Jacob chapter seven

"I love you," she whispered as she tugged on the pendant, pulling it free. As the string fell away from my neck it was like someone had ushered a chorus of jackhammers off inside my head. I reached up, trying to make the pain stop, or to endure it better, anything. Flashes of my past flooded back into me. My friends, my mom, my dad, but the ones with Bella were slow, like my mind was savoring them.

I had loved Bella as long as I could remember. Mom taking us to first beach to play as our dads took off to fish. One memory stuck out the most. It was me chasing a much younger Bella around on the beach with a worm dangling between my fingers. I tripped and scrapped my knee. I cradled it, rocking back and forth, refusing to cry in front of a girl. Bella gasping and fainting, leaving me thinking I had killed her.

The following winter, we lost mom in the accident. Me, crying wishing Bella was there. Charlie had come up to help with me and my sisters. I remember walking into the kitchen while he was on the phone. He told the person to hold on and handed the phone to me. It was Bella and she when I started to cry she just told me how much she loved me and wished she could be there for me. I told her that the phone call would work until the next time the summer came around.

Bella and I would spend as much time as we could together during the summers. It wasn't hard to do seeing as how the only two prominent bachelors in and around forks were best friends. Our dads started what everyone now knows as bromance.

Her last summer here, she was fourteen and me a mere preteen thinking I was cool because I was hanging with a teenager. She never made me feel like I was cramping her style though, but that was just Bella.

I wanted to spend some time with her before she flew back to Renée the next morning. I heard "crazy on you" by Heart blaring before I plowed through the front door. I bounded up the stairs to find Bella's door opened just a crack. I peeked in to see Bella dancing like a fool while trying to clean up her room. I went back downstairs and sat down with Charlie in the kitchen. He thought I had just walked in, so he called Bella down with me right behind him. Bella came barreling down and in true Bella fashion she tripped and landed right on top of me. As we scrambled to untangled, I helped her up. In thanks for my chivalry, Bella gave me my first kiss. Totally G-rated as it was, it set the tone for years to come of lonely nights. I made up my mind to one day play that song for her, because she loved the guitar in it. I worked odd jobs for two years taking on more during the summers, just so I could buy the one I wanted. Once I had paid cash for it, there was no one on earth that put so much effort into learning to play a guitar before. Billy never complained once.

The day that she came back home. I watched as Charlie's cruiser pulled into his drive. I was so nervous to see after all this time, and was worried about my changing. I wanted to be around her but I didn't want her to learn about my new enhancements. You could never hide anything from her for long. If she was anything it was perceptive. But everything changed as she stepped out of the car. Everything went dark and all I saw was her. I felt the thick thread tied to my father, my friends, my heritage, and the world give way and refasten to this meek little girl with the smile bright enough to make the sun jealous.

When her tiny hand slipped into mine I had a quick flash of a distant future appeared. Bella and I were down on first beach, laughing. Her holding a small pink bundle as I tossed a football to a small raven haired boy with Bella's eyes. And it was gone, leaving me feeling whole.

These two things together made my mind quake. Imprint. The word repeated itself inside my head as I helped Bella up to her room.

Another phone call stuck out in my mind. It wasn't long after Bella moved back. I had called to let her know that I was running late on meeting up with her. "I thought you had forgotten about me," she said jokingly. I sighed, "I could never forget about you." A little ironic, I thought as the next memory came into view.

The night that Bella told me she wanted to be mine when I found her at first beach with that nimrod Newton's arms around her…"Bells…what am I going to do with you? And how am I going to show everyone that you are my girl and no one else's?" I said with an easy smile.

"I don't know, show them that I am yours?" she said seductively.

The night we first made love in our cave after Bella found out about me being what I am. There were no words spoken but a lot said with gentle touches, caress's, kisses. After looking down on her as her breast were exposed to me for the very first time, how beautiful she was. I tried to convey with my eyes how much she meant to me, how much her giving her trust to me meant. Everything I couldn't put into words was there in my gaze. And as we became one, I knew that this imprint business that I refused to entertain was more than even the pack mind could explain to me.

I took the upmost care of my love, my imprint that night being nothing but gentle, not wanting to handle her too roughly. But she gave so much of herself that night. Things that she would never consciously know she gave. And I made sure I thanked her fully for it every day since. Only her hands could set my skin ablaze, hotter than the wolf inside me. I kissed away her tears from the pain of my intrusion and moved my hand to her sensitive nub trying to make it as pleasurable as I could for her. With her wrapped around my body I could feel everything and again I saw the vision of a Bella and me with a home, jobs, family…a future. When I heard and felt her reach her peak, I looked down at the most glorious sight. Bella's head thrown back in ecstasy, ecstasy that I had delivered to her. As I reached my release, I let out a feral growl. Drowning in Bella, I heard her begging me "don't let go". I whispered 'never' to her, vowing to do everything in my power to keep that promise.

Another flash and we were on the cliff making love on my bike; every man's fantasy. Bella's body lay out like an alter and I worshiped every inch of her.

I remember finally playing Bella's song for her after I had confessed in front of all of my friends that the girl I had been learning to play the guitar for was in fact, my Bella. My chest was swollen with pride as she smiled her smile just for me.

There were many bonfires that Bella had attended with me. My pack, always welcoming her, accepting her was another great pride of mine.

My mind flashed to the bonfire that I turned caveman and took Bella to our cave. I made sure that Quil would know without a doubt that she was mine, even if he was just kidding. I made sure she called my name over and over again. But when I finally stopped and thought about how much of a dog I was for treating her so roughly, I slowed it down and showed her my feelings for her. I had been planning on asking her to our fathers' cabin for a couple of weeks. I was going to be smooth about it but I just blurted it out in my post coital bliss. I was blown away when she agreed to going with me.

I remembered picking her up bridal style and carried her across the threshold. I promised her that I would do that with her again with her in a wedding gown one day. She stiffened but I knew I would wait for her. I remembered taking her against the fridge and then later, her in that mind-fucking corset. We had enjoyed ourselves until James had to crash the party.

When I heard the small sound outside, my senses were on high alert. Bella immediately knew something was wrong but I quickly squished her fears. I didn't want her panicking and raising her heartbeat. It would be like a beacon in a storm, drawing the vampire closer. I didn't want him anywhere near her. After she was distracted in the shower I headed out, phased on the fly and started sniffing as the other wolves entered my thoughts. I had just run through what was going on when I was blindsided. I felt his claws scrapping away at my flesh, his blows breaking my bones. The last thing I remembered was James sneering at me. "I wonder how much you'll like fucking her as a vampire?" I remember letting out a mournful howl and thinking to the pack, ' just save Bella' before everything went black.

When I came to Leah's annoying voice telling me to suck it up, and be a wolf. Seth was worried and pacing furiously in his wolf form, Leah crouching at my side in her usual human form, dressed, thank god for small favors. I couldn't phase for awhile. I sent them off to help Sam, and when I could stand I took off after Bella, praying that I wasn't too late.

I ran as fast as I could, faster than I ever had. I don't think Leah could have caught me. As I cleared the trees, my eyes automatically scanned for Bella. I watched in horror as she started to fall backwards over the cliff. I didn't have time to think, I just jumped after. Where she went, I went. I heard her say her goodbye in the form of an I love you just as I caught her in my grasp. I flipped taking most of the impact. Clearing the surface I swam us both to shore and did CPR to get her breathing again. I only worked for a couple of minutes but it felt like hours. My body was at its breaking point and if Bella didn't pull through this, then I would just collapse her beside her and not breathe again myself.

After she woke up and told me she couldn't live without me I had to make her promise me that she would never take her own life again. I told her to let nature run its course, if she was meant to follow me or I follow her, let nature take its course. Fate always has a plan.

I remembered our first Christmas together. I gave her a wooden wolf that I carved myself. She loved that thing. She had gotten me a nice leather riding jacket, for any more motorcycle accidents. I think she just wanted to see me in leather.

The night she surprised me for my seventeenth birthday was one of the best days. Sam was making me patrol all night because Seth was sick and apparently there was no one else to take the shift. I was pissed. Was someone's birthday not sacred? But Sam phased back later and told me to take the rest of the night off. I should have noticed him guarding his thoughts but I wasn't looking a gift horse in the mouth. I was too focused on birthday sex and sexy lingerie.

When I heard the shout of surprise, I sighed internally, realizing it was going to be awhile, if at all, I got to have my birthday present from Bella. But I quickly perked up after all the gifts, especially Alice's. That was until Bella asked me to take a walk with her. One Bella in lingerie coming right up, I thought to myself,

I was pleased to learn that I had Bella all to myself for the weekend. But I must say her actual gift caused a lump in my throat. When I read the inscription on the back I knew it was time to tell Bella about her being my imprint. The engraving that read your love left an imprint on my heart said that, somewhere deep down inside of Bella, she already knew.

I picked her up and took her to our cave. I made love to her relevantly. I knew that was my moment, my chance to tell her about the imprint. I told her that I loved her as I made love to her. I kissed her and told her that I would be whatever she wanted me to be. I slowed down trying thrust, trying to ease out another orgasm from her as I explained more. When a werewolf meets his soul mate, he is bound to her for life. I ran my thumb across her nipple as I told her that they become one. Her nails raked down my back as I told her we marked our imprints. I emphasized this by biting down on her mark. She screamed out as she came and when it subsided I continued telling her that it was called imprinting. I rolled my hips and thrusted a few more times before my own pleasure seeped from me, causing me to growl. I was still reeling from it when I told her that she was my imprint.

I watched as Bella fell to her knees. She thought she was being strong by keeping her fear to herself. She had no idea that our fears mirrored each other. I think she had an ominous feeling just as strongly as I did. There was no doubt that she was strong, I just hoped that I was just as strong to return home.

I remember going to Edward the day I left. I remember telling him that he had to take care of Bella. I didn't want to let on that I felt something was wrong about this situation. Edward had read my fears. I just wanted to take precautions. I knew that my brothers would fight for Bella but none of them would fight like Edward would. I knew that Edward would move heaven and earth to protect her. I knew she would be safe but after I was a good bit into my journey I realized that it might not had been the wisest decision. No I would not let my jealousy risk Bella's well-being.

As my memories returned and started to slow down so did the pain. I became aware of sickly sweet smell. Something I knew all too well. I was still shaking uncontrollably as I was finally able to focus on my surroundings and just how much trouble we were in. the scent let up just a little, letting me know that the object was moving away and I was thankful.

"I'm impressed," the menacing voice of Victoria broke through, "and for that, I'm willing to make you an offer." I heard a shuffling and then the smell became stronger again. "You choose which one you want? Your vampire," I could feel the pain still in my body but it was edging off. I looked over to find Edward lying on his side not far from Victoria. This was not good. If he and I both were out, Bella was a goner. I had failed Lily and therefore Alex. I would be damned if I failed Bella anymore than I already had. "Or your wolf? Which one is your Romeo and which one is your Paris?" NO! I thought. She would not have to choose between us like this. I knew either way she would hurt. I tried to get control of myself. "Hmm?" She pause in thought, "what, can't decide?" she continued, "then you lose both!" I fought against my body to try and phase but between the pain in my head and the pain the phasing was causing, it was like fighting a losing battle.

I heard Bella scream for me and shifted my head just as growl erupted. I moved enough to catch a mahogany colored wolf spring out from where I thought Bella was standing before. I felt the rumbling snarl from the smaller wolf and I felt more than heard Victoria backing away.

"Bella?" I called with awe, as I tried to get up. I felt the breeze as Victoria lunged, "Watch out!" I screamed at her as the devil woman landed a kick into her shoulder. I heard the bones crunch under the force and a painful howl following to confirm my suspicions. I watched as Bella fell. No! My mind screamed. If she was down, that was it; Victoria would go in for the kill. I watched as Victoria took a step forward but at the last second she took off. I heard the pounding of feet and paws, thankful that had been enough to scare her off.

I began to crawl over to Bella but had to stop several times to shake the dizziness away. Edward recuperated faster and was at her side before me. "Bella, what the hell?" Edward asked as his hands trembled running over her fur. I had to get to her. If she didn't calm down a phase back her bones wouldn't heal correctly.

"You need to calm down Bella," I said, once I made it to her. I could hear her heart beating quickly. The rest of the crew came up right behind me. "Calm down Bella, breath." I said and held back a sob as I heard her whine. Edward took her snout into his hand and blew his breath into her face. I cringed inward, but to my surprise Bella's heart rate slowed and I could visibly see her relaxing. With a small shiver her body folded back into itself and Bella was lying naked. It was as I went to place my shirt on her that I realized that Edward had the same thought.

"I will take care of Bella," Edward said covering her with his button down shirt, "you take care of…Lily," I grimaced as he lifted Bella up in his arms. .

"Edward, take Bella back to La Push," Sam ordered, "we have some issues to work out here?" he said looking back at the new faces. I had finally regained my strength. The healing qualities of the wolf were back in full swing.

"Wait," Bella said to Edward, "Jake?" I flinched with Lily in my arms, "are you coming home?" I turned to her and offered the best smile I could.

"Yes, I'm coming home." I'll always come home; I just hope that I'm still wanted.