Back to the Beginning
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews. I really appreciate all your feedback.
Part Thirteen
Bella was lying on Jacob's bed. She wasn't feeling well at all. It had been difficult having to talk about imprinting. But Jacob's resolution on a way forward had helped ease her burden. There was still so much more to say, she hadn't even touched on the harrowing secrets she was keeping close to her chest. But right now she needed to rest. Her adrenaline surge had deserted her. Jacob was in the front room with Billy and Sam. Despite his anger toward his father, Jacob was trying to be pragmatic. The impact was going to be huge on the pack when the others got wind of it. Jacob wanted to douse the fires of panic before they started. He was so certain that stepping up as leader was enough to change things. Bella hoped that it was true.
There was a soft knock on the door. Bella sighed. Her eyes had just begun to close. She was so desperate for sleep. She sat up and curled her legs underneath her, waiting. "Come in."
To her surprise Leah Clearwater ventured into the room. This wasn't the fiery she-wolf that Bella knew so well. No, there was an aura of defeat around this girl. She looked scared and wasn't hiding it. "Can we talk?" She asked Bella.
"Yes." Bella agreed warily. She made room on the bed for Leah to sit down.
Leah perched on the end of the bed, beautiful face pensive. Her fingers pawed at the denim on her jeans restlessly. "I have to tell you something."
"What?" Bella whispered. Her eyelids were drooping again as she fought her exhaustion. She blinked rapidly making her eyes water in the process.
Leah swallowed thickly as her gaze darted to Bella. "I was so angry at you."
"I know." Bella replied faintly. "I don't blame you."
"It's not that." Leah interrupted. "I saw red. You looked so terrified of me. Then you fell to the floor and had some kind of seizure. It was awful. I thought you were gonna foam at the mouth or something."
Bella was horrified to hear this. She stared at Leah, panic rising in her throat. "Then what happened?" She dared to ask.
Leah's face had paled. She dragged her nails along the material of her jeans, seemingly unaware of what she was doing. "I was so angry. I couldn't think straight. It felt like my skin was on fire, I felt my whole body vibrating. Then you collapsed." Leah closed her eyes for a second as she tried to eject the terrifying memory from her mind. "You were fitting, literally jerking all over the place. I was so shocked it took a moment for me to respond. Then I knelt down and tried to put you in the recovery position. I was scared you couldn't breathe. But when I touched you…." Leah paused again, looking stricken. "My hands, they went right through you." She stared at her hands as if they didn't belong to her. "You were fading right before my eyes. But I could also see…"
"What?" Bella raised her fingers to her throat, already guessing what Leah was going to say.
"There was a red headed woman bending over you. She had her hands wrapped around your throat trying to choke you. I cried out, and she jerked her head upright. She was like a ghost. She had the reddest, most evil eyes I've ever seen. She saw me, Bella. She saw me." Leah was becoming incoherent now as she tried to contain her own rising panic. "Then Jacob and Sam came running in and she was gone. What the hell is going on? Am I mad?"
"No." Bella felt tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. "You're not. It was Victoria. My reality must have slipped into this one."
"I don't understand." Leah faltered. "Who's Victoria?"
Bella shifted forward and clutched at Leah like a woman drowning. "I'm so sorry." She was full of anguish. It felt like the noose was tightening around her neck. The sands of time were trickling through the hourglass and she couldn't slow them down. Bella had only a vague notion of how Leah might have been able to see through the veil of both time zones. She had been on the verge of shifting. Perhaps, as her body was in flux, this had allowed her to see beyond her own existence. "There's something I have to tell you. Please don't get upset." Bella pleaded with Leah.
"Who's Victoria?" Leah demanded. She was on the verge of hysteria herself. She shook Bella like a rag doll.
"Victoria is a vampire and she's trying to kill me." Bella sobbed.
When Jacob came to check on Bella he was surprised to see her huddled on his bed with Leah. Their expressions mirrored each other. They were both fraught. It had been a tense meeting with his father and Sam. Strong words had been exchanged on both sides. It had taken all of Jacob's control to smooth the waters between the chief of the tribe and the beta of the wolf pack. That was who Sam was now, his second in command. Jacob had accepted his destiny with no argument from Sam. The timing felt right. After he had explained his theory about how accepting his position of Alpha could hopefully set things on their natural path, Sam's relief was palpable, as was Billy's. His father tried to apologise, but emotions were still too raw for forgiveness just yet. Once again they had all decided to separate for another cooling off period before things got too heated.
Jacob watched as Leah let go of Bella. Both girls seemed shell shocked and utterly exhausted. "Sam's looking for you." He told Leah. "He wants to talk."
"I don't think I'm ready." Leah sought Bella's gaze. The two girls looked at each other for a long moment, before Leah sighed, breaking the intense stare. "I'm going to head home. I need to clear my head."
"Is that a good idea?" Bella asked desperately.
"Nothing can hurt me more than I'm hurting already. I have good genes, remember." Leah said tartly. She looked at Bella meaningfully. To Jacob it seemed as if they were communicating with each other silently. It was so bizarre. "You owe me time before anyone else knows." Leah ended quietly.
"Okay." Bella agreed reluctantly. Leah barely acknowledged Jacob. She brushed past him as if he didn't exist.
"What was that about?" Jacob asked curiously.
"I can't tell you. Not yet." Bella hung her head. Her long air fell around her face, hiding her expression. She wasn't going to lie to Jacob, but she owed Leah some time. Telling the other girl that sometime soon she was going to turn wolf herself was harrowing to hear, let alone say, especially on top of all the other shocking revelations. It surprised Bella how easily Leah believed her. But then Leah had seen Victoria. Bella wasn't sure that the news had really sunk in for the she wolf. No wonder she wasn't ready to face Sam. "It has to come from Leah."
"Okay." Jacob decided not to push. He cupped her chin in his warm hand and raised her head. He hated not being able to see her beautiful face. When he did he was saddened by the sheer torment he saw reflected in her brown eyes. She looked so frail and wan. "I am so worried about you." He said huskily. "I had hoped you'd be resting."
"I can't sleep. I am so afraid." Bella replied brokenly. She couldn't stem the flow of tears.
"Would it help if I was with you?" Jacob asked. He let go of her chin and caressed her cheek instead.
"Yes please." Jacob had always been her greatest source of comfort. His solid presence had always banished the dark in the past. There was a reason she called him her sun.
"C'mere." Jacob rolled onto his back, pulling Bella with him. She snuggled against his side, resting her head on his chest. Jacob put his arms around her, tugging her closer. "Sleep, Bells." He said softly. He watched as she finally gave into her exhaustion and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was fast asleep.
Bella slept for eight hours. Jacob stayed awake, watching her sleep, guarding her from the nightmares which plagued her. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed. Her long lashes cast shadows on her cheeks. He felt her silky hair tickle his skin as she nestled against him. She was so tiny, but so perfect. She fit in his embrace, as if she had always belonged there. For those few hours it was like time was suspended. It gave Jacob time to think, to ponder how much his life had changed in such a short time. He had gone from a semi-carefree teenager (his life even then had been full of responsibilities), to a shape shifting wolf seemingly overnight. His burden was heavier than ever now. He wasn't just taking care of himself and Billy anymore. He had his brother's welfare resting on his shoulders, the whole reservation and the surrounding areas were his to protect, as was the beauty lying in his arms now. Jacob pressed a gentle kiss on top of Bella's hair. She was so deeply asleep she didn't stir. Jacob felt his own eyes closing, and before he realised he fell into a light doze.
Jacob awoke with a start, unsure of where he was until he realised that Bella slept curled against him, her head pillowed on his chest. He smiled and breathed deeply. He could get used to this, waking up beside her. She mumbled something, her lips moving against his hot skin, her breath tickled him. She was so soft, so delicate, and so damn tiny. Bella's skin was so pale, translucent in contrast to his; she seemed to glow in the soft evening light shining through the partially opened curtains. Her hair fanned out across his torso like a dark curtain of silk. She really was so beautiful. She had no idea.
He wondered how deep her relationship with this other Jacob ran. She only let slip a few vague details. Jacob knew it was stupid but he suddenly felt a burning jealousy toward his other self. It wasn't rational, but he couldn't shake it. Bella was his, they belonged together. It felt so right. They fit. He loved her so much. As he watched, Bella began to stir. She breathed deeply and rubbed her face against his chest absently, before she opened her eyes. "You are here." She said after a moment, voice low, uncertain. "I thought it might be some wonderful dream, especially after all the nightmares…." She began to cry softly.
"Oh, Bells." Jacob kissed the top of her head; all the while his fingers stroked her cheek.
"I'm sorry." Bella apologised.
"Hush." Jacob quietened her. He felt Bella's fingers brush his side unconsciously. Her touch, so gentle, made him shiver with suppressed desire. Bella raised her eyes to his. She gazed at him, eyes lambent, questioning. She hesitated a few seconds before she moved her hand further down. Jacob breathed deeply, trying to contain himself. This was different, new. He waited. Bella shifted, rising upward. Her other hand was splayed against his chest. His heart was racing, loud even to his ears. He wondered if she could hear it too. "It's beating for you." He found himself saying.
"I know." Bella looked deep into his eyes, her own searching, needing something. She couldn't even define the chaotic thoughts resounding in her head. "You mean the world to me. You know that, don't you?"
"I know." Jacob wanted to tell her the deepest secrets of his heart. He had to bite his tongue to stop himself revealing his feelings. He tried to read her. There were so many conflicting emotions crossing her face. He waited, not realising he was actually holding his breath. "Bells." He whispered her name.
Bella continued to gaze at him. Her lips parted and she licked them. Jacob was captivated. His hands spanned her waist, slipping further down until they reached the curve of her butt. She didn't protest or react at this intimate gesture. She just continued to look at him. "Bella." He whispered again.
Speaking her name seemed to jolt Bella to life. She glanced down, her gaze travelling to where his hands were still resting firmly on her lower back. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat. There was a slight hesitation, and then she shifted again. To Jacob's surprise she straddled him. He gasped, staring up at her, uncertain. "You make me feel alive." She confessed quietly. She leaned against Jacob, placing her hands on his chest.
Jacob touched her hands, pressing them harder into his skin, before sliding his fingers up her arms and squeezing her shoulders. "Bells, I l…."
Bella stopped his words as she touched his mouth. She traced the curve of his lips with gentle fingers. "There is so much to say. Jake, I…."
The door was thrust open. Bella gasped, crawling off of Jacob and scooting to the end of the bed. Jacob sat up, cursing under his breath. It was Embry. "Don't you know how to fucking knock." He snapped at his friend.
Embry didn't even react. His knowing gaze flicked between them. "We've got another one." He said directly to Jacob. "Seth has just phased."
A/N-thanks for reading!