Chapter 28 - Jealousy

The first of December hit like a hurricane, shaking the last of the autumn leaves from the trees and ushering in the first snow of the season. It was also the night of the grand opening in Port Angeles.

Jacob laid aside the plans he'd been working on and got himself ready to go. Embry would be picking him up in an hour to head out to the gallery. His dad was scheduled to ride with Charlie and Sue, leaving him alone with his thoughts for a little while longer.

He flicked off the lights in his office, heading upstairs to hop in the shower. While scrubbing himself clean Jacob mulled over what had to be done in the coming weeks. The commission from the furniture buyer out east was much bigger than he'd ever guessed it would be. Bella assured him that there was more where that came from. The homeowner was a blueblood, from an old family whose wealth was passed down through generations. It was a little strange to believe that his work would be where men with fat wallets sat down to smoke their pipes and drink snifters of brandy while the snow fell outside.

He had plans for that money. Something he was excited about and hoped that Bella would be too. Tonight would be crucial. He couldn't go forward until they talked. If everything went well, it would be a surprise for her. A Christmas gift for them both.

Jacob dressed carefully in clothes that always felt foreign to him somehow. Slacks, a shirt and tie. Pointy toed shoes that didn't let him wiggle his toes around in the earth. For her though, he'd suffer through it. For her, he'd walk through fire. Jacob was just inserting the cufflinks through the buttonholes of his cuffs when Embry approached the house. He didn't bother to walk downstairs, knowing it was him.

"Hey, Jake, you ready to go man?" Jacob winced, hating that Embry still insisted on shouting even though their wolf senses would have allowed them to hear a pin drop on the other side of the reservation.

"Yeah, be down in a second."

"Let's get this show on the road. I don't wanna be late. I feel antsy enough as it is."

Jacob frowned. Embry's preoccupation with Bella was something that he didn't understand. If he didn't know better, he'd almost swear the jerk imprinted on his girl. It wasn't love or even infatuation though. No. The minute she set foot back in Forks, Embry Call had taken it upon himself to act as her personal protector. A role that previously only belonged to Jacob. In fact, if he thought hard about it, he would have seen that even back when they were kids, Embry always hovered around... close but not too close. Kind of like a big brother or father of sorts. Jacob supposed it didn't matter. If there was any kind of danger headed their way, he'd need all the help he could get. A nagging feeling told him trouble wasn't really that far off.

"Why the big hurry?" Jacob asked, long legs taking the stairs two at a time. "Since when are you into all this?"

Embry rolled his eyes thinking that sometimes, for someone so perceptive, Jacob Black was about as dense as an oak. "One, I don't like to be late. I never have. Do you ever remember me not being at least twenty minutes early for school as a kid?"

"Point taken."

"Yeah, I'm that guy," he nodded, jerking his thumbs into his chest. "Second, I've been helping your ass. I wanna see what we did on display. Third, this is a huge night for Leah and Bella."

Jacob frowned. "What's your preoccupation with my girl all about anyway?"

Embry tossed his hands up in the air, rolling his eyes. "Dude, I've told you a hundred times. We're friends. I wanna see her happy and successful. In other words, I don't want her ditching town again." Embry shrugged, "Life's better when she's here." Yeah, read into that buddy and take what you want.

"Yeah, alright, if you say so man. But if I ever find you picturing her..."

"Man, that's just sick," he replied, wincing at the thought. "Bella might be hot and all, but she's like my sister. We're friends. Besides, it's obvious she's already taken. She loves you."

"Well, it'd be nice to hear her say that," he muttered, brushing past Embry to grab his wallet from the entry table.

"She hasn't told you that yet?" Embry rolled his eyes in aggravation. One day soon he was going to shake them both for their obvious stupidity. "She overthinks everything. Talk to her man. It's been about three months. You two should be headed for wedded bliss by now."

Jacob blushed, trying not to think about the ring he had stowed in his sock drawer. It might have been a little presumptuous, but he hoped that one day she'd wear it. If she didn't there wasn't anyone else he'd ever give it to.

ooo000ooo

The days leading up to the grand opening had been a whirlwind of activity. Investors, potential buyers and local business owners filtered through the doors of the newly opened gallery. Bella was nearly dizzy circling the room, greeting those who came. The pieces they had been able to acquire were exquisite. There was already interest in several of them, including those not for sale. Several of the local tribes had been generous in lending pieces that told of their storied past. Pieces that if you listened very carefully, you would hear the spirits of their ancestors speaking through.

The painted masks from Old Quil had been a surprise. He had presented them to Leah one day, explaining that others should know the truth of their people and perhaps she too would learn from them, encouraging her to study the old ways. Headdresses from the secret societies that had belonged to her grandfather's grandfather, masks, drums and even some of the earliest portraits of their people performing their sacred dances.

The other tribes had been equally as generous when they were ushered in to deliver their wares just a few weeks ago. Leah had been hard pressed to change the layout when they took note of what the Quileutes had donated and not wanting to be outshone, had been just as generous.

The end result was a tour through history, leading into modern society and the craftsmanship of the nations in the twenty-first century.

Bella couldn't help but be pleased with the outcome. Surrounded by family and friends, she felt accomplished and whole. Still, it had been a strange several weeks. For a time she wondered if this day would actually come. Matt and Leah had danced around each other for weeks, but neither would say why. Something significant had changed, shifted between the two, leaving Bella at loose ends between her two closest friends.

The former closeness they had, the easy camaraderie which previously existed between them seemed to have vanished almost overnight. Then one day she walked through the door balancing a tray of coffee in one hand and her laptop in the other only to find the two of them on the floor, wrestling around like a couple of little kids. Shaking her head, Bella decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The trio had worked tirelessly until the eleventh hour, living on caffeine and take-out. There was absolutely no time for socializing and even Matt's smooth face was beginning to show the tell-tale crease of worry lines around his eyes. Leah plowed ahead in her usual fashion, dictating and ordering around the workers until Bella was sure they'd throw their hands up in the air and walk out. Not to mention the scared young college students they'd hired to fill in the odd hours. Those two looked at her with an odd combination of fear and hero worship that half scared Bella and half made her laugh with glee.

By the day of the opening, Bella felt like she was running on empty. She'd had about twelve hours of sleep in the last three days, no social life for the past month and had barely spoken to Jacob in over a week. So, when he came striding in the doorway, a single rose held in his hand, Bella smiled wistfully. It was a relief to lay eyes on him, the one person she longed for more than anyone else in the past few weeks and the only one she really wanted to share the triumph of the night with.

Currently, she was tangled up in a conversation with a council member from the Makah reservations by the name of Michael Samuels. He was young, energetic and by the feel of his hand that kept brushing her ass, an incredibly big jerk. Bella frowned. He was also influential. So much so that to offend him might blow up everything she'd worked for these past few months. So, instead of grinding her heel into his toe like she wanted to, Bella subtly moved her body away from him... repeatedly... with little success.

Jacob's eyes caught hers about the same time that Michael's hand settled on the small of her back while he bent low, whispering in her ear something that she never even heard. Bella was too busy concentrating on the rage that was forming in Jacob's eyes and Embry's hard glare from across the room.

Shit...

Bella headed towards the doorway, effectively cutting Jacob off at the pass before he could make a scene. Things were bad enough as it was. It had taken every ounce of restraint inside of him to stay away and allow her to work the past few weeks. It was only through daily phone calls that the wolf inside of him seemed to ease. Bella grabbed him by the arm, dragging him outside catching Embry's eye to follow.

As soon as they were clear of the building she turned around. "It's not what you think, Jake. You need to calm down."

Jacob exploded into a jealous rage. "Not what I think? Right now, I don't know what to think! That fucking prick had his hands on you! So you tell me, what the hell is going on here?"

Bella swallowed her pride. This was exactly what she feared, what the pack feared and everything inside of her knew it was more than just possessive nature. Something else besides the wolf drove it. Damn Old Quil and his tea. In the back of her mind, she was already scheduling out a block of time to talk to the man and figure out what in the hell it was he did to Jacob all those years ago. "You need to calm down," she begged, trying hard to keep her voice soft and even. "I didn't let him DO anything. He's a member of the Makah council and if I piss him off tonight we could lose the account."

"Oh, so you're just gonna let him grab your ass in exchange for a few bucks?" he accused. "Is that it?"

At this point, Embry stepped between them, laying his hands on Jacob's chest, looking him straight in the eyes. A gutsy move on his part. "Jake, man... you need to get a grip here. Bella's trying..."

"Stay the fuck out of it, Call," he growled, accusation written all over his face. "You wanna get in her pants just like every other sick fucker out there. It's not gonna happen. You're mine, Bella."

That was too much. Lack of sleep, overwrought nerves and a jealous werewolf had lead to this. "Really, because I don't see your name tattooed anywhere on my body, Jake." Flippantly holding up her hand, brandishing it in his face, she completely lost her head. "In case you haven't noticed, we're not married. My last name is Swan," she reminded him, voice full of contempt. "I don't belong to anybody."

"Is that what this is about?" he shouted, tossing his arms around in the air. "Because that's rich, Bella. I can't tell you how much I love you because you're too chickenshit to say it back."

It was like a punch to the gut, but she was too upset to feel anything other than righteous anger. "You know what? I've missed you like crazy for the past few weeks, but right now for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Go home Jacob. I don't want you here." Just like that, she'd summarily dismissed him, much like a child sent to time out.

It was the wrong minute for Matt to walk outside. Even though Jacob had gotten to know him a little bit at Bella's request, the wolf inside of him didn't fully trust any man, straight or gay. They were all a threat to his mate.

"Everything alright out here?" he asked, placing a protective hand on Bella's shoulder. Jacob glared back at him through narrow, slitted eyes. Then, the outline of his hulking form began to blur, causing Bella's eyes to fly open wide with fear. Jacob was not in control. "Shit. Embry, you need to get him out of here."

A low growl emitted from Jacob's chest, the tendons beneath his skin began to lengthen and the rings of his ochre eyes tinged with yellow. Matt pushed Bella behind him, understanding what was about to happen. There was no stopping it.

"Embry, get him out of sight before anyone sees!" The panicked words flew out of her mouth without thinking about it.

A red haze formed over Jacob's vision, obstructing everything around him. The world contracted, his pupils dilated and the wolf clawed unmercilessly toward the surface until it felt like it would scratch the back of his skin into ribbons. There was nothing man left about him anymore. For two long weeks he had not laid eyes upon his mate. The urge to take and claim what was his overwhelmed him. His eyes remained glued to Bella who peered out from around Matt's shoulder, struggling to get near him.

"Let me by. You don't know what you're dealing with!" she demanded, even as Embry was shoving Jacob backward into a darkened alley.

Matt did not budge. He would not see Bella ripped apart like the young woman who had brought the beautifully woven blankets into the gallery, her pretty face marred by ugly, puckered scars. No matter what he had been commanded to do or by who, Bella was family. He would protect her and damn the consequences.

Golden flames began to erupt from his hands and with one single blow he sent Embry staggering backward into the night. The fire reached out, licking Jacob's skin until his form stilled, breath heavy and panting, but the wolf had begun to recede.

Bella and Embry watched it all with wide, questioning eyes. Jacob had stopped mid-shift, something that had only ever been accomplished before by her soothing touch. Never had he come so close to phasing in public. Tonight he nearly lost the tightly leashed control that came so naturally to him, proving once more that Bella Swan was his Achilles' heel.

Awaking to her senses, she rushed forward, diving between Matt and whatever magic it was that he possessed. Bella stood on tiptoe, cradling Jacob's cheeks between her small hands. "Are you alright? Jacob, can you hear me?"

His eyes pinched closed and his chest heaved while he drew in a lungful of the cool night air. "I'm sorry," he whispered brokenly. "I'm so sorry. I don't know why... I don't know what I was thinking."

"I know," she soothed, squelching whatever leftover irritation she might have still felt. This was not the time or the place. "It's not your fault. We've been apart too long. I should have come home. I shouldn't have left you there. I knew better."

Jacob drew her into his arms, burying his nose in her curls, breathing deep as if he could draw a piece of her soul into himself. "No, you needed this. I was a jackass."

Bella peered up at him with a crooked little smile. "Yeah, you kinda were, but it's alright."

The sound of somebody clearing their throat behind them startled the two from their bubble. Jacob shifted instinctually, shoving Bella protectively behind him. Embry flanked his right side, the two of them forming an impenetrable barrier between her and Matt. "What are you?" demanded Jacob.

"That's a conversation for another time. All you need know is that I mean none of you any harm. If that is not enough, go get Leah. She is aware of what I am and trusts me."

Jacob still did not move. This man knew too much about him and was powerful enough to stop him mid-shift. "I'm not in the habit of allowing danger to come to my mate or my pack."

"Bella is in no danger from me," Matt assured him. "We share the same blood. She is my family and I am honor bound to protect her."

"Protect her from what?" Embry demanded.

"The same ones you hunt, wolf."

Bella gasped from behind her two protectors, Matt's implied answer quite clear. "No! I won't put you in danger. None of you!"

At this, Matt's face softened. He loved this girl, was prepared to fight until the death for her if necessary, not out of duty but of respect and loyalty. "Fear not, child. You are in no danger yet. I was charged with bringing you here, back to this place by one of our own. I will tell you everything, but if we don't go back inside soon, people will come out here looking for us and see things they should not." Matt saw as the words he spoke hit home with the wolves. Even now as they deliberated he already knew what the outcome would be.

"He's right, Jake," Embry conceded. "She has to go back inside and so do we. There's too many people around and they're going to want to see her and... whatever he is." The confusion was almost too much. "They're expected to be here. Charlie's in there. If we all disappear, they're gonna know something is up. He didn't try to hurt her, we're gonna have to go on a little faith here. If Leah knows what he is..."

"Then you're gonna have to trust her." A feline voice cut through the still night like a knife, followed soon by Leah appearing out of the darkness like an angel of mercy. "Back off, you two. Matt's not gonna hurt anyone. I swear, he's on our side."

Anger prickled along Jacob's spine, but he was back in control. Through narrowed eyes he commanded her, not with the demand of an alpha, but as a man in need. The same man who wanted to protect Bella as much as she did. "I need some answers, Leah."

"You'll get them, Black, but not tonight and don't even think about using an order on me. I'm not in the mood." Spinning on her heel, she turned to Matt, eyes leaving no room for argument. "You need to go in. The head of the Elwah council is asking for you."

Nodding his head, Matt turned his back and strolled inside. The tension in the air decreased without his presence. Visibly relaxed, Leah turned her attention back on her packmates and Bella.

"As for you two goons, get your shit together. Nothing is going to happen tonight and there's too much to explain right now." She held up a hand, effectively stopping the words before they came from Jacob's mouth. "I know what your problem is, Black. The guy is a dickhole, I'll give you that. But he's a dickhole with deep pockets. We need to stay on his good side. Let Bella do her job," she admonished. "Both of you. Besides, I don't think he's going to pull anything else. Mikey boy decided to take a swipe at my ass before I came out here and I let him know with the heel of my boot that it wasn't going to happen. If he says anything he knows I'll take it straight back to his council."

A wicked smile curved on Jacob's lips just as much as Bella cringed from the possible ramifications.

"Embry, come with me." Before he knew what was happening, she was steering him to the door, with no more than a backwards glance over her shoulder. "As for you two, you have five minutes to get your asses inside before I blab everything to Charlie and send him out here with guns blazing. If I know him, he'll shoot first and ask questions later." Then she was gone, dragging Embry by the collar, leaving Jacob and Bella to their own devices.

None were aware of the creature lurking in the distant shadows..