The drama starts to pick up in this chap. Hope I do it justice!
Rated M for mature content, language, adult situations. Lemons, people! Don't read if you're under 18!
I don't own anything Twilight. SM owns it all, I'm just messing around! I hope you enjoy it.
I sat as close as I could to the bonfire to dry my sopping wet jeans. Jared came up behind me and draped a thick flannel blanket over my shoulders then sat down next to me. He wrapped a strong arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. He didn't even flinch when my cold wet hair hit his pec as I leaned my head against his chest. I couldn't even curse his shape shifter heat because right now, I was soaking it up. Lucky duck was already dry!
"You okay, Bella? You're not mad at us are you?" His voice was liquid tenor in my ear. Jared was another rock of mine. If Jake pushed too hard, as he ought to do, Jared was always there as my sounding board. He knew Jake and I were just real close friends, but he also knew, that though Jacob has always wanted more, I wouldn't get involved with him deeper because he would imprint.
"I'm good, Jay. I'm cold, but I'm good." I sighed as I snuggled closer to my friend. He smelled like honeysuckle and ginger. Sweet and tart.
I looked around the bonfire, letting my eyes pass over my friends who were lounging around on blankets. All the chairs, tables, and food had been towed off and the beach had been cleaned up from our fun. The hurricane lanterns and Christmas lights still twinkled away and the fire kept us warm. Talking lowly amongst ourselves, we were enjoying the evening. The birthday song had been sung - much to my chagrin -, cake had been served and devoured, and now we were relishing in pack. Groups of three or four huddled around the fire, each of us all touching one way or another. Leah sat at my feet, slender fingers wrapped around my calves as she massaged me, warming me up and drying my jeans with her body heat. Jared sat with his arm around me still, Paul at his side. Their thighs barely touching. Reaffirming the pack bond through touch.
Rachel was snuggled into Paul's other side and Jake sat behind his sister, letting her lean her back into his chest while he combed her shoulder length hair with his fingers. Quil, Seth, and Embry sat opposite the fire, all cross legged, knees touching, gabbing about tomorrow's volleyball game the boys had planned. They were hoping some hot chicks would come down from the Neah Bay's Makah Rez. I smiled at them. Sam and Emily snuggled up under a flannel blanket and were kissing fairly heavily. Kim eyed me from Emily's side but I ignored her. She knew not to be jealous.
It was getting close to midnight and just as Sam lifted his face from Emily's, presumably to tell us to get lost, his head whipped toward the forest. All the wolves had gone eerily still, staring off in the same direction. The night was silent, save for the waves gently lapping at the shore and our breathing. Now, normally when my boys go still like this, you keep quiet. It is obvious that they are listening to something, however, not all of us have the same sense of sanity and Kim opens her mouth.
"What? What is it?" I can hear the shake in her voice but as Sam places his palm over her mouth, her eyes pop wide and I can see her tanned skin pale visibly. Sam speaks lowly, too lowly for me to hear and suddenly there's movement. Sam stands and yanks Emily up with him, her head jerking back almost violently as she rights herself. She shoots Sam a small glare but I see understanding in her eyes. Kim looks like she will be sick as Emily grabs her hand and heads toward where Rachel and myself have already stood up. Jared, Paul, Jake, Quil, and Sam are standing close to the tree line, glaring under the hurricane lanterns, shedding their shirts and shorts before they phase. Seth, Embry, and Leah are circled around us non-supernaturals.
The air is thick with tension, I just knew it. I knew something was coming, I could feel it. It was too good to be true to have such a good run with my friends. So close to my anniversary of my purgatory? Something had to celebrate it, right? As Seth and Embry start slowly, quietly leading the four of us girls toward the parking lot of the beach, Leah steps back and, without shedding her clothes, morphs into the beautiful silver gray of her wolf. Her proximity causes Kim to gasp, which Embry tries to stifle by cupping her mouth with his hand.
I love that girl but this is not rocket science. Shut up
The boys stop leading us away and we stand stock still, visibly trembling from our nerves.
My phased wolves stand in a united line with their backs toward us and the fire. Tails swishing low and dangerous. Hackles raised, rumbling growls spilling between pulled back lips, showcasing deadly supernatural teeth. All five of my boys are bent low on their forelegs, long deadly claws digging at the earth as they prepare to lunge at whatever is coming our way.
And it is coming. Loud and fast. My hearbeat picks up but I don't make a sound. Embry still has his hand over Kim's mouth, her eyes filled with tears as she desperately tries to hold back her sobs. I grasp her hand in mine, never taking my eyes off my wolves.
Suddenly, a large black wolf raises up on his hind legs. Sam. He looks like a Clydesdale, ready to buck a rider off his back, but instead of taking off, as he drops down, I see he's got something pinned under his front paws. I never saw it coming. The four other wolves surround Sam while he brings his black muzzle down to whatever he has pinned beneath his monstrous paws. His teeth gleaming in the firelight, dripping gooey, shiny drool. Jake lifts his russet head and catches my eyes. I stiffen.
What? What are you looking at me for?
Kim's grip on my hand becomes painful and Leah starts circling us. Embry and Seth close us in tighter together, their bodies stiff with tension. I missed something, I just know it. Something was communicated that my sorry little human ears could not hear. I can barely breathe but I don't break contact with Jake's yellow ringed orbs. He's frantic and that makes me frantic.
But I'm not stupid. I know I am best protected right here in this heated circle of wolf and imprint. I cannot break free just to squelch my curiosity. Oh how I want to! What does Sam have under his heavy paws? Why is my best friend so frantic? Paul, Quil, and Jared keep swishing their tails but they don't break their own circled formation around whatever it is Sam has pinned.
Leah keeps circling the six of us. Embry and Seth are stock still, waiting on orders from their alpha. What do we do now? We've been told during mock fights that if there's no time to order us away, we stay. We don't split the pack because there are plenty to watch us without splitting us up. No speaking. That's a huge rule that Kim just can't wrap her mind around. Distractions are dangerous!
We've had many mock fights. Imprints are not always allowed to attend. When the girls stay home, that's when the guys pretend they had enough time to send us away and one wolf always stands guard. A lot of times though, the girls attend. I am not an imprint, but I've always been included. When we pretend there's no time for Sam or Jake - his beta - to order us home, the imprints gather in a tight circle and three wolves close in around us, keeping us safe on all sides. This is no mock fight. This is the real deal.
Sam dips his massive dripping jaws closer to the thing he has trapped. I can only assume it's a vampire. What else would frighten Jake? My question is, why is he looking at me so frantically?
I get my answer quicker than I really wanted. While the five wolves are riveted on their catch and the three surrounding my girls and me are also hooked on the scene in front of them, we forgot one very important thing. One very large weakness when dealing with the supernatural. Beings that are strong, fast, smart, and can most importantly...jump. Beings that can shove themselves off of the ground or a tree or a boulder, launch themselves as if they can take flight.
I am plucked.
Oh holy motherfuckingshit!
Plucked away, straight up in the air by my hair! My ponytail, to be exact. I always knew it made for a good hand holder, I just figured I'd be in a much better position than I find myself now.
Well sorry not sorry! Leave a review and find out what happens next!!