At the Cullen residence Jacob was met by glaring eyes. The rest of the bloodsuckers clearly didn't know why he was there, or what had been going on, which he was thankful for. He didn't really want anyone to know he was– well, he wasn't gay, but he would never be able to see anyone else in a romantic light ever again, so he might as well be.

The thought of being with another man in any kind of romantic or sexual way had frightened and repulsed him, but now that Edward was near him, now that he could look at him with his own eyes, he couldn't get himself to feel repulsed by him. He needed Edward, all of Edward. Edward wasn't just any man, he was… his fated match.

Still, Jacob felt a pit in his stomach thinking about how other people would look at him if they knew. He came from a long line of powerful, magical chieftains, who exuded authority and masculine energy. Of a lineage of strong and resilient shape shifters who were literally made to set nature back in order. How would it look if he let another man guide him? If he bowed to the whims of a Cold One?

Edward stood over in the doorway of Carlisle's office, turning his troubled face away from Jacob. He hadn't said another word since he helped Jacob inside, despite what had been running through Jacob's imagination.

"Well, there's nothing physically wrong with you," Carlisle proclaimed, "but I'd like to know what caused you to stop taking care of yourself." The man had a kind voice. It sounded like he genuinely cared about the answer, but Jacob was reluctant to trust a leech, ironically enough. His feelings for Edward hadn't removed his werewolf instinct to hate vampires, and though it did make him ponder their plight a little bit more, he still didn't want them to know his biggest weakness.

Edward sighed, "Jacob," he started, and Jacob felt the hairs on his arm stand up at the utterance of his name, "tell him, he might know what to do. You dogs don't know a solution, fine, but maybe Carlisle can figure it out." Jacob cringed at his use of the word dog. It had always angered him when Edward belittled his whole ancestry like that, but now it filled him with a deep allconsuming sorrow.

Jacob felt a slight nausea build up inside him. Talking about werewolf affairs with the bloodsuckers went against everything he stood for, he would never even have considered it before. Besides, if the vampires knew, how long until Bella knew, until his pack would know? But Edward wanted him to tell him, so–

"He won't tell the others," Edward chimed in, "will you, Carlisle?"

Carlisle shook his head slightly, "You can look at it as physician/patient privilege, it won't leave this room," he smiled, making Jacob feel slightly at ease. If Edward trusted him, it must be fine. Edward would probably not want people to know about this either, right?

"I've… well, in the Quileute tribe, us shape-shifters have this thing we call imprinting," Jacob started hesitantly.

Carlisle's eyes lit up, "Oh, yes I've heard about that; a powerful mate-bond to ensure the continuation of your kind."

Edward let out a snide laugh.

"Well, I don't think that's the reason for my… I… Well," Jacob took a deep breath, "I've imprinted on… on Edward." Jacob looked down at his feet, as Carlisle quickly glanced over at Edward, who's expression was unreadable.

"I see," Carlisle started, "I can see how that might be a bit unfortunate."

"A bit unfortunate?" Edward shot in, "You're not the one who has to listen to his deviant thoughts all the time," Jacob wanted to crawl up and disappear. He didn't blame Edward for feeling that way, hell; he would feel the exact same way were the roles reversed. But it still hurt more than words could describe hearing him say it out loud.

Carlisle seemed to take notice of Jacob crumbling under the effect of Edward's words. "No need to be so harsh, Edward, I'm sure he didn't exactly want this to happen," Carlisle said, "But this imprinting, is it really as strong as in the stories I've heard? I'd love to learn more."

He wasn't a fucking science experiment. But Edward seemed to want him to know. "I can't eat when he's not there, I can't sleep… I, I can't fucking breathe." he said through clenched teeth, "I can't focus on anything else when I'm away from him." This felt eerily similar to his talk with Sam earlier that day, but this time he felt like he was exposing himself too much. "-But imprinting doesn't have to mean, like, anything romantic," he hurriedly added.

Jacob felt a little bit idiotic for bringing it up. He wanted it to be romantic more than anything, but it really shouldn't have to be. Maybe it would change once the initial shock was over. Once the universe, or whatever, realized what Edward actually needed from him; a friend for Bella.

"I'll do whatever Edward wants me to do. I'll be his friend, his protector, his–" slave, his dog. Fuck, he couldn't say that out loud. He might as well be gone if Edward didn't need him for anything. He didn't care what.

Carlisle looked at him with concern, then turned to Edward who was staring daggers out into the empty hallway with a tortured expression cloaking his face. "Can I have a word with you alone, Edward?" He said, eliciting a faint nod from Edward, who walked with him outside.

Jacob could hear them running noticeably far away from the house into the middle of nowhere. He knew they were meaning to go far enough so that nobody in the house could hear them, but they had underestimated his werewolf hearing. When he focused in, he could hear everything they said as clear as day.

"I know how you feel about this kind of thing, Edward," Carlisle started.

"You don't know anything," Edward spit out.

"But, this isn't in his control, it won't do you any good to keep hurting him."

"It's hurting me to listen to him," Edward snarled, "I can't block his depraved thoughts out of my head. It's disgusting."

"Edward, it's not the 1900s anymore," Carlisle hissed, seemingly getting agitated, "I can't discern why you insist on keeping such traditional values… Even after everything you've seen and done."

Edward scoffed, "It's precisely because of what I've seen… and done." There was a rawness and hurt in his voice that sent shivers down Jacob's spine. He wanted to take away all of Edward's upsetting memories. He wanted Edward to confide in him, and let Jacob console him.

"It won't harm you to simply be friendly with him," Carlisle started.

Edward let out a sarcastic laugh, "He doesn't want to be my friend," he snarled.

"I'll see what can be done about the situation," Carlisle sympathized, "but in the meantime we can't let him deteriorate. He said he just wants to make you happy, right?" Carlisle said, "and you have Bella, he wouldn't do anything to hurt that. This might even be an improvement to your previous situation with Bella; now he's no threat to you."

Jacob shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Thinking about Bella used to make him happy. He used to recall funny memories of her being clumsy, or imagine new places to show her. Now he felt sick thinking about her; thinking about Edward's arms around her, his lips on hers, about the 'I love you's they shared. Why did he want to take that away from Edward? Bella was good for him; she was gentle and pure, amiable and considerate. She was the polar opposite of what Jacob was.

Jacob could hear Edward pacing around, "I'll put up with him for Bella's sake, but only until we find a way to snap him out of this… depraved fixation."