Chapter 1

I went weeks without seeing Bella.

Sam's orders of course, apparently I was too unpredictable and dangerous to run the risk of being anywhere near an outsider, especially someone that evoked such intense emotions within me. As soon as I phased the whole pack knew every detail of mine and Bella's relationship and in turn I got a pretty good picture of what was Bella's relationship with a particular Cullen. Was. As in he was gone, no longer in Forks, no longer with my girl. Though distance didn't really mean that much to Bella, it seemed this Edward fellow was with her all the time. I knew this from the beginning when I thought he was just another ass hole boyfriend that had left her, and I did feel sorry that he left her, because obviously it caused her pain and I hoped that he wouldn't come back just so she could get over him. But now it was different; everything had changed and honestly I would do just about anything for that entire family to come back just so I could kill them for hurting Bella and for turning me into the freak of nature that I now am.

As much as I wanted to see her and tell her what I was and reassure her that my promise of never leaving or hurting her had not been broken the Alpha's orders had held strong and I was forced to ignore her and cut her completely out my my life. I knew this would be hurting Bella but my mouth was wired closed and I had eventually even convinced myself that it was for the best because I wasn't even sure if she would accept me for what I was.

It was a Saturday. I had been dreaming, and it had been good, when I was abruptly awoken by a voice that I would recognise anywhere. The voice did not sound pleased. It's owner was practically stomping down the short hallway on her way to my bedroom, ignoring all of my dad's warnings and threats to call Charlie.

Bella Bella Bella.

My door was thrown open. "Jacob. Black. I know you're awake."

No I'm not.

I didn't move, my back faced the door. I was trying as hard as I could to look relaxed but my whole body was held tensed and my breaths were coming quicker than usual. She obviously noticed.

"Jake..." Her voice was more pleading this time. Seconds passed. "Look, I just came to find out what's going on. Billy told me you're sick but I have a feeling that that's a load of bullshit. Even if you are, you couldn't make one phone call?" Pleading to angry in all of two breaths.

I'm asleep. I don't hear her almost yelling at me. A very very deep sleep.

Shit!

I tried my damned hardest to yawn and stretch like I had just woken up. I'm pretty sure she bought it. I turned my body to face her but I couldn't meet her eyes, she would definitely know then that she hadn't just woken me and that I most definitely was not sick and bed ridden. Hell, I was as fit as an Ox.

Bella threw me an annoyed glare that I didn't see. I felt it. "So you're just going to lay there? You can't even look at me. What did I do wrong Jake, just tell me how I can fix it... I'm sorry for what ever I've done."

Angry, pleading, annoyed, helpful and sorry. She was probably burning up too. She's going to be a massive ball of fur by days end it seems.

Still not meeting her eyes I threw my legs off the side of the bed, put on my angry face for good measure, and sat up. It didn't matter if she hated me or she was lonely or whatever, it was for her own safety and well being and I had to get her out of here. It's not like I could tell her the secret, she would leave with more questions, but there was no way around it. Alpha's orders.

"Bella you have to leave, you can't come around here any more. I don't want you to come here any more. Do you understand that, Bella?" I was glaring hole into the floor boards.

"No, Jake, just tell me what's going on. Is it that gang? Is it Sam? If it is we can do something about it, we'll get you away from them. Just tell me what's happening. I want my best friend back..." I could smell the salt that laced her tears. She sounded so desperate.

I risked a look at her face, I couldn't help it. Her eyes shone and tears were falling freely down her cheeks. She looked sad and...curious? Confused? Her eyes were wide and darting quickly to my shorn off hair then to my face that had aged years in a matter of day, next she took in my chest and upper body. I was buff, let's face it. Bella was taking me in and trying to draw a conclusion that would explain my suss behaviour and my new and improved appearance.

Oh, just you wait 'till you see me stand up.

My eyes looked at her wet cheeks and then her lips which held a small pout, her forehead, eyebrows drawn together, her hair was wet and straggly and everywhere from the ever present rain. I looked at her eyes and she caught my gaze. I stared and I stared, trying to tell her sorry sorry sorry without giving anything else away because I had to be hard and I had to be stoic. It's for her own good.

It's for your own good, sweetheart.

Bella's eyes gave everything away, all the hurt and confusion and rejection, all the things that I had caused.

It was a long while until I found my voice again " We can't be friends Bella, not any more, I've... changed and everything is different."

Sorry sorry sorry.

Bella had opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a noise from the forest behind the house, it was heard loudly through my open window and I could tell that who ever it was, they were howling in anger. The noise sent a shiver down my body, the wolf inside reacting to it's call, I had to close my eyes and think hard about not phasing in my bedroom.

Once I had my body under control I shot a glance out the small window and saw my pack, apparently engaging in conversation with...Bella!

You wake me up with your noisy arrival but I don't even notice you leave. Great senses, Black!

I couldn't hear what they were saying clearly but I knew that their conversation was not going well, I could see the anger plastered on my pack mates faces; Sam, Jared, Paul and Embry. Bella was pointing an accusatory finger at Sam, she looked fearless as she then turned that finger to Paul which was a seriously bad idea. Paul was shaking and obviously shouting but I didn't catch what he was saying because I was already climbing out of my bedroom window. Paul was about to lose it.

And then my Bella, my sweet seemingly harmless Bella drew her arm back and putting all her weight and strength into it, she slapped Paul. He barely moved from the force of it but the vibrations in his body increased tenfold.

My mind went blank as I took a running jump off the back porch and phased in mid air. Paul had phased almost at the same moment that I did, Bella started running back to my house, fast as I've ever seen her go. She was yelling something but all I could focus on was Paul. Anger seeped through my bones, seeped through my body, emitting itself with an ear splitting growl. It was a warning to Paul to either get the fuck out of here or submit. He took no notice and our bodies collided, our teeth trying to get a hold of each other, going for the neck. I didn't actually want to kill him but the Wolf wanted to protect protect protect, so that's what it did, I was running on pure instinct.

I felt Sam phase as well but I couldn't pay attention to what he was trying to tell me. Hell, I couldn't hear anything from Paul or Sam, I had a one track mind.

Protect protect protect.

We fell further in to the forest away from sight, I had already gotten a couple of chunks out of Paul, he must have been in pain but he didn't stop, he did not submit.

Stop! Stop right now! It was an Alpha order.

Paul instantly went limp were he stood, putting his head on his front paw and tilting his head to the side exposing his neck. But I couldn't stop. I felt the order running through me but I resisted it with everything I had. Sam was in front of my now and was trying to drag me away from Paul but he was not doing much good, we were a match in strength.

Stop Jake! It's an order! The order was directed only at me and this time I could not resist it. I kneeled down the same way Paul had, my senses coming back to me.

Bella Bella Bella. Leech-lover... No! Not Leech-love. Jake. Fuck you Jake. God, I'm in pain, that brat has a nasty bite. Bella Bella Bella.

Paul... Bella... Not leech-love.

What. The. Fuck. Paul. I already knew what the fuck. It hit me like a fucking brick wall. Right in the face.

Shit... Phase back both of you. Another Alpha order. This must be a record.

I was up in his face as soon a I was human again. " You imprinted on Bella! My Bella!"

We were nose to nose and naked as the day we were born. Paul was bearing his teeth, anger and … guilt could clearly be seen on his face. His face that was now bloody.

Serves you right, brother.

He didn't say a word, he wasn't even shaking. Abruptly he turned away from me and ran deeper into the forest, I was about to go after him but Sam had put his hand on my shoulder trying to hold me in place.

"Let him go, Jake. There's nothing you can do, he imprinted on Bella. She's his now."

The anger was white hot in my veins. "She's his? What the fuck Sam! She's not his, she's mine, she belongs to me. Understand!" I knew I sounded like a chauvinistic ass but I couldn't help it. And it was true. Bella belonged with me. No two ways about it.

Mine.