The Alpha's Bride—Jacob + OC

Jacob Black was forced into a position of power when he first started phasing. Now he's been an Alpha to the La Push wolf pack for almost twelve years, and almost everyone on the reservation are hoping that he'll get married and produce an heir to the wolf pack and to the tribe.

Almost everybody on the reservation (at least those "in the know") still believe that having an imprint (or even just a wife) is essential to continuing the legacy of the Quileute heritage. Jacob, on the other hand, is still suffering from having his heart broken by a woman who left him for a vampire. On one night, Jacob and all of the guys from the pack heads to Las Vegas to celebrate a bachelor party for one of his pack brothers. What he didn't expect was that he would end up getting married to a girl that he not only just met the first night...but who is also his imprint.

Sara Carnegie comes from a well-off family from New York, but made a move to Washington to study teaching and hoping to work with children with special needs. She went through a bad break-up, and immediately put her heart and soul into her studies. Her friends, however, wanted to take her to Vegas to get her mind off of everything and to live life. What Sara never expected was to marry a complete stranger, and wake up in bed with him the next morning.

Sara wants an annulment, but Jacob wants more time with his imprint. With reluctance, Sara agrees to take her classes online and move with Jacob to La Push to at least make their marriage work for the next six months of it.

Could Sara love Jacob for who he is, or will she run the moment she discovers the truth?

A/N: I know what you're all gonna say: why did you bring Bella in the picture?! Yes, it is crazy to bring her in, but she plays an essential role in this story, as well as the sequel. You might be surprised to see what will happen at the end of the chapter, but rather than telling you, you'll just have to read and find out. So, without further ado, here's chapter twenty-two! Enjoy and happy reading!

Chapter 22

Sara's POV

He told me that he loves me, and I still haven't told him how I feel. How I know that? Well, it's already been a month since he'd last told me how he felt, and neither one of us have spoken about it since. It's not that I didn't want to say it back, it's just I didn't know how to tell him. To be honest, he's been spending a lot of time with someone from his past, a woman named Bella, along with her husband Edward. I've only met them at least once or twice, but I wasn't exactly thrilled about meeting them.

I didn't realize who they were until Emily and Rachel explained it to me one day. When I realized who they were, I was furious. I'd hardly spoke to Jacob since finding out, and he understood. Then again, since we've started sleeping in separate rooms and only spoke to each other when needed to, it made matters worse. It was hard to talk about it, and I should probably understand the situation, but I can't. I don't know how to react with the fact that my husband's former love has returned and is in need of help.

I want to believe him, I really do, but I can't seem to. Isn't it hard enough that he's a shapeshifter, and that I'm supposedly his soul mate? It seems almost unbelievable to me, and even he knows it.

I was released from the hospital about three days after the incident, and because of the amount of physical therapy that I would need, I had to drop my classes. It was frustrating for me, because I wanted so much finish my degree and start teaching Special Education, but I can't. In this kind of situation, regardless of how it happens, the injury comes first before school does. Jacob felt guilty about the whole ordeal, which made me even more upset with him. I didn't want him to dote on me too much; I was practically suffocating being in the same room with him.

Our marriage was slowly falling apart, and even though I knew something will happen that will cause us to get a divorce, but I wasn't ready to leave him. My siblings, whom remained in contact with me, tried to talk me out of the idea, but a part of me keeps leaning back to the prospect of divorce. Could that be the answer to all our problems? Maybe it will help him move on from me and meet someone who could be that other half.

I felt alone; practically scared of what might happen. I even tried contacting my parents, but they won't speak to me, especially my father. He refuses to acknowledge me as his own, while my mother isn't sure of what to say to make it better.

Sue Clearwater was already making coffee when I woke up, and honestly, she and Billy were the only ones that I could trust right now. I couldn't talk about my feelings with the imprints or the other shapeshifters (apparently there are others, and how I found out wasn't pretty either); I knew they would try to get me to reconsider trying to save my marriage. Sue and Billy have both lost their spouses to death, and they knew more about marriage than I do with Jacob. These last couple of months has been trying for both Jacob and I, no matter how we feel and how hard we've tried to make things right.

Jacob was already getting ready to leave when I entered the kitchen. He turned to me, and gave me a soft smile, "Hey,"

"Hi," I replied, then thanked Sue when she gave me a cup.

"I'm gonna be on patrol for a while, then I'll be over at the Cullen's for a little bit. I'll be back in a couple of hours," he said, as I moved to sit at the table.

I didn't bother looking him, but I nodded so that he knew I was listening. Sue and Jacob were probably looking at each other right now, because soon enough, I felt a pair of warm lips on my forehead. He whispered that he loved me, then left. I knew the tears were brimming from my eyes when he said those three words, and when he finally left, I just broke down.

Sue moved to the table, and took my free hand in hers, gently rubbing it, as a mother would comfort her child. "Sara, what's the matter?"

I furiously rubbed my tears away, and took a deep breath. "I don't know what's wrong with me, I've never felt like this before. I don't know what to do,"

"Is this about Jacob?"

I nodded. "You love him, don't you?"

"I do,"

"Then why don't you tell him how you feel?"

"Because, he deserves better than me. He deserves someone who can handle all of this, and someone who could give him what he wants. What can I give him, Sue? What can I, Sara Carnegie, ever give a guy like Jacob Black?"

"A chance to live, Sara."

That statement caused my head to perk up a bit, as I looked at Sue's eyes to see if it was true. "What do you mean?"

"When Jacob first phased, it meant that he couldn't age, at least not for a while. He would be older, per say, but physically, he would still be young. In a way, you give him a chance to be human again, which is a good thing. He'll be able to grow old with you, and watch your children and grandchildren grow up and protect the tribe. That's what he needs from you, not just your love, but your strength as a human being."

"But, what good will that do? I'll only hold him back, won't I?"

"Not necessarily, Sara. It's a bit complicated, but I can only say so much."

I shook my head, trying to forget about it, as we started some physical therapy. It was already three hours later; Sue already left after spending forty minutes helping me with my therapy. I was grateful that she helped me out, but after she left, I kept thinking about what I should say to Jacob. Should I stay, or should I go. That was all that was going through my mind, and it made me feel even more frustrated than I already am.

I started to worry about the whole situation, that I had to leave the house for a while to clear my head. I knew it was not a good idea to leave by myself, but luckily the beach was close-by, and I thought the salt-watery air would help me clear my head. As I started to walk along the beach, I pulled Jacob's leather jacket around me, which luckily still had his abnormal warmth that comforted me. I looked around the beach, and I thought that I was alone, but I didn't realize that Jacob would be here too...with her.

He told me he would be at their place, and I didn't want to jump to conclusions. But, as I tried to steer away from them, my heart was shattered. She pulled him toward her and kissed him, fully on the mouth, and they were like that for probably a minute or two. I felt the tears swimming down my face, as I covered my mouth from my heartbreaking sob.

He told me that he loved me, he said, but it was a lie. He realized that something wasn't right, and when he pulled away, our eyes met. "Oh God, Sara..."

I shook my head, and as he called out my name, I just did what I had to do. I ran...