-Bella-

Trees fly past me as I desperately cling to Jacob's fur. It's a strange sensation, the last time that I flew through a forest at this speed was on Edward's back. I close my eyes as I listen to the heavy padding of Jacob's paws against the forest floor. The frantic beat of my heart pounding against my ribcage, echos in my ears. My hands tighten around his fur. This doesn't make any sense, why would Victoria not take the advantage? We were vulnerable, she had a moment to attack when I didn't even know, and Jacob wasn't even aware that she was there. We were distracted. I flush at the thought of his kiss, the warmth of his skin against mine. His lips were soft against mine, rough hands pressed against the small of my back. Lost in his kiss, I had never felt more alive. I had never felt like I was alive, even with Edward. It didn't make any sense. I don't know what to do, what to feel. My head snaps up at the sound of approaching feet, and fast. I turn and see Sam, his huge Jet Black fur barely recognizable in the shadows of the trees. Jared's short brown hair and soft grey masked eyes appear by Jacob's flank, followed by Paul his silver fur glistening. Everywhere I look, there are more and more. Collin and his small reddish-brown form, Leah a small beautiful white wolf. Seth's sandy form was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Quil's chocolate brown wolf. Embry and his white and black spotted form were nowhere to be seen either. Had they stayed at the reservation? Were all of these guys already in the forest? How did they get here so fast? How long have we been running?

"Jacob. I know that you can't reply, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of this. For all of you being here because of me. I'm so sorry, Jake." I cry into his fur, my face buried into his musky scent. I don't know how long we run before we are near Jacob's house. He bends down and lets me slide off of his back, I drop his clothes onto a nearby log and walk towards the house. I hear him phase behind me and I keep walking. I can't look at him, I can't let everybody keep risking their lives for me. I can't keep hiding out here when there are people out there trying to kill me. Or worse, I don't even know what they want! I don't know what's going on.

"Bella!" I hear his footsteps running up to me. "Bella, what's wrong?" His hand catches my arm and I stop reluctantly, turning to face him as the tears streak down my cheeks.

"When is this going to end, Jacob! When am I going to get to stop running from something, from somebody trying to kill me? Trying to kill the people that I care about! Why is this happening? What did I do to deserve this? Be human? Have a beating heart that somebody wanted to drain? What-" I run my fingers through my hair, I stomp back towards the house.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going home, Jake." I throw open the door to their house and throw my things together in Jacob's bedroom.

"Don't do this. Just let me protect you. Please." He's standing close to me now, his hand pressed against my arm.

"Jake, I have to go. I can't keep putting you in danger. If whoever was in the forest was after me, then I am not even safe on your lands. I'm not safe anywhere.

"You're only going if I'm going with you."

"Jake, how-Charlie would never let you stay with me."

"I will figure something out Bella. Please. If you're not going to stay here then I am coming with you."

"Okay, Jake. Okay."

I grab my bags and brush past him, he follows me quietly. He reaches and grabs the bags from my hands and sets them in the back of the truck, opening my side of the door before circling and climbing into the front seat. The ride back to Charlie's is quiet as the sun sets across the sky. I watch as the house gets closer and closer until suddenly I notice a shiny Volvo in the driveway. Jacob slows the car, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "Bella." He pushes my name out through his teeth, his jaw clenched. I throw my door open, running towards the door, Jacob right behind me. "Don't do this, Bella. It could be a trap. Please." He grabs my arm and I pull it away from him. "I can't protect you here, Bella." His voice is pained, angry. He is shaking, his jaw set and tense.

"Please trust me, Jake. I will be okay." I release myself from his grip and run into the house. As I enter the living room, all of the breath leaves my body as I stand there, shocked at the figure that stands in my living room.

"Edward..."

-Edward-

I hadn't eaten in what felt like months, the blood of animals didn't suffice my thirst. I couldn't quench the anger, the feeling of hatred building up inside of me. I was mad at myself, guilty for leaving her alone in a forest. I lied, all that I wanted was her. I told myself that I would be able to get over her and let her live a life without me. I don't know what was worse, lying to her or lying to myself. Nobody else can have her. Not if I can't. Alice had her last vision of her almost a month ago, and that was it. Nothing. Blank. So, I came here to watch, to find out if she was okay from a distance. That's when I saw it. I saw her with him, in the middle of a lake. Kissing as though she had never been kissed before. Laughing, smiling. It hurt. I had never felt so much pain in my life, so much betrayal. How dare she loves somebody else. She was mine, she was the person that I was supposed to spend eternity with. I refused to change her initially, but as I thought about it, I realized that there wasn't anybody else that I wanted to spend forever with. Nobody else, but her.

"Bella," I reply.

She looked beautiful, she had lost weight her frail frame shivering beneath the horrible-smelling shirt of a Wolf. Her hair had grown longer, flowing past her shoulders. Her eyes were wide with surprise, the beautiful brown shining in the light, as tears glistened against the whites of her eyes. I step towards her, desperate to touch her, to feel her, to hear her heart pumping blood through her frail body. I just needed to be close to her. She steps back, and I stop.

"Don't." She holds her hands up to me, a strangled sound comes from her throat as she steps back towards the door. So many emotions cross over her face and I had never been more desperate to read her mind than now. Pain, betrayal, anger, and fear flash across her features so fast that I don't have time to recognize just one before her gaze focuses solely on anger. "You. You don't get to come near me anymore."

"Bella. You don't mean that.." Shock hits me like a title wave, and for the first time I am unsteady on my own feet. I grasp onto her couch, my fingers digging into the back. I hear the breaking of the wood as my anger slowly starts to build and my fist clenches together tighter. "I came here, to fix things with you. You weren't here though, where were you, Bella?"

"I don't have to tell you anything, Edward. You disappeared, remember? That was YOU, and YOU"RE decision. You shouldn't be here."

I look up at her, the anger not being able to be controlled anymore as I shove the couch across the room. She flinches and presses herself against the door, shakily grasping at the door handle. I approach her, putting my hands on either side of her head, trapping her against the door. I smell her now, her sweet scent filling my nose. I'm suddenly hungry, and her throat looks so sweet. Her damp hair amplifying her aroma. She shudders and grasps at the door handle even faster. "Get away from me, Edward. You're scaring me."

"Do you remember how you wanted forever?" I murmur against her throat, pushing her hair to the side I caress her skin softly. "Just a taste, Bella. And then we can spend eternity together, I'm ready to give you the immortality that you wanted."

"NO!" She screams a blood-curdling scream that erupts from her lungs with such power that it startles me.

-Jacob-

I pace outside, slamming the door closed of the pickup as I try to contain my anger. Breathe, Jake. Breathe. I remind myself. She said not to worry, don't worry. I pace outside for what seems like forever even though I know it's only a few seconds. I walk over to the back door, my hands shaking as I go to reach for the knob and suddenly I hear a crash and a few seconds later, a scream that freezes me to the spot as goosebumps erupt throughout my arm. I burst through the door, my eyes scanning the room only to find him pressing her against the door, her frightened face pale. He turns to look at me, and I knew that this wasn't the same man that had left. His red eyes followed me intently.

"Ah, well if it isn't the main man of the hour himself. Welcome. I was just telling Bella that I was finally prepared to have her spend eternity with me."

My hands shake even worse, I glance at Bella my eyes scanning hers for a moment before I meet Edward's gaze. His eyes are hungry and animalistic. I step back towards the door. "You found me, how about you do something about it." I step back through the door just as he runs towards me. Jumping off the back step I phase, a snarl erupting from my throat.

"Jacob, no!" Bella's voice is a distant ringing in my head. All of my focus is on the creature standing in front of me. His grin spreads wildly throughout his face. I see her from my peripheral vision, standing in the doorway, pale as snow. Her eyes are wild as she watches the scene playing out before her. I let the events happening filter out inside of my head, and it doesn't take long for me to get a reply.

"Jacob we're on our way."

"Don't do this on your own, Jake."

"What's wrong with him."

"The treaty has been broken, he has fed on human blood. Look at his eyes!"

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. I want to tear this bloodsucker limb from limb."

I filter the voices out from my head as I spin myself in front of Bella. Edward follows me in a circle. His red eyes following my every moment. I snarl at him, knowing that he knows the others know that he is here.

"This isn't finished, Jacob. I'll be back for her. She's mine. She always has been."

I snarl and lunge at him. My teeth barely crazing the cold flesh of his arm before he runs in the other direction. He throws a punch towards my ribcage, and I whimper as I feel one break against his fist. No. That won't stop me. I turn and slam into him, and we roll towards the forest, a tangle of limbs and fur. Snapping and snarling from both of us. I grab ahold of his arm, sinking my teeth into the cold stone. He wraps his arm around my ribcage, squeezing, I feel my ribs starting to break, snapping beneath his arms. I squirm, trying to get away from him. I hear the breaking of branches and then he was gone. I howl in pain as I start to phase into my human form. I feel like I can't breathe like I'm suffocating.

"Jacob! No stay with me Jacob, please! Jake." I feel her hands on my body, shaking against my chest. Soft cool hands pressed against my cheek. I feel her tears, slick against my chest. It isn't until she pulls her hand away do I realize that it's blood. Her blood. Her neck trickles down, red staining her shirt. Tearstained eyes look down on me full of worry. I cry out in pain as my ribs try to heal.

"Jacob! Get him back home, boys." Sam's voice bellows out from the forest as they start to pick me up and carry me.

"Jacob! I'm not leaving him! Jacob." Bella's voice rings out as I hear her trying to shove past Embry and Quil to get to me. I reach my hand out to her, grabbing hers as we walk together towards the truck. They lay me down in the back of the pick-up. Bella climbs in with me, her shuddering breathes as she clasps my hand tighter. The ride back is long, Every bump makes me scream in pain and she clasps my hand tighter. her knuckles turn white from gripping my hand so hard.

-Bella-

I sit there as they reset his bones. His screaming etched into my mind for the rest of my life. The knowing that all of this happened without Morphine, his body burning it off too fast. Finally, after the last hours of the morning, his ribs were rest for the last time. I stated there, staring at the ground as his screams moved through me. I clutch his hand, the only thing that is holding me stable. my mind reeling replaying the events that happened last night. Jacob pulls me towards him slowly. "No, Jake. I'm not going to lay down, I don't want to hurt you. I'm right here, I promise." His hand curls around mine and he drifts into sleep. I watch as he sleeps, the occasional shifting and pained look. I don't know how long that I stay like that, watching him before I drift into sleep myself. All that I can see is Edward's red eyes, glowing as they come towards me, faster and faster until I wake up sweating. I'm asleep on the floor. Jacob's hand draping down, his fingertips brushing against my hips. I sit up and push the hair from his face, he's more warm than usual to the touch. I stand and head to the kitchen, grabbing him a glass of water, and head back to the room. I set it down next to him, watching him sleep for a moment. I run my fingers across the bandage on my neck. I shudder at the memory of Edward so close, his red eyes boring into mine. What have you done, Edward? This isn't you. I run my fingers through my hair, remembering how he cut my neck and licked his lips. How desperate and terrifying his voice sounded when he told me that he was going to spend eternity with me. It terrified me. That wasn't what I wanted. That wasn't what I was going to become. There, with him made me realize just how absolutely desperately I wanted to have a human life. Why I didn't want to turn into one of those monsters. I hate him, I hate him for what he did to me-and was going to do-and for what he did to Jake. I look up to meet Jacob's eyes, his gentle gaze watching me.

"Hey, Bells." He tries to scooch over on the bed, screwing his eyes up in pain. "C'mere." He holds his arms open to me, inviting me to come and lay next to him.

"Jake, I'm okay on the floor, I don't want to hurt you." I walk over to him, grabbing his hand and holding it.

"Bella, I can't take Morphine, and my body is naturally healing itself. As painful as that is, not having you close to me is worse. Please." His face is desperate and pleading as he pulls me closer to him.

"Okay, okay. Just be careful." I climb into the bed, snuggling up against him, my back pressed against his side. He's laying on his side, his left arm splayed out underneath me, and his right still in a sling against his chest. He turns slightly, and I feel him wince as he presses his lips against my neck, over the bandage.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you better. I'm sorry that Edward was...like that." He huffs against my ear. "I'm sorry for everything."

"Jake. Quit saying that you're sorry. All of this happened because of me, I should have listened to you, listened to your warning about vampires and who they really are. You're laying here, because of me. You're hurt because of me." The tears start to fall down my face as I stare at his closet.

"That didn't mean that I wanted to be right, Bella. That didn't mean that I didn't want you to be happy, no matter who you were with. I couldn't live with the decision of you becoming a vampire because the thought of you ending your life just..." He trails up, and I feel his arm flex underneath my head.

"I know, Jake. Yesterday..." I pause and take a deep breath. "Yesterday was a side of Edward that I never thought that I would see. He was possessive and angry. He did the one thing that he told me he would never do again and that was drinking human blood again. He's a monster, I just never saw it before now. I didn't notice it, until now. He told me that he wanted me to spend eternity with him. I don't think that he's done, Jake. I feel like something bigger is going to happen, and I don't want anybody else risking their life's over me."

"Bella. When are you going to get it through you're head that it's my choice. It's my life, I get to choose what I spend it on. And if I die keeping you safe then that's a risk that I am willing to take. I don't have a choice, Bella. Even if I did it would be the same decision, over and over again."

"What do you mean that you don't have a choice?"

"..Nothing.."

"Jacob, you don't lie to me, don't start now. What do you mean that you don't have a choice?"

He is silent for a moment and I listen to the sound of his even breathe's in my ear. "Do you remember the story that I told you about Emily, Leah, and Sam?" The story blurrily comes to mind. "Leah and Sam were in love, and then Sam met Emily and he imprinted on her. He didn't have a choice in breaking Leah's heart, it wasn't something that he chose to do. When you imprint, that person is like your soulmate. It's like the whole world stops moving, just pauses on its axel. You would do anything, be anything for that person. When you imprint it's because you found the one person that you're meant to spend the rest of your life with. Whether it's as a friend, a lover, it doesn't matter."

"You talk about that like you have already imprint-" I pause as the realization hits me.

"Because I did, Bella." His voice is shaky, I feel his hot breath against my throat. He gently kisses my neck again. "I told you that it's always been you, Bella. I wasn't lying. That's why I don't have a choice. I-" He pauses, and I can feel him turn his head away from me.

I am almost speechless and it takes me almost all of three minutes to muster up the courage to speak again. "What, Jake?"

"I can't say it, not like this. Not after everything that's happened. You deserve better than that." His voice is low and husky. I feel my stomach twist as I think of all the things that he might say.

"Okay, Jake. Let's just go to sleep." I lay my head down, and a million different thoughts play through my mind and I start to wonder if this man laying next to me was the one that I was supposed to be with all along.