Telling the Truth

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter, I had a couple of really rude reviews and it knocked my confidence a bit. However I finally managed to finish this chapter. Thanks for the kind readers who left supportive reviews on the last chapter. This is dedicated to you... Nikki

Part Eleven

Bella woke up from the most relaxing sleep she had ever known. She felt warm and cosy and at first did not want to open her eyes. However it finally dawned on her that she was feeling rather hot all down one side of her body. She opened one eye and saw a strong, muscular arm flung across her waist. She shifted around so she could see who was lying, spooned behind her and her breath hitched as she realised it was Paul. He had come to her after all. She had thought it was a dream when he had appeared the night before, but he was really there. A sigh of relief escaped her lips at the sight of him. His dark eyes were tightly shut and his black hair was sticking up in spikes on his head. He looked so peaceful when he slept.

Reaching out Bella carefully traced her finger over the planes of his face. She caressed his cheek softly and when she reached his full lips, she couldn't help but lean forward and press hers to them gently. Paul's eyes fluttered open as he felt the contact of her mouth against his. He gazed up at her, he couldn't hide the love he felt for her shining from his eyes.

"I'm so sorry Paul, I know that I hurt you...I love you." Bella confessed.

Paul reached up and cupped her face in his hand, his thumb stroked her cheek. "I wanted to stay away, I really did. You hurt me badly Bella. A part of me knows why you did not tell Jake; jeez I have to listen to the boy's thoughts about you every day..."

Bella leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, revelling in the heat that soothed her troubled nerves. "I know I am a coward, with Jake I have always found it so hard, but you are right, he is my best friend I need to tell him everything."

"No...not yet. I had another talk with Sam last night, Bella. Jacob has a lot of support within the pack, especially his two best friends Quil and Embry; Seth follows him around like a little puppy. Sam is worried that if we confess about our feelings for each other at this stage, it could split the pack in two. We need to all be focused on catching the red head." Paul advised.

Bella frowned. "I don't want to use Jake in that way. He is my best friend and I love him."

"Babe, it is the only way. I don't want to do this either, but your safety is the most important thing. Once the leech is gone, then you can tell him everything."

Bella slumped back against the pillows. "What about us? Can you handle seeing me with Jake?"

"Look, you will be surrounded by the pack all of the time. Jake won't be able to put any moves on you. Just tell him you are not ready for any of that."

"I don't like deceiving Jake in that way..."

"You aren't, just tell him you can only handle being friends..." Paul said gently. He kissed her full on the mouth, savouring the feel of her lips on his.

Bella pulled away first, she hung her head so that she hid her face from him. "I don't want to do that, it's unfair."

Paul flopped back on the bed, his arm shielding his eyes. "Well, what do you want to do then? You tried telling him and failed."

"I know..." Bella's voice trailed off. "Paul I cannot deceive Jake in that way. I have to tell him."

Paul lifted his arm away from his face and gave her a smug smile. "Good, I was hoping you would say that, even though it is going to create chaos, I want him to know that you are my woman."

"Your woman?" Bella gave him a small smile and captured his lips with hers. His hand sank into her hair and he pulled her head close to his own.

"Yes, don't you forget it?" Paul murmured against her mouth.

XXXXXX

Jacob swept Bella up into his arms and swung her round. His delighted laughter made her wince. She clung to his shoulders briefly before begging to be put down.

"Aww Bells, you are just too cute..." Jacob leaned in to kiss her but she turned her head to one side.

Jacob released her and gave an irritated sigh. "What's the matter honey? You have ditched the leech; there is no reason to feel..."

"I'm sorry Jake...I can't do this." Bella mumbled.

Jacob reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Bells, I know this is hard, but..."

"I'm in love with someone else Jacob. I'm so sorry; I don't want to lie to you anymore." Bella pleaded, finally raising her tear filled eyes to meet his.

Jacob dropped his hands to his sides. He stared at her, his expression incredulous. "After everything, you are going back to the leech?"

"No...That's not it. You are my best friend Jacob, but...I met someone else. He came into my life unexpectedly, I love him Jacob."Bella finally confessed.

Jacob reeled back as if she had hit him. His breath came in short pants. Surely she could not be serious. This must be some sort of surreal dream. He gripped the top of her arms and pulled her close again. "Tell me you don't mean that?" He pleaded

Paul slipped out of the cover of the surrounding forest. He had enough. Jacob was not going to listen to Bella. He needed to make the boy understand that she was not his. "She does mean that, Jacob."

Jacob spun around in confusion. What the hell was Paul Lahote doing here? He heard Bella gasp behind him and he glanced at her, her face had turned red. A sick feeling invaded his stomach and he locked stares with his least favourite pack brother.

"Do not tell me it is you?" He snarled.

Paul just nodded. He took a defensive stance, ready to fight Jacob if he had to. He wanted to make sure they were both far enough away from Bella so that she would not get harmed. Jacob still seemed to be in a state of disbelief, he looked between a cowering Bella and a confident Paul.

"Bells please, honey tell me this isn't true?" Jacob sounded so heartbroken that even Paul winced.

Tears of remorse leaked out of Bella's eyes as she gazed at Jacob. She would rather have faced his anger than this. "I'm so sorry, I never meant for it to happen. It just did, I am..."

Jacob's whole body was shaking; he was on the verge of phasing. "Don't you ever come near me again Bella...I can't believe that you would do this to me."

"Jake, calm down, this is not Bella's fault I was part of this too. We couldn't help it man..." Paul said softly.

"You son of a bitch...I think I could have handled it if I knew that the person she wanted was a good guy, but you...all you do is use women, Lahote." Jacob yelled at him.

Paul felt his own anger rising at Jacob's accusation. "You know nothing about me, Black."

"Your reputation is well known around here. You use women and then chuck them to one side. What is Bella some sort of challenge, huh? Get her into bed then throw her to one side like the rest." Jacob stalked over to Paul and glared at him fiercely.

Paul matched his stance. "You don't know me at all, I love Bella. I would never do that to her."

Silence reigned in the air. Bella was staring at Paul in shock, she had been dying to hear those words fall from his lips, but she never thought he would say it in front of Jake. Jacob appeared to be equally stunned; he looked at them both and staggered back.

"I don't believe this..."He muttered.

Bella came out of her trance and began to move toward Jacob. He stepped back from her. "Stay away from me." He snapped. Without warning he spun around and headed for the trees, within seconds he was out of sight.

XXXXXX

Paul held Bella tight as she sobbed her heart out. There was nothing he could say that would make the situation anything other than it was. A small part of him was relieved that she had actually shown how much she loved him by telling Jake the truth. For the most part he was worried about the fallout. He had a feeling this was going to split the pack down the middle, especially when they needed to be united against the threat to Bella's life.

"Babe, you need to chill. This is not doing anyone any good." He murmured against her ear. He kissed it softly and held her trembling body close.

"I know that...I just hate myself right now." Bella buried her face in Paul's chest and allowed his supernatural warmth to flow through her.

"It's best that he knows, "Paul admitted eventually, running his hand through her sweat soaked hair.

"Did you mean what you said Paul?" Bella asked, her voice muffled as her face was still pressed close to his chest.

"About?" He said lamely, attempting to lighten the mood.

Bella raised her head and stared at him with her chocolate brown eyes. He was lost."Yes, I love you Bella." He admitted for the second time.

"I love you too," She replied swiftly.

Paul could not help the smile forming on his lips. Never in his life had a girl uttered those words to him with such sincerity. He cupped Bella's face in his hands and leaned down so that their foreheads were touching. "You know this is not going to be an easy ride sweetheart. We are going to face a lot of opposition. Are you prepared for all of that?"

"Yes...for the first time in my life Paul I feel like myself. We are total opposites, but despite all that I know that you complete me." Bella confessed.

Paul closed his eyes in relief when he heard her words. He had been fearful that she would have rejected him after her confrontation with Jacob. She seemed so much stronger then even a few days ago. He hoped it was because of being with him. Paul pressed his lips onto hers and they exchanged a gentle kiss. Their mouths moved against one another's slowly, savouring the taste as their tongue's met and entwined.

"I love you Bella," Paul said again once the kiss had ended. He was no longer afraid to admit how he felt.

Bella gave him a tremulous smile. "I love you too."

Paul gathered her up into his arms and held her close, their chests were pressed together and their rapidly beating hearts were all that they could hear.

A/N-Well I am not too sure about this chapter. I have to admit this is one of the hardest stories I have written. Thanks for reading!