Chapter 2 – Warning Signs
A few months into school and Janae hadn't been feeling well. She wasn't sure what was going on, but figured it was just a cold. It rained all the freaking time in La Push and now that it was getting into October and the winter season was just starting. So naturally in a month or so it would start to snow.
The last few months had been overly weird for Janae. She'd started having these really weird dreams about a silver wolf. And those were mixed with dreams of Paul Lahote. She couldn't understand why she was dreaming of Paul. He was good looking and had an amazing body, but he was with Rachel; Jake's older sister and Janae's cousin.
Janae spent a lot of time alone. She wasn't sure how to deal with the dreams or the feelings she had for a complete stranger and her not feeling well was just getting on her nerves too. Janae pulled her sweater tighter around her body as she continued walking through the trees as she exhaled heavily.
Brown eyes watched as the girl walked through the trees making her way to the beach as she did every afternoon after school, she'd sit in the sand and do her homework.
'Do you think it will happen?'
Jake's concentration on watching his cousin was broke when Sam's thoughts cut in. He turned and watched as the bigger black wolf came up over. Jake shook his large wolf head. 'I don't know. She's showing most of the signs. She's not been feeling well for the last couple of months, but she thinks it's from the weather; she's been snappy towards her mother. Last time I hugged her, her forehead felt warm and heat was seeping through her clothes.'
'That sounds about right.' Sam thought out loud.
'At least Leah will have someone else female to have a bitch session with.' Paul butted in snidely.
'PAUL! Stay out of our conversation and focus on patrol.' Sam ordered in his alpha voice.
Paul snorted. He still couldn't believe he'd imprinted on Jake's cousin. He was just going to continue ignoring it and hoped he didn't spill the beans. He was sticking with Rachel Black. There was no reason to switch to Janae just because he imprinted. He decided imprinting wouldn't define who he chose to be with. He would just keep pretending he hadn't imprinted on anyone. It would just be easier this way.
Sam watched as Paul's Silvery-grey wolf took off over the hill towards the cliffs for his patrol. His eyes turned back to Jake's russet wolf. 'We really need to keep an eye on her. If she is close to phasing she's going to be scared and in an obscure amount of pain. We are all going to have to be there for her; Leah more than anyone else. I've already spoken with her; she's not thrilled with it, but she understands. She knows better than anyone else what it's like to be a female wolf in this pack.'
'I really want to come clean with her. I don't want her going into this blind Sam. I'm scared for her Sam.' Jake confessed.
Sam fully understood it. He understood all of it. 'I fully understand Jake. She's your cousin and practically your best friend. But you know we can't do it, just in case she doesn't actually phase. We can always hope and pray she doesn't phase. It's bad enough Collin and Brady are only thirteen. Seth was just barely fifteen. Their ages seem to be getting younger. But we really don't want them phasing if we can help it.'
Jake nodded. 'I know Sam…I know.'
Sam watched as Jake took off to catch up to Janae so he could keep an eye on her.
Jake watched as she sat in the sand and was writing something down in her notebook. He wanted to phase back and walk over to her and tell her everything so badly. He wanted her to know everything.
Janae chewed her bottom lip as she stared at the blank paper in the notebook. She wished she had answers to every question in her mind right now. But obviously that wasn't going to happen. As soon as her pen hit the paper she began writing everything down that was in her brain. She needed to make some kind of physical record of what was going on with her. Just in case she actually died before she could figure out why these things were happening to her.
Symptoms: Stomach pains – Body aches – Crazy fevers – Chills & Shakes
A few months ago I started getting sick. I'm not sure what is going on. I went to the doctor and they took multiple vials of blood. I'm not sure what is going on because the doctor can't figure out what's going on either. All the vials of blood and it showed nothing.
No virus. No disease. No cancer.
I don't know what is wrong with me. Maybe I'll go see a specialist in Seattle. I'm definitely not telling mom before I find out what's going on. I'm terrified. I'm might actually die before I can figure it all out.
I don't want to die.
But I'm not afraid to die.
The dreams about the silver wolf seem so real. As if I could reach out and run my fingers through his soft fur. I say him because the dreams point me in that direction. The dreams about Paul are something entirely different. They show me having a future wedding with him and having babies. What the hell is going on with my mind lately? Maybe I have a brain tumor or an aneurism.
What else could be making me have dreams of a silver wolf and a boy I barely know?
"So what are you up to?"
Janae looked up from her notebook to see Jake coming towards her with just his khaki shorts on. "Just sitting here writing in a journal. Trying to figure something's out." She watched as he sat down next to her as she put her journal in her backpack. "I thought you were supposed to be working with Sam today for the council?"
Jake shook his head. "I did already. I finished early I knew you liked coming here after school so I figured I'd come and see how you were doing. I know you haven't been feeling good."
Janae shrugged. "I don't know what's going on. I went to the doctor and they took blood but they couldn't find anything. The doctor gave me some vitamins and thinks it was just the big move that is making me sick. I don't know what to believe yet. I guess whatever happens; happens. I'll just have to wait and see."
Jake nodded. "You know we can talk right? I mean about anything."
Janae touched his forearm. "I know, but I'm okay Jake." Janae stood up and walked towards the water's edge and walked in the water without her shoes and socks on.
She didn't notice that Jake had pulled her journal out and had read it. Jake's heart broke she was terrified of the changes her body was going through and actually thought she was going to die. Now more than ever he wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to come clean. He hurried up and put the journal back before she knew he read it.
Janae walked back over and picked up her bag. "I'm gonna head back to the house. You coming?"
Jake stood as he shook his head no. "I have to go see someone. I'll see you there later tonight." He watched as she nodded and took off back through the trees towards his house.
Janae was texting Kim, Jared's girlfriend. They'd become really good friends the last couple of months. As she rounded a huge warn path of trees when she heard some noises. As she got closer she could hear…grunting? There was a pain in her stomach growing – burning; worse than any kind of indigestion or heartburn from spicy food.
The further down the path she went the grunting turned into moaning. She turned another corner and her blue eyes widened at what she saw. Paul was completely naked and he had some girl pressed against a tree facing away from him. She was completely naked as well. Her ass was pressed against his crotch as he was pounding into her vigorously. The girls face turned towards where Janae was standing and she noticed it was Rachel; her cousin and Jake's older sister.
Janae was suddenly hurt. Her heart ached in her chest as she watched the couple going at it against the huge tree. Why did it hurt so much for her to see Paul with another girl? She took off without being seen. As she got further away her sadness turned into anger. She felt like her skin was on fire. She dropped to her knees as the pain and burning engulfed her entire body.
Jake had phased and was jogging through the woods. He had been talking to Sam once again and showed him what he'd read in her journal. Sam fully understood, but there was really nothing they could do. Technically they were tied by the council to wait.
She screamed out as she felt her body explode and every bone in her body shattered. Suddenly her scream turned into a pained howl. The pain was so intense and she could see as large black spot filled her eyes as she collapsed onto the ground in a heap; she laid there writhing in the pain. Her eyes looked down at her hands; her eyes widened as she found russet colored paws with blonde streaks around her claws.
Jake heard a scream in the trees and then he felt someone unfamiliar phase in.
'What's happening to me?'
'Janae?' Jake could suddenly see her memories of seeing Rachel and Paul together and felt the pain and anger it had caused her all at once. 'Jany I'm coming I promise. You'll be okay.' Jake let out a howl and heard as his pack brothers answered it.
Janae couldn't stop it as the darkness consumed her.
