Edward's POV

My head is full of Jacob's words.

I never imagined imprinting to be such a complex process. It's much more than what happens when we find a mate. We can live apart from them, of course; not without pain, but we can. Werewolves seem unable do to so.

"What are you taking with you?" he asks, looking around my room. He's in awe at my bookcase, wondering how many times I've read the books, which are my favorites, what kind of music I like—there are so many questions in his head.

"Just some clothes for us. I see they fit you." I nod to my t-shirt and jeans. He looks quite handsome in my clothes.

As much as I want these thoughts to disappear, I can't seem to think of anything else.

I wonder if this imprinting has turned me gay. That will surely make Emmett laugh for decades on end. He's always said I am gay, and I've answered him wittily that, yes, I'm quite happy with my life, to which he groaned and shouted, "Homosexual!" I could go on and on, teasing him that I was a vampire and implicitly nothing homo worked for me.

"Where is this cottage? Does it even exist?" Jacob pulls me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, of course." I sling the backpack over my shoulder. "Come." I guide him to the door of my room.

"Wait." He turns red. "Is there a place I can sleep? You know…like a mattress? Or a blanket?"

I stare at him in shock. How could I not think of that?

"I can buy a puppy basket and a blankie on eBay!" Rosalie offers sweetly, from a floor below.

Something flashes in Jacob's eyes, and before I can cover his mouth, he actually says what he's thinking.

"How do you get a blonde to marry you?" he snaps, storming out of my room. I quickly follow, but when I reach him, he's face to face with Rosalie.

"Enlighten me," she sneers.

"No, Jake," I whisper.

"Tell her she's pregnant."

A dead silence fills the house. I see the rage, and Rosalie's plan to attack him, right on time.

Esme is going to kill me, but I grab Jake's wrist and jump out the window on the landing between second and third floor. "Run!" I hiss as I sprint ahead, dragging him after me.

I can hear Emmett trying to hold Rosalie, but I've never seen her so reckless and angry. Apart from the time she took revenge on her future husband and his friends who had taken advantages of her right before the wedding day. Everyone is trying to make her understand Jacob has no idea of her past, but she rips herself from Emmett's grip and chases us.

"Go east. You'll find the cottage," I tell Jacob, before stopping to wait for an enraged Rosalie and talk sense into her.

We've never been friends, but I've learned to tolerate her.

When she appears in my line of view, she sees me and scans the surroundings. Not spotting Jacob, she realizes I have sent him away, which makes her charge after him, picking his scent. I dash after her and slam her back in a tree.

"Stop, Rose!"

She stares at me, surprised. Yes, it's the first time I've call her that, but drastic times call for drastic measures…like kissing her ass.

What? Release me!

"Rose," I continue in a gentle tone. "Please forgive Jacob. He has no idea of the tragedy that happened to you. I will explain to him if you allow me. Or, once you've calmed down, you can tell him yourself. Just don't hurt him."

"You really care for the mutt!"

"It's the bond…"

"Don't fool yourself, Edward. It may be the bond, but you look like you care a whole lot for him. I can't believe this, but heck, I've waited for so long to see you happy."

At my shocked expression, she explains better in her head.

I felt guilty. Carlisle turned me into a vampire for you, to entertain you and possibly become your mate. His plan went wrong when our temperaments didn't match at all. She giggles nervously, cupping my cheek. I felt like a failure. Women were meant to make men happy, that's what I've been taught—and I failed at making you happy. You were my suitor.

"I wasn't," I say automatically, finally understanding her.

Anyway, when you met Bella, I was insanely jealous. You finally found love, in the wrong place. What did that human girl have that I didn't? Of course, I thought it was because of her beating heart, her warmth, her possibility of bearing children.

"Rosalie," I choke out.

Shh. Let me finish. Then I saw you two together, and realized how much you cared for her when that whole James episode happened. You were so happy with her.

I look away, letting my hands fall from her shoulders. The pain of losing my Bella is still raw and eats at my insides.

I'm so sorry, Edward. She hugs me tightly. It all happened because of me. I called you to tell you what Alice saw. Because of my revenge, you lost her, but now… Now, I feel better when I see you perking up again. As much as I hate to admit it, that dog makes you happy.

My lips twist in a semi smile. "Can you call him by his name, at least?"

"Baby steps."

Whoa! Emmett's shocked gasp separates us from the hug.

"It's okay, Em. We're okay," I tell him.

"Yes, baby. I think I'm starting to understand Edward."

"Took you long enough," I joke. "I have to go check on Jake. Later!" I wave to them and walk to the cottage, feeling lighter than before.

When I arrive at the cottage, Jacob is outside on the porch, looking desolate.

"Hey, is everything okay?" I sit next to him, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Rosalie forgives you."

"I don't care much about Blondie now, though I'm sorry for whatever I said that made her so angry."

I open my mouth to explain her story, but Jacob sobbing startles me. "What happened?" I ask, frowning.

"Your family doesn't like me. And we're stuck together forever—literally. I hate my life! I didn't choose to be born a werewolf."

"And I didn't have a choice when Carlisle turned me into a vampire."

Yeah, sucks. His wet eyes find me. I'm scared, Edward. I'm feeling things I never thought possible.

I nod in agreement, because my growing feelings for him scare me.

I want you, he whispers in his head, his face growing red.

"I'm not sure about what we're doing," I admit to him.

"We'll figure out together, if it's not too weird for you."

"Jacob." I cup his cheek, turning his head to stare at him. "I'm beyond finding anything weird since I became a vampire a century ago."

He gives a nervous chuckle. Tentatively, as he stares into my eyes, he raises a shaky hand and touches my cheek. I relish in his burning skin pressed against my cold, but when his face comes closer, I jump to my feet, making him fall on the porch.

"I'm sorry." I help him up. "I'm not ready. Maybe after I hunt?"

What? You want to attack me or something?

He's confused, and with good reason.

"No, I feel more in control after I've fed. Which I haven't in too long."

"I could use a bite, too. Let me shift to my wolf from and maybe we can hunt together?"

I stare at him, wondering if he's lost his mind. "You realize I don't know left from right when I hunt?"

"You won't attack me. Trust the bond, Edward. And if you do…I'll stop you."

I give him a skeptical look, but I know I can't stop him.

.

.

.

Do you share?

I expect myself to growl and protect the carcass in front of me, but a power greater than me, shifts me to the side and makes space for Jacob. My mouth is still attached to the deer's jugular.

Jake's brown eyes almost smile at me before he rips the back leg and drags it a few feet away, chewing loudly.

Not long later, a puma approaches the clearing we're feeding in. Ah, come to daddy! I grin evilly, pressing to the ground as she stalks to the deer on the edge of the clearing.

Shit! Run! Jake says panicked.

"Don't move!" I hiss lowly. Don't ruin my favorite game.

He gives me a worried look, before retreating away, scared. The puma sees him, and I can't have her attack him.

I uncoil from my crouched position and jump on her back. She hisses in surprise, pinning me to the ground. I pet her head, making her claw at my face. If she could look shocked at my skin not breaking as she's probably used to, then that's her expression.

Smirking, I roll us around, pinning her front paws above head. She writhers under me, mewling loudly.

What are you doing? Jacob sounds amazed.

I twist the feline's head to the side—effectively killing her—then sink my teeth in her jugular.

Once my thirst is sated, I rip a chunk of dirt from the ground and push her body in, then cover it. When I meet Jacob's eyes, he shakes his big head, letting out a bark that sounds close to laughter.

Hasn't anyone taught you it's not nice to play with your food?

"Carlisle might have mentioned it, but I can't say no to a good romp with a puma. They're my favorite."

Should I be jealous?

"Of my meal?"

He shrugs, before charging and pushing me to the ground. His big tongue licks at my face, making me sputter.

"Jacob! I might accept this insanity, but please, for the love of all things holy, don't lick me!" I wipe at my face with my sleeve. "At least not while you're a wolf."

Does that mean I can lick you when I'm human?

The mood seems to shift one-eighty.

My mind goes in the gutter, and a dormant part of my body wakes at the image of Jacob licking it.

"Let us head back to the cottage. I want to talk first. You have questions."

He nods and steps back, but not before nudging my chin with his wet muzzle.

If you don't mind, I'll stay in my wolf form. No temptation, and if I fall asleep, it will be a lot more comfortable.

"Alright. I promise to buy you a bed. We can decorate this place—"

Whoa! You're leaving soon, isn't that right? He interrupts me, sounding amused.

"You're right. I'm sorry. Wherever we go, we need to find a place nearby the main house. As they said, they accept you, but it will take some getting used to living around a wolf."

You're doing a pretty damn good job at being around me.

I smile involuntarily, lounging on the floor next to him, and prop my head in my palm. "Since you've imprinted, you don't smell as bad."

Oh, sweet! He snickers in his head. Bad choice of words. You used to smell sickeningly sweet, but now it's like…my favorite candy sweet. Does that make sense?

I'm really not ready to make comparison between scents and food. "Your wet dog smell is bearable."

A few minutes of silence pass. My free hand finds its way to his paw, and I trace the space between his claws with my finger. It's so soft. He follows my finger with his eyes, thinking of how nice it feels.

"Ask me. You had questions back at the house when we were in my room," I prompt him in a soft voice.

I wonder if I'll ever get used to you picking at my thoughts. That's private stuff!

"It comes in handy if you decide to check someone else out." I can't believe I just said that. "Tell me." I try to distract him from my slip.

He moves his paw and traps my hand to the floor, staring at me in deep concentration. I doubt I'll give you a reason to worry about that. You will be everything I think about. I hope it won't get overwhelming. I know how it works, because Sam imprinted on Emily, and we see stuff in his head…a lot.

I stroke the underside of his paw—it's velvety soft.

Anyway… about what I thought in your room. It's embarrassing. If I ask you what you've read and what are your favs…you'll want an answer in return. I don't read. I'm a teenager.

"I'm a teenager too," I joke.

Yeah, for how many years? We can talk about music.

I smile. "Sure. What's your favorite artist or band?"

I doubt you like that stuff… but well, I'm into hip-hop and rap. I like Jay-Z.

"He has good lyrics," I agree. "I'm pretty open to every genre, except country music."

Yes! I mean, YES! I fucking hate that! He nods vigorously, his tail whooshing around.

"What else? Don't you like rock music? It's pretty awesome, and as they say, rock never dies."

Yeah, some. Bella introduced me to some… this is awkward. Jacob sighs and places his head on his paws. I miss her. I can't believe…

My heart twists in pain—at seeing him hurting, and at knowing I'm the one responsible for her death.

Without thinking, I reach to pat his head and thread my fingers through his fur. "It is a crazy situation," I confirm. "I was her boyfriend, and you tried to win her heart. Look how that turned out."

Yeah… Listen, do you mind if I go to sleep? I need to get away from this emotional roller coaster.

I nod, stroking him behind the ears and earning a whine of pleasure. "Sleep."

It's been about two or three days since it happened, huh?

"We'll get used to this. You were right. It's as easy as breathing to be around you." I press a kiss between his eyes. "Sleep, Jake."

Are you going to go back to the others? he asks fearfully.

"I'm staying here with you," I promise.

More chapters to come soon.