" Bells, are you alright?" Jacob's voice was saturated with concern and with love. He set me down on a piece of driftwood and crouched down in front of me taking my small hands into his big strong ones.

" Oh Jake, I'm so glad you're here!" I pushed of the driftwood and slammed into him, snaking my arms around his neck. I could tell my action startled him for a split second because he stiffened up before letting out a husky laugh and kissing the top of my head. His warm hands encircled me completely.

"Well hello to you too honey, but honestly are you alright? I heard what that girl said back there ."

" I'm sure I would have probably been really upset if you wouldn't have shown up at the perfect time." I rested my cheek on his shoulder still holding him tightly. " Now I'm just more angry than anything and you know very well how much I hate violence , but I have a very strong urge to go back there and punch her in the face."

Jake laughed and then stood up effortlessly with me before turning around, sitting on the driftwood, and placing me in his lap.

" There you are. I've missed your face. You know its a shame that…" he paused midsentence and seemed to really take in my appearance for the first time tonight. His eyes bulged and then quickly turned so smoldering that for a split second I thought the heat of his gaze would burn me. His eyes were saturated with longing and with raw lust, something I saw more and more of lately. His whole face was utterly aglow, every feeling he has ever had for me was beaming out of his very skin. I was overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of his face, by the countless ways in which he expressed his emotion, by the utter and infallible truth of it.

If it wasn't for the fact that I was a little drunk I'm positive my cheeks would have been a deep shade of crimson. Instead, driven by liquid courage, I smiled and asked him what he thinks.

" Bella," he breathed and his gaze dropped to my lips. His hand came up as if to cup my cheek. It hovered in midair for a few seconds before he let it fall back to his side.

" There are no words… nothing I say could… your skin… you look so positively breathtaking, " the last few words a breath of whisper. For some reason it really pleased me that he clearly liked what he saw and that he had such a difficult time expressing it. However, it must have registered somewhere that I never blushed or squirmed under his intense gaze because he straightened up and his eyes appraised my face worriedly. The mood shifted.

" You've been drinking, " it wasn't a question.

I shrugged.

" How are you feeling? Are you dizzy at all?" he had a concerned look in his eyes but I could still feel his gaze leave trails of liquid fire across my face.

" I'm fine Jake, honest. I'm not dizzy at all and I actually feel really good." I smiled at him sweetly hoping to appease his concerns. "Now tell me why you were upset about me bailing out on your bonfire. Don't you dare deny it." I tried to give him a stern look but he just chuckled. I grew a little concerned when he didn't answer me right away, but instead stared at the ocean with a faraway look in his eyes. I suddenly felt nervous and somewhat guilty for not attending that stupid bonfire.

" Jacob? Are you very mad that I didn't go? Please tell me." I grabbed his chin and tried to make him look at me but he didn't even budge an inch.

" Don't be silly Bella. I could never be mad at you." He exhaled sharply and turned his gaze to me. " But I won't lie. I really did want you to be there tonight. Tonight wasn't an ordinary bonfire. It was a passing of the baton of sort you could say."

Oh no. I clearly missed something very important to Jake. Is he disappointed that I choose to hang out with people like Lauren over him? I feel like such an ass. I'm a horrible friend.

" Jake I didn't …" he placed two fingers over my mouth and shook his head. I grew even more nervous.

" I became Alpha of the pack today Bells." What? But how ? Wasn't Sam the Alpha? Tons of questions ran through my mind but I was unable to voice any of them because Jacob still had his fingers on my lips keeping me quiet.

" I wasn't born to follow orders . I know it and the rest of the pack knows it. It doesn't mean that Sam was a bad Alpha. It's just that when we were all phased and together as a pack, everyone's instinct screamed for them to listen to me. Even Sam's. Instead we pushed ourselves to overrule that instinct and instead listened to Sam. It wasn't natural. Sam came to me a few days ago and told me he would relinquish his Alpha status to me. " He smiled and continued, " so today's bonfire was in my honor."

Oh no, no,no. I am a horrible person. Why couldn't I have just been a good friend and attended that bonfire when he told me he really wanted me there? Instead I missed out on this very important day for Jake to hang out with people like Lauren and three strange boys. I'm such a fool. And why didn't Jake just tell me what the hell was going down tonight ?! What's wrong with him?! I would have agreed to come in a heartbeat if I would have known the importance of tonight's bonfire. I'm a miserable excuse for a best friend. He must be so disappointed.

I flew out of Jacob's lap and began to march down the beach, towards the water. I could feel Jacob following me.

" Bells don't be upset with yourself. It's alright, no big deal really." his voice was soft and meant to be soothing. I turned on him.

" No big deal?!? Jacob I missed out on one of the most important days in your life! And for what? To be bullied by that bitch Lauren?!" I was growing angry now, my voice increasing in volume. "Don't you dare tell me this is no big deal! It was my duty as your best friend to be there and I wasn't. Wait. You!!" I poked an accusing finger at his chest. " Why didn't you just tell me what the hell was going on at tonight's bonfire?! What is wrong with you?!" I screamed directly at him, but he didn't even flinch. As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure he looked a little amused.

" And wipe off that stupid smirk of your face Jacob Black!"

When instead he crossed his arms and smirked even more I decided to do it for him by punching him in the chest. I didn't care that this would hurt me a lot worse than it would hurt him. Of course my fist never made contact because Jake seemed to effortlessly reach out his hand and grab my fist into his palm. Stupid werewolf reflexes. He was looking down at me with a raised eyebrow, and I could tell he was trying really hard not to laugh.

He pivoted my body purposely and brought my back against his chest. His hands dragged along my naked shoulders before they formed a cage around me. I could feel his hot breath against my ear, " Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are when you're angry?" his voice smooth and seductive. A shiver of pleasure ran down my spine. I could feel his lips curve into a smile against my ear.

My stomach filled with butterflies and a strange warmth began to spread throughout my limbs. It seemed to jar me back to reality and out of my drunken stupor. What the hell are we doing? What the hell is Jacob doing?! He was really stretching our friendship line to its fullest tonight. Suddenly his proximity became too much and my whole body stiffened of it's own accord. Jacob immediately released me and carefully gauged my reaction. I didn't want this to be weird between us so I decided to downplay it. I needed a distraction fast.

I began to march towards the water purposely.

" I'm going to go drown myself now for being such a bad friend." I announced sarcastically. I knew humor would dissipate any awkwardness between us.

By the time I reached the water's edge Jacob still hasn't spoken. H appeared next to me silently and began to take off his shoes.

" What are you doing? " I asked sincerely confused.

" What do you mean what am I doing? If you're leaving this earth then so am I. I can't live without you. It's impossible." He waved his hand in an annoyed gesture as if his words should be blatantly obvious to anyone. Before I had a chance to retort with a witty remark or smack him on the head, a larger wave caught us both of guard and ended up drenching my jeans from the knees down. The water's temperature made me gasp and jump back.

" Here Bells." Jake pulled me back a few feet and then sank to his knees in front of me gesturing for me to put my foot on his thigh. I blushed but did as he asked. I was surprised at the hardness of his muscles underneath my foot. He began to gently roll up the wet denim.

" This is just for now so that you don't get your jeans dirty with sand. Once we get back to the bonfire I'll roll them down and they should dry in no time," he explained as he worked. His face was at level with my abdomen and it was so close that he could simply lean forward and circle my belly button with his nose if he wanted to. I trusted him completely and knew he wouldn't push the boundaries any further. At least not tonight. When his thumbs grazed my thigh with a touch so light I could cry, I was forced to grip on to his shoulders for balance. Warmth shot through my body instantaneously at having been touched somewhere where no one has ever touched me before. I looked down to read his expression and if it wasn't for the slightest trembling of his hands, he would have been the perfect face of calm.

He stood up and dusted off his hands.

" So you're really not mad Jacob? You swear?" I grabbed his hand in a gesture which would hopefully reassure him that I didn't mind his flirtations from before.

" I swear, " he squeezed my hand.

" Good." I started dragging him back in the direction of the bonfire. "Now, let's get back to the bonfire before all the booze is gone."