A/N:

Warning: Adult themes and language. We own nothing, only our dream of Jacob Black! Thanks to the awesome JUL5857 who was kind enough to beta for us. Thanks darling! - JB & Nic

Thanks to all those who left us reviews and to the 287 people who clicked and read our story without leaving a review. You know, leaving your authors some nice (or not nice) thoughts is the only way to let us know if we suck or not... LOL Don't be shy. Let us know what you think.

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Hostage of Love

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Chapter 2

~Shattered~

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Bella stood frozen behind Edward, as Seth and Sam shoved a heavily shaking Jake away, dragging and pulling him into the forest. Even though she wanted to run after him, she was rooted in her spot, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

She was still shocked about the way Jacob had looked at her after her revelation of having a real honeymoon. Defeat and despair displayed in his eyes as he grabbed her arms and shook her like a rag doll, hoping it would change a thing. Thinking about the look in his eyes made her chest ache. Bella became very angry with herself that she had started this argument with Jacob at all. She hadn't intended to tell him about it. It had just slipped out when he had mocked her about gambling her life away.

She was startled when Edward grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the house. He was rough and too fast and she almost fell over her own feet. "You're hurting me," she complained in a small voice, but the pain his grip caused her was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her heart. The further Edward pulled her away from the direction Jacob had gone, the more painful it became. It was comparable to the pain she used to feel when Edward was gone. She bit back a sob and put her free hand over her throbbing heart.

Edward stopped abruptly, looking at her sharply and not even trying to hide what he was feeling. "I want to kill him," he spat. His voice was frightening; hatred marred his features.

For the first time ever, she was afraid of him. Would he go after Jacob and if so, what would he do? "No, Edward," she whimpered and clenched her free hand around his arm.

He loosened the grip around her wrist and bent down to whisper into her ear, "I'm so proud that you finally found the strength to tell him that it is me and only me who you always wanted, that it's me who you cannot live without. What was the dog thinking?" Edward chuckled disdainfully. "In fact, you putting him in his place is the only reason that keeps me from killing him, love." Then he added so quietly, Bella wasn't even sure if she heard right, "He never stood a chance against me."

Bella could not believe what she had just seen in his face and what he had said. Was this person talking still her Edward?

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her with him towards the Cullen Mansion, where Alice was waiting for them, waving frantically. They must have looked like a truly happy couple to their guests. But were they? Why didn't she feel happy? She was supposed to be happy. After all, she got what she wanted, did she not?

For a moment it was as if she could hear the sounds of roaring and the sound of splintering wood, but she wasn't sure. What was going on back there? Her stomach clenched and she was scared, really scared for Jake. By some strange force, her body turned back to the forest, straining to get there.

"Bella, love, everybody is waiting for us. We need to keep up the appearance. Nobody must know what the mongrel tried to do to you," Edward said to her, tightening the grip around her waist.

When she looked up, his face was perfectly blank. Only the dark look in his eyes told her how angry he still was. "OK, Edward," she heard herself whisper, feeling extremely weak and so sad. "How do I look?" She ran her hands over her hair, checking if every pin was still in place, then pressed her palms against her heated cheeks, hoping the blush would disappear.

"Beautiful," he answered, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His eyes lingered on her for a while, before he took her elbow and led her inside. He was much gentler now, but she had noticed this different gloom deep within his eyes and it made her feel uneasy.

As soon as they entered the hall Bella noticed her own reflection in the large windowpane. Who are you, she mentally asked herself? This was supposed to be the best day in her life. How could it turn into such disaster? She stared at herself in the large antique mirror in front of her while she noticed all the commotion around her.

Instantly, all she wanted to do was smash the glass. Suddenly, she felt too disgusted to look at her reflection as she wondered to which extent she must have hurt Jacob with her words and actions tonight—and before—up to this day. To make things worse, having seen his eyes when his friends dragged him away, she feared she had destroyed his spirit. Some friend she was… She was an ugly, a disgusting person.

"It's time for the last dance, ladies and gentlemen," Alice squealed excitedly and the music started to play Michael Bublé's The Way you look Tonight.

Bella felt the eyes of her father and mother resting on her as her husband took her in his arms and spun her around to the music. She tried to smile although she didn't felt like smiling, and only Edward and maybe Alice saw that her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Allowing herself a weak moment, Bella closed her eyes, which started to really burn from unshed tears and rested her cheek at her husband's cold, hard chest. She couldn't explain the weary feeling that settled around her heart. She should be happy here with her husband, but right now all she felt was guilt and fear and a longing for Jacob's embrace, for Jacob's heat.

She should have known that he would be devastated by her revelation. Somehow, she still felt his hands in a tight grip around her arms, burning her skin, the remembrance becoming even more intense with Edward's cold body close to her.

As the dance continued she became extremely restless and very concerned. Bella opened her eyes again, searching the room and the illuminated garden for the Wolf pack, but of course they had left already. There was no reason for them to be here.

"Everything will turn out well for him, love. Don't worry about him," Edward murmured into her ear and she nodded reluctantly.

Would Jacob really be better? Would her best friend be able to move on from this? She knew wolves mated for live. Was the love he felt for her similar to the bond a wolf had with his mate? But that was imprinting, right? If a werewolf found his mate it was called imprinting, and Jacob hadn't imprinted on her. So she wasn't his mate for life, right? Bella tried to convince herself that if someday he would imprint he would forget about her, but what if not? No! Jacob would be fine. He must, she prayed silently.

"Sometimes, you have to learn to love what's good for you," her father had told her, once upon a time when Edward was gone. She had already loved Jacob back then, but never realized how much. It only became clear to her when they shared that kiss at the mountain top before the fight with Victoria. But she didn't love him enough, not enough to let go of Edward. That's what she thought, what she believed. But what if… if she had been… what if… she was wrong?

She was very sure about that, if Edward hadn't returned, she would have loved Jacob and eventually would have spent the rest of her life with him. Maybe not immediately, but she would have, that she was sure off. But it was too late now to even think about this possibility. She was married and Jacob would move on eventually, wouldn't he?

When she lifted her head she caught her father's eyes. He looked sad, concern creasing his forehead. They looked at each other for a while until she felt her husband's lips brush over her hair and she shivered, leaning closer into him. She needed to get away from here. Everything would get better when nothing could remind her of Jacob. She had made her choice and it wasn't Jacob.

Bella lifted her head. Edward placed a chaste kiss onto her lips and she felt another shiver run down her spine. No, she repeated, everything has to be alright…

"Come on, come on," Alice said excitedly when the song was over and snatched her out of Edward's arms. "You have to change your clothes. You have to catch your flight." She pulled Bella into their room, where her mother and Esme were waiting, and helped her out of her dress.

Bella sighed in relief as the dress fell from her body, making her feel so much lighter. Alice handed her a pretty midnight blue dress while Esme took care of her wedding dress. Bella's hands were shaking badly and she barely managed to put on her new dress, less alone zip it up. Her mother laughed at Bella, saying, "Honey, it's so darn cute to see you shaking from your nerves."

Bella smiled, trying to control her anxiousness, but failed. Renee finally saw that something seemed wrong with Bella. "Bella, I believe we need to talk," she said sternly and pleadingly looked at Esme and Alice to give them some alone time.

"Ten minutes," Alice chirped, tapping at her watch, and closed the door behind her.

"What's going on, Bella?" Renee asked softly and took her daughter's hands.

Bella sat down on the bed and hung her head low. She sighed deeply and then whispered, "I've been an idiot. That's going on."

"Bella," Renee said probing. "I saw you were arguing with Jacob. He doesn't approve of you getting married, right? Why not Bella?"

Bella shook her head and bit her lips. She couldn't tell her mom in what a difficult situation she had managed to get herself in, but Renee understood like all mothers knew by instinct what was going on in their kids. "This boy loves you and that's why he ran away..."

Bella looked at her mother, freaked out by her observation skills, and Renee… She looked right through her daughter, as suddenly everything fell in place. Jacob running away and then unexpectedly showing up at the wedding, their argument and Edward's angry glare (oh yes, Renee had recognized) and now Bella's devastated condition. "Oh, Bella, why have you hidden this from me? Why have you never told me that you love him too?"

"Mom," Bella whispered, knowing fully well that every word they spoke would be overheard by Edward and her new family. "It does not matter anymore," she said defeated. "I chose Edward. I married him. I love him and I always saw my future with him. Now, I need to give it a real try." As she spoke those words, Renee frowned deeply.

"What is it, Mom?" Bella exclaimed. Only then she noticed that she was sobbing. Shaking with nerves and her anxiety, she fell into her mother's arms, letting her tears flow freely.

Renee held her daughter, tenderly rubbing her back. "Bella, what happened out there? Did Jacob hurt you?"

"No," Bella replied, shaking her head. "He did nothing wrong, Mom. It was me. I said something… stupid… that I shouldn't have said. I hurt him, I hurt him so bad." More huge tears ran down her cheeks.

Renee simply nodded. She didn't judge. "You two are... best friends. You will work it out, you'll see."

Bella's tears didn't stop. She simply couldn't stop crying as she realized that she would never be able to see Jake again, because she wouldn't come back from her honeymoon, because she would be a vampire then—Jake's mortal enemy and dangerous to the people around her. "Mom," she wailed not holding back as panic almost overwhelmed her. "Why do I feel so unhappy?"

"There, there, my poor girl." Renee pulled her daughter into her arms, cradling her like she hadn't done in years.

Slowly, Bella came back to her senses. She knew Alice would be back soon and their guests expected her to be back downstairs in a few. She had to pull herself together. Bella shrugged her shoulders and slipped out of her mother's arms. This would be her future—keeping up appearances.

Will I ever see you again, Bella thought as she wiped away her tears, offering her mom a sad smile. She could have cried all over again, but she fought her tears. She didn't want her mom to remember her crying. She tried to smile. "Jake and I will work it out, Mom... somehow!"

Renee's face revealed that she did not believe her, but she said nothing.

Right on cue, Alice returned and threw her hands up in mock horror. "Bella, you ruined your makeup."

"I know you can fix it, Alice," Bella said evenly. She simply didn't care. Not when inside her heart she kept on crying. Renee was not convinced that Bella was better, but excused herself to go and find Phil and Charlie, finding herself slightly intimidated by Alice's irritated glare.

When she was gone, Alice placed Bella on the chair in front of a huge mirror and quickly removed the bridal veil and the clips that held her hair together. Her hair fell down her shoulders in big waves and Alice smoothed it with her hands, sighing dramatically.

"Can you….can you… see Jake?" Bella eventually asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Alice shook her head, quickly removing the smudges her mascara had left under her eyes, and pressed her fingers onto Bella's eyes gingerly. It had a cooling effect on her skin that burned from the salty tears.

"You know I can't see him, Bella. I knew that he couldn't behave himself and Edward is more than pissed at him," Alice replied angrily. "And before you start apologizing… Yes, I heard everything. It only confirms my fears for quite a while. You think you love this mutt, Bella, but believe me it's only some kind of straw fire. The one you truly love is my brother and he deserves that you will give your best to make your marriage succeed. Edward and you are meant to be together, don't forget that."

Bella gasped at the sound of Alice's angry voice, swallowing the answer that leaped up her throat and waited on the tip of her tongue. One thing was true, nevertheless, Bella was sorry and she wanted to apologize—but not to Alice or Edward. She wanted to apologize to Jacob, even though it wouldn't change the fact that she had hurt him so much.

The more Bella thought about everything the more positive she was about having to talk to Jake for a last time. She knew that she would never be able to see him again once she was changed and that thought increased the pain in her chest, surpassing any pain she had felt over Edward's leaving.

When Alice was satisfied with the way Bella looked—dress fitting perfectly, her makeup presenting the perfect picture of a happy woman—they went downstairs where Edward was waiting already. He smiled at her proudly and pulled her into a kiss. His cool lips pressed down on her mouth with a little more force than usual and it made her feel almost uncomfortable.

The kiss ended and Bella saw Charlie in the crowd. "Dad," she called out and ran over to him, wrapping her arms around his chest. "I'm going to miss you," Bella sobbed, because she knew that she would never see him again. Her heart hurt so much it was almost unbearable.

"I'm gonna miss you, too, kiddo," Charlie whispered into her ear. "But you'll be back soon. It's not like you'd be gone forever, right?" he said and hugged her tightly, sniffing away some tears. "Hey, I will look after Jake and Billy, don't you worry about that. "

"I love you, Dad. Forever," Bella said and let him go. It was painful, and she didn't want to, but the more she dragged it out, the more their goodbye would hurt.

"Love you more, Bells," Charlie replied, holding on to his smirk. Only red-rimmed eyes told of his tears.

Their car was waiting outside, richly decorated with hundreds of red and white balloons. Even a "Just Married" sign was put onto the car.

Edward took Bella's hand as they ran to the car, shielding her from the rice that showered down upon them. For Bella it felt like the longest run in her life as it took her away from everything that she loved—parents, friends… Jake!

Edward helped her into the car and buckled her in. He grinned at her and whispered, "You're beautiful, Bella Cullen." His voice floated over her, lulling her into a calm, peaceful trance. Befuddled, she lazily smiled back at him and rested her head against the headrest of her seat, but soon enough her nervousness and anxiety started again. The feeling intensified fast.

They were only gone for two or three miles as Bella's anxiety grew a hundredfold. "How much time do we have until the plane leaves?" she asked and turned to look at her husband.

Edward smiled at her, "Three hours. Why do you ask?"

"I need to see Jacob," she burst out and demanded, "I can't leave like that. You have to find him for me."

"What?" Edward asked incredulously, looking at her questioning. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, Edward. I'm sorry, but I really need to…" Bella replied, determined to do just that. She had to see Jacob. She had to see him for one more time.

"That mutt will never get his paws on you again," he yelled at her with a strange glint in his eyes and Bella sank in her seat.

"Just one more time, Edward. Please," she whispered, almost drowning in her feeling of hopelessness.

For a long time, Edward just stared straight forward, his face showing no emotion. He wasn't even blinking. His statuesque attitude suddenly very much reminded Bella of what he really was and today, it somehow gave her the creeps.

Eventually, he snapped out of his state and shook his head, closing his hands tightly around the steering wheel. "This can't be real…" he choked out. "I'm the one you've chosen." A chill ran down her spine and her anxiety grew. "We're married for only a couple of hours and now you want to run after him?" Edward ran his hand through his hair, roughly. His angry glare darkened his honeyed eyes, making her shiver even more. "He doesn't deserve to see you ever again, Bella. Look what he is doing to you! You're a mess."

Bella was stunned by Edward's outburst and once more, she felt a cold shiver running down her spine at what she saw in his eyes. "It's not what you think, Edward. You know how worried I was when he ran away," she whispered. She wrung her hands desperately, willing the tears away that formed in her eyes. She had often ignored Jake's feelings, but today she couldn't. The worry she felt made her stomach roll and her breath accelerate.

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose. She had learned that he did that when he was feeling uncomfortable or nervous. "You know what, Bella?" he spat aggressively, his voice becoming loud. "To me it looks like a perfect plan. Black played you like an instrument since he very well knows how you'd react. Maybe, he even expects that you come after him. It's a game for him. He can't accept that I won, that you chose me over him."

"NO!" Bella argued defensively. "Jacob isn't like that. I hurt him and I can't leave like that. I couldn't live with myself if he did something rash because of me… I know you can find him. Please…" Bella touched his hand, attempting to plead with him.

Maybe it was her pleading, but suddenly Edward was more than willing to allow her one more visit with Jake. Why was he staring into the woods? Why did his features seem almost happy, smug at the very least? "Okay, I'm going find him for you, but then, my darling, we'll leave," he relented and slowed the car down while listening intently. "I promise you, you will never want to return. Once you're turned, your memories of him will fade away quickly."

"Thank you," Bella murmured, promising to herself that she would never ever forget about Jake. She also wondered what had changed Edward's mind. He was still staring into the forest, but as much as she strained her ears, she couldn't hear a thing, apart from something that sounded like a faint howl from time to time, but that could be the wind as well.

"I know where he is," he said a few minutes later and pulled his car to the side, stopping the engine. He took her hands, pressing them slightly and declared, "I can only take you to the treaty line, but he isn't that far from there, Bella. He will hear you when you get closer." A distant look showed on his face, then a frown. The frown vanished but made place for a short, sarcastic sneer.

"What is it, Edward?" Bella asked anxiously as she opened the door.

"Nothing, love," Edward answered, still intently listening. "Come. I'll lead you there." He was around the car in no time and took her hand, helping her to get out of her seat. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her through the forest.

Bella got dizzy from the speed and buried her face in his hard chest. It was uncomfortable as her head hurt badly. She also started freezing, because her thin dress didn't give much protection against his cold body.

Abruptly, Edward stopped and put her back on her feet. "This is the farthest I can go," he declared. He seemed astonishing relaxed and unconcerned. "You walk straight ahead, Bella. They are very close." Edward pointed somewhere into the darkness, gently nudging her to go into that direction.

"They?" Bella asked without turning around.

"They are a pack, Bella. They wouldn't leave him alone in his state of mind, right?" Edward answered, but there was something in his voice she didn't like. There was a smugness she had never heard before either. Somehow, he looked too pleased, too smug, and almost sly. It confused Bella profoundly as she was getting even more worried and deeply concerned about her friend.

Reluctantly, Bella started to walk, stopped, waited, took some more steps and stopped again. It was a full moon and the forest was tinted in a pale light. It was enough to help her see where she walked so she wouldn't trip and fall.

She jumped when suddenly she heard a high-pitched shriek and a deep guttural growl very close nearby. "What was that?" she asked breathless, pressing her hand over her hammering heart and turned around to look back at Edward. Almost hidden from the darkness, she could only see him, because of his white skin that reflected the moonlight. Edward nodded encouraging. "Just go ahead," he called quietly.

Bella finally walked. All she was thinking about was finding Jacob. She took slow, cautious steps forward, following the direction her husband had directed her to go. "Jacob?" she called out, fear creeping up her spine. She received no answer, but those strange, startling noises that conjured up a strange heat in her belly. The hoarse grunts and growls settled in her body like little shocks, drawing her closer and frightening her at the same time.

She finally registered that the noises she heard very much sounded like a couple having sex, her suspicion was being confirmed when she heard a male voice bellow his lust through the entire forest. She wanted to bolt and run, not wanting to barge in on the lucky couple, but her feet dragged her forward, curiosity getting the better of her.

This was when she saw him!

She was not able to move or say anything. In fact, she could not remember how to breathe for a moment. The scene in front of her was incredible and she was in utter shock. After the last groan it suddenly became very silent and she only heard her own harsh breathing.

She shoved away a branch with her hands to get a better look and then a twig broke under her feet. Taking in the tiny meadow before her, she stared at them: Jacob lying on top of Leah. Both were naked, panting, and entangled with each other, wearing scratch and bite marks on their sweat-covered bodies. Bella gasped aghast at this sight.

Their heads whipped around simultaneously. "Bells…" Jake choked out, clearly in shock about seeing her here. Leah groaned in annoyance and covered her face with her hands, rubbing it irritated.

Slowly, Jacob sat up and his face became an almost emotionless mask as he stared at defiantly. His hand rested on Leah's hip, squeezing it slightly. The intimate gesture made Bella feel like an intruder.

Not bothering with his nakedness, he got up. Everything about him was deliberate provocation and that hard 'dare you' look on his face made her skin crawl. Bella blushed fiercely as she saw his body in all its glory, the pale moonlight giving it an alluring shimmer.

Painfully slowly, Jacob reached for something that lay on the ground, not even attempting to hide his manhood from her. He put a shirt around Leah's shoulder in a caring gesture, then searched for his pants and slipped them on.

"Don't you think you're at the wrong party, Mrs. Cullen?" he asked snidely, finally breaking the silence, fastening his pants.

Bella flinched at his words and the cold tone in his voice. She clenched her hands, her nails biting into her palms. They stared at each other again until the silence became painful. It hurt to see him with Leah, but why to blame him? She opened her mouth, but nothing came out but a broken, "Jake…"

For a moment, the emotionless mask of his face fell and the look in his eyes told her everything—his hurt and disgust, the anger and despair, his love and also… shame. Then his face was as cold and hard as before.

Leah stood up and came to stand beside Jacob. Holding the shirt together before her chest, she addressed Bella calmly and similar emotionless, "I think you better go now."

Bella had never felt that humiliated before. She flinched again and stuttered, "I… I'm sorry, Jake, I am so sorry... I didn't want to… I… I needed…I wanted… to see you and talk to you… but I… It doesn't change a thing." A strangled sob escaped her throat as she turned around and ran back the path she came from. She hoped that Jake would call after her, but he didn't. She hoped that maybe he would follow her, but he didn't. She fell, twice, but he wasn't there to pick her up.

Tears ran down her face when she returned to the treaty line and the spot where Edward waited for her. "Edward," she choked out, blinded by her tears.

"What is it, love?" he asked concerned and wrapped his arms around her. She fell into his embrace, sobs shaking her small body.

"Take me away from here," she demanded tiredly and, without saying a word, Edward lifted her up and carried her back to the car. Gingerly, he placed her on her seat and buckled her in.

A moment later, he started the car, content that he had made the right decision when he let her walk in on the mutt fucking the pack bitch. He felt excited, knowing that seeing her 'best friend' like this had been the final straw for Bella to realize that she truly belonged to him, Edward, that he was the one she needed and loved, that he was the only one that could take care of her and treat her right, and he was going to make sure that she would forget about this dog once and for all.

Bella had her eyes closed exhaustedly. She didn't see her husband's satisfied, smug smile. She didn't see the triumph in his eyes. She didn't know that he intently listened to Jacob's thoughts; that he was basking in her friend's regret and pain. She didn't hear him thinking about a filthy dog having learned his lesson…..