AN: I'm SO SORRY that it has been eight days since I posted. I'm very busy and it really can't be helped. This is a short chapter that I find rather…disappointing- it just doesn't sit well with me. Definitely could have been written better, but I'm gearing up and saving energy for the battle coming up!

Something changed after that day. It took the reality of Jake's insecurities reaching me to see what my hesitation had done to him. After we left school, I spent the entire day- and every day after school- in La Push. I spent over an hour mending Jake's shallow cuts while he simply held my body against his own and breathed in my scent. I eased his uncertainties, which I had been completely unaware that he harbored inside. I love you, Jake. And only you. Edward won't have me back. Now not and not ever. I love you. I love you, Jacob Black.

The fight between Edward and Jake altered me. It was as if a thin layer of grim had been wiped away from my eyes and finally, I could see with clarity. It didn't matter how much I once loved Edward Cullen. It didn't matter if I would always hold a certain amount of pain for the loss of my first love- that love had been replaced with something beyond anything I had ever felt before. It no longer mattered if there was ancient, Native American magic at work.

What mattered now were the feelings I had inside of my soul for Jacob. And no one, not even Edward Cullen, would muddle my mind and convince me that what my heart felt wasn't real. I believed Jake, whole-heartedly, when he explained what imprinting was. I believed that it was only a reminder of what we already had together before he transformed. When I had time to think about the conversations Edward and I had had over the last several weeks, I could decipher all of the ways he had tried to manipulate me. All the ways he attempted to twist Jake's motivates and make Jake's ways seem dark.

But what Edward hadn't contemplated when he was scheming against Jake was the possibility that I would see him in a different light. I spent numerous hours over the next few nights just lying in my bed and replaying my relationship with Edward. There were so many situations where I allowed him to influence me. Control me. Possess me. He influenced what I wore, what I said, what I did, who I talked to. He influenced my thoughts and every decision I made. If Edward wanted me to do something, I would do so with very little hesitation.

I didn't see that then, but I saw it now.

When I left Forks and abandoned my father, it was all Edward's doing. He made me leave even when I wanted to stay and face James while the Cullens protected Charlie. He influenced my lack of communication with classmates. And even on a lesser scale, Edward forced me to attend prom even when I swore that I didn't wish to go. The more I thought of the entire situation, the more I became aware of.

Edward was a possessive person as well.

He slipped into my bedroom window completely undetected and observed me while I slept for months without my knowledge or permission. He monitored my every move and every word the weeks after the hospitalization mess involving Tyler Crowley's van. He detested Mike Newton so fully to the point that Mike couldn't glance at me without Edward purposely intimidating him and pestering me to discontinue that particular friendship.

And despite all of that, I loved him. Even now, I cared for Edward. I had been so horrified that words couldn't possibly express the depth of my terror when Jake and Edward fought. Most of that overwhelming, incomprehensible fear had been for Jake, but a smaller portion was for Edward as well. I didn't wish him harm. Over the course of time I spent with Jake, I learned to release the bitterness I held toward myself and Edward. I no longer felt angry toward him. A small piece of me, I think, would always love Edward Cullen. But the feeling was absolutely nothing like it was before. The love I felt for him was platonic. It felt mediocre compared to Jacob.

I was lying on my bed after a slow, relaxing night at Jake's house. He, Billy and I watched the sports channel until I'd fallen asleep. Then, Jake drove me home. Now, I knew, he was running through the forest on four paws and scouting and sniffing around for vampire scents. He was on duty. Protecting me. Like he always did.

I sighed heavily and rolled over. Each day that passed only brought the looming battle closer. When the anxiety of that tried to snatch me up with sharp teeth, I had to force myself to calm down. I didn't allow myself to think of death, but I knew that Victoria would come sooner or later. And I knew that it would be a hard battle to fight. The Cullens had backed off since the blow up between Rosalie and Jake. The near battle to the death between Jake and Edward had only increased the uneasiness between our alliances. No longer were the wolves and Cullens training together, which meant the wolves trained amongst themselves each afternoon.

I was still watched each night, but Sam had put a stop to the Cullens watching me, so it was always Jake who guarded me. For the last week, he would slip through my window around two in the morning and crawl underneath the blankets with me. Sometimes we would whisper to one another about trivial things, other times we would hold each other and not say a word. But as Jake silently eased onto the bed, I knew tonight would be a night for talking. And we wouldn't be talking about trivial things.

I whispered, "Victoria will be coming any day now, Jake."

"I know, Bells," Jake whispered just as quietly, "We're ready for her."

"What about the Cullens?" I asked hesitantly, "You can't fight against Victoria when you are on such bad terms with the Cullens."

Jake sighed heavily and his voice was tired as he said, "The leader has already called Sam twice to schedule a meeting. We'll go tomorrow to speak with them, Bella. We aren't weak or stupid. We know what we are doing."

There was a moment of silence that filled my darkened bedroom before I murmured, "I know none of you are weak or stupid, Jake. I'm only worried for you. For your brothers. For everyone."

His strong body was warm against my side. I felt his hand grip mine gently underneath the blanket as he whispered, "Rest, Bella, you and I will be okay. I promise you that much. You'll live happily after all of this, Bella, so don't worry."

I frowned in the darkness and gulped before whispering, "How can you sound so sure about the outcome of all of this?"

"Because I'm made to protect you from things like Victoria." Jake answered, "And I will protect you from her. I will kill her and all the others that are threatening you. Then, you and I will go on with our lives like we're supposed to. Just Jake and Bells."

"I'm not concerned about me, Jake." I heatedly whispered, "How many times do I have to tell you that? I'm worried about you."

His husky voice was lower than normal as he replied, "You shouldn't worry about me, Bella. I'll be just fine."

"How can you be so sure?" I demanded in frustration. I couldn't count the number of times Jake had so nonchalantly given me answers such as these; it was infuriating.

"I'm sure," His other hand touched my cheek gently as his full lips touched mine, "…because I know that you need me, Bells. We need each other, so I'm not going anywhere. I'll fight and I'll kill and at the end of the battle, I'll walk away and come straight to you."

My heartbeat stuttered and a tender smile broke out across my lip as I curled my small body against his. As if it was an automatic gesture, Jake's arms looped around my shoulders and we both fell asleep.

At school the next morning, I debated with myself all throughout the first half of the day. By lunch, I decided that I knew what I had to do. My hands were shaking and I doubted myself the entire time as I walked toward Edward Cullen. He was standing at the back of the classroom with a textbook in his pale, slim hands. The majority of the students had filed out of the room moments before with the teacher following close behind. I knew that this particular instructor often left her classroom unlocked, so students could study throughout the lunch period. I supposed it was a good thing that no other students were in here beside him and me.

His golden eyes were on mine mere seconds after I decided to walk toward him. He set the book on a nearby desk and raised an eyebrow. He murmured, "This is a pleasant surprise for me, Bella."

I swallowed deeply and crossed my arms over my stomach for comfort as I mumbled, "I just wanted to tell you something."

Edward gestured and murmured, "Say whatever you wish, Bella."

I exhaled carefully and closed my eyes. Mentally, I counted to five, opened my eyes and said, "The night you came out of the forest to speak to me was a complete night of manipulation. You talked about things you don't understand and twisted Jake's actions into devious motives that aren't true. Then, when Rosalie was being nasty, you jumped in and acted just as terrible as she was during that training session. I don't appreciate any of your actions, Edward. In fact, I detest what you've been doing."

He quietly questioned, "Am I the only one to blame, Bella? How can you blame me for fighting unfairly for your love? Does any man fight fairly when it comes to the woman he wants?"

I shook my head and explained, "Your manipulation goes even further back than any of this, Edward. You can't blame this ugly side of you on the fact that I love Jake now. When I first met you, there was still a large amount of controlling and possessive behavior coming from you."

"What are you talking about, Bella?" Edward asked with a tensed and confused expression upon his face.

"Any time you wanted me to do something or go somewhere I didn't wish to, you found a way to make that happen. And don't pretend like you don't know how possessive you are of me."

"Of course, I am." He replied in exasperation, "Bella, you are the love of my life. Certainly there is possessiveness. I can't apologize for that because that's a dominant trait of my kind, my species."

I shook my head slowly before whispering, "I've said my piece, Edward. Please, leave Jake and me alone."

I turned and walked from the room briskly. By the time I walked halfway down the hallway, I was shaking like a leaf. I walked in a daze to my truck and left school quickly. My only thought was getting to La Push. Getting to Jake.