My body was numb as I walked into Sam and Emily's house. I immediately noticed a broken table, and a shattered picture frame on the ground. A wall was cracked a little, indented as if someone or something was thrown against it. Emily and Leah were staring at me. I looked at Emily apologetically. I could tell she was in shock.

"Emily, I'm so, so, so sorry. I'll pay for everything."

She blinked. "It's okay, Bella...it's not your fault."

Leah snorted. "Yeah, but she's the reason Jacob threw Paul into your kitchen."

Emily glanced at Leah, then back at me. "It's fine. I've been trying to get that table replaced every since the Quil incident." Emily accidentally walked in on Quil having sex with some girl from the reservation. Quil wasn't allowed back in the house for five months after that, and Emily still can't eat at the table without feeling disgusted.

"Please, let me-"

"If anyone's going to pay for anything, it's going to be Jacob...or Quil." She added, softly.

Leah smirked as she began picking up the pices. Emily and I started helping, but I was too busy imagining how Paul and Jacob were doing. "I knew this was going to end badly."

"I think anyone could tell you that one, Swan. Do you think you could hide your little secret?" Leah opened the kitchen door, throwing the table pieces out.

"No...yes..." I sighed, hard. "I don't know!" I abandoned the chore and walked back to the living room, falling onto a chair. "We were happy. We didn't want to end it because either way, we knew things weren't going to end well with he and Jacob."

Leah strutted into the room. "Anything can happen." She said with a snark.

"Leah!" Emily snapped. "Be a little empathetic!"

"Hey! Who do you think's been helping her keep her dirty little secret? I've been looking out for them so that no one would find out."

"Yeah..." I confirmed. "I needed help on our first date."

"Wait." Emily halted. "You asked Leah for help and not me?!"

"She looked like a sexy bitch, thank you very much." Leah pridefully exclaimed, smiling.

While I sat thinking about Paul turning into a girl thanks to Jacob, they continued fighting over who would have made me look prettier than the other. I sat there, sort of listening to them until I heard footsteps approaching the house. I looked up to see the whole pack piling into the house - everyone except Jacob and Paul. I was both relieved and worried.

When Sam walked in, he stared right at me. "I thought you had better taste than Paul." I could hear the teasing tone.

"Hey, that's my friend you're talking about." Jared frowned, sitting on the arm of the chair I was on.

"She could have ended up with someone worse." Quil made a point.

"Yeah, she could end up with you." Embry laughed.

I was confused; they were all okay with the fact that I'm dating Paul? If that were true, where is Paul and Jacob?

"So, uh, you're all okay with Paul and I being together?" I asked. "Where are they anyway?"

"I sent Paul home to talk to Rachel. The talk will help calm his wolf down and it's better if Paul tells Rachel about you both." Sam said.

"...but are you guys okay with he and I dating?" I asked, hesitantly.

"Most of us are still getting used to it. But from we've seen in Paul's mind, his feelings are genuine." Sam informed. I nodded, feeling relief wash through me.

Leah glanced at me. "I told you they wouldn't mind."

Sam walked over to Emily, lifting her up only to put her on his lap as he sat down. "We're also sorry that you were afraid to be yourself around us. You're a little sister, and we want you to know that you're safe."

"Right. That's why she's with Paul." Seth retorted. He was definitely not okay with it.

Sam glared at him, but continued to talk to me. "Don't be afraid to be yourself, Bella."

"We understand why you did what you did." Quil clarified.

Sam checked the clock. "Paul's probably off the phone by now. If you wanted, you can go see him."

I nodded without saying anything else, leaving in a hurry. I ran down the steps and kept running towards Paul's house. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders now that everyone knew about our relationship. I was still extremely worried about Jacob. I was scared to ask him what he thought of what he saw in Paul's mind. If everyone's seen it, that means he did, too.

As I neared Paul's house, I felt a smile creep onto my face. I turned towards the woods, thinking of using the shortcut through Jacob's backyard. As I was running past, I felt someone pull me from behind. I yelped, but the person that held me smelled familiar - oil, metal, and apples.

I stopped squirming as I felt the hands drop. I turned around, stunned at Jacob. He was wearing jean shorts. I wasn't prepared to see the heartbroken expression on his face.

"Why...why'd you choose him?" He asked.

I looked at the ground. "Jake...he sees me for who I am. He pushes me to be better. I feel alive when I'm with him." I admitted. "I just love how he makes me feel."

"Fuck...I didn't even..." He let his statement drone out.

"Hey, it's okay." I attempted to comfort.

"It's not. It's all my fucking fault. I had you, then I lost you." Jacob closed his eyes, huffing out a breath. "It sucks."

I pressed my lips together, seeing the pain flash across his face. He was deeply hurt, heartbroken. I hated knowing that I was the cause of this, but I wasn't going to deny my feelings just to make him feel better. He has to know the truth, I can't let him think he has a chance. I can't lead him on like that. It's not fair.

"Jake," I began. "you and the pack make me feel like a family. I can tell you that you will always be my best friend." I assured him. "You're one of the most important people in my life. I need you as my friend."

"I know, I just...I thought - I always imagined we'd be something more." He took a step closer to me. His eyes flashed yellow for the briefest second. I swallowed, taking a step back.

"Jake, we tried that before...but I couldn't go through with it." I reminded him.

He stopped, shaking his head. "So you really do love him."

"I do." I affirmed.

He went rigid for a few moments. "You know, I might never get used to this."

I smiled, weakly. "Sure you will. You love me."

He chortled. "You got me there."

"You have a best friend that will always be there for you, and she knows that you will find someone that will love you the way you're supposed to."

He sighed. "Maybe. One day. I need to get my life in order." He ran a hand through his hair. "I think it's time to take over the pack."

I widened my eyes, my whole demeanor relaxing. This was a big step. "Really?!"

He nodded, though he looked slightly nervous and uncertain. "I've been fighting the urge, but my wolf knows it's time to take on the status. I can use this to push Paul around." He teased.

I crossed my arms. "Do you think Sam's ready for you to take over?" We both looked at each other, silently considering it. Sam had been begging Jacob to take over for the past two years, but he was always too reluctant.

I looked over my shoulder instinctively. Jacob noticed.

"You should, um, probably go see him." He suggested, the sadness in his voice wasn't as strong as it was before.

"You gonna be okay?" I asked.

"It's a lot to take in, but yeah. I'll be fine. I'm just going to go inside and have a long chat with my pop." He said. I grinned, wide. I went in to hug him, and he welcomed my embrace. He pressed his lips against my hear. "If he ever hurts you or my sister, he's gone."

He let go of me, watching me as I continued my run to Paul's house. When I saw his house, everything clicked. I walked up to the front porch, knocking on the door, all the while my heart was racing. Before I knew it, I was in Paul's arms. He held onto me, almost desperately.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt free.

Editor/Beta: Moriarty's Diary