I woke, warm and happy. I sighed, rubbing my face against the source of the wonderful heat.

A rumbling noise near my ear caught my attention, making my eye shoot open. A naked, toned russet chest greeted me. I trailed my eyes over the pecs, to the throat and finally up to the face attached. Jake.

I carefully snuck out to the bathroom, used the toilet and brushed my teeth before returning. I slid back into the bed as quietly as I could, thankfully he didn't wake.

I watched him sleep for a few moments, enjoying the peaceful look on his face as he dreamt. I decided on a very different way to wake him up, instead of my normal approach. I leaned over his torso, pressing my lips against his right pec, letting my hair fall forward and tickle his skin.

He huffed and moved a little at first, then grunted once. Finally, his eyes opened, his dark orbs staring down at me.

I removed my lips, smiling. "Good morning, sleepy head."

"Mmmm. Mornin'," Jake slurred, pulling me the rest of the way onto his chest and burrowing his face in my hair.

I hummed happily, enjoying the heat he emitted. "Okay, big guy, come on. We need to get up now."

He grunted, his arms tightening around me in protest, when I tried to leave his chest. I pushed on his arms, trying to make him react.

He did.

In a move so sudden it almost made me scream in surprise, he rolled me on my back and tickled me by pretending he was chomping on my neck without his teeth. I squealed and wiggled in his grasp, trying my hardest to escape. After a few moments, he stopped and pressed a kiss to my shoulder before flopping down and closing his eyes. I sighed.

"Jake, we have to get up. You need to check in with the pack and I need to see how Charlie's doing." I didn't want to bring the dark cloud into the room, but we both had responsibilities today.

He sighed, sitting up with his eyes still closed.

"How's your dad?" I asked softly.

Jake's body tensed and his eyes were sad when he opened them. "I don't know. He won't talk to me about him."

My heart clenched for both of them. "Oh, Jake. . . I'm sorry."

He shrugged, not looking at me. I cuddled into his side, hugging to me. It was the only comfort I could give him.

"It's okay, Bells. You know him, he never did like to talk about his feelings." He mumbled, picking at a spot on his cut offs.

"No, probably why he gets along so well with my dad." I replied, kissing his shoulder and scooting toward the edge of the bed. Once I achieved that, I stood and faced my best friend.

He looked like he'd been crying silently while I was there.

"Jake, I hate to do this, but we should get going. I was planning on stopping by the Clearwaters with a pie or something later. I need to check on my dad and start that pie." I felt like a jerk and I actually hated myself, more than just a little.

He didn't respond as he stood up, stretching until his back popped in two places. He waved over his shoulder as he left my room, leaving me feeling even worse.

I dressed in the first thing I got my hands on, thankfully it matched alright.

Charlie was sitting at the table, staring into a cup he held in front of him. He looked lost. My heart broke for him, he loved Harry like family. He lost more than a best friend yesterday.

"Dad?" I did my best not to startle him in my attempts to gain his attention.

My father looked up, his face clearing a little. "Hey, Bells, when did you wake up?"

"Not long ago," I fibbed, the last thing I wanted was for him to feel bad for not noticing me right away.

He nodded, taking a sip of his drink.

We both jumped when the door opened.

"Forgot my shirt," Jake announced, joining me and dad in the kitchen.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Go on up."

Charlie waited until he could hear him upstairs. "He was in your room last night?"

"Yeah, I didn't want to stay here alone. He slept above the blankets and the door was open, I promise." I reassured him, hoping he wouldn't mind.

"Oh." Something else had to be on his mind, he didn't even seem to register what I said.

"Dad?"

"Mm?"

"Are you okay?"

Jake chose that moment to descend the stairs, rejoining us.

Charlie focused on him, his eyes intent. "Jake, I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me."

"Uh, okay?" He titled his head to the side and sat at the table.

"Are you a wolf, too?" My father asked, his eyes trained on Jake's face.

I froze, internally panicking. Oh shit! What do we do? What do we do?!

Jake gaped at Charlie, stunned. "But. . . .how do you know about the wolves? We're supposed to be a tribe secret!"

"Got a shocker when I visited the Clearwaters. For a moment, I actually thought I had lost my mind. There was no way that the children of my best friend burst into wolves!" He shook his head, eyes distant as he relived his memories. "Sam pulled me aside, after things were settled and told me everything."

"Everything?"

"Well, you're the tribe protectors, you change when you want to."

"Yeah, that covers it."

Charlie looked from Jake to me, uncertain about something.

My wolf sighed. "I would never hurt her, Charlie. Whether it's when I'm changing into a giant wolf, or her emotional welfare."

My father nodded, seemingly pleased with this answer. "Good. Take care of my girl, Jacob Black."

I frowned at him, a huge question mark flashing through my head. What in the world is that supposed to mean?

He caught the look. "Well you're together now, aren't you?"

I could've smacked myself. Duh! "Yes, we are. We haven't discussed it a lot, so we're still figuring it out."

"Well, as I said, take care of my girl."

"I'll protect her with my life, Charlie." Jake declared seriously, dark eyes staring at me like I was the only thing on this planet.

I felt burning in my eyes. I'd never get used to the way he looked at me. He looked at me like I was everything. It made me feel loved, cherished. Wanted.

Life would finally be about love, the way it was supposed to be all along.