"Come on!" Renesmee urged. "There won't be any food left if you don't hurry up."

Jacob jogged to catch up to her, slipping her hand into his as they walked. He glanced down at her wrist and smiled. "You're wearing our bracelet," he observed, his thumb running over the threads he had woven for her all those years ago.

Nessie dropped her gaze and nodded. "I stupidly took it off when we were fighting and I just found it again this week when I went home to see my family."

Jacob smiled a little and squeezed her hand. "It's okay."

"No it isn't," she whined. "I had no idea that the bracelet represented a promise ring until my mom explained it to me. I never knew that," she admitted sadly.

"How could you know, Ness? I never told you...I couldn't."

She nodded and sniffled a little, regretting the time they had lost together. "I know."

"I really love you, you know that?" he suddenly announced.

Renesmee beamed and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around him. "I love you too...so much," she gushed before kissing him roughly.

Jacob carried her the rest of the way like that, but he immediately regretted it when he heard the pack's wolf whistles. "Oh no," Jake grumbled as he set Nessie down and broke away from their kiss. "I have a feeling I'm gonna be beating someone's ass tonight."

"Don't you dare," she warned as Seth grabbed her out of Jacob's arms and hugged her tightly.

Quil handed Jacob a beer and gave him a knowing look. "Finally coming up for air, huh?"

Jacob scowled. "I don't kiss and tell."

"Yeah right, Black. Just tell us if you're still a virgin or not and we'll leave you alone," Paul whispered as he approached Jacob.

He sighed as he watched Kim pour Ness a glass of wine. "I'm not saying anything."

Renesmee winked at Jacob and blew him a kiss from the other side of the fire. Jacob hid his smile behind his beer and the guys jeered, "They did it."

Jacob hollered, "Where's the food?"

"Better keep your strength up!" Jared called as he walked away.

The girls were just as bad as they huddled around Renesmee and waited for details. "I'm not telling so you might as well stop asking."

"She looks too happy," Leah observed. "I got twenty dollars that says they did it."

"What about you, Leah? Have you and Wesley..." Ness questioned, trying to get all the attention off of herself.

Leah took a swig of beer and nodded. "Of course. We did it that night after we left your house."

"You didn't say anything!" Renesmee gasped.

"No one's even seen you lately. Quil says that Jake's been keeping you hostage at that love shack of yours. So that can only mean one thing..." Leah retorted smugly.

"They did it!" the girls called out in unison.

Renesmee scowled and stood, moving to join Jacob near the food. She bumped his shoulder as they stood side by side. He smirked at her, "This was a great idea."

"Oh stop," she whispered. "They're just trying to get under our skin."

Jacob nodded and reached for a strawberry. When he brought it to his mouth, she turned and pouted. "Last one?" she asked.

He held it up for her to taste, watching her bite it and noticing the way it dripped down her chin. He cupped her face with his other hand, tipping her chin back and exposing her throat. When he licked the sweet trail that pooled in the hollow at the base of her neck, the pack groaned. "Get a room, Black!" Quil hollered.

Jacob licked his lips and nodded. "I have a room at home, but Ness said we had to come hang out with you assholes."

"Who are you calling assholes?" Jared asked before flinging a bag of marshmallows at Jacob.

Jacob ripped the bag open and began pelting everyone with the white fluffy cubes. Nessie ducked out of the way as Embry approached her smiling. "I guess you don't need that banner flying behind the plane that says you haven't slept with Jacob now, do ya?"

Nessie elbowed him in the ribs and she scowled. "I know you're mad, but I don't care...I was ready."

Embry wrapped a protective arm around her and laughed. "I'm not mad. It's your life. I just want you to be happy."

Renesmee smiled up at him and cocked her head, "I am, bonehead. Aren't you?"

Embry nodded, there was no way to conceal the grin on his face when he stared at Amara. "I'm very, very happy," he murmured.

Nessie gasped, "You dirty dog! Awe, my little baby's not a virgin anymore," she gushed as she pulled him into a hug.

He laughed in response, holding her tighter and blocking her from being hit by any errant marshmallows. "Easy!" he called when several hit him in the head.

"Watch those hands, Embry!" Jacob called out, pulling Ness from his arms and shoving him back playfully.

Embry lunged at Jacob, attempting a headlock, which he easily avoided. "Too slow!"

Renesmee sauntered back to the ladies and smiled. Kim was passing out the shots of Fireball and she wanted one. "Oh, that burns!"

"Don't get too drunk, Ness," Jacob advised as he held Quil securely in a headlock.

"Yeah, cuz then you won't be able to get off later!" Jared howled.

Jacob kicked Jared in the back of the knee, his embarrassment evident. "Don't worry about me, Jared," Nessie scoffed. "I never have that problem." She punctuated her statement with a wink as Jared's mouth hung open.

"Oh damn, Jared!" Paul howled. "She sure shut your ass down!"

"Shut up, Lahote!" Jared groused. "Nobody asked you!"

Jacob smiled at Renesmee, loving the way she handled herself with the pack. She always stuck up for him...and herself. He couldn't have found anyone better to share this crazy life with. She gave him everything he could ever need and never asked for anything more than his love in return. He made a decision right there and then that he wasn't going to put his life on hold anymore. No more waiting for phasing or anything else that could potentially keep them from taking the next step. The time was now.

Jacob smoothed his hand over the object he had carefully placed in his jeans pocket before they had left the house. He sucked in a deep breath and approached her slowly, his outstretched hand pulling her from the spot on the log. He sipped her shot, thinking a little liquid courage never hurt anyone. "What is it, baby?" she murmured when he smiled down at her.

Renesmee was suddenly distracted by the pack's serious conversation. "What's wrong, Paul?" Sam demanded.

"This is not good, not good at all," Jared added while shaking his head.

"What's happening?" Jacob questioned, approaching them with Ness tucked into his side.

Paul explained, "I'll take care of it. None of you need to get involved."

"Somebody spill it. What's wrong?" Seth mused, his brow furrowed in confusion.

When Paul refused to answer, Jared spoke up. "Those guys down there," Jared paused to tip his head toward the rowdy group of men located down further on the beach. "Paul got into it with one of them last weekend."

"Which one?" Jacob asked, pulling Nessie even closer to him.

"The big bald one in the center," Paul sighed. "I literally ran into him coming out of the bar last weekend. I roughed him up a little." When everyone stared at him incredulously, he added, "I was pretty drunk."

"Jesus, Paul. There's like fifteen of them down there and they sound drunk as shit. What have you gotten us into?" Embry groused as he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Nobody has to come with me!" Paul scowled. "This is my fight."

"Bullshit!" Quil argued. "We're a pack, we fight together."

"Why can't we just leave?" Ava asked nervously.

"I won't leave my brothers," Seth explained gently, holding Ava to his chest and pressing a quick kiss to her temple.

"Why are you guys even looking for a fight? Just stay up here with us," Kim pleaded.

"We wanna end this before they see you girls and it escalates," Jared told Kim as she sidled up beside him, her face etched with worry.

"Let's do this," Leah announced after she finished her beer. "What's the plan?"

"Well first of all, no one has to go if they don't want to," Sam paused to glance around the group. "And our best plan is to let this guy get a shot in on Paul and let them battle it out. But so help me, if any of them step in, it's on...we fight."

The gang nodded in agreement. Jacob turned to Ness and sighed. "I'll be right back."

Renesmee grabbed his jacket and held on for dear life. "You... can't go! I just got you back, Jake!"

"I'll be fine," he reassured her, gathering her in a hug.

"You can't even phase," she breathed, pressing her face to his chest.

"No one phases," Sam ordered. "These aren't vampires, they're local and we can't risk them telling our secret."

"Nothing's gonna happen," he swore as he pulled her hands from the death grip she had on him. "And no matter what happens," Jacob searched for her gaze, "don't come down there. Promise me?"

Renesmee reluctantly nodded, a single tear slid down her cheek. "I only want you to fight as a last resort...promise me?"

Jacob nodded quickly, gathering her in a huge hug before setting off with his brothers. When he turned back to look at her, she mouthed, I love you.

I love you too...so much.

Jacob passed by Rachel and handed her something from his pocket that Ness couldn't see. She glanced up at him and then over to Renesmee, her eyes full of wonder.

..........

The whole pack went along, even Wesley who wasn't much of a fighter but he boosted their numbers. Kim, Emily, Rachel, Ava, Amara, and Renesmee were left behind. Nessie stood watching them retreat until Rachel wrapped her arm around her and tried to reassure her. "He'll be back."

"How do you know?" Renesmee asked, accepting her touch and winding an arm around Rachel as well.

"I've been dealing with these hard-headed boys for quite some time now and I've just learned...you gotta have faith."

Renesmee regarded Rachel's brave behavior and suddenly felt very selfish for not having the same compassion for her that Rachel had for Ness. "I'm sorry. Of course, they'll be fine. Who loves a fight more than this pack?"

"Let's go get a drink to calm your nerves, sis."

Nessie nodded quickly, linking arms with Rachel and making their way to the rest of the girls. "Let's get this girl a beverage, Kim."

They continued to reassure each other that their boyfriends would be okay.

"So this is where the real party's at?"

Renesmee froze. She would know that voice anywhere. She had heard it before...in her nightmares. She turned around slowly, praying this wasn't really him.

"Wyatt."

He stared at her like a piece of meat. "Renesmee. I had heard you were down here on the 'rez' slumming it with some old guy, but I didn't believe it until I saw you just now."

Renesmee nodded. "Yeah, Jacob is ancient...25 years old to be exact."

"Who is that?" Amara gasped.

Nessie addressed her friends, but never turned her back on Wyatt. "Excuse my manners, ladies. Let me introduce you to Wyatt...the guy who tried to date rape me."

"You're so dramatic, Renesmee."

"Why are you here?" Nessie questioned, her patience running thin.

"I guess my party invitation got lost in the mail," he sneered.

"Was my right cross too subtle for you? I mean, why would I invite you anywhere? And why are you asking about me and my boyfriend?"

"You know, you ran off so fast that night, that I never got a chance to tell you how sorry I was," he told her as he approached her cautiously.

"I don't accept your apology."

Wyatt held his hand to her cheek and smiled wickedly. "Good...because I'm not sorry," he seethed before smacking her across the face, knocking her to the ground.

The other girls gasped as Rachel raced to her side. "Don't touch her!" he ordered.

Renesmee collapsed while trying to lift herself up and all Rachel could do was watch in horror. Wyatt approached once again, waving Rachel away. He held his hand out to Nessie and she stumbled a little. Wyatt tried again, this time bending over to assist her. She used this opportunity to yank on his hand, twisting it behind his back. She rotated behind him, kicked the back of his knees, causing him to drop face first in the sand. Renesmee then stood on his lower back while pulling both his arms up straight up, just the way Uncle Emmett had taught her.

Wyatt yelped in pain. "Let me go!"

"I'm gonna break both your arms, Wyatt!" she threatened, using all her strength to inflict as much pain as possible.

"Renesmee, don't."

Ness raised her head to find Jacob's beautiful dark eyes staring at her from the other side of the fire. His jaw clenched when he saw the red handprint on the side of her cheek. "Let me deal with him," his voice rumbled.

"I can handle this, Jake."

Wyatt raised his head from the sand and sneered, "Yeah, Jake. Let the bitch fight her own battles."

Jacob began to shudder. He lowered his gaze as he sucked in deep breaths. "Let him go," he ordered.

The girls collectively groaned, knowing Jacob was fully capable of tearing this fool's head off, whether he phased or not. Renesmee reluctantly released him. "I suggest you run," she told Wyatt.

Wyatt struggled to get to his feet. Nessie didn't see him pick up a beer bottle, but she heard him smash it on a rock. She tried to dash off, but Wyatt grabbed her around the throat and held the jagged edge to her neck. She held her breath, afraid to move.

"You're making a big mistake," Jacob growled, while keeping complete control.

Wyatt smiled evilly. "No mistakes. She's leaving with me...nobody follows us," he retorted, his voice dripping with a wicked happiness that everyone found disgusting.

"Take...your hands...off her," Jacob demanded.

Wyatt began his retreat, pulling Renesmee against his chest. She gasped when the glass penetrated her skin. Jacob saw the blood trickle down her neck and he fumed. "Last chance," Jacob warned. "Let her go...or it's your funeral."

"Go to hell!" Wyatt screamed, pressing the bottle closer to her skin as he licked her cheek.

Jacob shook violently, his body crumpling. "Jacob!" Renesmee gasped as he disappeared behind the blazing fire.

"Awe," Wyatt teased. "Guess he's not the hero you thought he was."

Renesmee threw her head back, busting Wyatt in the mouth and forcing him to release his hold on her. As he stumbled back, she pulled away from him and looked up to see her beautiful russet wolf bursting through the flames of the fire. Jacob, in his wolf form, landing squarely on Wyatt's puny frame. Jacob pressed his paw to the bastard's throat and growled fiercely.

The rest of the pack appeared in their human form, their eyes wide. Finally Jacob's wolf had revealed himself, but only to kill the imminent threat to his imprint. They were all frozen in fear of what he would do next.

Jacob's wolf form bared his teeth and lowered his muzzle to become nose to nose with the dumb bastard who had hurt his Ness, not once but twice. Wyatt visibly shook in fear. Renesmee approached them both cautiously, despite the pack's assertion that she needed to stay back.

"Jake," she breathed, her voice calming and sweet. "Just let him go."

Jacob growled louder, his teeth coming dangerously close to his neck. Renesmee knew well enough that one false move and Wyatt would be dead...in a matter of seconds.

"He's not worth it," she insisted, her hands smoothing the top of his head and curling around behind his ears.

Jacob made a purring around as she stroked his silky soft fur. "Please let this go," she pleaded. "He's too scared to tell anyone what he saw. Right, Wyatt?"

Wyatt shuddered beneath Jacob's massive paw. Saliva dripped down onto Wyatt's face. Wyatt's eyes conveyed pure terror. "Just let him go," Nessie begged.

Jacob took a step back and snarled when Wyatt scrambled away and disappeared into the coverage of the forest. Renesmee buried her fingers in his fur and held his face in her hands. Jacob lowered his head and she pressed her forehead to his. "Stay with me, please. I know now badly you want to chase him, but don't, Jake."

Jacob raised his head, his body now towering above hers. He glanced at his pack mates and bound away from her. Sam, Paul, and Jared all followed suit. Seth and Embry rushed to her side and held her up when she started to collapse. "Jake!" she screamed.

......

A/N: welp, just a few more chapters and I'll be ready to say goodbye to this fic. Hope you're enjoying it. And as always, feedback is appreciated. ~Stephanie