~A/N Seriously, guys, I'm blown away by how passionate some of you are. I love that I have readers that live in other countries or reviewers that post in a language I have to run through Google translation or even ones that say they are so done with this fic. I love this part of writing so much. No, you seriously don't have to review every chapter. That can get exhausting as a reader. I'm only joking when I beg for reviews. I like them and they do feed the muse, but usually it's my real life that dictates how much I get to post. I happen to have a free day, my last one, by the way for over a week, but I wanted you all to see if Jacob is truly the a-hole many of you were shocked to see appear at the end of last chapter or something else is at play. This is his POV.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 6: Emergence

Jacob squeezed the keys into the palm of his hand until it hurt. He was so full of rage, he was relieved to finally be out of the crowded airport. He was about to leave Los Angeles but there had been an essential change of plans. No way could he fly. He would have to eat the price of his ticket and leave it off his reimbursement items. He'd just rented a car, a convertible since he knew he would need the fresh air.

The past 24 hours had fucked him up. He'd experienced elation, confusion, fury and ecstasy since hearing she was alive. He tried to stretch and work out the kinks, but nothing helped his aching body. Jacob popped a few anti-inflammatory pills and drained his water bottle. He was so pissed, he wished he could break something. His fists clinched. He stared at the red car he was about to climb into. He needed to cool off. It was happening, hanging over him like a weighted dark cloud. He felt as if his own personal storm followed him now. He wanted to act like it was a mystery, but he knew why he started feeling this way. She did this to him. He should've never called her. She was dead and buried, but he had to dig her up. Fuck, it hurt so much.

Jacob went to the door as soon as she slammed it this morning. His hand was there gripping the cool metal handle. He was going to open it back up, yell for her to stop and tell her didn't mean what he'd said. He would forgive her even though she hadn't earned his forgiveness. He'd skip the last day of the conference, claim he was ill to his boss later. That was actually the truth. He was sick as hell. Jacob was still fantasizing about keeping her in his bed all day until he had to check out. The night with her opened him up to an all new sexual realm. He loved Kaleigh and always felt satisfied. He was kinda proud of the fact he found his one and only. He thought they had a good sex life. Now he knew there was something more. What he did with Bells couldn't be categorized as good or even great. He honestly didn't think there was an appropriate word in the English language to describe it.

Until his phone rang, just as he was about to beg her to come back, he hadn't even felt guilty. He didn't feel like he was cheating on Kaleigh. The truth was, he had become convinced the past few years he'd been cheating on Bella because she was clearly the only one he was ever meant to be with.

Kaleigh singsonged in his ear. "Good morning, lover. I can't wait for you to be home tonight. I have big plans."

His stomach twisted in knots. He was a miserable human being. He'd broken his promise. Sure, they hadn't made the marriage vow yet, but it went without saying, they were completely committed and monogamous. Jacob thought back to the reasons why he tossed Bella out on her ass. That had not been calculated, she probably thought it was. The feeling overcame him when he realized the night with her was over. She hurt him and he wasn't over it by any means. He wanted her to pay somehow. Maybe it was the ultimate revenge, to show her how they could be, how they were supposed to be all along and then take it all back.

The truth was, Bella brought it all on herself for not believing in him. When he sent her the text, asking her to have a drink, he hadn't thought that far ahead. It certainly wasn't his intention to bring her upstairs and fuck her like there was no tomorrow.

He even asked her roommates as a buffer, but when she walked into the hotel bar, looking completely glammed up and gorgeous, he knew he was done for. There was no way he could leave her for good without having her stripped naked, writhing underneath him at least once.

He climbed inside the car, which instantly felt too cramped and stuffy. Jacob looked at himself in the visor mirror. He looked like shit. "Go away, you dumb bastard. You aren't needed anymore."

No matter what he said, the beast wouldn't retreat. He was there, lurking under his skin, hiding behind his eyes. Jacob blinked twice and clearly saw him there. Needless to say, Kaleigh was pissed when he told her what he was doing. It made no sense to her. It barely made sense to him, but at least in the car, he knew, he could escape quickly if needed. The plane ride was only three hours, but there was no guarantee he could make it that long. He knew the stale air, cramped quarters along with all the annoying sights and scents would quicken the process. The car ride was well over 18 hours and he planned to stop at Charlie's for a long talk as well. He'd barely slept all week but there was a certain energy that surrounded a phase, so he would keep driving as long as possible.

Jacob basically told Kaleigh in no uncertain terms that he'd spent his entire life in one corner of the world, so he thought it would be nice to experience a drive that was supposed to be fairly scenic. He'd axed any suggestions of a bachelor party despite Quil and Embry's pleadings. This would be his last stand as a single man. He kept what he'd actually participated in for one and only one night with Bells, because that was ten times worse than if Quil brought strippers for a party. Kaleigh was normally very independent and not the least bit clingy. She was the one to encourage him to add his own space over the detached garage when he had their dream home constructed the year before.

She was adamant about needing her me time and girlfriend outings. She normally gave him wide berth about having alone time or time with the guys when they visited. The California trips made her edgy because they always made him edgy. It didn't help her brown-noser cousin also worked with him. He ratted him out that he never socialized or did anything when they took those business trips. Jacob hated Mack. He actually didn't care for a lot of her snooty rich family but he kept that to himself. Kaleigh was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she worked hard to make her own money. She was spoiled but not bratty about it. He couldn't say the same for all her relatives. He only took them in small doses. Her mother was definitely way too involved in their relationship. It had been one of their only issues.

He knew he had his work cut out for him when he came home after being at least two days late and a chain of guilty emotions trailing behind him. He finally got some distance between him and Bella. He felt like his body settled down and stopped fighting him, but his mind was another story. He kept his phone handy. He wished she'd say something, but that wasn't going to happen. He was pretty clear after having sex with her all night and then saying he never wanted to see her again.

Jacob knew when they were making love, he was contemplating something. He stayed awake during that first nap Bella took. He thought of ways to let Kaleigh down easy even though there wasn't an easy way to tell someone you were with, you love someone else more. He hated himself for how hard he loved Bella. He'd never admit it again, but she knew when he loved her body, it wasn't merely a physical release or act of lust. He literally ached for her and he felt her love for him as well. It was actually one of the only times, she was so open about her feelings for him. She normally denied their connection, but there was no denial after what they shared. He never wanted to leave the warmth and comfort of being inside her body and it was easy to keep repeating the act.

Jacob was so relieved to make it to his home state in one piece. He survived the long car ride with very little sleep at a roadside motel, several cans of Red Bull, numerous cups of coffee plus inordinate amounts of fast food because he was so damn hungry, he couldn't be sated He also remained human the entire way. He kept the top down as much as possible. That helped. He sent out a message to Charlie last stop for gas. He seemed surprised to hear from him but said he'd be home. He planned on seeing Charlie, then crashing at his dad's until he could safely drive back to Seattle. He might be sleeping in the unfinished man cave a few days, or maybe Kaleigh forgave him already. She wasn't sending too many messages and the silence was telling. Actually, he still hadn't come to terms with what he'd done, so some time apart might be just what they needed.

"Jake, I'm really surprised to see you. I thought this was your week in California."

"Yeah, it was."

"And you drove back? That's a long way, was there a mix-up at the airport?."

"No, not exactly Charlie." Jacob asked if they could go inside and have a talk. Jacob noticed an empty bottle of whiskey on Charlie's table. He used to stay away from the hard stuff in the old days. He was pretty much committed to his few beers on the weekend. That wasn't the case now, but Jacob hoped what he told Charlie helped. The news hadn't affected him like he imagined. He wasn't exactly feeling better knowing Bella was alive. He was actually way worse than before. Her parents would be elated, no matter what the reason.

"Charlie, I'm just going to spit it out. I found Bella."

"What? What do you mean you found her?" Charlie's face fell. He got that look of misery anytime someone mentioned her name.

"She's alive. I always suspected something was fishy. The Cullens aren't a nice family like they tried to make everyone believe. The truth is Bella faked her death because of some unsavory associates of their family and she thought her family was in danger. I know it makes no sense, but Bella didn't always think everything through if you hadn't noticed."

His voice cracked as he tried to process Jacob's words. "Alive?"

"Yes, very much alive. She lives in LA."

"Why?"

"You're going to have to ask her. I'm done trying to figure her out, but you and Renee deserve to know. I wouldn't advise broadcasting it though because there is some truth to her paranoia."

Charlie wanted to know more details. Jacob tried to give as many as he could, but obviously he was leaving huge gaping holes.

"I'm the chief of police. I would've protected her. What the hell is with Carlisle? Is it mafia?"

"Come on, Chief you know I harbour a few secrets too. I can't tell you everything, but they're bad news. Bella shouldn't have never gotten mixed up with them."

Charlie knew Jacob had obligations to the tribe. He and Billy fought at times about superstitions and secrecy. He long suspected they knew more whenever Bella seemed to have vanished after getting married.

"So, you're going to call?"

"Hell yes, I am."

Jacob told him her number still worked, but he also gave Charlie her work info just in case she was still being difficult. He got a distinct feeling he needed to leave. He wasn't feeling so hot again, or more accurately, he was actually feeling heat course through his veins. Maybe coming back to his home turf wasn't the best idea. He should be in the city as soon as possible, perhaps.

"What about you Jacob, are you going to call her again?"

"No sir. All that needed to transpire between us is behind me now. I'm going home to Kaleigh."

"You sure about all that?"

"Definitely," he lied through his teeth.

"Jacob, I don't believe in interfering. Maybe that's where I screwed up with Bells. I should've voiced my opinion a little more. Cullen wasn't right for her. We knew that... all of us, but Bells. I just want you to be sure as well. Kaleigh's a lovely girl, but you're not quite the same young man I remember. Are you sure everything's over between you and my daughter?"

"So over. You know how much I loved her but there's an old saying, 'sometimes you gotta love what's good for you.' That's why I'm going back to Kaleigh. I'm over Bells, finally."

He knowingly shook his head. "Yep, I think I've heard that somewhere before. Well, if you're mind's made up, I won't argue. I'll only wish you happiness." He walked over and patted Jacob's shoulder. "Thanks for telling me. It means a lot after losing all hope these years. I can only imagine she begged you not to."

"Bella's still confused. She's got some issues to work out, but I hope your family can heal after what's she's done."

Jacob started driving towards La Push. The heat and excruciating pain wouldn't allow him to get very far. He pulled over and fled to the woods. Somewhere in the deep, dark forest of his homeland, a wolf emerged, howling out in pain. His body adapted quickly like it was yesterday, but his mental misery was just getting started.

~ Thanks for reading.

I'm just going to let you all digest what happened, and imagine what's to come.