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Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-re-edited version – for 04Gracie04

Part One-The Past

Twelve months earlier:

Jacob stared at the wedding invitation, the fine script blurring in front of his eyes. His whole body was shaking with anger. Billy looked at him in concern. "It's official now, son. You must let it go."

"Let it go?" Jacob's eyes were blazing. "This isn't what she really wants. She's still in denial. I know she is."

Billy sighed. "You can't keep doing this to yourself, son. Bella has made herself very clear. You need to move on."

"You know nothing!" Jacob raged as he screwed up the invitation in his fist. His body was vibrating as the urge to phase overwhelmed him. He hadn't felt so out of control in his life. Not even when he first turned wolf. "I have to get out of here."

"Jacob!" Billy bellowed loudly as he watched his son flee the house in alarm. He tried to follow him as fast as he could, but when he reached the front door, all he saw was the invitation flung into a muddy puddle as his son flew toward the forest, phasing into his wolf form as soon as he reached the trees.


Jacob didn't care where he was headed. He was out of his mind with anger and resentment. He let his wolf instincts take over as he wandered through the forest, taking his despair out on the trees as he charged them, using his claws to rip great chunks out of the wooden trunks. In his head it was Edward Cullen he was ripping to pieces. She had done it; Bella had finally stomped on the last fragile pieces of his broken heart.

His rage knew no bounds as he headed off again, his paws sinking into the soft earth as he charged through the dense forest, this time with a direction in mind, for he had decided to go and confront her one last time. He would make her look him right in the eyes and tell him she felt nothing. He would know if she was lying, after all he knew Bella Swan better then she knew herself.


Jacob reached the Swan house faster than he anticipated; his anger having leant wings to his paws. He stopped within the thin line of trees which guarded the back garden. His sensitive nose could smell that Cullen had been there not that long ago, but he was gone for now. Charlie's cruiser was not parked in the driveway, so he must have already left for work, for once Bella was alone. Jacob phased back into his human form, not caring that he was naked. His clothes had been shredded when he phased. He strolled into the back garden, hiding within the shadows until he reached the tree beneath Bella's window. He climbed it easily, he knew where each branch was that could carry his weight, he had done it so many times in the past. A grim smile crossed his face, he bet Cullen didn't know just how often he had visited Bella this way.

The window to her room was ajar slightly and he had no problem opening it and jumping through, his feet hitting the floor silently. Bella wasn't inside, Jacob could hear the shower running so he knew where she was. He decided to just wait until she came out of the bathroom. Laying back on her bed, and putting his hands behind his head in a relaxed pose, he began to practise in his head what he wanted to say to her to make her change her mind.


Bella wrapped a towel around her wet hair, with another around her body as she left the bathroom and headed for her bedroom. Some innate connection that was always tied to Jacob had already warned her that he was in her room. She pushed on the door gently and peeked around it. Yes, he was definitely there, lying on her bed staring up at the ceiling, frowning darkly. Her cheeks burned as she noted that he was completely naked. He must have shredded his clothes – yet again. She leaned back against the wall as she tried to get her erratic heartbeat under control. Damn him for always having this effect on her, something which he was very much aware of. She had been deliberately avoiding him for that very reason.

"I know you're hiding out there, Bells." Jacob suddenly called out, making her jump.

"Damn werewolf senses!" Bella muttered irritably to herself as she took a deep breath and finally entered the room. She made sure to keep her eyes trained on his face as she glared at him. "What are you doing here?"

Jacob sat up, his dark eyes roaming her body. The small towel she had wrapped herself in left little to the imagination. He smirked at her as he got up from the bed. "I got your wedding invitation."

Bella's face fell. She clutched her towel tighter around herself. "I didn't send you one."

"No, your leech did." The smirk left Jacob's lips as he began to circle her. "I bet he got great pleasure in doing that."

Bella's eyes followed Jacob as he moved, her heart sped up again as she watched his graceful movements. He really was a beautiful man, so much more alive and vital than Edward. Everything about him screamed Alpha male. She had to shut her eyes in the end, staring at him was only making her own body react to him, and she knew he could sense it.

"I'm sorry he did that." Bella finally managed to gain control over her vocal cords. "I didn't know."

"I guessed that." Jacob replied. "Why have you got your eyes closed?"

"No reason." Bella said quickly as she spun around so she was facing the other way. She could feel Jacob come up behind her, his supernatural warmth giving him away.

"Why are you doing this to us, Bells?" Jacob's voice had changed, she could hear all the heartache and pain she had ever inflicted on him in his deep, husky tones.

"I hate hurting you, Jake." She whispered. "But it's for the best. I've already explained my reasons."

Jacob's arms slid around Bella's waist and he pulled her back against his heated chest. His chin rested on her shoulder as kissed the shell of her ear, sending pleasurable shivers down her spine. "They were not reasons, honey. They were excuses."

"They weren't." Bella denied weakly as she fought to regain control of her body. It always betrayed her when he was near.

"Tell me the truth, Bells. Why are you pushing me away? Don't give me that crap about not loving me enough. I know that's not true." Jacob began to kiss the nape of her neck and she arched her body into his. He smiled as he continued to tease her skin with his warm lips.

Bella relaxed and let herself enjoy his kisses for a few seconds before tensing again as she regained control of her sanity. She stepped away from him, adjusting the towel around herself that had been beginning to slip down her body. Her face was flushed as she looked up at him. "Stop doing that, Jake. Stop trying to seduce me. It's not going to work."

Jacob smiled smugly as he watched her inhale deeply. Her cheeks were tinged a soft rosy pink and her chocolate brown eyes glowed brightly with repressed desire as she gazed up at him imperiously. "You want me." He stated confidently. "I can tell. So don't bother to deny it. The leech doesn't make you feel the way I do."

Bella's small hands clenched into fists as she tried to think of a comeback, but her mind went blank. She knew deep down he was right; she was attracted to him. She loved him more than enough to leave Edward. But things were not that simple, there was a huge obstacle in their way: imprinting. Just thinking the word was like a bucket of ice-cold water being thrown in her face. She suddenly felt chilled to the bone. How could she commit to him, when any day now, he could abandon her just like Edward had once done? He had an imprint out there and she wasn't it. She sat on the bed and put her head in her hands.

"I can't do this." She mumbled.

Jacob's confidence drained away. He knelt in front of her and tugged her hands away from her face. "You know I love you." He said earnestly.

"I know you do."

"You love me." It wasn't a question.

Jacob took her hands in his large ones and looked at her imploringly.

"Yes." Bella sighed. There was no point in denying her feelings, they were painfully obvious.

"Then just be with me." Jacob said simply.

Bella pulled her hands out of his and placed them on either side of his face. "Why do you keep fighting?"

"Because you're worth it and I know that we are meant to be together."

His confident words touched Bella's heart, making it clench painfully in her chest. "I don't know what to do." She whispered in despair.

Jacob stood and swept her up in his arms, hugging her close to him. She sank into his warm embrace and listened to the strong beat of his heart. They stayed that way for a moment before Jacob gently lay her back on the bed, crawling up so he could lie beside her. "I would never leave you, Bells. I promise."

"You can't know that." Bella sighed again sadly.

"I do." Jacob was still determined; still sure he was right.

Bella didn't respond. She just continued to look at him, trying to capture the way he looked right now before she had to say goodbye to him forever. She reached out and traced her fingers over his face, lovingly caressing his smooth skin. She felt so tortured inside, why did things have to be complicated? Why did imprinting have to exist? She remembered Leah's devastated expression every time she had Sam and Emily shoved in her face.

She was suddenly pulled out of her musings when Jacob kissed her again. He pressed his lips to hers desperately, trying to impart everything he was feeling in that one kiss, expecting her to pull away at any moment. He was encouraged when she began to reciprocate, her hand sliding around the back of his neck, her fingers winding in his silky hair. Jacob fell back on the bed, pulling Bella's body on top of him. She let out a small gasp when she felt his hardness pressed between her legs. All that separated them was the small towel she was wearing.

Jacob tugged at the one that her hair was wrapped in and it unravelled, the wet tendrils of her falling around them. Their lips parted for a moment and they stared into each other's eyes, both breathing heavily. Bella knew they were on the verge of crossing a line and she hesitated for a second. Jacob could see she was beginning to question herself and he kissed her again, cradling her cheek in the palm of his hand. "I love you." He whispered against her lips. "We belong together, you know we do. Stop fighting it and let yourself feel."

This time it was Bella who stopped his words with a kiss. As she leaned over him her towel came undone and there was nothing separating them any longer. They were now skin to skin. Jacob's hand tangled in her hair as he deepened the kiss, savouring the sweet taste of her delicate lips. All of Bella's inhibitions fell away as she felt Jacob's warm hand roam across her body, setting her skin on fire. She had never felt such desire in her life, she was consumed by him. As he was by her.

Their movements became frenzied as passion took over. Jacob rolled them over so Bella was lying beneath him, he gave her a gentle smile as he lowered his head and began to kiss her breasts, his fingers trailing down the side of her body, driving her into a wild frenzy. "

Jake." She moaned as his lips found hers again and they shared another desperate kiss.

Bella scraped her nails along his broad back as she clutched onto him, the sensations he was invoking in her pushing her over the edge. She became pliant in his arms as he claimed her for his own. He slipped easily inside her, Bella was so relaxed that she didn't feel the pain, only the pleasure as he began to thrust gently. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him close as he moved, sending her body into spasms as the pleasure built up and up, until she couldn't take anymore. She moaned his name as she orgasmed and he soon followed, murmuring how much he loved her.


They lay side by side, just gazing at each other in wonder. Jacob smiled happily at her. "I love you so much."

Bella felt overwhelmed, she was still processing what had happened between them. She couldn't deny how much she loved him too, and he deserved to hear her say it. "I love you, Jacob." A tear rolled down her cheek as she said the words.

"Hey, why are you crying, honey?" He said fondly as he reached out and wiped it away. "Everything's okay. We're together now."

Bella didn't answer him, instead she raised herself up on her hands and leaned over him, kissing him softly. Jacob smiled into the kiss as he pulled her back down on top of him and began to make love to her for the second time.


The phone was ringing. It's insistent tone pierced Bella's sleep. She raised her head and opened her tired eyes. Jacob was lying spooned behind her, his arm thrown across her waist as he cuddled her to his body. He moved his arm as he lifted it to rub at his eyes before drifting back to sleep. It enabled Bella to slip out of the bed without disturbing him. She picked up her dressing gown and wrapped it around her as she padded down the stairs and went to answer the phone.

"Hello."

"Bella, it's Emily."

Bella froze, her fingers gripping the phone as Sam's imprint waited for her to answer. "Bella, are you there?" Emily said again.

"I'm here." Bella finally spoke, her heart hammering madly in her chest as her world came crashing down around her. The reality of imprinting once again smacked her in the face.

"I'm just ringing to say thank you for the wedding invitation. I was just wondering if you needed any help with the catering. I'm thinking of starting up my own business and it would be great if you could put some work my way..."

Bella let Emily drone on as she glanced back up the stairs, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. An image of Leah entered her head, once again reminding her of the consequences if she pursued a relationship with Jacob. It was doomed before it had even started, she should never have let herself get carried away like that. It wasn't fair to either of them.

"I have to go now, Emily." She said quickly. She put the phone down and leaned back against the wall, her mind a tumult of emotions. She stayed there for a while until she had regained control over herself.

When she had pulled herself together, she went into the kitchen and pulled out some notepaper and began to write a letter to Jacob. More tears leaked out of her eyes and dropped onto the paper, smearing the ink. Her heart was breaking as she penned a final goodbye. When she was done, she crept back up the stairs and into her bedroom. Jacob was thankfully still asleep, a small smile playing about his lips as he dreamed.

"I love you." Bella whispered as she placed the note on her pillow next to him. Picking up some spare clothes from the floor she backed out of her room, closing the door gently behind her. She dressed hurriedly and went back down the stairs, snatching the keys to her truck as she ran out of the house.

Bella sat in her truck for a moment, the keys clutched in her hand as she hesitated. She longed to go back inside and lay back down next to Jacob, but her fears stopped her. She knew what it was like to be abandoned by the one you loved. She knew Jacob would never do it through choice, but she had seen the power of imprinting. Bella knew she would not survive if he left her under those circumstances. It was better for both of them this way. With a shaking hand she pushed the keys into the ignition and started the engine, pulling away quickly, knowing that the noise from her truck would have woken him. With her heart breaking and tears streaming down her face, she pulled onto the main road leading back to Edward.

A/N-thanks for reading!