Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight Saga or any of the characters in the story.

Well! My holiday break is finally over which means that it's back to work, which also means back to writing! I've missed you guys and I'm sorry about the long wait! I hope you guys had a great holiday season! Happy reading! :)

Chapter Thirty Six

At the sound of Bella's scream, two things happened. The first was that Jacob let out an earth shattering roar directed at the two vampires standing only a few feet away. The second was that both James and Victoria vanished from their spot.

Bella could not regain her breathing. The two vampires whose marks were forever imprinted on her flesh, had come back for seconds. And while she was under the protection of the most powerful wolf of the Quileute pack, he was a wolf and wolves were almost useless without their pack to fight beside them.

The low growl in Jacob's chest was as loud as thunder, and a warning to any creature in the area that if they came close to his mate, they would face death. Or something much worse.

She could feel her heart flying in her chest. It felt as though it was about to explode. Through their bond, Bella could feel Jacob's rage that surged out of him in waves. If he had been coming back to his human self before, she was certain that he had most likely slipped deeper into his wolf's mind than before.

Jacob's head swung from left to right and began to back up towards a thick tree trunk. Bella followed, her senses on high alert, trying to see where the two blood thirsty vampires had gone. Finally Bella was backed against the tree trunk and Jacob stood protectively in front of her.

There was a beat of complete silence, and then all hell broke loose.

Jacob snarled and lunged to his right, dodging an attack from one of the vampires. The fight was too fast for Bella to process and all she could hear was hissing and angry snarls from her mate. The entire time, Jacob did not stray more than a foot from Bella, keeping her body underneath his own as she crouched against the tree trunk. Suddenly Jacob lunged sharply forward and there was the sound of metal being torn apart again followed by an agonized shriek. Covering her ears, Bella knew that one of the vampires had become incapacitated.

Another loud, irate shriek pierced the silent forest, and left Bella's ears ringing. However she was left confused when Jake suddenly left his position covering Bella's body and darted towards the river bank. From her position against the tree she could see what was left of James' body laying on the ground near the water. His head halfway submerged in some mud and his legs and arms still attached to his torso.

Bella focused back on her mate who was snarling and snapping at a blurry, smudge of red that lunged at him continuously. Briefly her eyes flickered back to the decapitated body and she realized that the arms on James' body were now pulling the entire headless body towards the head that lay in the mud only a few feet away.

She had not even realized she had stood up until she was already halfway to the decapitated body. Just as the arms on James' body reached for the head that was only two feet away, Bella reached down and snatched up the vampire's head. Gagging in disgust, Bella tried to focus on the imprint bond. Taking some of the rage and pure courage that radiated from her mate she flung the vampire's head far onto the other side of the river with a loud shriek.

As soon as the head left her grasp she shouted in surprise when she felt a freezing cold hand surrounding her ankle. Screaming, she saw that the headless body of James was now gripping her ankle. She could feel the distress from Jacob through the bond. He wanted to come and make sure she was alright, but there was no way he could do that without giving Victoria an opening. So, after trying to calm herself down as much as was possible while having a decapitated, vampire body holding onto her ankle she tried to make the hand release her.

The body was so heavy that Bella ended up landing in the mud next to the river, her hands prying at the cold shackle around her ankle. Frantically, Bella grabbed a sharp stone from the dirt next to her and began sawing at the frozen flesh that held her. It seemed to do no good, and her eyes strayed back to the fight. She was positive that she saw Jacob deliver a good swipe with his claws to Victoria, but she as she watched them, she didn't see her hand slip from James' wrist and the sharp rock grated against her own skin instead of James'.

Bella hissed and looked down at the spot of blood from the scrape she had given herself, and in that moment she heard the telltale sound of metal being shredded apart and the choked scream of a vampire finally meeting its end.

Looking over, Bella saw a very familiar scene of Jacob uncontrollably tearing apart Victoria's body. From her spot she could see that there was nothing left to the vampire at all.

"Jacob!" Bella called in a shaky voice, her hands frozen as Jake paused from his kill and turning to look at her. Looking back at the shreds of vampire left on the ground, Jacob snorted and then walked over to where Bella sat on the ground. Snarling, and lunging at James' body, as soon as his teeth clamped down on James' leg, Bella's ankle was released. She scurried up the river bank, back to the tree in a flash.

Turning her eyes away, she did not watch as Jake finished ripping apart James' body for moments on end. After what felt like eternity, the noises stopped, but Bella still did not move.

Eyes closed, ears ringing, bare skin caked in mud, bra strap hanging off of her shoulder, leaves in her hair and blood dripping down her ankle. Bella began to cry.

She wanted to go home. She wanted to lay in bed with her Jacob. She wanted to hear his voice whispering his love to her and promises that this was all a terrible dream. She wanted to be warm, and out of danger, and above all she wanted to just live her life with Jacob. No bullshit. No life or death situations. Just living.

As she continued to cry softly, Jake drew closer, panting heavily and moving at a cautious pace. Her whole body shook with the shock of everything that had happened to her in such a short amount of time. A whine escaped Jacob as his nose gently nudged into her hair that had fallen in front of her face.

At this absolutely tender display, Bella began to sob in earnest. Every bit of fear and the weight of the past two days exploded from her in the fat tears that rolled down her cheeks. Turning slightly, she reached out for Jacob who leaned down to the ground silently, allowing her to cling to his back like a child. She could feel Jake moving through the forest again, but she could not do anything but sob hysterically into his thick, warm fur. When they slowed down Bella found that Jake had stopped next to a large vertical rock face. Leaning down, he let Bella slide off. Unable to hold her weight, Bella collapsed into the damp leaves that coated the forest floor next to the rock face. Jacob immediately took up his place, curling against her body, and covering as much as he was able to without crushing her with his weight.

As night fell around them, Bella cried until she had no more tears left to give. Breathing heavily, Bella snuggled her body up against Jake's. His nose nudged her cheek once again, a low whine emitting from his throat. She could not reply to him and instead let herself drift towards sleep.

Drifting in that state, Bella began to think of home. Of the small cottage, and the bed she shared with Jake. Of his kisses and the feel of his mouth against her skin. The sounds that came from him as they made love. The laughter they shared when she had first gotten to know him. Bella thought of everything that Jacob had shown to her since she had met him. Every feeling he had brought forth in her. Every caress and kiss and tender word he'd spoken. It all came back to her as she lay in the heat of her wolf.

Slipping into sleep she didn't have the chance to see that Jacob's eyes had returned to their dark brown color.

-8-

"Bella."

Bella was dreaming.

"Bella."

Jacob had finally returned to her.

"My love. My Bella."

What a lovely dream. She could hear his voice, so full of love and longing. Drifting across the vast darkness that had drawn her under.

"Come back to me, little one. Come back to me, Bella."

Awareness suddenly washed over Bella and her eyes fluttered open squinting into the dark, unsure if she was still in a dream or not.

"Oh, my little Bella. My strong, beautiful mate. I am so proud of you," Jacob's deep voice whispered softly, cracking slightly, almost sounding pained. Bella gasped at the sound of his voice. His human voice. Opening her eyes fully to the night that surrounded them, Bella's eyes peered into the dark abyss of Jacob's eyes set into his handsome face.

Tears spilled out of Bella's wide, surprised eyes as she flung her body into her mate's, grasping onto any part of Jake to reassure herself that he was back. Jake reacted instantly and sat up, gripping Bella's body as close to his as possible.

"You're back. You're okay. Oh, Jake," Bella blubbered, stroking and grabbing at his hot, naked skin. Feeling his hands stroke her hair and brush over every available part of her.

"I never left you, baby. Not for a single second. I'd never leave you, I just was so scared. You were gone… You were hurt, I was so angry," Jacob's body vibrated viciously under Bella's body and drew back from him, tears dripping down her cheeks onto his skin, a glare set on her face.

"Jacob Black, you calm down this instant. I am alright, and I need you right now. Don't you dare do that to me again," her voice coming out much shakier than she anticipated. Jacob's dark eyes were tender as his tremors slowed, his fingertips stroking her brow, and wiping away the moisture from her soft, dirt streaked cheeks.

"I'm not going anywhere, Bells. And you're never leaving my sight again," Jacob stated in the deep timbre of his alpha wolf side. Bella began to sob again as her hands grasped at his hair, pulling his face towards her.

Their lips met and it was not delicate. Bella bit at his lips, showing him her fear that she'd experienced. In return, his lips caressed hers, his tongue sweeping along her wet lips and sliding along her own apologizing for his absence and making promises she knew he'd keep. Bella's hands began gripping at his neck and shoulders, nails raking over the heated flesh, feeling his arms slide tighter around her naked waist. She could feel the mud that had dried onto her skin, but in that moment she could not have cared less. As Jacob poured every ounce of his love and need into his kiss, she felt her soul sing to him in a way only he could understand.

"You were so brave, baby. So fucking brave," Jake growled against her lips, ducking his head to suck and kiss her jaw.

"I didn't do anything," Bella gasped as one of his hands reached up and tweaked at her erect nipple over the cloth of her bra. A shiver shook her spine and Jake growled against her neck, taking the flesh between his skin and sucking hard.

"Doesn't matter. You were taken by four vampires," he spit out after he released that spot of her neck, only to move to the other side and repeating the process.

"You were the one that killed them, Jake. You were the one that saved me," Bella replied in a gasp as he sucked on her skin. He was marking her and it sent a thrill down her spine. She felt his hand reach behind her again and unclip her dirt covered bra. As it slipped off, he threw it away from them, his hand cupping the rounded flesh and pinching roughly.

"Even when I wasn't myself, I still remembered you. You are everything to me, Bella," Jake hissed, dipping his head to nip at her collar bone. Bella threw her head back at the sensation, letting Jake's arm support her bowed back and raising her chest up for better access. Without pausing Jake's mouth descended on her peaked flesh, sucking the delicate pink nipples, leaving them raw and red. Bella could not contain her moans at the feeling, but squirmed under him, trying to get back into his embrace. She had to touch him, had to make sure that he was truly back with her.

"I need to feel you, Jake. I need to know that you're really here. You're with me again," Bella gasped frantically, lurching upward and placing her hands on Jake's shoulders. For a moment they were silent, both breathing heavily and staring into each other's eyes.

"I'm here Bella. I will never leave you," Jacob said to her his onyx eyes sucking her inside of him. Inside of his very soul.

"I love you," she replied simply, and with that everything resumed. Bella felt herself being shifted off of Jake's lap back onto the ground. The leaves were cold and damp under her back, but Jake was more focused on tearing off the black cotton panties that were the last piece of clothing separating them. After they were ripped off Bella expected him to fill her, but she nearly shrieked in surprise when he buried his tongue deep inside of her. Forcing her legs apart his his large, scalding hot hands, his tongue mercilessly lashed against her soft flesh. His lips wrapped around her clit, sucking on the button of nerves until she was shaking for release.

"Please Jacob," she whimpered, but he seemingly ignored her, because he let go of her clit and began laving his tongue over her inner lips, tasting every inch of her essence. Writhing underneath him and begging for him to continue and stop at the same time. He took no heed of her, curling his tongue up as deep inside of her as he could, filling her with heat, and yet teasing her with what was to come.

"Jake!" Bella screamed as her legs tensed against his hands, trying to squeeze his head. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her back bowed off the ground while Jake moved his hands under her ass, lifting her hips so that he could more easily take everything she had to offer. Bella was sure that he had drawn this beautiful torture out for hours, and her body was strung so tightly that she thought she might go insane if she did not release soon. And then he stopped.

Bella's long moan of protest echoed into the night as her eyes squeezed shut.

"I cannot explain what it felt like to be completely consumed by my wolf," Jake whispered as his hot hands moved to massage Bella's upper thighs. His lips kissed the quivering flesh of her thigh as he spoke, "It was one tracked. Scattered and confusing. And yet, the one constant in my head was you."

Bella whimpered, her hips jumping and her pulse raced. Jake's hands caressed up her legs trying to get the tension in her hips to abate.

"I was afraid you'd be scared of me. That you'd think I would hurt you in that state of mind," Jake murmured, kissing her navel softly, letting his lips rest against the softness.

"Never," Bella almost screamed as his hands grabbed her own and she gripped as tightly as she could, "I was never afraid of you. I knew you'd never hurt me. It was in your eyes. Your soul was there in your eyes and I could see it."

Jake did not speak for a moment as Bella tried to calm her breathing.

"I still wasn't there in time to prevent this," Jake bit out, and Bella glanced down to see Jake's gaze flickering between her two elbows.

"Jacob," Bella snapped and his eyes returned to hers, "Do not focus on that. You saved me. You killed them. I'm here, be with me," Bella glared at him. Daring the alpha to go against what she said. Even in the darkness with only the moon to shed light on them, Bella could see the flicker in his eye as he accepted the challenge from his alpha female mate.

Without another word, Jacob leaned upward and took a soft nipple into his mouth while his hand flicked the other one. Arching upward into his touch, Bella moaned for more. She needed more, her body still jumping like a live wire, teetering on the precipice of ecstasy.

"My mate. My gorgeous, brave little girl. I love you so much, Bella," Jake murmured as he released her nipple. Bella twitched when she felt the head of Jacob's cock nudge at her slick folds. Incapable of words, Bella could only whimper underneath her mate's powerful body. He was done teasing, unable to take anymore himself.

Bella opened her eyes to stare into her mate's handsome face, reaching up with one hand to grab his hair. As he mirrored her movement he finally slid himself inside of her. Bella keened with pleasure at the sensation of being completely connected to her mate again.

"Keep your eyes open, baby. Let me see you when you cum," Jake barely managed grit out between his teeth as he began to thrust into her. The tenseness of her body seemed to double as Jake filled her repetitively. Shaking underneath his body, her arms wrapped around his neck as he gained speed, angling his hips up to brush over her g-spot. Screaming out in pleasure Bella knew that she was seconds away from bliss.

"Let me see you, Bella. Let go for me," Jake commanded harshly, his gaze locked onto hers and with another deep, hard thrust, Bella unravelled. Struggling to keep eye contact with her mate as he continued thrusting into her body, drawing out her orgasm for as long as possible. Bella's body quaked and convulsed beneath Jacob. His hands stroking her hair and down her side as her legs wrapped around his hips, pulling him deeper.

Jake was thrusting wildly now, plunging into her heat and letting all of his left over fear escape him. Grasping onto her body as tightly as possible without harming her, Jake pounded into her. He almost lost her. He'd almost lost his mate forever. The thought had him growling into her skin. Drawing up one of her legs he placed her ankle against his shoulder and drove into her at another angle. Her soft whimpers had his mind going haywire and he turned his head towards her tiny pale foot. Catching his eye was the small scrape above her ankle.

The memory flashed in his mind of the female pausing at the scent of her blood, giving him the opening he needed to tear her apart. Then turning to see the male vampire's hand wrapped around her leg and blood dripping from the wound. A snarl left Jake's mouth and his hips snapped forward harder than before. Reaching down with his left hand his fingers deftly found the bundle of nerves at the top of Bella's opening and as he began to rub, he could feel her walls fluttering around him.

Letting down her leg, he used his free arm to wrap around Bella and draw her body closely against his own. Flicking her clit with his other hand, and simultaneously grinding his length into her heat at a punishing rhythm, Bella gasped with pleasure. Her release was drawing closer and with Jake's harsh breathing in her ear she was more likely to stop an on coming train than she was stopping this orgasm.

It slammed into her, twisting her body and making her hands grasp at any part of Jake's body she could reach, flashes of white light blinding her entirely. Her body pulsed and she heard Jake's roar, feeling his cock twitch inside of her with his own orgasm. Bella had started to drift from the overwhelming pleasure she had just experienced when she felt a sharp sting of Jake's teeth breaking the skin where his old mark used to lie.

Unexpectedly Bella was ripped from the aftershocks of her second orgasm and pulled into another third release that sucked her under like a tidal wave. Making her feel as though she was a rag doll tumbling in an endless wave. Moaning Jake's name as he licked at his mark, his hips finally stilling within the cradle of her thighs.

It was a long time before Bella had calmed down enough for her to comprehend anything outside of the pleasure of what had just happened. Jake did not move from within her and instead just wrapped Bella's body within his arms, letting his sweaty forehead fall into the juncture of her neck and shoulder. The mark he'd left was still bleeding, but the wolf which was still so close to the surface was growling in satisfaction.

"Jake, don't leave," Bella murmured into the hot skin of his shoulder. Her mind a scattered mess as she nestled deeper into his warmth. Jake was silent for a moment and then laid gentle kisses up her neck and onto her red, swollen lips.

"Never, Bella. I will never leave you," Jake replied against her lips. And before she could reply, she had fallen asleep. Content in a way she had never been before.

Jake's finally back! And the evil vampires are dead! Coming down to the last few chapters my loves! Feel free to leave a comment if you'd like to and thank you for reading!