The Painful Truth

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks for the awesome reviews!

Part Nine

Paul wasted no time in letting Jacob know what had happened with Bella. He phased in as the patrol shift neared its end and simply let his thoughts speak for him. He felt triumphant as he felt Jacob's anger through the pack mind link. "What else did you expect, Black?" He sneered. "She was always a vampire girl. Keeping her under house arrest on the res was never gonna change that."

Jacob's roar was so loud that it sent the birds flying from their roosts in the trees. They went spiralling up in the air, crying with alarm. It reverberated around the forest and alerted the other wolves that trouble was afoot. One by one they rushed out of their homes and phased. They were all stunned for a few seconds as Jacob's rage hit them like a bullet to the brain. Sam was the first to recollect himself as he tried to sort through the turbulent thoughts he was being bombarded with. "Damn." He cursed when he realised it was all about Bella. "Quick we need to get to Jacob before he finds Lahote and does the tool some serious damage." Sam ordered the others.

The pack got to both wolves just in time. Jacob had pounced on an unsuspecting Paul and had sunk his sharp teeth into his neck. Paul bowed down under Jacob's greater weight and the wind was knocked from his body. "You bastard." Jacob swore. "You did this deliberately to get back at me."

"I was doing my duty. I showed where Bella's loyalties really lie and it's not with you." Paul retorted as he tried in vain to shake Jacob off. "She's a b…."

Jacob bit down harder on Paul's neck, making the grey wolf whine in pain. Jacob was beyond reason. He felt hurt and deeply betrayed, and he hated the fact that Paul Lahote was getting pleasure out of it. "Keep your foul mouth shut, Lahote." He growled as he shook Paul viciously.

"Easy, Jake." Sam was beside them now. Paul was making choking sounds as Jacob gave him a pounding. "Let him go now."

"NO!" Jacob raged. "He needs to be taught a lesson."

"Not by you, and not like this." Sam warned him. "Let him go now."

Jacob fought Sam's Alpha command. He was so fucking angry. He hated knowing that everyone was there to witness his despair. Sam ordered him to release Paul again and Jacob finally gave in. He allowed his jaws to go slack and Paul fell to the ground like a pile of soggy noodles. Paul's breathing was ragged as he tried to draw air into his lungs. Jacob had been close to piercing his windpipe.

Sam looked down at his fallen brother coldly. He was tired of Lahote causing trouble. He hadn't exposed Bella through any sense of loyalty to the pack or the tribe. He had done it to cause Jacob harm, and that didn't sit well with Sam or any of the others. "You'll take a while to heal." Sam told Paul. "While you're lying there in the dirt feeling sorry for yourself, think about what you've done. You're lucky Jake didn't kill you." He turned away and began to head home. "Disperse." He ordered the rest of the pack. "Quil, Embry your shift starts now."

Sam felt Leah's eyes on him. He stopped moving and glanced behind him. For once she had no sarcastic comments for him. Instead she appeared thoughtful. They stared into each other's eyes for a long time before Leah finally broke contact and headed in the direction Jacob had gone. For a moment Sam almost went to follow her, but then the familiar pull to return to Emily kicked in and he was forced to abandon what he really wanted to do and instead he began to lope home.


"Leave me alone, Leah." Jacob snapped as he realised that the she-wolf was following him. "I don't need you saying you told me so."

"I'm not going to tell you anything." Leah said sarcastically. "Just pull your head out of your ass and watch."

Jacob fell silent as Leah projected her thoughts at him. He saw her paying an unexpected visit to Bella. He had no idea this had happened. Neither Bella nor his father had mentioned anything. He became still as he saw an image of Leah offering Bella a chance to escape, and then a wary looking Bella telling the she-wolf no.

"She could have escaped days ago. I would have helped her. I've never trusted her, but she took me by surprise and actually declined my offer. She gained a bit of my respect that day. There has to be more to things than what that idiot Paul showed you." Leah told Jacob quietly. "All I'm saying is don't let your anger get the better of you. Go and talk to her calmly. Hear her out. Otherwise you will drive her away for good and it will be your own fault." Leah didn't wait for Jacob to respond. Instead she turned away from him and disappeared back into the forest.


"Chief, calm down." Billy yelled at his friend. He still had no idea what was happening, but he didn't like the way that Charlie was shouting at Bella. The poor girl looked distraught. Billy had never seen Charlie this angry, not even when he had first found out about Jacob and Edward.

Charlie fell silent as he turned away from Bella and sat down on the camp bed. "Go to your room, Bella." He muttered as he rubbed a hand over his face. He suddenly felt weary. He couldn't handle the disappointment he felt inside over what his daughter had done. In fact he couldn't bear to look at her.

"So you're not even going to give me the chance to defend myself." Bella said as she gazed at her father disconsolately.

Billy reached out and patted Bella's hand as he smiled at her kindly. "Do as your dad says for now, Bella. We'll all talk in the morning." He advised.

Bella's lips wobbled as she tried to hold back her tears. She gave her father a desperate look, but Charlie continued to ignore her. Eventually she gave up and walked away, her face hidden behind her long hair and her shoulders slumped. Billy waited until he was certain he heard the door to her bedroom close before he confronted his friend. "Charlie Swan, what the hell have you gone and done now." He demanded.


Bella opened her bag and began to pack her clothes. She didn't bother folding them, instead she shoved them roughly inside, uncaring whether they got crumpled. Angry tears rolled unchecked down her face as she methodically began to clear up the twin's room. Within half an hour she was done. As she gazed around more tears spilled out of her eyes. The room appeared lifeless without her familiar things scattered around. It was heart breaking to admit that she had begun to think of this place like home, she had begun to settle. It was pitiful to think how everything had fallen apart so quickly. She had been trying to make an effort to change, to reconnect with Charlie, to get Jacob to forgive her, and the pack too. But it was all pointless. None of them trusted her. None of them gave her a chance to explain. Edward had been right all along. Her home was with him and the Cullen's now. Living just brought nothing but pain and hurt. She was sick of being clumsy, useless and untrustworthy. They all called her selfish, and perhaps she was, but who had made her that way. Where was the understanding from their side? Charlie purported to love her, but he had been acting like a jailor. He didn't want to listen or try to understand. None of them did, not even Jacob.

Looking around the room one last time, Bella went over to the window, and then shoved her bag outside. It hit the earth with a dull thud. She didn't care whether Charlie or Billy heard. Their feelings about her were clear. Everyone would be better off without her in their lives. All she did was make them unhappy because she wasn't good enough. She wasn't good enough for Edward either, but when she was changed, then she would be. She would be his equal. No one would have to worry about her safety then. Or take care of her. She would be able to take care of herself. She wouldn't have to feel ashamed of who she was. Bella Swan would be dead and in her place would be a stronger, more graceful version. She would be reborn as Bella Cullen and would never have to apologise for being who she was ever again.

Bella felt more tears run down her face as she carefully clambered out of the window. She hit her knee on the sill and she cursed her clumsiness in her head. She just couldn't do anything right. Her mood plummeted further as she realised the bag had come undone and her things were scattered on the muddy ground. With her back to the wall Bella slid down until her butt reached the dirt. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hid her face against them. She didn't bother picking up her clothes, there was no point. She was so tired of it all. Bella's shoulders shook as she gave into her despair and began to sob as if her heart would break.

She was still there four hours later when Jacob found her…


Jacob hunkered down in front of Bella. He reached out and gently stroked her sweaty hair which had fallen over her face. At his touch Bella jerked upright. Her face was red and streaked with tears. She stared at him blearily, not sure if he was really there or was some sort of figment of her imagination. "I didn't do it." She whispered. "I didn't."

"I know you didn't." Jacob replied softly as he held up the package which Paul had screwed up and thrown carelessly on the ground. "I found this with return to sender scrawled across it."

Bella reached out with trembling fingers and took the soggy wrapping from his hand. "I was sending it back. I didn't ring him." She mumbled. Her eyes were far away as if she was talking to herself.

Jacob frowned. He gently touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She was burning up. "Bells, how long have you been out here?"

"I dunno." Bella dropped the package and gazed around in confusion. Her head was aching. Her eyes drifted back to Jacob. Most of him was in shadow and she wondered if she was dreaming. She felt so disorientated. "Are you really here?" She checked.

"I'm really here." Jacob assured her as he quickly gathered up Bella's clothes and stuffed them back in her bag. He hoisted it on his shoulder and then bent down to pick her up. She was as light as a feather.

"Where are you taking me?" Bella murmured as she lolled in his arms. Her mind was beginning to drift and her eyes closed.

"Somewhere warm." Jacob replied as he gazed down at her worriedly. She must have caught a chill from being outside in the cold for god knows how long and all the stress she had endured. He hurried into the house so he could make her more comfortable and get some help.

A/N-thanks for reading!