Disclaimer: All characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer but the other characters and plot are all mine!
A/N: Thanks for your kind reviews. Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter published but sometimes the Muse just doesn't want to play lol. Remember that this story is set in an alternative universe and favourite characters may not act the way you expect them to ….but I'm just having fun, as such it is based very loosely on the original stories and some things are out of sync …
Chapter 4 – A player and a liar…?
Closing her apartment door with a click Bella lent back against it and sighed with relief. She closed her eyes as the smell of neroli candles hit her senses… Lorna was home and the apartment radiated calm. Bella walked dragging her suitcase behind her towards her room when Lorna called out
"That you Bella?" Bella chuckled to herself it was their little routine.
"Who else?" She replied as Lorna came hurtling towards her grabbing her into a huge hug and boy did Bella need that hug.
"Wow girl…!" Lorna sighed "You feel tense what's up bad flight?" Bella shook her head suddenly she had a headache; in fact she ached all over. She rubbed at the back of her neck wincing slightly as her fingers passed over the skin of her left shoulder just at the nape where it met her neck, the skin there seeming to burn at her touch.
"Just tired…" Bella replied "It's been a long weekend." Lorna looked at her friend concern fleeting across her face, her big green eyes assessing the situation like she always did. Bella looked away from her friend's keen gaze, she knew what was coming and she really didn't want to do this now. Somehow Lorna knew, like she always did…
"Okay…" Lorna sighed. Something was off, Bella was so tense it was rolling off her in waves she thought to herself "I'm not gonna pry…but maybe later…? Bella shrugged her shoulders in response. "Look" said Lorna "Why don't you unpack and I'll run you a warm bath. I'll even put in one of my special herbal potions." She laughed.
"Thanks that's just what I need…" sighed Bella in relief as she made her way to her room.
The bath was deep and bubbly, the aroma rising with the steam did exactly as Lorna had promised and Bella relaxed a little despite her mind constantly replaying images of Jacob. "Enough" she whispered to herself just as a small pulling feeling like she had lost something and needed to go find it appeared from nowhere and completely unsettled her. She frowned in response and didn't know whether to laugh or cry, the sensations she was feeling totally alien to her.
In an effort to dispel the feeling of rising hysteria Bella ran the hot tap to top up the heat before sinking back down into the water. A gentle tap at the bathroom door brought Bella back to her senses.
"Can I come in?" Lorna called
"Yes" Bella replied. Let's get this over with… she sighed to herself.
The door opened and Lorna walked in carrying a bottle of red wine and two glasses. Bella's lips curved up into a smile.
"Thought you looked like you could do with a glass or two?" Lorna murmured moving one of the lit candles along the window sill and placed the bottle down. Pouring two large glasses of wine she passed one to Bella.
The dark red wine had a fruity aroma and Bella licked her lips in response, but the taste of berries and dark chocolate lingered even after she had swallowed the liquid. Wow she thought to herself she was sure wine had never tasted this good before or maybe it was something different to what they usually drank. "Mmmm…" Bella sighed as she sunk a little lower below the bubbles. "Is this something new?" she pointed her chin towards the bottle as she looked at Lorna "It tastes…well delicious we must buy more…" Lorna looked at her friend a little surprised at what Bella had said
"It's just our usual Merlot Bella" she smiled "Remember we bought twelve bottles in that on line deal." Lorna did not miss the look that rolled across Bella's face as she sipped more of the wine a look of surprise and maybe a tad of disbelief at herself that she had forgotten more than anything.
After a few moments Bella sighed loudly before looking at her friend. "I met someone special this weekend" she mumbled. Lorna said nothing she'd learnt to give Bella time and space eventually she would spill and Bella looked like she needed to unload…"Special enough to let my guard down and well…" she added as she lowered her eyes and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Lorna raised her eyebrows in surprise
"Someone passed your test at last…?" She smiled as she refilled Bella's glass and her own
"Didn't even bother with the test" Bella sighed as she took a long slow sip of wine. It was having the desired effect of making her feel relaxed and well more mellow. She closed her eyes as she remembered Jacob's hot mouth exploring her body. "Let's just say he showed me a thing or two about what I've been missing these past few years…"
Lorna's hand shot to her mouth. In some ways she already knew what had happened the Tarot cards had clearly shown that especially when the Lovers had appeared in the deck but still she couldn't believe what her friend was actually saying "You mean you…well you know.." Lorna stuttered
Big warm chocolate coloured eyes looked into green and Lorna felt the change in Bella roll over her again…something she had first noticed in the hallway. More had happened to her friend than just sex. Bella nodded
"I know…" she said "It's not like me but he was simply too gorgeous to resist" she sighed a little then added "And I...well…I just couldn't seem to say no …it was like my body just took over and I was left a spectator at my own first time" She looked down at the glass in her hand as she swirled the contents round and round.
It was Lorna who took a long sip at the wine this time as she weighed up Bella's words. Sure she was pleased that her friend had had a little fun but something else was going down she could feel it. Lorna made up her mind to speak to Mimi about this and soon but in the meantime she would play along…
"Well well!" Lorna laughed "You have been a naughty girl this weekend." Then added "I hope you played safe?" Another blush rushed up Bella's throat and onto her face in response before a giggle erupted from that pretty mouth of hers the wine taking a little more control…
"You told me to go and have fun…" Bella pouted at her friend "So I did...that's all you need to know" But underneath Bella was worried. Shit she hadn't given it a single thought and come to think of it neither did he. A visit to the clinic was on the cards…
"It certainly sounds like you did too" Lorna giggled back. Bella rolled her eyes in response "But please tell me you didn't take any chances Bella?"
Then changed the subject as Bella's expression darkened a little in response. "So are you going to tell me all about him?" Both girls were feeling a little tipsy as Lorna poured the last of the wine into their glasses. A small drop fell into the water
"Hey don't waste any!" Bella laughed then settling back she started to tell her friend about Jacob…maybe it would make her feel better to get it all off her chest…
000
"He sounds absolutely gorgeous!" Lorna sighed "I mean most girls first time well…it can be a crap experience…"
"So I've heard" replied Bella "But Lorna he was just…well…it was wonderful…" her voice trailed off as she remembered she had no contact number and would most likely never see him again. Lorna noticed immediately
"What's wrong Bella?" She queried "Do you have regrets?"
Bella looked up a little tearful. "Maybe… but he does sound wonderful doesn't he?" She whispered "But the truth is we didn't exchange numbers and...I...I…" A little tear rolled down her cheek "I think that maybe I got played" she sighed. Lorna placed her glass down on the floor and kneeled beside the bath
"Now you listen to me Bella Swan" she said "You are an extraordinarily beautiful young woman. He gave you a fabulous first time from what I've just heard and now you're ready to take the next step." She laughed "His loss my fabulous friend. Plenty more fish in the sea"
Bella smiled at her friend and leaned forward to pull the plug. That's when Lorna got an eyeful of the enormous hickey on Bella's neck.
"Shit Bella!" she cried "What the fuck is that?" reaching out towards Bella's neck, but before Lorna could touch the dark purple mark Bella grabbed her wrist. She moved so fast it left Lorna a little shocked
"Don't...don't touch it…" Bella pleaded with her friend "It's kinda sore." Lorna withdrew her hand from Bella's grasp
"I'm not surprised at that…" she sighed "That's the biggest hicky I've seen in a long while Bella, maybe not since high school anyways." She shook her head a little "This Jacob obviously left his calling card." Lorna leant a little closer "I've got some soothing herbal salve to put on that" Then she pulled away sharply her breath hissed as she drew it in between her teeth "Fuck Bella that's a bite! The bastard bit you…what is he some kind of animal"
"Enough!" Bella shouted "Jake's not an animal he's…" But she didn't finish the sentence as she covered the bite with her hand. After all what was he other than a player…a liar? "I'd like to get out of the bath now Lorna…" she whispered as her friend looked at her with a shocked expression. Bella had never shouted at her before "And a little privacy would be good". Lorna got up with a sigh
"I'll go get that salve…can you make sure your Tetanus shot is up to date please Bella " she implored before disappearing behind the bathroom door. Bella's shoulders began to gently shake as she climbed out of the bath and took a look at her neck in the mirror. There for the world to see was indeed a bite. Tears began to roll down her face and that strange tugging feeling started again…
000
Jacob opened the door and stepped into the small side room at the Tribal hospital. His father lay sleeping and Jake sighed in relief. From the chat he had just had with the doctor, Billy had let his insulin levels get out of control. He was stable now and would most likely be ready to come home in the next few days. They just wanted to monitor him for a bit to make sure there was no other underlying problem.
Jacob sat on the chair next to the bed. He was furious with his sister. Fuck he had only been gone a few days surely Rachel could have looked after him better than this? Why did the responsibility for his father always come back to him? Billy opened an eye and smiled a little to see his son.
"Good to see you boy" he rasped "Sorry to spoil your weekend away"
"Its okay dad" Jacob replied "I'm here now and you're more important than a guy's weekend away" Billy softly chuckled as Jake added "You should go back to sleep I'll come and speak to you later." His father wearily closed his eyes and sleep took him once again. Jacob sighed as he looked down at his father. His diabetes had taken a huge toll on the man's health and made Billy look way older than his fifty years. The strong healthy man Jake remembered from his childhood was long gone.
Jakes cell buzzed and he quietly cursed hoping it had not disturbed his father. The old guy showed no signs of waking so Jacob took himself outside. He glanced at the cell screen…"Laylah…" he sighed to himself. Of course by now she would know he was back on the Rez. Paul would have told Rachel and well…the girl's gossip network never failed. He rubbed his face with a large hand. He really didn't want to go to Laylah...his mind was still reeling from thoughts of Bella…her smell…fuck her taste…try as he might he couldn't seem to let go.
He checked his cell to see if she had text…nothing. Okay he thought give her some time to cool off after his abrupt departure. But he was confident she would contact him…they always did.
Steeling himself for the inevitable Jacob checked on his father one last time and left the man sleeping as a nurse popped in to check his vitals. Outside the hospital Jake climbed onto the huge beast of a motorcycle he had parked up nearby, his broad thigh's rippling with muscle under his tight fitting jeans. Adjusting his shades Jake started her up with a deafening roar. A group of young nurses glanced in his direction admiration written all over their faces as they drooled over their young Chief as in a cloud of dust Jacob roared out of the carpark oblivious to his fan club who collectively sighed in his wake.
Laylah opened the front door to her house and threw herself at the huge Were. Jacob caught her chuckling softly as she wrapped her legs around his waist, peppering his face with tiny kisses.
"I'm guessing you've missed me? " Jacob laughed as he snuggled against the girl's neck breathing in her scent as she squealed in delight.
"Like you haven't missed me too lover" she replied as Jacob holding her tight against his firm chest walked them both into her house, his big hand popping the button of her jeans. Laylah's hungry mouth settled on Jake's and as she deepened the kiss that's when all hell broke loose.
Fuck it tasted all wrong and the wolf was going fucking nuts, clawing at Jacob to leave...like now! Jacob abruptly pulled away startling poor Laylah who was just about to start moaning with want. She looked up into Jakes shocked eyes. She tried to kiss him again and this time Jacob had more control on what followed. He kissed her back and really tried to put some effort into it but to no avail. It felt for all the world like he was trying to kiss Quil's grandmother…or worse his crazy old grandfather the tribal shaman…
Laylah drew back hurt in her eyes as she slowly slid down his front. She knew something was off and sadly she knew the signs all too well, as she turned her back to him she said
"So what's her name Jake?" Her eyes teared up and Jacob knew the waterworks were about to flow, something Laylah always did when she wanted him to do something. He said nothing in reply. "Well that says it all then!" she cried "Why can't you just keep it in your pants Jake and after you promised too" the tears soon followed.
As she knew he would Jacob swept her up in his broad arms pressing his firm body up behind her's "Shh Laylah...please honey" he whispered in her ear sending little shivers down her back. "There's no one else I'm just tired and worried about Dad that's all" he smoothly lied. She turned and peeked up at him from under long dark lashes, her dark brown eyes full of love and longing...
"Sure?" She queried "I'm enough for you?"
"Yeah of course I'm sure honey" he lied "Why would I dine on burger when I have steak at home?" He growled as he nipped along her jaw. Relief visibly swept through Laylah she believed him of course because she was head over heels in love with him and if things went to plan she would soon be Mrs Jacob Black.
Jacob was not so relieved or relaxed. He mechanically kissed and nipped at Laylah's neck whilst she squirmed and moaned in his arms. Wrong eyes his wolf bitterly complained wrong scent. Inside his mind Jacob argued and tightened the leash. No her eyes weren't that shade of melting chocolate and there wasn't that smell of vanilla and strawberries on a hot summers day…lost in his memories Jacob growled deeply.
Laylah smiled in response as she took his hand and led him to her bedroom, he loved her she was sure of it and he was all hers…
000
Jake emerged from Laylah's house just as the sun was setting. He had left her asleep a little smile upon her full lips. He came to a halt by the tree line of the forest and pulled off the tight white t shirt he had hastily dressed in in case he met Laylah's mother on the way out. It clung to his firm abs like a second skin. Just as quickly he slid out of his jeans and with a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching he ran into the forest phasing on the fly into an enormous russet coloured wolf.
Fuuuucckk! He thought What the fuck was going on? He'd never had trouble making love to any girl jeez he was known throughout the area as the man who always made you come whatever he did to you. Eventually he had managed to make love to Laylah but only after he had practically mentally bound and gagged the fucking wolf.
Speaking of the wolf he soon let Jacob know how he felt now that he had been let out. Rage flowed through Jakes body as he dug his claws into the soft soil of the forest and thundered on…the wolf was pissed…deeply pissed.
Jacob knew the wolf had never taken to Laylah. She was beautiful of course and any guy would give his right arm to call her his, maybe his left arm too. In a way everyone had expected that of all the girls on the Rez she would wind up with Jacob. They made a handsome couple for starters and Laylah had been in love with Jake since she was a little girl. She just wasn't the wolfs choice…not what he wanted.
Jake shook his huge head as he skidded to a halt listening to see whether any of his brothers were phased. Silence. Must be change over for patrol he thought. He hung his head as images of Bella flowed through his mind. The wolf hummed his approval. Mine he huffed.
"You might think she's yours you dumb fuck" Jacob growled "But she's gone and we don't even have a number to call." The wolf's hackles rose in response to Jacob calling him a dumb fuck. He was an ancient spirit wolf forced to share a body with what appeared to be a fucking idiot...not the Alpha born to lead one of the largest packs the tribe had ever seen.
"And whose fault is that mighty Alpha?" The wolf growled "You have let our mate slip through your fingers"
"Mate what do you mean fucking mate?" Jacob growled in response. He shook his enormous head again "Enough of this stupidity!" He roared feeling like he was losing his mind "No more arguing…Bella has gone end of…"
"We'll see…" Whined the wolf
"Yeah we will wont we" Jake snapped back as he dug his claws into the soft soil and ran howling into the dark forest.
000
Later that night Bella awoke in her bed covered in sweat her heart banging in her chest. Her bedroom door swung open as Lorna switched on the light.
"Bella!" she cried "I heard screaming…"
"It's ok…really" Bella replied "Nightmare that's all"
"You're sure you're ok?" The other girl hesitated at the door this was so unlike the Bella she knew. Bella nodded before lying back against her pillows.
"Must have been that red wine" Bella smiled at her friend. Lorna smiled in return before wishing her friend good night
"Pleasant dreams Bella" Lorna called as she switched off the light and closed the bedroom door.
Bella lay awake in the darkness for what seemed like an age the images from her nightmare seemed to be burned into her mind. As she closed her eyes… there they were again… A dark forest and…and she shivered as memories of the huge wolf filled her mind. Panic filled her once again as she desperately sought a way out and as she ran the wolf came after her howling loudly. There was no way she could outrun the beast and it was so close she could feel its heated breath on her back…then she stumbled and fell…falling…falling and all the while she could hear him…Jacob calling her name…
The alarm woke her with a start and Bella dragged herself from her bed, she felt like she had hardly slept as she staggered towards the bathroom. Lorna was already awake and busy in the kitchen brewing coffee.
The warmth of the shower roused her from her stupor and Bella felt a little better. Wrapping her dressing gown around her she made her way to the kitchen picking up the mug of coffee her friend had thoughtfully poured for her. "Thanks" she murmured as Lorna passed by "I really need it this morning"
"You're welcome" Lorna chuckled "You were right about the red wine. I needed two mugs this morning just to get going! See you shortly…" She called as she disappeared into the bathroom. Bella brought the coffee mug up to her lips and took a big gulp of coffee. It had only just gone down when it abruptly came straight back up into the kitchen sink.
"Gah" Bella moaned as she rinsed her mouth and then picking up her mug smelt the coffee wondering what had made her gag so badly. She wrinkled her little nose in disgust the coffee smelt awful but the milk wasn't off it was just…it was just not appealing to her for some strange reason.
Bella tipped the rest of the coffee down the sink then proceeded to make herself a cup of tea. She tentatively raised the mug to her lips and took a tiny sip…nothing… no reaction it tasted fine. Bella shrugged her shoulders maybe whatever it was would pass.
Sadly that was not to be the case and by the end of the day Bella knew for sure coffee would definitely be off the menu for some time.
000
Lorna had waited until her friend had left for work before she called Mimi she knew Bella only tolerated her so called gifts and as far as she was concerned Mimi just encouraged it all a little too much for her liking. Lorna had always had an interest in the occult and she blamed her mother for that. She had been raised by her single parent mother in what amounted to a new age commune. Crystals and tarot cards were a part of her life and Lorna would have been the first to make fun of it all if it hadn't been for the fact she could interpret the messages and power that they contained. The first time it happened she wouldn't touch any of it for months until the recipient of her "joke" reading told others and they all wanted her to "read" their futures too.
Luckily Lorna was a bright girl and an escape presented itself through a place at College. When she had moved to New York for work and met Bella she thought she had left all that nonsense behind but something had drawn her that day to the little shop in a back alley she hadn't even known existed. Compelled to enter she had come face to face with Mimi the owner who immediately knew she was in the presence of someone special.
And so an unlikely friendship had grown up between the two women and Lorna had finally embraced who she was, strange powers and all. Mimi had taken her under her wing and had taught her how to mix herbal potions, to accept there were other powers, even other creatures that roamed mother earth.
Mimi answered on the fifth ring her voice mellow "Hi Lorna" she almost purred down the line "What can I do for you?"
"It's my friend Bella Mimi" Lorna replied "I think something's happened to her and it may not be in a good way"
"I see" said Mimi "How do you think I can help?"
Lorna sighed loudly. "Bella just got back from a girls weekend in Vegas where she met a young guy and…" She sighed a little "Look the upshot is I read her cards last night Mimi and well I can no longer see anything to do with Bella…"
"Has this ever happened before Lorna?" Mimi asked her voice concerned
"No…See that's the thing I've always been able to read the Tarot cards, it's the only thing that works where Bella is concerned" Lorna sounded worried and Mimi asked
"You think it has something to do with this young man?"
"Maybe… I'm not sure. It just doesn't feel right. Bella didn't seem to know much about him no contact number, no surname. Somehow he got her to act in a way that is so unlike the Bella I know" Lorna paused then added "Look all I know is he's a good looking extremely tall Native American" Mimi sat up at that nugget of information just as Lorna added
"And well…whilst they were making love he bit her Mimi and …it didn't look right to me when I saw it." Lorna took a deep breath then added "Bella won't let me touch it, became quite defensive when I did go near it too" Lorna sighed deeply "Its so unlike her… I've never seen her overreact like that before." There were a few seconds of silence as Mimi mulled over what Lorna had said
"Okay bring her to me Lorna" Mimi instructed "As soon as you can, maybe I can mix something to help her" but underneath Mimi was deeply concerned…
AN: Poor Bella…and maybe poor Laylah too? There's magic in the air and things are gonna get interesting!
Till next time xxx