Chapter 4

I shuffled to the kitchen, trying to get past the nauseous stench coming from Edward, and he wasn't even here yet. I stuffed something into the oven, rubbed at my watering eyes, and changed my clothes. I also threw my hair into a bun.

When I came out of the bathroom, I was stunned to see half the pack in the living room. Sam, Seth, Emily, Leah, Quil, and some of the younger boys who were wrestling at the beginning of the week. I nearly fainted. Jacob's living room was not large enough for some overgrown man-dogs and a couple of pretty ladies.

"Why are you all here?" I asked, completely dumbfounded.

Jacob turned to me, angry and fuming, "Why else, Kris? There's a vampire coming and none of us knew about it!"

"That's not true!" I protested, holding my fists to my sides. He was so immature! "I invited them in front of everyone but you."

He stopped, glaring at Sam, "Why was I not told?"

Sam shrugged, "One alpha knew, why did the other need to? Besides, I know you have... Well, we all know you have a personal grudge. Wouldn't have allowed it."

"NO, I wouldn't've allowed it!" He was trembling.

And the smell was getting thicker, stronger, and sickeningly potent.

"Everyone, out!" I opened the door, looking at them. Everyone except for Leah, Emily, Sam and Jacob left.

"Leah." I growled. Just because she was so pretentious. She was not alpha, she didn't belong.

She stalked towards the door, growling at me as she passed. I really felt the need to slap her in the back of the head, but ignored it. The urge died down when she was gone.

"Jacob, you will be nice."

"But-"

"No buts!" I hissed in his face, "You will be nice, or you will leave your house. Am I understood?"

He blushed, and then mumbled.

"Good." I nodded, "Bella would probably be upset if you weren't here anyway. Sam... Emily... will you two behave?" I couldn't believe I asked them that, and blushed deep red. "Sorry... I don't know my place." I mumbled hoarsely.

Sam laughed and Emily giggled. "Honey, you don't have to apologize, you are alpha as far as we can tell." She glanced at Jacob, and then back tracked, "Or, at least we see you as alpha."

"Sorry." I mumbled, walking towards the door, opening it for our two guests, and being slapped in the face for my manners. I was trying hard not to gag. It was a horrible scent. The only saving grace in it was Bella's sweet scent wafting and mingling through. Almost barely there.

"Whew!" I gasped, seeing them pull in. "Edward has a nice car!"

Jacob looked at me startled, "Do you know anything about cars?"

"Well... no. But I can tell it's nice." I walked out there, hugging Bella. She looked as beautiful as ever. I was jealous, but tried to brush it off. She was clothed in love and shining, positively glowing from head to toe. I wanted that look; I wanted to be so happy.

"Edward!" I gasped, finally looking at him.

"Hello." He smiled demurely. I had no such grace. I gaped.

"He's so hot Bella!" I grabbed her hand, "And he's got such a beautiful car!"

He laughed, "Thank you Kris. Where's everyone?"

"They heard a vampire was coming, piled into our house- er, Jacob's house! I made them leave, annoying twits when they want to be." I guess my honesty was weird because Bella just stared and Edward laughed again. His silent laugh. "Edward... Umm... sorry, but you smell bad."

He roared with laughter at that one. Bella hit my arm lightly. She remembered what it felt like to punch Jacob. The same would happen with me.

"Kris, you don't smell so..." he walked up to me, sniffing. "Actually, you don't smell all that bad. A little like dog, but mostly like human. Why is that?"

"I smell different?" I was stunned I never knew.

"Yeah." Came a foreign voice, "You smell like carnations or something. Well, sometimes you smell like chocolate brownies or something cooking. But mostly carnations."

"Jacob?" I was shell shocked. He was being nice. He walked up to me, smiled, and then swooped Bella into a huge hug.

"Carnations...?" Edward was quite, "Yes, I guess so." I smiled at him. "Jacob, on the other hand, smells like bloody wet dog."

I shuddered. Jacob did sometimes. But others times he smelled... delicious? Handsome? I couldn't put my mind on it once I had thought about how he smelled.

"You're one to talk Blood- I mean, Edward." He smiled, and it was really forced. I broke the tension.

"Let's go inside, I'm making something in case you're hungry, Bella. You too, Eddy-boy. Unless you're not hungry."

Edward laughed, "I'm always hungry, but human food is disgusting."

The look on Edward's face was utterly disturbing as I caught his meaning. "You can't eat?! Like, what about doughnuts?"

He shook his head, we all followed Jacob and Bella as they chatted ahead, leading us towards the house. "Ice cream? BBQ chicken?"

Again, more head shaking. "I am so sorry!"

He looked at me, smiling. "Why?"

I was dazed for a moment, "Because, Eddy-boy, I love food. So I can just imagine how it is for you. So I'm sorry."

He chuckled, looking absent mindedly at the two ahead of us.

"So, what is Jacob thinking?" I whispered very quietly, so that they couldn't hear.

"He's jealous that you're talking to me, but he's happy Bella is here." Edward was leaving something out, but I didn't care.

"Do you care if I call you Eddy-boy?" I asked, smiling at Jacob as he held the door open for us. "Thank you." I said sincerely, looking at Jacob.

Edward laughed. "He's now jealous that you have a nickname for me and not him."

Jacob stiffened. I sighed, Bella stifled laughter, looking uneasy between our men from opposite worlds. I caught Sam and Emily slinking out the back door from the corner of my eye. Oh well. I thought, there'll be more room... I suppose. Though I was completely terrified. I turned on Edward; things were going to be laid on the line, flat and clear.

"Edward, I gave Jacob the same speech I'll give you now. If either of you cause problems, you will be thrown out. Edward, if you start a fight, you will leave, but Bella will stay. If she wants to, of course." I smiled her way. "There is no reason why we can't get along; I think you two species are just stubborn buttfaces."

Jacob looked at me, stunned. "Buttfaces?"

"Yes." I turned to Bella, "Come on, talk to me about... girl... stuff!" We both grimaced, heading towards the kitchen.

"It sounds like torture when you put it that way." She moaned.

"It is." I confirmed, "But it must be done." for emphasis, I slapped my fist into my open palm. We sat down at the table, only to be stunned by both Edward and Jacob pulling up seats.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Sitting." The boys answered in unison.

"No, you're not. This is 'girl' talk, what part of it says boys?"

"But-"

I glared at Jacob, "No buts, remember? Get along with our little leech here. No offense, its endearing terms, Eddy-boy. Now leave!"

"Where to?" They both seemed lost. Bella sighed.

"Just go to the living room or something." She moaned, "We're going to chill. Mano y mano."

I looked at her, holding back my laughter. Edward gently corrected Bella, who blushed her little blush. Jacob was just livid and uncomfortable. I looked at him, and then smiled. He was so cute when he was jealous and upset.

"Please?" I whispered audible only to the supernatural of hearing.

"Alright, alright! C'mon Blood- er, Edward. Eddy-boy, whatever." He grabbed Edwards's collar and yanked softly, "Let's leave them to chit-chat."

Edward looked at Jacob warily. "Thanks."

"Whatever." Jacob rolled his eyes. They left. I looked at Bella.

"So, what's it like being engaged to someone perfect?"

- (time lapse)

Bella and I were blasting something from Elvis, basting the chicken (smothering it really) with some barbeque sauce, dancing around the kitchen. I was again amazed at how easy, how comfortable it was for me to be around this human girl. Her scent was entrancing, her easy laugh, and her cute blushes. It was as if I had known her for all my life.

She sat down, sliding into a comfortable position in the chair. "You know, Kris, it's nice to be here with my boys and not have to worry about them fighting." She proceeded to tell me some stories about the past, something about Jacob and Edward, but I had stopped listening, there was a much more interesting conversation going on in the next room.

"Well." I could hear Edward sit back in the recliner across from Jacob, "Kris seems to be quite the nice girl; she's funny and smart, and much more sweet than you guys up here."

Jacob huffed leaning forward, "I am trying to accept this girl, you know. It's sweet, her devotion, she seems to be on my mind as much as Bella, now a days, but... She just... it's not the same."

Edward suppressed a laugh, "Of course it's not the same. Kris challenges your supremacy; she brings out the best of you without you knowing it. Bella is just not enough to control your werewolf urges. How do I explain? I am not insulting Bella, I'm saying that Kris seems to be better suited for a life where she's one of the guys. She seems happy, comfortable, though her heart is a little bruised."

I could almost feel the harsh glare being shared between the guys. I smiled and exclaimed at whatever Bella had said and began to think. First off, Jacob had admitted to knowing I was in his thoughts as much as Bella. Edward saw the differences between me and our girl. I looked at her, she was still talking, it was about Edward, and she was playing with the ring on her finger. Second thought that crossed my mind was about Edward. Couldn't he read minds?

I resumed to listening to the boys.

"You are so pompous!" Jacob hissed "Just because you can see my thoughts does not mean you understand what I'm thinking."

"Quite the opposite." Edward was becoming terse. I wished too, in that moment, I could hear people's thoughts. "I understand quite well what you're thinking, and I suggest you stop right now."

Jacob smiled, laughed, "Can't understand a man's train of thoughts? Figures, you are nothing more than crystallized age wrapped in stone. You can't even keep Bella warm."

I heard Edward stand, "Stop thinking those things, I implore you." Edward sighed, "Besides." He added, sitting, "You just feel de-manned because Bella chose me, not you."

I could feel the anger; smell the anger, the hate the tension. It smelled like charcoal, like burning flesh. My eyes widened, "The chickens burning."

Bella stopped mid-sentence, "Really?"

"Yerp." I grabbed the oven mitts, sighing in relief when the arguing between the boys stopped. I was afraid I was going to have to go out there and break it up.

I let Bella fuss over the vegetables, add the finishing touches and set the table. Said she felt bad because she almost let dinner burn. I hid a smile. It wasn't close to really burning; it was just that I had a sensitive nose.

"Edward!" She sang, I looked at her. "He may not be able to eat, but he can still enjoy the effort we went through."

I wondered how she would be able to handle never eating human food again, how she would be able to stand never using her taste buds but to the same meal of blood. I could never have done it. In a silent, angry, stunned shocked trance I sat at the table, bowed my head for prayer.

Jacob sighed, "Do I have to pray again?"

I glared, "No. I mean, God just created everything, why should we thank him for it?"

Edward chuckled, but his eyes looked worried. My mood did not improve when he folded his hands and began to utter a prayer for the food we were about to consume.

"Lord, bless this food and thank you for our hosts, and may they be healthy and happy. Bless my Bella, give Jacob strength, and fortify Kris in her future, in her struggles. And Lord," He finished, "Save a place for me when I return to you."

Startled I snapped my eyes open, to see a few red tears pool in the corners of his eyes. He looked at me. "Sorry."

The weight of the word he said was more than just for becoming overly emotional, but for the intentional and unintentional hurt he had inflicted upon me during the living room episode. Our eyes met, and I smiled after catching my breath. "No problem." I smiled wide and then looked at Jacob, who was frowning at me.

"Eat." I kicked his shin lightly under the table. "Bella and I did it ourselves."

Bella blushed, "No, you did a lot of it... I just kind of helped."

"Oh yeah." I snorted after swallowing my first taste of the chicken, which was absolutely delicious, "You just helped me cook the whole thing, that's all. And set the table. And brought the Prayer-Man."

Jacob chocked a little. I sent him a stern glare, "You alright?"

He nodded, his eyes watering, "I just need a drink. Went down the wrong tube."

Bella got up and followed him, "Are you sure you're okay?"

He nodded, grabbing a thick plastic cup. We didn't have glass anymore; it usually shattered upon contact with the warm skin of our kind. He filled it with water and brought it back to the table, meeting my gaze. I rose an eyebrow, questioning him. He shook his head, gulped and began to devour the meal. When I finished my second helping, Bella her first, Jacob had successfully devoured five whole courses. I felt a little nauseated. Watching him eat was both fascinating and disgusting.

Bella handed me her empty plate, I collected Jacobs and my own. I walked to the sink, setting them in, about to say Edward and Jacob had to wash them, when I spotted the two engaged twining fingers. This was probably the first day they've ever been close in love, but far in physical experience. I felt bad keeping them from being together.

"Jacob!" I shouted, "Help me wash the dishes. Bella, go take Edward and watch a movie in the living room or something." I looked at Edward, Jacob and I are going to have a talk.

He groaned and lifted himself to his feet, "Ma'am?"

"You dry and put away, I'll wash. And keep quiet, you and I need to speak." He groaned. "Why are you being such a pest? Did you think I wouldn't hear you and Edward speaking?"

He blushed and shifted nervously. "It's not like Edward doesn't push my buttons anyway. Besides, I didn't say anything that bad. I was trying to keep my manners."

"So what exactly did you think to make Edward so angry?"

"I... I uh, well... Umm..." I shoved a plate in his direction.

"Yes?" I scrubbed at a slight sticky spot, "You know innocent people don't stumble over their words."

He slammed the plate down, "I was thinking of Bella!" He growled. I blushed. "If you need to know, you self-righteous alpha wanna be, I was imagining her and I, intertwined-"

My blood began to boil as he went into descriptions of what he imagined just for Edward. "And you know what?" He hissed in a way I knew then this was just to spite me, "I don't really know why everyone puts so much credit on you. You're selfish, stubborn. You are prideful and angry and-"

I had snapped. I flung Jacob against the wall opposite us, my forearm pressing into his throat. "You pretentious bastard!" I screamed, "How dare you attempt to hurt me like this?!"

I heard feet, I smelled Bella, her fear. They were right outside, on the outskirts of the kitchen. Edward would take care of her. Jacob smirked, my eyes narrowed, this may get out of hand.

"You aren't as in control as you pretend." I screamed pure fury, withdrawing my hand to deliver a punch right between his chocolate brown eyes. He ducked, swirling out of my range.

I followed him, slamming him against the wall in the living room. "How dare you treat me like this?" I could feel something in the back of my mind, just faintly buzzing. My anger blotted it out. "Why?" I yelled, slamming my foot into his face. I heard Bella scream as his head snapped back in an inhuman way. But we weren't human. He'd be fine. I waited for him to regain his composure, wiping the blood off his face. I glared death.

"You... you kicked me!" His eyes were wide. I kicked him in the balls. He doubled over, but brought the momentum into his hand, his fist connected with my right cheekbone. My head lifted, I felt myself twirling. In my peripheral vision, I caught Sam and Emily watching in shock, standing just inside of the back hallway. I faintly heard Edward asking something, though I couldn't make it out.

Finally the floor crashed into my body, my vision went spotted. When it cleared, I saw Jacob, looking stunned, disgusted. Not at me, but himself.

"Now do you understand?" Edward asked quietly, "Do you understand why you can't be with Bella?"

"I-I..." Jacob slumped in defeat; submitting to the truth, "I am so sorry..." He turned to go, when I lept up, grabbed his collar and slammed him into the wall again.

"You think this is about Bella, Jacob?" I snarled, getting in his face. "It's not. It's about us. I spent all this week doing my best to please you, to be your friend, to be more to you than Bella could be, and this is what happens? Is it in your nature to play with girls like this? Or have you just picked the ones who would give into your charms and your attitude?" He began to reply, but I cut him off, "You will either love me, or not, but I. Will. Not. Be. Your. Second. Choice." I added a punch in his gut to enhance the meaning of my words. He began to sag against my grip, trying to slip to the floor.

I looked at him, tears streaming down my face. Why did he have to be so stubborn? So blockheaded? Why couldn't this have just been an easy discussion? I looked in his eyes, this was Jacob. He never did anything easy. I smiled, clasping his face in both my hands, using my body to keep him standing. "I love you." I whispered, then kissed his cheek and let him fall to the ground. He curled into a small ball on his side, coughing up some sort of liquid. Maybe vomit.

I backed away, "Please, please realize that." I looked at the wall, the kitchen. It was trashed. Not only were there dents and holes in the cheap plaster, but there was blood on the roof and a little on the carpet. The wall looked like a five year old went happy with paint. I sighed, looking at Sam and Emily. Emily was looking at Jacob; Sam was focusing on Bella, who seemed to be in some sort of shock. I felt the despair rising at what I had done. I fought with the alpha. I took a turn in time that I could never erase, never back step. I felt the weight of my decision settle on my shoulders. Jacob hated me, Bella was afraid of me, even Sam and Emily wouldn't look in my direction.

And then I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Edward?" He smiled that million-watt smile. I almost cried.

"You did a good thing, besides; I don't think everyone hates you that much." I followed his gaze to Jacob, who was still on the ground, now looking at the ceiling, in a kind of reverie.

"Jacob, you okay?" He looked at me in a calm way that was eerie.

"Come here." He motioned me over. I sat next to him. He grabbed my fingers and then lifted his shirt.

I stared at him questioningly. There was no way in Heaven I would feel him up with all these people around. Edward laughed behind me, I felt myself turn red. "What are you doing?"

I looked at Sam and Emily, "What is he doing?"

Bella stared, and then whispered quietly, "You're a wolf, right?"

And then it struck me. He was offering me his belly. He was forfeiting, he was saying I was right. I put my free hand over my mouth, tears welling at my eyes again. Slowly, ever so slowly he lowered my hand onto his belly. Fascinated I watched as he tensed his whole body, Edwards face went dark as Jacob, I'm sure, went through some pretty gruesome mental images.

Then Sam spoke up, "You have to draw his blood. It's law."

Startled I looked between him and Emily. She seemed to be a little disturbed at her husband's unfaltering abiding.

"Sam! Does she really...?" He nodded, looking at us sadly. My hand was once again clasped around Jacob's. His breathing was ragged, harsh. I could feel his heartbeat increase, I could read his body. He was expecting me to kill him. I grimaced.

Sam ushered everyone out of the room, leaving the two of us behind. "Did you know about that rule?"

He nodded, his hair shaggy and in his face, almost perfectly matching the scene. I smiled, placing my mouth onto his stomach. He flinched. It made me almost cry that he was so afraid to be touched by me.

And I kissed it.

As I pulled away he sat up, looking at me with shock, but most importantly, with different eyes than before. There was almost... love, admiration in his eyes. "Is that it?"

I laughed, "I've already spilt your blood, have I not?"

He hesitated and then placed one hand on my face, in my hair. Before I realized what was going on, he was kissing me. He pulled me onto his lap, hugging me.

"What brought this change?" My voice was low and soft, as if I was singing a lullaby.

"I realized, somewhere between the punches and the tears that you were right and that I... well..." He snuggled closer. I played with his hair. "I realized I've loved you... but Bella too... I'm not explaining right. I loved Bella for the human in me. I loved her because she represented what I could have been, what I used to be. I loved her because she was the untouchable thing, the first crush." I listened, not quite sure where he was going.

"But, for some reason, it just hit me that I loved you. Before, you were just one of us, one of the pack. You were my best friend, someone I talked to about nothing, you understood, but you weren't as special as Bella because I couldn't have her... or maybe because I knew I didn't really want her. And then, as we were fighting, I realized you were the kind of mate I could live with. I could talk and you'd understand, we could fight and I wouldn't harm you. I realized everything about you compliments me... but I refused to see it before."

I shoved away from him, looking at him. "So you're over Bella?"

He nodded.

"You mean, after about three months, you're finally over Bella?" He glanced at me sharply.

"It's been longer than three months, Kris, and how would you know, you've only been here a little over a week." He was scooping his hair into a rat's tail at the base of his neck.

"And look at what I've done to you!" I squealed, tackling him to the floor and kissing his cheeks. Finally, finally, after putting all that attention and love into one thing, he was mine.

A/N: I would like to explain that I DO NOT CONDONE domestic violence or fighting of any kind. This was written in the mind set of dogs (wolves), not humans, communicating. If someone in a relationship hits you or uses intimidation or violence to control you, that is abuse.