Chapter 3
Jacob's POV
I had sat outside Bella's house for nearly half an hour before I heard her go upstairs, she walked into the bathroom to take a shower and after went to say goodnight to Charlie. I waited until Charlie had gone to bed and Bella was curled up and almost asleep before I scaled the tree besides her bedroom window. I tapped on the window before pulling it up. I climbed in and closed it behind me before the cold air got in and she froze.
"Jacob!" She jumped out of bed and pulled me into a hug. I put my arms around her slender waist and lifted her off the ground before I pulled her towards the bed. I sat her down gently and fell to my knees in front of her so I could look her in the eyes. I knew I had to tell her, I couldn't keep lying. I didn't know how she would take this, I didn't want to know how she would take it.
"Bella. Do you remember what I told you that first time we were at the beach, and I was telling you some of the old legends?" It seemed like the safest way to start. She blinked a couple times before nodding her head.
"You don't mean the part about the cold ones do you?" she whispered. I shook my head and looked down. Of course she wouldn't remember, this could be tricky.
"So you mean the legend about the wolves?" she asked. I nodded and willed her to go on.
"You said that your ancestors believed they were descendants of the wolf, and that it was against tribal laws to kill wolves." I smiled. She remembered what I had said, maybe that would make the next part a bit easier. She got that look on her face which meant she was concentrating way too much, then she seemed to realize what she was saying.
"The other night, after you left, I saw a giant wolf running off into the woods. Jake? Are the legends true? What other fairy tale creatures are true?" She got this tiny crease in between her eyebrows as she looked at me. I smoothed it out with my finger before answering her questions.
"Yes the legends are true. That wolf you saw was me. And I don't know what other fairy tale creatures exist, only the bloodsuckers."
"The story you told me, you said the vampires and werewolves were enemies or something?" she asked. I sighed, this would hurt her, but she had to know.
"We only exist to kill the bloodsuckers. To keep our tribe safe, to keep the humans safe from the leeches." Bella flinched and I knew she was thinking about the Cullen's. I looked away then, this was so complicated. He had left her broken, I was surprised she had even survived.
"We can't kill the Cullen leeches. It would violate the treaty. Although I could make an exception and kill Edward Cullen. Fucking leech." I felt my blood boil and I had to take three deep breaths. Bella was sitting right next to me, if I ever hurt her... I couldn't hurt her, it would kill me if I ever hurt her.
I looked over at her but she was looking at her hands. She smiled weakly at me.
"Thanks Jake, but I don't think he's coming back. Uh, er, um...so, why did you run out on me the other night? What did I do wrong?" I was glad that she had tried to change the subject I just wished she'd chosen something a little more easy. I looked at my hands instead of at her; I didn't know what to say, I didn't know how she would act. How do you tell a girl that she is your soulmate according to some stupid wolf thing and a couple old legends? Imprinting was supposed to be some sort of gift, but as far as I could tell it was just a pain in the ass.
"No Bella. You didn't do anything wrong. You never could." I tried to start but the words got stuck in my throat. I couldn't do this, I didn't want this. I don't want some stupid imprint telling me that I love Bella; I already knew this. Bella wasn't ready for something like this and the imprint would only force us into it; I wanted to be able to do this at my own speed, at the right times.
"Tell me Jake." she whispered.
" I imprinted on you Bella."
"Um, do you have a dictionary or something because I don't know what you mean. Is it a wolf thing?"
"Yes. An imprint is supposed to show us who our soul-mates are. It's like when you see her for the first time, everything changes. Suddenly it's not gravity holding you to the earth anymore, it's... Um, it's her. You would do anything, be anything for her. There's no exact explanation for why it happens... I wish it hadn't happened." I looked away from her. Maybe I could fight the imprint.
"You wish it hadn't happened? You don't love me? You don't want me?"
"No! Of course I want you Bella. That's not what I meant. I don't want an imprint to tell me that I love you, and I don't want it to force you into something you don't want."
"I'll always want you Jake." She reached down and put her hands in mine. I sighed but squeezed her hands slightly. She smiled at me but it didn't completely reach her eyes.