CHAPTER TWELVE

(JPOV)

I could taste the blood in my mouth from biting my tongue throughout the entire dinner at Bella's. A volatile cuss had left me the moment I pulled onto her street as the acidic stench of leech invaded the cab of the truck. It was revolting and made my stomach violently churn.

"What the fuck." I muttered, pulling up to her house and smelling the stench become more prominent there. I knew damn well who the stench belonged to.

My father wasn't ignorant to this. He had asked me what my problem was a few times and I had lied through my teeth to keep the conversation and mood at Charlie's light. For his sake alone and I would be lying if I said it wasn't without great effort. It took everything in me not to show my anger or open my mouth.

When I embraced Bella at the front door and smelled his vial stench on her clothing, I nearly lost my shit right then and there, loathing the fact her beautiful and intoxicating scent was now mixed with the acidic stench of fucking Cullen. For saving face sake alone, and not wanting to ruin the evening for everyone, I chose to suffocate the nausea and trudge forward through the rest of the evening. The final straw for me came when Bella had cleared the table after dinner and a phone call interrupted Charlie and Billy's chatter.

Charlie's look went angry when he handed the phone to Bella.

"Uh-Bella... you have a phone call."

His displeased tone was more than enough for me to know who was on the other end of that call

Bella tossed the towel on the counter, her gaze immediately angered when she grabbed the phone from her father's hand. "Don't call here again."

She abruptly hung up and when her gaze met mine, I knew I could no longer shove this down. I was done biting my tongue. I swiftly stood and caught her hand in mine, taking her outside with me and trying to keep my words whispered enough so Charlie wouldn't hear.

"I know you're probably pissed. I didn't know he was gonna be here-" She nervously began.

I cut her off, unable to stop my words before they spilled out. "Tell me what happened. Where the hell in the house was he and why can I smell his revolting stench all over you like a bad perfume, Bella!"

My tone was angry and I tried to keep my head about me. This was the second time he'd shown his unwanted presence in one way or the other. First the fucking note and now this shit.

"He was in my room... I heard him upstairs when I was making dinner. I didn't know who was up there at first. Scared the hell out of me. I grabbed a kitchen knife and when Charlie called my cell, I ran for it, trying to get to it. He caught me before I made it." She explained.

"Caught you? He put his hands on you?" I asked, my own hands reflexively clenching at the mere thought.

"Yes, but he released me when I told him to." She clarified, seeing me get heated.

"So he's now back in town. How fucking convenient." I scoffed, shaking my head.

"This doesn't change anything for us, Jacob. Him being here means absolutely nothing to me. I hope you know that. Please don't let him ruin this. I know he'll try..."

"He had no right coming into your house... uninvited and unwelcome. I'm calling Sam and letting him know he's back. I have a responsibility to do so, Bells. Is he the only one or are they all stopping in for a friendly visit? How long before the others show up?"

"He's alone... as far as I know. He didn't mention any of them joining him back here in Forks."

I dialed Sam and quickly filled him in. He then informed me he would be sure to step up patrol measures at Bella's and to keep a watchful eye out for him. I ended the call and saw Bella's gaze remorseful and seeming unsure.

I took a step toward her, pulling her closer to me. "I'm not angry with you, Bells. I just hate that he invited himself into your house. He has no right to ever do it and if he's smart... if he knows what's good for him, he won't do it again."

"I made it clear to him today that I don't want anything with him. He can't just decide to show up here and think-"

"... That you'd go running back." I finished for her, seeing her eyes meet mine.

"That's not gonna happen." She assured me. "You're what I want, Jacob."

Her reassuring words helped calm some of the anger, but it sure in hell didn't erase it. I secretly hoped to cross paths with Cullen. Maybe a trip to his house was over due. I'm sure by now, he would be expecting my arrival. He'd be a damn fool not to. I was sure that it wouldn't take much convincing from me to get a few of the guys to go along when I paid him a returning unwelcomed visit. I had just the wolves in mind for the trip.