M I S T A K E N

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or any of the characters.

WHOOOOP! Chapter ten BEFORE the New Year! Righteous! Um…okay. Next chapter is JPOV, I think…((consults notebook)) Yeah, it is! Okay, then. I'm off! Enjoy--

9) what is love?)

I had exactly eight days, two hours and sixteen minutes until I had to return home and face the fury that was Aki. I felt proud of my new muscles and strength. I felt proud for learning what I was without my Grandfather's help. I was sore from all of my training sessions, too. Who knew Leah was such a dirty fighter? Not me, that's for sure.

There was some sort of freedom that came with being a werewolf. It wasn't the freedom of speech or thoughts, since the pack's mind was one. It was a freedom of being a part of something, a freedom of being fast and strong and proud to be what I was. I couldn't think of anything better than to buzz across the beach or around the forest, quick as lightning with the wind in my fur. Maybe it was better with Jacob beside me, loping gracefully despite his size. He amazed me. I had seen and felt all that he had experienced with Bella and the Cullens. He knew I had seen it, he knew I had seen just how pathetic he had felt, how hopeless and alone his heartbreak had made him, how angry he felt over Bella's changing. He saw it as a betrayal. He thought I thought he was being a baby over it, but I admired him for it. I admired him for coming back and facing life, despite his pain.

Jacob bent closer to me, anxious to see my reaction. His breath tickled my ear. I stared at him out of the corner of my eye as we trekked to the boundary line. His hand tightened around mine as a putrid smell blew into my face.

Sam had instructed him to show me everything, teach me scents that would help me recognize friend from foe, show me meeting spots, scent markers, and the boundary line.

At first he hadn't wanted to bring me here, but eventually, he submitted to Sam's will.

"Smell that?" He asked.

"Yeah. Vampires smell really bad."

"Uh-huh," He started back the way we had come. I trailed behind him like an obedient puppy, grasping his fingers tightly.

"Sam's the alpha."

"I guess you could call him that."

"You're the beta."

"Sure, sure."

"I'm the omega. The mutt."

"Technically, the omega is the useless wolf, not the mixed breed."

"I'm obviously useless. No wonder Collin was so happy when I changed…he must have been the omega before."

"Something like that. Disobeyed Sam once…"

"Are we mates?" I suddenly felt embarrassed by my question, but Jacob had told me to ask him anything that came to mind. Jacob laughed softly.

"Yeah, I guess we are. You could call it that. Mates, ha. It sounds so…National Geographic."

"You don't love me, though."

"Do you love me?" When I didn't say anything, he sighed. "Exactly. I guess…we'll grow to love each other with time. For now – just friends."

"Just friends," I echoed. "Hey, Jacob?"

"Yeah?"

"Friends don't tell friends they have cute tails."

He laughed, a nice sound in the darkening surroundings. "They do if it's true." He paused when we reached the clearing. He released my hand and turned to face me, bowing so we met eye to eye. "I swear I'll always protect you, and be around to listen to any problems. I promise I'll heal my heart enough for it to be yours, but right now-"

"I get it, Jacob. It's okay, you don't have to propose." I laughed at his relieved smile. "I'm lonely, though."

"Why is that? Do you need a girlfriend or something? I could drive you to the Clearwaters'. You and Leah could have a sleep over or something…"

"No, not that kind of…nevermind," I followed him back to the house, shuffling behind him quietly as I mumbled nonsense.

"What are you thinking about?" Jacob asked me.

"The future."

"Mmm," He didn't say anything more. I stepped in the house when he opened the door for me and made my way to the couch. Jacob sat beside me without a word. I studied his face. He was handsome. He didn't look at all sixteen, but he did look friendly whenever he'd shed a bright smile. His dark eyes were guarded, but often bright. I didn't know when I had made myself think it, but I had begun to look at his face as one of the familiar, of protection and belonging. Jacob had unlocked a secret world in which only he was something accustomed.

"Don't feel obligated to answer this…but what does love feel like? What is love?" I had only ever had a slight infatuation with a boy who's father owned my favorite bookstore. He had been an employee there. I had always known why I had gotten a mysterious ten percent discount with every sale, but I had never pursued what could have been. I had felt I had no reason to. I knew love had to be something more than that. Something deep and heartfelt, but I had never experienced it except when it came to my family.

When Jacob didn't say anything, I started to feel bad for even asking. "I mean – just because you and I…it doesn't mean we have to fall in love. Nothing's set in stone."

"I don't understand…"

"I guess I know why you stopped trying. If you loved her enough you would want her to be happy. I'm a bit jealous that you got to fall for someone before imprinting. I'll never know what it feels like just to fall in love…for the heck of it. Whenever it happens for me, it'll be influenced by our bond."

"If you ask me, love's overrated."

I turned to him and smiled, glad to see his smirk and his shining eyes. I hugged his arm; pleased to know I had a friend. A friend who would always be with me no matter what I faced. I felt Jacob could protect me from myself, protect me from my destructive curiosity.

"I did ask you, didn't I?"

So, um…yeah. I don't know, it came to me. Bwah. Anyways, please drop a review! Happy New Year! (I think I'mma just gonna put that at the end of every chapter until it's actually the new year…))