Author's note: I'll actually finish this story! Hell yeah.

Not really much to say, so SRE! ^_^


Compromise to a Catastrophe

The sky was gray, it would rain soon.

It had been an entire week since Paul's bonfire celebration, and it had to be one of the most confusing weeks of Jacob's life. It seemed like Bella was avoiding him, he'd call but he'd hear her tell Charlie in the background that she wasn't there.

He knew Charlie didn't want to lie, but he did. Jacob would've stopped by her house, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions, but an entire week? Something had to be wrong.

Jacob, as the russet wolf, was covering miles upon miles as he quickly sped between trees and over any undergrowth or logs haphazardly lying on the ground. He saw Bella's house in the distance and slowed down when he was close enough to walk.

He ambled to the side of the house, discerning her open window. He was thankful it was open, but skeptical. 'It's probably open for that bloodsucker.' He sneered to himself, an abrupt scowl crossing his features.

His suspicions of the open window was confirmed when he distinguished two voices intonating from Bella's room. He waited, eavesdropping.

"Bella you smell awful." Edward flinched, scrunching his face.

"Oh why thank you. Those are the exact words I wanted to hear you say when you got here." Bella said sarcastically. Jacob figured the bloodsucker had arrived only a moment ago. He's surprised he hadn't caught his scent, although he'd admit something was beginning to wreak something fierce.

"I'm sorry, but you do." Edward said, pinching under his nose and watching as she shifts around on her bed. "You smell like those dogs. It's been an entire week, why hasn't the putrid odor dissolved by now? Have you been sneaking off -" Bella rolled her eyes.

"No, Edward I haven't been sneaking off. And I don't know why I smell like the wolves. Maybe someone wore some strong cologne that stuck with me." Edward shook his head.

"No. The smell wasn't on you yesterday, its -" Bella noted him space out for a moment.

"What's wrong?" Then he smiled.

"No wonder," Edward said. "Jacob's here."

"Wh-what?" Bella asked alarmed. Edward looked at her perplexed.

"Is something wrong?" He went to sit beside her, his expression becoming serious in an instant. "What happened?" He asked, glaring at no one in particular as he stare at her. Her head was bowed to her chest as she covered her head with her hands.

"Hurry and close the window." She said, but before Edward could react, Jacob was in the room staring at the both of them, glaring. "Jacob," Bella gasped.

In an instant Edward had him by his throat. "What did you do to her?" He growled. Jacob wrenched himself free and tossed him across the room. Edward flipped through the air and landed on his feet.

"Don't you ever lay your dead hands on me again, unless you want your arms ripped from your body." Jacob growled back. Edward readied himself to charge again, this time aiming to spear him through the window, but Bella intervened.

"Stop!" She shouted, jumping up between the two scowling boys. "That's enough Edward." She glowered at him. "Jacob, please go."

"No." He deadpanned, his glower locked on Edward. Then suddenly that glower was directed towards her. "Bella you don't talk to me for an entire week, I come to see you and now you're telling me to leave. What's the deal? What're you hiding from me?" He growled.

"Nothing." Bella said softly, her eyes downcast. She hadn't decided if she should tell Jacob what Paul had told her a week ago. He never told her not to say anything, but she didn't want to impose on Paul's progress. She didn't want to rush Jake into anything, especially into something she wasn't sure he'd go for.

"C'mon Bella, you're a lair. It's something you're not telling me and I want to know what it is. Ever since the bonfire you'd been acting strange." He noticed Edward's glare narrow in on him.

"What happened? How did she fall?" Edward asked, reading Jacob's mind. "How dare you let her get hurt," and in a flash he was clutching Jacob's throat again.

"No!" Bella yelled. "Stop it, both of you!"

"That's it!" Jacob growled, grabbed his arm and twisted it around. Edward, in his speed, spun out of his hold and swung his fist at him. Jacob allowed instinct to take over and evaded the punch easily. Edward punched through her window, shattering the glass.

"Enough!" Bella screamed, but Jacob didn't stop. He grabbed his arm and again tossed him across the room. "Both of you stop!" And Edward froze on his toes, about to charge. Jacob didn't move either. "Just stop, both of you."

They glared to each other.

"Bella, is everything alright up there?" They heard Charlie - Bella's father - ask, and faintly his footsteps creaked up the stairs. "You need some help?"

"No dad, I'm fine." She lied. She could hear him in the hallway, and quickly tried to think of an excuse. Her door creaked open, ajar. "Um…Don't come in here I'm naked!" She shouted, and quickly the door slammed closed.

"Sorry." Charlie said.

"Don't worry about it dad. Just go back down stairs. I'll be down in a minute." She said and turned to Jacob when Charlie said 'okay'. "Jacob you have to go." She said.

"No. You have to tell me the reason behind you -"

"She asked you to leave." Edward growled.

"Please don't start fighting again." Bella pleaded.

"Why was Paul carrying you?" Edward asked Bella. He turned to her, his glare that was initially for Jacob still intact. This is why she wanted Jacob to leave, Edward was reading his every thought, and the more Jacob questioned her about the bonfire, the more things he thought about, and that's more information given to Edward than he needed. "Bella," Edward drawled after she hadn't answered him. "Tell me."

She turned to him, and then to Jake who also looked interested. She turned and sighed, collapsing onto her bed. Then she sat up. She blinked her eyes slowly, sleepily. "I…I just fell and he found me. That's all." She said, her eyes roaming around the room, unable to find one thing to lock onto.

Edward chuckled, as he casually sauntered over to the front of the bed. He genteelly grabbed her chin with his thumb and index finger, lifting her head to stare her straight in the eye. "Bella…My darling Bella, I love you." He kissed her gingerly, surprisingly receiving no reaction from Jacob. "I love you, but you're a terrible, terrible liar." He smiled. "Now tell me what actually happened."

Bella hesitated, her eyes roaming again, unconsciously they grazed over Jacob's startled expression. His eyes were wide. "That didn't happen?" Jacob asked, shocked. Edward chuckled mockingly, and turned to him, his glare evaporated.

"You actually believed her when she told you that?" He smirked. "You're even more oblivious than I thought." Jacob glared, growled, and clenched his teeth.

"She wasn't the one to tell me that." He clarified through clenched teeth. "Paul did."

"I thought you were able to read each others minds." Edward said skeptical. "What happened was he not thinking as usual?" Jacob growled, he was about to propel himself at him.

"No." He deadpanned, gnashing his teeth now. "Paul hasn't been phasing lately, so I don't know what's been on his mind for the past week." Edward made an unconcerned sound in the back of his throat and turned back to Bella. "What really happened Bella?" Jacob asked before Edward could.

Again she hesitated. She turned to Jacob, noting something pendulum swinging from his neck. She discerned it as a pendent, a pendent she'd never seen him wear before. She wondered if he'd been wearing it when he jumped through the window just now.

"Jacob, what is that around your neck?" She asked, staling. He looked down at the locket, and glowered at her for trying to stale.

"Don't worry about this. What happened?" He asked gravely, and noted her brusque glare.

"I just want to see what it is!" She said. He sighed before stalking over to her and leaning forward. She grabbed the pendent, her hand brushing against his bare chest. She studied it, and found the button on the side and clicked it. The locket sprang open, and immediately she smiled at the picture.

Instantly, she could tell who the little boys were in the picture; Paul and Jacob. Paul had Jacob on his shoulders, both wearing childish-like grins for the camera. It was then in that moment that she knew what she had to do. It was then that she knew Paul really could make Jake happy. It was then that she realized Jake will never be completely happy with her. But with Paul, they could really go far.

"Okay," Jacob began annoyed, closing the pendent and leaning back. "Now what happened?" Bella sighed, there was no more reluctance, no more deprivation of sleep, no more avoiding Jake, no more of her holding him back from his true love.

"Okay," She began softly. She turned to Edward. "Edward, could you wait outside. I want to talk to Jake alone." Edward stared at her prowess for a moment.

"Bella I'd like to know -"

"It'll only be a minute." She assured, causing Edward to sigh. She kissed his lips, and she was fully aware of how Jacob showed no reaction like he had many times before. He didn't grunt, he didn't snort, growl or snarl. She knew he was slowly getting over her, by the second it seemed.

"Very well." He said sauntering toward the window. "Call me back in when you're finished." And he disappeared in a blur.

"Well?" Jacob goaded. "What was so pious that you had to send the leech away?" She didn't know how to begin, but she figured she'd start slow.

"How do you feel about gay people, Jake?" The question completely knocked him off guard.

"There…alright, I guess. But Bell-"

"How would you feel if you were gay?" Another unexpected question and he hesitated.

"Wh-what! What does that-"

"Just answer the question." She glared, and he again hesitated.

"I guess I'd be okay with it. But I'm not gay, so what does that matter?"

"Can you…," she trailed off, staling and swallowed. She took one deep breath through her nostrils. "Can you see yourself being happy and in love with another guy?" That time he wasn't surprised, but he still wondered why she would ask such irrelevant questions.

He sat down beside her, and took her hand. He turned to her, and turned her to him so they could be face to face. "No. For the simple fact that I can only see myself with you…no other guy, no other girl, just you."

"But what if-" he was becoming irritated.

"Why are you asking me these questions now? Shouldn't you have asked these types of questions when we first met, or if I told you I was gay?" He questioned. "All I asked was what did you and Paul -" then he thought about it, his eyes widening at the revelation. "This is what you two were talking about?"

She winced just looking at his expression. She was having second thoughts about telling him. "Sort of, but not exactly." She answered. "It was deeper than this…a lot deeper."

"Then what was it that you two were talking about, exactly?" He asked, trying to hold himself back from growling. What type of shit did Paul fill her head with?

Bella looked away from him, pulling her hand free of his. "You." She said softly. "We were talking about you."

"Paul thinks I'm gay?" he questioned, and then thoughts of his hard-on when they were at the cliffs came to mind. "Damn it." He said more so to himself. "But he knows how I feel about you. Paul's got something planned." And then another thought came to mind. "But he wouldn't do that." He again said more so to himself. "He wouldn't go that far."

"Paul's in love with you." she confessed quickly, knowing if she waited any longer that she'd back out of telling him. Her breath hitched when the words were spoken. "He asked me if I could stop talking to you for awhile because with me in the picture, you'd never admit that you loved him too." She said, and wondered why her mouth kept flapping when she commanded it to shut up. "He said it was the only way you could truely be happy." Her mouth had a mind of its own. "You can't be happy with me Jacob, I'd only keep rejecting you because I love Edward, and that's who I'm gong to be with, not…I'm sorry, but I can't be with you. But Paul loves you, so please, just give him a chance. One chance Jacob, please…for me. Please."

Jacob's head fell to his chest.

"I'm going to kill that selfish bastard!" He growled, the words slipping from his tongue slowly. His eyes burned with hate. He glared, his face somber and scrunched in what could only be determined as certain death. Abruptly he jumped from the bed, and stalked over to the window.

Bella jumped from the bed in panic. "Jacob, no! He's in love with you. Why can't you just accept that!" She shouted. "Why fight him for the way he feels? Jacob he loves you, I can tell it from the look in his eyes when he looks at you, and when he sees us together. He loves you, and I believe you can love him too."

Jacob snarled, suddenly turning to face her. His face was warped into many different expressions. All of them exulting hatred, and death. "He's lying!" He growled, his voice dripping acid. He was livid. "He only said that because he hates you Bella, and he doesn't want me to be around you. He'd do anything to keep you away. But I never thought he'd go this far." He sneered. "I'm going to kill him." And he readied himself to jump.

"Wait!" Bella yelled. "If he'd really do anything to keep me away, then why didn't he say I couldn't go to the bonfire when you told me it was up to him to decide? Why didn't he just say no then?" Jacob turned around, his face even more menacing than before.

"So he could do exactly what the fuck he's done now!" He roared. "He invited you to tell you this ridiculous ass story, in hopes that you'd stay away from me, and you fell for it!" He growled.

"So he made himself upset, stormed off just to -"

"Paul is so fucking dramatic, he's just dramatic as hell okay!" Jacob shouted, the more he thought about it, the more livid he became. He saw Bella shaking her head.

"I don't believe that." She said. "I looked into his eyes and seen exactly what I see in Edward's eyes when he looks at me; nothing but commitment, love and desire, and the will to keep you safe no matter what." She speculated. "I believe he's in love with you Jake, but you're not open to seeing the possibilities. You don't understand that happiness comes in many different forms, don't fight it embrace it."

Without another word, Jacob turned and disappeared out the window. He was done listening to her. He knew the truth, and he would kill Paul for his selfishness. He phased and vanished into the forest.

Bella called after the wolf, but it was futile. She sighed before calling Edward back in. "Edward, come -" and before she could finish, Edward was behind her, sitting on the edge of the bed rubbing soothing and comforting circles on her back.

"Don't worry. Things will work out." He said, and she turned to him.

"Were you listening?" She asked.

"You never clarified that I couldn't."

"I asked for a moment alone with Jacob."

"I wasn't here, was I?" He asked, and she sighed, giving up. It didn't matter! Edward had maturity, and he knows how it feels to love and be heartbroken, so he wouldn't mock anyone who was surely in love.

He laid her back on the bed against his chest and watched as she closed her eyes. It was raining now, and he knew she'd be asleep within the hour.

"Don't worry, Bella. Everything is sure to work out." He whispered softly to her, listening to her subtle heartbeat.


Jacob was tenacious, livid, and above all else he felt betrayed. He growled obscenities, as he pushed his legs to drive through the muddy landscape the rain created. His russet fur lay against his huge body, drenched in the rain.

The rain wasn't light. It was pouring. It would fill a ravine in the matter of a couple of days if it were to last that long. It was heavy! The sun had evaporated somewhere that he didn't know and was kind of happy that it wasn't smug enough to be beaming so brightly in his face. The gloomy gray sky matched his current mood, but if it were red and black with blazing fire then it would be perfect.

He was set out on tearing Paul to pieces, and dumping his body parts in the sea. He just couldn't believe it, the one he calls 'brother' had betrayed him because of his own jealous heart. It was selfish and unforgivable.

Jacob knew Paul was at Sam's house. He knew everyone was there, because that's where he'd come from before going to see Bella. Paul was there unless he left when the weather started changing, but it didn't matter, because wherever he is, Jake would go and he'd kill him.

He saw Sam's house a little ways ahead, but didn't slow down, instead he sped up eager and belligerent. He phased back when he was inches from the door. The normally open door was now closed due to the change in climate.

Jacob ripped the door open, lividly, a madman!

"Where the fuck is he?" He growled, noticing everyone turning to him. "Where is that selfish son of a bitch Paul!" He searched their faces, trying to discern his victim.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Paul asked, standing from the chair at the table befuddled, furrowing his brows. He noticed Jacob's face intensify immensely, instantly when he revealed himself. Jacob's matted wet hair, dark somber eyes and tenacious growls made him ominous.

"You son of a bitch!" He shouted, and instantly propelled himself at him, punching him in the face. Paul fell to the floor with a 'umph' and a thud. Emily screamed, causing Sam in his haste to kick in the back door and run to the front.

"Whoa, Jacob, wait a minute." Quil yelled as him and Jared tried to hold him back as he was easily liberating himself from there grasp. Embry tried pulling their Beta from Paul, but he was too much, too reckless. His rage and spite fueled him.

Jacob was tossing them aside left to right to get to Paul. His victim still lied on the floor, disoriented. Paul used his elbows to support himself as he lifted up a bit, and brought a hand to his bruised jaw. He could see the animalistic wolf in Jacob's eyes! It was fighting to get out, tearing through every rationality! Paul would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, but he was more confused than anything.

"Enough!" Sam's powerful voice boomed through the house. Emily ran to him, not knowing what to do or what was going on. Jared, Quil and Embry continued to try and keep Jake back. Seth was scared. He had never seen Jacob so angry, so out of control. Leah stood stupefied beside her brother - Seth - unable to put anything together that could even remotely describe Jacob's sudden assail.

Sam pushed Emily behind his body, protectively, making sure she was far enough so she wouldn't be entangled within the brawl. Then he stomped over to the brawl taking place in his house, in front of his Emily! Hell was about to reign!

He slyly came behind Jacob, slithering between the three boys fighting to hold him back and grabbed a fistful of his hair, the boy wincing slightly, and he swung him out the door. He bounced off the porch, tumbled down the steps and rolled onto the ground. "Sit down!" He roared to Jared, Quil and Embry, but Seth and Leah took a seat as well. Emily was stuck, frozen in disbelief.

Then Sam did something they didn't see coming. He clutched one of Paul's ankles and dragged him outside, tossing him down the steps and onto the ground. He was beyond livid. He was Death in that moment.

Jacob was getting up, assuaging his bruised head when he looked over and seen Paul. Then his senses went black again as he disregarded Sam's obvious warning and tried to crawl over to him. Sam kicked him in his ribs when he propelled towards Paul, sending him into the small open clearing, rolling. Sam turned to Paul.

"Get up." He demanded, and watched as Paul staggered to his feet without a complaint. Neither Sam nor Jacob noticed the rain splashing against their heated skin. They were so enticed in rage. Then he turned to Jacob who was about ten feet away. "Jacob, get up."

Jacob was clutching his abused ribcage, feeling as though bones were broken. He noiselessly groaned as he rolled over onto his back, only his mouth moving.

"Get up!" He heard Sam edict. His body was still demanding death to Paul, but his ribs were screaming out to him in excruciating agony. But he obeyed his Alpha as he tried to stand on his feet. He was on his feet, and he could discern Paul between the rain droplets. He moved closer. "Stay where you are." Sam commanded, and snarling, he stopped.

It was silence between the three, only the sound of rain pounding the Earth drummed through their ears. Quil, Jared, Embry, and Seth all crowded around the door, intrigued, yet deathly mortified. Leah was trying to console Emily when she started crying, sobbing that Jacob's sudden anger took her to a place she didn't want to be reminded of. The visible marks marred across her face indicating said place.

"One of you, speak now! What the hell just happened?" Sam asked grudgingly, glaring at the two.

"He lied to Bella and told her 'he loved me'." Jacob spat spiteful. "He told her she was getting in the way and that she needed to stay away, just because he's jealous and pathetic." He growled. Sam turned to Paul.

"Is that true?" Sam asked, incredulous. Paul continued to stare at Jacob, watching him blow a gasket. His eyes were languid as he stared at the boy, hardly caring if they were open or closed.

"No." Paul replied softly, and Jacob growled.

"Yes it is you lying bastard!" Jacob growled maliciously. Then they heard Sam's dominating snarls emanate from his orifice.

"Obviously there is a misunderstanding between you two," Sam began, glancing over at Paul who he caught glancing at him return before he caught the boy turning back to Jacob. "You two need to talk, privately!" He growled. "You need to meet each other halfway, compromise a deal." He suggested looking back and forth between the two, noting Paul standing calmly in the rain, and Jacob burning steam from the contact with the rain.

Sam walked over to Jacob, and roughly slammed his hand onto his shoulder, rocking the boy's body a bit, still upset himself at how they behaved in front of Emily. "You two will talk, and you will listen, Jake. Do you understand me?" He asked. Jacob continued to snarl, looking passed Sam to his victim. "Look at me," he shook him for his attention. "You will talk, and you will listen. As the Beta you should have more control than your exhibiting right now. This is amount of self-control is intolerable." More growls escaped from between Jacob's lips.

Sam narrowed his eyes on the boy. "As Alpha, I order you. Jacob you will listen to what he has to say, get rid of the animosity and ready yourself with a clear head to create a compromise." He said. Jake tried simmering his rage. "No fighting," he told him, and turned to Paul. "No fighting…Go," he pointed towards the forest. "In the forest and work whatever this misconception is out thoroughly." Paul was cautious to walk towards Jacob. "Go!" Sam ordered sternly, still infuriated.

Self-control is a significant factor to being a leader, which is why Sam hasn't murdered either one of them.

Paul ambled beside Jacob, and heard him growling under his breath. They both disappeared into the forest.

An intense silence fell between the two boys, no words being spoken for fifteen minutes. In that time, Jacob had managed to simmer a scanty amount of his rage, bottling the rest of it up inside himself. His ribcage had also recovered of its own accord.

"You want to tell me why you lied?" Jacob asked bitterly as they climbed over a log, breaking the mutual silence. Paul hopped over the log with ease, and looked around, nothing but trees surrounded them. They were in a small open space that had a radius of about twenty feet long and thirty feet wide. They figured they were far enough away to speak privately as ordered.

Paul sighed. "I didn't lie." He confessed, and Jacob snorted.

"That's bullshit. You honestly want me to believe you love me." He scoffed. "Just admit it, you're a jealous son of a bitch who hates me hanging around Bella because you feel left out." Paul wasn't going to allow his temper to rise. That was one thing he wouldn't satisfy him with. It was still raining, and he wanted to enjoy the coolness of the water against his sweltering skin.

Paul shrugged. "Call it what you want, the truth is the truth. And yeah you're right, I don't like you hanging around her, but I can't stop you, can I…Beta." He smirked and shook his head, turning away. He created some distance between them, walking to lean on a tree about ten feet away.

"Tell me the real reason you said it Paul. I know for a fact that you don't love me, especially when we argue and fight all the time. I mean, look at us now." He said, spreading his arms wide as if they contained the situation.

Paul chuckled. "Yeah, argue all the time like husband and wife right. Then we get right back to being friends." He shook his head. "Pointless."

"Then tell me, why did you tell her that?" Jacob asked.

"I just told you, because that is the truth." He heard growls emanating from Jacob. He knew he wouldn't accept the answer, but it was the truth.

"I don't believe that. Next you're going to want me to believe that you've imprinted on me." He sneered, and watched Paul shake his head for the third time. It was beginning to frustrate him.

"No, I haven't imprinted on you. I just-"

"Don't even say it! I can't bear to hear it come from your mouth. You speak nothing but lies Paul, how about spewing the truth from that big mouth of yours every once in awhile." Jacob growled. "God, I swear, sometimes I just fucking hate you." Pain dwindled in Paul's eyes for a brief moment and he waited for it to subside, slowly, before he spoke again.

"Well I'm sorry you feel that way Jake." He strained to say. That hurt. Why, of all the things to say, why did he have to say he hated him? "I can't say I feel the same way."

"Why not?" Jacob scolded, clenching his teeth. "You'd say it yesterday, and the day before that. What makes today so special?"

"Because now you know, that I -"

"You're a liar!" Jacob growled. Paul sighed, and closed his eyes. He wasn't going to say another word. Everything he said, he didn't even believe. "Don't ignore me. We're supposed to be talking. So talk damn it!"

"What's the point? You're not going to believe any word I say, and what you do believe you'll just turn it around into an insult. I'm better off just standing here." This made Jacob even more upset, he snarled through clenched teeth.

"Talk, Paul. I want to hear the real explanation. I want -" Paul's eyes snapped open as he glared at Jacob. He briskly pushed off the tree.

"I've told you the reason I said what I said, and that's the truth rather you believe it or not. That's the second time I've told you that." Paul said.

"Then I don't believe it." Jacob simply said, and Paul sighed, dissolving back against the tree. Paul shook his head, and Jacob growled, glaring at him. "Stop fucking shaking your head and talk to me!" He shouted ardently.

"I'm done." Paul said. He pushed himself from off the tree again.

"No you're not." Jacob deadpanned, and within the next second he had Paul pinned against the tree he'd just pushed himself from, forcing his arms to be pressed tightly to his sides. They were face to face. Paul didn't wince. He didn't make a sound. He just stared into Jacob's feverish eyes. "You're going to stand right here, and fucking talk to me." He could perceive Jacob's breath ghosting over his face. "Talk. Now!"

"What do you want me to say?" Paul asked, becoming annoyed with him. "Do you want me to tell you I said it because I was jealous? Okay then, I said it because I was jealous. There you go, are you fucking happy now?" Paul glared. "Can we go?"

That just added to the fire burning inside the russet wolf. Jacob lifted him and slammed him back onto the tree to prevent him from stripping free, even though Paul wasn't even struggling for emancipation. But this time, Paul did hiss, and was now trying to liberate himself.

"No we're not going anywhere. I want you to tell me everything. The reason you're so…just so fucking Paul. Give me a reason to that. Why you hate her when she's done nothing to you? And why lie to her?" Paul rolled his eyes, snarling, his eyes narrowing on him.

"You are so fucking pointless to talk to!" Paul sneered. "I've told you three times now, how many more do you need?" Jacob growled out this time, shoving him harder against the tree.

"I need the fucking truth!" He sneered. Paul's growls were becoming more audible, he knew he said he wasn't going to allow his temper to rise but Jacob was being so block-headed, not believing a word he says. "Answer the question. Why do you hate her?"

"It isn't going to make a difference at this point because you don't believe anything I say." Paul said through clenched teeth, striving against Jacob's hold on him. "Let go of me." Jacob threw him around, slamming him into different trees before settling onto the same one they were on from the beginning.

Again, but with much more vigor, Jacob potently smashed Paul against the tree, scarping his back on the rough bark. Paul hissed, violently.

A thunderstorm was brewing overhead, the rain pouring even harder, and faster than before. The gray clouds turned black and the gray skies morphed and fused with black and blue.

"That's not what the fuck I asked you!" Jacob growled, his face was burning and distorted into a livid expression. His glare narrowed. "As your Beta I order you to tell me. I order you to tell me everything!" Paul gnashed his teeth, and brusquely, he let his temper fly out his hand.

He was playing the Beta card. Paul's body shook in absolute anger. He felt Jacob's grip loosen a bit, probably slightly taken aback. Lightning crackled over there heads, sounding as if it destroyed something in its path. The reverberations pierced through the air like an explosion.

In his weakness, Paul tore Jacob's hands away from him, his expression just as livid. He pushed him in his chest, creating some breathing space.

"You want to know why I fucking told her?" He growled. "Because you're right, I didn't have to." Jacob glared harder, he tried to jump at him to pin him against the tree but Paul evaded him and stepped to the side, forcing Jacob to catch himself and push off against the tree. "I told her because I fucking love you. No, it's because I'm fucking in love with you that I told her, and I couldn't sit by anymore and watch you chase after someone who couldn't make you happy."

"Bella could make me happy. If it wasn't for you -" Jacob attempted to clarify.

"I could make you happier!" Paul snapped furiously, gnashing his teeth. "I could give you any and everything. She could never love you the way I would and always have! You are everything in my world, you are the reason I exist," Jacob's breath hitched meagerly, taken aback. That was a lot. "You are my existence, without you there is no point in living. I don't want to make my heart suffer by taking another breath if I have to live without you! My life wouldn't even be worth living if you weren't in it!"

Jacob was stunned to say the least. He didn't understand why, but he actually believed him. He believes every word he says, and he's lingering every single word, intent. He had a sudden desire to envelop himself in his sentences, just to know what it feels like to actually be wanted, to be needed so badly that it killed inside. Bella has rejected him so many times he's forgotten the feeling. He'd only known it when she needed him when Edward left her broken.

Jacob looked into his eyes. He searched them. He saw his mouth moving, but nothing coherent was coming from it, actually he couldn't hear anything, only his own thoughts. But looking and searching his eyes he had discovered exactly what Bella had seen. He saw the commitment, the love and the desire all festering in a pool of misery. He saw how Paul would do anything to keep him safe and how much he needed him to live.

Thunder echoed across the sky as lightning struck again, crackling more destruction in its dismay. The intense sounds shattered Jacob's thoughts, and he could hear Paul clearly now.

"…And you better fucking believe I was jealous! Everything you gave her, everything you wanted from her, everything you tried to make her see, everything you did, I wanted! I wanted so fucking badly. The attention and devotion, the smiles and the laughs, the hugs and the kisses, but mostly I wanted the love you offered her. I wanted that and so much more Jacob. It isn't just your face. It's everything about you that makes you. Your smile, your eyes, your laugh, and that desire you have to help others whenever you can." Jacob was surprised. He hadn't felt that desire in a long time.

"That's enough." Jacob said softly, his previous anger subsiding.

"No." Paul deadpanned. "You ordered me to tell you everything and that's what I'm going to do." He defied defiant. "I loved you the day I laid eyes on you, way before we even knew about our history, way before this whole pack thing started, way before I even knew there was such a thing as imprinting. I don't have to imprint on you to know that this, us, we were meant to be together."

Jacob couldn't conceal his surprised expression. He loved him before they were wolves, before they even knew wolves lived inside them? When he first met Paul they were about six, seven, or perhaps eight. It was so long ago he didn't remember.

"Okay Paul, enough." He said, but he didn't stop.

"You want to know how I know I love you?" He asked, and not having the patience to wait for an answer, he explained. "Because I can read your thoughts even when we're not wolves, I can tell when you're scared but are trying to act brave. I can give you anything, and expect nothing in return as long as I see you smile. As long as I hear your voice, that reassures me that nothing has happened to you, I'm content. I can give you all that you need without having to sacrifice any part of me, because I know I am exactly what you want, what you need to be whole. I know I love you, because when I'm not around you, my heartbeat is slow, only running at half capacity, but when I'm near you it's like anything is possible, and my heart races...and I know you feel the same way."

Jacob didn't know how much more of this he could take. He was confused. He never imagined Paul talking like this. He never in a million years expected him to talk to him of all people like this. He thought they hated each other. He thought Paul was his enemy-ally. This was overbearing, overwhelming and consuming.

"You have no idea how much I worry about you. You have no idea how many nights of sleep I've lost just wondering if you were okay. When it was cold - or when we use to know what the cold felt like - I would wonder if you needed some extra blankets or something." He laughed thinking about it, pausing briefly, and he looked away from Jacob. He sighed. "I would wonder if you needed me there to warm you. And some nights…"He trailed off, his voice soft, barely audible over the destructive bang of lightning, even with sensitive ears. "Some nights I wondered if you needed me at all, and I'll admit it…I cried." He turned and smiled at him. "But hey, love hurts sometimes, and I'm not ashamed to admit I've shed a few tears over you, worrying if we'll ever be anything other than just Jacob and Paul; maybe Jacob Meraz or Paul Black." He grinned, and Jacob looked up at him, discerning the genuine grin, and inevitably smiled back.

"Okay Paul. I get it." Paul shook his head, he wasn't finished yet. He cleared his throat, and Jacob sighed. He really didn't know how much more he could take without running away.

"So yeah, I got jealous that you spent almost every waking moment with her, and I began to notice how you were starting to forget about me. I was jealous and I was pissed. After all the years I've given you everything, and expected nothing, and then she just comes out of nowhere and tries to take you, and expects everything when she's given you nothing. But lucky enough for me," he smiled. "She wasn't smart, otherwise she would've held on to what would've been the best thing in her life." His smile grew before his expression became deathly serious. "But I knew she'd never cherish you like I would, if she did decide to stay around. So yeah I was jealous because I didn't get what I wanted. I didn't get you, and it seemed like you were forgetting me, and then you tried to place me off as just your 'brother'. I don't want to be just your brother. I want to be your lover, your husband and so much more! Jacob Black, I am so fucking in love with you, I'd give anything, anything at all just to be with you. I can't settle for just being in your presence, or seeing your smile anymore. I want you to be mine, for eternity. I want to be by your side with whatever good or bad decision you make. As long as I'm there with you, I would know that it was the best decision I ever made."

Jacob didn't know what to do, what to say, how to react, what to feel. "Paul I…I'm just…," he was speechless.

Paul sighed.

"Jacob, just tell me you love me too. I want you to admit it to yourself, and to admit it to me." He said. Jacob only stared at him, the sounds of lightning becoming distant as it moved on rapidly, but the rain refused to let up. "Tell me. Tell me you love me."

He couldn't, because he didn't. He couldn't love Paul that way - being gay was not a problem, it would've taken time to get use to, but that wasn't an issue. Paul was his 'brother', not his lover, he was his enemy-ally, not his husband, and he was a childhood friend, not his soul mate. He didn't love Paul, it was impossible for him to feel that way.

"I…I," he was at a lost for words. Paul glared.

"Tell me Jacob! Tell me right now!" He shouted angrily. "Tell me how your heartbeat is slow when I'm not around, tell me how just me being in your presence makes you happy, and how my laugh is like no one else's you've ever met in your life. Tell me that you love me the way I love you!" He growled, feeling the approaching disappointment seething in his stomach.

That was all true, even his heartbeat. He had never noticed before, but when he thought back on it, whenever Paul was around he felt that anything was possible. But those are some pretty strong feelings to admit. And Bella…

"Are you uncertain?" Paul asked, his voice softening. "Don't be. You know that you and I together, it's right. We are the halves to a whole heart, and Jacob without your half, I'm going to die. I wouldn't dream of a world without you, and you wouldn't dream of one without me, would you?" Jacob wasn't going to answer that. Not that he didn't know how, but because it was obvious he couldn't dream of a world without Paul, no matter how many fights they get into, they've shared so many memories that the fights didn't even matter.

Paul pointed with his head, to Jacob, indicating the locket around his neck. "You're wearing it." Paul said. "What were you thinking about when you saw that picture again Jacob?" He asked. Jacob hesitated, staring down at the ground.

"I was happy," he answered softly.

"Do you know when that picture was?" Jacob looked up at him, searching for the answer. "That was the very first picture we took together. That was the very first day we met." Paul noticed Jake's eyes widening at the revelation.

Jacob grabbed the pendent in his haste and clicked the button, springing it open, rain droplets splashing against the photo. He looked at the picture. He remembered. It was a Friday, and Paul and his mom had just moved into the neighborhood. And Billy, being the good neighbor and Samaritan he was, just had to introduce himself and his son. Jake and Paul clicked automatically when Jake noticed the boy smiling at him with the biggest grin he'd ever seen in his life.

"And that first smile," Paul began, stripping him of his memory. Jacob looked up at him." It held everything I felt. But of course my feelings weren't as strong back then. We were only seven, but that was a genuine smile Jake. That was the first smile I gave my soul mate." He smiled, and Jacob recognized the smile from his memory and the one he'd given just now were identical. Then slowly, the smile dissolved, and Paul's eyes were downcast. "Tell me you love me Jake, please…just say it."

Jacob looked down, and closed the locket. He closed his eyes and gnawed lightly on his bottom lip. He held the pendent in his had, and breathed deeply. And then, he slowly raised his head, his eyes quivering.

"Bella," he breathed out. Paul didn't react, although he heard. He didn't make a face, or feel hatred toward her. He didn't care about her anymore, because she didn't matter, only they did. He just wanted to hear the words come from Jake's mouth.

They stood in silence, listening to the rain pound against the ground, and the distant crackling of thunder and lightning. The wind started to pick up. Jacob had looked away, trying not to look at Paul. Paul was staring at him the entire time.

"Do you want me to prove that you love me Jacob?" Paul asked suddenly, his eyes locked on the boy. "Do you need proof?" Jacob turned to him, still clutching the pendent in his hand, remembrance of its virtue.

"How?" Jacob asked. Paul hesitated.

"The same way you proved it with Bella." He answered. Jake didn't follow. "…Kiss me," and Jacob followed everything now. His eyes widening. "Kiss me one time, and you'll know." Paul said. "Okay?" His intonate was soft.

Jacob didn't have the chance to answer as Paul was approaching him. All he knew was that his heart was racing, rapidly. A part of him actually wanted to feel him, to taste him, but another part is reproaching the idea.

Paul was inches away when he stopped. Jacob didn't know what was about to happen. He's kissed people before, but never another guy, never Paul, his acclaimed 'brother'. Paul reached out and grabbed his hands, both of them, forcing him to release the locket. But he didn't move afterwards, he just stared at him.

Jacob was waiting, needing but reprimanding the contact. He was lustrous, but timid. Then Paul's face came nearer, so near that his lips brushed against his forehead. Paul was in no rush as he sat there a moment, obviously taking in his scent for the umpteenth time of his life, savoring it, loving it.

Then slowly, and with dexterity, he brushed his bottom lip against Jacob's top lip. The contact was soft, hardly feeble and brief, but it made Jacob want to feel more of him. But Jacob didn't rush him, he allowed him the advantage. Then lightly, Jacob felt him nibble his top lip, before softly sucking it. Then in the next instant, he began to mesh their lips together with tentative movements.

Jacob didn't know what to do, so he stood there, but allowed his eyes to close. He was so caught between this. Ever since Paul returned, Jacob had a distant, but vivid fluttering feeling when around him. He was more allured to the boy, but never to the point where he'd allow him to kiss him. But, coincidentally, he was kissing him now. Paul pulled away. Jake hadn't felt what was so special about the kiss with him pulling away when he was just getting into it. But then he noted Paul's sour expression.

"You're too tense." Paul whispered in his ear. "You're thinking about too much. Just let it go, let everything go. Nothing else matters right now, just you and me." He said. Jacob speculated for a moment before nodding.

He'd give it a try, what's the worst that could happen, right? He took a deep breath, noting Paul staring into his eyes.

"What?" Jacob said softer than he knew his voice could go. Paul shook his head.

"You're just…just perfect." He said, again idolizing him.

"Th-" but before he could finish, Paul devoured his mouth. Jacob stood limply, erasing his thoughts. Only him and Paul, just the two of them. He breathed deeply through his nose while still connected with the kiss.

Paul was more engaged in the kiss when he finally felt Jacob deciding to press back against his lips. Paul kissed so deeply, so passionately that Jacob was drawn to it, sinking slowly, indulgently.

Jacob was slowly allowing himself to melt away, feeling the sparks that ignited. They both had their eyes closed, their lips dancing on the others in a tango; a two man dance, graced with such divinity, such passion, relying on the other just as much as relying on yourself.

Fireworks exploded, igniting red and blue flames to cross into two separate worlds. The fires burned through their bodies, forcing them to melt away. It was so hot! They were so intoned with each other.

Paul pulled Jacob closer to him and wrapped his arms around his neck, finding promise in doing this as it deepened the kiss further. They pressed their bodies together, the rain boiling on their skin. But the boiling only felt like sprinkles to them, the heat was so enticing, alluring them to find a deeper vehemence.

The heat engulfed them, blazing through their bodies like an inferno. Their bodies, pressed together were its own inferno, surprising as they haven't combusted into flames at the intense heat emanating from them.

They were, in that moment in one mind, in one body, and their souls reached out to embrace each other. They felt the bleeding, and the pain, but now they felt the healing, and the love. It was too much, they were literally burning against each other, but it felt like nothing. Only they mattered at this point, all Paul could see was Jacob, and all Jacob could see was Paul! This feeling was so real, so magnetic that they didn't want it to end.

Paul waited ten years, yearning for this moment, and it was nothing how he imagined it would be. The feeling was so rejuvenating that it was ten times better than the imagination could have ever imitated. The feeling of his soul mate, pressing his lips against his was magical. He was nostalgia, loathing how he wasted irrecoverable time to finally claim his lover.

Jacob could feel his entire body burning with anticipation and desire. He was drowning in the mystifying craving that delighted him with more of this sensual feeling. He felt weightless, like a hot-air balloon. He was sure that every cell in his body was addicted by now, craving more. The jovial heat seized him, enrapturing him into a world of delectation. He'd succumb to an effortless float.

Their bodies burned, but they felt resistant to the flames, until finally Paul broke away. They both gasped for air they needed a long while ago, but couldn't find the time to grasp it. They would've died like that if that amount of contentedness fluttered their entire beings as it did.

They breathed heavily. The rain still poured, and they felt it let up a little, but not much. Jacob heard Paul's hard swallow.

"Jacob, tell me that you love me." Paul said through hitched breaths, surprised as Jacob again hesitated. Paul looked at him in dismay. "Jacob, tell me." Jacob tried to move his mouth to utter the words, but his orifice had forgotten how to form syllables. "Jacob, tell me now! Please, just say it." Paul pleaded. He frantically searched Jacob's eyes, looking for a reason, any reason at all behind his reluctance.

Jacob knew it was killing Paul, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. Not when he had this deep ravine in the pit of his stomach, unsure of what would happen if the bridge collapsed; the bridge being a representation of his and Paul's relationship. He had to be a hundred percent sure that this was the right decision, what he wanted.

Jacob looked at Paul, divulging sadness in his eyes. Nothing but morose sadness, settling upon his face. He was, gone! He was so far gone. He could see it in his eyes that he had just, disappeared, his eyes focused on nothing.

"Paul." Jacob breathed out. "I -"

"Again Jacob, again I fell for the same thing? I was expecting you to understand this time." He choked out; forcing his voice to be as stern as it possibly could manage. "Just…just," Paul sighed deeply, and shook his head disappointedly, a tear finding its way down his cheek. "You really don't care, do you?"

"Paul…"He trailed, he didn't know what to say. He looked down. "I'm sorry." He whispered his voice hoarse. Then he felt the locket around his neck being snatched away and he looked up at Paul, noticing glowering at him. Any other time, Jacob would return the glower, but he didn't have it in him to do it this time.

"What's the point in this, if there is no us?" He growled, more tears escaping from his eyes. How dare he? That pendent carried the foundation of their friendship, how dare he snatch it away from him like that.

"Give it back." Jacob demanded, finding his voice suddenly. He looked up at Paul, glaring. Paul only stared at him. Paul took a few steps back, slowly. Jacob tried menacing his glare. "Paul, give that back to me now!" He demanded again. Paul took a few more steps back.

"No." He deadpanned. "Why should I? Why hold onto something that means nothing?" Paul's voice cracked, and he let out a subtle sob. He didn't mind crying, he didn't care anymore.

"Paul, as Beta I'm ordering you to give it back to me." Jacob said, and watched Paul swallow hard again. He shook his head. "I'm ordering you to give it back!"

"No." Paul replied curtly. He took another step back. "Just know that I love you, okay?" He sobbed and turned away. He phased, and picked up the pendent from the ground.

"Paul stop! We -" but before he could finish, the silver wolf had run off deeper into the forest. Jacob would've run after him, but what would it have changed? Nothing. It would have changed absolutely nothing at all. So, he sighed and stood there, stupefied. "I'm sorry, Paul." He whispered.

He could still taste the boy on his lips, and brought his hand up to touch them softly. He stared at the space Paul was just in as they shared their first kiss. It was electrifying, and something he'd remember for the rest of his life.

"I'm so sorry." He allowed the rain to cascade over him. He wished that it would just erase him, erase him from existence. What's even the point?

His life was a confusing, catastrophic, catastrophe!


Hell fucking yeah! I just finished this whole chapter with only stopping one time. I'm the shit, I know! Lol ^_^ It is currently 3:24 AM and I am sleepy! hehe!

But anyhow,

Personally, I happen to like this chapter, feasibly because I'm an angst writer. I love angst, and this was sort of angst. Well I hope you enjoyed it too!

Tell me what you think! :)