He's gone
I looked up at the sound of the door opening. I hadn't heard anyone approaching the house-I must've fallen asleep.
"Jake?" I waited expectantly for him to answer. I wasn't sure what he'd say, but I guessed that he'd be sullen or angry. I was definitely too much to hope that he'd gotten over it already. Damn leeches.
"Billy?" I jumped. It wasn't Jacob after all.
"Sam! Come in!"
Something was wrong. I could see that immediately. Sam looked uncertain, opening his mouth then closing it again, unsure how to begin. It didn't matter. I knew what he wanted-needed-to tell me.
"He's gone, hasn't he." It wasn't a question. I'd known anyway, really. From the minute he read the invitation and the note that came with it. Known it, but refused to accept it. "He's staying wolf." Sam hesitated a moment longer, then nodded.
"I'm sorry. I made them let him go. Even if I made him stay, he'd never be happy about it." He glanced briefly at my face, and away again, as though ashamed of what he was admitting to. "We'll keep track of him. I don't know how far away we can hear, but we'll try." I nodded wordlessly, and he left equally quietly, guessing that I needed to be alone. I saw him walk down the road instead of morphing, and I knew why. Jake wouldn't be able to stand it, so soon after leaving, to see how much it was hurting me.
Stupid leeches. Stupid bloodsuckers. It's not enough that they're taking my best friend's only daughter. Not enough that it'll kill him. Kill her mother. Not enough that they're going to destroy her life because she's got some misguided idea that they'll change her without killing her. Not enough to destroy one family, the family of someone who believes they love her. Not enough for them. They have to destroy my family too. Drive away my Jacob. Drive him away because he can't bear to see her throw it all away.
I don't blame him. It was the right decision. If I could change into a wolf, run away from what's going to happen, I would too. Run away, forget about being human, let the wolf take over. Let the animal erase the pain, the anger, the shame for what would happen to Bella, the shame for not being able to warn Charlie. I'd do the same.
I just wish he hadn't.