Bella Swan, the love of my life, my best friend, my girlfriend, my meaning of life, was dead. And as far as I was concerned, I was as good as dead too.

Jake POV

An eerie silence filled the room. I expected to hear Bella's heart beat again, to hear the steady and rhythmic thumping indicating a sign of life — I didn't. Her heart beat was like music to my ears, but without it, I felt like a deaf man, and never being able to hear it again was bound to be torture.

Oh, what am I saying? I won't be miserable for long. I can't live without Bella, I just can't. I'll be joining her soon enough.

I looked down at my Bella, my now...dead Bella. I swallowed thickly. Tears cascaded down my face like a waterfall, and they weren't going to slow anytime soon.

Bella was dead.

My imprint is dead... gone... forever and ever... and it's all my fault.

Some protector I am.

I felt as if someone had shoved their hands into my chest, clawed at my heart with a million, tiny, razor sharp claws, twisted their hand and then proceeded to rip it right out, leaving me with an empty, hollow feeling where my heart should be... my heart that belongs to Bella.

Yet my heart was still beating, although quickly and uneven, it was still beating. Unlike my Bella's, which was still and un-beating, frozen. I cried out in anguish, leaning forward to press my face into Bella's hair, trying to find some comfort in how soft her hair was — how it always was. She still smelled like the rose scented shampoo she always used.

I trailed my hand down her body to her now cold and pale hand, lacing my fingers through hers. Looking down at our joined hands, I was bombarded with memories.

The first time we held hands.

The first time I kissed her hand.

The first time I kissed her.

I screamed, the memories too much for me to handle.

Sobbing, I shakily stood and gently gathered my Bella in my arms, holding her protectively against my chest. Looking around the warehouse, almost everything was hazy, fogged by the thick tears. The pack watched me with sad eyes, those with imprints the saddest.

"I-I..." Stuttering, I tried to tell them what I needed to do, what needed to be done next. Sam noticing my struggle, stepped forward.

"Jacob, we might be able to save her, but we need to act fast."

I looked at him warily, questioning his sanity. Save Bella? She's...she's gone.

Seeing the look, he said, "I don't know how, Jake, but maybe Carlisle can do something."

I growled loudly. The last thing I wanted was for Bella to be around them.

Sam sighed. "Just give it a chance; you want her back don't you?" He didn't give me a chance to answer. "Then let's go. Embry and Quil, you stay here and make sure the fire burns this place down and no other bloodsuckers come through. The rest follow me. Come on Jake."

I hesitated to follow. I really didn't want some leeches to get there stink all over her, erasing her scent. I wanted Bella to rest in peace, not rest in vampire stink.

Then again I wanted her here again...more than anything. I would do anything to have her here...I guess anything would include handing her over to leeches.

Fuck, this is hard.

To hand her over to leeches, or to not...

Ha, this is kind of like one of those games.

I mentally slapped myself. What the hell is wrong with me? Of course I want Bella here.

I nodded to Sam, following him out the door, with Bella safely in my arms. Her head rested on my shoulder, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

You could pretend she was sleeping, if it wasn't for the blood covering her...and the bruises...and the fact that she wasn't breathing and had no heart beat...

What the hell am I going to do without my Bella?