Warning: Mildly heavy fluff in this chapter.

Meeting the Cullens

Jacob's POV

The ride to the Cullen's house wasn't awkward at all. Them staring at me and growling whenever I made any sudden movements were quite relaxing in preparing me to meet their leader. Even the guy driving over 100mph on a 55 was staring at me; I don't even think he's looked at the road once. I'm somewhere between being highly impressed, wanting to ask him to teach me his secrets, and fearing for my undead life. Laina's told me that I'm supposedly pretty hard to kill, but that doesn't mean that I want to start trying.

Without warning, the driver drifts down a dirt road. Moments later, he slams on the brakes and shuts the car off. Where did he learn to drive? The Fast and Furious movie?

As if he heard me, he growled and glared at me. Exiting the car, I'm surrounded and led up some steps into a glass house. I'm glad Laina isn't here right now; she'd be ripping off heads and throwing bodies through brick walls. I don't understand how someone so sweet can be so destructive. I love her, but it doesn't make her actions any less scary… or funny.

I hear a throat clear and look up to see a pretty nice-looking couple smiling at me. If this weren't about to be an interrogation, that would be more comforting. The driver ushers me to sit on the couch, while the other Cullens stand around me. I wonder how the Swans are treating Laina right now.

"Hello Jacob, my name is Carlisle Cullen. This is my lovely wife, Esme." I nod my head politely, face blank, still unsure if I'll get my head ripped off if I open my mouth.

"These are our children, Edward, he's a mind reader, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, she has foresight based on a person's decisions, and Jasper, he's our empath. Welcome to our home. We don't mean to harm you; we just wanted to talk." His voice sounds soothing. I'd be inclined to believe him if I weren't basically being ganged up on right now. Jumping slightly, I hear my phone go off. Hesitantly pulling it out, I see a text from my girlfriend.

Laina: How's going it with the other vamps?

I look up, my eyes questioning the leader if I can text her back. He nods with a small smile.

Jacob: Yea kitten, everything's peachy keen.

I go to slip my phone back in my pocket until my phone dings again.

L: That seems like a lie.

L: Do I need to come there? I'll be there in two seconds.

Panic overtakes me at the thought of Laina popping in and putting herself in danger. In my haste, I almost break my phone trying to text her back before she uses her portkey. I told her that I was fine, and I'd see her in a few. She texts me back quickly saying that I have 30 minutes to call her or come get her before she pops in and burns everything down. I hear Edward suck in a breath as he relays the message to his family.

"Alright then, that's plenty of time. I'd like to meet her under better circumstances if it's alright." Carlisle brings his hands in front of him in a humble manner, making eye contact with me and smiling slightly.

"I'll be sure to pass on the message," I say nodding my head again.

"Alright, so why don't you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How were you changed and by who?" Carlisle takes a seat in a chair across from me as some of the others do the same. The only ones still standing are Jasper and Rosalie.

"Um, I'm from Waco, Texas. I was turned about two years ago where I woke up in a field a few miles south of my house. I don't know who changed me or for what purpose, but Laina's been there helping me since day one." After my short spill, I turn my head to look at Jasper, his stance wide and dominant, as I hear him ask a question.

"How do you look human? You even look like you have blood flowing in your face." Shit. I knew the question was coming, but I doubt that he'll like my answer. Lifting up my right arm, I show them my bracelet while trying my best to keep its maker from my thoughts. Plus, I bet Jasper could tell if I'm lying.

"This bracelet has a spell on it that changes my appearance." I slip it off and back on to show them.

"Who made it?"

"I can't answer that." Growls erupt around the room until Carlisle calms them down.

"It's his right to maintain that person's privacy. But, if I may, I would li-" Rosalie cuts him off, abruptly jumping and speeding around to get in my line of sight.

"Why does your girlfriend know about vampires?" Couldn't hold it in any longer, could ya?

"I don't know, but she knew about them before I did, hence how she was able to help me." The blonde woman scoffs and crosses her arms.

"So, she's stupid enough to have stayed around all this time? Does she not care about her life?" I didn't catch the growl in time from escaping my throat at hearing someone badmouth Laina.

"Don't talk about her like that." Glaring at her, I try to calm myself down as Carlisle asks Jasper to calm everyone down. Feeling a wave of calmness pass over me, my body goes rigid. I feel a splitting headache coming on. Turning my head, I take notice that the big one is a lot closer than he used to be before focusing my attention on Jasper.

"Could you stop that, please?" My clipped tone visibly confusing him as I feel the calmness subside, and my headache lessens soon after. Everyone stands around staring at me for a long time before Carlisle breaks the silence.

"So, it would seem that you have a gift."

"Yeah, I can feel when other people are using their gifts. Laina's been helping me control it so that it doesn't bother me so much. Right now, it only bothers me if a gift is used on me directly." I could even inhibit gifts to a certain degree, but I didn't dare even think it. Laina's warned me that it's important to keep some things a secret, and this is one of those things.

Carlisle nods thoughtfully before asking, "And Ms. Laina? Does she have a gift as well?" Schooling my features, I calmly respond.

"I'm not at liberty to say." Sure, that answer technically says that she does have a gift, but they don't need to know what she's capable of.

"I understand." Carlisle smiles and nods again before my phones goes off again.

L: 5 minutes till detonation.

I chuckle to myself while Edward relays the message.

"Well, it would seem that time is up. Thank you for coming," Carlisle says while shaking my hand as I stand. Like I had a choice. I text Laina and tell her I'm leaving.

As I go to walk out the door and race home to get the truck, my phone starts ringing Laina's custom ringtone. Immediately, I answer.

"Hey babe! Bella dropped me off at home, so you can come straight here."

"Alright, I'll see you at home."

" But more importantly, babe! Did you know that Forks has wolves?!"

"No, do they now?" I arch an eyebrow as the Cullens stiffen and stare at my phone with a worried expression.

"Well, I only saw one, but wolves travel in packs, right? So, there must be more. This one was huge! Like, as big as that black horse, Red type of huge!" Both of my eyebrows raise at that, and I start to feel anxious to get back to Laina. What if this wolf isn't friendly? My emotions getting the better of me, I feel my body tense up as I shoot the Cullens an accusing glare. Why didn't they say anything before I let Laina go on her own? If she's hurt in any way, they're all dead.

"I ran and grabbed some raw beef to try and get him to come to me, but he just blinked, turned, and left. Is it weird that he looked kind of annoyed?" I breathe out through my nose, relief flooding my body.

"Don't go wandering the woods looking for him. I'll be there soon."

"How do you know it's a guy? She can't be a girl?" I can hear her close to laughing throw the phone, and I can't help but smile at her antics.

"Sure, she can be a girl," I relent and relax my posture even more as I hear her giggle.

"Okay, I'll stop bothering you now. I'll see you soon."

"You're never a bother," I deny. "See you soon." I hang up the phone and turn my attention to Edward.

"Explain." Instead, Carlisle, ever the peacekeeper, intervenes to try and lessen the tension.

"Perhaps it would be best if Laina were here with you, that way we could explain and answer any questions that you may have." And also, any questions that you may have. I can see that Carlisle doesn't mean any harm, but I also notice that curious look in his eyes. That same look that leads people to do selfish things for the sake of science. If any of them try to interrogate her and make her feel uncomfortable, I'll kick all of their asses, and that's what I tell him.

"I'll ask her if she wants to come. Most likely, she'll say yes, but let me warn y'all. If any of you turn this into an interrogation and make her feel uncomfortable, that ass is ash."

They all nod, except Rosalie, as Carlisle promises that they'll try their best to make her feel welcome. Satisfied, I run home to fill Laina in on her new plans for tomorrow nearly missing Emmett's comment.

"Why is a black horse named Red?"

As I near the house, I hear the Chinese flute music that Laina likes to play when she's in a soothing-type mood. Contemplating whether or not to go through the front door, I decide against it and jump to our open window on the second floor. Perched on the window sill, I watch Laina as she sits cross-legged on the bed. She must have changed out of her outfit from earlier into a long, thin, breathable, looney tunes nightshirt. The lights are off, so she must be relying on the dwindling sunlight to see. She's slightly hunched over, stitching what looks to be a glove.

I didn't find this out until a few months ago, but Laina likes to design and create her outfits. When I went with her to a fabric shop, I asked her why she didn't just craft everything with her magic.

~Begin Flashback~

"I like doing things myself," she said. "Working with my own hands, completing things serve a deeper meaning than if I just use magic for everything. Where's the value in my work if I don't put time and effort into it?"

I paused in between the racks and stared at her. After being around her for a while, I've seen her use magic a lot, even for small choirs, like watering her plants. I've seen her use magic so much that I didn't think she'd value something like that. I know when my mom crochets her something, she thanks her, but I didn't think that she'd value it more than other gifts that've been bought for her. That moment shifted my opinion and perspective of her. I stopped seeing her as a reckless witch that disregards everyone else's feelings and does whatever she wants. I started seeing her as a genuinely caring person, and I promised myself to look closer from now on to see what type of person she really is instead of what she does on the surface.

"Plus, I'm paranoid. What if something happens, and I can't use magic anymore? I don't want to give up the craft just because I can't use magic anymore."

"I've never heard of a witch losing their magic."

"You've never heard of real magic wand-wielding witches at all until you met me, but it happens, especially if the council deems it necessary."

"Wait, you have a council? You have rules and stuff?" I ask genuinely interested.

"Yes, and yes, but that's a conversation for another time. Come on, I'm ready to check out now."

~End Flashback~

Seeing her get up at the foot of the bed, I step inside and close the window behind me. She jerks her head over to the window at the noise, apparently not noticing the large shadow I cast, but she relaxes and smiles when she sees me.

"Hey, Babe," she says in her usual chipper voice.

Maintaining eye contact, I stride over to her, uttering a low, "hey," without stopping my movements. Her smile drops as her face contorts into confusion and concern. She raises her hands slightly to her chest and leans back, scooting her right foot back slightly in the process. I reach her just as her mouth parts to say something. I cup her face with both hands and angle it upwards as I quickly lean down to press my lips to hers.

A moment later, I feel her relax and press her body into me. Her warmth spreading through me like a fire on dry grass. She slides her hands up over my shirt from my stomach to my shoulders, applying small bouts of pressure, silently asking to be picked up. Hearing a keening whine escape her throat as she grows impatient, I reach down to grip my hands behind her thighs, pulling her up and securing her as she wraps her legs around my waist. I feel her grind her hips into mine, making me groan and my pants feel tighter than they did a moment ago. I move my lips down her jaw to her neck, kissing and biting the short journey down. In less than half a second, I have her writhing body caged against the wall near our bedroom door. I feel her tugging my shirt up and pressing her chest to my newly warmed skin. I go to rip her flimsy nightshirt off of her when I freeze abruptly.

Straining my ears, eyes wide, I hear a growling sound from outside. Quickly and gently lowering Laina to the floor, I rush to open and jump out the window into the trees across the street, Laina calling my name as I go. I quickly and thoroughly scan the woods, taking note of the Cullens' scent all over the place before coming back inside. Laina walks up to me looking visibly worried as she gently touches my face.

"What's going on?" I smile and shake my head.

"Nothing, I thought I heard something."

"Okay, well, maybe we could –" I cut her off already knowing what she wanted. Hell, I wanted it too, but with some creep out there watching and listening in, I don't want to chance it.

"It's getting pretty late for you. Why don't you go ahead and get ready for bed?" I pat her head gently as she looks up at me, softly pleading.

"I don't mind staying up." Damn, this hurts. She's even using that small soft voice that usually makes me give in every time, but not this time. Smalling sadly at her, I kiss just above her hairline.

"That's not going to work this time, sweetheart." Sweetheart? What am I, an old man? She pouts and slowly lets go of me before dramatically moping to the bathroom. Sighing loudly, she closes the door behind her. As soon as I hear the shower turn on, I, less dramatically, mope to the bathroom a few doors down to relieve myself of my own problem.

"It's stupid that schools assign work on the first day. I should write a strongly worded letter." I hum in acknowledgment, my mind completely focused on that sound I heard. Deep in thought, I start going over possibilities in my head. There's no mistaking it, it was definitely another vamp. I should know since I make the same noises when guys take Laina's friendliness a bit too far. There's no way an animal could jet away so quickly, so it can't be one of the wolves. Plus, there's no way they could have been high up enough to see what we were doing. My best guess would be one of the Cullens, but which one was it? Ugh, fuck. I should've been paying closer attention to their individual scents earlier, I can't tell. It smells like their scent is all over the area.

"Babe, you alright?" I come out of my thoughts to see Laina staring at me.

"Yeah, don't worry. Come here." I grab one her small pillows to put on my chest. As I set it down, she lays her head on it and pulls the covers up over us. I kiss the top of her head as she flicks her finger, the black curtains swishing closed. She doesn't close the curtains often, so she must have an idea of what's bothering me.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, babe."