Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer not me.

Author/Note 1: Sequel from Our Dawn 2

A/Note 2: I'm not a native English speaker so I'm sorry for my grammar and spelling. Thank you for reading.

Alert: the characters in this story curse a lot.

Our Dawn

Part III

Book 2 – Confidence & Vulnerability

Jacob Black

Chapter 9 - Away from Home

I handed the phone over to the receptionist and he gave me a cheeky smile.

"You're just like Casanova, Mr. Black. Very smooth…very…smart." He told me with the typical and annoying Italian accent.

"Sure, sure…" I smiled back though I didn't have a clue what the guy was talking about.

I had just talked to Leah on the phone and I was way more worried about knowing that Sam Uley had been at my place trying to convince my wife to go back to his pack than with a Casanova, whatever that was. I didn't understand a word of Italian nor I did know anything about their culture. I mean I did know about the Roman Empire and I did know that Inter was probably the best football team in Europe thanks to its coach, José Mourinho, but that was all.

But honestly, things in La Push were far more important to me right now. I was away from home for three weeks and Sam was already hoping that I would die or something so that he could claim Leah again. The guy had some nerves. I wished I could kick his sorry ass right now but first I needed to get my son out of that country. And I wanted to do it as soon as possible.

To know that Sam fucking Uley was hanging around my wife was a major incentive for me to want to leave Italy soon. The other reason was the food. After three damn weeks in Italy I was already sick of pasta, pizza and broccoli.

"Jake…Come upstairs." Bella called me from the elevator. "Alice has news."

The guy at the reception, Gino or Lino, whatever his fucking name was, gave me a thumb up and grinned while watching Bella, who was waiting for me.

"Just like Casanova." He laughed.

I dragged my feet over to Bella and sighed.

"I just hope Casanova is something to eat. I could use some diversity." I complained and Bella chuckled.

"Casanova? He was a famous womanizer from the eighteenth century."

I arched my eyebrows.

"Really?"

"Yes. Why?"

"The receptionist called me that."

It was Bella's turn to laugh.

"He probably thinks you're having an affair since you had to come downstairs to talk to Leah on the phone. He must think you're cheating on me."

"Oh, right." I said with no enthusiasm.

Bella and I were pretending to be a newlywed couple, so it was understandable that Gino or Lino thought I was cheating on her with the woman on the phone because I remember saying Leah that I loved her and missed her at least three times before hanging up.

Years ago, when I was pinning over Bella, I would've loved to be in this situation. Edward was out of the picture and we were sharing a room in a very nice Hotel in Italy. But right now I wasn't even sure how people could actually think we were a real couple. We had nothing in common. Bella was pale and petite; I was much taller and tanned. Bella was sophisticated, rich and posh; I was just an ordinary guy. She was well educated, polite and intelligent; I was rude, hot-headed and impulsive. I suddenly wondered if Bella had chosen me instead of Edward, would've we lasted?

To me the answer was quite simple: no. It wouldn't work between us and I was relieved to know that.

"How's Leah?" Bella asked when we were leaving the elevator in the fifth floor.

"Fine."

Actually I thought that Leah was a bit strange but I really didn't want to talk to Bella about it because this wasn't a topic that I wanted to discuss with her. Leah and Bella still had this "feud" going on between them although they both tried to deny it. Bella didn't like the way Leah acted around me and the kids. She always thought Leah was, somehow trying to show the vampire women that she was much batter than them because she had been able to have children. Leah, on the other hand, thought that Bella was still trying to claim me because I had loved her first.

"Look Jake I know I should've told you the truth about William's power but you have to believe that it was never my intention to lie to you."

"I know you're sorry, Bella. I just wished you'd stop acting like this."

"Like what?"

"You still think she's not good enough for me."

"I never said that." Bella looked at me but I could feel her guilt in the air. I knew Bella would rather see me lose my ability to chose and imprint with a random girl than see me with Leah.

"You implied. I know you Bella. You can't stand the idea of Leah and I together."

"It's not that I don't like to see you together, Jake..."

"You just don't like her. You think she's not right for me."

"Jake…Leah is…She's such a complicated person. I know she had your children but that didn't mean you had to stay with her. I just want to see you happy. You deserve that."

"Is that what you think? You think I'm with her because I knocked her up? Because I feel responsible? Haven't you listened to anything I've been saying over the last years?"

"You fight all the time. Leah is always putting your down. She thinks she can always have her way…"

"If I didn't know you love Edward, I'd say you're jealous."

"I'm not jealous. I'm concerned. You could have an imprint and be happy…but instead you got stuck with Leah."

"I'm not stuck. You are."

"What?"

"You're the one who's stuck, Bella. Stuck in time, stuck with Edward for eternity, stuck in the past. You think I still love you, you think Leah is just a substitute in my heart for what I couldn't have."

"Jake…"

"I'm not your Jake anymore, Bella. I'm Leah's Jacob now and I intend to be that Jacob for the rest of my life. I know we still argue and fight but that doesn't mean we don't love each other." I grabbed Bella's arm preventing her to walk inside the room. I wanted to clarify everything without an audience. "Tell me Bella, why can't you live up to your choices?"

"But I am living up to my choices."

"Then start acting like it. You don't owe me anything. I helped you when Edward left because I loved you, but people change…I changed…I have a family now. I still want us to be friends but that's it."

Bella nodded and sighed deeply.

"You really love her." She whispered.

"I love her too much."

"I always expected for you to have a divorce a couple of years after your marriage. I don't mind that you moved on...I just need to know that these last six years she made you happy."

"She did."

"I guess I was wrong then."

"It would be nice if you told that to Leah as well."

"No way. That would be humiliating."

I rolled my eyes knowing that Bella would never admit in Leah's presence that she was wrong.

Finally we walked inside the room and found Alice having a fit. I had never seen Alice throwing things at the walls. I had seen her swirling and dancing and running around like a maniac but this time was different, she wasn't happy at all, she looked quite angry.

"Honey, please calm down." Jasper said holding her from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I hate the Volturi." She whined. "And I hate this stupid power."

"I guess everything's the same then?" I asked sitting down on the small couch.

"Aro is going to talk to Edward tomorrow." Jasper announced releasing Alice from his embrace.

"That's awesome. When is he going to let Edward and Will go?" I inquired.

"Well…that's the problem…He won't." Alice stated with a sad look. "Things are going to change."

"What's going to change?" I insisted. I didn't want to spend more time in Italy. I had to get my kid and go back home. Sam was taking this chance to gain Leah's trust again and, even knowing tha I was probably overreacting and that Leah would never cheat on me, I was becoming quite infuriated thinking about Sam being so close to my wife, my Leah. She was mine. He had no right to be near her.

"I know why Aro was stalling. He was waiting for Jane to arrive." Alice mentioned gaining my attention again.

"The psycho twin?" I asked. The witch twins didn't represent much of a threat if we had Bella with us, so I was confident that Jane and her twin brother weren't a danger to us.

"Yes. Aro is alone…I don't know why yet, but Aro send someone to get Jane as soon as Edward arrived. Caius and Marcus' absence is making him quite nervous."

"So what's going to happen tomorrow?" Bella asked.

"Aro is going to get the confirmation that William is a potential wolf. When they were still in the States William cut himself on a tree's branch and Demitri and the others realised he wasn't an ordinary human." Alice explained.

"But Will didn't phase yet." I said.

"I know but his blood's scent is different from humans."

"Is he going to threaten Edward?" Bella questioned.

"No. He's going to let Edward explain his version of the story. Initially he'll think Edward was going to turn William into one of us but my brother will prove him otherwise."

"So what are we going to do next?" I asked.

"We'll have to wait until Edward call us. I had a vision about that."

"Why were you throwing things at the walls?" I asked.

"In my latest vision I realised that Aro isn't in Volterra either. He doesn't want Edward to read his mind and know his plans..."

"What does that mean?" I cut her off.

"It means we could've acted or tried to warn Edward that we are here and now we can't because Aro and Jane are coming to Volterra tomorrow."

"What time will they arrive?"

"What do you mean?" Alice asked me, knowing why I was asking that question.

"What time will they be in their bat-cave to talk to Edward?" I repeated.

"I don't know." She said and I didn't detect any lie.

"Fuck Alice, don't you have visions?" I raised my voice. "You're supposed to know those things."

"Yes, I know that I'm supposed to know everything Jacob but there isn't a watch in my visions so I can see the damn time." She replied.

"Why do you want to know the time, Jake?" Bella asked.

"You're not thinking about going there to get them, are you?" Jasper asked me suspiciously.

I didn't answer. Actually that was my plan. To go there while the vampire's bosses were all out and get my son back. Edward could stay if he wanted to. I really didn't care, after all Edward was a strong and powerful vampire too, he would be fine amongst his kind. William was the one in danger.

In that moment Carlisle arrived. He had been contacting some leeches he believed could give him important information about what was going on in Volterra. Once again, Carlisle didn't let us down.

"Did you find out anything useful?" Bella asked.

"Sort of…" He put a few papers on the small table in front of me and I saw that it was a map. "I know where Aro is."

We all looked at him expecting him to continue. Finally we would know what the hell was going on.

"Aro is in San Gimignano. It's a small town near by. The Volturi own an ancient palace there where they gather to take the most important decisions."

"Who's in Volterra then?" Alice asked.

"Sulpicia took Aro's place as leader for now."

"What about Caius and Marcus?" Jasper inquired. "Do you know where they are and why they left Volterra?"

"My contact said they're out in a mission."

"A mission? Two Elders out in a mission?" Alice was astonished. "That can't be true."

"It can if it's a business of great importance." Carlisle announced.

"Such as?" Jasper asked with curiosity.

"Mass extermination."

"What?" Bella and I said at the same time.

"I thought the Volturi liked to keep a low profile. How can they do such a thing to innocent people?" Bella started pacing around the room.

"They're not exterminating people." Carlisle announced. "Humans are precious to the Volturi, they are after all their diet's supply. Caius and Marcus took a group to exterminate werewolves. Real werewolves."

"I thought they were extinct." Jasper said.

"So did Caius. But a few months ago the Volturi captured a vampire who was creating newborns in an isolated village in India. That vampire was brought to Volterra and Aro read his mind thus discovering the existence of a werewolves' clan in the border between Pakistan and India. Caius decided to take immediate action."

"I see…So they took Jane and Alec, right?" Alice questioned.

"Yes. They also took Afton, Renata and Felix."

"Half of the Volturi's special Guard is out of the country." Jasper concluded. "Edward could've done something if he knew that the Volturi were vulnerable and now it's too late."

"That's why Aro left Volterra. He didn't want Edward to know that the Volturi were vulnerable." Alice said.

"But shouldn't he be able to read Sulpicia's mind?" I asked.

"Usually the wives don't know anything about the missions or where their husbands are. They're only summoned to preside the trials." Carlisle explained.

"What do you mean?" Bella questioned.

"The wives live away from their husbands most of the year. They reunite a few times to...tighten their bonds...but that doesn't mean Caius and Aro tell them everything."

"You mean they get together to have sex a couple of times and that's it?" Bella asked almost shocked. I wasnn't surprised though. Vampires were weird creatures after all.

"Yes."

"But I thought that if you find your real soul mate it's like...forever."

"To find your soul mate doesn't mean they have to be faithfull to each other all the time, Bella. Marcus and Didyme were the golden couple and I believe that's why she was killed. In Aro's opinion she was a bad influence on Marcus."

"So they admit their husbands' affairs?" Bella insisted.

"Absolutely. As long as they can also have the same...freedom."

"That's disturbing." Bella stated shuddering.

"Leaving Sulpicia in charge was a bold act even for Aro." Carlisle said.

"What do you know about the leeches that stayed here?" I inquired.

"Well Demitri is probably the only one we need to fear. He's really strong, he's impulsive and completely loyal to Aro's causes. Chelsea manipulates emotions but we have Jasper with us so she won't be a problem. Corin was the one who erased Edward's tracks back in Mount Sima and then we have Heidi and Santiago." Carlisle told us.

"Jacob, I know you think we should go there and try to rescue Edward and Will before Aro and Jane arrive, but if we do that they'll be really infuriated." Alice said calmly.

"Edward will contact us soon. Alice saw it in a vision." Bella reminded me.

"We'll only resort to that plan if Aro decides to keep William here. Otherwise we need to play by their rules." Jasper insisted.

"Fine." I said turning around.

"Where are you going?" Bella asked.

"To have dinner."

"Do you need company?" She offered.

"Do you eat?" I asked sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes at me.

"Leah is not such a good influence on you." She said with an irony tone.

I slammed the door behind me and dragged myself through the corridor again over to the elevator. A few minutes later I was having my fifth meal of pasta with pepperoni, broccoli and mushrooms. I really missed home and most of all I missed Leah.

A/Note 3: Finally an update. Sorry for the delay. Like I said before, this second book is on Jacob's POV. He's in Italy trying to get William back and things won't be easy. Hope you like it.

Karisan