A/N: Finally it is here, an update! I just want to thank everyone for sticking with me, as some of you know some hard stuff has been going on my RL but I am back now! Hopefully you all like this one :)
Chapter 9
A warm breath fanning across his chest woke Jake the next morning. Slowly he opened his eyes, squinting as ray of sunlight caused bright splotches in his vision. Jake moved his hand and smiled when it became tangled in a mess of dark brown hair. "Dakota, baby wake up," he smiled rubbing the top of her head playfully. He felt her smile into his skin and then slowly she pulled herself on top of his body. Smiling when she rubbed her forehead into his chest. His brows pinched together when her body froze and her heart began slamming in her chest.
Reaching though a veil of hair, Jake cupped her cheeks and slowly tilted her head toward him, "Dako-" his voice cut off and his eyes went wide "Bella." His body began to shake and tremble as Bella stared back at him nearly as shocked as he was.
"Jake," his name flowed from her mouth. Instantly he felt relief flood through him. Bella had stayed without him asking her to. When she shifted and then froze disgust and anger poured through him, his body was betraying him. The warm soft weight of her body tempting his to react in a way that it shouldn't. This was NOT his imprint, this shouldn't be happening.
Sitting up quickly, he practically threw Bella off of him before jumping up and stumbling to the other side of the room. Standing with his back facing her, Jake tried to rein in his emotions, get control of his body. Bella's scent thick and heavy in the air blocked out Dakota's scent entirely. Turning around, Jake stared at her, his emotions at war, wanting to lash out at her but knowing that it wasn't her fault. He was the one who had brought her here, with good reason, and he was the one that came to her in the middle of the night.
Shrinking back at his gaze, Bella's hand instantly went to the knot in the towel she was wearing. Jake's eyes followed the movement and then widened once again. His fists clenched as his eyes lingered on her tiny balled fist, the towel securely wrapped in it. His body began to burn and his breath came out in short pants when his eyes slowly slid over the naked expanse of her collarbone. Before Bella could say a word he lunged toward the tiny window at her side, panicked and wild looking. Without a thought, she latched onto the only thing that she could as Jake made his way by her. Three of her slender fingers were wrapped into one of the belt loops of his cutoff jeans. When Jake swung his head around and growled at her, Bella gasped but her grip on the belt loop tightened, "Please don't go Jake, I'm sorry."
Eyes forming into angry slits, Jake glared at her. He could see the tears already starting to form in the corners of her tired eyes, her lip planted firmly between her teeth. The wolf wanted nothing more than to stay with Bella, wrap himself around her, comfort and protect her. The other side of him, the man, felt disgusted, he had slept in their bed with Bella half-naked and wrapped around him, and worst of all he actually thought it was Dakota. Shaking his head at her, he mashed his teeth together so he wouldn't say anything he would regret and, gently as he could, began to unwrap her fingers from the belt loop. He couldn't help but flinch when she tried to latch onto his hand. Shaking her off, Jake jumped out the window and ran for the woods.
~TS~
Bella let herself fall back against the wall with a thud. How had that happened, she thought looking down at the bed. She remembered Jake coming into the room last night, waking her as he sobbed into her neck. She had been half sitting up cradling his head when he finally drifted off to sleep. She stayed like that, holding him as his heavy body sagged and pressed her into the mattress. When Jake's breath evened out she remembered letting her arm rest on his back, but that was it. She was sitting up and, for the most part, so was he. At sometime during the night he must have gotten uncomfortable and switched their positions. More than thankful that the towel hadn't come undone, Bella was embarrassed by the way she had reacted this morning. What was I thinking, rubbing up against him like that?
That was the problem, she hadn't been thinking. She should have known the body that she was curled up against wasn't Edward's. For the first time in years she wasn't freezing as she slept. For the first time in years she had actually slept, no dreams or late-night wakening. Naively, she disregarded the warmth as she rolled onto his warm chest. I should have known, Bella thought smacking the palm of her hand into her forehead. She thought of the smell that worked its way into her senses, earth and pine leaves. The truth finally registered when the tip of her nose began to warm, she knew that it wasn't Edward. When she looked into his eyes, she saw the disgust and anger there before he pushed her body off of his own. Jake thought she was Dakota, how could he not? Slamming her head into the wall, Bella closed her eyes and hoped that Jake wasn't out there hurting because of her.
~TS~
Barely making it into the woods before phasing, Jake felt confused when his wolf didn't take off running. Turning, he could still see the little red house clearly; still hear Bella's heartbeat as she stayed in his bedroom. Rachel and Billy were in the kitchen talking in low whispers as bacon sizzled in a frying pan in the background. A pinecone crunching to his left caught his attention; Embry's wolf slowly came to stand beside him, his body lowering to the ground as he did so.
~TS~
Trying to gauge weather or not Jake was angry enough to attack, Embry moved forward slowly, his friend's mind was still blank, but he could feel the range of emotions that was radiating off Jake in strong waves. Lowering his head, Jake snorted at Embry before turning and making his way farther into the woods. They made it halfway to the graveyard when Embry stopped, watching as Jake continued to walk on. Phasing quickly and pulling on his shorts Embry ran in front of Jake blocking his path, "We just want to know that you are alright Jake."
Embry took Jake's tail flicking back and forth as a response.
"Are you sure?" Embry looked around uncomfortable before his eyes met Jake's again.
"Me and Quil we uh, - Sam had us on patrol and we heard you-" Jake growled taking a step toward Embry. Feeling the threat, Embry felt the slow burn begin as his wolf fought to break out. Fighting it back, Embry took a step forward showing Jake he wasn't going to back down.
"Everyone is worried about you, man and Bella's she's-" another low growl cut Embry off, his lip lifted bearing his teeth as a warning. Jake's ears flattened to his head as he took another step toward his pack brother.
"I'm not doing this with you Jake," his voice came out more strong and sure than Jake had ever heard it.
"I'm supposed to be watching Bella, not out here fighting with you, I just wanted to make sure you were ok after this morning." With that, Embry took a step back eyes still locked on Jake and phased. Shaking his fur out, he let out a grunt, don't do anything dude. Turning around quickly, Embry ran back in the direction of the little red house.
He had almost reached the back edge of Billy's property line when he heard a car skidding around on the gravel road and then just as quickly accelerating. Edward quickly flashed into his mind, him promising each and every one of them that he would get Bella back,. Had he really broken the treaty and come onto the reservation? Raising his snout to the air, Embry howled alerting the pack, flattening his ears to his head; Embry pushed himself faster toward the house. Instantly he could feel his brothers phase and questions start flying, Embry was about to break out of the woods to head off the leach when Sam ordered him to stop.
Skidding to a halt, Embry wanted to move, his wolf itching to protect the innocent inside the house, They're ok Embry its just Charlie, Jared's voice cut through.
Yeah dude, did you actually think the leech would get past all of us? Seth asked incredulously.
Just as Embry was about to answer, Jake came barreling toward him, snarling, his eyes trained solely on the house. Darting into his path, Embry tensed his body waiting for the blow. It came hard and fast. Jake was knocked back. Shooting up, Jake's wolf made another attempt to get through when Quil flew through the air and landed on his back.
The rest of the pack made their way toward the three brawling wolves. They could hear Charlie coming down the road as they ran. They had to stop Jake, at the very least slow him down and find a way to convince him that Bella wasn't in danger. The question was how, only Jake was able to open his mind to them and Embry knew by the lack of thoughts Jake wasn't willing to do that just yet.
They were all screaming at him through the mind link telling him that Bella was ok that nothing was going to happen to her. Jake couldn't hear any of it. Embry's alert still ringing through his mind, he knew that something was going on with Bella; Embry had just told him that he was supposed to be watching her. The thought angered Jake and he snapped down onto Embry's front leg. He should have been watching her not following him, Jake thought as he let his teeth mash down onto Embry's leg again.
Yelping, Embry tried to fight his way around to snap back at Jake, the movement creating a hole big enough for Jake to wiggle out from under the two. He had just made it out of the tree line when a car slammed on the brakes skidding to a halt sideways in the driveway.
~TS~
"Isabella Marie Swan, get yourself out of that house right now young lady," Charlie's voice boomed out of a bullhorn making them all cringe. From inside the house they could hear Bella yelp. Then her panic as she shuffled around the room. When they heard a thud and then a cry of pain, the pack minus Jake quickly phased back and began moving toward the front of the house.
Charlie was standing, his arms slung over the driver's side door of the cruiser, the lights flashing. The bullhorn had just gone back to his lips when he spied Paul. They all watched as Charlie's eyes turned into slits and he slammed the door. Squaring his shoulders, Charlie briskly marched toward Paul, his eyes watching his every move.
"What's this I hear about you kidnapping my little girl and bringing her back here against her will, Lahote?" Charlie questioned, standing practically nose to nose with Paul.
"I don't know what you are talking about Chief," Paul replied smugly.
"Oh I'm not so sure of that son, see, when my daughter's fiancé comes into my station at five thirty in the morning looking a little worse for wear and tells me that he has PROOF that you did, I am pretty inclined to believe him."
A low grumble rose from behind Paul, Charlie's brow instantly quirking in question had the pack quieting down immediately.
"So you're telling me, if I go in that house my daughter isn't going to be in there?"
Looking over his shoulder, Paul didn't really want to lie to Charlie. Thankful that he couldn't see Jake's wolf, he hoped that he was getting her out of there, "She's not in that house, Chief."
Grunting, Charlie shifted on his heel and moved toward the house, having taken only three steps he stopped as he pointed at the pack, "You'd all better just stay right there until I get back." The pack, some innocent, some angry, nodded their heads at Charlie's order.
~TS~
Knocking on the door once, Charlie didn't wait for anyone to answer before he made his way into the living room. As he began walking toward the back of the house, Billy quickly moved into his path. "Charlie haven't seen you around here much, can I help you?"
Looking down at Billy, Charlie pursed his lips and squinted at his old friend, "I know she's here Billy."
"I'm not really sure I know what you are talking about, Charlie," Billy said as he eyed the game playing on the TV.
Slamming his hands down onto his hips, Charlie cocked his head to the side eyeing Billy; he knew his friend was lying. Billy Black had never been good at outright lying. Opening his mouth to speak, Charlie was cut off by the sound of glass crashing to the ground followed by a muffled squeak.
"Don't know what I'm talking about, do you?" Charlie spat as he made his way around the chair. It was habit that his hand was on the butt of his gun when he flung open Billy's and then Rachel's bedroom door. By the time he got back to Jake's room the pulse was thundering and his face was on fire.
"You stop right there young lady, Jacob Black get your hands off my daughter," he said before the door was able to slam back into the wall.
~TS~
Jake was helping Bella escape out the window when the door burst open. His grip on her waist tightened to an almost painful level before Charlie ordered him to get his hands off of her. Slowly, Jake pushed her body back into the house and stood watching the two of them, his arms crossed but itching to reach in and snatch her away.
~TS~
Looking down at his little girl, Charlie wanted nothing more than to laugh. Bella was wearing a pair of what he assumed were Jake's jean shorts. Even with her hand holding them up they were still falling off her waist. Her hair was frizzy and matted to the side of her head, her cheeks were flushed. The icing on the cake though, Bella was wearing a well worn t-shirt covered with a big smiley face donning the words, Don't Worry Be Happy. Charlie fought back the smile as he looked at his daughter's wide and scared eyes. Jake was still standing at the window watching. Squaring his shoulders, Charlie shot Jake a look over Bella's now shaking body. "Jacob, meet me out front."
Then his eyes shifted back to her, Bella thought she might burn up under the heat of his gaze. "What is going on here young lady?"
"I, Dad-" Bella began before Charlie cut her off with a wave of his hand.
"Not here young lady, lets go," motioning for her toward the door Charlie grunted when she didn't move fast enough for his liking.
Billy watched as Bella walked in front of Charlie her head hung low. Charlie didn't even bother to look at him. His heart broke wondering how much trouble she might be in with Charlie, and because he knew if she left Jake was going to go back to a place he wasn't sure his son could get himself out of.
~TS~
Walking out of the house, Bella's eyes landed on Sam before they shifted to the ground. The entire pack was standing behind him watching as Charlie guided her off of the porch. His hand was on her shoulder as he led her to the car. Opening the back passenger door he waited for Bella to get inside. As he slammed the door, Bella winced as the car rocked from the force. As he made his way around to the driver's side, Sam and Jacob walked toward him. Looking at Jake, Charlie shook his head and continued on.
"Paul didn't kidnap her Charlie, I did." There was a growl from behind Jake and Charlie's head shot up. His eyes were scanning Jake's face looking for the truth.
"What exactly was the point in bringing her here, Jacob? You seemed to be happy with Dakota." Charlie felt bad watching Jake's face fall and his body sag at even hearing the girl's name.
"I know you loved her when you were a kid, but this is, this is just crazy Jacob. I don't know what's going on but all I see is her getting hurt and I don't like it."
With one last look toward the entire pack, Charlie squared his shoulders once more, "I want all of you to stay away from my daughter, and Mr. Lahote I don't doubt for a second Edward's story, and when I get home Bella and I are going to be getting to the bottom of this. You may just be hearing from me later."
Crossing his arms tightly over his chest, Paul gave Charlie a curt nod.
As Charlie got into the cruiser he chanced a look in the rear view. Bella was all ready trying to hide her sobs from the back seat. With a loud exhale, Charlie put the car in gear and made a u-turn in the driveway. Charlie met the sad eyes of his friend as he turned the car around, he couldn't help when a twinge of pain shot through him.
~TS~
Bella's head was resting against the cool glass, smacking it with each bump in the road. She wouldn't take her eyes off the forest, partly because she wanted to catch sight of a wolf, and partly because she was so angry at both Charlie and Edward that she was afraid one word my trigger her anger. As she watched the trees whiz by, movement in the woods caught her attention. Sitting up, Bella pressed her face into the glass and squinted trying to catch a clear view of the wolf that she had been hoping to see. She continued to watch the forest until the wolf ran out of the cover and skirted along the tree line. Realizing that it was Jake, Bella's eyes went wide and her palms flattened out against the glass. She watched in awe as the wolf would stretch and spring pushing himself to keep speed with the car. The woods started to thin out as Bella watched. Veering right, the wolf slipped further into the tree line. It clicked then and Bella realized that they were getting close to the treaty line, her eyes focusing on the woods hoping that the wolf wouldn't still be keeping pace with the car. He wouldn't would he? Bella's eyes shot forward, she could see the back of the welcome to La Push sign. Immediately her eyes were back on the wolf, his ears now flat to his head as he ran. When his eyes locked onto hers, Bella's hand slammed into the window and she screamed out his name.
She was still beating on the glass and yelling Jake's name when a huge black animal jumped in front of the cruiser. Charlie slammed on the breaks narrowly avoiding the animal; Bella was thrown across the seat and onto the floor as the car came to a rest at the side of the road.
"What has gotten into you Bella?" Charlie thundered when she clawed her way up from the floor and made her way back to the passenger side of the car.
"Jake, please, Dad let me out of the car, he needs me." Bella wouldn't look at Charlie, her eyes frantically begging with Jake to step away from the line, he was so close. She could see his chest heaving as he paced in an agitated circle, inching closer with each lap.
"I'm not letting you out of this car, young lady," Charlie yelled again before turning back around. Slamming the car into park he slowly began to open the door when a huge wolf walked toward the car. Yelling out in shock, Charlie jerked the door closed and flipped the locks.
Jumping at the sound of her father's scream, Bella gasped when she saw Sam standing in front of the car, teeth bared. He was standing at his full height, daring for either of them to make a move. Charlie slammed the car in reverse and floored it, flying forward, Bella hit her head on the glass and yelped. They didn't get far before Charlie was slamming on the brake again causing her to fly into the back of the seat, a silver wolf blocking the road behind them. He looked at her his eyes wide and panicked, "Bella get down right now!"
Shaking her head as a tear slipped down her cheek she placed her hand on the window carefully, "Just let me out please. It'll be better if you just let me out of the car."
He shook his head at her in disbelief. Is she insane? "Bella, there are two wolves out there, larger than I have ever seen, there is no way in hell I am letting you out of this car.
"Charlie," Bella's firm and now angry voice caught him off guard, "just let me out of the car." She yelled this time smacking the protective glass between them. He flinched, and opened his mouth to yell back at her when the back door was pulled from its hinges, a hand easing its way into the car. Bella looked at Charlie before taking the hand and stepping out.
Charlie watched in horror as his daughter exited the car, the spot where she had just been sitting was quickly replaced with none other than Paul Lahote, "Sorry about the door, Chief. We'll fix it," shooting Charlie a grin Paul got out of the car stood blocking the door.
Anger pumped through Charlie's veins like he had never felt before. There was a rage burning inside of him and he didn't know how he was going to get away with it, but he had every intention of at least shooting Paul Lahote. Charlie kicked the cruiser door open while drawing his gun. The black wolf was gone but in the woods and surrounding the car stood, Sam Uley, Jared Cameron, Embry Call, Leah and even Seth Clearwater.
They watched as Charlie plastered himself up against the car pointing his gun at each and every one of them. A simple nod from Sam and the group parted making their way around the car. Charlie followed their movements, finally able to spot Bella. The fact that she was sitting on the ground threw him and he ran around the front of the car, the men and Leah stood still watching.
Fighting his way through the brush, Charlie could hear sobbing and he wondered if she was hurt.
When he got close enough he could see that Bella wasn't sobbing, it was Jake. His eyes took in the scene more clearly knowing his daughter wasn't hurt and that's when he saw Jake wrapped around Bella, his arms tight around her chest, as she straddled him. Jake's body was shaking and Bella was soothingly running her hands through his hair. He got closer and Jake's eyes snapped to his the same time Bella stilled and told Jake that it was ok, that Charlie wasn't going to take her away.
"Jacob," Charlie called his name clearly confused.
Bella flung her hand out behind her shooing Charlie away. Jacob's arms tightened even further around Bella's body as he stood with her, her legs wrapping around his naked waist. Charlie's jaw dropped open at the sight of it, his daughter clung to Jake still soothingly running her fingers over his head and down his back as Jake turned and disappeared into the woods.
He watched until he couldn't see them anymore. Slowly, his mouth still open, eyes still wide, Charlie turned around toward the cruiser. Sam Uley was the only one there watching Charlie, one look at Sam and all of the fight was gone,. What the hell is going on?
"If you let me ride with you I can explain on the way back to Billy's," Sam's voice cut into Charlie's thoughts.
Snapping his mouth shut, Charlie shook his head and made his way around the car. He waited patiently as Sam slid the backdoor into the back seat, and then stuffed himself into the front. Charlie looked at him with wide eyes for a moment until he saw a twitch in Sam's jaw.
As Charlie turned the car around Sam caught sight of Edward; he was standing just on his side of the line. Sam shot him a smile just because he could.
~TS~
Bella had no idea where they were going, at first she thought Jake was taking her back to his house. Eventually the light from the early afternoon sun no longer made it through the trees, and the forest grew dark around them. Jake continued to support her as they walked, having taken all of her weight a ways back when her legs got too tired to grip. He had finally stopped shaking; his breath was fanning across her neck nice and steady.
Jake stopped not long after and Bella wondered where they were until she felt the cool breeze against her back. Jake stood still until she unwrapped her legs and then slid down his body. When she got her footing Bella looked up at Jake, he didn't bother looking down, his own eyes locked on something over her head.
Realizing that her hands were resting on his chest Bella dropped them before backing away. Unable to control herself, Bella let her eyes scan down Jake's body as she stepped away from him, her hands shot to cover her eyes when she realized that he was naked. She could hear Jake shuffling around; when he grunted Bella thought it was a cue letting her know that he was dressed. Opening her eyes Bella realized that Jake was no longer standing in front of her. Turning around quickly she saw that he was still naked but sitting at the cliffs edge. She stood there not really sure what to think or do, her body jerked when Jake spoke. "They got shredded when he took you," was all he said before his body sagged.
~TS~
Making sure no one was looking on from the woods Bella dropped her hands, the shorts Jake had given her fell to the ground. At the sound Jake turned toward her his eyes wide, he knew all she had on was the shorts and the shirt, no underwear no bra. Thankfully she was short and the shirt was long enough that it hung mid-thigh. It was still too short for her liking but compared to some of the things she had seen on Tanya Denali she was all good.
Lost in her thought, she hadn't realized that Jake had turned back toward the cliffs, his legs dangling over the side. Bella shuddered when she remember the one and only time her legs were over the side of that cliff, stupidly the rest of her body had followed. Walking up behind him, Bella draped the shorts over his shoulder. Tugging at the bottom of the shirt, Bella sat further away from the cliff than Jake so she could pull her legs to her chest and cover them with the shirt.
She actually had to fight herself NOT too look as Jake stood and slipped on the shorts. She felt a shudder roll through her when she remembered Jake's nakedness from yesterday. Twice in two days Bella had seen Jake completely naked; sadly she had held him as he cried in her arms just as many times.
When the shorts were securely on, Jake sat down quietly beside her, far enough away not to touch her but close enough for her to be able to feel the heat radiating off his body. She watched as the waves crashed loudly into the cliffs below, Jake's eyes remained on the ocean before them. She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking and why he brought her here. Deciding it was best not to ask, Bella hugged her legs tighter to her chest and waited.
~TS~
They had been sitting there long enough that both Bella's butt and her legs were numb. Jake hadn't said one word as they sat at the cliffs, he had barely even moved for that matter. It almost reminded her of Edward so still and unmoving; she shuddered at the thought of Edward. He had to be worked up into all kinds of a panic to actually go to Charlie of all people for help but she was thankful, thankful that he didn't make a rash decision like coming onto the reservation to get her.
Turning her body toward Jake, she felt a pang of guilt when her bare knee brushed up against his outer thigh. Jerking back from her, Jake quickly regained his composure and continued to stare out at the horizon. Bella watched him again, his breathing was slow but his hands were pulling at the strings that hung down from the cut off jeans. His eyebrows began to pinch together and he actually started to look more nervous than anything.
Bella didn't want to push, but at the same time she knew that Jake needed to talk about it, get it out and face what was happening to him.
Looking at his profile Bella drew in a deep breath, "Tell me about her, Jake."
Jake sucked in a hurt breath before turning to stare at her, she could see the tears welling in his eyes and his hands balled into fists, when his mouth began to work Bella felt relief, but then he hung his head sadly as his body shook. He sat there, his eyes closed, his head hung low before turning his face back toward the horizon, "I can't."
Bella nodded at him, it was too soon and she got that. She didn't want to push him too much.
~TS~
Charlie was looking at his friend with wide eyes, everything that Billy told him through out the day slowly sinking in. Jake and all of his friends were shape-shifters, had been since he was 16 years old. They were protectors of their tribe, keeping the people of La Push and Forks safe from nomad vampires that frequented the area. Worst of all in Charlie's mind, Bella had known about it. Known about it nearly as long as it had been happening and she hadn't said a word, or given him so much as a clue. When Sam told Charlie how he was able to find Bella in the woods that night, Charlie was a little more than thankful that he could turn into a horse sized wolf, but the more he thought about it the more pissed off he got. Pissed that Bella hadn't told him as soon as she found out, this was something HUGE and the fact that his daughter hid it from him just didn't sit well. When he demanded to know why she didn't tell him Billy told him that it wasn't her secret to tell. When Charlie found out how Bella found out about the wolves in the first place he thought once again about how he could get away with shooting Paul Lahote, and then just as quickly he wondered if the bullet would bounce off. Another thing eating at Charlie, Billy knew that he gathered a gang of men on more than one occasion and went into the woods every intent of killing one of the beasts that were killing hikers. He could have shot and killed one of these kids, and his friend never said a thing.
As the story continued to unfold Charlie was more than angry to found out that all of the "bear attacks" years ago were a crazed vampire. He couldn't understand why Billy wouldn't have told him back then, let him know. His anger only grew when Billy told him that there was nothing that he could have done. That's when Charlie learned that, wooden stakes, holy water and crucifixes would do nothing to a vampire. The only thing that could kill vampires were other vampires or shape shifters. Charlie couldn't have done anything for those people and it left him feeling helpless.
The only thing that Charlie was relieved about was the fact that after all of the secrets and lies his friend had kept from him he was now being honest, letting him know as much as he was willing to hear. He knew now why Jake had avoided Bella for those two weeks, and the reason Billy wasn't concerned when Jake had run away. The big shock came when Billy told Charlie why Jake was so happy when he came back with Dakota, the imprint. The wolves hung their heads when Billy told Charlie about imprints and what they meant to the wolf and to the pack.
Billy still had tears in his eyes when Charlie cleared his throat, "So you're telling me that Jacob was supposed to die because Dakota did?"
"That's what our legends lead us to believe, imprints are the wolves' soul mates, half of Jake's soul belonged to her."
Looking around the room, Charlie eyed Sam, Jared and then Paul before speaking, "Do you think you could survive with out your-"
The three of them snarling caused Charlie to scoot his chair back and his hand going for his gun in the holster.
Billy cleared his throat while shooting Sam a look, the wolves shrunk back under his gaze. Turning back toward Charlie, he laid his hands flat on the table, "I have my own theories as to why Jake didn't die when Dakota did." The wolves' heads snapped up at Billy's words and Charlie moved back toward the table.
"Jake is the true Alpha of this tribe, when he came back with Dakota I could see it in him, he was going to take over," Sam's head nodding up and down caught Charlie's attention. "You could see the power and the strength there. Being true Alpha might have helped save Jake, but we know the pack can get along just fine with Sam as our Alpha." Drawing in a deep breath Billy looked at Charlie, his back going straight, "Bella is the reason Jake lived."
A collective gasp resonated through the little kitchen, Charlie's jaw dropped open and a choking sound came out of his throat. His eyes darted around the room. The pack seemed stunned overall, Paul and Leah though were looking angry enough that he shot a look toward Sam and then to Billy.
"Bella is the reason Jake lived?" He questioned as he continued to shoot looks between the two angry wolves and Billy.
Sam seeing his concern growled low in his throat and the two slowly stood and walked out of the house.
"Dakota was Jake's imprint, this much we know, but living here with her, I knew she wasn't happy. I think Jake knew it too. She would stand and stare out the window, always longing for something more. I don't doubt for a second that she loved Jake that much we all could see, but she wasn't as happy as the other imprints were, and the didn't seem quite as connected."
"So why do you think it is Bella, Billy?" Sam spoke up now leaning on his elbows.
"Jacob was never intimate with Dakota."
"And he was with Bella!" Charlie roared as he kicked his chair back jolting to his feet.
Shaking his head while smiling at his friend, Billy fought the urge to laugh, "No Charlie. But the wolves know what that means; Jacob not being intimate with Dakota is pretty significant. They had been living together both here and in Montana for nearly a year. They were teenagers who were soul mates. From what we have been told by the imprinted wolves physical intimacy was met before emotional intimacy, in every instance."
Charlie shot a look to Jared and Sam; both nodded their heads in agreement.
"So because Jake wasn't intimate with Dakota you think he is right for Bella, that doesn't make sense, Billy."
"Doesn't it? My son still loves your daughter, he might not say it, but he does. Just as your daughter loves my son," Billy put his hand in the air when he saw Charlie's mouth open, "She might be with Edward, Charlie but she loves Jake just as much now as she ever did, and she just doesn't want to admit that she loves him too."
Charlie nodded his head because what other reason could there be? Edward was a crazed man when he came in to the station this morning, half out of his mind. Bella on the other hand was calm and collected-that was until Charlie took her away from Jake. Not only that, but today when Bella went to Jacob and they were wrapped around each other, Charlie saw something there.
"So where does Dakota play into all of this, Billy?"
"Dakota was Jake's soul mate for a reason, her purpose, unlike the other imprints, was to bring Jake to the person he was truly meant to be with. Jacob more than likely would have not come back if it wasn't for Dakota. I had been begging him to come home, he always told me he would think about it. Then one day he called me and told me that he was coming, and that he was bringing her with him. Bella would have never gone to Montana, she had no reason. They may have never crossed paths again, Charlie. Dakota made that possible."
"So she was meant to come here and die?" Charlie asked shaking his head, unable to believe how his friend thought this was truly possible.
"That I can't say, but I believe had she not died, Bella would have found her way back here, and Jacob would have found his way to her. Dakota was a free spirit; you could see it in her eyes, living here in La Push, in Washington was not for her. From the moment I met her she reminded me of Renee."
Charlie shook his head because he felt the same way about Dakota, the few times he had met her, she did seem to have that same free spirited attitude that Renee had.
"So what do we do now? Can I trust that Jacob isn't going to hurt her?"
"Bella is already helping him, Chief," Paul said as he walked back into the kitchen, pressing into Rachel's side.
"Before she came he wasn't eating or sleeping, he was camping out at the cemetery every night not coming home, he hadn't phased back-or been able to-since Dakota died. Bella was here one day and he's ate something other than animals; he slept here last night, with her. He phased back and didn't kill Edward when we all thought that he might. Now I don't get along well with your daughter, she's done wrong by Jake, leading him on like she did, but even I am going to admit that what Billy is saying could very well be the truth."
"I think right now the best thing to do is leave them be, we don't want to push Jake to her and we don't want to push her toward him. They need to figure this out on their own," Billy said sternly while eyeing Embry and Quil. The two wearing mock shocked faces, "I know how much you two want them to be together and for Jake to be happy. You loved Bella nearly as much as Jake did, solely because she made him happy even when she was hurting him, but you can't push this."
Looking at each other Embry and Quil shared a nod and then turned toward Billy and did the same.
"So what am I supposed to do about Edward, her fiancé?" The wolves growling again didn't take Charlie off guard as much as it did the last time, but it still made the hairs on his arms stand on end.
Leaning back in his chair, Billy let out and exaggerated sigh, "You aren't going to do anything about it. Let Bella handle him."
Charlie sat back clearly confused, "You're serious? When ever Bella gets around him its like her sense goes right out the window. We need to handle this for her."
"Charlie," Billy said chastising his friend. "You know we can't do that, she needs to do this on her own, otherwise she may never get out from under it."
"He told me if I didn't bring her back with me tonight he was going to come here and get her Billy, what am I supposed to do with that? If he comes down here he and Jake could get into and I don't really want to have to arrest my daughter's fiancé and her… her, Jacob when things get out of-"
Paul's snort, caught Charlie's attention, his arms were crossed over his chest and he was smiling like a loon, "What am I missing here Laho-" Charlie stopped himself at that, "Paul?"
"First off, Edward will not becoming down-" Paul paused when Billy shot him a look, "he knows it wouldn't be pretty if he tried," he finished quickly.
"In that case, Charlie I think you should tell Bella what Edward said and we will leave the decision up to"
"What!" Embry yelled bolting up from his spot on the floor, "She's going to go back to him, Billy and you know it and it is going to CRUSH Jake, he's going to go cra-"
"Embry, stand down," Sam yelled slamming his hand down onto Embry's shoulder.
Embry didn't realize that he was looming over the table only inches from both Charlie and Billy until Sam pulled him back, his eyes shot wide at the realization, "Billy I'm sorry I didn't-"
"This is what I mean with the two of you," Billy said pointing at both Embry and Quil. Embry looked ashamed while Quil continued to wear a mask of innocence, "You both need to step away from this, if it means staying away form Bella and Jacob then so be it. I know this could hurt him, set him back if Bella goes to Edward, but if she doesn't," Billy's stare intensified then, "things could get so much worse."
With that the two of them nodded their heads, and Embry slowly sunk back down onto the floor, his friend punching him in the leg as he did so.
"As I was saying," Billy said eyeing the two once more.
"When Bella gets back, tell her what Edward said, let her make the decision. If she decides to go back with you to confront Edward, let her. She needs to do this, Charlie. All we can do is hope that she's realized how much Jake needs her right now."
"I don't like this Billy, Edward is a good man," the grumble behind him matched Charlie's feelings, "but he's not what I want for my daughter."
~TS~
When the sun had sunk into the horizon, Bella looked at Jake wondering if he was ever going to be the same again. Would he ever smile at her like he used too? Would he ever be able to joke and laugh with the pack again? She couldn't imagine a world without that old Jake in it. The fact that Jake was still here living and breathing was one thing, but he wasn't really living was he?
She took him in as he sat stoic on the cliff's edge, his feet had stopped their agitated swinging long ago, and now he was just still, breathing slowly as he watched the sea. Bella wanted so badly to ask him what he was thinking or feeling. Deep down she knew that he wasn't ready for it though. Knowing this didn't make the nagging urge go away. A snap of wind took Bella off-guard and she fought to regain the breath she had just lost, she was beyond cold at this point. Her legs, while still in the t-shirt tent, were numb and her butt was practically frozen to the rock. She was trying to contain the shivers that were beginning to take over her body; she wanted to be here for him, needed to be his rock like he had been hers, if he wanted to talk at any point she wanted to be the one he came to.
Bella was still watching him when his head swung her way, "Seth is here," Jake said as he pointed to a spot in the woods.
Squinting, Bella tried to spot Seth but she couldn't see anything, "Charlie must be worried about you by now."
Wrapping her arms tighter around her legs, Bella shook her head in agreement, that or mad as hell.
"You should go, I'll be fine."
"You're sure Jake, I could-" Bella stopped talking when Jake stood from the cliff; her heart skipped a beat when she realized how close his feet were to the edge. Bella exhaled a breath she didn't realize that she was holding when he took a step back. Stretching her legs out in front of her, Bella groaned at the feeling, it was amazing and painful all at the same time. When she went to stand her legs gave out and she began to fall, her hands flapping out in front of her hand latched onto something warm and her eyes snapped up.
Her hand was wrapped around Jake's forearm and he was looking at her. Hurt and confusion on his face, Bella bit her lip before taking a step closer to him. She knew he would back away, still when he did, it sent a flash of pain through her. She knew though, what he was going through, she remembered Jake always trying to comfort her, seemingly not caring weather she wanted it or not.
Taking a breath, Bella decided to take a chance. Gripping Jake's arm, she moved forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him as hard and tight as she possibly could. His body tensed at first, locking into place, and then just as quickly his body sagged into hers and his arms wrapped around her shoulders. She smiled into his chest before quickly backing away. As Bella turned on her heel and walked toward the woods where Seth was waiting, she remembered the first comforting bear hug Jake had given her and she wondered if hers made him feel the same comfort as his did so long ago.
~TS~
Jake stood at the cliff's edge watching as Bella slowly sunk into the forest. He waited until he couldn't hear her anymore before removing the shorts that she had given back to him. Stretching his back and popping his neck, Jake let the wolf take over. As he shook out his fur he thought of Dakota. Forcing himself to the edge, Jake looked down at the rocks below and wondered what would happen if he jumped again. As if on queue another quick snap of wind sent Bella's scent into the air and swirling all around him. Slowly Jake lowered himself to the ground, allowing the very front of his paws to hang over the edge. When he laid his head down he could still smell her scent on them. Closing his eyes, Jake thought of the hug she had just given him and he slowly drifted to sleep.