Song Inspiration: Catalyst by Anna Nalick

Banner by: Mist

Chapter 7: Under The Moonlight Our Lips Met

Seth listened to Jared describe the odd scent he tracked to the north of their border. He agreed something was off about this situation. There was something on their land that smelled faintly like a vampire but there was another odor covering it up, like it wasn't quite a vampire. He wasn't sure if this was an entirely new creature or if it was somehow a rogue trying to keep them off of it's track. Normally vampires who wandered onto their land never knew of their existence. In fact, the look of surprise on their face was one of the reasons he enjoyed the kill so much. He liked to think that the vampires experienced the same amount of fear that they put humans through right before they killed them.

"Once I got to the border it just seemed to vanish." Jared scratched his head, looking as worried as Seth felt.

"Let's just make sure that the guys understand until we know exactly what it is we should be on full alert. No one needs to be sleeping on the job." Seth cocked an eyebrow when Jared gave him a look like no one had ever been caught sleeping before.

"Alright." Jared nodded his head in agreement.

"Good. I'm going home. I'm tired." Seth sighed heavily.

"How did it go?" Jared asked curiously.

Everyone knew that some of the gang were taking Bella out for her birthday. This was the first year that they didn't throw a bonfire or cook out and hung out all together. Seth and Leah insisted it would be easier to talk her out of the house if she didn't have to worry about so many eyes watching her every move.

The guys understood. It had been four months since Jake's death but they still felt awkward when near his widow. She was a reminder of their old friend and the friendship they lost.

"Good enough. She went to the club with us but damn Embry gave her five shots right off the bat. She is at home sober now." Seth chuckled.

"Why would he give her drinks? We all know about her drinking problem." Jared admitted.

"Excuse me?" Seth didn't like hearing that the pack was talking about Bella behind her back.

"Sometimes you slip up and we see your thoughts. Sorry bud, but we all know that she hits the bottle hard right before bedtime. Plus we overheard Charlie and Billy talking about it one night at a bonfire." Jared explained.

"Well, it's none of your concern. I will deal with it." Seth stated firmly.

"I know man but just remember we are here to help her too. You don't have to do everything on your own." Jared hated watching Seth feel the need to do it all by himself.

"I know. Thanks." Seth turned and jogged off.

He didn't want to discuss Bella anyfurther with Jared. He couldn't explain it but he felt very protective of her and especially her need for privacy. He didn't want everyone to learn about her weakness. He wanted to fix it before it became so big that they would need intervention to open her eyes and see the self destruction she was inflicting on herself.

Unlocking the door he made his way in and went straight up to the bathroom. It was his nightly ritual to take a shower, brush his teeth and then crawl into bed for a good night's rest. Stepping in the shower he found himself thinking about Amanda and her friend. When was the last time since he even had sex? Months. Many frustrating months. He hadn't given it much thought until Amanda reminded him of the good old days when he could enjoy the pleasure of having sex whenever he wanted.

Soaping up his hands he found himself tempted to relieve the tension. It might even help relax him he thought as he began to pump himself and imagined how his night could have ended if he had gone home with Amanda and her roommate.

XXX

Bella stared at the sleeping pill between her fingers. She was going to sleep in her own bed tonight but she was going to need some help. Looking at the pill that the doctor prescribed for her she wondered if it would knock her out quickly?

Swallowing the pill she opened the door and looked at the bed that sat in the center of the room. Taking a few small steps she reached out and slid her hand around the wooden bed post. Like the swing, Jake made this bed. She smiled sadly as she recalled the first night they shared in it.

Jake showed her that the bed was big enough to do any position she could imagined.

A soft chuckle escaped her.

He was such a good man and she knew he could never be replaced in her heart.

A feeling of dizziness took her by surprise. Walking closer to the bed she sat down on the edge and looked toward the window where the moon was so bright.

"I miss you Jake. I know you know this and I just wished it had been me that died that day and not you. You were always so much stronger than me. You knew how to bounce back when life threw you for a loop." Bella whispered to herself.

Laying on her side she continued to look at the moon while the pill took full effect and she was lost once again in a dream where she knew Jake would find her.

His arms circled around her waist, pulling her back up against his chest.

"You smell so delicious." He mumbled into her ear before nipping it.

Bella giggled.

"You don't smell so bad yourself."

"I miss this." Jake said.

"What?" Bella frowned wondering what he missed exactly.

"Holding you in my arms like this." He replied.

"Me too. I'm always so cold now. I feel like a human popsicle inside and out."

"It doesn't have to be that way. Let someone thaw out that heart of yours."

"I can't. I won't." Bella shook her head.

"Honey, you have too. I can't be there for you."

"But I want you to be." She whined.

"Bella, I will always be with you but you have to go on. Jake Junior needs his mother. Don't be selfish with your heart. Make me proud Bella. Find the strength that I know you have in you and take better care of our son."

"I'm trying my best." Bella replied.

"Are you? Really?"

"It's so hard being strong." Bella cried out.

"I know it is but you can do it." He replied softly.

"I love you Jake."

"I love you too."

"Then show me." Bella pleaded.

"Well, while I have you here." Jake tilted her chin up before kissing her.

Bella kept her eyes wide wanted to see his face. She missed it so damn much.

The kiss made her heart flutter and come alive. The warmth of his hands as he kneaded her back made her knees turn into jello. This was what passion felt like.

"Mmm...more." She pleaded, running her hands up his chest and around his neck.

"How much more?" He asked.

"All of you." She jumped up, circling his waist with her legs and pressed her heat against his crotch.

"Honey, we can't." Jake looked at her with the saddest eyes as he pulled her off of him.

"Why not? It's my dream, why can't I do what I want in it?" Bella demanded.

"Because honey it will make things harder when you wake up." Jake looked away from her as crocodile size tears poured out of her eyes.

"I don't want to wake up, ever." Bella grabbed his hands and lifted them up and put them on her chest.

"Don't say that Bella. You have a life to live. You must go on." Jake took his hands away and began to walk away from her.

"NO! Don't go Jake. Please I just...we can just talk...pleaseee." Bella screamed at him but he began to fade into the black mist.

"NOOOOo! It's not fair. It's not fair!" She yelled, stomping her feet like a two year old.

"Bella! Bella! Wake up." Seth pleaded with her.

He just got out of the shower and put his towel around his waist when he heard her screaming. He knew it was probably from another dream but he needed to be sure. He was surprised to find her not only in her room but in her bed as well.

Bella's fists pounded against his chest, while he sat next to her, trying to make her wake up and see that it was just him in her room.

"Jake?" Bella whispered, her eyes fluttering semi opened.

"No, Bella, it's me, Seth." Seth gulped hard when her fists opened up and laid flat on his bare chest. Normally Bella's touch was cool to his skin but tonight it felt warm.

The man in front of her stood bathed in the moonlight. In her mind's eye she saw her husband before her.

Her hands traveled up his chest, scooting up closer she ran her fingers over his lips. They felt so warm, so soft, so real.

"Kiss me. Please." She begged.

Seth gulped hard, surprised by her request.

"I shouldn't." Seth coughed nervously.

"Yes you should. I'm asking you to kiss me." Bella wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her.

"Bella, it's me Seth, not Jake." Seth pleaded for her to listen but he could see that his words had fallen on deaf ears when she pressed her lips to his.

Seth felt a tremor of fear and excitement coursing through his veins. In his teen years he imagined this scenario a million times but now he knew this was wrong, yet he couldn't resist. He was frozen in place. He knew she was under the misguided concept that it was Jake she was kissing but what if he was wrong? What if she knew it was him and needed comfort?

He opened his mouth to try and convince her again that he wasn't Jake but she mistook it as an invitation. Her tongue was suddenly in his mouth and he couldn't push her away now even if he wanted too.

OH MY GOD! What am I going to do now?

The taste of her mouth set his whole body on fire. Every inch of him was responding to her touch. When he felt her moan he knew he couldn't stop himself from enjoying their kiss, even if it was wrong.

Damn this kiss is more incredible than I ever dreamed it could be. How can I stop this from continuing? Do I even want too?

"More." Bella moaned, climbing up on his lap and wrapping her legs around him.

Seth knew he was losing this battle.

Bella grinded against him, waking up a desire in his body that he hadn't quenched earlier in the shower.

"Touch me." Bella took his hands and led them to her chest.

Seth heard loud sirens going off in his head. They were reaching a point of no return. If he gave her what she asked for and later woke up to realize her mistake then the friendship they had formed over the years would be in jeopardy. He couldn't allow that. He had a responsibility to protect her and right now she needed protection from him.

"No Bella, I can't." Seth picked her up and put her back where she had been laying before he entered the room. Standing over the bed he saw the heart wrenching look on her face.

"Why not? I need you." She slurred as her eyes fluttered until she was lost in her dream world once again.

Seth exhaled loudly, rubbing the palms of his hands over his face. His body ached. Looking down at himself he saw the tent that formed under his towel.

He knew another shower would be required before he could get any sleep tonight. His eyes gazed over her one more time before he forced himself to leave the room and prayed that tomorrow she would forgive him for his moment of weakness.

XXX

The next day...

Seth been up only an hour when Charlie and Sam arrived.

"Where is Bella?" Charlie asked as Seth handed him a fresh cup of coffee.

"Asleep." Seth glanced up at the ceiling.

"We came over today to talk to you about a couple of things." Charlie glanced at Sam for a second before giving Seth a nervous smile.

" ." Seth leaned up against the counter.

"I got the report back from Seattle police department. The fire was definitely not an accident." Charlie paused giving Seth time to absorb the shock.

"The wiring was faulty but what really caused the explosion was a homemade bomb they found in Jacob's office."

Seth's mouth dropped to the floor. He couldn't believe what he heard. A bomb. Why? Who would be so cruel? Who would want to start the fire? Was it meant for Jake? Or was it just about taking down the shop?

"Are you sure of that?" Seth gulped hard.

"Absolutely." Charlie nodded his head.

"Why? I don't get it." Seth was puzzled.

"We don't know. But we are going to find out." Sam finally spoke up.

"What else did you need to discuss with me?" Seth's head was reeling with so many thoughts all at once.

"It's about Bella. We think it's time for us to have a intervention about her drinking." Charlie sighed heavily.

"I don't know. When she hears about the bomb she is going to sink into a deeper depression." Seth warned them.

"Not necessarily. I mean it doesn't change the fact that he is dead." Charlie frowned.

"Bella isn't going to take the news well that her husband was murdered." Seth replied.

"We have to tell her eventually." Sam stated.

"I'm just worried that when she learns someone possibly set out to kill her husband it is going to send her off the deep end.I think we need to wait awhile." Seth answered.

"How much time do you think she needs?" Charlie didn't want to step on Seth's toes but he knew his daughter better than they did. Each day that passed since Jake's death he watched his daughter falling into a deep abyss of sorrow and pity.

"I don't know but let me talk to her about the drinking before you guys corner her." Seth offered.

"Okay. But in one month if she is still drinking and making poor decisions because of it, we are stepping in." Charlie warned him.

"Okay. Fair enough." Seth agreed. "How do we find who murdered Jake?"

"I'm going to check out a few leads I have with the contractor they hired to complete the new bay. Sam recalled that they also painted Jacob's office for him. So they had access to the room where the bomb was placed behind the wall." Charlie informed him.

"So it was literally put behind a wall?" Seth chewed on the inside of his cheek as he thought back to when the repairman were around. He couldn't recall anyone who stuck out more than the rest.

"Yep." Sam and Charlie said in unison.

"Well, keep me updated and let me know what I can do to help. I will talk to Bella and once we know who did it, then I think it will be safer to tell Bella everything we know about Jake's death." Seth sighed nervously.

"Good. Remember Seth I love her and I know you care about her but we have to stop her from hurting herself or worse Jake Junior. "Charlie patted Seth on the back before he followed Sam quietly out the back door before Bella woke up and discovered them in her kitchen.

Seth filled his cup and sat down at the table. He wondered how he was going to keep all of this from Bella while he also confronted her with a problem that was slowly changing her with each passing day.

XXX

A/N: Okay so they just shared their first kiss. Although Bella had been drinking and took a sleeping pill beforehand. Do you think she will remember it tomorrow? Also, noticed a big decline in reviews. I apologize if this story isn't going in the direction you had hoped. I'm trying so hard to make this unravel the way it would in reality. Thank you for the support and to all of you guys who are still reading it. Xoxo August