Lilliana Swan (Unedited)

Chapter 25

After that the three of us head for the clearing. When we get there I find Jasper there a few paces away.

"You're not fighting? Wait, you pull a muscle or something?" Jacob asked

"He's doing it for me. Okay?" Bella said

Jacob looks at her, at Edward then at me.

"Jacob she practically had to beg him." I said

"Whatever. Just tell me the plan." Jacob said

Jasper steps forward so he is next to use.

"This field will give us an advantage in battle. We can lure the newborns with Bella's scent, but it needs to end here." Jasper said

"Edward and I are going to a campsite. But even if her carries me, they'll pick up our scents." Bella said

"Your smell on the other Jacob is revolting." Edward said

"To me you just smell like the woods." I said

"Dude, you really don't want to start comparing stinks --" Jacob said

"--He means, your scent will mask mine if you carry--" Bella said

"--Done." Jacob said

"This is a bad idea--" Edward said

"Edward, they won't want to get anywhere near his...odor." Jasper said

"Can you guys be a little nicer." I said

"Let's just test it." Bella said

Edward and Jasper both nod, Bella extends her arm to Jacob. Jacob grins and picks her up, holds her tight.

"Eau de wolf, comin' up." Jacob said

"Run." Edward said

Jacob runs through the trees carrying Bella, not super-human speed, but fast, and not breaking a sweat. When Jacob is done, he sets her down. They start to circle back slowly toward their distant starting point.

"We'll see if that works. Personally I think I smell great. You never notice anything?" Jacob said

"Nothing except the usual boy smell." Bella said

"You gonna ask me to sit out the fight, too? Or don't you care about my safety?" Jacob asked

"Of course I care, but you'd say no. Unless maybe you'd consider..." Bella said

"Yeah, right-- But that doesn't mean he loves you more. And I don't have a choice anyway. Since I let Sam be alpha, I have to love with the shots he calls." Jacob said

"Wait- you let him be alpha? What does that mean?" Bella asked

"Technically, I was supposed to be Alpha. It's a lineage thing. It also woulda meant being chief of the whole tribe. But I turned it down when Sam offered." Jacob said

"You're kidding." Bella said

"I didn't want to be in a pack, let alone be their leader." Jacob said

"Wow. Chief Jacob." Bella said

"Opted out - but every choice has consequences...Some more than others--" Jacob said

"--Don't start - you're gonna have to accept my choice." Bella said

Jacob stops, their proximity intimate.

"You can love more than one person at a time. I've seen it, with Sam, Emily and Leah..." Jacob said

"Bella, Jacob. Where are you." I yelled