Eyes Wide Open

JacobxBella

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Eyes Wide Open

Chapter 15

Shadow had been living with his mistress and her companions for three weeks and already loved them all. He followed his mistress everywhere possible, helping her locate things and guiding her where she needed as her eyes. Everyday he accompanied her to the place she took him from, staying behind the counter with her or his previous master. Other times he would play with the dog toys while she was working. And at the end of the day, he happily got to walk her back home, and cuddle up to her on her bed at night. Shadow loved his mistress very much and vowed to protect her, even though he was just a young pup.

One thing Shadow noticed about his mistress was her camaraderie with her companion that she called 'Jake', the man he woke up for her on his first day in his new home. He could tell that they were mates, their pheromones mixing together in a nice way whenever they were close together. And yet, neither of them acted out on those pheromones. He found it strange his mistress and Jake did not act on their pheromones for each other, but he figured with them being mates, they would in time.

Currently he was sitting in his mistress's lap, traveling with her beyond their home in some sort of moving, rumbling contraption that Jake was steering. His mistress had told him that he would meet someone by the name of 'Charlie'. She claimed he was her father—was that another word for 'master'? He supposed he would find out soon enough and determine whether he liked him or not.

Bella scratched Shadow behind his ear softly before turning to look at Jacob, taking in his golden aura. Ever since she had been able to glimpse the outline of his face through his aura, she found herself staring at Jacob whenever she could. More times than not Jacob caught her doing it, but he never called her out on it. Personally, she believed her best friend liked her looking at him. And though she'd never admit it out loud, she liked looking at Jacob. He was very handsome, something she already knew, but now she could see his features again through his aura. But that wasn't the only reason she liked being around him. He was just so full of life and she loved being in his presence, about as much as he loved being in hers.

When she moved her gaze from Jacob down to her puppy, Jacob looked over at the brunette and smiled softly before asking, "Are you excited to see Charlie? You haven't seen him for a while."

"Yeah, I've really missed him, especially since he hasn't been able to come to La Push," Bella replied with a smile.

"Do you think he'll like Shadow?"

"I think so. And how could anyone not like my baby Shadow? He's so precious"

Jacob chuckled when Shadow yipped in response to Bella's words and wagged his tail. Nodding his head in agreement Jacob said, "Yes, Shadow is adorable. Not only that, he's potty-trained."

Bella snickered. "You're still mad about him peeing on you."

"He peed on my face while I was sleeping. It was warm and smelled horrible."

"It was an accident."

"He knew what he was doing. Luckily I nipped that in the bud real quick."

Bella let out a laugh, Shadow barking happily hearing his mistress' laughter. Jacob laughed along with his best friend, her laughter becoming infectious. He also took delight in how her face brightened and her chocolate brown eyes glittered with mirth. Before long they had made it to Forks and were driving down the road to the Swan household. Pulling into the driveway of the yellow house, Jacob parked the car and said, "The cruiser isn't here. Charlie must still be at work."

"Then let's just wait inside until he gets home; dad won't mind," Bella said before getting out of the car with Shadow in her arms. She allowed Jacob to help guide her to her front porch, though she had her white stick hanging from her wrist. Once on the porch, she started digging in her pocket for her house key when the door suddenly opened. There standing in front of them was Edward Cullen himself.

Upon seeing the familiar black aura, Bella gasped in surprise and backed away from him exclaiming, "Edward!"

Jacob growled at the sight of his enemy and spat, "What the actual fuck are you doing here?"

Edward glared at him momentarily before turning his attention back to the brunette that was cowering away from him. Reaching a hand out towards her he said, "Welcome home, my love."

He had been about to touch her, run his fingers through Bella's soft hair. However before he could, a growl coming from the girl's arms caught his attention. Seeing a black puppy, he frowned at it before the dog started barking at him, his hackles raised under his black coat and little teeth bared at him. The puppy began snapping at him as well and struggling out of Bella's hold, all the while barking and growling at him. Bella couldn't hold the dog and soon it had jumped out of her arms and onto the ground, barking, growling, and snapping at Edward.

Surprised at the sudden attack from the puppy, Edward backed into the Swan house, only for the puppy to run after him. He ran from the puppy, the puppy chasing him throughout the first level of the house before he decided to run outside into the yard past Bella and Jacob. Jacob smirked at Shadow as he stood on the porch with his legs spread apart, barking and growling at Edward while trying to be intimidating with his little teeth bared at him; it was honestly rather cute. Looking at the leech that he absolutely loathed Jacob said, "Get out of here, leech. You're not welcome here."

Feeling not as scared anymore with both Jacob and Shadow, Bella squared her shoulders and looked in Edward's direction. Staring right at his black aura she said, "Jake's right, Edward. You are no longer welcome in my house, on this property, and in my life. Go away and leave me alone, for good."

Edward stared at Bella with a surprised gaze before he schooled his expression. Shaking his head he said, "I can't leave you alone forever, Bella. We belong together, and I have no doubt we'll be together again. Until next time, my love."

The vampire disappeared after his spoken words, leaving the two teenagers and Labrador Retriever pup on the porch of the Swan residence. The moment he was gone, Bella let out a sigh of relief before bending down to pick up Shadow. Feeling his raised hackles, she rubbed his fur down before kissing the puppy on his head and saying, "Don't worry Shadow, he's gone now."

Shadow growled in his chest a bit before turning to lick Bella's cheek, giving her comfort as he could still sense her slight fear. Whoever that creature was, his mistress didn't like him, and he'd be sure to make sure he didn't come near his mistress again so long as he could help it.

Jacob wrapped an arm around Bella before gently ushering her inside. Once they were inside, Bella moved to the living room with Shadow while Jacob went to search the house, wanting to see if that leech had done anything while Charlie was gone and Bella was currently moved out. Though the leech's scent was all over the house, he found it particularly strong as he ascended the stairs. The smell got stronger as he neared Bella's bedroom. Opening her bedroom door, his nose was hit with the scent of Edward Cullen, the vampire's scent permeating the air. He couldn't believe it; that damn leech had been staying in Bella's room, or at least had been camping out here for a few hours a day. What a sick, twisted son of a bitch!

Not being able to stand the smell, Jacob went to the window and opened it as high as it would go, allowing the trapped vampire smell to escape. Going back downstairs, Jacob opened a few windows before taking a sea next to Bella on the couch. Wrapping an arm around her he said, "He's been camping out in your room up there. It's almost as if he's been waiting for you to return here."

A shiver went down the brunette's spine and she leant against Jacob, actively seeking his warmth and wanting to be as close to him as possible at the moment. Her head resting against his shoulder Bella said softly, "I can't believe he was here. I can't believe he was invading my personal space like that; I'm not even safe in my own home."

Though that was true and Jacob agreed with her, he had to remind her that she had allowed him to do so, even after finding out he had been sneaking into her room and watching her sleep and such. Bella sighed softly, knowing Jacob was right. She had allowed Edward to do that, allowing the boundaries to spread rather than restrict them. Now because of her not giving Edward any boundaries, he was coming and going in her home as he pleased, all the while without Charlie knowing. It was all her fault.

Sensing what she was feeling, Jacob held her close and kissed the top of her head before saying, "We'll deal with him soon, so don't worry. You're fully protected, and he won't hurt you; I won't let him."

"Thanks Jake," Bella replied softly. She looked over at Shadow from where he was perched on the arm of the couch. His little gold aura was shining and she smiled before clicking her tongue, calling him to her. As he bounded over to her and settled himself between her and Jacob, Bella scratched his head affectionately and said, "Thank you too for protecting me, Shadow."

Shadow licked Bella's hand in response, Bella laughing softly as he did. Jacob smiled at the two before reaching over to grab the remote, turning on the television that was currently playing Gilligan's Island. Both he and Bella turned their attention to the television, Shadow settling himself comfortably on Jacob's lap and watching the moving screen as well. Though the trouble had calmed down for them in that moment, Bella and Jacob couldn't help but feel that there was going to be more to come in the near future.