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`I can see you standin', honey
With his arms around your body
Laughin' but the joke's not funny at all
And it took you five whole minutes
To pack us up and leave me with it
Holdin' all this love out here in the hall
I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending
You're not my homeland anymore
So what am I defendin' now?
You were my town
Now I'm in exile seein' you out
I think I've seen this film before
Hoo, hoo-ooh
Hoo, hoo-ooh
Hoo, hoo-ooh
I can see you starin', honey
Like he's just your understudy
Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me
Second, third, and hundredth chances
Balancin' on breaking branches
Those eyes add insult to injury
I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending
I'm not your problem anymore
So who am I offending now?
You were my crown
Now I'm in exile seein' you out
I think I've seen this film before
So I'm leavin' out the side door
So step right out
There is no amount
Of cryin' I can do for you
All this time
We always walked a very thin line
You didn't even hear me out (you didn't even hear me out)
You never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)
All this time
I never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind)
I couldn't turn things around (you never turned things around)
'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)
So many signs
So many signs (you didn't even see the signs)
I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending
You're not my homeland anymore
So what am I defending now?
You were my town
Now I'm in exile seein' you out
I think I've seen this film before
So I'm leaving out the side door
So step right out
There is no amount
Of cryin' I can do for you
All this time
We always walked a very thin line
You didn't even hear me out (you didn't even hear me out)
You never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)
All this time
I never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind)
I couldn't turn things around (you never turned things around)
'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)
All this time (so many signs)
I never learned to read your mind (so many signs)
I couldn't turn things around (so many signs)
'Cause you never gave a warning sign (never gave a warning sign)
Exile Taylor swift
It was the first time in years the cold seeped into Jacob Black's body. He felt it down to his bones as he took shelter under the thick cover of forest that surrounded the Cullen house. There was three days' worth of food placed in front of his paws, soaking in the mist and rain, turning to mush. He could hear Edward approaching, the smell of roast and vegetables wafting in the air, it turned his stomach.
A low growl rumbled from his chest as the vampire approached. Edward and just squatted down and reached forward to place the enormous platter in front of him before a paw swiped out and knocked it out of the pale hands.
"Fuck off"
The bronze haired teen sighed good naturally before collecting the china that surrounded the russet colour wolf. Once it had been tidied he sat cross legged next to the massive creature. Jacob's ear flickered once towards him in question but otherwise his mind stayed silent.
"Nothing I say will fix this for you. I know that. However, I've been in a similar situation if you remember"
"You left her, and she took you back. That is not that same blood sucker."
Jacob knew it was childish to go back to his name calling and cold shoulder, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He had screwed up royally and although he knew it was his fault he couldn't help but feel some resentment towards this man-child and his family.
"Man-child?" Edward chuckled before sighing sadly. "I know that nothing we do can fix the past few years. Our existence here has cost you and your people greatly. We are not blind to that."
Jacob watched him out of the corner of his eye as Edward ran his hand through his wild hair. It seemed that he was for once stumped on what to say.
"Leah is strong. A very admirable woman. She will make a wonderful leader."
The growl that tore out of Jacob's chest was murderous. So much so that the rest of the coven had gathered on the back porch to be sure no one was killing each other.
"Don't you dare lecture me about Leah Leech!"
Just as the shudders of rage flooded his body, Jacob immediately felt guilt consume him as he heard the tiny gasp of his imprint.
"Daddy? Jacob?" She asked peering around her mothers' body. Her warm brown eyes made Jacob feel dizzy with remorse. He wasn't sure if it was for worrying her or for falling for Bella Cullen's pleading four days prior. Jasper winced as the feelings in the wolf grew and bubbled.
"Jacob, please. You made a mistake. A grave one but I am sure she will be persuaded to listen to reason. She is familiar with the imprint." Although Edward spoke in a low whisper, he could still hear Bella's growl of anger. She had spent the first day since coming home berating Jacob about his duties to her daughter only to give up after seeing the disapproving glares from the rest of the coven.
"You obviously don't know Leah Clearwater as well as you think. This isn't some fight that she'll get over with space and begging. I had one chance to prove her wrong about me and instead I did exactly the opposite"
Edward looked at him sadly before dropping his gaze. He had read her mind before the pack had carried her out of the house and back to the Res the day they returned. Jacob knew by the guilt in his eyes that nothing going through her mind showed even a glimmer of hope for the Alpha.
"Well, what now then?" He asked. "You can't stay here and starve. What will you do now?"
"Maybe I'll pull a Cullen and run. You know if I can't have her I have no reason to live and all that"
He barked out a sad laugh completely missing the look of shock thrown his way. When he wasn't met with a snarky response Jacob turned to watch the vampire carefully.
"What?"
"Jacob" He whispered quietly next to his ear. Low enough to not be heard. "You just thought about ending your life."
Jacob rolled his eyes before huffing "Yeah I know the drama really isn't my forte"
"No, you don't understand. You didn't think of Renesme at all. Your whole reason for living wasn't even a passing thought." Jacob paused and waited for the crushing guilt and pressing need to check on his imprint.
There was a tiny flicker, nothing more than a tiny spark.
"Holy Fucking shit." Jacob stood before shooting off towards home.
As his paws thundered across the ground Jacob tried to collect his thoughts. He needed a solid plan, a speech. He needed to be ready for the fight of his life. There was no way in hell Leah would listen to him at first. But maybe if he could talk even a little bit of sense into her, she would be willing to listen to Edward too. Just as the treaty line came into sight however, his strides were matched by both Edward and Alice.
" What the fuck are you doing?"
"Jacob stop!" The wolf skidded to a halt as his front nails bordered on the line of the Pack's territory.
"We need to come with you. Something has changed." Irritated by the vague information, Jacob growled.
"What? Spit it out"
" The Volturi. They are planning on returning."
"When?"
" In two days time" Nodding at them Jacob launched forward with the two immortals following closely behind.
The Pack had heard them coming as each massive body shuffled out of the Uley's home. Jacob scanned for his she-wolf but was instead met with questioning glares and snarls. Sam stood in front of the others, arms crossed and jaw set. The dominant body language set Jacob's wolf on edge.
Phasing back and catching the cut offs tossed to him by Alice, Jacob quickly covered himself before turning his eyes down and lowering his shoulders. He knew he was showing submission but if this was the only way to get a word in he would.
"What are you doing here Black?" Sam's voice was a deep timbre barley containing the anger and resentment he felt for the former Alpha.
Jacob turned to the vampires for help. As Edward and Alice began to fill the pack in on the new threat, Jacob turned his eyes back to the pack. He could smell her, but she wasn't in sight. Obviously, she knew he was here. There was no way she wasn't aware. As if he had conjured her with his mind, the she- wolf limped her way past her brother to stand on the porch next to Embry. Her colour was back in her cheeks, but her eyes looked dull. The brilliant hazel were mere shadows of what they had been. She looked exhausted.
He took a step forward only to stutter to a stop as he watched her lean against Embry. Jacob looked on horrified while his former best friend wrapped an arm around her shoulders before lifting his chin in defiance. Embry was challenging him. Rage burned down his spine as Embry's arm lowered to cup her hip before pulling her closer to him. The only thing that kept Jacob still was the wince of pain that crossed Leah's face. Tentatively he took a step forward before stopping at the flash of anger that crossed her face before directing her attention to the pair of vampires.
"What is the plan" her deep smooth voice was quiet but strong as it broke through the conversation.
"We are hoping that perhaps they are just passing through. We don't have enough time to rally everyone again." Edward spoke without making eye contact.
"So, you're asking for us to help. Again" Leah snarled. "At what point will we finally be done risking ourselves for you?"
Edward and Alice looked down in shame as silence blanketed the group. Each wolf glared at the pale teens in anger. Jacob felt his own stomach turn in guilt. If it wasn't for him, they would have left months ago. If it hadn't been for the imprint they would have left even sooner.
"We wouldn't ask for your assistance thi-"Edward started before Leah stepped down off the porch, planting herself toe to toe with the bronze haired boy.
"Oh no, you would never have the courage to come right out and ask. But you know we would never let our chief's son perish with the likes of you. "Leah's mouth set in a snarl before her eyes raked over Jacob. He felt his mouth open in shock, she had never been this hostile to him. Even in the start.
"You have your help blood sucker. Now get the fuck out of here and take your pet with you." With one last glare, she spun on her heel to walk back up the steps to the pack. Before Jacob had even registered the move, her wrist was caught in his hand while he gently pulled her back to him.
"Lee" his voice came in a whisper, a plea. She looked down at her arm and then back to his face. The heat of her eyes made him drop her wrist as if it had burned him. He could see out of his peripheral that Embry and Sam and come forward to intervein.
"Leave us" Leah's voice was clear with the order and the pack funneled back into the house while grumbling under their breath. Jacob nodded at Edward for him to head back.
"This is my chance Edward. This might be all she gives me."
Jacob reached for her hand again in a motion to walk down the path that led to the beach. When she refused to budge he looked at her pleadingly. With a roll of her eyes Leah slowly made her way down, obviously still healing from her injuries. Guilt clawed at Jacob as he watched each hitch in her step.
The walk passed in a blur. He had spent the time trying to find a way to convince her that he still loved her. That he wanted her and would do anything for another chance. He hadn't even noticed she stopped and turned to him.
"Spit it out Black." She crossed her arms in irritation.
" Leah. I.. I am so so so fucking sorry." With a huff she rolled her eyes. Dismissing his apology so easily.
"I'm not here for that Jacob. That ship has sailed. I'm here to hear what your plan is since your counterparts are scrambling. We need to have a solid strategy if we are all going to come out of this unharmed."
This Leah was a stranger to him. She made an excellent Beta. Better than anyone else had. She was strategic and smart. Quick on her feet and organized. Something Sam had never utilized before the pack split. But now it was different. There was a confidence there that had been missing. A confidence he had only seen in Sam and himself. The power of an Alpha
"Lee what the hell is going on. How are you..?" He searched her face for any answer, but her eyes shifted just over his shoulder, avoiding contact.
" No idea. I'm not sure how it happened. I spoke to Billy yesterday. The book he had been reading last week when…. When we were there.." she paused while swallowing as if she was trying to erase the memory.
"There was a small part about the third wife. About maybe they had forgotten something. That although she sacrificed herself, perhaps it was as an Alpha. It's hard to decipher but there are small hints of an idea of an Alpha Female being possible, looks like it is." She shrugged.
Jacob took a step forward, cupping her face in his big hands "Lee that's amazing"
Her eyes fluttered shut and a shaky breath passed through her parted lips. He leaned his forehead against hers and shut his eyes. Just as his core filed with warmth, he felt her pull away.
"No Jacob." She took two steps back before lifting her hands up to stop him from coming closer. "I'm not doing this. This is over. I gave you a shot. We tried, and it didn't work. We knew it was impossible."
"No it isn't Leah! It isn't impossible, but you are too stubborn to let me back in!'
"Because I can't!" She screamed. "Because this shouldn't have happened! There were so many signs and we ignored them!"
Jacob felt his eyes fill with tears while he reached forward only to have her hand smack it away.
"I said no Black. We're done. I can't do this anymore. You need to go, call Sam when it is time and we will be there." The order came out effortlessly. He knew he could push it, he could ignore it but the cold distant look in her eyes was too painful to try. Hanging his head in defeat he turned to walk away. Pausing at the sob that hiccupped through her chest he left felt his own chest cave in.
"I love you Leah." He didn't turn to look at her face but instead shifted and ran back to the cold dark safety of the Cullen's where he would be safe from her face and pain.