A/N: Hello everyone! Back for another short chapter update! Look for another this week! Be blessed and please feel free to review! As I've always said... HAPPY READING! :-)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

(JPOV)

I couldn't stop the hurt that ripped through me as I watched her fading tail lights soon disappear. She had really left... to run to Cullen.

My fathers voice carried out to me through the howl of the rushing wind and I barely could focus long enough to make out what he was saying.

"We couldn't have kept her here. Against her will like that, son. She wanted to go- Foolish choice as it may be, it was still her choice to make."

I trudged up over the steps, feeling my insides nearly shred when my gaze landed on a note laying on the kitchen table. My hands shook as I opened it.

"Jacob, It's been hours since you left to search for Charlie and the longer I sit here, the more I know that the chances of finding him alive and unharmed are dwindling. I know you Jake and I know you'll keep searching for him until you find him. I'm sorry that my selfishness has made you part of this world. Part of the chaos and the danger. The Cullen's coming back to Forks is what sparked the change in you to begin with. I'm sorry that you've been thrown into it. This wasn't a choice you made, but my own. Edward was clear with his demands when he returned back here. I was a fool not to heed his warning and now he's taken Charlie. He could be hurt or worse because of me. I have to make this right on my own. I hope you can understand and forgive me someday. Don't come after me Jacob... please... I love you."

I crumpled the note in my shaking hands as my father wheeled his way in through the front door.

She had planned this. Set her mind long before I had returned home. She knew damn well what she was going to do.

"What did it say?" Billy asked, reading the look of despair on my face now.

"She knew what she was doing... she planned it... left this for me to find. She's giving in to Cullen's demands to spare Charlie."

"Charlie would never want her to do such a thing -"

"-that doesn't matter to Bella."

"She doesn't know what Edward has planned for her. He could change her himself...erase all of who she was with you, Jacob. Keeping you apart forever."

His words sent tremors through me as the cold reality of her choice sunk in.

Edward would change her. Even if it was against her will, just to secure her future with him.

"You know I'm right Jacob. You know his kind and what their capable of."

My tremors grew as the unwanted images began to play in my head. The visions of Bella with crimson red eyes was enough to make me want to scream. Despite the note she left me and how she had just run. I knew she didn't truly want to become one of the cold ones. Not anymore.

I had seen the change in her over this last year... seen her smile become genuine again and her laughter sincere. She had been happy with me... had found who she was and where she belonged, but Charlie was her father and she knew what persuasion to use to make Cullen think twice. It was a smart tactic. I had to give her that. Bella loved Charlie and would sacrifice herself twice if that meant he went unharmed in all this, but the mere thought of her succeeding … of her heartbeat no longer existing made my chest ache and my eyes sting.

She would end me with her.

I wouldn't be able to survive without her.

It would change the course of our lives forever.

"Son-" My father sighed, reaching for my hand across the table where he sat. "They could-"

"I know. I nearly lost her last time."

".and if he did... change her- as a trade for Charlie-"

My eyes met his then, seeing the look of pity and dread in his gaze now.

"She'd kill me with her, dad."

"She would come back to you. I'm sure of it, Jacob."

The thought made my stomach churn violently. The possibility of her becoming what I loathed.

I turned from him, trying to get my wits about me, and remembering all the times I had told Bella I loved her unconditionally... without limits.

"You wouldn't be able to be-" Billy started, pausing after I sharply turned back to face him.

"I would-"

"Jacob-" He warned in response. "It would mean giving up all that you are, son..."

"I would love her - even then-" I replied, meeting his wide gaze.

"It would break every rule given by the elders The ones who went before you. They would never allow it, Jacob. They would kill her before she even made it to you."

"Then they'd have to kill me too." I replied, heading back outside with Billy on my heels.

"Where are you going!?"

"To look for Charlie... and bring Bella back. No matter what she may be when I get to her."

I took off running into the dense forest before he could respond, knowing what his words would be. I knew what a risk this was but I couldn't live without Bella and I wasn't going to.