CHAPTER 11

BPOV

We made it to La Push quickly, almost too quickly. I had hoped for just a few more minutes to think before we arrived. I knew our presence would not go unnoticed. Surely the werewolf fever would have sank in by now, being how long we have been in the town.

I was right. Within seconds of our arrival, we caught scent of a werewolf. Unfortunately it was not Jacob's scent I smelt. I was so nervous about seeing him. Especially now, that I am a vampire. I don't even know if he knew I had changed. Micah wouldn't let me come back, especially on werewolf land.

I almost felt silly hoping that it was Jacob when I smelt the werewolf. Of course it wouldn't be. He would be in his early 40's. Jacob, my beautiful Jacob would have aged only to his 40's in these 75 years.

"Bella," Kaden said softly.

"I know, I can smell it too." "I'm sure he's coming from the east," Harrison added.

"We need to stay together," I ordered. "These werewolves are fast, strong. We will be safer in numbers." I had hoped I would have been able to talk to Jacob first before we encountered any werewolves. This was about to get messy.

"Bella!" Kaden yelled.

I looked to my left and there was a werewolf, bigger than I remember them being. His fur was dark brown and his eyes were black, pure black.

"Friend, we mean you no harm. We are here to see Jacob Black. I'm Bella, an old friend." I said in a hurry, but slow enough so I knew he understood.

"Kaden, tell him what I said just to make sure."

"Sure," Kaden whispered before doing as I asked.

Kaden's ability seemed to soften the monster up, for he stepped back slowly and then turned to a brisk run.

"Now what?" Harrison asked

"We wait," I replied simply.

Nearly twenty minutes had passed and I was beginning to think we should venture further into their territory. As soon as I was about to announce this, I could smell a distinct scent, a very beautiful scent. It was Jacob!

Within moments he was just ten feet in front of me. He looked just as he did when I left. How could this be? According to what I was told, he is suppose to be in his early 40's. His face was still very defined, especially his chin, how I missed his chin. He was big too, just as big as he was when I left, and still very muscular. The only difference was his hair, which had grown back and his brown eyes were just as wonderful.

"Bella Swan?"

"It's me, Jacob."

"No…" He took a long pause and stared at me, his facial expressions unreadable. "You went missing. Charlie and I thought you were dead."

My heart hurt (if that were possible), not just from the mention of Charlie's name, but the his tone, and how lonely and pathetic it sounded.

"Technically, I did die."

"You're a bloodsucker!" He spat.

I knew he wouldn't take this news easy, but I still hoped. "I am a vampire, yes."

"Did Edward turn you? One of the Cullens? If so, this means war, even if it was 75 years ago."

"It has been 75 years, so how have you not aged?"

"We don't age until we stop phasing. I haven't been able to stop."

"Why?" "Because of you, Bella. I could never stay calm enough thinking about if I were here, if I hadn't left you, I knew you would still be here."

My heart broke with every word he spat out at me. I had made his life unbearable. Jacob never truly liked the life of a werewolf and I had made him one, permanently.

"Why was I told it would be 50 years?" I asked very curious.

"That's what we all thought until another werewolf came to us and told us the truth."

"How many werewolves are on this land?" Harrison asked, his voice full of rage.

"That is none of your business, leech!"

"Jacob, please-"

"Who turned you?" He suddenly asked. "Was it one of the Cullens?" He repeated for the second time.

I shook my head. "No, it wasn't them, Jacob. I just recently was reunited with them-"

"Well isn't that wonderful?"

"Jacob, please, listen! It wasn't even my choice to be turned."

His face stiffened. "What do you mean? Did one of these monsters change you?" He asked looking at Harrison and Kaden, both of which growled. "Try something!" Jacob taunted.

"Oh we'll do more than try!" Harrison promised.

"Harrison!" I snapped. "Back down."

Harrison loosened up from his stance and crossed his arms, still bowed up.

"No, it wasn't either one of them."

"Who attacked you then?" He demanded.

"I wasn't really attacked, either."

"Then what happened?" He asked, obviously confused and slightly annoyed by my resistance to tell him.

"Bells, we don't have time," Kaden pointed out.

I knew he was right, but Jacob had to know. "When you went on your trip to-"

"Clallam County," he interrupted.

"Yes. I went cliff diving, with the intention of killing myself."

"Bella!" He shouted. "Why? Why would you do that to me, to Charlie, to your mom?"

"I don't know, Jacob. When I found out you wouldn't age for 50 years, it made me realize we could never be together the way I wanted. And we could never be together to way you wanted because you never imprinted on me. I thought I was making Charlie miserable with my nothingness again. I couldn't put him through that."

"So you decided to kill yourself?"

"Yeah. I couldn't watch you stay young and grow old, Jacob. I needed you more than anything. You were just like Edward in that way."

"Bells, you know I would have been with you even if I did imprint on someone. I would have found a way around that."

"Sam said you couldn't."

"You went to Sam?"

"I did. He said when you finally imprinted on a woman, she too would not age until you did. You both would be frozen in time together. I couldn't handle that."

He stepped closer to me, which made Harrison and Kaden both do the same.

I looked over my shoulder. "He won't hurt me."

Jacob ignored my remark. "So what creature turned you?"

"A vampire named Seth. He was part of a family like the Cullens"

"Was?" Jacob asked.

Wow. Jacob picked up on that. He has always been so smart. I nodded. "That's actually why I'm here. Seth turned his back on us and went to the Volturi."

"The Volturi? The same vampires you went to 76 years ago to save Edward?"

"Yes. They are the royalty of the vampire world. They make the laws and enforce them," I reminded him, with the words Edward had once told me in mind.

"So why are you worried?"

"I was suppose to be made into a vampire by one of the Cullens when we first came back from Italy, that was the condition so we could leave."

"I remember," Jacob growled.

"Well Edward didn't. He left, they all did." I said softly briefly remembering my depression and pain of that particular time. "So I had distinct powers even when I was mortal, so now as an immortal, they want to claim me. At least that's what Carlisle and Micah believe."

"What do you mean "claim you" and who is this Micah?"

"They want me one of them. They will use force if necessary. And Micah is the head of my," I gestured to Harrison and Kaden, "our family."

"Wait, you are not part of the Cullen cult?"

I couldn't help but grin at his wording. Jacob hadn't changed a bit since the day I died. "No, they didn't change me. I've been traveling with the Malone family for 75 years."

Jacob stepped even closer to me, ruffling his nose up in disgust. "You smell horrible, Bells." And then there was his grin.

"Well you smell beautiful."

Harrison cleared his throat and Kaden laughed, the two of the obviously not agreeing with me.

Jacob and I both shot them a look, but decided against voicing our remarks.

"Are you with that Cullen guy again?"

"I am."

"Story of my life."

"Bella," Kaden said harshly.

I ignored him, my only focus was on Jacob, my best friend. I had him back, or at least I hoped I did. "You're not mad at me?"

He shook his head. "No, Bells. You didn't want this in the end. I could tell you didn't. I'm going to rip that bloodsucker apart who did this to you."

Harrison growled again, this time, showing his teeth.

"Tell your boys to stand down, Bella. I still can't control myself very well."

I snapped my head t Harrison. "Please, brother. For me?"

"Seth is not to be harmed."

"That is not your call," Jacob spat.

"This is not the time," Kaden said. "Jacob, I am Kaden. We are here because the Volturi are coming for Bella. We would love your help."

Kaden was always so reasonable. I looked back at Jacob. "If not to help us fight, then to protect the humans here. They do not follow our lifestyle of eating only animals. They kill and drink the blood from humans.

Jacob was the one who growled this time. "Say no more. I would have helped you, Bella, but my tribe will help for the humans."

I wrapped my arms around Jacob and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh Jacob, thank you."

His arms wrapped around me, and for the first time I was not warmed by his heat, or slightly uncomfortable by the grip of his hands. I missed that part of being human when it came to Jacob.

"How do you know the others will agree to it?" Harrison asked.

"I am the alpha male. They have to do what I say." And there was that grin again.

We both dropped our arms and I stepped back to join my brothers. "Thank you Jake."

"Anything for you Bells." He looked at me for a long moment. "I still prefer you human. You were so beautiful to me."

I smiled lightly. If I were human, I would be blushing.

"And I miss your blushing."

"Oh, Jacob," I whispered then realized what it must look like to Harrison and Kaden. "You know where the Cullens' live?" I suddenly asked.

"Yes," he answered.

"Can you and your tribe meet us there?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. I'll see you soon?"

"Yes."

Jacob POV

I watched as Bella ran so gracefully with so much speed and force with those two other bloodsuckers. I will kill the leech who changed Bella, he took her away from me.

But before I could get too carried away with that, I realized she jumped. She wanted to die. And as much I as tried not to think the main reason was because of that Cullen kid, I knew it was. I was her plan B and when she saw that it would never work with her plan B, she ended her life. A chill ran down my spine as I started running towards my house, where the rest of my pack was waiting for my return.

I knew she could never love me the way she loved him. And I was prepared to live with that. Or at least I thought I was until I met her.

There she was, standing there, her long dark brown hair in loose curls (how I loved her hair to be like this) bouncing around her face.

"Jacob, are you alright?" Her voice was sweet and calm.

I wrapped her in my arms, her touch warm against my own, her smell ever so sweet, and her heart beat steady, but still slower than mine. "I am now."

I had imprinted on Brooke forty years ago and the two of us stay frozen in time. At least until I am able to control myself and not phase. I needed to see Brooke. Her beautiful human face and soft, warm body made me realize this was the woman I will forever love.

"I must get the pack together. A vampire clan from Italy is on their way and they mean trouble."

She held onto my hands with hers. "Jacob, I hate that."

"I know, but we are going to be fine, I promise."

"Come back to me?"

"Of course. It will not take long."

"I love you."

"I love you."

I brought her into me one more time for a kiss. Her lips instinctually molded with mine as she wrapped her arms around my neck. "You are my sun, my light, Brooke. I will be back." I whispered in her ear, my hands still placed firmly yet softly on her hips. "Now step back."

Just as she did as I asked, I phased.

EPOV

I was beginning to get worried and I could tell everyone was noticing.

"Have faith in my daughter," Micah told me as he approached Alice and myself on the balcony.

I am going to let you two talk, Alice thought.

I nodded my head, not exactly wanting Alice to leave, but thought it be best.

"Excuse me, Micah," she said before slipping away.

"I do have faith in her, but I am fearful of her safety as well."

"I never knew Bella as a human," he began. "So I have always pictured her as this magnificent, strong, brave creature. I never saw Bella as a delicate human, except of course when Seth brought her to me, dying." I cringed as the image Micah was seeing. Bella was so tiny, so lifeless. Her lips were blue and her limp body was too much for me to picture.

"So took the vampire life well. We didn't know the extent of her past, the extent of her vampire knowledge, or the extent of the pain she underwent because of you, until much later."

"I was only trying to protect her."

"No need to explain yourself, Edward. I understand. When I turned Iris, I felt so incredibly selfish. She of course was dying when I came to her." He chuckled lightly. "She asked if I were an angel." He paused. "Bella never thought as Seth as her angel. I didn't need to be able to read her mind to know that. Once she told us of you, of all of you, I understood why."

"She was upset at first?"

"Yes and no. She kept talking about her father, Charlie. How he will miss her. She wanted to go back to see him, but she was a new born, I didn't think she could handle it. Before she mentioned all of you, she told us about Jacob. She missed him as well."

"Jacob… she missed him."

He rested his hand on my shoulder. Not how she missed you, Edward.

I turned my head to the west. I could smell her. She was back.

"She's here," Micah said softly. "Go to here."

I jumped from the balcony and ran until she was only a few feet away from me. Bella slowed to a walk and embraced me as soon as we were within touching distance. "Bella," I said into her ear, as I took in her smell.

"See, I'm fine."

I kissed her softly on her lips before looking at her. "You are an incredible being."

"What did they say?" Jacey asked as she embraced Harrison.

Harrison looked at Bella. "You want to?"

Bella looked out at our families, who had gathered with the return of Bella and her two brothers. "They're going to help us."

"Wonderful," Carlisle exclaimed.

"Wonderful job in deed," Micah added.

"We are going to give those Volturi a fight to remember," Harrison promised.