies for her book club party and needs them by this afternoon. I thought I'd get an early start. See you later.

Love, Mom

Setting the paper back down, my stomach growled and I debated on what to make for breakfast. Lightening cracked as I turned toward the fridge and I shrieked as an outline of a person standing at the back door caught my eye.

"Autumn, are you okay?" I heard Jacob yell from the other side of the door. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, placing my hand over my heart to steady myself before I opened the door.

"What are you doing here? You scared me half to death!" I said as I let him in, rain clinging to his hair.

"I was outside when I saw the light come on upstairs," Jacob replied.

"Wait, you were outside... what about the treaty? The Cullens are back," I looked at him in confusion.

"You're my mate, Autumn. Treaty doesn't change that." He smiled as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. Suddenly his body went rigid as he sniffed the air.

"Jake? What's wrong?" I stared at him, my own body frozen as the paranoid feeling washed back over me like a wave.

"Stay here." He said in a low voice before heading toward the stairs.

The floor above me squeaked as Jacob walked around the upstairs. A few minutes later, he appeared in the kitchen, a backpack full of clothes and my purse in his hands.

"Go to Bella's. Now." He ordered as his eyes scanned the backyard. "I'm right behind you."

He handed me the bags and gently pushed me out the door. Without another word, I darted through the yards toward the Swans' back door, pounding my fist as hard as I could as my body shook. Bella met my eyes through the window and bolted across the kitchen, unlocking the door and letting me in. Worry settled onto her face.

"Autumn, it's 6 am." Bella glanced at the clock on the microwave. "What's wrong?"

"Ask... Jacob..." I panted, pointing outside. Bella looked behind her and gasped when she saw Jacob's face; she let him in and he made a beeline for me.

"Look at me," Jacob said softly, caressing my cheek gently. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." I reassured him. "Adrenaline makes me shaky."

"What's going on?" Bella asked, wrapping her arms around her body.

"Someone was in Autumn's room." Jacob shared a look with Bella. "Have you told... him... about what's been going on around here?"

"I haven't had a chance to talk to Edward." Bella's cheeks flushed. "I've been grounded since I got back."

"Looks like we're going on a field trip," Jacob said darkly. "Autumn, go change your clothes. I'll make some hot chocolate for you. And Bella, you might want to give the Cullens a heads up."

Nodding slowly, Bella moved to the phone on the wall and called Edward's phone; as soon as he answered, she turned her back toward us so we couldn't see her face. Silently, I headed to the bathroom to change, locking the door behind me. Jacob's words swirled in my mind: someone was in my room...

The walls grew blurry and the atmosphere was coated with an intensely cold tension, sucking the air out of my lungs. Gripping the sink to steady myself, hot tears slid down my cheeks as I stared at the mirror. The girl staring back at me was unrecognizable; her face looked permanently tired, her hair sticking out all over the place.

Fear flickered in her round eyes as they darted to different areas of her reflection. I tore my eyes away from the girl and cast my glance downward. The thought of Mom getting hurt by the intruder sliced through me, and for once I was grateful she wasn't home.

"Autumn?" Jacob called softly through the door. "Are you doing okay?"

"No..." I said weakly. "No, I'm not okay."

"Do you need... help?" His voice cracked, and I could imagine him gulping as nervousness flashed across his eyes. I managed a small smile.

"I'll be dressed in a minute," I reassured him. "But thank you."

"Okay." There was a slight pause before he spoke again. "I'll be out here if you change your mind."

A bigger smile crept onto my face as the knowledge of Jacob waiting for me brought a sense of comfort. As I tugged the fluffy white sweater over my head, I heard Bella come upstairs.

"Edward's waiting for us," she said loud enough for me to hear. "And Rosalie is asking for you, Autumn."

"What?" I opened the door to meet her confused gaze. "Why is she asking for me?"

"No idea." Bella shrugged. "We'll leave as soon as you're ready."

"Let's go." I grabbed my backpack and followed Bella out to her truck.

"Just follow me," Bella said to Jacob as she climbed inside the driver's seat. He nodded and climbed into his own car, engine idling as he waited for Bella to start her truck.

"So, Victoria is back and so is Autumn's anonymous stalker," Emmett said, leaning forward against the back of the couch.

The rest of the Cullens were scattered throughout the living room. Edward had an arm around Bella's shoulders, his facial expression hardened as we told them everything. Jacob stood by the doorway, just out of the room. His eyes darted from each Cullen, finally resting on me. I could see the discomfort written clearly across his face and offered a reassuring smile.

"So, what's our game plan?" Carlisle asked out loud.

"We keep an eye out for Victoria." Edward tilted his head slightly to the side. "Alice will watch for any decision she makes."

"And the stalker?" I asked weakly.

"We'll make sure nothing happens to you." Edward shot me a smile before turning to Jacob. "Yes, I know she's your mate. But she's also Bella's best friend and a member of this family."

"Stay out of my head." Jacob gritted his teeth. "We will continue our patrols. Treaty or no treaty, she is also a part of the pack. And we protect our own, no matter what."

"We can make that exception," Carlisle said calmly, nodding to Jacob. "A revised treaty may be a good idea if the tribal elders agree."

"I'll talk to them. I have to go," Jacob motioned for me to follow him. Once we were out of sight of the Cullens, he pulled me into a tight hug. "You call me the second you're uncomfortable or whatever and I'll come to get you."

"I will," I promised. "But I'll be okay."

"I know." He sighed before his hands cradled my face and his lips met mine. Too soon he pulled away, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'll see you later."

"Okay," I said breathlessly. As soon as Jacob left, I went back into the living room to find only Rosalie in the living room.

"Hey Autumn." She smiled warily as she patted the cushion next to her. "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure. What's on your mind?"

"I, uh... I want to say thank you. For keeping Bella alive, and believing in my brother. If it wasn't for the two of you, I'm not so sure Edward would be here." Her voice cracked and Rosalie glanced down at her hands, not meeting my gaze.

"Hey," I reached over and squeezed her hand. "All of you are family to me. And family sticks together, no matter what. I'm really glad you guys came back."

"Me too, honestly. Me too."

Edward and Bella were busy talking to Carlisle in his study when I finished talking to Rosalie so I wandered to the kitchen where I knew I'd find Esme. She was already chopping lettuce for a salad when I entered, a huge smile breaking across her face.

"I figured I'd make you and Bella some food," she said sheepishly. "It keeps me busy."

"Thank you."

"I feel awful we weren't here to protect you both," Esme admitted after a short silence. "Edward wouldn't have left if he had known Victoria had targeted Bella."

"None of us saw it coming," I told her. "Please don't feel bad. You're all here now, that's what matters. Besides, Jacob and the pack did a great job making sure we were safe."

"What is the pack like?" Esme asked curiously. "I imagine it's different from 80 years ago, when we signed the treaty."

"The guys are really nice. Sam, the alpha, is very protective of the pack. And especially of his mate, Emily. Jacob seems more himself when he's around them. He found his place in the world, as a wolf, even when he didn't believe in wolves."

"How are you feeling, now that you're imprinted with Jacob?"

"It was weird at first. Just the thought of being imprinted on. But other than that, it seems normal. Like I've always been a part of the group. The guys love having me around, Emily isn't the only girl anymore. It's like I found a family I didn't know was missing. Just like I feel with all of you."

"And we're happy to have you in the family," Alice chimed in, walking into the kitchen from the branch outside. "You and Bella both. Even though you smell like a wet dog most of the time."

"A con of being with a werewolf," I laughed. "Speaking of, how are your visions doing?"

"Jacob is clearer than the rest of the pack. Probably because he's always here since he imprinted on you." Alice playfully rolled her eyes. "Still not as clear as you and Bella, or even the rest of us. But they're getting better, I guess."

"And anything on Victoria?" I asked hesitantly.

"Nothing so far. Which is strange if you ask me. Especially since she was coming after Bella while we were gone."

"Maybe she backed off because Bella isn't an easy target anymore. Edward's back to protect her." I said absentmindedly. Alice shared a surprised look with Esme.

"You could be onto something, Autumn," Esme murmured before she raised her voice to a normal level. "Edward?"

Within seconds, Edward appeared in the kitchen; his face contorted into a worried expression as he read Esme's mind. He drew in a deep breath.

"I didn't think of that." He said out loud, answering her unspoken question. "The best we can do is wait and see."

"Is it okay if I turn on the news?" I asked Esme as Edward paced toward the window. She nodded and handed me the remote to the tv sitting on the counter behind her.

As I flipped to the news station, the reporter had begun to go over the missing persons case that plagued the news stations across the state of Washington; the name Riley flashed above his photo as the reporter confirmed there were still no leads or sightings of the Seattle kid.

"Charlie is worrying himself to death over this case," Bella sighed from the doorway. "It's been a year, and still no sign of him."

"We're keeping an eye on things in Seattle." Edward reassured her, still by the window. His eyes darted out to the treeline, as if he was searching for someone.

"You have a theory about him, don't you?" I asked, looking straight at Edward.

"We do," he confirmed. "But we don't want you to be worried about it until we know for sure."

"That makes sense, but we're still going to worry." Bella told him as she approached him. They drifted into a hushed conversation; not wanting to interrupt, I turned back to Esme.

"Earlier, you asked me what the pack is like now. What were they like 80 years ago?"

"Much like they are today," she smiled at me. "Protective, strong, and grounded with a sense of loyalty. Family. Why do you ask?"

"Have you heard of Giuliana De Angelis?"

"That's a name I haven't heard in a while." Carlisle entered the kitchen, the sleeves of his white buttoned shirt folded to his elbows. "How do you know of Giuliana?"

"She's my ancestor from Italy." I wrinkled my brow in confusion. "How do you know her?"

"I met her a few times," Carlisle admitted, sharing a look with Edward.

"Wait, you met her? But... over 200 years had passed between her fleeing Italy and your birth? Not to mention when you became a vampire. Right?" I furrowed my eyebrows as I tried to do the mental math.

"Why don't we go to the study?"

Carlisle gestured for me to follow him, away from the rest of the family. Once we were in the study, I made a beeline for one of the overstuffed chairs near the desk while Carlisle shut the door behind him.

"So how do you know Giuliana exactly?" I asked as I tucked my feet underneath me, curling into the chair.

"I met her in Italy, during my time with the Volturi. She was a friend of a friend, and needed help getting back into her hometown." Carlisle said softly.

"That doesn't make sense. She would have to be a witch or a..."

"Vampire." Carlisle finished the sentence. "She was both, although I didn't know she was a witch at first. 'Healer' would be the proper term, but the name has changed over the years to instill fear into humans."

"Do you know who turned her into a vampire?"

"Unfortunately, no. Giuliana kept that a secret in the short amount of time that we were friends. From what I could piece together from the stories of her past, it was a nomad passing through the area. She was also on the run from her own haunted past, at least that's what Giuliana implied."

"Whoa... wait. Is that why you made the treaty with the Quileutes? Because of Giuliana?" I asked him, tilting my head as I thought about Carlisle being friends with Giuliana.

"Partly, yes. Giuliana was a dear friend, almost like family and we were very lucky to have her around."

"By we, you mean?"

"Edward, Esme, Jasper, and myself."

"Edward and Jasper knew her?"

"Edward met Giuliana at a jazz club in 1927 in New Orleans, while he was rebelling against Esme and me. They were nothing more than best friends, someone to talk to and hunt with at night. And Jasper met her in Virginia during the American Civil War. He doesn't speak of the war much, but he did mention that Giuliana had saved him and his friend."

"Wow." I gasped softly. "You said you were lucky to know her. Does that mean... she's dead?"

"Yes." Carlisle placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "One of her descendants, your great grandfather, had ordered some of the younger tribe members to kill her without knowing or realizing who she was before the treaty between us and the Quileute had been signed. He felt horrible afterward and had passed away from a heart attack a few weeks later at the age of 32. It devastated your grandma, his only daughter, and remaining child who was only 5 years old when the treaty was signed."

"I remember Mom saying something about that when I was younger. The grief was so much for my grandma, losing her dad, that it took a physical toll on her body and she was unable to have children; even after she had married my grandpa, it was difficult for her to have a baby. Then a few months before her 33rd birthday, she had fainted due to lack of sleep and found out she was pregnant with my mom." I recalled, earning a nod from Carlisle.

"Your family's history is a part of our history as much as it is the pack's. The circle of life connects all of us in some way." Carlisle mused. "I just hope it makes each of us stronger, in the end, knowing our life stories and family histories. Not only individually, but also as a team."