Prologue - The Storm Begins

Chapters will not be this short. This is merely a short prologue. Title comes from the piano piece, The Storm Begins by Jennifer Haines. See Forward for disclaimer.


Like all things in Jacob's life, it was expected that love would come no more easily than anything else he'd wanted before. Fate is often fickle in that it enjoys seeing one suffer for happiness.

The sound of the glass from the window breaking caused Jacob to jump, his heart running a 100 mile race within his chest. He clenched his eyes shut, covering his mouth with his hand to stifle any whimper that may escape. He tried to even his breathing, knowing he would easily hear it, but it was a fruitless effort.

"Jaaaacob," he heard his name whispered. "Come on Jay, I just wanna talk."

Talk was the last thing Ryan wanted, and Jacob knew this without a doubt.

A bead of sweat trailed down the side of his face before falling silently on to his jean clad knee. Despite how hot he was, he couldn't suppress a shiver at the sound of Ryan's voice.

"Seriously, just come out here…I promise, I won't try anything," Ryan continued.

Fat chance of that, Jacob thought miserably. The last time Jacob had been face to face with Ryan, they had both been in their wolf form with Ryan clawing at his face.

"Please, Jacob!" he heard Ryan plead. "I'm sorry, alright? Please, just-" he broke off, as though unsure how to finish.

"Give me a chance Jacob. I can make it better, I swear!"

Jacob almost wasn't able to keep in the sob that threatened to fall from his mouth. Better? Is the fucker serious? How the fuck can he make this better?

He felt his throat burn as he tried to reign in the tears wanting to spill over when he opened his eyes, staring unblinkingly at the chipping floorboard by his foot. Nothing can make this better, he thought morosely. I'm dying, I won't survive this, survive life…Not without-

"Come out Jacob. Stop hiding from me," Ryan commanded, his voice emotionless now, having lost all its face sincerity. "When I find you, Jacob Black…" he trailed off, the threat clear.

There was nothing left for him to do now. He could continue hiding, knowing Ryan would find him sooner or later (most likely sooner) or he could go out there and go down with a fight.

He chose option two.

With a painful heave, his side still unhealed from the gash Ryan had caused earlier, Jacob pushed himself off the floor of his hiding place behind the piano.

"You want me?" Jacob asked rhetorically, trying not to flinch back in fear at the sight of Ryan's gleeful smile as he spun around to face Jacob.

"Come and get me."


TBC