A/N: First things first, thank you to everyone who reviewed, almost 100 reviews wow, that's really cool. Thanks also to everyone that put me on alert and added me to their favorites, I swear it does wonders to my ego. Also, I've felt horrible about not updating sooner (sorry Vanessa 329! Don't whip out the chains yet ^_^), but after I skimmed back through New Moon and Eclipse I realized how badly Jake was treated and I second guessed the sweetness of my story. So the chapter I intended to write just didn't fit.
Chapter 8
"Daffodils"
Seth POV
We didn't have a specific destination, just away. Embry and Quil didn't want to leave Jake unattended with vampire girl, her mostly negative influence on him only too well known. It didn't take any effort on our part to remember the wreck he became the moment she walked into his life a little over a year ago. He tried to block it, but if he wasn't worried about her, he was trying to figure out how to make her feel better. And when the Cullens returned, he obsessed with staying in her life, obsessed about making her see he was better for her.
And yet you walked her right into our spot. Quil was pissed. Mostly over what he considered Jacob's loss of dignity when it came to Bella.
Dick move moron.
Like he hasn't suffered enough.
It couldn't have waited-
OK!
Embry and Quil turned to look at me and I ducked their gaze.
Idiot.
Pathetic.
I didn't want to fight, even though my hackles rose at their words.
Maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to do-
Oh wow, ya think?
I snapped a Quil, catching him off guard enough to quiet his thoughts. BUT, if she's here now that means something right?
It means she isn't done ripping his heart out.
Quil was less forgiving than Embry and I. I think something about imprinting let him forget that love hurt sometimes.
Jake wants her here.
No one contested that.
He's happier with her.
And twice as miserable too.
No one contested that either.
I remembered the way Bella stood up to Leah, letting them see that maybe, just maybe Bella was here for the right reasons this time.
A million thoughts and images ran through our heards, mostly pictures. That was the cool thing about pack mind, sometimes we didn't need words to get our point across.
But before we could come to any kind of conclusion we felt Sam phase. Being he's our Alpha, it's like every single strand of hair stands at attention, and every nerve in the mind is alert and ready to obey.
Boys.
We felt his pleasure as he stretched his wolf body. Felt his exhilaration as he launched himself into the trees.
Hey Sam.
Sup, Alph.
Yo.
We knew Sam felt our anxiety, but he didn't probe, he didn't ask. He thought only of the run he had been looking forward to all day.
He changed his course after catching our location. We waited anxiously for him to reach us. I felt Embry's eyes on me but wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He was hoping Sam would lay into me, and being that I sucked at blocking anything, by the time Sam reached us, he knew the whole story. His calm shifted into anger, a building foreboding that tore into all of us.
Seth.
I turned my gaze to the ground.
He was disappointed, a little pissed off at me. Mostly, he didn't want Bella Swan anywhere near La Push. The reason why was blocked, Sam was the best at keeping his thoughts to himself. Alpha power or something like that.
We knew what he wanted before he ordered us, and we were thundering back where we left them a few minutes ago.
I told you to let me know if anything important happened.
Sorry Sam. I didn't think a little human girl would be important.
He snarled and I cowered under his fury. Normally one wouldn't be. But we're not talking about a normal human girl are we?
No. I admitted.
Sam growled as Embry's smug joy crept up.
And you just left them?
Hey, he asked for space. Embry and Quil answered almost at the same time.
Jacob is no position to be left with her. One slip and he can incite a war.
We know he's better controlled than that. We all thought briefly about the numerous occasions when Jake would've been completely justified in wolfing it up. The one time he actually slipped up at the wedding, he chilled out almost immediately.
Sam was shifting through my memories of earlier, stifling amusement and his general agreement to Leah's words and actions.
"Just because love burned you-" Sam shut out the bitter hatred and sorrow that Bella's words put into Leah's eyes. Expertly, Sam's emotions left us, but not before we felt the pain, the regret. Sam didn't even comment when my anger pricked. Leah was still my sister, and what was done to her had affected my family irrevocably.
His apology was without words, and was accepted with the knowledge it didn't change anything.
When we caught sight of them, Bella was hugging herself and gazing up at Jacob, lips moving to words we couldn't yet catch. And Jake's face betrayed his feelings, lit up with hope and twisted in anguish.
Jacob.
Jacob turned to stare in our direction, Bella too. Sam's barking call may not be understandable to human ears, but the implication was laced with authority. I slowed as Sam propelled forward.
"What is it?" Jacob was tense as hell. Bella's face was flushed, her eyes wide. I guess seeing four gigantic wolves coming at you would do that. Quil, Embry and I stopped at a respectable distance.
Sam turned his head to the forest, staring back at Jacob meaningfully.
"Is it a vampire?" he blanched and a tremor rolled through him. He turned back towards Bella who, if it was even possible, had gotten paler.
Sam shook his head once, and Jacob visibly relaxed. He turned back to Bella, who took a cue from him and was back to blushing.
"Hold that thought Bells," he jogged off to a clump of bushes.
What's goin on?
He flickered anxiously from mind to mind, working the pieces of information gained to paint the whole picture.
His body stiffened, and the growl that echoed between us was soft.
His mind froze.
What the hell?
Jacob hadn't moved far from where he phased. As he bounced from mind to mind, making sense of our disturbance and concern, I watched Bella flit her eyes from wolf to wolf. Her expressions ranged from awe to worry, love and fear. Recognition allowed her eyes to linger on me, and she smiled softly my way.
I liked Bella. She was nice, and she never treated me as if I was just an inept kid like everyone else. And despite all appearances of frailty, she became fierce when it came to protecting the people she loved. She was loyal, and selfless. Maybe a bit stupid, but we're all human.
And I liked Edward. He looked at Bella as if the world turned by her will alone. I wasn't going to advocate for their relationship, but after the war, I didn't have it in me to call him my enemy either.
Leech lover. I growled at Quil but he just huffed at me as Jacob finally found his bearings.
He was furious with Leah and had made a mental note to check Bella over for bruising. He was pissed at Sam for agreeing with Leah, and at Embry and Quil for thinking Bella made him weak. He didn't like that I liked Edward, but that was a conversation for another time.
Sam what was the purpose of interrupting me?
To talk.
About what? Jacob tried to peek behind the brick walls Sam put up.
If I'm not ready to disclose something, brother, you should respect that.
The rest of us don't have the luxury of keeping secrets. He snarled back.
You should try harder. And to prove his point Sam started to replay one of Jacob's own memories, Bella at Jacob's bedside, telling him she loved him, but it wasn't enough. The pain that rippled through Jake shot through the rest of us, making me gasp.
Low blow. Embry muttered, whining in pity. Quil's eyes were closed, and his thoughts drifted off to happier, Claire-centered things.
Jacob didn't think, didn't speak. He just watched the memory and relived his own emotions, eying the girl that caused them.
I think it's time you and I spoke, it's been long overdue. Sam's voice may have been soft, but there was no room for disagreement. Jacob didn't fight him, simply phased again, throwing on his shorts before walking back to where Bella stood waiting. She was focused on Sam, who's attention in return shifted to her.
His thoughts weren't unkind, but they weren't welcome either. To Sam, Bella was a distraction they couldn't afford. A human who's loyalty was split between adversaries. Jacob's attachment to her wasn't yielding, despite her past choices, despite the pain he endured. Sam didn't like Bella, but he couldn't hate her either. Jacob's love echoed that strongly.
Phase back, go home.
K. Quil was aching for a nap.
Take it easy. Embry was hoping there was food at his house.
I watched Bella's hands lift to Jacob's face, watched his eyes slide close and the pain etch just a little deeper.
"Can I come by later?" he asked sounding sure she'd say no. He raised his arms to take her hands in his, brushing a kiss along her knuckles before bringing them down to her side. I looked away. A wave of dread flowed from Sam to me.
"Of course," she whispered turning slightly. Jake let her go, looking lost from the contact. She stared at him a second longer, that wistful smile returning to her face.
Seth. Home. I turned to leave.
I listened to her car start, watching through Sam's eyes as Jake turned towards our Alpha without trying to hide his animosity.
I felt Sam's regret settle into the pit of my stomach as my house came into view, far enough away for me phase back without being seen. The last thing I saw was a flicker of my sister escape from behind Sam's walls. An image of her standing before him broken, his hands clasping Emily's, begging for her forgiveness, and blessing.
A/N: Um, I'm knocking a few inches off of Jake. Writer's privilege. A 6'7 teenager is a bit hard to write, especially when Bella is only supposed to be 5'4. So in the next chapter, be prepared. Also, sorry if this isn't exactly up to par. I wanted to get another character's perspective and I really like Seth so I went with him. I prefer Jake's head *sigh* but I already started this damn thing from Bella's. Oh well, next chapter Jake shows more tude (Cydney and Mila!)
Oh yeah, in the books the wolves making a ripping sound when they phase, not a popping one. Um, they're gonna pop here. Another writer's privilege. ^_^