Bella couldn't settle after Jacob left. An uneasy wakefulness buzzed under her skin, along with a lingering sense that he was still there somehow. He'd said he would come back and she knew it was true. Could almost taste it. So, she kept herself busy. She fed little Jake, while Charlie and Sue lingered. They talked quietly with Billy until Sue managed to drag Charlie to the door. He promised Bella he'd be back first thing in the morning. She nodded, knowing he needed to say it and wishing he didn't.

"Go home, Chief," Billy grumbled, with a sharp glance at Bella. He knew. "My son will take care of them now."

"Sure, sure." Charlie looked uncomfortable, running a hand over his graying hair. "If you're sure, Bell-Bell."

"I'm sure," she said, smiling, and gave him an unexpected hug. "I'm alright now," she whispered.

Charlie gave her one last squeeze. Then they were gone and the house fell into its habitual silence. Billy wheeled himself into his own room with a grunt for a goodnight. And Bella was alone. She tucked little Jake into his bed. Then she found some household chores, trying to keep her focus on the task at hand. But her eyes wandered out the windows, peering into the gloomy the forest again and again. She was elbow-deep in soapy water and dirty dishes when a soft, velvet warmth turned over in her chest. Jake. He felt nearer. She glanced sharply out of the window, eyes flicking over the darkened trees.

Jake?

A shadow shifted in the brush. Bella chewed on her lip, tense, listening, waiting.

bells.

Then Jacob staggered out of the woods, half-carrying someone who looked like Sam Uley. Bella gasped and dropped the plate she was holding. It clattered into the sink, cracking. She hurried towards the door, and held it open as the two men clambered inside, bruised and bloody. Her eyes flicked back to the woods where she felt the hummed murmur of the pack, all in wolf form.

that was awesome

jake sure kicked his ass

will sam be okay?

who cares, seth?

shut up, quil.

all of you shut up!

jeez, lee—

go home, paul.

Bella shook herself and closed the screen door quietly. She turned and held back a small sound of horror. Sam was a battered bloody mess of cuts and bruises and bite marks. But he was alive and his werewolf healing was already working on the myriad of injuries covering his body. Jacob sported over a dozen injuries, and he was limping heavily, but the tight prowling look from before was gone. He was full Alpha now, confident and calm. Bella felt herself breathe easier.

"Sam?" She laid a hand on his swollen cheek. He'd promised to give Jacob a real Alpha fight, and he'd been true to his word. It almost made her smile. "Are you alright?"

"It's done." Sam was wheezing, and winced in pain as Jacob lowered him onto the sofa, but his eyes were brighter, and lighter, than she'd ever seen. He almost looked happy. "I'm done. It's all done."

"Do you want me to call Emily?" Bella asked.

"No." Sam coughed, a thick, wheezing sound that chilled Bella's bones. The worst bites were around his neck, and she wondered if his windpipe had been crushed. The last time one of the pack had been injured like this, it had been Jacob, all the bones on one side of his body broken all at once by a newborn vampire. "Don't call her." Sam coughed again and shook his head. "I'm not staying here." He still clutched at Jake's hand, pain making his skin shine with sweat. "I'm done shifting."

Bella glanced sharply at Jacob.

He frowned at his former Alpha. "I need a Beta, Sam. It's yours if you want it."

"You've got Lee Lee." Sam's voice had softened, and he closed his eyes. "No one's better than Lee Lee."

"It's your right as former Alpha."

Sam shook his head. "I'm done, Jacob."

"What about Emily?" Bella had moved next to Jacob, taking his hand, almost without realizing it. "She loves you."

"She loved who I was when I was fifteen." Sam sighed, his breathing labored, heavy. "She deserves better than who I am. So does Lee Lee."

Bella frowned, wanting to argue. But Jake squeezed her hand, shaking his head ever so slightly. She swallowed hard, trying not to cling to him too tightly.

"Where will you go?" Jacob asked.

"Somewhere I can rest. And think."

"You can stay here until tomorrow's sunset," Jacob said. "After that, you're gone from La Push or you're pack."

Sam nodded, his breathing already easier, slower, less labored. "Thank you."

They stood there, watching, until Sam fell asleep. When Jacob turned, as if to go, Bella tugged on his hand until he paused. He frowned a little, but he didn't pull away.

"Are you," she bit her lip, hesitating. The words came slowly. But she had to say them. "Are you going too?" She wouldn't blame him for leaving now, after everything she'd said and done to him. She was trying not to clutch at him, to grab hold of him and never let go, to tell him everything trying to claw its way out of her all at once. He didn't say anything so she hurried on. "I just…I understand if you want to—if you need to go."

Jacob studied her quietly. "I'm not going anywhere." He tilted his head to one side, his black eyes boring into hers. They were so serious, so old, so different from what she remembered. She could almost feel his scrutiny, his doubt. Then he shifted closer. "I'm the Alpha now." He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He didn't quite smile, but she could see it hiding in his eyes, like a spark of hope. "I'd like to go to bed."

"Oh," she whispered. Before she knew quite what she was doing, she trailed her fingers lightly over his arm. He stiffened, and she swore she could feel his wolf, like a fire beneath his skin. "Jake?"

"Bells." His voice was thick and almost choked.

"Do you want me to go?" she asked. His grip tightened on her hand, but she still didn't let go, even when it hurt. She'd let him go too many times, letting him fall, and break. For her. She never wanted to hurt him like that again. Never again. "It's alright if you do—"

"No." Every line in his body turned to flint. "I don't."

"Why?"

"Why did you name him 'Jake'," he asked, ignoring her question. His eyes darkened, hardened, as if to protect himself.

"Because," Bella bit her lip, considering her words. Then she shrugged, settling on the truth, no matter how stupid it sounded. "Because I wanted to. Because he's yours. If he was all I ever got to keep of us, I wanted to keep you."

His eyes closed, as if he was bracing himself against her words.

"Jake, I'm sorry," she said softly. A beat of silence passed. Then two. "Can you forgive me?" she asked quietly. His eyes snapped open and he stared at her again. She hated the way his eyes looked but she refused to hide anymore. "I hurt you, Jake." She swallowed, keeping her eyes on his. "And if that's too much for you right now, I understand."

"Do you?" he demanded. It was sharp, cutting, and unforgiving.

She didn't look down or try to pull away from the steel edge in his voice. And she didn't cry. She continued to hold his fierce gaze and took a breath.

"I...I need some time." He said at last. "I don't know how much, just...I need time."

"I can go to Forks," she nodded softly. "Charlie won't mind."

"No." The word snapped out of him, laced with a growl. And she could almost feel it under her skin and stirring of his wolf, like bared teeth, and heat. "I want you here."

"Are you sure?" She didn't know what made her ask.

Instead of answering, Jake's eyes flashed and he tugged her into his arms, almost crushing her against him. It wasn't quite the same as the exuberant bear hugs she remembered. Those were easy and free and cozy. This hug was sharp and rough and possessive, but she couldn't stop herself from melting into him, from wishing they could still go back. Or maybe just find some way of moving forward.

"Stay." Jacob said.

She trembled a little and she sucked in a sharp breath, the word weaving between them, anchoring them together in a new way; one more connection among so many others that had always been there. She'd tried to ignore them before, and now he was almost trying to do the same. It wouldn't work. She nodded, happy tears stinging at her eyes. They both knew they couldn't go back to being Jake and Bells before everything fell apart. That part of their life was done. But maybe they could find a new Jake and a new Bells, with time.