Chapter 1: Running

I walked towards Jake's house, tracing the steps I had taken so many times before. I still couldn't believe it. Embry came outside to meet me; his emotions clear in his eyes.

"Bella…" he started, but choked on whatever he was going to say next. He was looking down at his feet, but I could see he was fighting back tears. After I had started hanging around Jake again, I had met a few of his friends. I knew I hadn't met the entire pack, but I had met Quill, Embry, Sam, Seth, Brady, and Leah. When I had asked when I would meet Collin, Jared and Paul, I was told that I wouldn't, because they didn't want to be near the "leach lover", as they put it. I walked inside the little red house, the one I had once thought of as a second home. It now seemed so unfamiliar. I immediately went over to Angela, my best friend, sitting on the couch and wrapped her in my arms.

It was two years since Edward left me, and Jake became my personal sun. About six months ago, I invited Angela and her then boyfriend Ben to go to the movies with my Jake and me. It was then that I learned firsthand the damage imprinting can do. It was then that the person that I had trusted with my heart imprinted on my best friend. He had looked at me with such sorrow, and I had just smiled, silently assuring him I understood. We quickly called off the movie night, and I asked Ang to sleep over. When we had gotten back to my house, I was happy to see that Charlie was working late again. Jake and I had sat her down and explained about the imprinting, and the pack. She took it better than we expected, and immediately got up to call Ben and ask him to meet her tomorrow at the diner. The next day, she and I were both single, and Jake started getting to know her.

Now here we were again, with bad news looming over our shoulder. I couldn't believe what had happened. Slowly, we all left to go to the clearing. Billy sat in his wheelchair at the front of the gathering, Old Quill next to him. Angela and I stood with the pack, looking down at the fresh grave in front of us. No one who didn't know about the pack had been invited; the public ceremony would be tomorrow. When everyone had gotten into place, Billy started.

"We are here today to say goodbye to one of the hardest working young men I've ever known. My son, Jacob Black, future chief of the tribe, and Alpha to the pack. As most of you know, Isabella Swan was being hunted by a vampire named Victoria. Yesterday, the pack found her and chased her down. She grabbed one of our younger members, and had nearly killed him when Jacob intervened. In saving his pack mate, he lost his life. The threat has been killed, but at great cost to the pack, his friends, and myself. His mate and wife Angela Webber-Black would like to say a few words before I start the traditional ceremony." I squeezed Angela's hand before watching her make the walk up to Billy. She put her hand on his shoulder before turning to those assembled and speaking.

"Jacob was more than my imprint. He was one of my best friends, my confidante, and the love of my life. If it weren't for Bella, I never would have found my other half, and my soul. Thank you, Bella, for letting me have this much time with him." She then put a hand over her stomach. "I was going to wait to announce it until after the pack got back from fighting Victoria, but seeing as he's gone now…" her voice cracked and she looked down at the casket for a moment, "We will live on for you, honey. And if it's a boy, I will name him William Jacob, after you and your father. I love you." With that she came back to stand by my side. We were all shocked at her revelation. With my mind reeling, I didn't notice the rest of the ceremony, until Kim and Emily grabbed my hands and started walking me towards my car.

I looked up just then, and met the darkest brown eyes. At that moment, the entire world melted away, and nothing mattered. Angela being pregnant, Jake dying, Edward leaving, nothing felt wrong anymore. I was brought out of my trance by Sam tackling the wolf whose eyes I was lost in.

"You asshole! How could you do that?! On today of all days!" Sam was yelling at him. It took me a few minutes to understand what was going on.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I yelled, before running to my car, slamming the door, and driving home. Charlie beat me back, he found out about the wolves shortly when Seth phased in Harry's kitchen.

"What's up, kiddo?" he asked me, one eyebrow raised from me slamming the door.

"I'm leaving, dad. I have to… I have to go. It has nothing to do with you, or Forks, but I need to leave." I told him, running up the stairs to pack.

"What in the world are you talking about? Where are you going to go?" I could tell it was breaking his heart, seeing me packing.

"I'm going to the house in Phoenix. Please don't tell anyone here where I am. Jared… he imprinted on me, dad. Kim's pregnant with his second kid, they're married… I can't do it. He deserves to be happy with his wife. I'm leaving." I told him as I looked him in the eye. I could see the pride shining through the hurt. He knew that I wouldn't split them up like Emily had Leah and Sam. I had come to like Leah, and she was actually nice to me now. I wouldn't be the cause of another person losing their everything.

"Okay, Bella. I understand… Be careful, I love you. Don't leave just yet, let me get something," he said, leaving the room. I listened to his heavy footsteps recede to his room. I continued packing, finally getting all my necessary possessions into my bags. Charlie came back into the room while I was taking down pictures. "Here, take this. It was your college fund, and I want you to take it, so you can go to college in Arizona." He handed me an envelope, and when I opened it I saw a check for fifteen thousand dollars.

"Thank you, daddy. I'll find a good college down there and make you proud." I told him, putting the envelope into my purse and hugging him. We never really showed emotion, so this entire situation was awkward for us. I quickly grabbed my bags, promised I'd call him when I got there, and hit the road.