TRAUM.

chapter eight!


Thanks to: Fireflies-Flying, LadyAmazon, JuSJaZ82, XxMichyBabyxX, Jayn, Washingtongirl1026, and xXxBeyondxBirthdayxXx for reviewing chapter seven! Much love for you all!


And boy, had that been a stupid idea.

Mainly because I tripped. Like an idiot. Like a bumbling idiot, actually.

I could hear the change in Jacob's breathing as he fought laughter for the briefest of moments, before he just let it out, bursting into amused chuckles amidst guffaws.

"I've got to go-oh!" He mocked, then I noticed he was now in front of me. "You're weird."

"Thanks."

"No, I mean... You look weird."

"'Cause I'm white?" I didn't belong here. I could tell that hadn't been what he'd originally intended to say, probably not even think, not at this moment, anyway. "You're right –"

"About what?"

"– So I wish you'd reconsider –"

"Not a chance."

"Why?"

"Haven't we gone through this?" We were getting nowhere, weren't we? I sighed, looking at him.

"What am I doing here, then?"

"You joined the pack." He said, by way of explanation. "You're one of us."

"But I'm not. I know that, you know that, everyone who looks at me will know that. Am I even supposed to be here? This is a Native Reservation, is it not?"

"I can settle any disputes."

"With your impeccable charm?"

"In part."

"Is that right?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" I could almost hear the Since I said it ending. The mind-link only went so far, of course, it wasn't like that... no, the smugness was radiating from his stance and written all over his handsome face.

Wait.

His face was not that handsome. Really, truly.

"'Cause I'm a white girl, Jacob, I do not belong here."

"You're one of us, therefore you are a Protector. Therefore, you belong here." He added.

"A... Protector?" Really? Protector? Really? "That's what you call your little gang of buddies?"

"Yeah." I waited for him to explain further, but got nothing.

"So... is that other, ah, pack... they are Protectors as well?" Irritation lowered his brow. What was his deal? "Do you have some kind of beef with them?" His brows raised in surprise.

"No!" He feigned a cough. "I mean, uh, no. No. We work together." He said earnestly.

"Then why do you get all frowny at the mention of them?"

"I don't –"

"But you do."

"It's got nothing to do with them." I frowned. "Drop it."

It wasn't a Command, but I didn't want to test if he'd make it one. The less Commands I was under the influence of, the better.

"Seriously, what happened there?" While I wanted to play dumb, I knew exactly what he was talking about, and he knew it. "You got this funny look on your face."

"It doesn't –"

"Matter?"

"I was going to say it didn't concern you, actually."

"Details, details." He gave a lazy wave of his arm, half-circling me. I pivoted slightly to keep my back from being to him, the predatory move making me nervous. He probably hadn't even realized that he'd done it. "Tell me."

I'd been about to stall further, though this urge was repressed immediately with one Look. "It's my brother... Sometimes... I dunno. I just really want to find him. Or at least his... body." Damn it, I didn't want to be telling some sob story. I straightened my back, forcing my expression into that of a bored, devil-may-care one. "It's not important."

"You just randomly decide you've got to run and find him? With no leads or direction?"

"No." He looked at me expectantly. "Not really." With a heavy sigh, "Can't we just drop it?"

"If it distracts you from doing your duty –"

"My duty?" Say what?

"– then it is an issue."

"What duty?" I repeated.

"You're a Protector, now." Jacob said, as if that was supposed to carry any weight to me.

"Why would I 'protect' a place I don't hail from, that has no connection to me?"

"Obviously there's a connection if you're here and..." An odd, playful glint came to his dark eyes. "... under my control." I hated the way he said it. And yet, there was this other part of me that – no, actually, I am a united front here. Honest. I hated the way he said it.

"As if." I protested, crossing my arms and taking a step back. He took one step toward me, this time I couldn't tell if he could tell that he had done this. Which made so much sense. "This is serious."

"Is it?" What game is he playing? I sure as hell ain't playing.

"Yes."

"And you've got the authority to say so because...?"

"I'm... half-werewolf?"

"And that gives you so much weight because...?"

"You're not?"

"And this is a bad thing because...?"

"Are you –"

He was a blur as he came at me, so I, naturally, took off, racing away. He had longer legs, being a decent bit taller, he caught up with me easily enough. Before I even realized it, he'd backed me up to a tree, his brow quirked up.

"What the –"

"Chill."

"Wh–"

"You're all..." He made some nonsensical gesture with his hands, as if that was supposed to explain. Sensing that I didn't get what he meant by flailing his arms in the air, he heaved a sigh. "You're all paranoid and shit."

"Paranoid and shit?" I parroted, crossing my arms.

"Yeah," he sounded satisfied with his explanation.

"Paranoid and shit?"

"Yeah," he repeated.

"Paranoid and – eeep!" He was really, really fucking close. Too close. My lungs felt constricted somehow, the air too thick and heavy. My thoughts came to a screeching halt, I couldn't remember anything. Did I have a name?

"Nervous?" His breath was hot on my face; I couldn't move for a moment. Or two. Or three.

He was still, too. This allowed for a moment of clarity, a moment (finally) of some sense. I shoved him away, probably taking him off-guard since he did stumble back a few steps when I knew full well that any strength that I may have had would have done nothing of the sort.

"Back off, dickhead."

"Hey, now –"

I wanted to shif-phase right then and there, to get the hell away. Of course, there were two strong reasons not to: one, these were Leah's clothes and ripping them into shreds would not help Leah-relations; two, if he shif-phased after me it'd just mean everything gets broadcasted around. That wouldn't work.

So, I walked away.

He was laughing. He was laughing at me. Trying to coax my dignity back to the forefront, though that was a struggle given the fact that my dignity was content to hide in some distance corner in my mind, I kept on walking.

He followed. I could feel his smile as though it were a sound, a feeling, a touch.

"Where are you going?"

"Dunno."

"Where are you going?"

"I dunno."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't fucking know."

"Where are –"

"Jacob."

"You've no control over me." His voice was startlingly serious; I shrunk away instinctively. "Seriously, where are you going?" How easily he slipped out of Mister-Alpha and into Immature-Boy. How old was he?

"How old are you?"

"What?"

"How old are you?"

"Uh..." He seemed to be trying to remember. I wondered if it was a common thing among those who stopped aging, for Nata often forgot his age as well. I knew my age, though, I'd never forget it. I hoped I'd never forget it. "22? Technically, anyway."

"You're too young for me," I teased absently.

"What? How old are you?"

"Not as old as you're thinking." I wasn't irritated with him, I realized. It was a strange feeling, just as sudden as his strange behavior.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"We're not phased, how would you know?"

"I'm 23."

"So you are old."

"Not by much."

"Hmm?" I realized my mistake.

"Nothing, dude."

"Dude?"

"I'm a chick, thanks."

"... I noticed." Again, I could feel his cocky grin, no, this time I actually could hear it.

I whirled around and punched him square in the chest.

"Hey, girl, punching the alpha probably isn't the best way to get on our good side!" I spun around, crouching, poised to shif-phase only to see Quil all-but skipping toward us. "At the same time... it just might be!"

"Right." I could hear Jacob's frown this time around. "What is it?"

"It's Embry –"

"What happened?" Jacob was standing directly in front of Quil now, tense and looking just as ready to phase as I'd been moments before. I hung back a few paces, unsure of the odd, uneasy feeling that spread through my nerves. "WHAT HAPPENED?" Quil grinned, though Jacob's glare wiped that grin right off his cocky face.

"Ain't nothing like that –"

"Shit, Quil!"

"– he imprinted!"

Silence, from Jacob.

Confusion, from me.

"On who?"

"Imprinted?" I was ignored. Figures.

"I dunno. All I know is that he imprinted, but here's the kicker –"

"What?"

"– she's a... Oh, man, why do I have to do this?"

"What?"

"Shit, er, um she's a half-vamp!"

Half...?

"Like –" Jacob broke off, doing a frustrated spin on his heel. "Like..."

"Nessie?" Quil supplied, "Yeah!"

I stayed silent, knowing by now it'd be useless to say anything or, rather, ask anything.

"Do you know who she is?"

"Nah. All I know is that she tried to kill him –"

Both Jacob's and my inner hackles were bristling, that much I can tell from Jacob's stance and the way I almost phased.

"– but he's okay! He's so whipped!"

"Yeah, that's kinda what happens, you should know." Quil giggled.

I kid you not.

"Where is he?"

"Following her heels like a puppy, dodging her attacks! Love at first sight," he burst into guffaws, "oh-oh, man!"

Jacob took off into the forest, Quil at his heels. I contemplated following for a moment, before deciding that this whole "imprinting" thing didn't concern me.

God damn...

I was kinda lonely.


Rat - at - tat. I felt incredibly nervous, knocking on the door. I almost leaned against the wall by it but thought better of it. She probably wouldn't appreciate me getting too comforta–

"What do you want? I can smell you a mile away."

"Likewise." I called back to Leah, through the door.

"I'm not going to repeat myself." Saying that wasn't much different than doing so, but I held my tongue.

"I..." Why was I here? "I'm... uh..."

"Spit it out."

"I'm... bored?" Wrong thing to say!

"I'm not here to entertain you, bitch."

"I know! I... just... uh..." Maybe I could be useful instead. "Did'ya hear about Embry?"

"I'm not your gossip buddy."

"I know that. I don't expect that."

There was a long pause. I had decided she wasn't going to respond and was going to find a place in the forest to snooze for the night when the door opened, revealing an irate Leah.

"What?"

"Embry... uh... imprinted...?" Whatever that means. Her brow raised.

"One, why the fuck do I care? Two, do you even know what an imprint is?"

"Sorry and no, I don't."

"It's the stupidest, cheapest trick that fate pulls." I didn't say anything, startled. "It's just another way to fuck you over."

"So why did he imprint?"

A mirthless smile spread across her face. She wasn't bad looking at all, happy smile or not. I was instantly envious, though I tamped the green eyed monster down.

"It's not something you choose. God, it's not something you choose." She wasn't talking to me, she might not have been talking to anyone at all. A vacant look dulled her dark brown eyes as she stared off into space for a moment. I shifted my weight from foot to foot uncomfortably. "Lemme guess, you got left in the dust?"

"Pretty much." I felt quite pathetic.

"You're gonna have to learn to get over that."

"To be honest... I think I need to learn a lot of things about this, uh, pack business."

"Yeah, you do." Her words and face were cold, but she didn't look like she was gonna tear my throat out, so I didn't get too worried. "Need a place to crash?" Was she offering? "You can sleep on the porch." She shut the door.

Well then.

It might be a good idea to get used to civilization again, I decided. A porch was a step closer to four walls and a roof from the open forest, was it not?

I let myself lean against the wall by the door, then slid down to sit.

If Leah got ticked about me sleeping on her porch... well... she offered. That ridiculous thought sent me off to dream-land; I hadn't realized how tired I was until...


author's shameless include:

I know, I'm terrible, I get the most reviews for one chapter that I've ever gotten and I don't update for so many days! T_T I'm sorry! I moved 500 miles away, started working a new job, and I've been 100% distracted lately... if any of those (or those together) are a suitable excuse for not updating. I really do apologize! You guys are amazing, I hope I haven't lost you guys D:

Kinda short, kinda filler, but I'm laying out building blocks for later.

My rationale for their almost ooh-la-la moment: she's hot, he's hot, mutual attraction... yes, yes?
There is nothing deep here, don't get me wrong, not yet, anyway. It's just that not everyone is as chaste as Edward and Bella. Vamps might be cold and frigid, but I like to think the wolves are hot and passionate~

no reviews = no more chapters!

so r&r, if you'd please (: what can I say? I'm a review whore.

pointing out errors/inconsistencies would be super beneficial for me! I'm only human, I might slip up quite a bit. I am trying to be somewhat compliant with the series, but I will take occasional liberties. still, if there is something totally wrong (like if I said that alice had long orange-red hair, haha) don't be afraid to let me know. if you also think someone is totally OOC, I'd love tips on how to make them more in-line with what they probably are. :]

xoxo lovesremnant