Finding a Mate

by Dream Daily

What if Edward was the one chasing? What if Bella was the one running? Edward recognizes Bella as his mate the moment he sets eyes on her. Bella? She fears the intense attraction Edward has for her, and does her best to elude his grasp. But no matter how strongly she resists or how far she runs, Edward refuses to let her go.

4. Chapter 4

Remember Jacob is two years older than Bella in my story. Also, he rides a Harley.

Chapter Four

That Wednesday after school found Bella sitting next to Edward in the same coffee shop they'd visited before as they discussed their project. She had spent all weekend and every spare moment since then reading through Voltaire's pieces, and while the prose was a difficult read, she did find it fascinating and often times humorous. She'd done her best to make her way through as much of Voltaire's work because she wanted to impress Edward. She still wasn't interested in pursuing anything with him romantically, but she didn't want to feel like such an idiot next to him either. She wanted to be able to add to their conversations, and not cause him to carry the majority of the weight in their project.

At school it was becoming increasingly apparent to everyone that Edward was staking his claim on her. He'd even gone so far as to abandon his lunch table with his siblings to begin sitting at her table with her friends. She'd wanted to discourage him, but she couldn't think of a way without coming off as a total bitch. It didn't help that Jessica was constantly pushing her towards Edward and doing her best to include him in their group as much as possible. She'd even gone so far as to invite him with them to the fair on Friday. Bella wasn't exactly happy about that, but since Jessica had asked him at lunch with everyone there Bella didn't feel comfortable asking him not to come.

Edward was still behaving like the perfect gentleman though. While he continued to stare at her so intensely every day, and he'd progressed to handing her the white rose every morning instead of taping it to her locker, and was now walking her to all her classes instead of following behind her, he was doing his best to put her more at ease in his presence. And for that she was thankful.

Even now he was doing his best to make a good impression on her. He'd paid for her coffee, bought her sandwich, pulled her chair out for her, and was very attentive to everything she had to say. As he'd been all week at school, but Bella still couldn't shake that hunted feeling she got around him. Not to mention he was touching her much more often now. Nothing inappropriate or anything. Just a brush of his fingers across her own, or a hand at the small of her back guiding her through a doorway, but she felt each and every touch down to her marrow. There was just something about Edward that called to something deep inside her, something forbidden, something sacred, and it scared the living shit out of her.

Not to mention Edward's skin was always cold. Like really cold. It didn't matter if they were outside or inside, his skin was always freezing. She'd asked him about it once, and he'd just shrugged and said it was one of the many things about him that was different. He'd promised to explain further in detail once they were better acquainted, but hadn't said anything more than that.

Still, despite his reluctance to talk about himself at times, Bella was finding it more and more enjoyable to converse with Edward. Not only was he really smart, but he seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say. He was always asking for her opinion, asking about her views and beliefs, and he hung on every word. Bella found it quite flattering the way Edward seemed to think everything she had to say was of the upmost importance. She'd never had anyone care so much about what she had to say.

Currently they were discussing the themes in Candide. Edward had just finished telling her that he thought much of Voltaire's work could only be described as the writing of a severely depressed man who used humor to cloak his cynicism.

Bella disagreed, and argued her point, "I don't think Voltaire was writing from a dark place."

"How so? Almost all of his works, while satirical, rail against the injustices of the world and the people in it. He finds fault in all philosophical and religious beliefs, all forms of romanticism. How can he be writing from anything other than a dark place? Humor or not."

Thinking how to word her answer carefully, Bella finally offered, "I think at one point he was very disillusioned with the world, with the Lisbon earthquake and the Seven Years War, but I think his writing was meant to be uplifting."

"Because of the humor? Laugh at the hard moments so you don't cry?"

"No. I think he was trying to express that life is short, so don't worry about the small things. As cliché as that sounds."

Arching a brow, Edward encouraged, "Explain to me in detail what that means."

"I think he was trying to point out to people that life can't be controlled, by good or evil forces, and because of that all we are assured of is right now, so make the best of it. I think Voltaire was trying to show people that wasting their life on meaningless pursuits, no matter if society deemed those pursuits as the only ones worthwhile, was pointless. He did it in a morbidly humorous way, but the message is still the same. To me at least."

Edward's smile was dazzling as he concurred, "You astound me, Isabella. You have such a different view of things. Like no one else's. It is refreshing."

Belly couldn't help but blush prettily as she stared down at her cup of coffee and mumbled, "Thank you."

"Why do you do that, Bella?"

"Do what?"

"Refuse to look at me."

Reaching out Edward took hold of Bella's chin between his thumb and forefinger and brought her gaze to his. His thumb brushed across her full lower lip as he added softly, "I prefer to see your eyes, mia Bella. When I look into them I feel wonderfully human."

Bella's voice was the barest whisper as she asked, "You don't feel human the rest of the time?"

A shadow passed through Edward's eyes before he replied, "No, but when I'm with you I feel everything. From now on, mia Bella, look into my eyes. There is no need for you to divert your gaze. I could never think less of you."

"Why do you say, 'mia Bella' when you say my name? What does that mean?"

"Mia means 'my' in Italian. I call you my Bella."

"I'm not yours."

"Yet."

Edward brushed his finger across her lip again before pulling back and adding, "Now back to Voltaire. I think we—"

"Edward," Bella began. "I—I can't do this with you. You know I'm leaving at the—"

"We have plenty of time to discuss all of that, Bella. For now all I ask is the right to be your friend."

"Just friends?"

His grin was positively feral as Edward assured, "Very good friends."

'Talk about subtext,' Isabella thought with equal parts irritation and some strange sort of pleasure that Edward thought she was so intriguing. Shaking herself out of her thoughts she said, "Ok, you were saying about Voltaire?"

"I think we'll need to one of his best works from each genre he wrote in to summarize and compare to not only his other works, but to the works of his contemporaries."

Nodding her head, Bella agreed, "I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking that we could compare him to some of his modern contemporaries, maybe show how he has influenced modern writers."

"That is a very good idea, which pieces do you think we should focus on?"

Edward and Bella continued to discuss their project for the next two hours, deciding on which works in each genre of Voltaire's that they were going to use. Edward was everything that was gracious and gentlemanly. Any time her cup was empty he was up getting her a refill before she even realized she was out. He also bought her one of their chocolate chip muffins to take home, and continued to hang on her every word. It was only when their time was nearing its end that things got strange, and much of that had to do with Jacob.

At a little after four Jacob came into the coffee shop to pick her up. Her truck was having problems running again so Billy and Jacob had come over to work on it with her dad while she met with Edward. Jacob had given her a ride on his motorcycle and dropped her off. Bella had only told Jacob that she was going to the coffee shop to study so he had not been prepared to see her huddled up at a table with Edward Cullen.

Walking into the coffee shop Jacob easily caught sight of Bella, but seeing her with Edward had him striding over to the table and growling, "Get way from her, Cullen!"

"Jacob," Bella gasped in surprise when he grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet before pushing her behind him. She was surprised by the strength of his hold, but rallied herself quickly and demanded, "What the hell, Jacob!"

Ignoring Bella behind him, Jacob threatened, "You stay away from her!"

Cullen was on his feet just as quickly as he hissed, "Don't touch, Bella!"

"Don't come near her again!"

"You are in no position to tell me what to do, dog!"

Refusing to be ignored Isabella stepped in between the two men and demanded, "What the hell is going on?!"

Reaching out to take Bella's arm gently, but firmly, Edward insisted, "Come here, Bella. I'll handle this."

Grabbing bella's other arm and yanking her back towards him, forcing Edward to let her go or break her arm, Jacob snarled, "I told you to stay away from her!"

Looking down at her, Jacob insisted, "Iz, go wait by my bike while I have a word with Edward. I'll be right out."

"She's not going anywhere with you!"

"Shove it, Cullen!"

"Let her go, dog!"

Yanking her arm out of Jacob's painful grip, Bella yelled, "Stop it! Both of you!"

A quick look around proved to Bella that they were in fact the object of everyone in the café's attention, and she whispered harshly, "Both of you outside! Now!"

Grabbing her thick winter coat and bag she stomped out of the café. Certain that both guys were following behind her, Bella made it to the parking lot where Edward's Escalade and Jacob's Harley were parked. Spinning around Bella snapped, "What the fuck is wrong with you two! I am not some prize you can fight over!"

Looking directly at Jacob, she demanded, "Where do you get off yanking me around like that? It felt like you were going to pull my arm right out of my socket!"

Edward didn't like hearing that and he took a threatening step forward as he growled, "You fucking hurt her!"

"I didn't mean to blood sucker!" Looking down at the small girl before him with a sincerely apologetic expression, Jacob apologized, "I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to be so rough with you. I was just trying to keep you safe."

Bella, who had caught onto the fact Jacob had a bit of a crush on her not even a week after moving in with Charlie, replied, "Jacob, I appreciate you trying to look out for me, but that was definitely not the way to go about it."

Jacob stared hard at Isabella. He was two years her senior and had been drawn to her ever since he first saw her. At first it had just been a desire to be around her. Something about her made him feel calm, and eventually he'd started fantasizing about her. He'd asked her out a couple of times, but she'd always turned him down. She'd told him she wasn't intending to stay in Forks for long so she didn't see much point in getting involved with someone. He had been hoping to change her mind, but regardless he wasn't going to allow her to get involved with Edward Cullen.

With that in mind he warned, "Bella, Cullen is dangerous. He and his family are dangerous. You need to stay away from them."

Tired of the wolf overstepping his bounds, Edward pushed between Jacob and Bella and countered, "Any more dangerous than you, puppy? Tell me, how are Sam and Emily? Her face healing?"

Jacob's expression went impossibly hard. What had happened to Emily was a sore spot for the entire pack. A constant reminder that control was vital. Even now he could feel the call of the wolf inside him, the desire to phase and attack Cullen nearly overwhelming. Betraying none of his inner turmoil, Jacob argued, "That was nearly three years ago! We've all learned control since then! Besides it's your fault to begin with! You and your family's! If you had never come back here none of us would have changed! You're the ones that woke up our blood!"

Thoroughly confused now, Bella demanded, "What the hell are you two talking about?"

Looking back and forth between Edward and Jacob, Isabella finally asked Jacob, "What happened to Emily? Are you talking about her face? You told me she was in an accident."

When Jacob remained silent Bella turned angrily to Edward and demanded, "What did he mean by you and your family coming back? I thought you've lived here for four years? You told me you and your family lived in Alaska before that."

"We did," Edward hedged. He cursed Jacob for being a fool. The idiot boy had revealed far too much to Bella, and he hurried to explain, "Carlisle had come to Forks awhile ago and so when we left Alaska he decided to move back here."

Looking up angrily at Jacob, his gaze full of warning, Edward added, "Jacob is just trying to come between us. He obviously wants you for himself, and that is not going to happen."

Jacob knew he'd said far too much. While he very much liked Bella he knew he couldn't tell her he was a wolf. Not only was he afraid she'd freak, but he was also bound by pack law. Because of this he back pedaled, "Emily was in an accident. I didn't lie to you."

"So what was all that about changing? What are you and Edward talking about? Why is Edward dangerous?"

"Yes, Jacob, tell Bella why it is I'm so dangerous. While you're at it tell her why you're far more dangerous than I am. You talk as though the three years you've spent learning to control yourself can in anyway compare to my time learning control."

Jacob's hands curled into fists as he countered, "Only one of us eats—"

Wrapping his hand around Jacob's throat and lifting him off the ground, Edward snarled, "Watch it boy! You would put her in such danger?"

"Edward! Put him down!"

Grabbing Edward's forearm and yanking on it, stunned that he could so easily lift someone of Jacob's size, Bella insisted, "Edward! Put him down! He's chocking! Stop!"

It was only the fear in Bella's voice and the wild look in her eyes that finally had Edward dropping Jacob to the ground. His gaze was hard and his voice brutal as he declared, "This is the last time you overstep yourself with me, boy. Next time I won't be so lenient. Treaty or not."

Jacob finished coughing and trying to regain his breath as he shot to his feet. He couldn't believe he'd nearly revealed a secret that could get Bella killed. Getting his rage under control he looked at Bella and said, "I'll take you home."

"She's not going anywhere with you!"

"She is not your concern!"

"Enough! Both of you!"

When Edward and Jacob both finally turned to look at her, Bella said, "Edward, I'll see you tomorrow at school and you can give me your explanation as to what the hell happened today. Jacob, you're taking me home and when we get there you've got five minutes to explain why you're suddenly acting like a total douche, but right now I don't want to talk to either of you."

When Bella moved towards Jacob's bike Edward reached out to catch her arm softly, and implored, "Bella, please let me take you home. I'll explain, and I'm sorry for upsetting you."

Yanking her arm out of Edward's hold, which while firm had been no where near as painful as Jacob's, Bella denied, "Edward, I'm too mad to talk right now. Please just go and I'll talk to you at school tomorrow. Jacob, let's go."

When Jacob started towards her while tossing and arrogant smirk in Edward's direction, she hissed, "And wipe that smile off your face before I do it for you!"

Jacob's expression took on a pained look as he settled himself on his bike so Bella could climb on behind him. "Bella, I—"

"Don't, Jacob. I don't want to hear it right now. I am so pissed at you I can hardly see straight. Take me home. Now."

Edward was forced to stand back and watch as Jacob drove off with Bella behind him. His body was literally humming with the need to catch up to them and snatch her back, but he realized it would only add fuel to the fire of Bella's anger. He knew his actions just now had probably shattered whatever trust he'd been able to build in Bella, and he swore to himself to do whatever he could to fix it as soon as possible. With that in mind he quickly made his way to his car and headed home. He needed to talk to Carlisle, Esme, and Alice as soon as possible. Maybe they could help him figure out how to fix this mess. Not to mention something would have to be done about Jacob. He would not allow that wolf to come between him and his mate.

A little while later Jacob pulled his bike to a stop in front of Isabella's house. His dad and her dad were still inside so as she slid off behind him he grabbed her arm to stop her going inside and pleaded, "Let me explain."

Anger still coursing through her veins, Bella demanded, "Why did you do that? You embarrassed me in front of everyone! The whole school is going to be talking about that pissing match between you two tomorrow!"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't good enough!"

"Bella, I just wanted to keep you safe."

"Safe from what? Edward? Why is he so dangerous? And why does he think you're so dangerous?"

Looking down, Jacob replied, "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I just can't." Looking back up to capture her gaze, Jacob begged, "Please, Bella, please stay away from Edward. Stay away from all the Cullen's. They're dangerous."

"Why?"

"I can't say."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Isabella insisted, "No, you won't say. If you know a reason Edward is dangerous then tell me, but if this is you being jealous than you can kiss off!"

Jumping up from his bike, Jacob said, "I am jealous! You know I want you! So yeah, I don't like seeing you with another guy, but that isn't what this is about!"

"Then what is it about? Why did you go off like that when I was just having coffee?"

"Damnit, Bella, I can't tell you! Just do as I say!"

Eyes going wide before narrowing with rage, Bella hissed, "Go fuck yourself!"

When Bella spun away from him and began stomping towards her house, Jacob ran to catch up to her. Grabbing her arm again he spun her around and demanded, "Bella, I know what I'm talking about! Edward is dangerous! You have to stay away from him!"

"You can't tell me what to do!"

"The hell I can't!"

Jacob was so fired up he couldn't control himself. He'd wanted Bella for months now and seeing her before him now with wind blown hair and bright eyes he just couldn't hold back. With his hands tight on her shoulders he yanked her into his chest and slanted his mouth over hers. His tongue forced its' way into her mouth and sought out her own.

Bella was stunned by the advance and for a moment could only stand there in shock as Jacob plundered her mouth, but she quickly regained her wits and brought her knee up sharply. She took a perverse sense of satisfaction at Jacob's pained howl before he dropped to the snow covered ground in front of her clutching his family jewels. Glaring down at him she snapped, "Don't you ever do that again! You don't touch me without my permission!"

Spinning around she left Jacob in the snow to head upstairs. She was too worked up to be polite to her dad and Billy, and instead decided to stay in her room until the Black's left. She knew Charlie would just chalk up her attitude to her time of the month.

Tossing her bag onto her bed she ran her hands through her hair in agitation and muttered, "Stupid boys thinking I'm their stupid trophy! Who the hell do they think they are!"

She couldn't believe the spectacle Jacob and Edward had made at the coffee shop. And what the hell had they been talking about? Why did they each think the other was so dangerous? And how the hell had Edward picked Jacob up so easily? And what was all that talk about control?

After several minutes of angry contemplation Bella finally came to the conclusion that jealously and simple dislike had been the main cause for the scene between Edward and Jacob. She was still incredibly pissed at both of them, and she wondered how other girls could find it attractive when guys fought over them. She found it incredibly stupid. Stupid and juvenile, and she was going to tell Edward that tomorrow when she saw him.

Hearing a knock at her door, she shouted, "What?!"

Charlie hesitated on the other side of the door, and asked, "Are you ok Bella? You seemed upset when you came in, and Jacob asked me to tell you sorry before he left. Did you two have a fight?"

Forcing herself to put on a good front, Bella opened her door with a fake smile and soothed, "It's fine, Dad. It was nothing. I'm just over reacting."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. So what's for dinner?"

"Well we got the truck fixed so I was thinking we'd give it a test drive and go down to the diner. That ok?"

"Sounds great."

"Ok, see you downstairs in ten?"

"Ok."

…

…

…

Several hours later Bella pulled her beat up truck into her father's driveway and rolled her eyes at the sight of Edward leaning against his parked Escalade by the curb. She was guessing he couldn't wait until tomorrow to explain himself, and she decided she'd calmed down enough to hear him out. Maybe he could tell her more than Jacob had. Of course anything would be more than Jacob had.

"Isn't that Edward Cullen?"

"Yeah."

Glancing at his daughter, Charlie speculated, "I hear he's been hanging around you a lot."

"You have?"

"It's a small town Bella, and things get around. Are you two dating?"

"No."

From the annoyed tone in Bella's voice, Charlie couldn't help but ask, "Is he bothering you? Do you want me to talk to him for you?"

Giving her dad a genuine smile, Bella assured, "It's fine, dad. It's probably something about our project. I'll meet you inside."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, and no watching out the window ok? Leave the badge at the door," Bella said with a laugh.

"I can leave the badge at the door, but the father part is with me all the time. I'll give it ten minutes and then I'm spying."

"Deal."

Bell and her dad got out of the truck. He went inside with their food while she stuffed her hands in her coat pockets and headed towards Edward.

"I thought I told you I'd talk to you tomorrow."

"I couldn't wait until then."

Standing from where he'd been leaning against his SUV, Edward asked, "Are you angry with me?"

"Yep."

"How angry?"

"Scale of one to ten? I'd say seven."

"I was hoping it was less."

"Well it isn't."

"What did Jacob tell you?"

Crossing her arms over her chest, Bella denied, "None of your business. I'm not here to answer your questions. You're here to answer mine, Edward, so why don't you start talking."

"I have answers to all of your questions, Bella, I just can't give them to you now."

"Why not?"

"Because you don't know me well enough. Not yet, but I promise once we are better acquainted I will tell you everything you could want or need to know."

"That hardly makes me feel better, Edward."

Stepping closer to her, Edward lamented, "I know, and I wish I could tell you more, but at the moment it is all I can offer you."

Looking deeply into Edward's eyes, Bella asked, "Why does Jacob think you are so dangerous? Why did he tell me to stay away from you?"

"Many reasons. We are enemies, and with how badly I want you he probably knows I have no intention of letting you go."

"Edward, I'm not yours!"

"You will be."

Shaking her head in aggravation, she asked, "What is with you guys! Thinking you can just stake a claim on me and be done with it!"

Moving forward to poke Edward in the chest with an angry finger, she yelled, "First Jacob kisses me without my permission and now you're here spouting off nonsense about me belonging to you!"

Edward grabbed Bella's hand and pulled her forward into his chest as he demanded, "Jacob did what?"

"Edward, let me go!"

"Jacob kissed you? You let him put his filthy lips upon your own? That mangy mutt?"

Edward was incensed at the idea that Jacob had touched his precious girl, and he would be sure to have words with the foolish dog very shortly. He would make it clear to the boy that Bella was off limits. In every possible way. Bella belonged to him, and he would make Jacob Black very aware of that.

Pulling against Edward's hold, Bella hissed, "Let me go, Edward! Right now or I'm screaming for my dad!"

Having no choice but to reluctantly release her, Edward forced himself to step back and apologized, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I just couldn't stand hearing that you kissed Jacob Black."

"I didn't kiss him. He kissed me."

"And you allowed it?"

Yes, he was jealous. He had yet to be graced with Bella's lips upon his own, and the thought of Jacob getting to kiss her made him want to hunt the fool down and bathe in his blood before he spirited Isabelle away somewhere private to keep her all to himself for the rest of eternity. Of course Edward recognized these thoughts were unhealthy so instead forced himself to remain calm.

Unaware of Edward's dark musings, Bella insisted, "I didn't allow him to do anything! In fact I kneed him in the crotch for it! Not that it's any of your business anyways."

It was very much his business, but Edward knew he couldn't tell Bella that. And while he was pleased that his Bella had responded to Jacob's advances in such a way, it in no way alleviated his anger that another had touched her. And it was because of his anger that he was foolish enough to declare, "He is not to kiss you again."

"Stop ordering me around! I am sick of this! You and Jacob are acting like total jackasses and you won't even tell me why! Well let me tell you something, you pompous jerk! As soon as this project is done I don't want anything to do with you at all!"

"Bella, no! Don't say that. Please don't say that."

"Tough shit. Now leave me alone."

When Bella started towards the house Edward grabbed her hand and pleaded softly, "Bella, I know I'm messing this all up, and I know you're angry, and I know you deserve answers, but please don't give up on me. Don't give up on us."

Jerking her hand out of his, Bella demanded, "What us? There is no us! Edward, I barely know you! You go around acting like we have some great connection when the truth is we are complete and total strangers! And honestly at this point I want to keep it this way! I just have to get through the next five and a half months and I am outta here! So just stay the fuck away from me!"

"Bella! BELLA!"

Edward could do nothing more than stare after her as Isabella made her way back into the house. Her words cut him to his core and it felt like fire was ripping through his heart. He knew Bella felt something for him, but he also knew it wasn't anything near what he felt for her. He cursed himself for letting the situation get out of control once again, and he cursed Jacob Fucking Black for coming between him and Bella just when it looked like she was beginning to accept him.

Spinning around he slammed his fist against his car, causing the door to implode inwards and snap it's hinges. Cursing silently he got in and pealed away from Bella's house. He needed to speak to his family. He had to find a way out of the hole he'd dug himself with Jacob's help. He couldn't let Bella go. He just couldn't.