Preface: The Last Time

Edited: November 22, 2012

Screams of unadulterated terror caused his back to stiffen with tension and sudden fright. Runty shudders slithered down his spine, causing his entire body to tremble from concern and rage. He turned on his heels and allowed his dark eyes to glower and glance around the alley way, but there wasn't anyone around. Involuntarily, his eyebrows furrowed further and creased his swarthy forehead, which was lined with tiny droplets of sweat. Jacob Black swallowed and hesitantly moved forward, willing himself to think before acting impulsively. Who knew what would happen? He couldn't hear anything anymore, except his panicked breaths and the eerie silence that occurred after a tragic event had happened. Hands trembling, he stalked carefully into the alley way, waiting for the threat to present itself. A growl rumbled in the back of his throat, but he simply swallowed the lump that constricted his throat and slicked into the shadows, so his enemy wouldn't sense him. He sniffed the air and could faintly smell the metallic scent that lingered in blood; immediately, he stiffened and forced his body to remain in the shadows. His body quivered violently from head-to-toe, but he stifled his shudders by clenching his fists and chewing on his bottom lip, which caused it to bleed from how much power he was exerting on it.

Jacob stared into the shadows that lingered in the alley way and couldn't help but shudder even more furiously than before. He could barely see a figure slinking near the shadows, looming above the damaged body of a teenage girl. A ferocious growl escaped his lips as soon as his eyes narrowed and managed to slit into a menacing glare. He stalked forward, much like a predator, and tackled the figure to the ground. Jacob loomed above his figure, but he frowned and staggered backwards when deep charcoal eyes peered at him with amusement. His eyes transfigured from onyx to a violent shade of violet before shifting back, which confused him beyond belief. Jacob simply glowered at the foreign man in front of him with hatred, but he couldn't help but feel intimidated by his appearance. The strange man radiated authority and power as he leapt back on his feet and flexed his arms in front of his body in a threatening manner. His muscles contracted and were strained under the pressure he was exerting on them, causing his muscles to ripple slightly as he sauntered forward. Platinum blonde locks stumbled across his eyes messily, covering an ugly thin scar that clung to the side of his face, which wasn't light nor dark.

"Hello, pup," the man started, smirking maliciously at Jacob, who tried to stifle the urge to whimper and cower in his presence. Jacob blinked minutely and shook his head to get ride of the thoughts that poisoned his mind; he didn't know why he was thinking of giving up before he had even attempted to defeat this monster. As Jacob looked up, he found the man peeking at him, forcing his gaze to become stronger and fiercer as he watched Jacob shuffle awkwardly. At that exact moment, he realized the man had the gift of manipulation; he wasn't normal and his eyes shifted from black to puce so he could confuse and intrigue his mind before manipulating his emotions and thoughts. Jacob swallowed but puffed his chest out and refused to stare at the immortal in the eyes, for fear of losing his motive and allowing himself to be defeated in front of that poor mortal girl, who— Jacob stopped and glanced at the young girl, who couldn't be any more than fifteen, which was his age. He instantly let his anger flare at the sight of her damaged body laying in her blood, letting her limp body twitch occasionally at the pain she felt, and allowing her mouth to curl at the sides as she moaned silently. Her pallid fingertips twitched at the sudden movement his feet made; he moved toward her because his body was calling for hers, wanting to consol her yet wanting to destroy the creature that had threatened to take her life. Jacob knelt in front of her and gripped her hand with unnecessary force because he was afraid she was only clinging to life by the hold on her hands; he groaned and moaned when he felt her grip loosening on his and wavering as she whimpered and cried to herself. Her eyelids snapped open and she stared up at him with such sadness that he stumbled backwards and clutched her closer. A million little cables attached themselves to his body before bonding her with him.

"I see you've noticed Tesia, Jacob."

Instantly, he whirled around and growled at the man, who simply simpered at the very thought of Jacob trying to touch him. It wasn't possible because he was far better than Jacob could ever be; he was faster, stronger, and so much better than that shape shifter. Lorcan wasn't human nor was he what that young shifter thought he was. He was a Renascentis — Reborn — and they were far more superior than any other species in the world; however, the ruling class in his world wasn't as strong as he was. They believed in liberation of humans and other species, which was a fact he loathed. He couldn't take their ideals anymore or the fact they had overthrown his family. The throne deserved to be his! His frigid glare was thrown at the weakling that was engulfed by her own waste — that pathetic creature he had been in the process of eliminating. He wanted her to suffer for everything! She had caused him to become even more miserable than he had been; Tesia deserved to roll in her dirt, to suffer the pain of his ancestors, who had been considered holy and saints until they took over. He was so consumed with his anger he hadn't noticed Jacob had risen from the ground with blood dripping from his shorts.

Rage flittered across Jacob's eyes as he sprinted forward and grabbed Lorcan from the collar of his dark shirt and hurtled him to the ground before stepping on his face, which crackled and deformed but quickly transfigured into his real self. Lorcan snorted and speedily arose from his limp position on the floor, but Jacob shifted into his wolf self and attacked Lorcan by tackling him to the ground. He sunk his canine teeth into Lorcan's leg, which instantly opened at the power Jacob had forced on him. His body trembled because he noticed his mate had been coughing blood and rolling in her vomit and blood for hours without pausing or having mercy. Jacob didn't know how but he had been able to understand her just by touching her hand; it was as if she had allowed him to look inside her mind, but he was grateful because he was able to use her pain and horror to his advantage. Jacob would be able to revenge her! No matter how hard he tried he couldn't remove her nearly lifeless eyes from his mind; they were imprinted inside his head, haunting him for the rest of his life, which he wasn't sure if she was going to be included in. She seemed far too weak and fragile and was barely holding onto her life, but Jacob needed to remove the threat from her life before finding her medical assistance.

Lorcan licked his lips as he shook Jacob off with an easiness that scared him. His body collided with the wall before landing on the ground and rolling in a heap of limbs toward Lorcan, who gripped his throat and tightened his hold until he could feel the veins in Jacob's neck pulsating under his touch. Lorcan stared at Jacob in the eyes and couldn't help but feel even more enraged than before, because whether he knew it or not, he had also stolen his prized possession — Tesia Villas, princess of the Renascentis. His desire of conquering the princess, the angel of his species, was paused because of this insignificant creature. Tesia was his! His eyes became fiercier from his thoughts, but he gasped and hurtled Jacob away when he noticed his skin was crawling with an unnatural warmth that was threatening to overwhelm his entire being. He chocked on the warmth that climbed down his throat and strangled him unit, he was gasping for breath. Lorcan glanced at Tesia and wasn't surprised to see her watching him from the corner of her eyes, focusing solely on him as she tried to manipulate him instead. She murmured something he couldn't hear under his breath, which made the scorching essence linger at the pit of his stomach and spread to his vital organs; however, she stopped the essence and panted once it gingerly licked his heart. He wouldn't die today because she was still too weak. Lorcan glanced at Jacob, who was hobbling and gradually changing into his human form. He was weak, which caused Lorcan to scoff but clutch his body. Lorcan was too weak, so he would have to take care of Jacob later; however, if he killed Tesia tonight, Jacob would feel the loss of his mate and would perish. He smirked and neared Tesia, but Jacob growled and moved in front of him.

"Leave, pup!" he screamed, manipulating Jacob's mind. Without thinking about it, his limbs moved in response, but he thrashed and tried to stop the invisible force that stopped him from ripping Lorcan's neck off. Tesia didn't even whimper as he stepped in front of her and bent down so he was level to her; he grabbed her body and smirked as he kissed the corner of her mouth before kissing her on the lips. Jacob growled and thrashed even more violently against the force, but it didn't budge. Tesia didn't even say anything or even react to his faux affection, but she did raise her chin and glare at him.

"Don't worry, love, it'll only hurt a bit," he murmured as he grabbed her throat and pushed her to the ground. He loomed above her body and tightened his grip on her neck until her eyes widened but didn't show any fear. He knew she wouldn't fear him, but he needed to show her what would happen if she disobeyed him. It would discipline her, he reassured himself. He stared into her eyes as she gasped one last time and start to get dizzy. Jacob's eyes widened until they were burly with terror, and before he knew it, he stopped the force from controlling him and crashed into Lorcan. He snapped his teeth and sunk them into his limbs, tearing his arm apart. Lorcan groaned but punched Jake and slicked into the shadows.

"Goodbye, Jacob Black," he said. "I'm sure we'll meet again."

Immediately, Jacob ran toward Tesia and grabbed her body, positioning her over his lap. He groaned and stuffed his face near her neck, but she didn't mind. She coughed the remains of her blood with a smile that radiated irony. She touched the side of Jacob's face and murmured something he couldn't understand under her breath.

"I'll come for you," she stated knowingly, but that didn't reassure Jacob. Tears ran down the corners of his eyes as he stood up and tried to get her help; however, he stopped once she groaned and clutched her throat gingerly. The pain was finally getting to her, and she had lost too much blood in a day; she knew she wouldn't survive Lorcan's attack today.

"Leave me here," she whispered. "They'll come for me."

Jacob shook his head and whimpered as her pulse wavered and stopped. He couldn't stop the rush of depression that attacked his being and wouldn't let him feel anything but her body in his hands. Jacob couldn't hear her harsh breaths anymore or her groans of pain because she was dead. The first time he had ever seen his imprint had resulted in the last time. He wouldn't be able to love or even hold her anymore because she wasn't there anymore.

He didn't know how long he stayed in the alley way, holding Tesia in his arms as he wept and sobbed to himself. All he knew was that he didn't care about himself anymore; he wouldn't even mind if those bloodsuckers that were threatening Bella came right now and tore him apart. He was so focused on Tesia that he didn't realize there was a shadow looming above his head, silently peering at him. The shadow exhaled and inhaled profoundly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. His poor sister had endured the worst process ever, and he hadn't been there in time to help. Tesia's brother stared at Jacob with understanding because he knew Jacob was his sister's Anima Feminam — soul mate.

"Hello, Jacob Black, I am Andraž. I can help you with my sister."

Hello, everyone! As promised, I edited this chapter. I love it because it's so detailed, and I hope you all do too! Also, please read my story on Wattpad called The Untold Story of Titania Cosmos. Happy Thanksgiving! :)