*I meant to post this last week but decided I didn't like the direction this chapter was taking the story so I had to rewrite it. So glad I took the extra time because I am way happier with the story line. Thanks again for being patient. Please leave a review with your reactions or just to tell me what you think. Enjoy*

Chapter 29 - Too Little Too Late

"B-bella… what are you…" I gasp quietly and look nervously between them.

This is the girl Jake spent all those years chasing. The girl he was chasing across the country when he found me. I feel like crying as I watch the two of them stare at each other. Is this how it felt for Jake when Mason came back? It feels like my chest is caving in and the floor is crumbling beneath me.

"Jake I came back to say one last goodbye to everyone." She says softly as if she knew what kind of reaction it was going to elicit from him. Jake flinches and squeezes my hand too hard, starting to shake.

"Your going to let him change you!?"

"We're getting married this weekend. I hope you'll come." She says and I can see a hint of a smile on her lips at the mention of her wedding.

"Bella! No! You can't-" Jake is shaking furiously and I cringe as he grips my hand even harder. I try to pull my hand from his but he doesn't notice. Tears spring to my eyes because he's hurting me and because for the first time… I'm afraid of him

"Jacob!" Billy shouts.

*Jake*

I look over at my dad, still furious. How could she do this? How could she marry that leech? My dad looks angry and worried and I suddenly remember Alex standing next to me. She's trying to pull her hand from mine and it takes a second for me to notice that I'm gripping her hand too tightly and I drop it immediately. Tears are in her eyes and I forget how to breathe. How could I do this to her? I hurt her hand but thats not all. I know how badly this hurts. I did this with her and mason.

"Alex… I didn't … I'm sorry." I say stumbling to find the right words to make up for what I did but falling short. She nods softly but stays silent looking at me with tears brimming in her eyes.

"Bella this is Alex… Jake's imprint." There is a harshness in my dads voice as he speaks to Bella. I can tell he's rubbing it in that I imprinted and its not her. She's getting married and I have my soul mate but I can tell it hurts her just the same. I'm surprised that it doesn't make me happy to know that on some level she still wants me.

"You… imprinted?" she asks me and I can hear her disappointment but I don't have any words to comfort her and I'm too caught up in the fact that Alex is cradling her hand . "Um... hi Alex.. I'm Bella." Bella reaches out to shake Alex's hand but she takes a step away from us and I step toward her, her eyes locking with mine, a silent tear rolling down her cheek. I take another step toward her and she steps back again literally shattering my heart.

"Excuse me." She says before heading off toward the back of the house toward the bedrooms.

"Alex Please… " I try to call after her

"I'm disappointed in you." Dad says crushing me further.

"Jake I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"What do you want from me?" I snap. Angry that she's here, angry that it caused me to hurt Alex, angry that after all this time and all that's happened she has the nerve to come back here.

"I just… I wanted to … to see you one last time before…"

"Before you turn into one of them and you cant come here anymore. This is your choice Bella so learn to live with the consequences. I'm done fighting a losing battle for you. I found the girl I'm going to devote my life to. I don't approve of your choices but I cant change your mind and I have someone else that I need to worry about now."

"Jake I'm sorry."

I shake my head. "I'm done Bella. If your so determined to become the one thing I was put on this earth to protect you all from then go… and don't come back here as one of them."

"J-Jake…"

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make sure my imprint is okay. You know the way out." I force the words out, trying desperately to keep the shake out of my voice. It hurts to treat Bella so harshly and it kills me to know that she'll be a vampire within the next few weeks but my instincts to protect my friends, my family, and most importantly my imprint, are too strong to ignore. This is the way it is but I wish it didn't have to be. Bella was my childhood friend, my first love; she means so much to me but I don't think I can bare to be around her once she's one of them, it'll kill me.

My bedroom door is closed and lock when I approach it. I can her Alex inside. Because of how small my house is, I'm not surprised that Alex was able to find my room. I am however; surprised that after what happened thats where she decided to hide. I take a deep breath and rub my hand over the back of my neck before rapping lightly on my bedroom door, instantly I hear all movement inside stop.

"Lex please… I'm so sorry."

The door unlocks and I push it open gently as she climbs onto my tiny bed and curls up against the wall. It takes but one full stride to reach my bed where I sit carefully beside her. She wont look at me as I gently brush her hair from the side of her face.

"I'm sorry." my voice cracks with emotion as I try not to let any of the tears trapped in my eyes spill. "I'm so sorry I hurt you." she covers her hand which is starting to bruise. "It's hard for me to deal with the fact that someone I care about is willingly becoming the thing I was born to protect everyone from." she squeezes her eyes shut in an attempt to lock in her tears. "But Alex…" I tenderly guide her face to look at me, her glossy eyes slowly lifting to mine. "No one could ever take your place. I'll always care about Bella but I will never ever love her or anyone else like I love you Alex." I take her bruised hand gently in mine to get a better look at it. I can't believe I did this to her. I could have hurt her so much worse but even this is killing me. How could I be so self-absorbed? A lone tear escapes down my cheek and she sits up to gently brush it away with her fingers. I close my eyes and lean into her touch, relishing the feel of her soft skin on mine. when I open them her eyes are searching mine for something that I pray she finds.

"It's alright Jake. Its not broken." she says quietly. I glance back down at her hand in mine and sigh. "I'm tired." my eyes snap back to hers. She's asking me to leave. I'm not forgiven, I can feel it.

"Alex I…"

"Please. I just want to take a nap. Its been a long trip." I nod silently as I let her hand go and stand. I want to say something, anything to make this better. To make her forgive me and reassure her that she is the only one for me but, I don't know how. I take a minute to gaze at her. As I reach the door, she lies back down on my bed and closes her eyes. Maybe things will be better in the morning. I sigh.

"Goodnight Alex. I'll see you in the morning." she sits up suddenly looking confused.

"Why in the morning? Where are you sleeping?"

"On the couch. You and Harper will share my room."

"But…"

"Trust me Alex it wasn't my idea. My dad insists." I guess its a good sign that she still wants to sleep with me. Maybe things will be okay. "I'm going to go patrol with some of the guys for a few hours. You and Harper going to be okay for the rest of the night?"

"Patrol? Why? Is there something out there?" She looks nervous but whether she's nervous about her own safety or mine I'm not sure.

"Probably not but we'd rather be sure."

"be… be careful Jake." she is worried about me. I cant help but smile a little.

"I will Lex." she gives me a small tragic smile and I walk the short distance back to her and give her forehead a light kiss before leaving to meet up with the pack. I'm anxious to feel the forest floor beneath my paws. The thought of having miles of forest to run through instead of the small park in New York makes my heart rate speed up in anticipation and excitement.

*Alex*

I cant sleep. Harper is snoring lightly next to me in Jake's bed but thats not the problem. Jake has told me about their run ins with Vampires in these woods and I'm worried. Maybe the Cullen's are really a threat. Or that girl Bella. No that can't be. Juliet is with them and she would never let anything like that happen. I sigh and roll over. I shouldn't have let him leave without telling him I love him. I should have made sure that he knew that I wasn't mad at him . What if something happen…. no. I wont think like that. He'll be fine.

Staring blindly into the darkness, I strain to hear any signs of Jake returning. It seems like days before I hear the screen door creak open. I bolt upright in Jakes bed imediately. I can just make out footsteps making their way through the house. I can't take it anymore, I have to see him and make sure he's okay. I throw the blankets off and quickly tiptoe passed Billy's room and toward the den.

I know that despite my tiptoeing He can definitely hear me. and though I can barely make out his outline in the darkness I know that he can see me perfectly as I make my way across the den.

"Jake I'm sorry about earlier. I love you. I shouldn't have let you leave without telling…" I gasp as the figure I assumed was Jakes comes into focus. This is not Jake. This is Bella but this time instead of a sweet smile and shy eyes she is baring fangs and blood red eyes. A scream erupts from my throat but it sounds strangled and far away.