Chapter Playlist:
-Thoughtless by Evanescence
- Alone I Break by Korn
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Jacob's POV

The trees whipped past me in blurs of green as I pressed my paws against the cold ground. I pushed myself as fast as my legs would allow tracing the familiar border; Embry right on my tail.

I can handle this assignment. I don't need babysitting, especially from Embry...

Uh, dude. You do remember I can hear you right? Embry interrupted. He was right behind me trying to keep up.

I rolled my eyes and came to a complete stop. Embry, who wasn't really paying attention, smacked right into the back end of me.

Man Embry pay attention. I snapped.

Sorry. Geez. Embry thought trotting a few feet away. When are you going to stop being such a whiny bit-

Don't finish that thought, I growled.

Leave it to Embry to say what everyone was thinking. Ever since the wedding they have been on high alert, and not for vampires. Nope. It was me they were keeping an eye on, like I would actually go after the son of a bitch leech. I should, but I couldn't.

This is so frustrating. Why would Bella choose this? How can she love him? I mean, it. I thought as I began to walk back down my assigned path.

It's her choice. Embry urged obviously butting in.

That was it. I turned on him in a second, growling and baring my fangs I lowered myself ready to pounce.

Dude, calm down. You're being stupid. You know I can kick your ass. He pressed.

I attacked snapping at his face. He whipped out of the way at the last second head butting me in my ribs. The breath was knocked out of me taking me only a moment to recover. I whirled around biting down hard on his tail. He howled, and then turned on me clamping his teeth onto my right shoulder blade. Before he could bear down any harder I pulled on his tail sending him flying into the nearest tree. He hit with a loud crunch and fell to the forest floor. It only took a second for him to recover and he was back on his feet. He bent his legs into a crouch. Now it was a face off.

Embry! Jacob! Stop! Sam's booming voice echoed in our heads.

We both froze, still growling at one another.

I said cut it out! Now! Sam's voice commanded.

We stopped.

What is your deal man! Embry shouted into my mind. We know you're hurting Jake! We all see it even without being in your head, but if you keep pulling this shit you really are going to be alone.

He started to head back towards town. He was limping.

Embry- I started after him.

Don't follow me. He sneered.

I watched him go then swiped at the ground.

Shit.

I heard Sam mentally sigh. Come back in. We need to have a talk.

Then he was silent.

I still sensed Embry but all the mental insults and violence in his head kept me from saying anything. I let out a long exasperated sigh and started trotting back to the beach where I last saw Sam.

As soon as I reached the forest edge, I formed back into a human, feeling my bones shift and my muscles tighten back into their natural positions. Pulling on the shorts that were attached to my ankle, I stopped to scan the beach. Sam was standing near an old fire pit waiting. I walked slowly, still feeling like a schmuck for the way I acted towards Embry.

But he had it coming.

I shook my head.

I am so messed up. I thought running a hand through my hair.

I reached where Sam was and I waited for him to speak. He kept looking at the waves sway back and forth across the dark sand. It was getting awkward and I was about to say something when he started.

"We know she isn't home yet because your dad has kept in contact with Charlie. We don't know when they're going to change her. However, that is not the issue. The issue here is that Bella wants this." Sam said as he continued to stare at the shore. My fist tightened. Sensing my anger beginning to build Sam turned to me. "I am not saying this to upset you. It is a fact. We have not had this problem and we are trying to decide how to handle it. No one feels comfortable with attacking Bella, especially if this is what she chooses for herself."

My hands clenched even tighter. I could feel my nails breaking the skin of my palms.

"So what do we do Jacob?" Sam asked turning his attention back to the ocean. He sounded almost like a lost boy who had no clue. Really, we were all lost because of this. "Do we kill the woman you love because she chose what she believed to be the right path for her? Or do we let her go on and be happy?"

That hit me hard. I could see the turmoil in his eyes as he turned back to face me. I could feel the disgust, the helplessness, and the understanding radiate off of him.

I hung my head.

"I don't know." I whispered. In all honesty I knew what my heart wanted. It wanted her to be happy, even if that meant I was out of the picture.

She would be a monster and I would be the dog still in love.

Sam patted me on the shoulder. "Everyone agrees that it's not our place to decide. It's your decision. Choose wisely, we will be waiting."

With that he headed off into the darkness of the forest, leaving me behind wallowing in my suffering.

Bella. I thought as I closed my eyes, feeling the cool breeze circle around my torso and up through my hair.

I opened my eyes and walked over to the familiar drift wood I had visited often. It was almost like a grave site. I only came here to mourn, now, I came to decide.

Images of Bella flashed through my mind as I took my place upon the crevice of the wood. The first was her as a kid. Her curly brown locks framing her face as she splashed happily in the shallow waters with Charlie watching closely. Then the image changed and I was reminded of her first day back to the beach not too long ago. Her awkwardness and her poor attempt at flirting. Finally, the last good memory was of her and I dancing beneath the trees. Her hair brown and curly like it had been as a child tossed upon the crown of her head. Her dress swaying back and forth against my legs as we stepped in small circles.

I rested my head in my hands. I knew my decision, but saying it out loud would be the hardest step.

I stood abruptly shaking the thoughts from my mind. First things first, I needed to talk to Embry.

Once I got to Emily's I carefully came inside stepping into the small yellow kitchen. Emily looked up briefly from her coffee and breakfast to give me a small smile.

She nodded to the living room. "He's watching T.V." She whispered.

I smiled back not putting much into it.

Shuffling quietly into the living room I rounded the big sofa where Embry was sprawled out on and took a seat in the overstuffed recliner. Embry's eyes narrowed at the TV screen as he flipped through the channels faster. I put my elbows on my knees keeping my eyes on the screen and sighed. Embry shifted on the couch uncomfortably clearing his throat.

I grinned.

He stopped channel surfing to watch some British guy tell us about surviving in the wild. We watched intently as the man attempted several times to build a fire with his shoe laces and a stick. When the man broke the stick for the third time Embry and I both let out a chuckle at the same time. Embry caught himself and went silent quickly, remembering I was still there.

"Ah, come on man." I said loudly, "I know I am a total jerk and I am sorry."

Embry's eyes went wide and I heard a fork clink against a plate from the kitchen. I rolled my eyes slouching back into the chair.

"Lord, here we go." I whispered.

"What did you say?" Embry asked still staring.

Better get this over with. Just like ripping off a band aid.

"I said I was sorry." I repeated it slower this time, looking Embry dead in the eye.

His jaw dropped. "Wow, I thought it would take a few days, if even that, for you to apologize."

I rolled my eyes again, "I'm not that bad."

Embry gave me a look while Emily coughed loudly from the kitchen.

"Okay. Maybe I am, so what. I said sorry, now how about you forgive me so I can go about my business?" He was starting to irritate me again.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." He said leaning back into the couch. It was quiet for a moment. Then before I could react he jetted forward and punched me in the arm.

"What was that for?" I shouted grabbing my throbbing arm.

"For being a total douche." He laughed. He stood up and headed into the kitchen, me standing to follow still clutching my arm.

"At least your limp is gone." I teased.

"Shut up." He said over his shoulder.

"Emily do you have any muffins left?" Embry asked sweetly.

"In the oven." She replied smiling at us, "I swear you two act like you're married sometimes."

"Didn't you know?" Embry threw his arm around my shoulders, "We totally are!"

I shoved him off, "Get off dude!"

Emily rolled her eyes at the joke. She then got up to put away her plate in the sink along with the others we had left this morning.

Just as I shoved the last bit of muffin in my mouth that Embry had given me, Sam walked in with Paul and Quil in tow. Sam immediately went to Emily's side wrapping his arm around her waist as she continued to wash the dishes. She turned slightly to give him a kiss.

Ugh. I groaned internally.

Everyone then took a seat at the small round table. I couldn't tell if everyone felt terribly uncomfortable at the close proximity or what was coming. Sam squeezed in between Embry and Quil across from me as everyone fell silent.

"Jake," Sam nodded, "I know we talked just a while ago but I wanted to ask if you had come to a decision."

This is all too formal, I thought. I don't like it.

"Yeah, I have." I said. Everyone remained quiet awaiting my answer. Emily had turned her attention to our small meeting to hear what I had to say. I had forgotten that she and Bella had gotten along. Knowing her caring personality she wouldn't want anything to happen to Bella even if she disagreed with her decisions. I smiled at the thought.

"Jake?" Quil urged.

I looked around the table until my eyes fell upon Sam. "Leave her be," was all I said and it was like a weight had been lifted off everyone's shoulders. Except Paul who just slouched back into the chair with a blank face. I would have to search his mind later.

I watched as Emily sighed with a smile and returned back to the dishes stacking them with masterful skills.

"What about the elders?" I asked quickly interrupting the mood. It was strange putting my dad in that category, but I had to know what they would say.

"They are the ones who agreed that it should be your choice," Sam said in a reassuring way. "So they will abide by your decision."

I nodded my head in acknowledgment.

Well, Bella would get her happy ending. I thought to myself. At least one of us would.