The Painful Truth
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you very much for the kind reviews. Sorry for not posting before but my muse hasn't been very co-operative lately.
Part Twenty Seven
Jacob growled as he watched Edward Cullen crouch down in front of him. They circled each other, neither of them taking their eyes off the other. Edward feinted an attack, but Jacob knew he was just trying to distract him. He kept his position, the muscles along his broad back rippled underneath the russet fur. He was tensed like a coiled spring. Edward dived forward again. Jacob watched him carefully. He saw Edward suddenly roll to one side so quickly his body was a blur. Jacob leapt in the air as Edward appeared behind him, his arms outstretched, ready to envelope them around Jacob's middle in order to crush the air from his lungs. But Jacob had been ready for this manoeuvre all along. He skilfully twisted around in mid-air, flipping his body so it landed right on top of a shocked Edward. He lashed out, his strong jaws clamping around Edward's skinny neck.
"ABORT!" Carlisle called out thus ending the mock battle.
Jacob didn't release Edward right away, instead he shook him a little before he let his jaw relax and stepped back. Edward was on his feet at once. He glared at Jacob as his hand rubbed the base of his neck. It was irking him that he couldn't read Jacob's mind to anticipate his moves, that was how he always fought. His mind reading abilities gave him the advantage over any enemies. But Jacob was blocking him and Edward knew why. He glanced across at Bella. She was sitting in the midst of the other wolves. They surrounded her a in a protective cocoon. Edward had been unable to get close enough to speak to her, and she made no move to approach him. His eyes lingered on her beautiful face and he sighed softly as he saw a glimmer of regret in her eyes.
"Eyes off." Jacob snapped as he caught Edward staring longingly at Bella. He had managed to phase back without Edward even noticing.
Edward scowled. He spun around to face his rival. He had to put his head right back so he could look Jacob directly in the face. It only heightened his resentment. Jacob towered over him. "You may have won this petty fight but the battle for Bella's heart is not over." He hissed.
Jacob didn't bother to respond. He shoved past Edward, causing him to stumble as he strode purposefully toward his pack and Bella. Jacob motioned for Paul to take his place. Lahote got up immediately and loped toward the centre of the clearing. He faced off against Emmet, and the two of them began to spar. Jacob sat next to Bella and placed one muscled arm across her shoulders. His gaze was directed at Edward, who was still staring at them with a mulish expression on his face.
"You have to stop riling each other up." Bella whispered to Jacob. "We are all on the same side here."
"Only until this new threat is over." Jacob muttered.
"Jacob, stop please." Bella begged him. She placed the palm of her hand on his cheek and turned his head so he was facing her. "All this testosterone flying around is making everyone extra tense. You know I love only you, right." Her fingers traced his lips as she looked at him anxiously. "Old rivalries don't matter anymore."
Jacob's expression softened. He tugged her closer and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. "You're right, I'm sorry."
Bella rested her forehead against his. "I'll be glad when this part is over. Seeing everyone fighting like this, even if it is only practice, is putting me on edge. I'm so scared." She whispered.
"Hey, we're gonna be ready." Jacob put his finger under her chin and raised her head. "That's what all this is for. The tips the vam…the Cullen's have given us have helped us up our game. You heard what Carlisle said about the newborns, they are not skilled fighters…"
"But they're very strong. I heard what Jasper said about them being at their strongest when they are newly turned. We don't know how many there are going to be either. What if…." Jacob cut off Bella's frantic questions with another kiss. He let his mouth linger on hers, enjoying the taste of her and the feel of her soft lips moving with his. He cupped her cheek, drawing her closer.
"Jake." Sam warned him.
Jacob's jaw flexed as he reluctantly ended the kiss and returned his attention to the fight. Emmet had Paul pinned down, but Lahote somehow managed to slip out of the big vampire's grasp and turn the tables. To an untrained eye it looked like two whirling dervish's at war. Emmet and Paul were moving so fast that their forms were blurred. Bella snuggled into Jacob's side, seeking comfort. She could feel Edward's piercing eyes staring at her from across the clearing, but she forced herself not to look in his direction. The mock fights continued on for hours, until the wolves began to tire. As the night drew in Jacob called an end to the practice session. The pack only had one more day to rest up before the newborns reached La Push.
"Bella needs to be away from La Push." Alice said stoutly as she gave them the latest update on her visions. The newborns decisions were as erratic as they were, and she was having trouble pinning down what they would do next. "It's the only safe option."
"NO." Jacob replied heatedly. Behind him his pack began to mill about and growl agitatedly.
"Do you want her to die?" Alice retorted angrily.
"Alice." Jasper said gently as he put a calming hand on her shoulder. Immediately she relaxed. Jasper stared Jacob down. "You should listen to Alice; she only has Bella's best interests at heart."
"Yeah like the day that she led Bella into the lion's den in Italy." Jacob snapped.
"Jake, please." Bella pleaded. She saw Jasper narrow his eyes, angered by Jacob's words.
"We need to remain calm." Carlisle tried to act as peacemaker. "It would be better if Bella was away from La Push. Then we can ensure her safety. She will be out of the firing line."
"I'll keep her safe." Edward interjected. He gazed at Bella steadily, willing her to meet his eyes, but she stubbornly refused to do so. He sighed. "We can hide out in the mountains. I can carry her. My scent will cover hers. It's the perfect plan."
"You are deluded if you think that will ever happen." Jacob snarled as he yanked Bella behind him. "You are the fucking reason we are in this mess. You come anywhere…."
"STOP THIS!" Bella yelled suddenly, causing everyone to fall silent and look her way. Her cheeks flushed red as she tried to regain her composure. She swallowed thickly, glancing at Jacob and reaching for his hand. She noticed a pained look cross Edward's face as he stared at their joined hands. Guilt swamped her again, she hated hurting him, but he had to get used to the fact that she and Jacob were together. "We have to stop fighting each other if we are ever going to have a chance to stop the newborns. Look at us, tearing each other to bits. Old rivalries don't matter here. We have a common goal, to end the threat to our home." She felt Jacob's fingers tighten around hers and his touch infused her with confidence. "I am not going into hiding."
"Bella, you'll be at risk. You have to do what Alice has suggested, please." Edward dropped all pretence of control and looked at her pleadingly. "If you don't feel comfortable with me, then I beg you to let Emmet, Rose or another guard you in the mountains while we take care of the newborns."
Bella's expression hardened. "You underestimate me, Edward." She said coldly. "Just like you always have. I will not cower down some hole and hide like a frightened rabbit. The newborns want me, I am the target. So let them see me." Bella's brown eyes blazed with an inner fire as she individually met everyone's eyes. "Put me in plain sight. As soon as they see me it will put them in a frenzy. They'll charge me, and you'll all be ready, waiting."
"NO. I won't allow it." Edward cried out desperately. He turned to look at Jacob, expecting him to protest too, but Jacob was gazing at Bella with pride. "You are actually condoning this insane idea." He said in disbelief. "You would put her at risk. You're supposed to love her."
"Do not question my love for Bella." Jacob ground out as he looked at Edward in disgust. "What you fail to understand is that she is strong, stronger than all of us, and braver." Jacob's tone softened. "And I trust her. I know that she can do this. Just like I know that I will defend her life with my last breath." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it tenderly. He saw Bella's eyes glimmer with unshed tears and he gazed at her lovingly.
"You can't condone this, Carlisle. Tell them." Edward insisted. "Alice, tell them it will fail."
"I'm sorry, Edward." Alice pressed herself into Jasper's side as she sought comfort from her mate. "I actually think this might be the only way."
Bella and Jacob lay side by side on his small bed. It had been a long and exhausting day and they were both tired. After the final plans were made the Cullen's and the wolf pack parted ways, the Cullen's for Forks and the pack back to La Push. Jacob sent his brothers home. No one was going to patrol that night. He wanted everyone to be fully rested for the battle ahead. Charlie and Billy had been anxiously waiting for news all day. When Jacob and Bella returned, they both told their fathers about Bella's plan. Bella had expected Charlie to kick up a huge fuss and she prepared to defend her idea. But to her surprise, Charlie pulled her into a tight hug and whispered how proud he was of her. "You won't be standing there alone, kiddo. I'll be right by your side, waiting for them to come."
A tear trickled down Bella's face at the memory of the steadfast look on Charlie's face and the promise he had made her. Despite her earlier bravado, inside she was petrified at the thought of standing out in the open, alone, watching the bloodthirsty newborns approach. She knew the pack and the Cullen's would be close, waiting to ambush them, but the prospect was still terrifying. To have Charlie stand beside her, holding her hand, meant the world. It once again proved how much her father truly loved her.
Bella turned her head to look at Jacob. He was staring up at the ceiling, with a thoughtful expression on his face. She thought he was asleep. Bella rolled onto her side and propped her chin up on her hands as she gazed down at him. "You are supposed to be resting." She chided him gently.
"Ditto." Jacob pointed out with a tired smile.
Bella stared down into his expressive dark eyes and felt such a rush of love that she couldn't contain it. "I love you so much, Jacob Black." She said from the heart. "I always have. It just took me a while to stop being afraid to accept that I was worthy of you."
"Where's this coming from?" Jacob questioned in astonishment. He sat upright and pulled a distressed Bella into his arms and cuddled her. "You've always been worthy. You have nothing to prove to me, honey."
"But I do to me." Bella confessed. "I've spent my whole life not measuring up to what I thought people expected me to be. It's only now that I realise that I was the one who set the bar too high. Your love made me see that being Bella Swan is not such a bad thing to be, that I don't need to apologise for being me anymore."
Jacob wiped away the tears that had begun to spill from her eyes. "I always told you that you were perfect just the way you were. I love you for yourself, Bells. Everyone does."
"I know. When I heard my dad promise me that he would stand with me when the fight begins, it just made all my resentment toward him disappear. I saw just how much I mean to him. He may not show it the way I always wanted him to, but I finally see that I need to accept him for who he is." It all made sense to Bella now. She had spent so long trying to change who she was to fit in with how she thought others perceived her, but she was just as guilty of the same thing herself. "I have been so blind."
"We're all guilty of being like that sometimes, Bells." Jacob caressed her face. "I did some stupid things myself."
A playful smile crossed Bella's lips. "Oh, yes, I can name a few."
"I bet you can." Jacob grinned at her teasing tone. He suddenly rolled over so she was lying pinned beneath him. He could feel her heart hammering in her chest. Her expression had turned serious again. She touched his lips with her fingers, tracing the curve of his pout. "I love you, Bells." He declared passionately.
"I love you too, so much." Bella's eyes glistened with tears again, but they were happy ones. Her eyes fluttered closed as Jacob's lips met hers.
A/N-thanks for reading!
