Summary: Walls, absolute rule and brutality are the reality of a lowly servant girl. She is strong, inquisitive and naive. She also knows more about the world than she should, but she'll never admit that. Punishment and death are always a threat. She's closer than she's ever been to losing her life until an unlikely hero comes to her aid. He's been watching her as long as she's been watching him. Their love is forbidden, but Jacob and Bella don't let that stop them. [AU, Jacob/Bella]

This story takes place in an alternate universe primitive society. It's pretty much jungle rules which means anything goes. If wild, dominant Jacob and an evolved, passionate Bella offends you, sit this one out. Mature content follows.

Speaking of alt-universes, what is happening here that tonyamic10 is starting 2 new stories? I have no idea. I miss my fanfic readers though. This fic was never meant to be published. It was a gift to my soul sister, plainjanedee who likes her Jake hot and sexy without too much angst. She knows I love the angst, but for her and everyone else I plan to torture with the other story, this one might just be dirty. :0

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Sanctioned

Chapter 1

Bella lagged behind the rest. She scanned the groups in training. The only time she ever got this close was when she delivered the water. It was one of the reasons she didn't mind the strenuous task too much. There was a chance she'd see him. Although, many times she never caught a glimpse of the warriors. Bella wasn't supposed to know his name, but she did. She heard it said during a sparring session. He looked up after his win and Bella happened to be in his line of sight.

The instructor said, "Well done, boy. What's your name?"

That was years before. She wouldn't call him a boy anymore. He was all man even if their people didn't call the warriors men until their twenty-first birthday.

Jacob.

His name was Jacob and Bella sought ways to see him for years now. She was brought to the large colony when she was a child. Her family was killed in a raid because they had no protection as nomads. Bella should be dead also, but someone dug her from the rubble and nursed her back to health. It was a woman from the royal tents.

She remembered the night her mistress told her the only way she'd be allowed to remain was to be committed to the servants' tents. It would be her home for the rest of her life and she must carry out all the duties of a servant.

"I'm so sorry, Isabella. I wanted you to stay, but you're not Quiluettini. My husband was angry I saved you. He said it wasn't your destiny, but he has a soft spot for me. He is allowing you to remain among our people but only as a servant. If you choose to leave, there will be no protection. The world is brutal; you will not survive alone."

Bella begged to stay with Sarah, but she said the king refused that request already. It wouldn't be proper to bring up a barbaric nomad with his children. Bella had never even met Sarah's other children. She cried to leave her, but Sarah promised to check on her whenever possible. The promise was short-lived. Sarah died the next year from a sudden illness. Bella was treated remotely decent as long as her masters' knew she was special to the queen, but afterwards the harsh reality of being an outsider was never forgotten. She was ridiculed, beaten and starved at times as punishment, but somehow Bella exhibited perseverance and made it to womanhood.

Her life was spent in misery and contempt except for those brief moments when she'd see the brave warrior. Jacob was still in training, but Bella already knew he would make the final cut. The failures would be cast aside in a similar position Bella found herself.

She chastised herself at times for wishing he might end up with her because that meant wishing him to fail. That was selfish of her. The warriors received all the best in life except many didn't return from the raids. Jacob would be given his choice of wives. But he'd be in constant danger. She would worry for his safety always. If she was completely honest, she would worry about the women he selected. Would any of them ever treat him the well enough? She believed he deserved the best even if she had no way to assure that.

A few times he acknowledged her with a head nod or the slightest curve of his lip when she brought the water. They were never supposed to have contact, but the week prior his thumb grazed her wrist when she handed him water. He said a word in his language. The language was her own now, but Bella was rarely allowed to speak it. She was required to be silent.

It was the briefest interchange, but warmth pooled in her belly and funny feelings tickled her between her thighs.

He said "the water is good," and she replied "yes."

Any other man would have slapped her face for speaking, but Jacob showed his beautiful white teeth to her. His laughter brought joy to Bella ears for the first time ever.

Emily poked Bella in the back. "You better go. Those men need water over there. You're going to get whipped again if you delay." Bella headed to the group with her pail.

A shocking sound from the warning bell rang through the tribe.

It was an official announcement. Bella lost track of the days. It was spring and the list of young virgins would be announced. When their names were called, the women were whisked away to a tent for a secret ritual to prepare them for their future husbands. Bella wasn't sure what went on behind the tent flaps, but the women usually came out in beautiful robes giggling with excitement about the unknown ceremony called The Choosing within the village. She would never know what that was like. The servant girls weren't on the list since once a servant always a servant. They could only pair and marry other servants. The roll call of names started. The loud voice said, "Isabella, the servant girl" and Bella dropped her entire pail of water. A very angry warrior raised his hand to her. Bella knew of him. It wouldn't be the first time, she felt the sting from that one's hand.

She prepared for the pain, but one of the taskmasters stopped him from striking her. "The little bitch's husband isn't going to want her bruised up tonight, Lahote unless he's the one causing the bruises. Get along girl, one of the others will bring the water."

Bella was frozen with fear. There had to be a mistake. The servant girls weren't ever involved in the choosing. Maybe there was another Isabella, but then she remembered he called her 'Isabella, the servant girl' and she knew there wasn't another Isabella. Her name was uniquely different because she was an outsider. She scanned the warriors in front of her until her eyes met Jacob's. Bella wasn't good at reading expressions. Normally, the men displayed a hardened exterior. They were often harsh and cold, but she saw disappointment in the object of her affection's eyes. He slightly shook his head, probably in disbelief that her name was called.

When Bella got inside the tent, she finally knew what happened during the preparations.

She was given the longest, most thorough bathing she had ever experienced. The old women covered her body in lotions and oils in the best smells she had ever smelled. When Bella was dried, she was given new underclothes and wrapped in expensive silk robes. Jewelry was placed upon her head, wrists and neck. For once, she felt like one of the princesses. They moved onto a second tent where the older women asked questions about their bodies and knowledge of the male pleasure zones. Bella knew absolutely nothing about those things. Her face burned like fire hearing what she would be expected to do to please her husband. She was a dumb servant girl with little education, but Bella read in secret whenever she could. The most important thing she was taught in the tent was never to say no to her husband and never deny his wishes. The whole process took about five hours. That's all the time she had to let it sink in that one of those men was going to take her as a wife tonight.

She didn't know anything about the men that would be there. Although, she heard some murmurings from another girl, most of them are older men picking their young wives because their older wives were not as useful to them anymore. Bella's stomach churned thinking of an old man doing those things to her, telling her what to do to him and having to live with him forever. She could never say no or she would die for her disobedience.

Bella could hear the roar of the music, the sky was lit with an orange glow from the fire. The Choosing was an event similar to a sporting event in the village. Women were not allowed to attend unless their name appeared on the list. Therefore, Bella had no idea what would go on within the walls or how long it would take.

She made it to the gate, but paused before entering the arena. She needed one final moment to herself. As a servant, she was used to being last in line behind all the others. She took one more step toward the gate. She took a deep breath and let it all out slowly knowing her life as she knew it was now over. Nothing would ever be the same for her. She might not be a lowly servant girl anymore, but judging from the talk she just endured, maybe a life of poor servitude was a better life after all.

Suddenly from the darkness, a hand clamped over her mouth. An arm grabbed Bella and pulled her away. She wanted to scream, but there was no chance. Whoever held her was strong and Bella couldn't fight back. She'd heard stories before from the other servant girls about being pulled away in the darkness and having to endure hours of torture from faceless men. Before, she didn't know what type of torture they meant, but now she had a better idea. It was odd that this abduction would happen to her right before she was to be given away to a husband. Husbands sounded like they might do tortuous things as well. Either action was deplorable. Bella never made any of her own choices since she was taken from her camp after her parents were murdered in front of her.

The man in the darkness ran with Bella. She felt like a rag doll the noble women's daughters played with attached to his side flopping and lifeless. He ran for a long period of time until they were far away from the safety of the walls. She didn't even realize how they'd slipped away unnoticed. Finally, he slowed his pace and put her down. She plotted her one and only chance to survive. Bella clawed and swung her fist trying to fight against this person that was sure to do harm on her and possibly kill her. Strong arms wrapped around her torso from behind and a voice spoke from the dark.

"Stop fighting, Bella. It's me. Jacob. You know me, don't you?"

Bella nodded, but held her breath.

"I've come to rescue you. We're leaving."

No one left their village. You couldn't leave because there was no safety in the outer limits. Bella even heard stories of monsters in the jungle. Besides, abandoning your people was considered treason and anyone that left could be put to death.

Her voice cracked, "Wh... what do you mean? What are you doing, Jacob?"

"I'm not letting you be a part of The Choosing. Your name should not have been on the list."

"I know because I'm a servant."

"No. I mean because next year I was going to be a participant since I would come forward as a man on my twenty-first birthday. My father promised me even though he didn't agree with it, your name would be included. I would have chosen you and I would have been allowed first choice. Someone has betrayed me and added you this year."

"Who is your father that he would make these promises?"

"The king."

Bella was stunned, "But how? I've never heard that from anyone."

"Because my identity is protected until I'm officially a man. I have been in the ranks since I was twelve. My father obviously offered you up to one of his council, a bunch of old barbarians that would never care for you properly. Don't believe everything you've heard that we are the civilized and everyone beyond the walls are savages."

"But you'd leave your father, your sisters the princesses and this nation of Quileutinni? You will lead them one day and I have seen you. You are the finest warrior. I can't let you give up your birthright. You will be killed if anyone finds out."

Jacob became stoic and looked like he was trying to calm himself. He made Bella look straight into his dark eyes. "I peeked last year and I saw The Choosing. It's terrible and inhumane. I don't care if they are just women. Some didn't live to the end of the week after enduring the torture of being shared in circles of sweaty fat bastards. One girl jumped from the wall on purpose to end it. Do you want that fate? I guarantee by tomorrow you'll be dead. But first you will be defiled. I don't care about my people anymore. I hate the way we exist. The legends tell a story of our ancestors. They used to be more civilized. Humans aren't supposed to be at war, kill, rape and pillage for pleasure. If I fight for my father's army, I will be one of them. My mother always said I was different. I can't. I won't go back."

Jacob held his hand in front of Bella. "Please, Bella. We can't delay any longer. Will you go with me? Will you let me save you?"

~Thanks for reading.

What will be her answer? Here's mine. Save me Jacob! LOL!