Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight Saga Series. Any recognizable content/characters are the sole property of the great Stephanie Meyer.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I love to see them :) I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. As always, happy reading!

CHAPTER SIX

(BPOV)

I was unable to wrap my head around whatever it was he was trying so hard to tell me. I ran a hand through my hair, thinking hard and coming up with nothing again. This was infuriating for me. Jacob glanced wearily at the window and then back to me.

"I better get going, Bells. They'll start wondering where I am."

I lurched myself forward. I didn't want him to go like this. He saw the uncertainty on my face and pulled me to him, wrapping me up in a warm hug. He held me close to him as he whispered in my ear. "I'm sorry for before. I really am, honey. I'll be back when I can." He sighed, releasing me and heading downstairs and out the front door. I was left alone in my room with my many thoughts. To say I was confused was a vast understatement.

I stayed awake for a few more hours, trying to claw over anything I could that might help me make sense of all this. I finally gave up around three in the morning, and went to sleep, where my dreams waited for me. Proving to be more angry with me these days. I dreamt that Edward had come back for me, meeting me in our meadow. His perfection leaving me in awe and at a loss for words when he approached me. He reached for my hand and a sudden blur of Russet color drew my attention to the woods behind him. I strained my eyes to see what it was, walking out around Edward and fearlessly approaching it.

I watched in fascination, as a large russet colored wolf emerged from the tree line there. It's stature strong and sturdy and twice the size it should be. I walked boldly up to it, despite Edwards warning. I felt as if I was being drawn to it, while seeing it's beauty and marveling at it. The rational part of me knew I should be terrified, approaching such a large creature that I knew nothing about, but the closer I got, the more this wolf became oddly familiar to me. His brown eyes meeting mine when I stopped before it, reaching my hand out to lightly brush the fur on it's head. I felt a cool breeze come rushing from behind me and turned to see Edward there, his golden eyes fierce now as they stared at the wolf. The russet colored wolf moved out around me, placing itself beside me, seeming to challenge Edward. A loud hiss came from Edwards parted lips and he raised his hand in defense to it, ready to strike. I screamed at him, moving myself protectively in front of it. "No!"

My shouting was useless. I watched on in horror as the wolf fought with Edward. They circled each other, seeming locked in the fight they were in. I screamed again and tried to stop them, running to meet them there in the clearing and hearing a whine come from the russet wolf before I saw it fall limp to the meadow floor. I dropped down to my knees and felt my heart nearly stop to see the wolfs body morph into that of a man I knew. A man that I loved... Jacob.

I awoke screaming and bolted upright in my bed. My hands shaking and my heart pounding so hard that I could hardly catch my breath. "Wh.. what..." I breathed, trying to understand what I had just dreamt. Charlie came running in through my open bedroom door, panic in his eyes the way it always was when he heard me like this. I waved him off, letting him know I was okay and hurriedly getting to my feet. I grabbed my jacket and pulled on my shoes. I had to see Jacob.

"Bella..." Charlie began, as I went by him and rushed down the stairs. "Bella! Wait a minute! Where in the hell are you going at this hour? It's not even barely dawn yet!"

"I'll be back. I just need to clear my head." I replied, grabbing my keys and running out to my truck. I hit the gas and peeled out of the driveway without looking back. My head was full of that damn dream the whole drive to La'Push. It had been so real. His body laying limp like that in the meadow. I couldn't help but shudder as I remembered.

I pressed my foot down harder on the accelerator and was pulling up in front of Jacob's house on the reservation in no time. I jumped out of my truck, and ran up to the front door, taking a steadying breath as I knocked three times. My heart beating a mile a minute when Billy finally came to open it.

"Bella." He greeted me in a somber tone.

"Is... Jake here?" I asked, breathlessly.

"He's- not in right now. I'm sorry." He replied.

I glanced past Billy toward Jake's room, knowing he was lying and brazenly walked in. I normally would have never been so rude to just barge in like this, but I had no choice. "I'm sorry Billy, but I really need to see him. It's important." I said, as I walked quickly to Jake's room. I grabbed the knob and whipped his bedroom door open. Half expecting to find him in some gang related act when I opened it. This however was not the case at all. He was sound asleep on his bed. I stopped where I was, looking at him closely, and seeing how peaceful he looked in his sleep. All worry and edginess seemed to disappear when he slept and I simply didn't have the heart to wake him.

A loud whistle came from outside Jacob's window, toward the woods. I looked out to see Sam Uley standing there with Paul, Embry and Quil. They all stood together, at the edge of the woods. Hot anger coursed through me as I stormed out of Jake's room and straight out the front door, walking right past Billy.

"Bella!" He called out after me, wheeling himself toward the door, clearly seeing the pissed off expression I now wore. I was going to find out what the hell was going on here. I wasn't going to wait any longer. This was enough. I didn't care who Sam Uley thought he was. He had clearly done something to Jake. And just the thought of him, or anyone else for that matter, forcing their will on Jake, or making him do something he clearly didn't want to, made me want to set the world on fire. Whatever it was had affected him in a major way, stripping all the light from him that I loved so much. Someone was going to tell me what was going on... Right now.

I walked quickly up to them, my anger growing with each step I took, uncoiling itself within me the closer I got. I marched straight up to Sam, seeing the arrogant stance he took and the sarcastic look he wore on his face. I shoved him. "What the hell is going on here? Huh? Tell me! What did you do to him?" I yelled at him, seeing him barely move an inch at my weak shove. His eyes narrowed angrily at me, only further pissing me off.

"It's not your concern, Bella." He declared arrogantly.

"Not my concern?" I yelled back at him, feeling enraged. I hated what they had done to Jake. "Jake is my concern. Now tell me what you've done to him Sam!"

Paul laughed out loud at Sam's side. "Ha! That's fucking funny coming from the one who used to love the leech!" He mocked me, making a joke of the whole thing. Laughing at what they had done to Jacob. I saw red. His remark and blatant arrogance pushing me too far. Before I could think twice about it, I slapped Paul hard across the face. The slap making a loud sound and shocking even me. I stepped back, seeing Paul's eyes meet mine. His face growing pissed instantly. His whole body started to shake violently, vibrating so much so, that his very shape began to blur in front of me. I looked at him in utter disbelief as fear quickly took hold of me.

"Paul! Paul... calm down!" Sam shouted at him. But he didn't listen. The shaking only got worse. I backed up more, seeing his frame shift shape suddenly. He erupted out of his clothes, shredding them to thin pieces around us. His very body morphing into that of a large wolf right there in front of me. Looking much like the one in my dream, only a different color. I gasped aloud, thinking that I must be dreaming!

The wolf stalked it's way toward me, slowly, baring it's teeth, and swiping it's claws at the ground below. I turned, and ran as fast as I could away from him... Away from the wolf that Paul had become. Jake suddenly came barreling out of his house, hurdling himself over the wheel chair ramp he had built for his father, and landing securely on his feet, on a dead run toward me. "Bella!"

"Jacob run!" I screamed, running toward him and fearing for my very life and Jacob's for that matter. Jake's whole body began to shake violently as he continued to run to me. In the exact same way Paul's just had. He jumped over me, and burst out of his own clothes, shredding them just the way Paul had to his own moments ago. I fell to the ground, quickly spinning back around to see Jacob land securely in front of Paul as a large russet colored wolf. My eyes not believing what they were seeing. The wolf from my dream was real. I shook in shock and pure fear.

Jacob growled loudly at Paul, snarling profusely at him. The sound echoed off the tree's around us, and sent chills through me. He bared his teeth to Paul in warning. as more menacing snarls ripped through him, one after another. He was defending me. Even in this crazy moment, I remembered that he was protecting me - Even Now.

I sat there, on the ground, looking on at them in utter disbelief. This couldn't be real. I shook my head, literally thinking I had either lost my damn mind or was trapped in another nightmare. My heart nearly stopped when I saw Paul charge at Jacob. He came back at Paul. Pushing into him so hard that it knocked Paul into the woods. Teeth showing. Claws ripping. They disappeared into the woods, as they fought more. I was numb... entirely numb.

Jacob. Was. A. Werewolf ...

"Bella.. come on." Sam said, offering me his hand to help me to my feet, before barking out an order to Quil and Jared. "Get her to Emily's."

I willed my feet to move. The shock of what I had just seen still lingering over me while climbing into my truck.

Embry drove me and Quil toward Emily's house. A woman I had never met. I had only heard of her. My mind frantically wandered to Jake. If he was okay? I kept reliving the moment when he erupted into the russet colored wolf from my dream. It was not possible... was it? Was it true? All the horror stories and old legends were really true? All the things that go bump in the night really do exist? A shudder ran through me as we drove through town.

"Can you please take me home?" I asked Embry, who looked nervously over to Quil before replying.

"Well... Sam wants you at Emily's, but I suppose I can ... if you want to?"

I nodded and he pulled over, letting themselves out as I slid myself over into the drivers seat and left without another word. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. Jacob was a wolf. A freaking wolf.

I shook my head, feeling my stomach churn when I pulled over on the side of the road about ten minutes into the drive home. I couldn't catch my breath. One breath... Two breaths... Three breaths... I repeated this to myself over and over, trying to calm my panick. It couldn't be real.

I laid my head on the steering wheel, feeling as though I may be sick. The tears I had been fighting for a while now, welled up and spilled down my face as I sat there on the side of the road. I ran the scene over and over in my head. Me slapping Paul. Paul bursting into a wolf. Jacob running out the front door with incredible speed to get to me, jumping over the railing like nothing and bursting into a wolf himself. How could this be?

My head started to spin again as I recalled everything. I relived it, over and over again, as I sat there for minutes on end. Suddenly, my truck door was opening. I raised my head to see Jacob there."Bells..." He said, climbing into the truck with me, and closing the door. I moved to give him room, and put my face in my hands. Too much... This was all just too much.

"I'm sorry." He whispered to me."I'm sorry Bells." His voice was nothing but soft and sincere.

I wiped away my tears, getting ahold of myself and glancing over to see his eyes meet mine. Seeming to look right into my very soul.

"It's really true? It's true?" I asked him, praying he would somehow tell me it had all been another nightmare.

"Yes, Bella... It's true." He replied in a low tone. His words confirming my worst fear. This all had been real. It wasn't a dream I was going to wake up from eventually. Jacob was now part of the supernatural. Something I had forever swarn off, well at least I thought I had when Edward and the Cullen's all left. It was a world I didn't want to be apart of anymore.

I felt his hand reach for mine, his fingers lace with my own. My eye's trailed to his chest and further down to his chiseled abs that formed a well defined six pack. This all made sense now. The growth and his change. All part of who he was. "You're... really... a wolf? Part of the supernatural now, too?"

Jacob nodded, not taking his deep brown eyes from mine. Fear crept over me then, thinking of the last time someone who wasn't like me was around... Edward... and what had happened... he left. "So you're gonna end up taking off one day, too right?" I asked, unable to hide the brokenness in my tone from him.

"No... No... I would never leave you, Bells. I'm not going anywhere."

"Tell me you've never killed anyone?" I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth even as I said them.

Jacob shook his head. "No... we only kill one thing."

I looked at him, unable to picture Jake killing anyone. While I knew he would have protected me from any harm, I could never see him ever killing someone. I swallowed hard at the thought as I waited for him to speak again.

"Vampire's..." He whispered. I gasped aloud and took my hand from his, seeing Jacob grow slightly irritated. "Don't worry, we can't touch your beloved Cullen Clan. There's a rule. A treaty in place."

I felt relief, but it was short lived as I thought of Victoria. No...No... I began to panic. "Jake... no you can't." The thought of him getting hurt, or Victoria killing him like in my dream, made me physically ill.

"We're chasing a red head now. We just don't know what she wants." He said, glancing out the window. I started shaking upon hearing this. Jacob turned his attention back to me.

"What... Bells?"

"I know exactly what the red head wants. Me... She want's me." I whispered.

Jacobs eyes went black with fury at my confession. "What?" He breathed through clenched teeth. "She wants you?"

I nodded and forced myself to tell him everything. I told him about when James had almost killed me a year ago and explained how Victoria was after me because Edward had killed James. Her one true mate. Jacob glanced down, looking at the crescent scar on my inner wrist and caressing it with his thumb.

"She's after you." He whispered, so low I could barely hear him.

I nodded slowly. "She thinks it's only fair for me to pay for what ... Edward did to James. For killing her mate... a mate for a mate." I looked up, seeing Jacob's expression and silently waiting for the pain to seep into my system from uttering his name. Only the pain never came.

"She'll have to go through me first and I'll kill her." Jake replied, with fierce determination. I didn't doubt his abilities, but I knew all too well of their incredible strength and this made me fear greatly for him.

"Come on." He said, starting the truck."I'll take you home, Bells." He pulled out onto the main road while I stared blankly out the windshield. So much running through my mind, all at once... Too much.

I thought of Victoria, of her fierce red eyes looking at me. The many ways she could kill me and knowing now that she was here. My hands started to shake as I pondered all this. Jacob reached down, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together when I glanced over at him, seeing his eyes meet mine. I knew he would try. He would try to protect me, but at what cost? I couldn't let him sacrifice too much more for me. It wasn't fair. It was bad enough he had this life forced upon him because the Cullen's had come to Forks, I couldn't ask anymore of him. I wouldn't.

We reached my house to see Charlie was just getting out of his cruiser. He saw that Jake was driving my truck, and gave me a questioning look. "He's pretty pissed at me, isn't he?" Jake said, staring at him. Charlie walked quickly into the house, shaking his head. Im sure he was confused from seeing me with Jake.

"Well... that's kind of my fault. I thought you were in some kind of cult with Sam. I was worried and I just fell apart after I saw you. Charlie was there and I spillled everything. I'm sorry. I'll talk to him. He'll come around. Don't worry."

"I'm so sorry, Bells. I never wanted to hurt you. It killed me to tell you to leave, that we couldn't be friends anymore. But I couldn't tell you what was going on. That's why I tried so many times to call you. I couldn't stand it. Knowing I'd hurt you. Is it better this way? Now that you know?"

"Yes..." I whispered in reply, turning myself toward him, realizing just how very much I had missed him. In a way I never thought I could. "I missed you." I whispered to him. He lifted his head, his eyes locking on mine and seeming to read my every feeling.

I scooted myself over to him, feeling his warmth surround me while we sat there in the truck, listening to the rain fall. Jacob leaned in, bringing his face closer to mine. My heart started to race when our eyes met again. I knew what would happen next. It would all be very easy and effortless. The same way we always seemed to be when we were together. If I leaned in just a bit, I knew he'd bring his soft lips to mine. My heart raced impossibly fast as we lingered there. Time seemed to stand still for us. My breath caught in my throat when Jacob turned his head to the side, and kissed me softly on the cheek, stopping there while pressing his warm cheek to mine. Warmth spread to my face and down my neck from the contact with him.

"Are we okay?" He whispered in my ear, sending chills directly down my spine at the feel of his warm breath against my skin.

I didn't think I could formulate words, so I simply nodded in reply while lifting my free hand and placing it on his shoulder, before trailing it slowly up his neck and to the side of his face. I pulled back slightly, mere inches between his face and mine. "We're okay. We're always okay."

I saw the warmth I loved so much return to his eyes and knew if I didn't back away now, I would give in and let him kiss me. I could feel the moment growing between us, stirring something up in me that I hadn't felt in a long time. "Bells..." He whispered to me, leaning in further, his lips barely brushing mine.

Just then, my cell phone rang. Causing me to startle and jump back. I shook my head, looking down at the phone and seeing it was Renee. Perfect timing.

"Jake... I'm..." I stammered, trying to find the right words and failing.

"It's okay, Bells. I better get back anyways. Can I see you later?"

"Yea, I hope so."

I looked toward the house, well knowing I had to go in and explain everything to Charlie, who was probably fuming mad right about now. I had a lot of explaining to do. I pulled my hand out of Jake's, feeling his warmth leave me and missing it already.

"I'll see you later." I said softly as he kissed me on the cheek again before we got out walked to my door.

"Sure we're good?" He asked, a genuine nervousness in his tone.

Sensing his worry, I closed the distance between us and took his face in my hands. Jacob's eyes met mine. "Yes... We're more than just good. Now go and I'll see you later." I said, releasing him and lingering there by the front door, watching him smile at me as he ran off into the woods.

I took a deep breath and walked in to see Charlie pacing back and forth in the kitchen. His hands on his hips, still in his uniform.

"So... What? Now your... all fine?" He asked me, clearly still angry. I sat down at the kitchen table and tried to explain.

"Dad... it' was my fault. I jumped to conclusions before and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It's really not at all what I thought."

If charlie knew what it really was, he'd surely have a heart attack right here in the kitchen and I'd have to call him an ambulance. Charlie stopped pacing, looking down at me with disbelief.

"Okay... Fine. But I'm still gonna be watching them. Especially Sam Uley and you can tell Jake that."

I nodded once to him. "Does that mean he can come back here I asked hopefully.

Charlie sighed, plopping himself down into the seat next to me. "Yea I guess. Just promise me you'll take things slow... okay?"

I nodded, feeling a blush form on my cheeks. "Okay... He'll be here... later... for dinner."

"Great... now I've gotta eat crow and call Billy." He replied, getting to his feet and storming off into the living room while mumbling to himself. I couldn't help but chuckle a bit and shake my head, as I walked upstairs to my room, throwing myself down on my bed. Had that really all just happened?

I passed the time till Jacob got back by watching the History Channel with Charlie, and making a huge pan of lasagna for dinner. I thought maybe it was a good idea to have Billy come with Jake to dinner. Help repair a bit of the relationship for he and Charlie.

"Dad..." I called to him from the kitchen. He came in a few seconds later, grabbing another soda from the fridge.

"Yea?" He said, looking at me before heading back to watch the rest of the hunting show he had been watching all afternoon.

"You Know... I made a huge pan of lasagna. It's more than enough to feed an extra person... like Billy?" I looked over at him, nodding as I picked up the phone and held it out to him. "Here... Why don't you invite him to come with Jake?"

Charlie shuffled his feet a bit, standing in the entrance of the kitchen stubbornly.

"Mmm... Yea... Yea... okay... sure." He finally agreed, taking the phone from me and dialing Billy. I went back to setting the table, casually listening to him.

"Hey... Billy? Yea... it's Charlie. Listen uh... Bella made some lasagna for dinner tonight and there's plenty for an extra person. So... If you want to come with Jacob later, you know... you're welcome to." There was a long pause before Charlie spoke again."Okay... sure... See you later." Charlie hung up and gave me half a smile."Thanks kiddo." He said, strolling back into the living room. I smiled as I took the lasagna out of the oven. It was good to see Charlie and Billy talking again. It made me happy for my dad. They had been the best of friends for the longest time.

I quickly went back to my room and cleaned up a bit for dinner. I changed my shirt and swapped my jeans, feeling surprisingly ok. Considering all I had seen today and in spite of it all, I was actually in a good mood. I was so happy to have Jake back, that I didn't think anything could ruin that mood. I ran back downstairs and was finishing up the toss salad when I heard a knock at the door. I quickly set the salad on the table and ran past Charlie, who was already headed to get the door.

"Easy Bella, don't fall and hurt yourself." He laughed as I went to the front door and threw it open in a hurry. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Jacob standing there. I was so happy to have things back to normal, well as normal as they could be with him, that I hugged him the moment he was inside.

"Hey Bells." Jake said through his laughter. Clearly getting a kick out of my enthusiasm. I didn't care. All I cared about was that things were back the way they were. Well almost. Werewolf or not... he was still Jacob. Every bit as warm and loving as before. Yes, he seemed stronger, but he just held me that much tighter and yet never felt tight enough. "Thank you for coming." I whispered to him, feeling his arms tighten around me in response.

"Of course I came. After not seeing much of you in the last three weeks, you couldn't keep me away. Trust me." He whispered back soflty to me, and I felt him place his chin on my shoulder, nestling his face into my neck. I melted into him. My head spinning at the feel of him this close to me. Being in Jake's arms was unlike anything. It made me forget all my worries, and fears at once. Like being wrapped in this safe, warm, alternate world of our own.

I heard Charlie clear his throat behind us and felt Jacob release me. I blushed and noticed for the first time in a while, Jacob did too. It was beautiful. Just like he was.

Charlie walked up to Jake and I felt a bit of nerves come through me as he approached him. "Jacob I'm... sorry for the misunderstanding." He sighed, extending his hand to Jake, who took it and shook it firmly in his own.

"It's okay, Charlie. I understand." They locked eyes for a brief moment and seemed to be in agreement again. I sighed in relief as Charlie went into the living room, spating to Billy about the Mariners losing streak again. Jacob glanced down at me, his eyes roaming over me once, before he touched my cheek.

"You look beautiful, Bells. You always do."

I was unable to look away from him. His smile almost captivating and causing my blush to only deepen in response.

"Well what do ya say. Let's eat... huh?" Charlie's said, while wheeling Billy back into the kitchen for dinner.

We all sat down together at the table and shared a meal. I even managed to eat some myself, much to jacob's liking of course. We all laughed and enjoyed one another's company. Things felt right again. Like they were back where they belonged. Where they were supposed to be.

I cleared the table once we were all finished and loaded the many dishes into the sink, filling it with water and dish soap. Jacob offered me his helping hand and started washing the dishes with me.

"That went a lot better than I thought." He sighed with relief.

"Yea..." I nodded in agreement. "Things feel... right again."

We finished the dishes and put them away, all while listening to Charlie and Billy carrying on a friendly debate over who would win the game tomorrow in the next room. I just shook my head. Guys and their sports. Though I had to admit, it was really great to see them enjoying each other's company again.

"Are you staying for a while?" I asked him, with genuine hope that he would.

"Yea, as long as you want me to." He replied with a warm smile to me, turning to face me as he moved himself closer. "So... my dad... told me something the other day."

I felt my stomach flood with my nerves. My heart lurching into my throat, upon remembering what I had desperately said to Billy. I looked down at the floor. My nerves getting the better of me and making it hard for me to respond to him. I soon felt Jacob place his hand under my chin, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

"I love you, too..." He whispered to me, pulling me gently to him. His eyes never leaving mine. The sincerity in them leaving no doubt within me that his words were true. Jacob loved me. He didn't need to tell me with words. I knew just by the way he was with me. How his hand would so absentmindedly find mine now. How he would always place his hand on the small of my back when he'd escort me through the door. How he seemed to understand me and what it was I needed without me having to tell him with words.

Jacob had become the sun to me. His warmth and light, acting as a compass to guide me out of the never ending dark from before. The dark I had feared may always be waiting for me. The profound darkness I had been lost in when Edward had left me. Only now, I was no longer there. No longer did my heart aimlessly wander in hope that one day, I would love and be loved again. My heart had found it's anchor. My heart had found Jacob.