Jacob's Point of View

My heart was beating so quickly, as I walked away from Jade and her leech of a father with the others behind me. The shaking in my body was almost uncontrollable now. My inner wolf was snarling with telling me not to leave her, but I had to, I knew I did. I was just so annoyed with myself we had been caught. She had told me, warned me even, how much trouble we and she would be in if we were ever caught. I felt like I had failed to protect her – something I never thought would happen. How hadn't I heard him coming, I would never know! I never let the slightest sound past me undetected. I was always aware of the things going on around me. Even now, with being so out of control, I could sense everything going on in the denseness of the forest from here in Forks, to the boarders of La Push.

My jaw was clenched as I reached the cover of the forest near the house. I needed a distraction, and I only knew of one, but I didn't know if it was such a good idea right now to go there. I needed to see Bella, sooner or later, tonight. I couldn't just forget about her, no matter what she had done to me. I had said I would always be waiting for her, years ago, but I had changed, and along with it, by promise had been broken. I had Jade now. She was my world and, there was nothing in the universe that was going to change that.

I really did need to see Bella, alone, and tell her how things were now. She had to realize I couldn't and wouldn't take her back, even if Edward never came back for her. My loyalty and love was with Jade now, no one else. But when I was already so frustrated and annoyed, I didn't think it would be such a good idea to be around her kind. I still wasn't too good with keeping control once I was upset around leeches.

I heard Embry running up behind me in a slow jog. "Jacob calm down," he said evenly and calmly. I stopped just below a huge, green fern tree which was dripping cool droplets of rain onto my back that was slightly calming. I looked to him with narrowed eyes. I could hardly see straight, I was shaking so hard. I hadn't been this way in years.

After Bella moved away all those years ago, I had gotten control over the shaking and phasing, but tonight, that had all gone down the drain. And Embry knew that all too well. He was my best friend, and was just about always there when I needed him most. He knew every little thing I had done in my life. We had been friends since babies.

"Jake, your better than this," he said calmly, while holding my gaze to get his point across, of just how serious he was. "Your better than to let yourself get so steamed over one leech. You know Jade will be okay. You've said it yourself–he wouldn't dare hurt anyone with us around and the treaty in place. He knows about us Jacob. He knows we're stronger, and fast than he is. He is no threat to anyone, especially her."

Embry's words slowly sunk into my head and made me feel just that little bit more at ease, but that still didn't stop me from being annoyed at myself for failing to keep our secret from that leech. It was bad enough when her sister found out, but for some reason, she had kept it to herself.

I half turned towards the forest as Leah stood beside Embry and watched me along with Seth, now by her side. I bit my lip and watched the forest ahead of me for a moment and then turned back towards them and met Embry's gaze again.

I was the Alpha of the pack, and yet, Embry seemed to be acting more like the Alpha than I was. I hadn't ever taken his or anyone else's advice since becoming the Alpha. I was always the one who was strong, composed and stayed on the positive side of things. I guess within that moment, my Beta had showed me what I had taught him.

I smirked slightly at that thought. "Thanks, Emb," I murmured and sighed with shaking my head. I was still annoyed with myself though. I took in three deep breaths and stopped the shudders from going through me.

Embry closed the gap between us with a cocky smirk on his face, before placing his hand on my shoulder and looking me in the eye. "You know that's what I am here for–for when you go mad from this job," he snickered with adding the last bit.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. Typical Embry to crake a joke when it was least appropriate! "Gee, thanks man," I said with humour and sarcasm, and glanced over my shoulder towards the forest ahead of me again. "Think I'll go see Bella. Meet up with you guys later, kay?" I looked back to Embry and then to Leah and Seth. I shot Leah a look as I saw her eyes roll in my direction. She really couldn't think I would take Bella back after finding Jade, could she? I suppose so, for the look she gave me back. Though, I really couldn't blame her. I had taken Bella back time and time again before. But, that was before I had found my imprint – my soul mate.

"Sure, see you later Jacob," Embry smiled as I took off in a slow run, heading towards Charlie's place, where I knew Bella would be 'acting' asleep. Charlie still didn't know about the whole vampire thing going on with Bella, and she and the rest of the Cullens' thought it was best to leave it that way, so he wasn't put in any kind of danger with the Volturi. I couldn't blame them in one way with not telling him and wanting to keep him safe, but in another I could. He did deserve to know, though, I wasn't going to be the one to break the news to him.

As I ran through the forest, the rain lightly sprinkled upon my skin as I pushed and went past ferns, trees and bushes, then finally I saw Charlie's house. It wasn't that far away from Jade's house thankfully.

With walking up to the house and around the other side where Bella's bedroom was, just by a tree, I picked up a small stone and threw it at the glass of the closed window. "Hey Bella," I whispered only just loud enough for her to hear. "Open up. It's me."

Within seconds after speaking, I heard soft and graceful footsteps heading towards the window. It opened quickly and soundlessly before she leaned out against the window's white frame while looking down to me. I could see by the look in her golden eyes she was upset. I hated seeing her upset, and even more so when I knew it was my fault!

"Step back. I'm coming up," I said and saw her nod once and then disappear altogether from my sight.

I grabbed hold of the tree beside Bella's window and swiftly climbed up it until I was at the level of her window. With gaining my balance, I jumped through the window and landed silently, standing in the middle of her bedroom. It hadn't changed much at all over the years. There were still little fairy lights on the walls, the same green paint on the walls around the room. The same furniture and even the same purple quilt on the bed. I looked to her, now sitting on her bed with her arms crossed tightly over her chest while glaring down at the floor.

I took in a deep breath to calm myself and to stay that way – I hoped. "I'm sorry Bella, for the way I acted earlier, but, things have changed since the last time I saw you," I said calmly and evenly while watching her.

She nodded while I spoke, looking as if she wasn't listening at all, but trying to make out she was. I then remembered, vampires couldn't cry, and that's what she looked like she was on the verge of. My lips pursed into a straight line before I took a step over to her side and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. Her face hid against my chest as she leaned into my hold. "Shh, it's okay Bells," I murmured and ran my hand up and down her back, soothingly.

"This never should have happened Jacob," she said with a cracked tone of voice. "I should have listened to you from the start. You were right, like always."

I smirked slightly with hearing her words. That wasn't true. I wasn't always right at all. "I'm not always right Bella," I murmured as she shook her head. "What happened?"

"He's been acting different Jacob. He's been out with Emmett and Jasper hunting more than he needs to, and when I ask to come, he just brushes me off like I mean nothing to him. Then the other day, he said he couldn't stand it anymore, and that we were over."

My eyes narrowed with hearing her. I thought that would happen one day. They had fallen so hard in-love; they hadn't even had the chance to become friends. I had seen it time and time again – people fall straight into love before being friends and it looked like they would be together forever, when only a few years down the track, they're breaking up because their sick of one and others company. At least, with Jade and I, we had been friends for a little while, but imprints were different too.

I sighed and held Bella just that little bit closer to me, but my decision hadn't changed one bit. I was Jade's now, no matter what went on with Edward and Bells. "Maybe he just needs some guy time, with his brother's Bella. I get that way all the time." I looked down to her, and saw her eyes closed while she shook her head again.

"He's not like that Jacob."

"I know, but, people change, and surly vampires can still change too. Once, every century or something. . ." I trailed off with trying to make her laugh. It worked. I heard her giggle slightly before she looked up to me.

"Maybe," she murmured softly and sighed. She looked down to her hands sitting in her lap and then held my gaze with looking up. I felt she was searching for something in my face and eyes. I didn't know what though. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't call or something Jacob. I thought . . . I thought if I got out of your life completely, it would be easier for you to move on. I just wish I knew what to do now." Her gaze dropped from mine and turned her face away to glare down at the floor again.

I didn't know what we were going to do either, but one thing I did know. We couldn't be any more than just friends. My eyes closed for a moment as I took in a deep breath to compose myself better. I hated to turn down Bella, with whatever it was, but this time, I had to do it. "I'm sorry Bella, but, we can't be anything more than just friends," I whispered and touched her right hand with my own. She looked up to me, and waited for the rest to come out. "I've imprinted," I added.

I saw a small smile come to her features. "I'm glad you found someone Jacob," she said softly and hugged me. Out of all the things I had heard Bella say over the years, that had been the least selfish thing yet she had said to me. "Was that girl with you in the forest, your imprint?"

I smiled with hugging her back and the thought of Jade. "Yeah," I said huskily while smiling even wider. "That's her. Jade, is her name." I guess Bella could see in my face the things I was feeling and thinking with what she said next in more of a tone of fact than question.

"You love her a lot. Don't you?"

I glanced up at her, kind of shyly and met her gaze. "More than I'll ever realize," I admitted proudly and seen Bella smile again.

I sighed with glancing over to her alarm clock on the bedside table which read in bright green numbers, two-am. I hadn't been to bed yet and I still had to do patrol with the guys. It was one of the things I hated most about being Alpha – having to go out at the small hours of the night when I just wanted to sleep. I didn't know why leeches got off the hook with not having to sleep anymore.

"I got to go," I murmured and stood to my feet and headed over to the window. As I stood in front of the window, I felt the cool breeze run over my skin as I looked down. I turned back towards Bella. "You know, just because we can't be anything more than just friends now Bells, doesn't mean we can't hang out like we used to," I smiled as she came back over to my side and hugged me again.

"I look forward to it Jacob," she smiled crookedly and stepped back as my hand gripped the frame of the window as I readied myself to jump to the tree just a few feet away.

My shoulder brushed against the window frame as I felt something cut into my skin. I grimaced slightly and took hold of my arm to look at what had happened. It was a deep cut caused by a rough bit on the window framing. As my hand gripped my shoulder, a drop of blood ran down my arm. "Ow," I muttered in a low tone to myself as I stepped back inside for a minute. I could feel it was already healing thankfully.

Something made me look over to Bella and when I did, I saw her biting down hard on her lower lip. My eyes narrowed with confusion and then realized the scent of my blood was affecting her. "Are you okay?" I murmured and realized she was holding her breath.

She nodded just as I caught the look of bloodlust in her eyes as they close. My right arm covered the cut while I took a step closer to her. "Are you sure, you're okay?" I whispered as she looked up to me. Abruptly, her eyes had changed from gold to red. I hadn't ever seen something like that happen before with Bella, or any other leech for that matter of fact.

"Jake, just, go, please," she said in a begging tone of voice. I eyed her warily, worrying with what was going on with her as I headed back to the window and jumped out of it quickly. I knew I wasn't helping anything by staying. I ran for the forest to phase and meet back up with the guys. I took off my jeans and tied them around my ankle quickly. I looked up to Bella's window with wonder. It was now closed and there was no sign of life inside her room. I wondered what was going on with her to have bloodlust in her eyes. Even when she was a newborn vampire, I hadn't ever seen the thirst of blood in her eyes like I had tonight. I hoped she was okay.

I phased and cleared my mind so the others wouldn't know. The last thing I wanted was to have something come up about Bella being dangerous to us or someone else. I sensed my pack running back on La Push grounds. Though, it was just Leah and Embry running now. Seth must have gone home to bed with it being so late at night.

After hours of patrol, on dawn we gave it up and started to head home. I was so tired! I hadn't been out this late, for this long, in years. I yawned with pulling on my jeans and walked out of the cover of the forest and towards the house. There was only one light on in the house. I was more than ready to get to bed, but I was still frustrated with myself from what had happened earlier.

But with hearing my name being shouted I looked up to the left side of the forest from me and seen Jade. I smiled widely with seeing her and ran towards her until she was in my arms. It was too good to see her again after earlier.

I picked her up in my arms with seeing and sensing just how tired she was. She hugged me tightly as she started to cry and tell me how her parents were already talking about putting her in a boarding school. I growled to myself, once again annoyed, but then, I thought, if she did go to a boarding school, I could see her without her parents knowing. That was, until she told me it was an all-girls school. I sighed with hearing that. At times I felt like we really weren't meant to be together. I put the boarding school thing to the side for now with seeing her yawn. We were both too tired to keep fighting it.

As I carried her towards the house, she fell asleep in my arms. I smiled with glancing down at her. Her arms were wrapped around my neck as her face rested on my chest. Slowly, without waking her, my hand ran slowly down her smooth and soft skin of her cheek. In reaction, Jade smiled in her sleep and leaned closer to me.

Thankfully, Dad was still asleep after I entered the house. Silently, I went into my room and laid Jade out on my mattress and pulled up the blankets. I was just about to go out to sleep on the couch when I felt her hand grab my wrist. I looked down to her with soft eyes as I heard her asking me to stay. I knew Dad would kill me if he if saw us asleep together, but I really didn't care after she had pointed out the fact we weren't doing anything wrong.

I sighed and shook my head with giving into her and lay down beside her and pulling her into my hold. It felt so nice to have her lying beside me, where I knew she was safe. My eyes closed as I listened to her heart beating. She leaned into my side more with my grip tightening slightly around her. I smiled with thinking how lucky I was before going to sleep.

I knew I would be in huge trouble later with my father, but it wasn't going to be anything I couldn't handle. He would understand, sooner or later. He knew I wasn't the type to take advantage of a girl, especially someone like Jade, so I hoped he wouldn't think something had gone on.

With hearing the phone ringing around two or three hours, I woke up. I ran my hand over my face without moving too much so I wouldn't wake Jade. I lay back against my pillow and fell back to sleep without even thinking about who would be calling so early in the morning. I only awoke again when I heard the sound of my father's wheelchair's wheels coming close to my room. I opened my eyes and looked to the doorway to see him staring at me in a way which told me he disproved of something I had done. Then I remembered the phone call earlier. I wondered what it was about.

Slowly, I pushed Jade away from me to get up. As I stood, I looked back to her and smiled with seeing her still sleeping deeply. I pulled the blankets back over her and left my room, closing the door behind me as I went.

I headed out into the kitchen where Dad was now making his morning coffee. He turned his wheelchair around with hearing me enter the room. "What's going on Jacob?" he said calmly and evenly.

"With, what?" I yawned, still waking up.

"I just had Charlie on the phone looking for your imprint. What happened?"

My eyes turned wide with hearing him. "What? Why?" I couldn't help just raise my voice with shock.

"He said she went missing and her parents got a little worried and called him. He called here with wondering if you knew her. Said he saw you the other day hanging out with a girl who sounded simular to her."

My jaw clenched hard after listening. My hands turned into tight fists which hurt my hands while I stared down at the wooden floor below me. That leech had some nerve to involve the police! He had to have known she would be with me! It had only been a couple of hours since we had last seen each other at her house!

I turned and headed for the door when my Dad stopped me. "Jacob, where are you going?" he said evenly, but loudly. He knew her father and sister were both leeches, so he understood how protective I was with Jade and her being my imprint. He knew everything I knew about her. Dad and I were close with the whole girl, wolf and imprint thing.

I growled to myself with being stopped and turned halfway back towards him. "Her father caught us outside last night. They're already talking about sending Jade to boarding school. He's trying to cause trouble," I answered calmly as I could manage to act. "I am so sick of him!"

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Caught you?" he asked with an eye brow risen.

"Yeah, caught us," I really didn't get his question and then I caught onto his thought pattern. "I was leaving and I was kissing her goodbye. You know how I am Dad. I haven't changed since Bella you know that." How could he even think that? Oh yeah, right. I'm a crazy teenage boy as far as he was concerned, which was kind of true – to a point.

"Well, I told Charlie you would meet her parents at the police station in Forks within the next hour, so you better get ready to go."

I rolled my eyes and let out a huff. Now how was I going to make up a story so her parents didn't think we had been hanging out together? Surly her father would have heard that being said, with his leech hearing, so it wasn't like I could really lie. Why did my life have to be so, damn, hard?

"Fine," I muttered and fell back onto the couch in the lounge room to let Jade some more sleep before having to go. We were going to be in so much trouble once we got there!

I picked up my phone from the side table next to the couch with thinking it would be probably better if Leah came with me too, or at least met me there. I knew I would need at least some other girl apart from Jade to back me up, just in case.

Meet me at Forks Police Station in an hour.

I wrote and pressed send. Just as the message on my phone came up, saying 'sent' I heard my bedroom door slowly opening. I looked over my shoulder and saw Jade standing sheepishly in the doorway of my bedroom. I smiled with seeing her, and stood to my feet. With walking over to her, I kissed her softly. I felt her smiled against my lips and wrap her arms around my neck and deepened the kiss before my father interrupted by clearly his throat.

Jade pulled away abruptly and looked to my father, who was smiling gently and kindly at her. Her cheeks were flushed red. I couldn't help but think how cute she looked when she was embarrassed. I chuckled and cleared my throat, making her look up to me with questioning eyes. "Jade, this is my father Billy," I said with a smile. She composed herself after that and smiled sweetly at him.

"Nice to meet you," she said.

"Nice to meet you too Jade," he said and then looked back up to me. "Don't you have to tell her something, Jacob?"

I rolled my eyes with remembering. Don't remind me Dad, I thought. "Um, yeah," I muttered, running my hand over the back of my neck and took hold of Jade's hand while leading her back into my room and closed the door behind us.

Jade looked up to me with confused eyes before sitting on the edge of my bed. I took in a deep breath while thinking what I was going to say to explain what was going to happen in the next hour. "Apparently your parents called the Forks police because they thought you went missing," I said quickly. "And now I have to take you to the police station in an hour."

Her eyes turned wide after hearing me. Her head swung around to the clock on the wall above my bed which now read eleven-thirty. "I haven't even been missing for six hours Jacob. How could they go to the police. . ." she paused for a minute and ran her hands over the back pockets of her jeans. A second later she pulled her silver phone out of one of the pockets. "And they didn't even tried to call me! Ugh! Aaron! He's trying to make trouble! I just know he is!"

"Well, whatever he's trying to do, I don't think Charlie will stand it for long," I said, and sat beside her.

"Charlie?" she asked with a risen eye brow at me.

"Bella's father, he's chief of police in Forks. He' known me since I was a born. Maybe he can sway your parents in the right direction?"

Jade just shook her head at that. "I don't think anyone can make my parents change their mind Jacob. Once it's made up, it's made up."

I sighed and glanced at the clock again. It had been almost an hour. I knew and understood what Jade was saying. Leeches were stubborn once their mind was made up, though Jade's mother wasn't one of them. Maybe I could get her to change her and Aaron's minds. I hoped I somehow could. I needed to be with Jade. I couldn't be without her. I loved her too much for things not to work out.

I got up and went over to my wooden draws and pulled out a grey V neck tee shirt and some jeans to get ready in. "I'm just going to have a shower and we'll go okay?" I said and left the room after I saw her nod once without saying a word.

Quickly I took a shower and got dressed. Just when I was about to step out of the bathroom, my phone rang. I looked to the number which was calling me before answering it. Leah. Of course it would be her. I could never give her a simple request without questions asked.

I flipped my phone open and put it to my ear, but before I could get a word in, she started shouting. "What the hell have you done now Black, to get into trouble with the police?" she yelled. "Do you know how much danger that could put the pack in? Well do you?"

I rolled my eyes and let out a huff. "I'm not in trouble with the police Leah. Jade just came to see me last night, stayed a few hours and her parents freaked out a little and called the police, without calling her phone first. Now I have to take her to the police station in twenty. That's it."

The line went dead silent. I was sure Leah was feeling quiet stupid now after having that little hissy fit. "Without calling her phone?" she asked after a moment. "That sounds odd."

"That's what Jade though. So, can you meet me there, or not?"

"Why do you need me there?"

"Well, I could do with some female backup, other than Jade, for the sake of her mum, and also, I was thinking we could say she was just hanging out with us, so she wouldn't get into so much trouble if they thought she was hanging out with me," I explained. "Does that sound corny, or is it just me?" I then asked, with thinking it after I had spoken.

Leah burst out laughing then. "Jake, just about everything you say sounds corny." I rolled my eyes at that. I knew that wasn't true at all. Not, everything I said was corny.

"So, can you meet me there or not?" I questioned again, while she was still laughing.

"Sure, sure, I'll be there. Leaving now Black, don't make me wait," she said evenly.

I smirked with hearing that. "Won't happen, Clearwater," I said and snapped my phone shut and excited the streamy bathroom. When I got to the kitchen, I saw Jade quickly eating a small bowl of bacon and eggs. My mind had been so focused on going to the station, I had fully forgotten about breakfast for either of us. My stomach growled with that thought.

Before I could say anything, Dad turned around from the stove and pushed a bowl along the counters and in my direction. I had only just caught it from falling onto the fall. "Um, thanks Dad," I said and sat down beside Jade. She looked up to me sweetly with a smile on her face while chewing on a piece of bacon. I grinned back at her and took a small piece from her plate. Her sweet look turned to shock as her jaw dropped a little. "Hey that's mi-" she pause midsentence with my father throwing her another piece of bacon from the stove, to replace the one I had taken.

"Thanks Billy," she said and beamed while smiling towards him.

He laughed in response. "No worries Jade. When you're used to having two teenage girls around and one piggy Jacob, you have to keep up with doing things like that," he winked with a smile and then turned to me. I looked away and down to the floor while smiling guiltily before my father could catch my gaze. Yeah, I often did that to my sisters, when we were younger.

Soon after finishing breakfast, Jade and I walked outside and into the rain until I unlocked my old red rabbit and got in. It was a short and wet drive to Forks and just as the police station came into view, I saw Leah's black motorbike being parked out of view. She took off her helmet and left it on top of the bike's seat. She wore jeans and a black leather jacket over her shoulders, which kept the rain off her.

She turned around and watched as I parked my rabbit just on the side of the police station and then walked over to my side of the door with her arms crossed over her chest. I raised an eye brow at her in question. I knew that look.

"I was waiting," she said and made me burst out laughing, along with Jade.

"What, two milliseconds? I am so sorry Leah," I said with sarcasm. I should have seen what was coming before she hit me over the head. "Ow!" I muttered and ran my hand over the spot with looking to her with narrowed eyes. Why did I make her my Alphaess again?

"Dick," she murmured and then smirked. "Come on. Charlie's waiting."

I looked over to Jade as I heard her sigh. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead and then started to follow Leah up the stairs and into the police station. It was quiet inside, which was probably a good thing.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, Charlie came out of his office and asked us to come in. I took in a deep breath to keep myself calm and looked to Leah. She nodded at me and stood up quickly. She followed Charlie into his office as I once again followed her with Jade at my side. As I entered the room, I caught the glare of Aaron. His eyes were black and his glare was a look to kill. I shot the same look back at him before looking to the woman sitting beside him. It must have been Jade's mother. She looked so relieved to see Jade safe and sound.

Charlie sat down in his office chair and then got out a pen and paper as Jade sat between Leah and I. Aaron glared at her with the look of disgust. "Where have you been Jade?" he asked harshly, which made Charlie look up to him with narrowed eyes. Jade didn't answer.

"So where were you Jade?" Charlie asked then, evenly and softly.

Thankfully I had gone over my plan with her while driving here. I knew it wasn't right to lie, especially to someone like Charlie, but I really didn't like the idea of telling the truth with Aaron being involved.

"Hanging out with Jacob and Leah," she answered, confidently. I heard her father hiss a little towards me. It was too low for Charlie to hear though.

"And you didn't tell your parents?" Charlie then asked while taking notes.

"No. They were still asleep. I often go where I want, for hours without them knowing, or getting upset."

Charlie looked to Aaron and his wife then. "Is that true?"

"Yes," they both murmured, to my surprise.

Charlie sat back in his chair while staring down at his notes for a moment and then looked up to Jade's parents again. "So, why is this time so different from the others?" he questioned, holding Aaron's gaze mostly. That told me enough to let me know who called in report. My jaw clenched lightly with hate of that leech.

"Because, Jade's been hanging out with him," Aaron answered with acid in his tone. I sensed Leah stiffen where she was and looked to her from the corner of my eye. I could tell she hated every word Aaron was saying. She hated leeches even more so than I did. But she needed to control herself in front of Charlie.

"And why is that so bad in your mind, Mr Lillian?"

I looked to Aaron with no emotion in my eyes. I wondered what lies he would tell to make things look worse than they really were.

"I caught them making out on my veranda late last night. She's been seeing him behind our backs for some reason."

I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes at his 'reason.' Jade huffed out loud, which was just what I was thinking. She had caught Charlie's attention. "Is that true Jade?" he asked softly, adding not pressure.

"No, it is not. Jacob was kissing me goodbye. That is it. And yes, I've been seeing him behind their backs, because I am a sixteen year old teenager, who isn't allowed to date and if I even have any friends, who is a guy, there I go, off to boarding school, like they're talking about doing now!" Jade had spoken so quickly I could hardly keep up with her. It was obviously upsetting her more than she was letting on. I saw a glassy look come to her eyes as she closed them and looked away from me. I knew she thought of herself as the tough girl from Outback Australia. She hated showing how much things upset her, and she was pretty good at hinding it, though, most of time I sensed it before seeing it.

My arm wrapped around her shoulders as I saw a tear coming down her cheek. "Hey, it's okay," I whispered softly. She leaned into my grip around her, which made her father hiss. I ignored him completely.

"He's a bad influence to her," Aaron said after a couple of minutes. I realized he was trying to get on my bad side and get me upset to prove his point then. If he thought that would happen, he could think again.

Jade scoffed at his words. "Better influence than you'll ever be! Cheater. . ."

I looked to Charlie as he sighed. "I have to say, Mrs and Mr Lillian, I've known both Leah and Jacob since they were children and they are both the best kids around here. Not once have I had one bit of trouble with them, their friends or families. Jacob has even dated my daughter years ago, and I couldn't think of anyone who could be more loving and protective than he was." I had to smile for that. I knew Charlie would be on my side.

"And what happened between them?" Jade's mum asked, looking to Charlie and then to me. I felt Charlie's eyes go upon me to answer.

"She chose someone else," I murmured.

She then looked to Jade. "Did you know that Jade, honey?" she asked. I thought that maybe her mum had come farther on our side than on Aaron's side after that.

"Yes, mum, I did. Jacob has told me the truth from the start. More than I can say Aaron has told."

Silence fell over the room after that. The only thing I could hear was the rain still falling heavily outside, before Leah broke the silence. "Mrs Lillian," she said in a low and controlled tone. "Jacob isn't one to break things off. He knows what he wants and he stays with it once he has it. He's dedicated and caring, and a better friend than I ever had in boyfriends. He will not hurt Jade."

Both I and Jade looked up at her while she spoke. I mouthed a thank you when she looked back to me and smiled. Quickly after Leah had finished, Charlie said he agreed with Leah. I got the sense that it had helped Jade's mum to come around even that little bit more onto our side. I hoped that was the case. I knew we would need every bit of help we could find.

"I still think he's a bad influence," Aaron said and looked away. "I want a restraining order to keep him away from my daughter."

My jaw almost dropped to the floor with hearing him say that. My inner wolf snarled, and I ready had to fight it back to keep control. I could even sense Leah fighting back, but she snapped. "You son of a-"

"Leah, cool it!" I said in my Alpha tone, making her back down before she made any more trouble than we already had. I knew she was only looking out for me, but the last thing I needed was a leech, wolf fight in the middle of the police station.

"He is not a bad influence!" Jade said, standing up.

Aaron glared at her. "If he isn't, then why did you get out of bed to see him? Why did you go behind our backs to see him? Why did you run off to see him this morning and not let us know?" he questioned. I growled in a low tone. He was basically just questioning the very same questions she had already answered and knew the reasons to anyway.

"I already answered that!" she shouted. "You could have called me you know? My phone is on, ringtone at its maximum, no missed calls, no texts, and its working fine . . . I wonder why you didn't call? Oh yeah, that's right, your trying to make Jacob look bad!"

I was impressed by how well she was handling this, but still, I knew it was out of order to a point. "Jade, calm down," I whispered and touched her hand. She immediately sat back down and leaned into my side again.

I sensed something change with Jade's mum. She looked to Aaron and said, "I thought you said you had called her and they hung up?"

Charlie, Leah and my eyes narrowed upon him with hearing that. It was just the type of thing I thought he would pull. He didn't say a thing though.

"Jade, can I have your phone please?" her mother asked. Quickly Jade pulled the phone from her pocket and handed it to her mother. I knew for a fact he hadn't ringed her phone. Even if Jade hadn't heard it go off, I would have.

After a couple of minutes, her mother handed back the phone to her and slapped Aaron's shoulder lightly. "Liar," she said.

Aaron acted casual and rolled his eyes. "I called her. She must have deleted the message or something."

"You know Jade doesn't do that and I would believe her before I believed you," she said as Charlie shouted, "Time out." Everyone looked to him as he explained we could all go home and that Aaron had nothing to worry about me hanging out with Jade.

I sighed with hearing there wasn't any more going to happen, but then I wondered what more could have happened. Both Jade's parents knew I wasn't a bad influence on her – even with him not believing it – nor would I hurt her. I guessed there wasn't anything more could come of it.

As we walked out into the rain, Leah disappeared after I had said thanks for helping me out and Jade stayed by my side the whole time. I could tell she didn't want to leave me, but I knew she had to. Apparently my car was parked two cars down from her father's. He and her mother waited by the car as we spoke quietly, but I knew it wasn't quite enough for him not to hear.

"Jacob, please, can I come with you?" she asked through sobbing tears. I sighed and bent down to my knees to look up at her. I held her gaze as I rested my hand on her shoulder and wiped the tears away from under her eyes with my index finger.

"You know we can't do that right now Jade," I murmured and smiled slightly. "But, you know this isn't it. It'll work out, sooner or later." I smiled again and stood up. She smiled slightly and nodded before wrapping her arms around me tightly in a hug. My arms wrapped around her back, holding her to me and trying to act calm. I kept reminding myself my own words. Things would work out, one day . . . I hoped.

Her father shouted out to her and with it she pulled away a little. She held my gaze and within her eyes, I could see she was wondering about something. I knew what it was too. She was just wondering if it would get us into even more trouble, but even if it did, I did not care. My hand rested lightly on her cheek and I kissed her lightly and lovingly before pulling away. "See you soon," I murmured. "I love you."

"Love you too Jacob," she whispered and walked over to her parent's car and got in. I watched as they drove away out of sight before going home too. I had to keep reminding myself what I had told Jade. This wasn't it between us. Things would work out. They have to, I thought.

Keep those reviews coming guys! I love to hear what you all think!

- Sky xoxo