It was even more infuriating to see the whole Cullen clan practically overjoyed with the idea of the pack joining us in the fight. It was like none of them seemed to care that this was my family they were using, just as long as we had the numbers they thought that we would be fine.

"Aria will you please relax before I make you." Jasper stressed just as we broke through the trees at the clearing Jasper had chosen for the meeting.

"How do you expect me to, Jasper?" I was being stubborn and I wasn't going to let up.

"It is going to be easy. The newborns will be completely taken by surprise. I truly believe the wolves' hunting techniques will work flawlessly against them." He affirmed, to another person he could've been completely convincing, but this was still my family.

"Well let's hope you're right and no one gets hurt." I concluded as I stared out across the dark field.

"Maybe you should drop your barrier, Aria. I can't see anymore." Alice offered and I complied allowing for the voices of the Cullens' to fill my head.

Bella and Edward arrived shortly after, they began discussing a theory about Victoria being involved in this as well but now was the not the time to think about that. Now was the time to train. "Is something wrong with Alice?" Bella whispered but of course will all heard.

Edward laughed to himself. "The wolves are on their way, so she can't see anything that will happen now. It makes her uncomfortable to be blind." He explained, amused.

As the family greeted the couple, the many voices of the pack suddenly sprung into my head, including two new ones... making eleven in total. There were two new members?

"When will our guests arrive?" Carlisle asked Edward and I.

"A minute and a half. But one of us is going to have to translate. They don't trust you guys enough to use their human forms." I explained and Emmett smirked mischievously.

Carlisle nodded. "This is hard for them. I'm grateful they're coming at all."

I tried to ignore the complaints of bloodsucker stench as the wolves drew nearer. "They're coming as wolves?" Bella asked anxiously but I ignored her and focused on the pack.

They were holding back from showing themselves and it looked like they were not going to participate in the training.

"Prepare yourselves — they've been holding out on us." Edward began.

"What do you mean?" Alice demanded.

"Shh," he cautioned, and stared past her into the darkness. They were planning on being dramatic.

Our informal circle suddenly widened out into a loose line with Jasper and Emmett at the spear point. Carlisle was beside Jasper, and I beside Emmett, not including Edward we were the four strongest members of the coven.

The wolves were stood in the darkness in their usual V formation. Sam was in front, his dark shape almost invisible in the night, and was flanked by Jesse and Jacob. I tried to hide my surprise at the sight of Jake, I hadn't seen him as a wolf in weeks, not up close, and he was so much bigger than Sam now, I couldn't believe it. He was definitely more muscular and taller in human form.

"Damn," Emmett muttered under his breath. "Did you ever see anything like it?"

Through various minds I watched as Esme and Rosalie exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

"What is it?" Bella whispered quietly. "I can't see."

"The pack has grown," Edward murmured to her.

"There's eleven of them." I whispered back. "Two newcomers beside Leah and Seth." I explained and watched through the packs mind to identify the two newbies.

I recognised them to be Brady Fuller and Collin Littlesea. Brady was Seth and Leah's cousin and was only fifteen, Collin was the same age and was Jake's cousin as well. I couldn't believe the pack had grown to eleven wolves.

"Fascinating," Edward murmured almost silently.

I met Carlisle's eyes and he nodded at me, hoping I would translate for the wolves, I nodded back in agreement. He took a slow, deliberate step forward. It was a careful movement, designed to reassure. I walked forward too, only not as slow and smiled purposely when it annoyed Jared.

"Welcome," Carlisle greeted into the darkness, the wolves not coming out of the shadows annoyed me.

"Thank you," I responded in a flat tone, putting my focus on Sam's thoughts instead of the rest of the pack's. "We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control." I continued glaring at my brother feeling embarrassed by their hiding.

"Don't start with me Aria. I'm already mad enough at you." Jesse hissed at me and I rolled my eyes choosing not to respond.

"That is more than enough," Carlisle answered. "My son Jasper" — he gestured to where Jasper stood, tensed and ready — "has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."

"They are different from you?" I asked for Sam.

I could hear Jared fighting the urge to make an acidic comment but Sam had commanded him to do no such thing because they knew Edward and I would be listening if he made a comment about me.

Carlisle nodded. "They are all very new — only months old to this life. Children, in a way. They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty-two. Eleven for us, eleven for you — it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves."

A rumble passed down the shadowy line of wolves, a low growling mutter that somehow managed to sound enthusiastic.

"Oooo we're sharing are we?" Paul teased earning a few laughs.

"Bet we'll end up doing all the work for them. It's obvious we're so much better." Quil added matter-of-factly and I groaned out loud, sending daggers to Quil. "Fine, I'll stop." He added quickly, his head lowering slightly.

"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary," I translated, the edge still hanging onto my voice.

Carlisle smiled. "We'll see how it plays out."

"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?"

"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path."

"Thank you for the information. We will watch."

With a sighing sound, the eyes sank closer to the ground one set at a time. I couldn't help but look through their eyes as they watched us, and one wolf's thoughts caught my attention in particular as they hadn't stopped watching me since they arrived.

Jacob's eyes were watching my every move, even if I shifted in my stance slightly his eyes would follow. I stared directly at him, warning for him to stop but he didn't.

"Stop it, man. You're being creepy." Embry told Jake from beside him.

"Just leave me alone." Jake spat angrily but it didn't affect me what he was looking at or thinking about at all. I decided to look away.

Carlisle moved back from beside me and Jasper took his space. "Carlisle's right." Jasper spoke only to us; he seemed to be trying to ignore the audience behind him. He was not comfortable. "They'll fight like children. The two most important things you'll need to remember are, first, don't let them get their arms around you and, second, don't go for the obvious kill. That's all they'll be prepared for. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively. Emmett?"

Emmett stepped out of the line with a huge smile. He was way too eager. Jasper backed toward the north end of the opening between us and the wolves. He waved Emmett forward.

"Okay, Emmett first. He's the best example of a newborn attack." I stifled my snort of laughter and Emmett sent me a disapproving glare.

Emmett's eyes narrowed. "I'll try not to break anything," he muttered.

Jasper grinned. "What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength. He's very straightforward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle, either. Just go for the easy kill, Emmett."

Jasper backed up a few more paces, his body tensing. "Okay, Emmett — try to catch me."

And I couldn't see Jasper anymore — he was a blur as Emmett charged him like a bear, grinning while he snarled. Emmett was impossibly quick, too, but not like Jasper. To a human it would look like Jasper had no more substance than a ghost — any time it seemed Emmett's big hands had him for sure, Emmett's fingers clenched around nothing but the air.

It was amazing to watch, Jasper's skill was impeccable. I was not looking forward to my go, though I did have my mind reading advantages.

Then Emmett froze. Jasper had him from behind, his teeth an inch from his throat. Emmett cussed.

There was a muttered rumble of appreciation from the watching wolves. "I'm enjoying this more than I thought I would." Paul quipped and the boys chuckled. They do know I can hear them, right?

"Again," Emmett insisted, his smile gone.

"It's my turn," Edward protested. He was just as eager as Emmett, ready to spring forward.

"In a minute." Jasper grinned, stepping back. "I want to show Bella something first." Bella watched on anxiously. "I know you worry about them, Alice and Aria, I want to show you why that's not necessary."

I was intrigued to see how this sparring match would play out. Alice stood motionlessly, looking tiny as a doll after Emmett, smiling to herself. Jasper shifted forward, then slinked to her left. Alice closed her eyes.

I smiled to myself as Jasper sprang forward. Suddenly he was on the other side of Alice. She had moved in less than a split second.

Jasper wheeled and launched himself at her again, only to land in a crouch behind her like the first time; all the while Alice stood smiling with her eyes closed.

She was being sneaky but it was effective. Emmett would even call it cheating. She was watching his decisions before he made the move, out manoeuvring him.

She took another step, while Jasper's grasping hands whistled past where her waist had been. Jasper closed in, and Alice began to move faster. Finally, Alice laughed. Out of nowhere she was perched on Jasper's back, her lips at his neck. "Gotcha," she said, and kissed his throat.

Jasper chuckled, shaking his head. "You truly are one frightening little monster."

The wolves muttered again. This time the sound was wary. "I don't like the little psychic." Jared commented.

"She'd definitely be tricky in a fight." Sam added but little did they know that Alice would be fighting the wolves blind.

"It's good for them to learn some respect," Edward murmured, amused. Then he spoke louder. "My turn."

"Patience, Edward." Jasper said holding his hand out to him before his eyes turned to me. "Aria?" He waved me over and I stepped forward warily. I wasn't used to fighting with an audience.

"I'm just warning you... and your wolves." He looked over his shoulder eyeing them suspiciously as low growls sounded along them. "You will feel pain easier than the rest of us. Your skin is soft therefore you will be bruised, normal human weapons can't penetrate your skin but teeth can - our's and that of your furry companions."

I became distracted suddenly as a sudden harsh growl rippled through the air. "I'm not going to let him hurt her." Jacob spat, standing to his paws.

"Stand down Jacob, this is a training exercise." Sam said calmly but Jacob remained in his attacking stance.

Us Cullens drew closer together, tightening our circle to protect Bella being wary of Jacob's temper. "Stop it." I hissed, glaring at his stupid, massive wolf head. "Now." He didn't have the right to want to protect me.

He continued to watch me for a few more moments, fighting over in his head whether he should listen to me or not until suddenly he sank back to his feet.  Jasper moved in front of me, his eyes trained on the row of wolves as he began to address them.

"Aria is a newborn. She has the strength and speed of one but she doesn't think like one, she's smarter, because she doesn't have the thirst for blood to distract her. She still has the temper of one though." Jasper looked back at me with with a half smirk on his face and I grinned back. The wolves didn't like that. "She also has her mind reading ability, she can anticipate your every move, and that makes her dangerous.

"This late into her first year she shouldn't still have the strength and speed of a fresh newborn. With normal newborns their strength comes from the fact that human blood still lingers in their tissues, this fades over time. Aria being half human means that she will always posses this power." I ignored Emmett's scoff as I smirked happily at Jared's angry wolf face.

"I'd be careful if I were you Jared. You heard what he said." Jesse warned as he looked at me, a strange wolfy grin on his face.

"Like I said before, her skin can be penetrated but her bones are like our skin, harder than marble. Completely bullet proof. But that doesn't mean she can't be broken by our kind, she could still be ripped apart just like anyone of us." Jasper explained as I cringed and a whimpering sound escaped Jesse... and Jacob.

"That's if they can catch me." I added trying to ease the tension.

"Ready?" Jasper asked as he moved into a crouching position.

"More than ever." I confirmed and mirrored his stance.

We sped towards each other and just like with Alice I could see his moves before he even made them, I would dodge his grasping hands at the last second.

This was definitely the most even fight of the night so far.

Jasper had the century of experience to guide him, and he tried to go on instinct alone as much as he could, but I was able to anticipate his every move and he was becoming frustrated.

I was faster by a mile, even faster that Edward, but the only other vampire I had fought was Victoria. Jasper was extremely different.

I shot past him again but unexpectedly he caught my arm and swung me down to the floor in front of him and I skidded across the dirt. An instinctive hiss escaped my lips as I made for him, dodging his every move and getting a few punches in for myself, each one harder that the one before. Every time I hit him a slight sting shot up my arm. I knew they'd be a bruise but it would be gone in a few hours.

As we continued to fight the wolves' voices began to fill my head again. Jesse and Jacob's were mostly filled the worry but some thoughts surprised me.

"She really fits in with them, doesn't she." Embry acknowledged his eyes trained on Jasper and I.

"You can't even see the blue in her eyes. The gold has just taken over in the moonlight." Seth added and I smiled to myself knowing he was actually admiring and not disgusted by my eyes.

Jasper's moves were becoming predictable and with one final swing I knocked him to the floor and was on him in less than a second. I grabbed his arms and held them behind his back and leaned over him, leaving my lips centimetres from his neck.

"Very impressive." Jasper complimented as I let him up from the ground.

"Not too bad yourself." I high-fived him before making my way back over to the group. "He's all yours Edward." Though I expected their fight would be similar to mine. Maybe Edward and I should fight. That would be really interesting.

"Yes it would be." Edward said, answering my thought as he walked past me. "Maybe later." He winked at me before joining Jasper.

I was right and the match was similar to Jasper's and my own fight. Like me, Edward knew what Jasper was planning but Jasper's skill still kept him at bay.

The fight continued and all the while Jacob still had his eyes on me and my slightly purple knuckles. There was a dull ache but no extreme pain, I could still flex my hand.

"Can you not take your eyes off of her just for one second?" Leah groaned and I could picture her rolling her eyes.

"You know I can't." Jacob insisted.

"Well just try!" Jesse spat and soon enough Sam was telling them to shut up and concentrate.

Eventually, Carlisle cleared his throat. Jasper laughed, and took a step back. Edward straightened up and grinned at him. "Back to work," Jasper consented. "We'll call it a draw."

Everyone took turns, Carlisle, then Rosalie, Esme, and Emmett again, but this time Jasper put Emmett up against me.

"Aria? You're next against Emmett." Jasper said calling me out of my thoughts, well the wolves' thoughts.

"Watch out kid!" Emmett snickered and I gave him the finger which he chuckled at.

"Don't underestimate her Emmett." Carlisle warned as Emmett cracked his knuckles.

I prepared myself just in time to see Emmett running towards me. Thinking quickly I ran towards him and slid between his legs before he could grab me. Emmett groaned and span around his arm coming out to hit me but I grabbed it, stopping him, and kicked my leg up into his stomach sending him onto his back a few metres away.

The Cullens all clapped and laughed but Emmett didn't give up. He stood to his feet brushing himself off as he growled.

He moved for me again but I could hear his thoughts. He was going to try and take my legs out and flip me over. I could see him beginning to change his stance in order to grab my legs but I quickly dodged him, clasping the back of his shirt with both hands and pulled him down to the floor. I stood over him, pulling him up so I could hold him in head lock.

His teeth clenched as he tried to break free of my grasp but I held on tight. "Okay Aria. That's enough." Jasper said walking over placing a hand on my shoulder.

I dropped Emmett and he fell forward, his hands coming out in front of him to stop himself from face planting the dirt. "You did extremely well." Carlisle said as Emmett began to mumble things to himself angrily.

"Wow. Beaten by a girl Emmett." Edward smirked and I turned to him squinting my eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him and he shrugged.

"Nothing." He said quickly.

"That's what I thought." I said before Jasper spoke.

"Aria that was exceptional. The best I've seen today. Keep going like that and you'll be perfectly fine." He smiled at me.

"I guess my abilities come in handy, huh?" I smirked at Emmett as his face grew thunderous.

"You cheated!" He whined like a child and I laughed.

"No." I said placing my hands on my hips. "I used my head." I smirked and he growled. "Oh lighten up Em." I chuckled and he glared at me. "Em bear's sad." I pouted and the Cullens laughed but Rose tried to hide it as Emmett side glanced her.

"Shut up A." He said as he folded his arms.

"Nope." I said popping the p.

"Meh. I could have done better." Quil thought, obviously forgetting I could hear him. My head shot round to look at him and he shrunk back.

"Just shut up." Embry said looking at him.

"What?" Quil asked innocently.

"She would destroy you." Paul laughed as did the rest of the guys.

"Yeah right." I could picture Quil rolling his eyes so I knew it was time to intervene.

"Wanna test your theory out Ateara?" I called out to him moving away from the family and onto no man's land.

I watched as Quil meekly stepped back. "Err, well... you see... I-I I kind of pulled a muscle in my knee- err I mean leg." The guys and I began to laugh and I could sense Edward laughing lightly in his head which made my smile widen more. He didn't have any bad thoughts about them at the moment.

It seemed like my fight was the last one of the night. Jasper confirmed that, turning toward the wolves for the last time, his expression uncomfortable again. "We'll be doing this tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again."

It was time for me to translate again. "Yes," I answered in place of Sam. "We'll be here."

"Maybe we should acquaint ourselves with their scents, just so we don't, you know, accidentally kill one or something." Jacob offered which earned a few laughs from the pack.

"Yes. Good idea. Aria, could you ask?" Sam asked hopefully and I inwardly groaned.

"The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of your scents — so they don't make mistakes later. If you could hold very still, it will make it easier for them." I explained which earned a grateful nod from Sam.

"Certainly," Carlisle said to Sam. "Whatever you need."

There was a gloomy, throaty grumble from the wolf pack as they all rose to their feet.

The deep black of the night was just beginning to fade — the sun brightening the clouds, though it hadn't cleared the horizon yet, far away on the other side of the mountains.

Sam was in the lead, of course. Unbelievably huge, black as midnight, then came Jake, standing even taller than Sam making Bella's eyes widen as she gripped onto Edward.

As they became more clearly visible out of the protection of the trees I became slightly overwhelmed. Who knew that our magic could stretch this far? Something bad was definitely coming if we needed eleven wolves.

Sam approached Carlisle where he stood in the front, the huge pack right on his tail. Jasper stiffened, but Emmett, on the other side of Carlisle, was grinning and relaxed. Sam sniffed at Carlisle, seeming to wince slightly as he did. Then he moved on to Jasper.

The wolves walked along the row of Cullens, sniffing at them all in turn. A low whine broke through the last wolf who was sandy wolf in colour and who I recognised to be Seth. He was panicking slightly at being left a little behind. Stuck between Carlisle and Jasper.

"Hey, hey, hey. Seth it's okay." I jogged over to him, both the Cullens and the wolves watching me carefully as I comforted him. "Don't panic," I whispered. "No one here is going to hurt you." I said as I stroked over his fur on his neck.

"Sorry." He whispered back meekly.

"It's fine, come on I'll walk around with you." I offered and his giant head nodded as I lead him to Jasper.

"You're actually really good at fighting." He complimented and I smiled at him as he winced at Esme's scent.

"Thanks. I have my abilities to help." I reminded him as we carried on down the line. Once we finished I let him join the rest of the pack as they began to back away, not taking their eyes off the Cullens as they departed.

Jesse lingered on the tree line a practically called out to me. "You're wanted at home tonight Aria. Dad wants to talk to you. You have some explaining to do in the morning." Jesse warned and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, Jesse, I get it!" I yelled back to him showing I wasn't fond of the idea.

"Ooh looks like that temper is back." Quil teased and I wasn't having it.

"You know what, Quil!" I snapped, and began to stomp towards him but he turned quickly and ran back into the cover of the trees, his tail between his legs.

Jacob lingered in no man's land, his thoughts on Bella mostly and her safety. Though I could see images of myself floating around in the background, I wasn't sure if he was doing it on purpose or not.

"Ready to go?" Edward asked Bella.

"Where are you going to keep Bella during this battle?" He asked snidely and to be fair that was a good question.

"I've not quite figured out all the details yet," Edward said, answering the question in Jacob's thoughts.

"Well why not? Seems like an urgent matter, don't you think?" Jake asked with an edginess to his tone.

"It's more complicated than that," Edward said. "Don't concern yourself; I'll make sure it's safe."

"What are you talking about?" Bella demanded.

"Just discussing strategy," Edward said.

"Let me change back quick." Jacob said before he bolted for the forest. Great, now he was going to follow me on the way home.

Jacob came back into view, on two legs this time. His broad chest was bare and beautiful and I cursed myself when he caught me staring. He wore only a pair of black sweatpants, his feet bare to the cold ground.

It didn't take him long to cross the field, though he gave a wide berth to the Cullens, who stood talking quietly in a loose circle.

"Okay, bloodsucker," Jacob said when he was a few feet from us, my teeth gritting together at his use of terminology. "What's so complicated about it?"

"I have to consider every possibility," Edward said, unruffled. "What if someone gets by you?"

Jacob snorted at that idea. "Okay, so leave her on the reservation. We're making Collin and Brady stay behind anyway. She'll be safe there."

Bella scowled. "Are you talking about me?"

"I just want to know what he plans to do with you during the fight," Jacob explained.

"Do with me?" She asked for clarification.

"You can't stay in Forks, Bella." Edward's voice was pacifying. "They know where to look for you there. What if someone slipped by us?"

The blood drained from her face. "Charlie?" She gasped.

"He'll be with Billy and Robert," Jacob assured assured quickly. "If my dad has to commit a murder to get him there, he'll do it. Probably it won't take that much. It's this Saturday, right? There's a game."

"Hiding you is just a precaution. I told you — we'll have no problem now. There won't be enough of them to keep us entertained." Edward explained to Bella, his hand stroking over her cheek.

"But what about keeping her in La Push?" Jacob interjected, impatient.

"She's been back and forth too much," Edward said. "She's left trails all over the place. Alice only sees very young vampires coming on the hunt, but obviously someone created them. There is someone more experienced behind this. Whoever he" — Edward paused to look at Bella — "or she is, this could all be a distraction. Alice will see if he decides to look himself, but we could be very busy at the time that decision is made. Maybe someone is counting on that. I can't leave her somewhere she's been frequently. She has to be hard to find, just in case. It's a very long shot, but I'm not taking chances."

Bella stared at Edward as he explained, her forehead creasing. He patted her arm.

"Just being overcautious," he promised.

Jacob gestured to the deep forest east of us, to the vast expanse of the Olympic Mountains.

"So hide her here," he suggested. "There's a million possibilities — places either one of us could be in just a few minutes if there's a need." I didn't like how I was missed out of that equation being the fastest out of everyone.

Edward shook his head. "Her scent is too strong and, combined with mine, especially distinct. Even if I carried her, it would leave a trail. Our trace is all over the range, but in conjunction with Bella's scent, it would catch their attention. We're not sure exactly which path they'll take, because they don't know yet. If they crossed her scent before they found us... You see the difficulties."

"There has to be a way to make it work," Jacob muttered. He glared toward the forest, pursing his lips.

"I need to get you home — you're exhausted. And Charlie will be waking up soon..." Edward began but Jacob interrupted.

"Wait a sec," Jacob said, wheeling back to us, his eyes bright. "My scent disgusts you, right?" The idea of Jacob carrying Bella popped into his head and I grimaced. Why was I still here? I should have left by now.

"Hmm, not bad." Edward was two steps ahead. "It's possible." He turned toward the family. "Jasper?" he called.

Jasper looked up curiously. He walked over with Alice a half step behind. Her face was frustrated again.

"Okay, Jacob." Edward nodded at him.

Jacob turned toward Bella with a strange mixture of emotion on his face. He was obviously pleased his idea had been accepted but with the way his eyes kept flickering towards mine there was a satisfying amount of guilt as well.

"We're going to see if I can confuse the scent enough to hide your trail," Jacob explained.

Bella stared at his open arms suspiciously.

"You're going to have to let him carry you, Bella," Edward told her. His voice was calm, but I could hear the subdued distaste.

Bella frowned. Jacob rolled his eyes, impatient, and reached down to yank her up into his arms.

"Don't be such a baby," he muttered.

But his eyes flickered to Edward, just like mine did. Edward's face was composed and smooth unlike my undeniably furious one, I wanted to leave but my feet kept me planted to the grass covered ground. He spoke to Jasper.

"Bella's scent is so much more potent to me — I thought it would be a fairer test if someone else tried."

"Why can't the newborn do it?" Emmett called out with a laugh following after.

I scowled at him. "Their smell doesn't repulse me." I retorted back.

"Come on. You're part dog. Should be easy for you." I growled - which didn't help - and started for him but Edward stopped me, grabbing me around the waist.

Jacob glared in Emmett's direction before he turned away from them and paced swiftly into the woods. They didn't go far as I could still hear his thoughts and they were still just focused on me and how he thought I was reacting to this idea.

Spoiler alert: I hated it.

Whilst Bella and Jacob were gone the rest of the family said their goodbyes and then Alice and Jasper went off into the woods to see if they could track their scents.

"Your thoughts are very interesting." Edward jibed and I glowered up at him.

"Shut up!" I hissed quietly. "I can't help it okay. I'm still a woman!" He was commenting on the way I reacted to Jacob's bare, muscular, tanned chest.

"You're doing it again." He just couldn't help itself. "Shouldn't a woman scorned want to, I don't know, impale him on a tree branch or something?" He laughed as the thought of Jacob with a tree branch through his stomach entered his mind.

"Enough Edward!" I didn't share his amusement one bit.

We continued to wait in silence until Jacob and Bella broke through the tree line. Suddenly Alice and Jasper appeared beside us, quickly noticing the tension between Edward and I. Jacob set Bella down in front of us, his questioning gaze switching between the two of us as Bella took Edward's hand.

"Well?" Bella asked.

"As long as you don't touch anything, Bella, I can't imagine someone sticking their nose close enough to that trail to catch your scent," Jasper said, grimacing. "It was almost completely obscured."

"A definite success," Alice agreed, wrinkling her nose.

"And it gave me an idea." Jasper said enthusiastically.

"Which will work," Alice added confidently.

"Clever," Edward agreed. "We're — well, you're — going to leave a false trail to the clearing, Bella. The newborns are hunting, your scent will excite them, and they'll come exactly the way we want them to without being careful about it. Alice can already see that this will work. When they catch our scent, they'll split up and try to come at us from two sides. Half will go through the forest, where her vision suddenly disappears..."

"Yes!" Jacob hissed.

The sickening feeling was back in my stomach again. I hated that Alice couldn't see their future. I needed to know that they would all survive this.

Edward smiled at him, a smile of true comradeship. If only Jake knew what Edward had said about him moments ago...

Edward got back to business. "I'll bring her here Friday afternoon to lay the false trail. You can meet us afterward, and carry her to a place I know. Completely out of the way, and easily defensible, not that it will come to that. I'll take another route there."

"And then what? Leave her with a cell phone?" Jacob asked critically.

"You have a better idea?" Edward challenged.

Jacob was suddenly smug. "Actually, I do." And it actually brought me great relief.

"Oh... Again, dog, not bad at all."

Jacob turned to me quickly, as if determined to play the good guy by keeping me in the conversation.

"We tried to talk Seth into staying behind with the younger two. He's still too young, but he's stubborn and he's resisting. So I thought of a new assignment for him — cell phone." He explained.

"I can read your mind Jacob. I know what you mean. You don't have to explain." I needed to remain guarded. I couldn't have Edward teasing me again, or let Jacob think I was going soft on him.

"As long as Seth Clearwater is in his wolf form, he'll be connected to the pack," Edward said for Bella's sake. "Distance isn't a problem?" he added, turning to Jacob.

"Nope."

"Three hundred miles?" Edward asked. "That's impressive."

"That's the farthest we've ever gone to experiment," he explained. "Still clear as a bell."

"It's a good idea." Edward seemed reluctant to admit this. "I'll feel better with Seth there, even without the instantaneous communication. I don't know if I'd be able to leave Bella there alone. To think it's come to this, though! Trusting werewolves!"

"Fighting with vampires instead of against them!" Jacob mirrored Edward's tone of disgust.

"Well, you still get to fight against some of them," Edward said.

Jacob smiled. "That's the reason we're here."

Bella and I exchanged weirded out glances. It wasn't normal for them to be so in sync. It creeped me out.

"Edward, I need to get some sleep." Bella reminded as she tugged on the sleeve of his shirt like a child wanting their parents attention.

"Okay." He smiled down at her warmly. "We'll see you both tomorrow then." He said, addressing Jacob and I, and then with one swift swoop, Edward and Bella were gone.

"So, it looks like I'm walking you home." Jake beamed and I scoffed.

"Nice try." I retorted before speeding off as fast as I could towards home.

I was not so surprised to hear Jacob loping along behind me, I had put my barrier back up just so I couldn't hear him calling after me. If only I could get into the house before he caught me and then I could just lock him out and pretend he's not there.

Just giving him the opportunity to talk to me would just bring all the pain back. I had been doing so well this past week, I couldn't let myself sink back into the depressed state that I had been suppressing. I was channelling all my hurt into anger and I didn't want to ruin that.

"Aria!" Jake's voice rang out from the trees just as I broke through the tree line. He had phased back just like I thought he would in order to talk. "Aria!" If yelled any louder he was going to wake up my dad and Catori.

"No, Jacob. Leave me alone." I whispered back harshly as I stomped towards the back door that was only a few metres away.

"No," he pleaded, grabbing onto my elbow to pull me round to face him. "You have to listen to me."

I took a deep shaky breath as I looked over him. I was not going to cry. "I don't want to listen to you, Jacob. You had your chance with me and you ruined it... that's the end of it." I hissed, pulling myself out of his grip so I could take a step back.

"Please, I need you to trust me again." He begged. His forehead was creased with worry and anxiety and his body shook, but not with anger but with panic.

"You aren't worth my trust anymore Jacob, we're done." I said trying to assert my seriousness in my wavering voice. "I know you imprinted on Bella, you need to stop trying to string me along because it's not fair on me. I thought we actually had something, you know? But then you went and ruined it and I've had enough. I'm trying to move on so now can you just leave me alone." I explained as the twisting pain in my chest brought tears to my eyes.

"How do you know about imprints?" He hissed, the panic from before completely replaced with anger.

"What does that matter?" I asked, slightly annoyed the imprints part was all he took from my little speech.

"It just does, who told you about imprints?" He stressed furiously.

"Bella did. She wanted to know who you imprinted on, though, I think it's fairly obvious now that you kissed her." I spat, folding my arms across my chest trying to dull the pain.

"She had no fucking right." He began to pace. "That was my secret to tell and then she went and... I can't believe she done that." He stopped suddenly and turned to me. "Look Aria, this is not how I wanted to do this. I wanted to be romantic and smooth and not in a rush but you need to know this now." He grabbed a hold of both my upper arms, the action sending a shiver down my spine. "You are my imprint. Do you hear me? I imprinted on you!" He exclaimed as his eyes bored into mine, almost hopefully.

I, however, was in shock. After all this time I was supposedly his imprint. I was his soulmate, the love of his life? Clearly not as he treated me like complete crap. He was supposed to want me unconditionally yet he was always fighting for Bella.

I began to laugh bitterly. "Oh wow that's rich! If you imprinted on me Jacob, you would have been completely devoted to me, you wouldn't have gone and kissed my cousin!" I ripped myself from his grasp. "How do you expect me to believe you? You keep messing up, we don't act like Emily and Sam, we're toxic. No, better yet, you are toxic. You keep hurting me over and over again and I can't take it anymore!" I fought to control the volume of my voice as I ripped into him.

He stared at me, completely lost for words at my outburst, ultimately proving that what I said about him was right. When it was obvious he had nothing to say, I turned on my heel and started back towards the house again.

"Wait!" I sighed in frustration as Jake caught up with me again and ran around me to stop me in my tracks. "Look if this is about the charm..."

For fucks sake I had completely forgotten about that stupid charm. "I'm not talking about the fucking charm. It's just added to proving that you are a douchebag of a friend, of a person!" I cried, shoving him out of my way.

"I'm just saying the charm was a goodbye present." He jumped back in front of me as I wiped away the few tears that had betrayed me. "That was all a goodbye, I wanted to prove to you that I was worth it that I can make it up to you. That I can be worth something. You mean so much to me Aria, and I can't lose you, I can't live without you. I'm done with her, for forever. Now it's all about you. I love you Aria, I'm not rejecting the imprint anymore." He was on the brink of tears himself but that wasn't going to make me suddenly forgive him.

"Oh yeah because saying you've rejected me is a good way to win me over. Well done Jake." I said sarcastically. "And why should I even believe you or trust you're telling the truth for that matter? Just saying that I'm your imprint isn't going to make-"

He caught me completely off guard. His hands shot out to hold the sides of my face as he leaned down to attach his lips to mine. It was like my brain was frozen in shock but my body had a mind of its own and I became furious as it began to react to the kiss.

At first it was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, taking that twisting knife out of my chest with it, setting free all the 'Jacob' emotions that I had been bottling up.

Relief hit me first. The relief that I was the one Jacob was meant to be with and that he loved me too. That's when my body pushed itself against his.

Next I felt a completely overwhelming sense of happiness. Everything had suddenly fallen into place. My hands wound themselves into his hair as I stretched up onto my tiptoes.

I was melting into him and I hated it. He wasn't allowed to be off the hook! He couldn't fix everything with a kiss.

My brain suddenly took control of my body again and I stepped back out of his reach, slightly out of breath. The electricity between us began to fight with me then, wanting to connect me back to Jake.

"Do you feel that?" So he felt it too. "When we touch, when we're near each other. That is universe telling us we're made for each other. You for me and me for you. I'm never letting you go again Aria. Never. We need each other, otherwise we'll both fall apart." He said with a breathless urgency. Deep down I knew he was right but that didn't mean I could forgive and forget all that he had done to to hurt me.

"Did you think that kissing me was going to make it all better?" I asked seriously. "I want to believe you, I really do but I can't trust you. And right now it feels like I'll never be able to." I said truthfully and his face crumpled with pain.

"Look I can show you that this is it. I don't want anyone else, not ever. I'd rather die than not be with you Aria." He fell to the floor before me, grabbing both my hands in his and held them against his heart. "I'm on my knees please just take me back... please!" He begged.

"Jacob." I breathed, I couldn't do this.

"Every breath I take without you in my life feels like a stabbing in my chest that I can't get rid of. You know deep down inside we are meant to be together. Please just learn to trust me again." His voice wavered as tears began to well in his eyes, a stray one already sliding down over his tanned cheek.

In that moment the sun broke over the mountain ridge sending a breathtaking array of radiant colours across the sky. Bright streaks of red, pink, and orange slowly overcame the dark blue and grey of the twilight sky.

I looked back to Jacob as he remained kneeled on the floor in front of me, the light of the new day causing his falling tear to glisten before it fell from his jaw.

It was time to make a decision.

"Let me make this clear." I said evenly. "I do not trust you. Who knows if I ever will again. But, I know that we need each other, I can feel that too and it makes me so angry that I can't ever shake that feeling." I began to explain, I had to be truthful.

"That's the imprint bond-" he interrupted and I glared down at him.

"Let me finish. You have one more chance. I'm definitely going to be more hesitant this time. Not skipping around the rules. We are not a couple. Understood?" I said grimly, letting my hands slip from his so I could point at him.

"Yes. Yes, yes. I'm never letting you go again." He said quickly, staring up at me with complete adoration, I cursed myself when my heart skipped a beat.

How could I be so completely torn?

"We'll see about that. I'm throwing my relationship with Ryan away for you Jacob, don't make me regret it even more than I do now." I warned. "Now get going before my dad wakes up and Jesse gets back. I'm not in the mood to explain this to them too."

He began to nod enthusiastically before he scrambled to his feet to envelop me in his arms and honestly it felt perfect to be in them again.

Ergh, I needed to give myself a firm talking to later. How can one conversation make me let him back in again.

"Go." I urged, pulling away from him.

"I love you." He said softly, his hand lifting to caress my cheek. I nodded, not willing to say it back to him. He leaned towards me again, pressing his lips to my forehead sweetly and my eyes fluttered closed at the connection. When I opened them again he was gone.

Despite the stupid decision I had just made I felt triumphant. For once I was calling the shots, I was going to make him pay for what he had done to me. If he thought he now had it easy he had another thing coming.