"I'm not telling you it is going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it."
-Art Williams.
The weather man had been right, for once. When I woke up, I woke up screaming when I saw how beautifully sunny it was outside. Sam almost busted down my door. I had rushed around getting everything ready for the walk down to the beach. I helped Emily pack loads of food since the boys were also tagging along. Sam was off running one last patrol before settling down for the day. I hadn't heard from Jacob though. I rolled my eyes. It wasn't even a full twelve hours and my body was acting like he had been gone for years.
I was currently sitting on the swinging bench getting lost in my favorite book when I heard someone walking towards me. I glanced up and felt my heart soar with happiness. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Seeing Jacob in well-fitted jeans, a tight black shirt, and vans definitely made my heart stutter and he knew it by the smirk he wore on his face.
"Hey." I beamed a smile as he picked me up and placed me in his lap.
I snuggled into his chest and put my book in my lap. He grinned devilishly at me, "Morning, beautiful." He murmured giving my cheek a soft kiss before asking, "Ready for the beach?" He smirked at my eager nodding.
"I've only been waiting forever to go!" I said dramatically.
He laughs softly, "I take it there are no beaches in Las Vegas?" He muses softly while playing with my hair.
I shake my head, "No, only lakes." I answered him.
"You're beautiful." He randomly murmurs into my ear effectively causing me to shiver against him. His grip tightened ever so slightly.
"Um, ah, what?" I stuttered out like a fool.
He smirks, "You are beautiful." He repeats placing his forehead against mine.
My heart stuttered again from how close his lips were from mine, "Uh, you're insanely handsome." I lamely complimented.
He throws his head back and laughs, "I take it that you're not used to male attention or what?" He teases lightly but I could see the possessiveness flicker in his dark eyes. He didn't like the idea anymore then it did to me.
"Not from anyone that mattered." I whispered gently.
His eyes beamed with pride, "Good because you're mine." He possessively states. Now, I used to say that no girl could ever belong to any man but that was before I met Jacob and I was happy to say that I was a hypocrite now. Of course, there was a definite line when it came to possessiveness but I knew it was Jacob's wolf speaking but I couldn't ignore the skip in my heart or the warmth that emitted from hearing those words.
It felt nice to be wanted.
"All yours." I mumbled.
"You better not be kissing my baby sister, Jacob Black, you haven't even taken her out to a date." Sam's deep and timber voice boomed from behind me.
I gave an eye roll at the typical overprotective big brother act while Jacob glared at Sam openly, "If I remember correctly you and Emily didn't kiss on the first date, in fact, you both had sex within the first day of meeting each other." Jacob replied bitterly.
Sam didn't meet my surprised stare, "T-That is none of your business, Black, and besides she is my baby sister and I would give her the best and I expect you would too." He said with narrowed eyes.
Jacob looked offended, "You know I would, Sam, come on. What kind of man do you think I am? She's my soul mate. I'd give her the whole Harry Potter universe if I could." Jacob said with a serious face. My heart felt like putty and I felt the soft sting of tears hit my eyes while Sam's strict and firm expression softened.
"The boys will be here in a few. I advise you enjoy the few minutes of privacy before they arrive." Sam said but in a softer tone before going inside.
Jacob turned his attention back to me and looked panicked when he saw the unshed tears in my eyes, "What's wrong, Serena, did I say something wrong?" He breathed out in a rush grabbing onto my face with concern written all over his beautiful face.
I shook my head and laughed, "No, I'm touched you knew I liked Harry Potter so much. We've barely known each other for less then a day." I answered wiping at my ears.
He relaxed and kissed my cheeks with affection, "In the few hours I had with you last night I learned a lot about you, silly, you are quite amazing to watch. I find you very fascinating." He says softly. Gah, this guy sure knows how to woo a girl.
"Yeah, like what?" I challenged.
He hums thoughtfully, "Wherever something annoys you your nose twitches, wherever you get frustrated you bite your lips, the way your eyes crinkle just the tiniest bit when you smile, the way your eyes seem to hold the galaxy when you laugh, and the way you can make me feel like the luckiest wolf in the entire world." He names off without a second of hesitation.
I was speechless. Did he really get that from the few hours we had together last night? He looked thoroughly amused at my for once speechlessness.
"Did you somehow get her social security number too?" Paul's voice was muffled with laughter.
Jacob growled lowly with anger as he glared at Paul with venom, "Will you stop with your stupid comments?" Jacob hissed looking ready to pounce.
"It's like you don't even know me, Jacob." Paul put his hand over his heart looking wounded.
I rolled my eyes and jumped off of Jacob's lap, "You seriously need to lie off. One day, he's going to phase and kick your butt, Paul." I put my book to the side as I stretched happily in the sunlight. Paul rolled his eyes not looking worried.
"Yeah, yeah we'll see about that."
"Glad to see that you have so much faith in me." Jacob wrapped an arm around my waist nuzzling my neck making me giggle like a school girl. Paul's dark eyes cringed at the sight and he gagged loudly before walking inside. Jacob's beautiful eyes narrowed and followed his movement until Paul vanished inside.
"Where are Embry and Jared?" I asked with concern.
Jacob blinked and unwillingly let me follow Paul inside. Paul was already stuffing his face with fresh made food prepared by the lovely Emily. "Where are Jared and Embry?" I questioned with worry. My eyebrows were scrunched down and my lips were tilted down.
Paul blinked up at me and shrugged while piling food on his plate, "They said they had smelt something odd and went to go check it out. I was too dang hungry to even care." Paul said nonchalantly not sounding the bit least worried about Jared or Embry.
"Was it the vampire?" I questioned.
Paul shook his head, "Nah, it was just a weird scent, gotta admit I wanted to check it out but I was starving." He said stuffing his gob.
"Pig." I muttered flicking his forehead.
He glared at me but continued to eat while I turned around and started heading into the woods momentarily forgetting that Jacob was behind me. I was a few feet away from the tree line when strong arms wrapped around my waist and spun me around so I was facing the house. "And where do you think you're going?" Jacob's warm breath tickled my ear and I resisted the urge to giggle like an idiot.
"Going to see if Jared and Embry are okay." I stated obviously.
A ghost of a smirk touched his delicious look lips, "Is that so?" He said huskily with an arched eyebrow sounding very delectable.
I resisted the insane urge to grab his face and smash my lips on his and calmly stated, "Yes, what if something happened to them and we didn't even know it?" I demanded.
Jacob hummed thoughtfully while resting his chin on my shoulder mumbling, "We would hear them howl for help? We also have this thing called a mind link, sweetie, did you forget that we're werewolves? We can take care of ourselves." He reminded like he was speaking to a child. I whirled around and scowled at him.
"What if it was a trap by that leech Victoria? What if she got them so fast they didn't even know what hit them?" I asked growing with worry.
Jacob quickly seeing how worked up I was beginning to get, gently caressed my cheek and made me look straight into his beautiful, dark eyes, "Serena," My name rolled off of his tongue so effortlessly I couldn't help but to inhale sharply, "Embry and Jared are fine. They'll come through in a few minutes hooting and hollering without a care in the world, just relax before you give yourself a panic attack." Jacob's voice was masked with a certain tenderness and softness I hadn't heard before but it definitely soothed my worrying heart in an instant.
I felt myself relax and nod our eyes locking with one another. He gave a lazy grin and kissed my forehead. His lips were wonderfully warm and sent sparks to explode in my tiny body. "Where are those two morons at? We're leaving in ten minutes with or without them!" Sam barked from the porch staring intently at the tree line.
"Paul said they came across a strange scent and they went to go check it out." Jacob replied in his normal, deep, and gruff voice.
"A strange scent, you say?" Sam looked interested before having this glazed look in his eyes. He was communicating with them through their mind link. "Seems they ran into Kitsune," Sam said after a few seconds of silence, "Haven't scented one in these parts since the year you were born, Serena." He said looking at me with surprise written all over his face.
"A what?" I furrowed my eyebrows at the strange term he had said.
"Kitsune," Jacob spoke up thoughtfully, "It's the proper name for a fox spirit. They are very sacred to the tribes and especially here in the reservation. It was said that when the first Quileute's that had shifted were taught by a wise and beautiful Kitsune. They both protected the forest until the Kitsune suddenly vanished without a trace and hasn't been seen or hear of since." Jacob explained in a curious and awed tone.
"From time to time we've had a few groups of Kitsune pass by but the last time I've scented one was around the time you were born, Serena, and that was the last time I've ever scented one since." Sam looked thoughtful and if not, a bit concern.
"Are they dangerous to humans?" I wondered with a frown.
I felt Jacob shake his head, "No, Kitsune's would never harm any human unless the human was intending to harm something very dear to the Kitsune. I believe my father told me once that the Kitsune all but vanished after vampires sought them out for their unique abilities and retreated into the panels between here and another world."
The topic really interested me for some reason. I've always liked foxes. Wait; was the white fox I saw last night the one Embry and Jared scented? "I think I saw it last night!" I blurted out without a second thought and inwardly slapped myself for saying it.
I hadn't noticed that Jacob and Sam were standing side by side talking and were now looking at me with a strange expression, "W-What?" I said feeling a bit weird.
"Serena," Sam spoke slowly with an edge to his voice, "No one has ever seen a Kitsune and lived to tell the tale."
I frowned, "If you heard me I said I think I saw one but I'm not sure. Last night, when I was sitting on the beach I felt someone staring at me and when I turned around I saw this fox with fur so white it looked like snow and it was staring right at me with these beautiful, human-like cerulean blue eyes," I saw with a distant tone as I thought about the amazing creature I saw last night and the extreme urge to follow it but I left that part out because they'd probably thought I was insane for even thinking about following a fox into the woods in the middle of the night.
"Anyway, when Jacob ran up to me and called my name…I looked back and it was gone. It didn't even leave marks in the sand." I explained in a soft tone while rubbing the back of my neck nervously.
Sam and Jacob were staring at one another with intense eyes and I knew they were speaking to each other through their mind link. They had to think I was crazy but then again, I had no reason to lie about something like this.
"What do you think this means, Sam?" Paul's lazy voice dragged out as he leaned against the doorframe, "Serena isn't the type to make up something like that just for fun." He added on and despite the lazy look on his face I see that he was being serious.
Sam looked at me as if looking at me would give him the unspoken answers he wanted, "I haven't the slightest idea why but I certainly don't like it. Kitsune's are peaceful and very sacred here but who knows how they are now. Especially since vampires roam what they still consider their territory I frankly don't know." Sam looked uneasy but quickly masked it away before anyone else could see and put on a brave, Alpha front.
"Either way, we shouldn't worry too much about it." He finally decided but I could see the indecision in his face, Jacob's, and Paul's but they let it go.
_break_
"Go, Jacob," I said sighed pushing him towards the direction of the woods, "She needs you."
Jacob was searching for any reason not to go hang out with Bella, "Serena, no, it doesn't feel right leaving you here while I go hang out with Bella, it doesn't feel or is right, in fact I should call her and tell her no. I just imprinted on you yesterday and now, you want me to leave you to hang out with Bella?" Jacob looked bewildered and if not a little suspicious.
I placed my hands on my hips and said fiercely, "She is your best friend or did you forget that last night? She punched Paul in the face because she thought they were hurting you, dude, and besides I cannot imagine how she must be feeling right now. Better yet, why don't you go pick her up and bring her here? So, she isn't alone." I compromised with a giant, beaming smile.
I didn't want Jacob to drop Bella just because he had imprinted on me. Bella was his best friend and although, no one likes to admit it, it was true. I didn't have a problem with it. Bella made it very clear last night that her heart still belonged with Edward Cullen. I had seen the relieved look on her face when she saw Jacob had imprinted on me. She knew the boy had been in love with her until last night and she was more then happy about it. Now, Jacob didn't have to suffer with a broken heart whenever Bella's leech came back.
Jacob seemed unsure what to do and spoke uneasily, "You want her to come here?" He said as if he wasn't sure he had heard the words right.
I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why are acting like this is a trap or something?" I questioned warily.
He frowned, "You're very odd." He stated.
I glared at him, "And why is that, Jacob Black?" I demanded hotly.
He winced and turned his attention onto the sand castle I was making, "I thought you would hate her," Jacob spoke very carefully as if the subject would make me angry but I knew we would be talking about it sooner or later, "I know the guys have told you the story and I know you know that I did have feelings for her and any other girl would despise Bella and to be honest…I thought you would hate me." His voice was tinged with hurt and he winced as he said the last two words.
I winced as well because the mere thought of attempting to hate Jacob wounded my heart more then it should've. It stung my heart and caused my chest to swell painfully.
"Don't ever say that," I turned away from my wonderful and yet awful sand castle to stare fiercely at Jacob, "Don't ever say that I could hate you, Jacob Ephraim Black, because I couldn't. I could never hate anyone much less the man that I'm meant to spend the rest of my life with. So, you would be wise to never say those words ever again." The voice wasn't quite mine and I wasn't sure where it had even come from but it got the message through.
Jacob's face was packed with an array of emotions but he finally settled on one: happiness. He grinned and reached over to pull me into his side and nuzzle his face into my hair, "Yes, ma'am." He murmured into my ear sending shivers to run down my spine, "You look very appealing when you're angry." He whispers a bit seductively.
My previous confidence vanishes and my shy personality comes out. I blushed and look away from his addicting eyes muttering, "You do know that Sam is glaring right at us, right?" I whispered feeling the heat from my brother's glare on us.
He laughs and leans away, "Yeah, I know." He says cheekily.
I peeked through my hair to see him grinning at me and I quickly advert my eyes to my deformed sand castle muttering, "Go to her, Jake, she needs you right now." I spoke very softly as I made a moat around my deformed castle.
Jacob didn't seem convinced that it was worth leaving me to go see his best friend and to be honest, it made me feel bad. The last thing I ever wanted to do was come between two best friends and especially when one of them was overcoming a terrible breakup.
"Why don't I call her and ask if I can bring you along?" Jacob compromised my compromise.
I groaned but didn't look at him, "I really doubt she'll want my company there. She barley met me last night, Jacob." I muttered not in the mood to intrude on Bella's life so soon after she just met me.
But my words fell on deaf ears as Jacob was already calling Bella.
I just chuckled softly and shook my head as I continued working on my moat. "Well, that must be one of the most fucked up sand castles I have ever laid eyes on." Paul said squatting down beside me while Embry and Jared were a few feet away wrestling over the last chicken wing.
I gasped and looked up at Paul with hurt eyes, "Really?" I whimpered staring at my castle with a heart-broken expression.
Jacob was instantly on Paul shoving him away with a furious snarl on his face, "How about I show how fucked up you'll be if you don't stop harassing Serena?" Jacob definitely looked scary and heck, had I been watching from a stranger's prospective I would've turned the other way and ran home.
Jacob's eyes had darkened to brilliant and deadly shade of obsidian and he was clenching and unclenching his hands while Paul shot up with his hands up in surrender. Embry and Jared had stopped wrestling to watch the scene whispering to each other and no doubt making bets on how badly Jacob was going to hurt Paul.
Until they all heard me laughing my ass off. Paul's horrified expression turned into a glare of annoyance while Jacob's fury faded. Sam and Emily were both laughing along with me. "I-I-I am s-s-so sorry but th-th-that was so funny!" I wheezed with laughter while clutching onto my stomach.
"You little witch." Paul muttered grumpily, "I thought I was about to die." He winced.
"You should've seen your face!" I laughed ignoring the tears that were running down my face.
Paul growled ready to pounce but Jacob gave him a daring glare. Paul inched back and muttered profanities' under his breath. "Give it a rest Paul." Sam sniggered while Paul glared at Jacob before sulking back to a laughing Embry and Jared.
Jacob rubbed his face and turned to me, "You really shouldn't do that again, Serena," Jacob sighed shaking his head but I saw the amusement in his eyes, "I was almost ready to pulverize Paul for hurting your feelings." He said.
I giggled, "Sorry," I apologized sheepishly, "I didn't know you were going to murder Paul."
He rolled his eyes, "Bella was more then happy when I asked her if you could tag along, by the way, which means you're coming with me to hang out with Bella." He said with a pleased smile.
"Really?" I said perking up.
Jacob nodded, "Yeah, she said she would've offered you to come but she wasn't sure if you even liked her."
I sighed, "I guess I'll have to tell her that I could never hate anyone let alone someone going through a bad breakup." I got up and went to go wash off the muck on my hands and legs in the cold water but I didn't mind.
"Do you want go back to the house to change?" Jacob asked eying me as I washed my arms and legs.
"Um, well, I could but I am feeling a bit lazy but if I don't go and it will get cold later on I might freeze to death…" I dragged on tapping my chin with a thoughtful look.
Jacob deadpanned, "We're going home to change."
