Hello all, I'm back with a brand new chapter for you. This chapter is a bit angsty, I won't lie. Remember that this is AU and OOC and I can basically do anything I want with this plot :) But please don't get mad at me for what Jake says!

I'm expecting updates to come every few weeks. I am actually really super busy with all of my schoolwork and my outside activities and I apologize for not having a chapter up as frequently as I had up in the summer. This was the second part to STRENGTH, the previous chapter, so I'm sorry that it's a bit short. Enjoy anyways!

Immature Readers: Beware of the language in this chapter. It's not as bad as most, but I'm still putting a warning out there.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything but the plot.

Dedicate this chapter to GEML. Love ya girlie!

Chapter 11: Strength (Part Two)

"She's mine!" he growled, slamming Paul up against the garage door. "You can't fucking touch my imprint."

"She wanted it." Paul said, still grinning.

"You forced her!"

"Is that why she came after I touched her? She may not have wanted it in her mind, but her body was practically beggin'. My pheromones were running wild."

Jake looked at him with fury in his eyes. He landed a punch on Paul's smug face, hearing the sickening crack that it made. He'd broken Paul's nose. He stood back in satisfaction as the other man held his nose in his hands.

Blood seeped from his fingers, but he wiped it away quickly. "Your turn, Black." Paul said and delivered a punch to his abdomen. He doubled over, clutching his middle in pain and loss of breath.

Paul smeared the blood away from his face with the back of his hand. He hated him. Paul watched Jacob get up and assume his fighting stance. Lahote swung, and missed.

Jacob grabbed his hand, and shoved him backwards. Paul stumbled over a rock and fell flat on his ass, allowing Jacob to hit him square in the jaw.

Jake heard the crack of bone as Lahote's jaw crunched together in a painful way. The other man scrambled to his feet and charged at his opponent and delivered a fake punch to his abdomen, which Jacob predicted. But before Paul could touch him, he switched his fists and planted his left fist on Jake's eye.

0o0o0o0o

Sam had heard the commotion from all the way across the Res. He'd seen into Paul's mind once and saw the disturbing image of him and Bella on the porch of Bella's cabin. He was touching her, feeling her up.

And if Lahote had touched Emily like that after Sam had 'confirmed' the imprint with her, he too would have been furious. And he'd known Jacob Black since he was a young child. He was always a daring kid that wasn't afraid to defend himself.

Jared tagged along beside him. Though Jacob was normally his second hand man, Jared was subbing for his absence. Sam understood how hard it was to be away from an imprint in the first few months. With Emily, he'd constantly worried about how she was and couldn't keep his thoughts from drifting off to Emily-land.

"I see 'em!" Jared cried out, pointing at the pair wrestling on the meadow floor. They both raced ahead to separate the two angry guys. Jared grabbed Paul, and Sam pulled a bloody Jacob away.

"Fuck!" Jacob cursed, struggling in Sam's strong arms. "Let me at him. He needs a good ass kicking!"

Jared snickered softly, receiving a dirty glare from Paul. Sam tightened his grip as Jacob fought to get away.

"Jacob Black!" Sam hissed. "I command you to stop. Stop the struggling, stop the screaming. Now."

Jake instantly calmed, shutting his mouth and stopping the struggling. The alpha command could tell him to do anything. Sam let out a long breath, relaxing his grip on Jacob's arms.

Paul laughed obnoxiously, causing Jacob to growl loudly. "Same goes for you, Paul. Now somebody tell me what the hell's going on?" Sam asked.

"He's trying to steal my fucking imprint." Jacob said.

"I don't need to try, kid." Paul spat.

Kid? Jacob thought. Paul was around the same age as Jacob.

"She hates you," seethed Jake. "I heard her say it."

"More like you made her say it," retorted Paul. "while you were fucking her brains out. We see Mister-Dominating-Wolfie, don't you know?"

Jacob's face went white. That meant he saw Bella's gorgeous body naked. He was going to kick his ass into hell.

Sam and Jared listened in interest as Jacob and Paul verbally battled it out.

[Never knew Jake was rough during his play time. Thought he'd be Mister Gentle, y'know?] said Jared.

[Yeah. 'Specially when she's all he ever thinks about.]

An image of a moaning Bella flashed through their minds as Jacob's mind drifted back to Bella once more.

[It's nice, sometimes. Having this pack mind,] reasoned Jared.

[Sometimes. I try to keep my thoughts hidden when I'm with Emily though.] Sam told the other wolf.

Sam was jerked away from his mind-conversation with Jared as Jacob began struggling again. "Alright, alright!" He released Jacob and shoved him towards the woods. "Go home to Bella. Now."

Jake growled menacingly at Paul before shapeshifting and darting out towards the little cabin in the woods.

0o0o0o0o

Bella rushed to get the door as someone rapidly beat on it. She swung open the door, eyes nearly popping out of her head.

"Where are your clothes?" she asked.

"Gone."

Jacob Black waltzed into her cabin butt-naked, putting that glorious copper body on display for her to see. He walked over to her refrigerator and opened the door, peering inside.

"Oh." She began to feel slightly aroused at the sight of his muscles flexing as he grabbed a can of Pepsi from the fridge and popped the top open.

"Are you okay?" she questioned.

"No."

She reached out to stroke his arm, but he moved away quickly with rage in his eyes. "Don't touch me. I don't want to hurt you."

"What the hell happened to you?" Bella said, seeing the blue and black bruises covering his skin, and the black eye he harbored on his left eye. His lip was split and blood was smeared on his hands.

"Nothing."

"You lie. Did you get into a fight with Paul?"

"Don't even say his name," Jacob growled, his black eyes flashing menacingly. "I swear I'll go mad if I hear that bastard's name again."

"I thought you said you weren't mad!" Bella protested.

"That was before I knew all of the disgusting things he was planning on doing," he growled.

"But he didn't-"

"Don't give me that shit, Bella! You should know what he's capable of!"

"I do know what he's capable of."

"Bullshit! Are you fucking blind or something? It's clear that he wants you, and you practically throw yourself at him with the way you act all friendly 'round 'im!"

"I do not!" she protested, putting her hands on her hips. "I pushed him away!"

"Then you touched yourself 'cause you thought it was hot, eh?"

"I can't believe you!" Bella cried, throwing her hands in the air.

"Well you did," Jake seethed.

"You didn't seem to mind when you were fucking me afterwards!"

"Well, it was either that or this! Which would you prefer?"

"You're being an ass, Jake! Why are you acting so ridiculous?"

"I wasn't even supposed to imprint on you! It was always imprinting on Quileute women, and you don't look a drop Quileute to me!" He tossed the empty can of soda away with all of his unearthly strength, and it struck the beautiful drawing framed on the coffee table.

They watched it fall onto the wooden floor, the golden frame shattering, glass shards glittering the floor. Bella gasped.

She walked slowly to meet the mess of the framed drawing. She picked up the sheet, pricking her finger on a small glass shard. She flinched and brought her fingertip to her lips, her tongue laving at the wound.

He leaned forwards, the imprint bonds making him instantly worried about the small cut. "Honey, let me see it,"

He reached for her arm, but she quickly jerked away. He sighed, tears wetting his eyes, but not spilling. She scampered away to the kitchen, pulling out a dustpan and kneeling towards the mess of the frame.

He watched her clean it up.

He watched her smooth out the drawing, laying it on the coffee table, trying her best to restore its beauty.

She frowned when it wasn't working. The picture was crumpled and ripped too badly from all of the glass shards ripping its fragile paper surface.

With a groan, she crumpled the drawing and thrust it into the fire. His eyes widened and he instantly stood in shock.

She loved my drawing, he thought. Why would she burn it?

She stared into the fire, watching the paper shrivel and burn in the flames. A tear slid down her cheek.

He stared at her for what seemed like forever, a slow, dull ache in his heart. His wolf was an upset mess inside, but the human Jake was trying to keep it together.

"You don't want me?" she asked him softly, her voice no louder than a mere whisper. "You didn't want me?"

"I never said that."

"Yes. You did."

He stood, wrapping a blanket around his midsection. A tear leaked down his bruised face. "You know I love you."

He reached for her again, and to his dismay, she jerked away abruptly. She walked to end of the room, staring at the blackened slip of paper that was once the beautiful drawing.

Tears fell down his face freely, his wolf's emotion combining with his. He couldn't hold it in any longer. "Please, Bella. Please."

"Don't."

"I don't want to lose you!" he groaned, tears leaking down his face. "I can't lose you."

"Why not?" she questioned.

"You're too important to me. I need you, Bells." Jake replied.

"Go home, Jacob."

"I can't."

"Go home!" she repeated louder, her hands balling into fists.

"I won't." He stood at her couch, staring at her. "I'm sorry for the things I said. I...I was just angry and upset. I didn't mean it."

Bella just stared at him emotionlessly, her face wet with tears. Her shoulders droopedc and she unfolded her arms slowly. "I...just go home."

"No, I won't," he protested.

"Please!" Bella sobbed, tears pouring down her face. "I can't deal with this tonight!"

"What happened?" he asked, moving slowly towards her.

"I want you to leave. Please." It wasn't true-she didn't want him to leave at all. She wanted him to wrap her in his arms and show her love and support...but all she got was arguing.

"Not before you tell me what's wrong."

She shook her head reluctantly. The suspence was eating him from the inside out. What had his imprint so upset?

"Tell me," he raised his voice an octave, making her coil back in surprise.

"My mother died!" Bella blurted out, catching him off guard. "She had a heart attack a week ago. I just got the call this morning...my step dad decided to have the funeral without me."

She collapsed against the wall, gripping her hair. Jake started, completely astonished by her words.

"I wanted to tell you tonight. But you came in and started a fight with me about Paul. You should know I love you! You should know that! The last words I said to my mother were 'I hate you.'" Bella cried. "She didn't know that I loved her. You do."

"Honey, I'm so sorry." He went to embrace her. He was expecting to be pushed away, but she let his warmth surround her.

Black mascara tears painted her ivory flesh as Jake joined her side. Outside, another storm was brewing. Thunder could be heard about a mile away. The soft 'plunk' of the raindrops on the wood was relaxing.

Jake knew he wouldn't go out into the woods and back to Billy's. He'd already decided that this was where he belonged. With her.

0o0o0o0o

Thanks for tuning in! More soon!

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Hugs and Smooches,

Courtney Howlett

Up Next: Wounds- All wounds heal. Bella tends to Jake's wounds while he tends to hers.