Chapter 8 : Retraction


That retreat had been a difficult thing to do. Perhaps it had even been one of the most confusing and complicated moments. The look on her face flashed in my mind, torturously.

'No! Now is not the time!'

My teeth ground together as I ran faster. I could hear her calling my name. I couldn't return. Not now. I was putting her in danger just by being near her. I could not be too upset at her for bringing me to LaPush. She had no way of knowing.

She would be safer now. Was this what Edward had done to Bella? Was this why I had encountered her by herself in the meadow? She had lied to me at that time. I knew they had left, but not why.

A scream ripped through my ears and I skidded to a halt.

"Jessica?"

A growl followed the shriek.

"Jessica!!"

Using a tree to push off of, I began back toward where I had left her. It was amazing, really. This whole time I had thought I was running at my fullest speed. This moment, however, I soared nearly twice as fast.

I heard yet another scream, then a louder growl

'No!!'

I ran so fast it felt my lungs were going to explode. I had no need to breath, but I still did, inhaling the oxygen so deeply that it hurt.

I followed her sent, cursing. Why had she run into the woods? I could smell her strongly now. I was almost there.

Not even thinking about what I was doing, I flung my entire body between Jessica and the beast that stood before her.

There, in front of me, was one of my only true fears in life. It was one of the same very beasts that had nearly killed me no so long ago. My knees felt weak, but I reminded myself why I was making this blockade.

"Laurent!"

"Get back!" I held my position in front of her, arms spread. I could feel the growls rumbling in my chest, though I vaguely remembered initiating them.

The gigantic wolf snarled at me. It's body shook a bit, saliva dripping right off it's gums. My scent must have been on Jessica from when I hugged her. She was guilty by association as far as this was concerned. It would be foolish to think they hadn't recognized my smell. My secret was out. Her screaming my name wasn't helping either, I'm sure.

In a flash of fur, the canine dove at me. My arms flew up as a shield, teeth snapping. The pain was nothing compared to what it would be if I were a frail human. I wasn't even certain if i could take one single werewolf, but I had to try...

Yelling obsenities, I struck a blow to the side of the creature with my foot, hard enough to send it tumbling through the brush.

The wolf let out a howl. I saw Jessica cover her ears with another yell of fear. It was calling for the rest of the pack. In less than a minute I would be significantly outnumbered

"We have to go! Quickly!"

At this point I didn't care. I scooped Jessica up into my arms and held her close against my body, then ran as fast I could, using every bit of energy I had and praying to whatever almighty powers looked down on us to give me speed. I felt her trembling against me as the trees flew soundlessly past her us. Those beautiful brown eyes were wide with terror. Another wave of guilt flooded through me and I hurried to reach the end of the forest. It couldn't be that much farther. I could smell the opening ahead.

I read once about a movie director who had done an analysis on accidents; car accidents, mainly. In movies they are always dramatized, happening in slow motion, usually with loud explosions and hundreds of screams, car pieces flying every direction.
In all reality, they were nothing like that. Accidents happened quickly, giving little to no reaction time. Glass will shatter and the sound of metal on metal will be heard, but that is usually all. Fast and leaving any bystander with a gawking mouth.

This was like that. There was no warning, no scream, no reflex time. Something dodged in my path. I slammed into it, filling the forest with the sound of collision, ricocheting back several meters. All this time I held my arms securely around Jessica. I was already on the ground before I was hoping she was alright. I knew the impact could have easily injured her, but my left shoulder had taken most of the full blow.

I laid there on the forest floor, mud and twigs scattered around us, the growling coming from all directions. We were surrounded now, the werewolves circling us, ready to attack...but that was the least of my worries.

"Jessica?"

She shook so hard that my own body was shaking, she was looking up at me with an expression that could only scream of true fear.

"Jessica," I whispered, more softly, stroking her hair. "Are you alright? Please, say something."

Her teeth chattered from her shaking, eyes staring at me. I was half frightened she was about to go into shock.

The snarling continued.

"Shhhhh, calm down. Shh. I'm here." I ran my fingertips over her cheek, leaning over her protectively.

Tears began rolling down her cheeks, but to my relief, her shaking started to calm. I sat up, slowly, and pulled her onto my lap, cradling her body against my chest.

"You're safe," I lied.

Her eyes closed and she grabbed a handful of my shirt, clinging to it. She gasped as she fought back sobs, but she was otherwise still now.

I lifted my head, finally, and looked at the circle of canines around us. They had all gone quiet. One was missing. I glanced around, eventually looking over my right shoulder to see a young man, watching us. He was looking at us with a facial expression that consisted of all confusion, sympathy and anger.

"Kill me, if you must," I stated to him. "But let her go."

"No!" She wrapped her arms around me, taking everyone in the clearing off guard with the outburst.

"Jessica," I murmured, staring at her.

She looked up at me, her face streaked with tears, still.
"No one is going to kill you!"

The man, who I would later learn to be Sam, the alpha of the pack, stepped forward.
"Jessica Stanley...?"

She quickly turned to him, shuddering just slightly.
"Go away..."

"You need to let go of him," he growled quietly.

"I won't!"

"He's a monster!"

"He is not! He's an angel!"

The moment of silence that passed through at the time was priceless. I gazed at her, speechless. Is this what she really believed? And even if she had, how could she say that after everything that was happening right now.

"I am no angel, Jessica..." My voice was so quiet, I wondered if she had heard it

She wasn't done. She turned and gave a glare that could have been worth a thousand daggers toward Sam.
"I don't know what the hell you are, but all of you are the monsters!"

Sam blinked at the insult.
"You think this? We were trying to save your life, Jessica."

"I wasn't in danger!" She was starting to shake again, but it was with hatred this time.

"You were with that leech. Your life is lessened with every minute you spend with him," he scowled.

She shifted in my lap and I started to protest. She shot me a look that hushed me immediately.

"Jessica," Sam continued.

"No," her voice hissed. "You listen to me. We did nothing wrong. Did you here that? Nothing!"

"He was on our land! We don't allow his type around here..."

She walked right up to him. Several of the wolves step forward with a low growl. Two of them had also changed back to their 'human' forms and were watching intently.

"I brought him here." Her eyes narrowed. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but blame me if you have to blame anyone. Excuse me for being a criminal because I brought my tutor here to help me study for a biology test!"

One of Sam's brows raised in confusion. "Your...tutor...?"

"You heard me."

I had to say, at this point I was growing amused.

Sam shook his head, looking at her with faint disgust. "Never, ever bring one of them here again."

A hand rose and cracked across his cheek, the sound lingering. Everyone stared. Sam's eyes were wide with shock. Slowly he reached up and touched his cheek.

Satisfied, she all but strutted back over to me. "Let's go, Laurent."

"Yes, ma'am."

When I was up, she grabbed my hand and started dragging me through the woods. I wondered if she even had any idea if we were going the right direction. Needless to say, I wasn't going to question her right now.

I had never had to try so hard to keep from laughing before. The pack was left behind, amazed and bewildered over what had just happened.

"Can you imagine? Trying to tell someone they aren't allowed to walk on public property. Of all the nerve! And look at my clothes! Oh, they are so going to pay for this..." We were almost to her car now.

"Jessica...?"

"Do they honestly thing that just because they can do that weird hocus pocus crap and change into wolves that they have the freedom to chase people around?!"

Jessica...?"

"And insulting you! You so amazing! What do they know? You saved me back there! How does that even remotely make you the bad guy?!"

"Jessica!"

She stopped and looked at me with a blink.
"What?"

"You..." I oogled at her for a moment. Her hair, already wild and untamed, was all over the place, pieces of leaf and twig caught in it. Smudges of mud ran across her cheeks. And those bright chocolate eyes caught me again. "...are so incredible."

She looked at me for a couple seconds that felt like years, then smiled softly.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that quite yet."

"Why?"

She unlocked the passenger door to the car, then went around to her side, as she was getting into the vehicle and starting it up, she was sill smiling. It was too sweet of a smile. It almost looked like there was a touch of hysteria behind it. "Because, you have a lot of explaining to do."