Seth PoV

"You're early." Bella opened the door with a happy smile on her face that made everything in me jump.

"Wait… Seth?" Bella seemed surprised and that was no wonder. I had been surprised by myself when I made the decision to go up to her house and try to talk to her.

"Yeah…" I made a face. On my way here I had made a lot of plans of what I wanted to say when I finally saw her but as I turned out they were not good at all. I flushed and hid my hands deep inside my pocket to keep them from fidgeting around nervously.

"What are you doing here? Has something happened? Is everything alright?" The concern in her voice was all too obvious and it gave me hope. Maybe she hadn't forgotten us completely after all.

"No, everything's alright." I answered, still looking down on me feet.

"Then why are you here? Did Jacob send you?" She'd crossed her arms in front of her chest. The worry faded, leaving suspicion and anger behind.

"No! He doesn't know I'm here and if he knew he would most probably kill me or ban me from his pack altogether."

"So?"

I bit my lip. Why must this be so damn difficult? I had come up with a very specific request but now that I was here, it seemed like a fool's errand. She wouldn't come back so why even bother to try?

"Seth, really, I have a date in a few minutes, so say what you have to say and please be quick."

A date...

"Bella, I'm here because... Ah, because..." I took a huge breath. "Because I want you to come home."

I flushed a little more but managed to stare in her face. Her unbelieving, emotionless face. "What?"

"Bella, you don't know how things are down there. It's like a graveyard. Since that night... Jake won't talk to anyone, just sits around the beach all day, staring at the horizon, talking to himself. He doesn't phase anymore and each time one of us tries to see him, he sneaks away to avoid us. No one knows what to do; even his father is out of options. He barely eats or sleeps. You're the only one who can help him, I know that. Once he sees you, he's gonna be alright again. Please Bella, you have to come."

Bella let out a heavy sigh before she stepped back a little. "Come in." I followed her down to her living room where she sat down on a chair at their dinner table and gestured for me to take the other.

For a few moments she seemed at a loss for words. I waited patiently although it almost killed me. Then she came up with an answer.

"Seth, I don't know how much you saw that night. How much you know. But if you'd seen what I'd seen then you'd know that there is no coming back. What happened that night...It was too much. I can't come back, not this time. I'm sorry."

"But why? You know he'll never hurt you."

"Yes, I know. And it isn't because of this that I can't come back."

"Then why? He needs you. We need you. You belong with us, then queen of the Black Pack, remember?"

"No Seth." Her words were sharp as ice and I knew I had made a mistake by bringing this up. "Bella, please, I'm sorry I said that. It's just... Please, come home. He's dying without you. He made a mistake, a big one but you have to forgive him. Please" I begged. Images of Jacob rose up in my mind, sitting at the beach, hollow cheeks, ashen skin, clouded, emotionless eyes. I wish that I could send Bella these pictures like I could do with my sister and Quil and Embry. Maybe then she'd understand how much we all needed her.

Smiling sadly, Bella stroked my cheek before she let her hand rest on my arm. "I am so sorry, Seth. I really wish thing were different. It felt so good at that time to be part of your family. But I realized that this wasn't my world. I can never be part of your world, not like that."

"But why? Sam hurt Emily too and she stayed with him. Jake screwed up but he is sorry, I know he is. Please, at least talk to him, just one time." This is going all wrong. She has to come back to us, she just hast to. Why can't she see that?

"No, Seth."

"Bella..." All of a sudden, car tires were screeching outside, and a door slammed shut. A few moments later the doorbell rang again. We both jumped up in surprise.

"That's my date", she said quietly, standing up. I rose up too but before she turned away, I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please Bella. Talk to him. You don't have to come back if you don't want to but please, you have to do this."

Doubt rose up in her eyes and I felt hope flush through me again. Maybe it wasn't too late?

But then her face turned to stone again. "You should leave now. I am sorry Seth, but I don't belong in your world."

My shoulders slumped as all my strength left my body. Together with every ounce of hope I had had.

I am sorry, Jake... I tried

Without another word I made my way past Bella and the blond guy she'd met at her door and I didn't look back. I didn't want to see the man she'd replaced Jacob with.

Wrong, this is all so wrong. She doesn't belong with him; she belongs with us. We are her family not he. She is the queen of the Black Pack

She had to see that. I had to make her see that. But how? She refused to see Jacob and he would never go and see her.

Damn all this.

Why did he fight that night? He was the calmest and most controlled man I knew. He would never violate the treaty like this.

I knew that this fight had been about Bella but the true reasons he had never told anyone. He had stopped phasing before his mind could show us more and left us all guessing around in the dark. If only there was a way of getting the truth, maybe then I could find a way to bring her back to us.

The truth...

But yes, maybe there was a way. A very unconventional one, for a werewolf at least, but Jake's life was at stake here and there was nothing I wouldn't do for him. If this was the only way to bring Bella and Jacob back together, then I would do it.

Without phasing, I turned my step north, always following the faint smell in the air.

I only hope that this will work. Otherwise, I am really out of ideas...