A/N:Okay Ladies and Gents so here is the next chapter. I know it has been a month since the last one and I hope it is worth it. 8000+ words people with some lemony goodness I hope you enjoy because it would not have been possible without Mist, Dragonfly 1976, or Shadowlynx or any of my other amazing wolf girls so thank you from the bottom of my heart. Sadly I do not own Jake or Bella or any of the other wonderful characters in this story SM does.

Bella was crying hard by the time they made it, big hiccupping sobs and the harder she cried the tighter Jacob held on to her. He slammed the back door behind them with his foot. He knew his brothers would not be coming inside for a good long while. They knew he and Bella needed time alone. He took Bella into the bathroom. Closing the toilet lid, he sat her down or at least he tried to but she wouldn't budge. Clinging to him even tighter, she had her face buried into his shoulder, so he sat down and waited. Sob after sob came from Bella as Jacob rubbed her back in a circular motion trying to calm her enough to get her in the shower. He finally felt her relax a little and loosen her grip on his neck. He moved his hands to her shoulders pushing her gently away from him, so he could see her face.

The tracks of her tears were very pronounced, tears were still coming down like twin rivers on either side of her face, and her eyes were closed when Jacob's hands first touched her face, wiping away the tears, starting with the ones that were coming off her spiky chestnut lashes. He continued his way down her face with gentle strokes never saying a word. It was completely quiet except for the gentle purring noise coming from deep within Jacob's chest. When he got to her chin he cupped her cheek with his hand and Bella leaned into the warmth and comfort his hands provided her.

Bella didn't want to open her eyes. She was afraid of the anger, sadness, and disappointment that she knew had to be in his eyes now. She went very still as his hands traced the tracks of the tears she cried. His feather-light touches were soothing the ache in her heart. The ache that started the second she realized monsters and magic really existed and that Jacob was now a part of that world solely because of her choices. She felt Jake's hands move their way down her face until he reached her chin and cupped her cheek, when she leaned against the warmth of his fingers.

"Bells, honey, open your eyes for me," Jake said quietly.

Bella shook her head against his hand and squeezed her eyes together even tighter.

"Oh Bells honey," he said as he let out a long sigh. He grabbed the zipper pull in his hands and unzipped his jacket with one pull. He managed to pull the jacket off without having her let go of his neck. He threw it in the floor. She shivered at the loss of the jacket but still refused to open her eyes to him. Jake shook his head again and continued to remove her clothing. He brought his hands up the neck of her flannel shirt; the buttons seemed tiny in between his fingers. Each button slipped from its hole allowing him to see more and more of her beautiful pale skin until the last button slipped free, and he pulled her arms free all the while watching the tears continue to fall like twin rivers down her face.

He ran his hands around the collar of her Henley rubbing his thumbs across her collarbone watching as her skin went from almost translucent to pink as his body heat transferred to her. He unbuttoned the even smaller buttons of her Henley stripping it from her body in what had become a fluid movement. Jake looked at the ever-growing pile of clothes on the floor and wondered when Bella was going to put a stop to all of this. He placed his hands on her back and felt the cold metal of her back brace underneath the soft cotton of her cami. He gently pulled Bella's arm away from his neck and placed them in the air as his hands moved back down and pushed the cami up her body and added it to the pile of clothes.

Her arms automatically returned to his neck and she held on for dear life. Jacob finally got a good look at the back brace that he only felt until now. It was made of metal and molded plastic and kept her back in the alignment that would help her heal. He reached around the front, undid the brace, and set it up against the wall closest to the door. Jacob's hands were shaking as he placed his hands on the clasp of her bra. Bella didn't even whimper when the clasp fell apart and exposed her breasts to his gaze. As he gently removed the last of the top half of her clothing, Jake rested his right hand on the button of her jeans and waited, when there was still no response from Bella Jacob undid her jeans, stripping her of what was left of her clothing without even a peep from Bella. Jake was baffled but not enough to stop what he was doing, his wolf was urging him to remove all of the leech stench from her body as well as the smell of his brothers before wrapping her with their own scent. His wolf craved skin-to-skin contact and was screaming at Jake to touch every inch of exposed skin. The boy in him was scared to touch her anywhere, but the man in him knew she needed his touch as much as he did hers and so he reached over and turned on the water.

Bella knew she should open her eyes and tell Jake to stop what he was doing, but she couldn't the feel of his calloused fingertips against her skin was too much. Everywhere he touched her it was like little electric shocks all over her body. Before she could process what was happening she was naked and Jake's arms were firmly wrapped around her. Bella opened her eyes as she felt Jake let go of her as he sat her on the shower seat. Bella shivered at the loss of contact as he pushed the hand held showerhead in her hand and went the room to gather up her clothing.

"Jacob wait," Bella croaked out around the tears that were still caught in her throat.

Jake stopped in his tracks, his hand on the door. It had always been difficult for him to walk away from her and now the imprint made it even more so. "Bells, I am just going to put your clothes in the washing machine and get you some fresh ones. I will be right outside if you need me.

"Jake, please don't leave. I need you."

"Bells, I gotta get these clothes out of here between Dr. Cullen's scent and the scent of my brothers, it is too much. I will be right back I swear." Jacob rushed out the door trying his damndest to ignore the pull of the imprint as he felt her worry and fear piercing his heart with every step he made toward the laundry room. As quickly as he could he shoved all her clothes into Emily's washing machine, poured the detergent in and turned the machine on before sprinting back to the bathroom. He found Bella sitting in the same position he left her in clutching the showerhead in her hand

He shut off the water and reached for the showerhead prying it from her hand and placing it back in the holder. He ran his finger down her arm marveling at the contrast in the color of their skin and worrying even more for her health, her pale skin was even paler than usual, and her ribs were being to show. "Bells, sweetheart, I need you to look at me. I need to know you hear what I am saying and that you understand." Jake waited until she was looking at him before he continued speaking. "Things have got to change Bells; you have got to start taking better care of yourself." He picked up her braid and began to undo it until her hair was completely free from its confines. "Bells I am just going to go stand by the door honey. It is less than two feet away but you will still be able to close the curtain and have some privacy."

"What if I don't want privacy Jake? What if what I want is you right here next to me in the shower?"

"First, you have to take a shower; all these other scents on you are driving the wolf crazy. He is literally screaming at me right now Bells. He wants you smelling of strawberries, you, him and nothing else right now. I will stay right over here while you shower okay. I won't be far I promise." As he turned to move away from her Jacob felt Bella's tiny hand hit the small of his back.

"Jake please," she whispered.

He didn't turn around before asking, "Please what Bella?"

"Don't go," Bella pleaded.

"Bells, don't tease the wolf is too close the surface."

She ran her cold tiny hand up his warm back and turned him around with a tug on his shoulder. He noticed something in her eyes that he had never seen. Desire, pure, white-hot desire.

"Bells, we can't, you're not ready, Sam and Paul would kill me if anything happened to you on my watch."

"Jake I know neither one is ready for it to go that far but I need you close. I need to feel your skin against mine. I can't explain it but I know you need that too, please."

"Well one thing is for sure that shower seat will not hold both of us honey. How do you feel about taking a bath with me?"

"Really," she asked shocked he was giving in to her so quickly.

"Yeah really, even though the guys will give me shit about this later, the wolf and I could care less right now," he said as he picked her up and deposited her back on the toilet seat while he made quick work of the removing the shower seat and turning on the tap to begin filling the tub. He went about getting her shower gel, shampoo and conditioner within easy reach and grabbed three towels out of the linen closet in the hall. He placed them on the sink and shut off the water. Without a word he picked up Bella who had started to shiver in his absence and stepped into the warm water of the tub.

Somehow, he managed to position himself behind Bella without dropping her or embarrassing himself. He put his back against the back of the tub and settled Bella in between his legs thankful that the tub was long enough and wide enough to accommodate his post phase frame as he felt Bella relax against his chest. He let out a sigh as he picked up the washcloth squeezed some of her shower gel on it and handed it to her before settling back closing his eyes and enjoying the feel of her skin on his as she moved around washing her body. The way the skin of her back rubbed against his chest as her shoulder brushed against his pecs and the way her hair brushed against his abs as she moved. He almost lost it when her small hand accidentally brushed against his outer thigh. The wolf wanted her but Jake knew she wasn't ready. And He was fighting a never-ending war in his head. He tried to get is mind off the feel of her skin against his. He took a deep breath and the smell of her arousal hit him like a ton of bricks. She was gonna be the death of him; he was sure of it. His internal struggle with his wolf's need to claim what is his and the need to protect her. Seeing his mark against that creamy pale skin, scenting her so every creature knew that she belonged to him and him alone. No leech within a hundred miles would dare touch her once she carried his mark and his seed in her belly. The wolf howled at the thought of his mate carrying his scent permanently and the picture of her growing belly protecting the future Alpha.

Jake began to take the Rabbit apart in his head to try to distract himself from the sound of the washcloth being pulled across Bella's skin, instead of helping Bella kept popping into his head, naked sprawled across the hood, sitting naked in the back seat. His fingertips blazing a trail across her milky white skin. He got lost in his own fantasies for a while, so much, so he didn't realize Bella was actually calling his name.

"Jacob," she called again louder this time.

His eyes popped open to see her staring at him with the washcloth in her hand. "Yeah Bells, sorry I was thinking."

She smiled at the statement as she felt his ever-growing erection poke her back as he sat up, "I bet I know just what you were thinking too," she said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Sorry Bells, he tends to have a mind of his own when it comes to you," Jake said with a blush as he realized what she was talking about.

She laughed again. Jacob I wasn't complaining. "I love that I can make you feel that way. Can you do me a favor though, Can you wash my back for me?"

"Sure, sure," he says in typical Jake fashion but as soon as he takes the washcloth from her he knew he had made a mistake. It smelled of strawberries, Bella, and her arousal, the wolf wanted nothing more than for Jacob to bury his face in it and in her but somehow Jake manages to win the war, and he pushes Bella forward so he can get to her back. He sits up and puts a steadying hand on the outside of her thigh. Bella hears his sharp intake of breath as he sees the scars on her back for the first time.

"Are they bad Jake," Bella asked.

"No, not really honey I just wasn't expecting them to still be so red and angry looking. I think I can get some stuff from Sue to help with that if you want." He said as ran his fingers over the scars.

Bella felt the electricity shoot through her again as Jacob's calloused fingertips run over each scar on her back. It was the first time she had felt the touch of anyone on her lower back since James' attack and she wasn't sure it was real.

"Jacob," she whispered.

Jacob sighed at the breathy way she said his name. "I know honey; I feel it too," he said as he picked up her hair and ran the washcloth along the nape of her neck kissing her shoulder as he did so.

Bella felt his lips touch her skin and she went liquid. The heady scent of her arousal hit Jacob earning a growling purr from his wolf and a whimper from Jacob.

"Bells, I need to wash your hair and get us the hell out of this tub before the wolf takes over and something happens that we both regret," Jacob said as he turned around to face him balancing her on his muscular thighs while trying to ignore his erection that was now peeking through the water. Jacob reached for the showerhead and turned it on. Water cascaded down Bella's body rinsing away all the soap from her skin.

Bella watched as the water wound its way down the hard planes of Jake's new post phase body. She couldn't help but stare as the warm water made its way down his pecs causing his flat brown nipples to pebble, making Bella wish she had enough courage to lean forward and capture one in her mouth and tease it with her tongue. Her eyes continued to follow the water on its path through the peaks and valleys of his abs. Her hands are unable to resist any longer as they follow the waters path to his abs feeling the clench as Jacob inhaled sharply at her touch and removed her hands before they reached the promised land and placing them firmly back on his shoulders.

"Bells, honey you are killing me here," he said with a hiss. Jacob let the showerhead wet her hair thoroughly before adding her strawberry scented shampoo and massaging it quickly into her scalp. He repeated the action then added conditioner before rinsing her hair one last time. He pulled the stopper out of the drain and waited for the water to completely drain before reaching for the towels on the sink. He wrapped Bella in a towel standing up and stepping out of the tub.

Placing Bella on the toilet seat, he took another towel and wrapped it around his waist, securing at his hip. He used the third towel to dry her legs, arms, and hair. He left the towel on her head and picked her up carrying her into her room. Jacob laid her ever so gently on the bed before turning his back on her to get his shirt out of the chair where he had thrown it the night before turning back around he placed the shirt over her head pulling her arms through he kissed her on the head. He turned around and pulled on his athletic shorts he had brought to sleep in while he was here not that they did much to cover his now painful erection. A cold shower would definitely be in order after he got her settled and back to sleep.

Climbing in bed with her and covering her up while staying outside the covers himself, he pulled her close before speaking "Bells we need to talk you know."

"Jacob I don't know where to start. I have so many questions and so much to say. I am so sorry for so many things Jake."

"Bells none of this is your fault you know," Jacob said as he ran his hand through her hair.

"Yes, it is Jake. If I had not let Edward pull me in, the Cullen's would have left a while ago and went back to Alaska." She squeezed her eyes shut in order to stop the tears from falling and let her fingertips roam across the solid wall of his chest. She knew the last thing Jacob needed right now was more tears. He needed her to be strong so she fought the urge to break down again and beg for his forgiveness a second time.

"Bells the change was set in motion the minute the Cullen's arrived back in Forks. Hell, it was set in motion before they arrived Bells. Sam has been like this for an entire year." He said as he caressed her cheek.

"Poor Sam," Bella whispered against his chest.

"You don't know the half of it Bells."

She knew there was more to Sam's story then Jacob was telling but somehow she knew not to push the issue. Something helped her read his moods and he could read hers too. Where she was always grateful that Edward could never read her mind. Jacob's ability to read her like an open book filled her heart with such joy and happiness.

"So, what's it like," she asked as she continued to trace patterns on his russet skin with her fingertips. "Does it hurt?"

"Phasing? Well it hurt like hell at first Bells, but Sam said that was because I was fighting it so hard."

"What? Why," she asked as her fingers began to trace patterns further down his body.

"You, Bella why else, do I do or not do anything these days, but it has always been you Bells, ever since I can remember my world has revolved around you," he said as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips tracing the edges and seam with his tongue until she opened and allowed him total access. He knew he could take it as far as he wanted and she wouldn't say no but he and the wolf also knew she was nowhere near ready for what they had planned, so it was up to him to stop before they carried it past the point of no return. She didn't help the situation any with those cold little fingers of hers tracing his skin like he was some statue. They were currently running over his abs like they were sea glass with a groan he pulled his mouth from hers and grabbed her hand just as it touched the waistband of his shorts. It also didn't help that her fresh rush of arousal hit his nostrils and the wolf was going crazy in his brain. Just a touch, just a taste of that untried desire, he begged.

"Bells, honey as much as I love kissing you and you touching me we have to slow it down."

"But Jake," Bella groaned against his chest as she tried to catch her breath after that scorching kiss they had just shared.

"I know baby, I know okay, but you still have a lot of healing that has to happen and I need to learn control the big guy better before we go that far. The last thing either of us wants to do is hurt you Bells." He could smell the salty tears as they followed the tracks of the ones she cried earlier. "Oh honey please don't cry. I can't take it." He said as the wolf let out a loud growl in his head.

Bella looked up at him and saw the pained expression. "Jake are you okay," she asked.

"The wolf doesn't like it when I tell you no to sex Bells, but its okay he will just have to live with it. I don't like telling you no either, but if I hurt you even by accident I would never be able to forgive myself." Jake felt like he had to get her to see reason even if killed him. Then she did something he didn't expect she threw back the quilt and grabbed or board using it to slide in her wheelchair. He stared at her open-mouthed for several seconds as she wheeled herself over to the dresser, hastily removing clothing from the drawers, she stripped off the shirt and balled it up throwing it at him, effectively waking him from his stupor.

"Bella what are you doing," Jacob asked as he watched her struggle to get her somewhat useless legs into her panties.

"What does it look like I am doing I am getting dressed," she said as she was now struggling to clasp her bra. Jake had to smile at the sight before continuing to question her decision.

"Why, Bells, just because I put the brakes on sex for right now doesn't mean I don't wanna be close to you at all, besides there are a million other things we need to talk about," he said as he stood up out of the bed marched over to her and clasped her bra for her. He could feel the anger rolling off of her in waves. He could smell it.

"Don't touch me," she whispered.

"Bells that wasn't what you were saying a few minutes ago, right over there in the nice warm bed," he said as he let his lips ghost over the shell of her ear.

"Jacob, don't," she croaked as she pulled away and shoved her cami down over her head. Jake followed her out of the room as she went and got her back brace. Watching her struggle to put it on he reached out again to help her. "Jacob, I said don't damn it."

"Bells I don't get it. Ten minutes ago you wanted us naked and having sex and now you don't even want me to touch you."

"I am tired of being treated like a damn china doll Jake. You can kiss me and I won't break, you can touch me, and yes you can even have sex with me and I will not break."

"I know that Bells and I am not saying never I am just saying not right now, not today. You are hurting Bells I know it you know it. Hell I can feel it and sex is not gonna fix it. Please try to understand there are things about me about all this that you don't know."

"Well tell me Jake explain it to me because right now I feel like you are like Edward and want to wrap me in cotton wool and not touch me just look at me from afar." Bella expect Jake to yell and scream at her and tell her she was wrong, but it was quiet too quiet. She turned around in her chair to see Jacob standing in the doorway literally shaking the anger. The lines of his body were beginning to blur and the expression in his eyes moved from hurt to anger as his body continued to blur.

Bella wheeled herself closer and reached out her hand to touch him. "Jacob," she whispered as she grabbed for his hand.

Jacob quickly snatched away and stepped a little further back until his back brushed up against the door. "Don't Bella, he is too close," Jacob bit out around a growl. "I gotta get out of here for a while Bells; I will get Sam and Emily to come back and stay with you and see if they can explain it better. I am sorry and I love you," he said in a rush as he took off past her and out the back door, phasing before his feet hit the ground.

Bella pushed herself back into her room and finished getting dressed before throwing herself into bed and dissolving into tears.

Jacob's paws tore at the ground as he pushed himself through the forest behind Sam and Emily's home and towards the Alpha cabin.

"Jacob, what happen?"

"Sam, can you tell Emily to go make sure Bells is okay."

"Jacob," Sam said in his Alpha timbre

"Sam, she is fine but I am not gonna show you what happened, especially with Paul phased in because I would like to give Bella the privacy she seems to think we still have when it comes to this."

"Go to your Dad's phase out and wait for me. Tell Emily to go check on Bella and start lunch. I will go get Jared to spell me until we talk. Then you can take the rest of my shift if necessary. Paul make a wide loop. Jared will join you when you come back around."

"You got it Alpha," Paul said knowing to keep his mouth shut about Jacob and Bella even without the Alpha order from last night.

Sam made it to Jacob's just as Emily was pulling out of the yard. She waved and blew him a kiss as she drove past. He could hear Billy reading Jake the riot act inside.

"Jake what do you mean you just left her all alone, what if she falls out of her chair getting dressed."

"Dad, she didn't want me to touch her okay, she was mad and she said some things that set the wolf off and instead of risking her safety I left."

"Jacob, what do you mean she doesn't want you to touch her? What did you do," Billy asked.

"It was more of what I wouldn't do, Dad. Can we not do this? I feel bad enough and Sam is waiting for me outside," he said as he turned to leave the house,

"Jacob, just be careful with her okay she fragile right now, physically and emotionally."

"Try reminding her of that," Jacob mumbled as he slammed the door behind him.

Sam followed him as he went into the garage and waited for Jacob to tell him what exactly happened that set his wolf off.

"I am sorry Sam. I screwed everything up. I had planned on talking to her about the imprint when we went in the house and then she fell apart, holding her like that the wolf was going crazy over Carlisle and the other pack members scent. I had to get her out of those clothes into the shower; I swear I was waiting for her to tell me to get the hell out. She never did and then she wouldn't let me leave, she was pushing so hard for me to kiss her, touch her, she wanted more, I put the brakes on and she got mad at me, said I was like the leech and the wolf went crazy. I didn't hurt her I swear. I would never do that. She is already in such physical and emotional pain Sam. It hurts to be with her; it hurts to be away from her. I could never add to that pain no matter how much the wolf wants her to be his completely."

Sam put a reassuring hand on Jake's shoulder before speaking. "Jake I know you wouldn't hurt Bella. Hell, I wish I could say the same. I will go home and help Emily explain things to her. You go run patrol with Paul until lunch and Jared and Embry will take over. We have a meeting at the treaty line with Carlisle at Midnight about the other thing he wanted to discuss last night and then I will take the midnight shift with Embry."

"I can take it Sam let Embry sleep besides Bella won't let me back in bed anyway."

"She will Jake. We will fix this, I promise and it won't hurt for Embry and Paul to pick up your slack for a while. They owe you and Bella that much."

Sam and Jake left the garage and phased near the tree line. Sam headed home and Jake headed towards his brothers. Sam heard Emily's hushed tones as soon as he stepped up on the porch. He could smell the salt from Bella's tears, her sadness permeated the house along with an underlying scent of the young ones arousal. Sam made his way to the guest room and saw Emily sitting on the bed with her arms wrapped around Bella who was still crying silent tears. Emily smiled at him as she rubbed Bella's back.

"Bella, Sam's here now," Emily whispered.

Bella turned her head to see Sam standing in the doorway. "How mad is he Sam," She asked.

"He is not mad at you Bella."

"Yes, he is Sam. He told you he wasn't but he is and I don't blame him. I threw Edward's name in his face. He has every right to be mad and hurt and never speak to me again."

"Oh, Little One, we need to talk you and I. Em, why don't you go start lunch while I take Bella outside to the garden so we can talk." Emily let Bella go and stood up. She went over to Sam and placed a slow kiss on his lips and he ran his hand down the ruin side of Emily face before letting her go. He watched her walk away and let out a sigh before turning to see Bella give him a watery smile from the bed. Sam pushed her chair closer to the bed and picked her up. Placing her in the chair Sam grabbed her jacket off the door and placed it in Bella's lap before pushing her out the door. "Put that on Little One, it will be a little chilly for you," he said as he pushed her out the back door and took her down the steps.

He pushed her into their little garden towards the back he sat down on the bench and turned Bella to face him zipping up her jacket in the process. "Isabella Swan, I want you to listen to me and not interrupt until I am finished and you cannot tell anyone outside the pack about what I am going to tell you. Do you think you can keep that promise?"

"Yes, Sam I can do that."

"Little One, how much did Jacob tell you about what he is, what we are?"

"I know you are spirit warriors for the tribe and that you have a treaty with the Cullen's but nothing else really other than I have a connection to Jacob and his wolf."

"Little One, it is not just Jake and his wolf you have a connection to, it's all of us, but the connection to Jake is different. It is called imprinting. It is what the wolf does when he finds his mate. The wolf will do anything to love and protect his mate Bella as will his pack brothers." Sam said as he picked up her hand from her lap turning it over revealing the scar on her wrist. He ran his hand over it and Bella flinched as the heat of Sam's hand caused the ugly scar to heat up. His wolf growled in his head because the thought that he should have protected the future Alpha's mate from this pain and destruction. "Jacob went crazy last night when he saw this because he feels like he has failed you. He has been in love with you since he can remember and not being there when you needed him the most, having the thing inside him that could have stopped all of this. It makes the rest of this even more difficult. Thanks to the imprint, which has now linked your heart and soul to his, he feels your pain both emotional and physical and it causes him a great deal of pain and shame. He doesn't want to hurt you like Edward did Bella and he knows that is always a possibility because of what he is."

Sam could see Bella start to speak and he placed his finger on her lips. "I know it is not his fault and I know you will say he could never hurt you and you're right he can't because he is different than the rest of us, better, but that does nothing to ease his fears, especially when he sees Emily."

Bella reached out to Sam cupping his weathered cheek with her hand, Sam allowed himself to be comforted just for a moment as he leaned into her touch and then pulled away. "No, Bella you cannot make this better. The wolf and I have caused Emily and Leah nothing but trouble. You see before the wolf came along I was engaged to Leah Clearwater, Harry's daughter and Emily's cousin and then one day boom, I was on the floor writhing in pain and the next second I was a giant black wolf. Leah's dad found me a week later when I was finally able to phase back. Harry told me I could tell no one, even Leah. The Council just told me the bare minimum and they definitely didn't tell me about imprinting. I went home and tried to pick up where we left off but it wasn't really working because I had to lie to her so much, but I was going to tell her that day, the day I met Emily."

"That day was supposed to be the best day of my life, I was going to tell Leah and I was going to ask her to marry me all over again, then Emily opened the door and my whole world changed. Leah didn't matter anymore, nothing did except for Emily. The wolf had to have her. All I wanted was Leah; instead, the wolf gave me her cousin and best friend. Leah will never forgive Emily or me for what we have done and I can't tell her why ever. Jacob was lucky he got the girl he has loved his entire life and his wolf wants the same, Bella that is such a gift. But do not underestimate the wolf. He can hurt you Little One just as mine hurt Emily."

"Oh Sam," Bella gasped as her free hand went up to her mouth at the thought of Sam's wolf hurting the woman who is the reason for its whole existence and the guilt she felt coming off of Sam in waves.

"We were fighting over Leah one night and I lost it, like Jake did this morning when you compared him to Cullen, Emily was too close and the wolf hurt her. I can never take that back. I can never change that just as Jake can never change the fact that you were bitten and hurt by the one thing he was born to protect you from Little One. Trust me when I say that you are not as ready as you think you are for what comes next between the two of you, so trust Jake when he says no to you that it breaks his heart and makes the wolf very unhappy, but it is because he knows neither one of you are ready. If you want to know details you can talk to Emily later, she will tell you all you need to know."

"Come on Little One, Jake and Paul will be back from patrol soon and I have to eat before they get here so I can take over patrol during lunch," he said as he let go of her hand and stood up.

She stopped him before he could get behind her. "Sam Uley, you are a good person," she said as you cupped his warm weathered cheek once again. "And you are just as special as Jacob, all of you are."

Sam gently removed her hand from his face placing a kiss inside the palm and replacing it in her lap before pushing her back to the house. "You are pretty special yourself Isabella Swan."

Sam shook his head at the power and strength this tiny slip of a girl had no idea she possessed. He got her back into the house, sat her in his seat at the table, and took the seat next to her as Emily appeared out of nowhere and set a plate in front of each of them. "And Bella before you say you want to wait for Jake you need to eat and take your pills before he gets here. No arguing with the pack Alpha, Little One," Sam said as he gave her a small smile deliberately leaving out the fact that he knew the pills he planned on giving her would cause her to get some much needed sleep.

Bella did not say a word she just went about eating her lunch. She snuck the occasional look at Sam as he devoured his lunch and got up for seconds. By the time, Sam had finished his third plate Bella had managed to finish her first. He took the plates, placed them in the sink, and retrieved her pain pills. Sam brought it back to the table with a glass of water. He watched as she took the pills without one word of complaint. Jacob must have gotten through to her this morning and for that, Sam was glad. He picked her up, placed her back in her chair, and pushed her towards her room. He could see just how tired she was already and knew she would not put up much of a fight if he put her to bed. He reached her room and lifted her out of her chair, pulling back the covers with one hand he placed her in the bad just as her eyes began to close. He pulled her shoes off and pulled the covers around her tucking her in before heading out and shutting the door.

He smiled at Emily as he watched her prepare plates for the pack. She really took to the roll of pack mother particularly with Jacob and Embry and it made Sam happy to see her happy again. He came up behind her and kissed her on the back of her neck. Emily turned in his arms and placed a smoldering kiss on his lips.

"She asleep," Emily asked when she pulls away.

"Yep. She has had a rough day already."

"Did Jake tell you what happened between them?"

"Yeah, he had to tell her no, she accused him of being like Cullen, that set his wolf off and he ran."

"Neither one of those are ready for the wolf part that comes with all that Sam," Emily said with worry in her voice.

"I know that Em and so does Jacob, why do you think he said no to her, between the wolf, her pain and anger it had to be painful as hell, then she brought Cullen into the equation it amazes me he had the strength to leave before he phased. I know I couldn't have."

"That's because he loves her and has his entire life, Sam," she said with a sigh.

Sam captured Emily's chin in his hand and looked into her eyes. "I love you too Emily. I know I don't always say it or show it very well, but I do love you."

Emily wrapped her arms around him and pulled him as close as she could. "I know, Sam." She let out a moan as Sam's lips ghosted over his mark on her shoulder and his tongue explored the impressions left by his teeth.

"Bella will be asking you about this soon, I think," Sam said as he lifted his head.

"What? Why me?"

"Because you are female and an imprint, Jake and I are just plain chicken," Sam said with a laugh.

"Men," she said with a laugh as she playfully smacked at his chest. "I gotta finish this before the boys get here."

"I know they are coming now," he said as he let her go, put the plates on the table and headed out the back door. The boys came in laughing, wrestling, and being loud as usual until they got a look at Emily's face and they all got quiet as a mouse.

"I swear to God, Bella is sleeping peacefully and whoever wakes her up will get the spoon to the back of their head." She saw the look in Jacob's eyes and decided to stop him in his tracks. "Jacob Black don't you even think about it. Let her sleep for a while and come and eat before it gets cold and then you can join her, but under no circumstances are you to wake her, understand."

"Yes, ma'am," he said as he took the seat across from Embry and dug into his plate like a starving man. Three plates and three glasses of lemonade later he got up and took his plate to the sink. All the other boys had long since finished, Embry and Jared had taken over patrol from Sam. Sam and Emily were in the bedroom lying down. Jake proceeded to wash the dishes for two reasons: He hated the fact that Emily was always cooking and having to clean up after them and he was avoiding seeing Bella. After the dishes were washed Jacob made the short walk down the hall and silently opened the bedroom door and steps inside closing the door behind him. He walks over to the bed and stares down at the beautiful sight before him.

His Bells was sleeping peacefully for the first time since she had returned from Phoenix. Emily had re-braided her hair and her face was at peace. He climbed into bed on the side closest to the wall, put his arm around her middle, and pulled her flush against his body.

"My Jacob," she whispered.

"My Bells," he whispered back as he sniffed her hair.

"Jacob, take our clothes off please.

"Bells, go back to sleep, Emily wields a mean spoon besides we can't still not yet."

"Jake, I promise I will go back to sleep and I know we can't do anything, but I need to feel you. I need to feel your fingertips on me all of me, your chest pressed up against my back," she trailed off with a sigh.

Jake moaned as he pictured what Bella was saying as he removed the cover from her body, reached for the button of her jeans, and unzips her zipper. "Are you sure this is what you want Bells," he asked before continuing.

"I have never been more sure of anything Jacob," she whispered.

With that reassurance, he removed her pants and underwear in one movement. She moaned as his hands skimmed her hips. The heat from his fingertips could be felt all the way down to her toes. She held her breath as Jacob worked his way up and covered her lower half again as he pulled her up against the pillows and began unbuttoning her flannel shirt. He removed the shirt and pulled her henley off without even bothering with the buttons. The brace quickly followed along with her cami leaving her in nothing but her bra. He unclasped it slowly and let it fall to the floor. Bella whimpered as he broke contact and stood up only to inhale sharply on the next breath as he dropped his athletic shorts and step out of them and choosing to ignore his once again growing painful erection jutting proudly out before crawling back in bed with her and getting under the covers. He knew if he wasn't a wolf he would catch his death with all the cold showers he was seeing in his future.

Bella relished his touch as his calloused fingertips began their journey on her face and her eyes began to close again as he traced her shoulder blades and down her arms. She placed her head on his chest with a sigh. She could hear the steady beat of his heart and she could feel the purring coming from within and she knew right then and there that the wolf was as happy as the man. As he continued to touch her avoiding any places that would cause a repeat of this morning Bella knew being skin to skin with her Jacob was the best feeling ever with or without sex and that was her last thought as she drifted off to sleep. What Bella did not know and what she could not see is with every sweep of his hand the bonds of the imprint are growing stronger which will make the days ahead more difficult for both of them.

Jacob is lost in the sensation of his skin against hers, so pale it almost glows in the darkness of the room. He feels her breath against his chest as she relaxes within his arms. The smoothness of her skin against the roughness of his own as he pulls her more snuggly into his side. Jacob can feel the bonds of the imprint becoming stronger and as happy as that makes him he knows that it will make being away from her even more difficult until the time comes where he can mark her and make her truly his. He starts to caress her back as his eyes begin to drift. He runs his fingers across the angry red ridges of the scars on her back. He tries to block out the angry snarl coming from inside his head as those scars remind him of the even deadlier one that adorned her wrist. He would be forever grateful to the Cullen's for saving her and bringing her back to him but the wolf in him vowed that if Edward came back and tried to mess with Bella's health or happiness again; he would personally rip him limb from limb. With that thought, Jacob closed off his mind and drifted off to sleep making small sweeping circles against Bella's back vowing to never let an article of clothing or Edward Cullen come between them sleeping skin to skin.

Sam was smiling in his bedroom as Emily slept, completely unaware what is going on in the next room. He let his lips ghost over her coppery skin because he knew something Jacob and Bella were just discovering with or without sex, being skin to skin with your mate is better than anything. He too soon fell asleep to the sound of three strong heartbeats with a contented sigh.