AN: Another update for my lovely readers. I thought a few chapters in quick succession might make up for not updating for like a month, hopefully.

Thank you all for the lovely responses to this story, they all put a smile on my face. So without further ado, here is chapter twenty one. Both POV's are from a month after Bella leaving.

A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter Twenty One- Should Have Been Her

One Month Later

Paul POV

Dear Paul,

I don't know what to say, or where to begin. So I'll start with I love you. We fell in love Paul, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me, love like that has only happened once before, and that's why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory.

I'll never forget a single moment of it. It'll be those memories that keep me going.

So thank you for coming into my life and giving me joy; thank you for loving me and receiving my love in return and thank you for the memories I will cherish them forever. But most of all, thank you for showing me that there will come a time when I can eventually let you go.

Remember, you once told me that being alone wasn't so bad, you taught me that even when I could see no hope left, there was some, somewhere- I just wasn't looking.

I don't know how you did it, but once you brought me back from the dead and so it's time that I start living, and I can't live in fear, fear of you imprinting and leaving me. It isn't fair, on either of us.

I don't think I'll ever be able to say goodbye, so I'm not going to say it. Anyway, I have a feeling that we'll see each other again one day, maybe. We'll leave it up to fate, destiny, because it seems right, if it's meant to be we'll meet again.

So, hopefully, I'll see you soon

Love Bella

The letter was torn, ripped and smudged; I had read it over and over and cried over and over again. I had cried for Bella Swan, I wasn't ashamed to admit that.

I was angry, angry at everyone, at myself but most of all I was angry at Bella. She ran, she left and she didn't even give me a proper goodbye. Just a letter, a letter that haunted me day and night and what I would say to her, she didn't let me say goodbye. That's what I'm most angry about, that there are so many things I would have told her but I didn't get the chance.

Didn't I deserve to say goodbye, after everything?

No one knows where she is. Charlie has spoken to her but she won't even tell him where she's staying.

I looked at the letter again, sitting on the edge of my bed as darkness began to descend. The words on the page seemed empty, I used to be able to hear her voice as I read the letter but now they are just words, I don't hear her voice or see her face.

She's fading from my memory, or I'm pushing her away. Which, I wasn't sure. It hurt, thinking of her and when I did I felt like I couldn't breathe, like a part of me was missing. She was missing.

"Paul?" Leah called.

I didn't bother calling out, she would find me.

"There you are," she stepped into my room and stared at me.

"You look like shit," once that comment would have been bitchy coming from Leah but she said it with concern.

"I feel it," I replied.

She sat beside me, staring at the letter in my hands.

"Don't do this to yourself Paul," she said softly, taking the letter from me and placing it out of reach.

I didn't need the letter anyway; I already knew it off by heart.

"Have you heard from her?" I whispered.

"Not since she called me and said she'd arrived safely," Leah whispered back, wrapping her hands around mine.

I forgot most of the time that I wasn't the only one she left behind.

"I know it's important for you to feel like you never gave up but sooner or later you're going to have to let go." She looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I know you miss her, we all do. But she did the right thing; she had to leave before you both got hurt."

"It hurts now," I replied, very aware of how pathetic I sounded but I didn't care. It did hurt.

"It would have hurt more if you imprinted, if you hurt her. You couldn't live with that, you've seen what it's doing to Jacob."

I knew, deep, deep, deep down that she was right but I wasn't ready to face the truth, not yet.

A Drop in the Ocean

I walked along the beach, a bottle of whisky in hand. There was a figure, further down and I made my way towards it woozily. The whisky had taken affect though it had taken three bottles.

The figure turned out to be a woman, drinking, like me.

I staggered towards her, taking note of her long raven black hair and tanned skin. She was Quileute but she looked unfamiliar. She was beautiful, I could tell that but I didn't care, not like I once would have.

"You've come to join the pity party?" She said, I looked around but realised quickly that she was talking to me.

"Do you mind?" I slurred a little.

"Be my guest."

We sat silently, I couldnt see her face but her voice was musical, enthralling and captivating.

"Your friends with Jacob aren't you," she asked, after a very long silence.

I frowned, thinking of Jacob was the last thing I wanted to do. The name brought with it a lot of hate and anger.

"Yes," I answered sharply.

"Your part of it, aren't you? The Pack," she whispered the last part dramatically.

She looked at me then, her eyes wide.

NO

My world shifted, she was the one, the drunk rambling woman drinking away whatever her problems where was my soul-mate. My imprint. I stared, unable to answer and unable to look away. She was beautiful, older than me by a year or two maybe. She stared at me, expectantly.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts though my heart still pounded violently.

"Your part of it, right?"

I nodded slowly. Wondering how on earth she knew.

"How do you-"

"Jacob told me, well showed me. He didn't mean to, he got angry then poof," she through her arm out wildly. "He wasn't my brother but a fringing' wolf!"

Brother!

"Rachel?"

She nodded, biting her lip and looking at me.

I swallowed loudly. Her look was one I knew well, she moved closer, setting her bottle down on the sand.

"I want to forget," she whispered looking up at me through her thick black lashes. "Help me forget?"

I helped her forget that night, I had to, she wanted my help and I would be whatever she wanted me to be, do whatever she wanted me to do. She screamed my name over and over and though I helped her forget it didn't help me at all.

I was buried inside my imprint but all I could think about was Bella, and how it should have been her.

A Drop in the Ocean

Jacob POV

Dear Jacob,

What can I say! I can never put what I need to say in words, because how can I? I love you Jacob Black, like I've always loved you- even when I didn't realise it.

Part of me used to ache at the thought of you being so close yet so untouchable, but your story and mine are different now, they have been for a long time. It wasn't easy for me to accept this simple truth, because there was a time when our stories were the same, but that was a long time ago.

And it hurt me, deeply.

But, as bad as it was, I learned something about myself. That I could go through something like that and survive. I mean, I know it could have been worse -a lot worse- but for me, it was all I could have handled at the time. And I learned from it.

Our story has three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. And although this is the way all stories unfold, I still can't believe that ours didn't go on forever. But I see now that we were never supposed to last forever- you were always destined to be with someone else and Jake, I finally believe that destiny steered you right. Mia is a lovely girl; she deserves your love and the Pack's love.

So love her, with all your heart like you once loved me. If you do, I know she'll be one of the happiest girls alive.

I never thought I would ever have to say goodbye, not to you. But here it is goodbye Jacob Black, there won't be a day where I don't think about you or miss you, I need you to know that but I also need you to know that I want you to be happy.

Let me go and I'll do the same. Who knows, I might find my soul-mate one day.

Love, Bell's

"Why are you showing me this now?" Mia asked after she read it, her eyes glistening with tears.

I shrugged and sat next to her, reading over her shoulder. "I don't know, I guess I wanted you to read it."

She wrapped her hand around mine, "are you ok, I know it's been tough month and with your sister here now as well."

I smiled sadly, "keeping the secret from Rachel has been tough but I don't want her dragged into this life, she's here for one more week then she goes home to her family, her husband and child. She doesn't need to know about this life."

Mia smiled at me, "and the Bella thing?"

I didn't know what to say. I wasn't ok, I missed her like crazy, everyone did.

"I need more time," I whispered hating the pain I was putting my imprint through.

She squeezed my hand, "take all the time you need. You love her; you've loved her a long time. It'll take time, and I'm right here, I'm not leaving."

I wrapped my arms around her, she was an angel. Rachel had been hard on Mia, not understanding why I was with her but then Rachel wouldn't understand because she didn't know about imprinting, and she never would.

Mia had stayed strong, stuck through Rachel's obvious bitchy and hurtful remarks and stayed by my side. I loved Mia, I knew it and one day, when Bella was just a fond memory I knew I would love Mia with all my heart but it was getting to that day that would take some time.

Rachel walked into my room, her face instantly twisted into disgust as I held Mia in my arms. I began to shake, the hate that my sister had for my imprint was becoming unbearable and the wolf inside of me wasn't reacting well.

"Get out Rachel," I practically snarled.

"You're saying that to the wrong woman Jacob," she said looking at Mia poignantly, who stiffened and looked away from my glaring sister.

"Rachel, can I talk to you outside please." I wasn't asking. I strode past Rachel and walked into the garden, trying to calm myself down.

"What Jake," Rachel stood in front of me, her arms folded and her face set in a scowl.

My hands shook by my sides as I spoke. "You've got to stop this, Mia lives here, I love her. Nothing you say is going to change that."

Rachel laughed. "She's a skinny white blonde girl, she doesn't love you, she'll leave you when she gets what she wants from you."

It was my turn to laugh, it was bitter and angry. "What could she want from me Rachel, I'm not rich and I never will be. I'm a nobody. She loves me for me, not because she wants something. Don't judge her by your standards."

It was a low blow, but even she had admitted when her and her now husband first started dating it was because he was loaded.

"How dare you Jacob Black. You don't get to speak to me like that."

I rolled my eyes, "then start treating Mia with some respect. She's here to stay."

"That little slapper doesn't belong here Jacob, she won't last. I've heard what people say about her, no one approves. I hear the circumstances of you two getting together were a little unorthodox to." I bristled, I knew where she was going with this. "You just left poor Bella, I'm not that girls greatest fan but hell Jacob, I didn't know you could care so little about someone to just drop them for that fake bitch in there." She pointed to the house and where Mia was crying. I could hear her, her soft sobs breaking my heart and my restraint.

I began to shake.

Rachel had crossed a line.

I stepped back.

"Get back Rachel," I snarled. There was no containing my inner animal. He was mad.

I ran, headed for the trees but I phased before I was out of sight, I heard Rachel's astonished gasp.

I ran.

A Drop in the Ocean

I sat in the living room, waiting for Rachel. She hadn't returned home since the argument. Guilt was eating away at me, she'd stayed out all night god knows where, panicking, wondering what the hell was going on.

Dad had told me he had tried to explain, about the Pack but she had left before he could tell her much.

"Hey," Mia walked in, sat beside me. "Still no sign?"

I shook my head and glanced at the clock. 6:00am it read. Mia yawned beside me and wrapped her hands around mine.

"She'll be fine."

It didn't reassure me.

At last I heard her and the jingling of her keys. The door creaked open and she stepped in, wearing the same clothes she had left in the day before. She reeked of booze and something else.

She looked up at me with hesitation and then worry as my nose flared.

I snarled. "WHAT THE FUCK!"

A Drop in the Ocean

I barged my way into his house, nearly knocking the door off its hinges. He must have known I would come; he stood in a defensive position, his hands held out in front of him as if that would stop me from beating the shit out of him.

It was long overdue.

"Listen to me Jacob, let me explain."

I laughed, "no, first Bella and now my sister. Are you planning on fucking everyone I care about?"

He shook his head as I stalked closer, "no, I-" he stopped talking, I stopped.

I stared at him.

He looked confused, ashamed, guilty but also happy. The sort of happiness that only came with one thing.

"You imprinted on her didn't you," I said calmly and quietly.

He nodded.

I pounced.

AN: So, what do you think? I know that people are going to hate me for having Paul imprint on Rachel but never fear, have a little faith in me and you'll soon see how it'll affect the story.