Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer not me. I would never make Bella get pregnant and Jacob would never imprint on a hybrid.

Author/Note 1: For the ones who know my previous stories, you'll understand everything quite rapidly, since Our Dawn 4 is the sequel from Our Dawn 3. For the ones who don't know anything about Our Dawn Series, you can always read Our Dawn 1, 2 and 3 or read the summaries I wrote in the previous chapter.

A/Note 2: I'm not a native English speaker so I'm sorry for my grammar and spelling. Thank you for reading.

Alert: the characters in this story curse a lot. Some chapters are rated M.

Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed: Teagann, ASH186, Rafaela, brankel1, TheSkeptic88, teamtorettosupporter, wolfman inc, Blackwater Crazziii, Isa Clearwater, AllieBlack16, Jada91, Jeakat, Christina Gordon, blackwater101, Huff-PuffI'llNeverBeBlownAway.

Our Dawn

Part IV

Book 1 – Dark Shadows

Jacob Black

Two months later…

Chapter 1 – Tower

Okay to allow Josh to live with us hadn't been one of my brightest ideas but now it was too late to go back with my word. Besides I had a motive to do it. I wanted him to understand that Leah and I were a couple and that we would always be together. By spending time with us and our children I hoped Josh would back off on his own and leave willingly, thus causing the less pain possible to Leah.

It was said that an imprinted wolf was what his imprint wanted him to be and I was pretty sure that Leah only wanted Josh as a friend. The problem wasn't Leah; the problem was Josh, who seemed to want more.

I watched quietly while Josh's hand brushed Leah's while they were setting the table for dinner. I didn't like it. Not even one bit.

"Dad, move your car to the left!" William whined next to me. "Your piece of junk is all over my Ferrari."

I put my attention back on the game but I couldn't focus totally.

"You're letting Will win, dad. Come on…speed up." Harry said jumping on the couch.

"I'm trying."

"Try harder. Even Quil would be able to beat you right now." Harry mocked me.

"Very funny…if you don't shut up you're not playing next." I warned.

"That's not fair." He complained.

"I win!" William shouted after finishing the last lap.

I gave my controller to Harry and glanced over to the kitchen where Leah and Josh were.

"I am so going to beat you." Harry said to William who grinned.

"You wish."

I got up from the couch and joined Leah in the kitchen.

"Josh, can you go see if Isaac and Sarah are still sleeping?" Leah asked and Josh left immediately. "What is it?" She asked when I passed through the door.

"Nothing." I lied.

In the beginning I thought I would be able to handle the situation. I thought I would be strong enough. Now I wasn't so sure. Things had changed drastically since the day Josh had moved in. Even though he was aware that Leah and I were a family and that we were trying to fight this imprint because we loved each other and had four kids, I knew Josh couldn't help to feel attracted to Leah. I should've seen this coming.

"Are you tired from work?" She asked while preparing the salad.

"No. I'm just worried."

It was true. I was worried that Josh was falling in love with my wife and I was worried that all of this physical thing between them would turn into something more.

"About what?"

"Stuff."

"Josh?"

She knew me too well.

"You have nothing to worry about. I love you not him." She assured me.

"I can't help it. I mean what if he decides…"

"That he's in love with me?" She asked.

"No…"

I could live with the fact that someone else was in love with Leah. Actually I had lived with that since forever. Sam still had feelings for her and I suspected that half of the pack felt something for her too, starting with Brady and Denis. What I couldn't live with was the constant fear that she could also start developing feelings for Josh. I knew that if she did feel anything for him was due to the imprint and not by her choice but that didn't make me feel better.

"What if he decides that you should leave me and the kids, what if you give in to this imprint bullshit?"

"That will never happen. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here…with you."

She was being honest but for the last couple of months all I felt was loneliness. I lived with a house full but I felt neglected and alone most of the time. It was like I was invisible. During the day Leah, Josh and I were working. Harry and William were at school and Isaac and Sarah would stay with Sue. After work, I would pick the boys from school and Leah would pick the younger ones from Sue and Charlie's place.

Then Leah had to prepare dinner and we would have to take care of a lot of things for the kids. Josh usually helped Leah in the kitchen, replacing me. At night Leah and Josh had long talks watching TV. I used to join them but now I would rather go to our bedroom and sulk there.

Every night I wished I would wake up from that nightmare. The nightmare on where I was replaced by a stranger in my wife and children's hearts.

"Maybe I was wrong." I said.

"About what?"

"Asking Josh to stay with us. Maybe I should send him away."

Leah frowned.

"That would be cruel." She stated. "He doesn't have anyone else."

"At least I would have you back."

I didn't feel Leah's touch in two months. Josh was staying downstairs and we had agreed to wait until we were alone in the house, the problem was we were never alone these days. Leah had told me she wasn't sure of how he would react if he knew we had made love. After all Josh had imprinted on her, it could hurt him too much to realise that his imprint had intimate contact with another man.

"Things between Josh and me aren't like the other imprints. You know that. Josh needs someone to take care of him because he's alone."

"I know but…soon he'll want more. I don't know how much more I can handle. I'm sick and tired to come home and see you two talking and laughing together."

"We're friends. He needs attention just like the kids."

I sighed heavily. I knew Leah wanted to make Josh feel like he had a home and a family. I felt sorry for him too for losing his mother and not knowing his real father's identity but I wanted to be able to have a normal life with my own family and he was in my way.

"Jacob…listen to me. I've been in Paul's, Sam's, Embry's, Jared's and Quil's heads. Trust me when I tell you that Josh doesn't feel that way about me and I'm not like the other girls. It's only been two months, he will realise that I just want us to be friends and that I want you not him."

"I just wished you could show that more often."

"Are you doubting me?"

"No, I'm just trying to…understand what's going on. I'm just trying to accept this."

I turned around to go back to the living room when I felt her arms snake around my chest. We stayed like that for a while; both taking in the comfort that our bodies could provide to one another. I could feel her heart beating and I loved the warm sensation her lips left in my neck when she kissed me.

"Just have a little more patience. I'll make up to you…I promise."

"Tonight?" I asked with hope.

"Soon…" She answered.

I knew what soon meant. It meant some day as in some other day. I released myself from her embrace and went to play with the twins.

After we had dinner I received a message from Bella. The Cullens were finally back. I had called Carlisle a few times requesting his presence in Forks so we could talk about this imprint from hell, but he had to stay in Canada until now. He had students to teach and way too many responsibilities since he had become the Hospital's Director recently.

"The Cullens are back." I said.

"Finally." Leah stated.

"Can we go see them?" William asked excitedly.

"Not now. Maybe this weekend." I said. "Now go play with your brother."

"Are you going to see them?" Leah asked.

"Yes. I'm going to stop by Sam's place to tell him and then I'm going to see Carlisle."

"Shouldn't we go together? I mean Josh needs to meet them too."

"I'm just going to pay them a visit. I'll be back in less then an hour."

"Okay, don't be long." Leah went upstairs to check on Isaac and Sarah and I got up.

"You do this often?" Josh asked before I could leave.

"What?"

"Visit the bloodsucker's family?"

"Yes. I know it's hard to believe we can actually be friends with leeches but you'll understand when you meet them."

"What's so special about them? I mean…besides the fact that they don't feed on humans."

"Well that's enough. If they don't hurt people, we have nothing against them."

"What if one of them breaks the treaty?"

"That will never happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know them and I trust them."

"You trust leeches? Seriously?"

"Look, just wait until you meet them, alright?"

Josh shrugged.

"Fine."

I opened the front door and then I glanced over at him again.

"While I'm out just try to keep your hands to yourself, okay?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Josh asked his brown eyes meeting mine with the same intensity.

"It means I'm not blind, asshole."

I closed the door behind me and I decided to travel as a wolf. As soon as I stripped and tied my clothes to my ankle, I phased. Caleb, Embry and Sam were on patrol tonight.

'Hey…The Cullens are back, I'm going over there to greet them.' I announced.

'Do you need company?' Embry asked.

'No. I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to patrol their lands anymore.'

'Okay. I'll tell the next group.' Sam said.

I kept running through the forest, hoping that the leech doctor could somehow have the solution to my problem. As soon as I reached the border the familiar stench hit my nose and I stopped on my tracks knowing that someone was there.

Bella's small figure came out of the tree's line and I phased back before she could see me. I crossed the small stream jumping over the cold water and landed right in front of her. She hugged me briefly and smiled.

"Where's the mind rapist?" I asked surprised that he hadn't showed up yet.

"He's not here." Bella spoke in a low whisper.

"Oh…so he's at home?"

"No. He's in Alaska."

"Alaska? Why?"

"Long story. I'll tell you later."

"Don't tell me you had a fight?"

"Not quite…but enough of talking about me. What's going on between you and the new wolf?"

"I honestly don't know."

"You know you shouldn't have invited him to live with you and Leah, right?"

"Yeah…I know that now."

"Have you discovered who his father is?"

"No and honestly, I don't think we ever will. The Council doesn't seem concerned about that. It's just like what happened with Embry. They're only concerned about him being accepted in the pack."

"And has he?"

"I don't think so. When he phases we still can't hear his thoughts."

"But it's been two months."

"Yeah, I know. The thing is Josh is a rogue wolf and no one knows what we have to do to make him one of us. He was already initiated before the Council and we all agree that he must join the pack but things are still the same. I was hoping Carlisle could help us."

"I see…"

"We're out of ideas."

"What about the kids? How did they react when Josh moved in?"

"They're cool with it. Josh plays a lot with William and Harry. Deep inside I know this is not his fault. He didn't ask for any of this and…" My voice died when Bella reached my face and brushed her could fingers on my skin.

"You're not happy." She stated with a sad look. "You start to wonder if you and Leah are meant to be together."

"It's not like that." I said holding her hand and putting it down. "It's not like that at all."

"Then tell me."

"Carlisle told me Leah phased in the first place because she was meant to be the alpha female of the pack. She was meant to be the alpha's mate. My mate…He told me we would never imprint because we had each other. She was destined to be with me. She was destined to have my children and we proved that…but now I don't know in what to believe."

"The most important thing is to believe in yourself Jake."

"What if I'm not good enough? When I think about it I feel like I'm climbing up to a tower but I can't ever reach the top. All my efforts are useless because this tower is too high and I will never be able to succeed."

"Jacob…I know that right now you want me to tell you that everything will be alright. That Leah and you will make it work, that the imprint will break and you'll be able to put this behind…but what if this was meant to happen?"

Bella's words caught me off guard. I had thought the same myself but hearing someone else saying it was twice as hard.

Was it possible that a stranger was a better mate for Leah than me? Were we forced to accept whatever fate had thrown at us without putting up a fight? Was our willpower completely useless against destiny?

"She's still fighting." I said trying to convince myself that Bella was wrong.

"It's a lost battle. She should know that better than anyone after what happened with Sam."

"Why are you telling me this, Bells?"

"Because you need to be prepared in case Leah leaves you."

"She won't…"

"You don't know that. Edward told me once that he read Emily's thoughts and saw how hard she fought against the imprint. Harder than Sam. She didn't want to hurt her cousin but in the end she couldn't resist the pull."

I was silent for a few seconds trying to take in what I knew was the truth. Bella was right and I should prepare myself for the worse scenario.

"Maybe you're not meant to reach the top of that tower you're trying to climb so stubbornly."

"Come on Bella! Are you serious? True love is always about a choice. You know that. Do you honestly think I've been wasting my time with Leah all these years?" I paced back and forth near the water.

"I didn't say that." She apologised. "I'm just saying that once you phase into a wolf, you no longer control your life. You told me that once, remember?"

"Well fuck that because I don't need fate or destiny to tell me who I have to love. I want Leah…We belong together."

"That's not up to you anymore Jake. Just face it. Now it's her call…her and Josh's."

"What about our children? Do you dare to say they're all mistakes?"

"You know I love those kids, Jacob. I would never say that."

"But you clearly think that. You just can't say it out loud but you're just like everyone else in this damn Reservation. I don't understand…What gives you the impression that Leah and I are together just for convenience?"

"Your pasts for starters."

"You know what Bella…I thought you were my friend."

"And I am."

"No, you're not. You should be taking me to Carlisle and reassuring me that Leah loves me more than Josh…but you're just like Sam…"

"Jacob…"

"Drop it, alright? I'm not going to stay here listening to your excuses anymore. I'm going home to my wife. I'll see the leech doctor tomorrow morning."

"Jake…wait! I just want to tell you one last thing…"

I turned my back on her and waited.

"I know you feel like everything is falling apart but I want you to know that I never thought you weren't good enough…because you are."

A/Note 3: So what do you think about Bella's return?

Thanks a lot for your feedback. Take care,

Karisan