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Jacob

I have to pull over to the side of the road not too long after leaving my house. My body is racked with sobs and the tears streaming from my eyes blur my vision. I hurt all over, my body ripped of what it needs most… my soul. I try to calm myself down enough to stop crying. I need to keep going so he can't come after me.

When my vision clears, I pull my car back on the road and take off. I don't have a clue where I will go, but I need to think. So much has happened today and it is all becoming to much. I lose my girl, to a vampire apparently. I learn that I can change into a large wolf, and with that comes a soul mate. Just the thought of Sam almost has me turning around, but I don't.

I just drive for a bit, going no where in particular, and thinking about all the things Sam told me. Could I really be meant to lead the pack? I'm still just a kid. The only things I've had to worry about were not getting caught in bed with Bella and keeping gas in my car. Now I'm responsible for leading other shifters to protect our home? And how long would this go on? Is this my life… just chosen for me… I get no say in who I love or what I do?

I don't really resent the love. What I feel for Sam is so consuming and perfect… right. I could never be upset because of it. But to be forced into this position of power because of who my father is, and to take on such responsibility is what upsets me. Do I have any choice in anything?

The night passes by quickly and I am no where near La Push or Forks. It's almost 2am and I'm fucking tired. I pass a sign letting me know I am close to Seattle and find a hotel not far from the city to rent a room. I don't make much money with the odd mechanical jobs I do at home, but it's cheap and I need rest.

I wake up close to noon the next day, but I don't leave the bed. I'm not concerned with school right now and I rented the room for two nights hoping it would be enough time to think all this through in my head. The thoughts keep circling around, never reaching a conclusion or full understanding. It doesn't help that the whole time I have to fight the pain in my chest, the constant strong pull that will lead me back to Sam.

The day and night pass quickly, and I only leave the room to find food. The following morning comes and I'm not fairing any better. I need to talk to someone, but who can I trust? Bella. She is… was… my best friend. In all this mess, have I lost her completely? It hits me hard when I realize she may better understand my situation if she meant what she said about Edward. She made it seem like she had no control over anything. I didn't listen then, my thoughts clouded with pain and betrayal. But now, thinking about what she said, I may understand her better too.

I check out of the hotel and head back to Forks. Before I realize it, I am driving down the road that leads to Bella's house and stop a couple blocks away. Was it only two days ago that I found her with another guy? I couldn't understand what she was saying then, about them being made for each other. But not too long ago I found the man made for me too. The pain she caused is gone and I can't help but ache for my friend. Above everything, she has always been my best friend… the person I run to when I need to talk or can't handle shit in my life.

Can I go to her now? Would she even want to be friends with me now that she has Edward? I guess there is only one way to find out. I drive the rest of the way to her house and just as I round the corner I see a silver Volvo leave her driveway. Edward Cullen. Well, at least he won't be there. I park and walk up to her door, stopping to knock since I didn't think it appropriate to just walk in anymore.

She opens it almost instantly, a look of despair on her face. I relax slightly when she crashes into my chest, hugging me for dear life. "Jake, I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me… you're my best friend and I need you."

"I need you too, Bells. Can I come inside? I need to talk to you." She nods her head, grabbing my hand and leading me up to her room. I notice tissues covering her night stand and realize she has been crying because of me. She probably hates herself for hurting me, even though she has no control over her feelings.

"Jake?" She looks at me oddly, cocking her head to the side like she is trying to figure something out. "You seem different. I mean I know I upset you with all of this, but it's more than that. You don't seem like yourself. It's almost like you're lost."

I can't help but smile at her. She has always been able to read me. "You don't know how right you are babe. So much has changed in the last few days and I'm not coping with it too well. I didn't have anywhere else to go and no one else to talk to about it. You've been my best friend forever and I need you right now Bells. I'm a fucking mess."

I fall to the floor, leaning against her wall, and shove my head into my hands. She is immediately at my side, one hand on my arm and the other stroking my hair. "Is all this because of me Jake, because of what I did to you?" I can hear her voice cracking and look up into her watery eyes.

"Not exactly, I mean I guess finding you with him triggered a chain reaction, but it is not your fault. There is a lot that I want to tell you but it is really weird stuff. I need to make sure of a few things first." I don't think I made her feel any better, but she nods her head for me to continue.

"How much do you know about the Cullens?" She looks shocked for a second and then sighs. She opens her mouth to say something, but then closes it.

"Because I've learned a lot about them, and I don't want you to get involved in this if you don't know what's going on." She lifts her eyebrow slightly before answering.

"I know everything about them, all of their history. Is that a good enough answer without me saying exactly what I know? I don't want to drag you into anything unnecessarily either or mess up what the Cullens have here." She seems to know about them, but I can't be sure without hearing her say it.

"Please, Bella. Say it out loud." She gets this far away look in her eyes and takes a long while to respond. But when she looks back at me I see determination in them.

"I really hope you know more than I think you do, otherwise this is going to sound ridiculous. It took me weeks to figure it out." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "They're vampires, Jake." I breathe a sigh of relief and she peaks one eye open to see my reaction. I give her a small smile. "So you do know?" I nod and she looks at me incredulously.

"Jake, what has happened to you since you stormed out my door?" I can't seem to find the words to tell her that I now can shift into a large animal and it's my natural instinct to kill her new boyfriend. Just then, an idea pops into my head.

"Bella, will you come outside with me. I can't really explain it… you will just have to see for yourself." She looks confused but nods in agreement. I jump up to my feet and stick my hand out to help her up. I lead her outside and into the woods beside her house, walking far enough in that no one will see us back here. There is a fallen tree lying on the ground and I drag her over to it and she sits down.

"Don't move Bella. This is going to be pretty intense and I don't want you to be too close." Her eyebrow quirks up and I laugh at her confusion. "You'll understand in a minute. Be patient." I walk about thirty feet away from her and start to take my clothes off remembering that the last time I shifted, all my clothes were torn to shreds.

When I start to pull my pants down Bella shrieks, "Jake, what are you doing?" Her hands fly up to cover her eyes trying not to see anything. I can't help but laugh at her.

"Bells, you have seen me naked before. It's nothing new and it's easier this way. You will understand soon, but you have to watch. Now uncover your eyes silly girl." She huffs in aggravation but does as I ask.

"But we aren't together anymore Jake. It's kind of weird."

"I know, but I have to do this. I need to be able to talk to you. You're the only person I trust that isn't directly a part of this." I plead with her to understand and to let me continue.

"Ok… just please hurry." I finish removing my clothes and stand there with my eyes closed. I breath in deeply and try to remember days ago how Sam helped me change back into a human. The thought of him sends a shot of pain straight to my heart, but I push it aside so I can deal with the task at hand.

It comes much quicker this time. The awkward, and yet familiar, vibration courses through me and I open my eyes when Bella shrieks in surprise, her hands covering her mouth. I notice there are no voices in my head this time and I'm grateful for the perfect timing. Suddenly Bella's phone rings. She pulls it out of her pocket and answers it.

"Hi Alice. No I'm ok, I'm with Jake. What do you mean you can't see me? I do now! Alice, how come no one told me about them? You all knew Jake was from La Push and how close we are and no one thought to mention it to me. Well he is now! No, I told you I'm fine Alice. Edward knows he's here. I'll call you later. Okay, bye." She closes her phone with a huff and her eyes finally leave mine, but only to roam over the rest of my wolf body.

She gets up and walks slowly towards me before bringing her hand up to touch my face timidly. I lean into it to let her know it is okay to touch me and she smiles. "Is that really you in there Jake? You're eyes are the same, just a different shape I guess." I plop down on the ground so I don't tower over her so much and she scratches behind my ear. "You're so beautiful Jake. This is really amazing. You must not be able to talk huh?" I shake my head and grumble in my throat. She just giggles. "Well, do you want to stay like this for a bit and let me talk or do you want to tell me everything right now?"

I stand up and nudge her back towards the tree to sit down. I sit on the ground next to her and put my huge head in her lap. She takes everything in stride and runs her fingers through my hair like she did earlier in her room. "Okay, I guess I'll start then."

We spent the next half hour in the woods, Bella telling me about how things happened with Edward. That she fought it at first, trying to ignore him for most of the school year because she loved me and didn't know what was going on with her emotions. She couldn't resist spending time with him forever though, she felt like she needed to know him. She noticed all the strange things about him and his family and when she remembered hearing some of my tribe's ancient tales she put two and two together and confronted him when they went hiking the other day. He told her everything then, well except about the tribe's shifters I guess.

But she couldn't fight her feelings for him anymore. She said she has been trying to tell me every day since then, just not knowing how to. I guess it could have turned out better. Maybe if I wasn't so broken when it happened, I could have avoided shifting. But there is no way to know for sure and I couldn't blame her for this. She finishes just after dark and she says she is going to go back inside to give me privacy while I change back.

I follow after her when I'm human again and have my clothes on. She is waiting in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed. She looks worried and I sit close, wrapping my arms around her. "I understand now Bella. I know you didn't mean to hurt me and that you can't help how you feel. I know how you feel now. So much has changed… I don't even know where to begin. I guess from the beginning would be best."

I tell her about driving home in a daze and running out back to throw up. The way it felt the first time I shifted and the confusion that consumed me. Then I told her about hearing the voice in my head and running away in fear when I saw Sam as a wolf the first time.

We end up switching positions on the bed, her sitting up against the headboard and my head in her lap. She strokes my hair comfortingly as I speak, letting me know she's there for me as I explain these recent moments that have shaped my world so drastically.

She gasps when I tell her about looking into Sam's eyes and the immediate connection. I turn my head to look at her, making sure she isn't freaking out over Sam being a guy. "This must be so confusing for you Jake, to be drawn to another man like that when you weren't gay to begin with."

I shake my head and say "No not really. Out of all that has been put on my plate, he is the one thing I'm sure about. It felt so right that I can't even fight it. I don't want to either. That's why I understand you now. If this had happened while we were still together, I wouldn't have been able to stay with you."

"Oh Jake. I'm so glad you have someone to feel this way about. I was so worried that you would hate me though. I never meant to hurt you. I do love you Jake. You're my best friend." I smile up at her, glad that we are going to be okay.

"So is your vampire boyfriend okay with me being here? Wait, did I here you tell that girl Alice that Edward knows I'm here. How do you know that?" She looks at me sheepishly and proceeds to tell me about his special gift, all their gifts. The mother fucker can read minds and knew I was coming. "So he knew that day that I was coming too? I bet he stayed just long enough that I would catch him in your room."

She looked startled for a second. "I didn't even think about that. Oh my God, Jake. You are right. He did it on purpose so you would find out." I laughed at her when that realization hit. "I guess he was trying to help. I've been a mess trying to figure out how to tell you."

"Oh well, things are different now. As long as you and I are okay then I don't give a fuck what he's done." She smiles back at me and tells me to continue on with my story.

She was shocked to find out that I'm supposed to be Alpha, the leader, but then bombards me with questions about the tribe and the pack. I realize that there is still so much I don't know about. I can't answer her questions. She looks at me sternly and asks what happened that led me here. I look away sheepishly as I recall those last moments with Sam.

"You dumb ass. You just took off without letting him tell you everything? And how could you leave him like that? Aren't you hurting him just as much by leaving? You need to man up Jake. If you feel anything like I do for Edward, then don't do anything to fuck it up. What we feel is special, unique. People don't normally get to feel this all encompassing love, this connection, and you are just going to run away from that person made especially for you because you don't want the job that comes with your new skills?"

I sit up abruptly and look at her. I am such a dick. Nothing is worth more than what I feel for Sam. The moment that I looked into his eyes, my world was right. I can't just let that go. I kiss Bella on the cheek quickly and jump off the bed. Running down the stairs I yell out "Thanks Bells. You're the best. I'll call you soon." I just hear laughter as I hit the bottom stair and pounce out the door.

Slamming my car door shut and gunning it out of her driveway, I hit the road. Every inch closer to La Push I get, the more the tightness I have been ignoring in my chest loosens. I push my car as fast as it will go down the highway, trying to find the other half of me as fast as possible.

AN: Thanks to DreamingPoet1988 for being my super awesome beta. I wanted to let ya'll know that voting starts tomorrow for the QuickieContest so make sure you go and vote for your favorite ones. Me and DreamingPoet1988 have a few entries and there are some more that are really good :D Thanks for reading and reviewing!