Voices in my head….I couldn't think around the pain enough to realize that it didn't make sense for me to hear them…every part of me shaking and burning…

Jake…

Not him too…

I could hear empathy oozing through the voices. It angered me. Why should they feel empathy for me? How could they? They had no idea what I was going through. My mind felt intruded, invaded. I was not alone anymore. I was losing myself. Was I going crazy, then? I heard another voice then. Louder than the others, more powerful.

Go. It said. How could voices go? Where would they go to? Would they come back?

Tremors rocked up and down my body, as my insides fought to pull themselves apart. My bones felt like crunching beneath the extreme pressure they were under, and I could feel my eyes rolling madly, seeing nothing. When would this agony stop?

I could hear my father, talking to me, trying to comfort me, even though his voice sounded off…as if I hadn't truly heard it in the last sixteen years of my life. Although I could hear him, I could also tell he wasn't right next to me like he should have been.

"Jake, take it easy. It's okay. It'll be all right." His calm voice just pissed me off more. If everything thing was all right, then what the hell was happening to me?

He seemed to sense my tension, and he stopped talking to me. I couldn't decide if this was better or worse. And then, as the pain rose another notch, it didn't matter to me anymore. I couldn't comprehend this pain… it worse than anything I'd ever dreamt I might feel. My thoughts blurred as my mind spun, trying to find a way to escape the pain.

It seemed like eons later that I found myself actually forming thoughts. Or…not my thoughts. I heard words, but it wasn't me who said them.

Jacob Black. The voice was familiar, but something about it made my hair stand up on end. I realized there was a hell of a lot more hair than there should be.

Calm yourself Jacob. You wouldn't want to do anything with your father in such close proximity.

The irritating voice did make some sense. Where was Billy? I felt disoriented, unable to take in what my senses were telling me.

Because suddenly, I had much more than I was used to. The sense of smell was the strongest…it was almost over powering. I could smell everything. The Ragu sauce I'd spilt on the floor last week, but had cleaned up. The scent of the detergent on the sheets, which I'd never been able to detect before. Even Billy's cup of coffee in the kitchen, left over from this morning.

I was so busy taking into consideration all of the things I was smelling that I forgot for a second to stop and think about what else I could hear and see…and my original train of thought. Where was my father?

I felt the other… presence in my head. I couldn't call it a voice at the moment because it was silent. Yet, somehow I knew it was there. I couldn't describe it. And hadn't there been multiple voices earlier? I tried to stand up from the floor, which I didn't realize until that moment that I'd been laying on. The movement seemed unnatural. When I was at my full height, I realized that my head was touching the top of the ceiling.

What the hell?

Jacob, do not panic. You need to lie back down, and concentrate on reining in your wolf. The voice still wasn't making sense, but it was getting more irritating. My wolf? I must be having some weird dream…I shook my head to clear my thoughts. And suddenly, it clicked. My wolf. This had to be a freaking nightmare!

Yet, even as my human mind cringed from the information it was putting together, I could feel the animal instincts building inside of me. I saw my long snout; I felt my ears prick back and forth; I could feel the slight breeze coming in through the window slink through my thick fur coat. I was standing on four legs. My human mind instantly tried to protect itself by denying the obvious conclusion. After all…I couldn't be…an animal! What kind of a freak was I?

You're not a freak, Jacob Black. And you are not alone.

I don't know who you think you are, but get out of my damn mind! Leave me alone! My wolf self felt…not frightened. But wary. Tensed for a fight. The other presence in my mind read my intentions.

I do not wish to fight you. I want to help you…let us help you. We are your pack. Your brothers.

Brothers? Pack? I'm not a wolf! I'm a normal teenage guy! I don't want this! I started to pace around my room, only to realize that I couldn't because my mass filled up so much of the tiny space. I heard Billy move in the other room. I panicked. He was coming to see me…no he couldn't see me this way!

He already knows, Jacob. The voice sounded infuriatingly sure, but how could Billy know?

Did you really think all of our legends were just stories told for entertainment?

What else could they be told for? I screamed at the voice in my head. Billy sat in the doorway now, his wheel chair positioned toward me. But when he looked at me, he did not look afraid. He looked sad, yes, but he wasn't scared of me. I took the voice's earlier advice and laid down.

"Jake…Jacob. I'm so sorry this had to happen to you…." It was the first time I'd ever seen tears in my father's eyes. "I wish it wasn't you. But you have to go to Sam and the others. They'll help you Jake…"

SAM? What was Billy going on about? He knew how much I didn't like Sam and his sickeningly loyal followers.

I'm glad you have such a high opinion of me. The voice in my head sounded almost sarcastic, but not quite. But your father is right…we can help you.

Sam? Sam Uley?

Yes. But put away your preconceived notions of me, and let me help you.

As pissed as I was, as much as I hated him with every bone in my body for what he did to Embry and the way he looked at me…I couldn't dispute the fact that I needed him. Billy was there, but I knew he couldn't help me. Sam could. He knew what was going on….and I could always chew him out later. I shuddered as I realized that I probably literally could with the rows of razor sharp canines I could feel in my enormous mouth.

I doubt it. He responded. But if that's what calms your thoughts, so be it.

I tried not to let the flare of anger I felt grow. I tried to contain it. Sam felt me try to remain calm.

Good, Jacob. Controlling your anger is the key. It's what triggers our…change.

Okay, I get that you're trying to be all soothing, but will you please stop saying my name? It's annoying.

If you wish. came his reply. He continued his instructions. Now, close your eyes. Think of something peaceful. The quivering will stop soon. I tried to think of easier, happier moments.

I feel like a hippie. I told him.Sam sighed.

Sarcasm won't help Jacob. You have all the time in the world to get it out when you're human again. I wanted to retaliate, but I sensed the truth in his words that my mockery wasn't helping. So, I went back to trying to find happy things in my memory.

Bella was the first thing that came to mind. Not that she was exactly happy all the time…but she made me happy. She was my best friend. If only she wasn't so upset by what Cullen had done to her…

I felt the shift of emotion in Sam's thoughts. As much as he was trying to remain calm to help me, he couldn't stop the hate flowing through his mind.

What's the matter? I asked, not really caring, mostly just searching for conversation to keep me calm.

We'll discuss it later. The tone to his words was so final that I didn't bring it up again. I sat still, and continued thinking of Bella and of hanging out in the garage with Quil and Embry…I almost felt the resentment and anger against Sam flare up at the thought of losing Embry, and then before I even had to try to stop it, my mind came up with a new thought.

This is what happened to him, isn't it? He joined your…pack.

Yes. Sam said solemnly. I wish he hadn't…or rather, I wish that he didn't have to. That none of us did.

Why DO we make this change? Keeping conversation with him was helping me be calm and rational.

Do you remember none of your people's stories Jacob? I thought on it for a moment.

You aren't literally trying to tell me there's really vampires out there too are you? You're insane.

This isn't proof enough for you? Sam asked. But before I could answer, he spoke again. His voice seemed fainter, and my senses dulled. After your open your eyes Jacob, I want you to meet us as soon as you can. Behind the store.

I wanted to ask more questions, but his voice faded from my consciousness. I felt like shit. I was lying on the floor again, and it was uncomfortable under my aching body.

"Ughhhh." I groaned as I rolled over. Billy was still a few feet a way. I couldn't look at him. How could he not see me as a monster? But if Sam was right…Billy had known this was coming. His words from a few weeks earlier now made sense.

It's nothing you need to worry about now Jacob. In a few years, if you don't…well I'll explain later.

I'd asked him about the whole thing with Sam and Embry, and that had been his response. I shook angrily. I had to remind myself to stay calm, and take deep breaths.

"I have to go." I told him. He nodded.

"I figured. You might want to put some clothes on first though." He said. I looked at the floor and saw the shredded remains of my shirt and jeans I'd been wearing earlier to the movies. I didn't respond to him, just quickly threw on some cutoff jeans and another shirt. He left the room and I heard him roll himself into the kitchen. How odd. My hearing wasn't as acute as it had been before…when I was…I couldn't even think the word. Not yet. But my hearing was way better than it used to be.

I tossed Billy a quick glance as I bolted out the door. I still saw the sadness on his face…but there was something else too. Something that, although I'm sure he'd never admit it, looked suspiciously like pride.