We both expected the welcoming waiting in Jacob's garage when we returned. Jacob heard some of the others' thoughts, so that means they know about us now. Sam, Quil, and Embry were there. One already had spare shorts for Jacob. He handed them off and Jacob ran into the woods to phase back. He returned in under a minute. While he was gone I stood back, feeling the three sets of eyes burning into me. I kept my own eyes down.
"I'm glad you were the only ones phased. You all, and possible Jared, will take the news best, I think," Jacob said upon returning.
"Yeah. We were coming from Emily's to meet up with you because we haven't seen you in a while. Jared went off with Kim. Lord knows where the others are," Embry replied.
More awkward silence. I didn't like it.
That's when I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Sam looking down on me, smiling. I wasn't short by any means, about 5'6," but these guys made me feel more like 4'6."
"Sorry about the other day," he said sincerely, "Just to think I almost killed the one person that would cure Jacob. No hard feelings?"
"Don't worry about it," I shrugged it off and smiled back, "I know you were only doing your job." Sam picked me up in a tight hug. If I was human, this would have hurt. I could hear Quil and Embry congratulating Jacob behind me. Sam put me down.
"Can we talk for a moment?" Sam asked me. I nodded, and we walked off. Jacob trusts Sam so much that he didn't say a word when he saw us walk off. Maybe he knew what we were going to talk about. After we were a safe distance away I looked up at him, the concern caked on my face like my stage makeup I wear when I dance.
"Now, don't give me that look. I meant what I said." I let the concern change to curiosity. "Better," he chuckled. "I wanted to talk to you about today." Curiosity changed to confusion, and he chuckled again at my instant change in expression.
"I saw everything Jacob saw when you were hunting. Felt all his emotions, too. He wasn't scared at all, only awed at your ability. As was I. The concentration you had, the swiftness, everything. It wasn't what I expected from a 'Cold One.'"
"Thanks, I think."
"It made me think about my views on you all. You guys aren't the mindless killers we were raised to believe in. If you were, you would have just killed Jacob. But you didn't, and I thank you."
"Glad to help." I smiled and turned back towards the house. He stopped me.
"One more thing. Jacob, Embry, Quil, and I, as well as the rest of the pack, are also hunters like you. We have the same instincts. But we only have one target." I nodded to show I understood.
"The four of us here and Jared have an easier time controlling our instincts. Some of the others do, too. But be careful around the younger ones, mainly Phil and Leah. Well, Phil is more seasoned than Leah, but loses his cool very easy. I know what it's like to have to see the consequences of this curse every day. I don't need Jacob to feel that same pain."
I could only nod. I knew he referred to Emily, the one he imprinted on. Her scarred features were of Sam's own doing when he lost control one day. Jacob informed me at the beach.
"I'll be careful. I promise." He seemed pleased with that. We walked back in silence. The silence was broken on returning by our own laughter. Jacob had both Quil and Embry in headlocks.
"Some things will never change, though," I heard Sam mumble under his breath, his smile never leaving his lips.
I felt bad for ever resenting them.