Moonlight

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Seven-Jacob's Vow

Bella's thoughts became scattered as her heightened anxiety kept sending messages of fear to her brain. She tried to tell herself that her fear was simply her brain chemicals overreacting, as she tried to analyse the situation. She tried to imagine what had just happened from the outside, as if she were a character in a movie and not real life. But it didn't work. When she closed her eyes, all she could feel was Edward's cold hands roaming her face and body, his cold breath against her lips as he claimed them, rendering her powerless and unable to fight back as he violated her.

She was breathing on automatic. Bella tried to slow the pace of her breaths, hoping the process would calm her nerves enough in order to allow her to be capable of coherent thought. As time moved on, her panic slowly began to recede to be replaced with a growing anger.

Bella's nails dug into the delicate skin of her palms as she relived Edward's assault on her. He had attacked her like a coward, coming while she was asleep and at her most vulnerable, sneaking onto the reservation and into the Black's house uninvited. He was so pathetic. Even though she knew it would take a while to get back to normal, to feel the strength she had before, she knew she would get there with the right support.

And she had plenty of that.

A sudden longing for Jacob's protective arms overwhelmed Bella. The yearning had become like a road she was being forced to walk forever. Dire circumstances had made their constant separation necessary, but it didn't stop the physical ache that she felt at his absence. Bella rubbed the spot where her flailing heart was trying to beat a steady rhythm. It fluttered in her chest, faltering slightly, just as she faltered.

"I need you, Jacob."

The words that came out of her mouth were no more than the faintest of whispers, but as if the invisible string tying them together had summoned him, the front door was thrust open and Jacob ran inside the house calling her name.

The sweetest relief washed over Bella at the mere sight of him. She was off the couch and hurling herself into his arms within seconds. She climbed up his long body, her desperate hands craving to touch him. He helped her, scooping her up and pressing her against his torso tightly. Bella was a burning ball of fire as his insane heat overwhelmed any inhibitions she had; she knew they weren't alone. The others were already bundling into the house behind Jacob. But right now, in that moment, she hardly cared.

From the time their lips locked together the world ceased to exist, became blurred and indistinct as their imprint bond opened, bathing them in gentle light, their intense attraction humming like the most seductive lullaby. Jacob's mouth claimed hers, determined to erase every trace of Edward from her lips. Bella encouraged him along, her kisses as desperate as his. Jacob pushed his lips more firmly onto hers, and the wave of desire that ran through Bella was intoxicating, making her head swim as she pulled back to take in his beautiful face.

It was the sound of Sam clearing his throat that reminded them that they were not alone and had put on quite a show for their audience.

Bella's blushing was pink perfection as Jacob reluctantly lowered her back to the ground. The annoyed glare he threw in Sam's direction held a hint of animosity. The other pack members stood tensely in the doorway, some spilling outside as there wasn't enough room for them inside.

Sam stared back at him, his usual stoical mask firmly in place. "You've checked on her. She's fine. We need to get back out there."

"The red head is long gone." Jacob responded scathingly. "Thanks to your reckless decision to separate the pack into different locations, we lacked the numbers to trap her. It also allowed that son of a bitch, Edward Cullen, to take advantage of the fact that we were all scattered to the four winds and creep onto the res without us being aware until the last minute."

Sam's only reaction was a slight flaring of his nostrils as he hid his true feelings behind cold indifference. "No one could have predicted that he would return tonight of all nights and risk breaking the treaty." He stated evenly.

Jacob's glare turned icy, behind his was a mountain of pain, and a distinct lack of faith and disappointment in Uley's leadership. He knew that overriding his Alpha's authority would only bring pain and instability that the pack couldn't cope with right now. With so many variables at play, Jacob instinctively knew that challenging Sam's leadership at such a delicate time would be catastrophic.

With so much testosterone at play, Bella knew she had to deflect it. She put a calming hand on Jacob's arm, feeling the muscles vibrating under his burning skin as she slid her fingers up to his shoulder. "Sam is right in one way, Jake. No one could have predicted that Edward would choose tonight to make a move." She saw Sam look a little less tense, thinking she was taking his side. But she wasn't, far from it. Something else was bothering her. "I don't understand why Alice didn't warn me. As soon as Edward made his decision to risk it all by coming onto the res to find me, she would have seen."

"Not if she was blind." Jacob scowled in Sam's direction again, his tone accusing. "Thanks to Sam's foresight, he made sure that the little pixie was under house arrest. He's had Embry and Paul watching her-two of our strongest members were wasting time hanging out in Forks, allowing Cullen to take advantage and slip past our boundaries while we were distracted with the redhead."

"Enough, Jacob!" Sam's mask slipped, allowing a sliver of emotion to slip through the cracks. "I am not infallible. And neither are you!" His stare was now one of hurt buried, as if he feared being vulnerable in front of the others more than the cold reality he had manufactured for so long. "It's been a long night and we're all tired."

Anger glinted metallic in Jacob's dark eyes momentarily, before it began to simmer down. "At last, we agree on something."

"Jake." Bella said softly, capturing his attention back on to her again. Her pale skin glowed almost translucent in the half light. "Daylight is nearly here. I think we should all call it a day and rest. I doubt Victoria or Edward will try anything while its light."

Jacob's smile was in his eyes even though his lips were still. They held all the love in the world. "Is that a request or an order?" He teased wearily.

"Both." The sweet smile Bella gave him contained all the love she felt for him. It took an immense amount of willpower for her to turn her eyes away from him. She regarded Sam and the others thoughtfully, her smile faltering a little. "I want to thank you all for having my back." She was comforted by their answering smiles and murmurs of acceptance. Even Sam seemed more relaxed now the storm between him and Jacob had abated. "Go home. Spend time with your loved ones and get some rest. You all deserve it."

And without one word of protest, they all obeyed her, leaving quickly until only Sam remained. He hovered in the doorway, still hiding his expression behind an inscrutable mask. "I'm glad you're okay." He said to Bella, his eyes flicking to Jacob as he did so. "I'm going to stay out on patrol for a while longer – "

"Sam, you need rest as much as anyone. Bella's right, it's unlikely that Cullen or the redhead would dare try and get onto the reservation again until darkness falls. Go home to Emily."

Sam nodded once, a strange light glowing in his eyes. He suddenly looked immensely sad. "Yes…maybe you're right." He ran his fingers over his shorn head. "I'll bid you goodnight…. or morning." His lips quirked a little, lightening his expression momentarily, before he finally took his leave.

Jacob didn't give a thought to Charlie and the worry of him finding them sharing a bed together. The quiet snores coming from Jacob's room showed them the police chief was still asleep. Without any worry, Bella climbed into bed, with Jacob following quickly after her. He held her in his arms, closing his eyes as he lay his head over her heart, in the exact same position Edward had earlier, but this was different. Jacob owned her heart, Edward did not.

Bella let her cheek press against his hair, felt the texture of it on her skin. He was growing it out again for her sake because she loved it so much. She breathed in deeply, smelling the delicious scent of him. "I love you, Jake." She whispered.

"I love you, too." Jacob whispered back, opening his eyes and raising his head to look deep into her enquiring eyes. She had the strange sensation that she was falling down even when she was already lying down. She felt almost giddy. "When I find him, I'm going to kill him, Bella." He vowed so quietly, that she wondered if she had heard him right. "He violated more than just the treaty tonight. He won't be tainting perfectly good air by pretending to breathe in and out much longer."

"Jake, sweetheart." Bella said soothingly as her fingers found his face. "I'm here. I'm okay."

Jacob swallowed thickly, his vulnerability shining through. "I won't let him lay one finger on you ever again. I promise you; Edward Cullen is going to die. Soon."

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.