Metamorphosis: 2 War

A soft buzzing sound echoed down the corridor, but of coarse I heard it at the very moment it began. A heavy musky odor wafted in through the cracks in the door. It was a windy April day. The scent was strong and hit me in waves as the wind blew.

It got worse with every step I took towards the door. I sat down a box and twisted the door knob. I wrinkled my nose; the smell was similar to a dirty, muddy, dog getting drenched. Ew. It was so strong I immediately cut off the oxygen to my nose.

Standing in my door way was a dripping, shirtless, very angry Jacob Black. Angry didn't seem to be the right word. Maybe furious but that didn't seem to be it either. In the back of my mind I wandered how he knew were to find me.

"Hi Jake! What are you doing here?!" Surprise colored my tone. I took a step back, he was trembling, a fierce shudder rippled across his shoulders and down his spine. He was trembling all over and my question only seemed to make things worse. The droplets of rain that sparkled on his chest seemed to sizzle and evaporate, he was red-hot with rage.

"Are- are okay?" My voice was shaking just as badly as he was. Suddenly the movement stopped. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly he stopped he looked like he was in pain, or that he was going to throw up. He started to hyperventilate.

"Jake"

He was really stating to worry me. When it looked like he was going to explode from lack of oxygen, he brought out a small, blue, square of cloth, put it to his nose and breathed deeply several times.

Finally he looked at me, "Bella I need to talk to you, now."

"Okay." I said slowly, getting over the shock. I didn't move an inch. "Are you okay?"

He didn't answer, only brushed past me and stood a distance away on the tiled floor of my new apartment's door way. I smiled sheepishly at him; I didn't have any furniture moved in yet. I didn't need it. I barely spent time here; this whole apartment was a prop. I lived with Edward of course, with the rest of the Cullen's in their- our beautiful home in the forest by the creek.

"So…." pitiful. This was ridiculous, he came here he should get to the point. I vaguely remember a time when we could say anything to each other, there was no such thing as an "awkward" silence. Just then I realized how long ago our friendship seemed.

"They changed you didn't they?" It was a fact, a statement, anything but a question and we both knew it. I knew who he was and how he felt about the Cullens, Edward especially. I couldn't look at him.

"Why?" He sounded like he was in pain. A particularly large droplet of water landed with 'plop' on the immaculate white tile. "Why?"

There was a long deafening silence. For one split second I felt a twinge of regret. And then it was gone. I was angry at myself, how could I even for a second regret Edward and what he did for me? Gathering my will I looked up at Jacob.

He quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. What ever it was that I attempted to arm myself with completely melted at the sight of his anguished face. He opened his mouth, but then immediately turned away and pressed the cloth to his nose again.

Suddenly he whirled around and was in my face so close the stench of wet dog invaded my nose. I felt so guilty for thinking of him like that; I didn't exactly smell like a bucket of roses to him either. I couldn't meet his gaze again, so I settled on toying with the topaz ring I wore on my ring finger.

"Why Bella! Why would you let them do that to you?! Why would you do that to me? To Charlie?" He was shouting at the top of his lungs right in my face.

"He doesn't know." I whispered, barely even using my voice, I couldn't find it.

"How long do you think it will take before he finds out? HUH?! When he hugs you, you'll be so cold, believe me he'll notice! And you look so different. But worst of all, what do you think he will say when he finds out what and how you eat!?!"

"HE WON'T FIND OUT!!" I shouted back, having finally found my voice.

He narrowed his eyes to dangerous slits, "Will he?" He said semi-calmly, trough gritted teeth.

"No! You wouldn't dare." I said slightly unnerved, Jake was becoming quite the little snitch lately. "And even if you had the balls to do it, it's not like he would believe you." I said, perfectly calm, glaring at him right in the face. "Besides" I said matter-of-factly, "It's not your secret to tell. He'll want proof as well; if you even get that far."

"Look, I came here to check up on your humanity, but seeing as you have none, I would like to ask you a favor. Relay my message to your precious Cullens." He spat their name sourly, I expected that much.

"They broke the treaty and should expect any and all ties as good as burned!" Hs tone was final and left no room for argument. He turned to walk out of the door only to have me blocking it. My new speed did come in handy.

He flinched violently and we both took more than one step back. The smell of our proximity was beginning to take its toll on both of our senses of smell. His expression was a horrified one. The shock of my transformation was finally sinking in.

"What does that mean?" My eyebrows involuntarily pulled together.

"They broke the treaty. They knew what would happen!" He started to get louder until he was shouting, "They-"

"JACOB! WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!!!" I had to scream to get over his voice. I could hear everyone within a one mile stop what they were doing and wonder…

"WAR!!" He screamed right back in my face.

He ran past me and slammed the door. I was too stunned too move. If I could cry I would be curled up in a ball, sobbing on the carpet. I didn't want them to fight; I didn't want any of them to get hurt or worse…..

Worst case scenario.

I couldn't wrap my mind around that concept. Jacob's pack was clearly out numbered, the Cullens were strong, not to be taken lightly.

I was trembling so badly I was barely able to close the door and lock it with out ripping it off its hinges. "Edward!" I screamed as I ran through the forest. I stumbled twice before I even saw the house. "Edward!" I screamed again.

He appeared in the front yard, arms open, worry creased deeply on his forehead. I collapsed in his arms, and buried my face in his chest.

"Bella?" I heard Alice say.

My voice was lost again. Edward helped me onto a couch in the living room. I hid my face behind my hands, ashamed. This was my fault. Esme took my hands away, motherly worry marred her face. It appeared a crowd was forming.

"What's wrong?" I stared in anguish at her goddess-like face, if she were hurt in the fight I couldn't live with myself. I couldn't make myself look her in the eye.

"I……" I opened my mouth just to close it seconds later. I still hadn't decided to on how I would break the news. I could beet around the bush or I come out and say it. I decided to just say it; there wasn't any real way to sugar coat something like this anyway.

I started slowly gaining momentum as I went along. "Jacob Black, came by today, t-to check on m-me." I stuttered a little at the end. "He knows what I am, and he wanted me to do a favor for him..." I stopped struggling to keep my voice.

"A favor?" Esme asked anxiously when I didn't continue.

"He wanted to me to tell you that it means….war." the last word left a sour taste on my tongue.

"I thought as much." I heard Carlisle murmur; my eyes flitted eagerly to him.

"What do we do now?" I asked forlornly.

"We must prepare." I stared at him shocked. He shook his head gravely, leaving the room, along with Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper. I sat there on the sofa for what seemed to be hours. The minutes ticked by, I heard the pengelum in the grandfather clock in Carlisle's office, swinging back and forth, back and forth.

I stared at my hands thinking, everyone had left except Edward. "It's not your fault, you know." He said. His smooth voice shattered the silence; his arms wrapped around me so tight his stony arms would have broke my ribs and arms, had I been human. I was glad I wasn't.

"Sometimes I don't believe you when you say you can't read my mind." I said softly. "What are you going to do?" I said even softer.

"We'll do what we must." He said grimly. Then he captured my lips in an unpredictable kiss that made me forget all my worries.

For the moment.

TBC…