AN: I'm very sorry for the long delay. I've spent some time writing a story for a different fandom in an attempt to clear my head and now that I've gotten back into the routine of writing, I've returned to this story with fresh eyes and a renewed love for it. I have received several encouraging messages the past few days which have really motivated me to keep writing. I believe in this story and I'm so glad that so many of you seem to as well. Thank you so very much for your support. A special shout-out goes to BringMeBelugas and Zayide for their incredibly helpful feedback and encouragement! –Mimi

Quick side note: I apologize if my notations for thoughts and pack communication have gotten confusing. Bella's thoughts whether she is a wolf or not will always be in plain italics and everyone else's pack communication will be in bold italics. Hope this helps!

Chapter 14: Confrontation

As the last of the light left the sky and the forest was plunged into darkness, I carefully helped my Jacob to his feet. He groaned quietly, his mending bones still causing him pain. "Are you going to make it, tough guy?" I whispered in his ear.

"I'll be fine. I just forgot everything hurt while we were…occupied," he chuckled.

I felt my pulse quicken as I remembered our time together on our improvised bed of moss and leaves.

"I guess we'll be needing those clothes now," Jacob said forlornly. "I was quite enjoying our time without them," he purred mischievously.

Even in the darkness, I could sense Jake's playful smirk and shared in his assessment. He leaned forward and brought his lips to rest against mine, gently applying pressure. His arms snaked around my waist as he deepened the kiss, pulling our bare chests closer together. I felt the excitement flaring to life inside me but the images of an injured Jacob that flooded my mind brought me back to reality. Knowing where our actions would lead if I didn't intervene, I unwillingly pulled away from him. "So…h-how do we go about getting these clothes?" I awkwardly gasped.

Jake placed one last kiss on my forehead and sighed resignedly. "You'll need to phase again and let the rest of the pack know. Just tell them we both need a change of clothes and they'll be here soon."

"Tell them? Just like that? What am I meant to do?" I asked, my head spinning in confusion as it attempted to absorb all the new information.

"Bells, you have to just trust your instincts like before. Don't think—just do," he encouraged me.

I slowly closed my eyes and focused on the steady beat of my heart and my slow pattern of inhaling and exhaling. I pictured my beautiful, white wolf-self in my mind and let my desire to feel her power and strength again flood through my body. I gasped as my body contorted and I suddenly felt as though I was exploding outwards into an enormous mass of fur.

Moments later, I quickly adjusted to my newly sharpened senses. My powerful nose was quickly flooded with the earthen, musky smells of the forest. Though I had yet to train myself to associate a mental picture with all of the unique scents, they were all the same very familiar to me. I opened my eyes and surveyed my surroundings. I glanced upwards and clearly saw the bats waking up for the night to indulge in a bug-filled breakfast. Their high-pitched squeaks filled my ears and were quite annoying. Jake must have sensed my grimace because I heard him quietly chuckle beside me.

"Yeah…bats definitely aren't my favorite either. You learn to tune them out after a while though," he mused.

I turned my head to look at him and was amazed by how well my wolf eyes worked. I thought I could distinguish every hair on Jake's head. I looked into his eyes and even though I wasn't sure if he could completely see my face, I displayed one of the wolfy-grins that Jake liked to flash me from time-to-time. After hearing another of his amused snorts, I playfully slurped the side of his face with my massive tongue.

"Ah!" Jake laughed, wiping at his now drenched face with his arm. "Bad doggie," he smirked.

I let a small growl reverberate in my chest, warning Jacob that I did not appreciate the pet name.

"Alright alright, I'm sorry," he said seriously. "So…how about those clothes, hmm?"

Oh yeah… I'm still not sure what I'm doing, but here goes I guess.

Thinking clearly about what I wanted to tell the pack, I felt my head dip backwards and from deep within my chest, a slow, sustained howl emerged. The lonely, mournful sound echoed through the dense trees until finally a few moments later, I heard the howls of the pack as they phased.

Where are you? Sam's deep voice rang inside my head.

Maybe about 5 miles away from the house. We're near a stream. I'm sorry I don't know more.

Stay put. We have clothes for the two of you.

Wondering who all was included in "we," my mind displayed quickly flashing images of Leah, Seth, Paul, Jared, Quil, Embry, Colin, and Brady in rapid succession.

Wow, that's really the whole pack…

Well what'd you expect, Bella? We want to know what's going on too! We can hardly believe it! Seth's excited voice chattered.

Just what I need Leah grumbled. Another annoying voice that won't get out of my head.

Oh shut up, Leah. Quil complained.

Seriously, Leah, It's going to be okay Embry tried to reassure her.

Before too long, nine beautiful, enormous wolves bounded into the clearing, their tongues hanging not so delicately out of their mouths as they panted. Leah opened her mouth and the small satchel of clothing she'd been carrying in her teeth fell unceremoniously to the forest floor.

"I'm going to phase so I will know what's going on," Jacob said to no one in particular. Thinking about his already painful wounds, I panicked and leapt in front of him. I bared my sharp teeth and began snarling loudly, warning him that if he knew what was good for him, he better not do it.

Jacob looked in my direction and said, "Bella, I'll be fine. I don't like being out of the loop."

I made a sharp barking sound deep in my throat before resuming my snarl, giving him one more chance to not be an idiot.

"It's probably a good thing that I can't understand you right now, Bells. I don't know if I even want to know the polite, charming things you're saying about me right now," he grinned. "Okay okay, I won't phase," he conceded.

Now that that's settled… Sam began. Let's talk about the new addition to our pack.

I still don't understand what happened Brady mused. She's not even a Quileute. I thought the only reason we still transform is because we're all descended from Taha Aki.

I discussed things with the doctor and Jacob and we have a theory at least Sam said. Firstly, ever since Jake imprinted on her, Bella has been able to hear his thoughts when he is a wolf. This seems to be fairly unique since no one else in the pack has experienced this.

Billy told us that his grandmother was able to hear Ephraim Black's thoughts in the same way because he was the pack's alpha.

But Sam is our alpha Jared said. Emily can't hear his thoughts.

He's only alpha because Jacob was too chicken for the job Paul snickered.

I growled angrily and felt my fur bristling with rage. Jake was still just a boy when he learned about all of this. He didn't want to challenge Sam for authority when Sam was already handling things so smoothly.

Yeah yeah…anyway, skip to the part where you explain how this happened Seth said impatiently.

As we've determined, Jacob is the true alpha of the pack. Earlier today when the red-haired creature made a reappearance, Bella put herself in the path of danger so that the creature would not harm Jacob. She spilled her own blood as a distraction much like the Third Wife did and the creature turned its fury towards her instead. Fortunately we got there in time to save her, but Bella's actions of protection and self-sacrifice in order to save her mate and the alpha must have truly made her one of us Sam stated.

So… what if the Third Wife had survived? Would the same thing have happened to her? Quil asked.

That's what Sam thinks at least. Bella's wound wasn't fatal Leah grumbled. Feelings of surprise flashed through the pack's consciousness and an annoyed growl began in Leah's chest. I pay attention. I was listening to Sam earlier.

Well that settles things then Seth began cheerfully. Bella is one of us now! It's so awesome being a wolf Bella. We're so fast and strong and we can run for hours without getting tired and we can tear a vampire apart in no time at all.

An awkward silence persisted in the pack's mind. Finally, images of Emily calling Bella "the vampire girl" and scenes of Bella and Edward spending time together with each other and the rest of the Cullens were shared among the pack. Leah resumed her growling, her intense stare piercing right through me.

She'll never be one of us. She'll always be a vampire-lover. You can't be a decent protector of our tribe if you do nothing but side with the vampires.

The Cullens have never meant any harm to the Quileutes. You know as well as I do that they do not feed on humans. As long as they keep to this promise, there's no reason to hurt them.

You see? This is a weakness. She'll destroy our pack Leah snarled.

There are good vampires out there. I will not harm the Cullens because they're good. However, if vampires like Victoria and her coven show up in La Push or Forks, I guarantee that I will have no qualms about tearing them to pieces myself. Those kinds of vampires are the ones who put our families and other humans at risk. I will always choose to protect human life.

I still don't believe you. You've been far too sympathetic to the blood suckers. I can't have a wolf who I don't trust in this pack. You're not welcome she roared as she launched herself at me.

"NO!" Jacob screamed.

The wind was knocked out of me as Leah's large, strong body made contact with mine. Her teeth snapped together as she tried to sink her teeth into my neck. Letting instinct take over, I used all of my strength to shove against her flailing body to throw her off balance. Once she was shaken off of me, I nimbly dodged her next leap and took a defensive stance as she prepared to attack once again.

ENOUGH! Sam's edict boomed in our heads. STOP THIS NOW he roared. I suddenly felt a crushing weight pushing me towards the ground as my body was forced to obey the alpha's orders. Leah's own body was also being forced downwards, her teeth bared in anger.

Leah, you know our laws. You never harm a pack member's imprint. Now that Bella is a pack member too and she and Jacob are imprints, you've done even worse. Get out of my sight and don't you dare try anything like this again. Do you understand? Sam growled in annoyance.

Yes, alpha. She spat. Sending one last glare in my direction, she turned and ran from the clearing back towards La Push. After a few uncomfortable moments, her little brother Seth bounded off into the night after her.

We will try this again tomorrow when we're all in our human forms. There is much to be discussed. Until then he said as he and the remaining pack members returned home.

Quickly phasing back to human form, I rushed over to where Jacob stood and embraced him. Jake squeezed me gently and then pushed us a few inches apart. "Ok Bells, you have to tell me what happened," he said seriously.

"Sam just told the rest of the pack about why he thinks this happened to me and wants to meet tomorrow to talk about it when we can't claw each other to shreds. Leah said she didn't trust me to do my job since I love the Cullens. She says I don't belong," I felt a few tears welling in my eyes, unsure of why her remarks hurt me like that.

Jacob wrapped his arms back around me and cradled my head against his chest. "Isabella Swan, you do belong. You are mine and I am yours. You have belonged ever since I imprinted on you. You belong even more now that you're part of the pack. Leah is just a grouchy psycho," he chuckled. "True, I'd like to rip her throat out of her neck for attacking you, but that's all it boils down to. She still hasn't forgiven you for associating with vampires and she looks for any reason at all to hate you."

"Oh…" I thought. "That would explain today. After you got hurt, she was particularly nasty to me. Edward told me that she was upset about you getting hurt. I think she blames me for it," I whimpered.

"Like I said, any reason at all she can find to have an excuse to hate you, she'll stick to it. She's vindictive, that one," he growled. "But don't you worry, Bella. I won't let her hurt you again."

"I bet it doesn't feel too good to be ordered around by your ex-boyfriend," I mused sadly. "She'll be even more upset now."

"Everything will be fine," he squeezed me gently.

After he released me from his grip, I padded over to where I thought Leah dropped the bag of clothes and groped around in the dark for it. After my hand brushed over its leathery handle, I dug through it, feeling for what had been packed. I felt the familiar, stiff texture of Jake's old jeans and tossed them over to him. While he struggled to put them on, I rummaged through the bag again and felt smooth fabric trimmed by lace.

"That bitch!" I growled.

"What?" Jacob said in alarm.

"She only packed my nightgown!" I could feel my blood boiling in anger. She had packed one of the shortest, most revealing pieces of nightwear I owned rather than normal clothes. I threw it to Jacob as I rose to my feet.

Jacob was silent a moment, probably feeling the outline of the garment before he burst into laughter. "Oh boy, Leah must really know how much I'm hurting. This probably just made my day," he chortled. "I really wish I could see in the dark because I would love to see you hiking through the forest wearing this."

"Shut up, Jacob!" I screeched in embarrassment. "Well seeing that neither of us has a flashlight, there's only one way to do things. Get on!" I ordered as I phased back to my wolf form.

"No no no….you're not carrying me, Bella. I have dignity you know," he replied.

I made the most threatening, anger-filled growl I could muster and lowered myself onto my belly so that he could climb on.

"But…I guess dignity means nothing when you have an angry mate who is capable of ripping out your beating heart with her fangs," he mumbled as he swung his left leg across my shoulders. I waited until I felt his arms lock around my neck before I sped off towards our cabin. Jacob felt weightless on my back and I was amazed at how quickly the trees sped out of my way as I ran. My thoughts were quiet so I assumed that all of the pack must have already phased back into humans.

That was quite a new experience I thought, remembering the unusual sensation of sharing thoughts and mental images among nine other beings. No wonder Leah was angry with me. It must get fairly complicated and noisy after a while.

Before long, I spotted the familiar lights from within the cabin. Bounding up towards the front door, I laid down long enough for Jacob to dismount. Using my nose, I could sense that we no longer had company. Sam and the rest of the pack had returned to their homes for the evening and the Cullens must have as well. However, I could still smell the sickeningly sweet odor that I now recognized as vampire scent. Since the smell didn't completely burn my nose, I knew that Edward and Carlisle had been gone for some time now. Glancing around my surroundings to make certain no one was watching, I returned to human form and scampered into the cabin to grab my bathrobe. Jacob hobbled in behind me and closed the door just as I tied the sash on my robe.

"I was rather hoping you'd wear this," he teased, tossing the wadded up satiny garment at me.

"You, sir, need to get your rest like you were supposed to," I eyed him.

"Yeah yeah…doctor's orders," he sighed.

I walked across the room and entered the guest bedroom where so much happened a few hours previously. I was surprised to find that the beds had been neatly made and someone had fixed the window I destroyed when I transformed. On the nightstand between the two beds, I saw a note written in very familiar, formal looking handwriting.

Dear Bella and Jacob,

Sam came back to the cabin and let us know what happened with the pack. You must have been several miles away because I was not able to eavesdrop this time. But from what Sam told me, you both need your rest, so Carlisle and I are returning home. I am still in shock about today's events, but I hope we can all talk about it tomorrow. Would you like to come by around three in the afternoon?

I hope to see you then,

Edward

I brought the note out into the living room to show Jacob. As he read, a worry line creased his forehead and his brows furrowed. "Well, I guess we'll be having all sorts of pow-wows tomorrow," he grumbled. "My head hurts already."

"Let's go get cleaned up so we can settle down for the night," I said quietly as I guided him towards the stairs with my hand.

We took a very much needed shower to wash away the earthy smells that clung to us as well as the debris from the forest floor that littered our hair. We spent several moments simply embracing each other as the hot water soothed our aching bodies. Feeling much more human, we dressed for bed and sunk very gratefully into our bed's soft comfort. I rolled onto my side and fluffed my pillow before placing my head upon it. Pulling me gently against his sore chest, Jacob snuggled closer behind me, his body molding perfectly around my curves. He kissed the back of my neck and let his arms wrap around me protectively.

"I love you, Bella. You will always belong," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss close my ear.

Rubbing one of his arms with my free hand, I replied, "And I love you, my Jacob."

As Jacob's breathing slowed into the slow, steady pattern of sleep, I couldn't help but smile as my drowsy brain reflected on the day's events. Jacob was safe, Victoria was gone forever, and now that I was a part of the Quileute wolf pack, Jacob and I belonged to each other even more fully than before. I didn't know what tomorrow would hold for us, all I cared was that in this one moment, we were happy and safe.