Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.
Chapter Nine
Jacob's POV
I stood outside of their house, uncertain whether or not it was actually a good idea to go inside. I could hear Bella in the kitchen, no doubt preparing dinner, and it sounded like Paul was out back working on the deck. Neither one showed any indication of knowing I stood on their front porch, fist raised to knock against the door.
That's why it surprised me when the door suddenly opened and Bella invited me inside.
"Were you planning on standing outside all day or were you actually going to knock?" Bella asked as she shut the door behind me.
"I hadn't decided," I told her, uncomfortable at being alone with her, knowing how much pain I'd caused.
"Honestly, Jake, it's not like I bite. Paul, though, he might," Bella teased as she led me into the kitchen.
The room was filled with the aroma of garlic bread and lemon butter sauce. Pasta bubbled on the stove while chicken baked in the oven. Warmth infused the small room, relaxing me and my wolf as Bella urged me to have a seat.
"So, to what do we owe the visit?" Bella asked, turning back to her cooking.
My nerves came back and I had to fight against the swarm of hummingbirds that had decided to take up residence in my stomach. I began to wring my hands together, slightly embarrassed at how sweaty they were.
Before the whole thing with the Cullens happened, I never would have had this much trouble talking to Bella. We were best friends and nothing was taboo in our relationship, but I had screwed that up big time by being such an ass to her. The fact that she acted as if nothing had happened was a testament to her unwavering ability to forgive.
Still, the guilt continued to plague me and I knew I had to do something to make up for the awful way I'd treated her.
"Here," I said, sliding a piece of paper across the table to her.
She turned from the stove, frowning at the ten digit number listed.
"What is this?" Bella asked, looking up to meet my gaze.
"It's Rachel's phone number in Pullman. That's where she's been," I told her, wincing internally at the pain that flashed across her face at my sister's name.
"Oh," Bella whispered.
I watched her cautiously as she fumbled for the chair in front of her, sinking into the seat unsteadily. The hammering outside came to an abrupt stop and Paul came running through the back door seconds later.
"Bella!" Paul called, kneeling in front of her worriedly.
"I'm alright," Bella reassured him.
"Just breathe, Swan. Nice and easy," Paul soothed, stroking her hair.
Uncomfortable as I was in the situation, I knew I needed to stay until Bella had calmed down. Paul, no doubt, would have questions and insults to throw my way soon enough and I was going to stand my ground, deserving of every one.
I watched as Bella silently handed Paul the slip of paper with Rachel's phone number on it, surprised when he seemed to instantly know what it was. His hands began to tremble and the paper crumbled in his hands. Despite his obvious anger, he was gentle as he nuzzled Bella, gently soothing her until she was once again calm. Only then did he turn his attention to me.
"Where is she?" Paul asked.
"Pullman. She went back there to live with some of her old classmates," I told him, willing to tell him everything and anything he needed to know to make things right.
Paul nodded, his eyes glazed as he began to think over what he was going to do.
I wasn't sure how he was going to break the imprint, but I was pulling for him. Imprinting on someone was difficult enough, but when your wolf hated your imprint, it was pure torture. I had wanted to tear my body apart when I imprinted on Bella. Paul had been living with his imprint for much longer, while having a mate and pup to take care of. His struggles were, by far, much worse than I could have even imagined.
Paul turned to look at Bella, their eyes meeting and holding for several seconds as they seemed to have a silent conversation.
"You have to go," Bella whispered, breaking the tense silence.
"I don't want to leave you alone," Paul argued, his voice just as soft as hers.
"I won't be alone. I'll stay with Sam and Emily until you get back," Bella said, her hand reaching up to stroke his cheek fondly.
"I don't know how long it'll take. I could be gone a while. I don't want to be separated from you while you carry our pup," Paul insisted, leaning his forehead against hers.
The moment felt too intimate for me to witness, but I didn't want to draw more attention to myself by leaving. Instead, I simply looked anywhere but at the two of them, though nothing could block out their conversation.
"I need you to do this, Paul. For the three of us. Do you honestly still want to be attached to her when our baby comes? Do you want our baby to know that you aren't completely ours because she still holds a part of you?" Bella pressed, sounding almost desperate.
The whimper of the wolf coming from Paul's throat hit something deep within my own wolf. I fought the sudden urge to throw my head back and let loose a howl of despair.
"Alright. But you'll stay with Sam and Emily, in their guest bedroom. And I'll call you every day. And if anything, anything, happens or goes wrong, I'm coming home. No arguments," Paul compromised.
"Deal," Bella smiled, moving to press her lips against his.
Paul turned to me, then, his face thunderous as I hesitantly met his gaze.
"You'll keep an eye on her for me. Sam and Emily will protect her well enough, but you know how important she is to me and will fight that much harder to keep her safe," Paul said.
My wince this time was visible and I cursed the pack mind. Even while my wolf hated Bella, my human side had loved her. The conflicting emotions had made being around her extremely difficult, more so than Paul would have around Rachel. The entire pack knew I had loved Bella from an early age and that my love for her had no diminished an iota as time went by.
It was why Paul could trust me with Bella's protection, because, just like him, I would do anything to keep her safe.
Okay, I know, I know. It's super-duper short and I'm sorry for that, but I kinda liked Jake having a chapter all to himself.
Has he redeemed himself to you guys? He really is trying. And he's helped Paul find Rachel! That's gotta count for something, right?
So, next chapter will be up by Wednesday (hopefully). I might be making a trip tonight or tomorrow night, otherwise I would say tomorrow. In any case, it'll be soon!
See you guys then!
