*Finally*

Jacob's POV

"So you told her right"?

I nodded my head, but didn't say a word.

"Okay? So if she knows about the imprint now, why are you guys still not talking"?

I sighed and ran a hand over my face.

"Because I kept it from her, if anyone should have known what was going on, it was her".

I moved my hands from my face and looked at the person sitting across from me. Bella was looking at me with questioning eyes. And for once I couldn't read her. I didn't have a clue what she was thinking. We were sitting in Charles's kitchen and I had just unleashed to Bells what had been going on with me since she found me in the woods after my argument with Naomi. I had been talking to her a lot in the past couple weeks and I felt that I could call her my friend again. But with that being said, it didn't make my situation easier; in fact, I'm pretty sure if Naomi knew Bella had found out about the imprint before she did, shit would really hit the fan. And hard.

"I think you've gone about this all wrong Jake". Bella said quietly and I snorted loudly.

"Thanks Bells, didn't even realize it". I couldn't help the sarcasm. I really wanted someone to tell me something I didn't know.

Bella laughed and slapped my arm; if I wasn't looking at her I probably wouldn't have felt it at all.

"I'm serious Jake. You have to stop thinking that you know what's best for everyone. What might be good for you is not always good for others".

I looked at Bella for a long second before a small smile came to my lips.

"I knew what was best for you Bells, even when you didn't. That has to account for something".

Bella laughed quietly and she blushed slightly.

"I know you did, but you also knew me. Inside and Out. You could read me better than even I could myself". She touched my arm again softly before she continued.

"But Naomi is completely different. I think you have finally met your match Jacob Black because believe it or not, you can't read everyone".

I groaned and leaned back in my chair. I knew she was right though. Bella and Naomi were completely different people. With Bella, a single look could cross her face and I would instantly know what she was feeling. I knew when she was lying and I knew what she was thinking. I could and still could read Bella like an open book.

Naomi was a lot more difficult.

She had a damn good poker face. Sometimes I had a hard time trying to even decipher what was flowing through her mind. Naomi had a ton of different layers and every time you peeled back one, there was another, and then another after that.

But that's what I loved about her. She was complex, she was stubborn, she was intricate, and she was everything. She completed me. She was my other half.

When I looked at Bella again she had this smile on her face that I just couldn't place. You know that kind where someone looks at you with their head cocked to the side with that strange little smile playing on their lips? Yeah that was the smile Bella had on her face right now. It was kind of freaking me out a little bit.

"What"? I asked suddenly and Bella giggled. Instead of answering me though she asked me something else.

"Do you love her Jake"?

The question caught me off guard for a minute. Then I felt warm and calm, almost like I didn't have a fucking care in the world. I smiled.

"Yes". I answered honestly. "Before the imprint and even more now. The imprint didn't change a damn thing; it just strengthened what we already had. I love her Bells, with every part of my being and I honestly couldn't imagine my life without her at all".

Bella gave me a huge smile and leaned forward a bit and grabbed my hand in her own. She stared at our intertwined fingers for a minute. She had always been captivated by the big contrast between our skin colors. Then she looked at me and I have never seen Bella so happy.

"Then go get her Jake, go get her". She whispered.

I sat still and my limbs wouldn't move an inch. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared. I was terrified. I didn't know what I would do if she denied me again. I needed her like I needed air to breathe and I was afraid that I had already fucked up things so badly that they couldn't be fixed.

"What if she doesn't want me"? I asked and I couldn't help feeling a bit self-conscience.

Bella squeezed my hand a bit and place a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I see how you look at each other. That girl loves you just as much as you do her, she won't deny you. You can't live without your heart".

I exhaled deeply and pulled Bella close for a hug. I knew she was right. I needed to make things right. I needed my imprint back.

I pulled back a bit and gave Bella a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks Bells, for everything".

She laughed and moved back to sit completely in her chair.

"Anything I could do to help Jake, just let me know".

I kept my fingers intertwined with hers and brought her hand to my lips so that I could place a kiss on the back of it.

"You just being here for me have been more than enough". I told her quietly and she smiled.

I stood to my feet. I had a lot of things to handle before I finally went and handled my situation with Naomi. I wanted to get everything that didn't have anything to do with her out the way, so that my time with her could be uninterrupted.

"Are you sure you have to leave today Bells"? I asked. "Having you back in town kind of feels just like old times".

Bella gave me another smile before she stood as well, taking our cups from the table to the sink.

"Unfortunately yeah I do, I have finals coming up and I need to finish off some other things before the semester is up".

Her back was still facing me when I came up and wrapped my arms around her. I heard her sigh and she leaned back into me. I buried my nose in her hair and breathed in. Bella would always be my friend, my best friend. She just didn't hold that huge part of my heart anymore. Someone else had taken her place.

"I hope that you will call more now, don't be a stranger Bells".

She turned around in my arms and wrapped her own around my waist, her head resting on my chest.

"I promise that I will". She looked up at me and gave me a small smile.

"You better go Jake, you have things to do".

I placed a kiss to her forehead and pulled back a little.

"I'm going to miss you". I said quietly, pushing some hair away from her face. "Are you leaving now"?

Bella grabbed my hand that was near her cheek and held it there, leaning into it.

"I have to take care of something here before I go, but then I'm leaving". She paused for a minute. "I'm going to miss you too Jake".

I smiled and gave her another kiss on the head before I started to make my way towards the door. I wanted to stay, but had things to do. A part of me would always be connected to Bella, just because our history ran far too deep. But now my mind and my heart were completely with someone else.

"See ya Bells". I said, walking out Charlie's back door.

Even though I hadn't stayed to see Bella respond, I heard the soft "bye Jake" as the door closed behind me. I smiled.

I had called a meeting with my pack for later in the afternoon and I was seated on my porch, tossing up a football idly in the air while I waited for them. It had been a grueling month and half fighting with the council about the pack's imprinting issues and in the end I told them exactly what they could do.

I told them that they could all kiss my ass, every last inch of it.

They were all (minus my dad of course and Sue) hypocrites. Not only was Sam's imprint Emily, not a wolf, she wasn't Quileute either. I hadn't noticed this little tad bit of information before, because I was just that pissed off, but once I did, it didn't make my anger about everything any better. I liked Emily, I really did, and I even held a spot for Sam, but I'll be damn if the fucking council were going to sit on their high horses and give me shit about my imprint when they didn't utter a word about Sam's.

So in words that I would rather not repeat but I'm pretty sure you can get the drift, I told them that they would either accept, not only my imprint, but Leah's and Embry's as well, or they could find there selves another Alpha, as well as two other pack members and considering that there hasn't been a vampire overload in the last two years, that was going to be pretty hard. I knew that Embry and Leah would leave if I did, especially if Naomi wasn't accepted then of course that meant neither would Aaron or Camille. They wouldn't only lose their Alpha, but also the fastest runner and the one with the sharpest eyesight. That would leave them with only three older wolves and three younger ones and no one to lead them, not the greatest of situations.

The council didn't have much of a damn choice. They gave me their blessing and said they would welcome the other tribe of wolves. I really didn't give a fuck if they gave me their blessing or not, either way I was going to be with Naomi.

A short howl brought me back to the present and I stood to my feet, my eyes searching the trees for movement. The first one to emerge was Embry and he was hoping on one foot, pulling up his sweats. Second to come through was Jared and he had both hands shoved in his pockets. Next came Seth, Collin and Brady and the three were pushing each other back and forth. I shook my head and laughed. They were constantly reminding me of Embry, Quil and myself. Finally then came Leah and Quil, with Paul following far behind. I sighed.

This was my pack; these were my brothers and sister. I knew I talked a good game, but there was no way I would ever turn my back on them. They needed me as much as I needed them. As fucked up as our situations were, we were family.

Everyone had taken up a spot on my porch. Jared had made himself comfortable in one of my chairs and Paul took up the spot next to the stairs, leaning on the railing with his arms crossed. Quil and Leah sat on the steps and as Quil told her a joke, I was surprised that Leah actually smiled. Embry, Seth, Colin and Brady were all wrestling in my front lawn and I whistled to get their attention. They all looked up at me and I threw the football in their direction. Embry caught it first but was quickly tackled by Seth and Brady. He threw it quickly to Collin who caught it and took off. I laughed. I never wanted this life, with magic and monsters. But I wouldn't trade this unity and security I had with them for nothing.

I always felt like my family was torn apart when my mom passed away, and even though my dad tried his best, he couldn't fill her shoes. I never asked to turn into a huge wolf but I couldn't have asked for a better family. Without them I would honestly be lost.

"So what's up Jackie Poo"? Jared asked and I threw a pillow at him.

"I spoke with Elders". I said quietly and both Embry and Leah looked sharply in my direction.

"What did they say Jacob"? Leah asked me, urgency evident in her voice. I couldn't help but smile.

"Calm down Lee". I said and laughed when she glared at me for using that nickname. "I basically gave them an ultimatum that they couldn't refuse".

Embry looked at me and shrugged his shoulders as if to say "go ahead". "And what was that". He asked.

I smirked. "I told them that they would either accept our imprinting on the other tribe of wolves or they would lose a part of their pack". Of course you know they would rather put up with the other pack than to tear apart their own. They accepted my offer, we're cool now".

Leah laughed somewhat hysterically and ran a hand through her hair. Quil patted her softly on the shoulder. Embry fell backwards onto my lawn on his back, a wistful little smile on his face.

Paul snorted, never once having moved from his spot.

"It's about time you put your foot down". He said quietly but I heard him all the same.

I cleared my throat, bringing my pack's attention back to me again.

"That being said, we will probably have two new members joining us shortly. Aaron and Naomi both carry the blood of the wolf through their veins and have been running alone for some time now. I think it would be a good idea to extend an invite for them to run with us. It would strengthen our numbers and it will give them a home".

I waited for this to sink in and I looked from one face to another, waiting for each to reply.

Jared stretched and stood to his feet.

"I'm down for it if you guys are". He said simply, jogging down the steps and snatching the football from Collins hands.

Collin took off after him all the while yelling over his shoulder that he also thought the idea was cool.

"I think it's a good idea Jake". Seth said smiling, running behind Collin. Brady gave a quick nod, siding with the other two and went to join the others out on the lawn.

I turned towards Leah, Embry and Quil and raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised that they hadn't spoken yet. Embry shrugged.

"Look I'm just happy the Elders got that huge stick they had out their asses, anything we do after this is totally fine by me".

Leah got up from her spot on the stairs and came right up to me and wrapped me in a hug. The boys completely stopped and turned to stare at her with dropped jaws. Seeing her smile was one thing, but seeing her outwardly and physically showing emotion was a completely different issue.

"Thanks Jake, for everything". She whispered quietly and I knew she didn't really care if the guys heard her at all.

I laughed and awkwardly hugged her back.

"No problem Lee, just don't be getting all soft on me".

Leah stepped back from me and gave me a smack to the head and I quickly ruffled her hair. I knew how much this meant to her because it meant just that much to me.

Quil jumped off the porch and purposely landed on Embry. He laughed like an idiot and ran around my front yard, Em right on his heels, swearing at him loudly, Leah went after them. Paul pushed off the railing and started to follow but I stopped him.

"Hey Paul, wait up".

He stopped but never turned to face me. I came to stand beside him and I shoved my hands into my pockets.

"Look I just wanted to say thank you. Thanks for opening my eyes to certain things that I needed to see and for telling me what an ass I was being".

Paul laughed and gave me a slap on the back.

"No problem man and no hard feelings. You have a thick head that sometimes needs drilling into".

I laughed. I definitely was a hard-headed individual. Paul cleared his throat.

"I meant what I said though Jake. Take care of her and don't always over think everything all the time. For reasons beyond me, that girl loves you; just try not to fuck up too much".

He gave me another slap on the back and a smile before he went and joined the others in a quick game of football. I knew deep down Paul always meant well, even when his actions sometimes didn't show it. If it came down to it though, he would do any and everything for one of his pack members, no questions asked. It was just in his nature to be a dick.

We stayed and horsed around for a good minute, laughing and joking around in a way that we haven't in a long time and at the end we had agreed to throw our own bonfire to somewhat welcome the other wolves into our pack. It was definitely a sign of the times.

But before long, I was finally ready to fix things between Naomi and myself.

I saw the guys off and went and got myself cleaned up, throwing on a pair of clean jeans and a nice casual button up shirt. I haven't worn the shirt in quite some time so the sleeves were kind of tight on my arms, so I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows to give myself some movement. I grabbed my bike and reeved the engine and pushed it forward, skidded loudly out of my driveway.

It didn't take me long to reach Naomi's house and I cut my bike and hopped off, parking it right by the garden out front. Some of my hair had falling loose from my hair tie from the ride but I didn't bother with it. Naomi liked it a bit messy any way. I heard the front door open and I turned around, expecting to see the beautiful woman I had come here for.

What I saw though nearly gave me a fucking heart attack.

Bella was walking out of Naomi's front door. Bella was walking out NAOMI'S front door. And by the looks on both their faces, whatever conversation they had, must not have gone well.

Holy fucking shit! When it doesn't rain, it pours. What the hell was I going to do now!

A/N: Please forgive me for the uber long wait for an update. Life has been a bit crazy for me as of late and my spirits have been a little low. But I'm doing fine now and I hope you guys are still with me. We are coming to the end and I would be interested to know if you guys wanted a sequel or if you had another idea for a story I could do. Let me know what you're thinking. As always please review, it makes me oh so happy. MN