Jacob Black sighed as he entered the La Push border; he felt safe once more being much closer to the pack and hi home. He took a glance towards Bella, and saw her posture relax too as she saw the La Push sign. He smiled lightly, and continued to focus on the road. "Hey Bells...could you grab me a slice of pizza?" he questioned, as he saw the box was in the back. She chuckled lightly, and he was glad to hear that coming from her. "What? I get hungry," he teased with a pout on his face.
"That might take a few years off you," she warned as she reached behind them to grab him a slice. He rolled his eyes playfully and took the offered slice.
"It doesn't matter, I still have at least ten years on you still," he teased back, taking a bite of the slice. She just shook her head, and went back to focusing on the road in front of her. After a couple moments of silence, Jacob noticed that Bella had a contemplative look on her face. "You ok Bells?" he questioned, as he finished off the slice. She nodded her head, but didn't say anything else. He shook his head; he knew that she was lying. She was probably worried about the Cullens coming after her still; he didn't know what he could do to placate her fears. Jacob reached out for one of her hands, and she took it. He started to gently tug on her hand and she smiled before scooting close to him. He threw his arm over and across her shoulders bringing her close.
"I'm doing better now," she admitted, as her head laid gently on his shoulder.
"You don't have to be so nervous around the pack you know?" he said suddenly, "They really do like you. We aren't going anywhere,"he promised, feeling her sidle a bit closer. "I'm not going anywhere," he added trying to make her feel better.
"I'm going to be alright," she murmured, "I'm already doing better than before," she reminded him.
"And I'm proud of you for it," he said to her, "and I'm so glad that you are with me," he admitted once more with a smile. "Both Clearwaters are starting to show signs of becoming like the rest of us," he said sadly, "With all of the Cullens back...and Victoria with the Newborns...." he sighed suddenly. Bella knew that she needed to make him feel better. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, and felt him relax against her body. They reached his house and as he turned off her car, she ran a hand through his hair.
"Its going to be alright," she whispered to him.
"Sometimes I just feel like that we aren't doing anything at all," he whispered, letting his hands fall limply to his lap. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Jake..." she murmured, "you have done so much for me. You and the pack have protected me from so many vamps," she wrapped her arms around his neck forcing him to look towards her. "You have saved me from myself; made me live again. You and the pack have done an amazing job," she promised him, making him look up at her.
He grinned suddenly, and pressed a warm kiss on the lips. "Thank you Bells," he said, his mood had immediately brightened. Seeing him like this made her smile up at him as well. She thought back towards when she was dating Edward and began to see how wrong she was about being in a relationship. He controlled everything they did; Jacob never did. "Are you ok?" he asked after bringing her closer.
"Yeah...I'm ok," she murmured. "Just thinking about things," he pulled out the keys to her truck and he opened up the door. She untangled herself from him to open up her door as well. For once she grabbed initiated the hand holding between her and him. He grinned and rubbed his thumb against her knuckles.
Before they could go into the house, he gently tugged her away from there. He started to lead her towards the beach where the pack was waiting for them. Seth and Leah Clearwater were there with their mother, and Bella felt her heart pulling towards them. She couldn't imagine losing Charlie now; especially since they were slowly starting to become close again. She felt herself let go of his hand and started to head towards the Clearwaters. As she approached them, she saw that Leah had positioned her brother behind her; almost like she was protecting him from her. She kept her head up strong, fought back the tears and looked towards Bella, then towards Jacob. She whispered something to her mom, and then walked towards Bella. Bella cleared her throat, and then moved her shoulders back. "I'm sorry for your loss," she said to Leah. Leah gave her an inquisitive stare, and then softened the angry look in her eyes.
"Thank you..." she seemed more vulnerable than she let anyone know on. "Look...you are probably a good person and all...so I should warn you. Jacob could just step up and leave you," she warned, "I was dating Sam Ulely...and then out of nowhere...my cousin cheats on her fiance with him...next thing I know I'm alone...so just be careful ok?"
As much as Bella wanted to stand up for her relationship, she suddenly felt a tinge of worry hitting her. "I'll be careful," she just said, trying think that she was just being nice to her because of the really recent loss of her father. "If you ever need anything..." she started, and Leah suddenly smiled.
"Thanks..." she said, and then out of nowhere she had a snarl on her face as Jacob approached her. Her body began to shake.
"Bella...you need-," Jacob started to shout a warning.
"What is with men telling girls what they need to..." suddenly she gripped her stomach in pain. Bella knew that she must be in the beginning phases of turning into a wolf. Bella started to push Leah towards the forest away from people. She couldn't believe this was happening right now. "God.."
"Bella...she is starting to phase," Jacob warned once more.
"Jake...you are agitating her..." suddenly the disgusting sound of bones crushing and insides squishing went throughout the forest and Leah was replaced a big wolf. She was howling in pain, and a group of wolves appeared to try and calm her down. "Leah!" Bella called out, and Leah found herself starting to calm down. She slowly trotted over towards Bella and Bella met her halfway. She wasn't afraid of Leah in this form. Bella reached her hand out and slowly ran her hand over Leah's head. She wined softly, and as gently as she could moved her muzzle down in between one of Bella's shoulder blades.
"Bella...this...this never happened before," Jake whispered as Leah slowly calmed down. Sam went back to his human form, and approached Leah.
"Its going to be ok Leah...you can turn back to your human form," instead of soothing the girl, she just growled at her former boyfriend. Being around Bella and Jacob seemed to calm her down. "See if you can get her to transform back...with he rate she is going she'll be able to go to her father's funeral tomorrow..." Jacob did a double take; he couldn't believe it. It took him and Embry the longest time to get used to being around people, and yet Bella being here with Leah had managed to calm her down. Maybe all this time Sam was wrong; Jacob could have had Bella near. He was irritated, but he knew that he had to focus on keeping Leah calm and Bella safe.
Bella started shed her jacket, and threw it on the ground. "Whenever you are ready Leah, you can come back. Slowly but surely, Leah started to morph back into being a human. "Hey....you pervs, turn away until she gets decent. The boys turned around, and left all except Jacob. Bella wrapped the jacket around the girl and saw that she was now taller than Bella. The jacket which was normally huge on Bella, was barely enough to cover her.
Leah hugged her tightly, and whispered to her, "I was wrong about Jacob..." before Sam reappeared. "I don't want to talk to you..." she growled.
"Calm down," Sam said in his Alpha voice. Leah instantly calmed down, and she wondered what the hell was going on. "Come on...lets get you to your house. Jacob, I know that you don't want to leave Bella...so let Mrs. Clearwater know that Leah isn't feeling well, and that we are taking her home," Jake nodded his head, and saw Leah looking at them solemnly before Sam and Embry led her away from them. Bella was wondering what the newly found werewolf had meant when she said that she was wrong about Jacob. She just shrugged her shoulders, and felt Jacob wrap his arm around her.
Hours later when Bella was at home, she was still thinking about what Leah meant. She paced around her room just thinking about the things going on in her life. She had a feeling that Jacob wasn't telling her something. What could it possibly be? The phone ringing got her mind off of her predicament and she answered it. "Hello?" she questioned.
"Hey Bells!" Jacob's voice appeared on the other line.
She smiled as she heard him, "Hey Jake..." he noticed the odd tone in her voice, and he knew that something was bugging her. He wished that she would just come to him alone; he didn't want to force her to tell him when things were up just because he imprinted on her. He didn't want to feel like he was controlling her like Edward did. "What's up?" she asked as she laid down in bed.
"Just wanted to hear your voice for a little before I had to go on patrol. Everything ok?" he questioned after a moment.
"Yeah...I'm fine," she murmured.
"Well...okay..." he said to her. "I'll be patrolling around your area so...I'll make sure that you are safe ok?" she sighed into the phone, "I love you Bells..."
"Love you too," she yawned into the phone.
"Get some sleep honey," he said, and he hung up the phone. He put the phone back in its cradle, and bit his lip still worrying about Bella. He sighed, and went to go check on his father. His father was soundly sleeping in his room, and Jacob felt a stab of nostalgia; he wished he could just be normal sometimes. He loved being strong; he loved being a wolf, but he also missed the human aspect of life. One day soon he knew that he was going to accomplish that for himself, and give Bella the life that she deserves. He walked outside and headed towards the woods so he could wolf out.
As he finished his transformation he heard a lot of thoughts going through his head. Leah? He questioned.
Sorry, she replied, still getting used to the whole everyone knows everything part of this. She sounded so depressed, Just rub it in my face now...she snarled back at him.
I'm sorry about this Leah...I really wish you didn't have to go through this...Jacob couldn't help but remember what he and the rest of the pack went through.
I know...she replied, and suddenly responded with, When are you going to Bella that you imprinted on her?
I just...I just don't want her to think I am forcing her into this. Things with her bloodsucker ex didn't ever go well; I just...
Don't let her think about it; it will just make her paranoid....as hurt as I am over what Sam and Emily did...you did it without hurting anyone...so you got my respect. Just let her know ok? And with that last word of advice she was back to her human form. It was just him alone in the forest. As he began his patrol he began to think about if he should tell Bella about his imprinting on her or not....
Sorry to leave it on such a weird note, I'm nervous about posting this, because the characters are slightly OOC, but whatever. I hope you all enjoyed, and let me know what you think. As per request of Aislynnrose2010, I had Leah trying to help Bella, and continue to. If there is anything y'all would like to see or predict what will happen next let me know. Anyways, happy reading y'all! -Matt
