~A/N Surprise, was not planning on having time today, but insomnia had other plans. Lots of back and forth dialogue between Jake and Bella, but I thought it was necessary for this one. Surprisingly, it wasn't nearly as stressful as the last chapter. I hope you find some moments of levity like I did.

Merry Christmas to those that celebrate.

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

Chapter 24: When Does Forever End

He wasn't sure if she fainted or was just overcome by shock and exhaustion. Jacob carried Bella inside Sue's. She helped him clear everyone out so it would just be the two of them. He panicked for a second, worried where Ace was, but Rachel sent a message about the time he walked in the house.

He's fine. Fix this. Take as long as you both need. Three moms, a grandpa and a teenage babysitter. He's in good hands.

He wasn't sure how Bells found out, but one other text came through.

She saw Kim's mark...

His mark, the one the wolf made without anyone's permission had come back to bite him in a figurative sense. He still believed telling her would not be in her best interest after delaying the confession so long... after everything that had transpired. That was no longer a relevant thought. She knew and he had to tell her all of it.

At first she stayed in his lap, but as she came around, she got fairly defensive, kicking her legs and swatting at him. "Let go of me." Jacob held his hands up in surrender and allowed her to move out of his lap to the opposite end of the couch. She looked around. "Where's everyone?"

"They're taking a run to give us some privacy. Sue went to Dad's to help out."

"Atticus."

"He's fine. Rachel sent a few texts."

"I'm not staying away from him very long, so start explaining... all of it."

"Bells, I'm sorry."

"No, I want details, not excuses. How did this happen and why didn't you tell me?"

"In the kitchen that night, right before the tick called. I'd just got you settled after that cliff dive fiasco. It should have happened the first time I saw you after the phase, but it didn't. I never told you what had already happened with Sam and Jared because you were still fragile and since we didn't, I worried what'd you think. He'd left. I promised I wouldn't. I needed you to believe in me."

"What changed? I mean, why then? It was out of order or something?"

"No idea, but maybe you were ready to trust me and you let go of his memory for those few brief moments. Bells, no one else agreed with my idea of holding onto the truth, but honestly at the time, would it have made a difference? If I'd given you a five minute rundown on what imprinting was and that we just experienced it, so you shouldn't follow the leeches, leave me or go to Italy, would you have stayed? I would have looked like I was pulling excuses out of my ass to keep you with me."

"I don't know, but it wasn't fair to lie to me. You hate lying and you're worse than me as far as I'm concerned."

He probably was. She was right. Jacob told her about how it all happened at once: the imprint, the almost kiss, the phone call. His head was spinning and before he understood what was happening, she was leaving with Alice.

"You've had other chances, countless time to tell me the truth. I asked."

"You seemed terrified of imprinting, you hated it or so I thought."

"Are you that stupid? I was scared because I never thought it was possible to be one. Now I find out I am and you still didn't want me. I wasn't even good enough to be your imprint."

He was getting slightly pissed. "That's far from the truth and you know it. You were perfect for me. I knew that before the imprint. Don't blame all of the mistakes on me. You left... three fucking times, you specifically and deliberately walked out on me. First Italy, then after the battle and finally, for good after the wedding. You went as far as to die, remember, so I wouldn't have a damn bit of hope. I didn't want you to stay out of obligation, I wanted you to love me enough without supernatural persuasion."

"I would have... I did." Bella was wiping her face with her hand and sleeve, so Jacob got up and grabbed her several tissues from across the room. "Okay, maybe we both can agree we were stupid, immature teenagers, not capable of dealing with what happened to us. I take full blame for my unnatural obsession with Edward. I get how that influenced you at the time, but I was drawn back to you. I answered the phone. I told you everything. We're adults now: last year, why didn't you tell me then?"

"I don't know."

"Rachel and Kim told me all about marking. Apparently, they had all sorts of counseling before consenting. It was a mutual decision. How dare you do that to me and then keep me in the dark about it. I feel violated."

"Jesus, Bells. I'd never violate you."

"But you did. You did something without my consent."

"It was in the moment. I didn't even know I was about to phase again, that it was possible as a human. If it helps, I don't think it has the same ramifications. The mark doesn't look like theirs."

Bella was furious. She said it obviously wasn't going away, so how did he even know for sure what he was saying was correct. "You can't be just a little bit pregnant, Jake. It's pretty much the same. I'm not only barely marked. I carry your mark. They told me what that means. You went onto marry Kaleigh to get as far from me as possible, but supposedly I'm bound to you forever and can never be intimate with another man. What in fucking hell is that about? You've imprisoned me!"

He told her they could go to Old Quil and the council to find out some more from the archives. "There's different interpretations. It's not all cut and dry. I was supposed to die if you died. I never could figure out what that was about."

"I wasn't dead."

"I know that now, but I thought you were. I can't explain my relationship with Kaleigh to you, but I was at a low place and she helped me forget a great deal of the pain. I was so sure in the beginning, it was wrong to turn my back on her, but I can't deny what being around you and Ace does to me. As a man, I'm divided in two, but the wolf only wants you."

"He got what he wanted, he impregnated me and secured the next generation. I guess he's happy."

"No, he's still extremely unsatisfied that we're not with you like he wants. He's driving me nuts. I assume you were eavesdropping on us. You heard what Quil asked me."

"Spare me, I don't need to hear about your sex life with your wife."

Jacob wasn't going to dump more on her, but his sex life with his wife wasn't right by any means. It never was since the marriage. It was downright embarrassing to admit the problems they had. Kaleigh wanted to see a therapist three months in. Now they weren't even attempting being physical. Jacob was pretty positive he couldn't even get an erection once he crossed the threshold of their home now that Bella was so close. However, he'd had them come easy in the apartment and the time he spent with her in his old room. They were all right, he could not possibly remain someone else's husband and he was on the brink of losing them both just like Embry said.

The two of them sat there for a good while staring into the abyss. They stopped talking. He was sure she had more questions, more yelling to carry out towards him, but nothing was happening until Bella thought of one other thing.

"What's the deal with the guys? Why are they looking at me so funny, stopping in their tracks, ceasing to talk when I open my mouth? Did you give them some weird order?"

"No, that would be all you."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It's one more of those legends we weren't certain of, but now we know. You're the alpha female and they follow you similar to how they follow me. I'd be willing to go out on a limb, they actually enjoy you much more than me at this point."

"Well, tell them to quit this instant. I don't want that sort of responsibility. I have no idea what they need from me. I'm not a leader."

"I can't. We can't undo it, Bells and you're wrong. You're doing a great job with no lessons or training."

Bella jumped up, walked back to Sue's bathroom and slammed the door. She stayed in there for a little while, but came back looking like she'd gotten a grip on the tears. She washed her face, straightened out her hair and looked pretty determined. She opened the front door. She clapped her hands over her head a few times. He hid a snicker. It was actually the only amusing thing he'd seen in days.

She did that about three more times as well as terrible attempts at whistling.

"What the hell are you doing, Bells?"

"I'm calling back the pack. You just said they listen to me."

"They have to hear you first. Here, cover your ears." Jacob gave them a signal with a shrill whistle.

They were all shuffling from the woods in their shorts less than five minutes later. Bella tested her influence. She held up hands, palms facing out, fingers spread as soon as they got to the front yard and driveway. "Stop, right there."

The guys stopped, so she told them to come in five steps closer and they did just as they were instructed, but she stopped them again. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She liked it, but he doubted she'd ever admit that.

All eight of them stood before her, waiting to hear what she had to say. Jacob glanced at Embry. He was just as committed as the rest no matter what he thought of him at the moment. Bella started a series of arm shakes, neck stretches, and foot stomps. He wasn't the only one trying to hold in a laugh. Quil and Brady were the first to crack.

"Are we going to wrestle or do you have something to say?"

Bella spoke firmly, "Shut up, Quil." He bit onto both his lips at once.

"Alright, here goes. I have a very twisted and tenacious vampire interested in me and my son." The guys growled in unison. "I'm fully aware, danger lurks, maybe not tomorrow or even this year, but it exists and I'm relieved we have your protection. I admit, I can't handle Aro alone. However, all this other shit ends now. I don't need you guys obeying me or allowing me to give you orders. Protect my son, that's it. Carry on normal around me, otherwise. I release you from any female alpha orders. That's not who I am. I can't reign over a pack with Jake when he and I aren't even together." Bella waved her arms around in circles in front of them.

"Bells, you're not a sorceress. This isn't a damn spell and you can't release them."

She pouted and stomped her foot. "Then do something, goddammit. Stop it. I don't want any of this. Quil, go get your grandfather. Can he chant something over us and break this imprint? You're all my witnesses. I don't want to be imprinted to Jacob Black. Imprint denied. And this mark has to go."

The pack gasped like a group of teenage girls who just found out their favorite boy band broke up.

Sam spoke first, "She's marked?"

Embry was next, "Selfish bastard."

Seth looked like he was going to cry. Jacob had a lot of explaining to do.

"Oh, none of you knew, that's surprising. Yes, your alpha goes around biting women without their knowledge. Collin, what you got for scars?"

"Huh?" Bella motioned for him to come closer.

She pulled her shirt to the side. They could all hear Collin taking audible breaths behind her. "Feel it. I don't think it's that deep. Do you have some special salve or medicinal lotion? Go on, push on it and see what you think." Collin knew better. He was already too close. Jacob looked at him and shook his head until he backed away a reasonable distance. Bella appeared frustrated. She scowled at him for backing down because of Jacob.

"Leave him alone. I asked for his help."

"Bells, Collin knows not to touch that mark. I'll take his hand off if he does."

"That's ludicrous. I touched Kim and Rachel's. Rachel touched mine and we were all fine. In fact, it made me feel better."

"That's different, but there's no way another man is going to touch it in front of me."

"You're an animal."

"That's what they tell me."

"Then to hell with you. I'll go to a doctor and get it removed." Jacob was almost certain that wasn't possible. He just stood there and let her rant. Bella was obviously trying convince herself she had some type of say so over the whole situation. She looked at all their solemn faces again before turning back to Jacob. "I need to see my son."

He nodded his head in agreement. "Seth, take Bells back to the house and help her get her things. Stick around at Charlie's until you hear from me."

She informed him she was leaving the next day. He knew that was the plan. She didn't know about all the strings he'd pulled so that could happen. "Please, don't go until I can tell Ace goodbye."

"I won't."

"I'll be there just before three." Jacob had no plans of seeing her again before that. She needed some space. He also knew he'd spend the night under her window just like old times when Victoria was on the loose.

Bella said one more thing under her breath. "None of it can be undone, can it?"

"No. I'm afraid not."

"I'll never forgive you for this."

One more thing he was afraid of, but he totally understood why that was the case.

~Thanks for reading.

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