A/N: Okay, so I know some of you are feeling a bit confused from the last chapter. Many of you have asked if Bella was truly with Jacob or the spirit warrior that Billy sensed was trying to dwell in him as a host. Im sorry for the confusion and I'm really hoping this chapter will clarify better for you. Thanks for all your reviews and feel free to share your thoughts after this chapter! There will be another update tomorrow! Thank you and HAPPY READING :-)

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

(BPOV)

I was startled awake by the sound of the house door closing downstairs, my eyes struggling to adjust to the bright sunlight that filled my bedroom. I tried to move, feeling overheated and a bit disoriented. Jacob bolted upright when I moved his arm off me and left the bed, his eyes wide and his breathing anxious when he met my gaze.

"Charlie just got home." I sighed, pulling on some clothes and heading for the door. "If he finds you in here-"

I was silenced by the sound of Charlie's approaching footsteps on the stair case, my body freezing in place as he crested the top.

Jacob kept still, his eyes on the door as the knob turned.

"Bella, are you feeling alright? Not like you to sleep this late?"

"Uh- yeah dad... I'm just - emailing mom. Be right out."

"Okay, see you in a bit then. Are you hungry? Was thinking we could order some lunch or something?"

"That sounds great."

"You haven't seen Jacob by chance have you? Billy called me on my cell before I got home. Says he wasn't around this morning when he got up."

I turned back to Jacob, seeing his firm swallow upon hearing Charlie's words.

"No- I... haven't talked with him yet this morning. I'm sure he's- just out - with Quil or Sam... or something."

"Well, Billy sounded real worried. You should let him know if you do see him." He sighed, walking back downstairs as I sat down on the edge of my bed, feeling guilty for lying to him.

"I should go back." Jacob sighed, his hand caressing my cheek when he saw the nervous expression on my face.

"Will you- come back to me- after?"

He nodded, pressing his soft lips to my forehead before getting up and throwing on his tattered jeans. I watched him as he hurriedly retreated to the window, my heart beating painfully from the thought of him disappearing again. I tried to keep my composure as he pulled the window open, his face looking unsure when he paused there. As if he himself didn't want to leave me.

"I promised you... Remember?"

I nodded, seeing the sincerity in his gaze as he turned to go. "I do remember and I know you'll keep it... cause your my Jacob. You don't break promises-"

His head lifted and his gaze went distant again upon hearing me say this to him. I drew closer to him, seeing the darkness in his eyes fade away and return to the warm brown I knew so well.

"Jacob..." I whispered, cradling his face in my hands and willing him to stay with me... as my Jacob and not the wolf.

His body was tense but relaxed instantly from my touch, his eyes looking into mine with such intensity that it took my breath away. I saw it there... the fleeting return of the man who had held my heart since we were children. I moved closer to him, gently stroking his cheek with my thumb as my mind raced for a way to keep him with me, to ward off the return of the wolf.

Billy's words came back fresh to my mind, making me see for the first time since Jacob had resurfaced the fight that was taking place within him. Memories from last nite played over and over again in my mind and I knew the wolf had been in control, but there had been moments, many of them when I could feel just Jacob... My Jacob.

The wolf had craved dominance and needed my submission in order to settle itself and I had given it to him willingly, knowing the fight would be less harsh on Jacob if I did so.

I held his gaze, placing a kiss to his full lips and whispering the one thing I knew stood a chance of keeping him here with me longer.

"I love you, Jacob Ephraim."

The warmth in his gaze continued to grow as he stilled further from my words, his breathing now more even and his gaze becoming less distant. I leaned into him, placing my lips a mere breath from his.

"You've always been whatever I need. It's my turn to be whatever you need now. I'm right here, Jacob." I continued.

He pulled me to him, his body beginning to shake from the tremors that tried to take control. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close as he tried to fight them off, but they only grew worse. I closed my eyes, wishing I could fight this for him.

The wolf was clearly angry now. Jacobs temporary hold over him had caused him to grow agitated.

I felt him suddenly pull back, his skin breaking out in a sweat as he tried to speak, his eyes turning tortured and afraid.

"Bells...-"

The word sent a jolt through me. He hadn't called me that since he came to.

I tried to stay close to him but he pulled forcefully away from me, holding me at arms length as he dropped to his knees with an agonized scream. I fell down with him, watching in horror as his body bowed under the weight of a force I could not see.

Charlie burst through my bedroom door, his eyes wide in alarm when they saw Jacob writhing beneath my window.

"Bella, what the hell is going on-"

"Go get Sam, dad! Hurry! Jake needs him!"

Charlie tore off down over the stairs at my words, his cruiser soon peeling out of the driveway just as Jacob let out another scream, and I felt my soul shred from the sound.

"Jacob-" I cried, seeing him try to get up despite his anguish. I reached for him but he moved away from me frantically, jumping out the window and phasing mid- air. He landed on all fours with a vicious roar that shook the nearby forest. His eyes darting up to mine once before he ran full tilt into the trees, the remains of his jeans now scattered in pieces on my bedroom floor.