Bound by Obsession

Chapter 9: Fragile Bonds

The days that followed Jacob's heartfelt apology felt different—lighter, but not without their cracks. Edward had agreed to try again, but rebuilding the trust they once had wasn't going to happen overnight. There were still moments where doubt crept in, moments where Edward caught himself second-guessing everything Jacob said or did. It wasn't intentional, but the betrayal lingered just beneath the surface.

Jacob, for his part, was trying. He stayed by Edward's side as much as he could, his protectiveness almost suffocating at times. But Edward knew it wasn't just about keeping him safe—it was Jacob's way of showing he was serious, that he wouldn't let anything come between them again. Still, the weight of everything that had happened hung over them, making it impossible to fully relax.

One afternoon, Edward sat on the porch of Jacob's house, watching the sky shift from blue to a dusky orange as the sun set. Jacob had gone out for a while to meet with the pack, leaving Edward alone with his thoughts. The stillness was a welcome break, but also a reminder of how much had changed.

His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his reverie. He glanced down and saw Bella's name flash across the screen. For a moment, he considered ignoring it, but something stopped him. He hadn't spoken to her since that day in the woods, and part of him still wanted answers.

With a resigned sigh, he picked up. "Bella."

Her voice came through, calm and collected. "Edward. I wasn't sure you'd answer."

"I almost didn't," he admitted, leaning back in his chair. "What do you want?"

There was a brief pause on the other end before Bella spoke again, her tone softer this time. "I wanted to see how you were doing. You've been through a lot lately, and I—"

"I don't need your concern," Edward cut her off, sharper than he intended. "Not after everything you've done."

Bella sighed. "I'm not the enemy here, Edward. I was just trying to help."

"Help?" Edward's voice rose with incredulity. "You manipulated me. You lied to me about Jacob, about everything."

"I didn't lie," Bella shot back, her voice hardening. "I just told you what you were too blind to see. Jacob is dangerous, and you know it."

Edward clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on the phone. "Jacob's not perfect, but he's not the monster you made him out to be."

"Is that what you really believe?" Bella's words were like a dagger, cutting into the fragile peace Edward had been trying to hold onto. "Do you really think you're safe with him? You've seen what he's capable of, Edward. How much longer until that side of him turns on you?"

A cold shiver ran down Edward's spine, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Jacob would never hurt me."

Bella's silence on the other end was unsettling, and for a moment, Edward thought she had hung up. But then she spoke again, her voice low and dangerous. "You're playing with fire, Edward. And when you get burned, don't say I didn't warn you."

The line went dead.

Edward stared at the phone, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to believe that Bella was just trying to scare him, to make him doubt Jacob again. But her words clung to him, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

Had he really forgiven Jacob too easily? Was there more he wasn't seeing?

Later that night

Jacob returned home, finding Edward still sitting on the porch. The tension in the air was palpable, and he immediately knew something was wrong.

"Hey," Jacob said cautiously as he approached. "Everything okay?"

Edward looked up, his expression unreadable. "Bella called."

Jacob's face darkened at the mention of her name. "What did she want?"

Edward shrugged, trying to play it off like it didn't bother him as much as it did. "The usual. Trying to convince me you're dangerous."

Jacob's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "You know she's just trying to get into your head, right? She'll say anything to drive us apart."

"I know," Edward said softly. "But what if she's right? What if... I'm not seeing everything clearly?"

Jacob's expression softened, his heart breaking a little at the vulnerability in Edward's voice. He stepped closer, kneeling in front of him and taking his hands gently in his own. "Edward, I need you to trust me. I know I've made mistakes, and I know there are things about my world that are hard to understand. But I would never hurt you. You're the most important person in my life."

Edward's gaze dropped to their joined hands, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He wanted to believe Jacob, but the doubts were still there, gnawing at him. "It's just... hard to know what's real anymore. After everything that's happened."

Jacob's grip tightened, his voice filled with determination. "I'll prove it to you, Edward. Whatever it takes, I'll show you that you can trust me again."

Edward nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of it all. "I want to believe you, Jacob. I really do."

Jacob leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Edward's forehead. "We'll get through this. I promise."

Meanwhile

Bella paced her apartment, her mind racing with frustration. She had thought Edward would see reason by now, that he would understand the danger Jacob posed. But instead, he was slipping further away from her, falling deeper into Jacob's grasp.

She couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't.

Pulling out her phone, Bella dialed a number she hadn't called in years. The line rang twice before a familiar voice answered on the other end.

"It's me," Bella said, her voice cold and calculating. "We need to talk. I have a plan, but I'm going to need your help."