Chapter Five

The drive home led to me thinking about Jacob in ways that were unknown to me.

From my understanding of what Paul had told me, Jacob was in love with me, even though I thought I had made it pretty clear that nothing could happened between the two of us. Or at least I thought I had. Now I'm just sad that I could have possibly led Jake on for God knows how long and now this entire imprint thing has caused these two idiots to hate each other. By the time that I realized that I should just call Jake, the sun has gone down and I had heard something being thrown at my bedroom window.

"Bella!"

Rolling my eyes, I went over to the window and opened it.

"I'm coming up," Jake said firmly.

Well alright, it's not as if I didn't need to talk to him anyway.

"First off, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about any of this, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about what I truly was and I'm sorry that your imprint is Paul of all people. I'm just sorry Bella."

Jacob pulled me in for a hug and I couldn't help myself, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him back. Jake felt comforting, not as comforting as when I was around Paul but he was a close second.

"I accept your apology but Jake we have to talk about some stuff. Like what you told Paul he HAD to do," I told him as I pulled away from his arms and sat on the end of my bed.

Jake pulled out the chair from my desk and rolled it over so it was directly in front of me. When he sat down, he released the biggest exhale I'd ever seen. He had never looked so stressed in the time that I had known him.

Stressed, nervous, pained even. There were several words I could use to describe the Jake that sat in front of me but this was something that I wasn't familiar with.

"I - um - Bells, he needs to know that if he hurts you I'm not going to be able to stop myself from from kicking his ass. He doesn't deserve you and honestly if anyone should be your imprint it should have been me."

So that's what Paul meant.

"Jake, stop right there. It's not Paul's fault that he imprinted on me, regardless of if he deserves me or not. It is just something that happens and I need you to understand that Paul will be whatever I need him to be. I - and I have a feeling that I am going to eventually want a partner or boyfriend of whatever you want to call it. I'm sorry Jake but I want you to know that even without the imprint, if I wanted those things I couldn't have that with you," I finished as I wiped the tears away from my cheek.

"What do you mean you couldn't have that with me? You don't know that until you try Bells."

"Well it's not like we could try now anyway Jacob. You aren't my imprint, you are my best friend and I need you here to help me with this because I don't know what I am doing Jake! The more you tell Paul to stay away from me, to not touch me, to not cross whatever line you drew in the sand when it comes to me, the more pain I am going to feel. I've been through enough pain, don't you think?!"

"Bella, sweetie you have been through a lot these last few months. I just don't want this, meaning the imprint, to add to it. You don't know Paul. You don't know what he's like Bells."

"Do I have enough of your respect to let me learn about him myself and then make that decision? I think I've at least earned that much Jake. Paul said that he'd be whatever I needed him to be. That does include a friendship if I see fit."

Jacob snorted.

"Yeah okay Bells. We will see how long that friend thing goes with you two. You are already starting to smell like him."

I sniffed myself, I smelled like normal to me.

"Is that an insult?"

"No, it's just something that naturally happens to an imprint. You will start to smell like Paul and depending on how far you guys take things, he will smell like you."

Oh God.

"So all of you have super smelling powers? ALL of you can smell me!?"

"Yes Bells, we can. However, as an imprint certain scents of yours have an effect on your wolf. Like when you are horny, I can smell it and Paul can smell it, but because of the imprint it will affect Paul differently."

"Oh my God, Jake." I hid my face in my hands. This was too much, not only do I have to deal with how I react to Paul but knowing the rest of the pack will know what's happening to me is embarrassing.

"Hey, you asked. I do have to get back on patrol but I will be here for you if have anymore questions that you don't feel comfortable asking Paul." Jake got up from the chair and reach towards me to give me a hug. He kissed my forehead and walked towards the window.

"Jake, I just have one more question."

"Yeah Bells?"

"Paul - He's going to need to bite me at some point isn't he?"

I heard a growl in response.

"That is the one question that you will have to ask Paul about," Jake replied and jumped out of the window.

So much for that.

I looked at the clock interface on my laptop, it was just pass midnight.

If Jake was on patrol but him and Paul were not getting along, there was a good chance that they were not on patrols together.

I wanted to get things straightened out as soon as possible so there was no way that my words could be twisted by either one of my wolves. I brushed my teeth, put on one of my old baggy t-shirts and climbed into bed. I texted Paul before I reached over and turned off my lamp.

Paul, it's Bella. I know you gave me your number but with everything going on I think I forgot to give you mine. Anyway, I talked to Jacob earlier and made it a point that if he respected me like he claims he does, then I should be allowed to get to know you and decide where we go for ourselves. I want to get to know you, if that's something you'd be up for. Jake also said that he'd answer any imprint questions that I had but there was one question that I had about something and he…well he said that I had to ask you.

I rolled over and was almost asleep before I heard rocks being thrown at my window again.

Whipping off the covers and heading to the window, I didn't think that I would see my imprint leaning against a tree, his arms folded, with a smirk on his face.

"You can't text me back like a normal person!? Good grief. Don't wolves need sleep at some point?" I said as I stuck my head out of the window.

"Little Swan, we need sleep like the next guy. I saw your text but I felt how anxious you were so here I am. You wanna let me come up?"

Thank God Charlie was going to be working nights for the next few months.

"Don't judge my pajamas," I told him as he landed on his feet in my bedroom.

He laughed as he took in my appearance, from my nude painted toes to my pale legs and over sized T-shirt that I've had for years. I felt appreciated through our bond.

"Remind me to bring you some of my shirts to sleep in," Paul said with a smirk.

"Hey! I said no judgement!"

He laughed again as he headed to my bed and sat down.

"So Bella, what is it that has you so anxious?

NOTE:

Sorry about this update being so behind. I ended up needed to update my MacBook, which threw the whole thing out of wack and I ended up having to retype and upload this chapter on my iPad. However, when I did that and uploaded, it presented to the reader as coding. So hopefully, it works now.

My apologies, once again.