A/N: Thanks you all for waiting patiently for the update! I hope it lives up to all of your questions and expectations. I have a lemon in the works, but it's more emotional/spiritual than anything. Smutty is just not my style! Enjoy!

Chapter 13 – Realization

So, here I was with Nate in the cab of my truck parked in the Forks High student lot. We sat in silence for a minute, but he didn't look uncomfortable. I think he was waiting for me to say something. After fidgeting in my seat, I turned to face him and he was looking expectantly at me. I had to look away from his intense green gaze. The color was unnatural.

"So Alice sent you?"

"Yes. She wanted to deliver several messages to you and just to check in on you in general," he said. His voice was smooth as silk and very alluring, which led me to my next question.

"Are you a…you know—"

He laughed at my attempt. "Yes, but only half. I'm a hybrid. Half vampire, half human. Alice told me that you would be—receptive to meeting with me."

My mind boggled and I felt my mouth gape open.

"That's possible?"

"Possible, but rare. I am one of very few. I know only five others like me."

I shook my head and turned out the window, wondering if I was safe in the cab, so close to him. "So you have their powers?"

"Some, we have the best of both worlds. I have the strength and speed of a vampire, yet I look human. I can go out in the sunshine without looking like a disco ball, and I can mate. I don't require blood, although I prefer my meat very rare," he said and smiled, teeth glistening.

I squirmed in my seat at that last part.

"Don't worry, Bella. We do not crave blood like our fathers." He gave me a reassuring look.

"Oh, Ok." I relaxed. "But wait, you said fathers? The human part of you comes from your mother?" My brain staggered trying to keep up with the information being thrown at it. I had never been so intrigued in my life.

"Yes, hybrids only have human mothers. They do not survive the birth," he said as a shadow of pain crossed his face.

I never thought about myself as the childbearing kind, but the fact that it would have been possible with Edward was not at all comforting. Every good and wonderful thing in life would have ended with him. It would have ended me. Every opportunity stolen. Just like Nate's mother had been stolen from him. How had I been so blind to it? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I reached out and put my hand over his. "Nate, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, it was long ago, and please, call me Nahuel. It is my birth name. I only use Nate when in America."

"Nahuel, okay." I let myself relax a bit, but a million questions blazed in my head. "Where are you from?"

"South Africa. I'm a part of a small vampire clan with one other hybrid. They are vegetarian like the Cullen's, hence the association with them. We get along very well. Especially Alice and Jasper."

I smiled at that and had the intense desire to ask about Edward, but held back.

"And she wanted you to come and check on me?" Typical Alice.

"That, among other things. I had to come for myself, to see if Alice's vision was true."

"Alice's vision?"

He turned and faced me, his body language requesting that I meet his eyes. I slowly lifted my eyes and met his. He lifted his hands toward my face.

"May I?" His eyes were sincere, safe.

"Uh…sure."

He put his cool hands on the sides of my face and very gently pressed them into my cheeks. His middle fingers rested on my temples. His eyes blazed into mine and made me squirm uncomfortably.

"Nahuel?"

"Shhhh, I won't hurt you, just relax."

His green stare penetrated mine and I felt a bit of apprehension slip away, but other than that it felt just weird. He continued to bore his gaze into mine and I noticed that his breathing had begun to escalate. He bent his mouth slowly to mine, never letting go of my eyes. I panicked.

"Nahuel, no!" I pushed myself back and his hands dropped abruptly. He sighed deeply.

"So it's true then." He looked discouraged. "I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable, but you must understand Bella. This has never happened to me before. I've never been unsuccessful."

My mind was racing with anger. Unsuccessful at what? Trying to make out with a girl whose heart already belongs to another? Nice try buddy.

"Hard for you to believe, I'm sure," I scoffed angrily and crossed my arms to my chest. I dug my keys out of my bag, hoping it would be a signal for him to leave.

"Bella, let me explain, I—"

"Get out of the truck Nahuel," I said forcefully.

He reached for the handle and opened the door, while I fumed at him. He spoke over his shoulder.

"You wanted to know if your love for him is real, and it is Bella. Everything you've felt up until this point has been your own feelings. It is influenced by nothing, not even me."

"What in God's green earth are you talking about, Nahuel? And how do you know—"

Dammit Alice.

He shut the door and I gave an exasperated sigh and got out. I followed him to the edge of the soccer field where the teams were beginning to practice. We looked out at them for a minute.

"Explain. Now," I said tersely.

His dark brow was furrowed in frustration as he spoke.

"Vampires aren't the only ones with great powers. In fact, I have one that is more powerful than most, even by their standard. I'm a controller. I can influence the minds of other with just a simple glance. There has been nothing or no one that has been able to resist it. Until you."

He looked down at his shoes looking a little defeated. Then he smiled and said, "I tried my hardest Bella, but your mind is completely shielded. Nothing can penetrate it."

"Not even imprinting," I murmured quietly.

"Not even imprinting."

His words surprised me. Alice must have told him everything. Maybe I could let my guard down a little?

"What do I do, Nahuel? I screwed everything up for us. I don't see how I can go back to him, not even to apologize. Did Alice tell you anything? What exactly did she see?"

"She saw you with him. Over and over and over. It wasn't a usual fleeting vision for her. She said it was the strongest and most vivid she had ever seen. You are meant to be his, just as he is meant to be yours. It's simply a fact. Although, I can see why you are reluctant. You have felt strong love before."

I nodded and slowly sat down in the grass. Somewhat hesitantly, I patted the ground next to me. He sat gracefully and we watched the sun set over the bleachers of the field.

"Yes, I have, and this happened so quickly. I couldn't handle it and I don't deserve Jacob. I'm too weak to love like that again." To my absolute horror, I started crying.

He put his arm around me and I let him. His body was hard and cool. Memories of Edward crashed to the surface and I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall with abandon. But mostly I was thinking about Jake and how I had screwed everything up, again. My body shook with small sobs. It took a few minutes to let this pass and to compose myself. Nahuel was a real trooper and let me soak his sweater with as many tears as I wanted. He simply patted my back and made small shushing noises. It was hard to believe that only a few hours ago he had been a complete stranger.

"Bella, there is something else Alice wanted me to say, but I need your permission. It's about Edward's future."

I nodded still sniffing and wiped the remaining tears from my face. Could I handle knowing what Nahuel was about to tell me?

"He had to leave Bella. He knew what was coming and it only meant death and darkness in your life. He couldn't do that to you. His bond with you is the strongest I've ever seen in a vampire, and now that I've met you, I can see what he saw in you. Your soul is pure and you love with all of your heart. It's a rare trait these days." He sighed and pulled at the grass with his long fingers. "Edward will eventually regain his will to go on. Although Alice didn't know when, she did see him happy again."

I nodded, flooded with happiness and relief. He would be happy again.

"Thank you, Nahuel, for everything. Even trying to kiss me," I said laughing. I leaned into him and he put his arm around my shoulders.

"You know, if things don't work out with you and this Jacob…"

"Nahuel!" I gave him a playful smack on the chest.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

"Sorry to interrupt the moment, but I need to talk to Bella for a minute." Jacob's deep voice cut through my heart.

I released myself from Nahuel immediately and looked into the eyes of the man I loved. He stood with a wide stance, arms across his chest. His eyes did not shimmer like they always did around her and his features were hard.

"Jake!"

I ran to him, but before I could wrap my arms around him, he grabbed my forearms with his big hands and stopped me. He held me out at arm's length and glared across the way at Nahuel who rose to his feet confidently.

"Jake, it's not what it looks like," I said shaking my head. "Nahuel, he's different. He's not a pureblood vampire."

I knew I was explaining things to a brick wall. His eyes turned to slits and his grip on my arms tightened. Nahuel spoke calmly.

"Jacob Black, I only came here to give a message from the Cullen's and to meet the girl everyone has been talking about, nothing more."

"You should leave. Now." Jacobs words struck fear into my heart and for the first time I felt afraid of him. I needed to explain and do it fast.

Nahuel nodded and turned to leave. Jacob's grasp loosened and he stepped back away from me, finally looking me in the eye.

"Jacob, he was only a friend, here to comfort me. Nothing more."

"Nothing more until I'm out of the picture, right? Or am I already? You move fast Bella Swan." His words were angry and full of acid.

"It's not like that! Whatever you heard was out of context! He needed to see if he could—"

"Bella, I just can't bring myself to care," he interrupted. " I just came to tell you that I'm leaving for awhile. There is another nomadic clan moving in from the north and we are going to stop them in their path. I do not know when I'll be back. I just thought I needed to tell you, although now, I don't know why."

Now I was petrified and my hands shook at my sides. I stepped toward him urgently, closing the gap again.

"Jake, it's dangerous! Fighting some random vampires on land you are unfamiliar with?"

"Bella, this may come to a surprise to you, but it's my job. I can't just sit here and wait for them to come. I need to do what is destined of me."

The anger in his voice was fading and he looked anxious. This was the moment that I needed to act, no matter how horrible the circumstances seemed. I reached down and took his hand in mine.

"And I need to do what is destined of me." I turned his palm in my hand and put it over my heart. "My heart has always been yours. I'm sorry I doubted it. I'm sorry for always screwing this up, for ever doubting it. I'm so in love with you Jacob. I'm sure of it, with my whole heart, I love you."

I looked up my eyes pleading for his forgiveness once again. He took his hand from under mine and put it on the side of my face. I cradled into it.

"Bella, I can't let my heart be broken again and again." His eyes were searching mine for understanding.

"How about never again?" I said inching closer to his face.

"Promise me."

"I prom—" He had my face in both hands now and his mouth was on mine. The kiss was the most urgent and passionate one by far. His lip mouth pressed firmly into mine and I let my mouth open in response groaning into his. His tongue sought mine and the kiss deepened even more. My arms were around his neck and my feet were off the ground and he hitched my legs up so I could wrap them around his waist. He supported my bottom with one large hand. He kissed me softly on the lips and pulled back looking at me. His eyes full of hope and love.

"Never again."

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I told you it would come together! Thank you for all of the reviews! The next story is in the planning stages. I'm super excited about it.