Alpha's Qahla
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 03
Bella rolled over with a groan and slapped at the blaring alarm. She felt like she hadn't slept at all since she'd stayed up late talking to Jake on the phone.
Jake...
She smiled despite her fatigue and hugged her pillow tight as she thought about him. He was everything she'd ever thought a guy should be. Smart, funny, tender but with a dominant side… He made her feel...safe. Then she pictured him and sighed. The fact that he was fuck-hot didn't hurt either…
Chuckling at how ridiculously girly she was being, she sat up and scooted off the bed. It was Monday after all and her very first day at Forks High.
Grabbing her stuff, she checked the time and headed for the bathroom.
After getting ready for the day, she grabbed her bag and phone and headed downstairs, hoping she wouldn't run into Charlie.
She still hadn't really talked to him since her date and frankly, she wasn't looking forward to it. She was still too upset by what he'd done. She'd been beyond embarrassed whereas Jake had thought it hilarious. 'Men,' she thought with a roll of her eyes as she grabbed a cup of coffee before heading out the door.
Popping the door on the truck, she hopped in and set her cup into the holder Jake had installed in the dash and smiled at the flower and note she found there.
After starting the truck to let it warm up, she unfolded the note and read with smile on her face.
~o0o~
My Bell,
Good morning gorgeous! Hope you like the flower. Girls like shit like that, right?
Well, if you don't, don't be afraid to tell me, okay? I won't be hurt…much. *wink*
I hope you have a great first day sweetheart. Call me or come by later, yeah?
Yours,
Jake
~o0o~
She picked up the flower and sniffed it before digging a book out of her bag and pressing it between the pages. She slipped the note in there too and stuffed it back in her bag, before putting the truck in gear and pulling out.
~o0o~
Bella grit her teeth in frustration as she elbowed her way through the jostling crowd and into the cafeteria.
Her day had been…tolerable so far, but she was definitely ready for a break.
"Bella! Bella, over here!" a voice called out. A very familiar voice from her second period class—a voice that hadn't shut up for the entire second period class—Jessica Stanley.
She pasted on a smile and turned to see the girl at a table, waving manically. "Get your food and come sit with us!" the girl called out and Bella nodded with a wave as she got into the food line.
Once she got her food, such as it was, she paid and took her tray over to Jessica's table. "Bella!" the girl chirped. "Have a seat and I'll introduce you!"
Bella slid her tray onto the table and sat down, trying to ignore the stares of every person there. She glanced around with a reluctant smile as Jessica launched into naming them; each waving as she did. "This is Angela, Ben, Mike, Eric, and Lauren. Everyone, this is Bella Swan, the new girl."
She sat down and they all began talking while Bella did her best to tune them out. She'd just begun munching her apple when the girl across from her—Angela?—spoke. "She can be a little overwhelming at times," she said with a kind smile as she stuck out a hand. "Angela Weber."
She took her hand and shook. "Bella Swan," she said with a nod.
Angela chuckled. "I know. Everyone knows, but don't sweat it, the newness will wear off and they'll find something or someone else to obsess over."
Bella smirked. "One can hope."
"Oh, don't worry. It happened with the Cullens and if it can happen with them, then it'll happen with you."
"The Cullens?" Bella questioned. "Are they relatively new then?"
Angela shrugged a shoulder and took a sip from her water. "They moved here about two years ago from Alaska and we hardly ever see new people around here, so it's a big deal."
Bella nodded and swallowed her bite of apple. "Got it," she said before taking a drink of her own water.
"So, I didn't get to say hello earlier, but I'm in your trig class, so if you ever need anything—notes, homework help—don't be afraid to ask."
"Thanks," Bella said with a grateful smile. "I might take you up on that." She dug out her phone and handed it to Angela. "Put in your number and I'll text you later."
"Sure," she said while tapping in the info.
Bella glanced around while Angela was occupied and spotted a group just entering the cafeteria. They were sort of…exotic looking. If she had to use a word to describe them, she'd say they were ethereal looking; almost angelic. "Wow," she muttered. "Who are they?"
Angela glanced over as she slid the phone back to Bella. She smirked. "They…are the Cullens. Beautiful, aren't they?"
"Yeah," Bella mumbled. "In a freaky, otherworldly sort of way." She looked back at Angela. "I mean, I'm pale, but they have me beat by a mile, and their eyes…they're all the same color."
Angela looked back as the Cullens took their normal table in the corner. "Huh," she murmured. "You're right. I never noticed…"
"Well, they're all related, right?" Bella asked.
Angela took a drink and shook her head. "No, that's the thing—they're all adopted. Well, the two blonds—Jasper and Rosalie are twins, but the rest? Not related."
"Weird," Bella muttered.
"Yeah," Jessica, who'd just clued in to what they were discussing, said. "Stranger still is that they're all together—like, together, together. It's creepy," she finished with a curled lip.
"All except for Edward," the other girl—Lauren if Bella recalled—said with a smirk at Jessica.
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Right, as if that means anything." She turned to Bella. "The boy doesn't date…at all. It's like no one's good enough for him or something. Completely uninterested."
Edward Cullen shot a dirty look toward them and turned back to his siblings.
"Huh," Bella said before taking a bite from her apple.
Jessica and Lauren went back to their own conversation and Bella looked at Angela who mouthed the word 'bitter' with a quick glance at Jessica.
Bella stifled a smirk and nodded just as the warning bell rang. She and Angela stood and walked to the doors where they tossed their trash and stacked their trays. "What class do you have next?" Angela asked.
"Biology," Bella answered as they made their way into the hall.
"Me too!" Angela said. "Come on, I'll show you the way."
They walked into the room and Angela went to her table while Bella stopped at the teacher's desk to get her slip signed. "Ah, new kid," the teacher greeted as he signed. He grabbed a book and handed it to her. "Take that and go sit with Mr. Cullen. Welcome to the class."
"Thanks," Bella muttered before turning toward the tables. There was only one seat and it was by the unapproachable Edward. With a sigh, she walked forward and took it anyway.
"Hi," she said as she sat.
He glanced at her and wordlessly scooted his seat away.
"Okay then," Bella muttered under her breath as she took out a notebook and pen.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him grip the table top and glare at her.
She turned to him. "Look, I don't know who pissed in your cheerios this morning, but we're obviously stuck as partners for this class. Grow up, deal with it and stop glaring at me. I'm not one of your fangirls."
He shot her a poisonous, black glare and went back to ignoring her.
She shrugged and the class proceeded. At the end, just as the bell rang, he shot up from his seat and rushed from the room.
"Wow," Mike said on his way out the door. "What'd you do to Cullen?"
Bella frowned. "I have no idea," she answered and shrugged it off as she went to her next class.
~o0o~
Jacob rapped the backs of his knuckles on the door frame of Sam's house before walking in. He smiled at Emily. "Sam around?" he asked.
"Hi Jacob," she said as she folded clothes in front of the TV. "Yeah, they're all in the kitchen."
He snorted. "No surprises there," he muttered and she smirked.
"Nope," she said with a shake of her head.
He walked through to the eat-in kitchen and there they were; most of the pack, gathered around the table, eating. "Hey fucker," Paul greeted.
"What's up asshole?" Jake returned.
Paul flipped him off and kept eating while Jared shook his head and tossed a chip at him. Paul picked it up and ate it with a grin.
Sam glanced over. "Jacob," he inclined his head and watched as Jake took a seat.
"We need to talk," Jake said and Sam eyed him for a moment, his look cool and curious as the noise at the table died noticeably.
"Okay," Sam said as he straightened up and crossed his massive arms over his chest. "What about?"
Jake took a deep breath and dove right in. He didn't see a reason to prolong this and he needed to resolve any conflict before telling Bella about…everything. "I imprinted."
Quil's head shot up. "No shit?! Who is she? Do I know her?"
Embry smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Congrats man."
"Yeah, what's her name?" Paul asked with a wicked glint in his eyes. "Maybe I've done her."
Leah rolled her eyes and curled her lip. "Pig," she muttered as her brother Seth watched the goings on with wide eyes.
"What?" Paul leered at her. "He might appreciate having her broke in just right."
Jacob's eyes flashed amber and he snarled at the cocky shifter. "One more word Lahote and I kick your ass."
Paul leaned toward Jake with a toothy grin. "You could try…"
"Enough," Sam growled before pinning Jake with a steady gaze. "Do we know her?"
"No."
Sam's eyes narrowed. "From another reservation then? Makah?"
Jake straightened in his seat and crossed his arms. "No," he answered, still meeting Sam's gaze head-on. "Her name is Isabella Swan; Charlie Swan's daughter."
The room went deathly silent as Jake and Sam stared at each other. No one moved a muscle, not even Paul who always had a smart-assed remark.
"She's white," Sam stated, his eyes flashing amber as his temper spiked.
"She is," Jake affirmed as he stared in open challenge.
"I refuse to have a pale face as any part of this pack," Sam growled lowly.
Jake's fists clenched. "I don't see where you have a choice."
"That's true, Sam. She's his imprint…" Embry trailed off as Sam snarled at him.
"You stay the fuck out of this, little brother." He looked back at Jacob. "You might not care about infecting our bloodlines with a pale-face, but I do and I'm the Alpha. You can't bring her here."
Jake shot up from his seat and leaned forward, his hands on the table as he growled in Sam's face. "Don't put your personal hangups off on me or the pack Uley. Deal with your shit on your own time."
"Oh shit…" Seth whispered. Paul snorted a laugh.
"Outside, Black. Now," Sam seethed, the corner of his top lip trembling over a razor sharp tooth.
"Gladly," Jake growled back, as he fought for control of his wolf. He straightened up and stalked out the kitchen door and into the nearby trees where he stripped and phased. He knew this would be a fight; he'd expected it and so he stood, hackles raised as a low growl rumbled in his chest.
Sam entered the clearing, already phased and the rest of the pack soon followed and stood in a wide semi-circle to watch.
He snarled and shook his head. "You really wanna do this, pup?"
Jake snapped his jaws, paced side to side and lunged with a vicious growl.
They came together in a whirlwind of snarls, snapping jaws and razor sharp claws. Jake twisted around and clamped onto Sam's side, drawing a fierce growl from the massive, black wolf who rose up on his hind legs, dragging Jake forward with the motion. He saw an opening and took it, his black jaws and glinting teeth closing on Jake's back leg with a shattering snap. Jake turned loose with a yelp of pain as he struggled to stand and slashed a giant fore-paw against the Alpha's head, knocking him back into a tree.
Jake growled and limped toward the stunned and bleeding Alpha. "Do you yield?"
Sam stood and shook his massive head to clear it, droplets of blood flying off of him like red rain. "Never!" he growled through their mental link.
Jake attacked again, his broken leg hindering him greatly, but he knew he couldn't quit. He was going for no less than the Alpha position. It was his only hope, he knew.
Their bodies twisted together, jaws snapping and claws slashing wherever they made contact, both bleeding profusely now.
"Yield!" Jake demanded as he fought.
"Never!" Sam returned with a vicious bite to Jake's side.
Jake twisted away even though doing so tore at his flesh. He refused to roll and expose his belly. To do so, he knew, would be the end of this; a sure sign of submission; something he was determined to avoid.
Blood flowed as they came at each other again and again, both growing weak and weary; neither willing to back down, neither willing to submit.
Jared spoke up from the watching half circle. "This is fuckin' crazy. We need to stop this. They're killing each other." He began to peel his clothes off to phase but Paul stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"This was always going to happen. There's nothing we can do."
Jared gaped at Paul. He'd never seen the shifter look so serious before and it was quite the shock.
"I think Jared's right. We need to do something!" Embry said while turning to Paul. "Jake's my best friend and Sam's my brother and they're tearing each other apart!"
Paul, quick as lightning, grabbed Embry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close. "Take a good look at them and tell me if you think you can stop them?" He shook him and Embry glanced at the fight over his shoulder, then back at Paul. He hung his head. "No, probably not."
Paul snorted and shoved him back. "No, definitely not."
"But we all could…maybe…if we phased and tackled them together," he tried again, weakly.
Paul sneered. "Yeah, one Alpha order is all it would take to stop you," he gestured toward the raging wolves, "but feel free to give it a go."
Embry looked at the rest of them and they all stood there, stoic, as they watched, even Jared.
"No one?" Embry questioned.
Jared shook his head. "I hate to say this, but Paul's right. This was always going to happen. It was just a matter of time."
A loud yelp of pain brought their attention back to the fight and they turned to see Jake lying at the base of a tree, Sam's massive jaws clamped over his neck. Both were huffing in huge breaths and covered in blood but Jake was pinned and they all knew it.
"Do you yield?" Sam growled through the mental link.
Jacob refused to answer and struggled against the jaws that held him.
Sam's teeth sank in even further and Jake stilled, finally going limp.
"Do. You. Yield?" Sam repeated, and felt the other wolf's submission before the words ghosted through his mind.
With a pained whine, the russet wolf's eyes closed in shame. "I yield."
Sam let go of him and limped off into the trees, coming back in human form minutes later just as Jake was phasing back. "Paul, Quil, help him dress and get him back to his house. I'll call Sue and have her go check on him. I think that leg is going to need some attention."
They all looked at Jake's leg that was torn, bleeding and lying at an odd angle and had to agree. "Damn, you did a number on him," Paul muttered while helping Jake into his clothes.
"Forget the shirt, just get him home so Sue can see to him."
Paul nodded as Quil slipped Jake's boots on him. "Okay," he said with a slow shake of his head at the sight of his now unconscious friend. "He's ready to go."
Paul and Quil lifted him and carried him to his truck where they laid him in the bed. Paul hopped in the driver's seat and started the truck. Glancing back to see a thumbs up from Quil in the back, he put the truck in gear and pulled out.
When they pulled up to Jake's house, Paul swore under his breath when he saw Billy on the porch, speaking with a girl with long, curly brown hair. "This is just fuckin' great," he muttered as he set the brake and cut the engine.
Billy was now looking toward them with a frown as Paul hopped out to help Quil with Jake. "Boys, what's happened?" he asked while rolling down the ramp.
Paul opened the tailgate while making up an answer. "Uh, Jake and Sam had a little disagreement."
"Jake?!" he heard the girl say with a gasp as she ran to the truck. "Oh god," she murmured, looking faint. "So much blood…" She looked at Billy. "Shouldn't we call an ambulance?!"
Billy glanced at Paul who shook his head and muttered, "Sue's on her way."
Billy grabbed Bella's hand to pull her back while they got Jake out of the truck and carried him in the house. "No Bella, Sue is coming. She's a physician's assistant. He'll be fine."
She tore away from Billy's hold and ran after the guys as they carried Jake to his room and laid him on the bed. She knelt at his side and ran her fingers over his forehead.
"He'll be okay," Quil assured her weakly.
Bella looked back at him and Paul and Quil gave her sad smile. "Isabella, right?"
She nodded and looked back at Jake.
"Well, I'm one of Jake's best friends and this is Paul."
"Why is he like this?" she asked as a tear rolled down her cheek. "There's so much blood, but I don't see that many cuts…"
"Uh, we uh, heal fast?" Quil stuttered out while Paul glared at him.
Just then, Sue walked in with a large medical kit, the look on her face all business. "All right, clear the room. I need to check him over."
"Mind his left leg Sue," Quil said. "It's broken."
Her jaw clenched and she pointed at the door. "Out," she demanded.
Bella stood, looking torn but Quil nodded at the door. "Come on, I'll keep ya company while you wait."
She nodded and they walked out.
"Paul," Sue called out as he was leaving. "You stay. I'm going to need some muscle with this leg."
Paul grimaced but nodded and shut the door.
Outside, Quil led Bella onto the porch where they sat down on the steps. "So, you and Jake?" he asked with a sidelong glance.
She shrugged. "We knew each other as kids, when I'd visit Charlie in the summer, but I just moved here. Feels kind-of like we just met, so it's a little early for there to be a 'Me and Jake', ya know?"
He nodded but glanced at her. "He really likes you," he told her.
She looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. "What really happened?"
"What?" he asked, beginning to fidget.
"Look," she sighed. “I've had enough weirdness today so just be straight with me, all right? What really happened?"
"He and Sam got into it, that's all."
"And so what, Sam ran him over with a truck?! Look, I've seen the aftermath of fistfights, and they don't wind up looking like Jake does now!"
He looked a bit sheepish. "Sam's…really big."
Bella blew out a breath. "Okay, whatever," she muttered and stood. She turned to go back inside to talk to Billy, but Quil grabbed her hand. She looked down at him as he spoke.
"Bella, that's really what happened, I swear."
"That may be, but there's more to it. I can feel that," she said before pulling away and going inside. She walked over, sat on the couch beside Billy's chair and took his hand. He looked worried and she felt the same. Something about this situation, besides the obvious, was nagging at her. It made her heart hurt and she couldn't understand why.
He smiled sadly and patted her hand. "Bella," he said just as there was a godawful scream of pain from Jake's room.
She shot to her feet and Billy's grip tightened. "No Bella, he's in good hands. He'll be fine."
She sank down on the couch again and he passed her a box of tissue. She hadn't realized she'd started crying. She took some and blotted her face. "What's going on Billy? Please tell me?"
"Bella…" he sighed at another, quieter cry of pain from Jake. "You really need to talk to Jake about all of this." He looked her in the eye. "I really can't tell you anything. It's all up to him."
She nodded with a sigh and settled in to wait.
Sue walked out moments later, followed by a pale looking Paul carrying her medical kit. She stopped in front of Billy while Paul took her stuff to the car. "He has some stitches in his side and his leg was broken. It was a clean break, but…" she glanced at Bella and then back at Billy, "I had to set it. I have him on a morphine drip for the pain, so he'll be woozy if he wakes. Don't let him up without help. I have to head to Sam's next and then I'm going home for dinner, but I'll be back to check on him later."
Billy nodded. "Thank you Sue."
She patted his shoulder and smiled wanly. "These boys…" she muttered before walking out.
Bella looked at Billy who smiled. "Go ahead," was all he said and she was up and heading to Jake's room the next second. She didn't bother knocking because she didn't want to wake him if he was sleeping so she pushed the door open and crept in. She grabbed the desk chair and moved it next to the bed. Just as she sat, Jake's eyes opened and he looked at her blearily. "Hey," she said with a smile while taking his hand.
"Hey," he croaked.
"So, a fight, huh?"
His free hand clenched and he turned his head away. "Yeah," he answered. "You could say that."
"Jake, look at me," she coaxed. When he did, she continued. "Why do I feel like…like this was so much more than just a fight? I feel…I feel…" she rubbed at her chest with a deep frown. "I feel devastated and as crazy as this sounds, I feel shame?" She shook her head. "No, that can't be right…I'm not ashamed of you…" She met his eyes. "But I feel that anyway. I don't understand this at all."
His jaw clenched and he looked away. "Bella, I…I just can't talk about this right now, all right?" He looked back at her. "Just…just give me time to get my head around it first, and then we'll talk, I promise." His gaze dropped and she smoothed the hair back from his eyes.
"All right Jake."
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "So how was your first day at good ol' Forks High?"
She sat back and frowned. "Weird," she said and his brows furrowed.
"Why, what happened?"
"Well, there was this guy in my biology class—my biology partner, to be exact—and he was really hostile. Wouldn't say hello, sat as far from me as he could while still at the same table, and kept shooting me dirty looks like I'd killed his puppy or something." She shook her head. "All I did was say 'hi' when I sat down."
"Did he say anything to you?"
"Nope, not a thing."
"Huh," Jake muttered. "What an asshole."
"He is."
"What was his name? Maybe I know him?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You can't go kicking anyone's ass just because they give me dirty looks, Jake."
He grinned and it was sort of goofy from the morphine. "Maybe not today…"
"Jake…"
He sighed. "Fine, I won't go kicking his ass…yet. Now, what was his name?"
"I doubt you'd know him. I guess he's kind-of a newbie around here too. His name is Cullen—Edward Cullen."
Jake shot up and grimaced. "You sit next to a fuckin' Cullen?!" he gritted out while grabbing his leg.
She pushed him back down with a hand in the middle of his chest. "Yes, in biology, now relax or you're gonna hurt yourself."
He eased back on the pillows and looked at her. "Bella, stay away from him. He's bad news."
Her brows inched up. "I don't think that'll be a problem Jake. He's an asshole, remember? He's not exactly trying to chat me up."
"Oh fuck," he muttered and rubbed his leg over the brace Sue'd put it in. "Hurts," he said.
She scooted forward and brushed his hair from his forehead. "Is there anything I can do?"
He glanced down where her chest was pressed against his bicep and a slow smile curved his lips. "You could kiss it and make it better…"
She smiled and leaned forward, covering his lips with hers. She kept it slow and sweet and then pulled away with a peck. "There, how's that?" she whispered.
"Better, but still hurts."
"Guess I'll have to try harder," she murmured and he nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan."
She kissed the corner of his lips and continued on down his cheek to his neck as he tilted his head. "Still needs work," he murmured and she chuckled against his skin before nipping him lightly.
"Oooh, that was interesting," he commented while pulling her closer with his free arm.
"Jacob Black," she admonished.
"What, you're helping. Feelin' better already," he mumbled. "Keep going though, still hurts. Not quite there yet."
"Hmm," she said doubtfully while sucking lightly at his collarbone. She moved down then and circled his nipple with her tongue before sucking the tiny bud in and he groaned. He buried a hand in her hair and shifted restlessly. "Fuck, that's nice but still, not quite enough…"
Her teeth nipped at him and he hissed. "Tease," he muttered and she smiled against him.
"Tease now am I?" she questioned. She looked up at him through her lashes. "Perhaps I should stop?"
"It hurts even more from you saying that," he said with a smile.
She chuckled. "Fine," she said while working her way over his taut abs. She dipped her tongue in his bellybutton and then nuzzled the downy hair just below it.
He flexed his fingers against the back of her head and he moaned. "Fuck Bella, the pain's almost gone, but you haven't hit the magic spot yet."
She ran her tongue up his happy trail and looked up with a smile. "No? And where would that magic spot be, Mr. Black?"
He shifted and looked down, eyes glassy as he licked his lips. "Bella, please?"
She hooked her fingers in the waist of his shorts and eased them down over his straining cock and his hand clenched into a fist as he shifted restlessly.
Running her hand slowly up his good leg, she finally wrapped it around the base and gave him two slow strokes, her thumb circling over the head with each. He hissed and threw his head back on the pillow. "Yes," he said. "Right there…"
She kissed the crease of his hip and looked up at him as she stroked. "Right here?" she questioned with a smile as she circled the sensitive head again, spreading the pre-cum.
His eyes popped open and he looked down at her. "Bella…" he croaked, and while he watched, she took him into her mouth. Her eyes watered a bit and the taste took some getting used to but she began to get the hang of it as she circled her tongue over him and sucked.
He gasped. "Oh fuck…yes…yes…" he babbled as she took him in as far as she could. She'd never done this so she gagged when he hit the back of her throat but she worked through it before setting up a slow pace.
His hand on the back of her head was gentle and his fingers played in her hair while she sucked and licked. Using her hand to stimulate what she couldn't manage with her mouth, she worked him until he was panting.
"Oh god Bella…" he groaned then tapped lightly on the back of her head. "I'm gonna cum baby," he said as she felt him swell even more as his sack tightened. She moved back and finished him with her hand and he panted and gripped his hair as he shot spurt after spurt onto his belly.
She grabbed a nearby towel and cleaned him up and then he pulled her close and kissed her. "Is the pain gone?" she asked, her forehead resting against his.
He laughed. "What pain?"
Bella rolled over with a groan and slapped at the blaring alarm. She felt like she hadn't slept at all since she'd stayed up late talking to Jake on the phone.
Jake...
She smiled despite her fatigue and hugged her pillow tight as she thought about him. He was everything she'd ever thought a guy should be. Smart, funny, tender but with a dominant side… He made her feel...safe. Then she pictured him and sighed. The fact that he was fuck-hot didn't hurt either…
Chuckling at how ridiculously girly she was being, she sat up and scooted off the bed. It was Monday after all and her very first day at Forks High.
Grabbing her stuff, she checked the time and headed for the bathroom.
After getting ready for the day, she grabbed her bag and phone and headed downstairs, hoping she wouldn't run into Charlie.
She still hadn't really talked to him since her date and frankly, she wasn't looking forward to it. She was still too upset by what he'd done. She'd been beyond embarrassed whereas Jake had thought it hilarious. 'Men,' she thought with a roll of her eyes as she grabbed a cup of coffee before heading out the door.
Popping the door on the truck, she hopped in and set her cup into the holder Jake had installed in the dash and smiled at the flower and note she found there.
After starting the truck to let it warm up, she unfolded the note and read with smile on her face.
~o0o~
My Bell,
Good morning gorgeous! Hope you like the flower. Girls like shit like that, right?
Well, if you don't, don't be afraid to tell me, okay? I won't be hurt…much. *wink*
I hope you have a great first day sweetheart. Call me or come by later, yeah?
Yours,
Jake
~o0o~
She picked up the flower and sniffed it before digging a book out of her bag and pressing it between the pages. She slipped the note in there too and stuffed it back in her bag, before putting the truck in gear and pulling out.
~o0o~
Bella grit her teeth in frustration as she elbowed her way through the jostling crowd and into the cafeteria.
Her day had been…tolerable so far, but she was definitely ready for a break.
"Bella! Bella, over here!" a voice called out. A very familiar voice from her second period class—a voice that hadn't shut up for the entire second period class—Jessica Stanley.
She pasted on a smile and turned to see the girl at a table, waving manically. "Get your food and come sit with us!" the girl called out and Bella nodded with a wave as she got into the food line.
Once she got her food, such as it was, she paid and took her tray over to Jessica's table. "Bella!" the girl chirped. "Have a seat and I'll introduce you!"
Bella slid her tray onto the table and sat down, trying to ignore the stares of every person there. She glanced around with a reluctant smile as Jessica launched into naming them; each waving as she did. "This is Angela, Ben, Mike, Eric, and Lauren. Everyone, this is Bella Swan, the new girl."
She sat down and they all began talking while Bella did her best to tune them out. She'd just begun munching her apple when the girl across from her—Angela?—spoke. "She can be a little overwhelming at times," she said with a kind smile as she stuck out a hand. "Angela Weber."
She took her hand and shook. "Bella Swan," she said with a nod.
Angela chuckled. "I know. Everyone knows, but don't sweat it, the newness will wear off and they'll find something or someone else to obsess over."
Bella smirked. "One can hope."
"Oh, don't worry. It happened with the Cullens and if it can happen with them, then it'll happen with you."
"The Cullens?" Bella questioned. "Are they relatively new then?"
Angela shrugged a shoulder and took a sip from her water. "They moved here about two years ago from Alaska and we hardly ever see new people around here, so it's a big deal."
Bella nodded and swallowed her bite of apple. "Got it," she said before taking a drink of her own water.
"So, I didn't get to say hello earlier, but I'm in your trig class, so if you ever need anything—notes, homework help—don't be afraid to ask."
"Thanks," Bella said with a grateful smile. "I might take you up on that." She dug out her phone and handed it to Angela. "Put in your number and I'll text you later."
"Sure," she said while tapping in the info.
Bella glanced around while Angela was occupied and spotted a group just entering the cafeteria. They were sort of…exotic looking. If she had to use a word to describe them, she'd say they were ethereal looking; almost angelic. "Wow," she muttered. "Who are they?"
Angela glanced over as she slid the phone back to Bella. She smirked. "They…are the Cullens. Beautiful, aren't they?"
"Yeah," Bella mumbled. "In a freaky, otherworldly sort of way." She looked back at Angela. "I mean, I'm pale, but they have me beat by a mile, and their eyes…they're all the same color."
Angela looked back as the Cullens took their normal table in the corner. "Huh," she murmured. "You're right. I never noticed…"
"Well, they're all related, right?" Bella asked.
Angela took a drink and shook her head. "No, that's the thing—they're all adopted. Well, the two blonds—Jasper and Rosalie are twins, but the rest? Not related."
"Weird," Bella muttered.
"Yeah," Jessica, who'd just clued in to what they were discussing, said. "Stranger still is that they're all together—like, together, together. It's creepy," she finished with a curled lip.
"All except for Edward," the other girl—Lauren if Bella recalled—said with a smirk at Jessica.
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Right, as if that means anything." She turned to Bella. "The boy doesn't date…at all. It's like no one's good enough for him or something. Completely uninterested."
Edward Cullen shot a dirty look toward them and turned back to his siblings.
"Huh," Bella said before taking a bite from her apple.
Jessica and Lauren went back to their own conversation and Bella looked at Angela who mouthed the word 'bitter' with a quick glance at Jessica.
Bella stifled a smirk and nodded just as the warning bell rang. She and Angela stood and walked to the doors where they tossed their trash and stacked their trays. "What class do you have next?" Angela asked.
"Biology," Bella answered as they made their way into the hall.
"Me too!" Angela said. "Come on, I'll show you the way."
They walked into the room and Angela went to her table while Bella stopped at the teacher's desk to get her slip signed. "Ah, new kid," the teacher greeted as he signed. He grabbed a book and handed it to her. "Take that and go sit with Mr. Cullen. Welcome to the class."
"Thanks," Bella muttered before turning toward the tables. There was only one seat and it was by the unapproachable Edward. With a sigh, she walked forward and took it anyway.
"Hi," she said as she sat.
He glanced at her and wordlessly scooted his seat away.
"Okay then," Bella muttered under her breath as she took out a notebook and pen.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him grip the table top and glare at her.
She turned to him. "Look, I don't know who pissed in your cheerios this morning, but we're obviously stuck as partners for this class. Grow up, deal with it and stop glaring at me. I'm not one of your fangirls."
He shot her a poisonous, black glare and went back to ignoring her.
She shrugged and the class proceeded. At the end, just as the bell rang, he shot up from his seat and rushed from the room.
"Wow," Mike said on his way out the door. "What'd you do to Cullen?"
Bella frowned. "I have no idea," she answered and shrugged it off as she went to her next class.
~o0o~
Jacob rapped the backs of his knuckles on the door frame of Sam's house before walking in. He smiled at Emily. "Sam around?" he asked.
"Hi Jacob," she said as she folded clothes in front of the TV. "Yeah, they're all in the kitchen."
He snorted. "No surprises there," he muttered and she smirked.
"Nope," she said with a shake of her head.
He walked through to the eat-in kitchen and there they were; most of the pack, gathered around the table, eating. "Hey fucker," Paul greeted.
"What's up asshole?" Jake returned.
Paul flipped him off and kept eating while Jared shook his head and tossed a chip at him. Paul picked it up and ate it with a grin.
Sam glanced over. "Jacob," he inclined his head and watched as Jake took a seat.
"We need to talk," Jake said and Sam eyed him for a moment, his look cool and curious as the noise at the table died noticeably.
"Okay," Sam said as he straightened up and crossed his massive arms over his chest. "What about?"
Jake took a deep breath and dove right in. He didn't see a reason to prolong this and he needed to resolve any conflict before telling Bella about…everything. "I imprinted."
Quil's head shot up. "No shit?! Who is she? Do I know her?"
Embry smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Congrats man."
"Yeah, what's her name?" Paul asked with a wicked glint in his eyes. "Maybe I've done her."
Leah rolled her eyes and curled her lip. "Pig," she muttered as her brother Seth watched the goings on with wide eyes.
"What?" Paul leered at her. "He might appreciate having her broke in just right."
Jacob's eyes flashed amber and he snarled at the cocky shifter. "One more word Lahote and I kick your ass."
Paul leaned toward Jake with a toothy grin. "You could try…"
"Enough," Sam growled before pinning Jake with a steady gaze. "Do we know her?"
"No."
Sam's eyes narrowed. "From another reservation then? Makah?"
Jake straightened in his seat and crossed his arms. "No," he answered, still meeting Sam's gaze head-on. "Her name is Isabella Swan; Charlie Swan's daughter."
The room went deathly silent as Jake and Sam stared at each other. No one moved a muscle, not even Paul who always had a smart-assed remark.
"She's white," Sam stated, his eyes flashing amber as his temper spiked.
"She is," Jake affirmed as he stared in open challenge.
"I refuse to have a pale face as any part of this pack," Sam growled lowly.
Jake's fists clenched. "I don't see where you have a choice."
"That's true, Sam. She's his imprint…" Embry trailed off as Sam snarled at him.
"You stay the fuck out of this, little brother." He looked back at Jacob. "You might not care about infecting our bloodlines with a pale-face, but I do and I'm the Alpha. You can't bring her here."
Jake shot up from his seat and leaned forward, his hands on the table as he growled in Sam's face. "Don't put your personal hangups off on me or the pack Uley. Deal with your shit on your own time."
"Oh shit…" Seth whispered. Paul snorted a laugh.
"Outside, Black. Now," Sam seethed, the corner of his top lip trembling over a razor sharp tooth.
"Gladly," Jake growled back, as he fought for control of his wolf. He straightened up and stalked out the kitchen door and into the nearby trees where he stripped and phased. He knew this would be a fight; he'd expected it and so he stood, hackles raised as a low growl rumbled in his chest.
Sam entered the clearing, already phased and the rest of the pack soon followed and stood in a wide semi-circle to watch.
He snarled and shook his head. "You really wanna do this, pup?"
Jake snapped his jaws, paced side to side and lunged with a vicious growl.
They came together in a whirlwind of snarls, snapping jaws and razor sharp claws. Jake twisted around and clamped onto Sam's side, drawing a fierce growl from the massive, black wolf who rose up on his hind legs, dragging Jake forward with the motion. He saw an opening and took it, his black jaws and glinting teeth closing on Jake's back leg with a shattering snap. Jake turned loose with a yelp of pain as he struggled to stand and slashed a giant fore-paw against the Alpha's head, knocking him back into a tree.
Jake growled and limped toward the stunned and bleeding Alpha. "Do you yield?"
Sam stood and shook his massive head to clear it, droplets of blood flying off of him like red rain. "Never!" he growled through their mental link.
Jake attacked again, his broken leg hindering him greatly, but he knew he couldn't quit. He was going for no less than the Alpha position. It was his only hope, he knew.
Their bodies twisted together, jaws snapping and claws slashing wherever they made contact, both bleeding profusely now.
"Yield!" Jake demanded as he fought.
"Never!" Sam returned with a vicious bite to Jake's side.
Jake twisted away even though doing so tore at his flesh. He refused to roll and expose his belly. To do so, he knew, would be the end of this; a sure sign of submission; something he was determined to avoid.
Blood flowed as they came at each other again and again, both growing weak and weary; neither willing to back down, neither willing to submit.
Jared spoke up from the watching half circle. "This is fuckin' crazy. We need to stop this. They're killing each other." He began to peel his clothes off to phase but Paul stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"This was always going to happen. There's nothing we can do."
Jared gaped at Paul. He'd never seen the shifter look so serious before and it was quite the shock.
"I think Jared's right. We need to do something!" Embry said while turning to Paul. "Jake's my best friend and Sam's my brother and they're tearing each other apart!"
Paul, quick as lightning, grabbed Embry by the front of his shirt and pulled him close. "Take a good look at them and tell me if you think you can stop them?" He shook him and Embry glanced at the fight over his shoulder, then back at Paul. He hung his head. "No, probably not."
Paul snorted and shoved him back. "No, definitely not."
"But we all could…maybe…if we phased and tackled them together," he tried again, weakly.
Paul sneered. "Yeah, one Alpha order is all it would take to stop you," he gestured toward the raging wolves, "but feel free to give it a go."
Embry looked at the rest of them and they all stood there, stoic, as they watched, even Jared.
"No one?" Embry questioned.
Jared shook his head. "I hate to say this, but Paul's right. This was always going to happen. It was just a matter of time."
A loud yelp of pain brought their attention back to the fight and they turned to see Jake lying at the base of a tree, Sam's massive jaws clamped over his neck. Both were huffing in huge breaths and covered in blood but Jake was pinned and they all knew it.
"Do you yield?" Sam growled through the mental link.
Jacob refused to answer and struggled against the jaws that held him.
Sam's teeth sank in even further and Jake stilled, finally going limp.
"Do. You. Yield?" Sam repeated, and felt the other wolf's submission before the words ghosted through his mind.
With a pained whine, the russet wolf's eyes closed in shame. "I yield."
Sam let go of him and limped off into the trees, coming back in human form minutes later just as Jake was phasing back. "Paul, Quil, help him dress and get him back to his house. I'll call Sue and have her go check on him. I think that leg is going to need some attention."
They all looked at Jake's leg that was torn, bleeding and lying at an odd angle and had to agree. "Damn, you did a number on him," Paul muttered while helping Jake into his clothes.
"Forget the shirt, just get him home so Sue can see to him."
Paul nodded as Quil slipped Jake's boots on him. "Okay," he said with a slow shake of his head at the sight of his now unconscious friend. "He's ready to go."
Paul and Quil lifted him and carried him to his truck where they laid him in the bed. Paul hopped in the driver's seat and started the truck. Glancing back to see a thumbs up from Quil in the back, he put the truck in gear and pulled out.
When they pulled up to Jake's house, Paul swore under his breath when he saw Billy on the porch, speaking with a girl with long, curly brown hair. "This is just fuckin' great," he muttered as he set the brake and cut the engine.
Billy was now looking toward them with a frown as Paul hopped out to help Quil with Jake. "Boys, what's happened?" he asked while rolling down the ramp.
Paul opened the tailgate while making up an answer. "Uh, Jake and Sam had a little disagreement."
"Jake?!" he heard the girl say with a gasp as she ran to the truck. "Oh god," she murmured, looking faint. "So much blood…" She looked at Billy. "Shouldn't we call an ambulance?!"
Billy glanced at Paul who shook his head and muttered, "Sue's on her way."
Billy grabbed Bella's hand to pull her back while they got Jake out of the truck and carried him in the house. "No Bella, Sue is coming. She's a physician's assistant. He'll be fine."
She tore away from Billy's hold and ran after the guys as they carried Jake to his room and laid him on the bed. She knelt at his side and ran her fingers over his forehead.
"He'll be okay," Quil assured her weakly.
Bella looked back at him and Paul and Quil gave her sad smile. "Isabella, right?"
She nodded and looked back at Jake.
"Well, I'm one of Jake's best friends and this is Paul."
"Why is he like this?" she asked as a tear rolled down her cheek. "There's so much blood, but I don't see that many cuts…"
"Uh, we uh, heal fast?" Quil stuttered out while Paul glared at him.
Just then, Sue walked in with a large medical kit, the look on her face all business. "All right, clear the room. I need to check him over."
"Mind his left leg Sue," Quil said. "It's broken."
Her jaw clenched and she pointed at the door. "Out," she demanded.
Bella stood, looking torn but Quil nodded at the door. "Come on, I'll keep ya company while you wait."
She nodded and they walked out.
"Paul," Sue called out as he was leaving. "You stay. I'm going to need some muscle with this leg."
Paul grimaced but nodded and shut the door.
Outside, Quil led Bella onto the porch where they sat down on the steps. "So, you and Jake?" he asked with a sidelong glance.
She shrugged. "We knew each other as kids, when I'd visit Charlie in the summer, but I just moved here. Feels kind-of like we just met, so it's a little early for there to be a 'Me and Jake', ya know?"
He nodded but glanced at her. "He really likes you," he told her.
She looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. "What really happened?"
"What?" he asked, beginning to fidget.
"Look," she sighed. “I've had enough weirdness today so just be straight with me, all right? What really happened?"
"He and Sam got into it, that's all."
"And so what, Sam ran him over with a truck?! Look, I've seen the aftermath of fistfights, and they don't wind up looking like Jake does now!"
He looked a bit sheepish. "Sam's…really big."
Bella blew out a breath. "Okay, whatever," she muttered and stood. She turned to go back inside to talk to Billy, but Quil grabbed her hand. She looked down at him as he spoke.
"Bella, that's really what happened, I swear."
"That may be, but there's more to it. I can feel that," she said before pulling away and going inside. She walked over, sat on the couch beside Billy's chair and took his hand. He looked worried and she felt the same. Something about this situation, besides the obvious, was nagging at her. It made her heart hurt and she couldn't understand why.
He smiled sadly and patted her hand. "Bella," he said just as there was a godawful scream of pain from Jake's room.
She shot to her feet and Billy's grip tightened. "No Bella, he's in good hands. He'll be fine."
She sank down on the couch again and he passed her a box of tissue. She hadn't realized she'd started crying. She took some and blotted her face. "What's going on Billy? Please tell me?"
"Bella…" he sighed at another, quieter cry of pain from Jake. "You really need to talk to Jake about all of this." He looked her in the eye. "I really can't tell you anything. It's all up to him."
She nodded with a sigh and settled in to wait.
Sue walked out moments later, followed by a pale looking Paul carrying her medical kit. She stopped in front of Billy while Paul took her stuff to the car. "He has some stitches in his side and his leg was broken. It was a clean break, but…" she glanced at Bella and then back at Billy, "I had to set it. I have him on a morphine drip for the pain, so he'll be woozy if he wakes. Don't let him up without help. I have to head to Sam's next and then I'm going home for dinner, but I'll be back to check on him later."
Billy nodded. "Thank you Sue."
She patted his shoulder and smiled wanly. "These boys…" she muttered before walking out.
Bella looked at Billy who smiled. "Go ahead," was all he said and she was up and heading to Jake's room the next second. She didn't bother knocking because she didn't want to wake him if he was sleeping so she pushed the door open and crept in. She grabbed the desk chair and moved it next to the bed. Just as she sat, Jake's eyes opened and he looked at her blearily. "Hey," she said with a smile while taking his hand.
"Hey," he croaked.
"So, a fight, huh?"
His free hand clenched and he turned his head away. "Yeah," he answered. "You could say that."
"Jake, look at me," she coaxed. When he did, she continued. "Why do I feel like…like this was so much more than just a fight? I feel…I feel…" she rubbed at her chest with a deep frown. "I feel devastated and as crazy as this sounds, I feel shame?" She shook her head. "No, that can't be right…I'm not ashamed of you…" She met his eyes. "But I feel that anyway. I don't understand this at all."
His jaw clenched and he looked away. "Bella, I…I just can't talk about this right now, all right?" He looked back at her. "Just…just give me time to get my head around it first, and then we'll talk, I promise." His gaze dropped and she smoothed the hair back from his eyes.
"All right Jake."
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "So how was your first day at good ol' Forks High?"
She sat back and frowned. "Weird," she said and his brows furrowed.
"Why, what happened?"
"Well, there was this guy in my biology class—my biology partner, to be exact—and he was really hostile. Wouldn't say hello, sat as far from me as he could while still at the same table, and kept shooting me dirty looks like I'd killed his puppy or something." She shook her head. "All I did was say 'hi' when I sat down."
"Did he say anything to you?"
"Nope, not a thing."
"Huh," Jake muttered. "What an asshole."
"He is."
"What was his name? Maybe I know him?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You can't go kicking anyone's ass just because they give me dirty looks, Jake."
He grinned and it was sort of goofy from the morphine. "Maybe not today…"
"Jake…"
He sighed. "Fine, I won't go kicking his ass…yet. Now, what was his name?"
"I doubt you'd know him. I guess he's kind-of a newbie around here too. His name is Cullen—Edward Cullen."
Jake shot up and grimaced. "You sit next to a fuckin' Cullen?!" he gritted out while grabbing his leg.
She pushed him back down with a hand in the middle of his chest. "Yes, in biology, now relax or you're gonna hurt yourself."
He eased back on the pillows and looked at her. "Bella, stay away from him. He's bad news."
Her brows inched up. "I don't think that'll be a problem Jake. He's an asshole, remember? He's not exactly trying to chat me up."
"Oh fuck," he muttered and rubbed his leg over the brace Sue'd put it in. "Hurts," he said.
She scooted forward and brushed his hair from his forehead. "Is there anything I can do?"
He glanced down where her chest was pressed against his bicep and a slow smile curved his lips. "You could kiss it and make it better…"
She smiled and leaned forward, covering his lips with hers. She kept it slow and sweet and then pulled away with a peck. "There, how's that?" she whispered.
"Better, but still hurts."
"Guess I'll have to try harder," she murmured and he nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan."
She kissed the corner of his lips and continued on down his cheek to his neck as he tilted his head. "Still needs work," he murmured and she chuckled against his skin before nipping him lightly.
"Oooh, that was interesting," he commented while pulling her closer with his free arm.
"Jacob Black," she admonished.
"What, you're helping. Feelin' better already," he mumbled. "Keep going though, still hurts. Not quite there yet."
"Hmm," she said doubtfully while sucking lightly at his collarbone. She moved down then and circled his nipple with her tongue before sucking the tiny bud in and he groaned. He buried a hand in her hair and shifted restlessly. "Fuck, that's nice but still, not quite enough…"
Her teeth nipped at him and he hissed. "Tease," he muttered and she smiled against him.
"Tease now am I?" she questioned. She looked up at him through her lashes. "Perhaps I should stop?"
"It hurts even more from you saying that," he said with a smile.
She chuckled. "Fine," she said while working her way over his taut abs. She dipped her tongue in his bellybutton and then nuzzled the downy hair just below it.
He flexed his fingers against the back of her head and he moaned. "Fuck Bella, the pain's almost gone, but you haven't hit the magic spot yet."
She ran her tongue up his happy trail and looked up with a smile. "No? And where would that magic spot be, Mr. Black?"
He shifted and looked down, eyes glassy as he licked his lips. "Bella, please?"
She hooked her fingers in the waist of his shorts and eased them down over his straining cock and his hand clenched into a fist as he shifted restlessly.
Running her hand slowly up his good leg, she finally wrapped it around the base and gave him two slow strokes, her thumb circling over the head with each. He hissed and threw his head back on the pillow. "Yes," he said. "Right there…"
She kissed the crease of his hip and looked up at him as she stroked. "Right here?" she questioned with a smile as she circled the sensitive head again, spreading the pre-cum.
His eyes popped open and he looked down at her. "Bella…" he croaked, and while he watched, she took him into her mouth. Her eyes watered a bit and the taste took some getting used to but she began to get the hang of it as she circled her tongue over him and sucked.
He gasped. "Oh fuck…yes…yes…" he babbled as she took him in as far as she could. She'd never done this so she gagged when he hit the back of her throat but she worked through it before setting up a slow pace.
His hand on the back of her head was gentle and his fingers played in her hair while she sucked and licked. Using her hand to stimulate what she couldn't manage with her mouth, she worked him until he was panting.
"Oh god Bella…" he groaned then tapped lightly on the back of her head. "I'm gonna cum baby," he said as she felt him swell even more as his sack tightened. She moved back and finished him with her hand and he panted and gripped his hair as he shot spurt after spurt onto his belly.
She grabbed a nearby towel and cleaned him up and then he pulled her close and kissed her. "Is the pain gone?" she asked, her forehead resting against his.
He laughed. "What pain?"
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.