They Can't Have You
Summary: In the summer of 2016, Jared Cameron goes missing, leaving his wife Bella Swan-Cameron behind and looking for answers. Two years later, a man shows up claiming he knows his whereabouts.
*Bella and Jared are in their mid-20s and do not live in Forks.*
2016
Bella touched Jared's forehead in concern, feeling a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. "Are you sure you're okay? You're burning up," She whispered. She could see the tiredness in his eyes, his long hair sticking to his skin. Jared gently grabbed her hand, kissing her palm. "I'll be fine babe. I just need some rest," Bella hummed, unable to hide her frown. Jared smoothed her eyebrows down, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.
She held onto his arms, closing her eyes. "You're having dreams again, aren't you?" She asked, leaning back to look at him. He smoothed a thumb down her cheek, nodding. He could never lie to her, and she'd just figure him out anyway.
"Come on, it's late. Let's get to bed," His warm hand grasped hers, puling her down the hall.
The Next Morning
Bella reached over, her arm draping over nothing. She blinked her eyes open, noticing his spot empty. "Jared?" She called softly, sitting up slowly. She looked to her left in the direction of the bathroom to see nothing. She pushed the covers off, stepping out of bed. "Jared?" She called again, rubbing her eyes as she made her way down the hall and into the kitchen. It was empty.
She bit her lip, looking around for any kind of note. She went into the living room and looked out of the blinds to see their car still in the driveway. She made her way back to the bedroom and snatched her cellphone off the dresser. It wasn't like him to just up and leave without letting her know.
She scrolled through her contacts, finding his name. She hit call and waited. Her heart stopped cold as she turned her head to the pile of clothes, hearing the generic ringtone. She hit end, and to just confirm her suspicions, she rummaged through the pile, his silver phone heavy in her hand.
Where was he?
That day, Bella reported her husband missing. No one had seen him, no one had even knew he left the house. Police officers chalked it up to him leaving her and didn't know how to tell her. Bella denied it of course. She and Jared had been together since freshman year of College, living in Seattle ever since. He wasn't the type of person to leave without saying anything. He loved her, and she knew he wouldn't leave her like this. Alone. With nothing to hold her grounded.
Unfortunately, Bella would go for two years without knowing the truth. Every day she looked for him. She drove all through Seattle, asking locals if they'd seen him. Many pitied her, and some believed it was a lost cause. Her lovely husband was missing, and no one knew a damn thing.
2018
Bella sat down on the sofa, twirling her ring around her finger. This was probably the fifth time today she sat helpless. Bella never lost hope, and one day she was hoping he'd stroll through that door. Every day she hoped for that, or that she'll wake up in the morning, and this would be some horrible dream.
A nightmare.
But every day she woke up with a hole in her heart, her very soul crying out for its other half. She barely functioned. She ate, did the basics, knowing he wouldn't want her wallowing like this, but it's different when you experience it. Sometimes she'd lay in bed crying, calling his name until she'd go hoarse. She didn't speak to anyone. She didn't answer the phone unless it had anything to do with Jared. She just functioned.
She looked worse for wear every day, her pale complexion looking almost deadly. She had horrible bags under her eyes, hair had grown out so long it was down to her lower back. She looked like a ghost. She looked like someone had ripped her heart out, tore it to shreds and then burned it into ash. She never found another to find comfort with, ignoring the few suitors that wanted her.
She held her hand to her heart, trying to hold the god awful sobs at bay. A rapid knock on her door made her freeze, her sniffling quieting down. "Coming," She whispered, standing up slowly. Her bones cracked, reminding her just how long she sat there.
She opened the door, frowning at the man that stood before her. He didn't look like he was from around town. He had russet skin, and short, choppy hair, jeans that didn't look like they belonged and a gray t-shirt. "Can I help you?" She asked, leaning against the door frame.
He cleared his throat, frowning down at her, and Bella's heart slightly ticked. "You're Bella Cameron?" He asked softly, holding his arms in front him. Bella nodded warily; her breathing was starting to quicken. "I know where your husband is," Bella sucked in a deep breath, gripping the door frame tightly. "I-if you think this is some sort of sick game, get the hell off my property. I know people like you. You're not the first, nor the last," She wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. "I fall for it every time, but not today," She started to close the door, but a brown boot stopped her. "Bella, I'm telling you the truth. Wait, look," He used his hand to stop the door, and she froze at the silver band in his hand. He held the ring in the palm of his hand, looking back up at her.
"You gave this to him on your anniversary," He dropped it into her shaking hand, and Bella raised it to her face, eyeing the inscription on the inside. She swallowed, her legs suddenly going week. The man's hand caught her to break her fall. She gripped onto the man's shirt, a sob escaping her throat. "Who are you?" She cried, gripping the ring tightly in her hand. "Sam. Sam Uley,"
Sam Uley
The young alpha glanced at Jared with pity as he paced in front of him. "How did she look?" He asked, coming toward him, his face portraying the absolute stress he was under. Sam ran a hand down his face, shaking his head. "Not good. A strong wind could knock her over. You need each other," Jared nodded, pulling at his now short hair. "God. I miss her so much, but the council is breathing down our fucking backs. I didn't ask for this Sam. I didn't ask to be taken from my home to fulfill my duty. If I could, I would've left the moment I phased. Those bastards threatened my wife, and now…not anymore. Get me out of here Sam," He pleaded, his eyes hardening.
Bella
Bella narrowed her eyes as Sam explained once again the unimaginable. "I-I don't understand. That isn't possible," She followed Sam with her eyes as he knelt down in front of her. "I know, but you need to trust me. There is a lot I can't explain, but I can get Jared to you. Our…abilities require us to stay in LaPush. Jared didn't gather his until later in life, and the council as we call them extracted him. Believe me when I say that he's been fighting tooth and nail to get to you. It took time to get them to lay off a bit. They believe Jared is fully committed,"
Bella was still at a loss, but none of it mattered as long as she knew Jared was out there. "What is it?" She asked, noticing his attention at her back door. "Go," He gently grabbed her hand and turned her towards her back door. He nudged her forward and pulled out his phone.
You've got an hour at best- Embry
Bella stumbled forward, her arm reaching out to open the back door. She pulled it open, raising her hand to her mouth. He looked so different, but there was no mistaking that he was still her Jared. Her knees buckled, and she felt like gravity was striking her down. Jared sank down to the floor with her, his hands roaming over her face, brushing her thin, once vibrant brown hair from her face.
She couldn't stop the tears from flowing, her mouth opening and closing like that of a fish. Jared wiped the tears from her cheeks, the relief on his face strong. Bella raised her shaking hands to his face, feeling his different features and hardened muscles. She ran her fingers across his lips then trialed them down to his chest. She gripped the dark blue t-shirt in a tight fist.
"Bella," His voice broke the dam, and Bella broke down, all of her pain and heartache coming forth. "I-I thought I w-w-would ne-ever see you again," She sobbed, burrowing her face in his chest. His warm arms circled around her tightly. "I'm right here. Everything's alright now," He soothed, kissing her hair. Only then did he let his own tears fall, his heart finally molding back together with his one and only.
Sam looked down at his phone, looking at Jared. "We need to be heading back," He whispered gravely. Bella lifted her head, shaking it violently. "No! No, you can't leave! I just got you…and you need to leave?!" She grasped his shirt, pulling on it. Jared stared up at Sam helplessly. He grasped her arms, trying to shush her. Bella shook her head, pulling away. She stood swiftly, Jared gliding up right after her. "No! You can't! It's been two years!" She paced in front of him, pulling at her brittle hair.
"Two years! I looked, and I looked everywhere for you! I wake up sometimes and I reach out for you and..and you're not there. I call your name, and no one responds! I wake up every day, just praying…praying that you'd walk through that door. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can barely function, but I held on. I cry for you in my sleep, wish your arm would come around me and tell me I'm having a nightmare. A horrible nightmare but it's all real. I'm coming with you. Whatever this council is…no. No,"
She crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. Jared looked to Sam and then back to Bella. He pulled her to him, his eyes roaming over every inch of her. "You could get hurt," He whispered, closing his eyes as he rubbed his nose against her cheek.
"There's nothing else that could hurt more than these last two years. I won't lose you again. I don't care about these abilities or whatever this is. I..I want my husband back," She whispered, holding her hands to his face.
"Well let's go," Sam said, walking out the back door.
