Copyright disclaimer: The Twilight series and its characters are the creation of and copyright of Stephenie Meyer. I own nothing and this story is purely a not-for-profit work of fan fiction. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Eleven

– Confession –

My family, the Cullens, left for their new home in Canada and within three days, the wolf pack was no more. None of the Quileute pack members could phase, no matter how hard they tried. When Jacob cut his hand badly while changing a motorcycle tire, it took weeks to fully heal instead of scarring over within five minutes: further proof that he had lost his shape-shifting powers.

We arranged the wedding quickly; neither of us wanted to wait long. We decided to marry in December because all of my old friends from high school would be home from college for their Christmas vacation and would be able to come to the wedding. I was living at Charlie's house since the Cullens moved and although it felt strange to be back in my old room again, with the unchanged décor and the vivid memories, he had insisted that it would make him much happier than if I moved in with Jacob.

"Oh, Dad," I laughed, when he hesitantly and embarrassedly voiced his concerns. "You're so old fashioned."

"I know," he nodded, his eyes creasing around the corners as he smiled. "But humor your father just a bit longer. It won't be long before I have to let you go again."

"I'm going to be living in La Push, Dad," I rolled my eyes. "It's not like I'm moving to a different continent."

Charlie left for work, passing Jacob, who was on his way to the front door carrying a box of envelopes, "Got your best handwriting ready, Bella?"

"My handwriting is far better than yours," I joked. "I think I'd better write the wedding invites. You can put them in the envelopes for me."

Jacob chatted about his latest mechanical project and his plans to set up a car repair shop and garage in La Push while I wrote out the invites. I'd nearly finished checking off the list I'd written when I came across an unfamiliar name at the bottom, written in Jacob's handwriting.

I looked up at Jacob, "Rose Dimanche. Who is she?"

Something about the way he shifted in his seat and looked at me told me that Rose Dimanche wasn't just an old friend from high school. "Jacob, who is she?"

"There's something I should tell you, Bella. I've been meaning to tell you for a while but I wasn't sure how to bring it up."

He continued to speak. "Not long after Edward died, I met a girl. Rose is the daughter of a friend of my dad's and she brought her car to me to be fixed. I could tell that she liked me. She gave me her number and after a few days, I called her. We met up in Port Angeles and had dinner together."

He paused and I nodded at him to continue. "We dated for a few months and she told me that she loved me."

"Did you say the same to her?" I said quietly.

"No," Jacob replied. "Because it wouldn't have been the truth."

"So you used some girl and let her believe that you were in love with her?" I said, my voice threatening to break.

"It wasn't like that, Bella. Please believe me. I didn't realize that she felt so deeply for me. We slept together and the morning after, she said that she loved me."

"You slept together."

"Yes."

And then there was silence as I tried to wrap my head around this new and strangely shocking piece of information.

"Why is she invited to the wedding?" I said and my voice sounded harsher than I intended.

"Because my father asked me to invite her parents and it would have been rude to leave her out of the invitation," he responded. "Bella, it's not a big deal. I didn't love her and I have no feelings for her."

"When did you stop dating?"

"I broke it off the day after she told me she loved me. I didn't want to be living a lie, Bella. I felt like I betrayed you when I was with Rose."

I turned away from him, trying to make sense of the complex emotions in my head.

"Oh God, Bella, please don't do this. I love you. I've never loved any other girl apart from you."

I knew that I shouldn't feel angry, I shouldn't feel shocked. I had no claim on Jacob then. When he was dating Rose Dimanche I was grieving for my husband and feeling as if I would never come to terms with his death. If, two years ago, Jacob was running around having casual sex, I had no right to judge him. But I couldn't help myself, even though I knew he was never truly in love with anyone but me. It felt strange and wrong to imagine Jacob in bed with another girl, with her arms around him and her lips whispering his name.

Author's note: hope you enjoyed this chapter. Chapter 12 is coming soon!

What do you think? Are you shocked or surprised that Jacob dated another girl? Review and let me know your thoughts! :)