*1o Years Later—JPOV*
The alarm clock next to my bed continued to buzz loudly reminding me that it is once again the start of another work day. I blindly fumble d for the off switch and swung myself into a sitting position. The two day stubble from my last shave had started to itch and was becoming a little more than annoying. It was definitely time for a hot shower and a shave.
I yawned again and made my way to the tiny bathroom across the hall. I flipped on the light and stared at myself in the small mirror above the sink. I struggled to see the fifteen year old boy I had once been in my current reflection. Though the changes of age are now an everyday occurrence, my eyes seem to remain the same always a haunting reminder of my past.
The ringing of the telephone from the kitchen pulled me from my reverie. I somehow managed to make it to the phone on the fourth ring. "Hello, Black residence." I mumbled as I searched the cabinets for any cereal. "Hey Jake, its Seth, just wanted to see if you're still coming to the bon fire tonight?" I waited a moment before speaking. I cursed under my breath as I remembered exactly why Seth was calling. Tonight is the tenth anniversary of my acceptance to be Alpha of the pack. "Seth, it's been ten years…I think it's time we give it a rest." The last thing I need is another reminder of the last time I saw her face. I thought glumly. Seth cleared his throat and spoke with anger in his voice. "Jacob, the tribe does this out of respect. Even though things have changed over the years, we still consider you our leader and our friend." He paused and waited for my rebuttal. I sighed in defeat. "Fine Seth, I'll make an appearance. "Great Jake, I'll see you at work." Seth said happily as he hung up the phone. I grabbed my jacket off the hook by the back door; my shower and shave hastily forgotten. If I hurried I could just miss the morning traffic into Port Angeles.
I pulled into the parking lot at half past nine and found Seth already at work checking out a customer. "Hey Boss…"he said a little too cheerily. "Seth." I mumbled as I made my way into my office at the back of the service bays. I looked around my little office and felt a sense of pride. The business that Seth and I built together five years ago has done very well. Although it's a small place, the customer base we have is very loyal and does more than enough to keep us afloat. I stepped into the small bathroom off of the office and changed into my coveralls. There's nothing better than dismantling an engine and putting it together again; a welcome distraction from my inevitable thoughts of tonight's impending celebration.
Five o'clock came much sooner than I thought. "Goodnight Jake. I'll see you in a while." Seth said as he put on his jacket. I nodded in his direction and watched as he got into his truck and pulled away. I finished going over the books and closed down the shop for the night. On the drive home I tried to come up with a thousand excuses to miss tonight's bon fire. All I really wanted to do tonight is just be alone. But I knew that Seth would make it impossibly difficult for me to do that tonight. As I pulled into the familiar gravel drive I felt another loss at the sight of my childhood home. The little red house sits completely dark and empty. I suddenly felt an aching in my chest. Though my father has been gone for three years there are moments when the pain still feels as fresh as the night he left me. I pushed the feeling away and got out of the truck. I went inside to shower and change for the bon fire. I pulled on a red hoodie and a clean pair of jeans. I opted for no shoes since first beach is only a short walk from the house. I ran my fingers nervously though my hair as I locked the front door and stepped off of the front porch. "You can do this Jacob…" I mumbled as I made my way along the path towards the beach. I could already see the orange glow from the massive fire up ahead. I sent up a silent prayer to my father hoping that my "appearance "would be brief and I would be able to slip away unnoticed.
"There's the man of the hour!" Quil yelled as he jogged over and clapped me on the back. "Hey man…" I smiled and threw my arm around his shoulder; genuinely glad to see him. "Jacob, we're over here." Seth called as he patted the drift wood next to him. "I saved you a seat, here have a beer." I caught the can easily and settled down next to him on the sand bracing my back against the wood. As I looked around I could make out the many familiar faces of my tribe. Leah and her boyfriend Breton were making out in the water. Paul and his wife Jade sat opposite me across the fire. Embry and his imprint Sonia are walking along the beach. Quil and Claire are talking quietly just outside the circle. "Where are Sam and Emily?" I asked Seth as he handed me my second beer. "They're out of town on vacation. Alaska, I think." I nodded and opened the can, taking a long drink. "What about Elaina?" I questioned, surprised that Seth would be here without her. "She's not feeling well and decided to skip out. She sends her love though." I smiled and continued to finish my drink in silence. I have to admit, seeing all of my friends happy with the ones that they love made me feel my own sense of happiness even though it may be short lived. We all drank and talked well into the night. At around two in the morning I decided it was time to head back home. "Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off?" Seth asked as I stumbled towards the woods. "I'm fine man, I only had five." Seth laughed and tried to grab my arm. "It was more like eight chief." I snatched my arm from his grasp, suddenly angry." Shut up Seth, you're more than a little wasted too." He nodded in agreement. "Sorry Jake, you're right. Well goodnight. Try not to impale yourself on a fallen tree." He called after me as I started the walk back to the house.
I was no more than three feet from my front door when I begin to tremble. I looked around frantically, feeling the rush of heat shooting up my limbs. I fought to control it, but I am out of practice. The fire increased and I clinched my fists at my side. "Calm down Jacob…" I tried to murmur to myself, anything to control the rage. It is becoming more physically painful by the second. The heat reaches its peak and I can't fight it any longer. I stare at my reflection in the glass of the windows, unable to believe this is actually happening. For the first time in a decade I am once again Alpha of the Quileute tribe. Suddenly the realization hits me full force and I can feel the hair all over my body stand on end, a low growl erupting from my lips. I whirl around and put the house at my back, searching the trees. I hear a faint sound to my left. I immediately lean forward ready to spring.
"Jacob?" I hear my name just a fraction of a second before I see her. Bella seems to materialize out of nowhere. Before I can stop myself I am growling and creeping forward. I stop inches away and stare at her knowing deep down that I shouldn't be surprised. And yet seeing it with my own eyes doesn't make it any less real.
Suddenly Seth breaks through the trees on the other side of the yard. In moments he has lost control and his silver wolf form takes his place among the tattered remains of his clothing. "Jake what in the hell is happening? Is that Bella?" Seth's voice echo's loudly in my head. I struggle to divide my attention between the two, my eyes never leaving Bella. "Jacob, I'm going to alert the rest of the pack."Seth turns to dart into the trees, but my alpha voice brings him crashing to the ground in obedience. "Run Seth, and tell no one what you've seen. The others must not know of this. Your alpha commands it so." Seth whimpers in defeat and stumbles to his feet. He gives me a long look before disappearing into the darkness. Bella watches all of this with a quiet fascination.
After several moments of silence, Bella finally speaks. Jacob, I'm not here to fight. Please phase back so we can talk" Bella's voice sounds the same only more musical. All of her features are a thousand times more enhanced. The darkness of her hair has become more shiny and lustrous. The color of her skin has been intensified into an almost blinding pearly whiteness. But the most disturbing change is in her eyes. The chocolate depths I loved so much have now turned into the golden color so prominent in the Cullen family. "Please… I'll just give you a minute" she whispers as she steps back into the cover of the trees. Within moments I am human again, thankful that the change back was much easier than my earlier phase. I quickly bolt into the house and find a shirt and a pair of shorts to slip on. I turn on lights throughout the house. I have the strong urge not to be in the dark at the moment. I walk back to the door and find Bella standing at the edge of the porch. The light from the hallway causes tiny sparkles along her skin and I look away. "You can come in." I mumble trying not to phase again with her so near. I watch her hesitate a moment before she joins me in the living room. I stand in the kitchen doorway and watch her silently. Bella sits in Billy's old armchair and stares at the floor gathering her thoughts. I lean against the door jam and cross my arms over my chest waiting for the explanation that I know is coming. "Jacob, I know my presence is rather unexpected. And I know I have no right to expect you to still feel the same way as you did then but…" She pauses and looks up at me her bright eyes searching my face. I feel my anger rising again at the sight of her. I remain silent, not trusting myself to speak. "I guess I just wanted you to know that Edward and I are no longer married, that after the change… things became difficult and I chose to leave. I have been on my own for the past few years now. I came back because this place is all I have left of the old me…and the one memory that I've clung to these past few years is the last day you and I were together in the woods on my wedding day…I've missed you Jacob." I hold up my hand to stop her and take a deep breath to steady my pounding heart. I fight to keep my eyes closed, because if I open them my resolve will crumble. "Bella, do you realize what you've just done?" I ask; my voice rising in anger. BELLA IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS! I yell, not able to hold in the hurt any longer. After you married the leech and left the whole tribe stopped phasing and everyone began to live normal lives. And now the moment you show up our whole way of life has been turned upside down again. I pause letting her absorb my words. "You're twenty six now…" Bella whispers as she stares at me in disbelief. I can only nod. "I thought you seemed different, you've aged… but I can still see a glimmer of the old Jake." She says as I continue to glare at her. I close the distance between us my anger getting the best of me. "What about MY life Bella? I ask my arms flailing around wildly. "Just when I thought I had come to terms with your death, you show up and throw it right back in my face. As if losing you to that leech wasn't hard enough. I have mourned your death for the past decade. But I can see that one thing hasn't changed even after all this time; your total disregard for my feelings. But I'm not the one you should be concerned with. My first and only concern is the safety of my people. The old treaty is now in effect and I want you off of our land. If you come here again Bella I can't promise that things won't end in bloodshed. Despite any trace of the "old Jacob" you may see, make no mistake that I will no longer protect you. My Bella died a long time ago and the leech in front of me is nothing more than a former shell." My voice cracks on the last word and I struggle not to lose it. If Bella were human my words would have had her in tears by now, but vampires cannot cry. "Well it's been a nice little chat Bella, but I really think you should go now. As I explained earlier I don't have the greatest control right now and being in such close proximity to you is doing nothing for my anger level." I watch as she nods and flits gracefully to her feet. A word I never thought I would use to describe Bella Swan. "Thank you Jacob; for listening to me. Even though I know I've become the very thing you hate. Please believe me when I say that I hope we can be friends again. I will honor the treaty" Bella takes a tentative step in my direction and hesitates when she notices the fine sheen of sweat along my skin. "Goodbye Jacob…" She whispers as she flees out the front door; leaving it open to the evening breeze. I am thankful that she used her vampire speed. If she had stayed one more second I would have phased again. I walk over and shut the door, sliding the dead bolt home. I know it would never keep her out if she chooses to return. I can only hope she keeps her word and stays away. I busy myself with turning off all of the lights in the house one by one. I drag myself into my room and fall onto my bed, praying that sleep will come soon to relieve me of this nightmare.