Chapter 6

Jacob

Sam, in his human form, continued to stare me down. I glared back at him with my lips curled and snarling viciously.

"Don't be stupid Jake," Sam nearly growled. I growled in response. My fur began to stand on end and I crouched down into a defensive position.

"I warned you," Sam growled. He phased suddenly and began to growl at me.

"You wanted a challenge," Sam's thoughts were enraged, "you got it." I snarled in response. Sam lunged at me and attempted to bite my neck. I jumped up on my hind legs and then came down on him in an attempt to bite his ear. He quickly swatted me with his paw and knocked me to the ground. I scrambled to my feet just before he had the chance to clamp down on my throat. I snarled furiously as I lunged in his direction. Sam lunged toward me at the same moment. We both attacked. Sam sank his teeth into my right front shoulder and ripped the flesh away. I howled in pain and fell back whimpering. I limped away quickly. I phased back into my human form and grasped my bloody shoulder tightly. It felt like it was on fire. I looked at the wound cautiously and winced at the sight of the gash. I looked back in Sam's direction just as he phased back into his human form. He walked over crossed his arms and glared down at me.

"Don't ever challenge me again," Sam spat. I glared up at him angrily but quickly turned my eyes away. He reached down and offered me a hand.

"Come on," he said as his voice grew calmer, "We'll have Emily take care of that." I glared at his hand for a long moment and then reluctantly took it. As he pulled me upward I winced at the sharp pain that tore through my shoulder.

I'm sorry," Sam continued," but you brought it on yourself."

Sam and I walked to Emily's house in silence but I couldn't stop thinking about what he had said earlier about Bella.

"She chose this Jake…she wants to be one of them, she isn't worth protecting anymore."

His words were like a knife to my very soul. Even though my rational mind knew that he was right, my heart did not want to hear the truth. I could not imagine Bella wanting to be one of those blood suckers….I could not understand why she would chose that fate, why she would chose death over life. I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath. She couldn't know the weight of her decision; she must not realize what she would be forced to give up. The Bella that I know…that I loved would never willingly walk away from her life or the people that loved her most. I thought back to Bella's words from earlier that week.

"I love you Jake…please don't make me chose…because it will be him." The memory made me want to cry. The pain in my heart was stronger now then it had ever been. I could not stand the thought that I was loosing her. Sam said that she wasn't worth protecting, but my heart would not allow me to give up on her so easily. I wanted to protect her; I needed to protect her. I would willingly give my last breath to keep her from becoming one of those monsters.

When we arrived at Emily's house, I could see the rest of the pack sitting on the ground outside talking. Embry looked up and noticed Sam and I walking up, he elbowed Paul. Before long they were all quiet and gazing in our direction.

"Go on in the house Jake," Sam said, "I'll be in shortly." I nodded quietly and headed inside. As I stepped inside my nostrils were filled with the aroma of fresh blueberry muffins. My stomach immediately began to grumble. I realized in that moment that I hadn't eaten in days. I walked into the kitchen and saw Emily bent over pulling a hot pan out of the oven. As she turned around and saw me standing there her eyes grew wide with fright.

"Oh my gosh Jake," Emily cried as she dropped the pan onto the table, "Are you okay…what happened." She quickly headed over to me and began to inspect my wound.

"Sit down," she said frantically, "let me see." She gently pulled my hand away to see the horrible gash." She winced at the sight of it. Just then Sam walked into the kitchen.

"Jesus Sam," she cried, "what the hell did you do to him?"

"Come on Em," Sam replied as he grabbed a muffin and flopped down into a chair across the table from me, "it's just a flesh wound."

"Just a flesh wound," Emily glared at Sam, "really…he's probably going to need stitches."

"Its fine," I interrupted, "it's my own fault anyway." Emily huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Here," she said as she handed me a hand towel, "put some pressure on it to stop the bleeding…I'm going to go get the first aid kit." She turned and headed into the next room. Sam tossed me a muffin from across the table. I caught it with one hand.

"What did you mean earlier," I questioned him, "about it being to late…that I had already imprinted." Sam leaned forward upon the table and gazed at me.

"Did you ever watch the Discovery Channel," Sam asked.

"Come on Sam, I'm serious," I replied impatiently. Sam chuckled slightly.

"The wolf," he paused a moment as if collecting his thoughts, "Wolves are one of the few creatures that stay with the same mate for their entire lives." I furrowed my brow slightly as I tried to decipher what exactly Sam was getting to.

"They say that when a wolf finds its future mate that something happens to it that bonds it to that mate forever…like finding a soul mate." I gazed at Sam curiously.

"It's the same for us," Sam went on, "we are no different then our descendents… we imprint on our future mates, the ones we are meant to be with for life." I sat back in my chair and shook my head slightly.

"So you are saying that I have imprinted," I questioned, "on Bella?" Sam nodded.

"Imprinting would be one of the only reasons that a wolf would challenge the alpha." I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as the gravity of Sam's words sunk in.

"Why didn't you tell any of us about the whole imprinting thing before," I asked. Sam shrugged.

"I thought I had more time," he replied, "All of you are still just discovering your new abilities." He glanced over in my direction and smiled.

"Hey I'm sorry I said those things about Bella," he continued, "but I had to know for sure." I shook my head and gazed down at the oak table. It all made sense now, I chose to let Bella go…but I could not bring myself to leave her side…no matter what I did I always ended up near her house it explained why I felt so connected to her even though we were apart.

Just then Emily returned with the first aid kit. She pulled out a soapy wash cloth and gently pressed it to my wound.

"Ahh," I winced.

"Sorry," Emily replied apologetically. She began wrapping it up with a soft bandage.

I reached up and began chewing at my finger nails. It was a nervous habit I had acquired as a child.

"Alright good as new," Emily said. She quickly packed up the first aid kit and walked to the next room to put it away. I kept my eyes on the table. Sam gazed at me curiously.

"What's wrong Jake," Sam asked curiously.

"Nothing," I said coldly.

"You're still angry with me because of what I said," Sam questioned.

"I'm not angry," I huffed. I stood up quickly, walked over to the kitchen window and gazed out into nothing.

"Jake," Sam began. I turned and glared in his direction.

"I'm not angry," I snapped.

"Jake," Sam continued, "calm down."

"What am I supposed to do," I snapped again, "You said it yourself Sam…Bella doesn't want me; now you are telling me I've imprinted on her!"

"Jake," Sam began again, "sit down and relax." I reluctantly sat back down at the table and sighed heavily.

"So you and Emily….." I began. Sam glanced over at me slyly.

"I still remember the moment I imprinted," he replied, "I was at a party and I saw her across a room and it was like everyone else just disappeared, like we were the only two people in the universe. I knew I loved her that very moment."

I frowned slightly.

"What," Sam questioned.

"Nothing," I replied, "It's just….you make it sound like it was love at first sight."

"Yeah," Sam responded curiously.

"It wasn't like that for me and Bella at all," I replied, "I mean she has been my best friend forever; I've known her my whole life."

"The elder's say that you can imprint at any time in your life," Sam continued, "even as a young child but it goes unrealized until you are old enough to know what it means." I nodded slightly as I thought about what he had said. I wondered if it was possible to have imprinted on Bella when were still just children. I wondered if it were possible that she and I could really be soul mates since birth and if so then why would she have chosen Cullen instead of me. If we were meant to be then wouldn't she be feeling them same things I was, wouldn't she have chosen me.

"What about Emily," I questioned, "what was it like for her."

"She felt the same pull I did," Sam went on, "it's almost like a magnet pulling at you."

I continued to bite my nails as Sam spoke. Sam gazed at me empathetically. He leaned forward slightly.

"If she is your imprint," Sam said softly, "then she is feeling the same pull as you; she might just be confused by it or afraid."

1 week later

Edward

I sat quietly at the piano. I had every intention of playing a little but as I sat there gazing at the keys, I could not help but to think about Bella. She seemed to be having nightmares every night now and I was extremely concerned. Even more so because of the fact that she was trying desperately to hide from me what ever it was that was causing her such pain. It was eating away at me and I didn't know what to do or how I could help her if she was refusing to let me in. I raised one of my hands and pressed my index finger on a random key. I sighed heavily and rubbed the side of my forehead vigorously.

"Are you alright Edward," a familiar voice echoed into the room. I turned back slightly to see Alice walking in. I smiled briefly and then turned my attention back to the piano keys. She gracefully sat down upon the bench beside me and placed her arm around my neck.

"What's wrong Edward," she asked," you haven't been yourself in a week."

"Bella," I began.

"Still having nightmares," Alice interrupted. I glanced over at her with a slightly annoyed expression." Alice looked back at me sheepishly.

"I'm sorry," she replied, "I shouldn't have interrupted you."

"It's alright," I sighed heavily and looked away, "I just don't know what to do."

Alice nodded as she listened.

"She won't tell me what is going on; she won't let me know what is upsetting her…how am I supposed to help her if she won't allow me to?"

"Maybe she is afraid to tell you," Alice suggested.

"Afraid," I questioned, "she knows she can tell me anything…why would she be afraid."

Alice shrugged.

"Well what if I tried to talk to her about it," she continued, "she might tell me."

"You would do that Alice," I replied.

"Of course I would," Alice went on, "I love Bella…I want to know what's going on just as much as you do."

"Thanks," I replied.

"What are sisters for," she smiled up at me happily, "don't worry…okay." I nodded to her as she got up from the bench and pranced out the door.

Bella

I sat upon the edge of my bed gazing at my reflection in my vanity mirror as I brushed my hair. I inspected myself carefully. I looked exhausted, my skin was pale and I had dark circles under my eyes. I sighed heavily. The nightmares I had been having seemed to be getting worse and the lack of a good night's sleep was taking its toll on me. I pulled my hair back and wrapped a rubber band around it resulting in a sloppy pony tail. I turned away from the mirror and flopped down upon my bed. I stared up at the ceiling. I closed my eyes for a moment. Bits and pieces of the dreams flashed through my mind. I could see Jacobs face, that expression of pain he displayed. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes again. I opened my eyes and quickly sat up. I looked over at my head board to see the dream catcher hanging over my pillow. I reached over and took it from the bed post.

"A lot of help you are," I sighed. I threw the dream catcher across the room in utter frustration. I stood up quickly and headed down stairs.

"Morning sweetheart," my father greeted me."

"Hey Dad," I replied softly.

"How are you feeling," he asked with concern in his voice.

"Fine…I guess," I responded. He smiled and put his arm around my shoulder.

"Come here," he continued as he lead me in the direction of the kitchen, "I want you to sit down and eat something today." He pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit.

"Dad," I sighed, "I'm really not hungry…my stomach is bothering me."

"Bella," he looked at me sternly. I rolled my eyes and reluctantly sat down at the table. He leaned over me and kissed the top of my head.

"I worry about you kid," he sighed, "you need to eat…you look like your skin and bones." He placed a dish of what looked like an attempt at scrambled eggs down in front of me and handed me a fork. He sat down in front of me with his own dish and began to eat. I picked at my eggs with the fork as I gazed down upon the table. My father glanced at me in concern. I reluctantly put a forkful of eggs into my mouth.

"My cooking is not that bad is it," he joked. I smiled slightly. My father smiled back.

"What," I questioned.

"Nothing," he reached across the table and took my hand, "just haven't seen you smile in a while…I kinda wish you would do it more often." He stood up with his empty plate and placed it in the sink.

"Alright," he said, "I gotta run to the station for a bit."

"I thought you had off today," I asked.

"Yeah me too," he smiled, "I should only be a few hours and then after that it's game time!"

"Sure dad," I replied.

"Stay out of trouble and that plate better be empty too," he headed out the door. I forced down the rest of my eggs and then headed to the sink to wash the dishes.

When I was finished I headed back up to my room. I flopped down on my bed on my stomach and stared out into nothing. My eyes came to rest on the dream catcher I had thrown across the room earlier. It lay on the floor just under the window. My mind drifted back to the day Jacob had given it to me.

Flashback

"Hey Bella," a familiar voice called out as I started to walk to my class. I turned to see Jacob's smiling face.

"Jacob," I smiled back, "what are you doing here."

"I was in the neighborhood and I had something for you," he smiled, "so I figured I would drop by." He reached in his pocket and pulled out the dream catcher. I took it from him and held it up to the light.

"It's a dream catcher," he said, "It helps to keep your bad dreams away."

"Thanks Jake," I smiled up at him.

"Happy Birthday Bella," he replied.

End Flashback

I sighed heavily at the far off memory of Jacob. I wished that I could see his smiling happy face now, instead of the painful one I had to see every night in my dream. I stood up, walked over to the opened window and bent down to pick up the dream catcher. I gazed at the little trinket. I missed Jacob terribly. I turned my eyes to the open window and gazed out into the woods across from my house. I thought back to the day in the park, the day our friendship ended.

"I don't want to be friends anymore Bella, don't you understand…it's not enough anymore." His words flashed through my mind. I remembered him leaning closer to me resting his forehead upon mine and gazing at me.

"I love you… you are everything to me...and I can't…I won't watch you with him…it hurts too much." The memory made my heart ache and I could feel tears welling up behind my eyes. I closed them tightly and took a deep breath. I remembered how his words had struck me in that moment. How my heart fluttered with his words and at the same time my stomach was tied up in knots. I loved Jacob, I loved him deeply he was my best friend and was possibly becoming more then that, but I loved Edward too and the thought of hurting him was too painful to bear. My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

To be Continued…