Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers owns Twilight. I do not. I do however, own my gang.
Flying solo folks.
Chapter 28
Jacob stood in the dank, moldy cemetery, his emotions a chaotic mix of sorrow and impotent rage. The pale gray lights of the drizzly morning washed the surrounding graveyard headstones. Raindrops fell from the bleak sky and pattered on their black umbrellas. A depressing chill enshrouded the large group of mourners that had gathered for the burial. The pack stood with him, their faces solemn and grim as they murmured to each other. They knew better than to engage him in conversation. His pain and anger was keenly experienced by those who shared the pack bond.
The last funeral Jacob had attended was Harry's, but it was his mother's he remembered with startling clarity. Though it had happened more than twelve years ago.
His mind whisked him back to the day of her death.
The day had started off like any other, his mother in an upbeat mood, humming and bustling around the house. It had been her idea to prepare a special dinner for later that day. Something about a wonderful announcement she wanted to make. He wouldn't find out until years later she'd just learned she was pregnant again. That final morning she kissed him on the head and tussled his hair on her way out the door, leaving the soft floral scent of perfume in her wake. She drove away in their beat up station wagon and he never saw her again. An hour later, a grim Charlie would show up at the door to deliver the news of her accident. At nine years old his mother was gone forever, just like that. He'd never forget his father's anguished howls, the terror on his sisters' near identical faces. Nor would he forget the hollowed out feeling in his chest that time would fail to erase.
These thoughts floated through his mind as he watched Bella stand beside her husband's grave.
The minister, a heavyset man in his fifties, preached about the tragedy of someone dying so young. Jacob doubted she caught a word of the sermon. She looked similarly hollowed out as if the best parts of her had been scooped out, and dumped into the sleek black coffin.
They would never know why Bella came back and Taylor didn't.
The terror of waking up to find her and Taylor wrapped in a lover's death embrace was still with him. His hands shook as he tried to revive her lifeless body, desperately pleading for her to wake up, to come back to him. In the background a similar scene was taking place as Carlisle worked to resuscitate Taylor. He wept with relief when she finally coughed and stirred to life. So grateful he gathered her close and just held on to her. It was around that time Liz's uncontrollable sobbing sank in and the meaning behind it.
Sudden cardiac arrest was the coroner's cause of death.
But a healthy twenty-three-year old dying of heart failure stirred up police suspicions. Then there were questions surrounding what caused the wreckage that was once Taylor's car. Though a few detectives suspected foul play, they had no proof of wrong doing. That lack of evidence didn't deter their investigations, and Bella had to endure their invasive questioning. Charlie shut it down the moment their inquiries crossed into the realm of badgering. The coroner closed the investigation, and that was that. Jacob suspected Taylor's father had something to do with the speedy conclusion.
Bella's glazed, unfocused eyes stayed fixed on the coffin the entire time the minister spoke. She looked as though the slightest breeze would snatch her up and hurl her into the gray smattering of clouds overhead. She'd barely spoken a word to anyone these last few days. When they told her Taylor died she had no reaction, didn't even cry out, but Jacob witnessed the moment the light in her eyes died, snuffed out. She looked far too thin in her simple black dress with lace trim, bony shoulders betrayed her lack of eating. For the last few days she behaved like an animated zombie. Her empty body rattled around with nothing of substance inside it. She moved around when necessary, answered when spoken to but an important piece had disappeared the instant Taylor's heart stopped.
In the days since Taylor died, she didn't cry. Not one tear. She kept the grief locked away as though fearing she'd shatter into a million pieces.
Jacob would give anything to spare her this suffering. How would she survive losing the man she called her rock? His hands balled into tight fists, knuckles whitened and cracked.
Damn Taylor for doing this to her. Damn that bastard for dying.
Charlie and Renee stood on either side of Bella. Charlie held a large black umbrella, keeping the relentless rain off Bella's head. Renee dabbed at her puffy eyes with a handkerchief, the other hand held Bella's in a death grip. Bella stared into nothing, a vacant expression on her face. The Cullens lurked in the background and tried not to draw attention to themselves. Ryan choked back a hot sob, his dark hair stuck to his forehead, still damp from carrying Taylor's casket from the hearse. Zach stood beside him, valiantly trying to hold back his tears, fingers entwined with Leah's. Liz stood with her father, Walter, a man in his late forties and expensive suit, and his wife, Susan, a slim built woman of similar age.
The minister's sermon came to an end, he closed his bible, and the coffin descended into the ground. Bella bent at the knees to grab a handful of loose dirt, her movements wooden and unnatural. She tossed the damp, clump of earth into the yawning mouth of the grave, it landed on the coffin with a muffled thump.
On her way back to Charlie and Renee, Walter approached, blocking her path. She regarded him and he gazed back at her, pain and anguish simmering in his green eyes. Jacob expected him to draw her into an embrace, to tell her everything would be all right but nothing like that happened.
Suddenly Walter's face contorted with rage, he raised a hand and slapped her hard across the face. She stumbled and almost fell to the ground from the force of the blow.
"Daddy, no!" Liz cried, a hand shot to her mouth. Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd.
Blind rage surged through Jacob, threatening to erase all sense of reason. Everyone—his pack, Cullens, humans—faded into the background. Before he knew it he rushed toward the man, images of violence at the forefront of his mind. Were it not for the strong, persistent hands of his brothers that seized his shoulders and locked around his torso, the ugly scene would've become a violent one.
In the midst of Jacob's outrage, Billy's low, urgent tone brought him back to his senses. "Don't do this, son. Look at him."
Jacob stopped struggling and did as his father said. He'd heard that Walter was a powerful, cunning business man in Boston who prided himself on control. That man was not in attendance. Walter's worn face was gaunt with grief and lined by the weight of despair. His haunted green eyes, so like his son's, concealed the twisted brokenness of his grief stricken mind. The death of his only son had driven him to the brink of insanity. He'd lashed out at Bella because he needed someone to blame for his agony. Billy had understood Walter's pain in a way only another father could.
Now Jacob shared in his father's understanding, but that didn't mean he'd forgive the man for hurting his imprint.
"Someday he'll regret what he did here." Sympathy clouded Billy's gaze, and he shook his head.
Bella straightened slowly, a hand clutching her reddening cheek, raw emotion shone in her eyes. Thinking Walter was about to strike her again, Charlie moved between them and seized his wrist.
"It's your fault he's dead. I trusted you to keep him safe, and you failed. You were supposed to protect him!" Walter screamed at her, inconsolable, tears streaming down his face. "It should've been you."
"That is enough!" Charlie shouted, shaking with suppressed rage.
Whatever strength Walter had gained from his outburst evaporated, aging him before their eyes. His body caved in on itself, the curve of his back became more pronounced. He clutched his face, body shaking with wrenching sobs. With a low, soothing voice, Susan coaxed him down the slight incline and back to their car.
People rushed to console Bella, but she shoved them all away and screamed, "No! Don't!"
She turned away from the grave site, away from the shelter of the umbrellas and walked into the pouring rain, arms clamped around her torso. In a few steps she was soaked to the bone, unrelenting rain plastered dark strands to her scalp, but she lowered her head and kept walking.
A hot, searing stab of Bella's pain washed through Jacob, and almost drove him to his knees. Her shame, rage and anguish flickered through him and he made to follow her. Billy said, "Let her go, son."
Jacob was forced to stand back and watch his imprint walk along a stone path lined with graves.
After the funeral, Walter and his wife returned their hotel while everyone else gathered at Bella's house. A wise move. More than a few people still harbored anger toward Taylor's father, wolves included. Jacob couldn't guarantee a hormone addled pup wouldn't lose his temper around Walter. Not to mention his own shaky control.
For her own reasons, Bella declined a pre-service wake in favor of post funeral one. He sensed she regretted that decision as she stood in a corner of her living room, accepting endless condolences from friends and neighbors. She'd changed out of her soaked funeral clothes and into a simple gray dress that came down to her calves. He wasn't the least bit fooled by her cool calm exterior. Their finely tuned connection betrayed her perpetual anguish and dejection. Liz, who hadn't spoken one word to Bella since the funeral, appeared shell shocked as she sat on the couch beside Ryan, staring off into space. What had been a subtle divide between the two women since the accident was now an impassible chasm. Both seemed to avoid each other out of an unspoken agreement.
A few young wolves stayed behind after the others returned to the res, lurking outside in a bid to escape the somber, depressing atmosphere that cloaked the room. They sensed his frustration at his inability to ease Bella's sorrow and was reluctant to leave her alone.
Jacob inhaled, drawing in the crisp clean air and turned his gaze toward the cloudy sky. It had rained nonstop since Taylor died, but the bad weather was abating. For the first time in days, elusive rays of sunlight peeked through the thinning curtain of clouds. A sign the effects of draken magic had run its course.
Sam came up to him as he seated himself on the porch steps. "That was rough. How's Bella doing?"
"She won't talk to me. Won't even look at me, not since it happened." Jacob shrugged and a dull ache tugged at his heart.
It had been that way since the accident, almost as if she blamed him for letting her husband die. Each time he tried to talk to her, she quickly found an excuse to leave to room. The weight of failure continued to eat at him. It was his duty as a wolf to protect his imprint at all costs, but he'd failed horrifically at that critical task. He was so ashamed of himself he could barely stand it.
"I doubt she blames you," Quil said with a careless shrug. "It's not like she's said much to anyone these last few days."
Jacob arched an eyebrow and traded an astonished glance with Embry, who shared his surprise at Quil's defense of Bella. Quil was probably right in thinking he shouldn't take Bella's silence personally. Still, he wished she would cry or swear or throw something. The longer she remained calm, the more he feared she was heading for a break down.
"Still can't believe Taylor's gone," Rachel said and Paul gave her a one-armed hug.
"Do you think he knew what would happen?" Micheal asked.
"Did he know taking Fang back would kill him?" Jacob clarified, and the pup nodded. "Bella said he almost died once before. So it's possible he went into it knowing the outcome. But he would've risked anything to save her life. Even death."
Jacob's admission left him conflicted. While Taylor was alive, Jacob had thought him weak and annoying. His refusal to accept Fang had brought Bella endless pain and endangered her life. Watching him give up his life for her without hesitation, did a lot to change Jacob's perception of the man. Even though Bella was experiencing the worse pain of her life, he was grateful to Taylor. Because of him, Bella was still here and breathing. Alive. He'd always respect Taylor for that.
He rose from his seat with the intention of coaxing some food into her. Before he could take a step, Sam scrutinized him with dark, serious eyes. "What's going on with you?"
"Me? I'm fine." Jacob's reply came out sharper than intended and Sam's eyebrows raised.
"You're our Alpha." Sam attempted to hold Jacob's gaze, but lowered his eyes in deference after a beat. "We're just concerned about you, that's all."
"What's that supposed to mean?" A scowl darkened Jacob's features, his temper rising. The wolf growled, its muzzle wrinkling at their pitying looks. He felt their gaze assessing his haggard face, bloodshot eyes, the beginnings of a scraggly beard and, for the first time, resented the irrevocable ties that bonded them. In times of turmoil, the bond made it impossible to conceal his emotions. It made him transparent at inconvenient moments.
"It has to be tearing you up inside to see Bella hurting and with Carmen still gone—" Paul clammed up when Jacob stabbed him with a glare.
Seeing his imprint suffer felt like shards of glass being ground in his chest. It hurt to breathe, hurt to move. The pain worsened whenever she was gone from his sight. A wrecking ball of utter exhaustion, threatened to knock him on his ass. He couldn't remember the last time he slept or ate a decent meal. Without a doubt the lack of sleep and food accounted for his short temper.
Then there was Carmen's absence and her refusal to come back for the funeral. He hadn't known what to expect when he phoned New York with the terrible news, but cool indifference wasn't it. Their argument days before had been a revelation to him.
"I don't get you. Taylor died and Bella almost went with him. Where's the empathy you have for your patients?" He spoke into the phone.
"That's not fair. I feel bad about what's happening to Bella—"
"Do you? Feel bad for her?"
"Yes!" Her shouted, irritation carried in her tone.
"Because from where I'm standing, it doesn't look like you give a damn at all."
She quickly dropped all pretenses and in a voice dripping with bitterness said, "Why should I give a damn about Bella? If it was me, I doubt she'd give a shit."
That was the moment Jacob realized he'd made a horrible mistake claiming Carmen. He'd doomed his pack to an Alpha female who only showed kindness when it suited her. It hurt his pride to think of how he'd swallowed her lies for so long. How he'd let her cause disharmony among the wolf girls and turn claimed against imprint. It all stemmed from his guilt over claiming her in a drunken moment of despair. One mistake had tied them together until the day one of them died.
True Taylor hadn't been his favorite person, and they rarely agreed. Each time Taylor touched and kissed Bella, it drove him and the wolf insane with possessive jealousy. But Jacob could admit Taylor was a decent man who'd worshipped the ground his mate walked on. In the end it wasn't about his feelings, it was about being there for Bella, who been nothing but good to his pack. That Carmen couldn't put aside her hatred for Bella long enough to offer her condolences, spoke volumes.
He turned his back on the pack, shunning their gentle concern. Their focus should've been on Bella, not him. Like a sandcastle at high tide, she was crumbling before his eyes and he was powerless to stop it. What was the fucking point of being soul mates if he couldn't comfort his imprint?
When he was almost at the door, Embry intercepted him. "Can we talk? It's about Bella."
"What about her?" The wolf regarded his pack brother with wary alertness.
"I talked to her and—"
"You talked to her?" Jacob exhaled through his nose, fighting against a sharp rise of anger. "When was this?"
"Yesterday morning." Embry swallowed hard, his eyes flickered from one surface to the next. "We went for a walk and we talked."
It stung. That his imprint preferred to confide in someone else, his pack brother no less was like tossing salt in a festering wound. If that wasn't bad enough, his best friend was offering advice on how to best comfort her. Jacob would've preferred a punch in the balls. Around them, the wolves employed the tactic of strict non-involvement, content to observe from the sidelines.
"Bella's your imprint, I know but—" Embry risked a glance at his face before his gaze darted away. "She's struggling."
"You think I don't know that?" He spoke through clenched teeth.
"I'm not sure you do. Bella didn't just lose her mate, she lost Fang too." Embry continued, jaw hardening with grim determination. "When Taylor took Fang out, she said it killed a part of her mind. Like a brown patch of grass on a green lawn. There's more."
Jacob's scowled deepened and Embry rushed on. "She doesn't blame you for Taylor's death, she blames herself. He died protecting her and deep down she wishes she'd died instead. She's barely holding on and I thought you'd want to know."
True, the information hadn't come in the form he'd liked, but he appreciated it all the same. His bruised ego took second place when Bella's well being was on the line. And yet his worry deepened. He would rather she blame him instead of herself. At a time like this, loathing turned inward had the power to destroy. Bella was far too vulnerable.
Embry was about the beat a hasty retreat when Jacob stopped him. "Thanks for telling me."
A brisk nod and Embry left the porch, melting into the woods with several young wolves on his heels. Under normal circumstances, Jacob would've given into the impulse to join his brothers on a run, but his imprint occupied his thoughts.
One hand tightened on the doorknob as Jacob clenched his teeth. He couldn't shake the feeling he should've done something more to save Taylor. Anything to spare Bella this pain. If it was in his power to bring Taylor back to her, he would've done so without hesitation. Nothing mattered more than her happiness.
He cracked the door open and overheard two neighbors gossiping about Bella. Their irritating voices were like nails screeching down a chalkboard.
He'd been watching the women from the moment they barged into the house. Bella's other neighbors brought containers filled with food and were considerate enough to keep their visits brief. All except for the two women who continued to linger without getting the hint. Jacob immediately pegged them as two rubberneckers. Bella was the scene of a horrific accident and they came to gawk at the bloody aftermath.
"Such a shame to lose a husband so young," An overweight woman with frizzy black hair said. "No kids either."
Beyond them Bella entered the kitchen, carrying an empty tray and froze. The women were so busy in their speculation, they didn't notice her presence.
"That makes it even worse," said another woman after nibbling on her sausage rolls. Her face had a thin birdlike features of a crow. "If Greg died I'd be devastated but at least I'd have our kids to live for. Izzy doesn't have that."
"Why do you think they waited? If they could afford a house on our street right out of college, they could've afforded kids." Frizzy cocked an eyebrow, her beady eyes scanned the kitchen, assessing the value of each appliance they landed on.
"You know how these millennials are. Too selfish to give up their precious freedom." Birdface rolled her eyes and shook the breadcrumbs from her blouse. "I plan to warn my Kaitlyn against the dangers of waiting too long. It would break my heart if she ended up like poor Izzy. Alone with no husband or children."
Frizzy pursed her thin lips. "Women always pay a price when they refuse to put family first."
Jacob's fraying temper snapped and a low dangerous growl erupted from his throat. "Get out of this house."
They jumped and spun around with startled gasps. Birdface recovered first, indignation sparked in her dark eyes. "This isn't your house. You can't tell us what to do."
Jacob stepped forward, a threatening scowl darkening his face. "Get out or I'll throw you out."
Frizzy's face paled as she yanked on Bridface's arm and together they stumbled toward the living room.
Both women ground to a halt when they came upon Bella standing in the doorway and knew she'd heard everything. Faces flushed with mortification, they eased around her, muttering apologies and fled the house.
Apart from the slight tightening of her grip on the silver handles, Bella's features remained blank. She exuded a quiet, calm that unnerved him. It was as if she couldn't even summon the will to get angry. She set the tray on the kitchen counter and Jacob touched her shoulder. "How are you doing?"
She raised her hollow stare to his and murmured in a flat monotone, "Thank you for coming."
"No need to thank me, Bells." He smoothed his knuckles against her cool, bruised cheek and her mouth curved into an empty smile.
"How are you, Bells? Be honest." If only she would share her pain with him, let him carry some of her burden. It felt like a thick, brick wall separated them and it was driving the wolf crazy.
"Thank you for coming," she said again in a dead tone.
Jacob stiffened. How many times had she uttered those same words since the cemetery? He grasped her chin, concerned eyes searching her pale features. It was like staring into the dead eyes of her soulless clone. An empty shell that housed a vast void of nothingness. It scared the shit out of him.
"Bella?"
When no answer came, he immediately suspected drugs. Emily entered the kitchen carrying an empty pitcher, she saw his worried expression and rushed to his side.
"What's wrong?"
He was grateful she'd kept her voice low. The last thing Bella needed was to become the focus of more unwanted attention.
"I think she took something," Jacob told Emily. Bella's lips parted and he caught a whiff of alcohol on her breath.
Emily's eyes darted to the side and gave life to deeper suspicions. He ground out between clenched teeth. "What?"
"I gave her antidepressants." She averted her gaze.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Bella was already on several prescription meds, mixing drugs was a bad idea.
"She needed something, Jacob. Just look at her," Emily said, defensiveness crept into her tone. It was not a secret among the pack she'd started antidepressants soon after Evan's birth.
Bella swayed on her feet and would've fallen had Jacob not caught her. He scooped her up in his arms. He expected her to snap at him and demand he put her down, but no protests came. Instead, she tucked her head under his chin with the defeated sigh that broke his heart and warmed his neck. He carried her through the kitchen, drawing everyone's attention when they reached the living room.
Charlie was the first to notice their entrance and set his whiskey glass on the bookshelf. He approached, concern replacing fatigue. "Is something wrong?"
"She needs to lie down." Jacob assured them and mounted the staircase.
He carried her upstairs to her bedroom. The door hung ajar, and he pushed it open with his foot. The overcast weather doused the room in a dim light, the air tasted stale on his tongue. Taylor's scent hit like an icy bucket of water in the face the moment he crossed the threshold. The silver wristwatch on the nightstand, the vintage guitar—a birthday gift from Bella—that hung on the wall above their bed, the leather jacket slung over the back of the computer chair. Everywhere he looked there were everyday reminders of Taylor's presence. It was eerie. Any minute he expected the arrogant bastard to appear and order him from the bedroom.
Ignoring the wolf's growls he nestled her among the soft swells of an embroidered comforter. An odd thought compelled him to sniff her neck.
A whiff of perfume, soap, feminine body odor but… Taylor's scent was noticeably absent. Now that Jacob considered the implication, he hadn't smelled Taylor on her since his death. Was the lack of scent a sign of their severed bond?
The moment he set Bella down on the bed, she rolled away from him, drawing her knees to her chest. On the pillow beside hers, there laid a charcoal sweatshirt, crumpled from overuse. She reached over, snagged it by the cotton hood and hugged it to her chest.
His fingers stroked her damp hair, heart aching like a pinched nerve. "Bells, is there anything you need? Anything at all I can do to help you?"
"Please leave," she whispered, throat thick with tears. "Let me be alone with Taylor."
Hurt bloomed in his chest, but he set aside his feelings of rejection and gave her the space she needed. With one final glance at her lonesome figure, he retreated into the hallway. The door closed with a soft click. There, he came upon Liz and Ryan in the midst of a serious discussion.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"We're going to the hotel to see my dad." Liz said and Ryan avoided his gaze.
Jacob stared in disbelief. How could they abandon Bella at a time like this? "You can't leave now, Bella needs you."
Anger sparked in Liz's red rimmed eyes. "My father needs me more right now. Taylor's gone, and he's devastated."
Jacob's mouth twisted. "Yeah, we all saw how devastated he was at the cemetery."
"That's not fair," Liz snapped. "He didn't mean to lash out at Izzy. He's just upset and in pain."
"Your dad's not the only one in pain today." Jacob stabbed a finger at the closed bedroom door. "Bella's hurting too in case you hadn't notice."
Ryan chose that moment to step in and calm the rising tempers. "Let's not argue about this, okay? We'll go to the hotel, check on Walter and come right back. Izzy won't even notice we're gone."
"Look, I can't be around all these people right now, okay?" Liz swallowed hard and took a hesitant step.
"Just go." Jacob's mouth curved with disgust.
They turned to leave and spotted Renee standing in the hallway.
"You're leaving?" Renee's cool stare traveled from Liz to Ryan who glanced away.
Liz began, "We're just—"
"Don't bother," Renee coldly cut her off. "Do what you want. I only care about what happens to my daughter." She brushed past them and disappeared into Bella's room.
Liz stared at the closed door, chin quivering before Ryan grasped her arm and steered her down the stairs. Jacob trailed after them, resentment burning in his gut. They were Bella's family, her closest friends, but they were running away when she needed them most. Cowards.
Downstairs Kim came up to him, wearing a faint frown as she regarded Liz and Ryan. "Where are they going?"
"They're needed elsewhere," Jacob said loud enough for them to hear, and Ryan winced as he shrugged on his coat. They left without a backward glance and as their car engine growled to life, Jacob's eyes withdrawn to the Cullens on the far end of the room.
Alice was frantically whispering to Carlisle and Esme. "I saw it. The factions in Italy are on the move, and it will take three of us to prevent an all out war."
Jacob moved to Leah's side. She flicked a glance of acknowledgment in his direction before returning to her surveillance of the vampires. "What's happening with the Cullens?"
Leah's shoulders rose and fell with a shrug. "Not sure. Alice had a vision and whatever she saw freaked her out. Did you hear what she said about a war?"
"I heard," Jacob murmured. Gut instinct told him there was something big going down. The last time the Cullens spoke of war, he almost died protecting Bella from a newborn army.
"Are you certain there's no other alternative?" Carlisle looked pained.
"We have to do this, Carlisle. I saw the vision in her mind. They'll be satisfied if Jasper, Alice and I go to them." Edward said and Esme moved to embrace him. "If they learn Alice's vision was false, there's no telling how many lives will be lost."
"I can't believe you're leaving." Rosalie shook her head and blonde waves swayed. "What do we tell Bella? You know she'll ask for you."
"Tell her Alice is having trouble, and we went back to Japan to get help," Edward suggested after offering Alice an apologetic smile.
"You want us to lie? Don't you think Bella deserves the truth?" Emmett's eyes narrowed.
"If Carlisle is right, she'll have more important matters to contend with soon enough." Edward settled a heavy hand on his vampire brother's shoulder and met his amber gaze. "Trust me, Emmett, the less Bella knows, the better."
"We must leave for Italy at once," Jasper said and Alice nodded, grave expression on her face.
The other vampires took turns embracing all three before taking their leave. Edward cast a look of intense longing upstairs, firm resolve hardened his eyes and then he was gone.
Jacob approach Carlisle. "Did something happen? Where are they going?"
Carlisle's expression became guarded, rigid. "Nothing to concern yourself with. Merely vampire business."
He almost confronted the doctor about what he'd heard concerning their troubles in Italy, but held back at the final moment. Whatever trouble the vampires courted was not his problem. However, their continued presence in Forks was a whole other bag of crabs.
"Speaking of vampire business, when are you leaving town?" Now that Bella was safe, the vampires had no reason to stay in Forks. Their continued presence restricted the areas the pack patrolled. With the Cullens back in town, the wolves could not patrol beyond the reservation's borders.
"This is hardly the time to discuss such things. We won't leave town unless we're certain Bella will be all right." Carlisle said, a tad too haughty for Jacob's liking.
"Bella has the pack and her family to see her through this. She doesn't need you. Any of you." He swept the group of four with a frosty glare. Emmett issued a low growl in response.
"Whether you approve or not, Bella considers us part of her family. We won't leave until she asks us to."
"That's where you wrong—" Jacob broke off when Esme moved between them.
"Please, Jacob. We love Bella and would never dream of causing her more pain." Sadness touched her smile, a genuine plea in her yellow eyes. "I'm sure you can agree that a person can never have too much love."
After glaring at Carlisle, Jake up stalked away before he gave into the temptation to break the treaty. This was the reason he steered clear of the Cullen matriarch. Whenever they had any dealings he always came away with an unpleasant pang of guilt, like he was being mean to his mother.
Jacob returned to the porch out back where Leah had informed the remaining wolves of the potential trouble. He brought them up to speed on the Cullen's decision to stick around.
"What the hell is going on?" Frustrated, Leah shoved a hand through her short hair.
"Yeah and why did Jasper, Alice and Edward run off to Italy?" Michael asked as he rolled the sleeves of his best shirt to his elbows. This was after he'd flung his father's tweed jacket over the wooden banister.
"No idea but whatever's going on, Carlisle's keeping it hush-hush." Jacob scowled. What was the vampire doctor hiding? And what was with his sudden reluctance to leave Bella?
"I don't like this, Jake," Sam said and Jacob shared his unease.
A cloud the shade of burnt marshmallow, glided across the sky, obscuring the sun's rays. An ominous chill crawled down Jacob's spine. This had trouble written all over it. He hoped the Cullens hadn't dragged their troubles to his door.
The orange glow of early morning filtered through the forest, illuminating everything it touched. Jacob opened his eyes squinting at the morning light. It took a while for his sleep addled mind to register his surroundings. He was still in the woods beyond Bella's house, where he'd spend the night. After the gathering at the house, she'd refused to come back downstairs. Aside from her mother and Rosalie, no one else was allowed to come near her. Not even him.
Though her overwhelming grief compelled the wolf to remain by her side, he forced himself to leave anyway. She was never far from his thoughts even after he returned to his empty home. Sleep continued to elude him until he couldn't take it anymore. He shifted and returned to her house where he sat in the woods, waiting to catch a glimpse.
After hours of listening to Rosalie and Renee's futile attempts to coax Bella from her room, he finally drifted off into a fitful sleep. A sleep tormented by nightmares of her in the clutches of an unnamed danger. He woke up disoriented and plagued by the loud complaints of an empty stomach.
Jacob raised his furry head and peered at his makeshift bed of mossy green earth and redwood leaves, feeling the snap of a dry twig beneath him. He climbed to his paws and shook the nettles and clumps of dirt from his fur. The pungent odor of earth and leaf sap clung to him, but he couldn't do anything about that until his next shower. Though he hated to leave Bella, he'd neglected himself and the needs of his pack for days now.
Through the brambles he spotted Bella, sitting on the porch swing, a checkered quilt draped around her shoulders. He questioned whether to approach or not, but the wolf resisted any attempts to leave without speaking to her first. The wolf overruled any hesitation. Jacob shifted first. If it were up to the wolf, he would've galloped up to her on his furry paws and licked her face.
Jacob had time to cross the lawn and kneel before her before she registered his presence.
"Bells."
His voice seemed to startle her, and she dragged her eyes from the dark, steaming liquid in her coffee mug.
She regarded him with the flat, dull eyes of someone whose mind was a million miles away.
"It's me, Bells," Jacob said, disturbed by the blankness in her stare.
"Jacob," she breathed and then tears welled in her eyes. The dam burst and she sobbed as though her heart was breaking.
Jacob joined her on the porch swing and gathered her into his arms, holding her as she wept. Upstairs he heard the measured, even breaths of her mother engaged in sleep. Rosalie didn't breathe but the nauseating stench of hot garbage and perfume announced her lingering presence in Bella's house. He was grateful she stayed inside and allowed them the illusion of privacy. After some time had passed Bella withdrew from him, scrambling for control of her rioting emotions. She dabbed at her tears with the quilt's frayed edge.
A light breeze blew crisp, dried autumn leaves along the porch, scratching the wooden slats as they went.
"Liz and Ryan left." She sniffled.
"Where did they go?" Jacob asked with a faint frown.
"Back to Boston with Walter." Bella said. "Liz said she needed time away and Ryan went with her. I don't think… they're coming back." She hiccuped, and the tears started again.
Jacob clenched his jaw against the sudden surge of anger. The temptation to trash her so-called friends was strong. When he was able to speak, he said, "They'll come back, Bells. Maybe they need some space to cope with Taylor's death."
Bella looked at him with moist eyes. "I think they blame me. Why wouldn't they? Walter was right, I'm the reason he's dead. It's all my fault."
"That's not true, Bells." Jacob silently cursed Walter Reed to the deepest pits of hell. "None of this is your fault. Taylor's death was a terrible accident."
"Liz and Ryan have no reason to be here anymore. Taylor was the glue, he held us together. Now he's gone, there's no reason for them to stay." She sobbed. "I'm so alone."
Jacob slid off his cushioned seat and knelt down before her. He took the mug from her shaky grasp, setting it on the ground. Using his thumb, he brushed a stray tear that rolled down her cheek.
"Come home with me, Bells. Let me take care of you." He pressed his forehead against hers and warm breath fanned his face.
"You can't fix me, Jake. This isn't like when Edward left. There are no broken parts to piece back together. A part of me died with him." Hot tears coursed down her cheeks.
"Tell me what to do. Tell me how I can help," Jacob begged. Anything she wanted. Whatever it took to erase the hopelessness from her face.
"You can't. I have to do this on my own. That's why I'm flying back to Florida with my mom." She lifted her trembling chin.
The pain in his chest intensified and he leaned back on his heels. "You're leaving? For how long?"
"I don't know. The house is so empty without them—without him. Too many memories."
Will you come back? Was the question burning a hole in his mind but instead, he swallowed the aching lump in his throat. He asked, "When do you leave?"
"Today."
Hands jammed in his pockets, Jacob stood under the cool shade of a giant oak tree, watching Charlie load Bella's luggage into the trunk of his police cruiser. He was taken aback by the numerous suitcases Rosalie and Renee had packed. Almost as if they were expecting an extended stay in Florida.
The trunk slammed shut and Charlie regarded him, his lawmaker eyes intent. Features grim, the police chief ambled over to him and clapped him hard on the shoulder. "You don't want her to leave, son. I don't either but maybe…" A tired sounding sigh. "The trip will be good for her."
"This is what she wants, I get that. But the wolf senses how much pain she's in and it's making me crazy. The instinct to be near her is just too strong."
"Is it the imprint?" Charlie's eyebrows rose slightly.
"I can't tell anymore." He'd indulged the imprint until he lost the ability to separate his feelings from the beast's. Something Trevor and the imprinted wolves had warned him about countless times. As a result he was inextricably bound to Bella and her to him. None of that mattered now. For so long he'd fought the imprint, almost forgetting that he'd loved her long before the wolf found him. "I almost told her about the imprint when we were at the Cullens. I didn't want her to die without knowing."
"Why didn't you?"
"Wasn't the right time, and I couldn't risk making things worse." He scowled. "Now it feels like I'll never get the chance."
"You didn't think Bella would come back when she left for college, but she did." Charlie gave him a small confident smile. "The fact that you imprinted on her after so many years should tell you something."
That dragged a bitter laugh out of him. "That the universe loves to screw with me?"
"Some things are meant to be, son. Your story won't end here."
"Wish I had your faith." Jacob couldn't fathom the reason behind Charlie's unshakable optimism, but he was grateful one of them believed. Right now, things were the darkest they'd ever been.
His gaze was drawn to the two vampires standing in front Bella's home as if they had every right to be there.
"She tell you Rosalie and Emmett are going with her?"
"Yes," Jacob growled, a muscle ticked in his jaw. He'd lost his shit when Bella told him, yelling and threatening to dismember the vampires if they came anywhere near her. His furious tirade came to a screeching halt when Bella burst into tears. Watching her sob, his mind filled with thoughts of self loathing. How could he be so selfish, so inconsiderate? Bella had been abandoned by the people she considered family. In their absence Rosalie had stepped up to look after her. Despite his beef with the vampires, his imprint had always loved them. Her needs had to come first.
Charlie's face hardened, his mouth took on a sour twist. "I don't like it either but Carlisle wants them to keep an eye on her."
"Carlisle, huh?" Did it have anything to do with why Edward and the others ran off to Italy?
At the same time Renee stepped outside and wandered over to the vampires.
Charlie's mustache twitched in agitation, watching her smile politely at a comment Emmett made. "Renee would flip out if she knew what they were."
Though Renee knew about the draken—she'd demanded the truth after witnessing Taylor bring her daughter back from the dead—she was still in the dark where vampires and werewolves were concerned.
Just then Bella exited the house with a brown backpack slung over her shoulder.
Charlie, Renee and the vampires piled into the car while he and Bella said their goodbyes.
Though pressuring her for reassurance made him feel shitty, he couldn't resist. "Promise me you'll come back."
For a moment she regarded him, the dull fog lifting from her eyes. Recognition and awareness entered her gaze. "I'll try."
A tender flicker of hope flared inside him and he jerked her close, kissing her with all the gratitude and love he had to offer. Her dry lips remained unresponsive, body limp in his embrace, but she didn't push him away either. He took it as a good sign.
She'd have whatever she wanted, even if he had to break his heart to give it to her. Maybe Charlie was right. Sometimes letting someone go was the best and only thing to do.
Bella climbed into the car and it pulled away from the house, taking a piece of him with her. The wolf grieved, releasing mournful howls at her absence. He stood on the sidewalk, long after the cruiser had disappeared from view, pondering how he would survive their separation. Mind lost in a gray fog, he hardly recalled the run back to the reservation.
Carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, he dragged himself up the porch steps, shoved open the door to his home and froze. A sweet scent of perfume rushed at him, eliciting a low, cautious growl from the wolf.
His gaze snapped to the travel bags at the foot of the stairs, and then to woman perched on a couch cushion.
Carmen's lips curved into a uncertain smile. "I'm home."
A/N: Brutal chapter to write that required me to take a lot of hankie breaks. Definitely couldn't write this chapter from Bella's Pov but I'll have to deal as the next chapter we'll join Bella in Florida.
Back to the story
Taylor's dead. (Jacob fans cheer while Taylor fans throw themselves on his coffin)
Walter blames Bella for his son's death
Two neighbors badmouth Bella in her home
Jacob notices Bella no longer smells like Taylor
Liz and Ryan leave for Boston
Bella's devastated (she's not the only one **cries**)
Alice's vision lead her, Jasper and Edward to Italy
Carlisle's refusal to leave Forks triggers Jacob suspicions that something bad is coming
Rosalie and Emmett follow Bella to Florida
Separation from his imprint leaves Jacob brokenhearted
Carmen's back
Review and receive your teasers.
