When I woke up I found myself in the Volturi palace once again. It looked like the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Remembering this place gave me the chills, but actually being in it was being in Hell. The 'Big Three' Volturi were all sitting on their thrones looking at us. Jacob was crouching down behind me with his arm around me in a tight protective grip. Edward was on the other side of me.

''How lovely to have you in our grandiose palace once more, Bella. Last time you were in our presence we told you that either become one of us or you die, and you agreed." Aro reminded me never changing his expression.

''Instead you have chosen to defy us by choosing a sloppy scraggly,filthy mutt.'' Alec sneered I assumed taking note of Jacob's lack of a shirt.

''He's not a mutt. He has a name and its Jacob Black.'' I said as Jacob helped me up and put his warm arm back around me and held me tight.

''Why have you choose this Jacob when we gave you such a stern warning?'' Aro asked in a cold tone.

''She loves him now. You can't do this. I won't let you.'' Edward said surprisingly.

''Edward if I might…'' Aro said as he got up and touched Edward's hand. Jacob gave me a confused look.

''Aro can read every thought you ever had just by touching you.'' I whispered to Jacob.

''So, Edward still cares for Bella even though she has chosen not to become one of us, and has truly chosen this dog?'' Aro said.

''Yes I do, and I'm not about to see you take away the person she loves.'' Edward stated boldly.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, Edward was standing up for Jacob and me.

''If I may wolf, might I have a look at your thoughts?'' Aro said as he held out his hand to Jacob.

''Your dreaming if you think I'm going to let your smelly icy hand touch mine.'' Jacob growled as he started to tremble. Edward gave Jacob a look like he was trying to tell him something.

''Young werewolves like yourself are known for their anger management problems. I would expect words such as those to be spoken by you. '' Jane said.

''Jake calm down.'' I said as I squeezed his hand.

''Well Bella you know what it is that we must do, however Jacob can become a test subject of ours if you so desire.'' Aro suggested.

''If you think I'm going to let one of your bloodsucking stone faces hurt her your delusional. And secondly I would never join the ranks of the leech monarchy.'' Jacob snarled.

''Jake calm down.'' I urged as I squeezed his hand tighter. The good thing about squeezing his hand was I could hold it as tight as I wanted and I couldn't hurt him. He calmed down a bit.

''Quite the attitude you have got mutt. Not much has changed among your kind. Only a mutt would have the audacity to come before us dressed in the manner you are currently.'' Aro hissed.

"You think I give a shit your royal leechiness?'' Jacob hissed back.

"We were under the impression that your kind had been exterminated.'' Aro said with false glee.

''What?'' Jake asked.

''Werewolves were thought to have been eliminated around the time of the U.S. Civil War.'' Edward pointed out to Jake quietly.

''I guess you failed then didn't you leech king?'' Jacob said jokingly.

''I love Jacob. I will never let you take him from me.'' I stated very proudly.

''I do not care in the slightest if you love him. Jane if you would.'' Aro commanded.

''No don't hurt him please.'' I cried as Jacob tightened his grip.

''With pleasure. This may hurt a little.'' Jane said as reusing her old line as she started directly at him. Nothing happened. Jane's power had no effect on him. As soon as I let a huge sigh of relief escape my mouth I held it back as Caius gave me a look.

''Curious.'' Caius said.

''It is by no means curious. I should have remembered that because Jacob is a werewolf, he is immune to our gifts. Though I wonder if Jacob is immune to Edward's power. '' Aro said.

Jacob was not immune to Edward's power. I was surprised Edward didn't tell Aro that.

''Does it really matter Aro with all due respect?'' Marcus said.

''You are quite right it does not. Jacob is our enemy and Bella knows far too much about us therefore she is a liability. We must collaborate to decide what your fates shall be. In the meantime the three of you will be spending your evening in the dungeons.'' Aro said with evil intent. I got a bad feeling they were going to try and separate me from Jacob, which I would never allow them to do.

''Felix, Demetri take them.'' Aro commanded. We were lead through two large iron doors and down a relatively short stone corridor with about a dozen cells . When we reached the final two cells they stopped. The cells were rather small with a small rock bench and gravel and rock floors and stone walls. The doors were made of some sort of metal. They looked like any typical barred jail cell door except they swung outward instead of side to side.

''Here are your options. Either you are all alone, or Bella's with Edward.'' I knew they would attempt to separate us. I was not going to be separated from Jacob and he certainly was not going to allow it either. I gripped Jacob tightly as he put his arms around me. They would have to pry me out of his grip if they wanted to separate us. ''Bella stays with me.'' Jacob said.

''No she will not.'' Felix said.

'' Don't separate me from Jake. Please let me stay with him.'' I cried.

''She is staying with me. Your not separating us leech. '' Jacob said as he tightened his grip. I noticed the cell was dark and I assumed it would be cold without Jacob by my side. I knew they were not going to listen to my pleas or Jacob's warnings. I'd be locked up frightened, lonely and cold without Jacob to comfort me and keep me warm.

''I'm begging you. I don't care what your decision is but don't isolate me from Jacob.'' I said desperately trying to get my last moments with Jacob.

''There's two of us and one of him. Make your choice or we'll force both of you into a cell. Its you alone or Edward'' Felix said.

''I'm staying with Jake.'' I demanded once more.

''Bella please. Don't argue with them. I can understand if you don't want to be in a cell with me but it's better than being alone.'' Edward said.

''Edward that's nice of you but I'm staying with Jake.''

'' Aro would never allow us to hurt him without approval and Bella will insist on staying with Jacob.'' Demetri said. I knew Jacob would heal from any injuries they gave him. They were trying to scare me.

''Fine you can stay with the mutt.'' Felix said. ''Edward will be in the cell across from you.''

''Get in.'' Felix said. As I walked into the cell and sat down I demanded ''Jacob stays with me.'' I demanded.

''I already said he would be.'' Felix said as he pushed Jacob in and he tripped on a rock and almost fell on me. I thought I saw Felix wince and look at his hand as he locked the door. The sound of the door being swung shut would have been heart wrenching had Jacob not been with me.

''I can't believe that parasite touched me.'' He said in anger as he sat down.

''At least he didn't hurt you.'' I said.

''I'd be very difficult to hurt me. I'm pretty durable. Not even a bullet through the temple would kill me.''

''Your that durable? That's impressive.'' I said shocked as I noticed how cold the cell was. Jacob would never notice because his of one oh eight degree body temperature.

''It is kind of cold in here.'' I said rubbing my arms.

''Come sit next to me.'' I went and sat next to him. He put his burning hot muscular arm around me and pulled me tightly next to him so I'd feel the full warmth of his body. I was so glad to have him with me. The dungeon would have been very frightening, lonesome and cold had I been locked up alone.

The dungeon was quite dark and my mind created some frightening figures in the darkness but I wasn't scared because I had Jacob with me. As soon as I started talking to Jake the figures vanished.

''If I had become a vampire I would no longer have been able to touch your toasty warm body. I'm so glad they let me stay with you. It would have been unbearable to be locked up without you.''

''I would have never let him separate us. It would have been torture listening to you crying and me not being able to do anything about it.'' Jacob said in a depressed tone.

''Jacob Black. I love you more than you can know. I have loved you since you were a little boy. I never ever want to lose you Jake. I love you Jacob.'' I said crying joyfully as I hugged him.

''You love me that much?'' Jacob said surprised like it was the first time I ever said it and as he looked directly into my eyes. I felt a pull towards him. It was even stronger than when I hugged him in his house. It reminded me of something he told me once about werewolves finding their soul mate. It was a feeling like I was supposed to be with him.

''Yes Jake I do. I love you with all my heart.''

''Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that? I love you too Bella so very much.'' He said with tears of joy as he kissed me. It was my best kiss ever. I felt amazing warmth and pleasure. It seemed like my mind briefly joined with his. I felt complete. He was my everything and my entire world. I got a feeling I knew what had just happened.

''Jake, was that what I think it was?'' I asked.

''Yes Bella. It was.'' He said as he nodded. ''I knew you were my soul mate. I've known all along, you and me were meant to be. I've tried numerous times to imprint but somehow you kept blocking me. I think it's because you were love in with him and it blocked the imprint but now that we found our true feelings I could finally do it. They can't take you from me now.'' Jacob said with joy.

''How?'' I asked with happiness flooding me.

''Do you feel the pull towards me? The feeling of being complete? The bond of an imprint is unbreakable, unless they turn you which I would never allow to happen.'' Jacob said.

''Yeah I do. It would be unbearable if they took you from me. For a while I've doubted my feelings toward Edward. I see how much fun your world is and how fun your friends are. I would have had to give that up and my best friend would have become my enemy. I couldn't do that to you. I can't ever lose you. I couldn't bear to live without you. I wonder if your going to be needed as a werewolf for a long time provided we get out of this. Do imprints age?''

''No they don't. As long as I keep phasing you can't age.'' Jacob told me. I had no words at that moment. As much as the idea of aging has always worried me growing old with Jacob wouldn't be so bad. I never thought I could have my cake and eat it too. A forever with Jacob and his friends couldn't be a more wonderful thing.

"So..you..me..always..together..l-literally?'' I stammered. I couldn't find words to describe the elation I felt.

"Dr. Jacob has cured has your aging obsession. An eternity with me and the pack. I'll see you in Sweden for my Nobel Prize'.'' Jacob quipped.

'Bella I'm sorry' Edward said.

''Edward we're having an intimate moment here do you mind?'' Jacob said being slightly rude.

''Hush Jake, I want to hear what he has to say.'' I told my Jacob as I yawned.

''All right.'' Jacob sighed.

''I'm sorry for everything Bella. As much as it hurts me to hear your conversation I deserve it. I don't deserve you. I did terrible things to you Bella and I don't expect you to ever forgive me. I want you to know that I will always love you. Jacob has imprinted so your feelings for me are gone but I hope perhaps we can stay friends. All I want is for you to be happy. I will not let them take Jacob from you.'' Edward said with remorse and sadness.

''Thank you Edward. The fact that you came with us makes up for it. I don't think we'd have survived this long if you hadn't come. It means a lot to me to hear you say that and I forgive you.'' I told Edward yawning again.

"Thank you Bella. I hope we can at least stay friends.'' Edward said.

''Perhaps we can.'' I said yawning yet again.

''Bells you can barely keep your eyes open. Why don't you sleep?'' Jake suggested as I curled up into his arms.

"Okay.'' I said before nodding off on Jacob's bare chest so I could listen to the soothing sound of his heartbeat as I slept. He put his other arm around me in a tight grip. His biceps were huge and reflected how strong he is. His muscles were shiny. I started rubbing his arms with my hands. His biceps were rock hard just like the rest of his muscles.

''Jake?''

''Yeah?''

''I love how warm you are and I like your scent. Its like the forest, rain and dirt put together. You smell very nice.'' I said flirting as I looked at Jacob's tattoo that was on his right bicep just below the shoulder. All the wolves have the same tattoo. It was round and black and featured the image of two wolves that together created a wolf face.

''I like your tattoo Jake.'' I said.

"Glad you like it. Regarding my scent, it's a wolf thing. Our scent is very pleasant to humans. It's sort of like natural cologne. Go to sleep. Remember I'm right here. Your safe and nothing is going to happen to you. I won't let them hurt you.'' Jacob said. I closed my eyes but then reopened them I wanted to tell him one more thing.

''Jake?''

''Yes?''

''I love you Jacob Black.'' was the last thing I said before actually falling asleep.

''I love you too.'' Jacob said as he kissed me and I fell asleep in his warm arms listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat. I felt completely safe and secure in his warm embrace. I knew in his arms nothing could hurt me.

In the morning I woke up first. Jacob woke up shortly after.

''Do you know you're handsome?'' I told Jake as looked at his handsome form. Every muscle in his body is toned and hard, his skin is a beautiful and shiny shade of tan and his short black hair is shiny too.

''I thought I was sort of beautiful.'' He said teasing.

''Handsome is better. Your friends are all handsome too. Embry, Jared, Seth, Quil, Paul and even Sam. You are the most handsome of all of them but you're not just handsome in looks. You're a charming and kind person as well. ''

''Thank you and I'm not sure how I feel about you calling my friends handsome.'' Jake said teasingly. I reached out my hand and placed it on his rock hard 8-pack stomach. It was ablaze with heat. I started rubbing my hand over his blazing stomach.

''That feels so good.'' He said as he sighed and closed his eyes.

'Good morning. I hope you enjoyed your evening together.'' A voice spoke through the bars as I took my hand off Jake and looked to the door. ''We have come to an agreement. You Bella, will be turned to join us and then the mutt will be executed.'' Demetri said with a evil grin. Damn I wanted to smack that grin right off of him!