They Can't Have You: You Belong with Me

Summary: Bella learns the truth about Jared and faces a Council member.

Bella followed Jared outside, grasping onto his hands tightly. "What's happening?" She asked, looking to Jared. He let go of her hand, backing away from her slowly. "Don't freak out, okay?" He asked softly, pulling off his shirt. If Bella's mind wasn't swimming in circles she would've drooled a bit, the change in her husband's body apparent. He was in shape before he disappeared, but he seemed more toned now. Her eyes widened as he stripped naked tight in front of her.

Sam came to a stand next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Just watch," She gasped as Jared's body seemed to contort and seize, and before her eyes stood a gigantic brown wolf. She swallowed, looking to Sam. "Is…that..?" She trailed off, freezing in place as the large wolf slowly walked towards her. "Yes. This is what we are, why the council wanted him," Bella reached forward, her hand making contact with his muzzle.

"Can he…understand us?" Sam nodded. "Yes. We know everything that's going on around us," Jared bent down, looking at her expectantly. "He wants you to get on," Sam helped her on, and Bella fisted her hands. She didn't know where to put them. "It's alright," Jared stood swiftly, and Bella grasped onto his fur tightly. "Woah," She whispered, bouncing slightly as Jared used his back to push her forward up his back. "He's readjusting, which makes it easier for him to run with you smoothly. Don't let go of him. He's fast, and we need to get back to LaPush ASAP. He'll jump, maneuver around objects, but you'll be steady," Bella nodded, her fingers tightening his fur.

Bella examined his fur before turning to look at Sam. "So what…" She trailed off, finding a large black wolf towering above her. Sam suddenly shot forward, and Bella could feel Jared rumble underneath her. She held on tighter, letting out a surprised squeak as Jared shot off into the woods. The wind whipped past her at blinding speed, and she leaned forward, hiding her face in his neck. Jared was fluid, swift, and careful, and if Bella didn't know any better, she'd think she were in a car.

Bella didn't know how long they ran, and she took the time to try to wrap her mind around the fact that her husband was a wolf. She remembered that he used to have dreams about wolves and a beach. It used to terrify the life out of him. She wondered if that had anything to do with it.

She squeezed herself against him, a tear dropping from her cheek. She missed him so much, and no matter what he was, he was back with her. "I've missed you so much," She whispered, feeling him rumble underneath her.

Jared suddenly started to slow down, and Bella lifted herself up, glancing around her. She knew they were still in Washington but not Seattle. It was just a tad bit colder. Jared sank low allowing Bella to slide off. She landed on her feet, and stepped away, watching as he seemed to melt and shrink, turning into a man once again. He pulled on a pair of shorts, his arm reaching out for her. She grasped his hand, and he pulled her to him, leaning his forehead against hers. Bella realized he was even taller than when she last saw him. "Wasn't too bad right?" He asked softly, kissing her forehead. "God, I never thought I'd do that again. You never gave up," Bella wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her body flush against his. She shook her head, laying her ear against his chest. "Never," She whispered.

His warm arms wrapped around her, squeezing her so tightly, you'd think she'd burst. "Is this, a part of being a..wolf? The body heat, the large growth spurt, muscles I've never even seen," She chuckled lightly, running her hands across his bare chest. "Hey," He whispered, wiping the tear that slipped down her cheek. He tilted her chin up, his dark brown eyes molding with hers. Jared knew in his heart that he'd never imprint on a woman of native ancestry. He didn't need to. He was already bound to her the moment they met. His heart and soul already belong to Bella. "I'm sorry. It feels like a dream. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up any second and….you won't be here," The calm façade she was wearing was slowly cracking, and she didn't want to show just how close she was to breaking apart. She never really grieved, and her heart wanted to. It wanted to grieve for those years alone, but she was always fighting. Telling herself that he would come back. And here he was.

Jared grabbed her face firmly, squishing her cheeks just a bit. "This is real, baby. I'm real. I'm here, and I am not going anywhere ever again. I'm right here," Bella blinked back the storm of tears wanting to overflow, and she nodded vigorously, laying her hands over his.

Jared placed a kiss on her trembling lips, and it felt just like the first time they kissed. It held that spark, the same spark of fire and love. This time it was so much more, filled with longing and pain. "Listen, I hate to interrupt, but I think we need to move," Sam interrupted, looking somewhat apologetic.

Jared nodded, gripping Bella's hand. "Let's go then. I've had enough," The trio walked through the woods, and Bella didn't know what to prepare for. "Where are we going?" She asked, looking between the two. "My place. I need you to keep up. We're going to tell you the truth. What happened to Jared, and why the Council took him. Then…we're going to raise some hell,"

Bella barely had time to gather her surroundings or get a gander at the cute little cottage they strolled upon. A woman was standing outside, relief flooding her face as she spotted them. She ushered them inside quickly before locking the doors. Jared pulled her towards a couch, sitting down first before pulling her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her middle, holding her hands. Bella glanced at Sam and the woman that sat next to him. She was beautiful. Her raven black hair was pulled to the side, highlighting a set of scars on her face. Bella adverted her eyes to look at the woman in her eyes. "My name is Emily. Jared has told me much about you," Bella squeezed his hands, nodding. "Nice to meet you, Emily. Bella," Emily reached forward, and Bella shook her hand.

Sam suddenly leaned forward as well, drawing her attention back to him. "We are in LaPush. Hundreds of years ago, our ancestors were given a gift. The gift of shapeshifting. We could turn into wolves. We were given this ability to protect our village from Cold Ones, or as they are more wildly known, vampires. Every few generations, a set of men from certain bloodlines are given this ability. Before us, there were a few of us. One of the original wolves that made a treaty with a certain clan of vampires is still alive, and he is apart of the council. My father Joshua, whose grandfather was also a wolf, and Billy Black, a direct descendant. A clan of vampires, the one's we made the treaty with returned, setting off our genes. I was the first, and then a few other boys. Jared is a part of Billy's bloodline. When we started phasing, they realized that Jared could possibly phase, and rather than leave well enough alone, they searched for him. When they found out that he was married, well they decided to take him. They snuck into your house, doused him with chloroform, and took him. For two years they've been manipulating him into being a part of this pack. They wanted everyone exactly where they needed to be. Believe me, Jared has tried to get back to you. They'd threaten him by threatening you, they even had someone watching you. Do you remember that day you were almost hit by a car?"

Bella frowned. There was no way he could know that. "It came out of nowhere," She whispered. Sam nodded. "Exactly. They told Jared that if he tried anything, it wouldn't be a near miss. I saw what it was doing to him, but Jared had to make them believe that he forgot about you. I used the opportunity to come find you. They threated all of us, that if we tried to help him, the people we love could get hurt," He glanced at Emily, grabbing her hand. "They did that to her," He whispered, and Bella gasped. "What kind of council is this?" Jared dropped his head to the crook of her shoulder, breathing her in.

A loud pounding at the door startled the girls, and Bella glanced over at the door. "Sam! Where is he? He'd better not have gone!" Jared gently pushed her off his lap, standing. "Stay behind me," He warned, and Bella grabbed the back of his shorts, leaning her head against his back.

Sam opened his front door, a man barging his way inside. He had on a cowboy hat, with a deeply wrinkled face and dark russet skin and black eyes. He was very tall, ad on dark blue jeans and a brown pair of cowboy boots. "Just come on in Billy," Sam glowered, quickly maneuvering Emily into the kitchen. Billy, glanced at Jared, his dark eyes assessing the man before turning his eyes to the woman behind him. He glared at Jared, pointing a finger in Bella's direction. "What the hell is she doing here? You went back! I warned you," Bella's eyes widened as the silver gleam in his pants, and she pulled on Jared's arm, unable to voice her concern.

Before anyone could comprehend, or even understand what was happening, the gun was pulled from Billy's waistband, and Bella screamed as the shots rang out, feeling the force of Jared's body rock into her.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jared's body leaned to the side, tipping over on the couch. Bella shook in shock, her brown eyes wide as she watched blood ooze from his wounds. He had gotten shot in the shoulder, his chest, and stomach. Bella blinked, everything slowing down for her. She barely registered Sam rushing forward, yelling something about healing. She glanced at Billy, her heart beating loudly in her ears. He too held shock on his face. He dropped the gun to the floor, the weapon clattering against the wood.

She tore her eyes back to Jared, and she dropped to her knees, her hand reaching for the gun. She grabbed with a somewhat steady hand, looking back up at him. His attention was now on her, and he raised his hands. Bella slowly stood, now holding the gun with both hands. "Do you have any idea what you've taken from me?" She asked, her lips trembling, tears spilling from her eyes like a river.

Billy opened his mouth to speak, but Bella shook her head. "Shut up!" She snapped, barely registering Emily who had scurried past her to go to Sam's side. "He should be healing," Sam murmured. Without taking her eyes off Billy, she asked, "What do you mean heal?" Sam briefly glanced at her, before looking at Billy. "We heal. From wounds. We can break bones, and they heal themselves. We can get cut, and the skin grows over the wound. He should be healing, but he's…he's dying," Bella blinked furiously, sucking in a shaky breath.

"Can you save him?" She asked, her hands shaking slightly. Sam didn't respond, and Bella glanced at him this time. "Sam?" She asked, turning her eyes back to Billy. "I don't know," He responded. Bella sniffed, nodding to herself. She cocked the chamber and stared Billy down as he shook his head. "No, no.." He pleaded, his hands shaking in fear. Bella didn't blink as she pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

Billy screamed as he dropped to his knees, his yelling becoming even more amplified. Emily covered her mouth in shock as blood pooled to her floor. Sam barely batted an eye as he tried to look for exit wounds. Bella walked around Billy, and into the kitchen, eyeing a large knife. She came back out seconds later, and Emily was shaking her head, tears flooding down her own cheeks.

"I'm not going to kill him," Bella whispered, and she used her foot to turn him over. Bella leaned over him, whispering in his ear. "I hope you got enough years of walking down. If you're lucky, it'll take you years to walk, or should I sever your spinal cord? Hmmm? What will be the chances then?"

Billy could feel the blade piercing is skin, and he started to cry, his body heaving with every sob. "Tell me why I shouldn't…I know how. I know where to stab you. I know where to cut…" Billy screamed as Bella shoved the knife into his hand, pinning him to the floor.

Sam glanced at her warily but looked back at Jared. "Bella, I think you need to say goodbye…" Bella pursed her lips, her lips trembling. She walked forward, Sam moved out of the way, grabbing Emily. "Let's call 911," He whispered. Bella dropped down to his side, gripping his hand. He could barely keep his eyes open. "You showed him mercy," He rasped, staring at her. Bella sniffed, laying her hand against his cheek. "I never got to tell you I love you," She whispered, leaning down to kiss his lips. Jared squeezed her hand tightly, and Bella frowned. "I love you too," He breathed.

He didn't inhale.

Bella's vision became distorted as tears dropped onto his body, his grip slipping from hers until his hand laid limp by his side. Bella let out a cry, one that had all the animals quieting. She sobbed, shaking him, knowing it was useless. She kissed his lips one final time before pulling away.

"It-it wasn't supposed to b-be loaded," Billy rasped quietly, and Bella snapped her head in his direction. "What?" She whispered, setting the gun on the table. Billy repeated what he had just said, and Bella stood shakily. "Who gave it to you?" She questioned, grabbing the gun once more. She glanced to see how many more bullets there were and hummed. "Quil," He whispered, breathing heavily. "I need a hospital," Billy groaned. Bella stuck the gun in her jeans, shaking her head. "Where does he live?" She asked. Billy shook his head. Bella aimed the gun at him, raising a brow. "Tell me," She demanded.

"Up the road," He responded. Bella nodded and felt in his jeans and jacket for a pair of keys. She found them in his front pocket. "Bella," Sam called, and she glanced over at him. "I don't care what you do, but don't do anything you'll regret,"

Bella nodded and headed towards the front door. "I'm not going to kill them if that's what you're wondering," Bella got into Billy's truck, started it. She was going to find the last two and make them pay.

Because of them, she lost everything.

Will be a part 3 coming in a few hours! Do not PANIC!