Here it is! Part two - finally. Chapter one is a repeat of the last chapter of Nightfall, but features an alternate ending and builds from there. Enjoy!

ONE

My hatred of the girl pulsed inside of me like a heartbeat, ebbing and flowing with the current of Jacob's thoughts, churning up and angry current each time he lingered on his memories of their time together.

It was hell, I thought to myself. Sometimes I even wondered if staying in Sam's pack would have been the best option for me. But then I looked at him, and something deep down inside me would stir, reaching out to him, admitting that it wanted him, that it needed him even if I would not do so myself.

It was what lead me here, standing in a thicket of trees on the outer edge of the vampires' property, staring at the reflection of the glass wall at the back of their home, my senses invaded by their sickeningly sweet smell that lingered even here.

I thought hard at her mate, almost shouting in my head until I saw movement at the glass wall that spanned the entirety of the back of their home, and I spied his copper hair glinting in the reflected moonlight. His body was unnaturally still, even as he glared hard at me with those glittering ocher eyes. It is no longer unnerved me, but instead disgusted me beyond reason.

Send her out! I snapped in my thoughts. I need to talk to her - now.

He shook his head in a nearly imperceptible movement that my wolf eyes caught nearly instantly.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I won't hurt her, I thought, keeping my thoughts mostly neutral and letting only a hint of annoyance trickle through. His eyes narrowed at me, and I could practically feel him sifting through my thoughts, searching for nefarious purposes.

I could practically feel the moment when he found what he was looking for, sense his satisfaction as he, too, thought that she needed to distance herself from Jacob - for both of their good.

Still, he was reluctant to let her go, and I heard them have a small argument in whispered tones before I heard the creak of the girl's frail bones as he helped her stand.

I met her on the front porch, keeping my face impassive and my thoughts neutral as he helped her out of the house. Her rounded belly dwarfed her frail form, looking as though it was consuming her from the inside out.

Based on what I'd seen in Jacob's thoughts, I knew I wasn't far off.

Her vampire hovered behind her, looking equally protective and enamoured as he helped her down the steps. I quelled my rage deep in the hidden part of her mind that she knew he could not reach, anger churning in her stomach at the thought of how undeserving this woman was to be having a child with that monster out of the blue. The emptiness my sudden and unwanted infertility had left behind flared within me, and knowing I could neither have a child nor know the earth shattering love of imprinting.

"Come," I said simply before turning and walking off into the trees, knowing she would follow at her slow and painfully human pace. I could hear the struggled breaths she took as she hobbled under the weight of her child, all the while hearing the soft rustle of her shirt as she rubbed a loving hand over the swell of her middle.

The child was sucking her life away, but it was sucking away Jacob's, too. When would she ever stop taking from us?

She hobbled behind me into the trees as I led her deeper into the forest and away from the Cullens' hearing. Once I was satisfied with our distance, I rounded on her.

She recoiled at my expression, looking every bit the wounded child. So pathetic.

"You're a cunning, bitch, you know?" I laughed, the sound coming out sharp and harsh.

"I… I don't understand," she said quietly, her voice almost a whimper.

"What, don't you understand, Isabella?" I said her name as if it were a curse word, and she recoiled as though she'd understood that, too.

"Why do you hate me so much? What did I...what did I do to you?"

"You ruined my fucking life!" I screamed. I could feel my body shaking, ready to phase at any moment if I didn't get myself under control. "And you sit here and dare to wonder why I hate you?"

"I don't under-"

"You don't understand?!" I stared at her incredulously. "How could you be so fucking selfish and idiotic that you don't understand?"

"I didn't-"

"You did everything!" My voice rose again, and I took deep breaths in order to calm myself. "You. Did. Everything," I seethed.

She stood there, frightened, clutching her swollen belly with her weakened fingers.

"If your darling husband and his coven hadn't come back, my baby brother wouldn't have phased. I wouldn't have phased," I said, straining to keep my voice straight as the next words came. "Do you know why my father died? Because he had a heart attack when I started phasing. I never needed to phase. I wasn't supposed to phase. But I did."

She opened and closed her mouth like a mentally deranged fish, at a loss for words. Her eyes shone with tears as I went on, but I paid them no mind as I continued.

"I phased, and it broke my family. My mother hasn't been the same since my dad died. She's a miserable ball of anxiety if we disappear for even a few minutes longer than we told her we would be gone for. When we went into battle because of the vampires that you caused to come here, she almost had a heart attack, too.

"But what kills me - what really kills me - is that you had no idea the hurt you were causing us. You just went on flaunting your love around town, not giving a damn who saw. Do you even care about what you've done to Jacob?" I felt my heart rate rising again along with my temper as I spat out the last words. I no longer cared to mask my feelings for him. To hell with her if she knew - I hoped it would hurt her even more.

"You're dying, and he's dying, too. He's still so in love with you that he's willing to do anything for you even though you're married to another man and carrying his...creature...inside of you!"

A small animal skittered off into the trees just beyond her, startled by the noise. She didn't even notice. I scoffed again, marvelling at how this small, weak human had managed to get all these supernatural creatures wrapped around her tiny little finger.

"I'm so sorry, Leah," she whispered once she realized my rant was over.

"No amount of your bullshit apologies could ever replace what you've cost me," I knew the words burned as if I'd slapped her. Good.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen, it just...did," she whispered. Sometime during my rant, she'd braced herself against a tree, breathing heavily under the strain of the child she carried.

"I didn't mean for your cursed clusterfuck of a life to come in and ruin mine, either, but somehow it just did."

She started crying openly then, smoothing her hands over her rounded stomach anxiously. "If I could take it all back, I would," she sobbed.

I thought of Sue and her father and the connection they had likely permanently forged between our families. "I hope it kills you," I said anyway, knowing the words would hit the hardest exactly where I wanted them to.

She gasped, slapping her hand over her mouth and muffling her sobs. She turned and walked off then, and I didn't stop her. There would be a time and place for guilt and regret, but it was nowhere near here and now.

What did you say to her, Leah? Jacob asked later, his tone hard, visions of her broken expression flitting through his mind.

The truth, I replied simply, keeping my mind carefully blank and devoid of any hint of our conversation.

Dammit, Leah, you know that now isn't the time!

And when will it be the time? I growled, prowling through the underbrush even though I knew our threat had long since given up. Sam's pack had been strangely silent for some time now, but Jacob still had us on high alert, not wanting to risk any danger.

I don't know...it's just...things are complicated right now. You know they are. Jacob patrolled in an area opposite mine, and I could tell that things were quiet on his end, too.

Has it ever been my time, Jacob?

Leah, we've all had things going on, and-

I asked you a question!

And you know that I don't know the answer, he replied solemnly.

So what then?

We do our duties. Continue doing our duties, as we've always done before. We have to protect… Jacob trailed off.

We have to protect what, exactly? The tribe? Is that what you were going to say? We both know damn well that isn't true. We're protecting the woman you love and her undead posse because you decided that we need to.

It isn't just that, Jacob replied. It's so much more than that, I just… I can't explain it, I…

Yes, you can. You're protecting her because you still love her.

I don't… I do, and I don't, Leah. His words were laced with exhaustion.

You hate that child, I shot back. As much as I do.

I hate what it's doing to her, that creature is unnatural and evil and everything I'm against, but it's still somehow killing the woman I love...d, he stumbled over the word, his lack of clarity on the issue evident in his emotions. With my whole heart, Leah. I can't just let her go.

You could, Jake, if you'd just let yourself.

I can't explain it, Leah… I thought I was over her, but even now, seeing her face just makes me want to get closer to her, protect her…

I didn't answer this time, and instead kept prowling aimlessly, protecting those I loathed the most. I carefully pushed down all the thoughts I knew I couldn't unload on Jacob. Not here, not now, especially when Seth could phase at any moment.

I gave him the night off, Jacob answered my unspoken question as I let thoughts of Seth flit through my mind.

I scoffed internally, the sound coming out as a harsh bark that startled away a deer that had been grazing peacefully nearby. So you force me to do this with you after everything?

You know it's not about that.

Then why am I still here?

Because I need you, Leah, I realized that he'd been making his way towards me throughout our conversation, and now heard him approaching, although he was still a ways off. His thoughts changed directions then, veering off to a discussion we'd never had, and I'd always doubted we ever would.

Go away, Jake, I wondered if wolves could get headaches. We can't have this conversation now.

When, then? It felt like he was throwing my own words back at me.

I don't know, Jake, I felt my apprehension growing as he moved closer, disturbing the creatures of the night as his large wolf form moved through the trees. Not now. Maybe not ever.

So we're just going to pretend that it never happened?

We'd never broached the subject before, instead always waking up and dressing quietly before going about our days, carrying on as normally as possible. We'd so often taken refuge in each others' bodies under the cover of night, yet this evening I felt more bare in front of him than I ever had.

We shoul-

Do you regret it? I rushed out, cutting him off before I could find out if he was going to say "should" or "shouldn't".

Leah, I…

Do you regret it, Jacob? I asked, my tone harder. I tried to see through the jumble of thoughts that flew through his mind before he carefully concealed them, stopping as I caught a flash of my naked body writhing underneath his.

Don't ask me to say that I regret it, he said, finally stepping into my line of sight.

I stared at him, guarded and confused. What did he want? What did this mean?

It shouldn't have happened, he continued. My heart stopped. But I don't regret that it did.

What are you even saying, Jake? You either regret it or you don't.

I-

You do. The realization stung as I read his conflicted thoughts.

I don't know, I-

Don't you dare stand there and lie to me Jacob! Not here, not like this.

I didn't mean it like that, I just-

You just what? You meant it. You regret it. Shouldn't I be regretting it, too? I felt the pain, anger, and confusion I'd felt after all those times we'd slept together curling in the pit of my stomach.

You regret it, too, Leah, he replied solemnly. I can feel it.

What I regret, I snapped back angrily, Is how I felt afterwards. Not..not that.

What do you mean, afterwards?

I mean when you'd just leave me! Are you that dense?

Jacob cocked his head at me in response.

You're kidding me, Jake.

Wasn't that what you wanted? You made me leave half the time!

I wanted to throw up my hands in exasperation, but settled for snarling at him instead. You're kidding, right? Of course it's every woman's dream to see the man she just had sex with sneak out of the room!

You know I never meant it like that, though.

Does what we meant ever really matter?

This is complicated, Leah. It's always been complicated, you know that, it's not like...was there ever really another option?

Although it was a truth I didn't want to confront, his words still felt like a cold slap across the face.

What you mean, my words were carried by the intense anger growing within me, white hot as I threw it at Jacob. Is that I was never an option. His rejection burned through me, and I knew that if I had been in my human form I would have felt the telltale sting of hot, angry tears gathering at the back of my eyes.

I didn't mean to hurt you like this, you know I didn't. His pain and sadness in reaction to my own tumultuous emotions radiated toward me, drowning me.

Then why did you?! Why?! Why is it always me? I phased, buckling under the intensity of our combined emotions.

I stalked forward as he phased, too, starting to slap and punch him in the chest as soon as he was within reach. He winced in pain at the onslaught of the full force use of my strength on his otherwise near-invincible body.

"You don't deserve this," he whispered over and over. "You don't deserve me."

Eventually, I stopped, leaning into him and breathing heavily into his chest. "Then why do I still want you, Jacob?" I whispered, looking up at him.

Even though we'd both shot up to borderline unnatural heights when we'd phased, he somehow still towered over me. I trailed a hand over his chest, marveling at how he'd managed to get bigger even after he'd officially taken his position as alpha.

I looked into his eyes, somehow still twinkling with sincerity. I slid my hand up to his cheek, strengthening my resolve. Tonight, I would be the one taking from him. Tonight, it was my turn. I strengthened my resolve and tugged at his face, indicating what I wanted, surprised to find no resistance. I dragged him down and kissed him deeply, pulling him down to the forest floor with me.

We awoke to the soft grey light of a typically foggy morning. I lay wrapped in Jacob's arms, making no move to untangle myself. We were covered in a light layer of morning dew, and I watched as the droplets quickly evaporated from the combined heat of our intertwined forms.

I felt a soft kiss press into my hair from behind and realized that Jacob was awake, too. I shifted slightly then froze, knowing that this was the moment when one of us usually sprang up and left, acting as though our coupling had never happened. Instead, however, I felt him tighten his arms around me as he pressed another kiss to the nape of my neck.

"Leave with me," the words tumbled out before I could stop them, and I held my breath for his inevitable rejection.

I twisted in his arms until I faced him, at once desperate to look into his eyes while also being fearful of what I would find there. This was it, the moment I had pictured countless times in my head since he had left. My heart was racing an even quicker staccato than usual, and I shivered as he curved a hand up the skin of my side, skimming gently across my skin until it rested just over my heart. My skin felt aflame under his touch, and I could not help the way I instinctively arched into him, desperate to relish in these last vestiges of his touch before he would inevitably pull away and leave me forever, broken and alone.

He searched my eyes for what felt like an eternity, and I swore I could see my heartbreak reflected in them.

"Okay."

My heart skipped as I processed what he'd said. I searched his eyes as deeply as he had mine only moments prior, still trapped in his arms. "Okay?"

His eyes shone with the same sincerity they'd had before. He simply nodded before leaning down to kiss me deeply. He drew back and kissed my head, breathing deeply in my hair.

We stayed like that for some time, kissing lazily before making love once more. It was bliss, peaceful bliss, and I felt myself sinking deeper into him with every heated touch, never wanting to lose this moment. Never wanting to lose him, as I knew now without a doubt that I could not survive it.

By the time we stood up, it was late morning.

"Tonight," he spoke first, answering my unspoken question. "Say goodbye to Sue first."

"And Seth?" I asked softly.

Jacob hesitated a moment. "He'll be fine. He's free now - he can do whatever he wants."

I nodded slowly as we started towards where we'd left our spare clothes, which was unfortunately near the Cullen residence.

The closer we got, the heavier my steps felt as my next question hovered behind my lips, unspoken as well. Jacob grabbed my hand and squeezed it, then laced his fingers through mine.

"I'm not going to...she'll understand," he said quietly. "I can't protect her anymore." His words ached with finality and loss, and I squeezed his hand in reassurance.

"Where do we start? I asked. It was daunting, looking up at him and knowing that he was mine now. Imprint or not, he would be mine - completely - for whatever duration of time the universe decided to give us. Even if it wasn't forever, it would be enough.

An excited giggle erupted from me at this, and he looked over at me quizzically. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I reveled in the feeling - I finally was okay. "Yeah, I...I'm just... happy." The word felt oddly foreign on my tongue, as though I was forming the sound for the first time.

Happy, as though-

A blood curdling scream interrupted our thoughts. The scream was followed by the sound of bones cracking and grinding against each other. I looked up to find Jacob's face contorted in horror.

It was her. I gripped him tighter for a moment before pulling away.

"Go to her," the words felt difficult to let out, yet I managed. I couldn't be selfish anymore.

He grabbed my hand again suddenly tugged me forward with him. "Come," he pleaded quietly. His eyes shone with fear and tears, and I knew I couldn't deny him.

"Okay," I tried a reassuring smile before he tugged me forward again, jogging the rest of the way to the Cullen home.

The stench of blood drifted toward us as we reached the edge of the property, causing Jacob to burst into a sprint. Panicked voices could be heard inside, and I knew it wasn't good.

What if she was dead? My gut twisted uncomfortably as I recalled the last words I'd spoken to her. I'd hated her, told her she was a monster. Maybe I was a monster, too.

My feet were heavy as I dragged them up the steps, the scent of blood overwhelming my senses. I was positive - she was dead. No human could have survived this carnage.

The door stood ajar, likely from Jacob's entrance. There were large, bloody footprints leading up to the second floor, where the chaos seemed centered. Even if she hadn't died yet, she was definitely dying. Could they change her in time? Would they?

My eyes drifted on the carnage in the room, from the large puddles of blood to the equally bloodied clothes that lay strewn about, their efforts at ebbing the flow clearly having been fruitless.

In the middle of it all stood the blonde female, cooing carefully at the bundle of cloth swaddled in her arms. It shifted, and I caught a glimpse of what lay within it. The baby was stunning, as gorgeous of a creature as its counterparts. She already had a healthy swath of glowing copper hair, and large brown eyes that shone in the light. Her cheeks were tinged with color, somehow pointing to a bit of humanity although I knew that it was no such thing. Its eyes locked on mine, and I stood, transfixed, feeling as though it could see directly through me, reading my discomfort.

My trance was broken suddenly by the sound of heavy footsteps descending the stairs. Jacob. He moved slowly by deliberately, his large hands bloodied equally as badly as his bare feet. His eyes were fixed on the bundle in the blonde's arms, which had turned back to snuggle gently against the vampire's chest.

Jacob's eyes were filled with a rage that looked so cold and murderous that I gasped. His eyes snapped to me for a moment as the realization of what was about to occur dawned on me. An inferno of rage glowed within them, devoid of the gentle kindness I had grown so accustomed to.

I reached out to him, knowing my face was contorted in horror. No, I mouthed, shaking my head at him. Don't do it.

I knew he registered my words, but he still turned away from me, too focused on his goal and consumed by the anger within him.

He stalked towards the baby, each step reverberating in my ears as I knew he had steadfastly committed himself to what he was about to do.

"Jake!" I cried out. This time, the blonde's head snapped up to him. She bared her teeth hissing at him as the child bundled in her arms began to fuss.

"Come with me Jake, please," I pleaded, knowing my words would fall on deaf ears.

He snarled back at the vampire, continuing to approach the baby.

"Jake!" I begged, grabbing his arm. "Jacob, please." My voice was laced with a level of desperation that was achingly raw, yet I found no place in my heart to feel any embarrassment at it. Instead, all I saw was him, and the tension in his stance as he stood rigidly between the demon child and I.

I grabbed at his chin, knowing my efforts would be fruitless yet desperately trying to force him to look at me all the same.

"Please," I begged again. Still, he did not turn, his blackened gaze still focused on the baby in the vampire's arms before us.

It finally peeked its little head out again, and the world stopped.

Later, I would remember the look in his eyes as he saw it, the way the Jacob I knew had ceased to exist and had been reborn in a split second. Reborn as a new man, whose sole purpose in life was to exist for it - for her.

Later, I would run through the million scenarios where we wouldn't have to have come back this way, where we would have run off right away and left it all, hurt feelings be damned.

In that moment though, all that I could register in my mind was the feeling of my barely-mended heart somehow managing to tear in two again. It felt like a fresh onslaught of physical pain, and it drew me to my knees.

I'd lost him.

It's ironic how the next place we meet is the same place where, only days before, we'd decided to run away together. My heart thumped in pain with the memories this place held, deepening the anger I felt towards him.

"Let me go." I was surprised by how steady my voice despite the pain it was laced with.

"Okay," he responded simply, his voice tinged with sadness. I refused to look at him, looking anywhere and everywhere else. The wildlife continued to exist blissfully around me, happily unaware of the ocean of sorrow that raged in its midst.

I turned to walk away, feeling his eyes on my back. I made it to where the tree line hit the grass before I turned around.

"I love you," The words hung uselessly on the air. I couldn't recall why I'd said them in the first place.

"I loved you, too," he whispered back.

My heart shattered for a second time as I turned and ran.

A very different ending, obviously - can't wait to see what you guys think so far. This fic does feature a pairing, although I won't reveal it yet - I wonder if you guys will figure it out beforehand? :)