Tricky Raven's Weekly Fanfiction Flash Fic Challenge

Title: Signs (Just a matter of time)

Character: Jake/Bella (Paul/Bella)

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Rating: T

Word Count: 500

Prompt: A photo with three people, two boys and one girl. The middle boy has his arm around the girl and she's holding the hand of the other boy + "I let go of her hand"

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


A/N: No CJ this week. Sorry

Leaning against the doorframe I watched Bella move around the kitchen as she put the finishing touches on the food.

The bonfire was held in celebration of the birth of Jared and Kim's little boy, the Packs first cub, and I had asked Bella to cook for the occasion.

She did everything I asked without questions. She always took care of me. Cooked my food, did my laundry, warmed my bed at night. She was everything I could wish for. Bella was the perfect mate, and one day she would be an even better wife and mother.

I knew from the start that she didn't love me, but I was sure my love would be enough and that the imprint would work its magic. It was just a matter of time until she would feel the same.

The other imprinted couples were long since married and the women proudly wore their wolf's marks on their necks. The unmarked skin on Bella's neck made her stand out amongst the other imprints more than her bare ring-finger ever could. I had been putting off marking her until I knew without a doubt he was out of her system.

Our fathers were as happy as I was when I imprinted on my childhood crush. The fact that she had been in a relationship with someone else at the time never even crossed my mind. The spirits chose her for me, she was mine.

I had of course made her wash off his scent and waited two weeks before taking her to my bed, not wanting to smell anyone else on her skin.

When he let her go without a fight I convinced myself that whatever feelings he had for her couldn't be that strong. But Leah, of all people explained to me that it had been his respect for the imprint and his love for Bella that made him let her go so easily.

Would I ever be able to do the same?

"Bells…" I hesitated when she stiffened.

The Bella I knew, the girl that had been my best friend since we were kids had a smile that could light up a whole room. Lately she'd been keeping her eyes downcast to hide that her smile never reached her eyes.

She never denied me anything, welcoming me into her bed with open arms. It was easy to ignore her tears as I held her afterwards, or the anguished howl that could be heard in the distance.

The signs had been there all along, but I had been too blind to see them. Or, if I was being honest with myself, I had refused to see them.

I had pretended I didn't notice how she locked herself inside of our bedroom every time we invited people from other tribes to La Push, hoping the two last unmated wolves would find their other halves.

No longer only seeing what I wanted to see I was forced to ask myself; could I let her go?


A/N: As a personal challenge to myself I tried writing from Yuck's pov, turning him into a nicer person that I think he is. Hope I did ok.

This WILL be fleshed out and lengthen. Not sure when, but as soon as I can