“Good to know Bella has some sense when it comes to you now.” He stalked closer and it was hard to remember that he was only sixteen years old for he looked every bit of twenty-five. “If you hurt her, you fucking bloodsucker, nothing…no one will be able to stop me from tearing you apart limb from limb.” He cocked his head to one side and I nodded in agreement to his unspoken thought. Charlie would certainly be right there by his side helping Jacob complete that particular task.

“If I see the tiniest sign of zombie Bella-”

“Zombie Bella?” I asked more to myself than to Jacob, but he answered all the same. His memories hit me all at once leaving me breathless as I watched Bella spiral into nothingness. Each image worse than the last.

“You did that to her. She was a shell of a person by the time I came back into her life,” Jake informed me and I could see the visible change in his thoughts. A little more of my Bella spilled back into herself. This boy had been the reason.

“Thank you for taking care of her,” I managed to choke out. Not only because being polite to my arch rival was difficult, but the weight of his memories was a real pain pressing against me. To know that I’d damaged her so badly when all I wanted above all else was to protect her…

“I didn’t do it for you, dickhead.”

I closed my eyes and counted to ten slowly. Dealing with teenagers could be so challenging. “I realize that, but just the same, I appreciate that you were there for her when I couldn’t be.”

“You say that like things are suddenly going to change. They’re not. I’m with Bella. As soon as she finishes saying whatever she needs to say to you and gets some closure, she and I will be married. I am always going to be there for her and you’re just going to be an unpleasant memory,” Jake sneered.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jake?” Bella asked, her tone betraying her concern at finding her ex boyfriend and current boyfriend having a heart to heart.

He jumped a little at the sound of her voice. I’d smelled her the moment she walked through the door, but apparently Jake had been too distracted. When he turned to face her, he at least had the good sense to look apologetic.