Full Summary: Some people think there's a fine line between love and hate, even less are brave enough to search for it, and even fewer still have courage enough to toe the line. But what happens when you're forced to the line? What happens when you're forced to walk its razor edge? If you fall…what side would you land on? Love or hate?

Note: This story does not contain a happy ending. If this bothers you, please hit the back button. :) This story, once upon a time, was going to be a part of a series. It's no longer a part of a series. It's a stand-alone story. Because of this, the ending is open and vague. If this bothers you, please hit the back button. Thank you.

Love and hate.

They are two of the strongest emotions you can feel towards a person. They're both all consuming and passionate. Both can lead people to do stupid, dangerous things. A person can be blinded by love just as easily as they could be blinded by hate.

Love and hate are the yin and yang of a person's emotional compass. They are the north and the south, the east and the west. They're like two magnets that constantly repel each other, no matter how hard you try to push them together. They'll always skid away.

Love and hate are the flip emotions of a golden coin. One cannot exist without the other, but it's said that it's impossible for them to coexist. But in rare cases, in extremely rare cases, both emotions can reside in a person where they're both directed at a single person. Such is the case of one Jacob Black when he imprinted on his rival, his greatest enemy, the very beast he was born and bred to kill: Edward Cullen…a fucking vampire.

-x-

It felt like someone was holding his head underwater. He could barely make out the voices surrounding him and understanding what they were saying…well, that was next to impossible. His head was a mess of random thoughts, ideas, phrases, and memories that just didn't make sense. He was confused, of that he was sure. Everything else, however, was a different matter completely.

He tried to open his eyes, hoping that would answer some of the answerless questions floating through his overwhelmed mind, but the lids were too heavy. Like he was tired, but he wasn't; it felt like he had been sleeping for days…had he been sleeping for days? He didn't know.

Next he tried to lift his arm, but it too was heavy, like a lead weight. What in the fuck is going on…? He thought weakly, swallowing, but realizing too late that his throat was dry. He choked and coughed. That's when the voices stopped.

"Look, Sam! He's waking up!"

They all became clearer as he felt a hand-an unbearably hot hand-touch his forehead. It burned. It was scorching his skin surely. A moan of discomfort left his dry, chapped lips and he turned away from the hand.

"Jake? Jake. Jacob!"

Someone said his name, beckoning him, and he turned towards the voice, trying again to open his heavy eye lids. His vision was blurry, his eyes watery from disuse. The light burned and it made his head ache even more than it already had. "S-sam?" He said in a small voice, his eyes seeking out the hazy form of his alpha. "What happened?"

xxx

Sam stared at his beta after moving his hand from his forehead, uncomfortable with the blazing fever he had felt, and debated whether or not he should tell him what had happened. What profound event had irrevocably changed the other shifter's-no, no…every shifter's-life.

"You've…" he started, a bit hesitantly, as he kneeled next to the younger's bed. "Been unconscious for the past two days."

Jacob's eyes widened with the shock of the knowledge Sam had just given him and the alpha wolf didn't blame him one bit. Considering what had happened…Jacob was far better than he would've imagined.

"B-but…why? I don't understand?" He cried, moving to sit up, but Embry and Quil pushed him back against the bed. Sam cast a grateful look at the two before looking back at Jacob.

"Don't you remember what happened?" Sam asked, the few select members of the pack he had allowed to be there keeping painfully quiet as they all waited for Jacob's response.

The teenager stared blankly at the ceiling. Trying to remember. For the longest time he hadn't spoken a word. Sam was beginning to lose hope. "I remember…" Jacob started softly, screwing up his eyes and frowning. "I remember running through the woods…"

xxx

The woods flashed by in a blur of barely distinguishable color, not that the wolf was even trying to tell the forest greens from the tree trunk browns. His mind was full of nothing but the run: the wind rushing-dodging that tree- through his fur, the ground-ignoring that rabbit, though he wanted to chase it so badly- hard beneath his paws, and the thick, heady scent of nature all around him.

It was his favorite scent after a double pepperoni and cheese pizza. Just pure nature and everything the word stood for. He loved each individual scent that merged together to form the alluring odor that surrounded him. The blooming flowers, the rain rotted wood, the animals (even the dead ones), the rushing water of the creek, and the stagnant water of rain puddles; he loved it all. It was complex, it was beautiful, and it was…

…

…a vampire?

The wolf skidded to a halt and sniffed the air, his snout cringing upon finding that sickly sweet perfume that enveloped those blood sucking leeches that lived just beyond their borders. His lips curled back over his teeth and he growled as he sniffed the air and ground, following the scent as he silently called for his brothers to join him.

They were still on Quileute land and no vampire had any business being there if they wanted to live. He followed the scent, soon joined by his brothers, until he reached the treaty line. The line that separated their kind from those monsters. The line that was not to be crossed by vampires and the line that was to be treated with respect by shifters.

On that line he didn't expect to see a leech. Normally they stayed far from it, but it was on that line he saw the lithe form of one. He couldn't stomach the bastard's name, so he didn't think it, but he did think about ripping that pale abomination apart. Piece by piece. Limb by limb.

The vampire's golden gaze flickered to him and for a millisecond they locked gazes. That was when his world went white. A blinding white…

xxx

"…I imprinted," he said, the realization dawning on his face before he looked up at his alpha. "Didn't I?"

He didn't know how to explain the dread that filled him as Sam nodded in affirmation. Imprinting was a good thing, wasn't it? It's what they all hoped for. What they strived for, well, besides keeping La Push vampire free.

He had found the other half of his soul…so why didn't he feel happy? Why was anger boiling in the pit of his stomach, why was he tasting the stinging taste of bitterness? What was he missing in the huge complex puzzle that he just couldn't remember?

He chewed on his lower lip and looked back up at the ceiling. He tried to remember, but he couldn't, his mind had blocked the identity of the person he had imprinted on. But why? Who could he have possibly imprinted on that he wouldn't want to remember…?

Jacob froze. His heart stilled. His mind slowed to a stop. His eyes snapped to Sam. His wide, shocked eyes. "I…" he started slowly, softly. "I imprinted on a leech, didn't I?"

Sam's silence answered him louder than any words ever could have. He closed his eyes, clenching them shut, his hands curled into fists at his sides. He didn't need to ask who the vampire had been, he got the sick, horrid feeling that he already knew.

He had imprinted on Edward fucking Cullen.

…two days earlier…

Swan household.

"Bella!"

The said young woman paused in the middle of her sandwich making, walking into the living room, her eyebrow arched in question. "Yeah?"

"Billy just called…" her father started and she crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight to one foot. "He wants me to come over…watch the game, you know…"

Bella heaved a soft sigh. "You can't drive," she pointed out, reminding her father of his twisted ankle and the fact that it prevented him from going anywhere, something that was driving him insane.

Charlie rolled his eyes in the good naturedly sort of fashion as he looked over at his daughter. "I know," he replied, a hopeful expression coming across his face. "Me and my bum foot could use your help. Would you drive me over? You can even hang out with Jacob for a while, you never see him anymore, I'm sure he misses you."

Bella worried her lower lip. There were reasons she wasn't seeing Jacob anymore. Edward, just, didn't like her going to the reservation. Something about young shifters being unpredictable and dangerous. She didn't want to be the cause of World War Three right in her own backyard.

But she did miss Jacob and Edward wasn't even here. It was sunny. He was hiding out and rightly so. Maybe she could just go to La Push for the afternoon. Surely nothing terrible would happen. "Alright, I'll take you," she agreed with a nod. "But after lunch."

Her father nodded in understanding. "Thanks," he replied, turning back to the television and whatever was on it. "We can probably hang around for dinner too." He paused before he looked back at Bella. "Unless you have plans with Edward tonight…?" He asked, scowling his disapproval.

Bella rolled her eyes and turned back towards the kitchen to finish their lunch. "Wouldn't you know…I don't," she replied tightly.

xxx

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. But it was true. It was painfully obvious. He could already feel the effects of not being around his imprint. How could he have imprinted on someone he couldn't stand to be around, someone he couldn't even stand to think about?

It was a cruel joke. Nature's cruel joke because there was no way he could be meant for the very thing he was suppose to destroy. Fate was a cold, hard bitch. Of that much Jacob was certain.

"Jake?"

The said teen stopped himself from groaning in frustration. Of all the people in the world at that moment, Bella Swan was damn near the last he wanted to see. He stayed quiet. Hoping if he ignored her she'd just go away, but Bella always had been stubborn…

…she knocked on his door impatiently. "Jacob, I'm not spending the entire afternoon with our fathers watching whatever game is on. C'mon and open the door!"

The younger shifter rolled his eyes and pushed a hand through his hair, pulling at the short locks slightly. "Go away!" Jacob replied harshly, glaring at the door. "I don't feel good!" He hoped that would work at the very least, but of course, it didn't.

"Should I get Billy? Can I do anything?"

Jacob snorted softly in response to that. As if she could do anything about this situation he was trapped in. He, himself, couldn't even do anything about it. No one could because the only person who actually could, would rather see him dead. This was something he'd have to deal with alone.

"You can let me sleep in peace," he replied, laying back against his bed before rolling over to face the wall, closing his eyes even though sleep was far from him.

For a moment-a long, wonderful moment-he thought it had actually worked, but Bella's heavy sigh dashed his hopes and made him bury his head underneath his pillow. "Is this about me choosing Edward over you?" He froze at the question. His skin prickling in an uncomfortable fashion at the mention of his imprint's name. "You know…I love you and everything, but I'm in love with Edward, Jake…"

Jacob couldn't imagine the pain that stabbed at his heart upon hearing Bella say that. Her words only reminded him that Edward loved her. The pain doubled because he couldn't admit to himself that he was jealous. Oh so jealous. He didn't want to need the vampire the way he did. He didn't want his life connected to that bastard's.

"It's got nothing to do with that Bella!" He growled in response, though his voice was muffled by his pillow. "It's just…just…go away!" He yelled, finally throwing his pillow at the door.

"Fine! Be that way!" Then he heard the blissful sounds of her angry footfalls marching down the hall away from his bedroom. Jacob sighed heavily and fell back against his bed, throwing his arm over his head. When would this pain stop? Would it ever? When would his pathetic lot in life finally come to an end? He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take and it had only been a single day since he had imprinted on that immortal bastard.

xxx

With her fists clenched at her sides and while ignoring her father's concerned questions, Bella left the house and headed straight for her truck. She'd just sit there and listen to her radio or something until her father was ready to go home.

She was so annoyed, so pissed off, and so hurt she didn't hear the running footfalls until it was almost too late. "Heads up Swan!" Bella blinked and looked up to see a football hurdling her way. In a panic she brought her hands up to shield her face, knowing she wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time.

A moment passed before she felt the rush of warm air pass her and the thud of the ball hitting skin, but it wasn't hers. Confused, she let her hands drop to her sides and then she heard the laughter. "Sorry Bella," Seth Clearwater said with an endearing smile, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "No harm done?"

"There should've been some harm done."

Bella looked over Seth's shoulder and saw the wolf pack's resident hothead, Paul, stalking towards them. He looked pissed off, but then again he always did so the girl wasn't fazed in the least. "Maybe it would've knocked some sense into to that pretty little head of hers."

A frown appeared on Bella's face. "What's your problem?" She asked the elder shifter, watching as he stepped in front of Seth after nudging him back behind him.

"Maybe you're my problem, Swan." His voice was deadly calm, though his features betrayed his anger. Why he was angry Bella just didn't know.

The girl heaved a heavy sigh as Seth laid a hand on Paul's arm, looking up at him, but the older teen just nodded towards the house. "Get inside Seth," he said softly. "Go sit with Jake."

"But…"

"Now."

Bella watched as Seth sulked towards the house before she turned back to Paul. "What'd I do now, hm? What in the hell have I done to Jacob now? I know that's why you're pissed at me," she asked, glaring at the remaining shape shifter.

"Why in the hell do you care?" Paul growled in response, watching the elder girl. "Why would you give a damn about what's going on with Jacob?"

"He's my best friend?" The unsaid 'why wouldn't I care' hanging heavily in the air between them.

"For once, Swan, it's got nothing to do with you," Paul answered with a vicious smile. "So butt out before you get hurt."

"Are you threatening me?" Bella replied shrilly.

Paul stepped closer to the girl. "No," he replied, shaking his head slowly. "I'm not, but I am promising you that if you don't stop poking around where you don't belong you will get hurt."

Bella was stubborn. She wouldn't back down from anything nor leave well enough alone. Sometimes it was a worthy, endearing quality to have, but right now it was an annoyance and would only get her into trouble. "I won't! I want to know what's wrong with Jacob! I'm his best friend, damnit, and he won't even talk to me! No one will!"

"Why in the hell would he want to talk to the person who's with his imprint? Why in the fuck would he want anything to do with you when every second around you reminds him of what he can't have?" Paul exploded, glaring harshly at the girl, the human that couldn't sense danger if it was dancing naked in front of her.

The girl took a step back, looking as though she had been slapped, his words had that much force. What Paul said…it hadn't been what she was afraid of…Paul hadn't said Jacob had imprinted on her, but rather she was with his imprint. Her eyes widened and shock flooded her system. "Jake imprinted…? On Edward?"

"Finally, she gets it," Paul muttered to himself. "That's why he doesn't want to see you."

"But…Edward…he's a guy…why…"

"He's a leech," Paul growled in a final sort of way, turning towards the Black house before walking away from Bella, leaving her behind, glaring after him.

xxx

It was already dark by the time Charlie was ready to leave and Bella had spent the entire afternoon resisting the urge to just leave her father there and head home. She was confident that someone would've brought Charlie home, but then the man would've been upset with her. So she resisted the urge and brought him home herself.

Even if it meant a run in with her boyfriend…who was suppose to be out hunting this weekend, but was parked behind her dad's cruiser waiting for her. Great.

"I thought you said you didn't have any plans with him," Charlie complained, the groan evident in his voice as Bella pulled in next to his cruiser, Edward remaining against his own car.

Bella threw her dad a glare as she turned off the ignition and pulled the key out. "I didn't think I did," she replied, opening her car door as her dad opened his. She remained in her seat, turning towards Edward as her father hobbled into the house.

As soon as her front door slammed closed she turned to face Edward, jumping when the vampire suddenly appeared before her, looking extremely upset. "Edward…" she started with a nervous laugh. "You're back!"

"Alice said your future disappeared…there's only one reason that happens," Edward pointed out tightly, his hand gripping her door, the rusty metal whining under his grasp. "How many times do I have to tell you? Being around young wolves is dangerous!"

"They're my friends!" Or were… It was painfully obviously that things had somehow changed between her and Jacob (and by extension the rest of the pack as well) and she wasn't sure if things would ever be right and go back to normal between them. "They wouldn't hurt me."

It was the same argument she had been arguing since the first time Edward had found out about her trips to La Push and just like before, it didn't faze the vampire. Really she wasn't sure why she tried anymore. She knew his mind would never change about the La Push wolves. She heaved a great sigh and looked down at her lap. "You won't have to worry about me going down there anymore, anyway."

xxx

Edward visibly relaxed at his girlfriend's admission as the girl looked back up at him, but something was amiss. Something was…off. Convincing her had never been this easy before. "That was too easy," he mused aloud, crossing his arms over his chest, his gaze becoming suspicious. "What happened?"

"Just the worst thing that could've happened," Bella answered, deflating as she slid out of the truck before looking up at him. Automatically his arm came around her. "Jacob imprinted."

Those two words…

…those two little words made the vampire freeze. He looked down at his girlfriend with fear in his eyes. "Is it…" He couldn't get the words out-for once he was at a loss for words.

Bella's eyes met his own and, for a moment, she looked confused, but then she looked away. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she muttered softly, sighing as she stepped out of his arms and then passed around him, heading for her house.

But she stopped half way there and turned back around to face him. "It's you. He imprinted on you. You. Can you believe that?" She said as though the possibility of another person being bonded to him escaped her.

xxx

The look that appeared on Edward's face was one she had never seen before. He was mad. Angry. No, he was pissed. For the first time since they had met, she was afraid of him. She actually took a step back and wondered why he was so upset! It wasn't as though Jacob had imprinted on her.

She should be the one that's pissed off over the fact that her best friend had imprinted on her boyfriend. She was upset, that much was true, but she wasn't anywhere near as upset as Edward was.

"Ed-edward…?" She said softly, tentively as she overcame her fear and stepped closer to the one she loved, reaching out to him, laying her hand on his arm.

"That mutt!" He growled in response. "How dare he?"

Idly she wondered if Edward realized that imprinting was not a choice for the shifters. At least that was what she was led to believe and was inclined to believe it, because really, why would Jacob willingly imprint on Edward when he could've imprinted on her?

"W-what…?" She damned herself, stuttering like that. "How d-dare he w-what? I-I-Imprint on you?"

At least Edward was upset about the news. She mentally berated herself. Of course he'd be upset to learn that his greatest enemy and rival imprinted on him. He loved her after all and nothing would change that.

"Yes!" Edward hissed, grabbing Bella before kissing her with a passion that was rare to be seen in him, but the kiss was over as quickly as it was started. "You are mine," he growled. "Just as I am yours."

Bella only vaguely understood what her boyfriend had said after that kiss, she nodded dumbly in response before she got her wits back about her. "So you won't see him?" She asked in a small voice, not realizing what she was doing to her best friend by asking this of his imprint.

She didn't understand how much damage she was doing by asking her boyfriend to abide by this simple request, but she couldn't risk it, she couldn't risk Edward falling under the spell of the imprint and turning away from her forever.

"Happily," Edward replied easily as his grip loosen on his girlfriend. "I'll never willingly see Jacob Black again if that's what you ask of me."

Bella let out a sigh of relief, feeling lighter and happier than she had been since finding out the shocking news. "Thank you," she replied breathlessly, not knowing the physical pain her or her boyfriend's words caused Jacob Black at that very moment.

xxx

On the reservation, in Jacob's house, things were not going as well as back in Forks. Tears were running freely down Seth's cheeks, the pint sized wolf throwing himself at Jacob's door over and over again. Normally just one run would be enough to break the door down, but they had been arguing before Jacob had started screaming and he had barricaded the door with just about everything in his room. The door just wouldn't budge. Not even when Paul joined him.

"Jake please!" Seth cried out, clutching at his hair as Jacob's screams of pain grew louder. "Please!"

Paul finally gave up trying to break down the door. It obviously wouldn't work. Instead he pulled the crying teenager to his chest. "Damnit. Damnit! Damnit!" He snarled, his eyes darting down the hall to meet the concerned gaze of Billy Black. "Call Sam!"

Jacob's father acted quickly, rolling backwards before turning for the kitchen, Paul returning to the door with his arms still tightly around Seth. "Jacob? Jake! Say something, please, man!" But the only response he got was his brother's screams, his blood curdling screams as thought someone was in there with him, hurting him. "Jake!"

Seth suddenly pushed himself free of Paul's arms, going for the door again, but Paul grabbed him just in time, holding him against his chest again. "Damnit, Paul, we have to get in there!" The boy cried and the scene just broke Paul's heart.

"I know, Seth, I know." His grip was tight, afraid the younger would break free again and hurt himself trying to get the door down. "Sam's on his way," he reassured the boy softly, his own body trembling as Jacob's scream's finally subsided, now sounding like heart wrenching sobs. It was still tortured and full of pain, but it no longer sounded like someone was ripping his heart out of his chest.

He held Seth in front of Jacob's bedroom door, the teenager's struggle finally stilling when he realized he wouldn't break Paul's hold again. Minutes passed and the pair grew more and more anxious until, finally, the front door opened.

"Sam!" Seth cried out, pushing against Paul's arms again, but this time the shifter relented and let the teenager throw himself at their alpha. "He was screaming, Sam! Like someone was hurting him!"

The elder man's eyes widened as he wrapped Seth in a hug, looking at Paul. "Why can't you get in?" He asked, knowing that they should've easily been able to break through Jacob's door whether it was locked or not.

Paul felt his cheeks heat in shame at the question. "It was kinda my fault…" he replied softly, cringing at the glare Sam gave him in response. "I told Bella about the imprint and Jake wasn't happy…actually, he was kinda pissed. We were arguing and he barricaded himself inside."

"Aw, Paul!" Sam groaned, heaving a sigh as he looked at the door. He was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. "I'm going to need a screw driver…" he said, gently nudging Seth away from him as he looked between the two shifters. "We can take handle off and open the door."

"I'll get them," Seth volunteered before running off down the hall, the back door slamming open and then closed.

Sam turned to Paul. "You think she would've told Edward?" He asked softly.

Paul snorted at the question and crossed his arms over his chest. "She tells the leech everything else, why not this?" He pointed out just moments before Seth returned with several screw drivers in hand.

"I didn't know which would fit…"

xxx

He hated feeling this weak. He hated feeling this dependency for someone else. But, most of all, he hated knowing his imprint was a fucking leech. Edward fucking Cullen.

He was laying on the floor in his bedroom, his legs pulled to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, curled in the fetal position. He wouldn't admit he was still crying, but he could feel the tears sliding down his cheeks. His breathing was ragged and pain filled as Sam and the others finally made it into his bedroom.

"Bella had to have told Edward about the imprint," Sam said softly to Paul and Seth, thinking that Jacob couldn't hear, but he could, and the news made his heart twist painfully. "He must've rejected it."

"That bitch!" Paul growled and, for once, Jacob was inclined to agree.

"Jake? Jacob…" Seth's voice was soft as he kneeled down by his head, he could see a blurry outline of his knees. The younger shifter hefted him up into his lap and ran his fingers through his hair in a comforting gesture. "It'll be okay, Jake, you'll see. You'll see."

But it wasn't going to be okay. He wanted to say that. He wanted to let the others know that he knew that things weren't okay, that there was no use in telling him that they were. They didn't have to lie or sugar coat his dire situation. He knew how bad it was. He knew from the moment he had imprinted on Edward that things were going to be bad. He had accepted it. He could take it. He hadn't expected anything less than this searing pain he was feeling.

"No…it's not…" he murmured, his voice scratchy and rough, his throat aching from his screaming fit. "It hurts…it hurts so bad…" he croaked.

This time Sam kneeled down next to him and he felt the gentle pressure of his alpha's hand against his forehead. "I know it does, Jake," he murmured softly before he ran his hand through his hair.

"What do we do Sam? And don't say nothing…there has to be something we can do…" Seth questioned, his voice begging for any bit of information that help Jacob.

Sam sighed heavily and looked down at Jacob before he shook his head slowly. "Nothing…the only thing that'll help Jacob at this point is…" he paused, his eyes closing painfully for a moment. "…Edward."

"Fuck!"

They all know, as well as he did, that the likelihood of Edward helping was…next to zero. As a matter of fact it was lower than zero. There was a better chance that the sky would fall. Jacob knew this. He accepted this. He just wondered when, if ever, the pain would stop. He didn't know how much more he could take. Because he knew, he knew that Edward couldn't, wouldn't give him what he needed to survive.

xxx

"Should…one of us…stay?" Seth asked softly as Sam hefted Jacob into his arms, the beta of the wolf pack having slipped into a fitful sleep, and carried him to his bed.

Sam laid Jacob in his bed, but didn't cover the teenager because he had noticed a slight fever when he had touched Jacob's forehead. "Someone should," he replied softly, looking back at Seth. "Just in case," he added when a panicked look came across Seth's features. "N-not…not saying anything would happen, but you know, better to be safe than sorry."

"I'll stay," Paul volunteered immediately, his cheeks still red, physically showing his shame since this was partly his fault.

Sam nodded in agreement. "I'll relieve you at midnight and Seth can stay with him during the day," he said, reaching for Seth, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Tomorrow I'll talk to Quil and Embry and they can help as well."

Then the alpha looked down at Seth, concern shadowing his eyes. "Are you going to be alright?" He asked softly, knowing how much Jacob meant to the youngest shifter in his pack.

Seth nodded slowly, though Sam could see that the enthusiasm was forced. "I'm fine," he told his alpha, giving him a small-and fake-reassuring smile.

Sam gazed at the boy for a long, hard moment before nodding slowly. "Alright," he replied, looking back at Paul. "If you need me or if anything happens, call me, alright?"

Paul nodded as Sam nudged Seth towards the door. "Come on, kid, I'll drive you home."

…the next day…

Clearwater Residence

"So you never told me why you got in so late last night," Leah Clearwater said, looking over her shoulder at her brother. "I had to tell mom you weren't feeling well when she asked about you."

Seth looked up from his homework and heaved a soft, worried sigh. "Jake's in trouble…" he replied softly, tapping his pen against his notebook as his sister set the dish she was washing back into the sink.

"What kind of trouble?" She asked, the worry clear in her voice as she dried her hands on a towel before walking over to the table where Seth was sitting, pulling out the chair next to him before sitting herself.

"The imprint kind," Seth answered as he closed his school books and pushed them away, looking at his sister, noticing her questioning look. "Jacob imprinted on Edward and Paul told Bella. We think she told Edward and he rejected the idea."

Leah was quiet for a long moment, but Seth had expected it. He knew, as well as anyone else, of his sister's past troubles with the imprinting deal.

"That bitch!"

Seth didn't mean to, but he burst out laughing at that. "That's what Paul said!" He snickered before heaving a sigh, cupping his cheek. "Sam said the only thing that'll help Jacob is Edward."

Leah snorted softly at that and shook her head. "Seriously? I hate to say it, but I don't think that's going to happen. Ignoring the fact that he's a leech for a moment, he and Jacob have a lot of bad blood between them because of that who-!"

"Watch your mouth, young lady!" Sue Clearwater said, shaking her head as she walked into the room, setting her purse on the table before digging her car keys out of it. "The Elders are calling a meeting about Jacob's imprint. I'll be home late. Leah will you take care of dinner for me? Seth needs to eat before his shift tonight."

"Sure thing, mom," Leah replied as Sue bent down to press a kiss to each of their heads.

"Sam's going to need you at Jacob's tonight, Leah, he'll call you when he wants you over. Alright?" Sue said, looking at both of her children as Leah nodded in understanding. "Be good. Be safe tonight, Seth! I love you both!" She called as she made for the front door.

Leah sighed as the door slammed closed. "I'm going to start dinner, you finish up your homework, alright?" She said as she stood, ruffling her brother's hair.

"Hey, Leah?" Seth asked, the girl stopping short of the kitchen, turning to look at her brother. "Do you think Jake'll ever get better?"

Leah sighed softly and shook her head. "Not unless someone convinces Edward to give a damn, but I'm not sure anyone could…well, no I take that back, Bella could…but the little selfish bitch…" her voice drifted off as she shook her head, disappearing into the kitchen.

xxx

Seth frowned thoughtfully, gazing after his sister for a moment. Idly he wondered if he could make Edward listen. He had a good relationship with the Cullen family and they liked him. If Bella wouldn't do it, maybe he could.

At least…he had to try. For Jacob's sake.

"I'm going to go lay down until dinner, alright, sis?" Seth called, gathering his books and standing up. "I'll do my homework in study hall tomorrow."

"Alright!"

He made his way to his bedroom and packed his books back in his bag before he closed his door, he stripped off his shirt before grabbing the rope from his desk to tie his shorts to his leg. He stowed it in his back pocket before stalking over to his window, he pulled it open and slid out of it before running off into the woods.

xxx

Bella was curled against Edward's side, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, quietly listening to him reading from her favorite book; Pride and Prejudice. Things with Edward had been surprisingly calm since the bomb she had dropped yesterday. Edward had reassured her again and again that he wouldn't go and see Jacob, not if it meant her unhappiness. He didn't want her unhappy for a moment, not for a reason like that. Not for a reason that'd never come to fruition.

His words had warmed her heart and eased her worries. Edward was hers. He loved her. And that wasn't about to change. Imprint or no.

The vampire was in the middle of a sentence when he stopped and looked towards the tree line, a small frown on his lips. "Seth's coming…" he mentioned softly as he handed the book to Bella and unwound himself from her arms before standing.

"Seth?" Bella echoed, pushing herself up, but she did not stand from the swing on her back porch, she just watched her boyfriend walk towards the woods. "How come?" She questioned, knowing Edward could read his mind.

"He's worried about Jacob and wants to talk to me about him."

She shot up from the swing in a panic. Seth was the only shifter Edward actually liked and respected. If anyone could sway Edward…Seth could. "N-no matter what…" Bella said softly. "You won't see Jacob, right?"

xxx

Edward looked at her from over his shoulder, his look hinting at annoyance. "I said I wouldn't, didn't I?" He replied, turning back to the tree line just in time to see a larger than normal blond wolf creep out of the forest. "Hullo, Seth," he greeted pleasantly enough.

You know Jake imprinted on you?

"I've been informed, yes," Edward replied tightly, watching the young wolf prowl back and forth in front of him. "I suppose that's the reason for your visit?"

Seth nodded. Look…I know you hate Jake, but you didn't have to hear him yesterday. He was screaming like someone was trying to rip his heart out…a-and it's your fault Edward.

"I'm sorry he had to go through that and you were there to witness it," Edward replied, folding his hands behind his back. "But I made a promise. One that I intend to keep."

"What's he saying, Edward?"

Seth stopped and turned towards the porch, growling lowly at the girl, his hackles rising in anger as he crouched into a threatening position that actually caused Bella's eyes to widened and she backed up towards her back door.

Edward stepped closer to the shifter, his hand held out and his eyes hard and cold. "She's got nothing to do with this Seth," he warned the younger teen, looking every bit as threatening as Seth in that moment. "I've made my choice. It is something that Jacob and everyone else will have to live with. I'm sorry, but I have nothing more to say about it."

What if that's not enough? What if he can't live with it? What if your selfish choice kills him? Can you go on with that on your conscience?

A low snarl left his throat. "It'll have to be enough. I have a girlfriend. I love her. I. Don't. Want. Jacob fucking Black!"

xxx

"Sam! Sam?" Leah cried into the hand-held phone, watching Billy try to rouse his son. "Sam! It's Jacob…no, everything's not alright! Why do you think I'm calling, damnit! He had a fit and now he won't wake back up!"

Her grip on the phone tightened, the plastic cracking. "Sam?"

Her only reply was the dial tone…