Disclaimer: I do not own any characters you recognize, the ones you don't are mine.

Chapter 15:

The Judgment and Confrontation

The meeting was over; I had told them my story, Edward told his, and Grace told hers in hopes that her son's life would be spared. Now we waited, the council remained in the kitchen to decide what to do while Edward, Grace, and I sat in the living room until judgment was passed down. I don't know why, but I felt sorry for Ayden, his life was on the line and he wasn't even here to defend himself. Grace was pacing like a new father waiting for his child to be born, but she seemed to be holding up. Besides the tears she shared with me over her son's possible fate, no other emotion could be seen on her perfectly sculpted face. My mind still raced with her story and the fact that she was once in love with Aro, but questions about any of that now seemed cruel. I let her have her own time, what else could I do for her; I had already ruined the last bit of family she had left.

I was sitting on the couch with Edward when Torrance entered the living room, her hand raised to her forehead indicating the massive headache she must have right now. We all re-entered the kitchen but remained by the entrance. The council was made up of three men and two women, all of which seemed too young to be considered elders, but during the meeting I had found out that all the elders were the previous generation's wolf pack, the remaining members that is. I also found out that when the change happens for a person that person does not age until they are fully in control of when they change and can control their anger, a bit of information Jacob failed to inform me of, and just another reason my mortality and aging were a problem.

"We have come to a conclusion," The ageless man at the end of the table spoke, seemingly with a heavy heart, "We believe you story Bella, and have agreed that Ayden must be dealt with both in a n expedient way, but also a final way." I looked over at Grace and she was immediately on the floor with her head in her hands. Edward rushed over to her and rested her head on his shoulder. "Torrance here is the next alpha in line so we are leaving it up to her to take control of the pack and deal with Ayden."

"When you say deal with…" Part of needed to hear them say it, but there was a very strong part of me that didn't want to know what exactly they were talking about.

"Yes Bella, Ayden must no longer be on this plane of existence for you to be safe. Torrance must kill Ayden," One of the women elders spoke up. Every member on the council seemed sad, but no one was outwardly showing it; everyone had a monotone to their voice and spoke plainly.

With that the council all got up and made their way back to the car and drove off, there was no conclusion, and no goodbye; I had a sense that I wasn't making any friends here. Edward helped grace upstairs to the room I stayed in last night, and I followed them. Torrance stayed in the kitchen looking at her father for some sort of advice or kind words, but nothing came out of his mouth before I left the room.

Upstairs Grace's sobs seemed to calm down a little; Edward had her in an embrace as she continued so shake and cry into his rigid and unmovable body. He looked up at me with eyes I had never seen before, sadness filled with guilt and longing, no tears just pure emotion. I didn't know what to do, the guilt I was feeling as I watched Grace fall apart in front of me ate my insides up till there was nothing left. I stood there watching until I just couldn't feel anymore, how does one cope with being the reason someone has to die. I hated Ayden, and at first that was all I thought I would need to get through this; I would tell myself over and over how much I hated him for what he did to myself and Jacob, for what he was planning on doing to Edward and the Cullens, but in the end, after meeting Grace, it just wasn't enough. I knew his story, and had an explanation for why he was acting the way he did, but all that information didn't make me feel any better, when that gavel came down and the council decided his fate my heart dropped, just like Grace's.

The next few hours were a blur of nothing for me. Everything was packed up and put into the car, Grace was shown home by Steward after she seemed calm enough to walk, and Torrance, Edward and I made our way back to forks. I was relieved to be going back home, to my Jacob, but as the border to forks got closer and closer, Torrance's face got more and more emotionless. She said that she wasn't scared about what she had to do, that she knew she was a better fighter than Ayden, but she did express some anger that it had to be done in the first place. I knew that she wasn't trying to direct the anger at me, but I couldn't help feeling I was ruining so many people's lives.

As soon as I saw that friendly sign "welcome to forks" my stomach tied in knots and everything became real again. The feelings came back, the torment, and every emotion that a human can experience rushed through me all at once. Edward immediately got on his cell phone and called Jacob, he was going to drop me off at the rez and Jacob was going to meet me there. My heartbeat fluttered like humming bird wings when I heard his voice slightly on the other end of the line.

We made it to the imaginary line that separated the Cullens territory and the wolves', Torrance got out first and sprinted towards the three line of the forest. I looked out of the window in anticipation but Jacob wasn't there yet, so I stayed in the car and hoped the wait would be as quiet as the car ride, but it wasn't.

"Bella," Edward said shifting in his seat to look me in the eye, "What Grace said earlier today… why she left her family for Aro…"

"Edward I just can't do this right now," I said shaking my head, how could he think about us at a time like this.

"I know, and I don't want to make this any harder for you. I know you have a lot to handle right now, and you're doing so well, I just need to know." He said looking at me with intense eyes, but he didn't finish.

"Know what?" I asked.

"Does it make any difference to you, the fact that the philia fades, that what you feel for me could be 100% real after awhile?" he seemed hopeful, but I didn't have an answer.

"I don't know Edward, I can't say it didn't strike some emotion in me when she said it, but what that emotion is, I just don't know." I looked back out of the window and saw Jacob emerge from the brush, shirtless as always and radiating the warmth I had needed for the past two days. I quickly put my hand on the door and pushed it to open it. I heard a loud click and felt the door stop, I looked over at Edward who had his hand on the driver's side electric lock, "what are you doing?" I screamed at him in anger.

"I don't know, I feel like when you get out of this car I'll never see you again," His eyes were sad not malicious which is what I had expected.

"Edward let me out," I tried the handle again, but it was useless. I let go of the door and turned to face him, I could see the heartbreak in his eyes. "Edward, I love you, but you have to accept this. I'm in love with Jacob and no amount of outside persuasion or magical vampire tricks is going to change that. You were my first love, intense though it was; you were always the kindest person I have ever met. I will never let you go, but I can never love you like I once did." I put my hand on his face and watched his eyes close under my touch, "You're not loosing me completely; our relationship can grow and mature, just not romantically anymore. Please, don't make this any harder than it already is." I heard another loud click and I knew the door was free to open, but the eagerness I felt to get out of the car and run into Jacob's arms was gone. Just like Edward I felt that getting out of the car right now would break any bond we once had together. I looked at Edward with my hand still on his face one last time and opened the door.

I slowly stepped out and closed the door behind me, before I could even bend down to look at him the car zoomed off down the street and out of sight. I turned to look at Jacob who was now running to get to me and I felt myself smile for the first time in two days. He got to me and swung his arms around me griping me tight in a huge bear hug, resulting in my feet leaving the ground and being spun around in circles. He lowered me to the ground and as soon as my feet touched the road his hands moved to the back of my head and pulled in into a passionate and rough kiss. Our lips moved in unison and I felt his tongue push through the barrier our lips were making and enter my mouth. His hands grabbed at the back of my head and though my hair with a furious intensity and I couldn't help but match it. Just as fast as my hands reached his lower back and started to pull him even closer, I felt our lips separate and the bond break.

When he pulled away I he just looked down at me with regret, "sorry," said and placed a hand on my face. "I just couldn't help myself."

"Oh Jacob," I said realizing that he thought I was going into my bad place, but I wasn't there. I was still standing in the middle of the road with the man that I loved, and all I wanted to do was be with him. I shot my hands to his face and pulled him in to another kiss, I felt his body loosen under my touch and his arms moved down my back and his hands gripped my butt, pulling me up off of the ground and against him. My legs swung around his waist as his hands gripped my backside; and as are lips moved viciously against one another, he carried me toward the forest line and out of sight.

He carried me all the way back to the rez, only pulling away from each others lips every once and awhile, and only to tell each other how much we missed one another. He didn't ask any questions about the meeting or Edward, and I didn't ask any questions about Ayden and the newborns. For the half an hour walk back we were by ourselves with all worries thrown aside. He put me down when he could see the tree line thinning and a road coming up ahead, I knew that road, he had been carrying me over to Emily's. Our fingers still tangled together we started to approach the light at the end of the forest, who's tall trees and massive branches made it seem like it was dusk when I knew it was only mid-day.

"The happy couple is reunited," I heard a voice call out from behind me, and as we both spun around, I was face to face with the person who haunted my thoughts night and day. Jacob's fingers held tight to mine and almost shattered them under the pressure. "Did you have a nice time in my hometown," I felt my face go into shock, "Oh you didn't know that I knew your plans, thought you had out smarted me by going to the council. You underestimate me Bella, it kind of hurts." A loud growl came out of Jacob and he pushed me behind him so he was in between Ayden and me.

In seconds of the growl I heard people running through the forest in our direction. Sam, Emily, Quil, and Embry were all standing in a line with Jacob in front of me. Emily pulled back and took my hand. I could see in between Jacob and Sam's heads that Ayden's face hadn't changed, all of these people stood in between us but Ayden's eyes remained on me. He wasn't angry, shocked, or scared; he just stared at me completely in control. "Fuck off Ayden, you're outnumbered here and all these people want nothing more than to rip your head off." Sam spoke through gritted teeth.

"All I want is her," His hand shot out and pointed directly at me, "there doesn't need to be any blood shed here, just give me the blood whore." Loud roars came from everyone around me, even Emily.

"WAIT! ALL OF YOU JUST WAIT," I screamed before anyone could lose their temper and turn wolf, if that happened no one was safe. Everyone stopped but kept their eyes on the threat, which had his eyes nailed on me. "Just let me talk to him, please. He doesn't know what's' going on." I felt Ayden's doom rested on my shoulders and I couldn't let him go down or hurt someone I loved without knowing the truth. I pushed through Sam and Jacob's barrier and was face to face with Ayden, "Ayden, I know you're confused, I talked to the council and they think they know why you hate me so much."

A smile peeked through on his face, "Oh do they now, did they tell you my sad story, the one where my mother abandoned me to be some whore for a leech."

"I met your mother, and she fought so hard for you in the council to make sure you would be ok." His face shifted, grew sad, "The council agrees that you're simply confused, you imprinted on me Ayden."

"Don't flatter yourself whore," He said but his eyes said something else, "You know nothing of my world and my life, I could never fall for someone who sleeps with the enemy. You betrayed yourself Bella, and your people, you disgust me." He was angry, furious, and trembling. What he said resonated through my whole body and I looked over at Jacob whose anger was gone, what replaced it tore me up, he was sad, he was listening to Ayden.

I had to defend myself, here, now, in front of Jacob so that he knew I was still his. "You're wrong Ayden, you're the betrayer. You're the one who let me get in between you and the rest of your pack, you let me get in between you and your duties to your tribe. You didn't come back to Forks to kill the Cullens, you came back for me, and your whole pack knows it. You do feel strongly for me, but my dealings with your enemy and my love for Jacob meant you couldn't have me. What should have been passion turned to hate, and I'm telling you now, for your own good; listen to me, save yourself, and forget about me. You're mother loves you and doesn't want to see you hurt, your pack looks up to you, you don't have to do this."

His head fell hard and he let out a sigh, but then he began to run, back into the woods and out of sight. I felt a collective release from everyone around me, and when I turned around they were beginning to disperse. Emily and Sam stayed behind as Jacob walked over to me and kissed my forehead, "You're amazing Bella," He said and his lips moved to mine. He broke away but still held his face inches from mine, "There are no words that I can think of that can describe your heart and the effect it has one me," I could feel his breath on my lips, I could taste him, "How could the strongest person I have ever met have the softest heart in the whole world?"

We made it home and explained to my parents that Edward dropped me off with Jacob because I needed to see him. After making up an entire camping trip that never happened and listening to Charlie almost squeal when he heard I caught an imaginary fish, Jacob escorted up to my room and I couldn't control myself anymore when he closed the door. I jumped at him and he caught me mid air, my legs wrapped around him and I slammed my lips into his. His kisses intensified when he realized I wasn't letting up and the passion involved made my head and stomach do back flips. Still clinging around his waist, he kneeled and rested my back on the cold hardwood floor of my bedroom. Without thought I clawed at his jeans which came off easily with his help and his attention moved to my shirt. He ripped it over my head with the bra and stared into my eyes, "I love you Bella, with everything fiber of my being, with every breath I take, and every beat of my heart it's all for you."

"I love you too Jacob," His head moved down and his mouth encompassed my breast. I felt his tongue lap around my nipple and the ecstasy drove me nuts. "Jacob… I want you so bad." I heard myself say, and his intensity increased ten fold. His huge hands tore away my jeans and panties till I was fully exposed underneath him, his hands moved to my back and he lifted me up as he sat up and place me on his lap. I put my hand on his rock hard member that was just sitting there waiting and slipped it inside of me. We both let out huge breaths simultaneously as he started to pump slowly. With every pump he let out a little growl which made my heat more and more wet. His hands grabbed at my hair pulling it gently from the roots, my head flung back after a larger tug and his mouth found my throat. His teeth gently grazed my skin but quickly kissing the spot there right after. I put my hand on his chest and moved my hips in time with his heartbeat which was loud and fast paced. I felt my body getting hot and tense and pulled my arms around his neck clinging to him holding on for dear life. I felt him get tense too and his heat almost burned my skin, like a tsunami wave we both let go and shuttered as our essence flowed through each other. I saw a bead of sweat coming down the tip of his nose and I leaned in close and kissed it before it fell, his taste was sweet, not salty like I had expected. I pulled away and looked at him with sleepy eyes, I had no energy left.

"Wow," was all he could get out as he looked me up and down in pure shock, "Where did that come from?"

"I've been wanting to do that to you since I saw you walk out from the trees when Edward dropped me off," I said smiling at him. My eyes started to close on me and I fought tooth and nail to keep them open. Jacob saw my struggle and placed one single finger on each eye keeping them closed.

"It's ok Bella, go to sleep. Just make sure you're dreaming of me."

"How could I not, you're all I think about Jacob. I'm yours, forever." I felt myself leave his lap and fly threw the air till I landed on my soft bed. He kissed my forehead, then my lips one last time.

"Sweet dreams my love." I heard him say, and I drifted off into bliss.

I awoke with a start but couldn't scream, I felt a huge amount of pressure on my throat making it not only hard to yell but hard to breathe. I opened my eyes and Ayden's smiling face looked down on me, "Hello again," my body scrambled around in my bed, but he had me pinned. I kicked wildly but all that resulted in was a throaty laugh from him. "What you think you can say a few nice words, give me some back handed compliments and I will change. Who the fuck are you Mother Teresa."

Thank you so much for reading, sorry again for the cliff hanger. Please let me know what you think, good or bad, it helps me know where I should continue with this story.