My breathing stopped altogether while the wolf's breathing picked up as he chuckled at my shocked expression. For a moment, I wondered if I was caught in a dream.
"Jacob!" I crowed as I launched myself into his massive body. I spread my arms as wide as they would go around his neck. He rested his chin on my shoulder, returning the hug. "I thought I would never find you!"
He suddenly yanked away from my embrace, turning in the opposite direction. I stared, confused by his sudden rejection. He trotted over behind a tree a few yards away, cutting his form from my sight. Seconds later, human-form Jake walked around the corner with a pair of ripped jeans sheathed over his legs.
"Sorry 'bout that; I had to get changed or it would've been extremely awkward for the both of us." I was squeezing him around the waist before he finished talking. His hands held me closer. I sighed; this is what I had been looking for, and it was worth it.
"So… Billy called me…" Jake's voice sounded confused, almost reluctant. "Charlie said that you came all the way here for me. Is that right?" I nodded. "Bella, that's… nice of you. But as much as I hate to say this, I have to so you don't throw your life away." I waited for whatever he had to say. "You need to go back to Forks, Bella. You can't leave your family and friends, especially not before the, er, wedding. You can't stay here with me; I hope you know that. And I bet Edward-"
"Edward is-" I stopped myself from blurting out the truth of why I left. Jake would be furious, and would try to kill Edward. Even though Edward had hurt me, I couldn't bear the idea of having him dead.
Jacob's eyebrows pulled together in the middle of his forehead, confused at my unwillingness to speak. "Edward is what, Bella?"
"Nothing. I was going to say that Edward is fine with me being here." I put on my best poker face. "And Charlie is fine with me here too. I'm just putting off the wedding until Edward and I organize more things out."
I could tell that he didn't believe me; the corners of his mouth pulled down to his chin. His eyes glared at me, seeing through me as if I were a window. Everything about his face screamed, You're lying!
I coated my face with another layer of smoothness. "So… what have you been doing here?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
My attempt worked; his face evened out. "I needed a place to get away. You know, from the pack and…"
I didn't need to read his mind to know that he needed to get away from the wedding as well. Had I hurt him so much that he needed to hide from home?
"And besides, did I ever tell you that I used to live here?" I shook my head no. "I used to live right here on Long Island, back then when I was little and my mom was alive. Something about this place brings back memories."
I didn't know how to respond. I was happy that he had found his happy place, but I had caused him so much misery. He couldn't possibly be as happy as his face suggested.
"What happened to your leg?" Jake's eyes were on my wound.
"Oh, I tripped." I shrugged with a grin.
"He sighed, and I heard him mutter "clumsy."
"Here" He had reached down to tear a strip from the bottom his jeans. So fast that I couldn't react, Jacob pushed my gently onto the ground with my ankle in his hand. He tied the fabric around my cut, sealing the blood inside my body.
I stared at his face while he treated my foot. I couldn't believe that he was helping my injuries when I had caused so much more to him. He couldn't make me leave before I made him happy again.
A/n Any ideas as to what should happen next? My imaginations are running low.
