Chapter 19

By six thirty the next evening the pack was consumed with Jake's feelings. His anger, his worry and, most of all, his hurt. Bella still wasn't there. She hadn't been there when he and Leah strolled into the kitchen at four o'clock. She still wasn't there when he dragged himself out of a cold shower ten minutes later and still wasn't there an hour later when Leah's non-stop humming drove him out to the garage.

Jake paced across the dirt floor as the minutes ticked on, his muscles growing more and more rigid with each pass by the door. Each time his body would move past the wide door he had to fight his wolf not to break out, not to run to Forks and see just where the hell she was. What the hell is she doing? But Jake didn't want that. She wasn't his, she didn't have to be at his house in his kitchen cooking him dinner when he got home every day. No matter how much Jake told his wolf that, the wolf didn't care. He wanted her in his house where he knew she would be safe, wanted her on his land where he knew absolutely nothing could get to her. So he paced and fought.

By five-thirty a low whine caught his attention causing him to stalk out of the garage. Embry lay in the grass, his belly plastered to the ground, nose shoved almost into the dirt. As Jake started slowly toward him a sliver of panic skittered up his spine, then the same low whining sound came from his far left. Craning his neck over his shoulder he caught sight of Quil shuffling toward him on his belly as his lupine eyes locked with Embry's. Jake watched frozen as Quil continued to shuffle his way forward, not making eye contact with him.

Turning his head back toward Embry he could tell his wolf was panting, his body tense against the ground as his eyes darted around the yard.

Jake's hand landed softly on Embry's head and a flicker of heat shot up his arm. Stunned, the words Jake was about to say stalled in his throat before he forced them out in a whisper, "Embry what's wrong, she's alright, isn't she?"

Jake waited for any sort of communication from Embry. When no response came his head shot over his shoulder to see Quil nearly at his heels, his other hand landed on the grey wolf's head and another flicker of heat shot up his arm working its way into his chest. What the hell is going on?

Swallowing the dread that had taken residence in his throat, Jake fought the words out, "Quil, she's alright isn't she?"

~TIBC~

Quil and Embry both wanted more than anything in that moment to phase back and tell him that what was going on with them had nothing to do with Bella, that it was all Jake and that it came out of nowhere, that he had called them there in some way. Their wolves just wanted to comfort their Alpha and they were waiting. Waiting for his wolf to take over so they could do just that. It scared them and left them in awe at the same time. Never before had their wolves taken over completely, even when Jake's emotions could be felt by the pack after Dakota had died. Their wolves felt a pull to him, a need to calm him and surround him with their support, but they were able to fight it because protecting the tribe was more important. Embry knew when the pull jerked in the opposite direction of his patrol path toward Jake's house that this was different. The closer he got to the little red house, the softer and softer Paul's voice had become until it was gone completely. His wolf didn't care about Paul or patrolling or how pissed off Sam was going to be for that matter. His wolf only cared about his alpha and so he went, and Embry followed.

Quil felt a tug at the side of his throat. "Tell me she's alright, Quil." A whine was all he could give the tortured Alpha in front of him.

"Emb, dude, can you hear me?"

Embry started at the fact that he could hear Quil through the link. "Yeah I'm here, can you hear anyone else, Quil?"

"No dude just you; this is freaky as hell. He doing this?"

"I think he is."

"We need to figure out what the hell is going on with Bella, why she isn't here and how we can get her here."

"Bella is in Forks, she's ok, sort of," Seth's nervous voice broke into their heads causing both of them to start this time, Jake's grip on their fur tightening to an almost painful level.

Embry could hear Seth's wolf shuffling toward him still under the cover of the trees.

"What do you mean sort of?" Embry and Quil questioned in unison.

"Leah got a call from Bella earlier, she said Rosalie sent her something, she wanted someone to be there when she opened it."

"Was that the last you heard from Leah?"

"I just got off the phone before I felt the pull to get over here, she was pissed but said Bella was doing ok."

"I can't believe he's doing this," Jared's voice broke through the link catching all their attention.

"Really Jare, you and I were just talking about this with Sam the other day." Paul piped in.

"Talking about what?"

"This, Jake. Dude, he's getting stronger."

"You're talking about Jake behind our backs?" Embry all but snarled at the two wolves that were now lying on their bellies right in front of him.

"Calm the fuck down, Call. Sam can feel Jake getting stronger and since we're his second and third he wanted to tell us because he didn't want something like this to happen."

"Like you could have prevented this. I was sleeping; it jerked me right out of the bed I barely made it to the back yard before I was phasing." Quil whined out.

"Maybe we could have if we would have known he was going to get so worked up, what the hell is going on?"

"Bella's not here." Quil, Embry and Seth replied.

"Well someone needs to get her the fuck here, we obviously aren't helping him."

"Leah's with her right now. Maybe she'll feel it too and bring Bella." Seth said hopefully.

"Or one of us needs to make him phase somehow, that's why this isn't working."

~TIBC~

Jake stood, letting his hands slowly slide from the Quil and Embry's heads. Slowly his eyes scanned the circle, taking in the sight before him. His entire pack minus Sam and Leah were surrounding him all on their bellies, all of their eyes watching his every move, waiting. Phase his wolf whined in his head almost desperate sounding now. One by one his pack mates had slowly come out of the woods to surround him and one by one the wolves that lay at his feet seemed to have a calming effect on him, but it wasn't enough. Something was wrong with Bella, had to be, she wasn't here for a reason.

Just as the thought slipped into his mind he heard the familiar sound of her truck making its way down the road.

~TIBC~

Leah's hand rubbed over her chest, her breath coming out in short pants as her foot pressed harder on the pedal.

"Son of a bitch, this fucking hurts."

"Are you ever going to answer me, Leah? What's going on?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know Swan? Jesus, my lungs feel like they are going to fucking jump right out of my chest."

"Do you need me to drive?"

"And have Jake to kick my ass when we get there? No thank you."

Bella crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the moss-covered trees as they flew down the road.

Turning onto La Push Road, Leah startled Bella when she spoke. "Don't tell him about what the leech did. At least not right now, even when he asks-which I know he will-don't tell him. Make something up, he's the one that's doing this, I can feel it." Leah said as her fist fell from her chest.

"Jake, what's he doing?"

"Getting stronger," Leah muttered under her breath as they jerked to a stop in Jake's driveway.

The scene just over the hood of her truck caused Bella's jaw to go slack and her mouth to pop open. Jake stood just outside of his garage doors surrounded by wolves. A gust of fresh air blew into the cab, pulling Bella's eyes toward the driver's door. Leah stood just inside of the open door her eyes locked on Jake, his eyes locked on Bella. He took a step forward and the wolves in front of him parted, another step and they stood from the ground. The closer he got to Bella the wider her eyes became.

The wolves were following him as he walked forward slowly. Bella's heart rate kicked at the sight. They were single file now following him close enough but not too close. Bella felt warmth at her side but she didn't dare look to see who or what was pressing into her.

"Open the door and get out slow."

Leah whispered, one side of her body putting pressure against Bella.

Bella whimpered before she realized it and her eyes darted to Leah.

"He's not going to hurt you, he's just-" Leah's brows pinched together, "worried, upset, he's angry Bella, but I don't think he's angry at you."

"How do you know?" Bella whispered her eyes back on Jake her hand on the door handle.

"Because I can feel him, all of us can."

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Bella pulled the handle up and slid out of the cab of the truck. Never taking her eyes off Jake or the wolves as they slowly stalked behind him, she squeezed out of the way of the door and closed it gently. Pushing her hand against the door she finally heard the click, and then he was right in front of her. His eyes darting all over her face his lip a thin line as they scanned down her body.

"Where have you been?"

The pain in his voice as he whispered out the words almost triggered the truth to tumble out, that she was at home freaking out over a letter from Rosalie. She didn't want to lie to him, "Trying to figure out what to do about school." That wasn't really a lie; she just hoped that he didn't read to far into it.

His hand shot out grabbing her wrist and jerked her forward. When her head hit his chest Bella relaxed into his embrace instantly, "I'm ok Jake, sorry I didn't come over."

His arms squeezed her to the point that it was hard to get a breath in.

"You're ok?"

Nodding into his chest, she slid her arms around his waist, the action causing the muscles in his back to relax and his body slump forward. As he held her he felt cold noses and fur press against his legs, his bare back and back of his hands that were gripping Bella's waist.

When he had the power to unwrap himself from Bella he noticed that the wolves were no longer surrounding them. Turning, he realized that they had all phased back. Not knowing what to say, he scanned their faces. Paul just looked plain aggravated, when his eyes slid over to Seth it took a lot for him not to smile at the kid as he bounced on the balls of his feet, Embry and Quil were wearing satisfied smirks. Standing beside his two friends were Sam and Jared both not showing any emotion at all.

Jake's hand instantly went to the back of his neck, a nervous gesture. "Uh Sam I don't know what-"

Sam moved forward, his head cocked to the side, the action causing Jake's wolf to stir within him. Threat. The though skittered through Jake's head before he tamped it down. Sam was not a threat.

"You're getting stronger, Jake." It wasn't a question but a statement one that caused all heads to nod in agreement.

His hand flew out in an arch as he locked eyes with Sam, "I did this?"

Nodding, Sam took another step forward before his eyebrows pinched together and he took a half step back, "You did, I could feel it, not as strong as them. It was like before but this time much stronger." Sam paused his eyes scanning over the group before locking back onto Jake's, "They dropped off one by one Jake."

Jake shuffled on his feet, his eyes swinging over to Embry who was still smiling, "You were here first."

"It was pretty strong, man."

Turning back toward Sam, Jake shook his head, bewildered, "What's it mean?"

"That you need to work on getting your emotions in check," his eyes swung over to Bella before locking with Jake's again, "and that you should probably start patrolling with me so we can start the transition and Jared with Embry."

One eyebrow cocked, Embry opened his mouth to question Sam but he held his hand up, "You were here first, so it must have been strongest for you, you're probably going to be his second. Jared's mine he came second." Sam shrugged his shoulders as his eyes swung toward the house. "Of course we can talk to the council about all of this, get their opinion."

"No way," Embry whispered just before Quil socked him in the arm.

~TIBC~

With Sam in the house talking to Billy and the rest of the pack heading back to what they were doing before his pull claimed them, Bella, Jake, Leah and Embry stood in the yard in silence. Mostly because the wolves were listening to what Sam was saying to Billy, but also because they didn't know what to say to each other.

Bella watched as their brows would pinch together and then raise. Tired of being left out, Bella put her hand on Jake's arm, "What's he saying?"

A low rumble rolled through Jake's chest and Leah stepped forward, "Jake, he's a dick. Don't listen to that shit."

Bella's head turned toward Leah, "What's going on?"

Rolling her eyes, Leah looked down at Bella, "Oh you know the usual no one is as responsible as Sam and you're causing problems."

"She's not causing problems." Jake practically seethed beside her.

Leah's eyebrow quirked, gaining a head shake from Embry. When Leah opened her mouth to talk, Embry threw his hands in the air and stepped back a couple of paces.

"Well she kind of is, Jake."

"Can it, Leah."

"No listen, that thing was insane Jake. I thought I was having a goddamned heart attack on the way over here, it hurt so damn bad and Jared and Paul were on patrol-"

"I said can it," Jake snarled his fists clenching at his sides.

"You know I think Sam's an ass, but he's right about one thing: you need to find a way to start sorting through all this shit, because if you keep panicking and pulling us all to you, we could be in a world of hurt."

Jake opened his mouth to snarl at her again, but Leah shot him a death glare. "I'm NOT finished," she grit out toward him. "It's not that we don't want to help you Jake, but that was, well it was kind of fucking scary to be honest, and if you'd just open up about what is going on then maybe it won't happen again, and Sam won't be on his high horse acting like this is the end of the world."

"You don't think I'm trying to sort through this shit Leah?" Jake snapped, taking a step toward her, only stopping because Bella laid her hand on his shoulder.

"That's not what I said, Jake." She sneered. "You are working through it, but the only person you are even trying to work through it with is Bella."

Jake opened his mouth but Leah held her hand up.

"She can't be here every second of the day Jake, she has shit going on in her life too ya know, and you do have friends here. Friends that are more than willing to help you through it when Bella can't be here."

His head snapped toward Bella, panic filled eyes settling on hers, "You're leaving?"

It was Leah's turn to groan and throw her hands in the air, "Would you talk some fucking sense into him Swan? Embry lets get the hell out of here."

As Leah and Embry slowly disappeared into the woods, Jake turned full body toward Bella. His hands raised as if he was going to grip her shoulders before dropping back down to his sides. He could feel the panic surging through him, but he was fighting it, he didn't want his pack flocking to his side twice in one day, and if what Billy had said to Sam in the house it was possible for his pack to be driven by his emotions?

"No, Jake, I'm not leaving, but-" Bella shuffled nervously on her feet before meeting his eyes, "if I tell you something will you tell me something?" It was the only way that Bella could think of getting Jake to open up to her, not that she wanted to tell Jake why she hadn't come over this afternoon, but this wasn't about her.

At his stiff nod Bella's hand made it up to her forehead and she paced in front of Jake in the grass, "I don't want you freaking out, I'll trust that you are going to remain calm."

She looked at him but didn't wait for his answer, "this morning I got a packet in the mail. It was from Rosalie" pausing only for a moment when a rumble seeped from Jake's lips Bella stopped in front of him, "Carlisle convinced my professors that I was terribly ill and that I couldn't finish out the year. He somehow got them to accept term papers instead of making me take the finals. Rose did them for me and I got my credits for the year."

Her eyes bore into Jake's waiting a response. When he gave none she began pacing again, "I was shocked. I've never heard of such a thing, I worked hard for my grades, and I really don't want to know what they did to get my professors to agree to term papers instead of in class work and finals. She cheated for me and I passed and I don't know how to take that. She also sent me a packet from UDUB with a letter saying that that's where Alice saw me next year."

Again, she waited for him to speak, "Jake I didn't leave them only to come back down here and let them control my life from a distance. I don't know what I'm going to do, I think I should talk to my professors, tell them that it wasn't me that did that work, that I really wasn't sick. But if I do, I know the whole year or maybe even more won't be accounted for and I just kind of panicked. I was just sitting there staring at it all when Leah showed up and decided to give me her opinion on the matter, at least until she said that we needed to get down here and fast."

Jake took in Bella's stance as she stood in front of him, clearly confused, clearly wanting his opinion on the matter, but why? Sure they were friends and yes his feelings, as normal, were heading toward more than friendly, this morning and his panic attack was clear indication of that, but what did she want?

"What do you want ,Bella?"

Her brows pinched together her hands went to her hips, even more confused than before, "What?"

"What do you want?"

"I don't know what I want, that's the problem. I've never done anything that I have really wanted to do."

"Then why don't you do something you want to do for once?"

Her head shook, her eyes wide, the vein near her temple pulsing just under her skin, "You think it's that easy?"

"You don't think it is? You can't always do what other people want you do to do, Bella. Sometimes you have to do what you want to do, no matter the consequences." He countered, he didn't know why all of a sudden he needed to start this little spat with her but he couldn't not say these things either.

"You really want me to do what I want, Jake?" Her eyebrow cocked now as if some sort of challenge.

Panic sliced through him at her words, what if she didn't want to be here with him, what if she really wanted to go back to them, turn into a vamp- his thoughts cut off the second he felt her cool hand wrap around the back of his neck and pull, her lips were on his and then off just as quickly before he could even register the taste of her.

Stepping back from him red faced but triumphant looking, Bella stood taller than Jake had ever seen. "That's what I want to do, but I don't because sometimes Jake, doing what other people need and want is more important."

Eyes still wide, Jake took a step toward her wanting her lips on his again, "Maybe I want that too."

"I doesn't matter if you want it or not, Jake," clearly aggravated, "it would be a band-aid, what you need is emotional support and I'm more than willing to give it to you because I care about you. But Jake, so do they and you need to start letting them in too, not just me."

"They came here because the wolf called them."

"You don't think any of them would have come if you asked?"

"I don't know."

"That's crap!" Bella all but yelled, earning a raised brow from Jake, "Paul kidnapped me to help you; Quil, Embry and Leah are here every day-"

"The feel obligated because they're pack."

Bella's eyes grew wide and once again the vein by her temple pulsed, "You're an idiot! Embry and Quil want to help you, they just don't know how and Leah does too, you just aren't willing to see it, Jake."

Jake opened his mouth to argue again but Bella held her hand up stopping him before the words could come out.

"Tell me something Jake, you said you would."

"I really want you to stay with me tonight."

Bella's head dropped back, a groan of frustration passed by her lips before it snapped forward and she shook her head, "Leah was right, you're not listening, Jake. I don't want you freaking out, but I'm going home. You need to talk to someone tonight, and tomorrow when I come back I want you to tell me what you talked to this person about, ok? You need to do this." With two half steps she was in front of him again, her eyes pleading with him to just do what she asked of him. When her head landed on his chest and her arms wrapped around his waist he felt the tension drain away like it had never been there and it only proved the point he was trying to make. Yes as the pack showed up one by one he could feel it less and less, but the tension didn't completely disappear until she had shown up, he just needed her to understand.

As her arms slipped from around his waist, Jake gripped her tighter, not wanting to let her go. When she pushed at him with a grunt he let his hands drop to his sides. "Please talk to someone, Jake."

He nodded without looking down at her and fought the urge to run after her and beg for her to at least let him drive her home. He knew she wouldn't though; instead he stayed rooted to the spot, forcing his emotions down so that his wolf wouldn't get out of control again.

When he could no longer hear the hum of the engine he turned toward the garage and then shot a look over his shoulder to the house. Sam wasn't there anymore that much was clear, his father on the other hand was sitting on the porch looking at him, face full of concern.

Sucking in a deep breath, Jake turned and headed for the porch.