I jolted awake, the ear-piercing sound of three howls ripped through the undergrowth and around the trees. I blinked quickly trying to see through the light that was filtering through the trees. How had we fallen asleep out here?  

The howls sounded again, a fraction closer, and this time Jake mirrored my previous actions and bolted upright. "What is it?" I said frantically, watching his face as he tried to understand what the howl meant. His face then went hard like stone. 

"We have to go." He said quickly. "Now." Jake scrambled up from the floor, grabbing my hand on his way to his feet and hastily pulled me along with him. 

"What's going on?" I asked, now slightly panicked. We began to sprint hand in hand, and I was sure we were going faster than average human speed. I didn't realise this would change about the boys. 

"I need to get you home." Jake said picking up the pace, it was difficult to run at this pace, I was only used to human and vampire speed, not dwelling in the middle. 

"Why?"

"Victoria."

It felt like my throat closed up and I was struggling to breathe. "Jake, you need to phase now!" We weren't running fast enough; he couldn't protect himself like this. What if she got to him before he had time to phase? 

"No, I'll only do it when necessary." Was he completely delusional?

"Are you stupid? It is totally necessary!" I yelled at him. He couldn't protect me like this. 

Three sets of thunderous footsteps began to sound from behind us coming up fast, no doubt as part of the chase. Victoria was trying to find me. They were heading straight for us. 

I stopped dead, halting Jake suddenly as well. "What are you doing?" He practically screamed at me, trying to pull me along. We couldn't outrun her at this speed. 

"Jake, you need to phase." I spoke quickly and he just looked at me like I was being ridiculous. Could he not hear them approaching? 

"Aria, we need to go." Jake pressed, using his superhuman strength to try and pull me along. 

"Jake. Phase." It was like time slowed down immensely. The footsteps of the wolves were just a booming thud in the background, running in rhythm. Her lighter, almost silent ones danced around my ears and in the split second that I turned to face her she was already there reaching for me. Her hand wound its way around my neck and as a strangled "Jacob!" left my throat he was already a blur in the distance. 

She travelled upwards; my dangling body being struck by branches as she continued her climb. I kept my eyes trained on Jacob, watching as he suddenly exploded into his wolf form. A loud roar ripped through the air as Sam, Paul and Embry rushed through the undergrowth to stand by his side. 

I came to my senses then, grabbing onto the next branch I bumped in to. I screamed out, the grip she had on my neck was tight and the sudden force of stopping caused extreme pain. Her harsh, marble-like skin ruptured the blood vessels in my neck - I could feel them tearing. Her grip loosened, freeing me and allowing me to fall and land safely on the thick branch below. She stopped too, waiting on a branch a few metres above. 

"You're crazy." I spat, hissing up at her.

She looked down at me grinning from ear to ear. "Your neck looks pretty." Jake's howl then sounded from below causing me to look down at him. "Seems your friends are worried." She smirked. 

I ignored her comment. "What are you doing here? The Cullens are back you can't get to Bella." I snarled. 

Her smile disappeared as she pierced her eyes at me. She stepped off her branch almost elegantly and landed directly in front of me on my branch, the extra weight causing the branch to wobble uneasily. She began to stalk towards me, and I took steps back to keep a distance between us, but with each step the branch got thinner and soon enough I would run out of room.  

"I'm not here for Bella." Her smirk was back as she glared at me. "You've cost me so much. Messed up all my plans. I thought I had this all figured out. But I suppose you're only a small bump in the road, one that can be smoothed out incredibly easily." It was like she was talking to herself, but her red eyes were trained on me as she continued moving towards me. 

"What are you talking about?" I spat and she smirked menacingly. She burst forward suddenly, the branch wobbling under the sudden movement and causing me to lose my footing. I gasped when I felt the rush of air around me, but her hand was out in a flash, catching my wrist to stop me from falling, I was dangling once again.  

"Now why would I tell you that sweetie?" Her voice sent shivers down my spine and Jake's howls below sent pangs to my heart. He must feel so useless down there. "Just know there's a bigger plan. You just won't be alive to see it unfold. You're the next best thing to precious Isabella and considering she is currently out of reach..." She trailed off grinning at me as her grip tightened around my wrist, her nails digging into me and breaking through the skin. I hissed in pain as I felt her nails scrapping against the bone and blood began to seep from the wound. "Any last words, half immortal?" Surely, she knew dropping me wasn't going to kill me... 

"No." I grinned back at her as the idea sprung to mind. Maybe I could end this all now. 

I began to swing myself, using the momentum to propel my body around the branch she was standing on. I gripped her own wrist, so we were locked together, pulling her along with my body as I flipped through the air and landed on the branch below, her body clashing with the branch with a crack as I tried to gain my balance. 

She gripped onto the bark with her free hand using the force to pull me off of it sending us both falling. We crashed into branches on our way down, ripping them from the trunk. I seized her neck in my hand, squeezing it as hard as I could as we tumbled through the air, the high-pitched cracking sound beginning to vibrate around us as she gasped. 

She managed to get her leg up between us and kick me away from her sending me backwards into the tree trunk. I dug the fingers on my good hand into the bark of the trunk of the tree, it cracked under the pressure as my hand sunk into it.  

Victoria, instead of grabbing onto something, continued to fall until she reached the last few branches that were about fifty feet from the floor, just out of the wolves' jumping reach. She grabbed one tightly and hoisted herself up and onto it taking one last look up at me clinging onto the tree trunk and then down to four snarling wolves beneath her. She cursed to herself, her fist flying into the tree trunk causing a loud splitting crack, the tree shaking after the impact, before jumping off and fleeing north, all the wolves following her except for Jake. 

The tree began to shake, slowly leaning from side to side as it began to give way under its own huge weight. More cracks and snaps began to ripple up the tree and I knew we had to get out of the way fast. A tree this size could take down more in its path. 

"Jake run, the tree is coming down." His large wolf head shook in disagreement as he whimpered. This boy was going to get himself killed looking after me. "I'll be fine! Go!" He hesitated a moment before bolting. 

The swaying became more intense, and I knew that if I didn't jump soon, I'd be crushed. Leaves from above began to fall down around me as the snapping got louder. I didn't think twice as I leapt from the trunk, pushing myself off as far as I could to get away from the collapsing branches. My vampire instincts kicked in helping me land perfectly back on the ground and I didn't waste any time in taking off in the same direction Jake left in.  

In times like this I was thankful for my vampire abilities. When I wasn't distracted, my mind could prematurely work out potential threats. For example, right now I was able to dodge debris from falling trees that the original one had taken out on its way down. 

The ground shook as the huge tree impacted with the earth and I was now far away enough to stop running. I looked around and Jacob was nowhere in sight. I prayed he wasn't stupid enough to go back for me. 

"Jacob?" I called out and was met with silence. I decided to lower my barrier to see if I could hear his thoughts... I got nothing. "Jake?" How far could he have gone? 

I inhaled the air and got the faintest hint of his scent as it trailed off following the boys' and Victoria. "Jacob?" I practically screamed and not even three seconds later his thoughts began to enter my head. They were frantic and worried; I supposed my screaming his name sent him in to panic. "Jake I can hear your thoughts." I called out, I thought it would be best to let him know he can talk to me. 

"Are you okay?" His voice seemed a little calmer now that I had called out to him after my scream. 

"Yeah... I think so." I told him, my eyes glancing down at my clenched, bloodied wrist. My throat ached as well. 

"Wait, no you're not. You're bleeding." His comment let me know he was close, and I whipped round, coming face to face with his huge wolf head. 

"It's healed now I'm fine, just a little shaken up." His head nodded before his body stepped forward, nudging against my shoulder and from his thoughts I could tell he was trying to hug me. I reciprocated his hug, wrapping my uninjured arm around him and stroking over his soft, russet fur. 

"What did she say to you up there?" He asked backing slightly away again so I could look into his eyes. 

"She said I was the next best person to kill as she couldn't get to Bella at the moment. Apparently, I've ruined her plans, she has something ready... I don't know. I just know that Bella won't be in danger for much longer." Just for her safety I'm starting to like the idea of her being changed soon. Damn I wish I read Victoria's mind to see her plan! 

"What do you mean she won't be in danger for much longer?" He asked slowly as images of Bella began to flood his mind. 

"She's made a decision." I began and a low growl rumbled in his chest. 

"Go on." He urged as the images of Bella became more intense... more romantic. 

"She's wants to be changed. Become a vampire." I was wary and took a few steps back as a harsh growl escaped him, I could see his claws digging into the earth. 

"She's wants to be a vampire?" His voice was harsh as he spat the word vampire, and I could feel myself shrinking. "That's not happening." He began to pace. 

"Jake, you don't get a say." I began but he shook his huge head. 

"I'll get a say even if I die trying, she will not be one of them." I looked at him in utter confusion as my anger began to seep through. 

"Them? As in what I am." I asked as the betrayal of tears and Jake's sudden mood change began to get the better of me. 

"Yes, no." He stumbled over his words as his feelings for Bella began to flood both our minds. Did he just use me last night?  "You're not like them." He began and I shook my head.  

"But I am Jake. It's who I am, it's who Bella's going to be, and you can't change that." I argued but my voice was weakening as I watched him get upset over the prospect of Bella becoming a vampire. 

He roared furiously, my body quivering as I watched him watch me. What if his hatred got the better of him and he attacked me? He growled again before turning on his hind legs and sprinted away from me. His thoughts of Bella and his hatred for vampires began to fade into the distance until eventually leaving me by myself. 

I stood there bewildered, not believing he had just done this to me. I went to pull on my hair in frustration but realised my injured had was still clenched shut. I opened it slowly seeing a few bits of splintered bark but what shocked me the most was the chipped piece of white, ceramic skin about five centimetres long. I had part of Victoria's neck in my hand...

A howl bounced off the trees, shaking me out of my trance as I stared at the piece of Victoria I had broken off. How could Jake just disappear like that, as if I was nothing to him. He kissed me last night; he made me feel like he wanted me and not her. 

Last night was just so perfect. How could he ruin it? How could he not think about my feelings? It was just like old times, despite the kissing, we stayed up talking for hours. 

My bottom lip began to wobble as I let myself give in to my emotions. It was time to go home. 

* * *

I didn't understand what the universe had against me. My world had been blown apart yet again and I had no control over it. Jacob had given me so much shit and I'd had enough. 

Why couldn't I just fall in love with someone who wanted to fully commit to me? I didn't want someone who would just string me along when he wasn't able to see the other girl. I wanted someone who loved me back and after last night I thought that would be Jacob. 

Apparently not. 

I burst through the back door but smacked into Jesse's chest, his arms immediately wrapping around me. 

"Aria, where the hell have you been! Dad's been worried sick, I-" he stopped shouting when he realised I was crying. He grabbed my upper arms holding my body away from his so he could look at me. "Aria, what's wrong?" He cooed moving the hair out my face before wiping my tears. 

I didn't want to talk; I didn't want to speak his name out loud ever again. To hell with being strong, I was done.  

"Aria?" Jesse pressed and I shook my head, grabbing his hand to show him instead. There was no point hiding the way I felt about Jacob anymore. My mind quickly whipped over all the feelings I had for Jake, everything from start to finish. To when he left me this morning.  

"I'm going to fucking kill him." Jesse spat through gritted teeth, his whole body shaking as he released me slowly. 

"Jesse calm down." I tried but he shook his head. 

"I can't fucking believe him. I will kill him." He turned towards the back door and pulled it open violently, one of the hinges snapping off and pinging across the room. 

"Jesse! Stop!" I went after him grabbing his arm and turning me around to look at me. 

"What?" He asked angrily, his anger obviously not directed at me. "You want to protect him? You seriously don't want him to pay for what he's done to you?" He asked as he stared into my eyes. 

"I... I don't know. I don't know what to do!" I sobbed squeezing my eyes shut. "I don't want to protect him anymore. I just... Jesse, I don't know." I covered my face with my hands as he pulled me in for a hug.  

Jacob wasn't my favourite person at the moment, and I hated what he had done to me of course, but that didn't mean I wanted Jesse to go kill him! Hurt him maybe... 

"Shhh, it's okay Ari, I'm here. He won't do anything to hurt you ever again I'll make sure of it. Just please stop crying over him, he's not worth it." He rubbed my back soothingly for a few moments. The only sound being my sobs as I cried into my brother's chest. 

We were like that for a few minutes until Jesse's body tensed and he shot round keeping my body behind him. 

"Don't you dare come any closer to her!" He warned and I peeked around him to see Jacob standing there already looking at me. 

"I didn't come here to see you I came here for her." Jacob said calmly as he looked at me and Jesse stepped forward. This could get ugly. Why would he suddenly want to be there for me anyway? 

"Well, you're not coming any closer to her. I don't care what you are to her or whatever connection you have, you will not speak to her ever again." Jesse said angrily his body shaking. 

"You don't decide that for her! You know I can't." Jake argued back, his own body beginning to shake in anger. 

"Well, you obviously can considering all of the pain you are putting her through, what you are still putting her through. She is my little sister, and I won't stand for you to treat her like that." Jesse said loudly as Dad's questioning shouts echoed from inside the house. 

"I don't mean to do it!" Jacob yelled back frustratingly pulling on the ends of his hair. 

"Well, you still do. I mean look at her Jacob." Jesse turned to point at me. "Look at what you've done to her. You don't deserve her." I choked back a sob as Jacob stared at me, he looked so guilty. 

"What's going on out here?" Dad shouted as he walked out the back door, all of the guys and Leah leaving the tree line that opened onto our yard at the exact same time. I guess they missed Victoria. 

"I was forbidding Jacob from seeing Aria." Jesse explained and Dad stared at him harshly. 

"You can't do that son, and you know it." Dad said walking towards us, he hadn't seen my face yet. 

"I can and I will. Look at her Dad. Look at what he's done to her. She showed me, I've seen it. I won't have her treated that way." Something inside of me was screaming for him to stop and just let me run back into Jacob's arms but I knew that if I did that, the whole cycle would just repeat itself again. 

Dad walked around to look at me, his face falling as he looked at my own. 

"You see Dad. I won't allow it." He finished before turning towards the pack. "Sam, you have to let me do this, it's not fair on her. He can't keep running back to Bella. I know she's family, but Aria comes before her. She comes before all of you and this has got to stop." Sam and the others didn't say anything, he just merely nodded his head allowing for him to continue.  

"You can't keep me away from her. I-" he broke off, his own eyes widening at what he was about to say. "You can't do this; you know what she means to me. Aria don't let him do this." He begged walking towards me, but Jesse put his arm out stopping him from getting any closer.  

"Jacob..." I trailed off, my voice was shaking. I looked up into his sorrowful eyes and I knew that my answer would be the end of it. I had to make sure I never went back. "It's already done." I breathed out and he looked completely crushed and dare I say it heartbroken; his eyes even began to fill with tears. 

"No Aria please. I need you. Blue please don't leave me." He begged and I cried even harder as I shook my head, falling into my dad's arms. He can know what it feels like to be left alone. 

"I don't want you anywhere near her unless it's extremely important and I'm there to ensure it is. You will not talk to her without my permission, and you will not seek out her attention. Understand?" Jesse spoke authoritatively, taking his place as my protective older brother and beta of the pack.  

"You can't do this." Jacob struggled for an argument as he fell to his knees, as if his whole world just fell from beneath him: completely crushed. "Blue I'm so sorry." 

I closed my eyes tightly as I tried to block him out but all I could picture was his broken face. 

"That's enough now Jake. Come on." Embry and Quil had jogged over and began to pull Jacob to his feet. He suddenly looked so weak, so lost. 

"Hopefully it'll get your head straight." Jesse called out to him, but Jake looked too numb to take notice of him. He was helped towards the rest of the pack where I couldn't help but listen to their conversation. 

"He'll be alright. He just needs time for now but soon enough it'll be too much for him-" Sam's voice was cut off by my dad. 

"Let's go inside sweetheart." He rubbed my back and led my numb body towards the door. It felt like my heart had officially been ripped out of my body and left on the floor in front of where Jacob was kneeling. "It'll all be over soon." He soothed as he took me up to my room. 

"Are you sure?" I asked him and his face told me he wasn't. 

"Yes sweetheart, get some rest. It's been a long couple of days." 

He shut my bedroom door leaving me alone. It was official, I had finally lost Jake.