Rule Nine: Once the imprint is known by both parties, it becomes vital to learn to live with it. Living with the imprint becomes exceptionally harder if it is not accepted for what it is. The pull that is felt is not something that is easily ignored or fought against. This is why most couples become romantically involved. Some would argue that it's destiny or fate that pushes these people together. Regardless, imprinting on someone or being the someone who was imprinted upon is not an easy thing to live with.

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It was well past midnight and Jacob was exceedingly glad it was summer, though his shaggy coat and the humid air sometimes made him uncomfortable. But, summer meant he could sleep in tomorrow without having to worry about being late to school. He needed the extra sleep too. Because, he damn sure didn't get any after Edward had left earlier that evening.

The wolf was in the forest that surrounded Bella's home and just as he had suspected, Edward hadn't stayed over. Instead it was Alice; the presence of the female vampire seemed to put Bella in a better mood. He might actually stand a chance at visiting his best friend without the door being slammed in his face.

Ew...I think I smell your leech coming...

Jacob's paws dug into the ground as he lifted his head and sniffed the air, catching the sweet scent of Edward Cullen on the wind. All the while damning his alpha for making him do this patrol with Leah, of all people.

"She really is a nasty tempered girl, isn't she?" Edward asked, leaning against the tree just behind Jacob. The shifter yelped loudly and spun around, growling lowly in the back of his throat as the trotted over to the snickering vampire.

Don't do that! Jacob hissed, knowing the vampire could pick up on his thoughts easily as he snapped at the Cullen, You can't just sneak up on people like that!

"People?" Edward replied, tilting his head to the side as he watched the wolf sit back on his hind legs, "I was under the impression that I was sneaking up on a dog."

Again, Jacob growled, his eyes narrowing at the vampire, Watch it, Cullen. he warned yet again, before stretching out, laying his massive head on his paws, So, what are you doing out this way? he asked, only having to guess that Bella was just as upset with Edward over the imprint as she had been with him.

"Good guess." Edward replied morosely, his voice so soft a normal human wouldn't have been able to hear it. But, Jacob wasn't exactly a normal human, now was he? The vampire's golden eyes met his own, "I was on my way to see Bella."

Jacob tried to pretend that it didn't hurt to hear that. But, he knew the vampire could read his thoughts, so there was no use in hiding the painful and possessive thoughts that flashed through his mind at the simple statement.

"And, why don't you smell like her?" Edward asked, changing the subject quickly as he nodded in the direction that Leah was stationed in for the night.

At once, a thousand biting remarks filled the shifter's mind, causing the vampire to chuckle and the female shifter to curse at him. Why don't I stink like her...? Jacob repeated, appearing to think for a moment as even more cruel remarks filled his mind along with Leah's nasty retorts. Probably the imprint. he answered easily, now ignoring Leah as he turned his full attention to the vampire he had imprinted on.

He scooted closer to the vampire before he stood, towering over the vampire just as he did when he was human, You smell differently too. Jacob said, leaning down to Edward's bronze, untidy hair before he took a whiff. He was quiet as he allowed the intoxicating scent to wash over him, overwhelming any other scent in the area.

He only snapped out of his haze when Edward moved away, being uncommonly noisy about it as the vampire turned to face him again, only standing behind him. "What are you doing out here?" the vampire asked, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyebrow cocked in question.

Jacob spun around and didn't answer right away. He just watched the vampire, panting as his tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth, Running my patrol. he replied simply. His heartbeat accelerating as he watched the vampire's eyes narrow dangerously.

"Is it just me, or don't you recall me asking you to stay out of it?" Edward asked, his tone deceptively calm as he stepped closer to the huge wolf in front of him, "Obviously you didn't listen. Now I'm ordering you to stay out of it."

For a moment it was like his heart stopped as his body shook in anger at the words that had just tumbled out of the elder's mouth, You're...what? he growled, both in his thoughts and out loud.

"You heard me." Edward replied, his voice smug and calm. "Don't look at me like that. You left me with no choice. If you won't listen to my warning, well, you'll have to listen to my order. Too bad I can't do that with Bella...it'd make things so much easier."

In his anger, Jacob clearly wasn't thinking when he shifted back into his human form. He was so upset and distracted that he had forgotten that when he returned to his human form he was nude. "You have no right to do that, Cullen!" He growled at the elder vampire, the sound taking on an animalistic quality.

xxx

Edward would've blushed if he had still been alive as he looked away from the sight of a very naked, very agitated Jacob Black, "That right became my own when you imprinted on me." he pointed out softly as he resisted the urge to look back at the human teenager. "Don't you have clothes or something...?" The vampire asked, his voice slightly strangled as he gave into his urge and glanced back at the younger teen.

He watched as the younger's cheeks flushed and Edward told himself (insisted, really) that there was nothing desirable about a naked, flushed Jacob Black. Somewhere in between his convincing and denial, the shifter had disappeared into the surrounding foliage. His muttered growls and whispered hisses reaching Edward's ear.

The elder couldn't stop the smirk from forming as he listened to the shifter curse his very existence aloud and drown in embarrassment in his thoughts. It wasn't long before Jacob stomped back out of the concealing bushes, his eyes still narrowed and his face still blissfully flushed, "You can order me to do what ever the hell you want, but that doesn't mean that my pack will stop their patrols."

"Then, you'll be glad to know that that's already being taken care of." Edward replied with a soft snort, his smirk still firmly in place, though it was for a different reason now. He was a step ahead of the young shifter, "Carlisle's going to be meeting with your Elders about it."

Jacob had opened his mouth to reply, but Edward was too quick. He continued as though he hadn't stopped at all, "You should phase back." the vampire said thoughtfully, "I think I like your wolf better. It's amusing to listen to all of your whimpering, snarling, and growling when you don't get your way. It reminds me of a puppy."

Edward was barely able to hold back the snicker as he watched the younger flush even deeper than he had been just moments before, "I hope you die." he ground out through gritted teeth, his hands clutched at his sides and once again, Edward had to remind himself that there was nothing attractive about an upset (well, pissed off, if you wanted to get technical) Jacob Black.

"No you don't." the vampire replied softly, touching his own temple to remind the other that he could read his thoughts. He watched in fascination as Jacob blanched and the elder knew that his thoughts were the polar opposite of what he said out loud. The thoughts, though he had heard variations of them from others, made his insides coil in a way that never happened with Bella.

Oh yes, he loved Bella. Deeply. Passionately.

But...there was just something about Jacob Black. Something Edward wasn't quite ready to admit to. If ever at all.

"W-whatever!" The shifter sputtered, his cheeks still red as he glared at Edward, "Just don't be surprised when you don't get what you want." Jacob snapped.

Edward chuckled softly at that, albeit the sound had a nervous edge to it, "I'm sure I'll handle it better than you." he replied, catching the brief and flitting thought of his sister wondering what was taking him so long, "Now, I think you should go home so I can relieve my sister."

He was met with one last glare (and look at that deliciously flushed face) before Jacob turned on his heel and disappeared back into the dark foliage to phase. The wolf, huge in size, was gone in mere minutes, heading back to La Push under Edward's orders.

Alice leaned against the windowsill as she gazed out across the Swan's front yard. Her enhanced eyesight allowing her to see much further and more clearly than any living human being could ever dream. She watched quietly, a hint of a smile on her lips, as a russet wolf turned from her brother and disappeared into the underbrush. Straightening up, she heaved a soft sigh as she moved away from the window, her brother seconds away from entering.

"Have a nice conversation with Jacob?" Her voice was sweet and carefully stripped of any teasing tone as she looked over her shoulder at her favorite sibling. She turned away again at the glare she received as answer, "I'll take that as a no?"

She was quiet as Edward passed her, heading towards Bella's bed. Once he was there, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the sleeping girl's forehead. "Did you know that the wolf pack was patrolling around Bella's house?" He asked, standing back up to turn and look back at her.

Alice blinked, tilting her head to the side, "Of course." she replied before glancing out of the window again, "For several nights now Jacob and Leah have had the place surrounded." It was quite bothersome. Because, every time she was near a shape shifter her Sight went dark. It was most disheartening.

"Why haven't you said anything to them?" Edward asked, his voice soft in the darkened room so they would not wake Bella. "Victoria is our problem." he said, his voice insistent as his eyes narrowed into a glare.

The pixie-like vampire simply shrugged, "The company's nice to have. Even though we don't talk." Alice replied before a smile touched her lips, "Why aren't you more accepting of the situation, Edward? Is it because it puts Jacob in danger?"

She struggled with her laughter when she heard the other vampire snort, "It's because they put Bella in danger by being here." he retorted sharply, as though the notion of him caring for the

shifter's well being was impossible.

"How's that?" Alice questioned, frowning in thought as she watched her brother scramble for an answer. She tried not to laugh and she was careful to keep her thoughts clear. She knew there was an attraction between Edward and Jacob. Even if her brother didn't care to admit it. Why else would he stop to see the wolf before checking on his girlfriend.

"When they're around you can't See, can you?" Edward pointed out, grinning supremely, "Therefore, you wouldn't be able to see a possible attack."

Once again, Alice heaved a great sigh, "Why can't you just admit that you were worried about Jacob?" She asked, shaking her head slowly as she turned and headed towards the window, "I don't care what you say or think. I know what my vision (or there lack of) meant." she said. Her voice was soft and sweet as she leaned against the windowsill again, enjoying the gentle night breeze, "Jacob Black will become more than a friend. I can promise you that."

"Bella is my life, Alice, you know that." Edward sighed heavily, looking away from his sister and back towards the bed and the sleeping girl that laid within it.

The other vampire hummed her disagreement as she climbed on to the sill, hanging half out of the window and half inside of the bedroom, "I think...that in time you'll find that notion will change." she replied softly, her lips curved in a sweet smile as she looked over her shoulder at her brother.

Edward's eyes narrowed and Alice knew she had finally used up what little patience he had left for the subject at hand, "It won't!" He insisted. Stubborn and so sure. "Even if I did find guys attractive, I certainly wouldn't choose Jacob." He snorted softly, a harsh little grin on his face, "I'd do everything within my power to steal Jasper from you."

Alice couldn't stop the soft, tinkling laugh that left her lips, "You could try." she replied, "But, I think Jacob would be most upset." She jumped from the window, but not before bidding her brother a good night.

xxx

"As if he isn't already." Edward snorted to himself, just knowing the shape shifter was beyond pissed off at this point. But, he really couldn't help that. If Jacob had just listened to him in the beginning and respected his wishes, the younger wouldn't be half as upset as he was now.

He heard his sister's musical laughter on the wind, followed by her thoughts pressing into his mind, insisting that he'd soon find himself with a very different mate. Twitching, the vampire made his way to the window and stuck his head out of it, "I. Will. Not!" he hissed into the night sky, sure that his sister had heard him.

"Huh, what?"

The vampire blinked, straightening up and looking over his shoulder to see his girlfriend stirring. He mentally berated himself for waking her as he crossed her bedroom back to her bedside, "Sorry if I woke you." Edward's voice was soft in the bedroom as he leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead again.

"S'okay." the girl answered, her voice still laced with the sleep she had been awakened from. As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she turned on to her side so she could look up at the vampire, "You sound upset. How come?"

"It's...nothing." he replied quickly and softly, shaking his head slowly, "Don't worry about it." Already he felt guilty for keeping it from her, but he just couldn't stand another argument with the girl.

But, the ever observant Bella was not convinced, "You sure?" She prodded, pushing herself up on her elbow. "Alice didn't say something about you and Jacob again, did she?" Her eyes narrowed and her face bloomed into a look of hurt, "She promised she wouldn't."

"To you, she might've promised." Edward pointed out with a soft sigh, knowing he'd never escape his sister's teasing tongue. "But, I said not to worry about it. Really, Bella, it's not a big deal. I'm used to her teasing."

"But, she shouldn't tease about that!" The teenage girl insisted as she laid back down, a frown etched deeply onto her skin that seemed to mar the beauty that Edward found so appealing. Though, somewhere in the back of his mind, a quiet voice reminded him that Jacob Black possessed a different kind of beauty. The image of the angry shifter flashed before his eyes and he felt the same heat rush down his spine, "It's almost like she doesn't want us to be together anymore!"

Luckily, Bella's statement snapped him from his inner thoughts. He gazed at his girlfriend, sighing softly as he pushed the compiled images of Jacob out of his mind, "She does, Bella." Edward replied, hoping his tone was soothing as he rubbed her arm and not betraying the momentary desire he felt at that moment for someone other than her.

The thought within itself was terrifying: his desiring of someone other than his beautiful Bella. He did not linger on the thought anymore, "She just likes to tease me, that's all." Edward said reassuringly.

But, all the reassurance didn't seem to work, "She seemed really serious when she said it to me." Bella replied with a pout, sighing heavily.

"I've had quite a long time to get used to her and her odd ways." Edward said as he brushed his fingers over her lips, "In time you'll see that it's nothing more than teasing. It's what siblings do. Alice isn't the only one."

She turned away from his touch, a frown still touching her features, "I dunno, Edward." Bella's voice was soft and tinged with the pain she felt, "She seemed awfully insistent."

Edward frowned. Deeply. And, then he pulled away from her, sitting up straight on the edge of her bed, "I could say the same about you." he replied, his voice not betraying the hurt he felt over Bella's lack of trust. "No matter what I say...you're awfully insistent that I'm going to leave. I'm not. I love you, Bella."

"And, I love you too!" Bella cried as she sat up. "But, if you're not going to leave me, why is everyone acting like you are? Why would the pack lift the treaty for you? A-and...why would you go and see Jake without telling me?"

"Because, Bella, I needed to tell him how much I love you and that you're my life. He needed to know that that wasn't going to change just because he imprinted on me." Edward told her, irritation making its presence known in his voice. Whoever told Bella about the treaty and him visiting Jacob, he was going to kill them. Or at least maim them. "They only lifted the treaty for me, because like it or not, Bella...Jacob's going to be a part of our life. As a friend."

Still, Bella was unconvinced, "Jacob isn't looking for friendship," she said, her voice flat, the smallest trace of accusation resting within her tone, "I can see the why he looks at you!" She sighed heavily, looking away from the vampire. "I've seen people that have imprinted. It's a powerful thing." She didn't think Edward could fight it, not when others had fallen victim to it.

"Will you stop thinking about just Jacob!" Edward snapped as his patience with the girl and her distrust of him wore thin, "The only thing that should matter to you is how I look at you."

"You don't have to get snappy about it!" Bella shot back, forgetting for a moment that Charlie was sleeping a little ways down the hall, "It's well within my right to worry." For all she knew...Jacob might try something and, because of the imprint, Edward might let him. Hell, he could even welcome it.

"No, what you're saying is that you don't trust me." Edward said, his voice betraying his hurt. But, he didn't care at the moment. He was crushed to learn that Bella thought so little of him. "That's just..." He paused, raising from the bed before crossing the room to sit in the rocking chair, "What, it was okay when he was busy drooling over you and I needed to deal with it? But, now that it's me he's drooling over...life isn't fair anymore?"

"Jacob didn't imprint on me!" Bella pointed out through clenched teeth, glaring at her boyfriend from across the room.

Edward was quiet for a long moment before he answered, "But you wanted him too, didn't you?" His voice was soft and deceptively calm as he gazed at the wall behind her, unable to look her in the face, "Is that what this is really about? You wanted your cake and you wanted to eat it too? Two men...both devoted to you..."

Bella's eyes widened drastically. "He's my friend! My best friend! That all he ever was and that's all he'll obviously ever be!"

Edward was up and out of the chair, moving towards the bedroom window, "No matter how jealous I might have been of Jacob, I never kept throwing it in your face. I kept it to myself." Was it so wrong to expect the same respect? Without waiting for Bella to answer, he stuck his head out of the window, calling for the other shifter that was still on patrol.

"What in the hell does Leah have to do with this?" Bella asked, obviously confused as a howl broke the silence of the night air.

"She'll watch over you tonight." Edward answered, not glancing back at the girl as he climbed onto the windowsill, "I can't be here right now." He needed to go break something. Work some of this anger and betrayal out of his system before he could be around his love again.

"Fine!" Bella replied, laying back in her bed before turning away from Edward as the vampire jumped out of her window and headed off into the night.

This chapter is dedicated to the newest member of my family. My niece, Alexis Suzanne. She was born on Friday.