Once again, s/o to my awesome Beta, Morrigan, and my pre-reader Sarah Teague! Keep in mind, I do not own anything associated with the Twilight series in any way, shape, form, or fashion despite my intense desires for Jacob Black. Last but not least, I'd really appreciate any and all feedback, so be a sweetie and drop a comment after you've finished the chapter up. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy...

BPOV

I'd known Jacob Black since I was a child. Our fathers were best friends. When I would come spend the summers with my dad in Forks, Jacob and I were like two peas in a pod. Every summer we'd spend countless hours together around his home in La Push, the Indian reservation, or at my dad's home.

As small children, we would make mud pies together, and he'd drive me insane when he threw them at me. Jacob would always laugh like it was the funniest thing ever, and I'd run away screaming and threatening to tell his mother. Despite his annoying tendencies, Jacob had an infectious personality that one couldn't help but to be drawn to.

I loved him to death—as a friend, of course. Our friendship took no effort. It was just us: Jake and Bells.

When I was fourteen, I stopped my summer visits and didn't see Jacob for another ten years until I moved back to Forks to open up my little bookstore. After I left, my father kept me informed about Jacob and his dad, Billy. Over the years, Jacob and I shared a few brief hi-and-bye types of conversations, but that was about it.

I'd heard that Jake opened up a successful mechanic shop in town. Apparently, he'd become a highly respected member of the Quileute tribe, which was very surprising for his age. Charlie even said that he was expected to become the tribe's chief eventually.

About two years before I moved back, Jacob married a young woman from the rez named Josephine. Charlie questioned Jacob getting married so young, but said that Jacob and Josie seemed to be a very happy couple. I'd intended to send a wedding present but never got around to it.

During my first few weeks back in Forks, I lived at Charlie's while I worked on find my own place. On my first day back, dad invited Jacob and Billy over to welcome me back to town and have dinner with us.

Charlie's fiancé, Sue Clearwater and I prepared a huge dinner. I didn't know her very well but we got along very easily. I loved seeing my father have a lady in his life. He really deserved happiness and she seemed to be perfect for him.

"So, Bella, how does it feel to be back home?" Sue asked while we made the final preparations on the food.

"It'll be a huge adjustment for me, but I really feel like this is where I need to be right now."

I went on to tell her how I felt like I was missing something in Phoenix and how unfulfilled I felt even after earning my bachelor's degree and working with a local publishing company.

"I'm happy that you're back Bella, and I know Charlie's very happy that you're going to be close by. He's talked non-stop about your arrival since you decided to move back." She beamed.

Just as I placed the salad bowl on the dining table I heard chatter and commotion coming from the front door. "Bella, Billy and Jake are here!" Charlie hollered.

When I rounded the corner from the kitchen, my eyes went straight to the man I could only describe as gorgeous. Unconsciously, I fiddled and fluffed my hair. Chill, Bella, it's just little Jake from the rez, I told myself. It was litte Jake, all right—except he wasn't so little, anymore. I tried not to stare too long at his wonderfully tall frame.

Boy, did milk do the body good.

He stood there looking like the epitome of masculinity. I raked my eyes over his body from head to toe and took note of all the nicely bulging muscles that covered it. As a result, a seriously embarrassing blush vigorously fought its way to the surface of my cheeks.

"Wow, Bella, you've grown." Billy said.

His voice brought my head out of the clouds. I reached down to give him a big hug, and he heartily patted my back in response. Billy's genuine welcoming warmth took me back to the days when I was a clumsy fourteen-year-old dork.

When I pulled back from his embrace, he maneuvered his wheel chair into the next room with Sue and Charlie, leaving Jacob and I alone. Immediately, I went back to admiring this Adonis of a man who used to be my scrawny childhood playmate and best friend. I smiled, fantasizing about running my fingers through his perfect raven-colored hair that lay over his shoulders.

Slowly, I gazed up, fully focusing on his face. Although he looked the same—he looked different. My heart practically skipped a beat when he smiled, displaying his perfectly white teeth. I was officially fawning over him.

"So, I guess this lovely lady in front of me is my dear old friend, Bella," he joked, which made me blush even harder.

At that moment our eyes met.

I didn't even have a chance to respond. I immediately wanted to melt into him. My mind begged him to dip me back and kiss me as if both of our lives depended on it. It would be just like the famous WWI photo of the sailor and the nurse in the streets of New York.

Several seconds passed, and our eye contact didn't waver. No words were spoken, and I struggled on the inside to form intelligent thoughts. I'd never felt so warm and comfortable. Even so, it scared the hell out of me too, yet instead of wanting to go run for the hills, all I wanted to do is fall into his arms.

Or maybe him fall into me, rather…?

"Hey, the food's ready!" Sue shouted from the kitchen, effectively breaking the trance Jacob and I seemed to be stuck in.

Boy was that weird…I shrugged.

Unfortunately, dinner was nothing short of awkward.

Jacob wolfed down the food like he hadn't eaten in days and he gave short answers to every single question directed at him. Maybe I freaked him out. Not good, Bella, not good. While I tried not to focus too hard on his strange behavior, I couldn't help but to keep sneaking glances at him. Jacob was…sort of beautiful. Long gone was the silly little boy I remembered.

"So, Jacob, how are things with Josie?" Charlie questioned.

I almost choked on a mouthful of lasagna. How could I have forgotten that Jacob was a married man? I suddenly lost my appetite as I realized I had been basically eye-raping my old best friend who happened to be married as hell…I assumed happily married at that.

"Good," Jacob said without looking up from his half-finished plate.

Charlie, Sue, and Billy took turns inquiring about my life back in Phoenix, my college experience, and my plans since I was back in Forks. Jacob's discomfort was very evident and undeniable. When he finished his last bite, he quickly stood up and mumbled something about needing to leave and that he'd come back to retrieve Billy later.

JPOV

My blood was boiling. I wanted nothing more than to phase and run as far as my legs would carry me, but I quickly scrapped that idea because I couldn't afford to let any of the pack in on my current thoughts. That would be mental suicide-twice over.

FUCK!

I had to get away from the Swan's residence immediately. Bella's intoxicating smell had followed me outside and clouded my senses. Why me? Why now? FUCK! I huffed and puffed my way into the forest behind Charlie's house. When I was out of general earshot, I kicked a fallen tree as hard as I could, disturbing the peaceful forest. My anger at that moment was indescribable.

My thoughts went back to earlier that day.

Josie's little temper tantrums had become more a routine thing and it was driving me insane. Before I went to work that morning we'd had yet another explosive ass argument. It started out as a rant about me leaving my dirty clothes everywhere and before I knew it, she was screaming at me about our 'issue'. We'd spent countless hours discussing this issue from top to bottom, and I'd grown tired of it.

Shit…tired is an understatement.

I'd massaged my temples and tried my best to stay calm while she'd gone on and on. I've always been a cool, calm, and collected kind of dude, but lately, my limits had truly been tested. My days and nights were plagued with worries stemming from my wife and our big 'issue'. She had to constantly remind me of it. Regardless of my frustration, I tried my best to sympathize with her because I loved my wife to pieces, but her antics were driving a wedge between us that was hard to ignore.

After I finally got Josie calmed down, I headed off to work where I spent the majority of my day trying to forget fight we'd gotten into that morning. My efforts went straight to hell, however, when I checked my cell after it buzzed for what seemed like the millionth time in an hour. I wanted to throw it across the room immediately after reading the message on the screen.

My period came. L I don't know many more months I can deal with this JB. –Josie

I could count on those types of messages like clockwork. Every single month she'd cry herself into a blubbering mess because she'd gotten her period-meaning there was no chance that she was carrying a little Black.

I sifted through the other messages from her. The last message was from Sue Clearwater.

Hi, Jacob. Can you bring Billy by Charlie Swan's house this evening 4 dinner? Bella's back in town and I'd like all of us to eat together. Maybe like 7? Let me know, k. Thx.

I smiled thinking about the prospect of seeing my old buddy, Bella. A few weeks before, Billy had mentioned that Bella had decided to move back to Forks. I was happy to hear the news, but I had honestly forgotten all about it.

My Alpha duties for the pack, the garage, the new towing service, council business, my marriage, and duty to my dad had kept me more than swamped. I figured it would be good to spend an evening away from home, anyway. Not to mention that I'd be catching up with Bella.

I hadn't seen her since the last summer she came to visit here. I was fourteen; it crushed me when it was time for her to go. She and I had been two peas in a pod. She was my ace-boon-coon, my partner in crime. We promised to keep in touch but you know how that goes.

Life happens.

We shared a few random phone conversations over the years, but it had been at least two or three years since I'd even spoken to her.

Billy kept me in the loop about the major happenings in her life that he'd heard through Charlie. She seemed to be leading a good life. Billy told me that she'd graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State with a double major: English Literature and Linguistics. He'd mentioned that she did some studying abroad and all that good stuff and that she'd gotten a good job that had to do with publishing or something.

A few minutes later, I messaged Sue back telling her that we'd be there. Thankfully, my worries from earlier became a distant thought while I worked hard for the rest of the day.

"Hey, Quil, I'm headed out. Lock up for me?" I called out to my friend as I left out the back door. I didn't even wait for his response before hopping in my truck and taking off.

When I got home I saw that Josie had left a note on the fridge saying that she and Leah were going shopping in Port Angeles and that she'd be back before it got late. Thank God she's outta my hair for the time being. Maybe she'll come back in a better mood, I thought. I showered, picked up Billy, and headed to Charlie's.

The ride there was pretty uneventful unless you count my dad's incessant jokes about how hard I used to crush on Bella so hard when we were younger.

"You were like a little puppy, son!" he laughed, slapping his knee. "Bella had you wrapped around her little finger and didn't even know it."

"Dad, please!"

He wasn't lying, but still.

Sheesh.

"Don't get your bloomers in a bunch, Jake." Billy grinned.

I hoped Sue had cooked plenty because I was starving like a fat kid in an ice cream factory. No matter how damn much I ate, I never felt full. It was a blessing and a curse.

As soon as we walked through the front door, amazing smells attacked me. The food was one, but fuck…the other was definitely not a food smell.

Charlie yelled, "Bella, Billy and Jake are here!" while we shook hands.

I know my nostrils must have noticeably flared as I took in the smell as it grew stronger-her smell. Dude. Chill, I told myself. She came into the entryway and I just knew this couldn't be little Bella Swan. Not my little Bella from back in the day. Well…she was still little…but man! She stood there talking to Billy, but it was all a blur to me.

I was so caught up in her. She smelled so fresh and inviting. I fought the impulse to grab her and sniff her like the dog I really was. I smiled at the thought and continued to take her in while she bent down and hugged Billy.

Don't peep at her ass. Don't peep at her ass!

I knew I needed to reign in my wild thoughts but damn…I really didn't expect to see Bella like this. She had definitely come into her own over the years. Her body was perfect, and she had hips for days. I'm not sure why I noticed her hips like I did, but they were so feminine and appealing. They weren't too big, but they were damn sure perfect.

Perfect for me to hold...perfect childbearing hips…

Billy rolled himself into the other room with Charlie and Sue leaving Bella and me alone at the front door.

I cleared my throat, "So, I guess this lovely lady in front of me is my dear old friend Bella."

Smooth, Black. REAL fuckin' smooth…I chastised myself.

I cracked a smile at her and tried to think tangible thoughts, but words failed me. She smiled at her feet, and lifted her head up enough for my gaze to meet hers.

At that moment, gravity shifted. Our eyes locked and I felt like every fiber of my being snapped. The ties that bound me to Earth violently jostled and broke, immediately binding to her. I gasped, feeling more alive than I ever before.

I had imprinted on Bella Swan.

After all these years since my first phase…I had imprinted. Every other pack member, with the exception of Leah, had imprinted years ago, even though imprinting was supposed to be such a rarity.

Sue yelled about the food being ready causing us to snap out of the haze that the imprint had forced upon us.

Damn…wonder if she felt that?

Within seconds of breaking eye contact, torment and resentment washed over me.

I HAD A WIFE AT HOME!

Why now? Why me? This could not have been happening.

I tried my best to withdraw myself from the dinner. My wolf fought inside, which made me want to go crazy over Bella right that moment-even if it meant the whole dinner table had to watch while I kissed her and fucked her with every ounce of effort I could muster. I avoided looking at her, or even in her direction, because I knew that the battle within would become damn near impossible.

I'd done my best to avoid conversation. Charlie asked about Josie, and honestly, I couldn't find much to say, regardless of the fact that I had just imprinted on his daughter less than ten minutes before. I briefly glanced up and saw Bella staring at me with a slight smile, her big brown eyes were glossy and bright. She looked insanely beautiful and her facial expression instantly reminded me of all of the other imprints in the pack. FUCK! She didn't know the slightest thing about imprinting or even us wolves for that matter, but there was no denying that the force was working on her overtime.

After I finished my food, I quickly said, "Hey, everybody I need to head out for a while and take care of some business with the garage. See ya." I said it so quickly that all the words were jumbled but I needed to escape Charlie's house before I went crazy. I knew it was rude to leave like that, but I'd apologize later. My wolf clawed its way closer to the surface of my being as I walked further and further from Bella.

Away from Bella.

Away from my imprint.