**I've made revisions for this chapter. Some things have changed. **
~Alexis's POV~
I had finally put everything in its place around my room, and it was no quick task either. It probably took me a good three hours to unpack. My aunt had been kind enough to come over and give me a hand. When we had gotten to the last box, I told her I appreciated the help and would finish up. She gave me one of her welcoming smiles and left me to it.
While I had been putting clothes from this last box into the closet, I picked out a few things I figured would be ideal to wear for my little trek. I was thankful that the rain seemed like it had stopped for a while, but I still planned on wearing something for the chance that I would get caught in the precipitation.
I didn't even bother closing the window as I changed. There were only woods outside the window and my aunt didn't have any neighbors living close by, so it wasn't like any one was going to see me. Besides, I hardly think the birds or squirrels would pay me much attention.
Humming a tune softly to myself, I quickly finished tying my shoes. I was in a brighter mood now, knowing that I had finished the tedious work of moving in. Now I was anxious to get out of this house.
A breeze lazily rolled in through the window, sending a shiver down my spine despite the fact I was wearing a jacket. That gave me an idea. Because it was ground level, and just because I could, I stepped over the window sill and onto the ground outside. Even though I already had permission to leave I felt a little rebellious flare when I did this. I probably should've told Aunt Dianne that I was going on the walk now, but I'd be back before she even noticed I was gone.
I eyed the thick tree line as I debated walking into the dense brush. It didn't look that appealing; the clustered trees loomed above me as if they could intimidate me. And trust me, they kind of were. As I was scanning the line of trees in front of me, I noticed a gap. A closer look revealed it to be an old, worn path. That would probably be my best bet if I didn't want to get lost.
Stuffing my hands into my jacket's pockets, I began walking on the path as I made my way through the woods. I didn't particularly like walking through here, especially considering that for all I knew I could run into a bear or wolf, or hell for all I know maybe some rabid squirrel or whatever, but something tugged me in this direction. I was too curious of the new setting I was surrounded by to go back. Besides, trails would be way more fun than walking along sidewalks though the town.
I walked for a while, and with each passing stride I could practically smell the salt in the air. I closed my eyes as I walked, breathing in the familiar smell. It had only been a day, and already I was homesick. My feet kept walking even though I still hadn't opened my eyes. If I didn't look around at my surroundings, I could almost pretend I was back in California.
But I wasn't. I was all the way up here in Forks.
With I sigh, I opened my eyes and froze. Somehow I had led myself onto a cliff, and I was looking down on dark swirling water many, many feet below me. The water looked restless, swashing around as if it were trying to reach something as wave after wave broke against the cliff. I was so far up that not a single drop of the spray reached me. Instead, I felt a few other drops fall on me. Looking up, I practically groaned when I saw the dark clouds above me begin to release their rain.
What started off as a few drops turned into an increasing down pour with each passing moment. How the heck did the weather manage to shift so suddenly? I whipped the hood of my jacket up over my head and hurried back home. I'd have to try to get the hang of predicting the sudden rain showers here. Just as I was thinking this, I stepped into a major puddle along the trail, soaking my foot. A groan drawled out from me. Just my luck.
~Jake's POV~
Mud coated my legs, plastering my fur together. The rain just kept coming today, only letting up for a few breaks before it continued to drench this town. Normally I would have assigned patrols to take place after the heavy rain, but we had to patrol regularly because of the increase of vampire scents lingering around our boarders. There was only so much we could do, however, with the weather acting like this.
Anything so far? I asked the others in my pack.
Embry's voice answered first. I can't tell, this rain is washing away all the scents. It looks clear though.
Seth? I asked, you've got the best sense of smell out of all of us. Can you pick anything up?
There was a pause before he answered, and I guessed he was sniffing the air around him. Nope, absolutely nothing.
I sighed. Alright, we're done patrolling for now. We'll continue when the downpour stops.
The others accepted the orders immediately and phased out soon after that. The static noise in my head told me as much. I couldn't blame them, I was wanting to get out of this heavy rain too. I knew that I'd get back sooner if I stayed a wolf until I neared the outskirts of town, but when I got there I'd have to change back or risk being sighted by locals.
Beginning my way back, I took advantage of having my mind to myself. It was still annoying at times when others could listen in on my thoughts, but it came with the job. The pack listened in to my thoughts much more carefully than others though, considering I was their alpha. They couldn't really ignore my thoughts, whatever I was thinking came out louder and clearer than anyone else's.
I've gotten used to being alpha pretty quickly; the role just came easily to me. Sam had stepped down and given me my rightful place as alpha several years ago. I still respect his input though, and have made him my beta. During these past few years, our pack has grown little by little, but Sam and I keep things running smoothly.
The rain had slowed into a soft drizzle and eventually stopped, but I knew it would be back before too long. It was almost like a sixth sense, I could just feel it coming. I could see it coming too; the dark and ominous clouds made it pretty obvious.
I felt a breeze pick up as I made my way back, which suddenly made me thankful for this insane warmth we got as wolves. I guess anyone else would've been freezing if they had been out in the rain like we had been. I lifted my head to inhale the familiar, fresh air that always wafted through these woods. Traces lingered of a woodsy smell, earth, and salt from the ocean. And… something else…
My senses snapped to attention as I inhaled a deeper breath. Could I be picking up on a leech? I growled at the thought. It was faint, but there definitely was something there, no, someone? I couldn't tell, but I felt a sharp tug in the pit of my stomach. This wasn't a vampire, but I had no idea what it was. It smelled amazing though. Once I figured out which direction this scent was coming from I hurried towards it. I wasn't even thinking, something primal was driving me right now. It didn't matter where the source of this scent was coming from. I was going to track it down.
I followed the scent until I reached a path. Here it was definite that whoever this scent belonged to had walked along here. I didn't have to follow the scent as it wafted in the breeze anymore, now I could just let it lead me itself along the path the person had taken. My feet carried me along almost instinctively as my lungs kept inhaling this addicting smell. I couldn't stop breathing it in…
Before too long though, the clouds started dropping their rain again. No, I thought, the scent will wash away! I quickened my pace just as it started raining heavier. Crap…
The rain had made scent start to get spotty in some areas, causing me to have to search for a spot where it started up again. It was like following a dashed line as it was being erased. As it got harder to trace, I broke out into a run. I had to find the source, something inside of me propelled me to do so.
The dark clouds had everything drenched with their heavy, fat raindrops by the time I came to the edge of a cliff. I searched around for more of the trail, but the rain had washed away all traces. Frustrated, I let a low growl rumble through me as I lowered my head to the ground, breathing in as much of the smell as I could before it disappeared completely. I wanted to memorize it the way it smelled like sea salt and lotus flowers, how it was the best thing I had ever smelled, how the primal animal's instincts inside of me longed for more.
I had never experienced this sort of reaction before. What I felt towards this smell was almost more than I had ever felt for anyone, Bella included. Bella. I had almost forgotten all about her since she "changed", but I still remembered the memories from when she was human. How much I had felt towards her and how much time we had spent together, heck, I even remember the time I kissed her. But all that somehow felt wrong now…
Holy fuck, did this scent belong to what I think it belongs to? Did I finally cross paths with what was mine?
Whatever this scent led me to was what I wanted. Whatever it was, it felt right.
