Hey guys it took me a while to decide this next chapter but I thought that I would make this chapter the way it is and then give you guys a little more time to get reviews in to tell me if you think I should add lemons. I'm thinking about just writing cliff hangers so you get the idea and then just writing separate chapters with the lemons in it so some of my younger readers can still read it. Tell me what you think!
Preparing for Battle
Bella's POV
I lifted his shirt, my lips still connected to his, as he unbuttoned my pants. I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready I chant to myself.
As his warm hands reach for my underwear I realize that I'm not ready. Just tell him he will understand. No he won't you just have to do it. Jacob pulled back and looked into my eyes for a long time before pulling my pants back up as well as his and tossing me my shirt.
"You're not ready Bella."
"How…how did you…"
"I've known you for a long time Bells and I can tell that you're not ready. I think it is so sweet that you would do that for me but I don't want you to do it just because you know I want to. I want you to do it because you want to and you are 100% positive. I'll still love you Bell. I'm not one of those guys that just want to get into your pants." He came closer to me putting my shirt back on for me.
"I will never leave you and I never want you to leave me, not even for a minute. Why do you think I'm going to sit out of this battle? I'm doing it for you, because you asked me to."
"You're going to sit out?" I looked up at him.
"Yes. I asked Sam today and he said that it would be better if I fought along with the pack, but I told him that you may need some protection in case one of them catches your scent and finds you. And I said that I really couldn't resist because you were my imprint. He understood when I put it that way and after a few minutes he agreed. Seth and I will be staying behind."
"Seth is staying too?"
"Yeah, he's the newest member and the youngest member of the pack. He's not to happy about missing all the action though."
I leaned in and kissed him.
"Thank you for staying with me." He pulled me into a hug.
"I will do anything for you Bella." He held me for a few minutes before standing up.
"Come on, there's uhh one more thing I want to show you before we go." He helped me up. I started to walk but he grabbed my wais from behind and pulled me close.
"Close your eyes." He whispered in my ear. I felt his warm hands intertwine with mine. He led me past some bends and twists. I stumbled a few times on something. What was it rocks maybe? The smell of the sea filled my nose and I could hear the sound of pounding water. I was about to ask Jake if we were almost there but he stopped.
"OK you can open them." I opened my eyes and what I saw left me breathless. We were still in the cave but we were by a massive waterfall. I looked down and saw that at the bottom of the waterfall there was a pool of glowing water. The walls were brimmed with diamonds that were shining, reflecting the water; making the walls look blue and white always changing color. There were colorful flowers all around the floor of the cave adding a tropical feeling to this mystical place. It looked heavenly. Jake led us all the way to the ledge where we could sit down. The flowers were all around their vibrant colors popping out. Up close I could see that the flowers were faintly glowing as well. I looked right over the edge into the pool of glowing water. It was so beautiful.
"Where are we? What…what is this place? I asked in a trance still looking down at the water.
"We're under the ocean about 20 feet. This cave led us down into another part of the cave, a deeper part. This is the only underwater cave like this in the Pacific Northwest."
"Why are the flowers and the water glowing?"
"The waterfall is made of very strong salt water. When the water is on the salt and the salt gets reflected off of the diamonds it gives it a slight glow. The pool is full of bioluminescent algae. It's a sacred tribal place. My dad and I used to come here all the time when we lost my mom. He used to say that she was always watching us and that I could talk to her here. "
"Wow. Wait did you say it was sacred? I shouldn't be here then. This is a special place for you and I... I should go" I started backing out but he stopped me.
"You're my imprint, you are apart of the tribe, you are part of my family, and you're apart of me. Come here." He led me to a rock that gave me a better view of the wondrous place and told me to sit down. He stood there for a couple seconds and all that we could hear was the water fall.
"Bella." He finally broke the silence.
"I love you and I will never stop loving you. Ever. I didn't take you here to have sex with you; I wasn't planning on it at all actually. I came here to tell you that I love you. That I want to be yours forever and you to be mine for eternity. I will do anything for you. I would die for you Bella. I would rearrange the stars, move planets, and take over the universe at any given moment, anything you asked for and not just because you're my imprint." He paused for a second.
"But because the love that I have for you is special, and could never be found anywhere else, it is stronger than any imprint, it can overcome your feelings for your first love, and it brings me bliss...you bring me bliss. When we were kids making mud pies and laughing together I always imagined this moment, but I never thought I would be here right now doing this. What I'm trying to say is that I will love you as long as I live and then longer, Isabella Marie Swan…:"
He reached over and took something from the cave wall before getting down on one knee. I was to the point of hyperventilating.
"Beautiful Bella, will you be my Bella forever?" I felt tears come to my eyes.
"Will you marry me?" He opened the box and I gaped. It was a beautiful ring. A simple silver band with a diamond in the middle with two smaller diamonds on the side. On the inside of the ring there was an imprint of a wolf, but it was so cleverly placed that it would only be visible to me and no one else.
Jake mistook my awed silence for hesitation and began to worry.
"I mean we don't have to get married anytime soon we don't have to get married until you want to, you don't even have to tell anyone you don't even have to wear it I –" I kissed him to shut him up and because I was so happy. I didn't even know that anyone could feel more joy than I right now so I filled the kiss with all of my joy. I pulled back and looked into his deep brown eyes.
"Yes." A Jacoby grin spread across his face. He kissed me again and picked me up.
"You have no idea how happy I am you said yes. I thought you were going to say no for a minute there. But I meant what I said. You don't have to wear the ring or tell anyone. We don't have to get married until you are ready." I looked at him and he was serious. "I just want what is best for you." This boy that I knew has turned into a man, and this man loves me with his whole heart.
"I am truly lucky I have you and I am not ashamed of being your fiancé and I most certainly will not be ashamed to be your wife. I don't care what people think." His face lit up and he slid the ring onto my finger. He picked me up and led me out of the cave onto the beach. The sun was rising.
I couldn't help but marvel at it's coincidental timing. Not just with the current rising of the sun but of well, everything. When Edward, my shining moon, had left me there was no moon that night. It was dark just like my life was at the time. When Jake started to come into the picture I noticed how the sun seemed to come out from it's hiding place behind the clouds just to shine on us. When I went and got Edward there was a moon that was nearly full but not completely just like he wasn't completely mine. And now the sun is rising making everything seem more beautiful, and so is my life. Its pinkish yellow glow was on the horizon the most beautiful thing I've ever seen (aside from that cave of course) and I couldn't help but feel that this new life I was about to begin would be the most beautiful life one could imagine. Jacob and I sat down and watched the sun rise holding hands. Jacob looked up into the sky and smiled.
"What?"
"I think my mom is smiling down on us right now." I grinned and gave him a small kiss as he put his arms around me.
"This was a magical night." I said without even realizing what I had said. He looked at me and I blushed. He put his hand on my cheek. "It most certainly was." I put my head on his shoulder and drifted off into a peaceful sleep with dreams of my Jacob, my fiancé, my life.
I woke up the next morning happy. And that happiness turned into laughter as I saw Jacob's ring on my finger. I was back in my room. Jake must have carried me to my bed. I looked down at my ring again and smiled. It's funny because if Edward hadn't cheated on me and made me realize that I should be with Jacob I would have probably said yes to him. I would probably have his ring on my finger and I would probably have a huge wedding before going away to have sex with him and becoming immortal.
Damn I am so, so, SO glad that that didn't happen. My smile slowly went away as I figured out what day it was. It was the day before the battle. I had to do all of the prep work before being whisked away to some secret camp. But at least Jake will be with me. My eyes went down to the ring again as I went downstairs to make breakfast. I made eggs, pancakes, bacon, and hash browns for Charlie and me. He came down stairs and I said what I had rehearsed at the Cullens house.
"Hey dad I wanted to do something special for Jake today is that okay?" (I didn't say it took me a long time to rehearse.)
"Yeah, Billy and I are going fishing so if you need me just call."
"Okay." I said as I grabbed both of our plates and washed them. Charlie grabbed his fishing gear and was out the door 10 minutes later. Literally 5 seconds after he was gone Jacob came to pick me up.
"Hey, how's my fiancé?" Jake said pulling me into a hug.
"Great." I said pecking him on the lips. He instantly deepened the kiss. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. It was so intense that I had to pull back before we went too far.
"We have to get to the edge of the woods to meet the Cullens Jake."
"But whyyyyy?" He whined sounding like a little kid. I giggled and he smiled before putting me on his back. When we got to the edge of the woods near the clearing we met Edward and I hopped off of Jacob's back.
"Hi Bella...Jacob." Jacob growled. I glared at him. "What?" I continued to glare. "Oh fine. Hi." he grumbled standing beside me and putting a protective arm around my waist. "Hi Edward." I said. "Where is everybody else?" Jake asked right after I finished talking. He tightened his hold on me slightly. "Oh they are at home making a battle strategy; I will just catch up later." Jake looked like he wanted to say something but he held his tongue.
"So what's the plan?" I asked since Jacob looked like he wanted to rip his head off.
"Well, I'm going to walk with you to the clearing because your scent will lead the newborns towards us and my scent will draw in Victoria if she is behind this. Then I will hand you of to Jacob and give him directions to the tent I set up for you."
"Won't that leech Victoria just trace your scent back to the tent?" Jacob asked.
"I doubt it. I took the back way and went from Canada down and then back up before coming back to Forks. I think you'll be fine." Edward said. I could tell he was getting impatient.
"Now you know where the clearing is so you go another way and I'll just take Bella-" Edward reached for my arm but Jacob growled. It wasn't his usual growl he used when he was human. This one was menacing, protective, and animalistic. Edward's eyes narrowed.
"It's the only way the plan will work." I felt Jake tighten his grip before finally taking his arm off me.
"You try anything and I swear to god I will rip your fucking head off." He said before turning to me.
"If he try's anything just scream. I'll be there instantly." I smiled and pulled him down into a light kiss. I pulled back all to soon and he whimpered quietly so I leaned in and whispered "I'll see you later. After all I am going to be your wife." in his ear so low that I couldn't even hear myself. But I knew he could. "Mmmmm I love the sound of that." He said kissing me again when we heard Edward clearing his throat.
"We haven't got all day and no matter how hard you try you won't be able to suck each other's faces off." Jake flipped Edward off and his hands went up and down my side and When we finally pulled back I was dizzy, shocked by the intensity of the kiss. I walked over to Edward and he went into the forest without a word but I lagged behind.
"I love you." I said, sad to be leaving him.
"I love you too, be safe." Jake said his eyes burning with worry. And with those words echoing in my mind I headed into the forest after Edward.
I caught up to him and for the first few minutes we walked in silence.
"So you and Tanya seem pretty close. You should ask her out." I said trying this "friends with Edward" thing out. "She's nice I guess and she's pretty but I don't really know her that well. I mean she's my cousin and I know her history from reading her mind but I don't really know her."
"That's what dates are for silly. For you to connect, ask questions, and get to know people better. It works a lot better than reading people's mind"
There was another one of those awkward silent spaces.
"So you and Jacob seem pretty good. How's he treating you?"
"Yeah we are doing well. He treats me like," I paused for a moment thinking of the right thing to say, "like he loves me." "Like he loves you..." he echoed, his eyes were sad and hurt."
"Oh, Edward I didn't mean it like that I mean you treated me like you loved me to."
"Then why aren't you with me?" So that's what was bugging him. "What does Jacob have that I don't have?"
"I am with Jacob because I... I love him. I truly love him. It's not an addiction like it was with you. You were blinding me Edward and when you left you let me see. But you had blinded me for so long that I could only think of you and I hurt Jacob. Thankfully you left again and I could see again but this time I had someone else to think about besides you. I had Jacob. He was there for me when you weren't, both times. He has protected me and he has loved me. He loved me so much that he was willing to watch me love another man and. He still cared about me. Now that I'm with him I can notice things and not be ashamed about it. I can notice how my heart beats faster when I see him smile, I can notice how my whole world lights up when he holds me, I can notice how I fell horrible if I see the a tiny glint of sorrow in his eyes. I can acknowledge my love fore him and not be ashamed. And when I'm with him I'm so happy. I fell like we're ten years old again laughing and joking together, and when we kiss...when we kiss I can see our future. Us starting a life together, having kids, growing old, laughing, talking, living. I want that Edward. I wouldn't give that up for anything in the world."
"Bella, I can understand why you love Jacob when you put it like that but that doesn't answer the question why not me. I could care for you, provide everything you need to have a good life, protect you, and love you."
"You put loving me last on that list. That's why not you. You care so much about protecting and providing for me that you just forget all about loving me. You want to protect and provide for me but you're loving someone else. I still love you. I've told you that but I will never be in love with you. I don't think I ever was." After I finished Edward stopped.
"What's wrong?" He didn't say a word. He just reached down and took my left hand. He looked up at me. The ring Jacob gave me was glinting in the sunlight.
"You're marrying him?"
"Yes." He looked like he would be crying if he could.
"That's great. I'm happy for you." he said before walking again but I stopped him and put a hand on his cheek.
"Edward, I'm sorry but this is what I want, what I need to be happy. Can you please move on, please? I don't like seeing you in pain. Go on a date with Tanya. I want your whole family to come to the wedding and I want you to have a date when you come. I'll call and tell you the day when we have it set."
"Ok Bella, for you." We started walking again and I brushed up on some of the leaves and fronds so they would catch my scent. We got to the clearing and Jake wasn't there yet. I turned to Edward.
"One more thing while we are alone. I don't want you and your family to leave Forks. If you can control yourself then I would really, really love it if you guys stayed because you are my family to. Just tell Carlisle to think about it for me."
"I will." he said just as Jacob appeared from the bushes.
"Hey what kept you?" I asked when he reached us.
"Thought I'd take a long way and give you time to talk." He knew me so well. Put his arm around my waist and gave me a quick peck on the lips.
"Okay lee- Edward where's the tent?" Edward pulled out a map.
"Here I'll show you." He said and Jacob hesitated a moment before leaving me to go talk with Edward. They were both good with maps but the only thing I could do with a map is find a way to trip on it or give my self a paper cut... and I don't want to go down that road again.
"Okay I got it uhhh...thanks." Jake said grudgingly
"You're welcome." Edward said just as unwilling. But at least they said it. I smiled. They were making an effort to like each other. Jacob walked back to me took my hand in his.
"Bye Edward." I said then I looked at Jake. He sighed, "Bye." I smiled because he looked like he had just tasted the most awful thing in the world. I gave him a kiss and a full blown Jacob grin came back to his face and we began walking hand in hand.
"So, where are we off to?" He gave me a quizzical look. I never asked about stuff when it came to hiking. "In general like are we going to a plateau, a plain, a ridge? Give me a little background info, what's the 411?" He started laughing. "What?" I said defensively. "411? Bells no one says 411 anymore." "Well I just did, you callin me a nobody. That just ain't cool." He started chuckling even more. "Wanna be gangster is sooooo not you Bells." He stopped and picked me up bridal style. "And I would never call you a nobody. The tent is located on a mountain so it's gonna be cold. There's a storm coming in. Edward is going to bring you a parka but I think if stay really close I can keep you warm." I smile wanting to kiss him but since we've been doing that a lot lately I started an conversation and we begin to chat. There were no silent spaces like with Edward.
"So how does the alpha get chosen?"
"Well it's by blood. Whoever has the most of the gene is the biggest wolf and is usually the alpha."
"But you are bigger than Sam. And your great grandfather was the tribe leader soooo."
"Well I'm supposed to be the alpha but I let Sam do it. He's a better leader than I am. He runs the pack well and if I run it well, someone might get hurt."
"People gut hurt when Sam's in charge. It just happens Jacob. You would make a great leader. You're kind and you have a big heart but you can be strict when necessary. You would make a great alpha."
"Well when you put it that way... no Sam is a good alpha it's fine. Anyway when there is a shift in power there usually is a fight and I don't want to get into a fight with Sam."
"Yeah, well for what it's worth I think you would be a great alpha, even better than Sam. He's a good alpha he keeps you guys in line and I love him like a brother but it's in your blood." He thought for a moment and then kissed me. When we pulled back gasping for breath the tent was in view as well as the parka. I picked it up and Jacob opened the tent door for me.
"You're sweet madam." He said opening the tent door before following me in. It wasn't the biggest tent in the world but it was big enough to fit both of us comfortably with a little extra space. Edward had put in two sleeping bags and when Jacob saw them he chuckled. "He is really set on us being kept apart isn't he?" He said pushing the other sleeping bag to the side.
"You might want to stay close because there is a snow storm coming in... A big one."
Well that's all for this chapter. The next one will be the fight scene. I'm getting close to the end . I know it sucks. I have really enjoyed writing this story though. The next chapter may take a little bit longer because I'm going to update my other stories. The next one I'm going to update will be Repeat so if you read that one then look out for it. That one really is my favorite. This one is second in my opinion but it's close. Anyways sorry about the slow update. I was about to update but then my boyfriend broke up with me and I didn't feel like wrinting a love story. Hope it's not to dry. Ok well R&R. Repeat is next.
TTFN!
ladybug82896