"He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."
- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Hights
Epilogue: Only the Beginning
I adjusted my graduation cap into place atop the soft curls Renee had painstakingly styled as I listened to Jessica gush about colleges and first apartments. Having decided to take a gap year before leaving for school, I didn't really have a lot to add to the conversation. My senior year hadn't exactly been a banner one, and I'd fallen woefully behind in making my college plans.
In the end, I'd decided to live with Charlie for another year, work, and save as much money as I could. Charlie had asked around and found me a job assisting in the administrative offices at the high school, and I would still work at Newton's on the weekends.
Jacob was ecstatic that I wouldn't be leaving just yet. He was working around the clock catching up on his studies and trying to get ahead, just in case, he said. The school was more than willing to work with the pack brothers, and had even said he could graduate early if he went to summer school and took on some self-guided studies.
I'd never seen Jacob so enthusiastic about his school work before and couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with wanting to be free to go away to college with me. I certainly hoped so.
Speaking of Jacob, things in that department had been better than good since Victoria's defeat. He had recovered from his injuries in only a few days, to my tremendous relief, and was back to his old sunshiny self. We'd spent every possible waking moment together. And most of the sleeping ones too, if I'm being honest.
I left my window open every night when I went to bed, and every night he came, even if just to kiss me goodnight if he was on patrol.
Despite my happiness, nightmares continued to plague my nighttime hours. Only this time, they were more like memories of a very real, waking nightmare that I was forced to relive whenever I closed my eyes. I would wake up screaming Jacob's name, and he was always there, holding me close and reassuring me that he was there, that he would never leave me.
To reassure myself that he was there, perfect and whole, I would often start lavishing his neck with kisses, tracing my tongue gently over the faint pucker of a scar that never fully healed. This would inevitably lead to him pulling me impossibly closer in the darkness, his hands finding my bare skin beneath my pajamas, driving the last vestiges of the nightmare away with the searing heat of his touch.
I could feel a warm blush creep up my chest all the way to my hairline at the memory, and I tugged at the neck of my graduation gown in an attempt to fan myself. With every kiss and every caress, I felt closer and closer to combusting.
I thought about the pack of little white pills tucked inside my purse and the lacy black panties hidden under the wrap dress Renee had picked out and blushed further. I was ready, emotionally and practically, to take things to the next level with Jacob. I could only pray that, when the moment came, I wouldn't lose my nerve.
My turn to walk across the stage and leave high school behind me for good had arrived. As if pulled by magnets, my eyes immediately found Jacob in the crowd, standing with Renee and Charlie, an infectious, cheesy grin on his face as he cheered me on.
As soon as I was free, I rushed straight into his waiting arms.
"Congratulations, beautiful," he gushed as he spun me around a couple times.
I couldn't help but laugh at his exuberance. Jacob brought pure, brilliant light everywhere he went, illuminating even the darkest corners of my life. I couldn't remember ever smiling as much as I had in the past couple months since his recovery. I'd never felt more alive or more free.
Afterwards, we all went to dinner at Forks' only real restaurant. I sat between Jacob and Charlie with Renee and Billy across from us. Jacob's warm hand rested on my knee throughout dinner, only moving when he needed both hands to cut his steak.
My mom adored Jacob already and made no secret of her approval. In fact, the prettier than normal underwear I was sporting had been her gift as well, though I had picked them out. They were just frilly enough to be special without being overly showy or ostentatious. They felt like me at my sexiest, and I was counting on that fact to give me the courage to follow through with my plans for the night.
Just before we left the restaurant, Jacob pulled a tiny wrapped box out of his pocket, placing it on the table in front of me.
"Your graduation present," he announced, gesturing for me to open it.
"Jake," I whined a little, still no more comfortable with gifts than I'd ever been. "I told you I didn't want you to buy me anything."
"I didn't," he answered proudly, pushing the little box closer to me. "It's something I made. Well, mostly."
A homemade gift was right up my alley. Jacob knew me so well.
I tore eagerly at the wrapping, gasping in awe as a tiny carving of a wolf attached to a silver charm bracelet dropped into my palm.
"Oh, Jake, its…You made this?"
"Dad taught me how," he answered with a nod in Billy's direction. "You like it?"
"Like it? I love it, Jake! I'll always wear it." I reached for the clasp, but Jacob's hands were quicker, taking it gently from me and fastening it on my wrist, where it would stay for years and years.
"I'll add to it, too, until it's full." He adjusted the chain so that the little wolf was perched on top of my wrist, his fingers lingering on my skin just a second longer than necessary.
I proudly showed his handiwork to Renee, though she was the only one at the table who couldn't understand the significance of the wolf. To my surprise, Charlie looked like he was in danger of tearing up for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. His gratitude after learning what Jacob had done to protect me was the only thing, besides any mention of my mom leaving Forks, that brought out Charlie's emotional side.
Jared, Paul, and Leah had also graduated today, so the pack was throwing a party on the beach to celebrate. Jacob had insisted we at least make an appearance, and I had, uncharacteristically, agreed without resisting. It was the perfect excuse to stay out later than usual without my dad suspecting anything.
I rode with Jacob and Billy back to La Push, where we dropped Billy off at home before heading down to First Beach. My heart immediately did a little tab dance inside my chest when I got my first good view of the party. I had expected only the pack, Emily, and Kim, but it looked like the entire student body of La Push high school was there. There were two massive bonfires glowing in the light from the full moon and several kegs set up around them. Worst of all, music boomed from the open door of a vehicle, and most of the partygoers were happily swaying to it between long pulls from their red Solo cups.
Jacob noticed my hesitation and was quick to reassure me.
"I know this isn't exactly your scene. We'll just stay for few minutes then jet."
"Sounds good to me," I responded, comforted by the warmth of Jacob's hand as it wrapped around mine.
I ended up being surprised by how comfortable I felt partying with the La Push crowd. It was like I belonged here in a way I had never experienced before, and I was able to let my guard down and actually enjoy myself. All of the pack members were warm and welcoming, even Leah, who was in an uncharacteristically friendly mood. Jacob raised his eyebrows when I accepted a red Solo cup from Quil, who cheered me on when I down the contents in one long pull. I'd never been much of a drinker, but the little boost of liquid courage turned out to be just what I needed to actually want to do something even more out of character for me: dancing.
Jacob looked shocked when I tugged on his hand, leading him to the edge of the cluster of gyrating bodies.
"Bells, what's gotten into you tonight?" he asked as I stepped close to him, leaning up on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. "Not that I'm complaining."
I shrugged, smiling up at him as the warmth of his body soaked through my coat, making the butterflies in my stomach flutter even faster. "Just…riding the graduation high, I guess."
Jacob only smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist, stooping low to press his forehead against mine. Our feet barely moved in the rocky sand as we swayed together, too slowly for the type of music that was playing. My fingers found their way into his soft hair, lightly massaging his scalp as his dark eyes searched mine intently.
The song ended, and a slow song came on. Jacob pulled me closer then, tucking my head under his chin as I nestled against him. I could feel his heart beating under my cheek, his warm breath against my hair.
Love and contentment like I had never felt before washed over me as I held him even closer, my eyes threatening to fill as I thought about how close I'd come to missing this. To missing him.
In a sudden moment of clarity, I understood the reason why the universe would bring someone like Edward into my life, only to cruelly rip him away. For the first time since the Cullens left, I was grateful. I wouldn't trade the pain and heartache I had gone through for anything, because without it, I couldn't appreciate the happiness I now had with Jacob half as much. If Edward had never come into my life, I would have loved Jacob, yes, but a part of me would have taken his love for granted.
Losing Edward had taught me to let go, to know that I could survive the unsurvivable, and to give love without limits, without fear. Edward had introduced me the supernatural world, so that I could not only accept but love what Jacob was. I understood what a blessing it was that I could stand beside Jacob and feel like I belonged there, exactly as I was, because I had never had that with Edward.
I'd survived Edward's crushing betrayal and was a stronger person for it. I loved the person — the woman — that dark time had made me, and I wouldn't trade her for anything. Not even immortality.
I tilted my head back so that I could see Jacob's face, his smooth, tan skin glowing in the flickering light of the bonfire. Every inch of my body was pressed against his, and I could feel the muscles moving beneath his clothes as we swayed together. He was looking down at me in the most adoring way. I took a deep breath, letting his comforting scent and the heat of his gaze make me bold.
"I want to go somewhere," I whispered. My voice sounded rough, needy.
"Anywhere you want." His hands slipped down my hips just slightly, making my head spin as wave after delicious wave of desire pulsed through me.
"Let's go back to that place you showed me…with the waterfall."
He nodded, looking suddenly as eager as I was. "Okay."
I sighed at the loss of warmth as his arms released me just long enough to lace his fingers with mine. Jacob look around quickly before leading me in the direction of the forest. We slipped, unnoticed, into the dense cover of the trees.
Despite the fullness of the moon, my human eyes were nearly useless in the dark forest. Jacob immediately scooped me up, carrying me bridal style until the sounds of the party faded into the distance.
When he placed me on my feet again, his expression was apprehensive.
"Honey, I want to show you something," he began, taking both my hands in his, "but I don't want to scare you."
"I could never be scared of you," I reassured him, though his words did cause a little knot of apprehension to coil in my belly. "What is it?"
"Remember when Victoria was in your room? How I…transformed?"
How could I ever forget? I nodded, and he continued.
"I've been trying, ever since, to figure out how to do that again, and I've finally got it," he explained. "I've been trying to teach the other guys. Sam's the only one, so far, who had enough control to stop the transformation half way like that."
My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. "Sam can do that too now?"
Jacob nodded.
"And you can do…that…anytime you want?"
"Yeah," he answered, smiling enthusiastically. "It's great, Bells. I can run just as fast as I can in wolf form without having to fully change."
He took several steps back, dropping my hands, and started opening the buttons on his shirt before sliding it off.
"I look pretty hideous in that form, though, so don't be scared."
I opened my mouth to respond, but Jacob had already started the transformation.
His eyes were closed tightly, his forehead wrinkled in deep concentration. After a moment, the tremors started, first in his hands, then spreading up his arms and over his entire body.
I watched, transfixed, as a deep growl rumbled up from his vibrating chest and the already defined muscles of his torso swelled just a little bigger. He seemed to grow taller in front of my eyes. Suddenly, he hunched forward, roaring in pain as his mouth dropped open, the gleaming canine fangs in so vividly remembered closing over Victoria's marble white neck descending.
After an eternity that could only have been a few seconds, he straightened again. The eyes that met mine were bright, glowing yellow.
Jacob didn't approach, but waited for me to come to him, his face still apprehensive, afraid this would finally be too much for me. But fear was the furthest thing from my mind, in that moment.
I took a step in his direction, and an unseen tree root nearly sent me plummeting to the dark forest floor. In a blindingly fast movement, Jacob's strong hands caught me, steadying me on my feet.
I looked up into his fiery eyes, and my breath caught in my throat. Carefully, I raised my hand to his face, brushing lightly over the skin of his jaw before tracing the pad of my thumb down the length of one gleaming canine.
His blissful sigh gave me courage. I pushed up on my toes, nearly climbing up his tall body to reach his lips.
Jacob gasped at my sudden movement, but didn't push me away. I could feel the careful control behind his touch as he held me against him, aware of his increased strength in this form. His kiss started out tentative, but quickly escalated in passion as I slipped my tongue between his lips to trace the same path my finger had taken over his elongated fangs.
"You're not hideous at all," I breathed against his lips as we parted, cupping his face between my hands. "Dare I say you're sort of…beautiful?"
A throaty laugh escaped him as I repeated my words from all those months ago, and he rolled his golden eyes.
He reached for me, and a split second later I was on his back, my arms and legs wrapped tightly around him. I buried my face in his neck as we flew through the dark forest, my eyes squeezed tightly shut as I focused on the warmth of his skin and his even inhales and exhales to keep me from panicking.
In less than a minute, I felt the air grow still around us. We were there.
The falls were even more breathtaking in the moonlight. I stood in awe as Jacob carefully placed me on my feet before shifting back to normal. His arms wound around me from behind, and I leaned into them, feeling the dual sensations of the chilly mountain air on my front and the heat of his body against my back.
Drawing in a deep breath, I turned in his arms until we were facing each other and stepped out of my ballet flats, letting my toes sink into the cushiony moss.
"Will you keep me warm?" I asked, my voice trembling with a combination of nerves and excitement.
"Always," was his confident reply.
Steeling my resolve, I moved my trembling fingers over the buttons of my coat, opening them one by one before letting it fall to the moss-covered ground behind me. The cold air immediately chilled me through my thin dress, but Jacob took a step closer, resting his warm hands on my shoulders.
"Bells…" he breathed as I tugged the tie at the side of my waist and let my wrap dress fall open, my pale skin glowing in the moonlight.
I shrugged my shoulders, and Jacob immediately moved to help me slide the silky material off, where it drifted, unheeded, to the ground.
"God, Bella," he whispered almost reverently, letting his eyes dance over my exposed skin for only a moment before pulling me to him, pressing every inch of me against his body so I wouldn't feel the cold. "You're so, so beautiful."
For a long moment, we just stood there, taking in the incredible feeling of skin pressing against heated skin for the first time. Our hands weren't idle, though. His slipped reverently over my back, venturing down over my hips and the swell of my backside, cupping me gently over the smooth lace of my panties. I mirrored his movements, and he groaned against my hair, his hands becoming bolder as they found their way beneath the lace.
I pulled back just enough to reach Jacob's lips with mine. We kissed slowly, languidly, every movement a promise of what was to come.
I felt him tremble in my arms, and the feeling made me bold. I felt powerful and desirable in a way that I'd never imagined I could.
My hands slid down over his smooth chest, tracing over the firmness of his stomach before reaching the button of his jeans.
"You sure, Bells?" he asked breathlessly, his chest rising and falling faster now than it had before.
"I'm sure. I…I mean…are you?" I stuttered, wondering where confident Bella had suddenly run off to.
Jacob's answer was immediate, coming almost before the words had fully left my mouth.
"I'm sure," he said confidently, leaning down to capture my lips again.
As we kissed, I carefully worked the opening of his jeans, slipping the button open before slowly sliding the zipper down.
Jacob continued to kiss me as he stepped out of his shoes and kicked them aside along with his jeans. I stepped closer to him, and we both gasped simultaneously as the heat of his erection pressed against my stomach.
Fire blazed through my veins as I tugged at his shoulders, his hair, anything to pull him even closer. Our kisses deepened, becoming fast and needy where they had been slow and reverent.
My back ached a little from being so deeply bowed against him, but I couldn't care. All I could focus on was the smoothness of his heated skin against mine and the taste of him on my tongue. I squeezed my thighs together as the ache there became nearly unbearable, every nerve ending in my body crying out for his touch.
Confident fingers found the clasp of my bra and flicked it open. A fleeting chill tickled my skin as Jacob put only enough distance between us to slide the straps down my arms and off.
A warm blush crept all the way from my hairline down to my newly exposed chest. I watched his face for any sign of disappointment but found only awe.
"So perfect," he whispered softly, wrapping one arm loosely around my waist as the other hand traced a torturously slow path up my side, sliding over my ribcage, until it finally reached the aching flesh no one but myself had ever touched before.
I'd never expected it to feel so good, him touching me there. It was blissful and torturous at the same time, soothing one ache while causing another to climb even higher. He gently rolled the sensitive tip between his thumb and forefinger, and I couldn't stop myself from whimpering needfully.
"Jake, please…"
With a groan, he wrapped both arms around me fully, pulling me flush against him before lowing me onto my discarded coat.
The heat was everywhere as he hovered over me, supporting most of his weight on one arm while he kissed me with a passion that left me breathless. His free hand traced an achingly slow path over my chest and belly, down over my lacy panties, then up again, teasing the parts of me that craved his touch most with fleeting, feathery touches.
When his lips moved down my neck and over my chest, I started to gasp his name in a breathy voice that I hardly recognized as my own. His warm mouth closed over one hardened tip, and my eyes fluttered closed at the heavenly feeling. I threaded my hands into his soft hair, holding him to me as our legs tangled together on the mossy ground.
Too soon, he raised his head again, his eye searching for mine. What I saw in his dark gaze made my heart skip a beat.
"Jake?" I gasped, feeling suddenly impatient and wondering why he'd stopped.
"Keep looking at me, baby," he whispered, his voice a sensual rasp. "I want to see your face when I touch you for the first time."
I could only whimper in response, my breath coming in shallow gasps as he gently nudged my legs apart with his knee. The hand that was resting on my belly trailed slowly down, down, teasing the edge of the lace. His chest heaved as he drew in a deep breath before continuing, brushing his fingers lightly over a spot that sent a jolt of pure pleasure rushing through me.
"Oh!" I gasped out, fighting to keep my eyes on his like he'd asked. I needed him to know how good, how incredible, it felt. Surely I would die if he didn't keep touching me like that.
"Feels… good," was the most coherent response I seemed capable of at the moment. His fingers brushed over me again, tentative, watching my face intently for my response.
My head lolled back as I gasped at the torturously intimate sensation, and I arched my back, reaching out blindly with my hands until they found the solidness of his shoulders.
Feeling an almost desperate need to see the passion in his eyes again, I forced mine open, lifting my head to meet his gaze. He was trembling. Not like he did when he was about to phase, but like any teenage boy touching his girlfriend intimately for the first time. His eyes mirrored back the same overwhelming mix of excitement and nerves that I was feeling, and I felt my courage surge again as I looked into them.
Careful to keep my lower body still so he could continue his gentle exploration, I pushed up on one elbow, wrapping my free arm around his neck as I kissed him with all the passion and love I felt in that moment. His fingers slipped a little lower as he pressed me into the fabric of my coat, his tongue slipping past my lips as he carefully found my entrance.
Of their own accord, my hips pushed up against his hand, giving him permission to explore further, demanding it. I felt like I would explode if he stopped now.
One long, burning finger slid into me, and I felt my face grow hot as I realized just how soaked I was. I knew he could feel it too, my body's most intimate response to his touch. A deep, low moan vibrated against my chest where it was pressed against his, and I let my hands slip down the slick skin of his back, teasing over his hips and down his muscled thigh.
His whimpers grew louder the closer my fingers came to their destination, the pace of his finger sliding in and out of me steadily increasing, causing the most delicious pressure to coil deep inside.
"God, baby, please touch me," he plead, breaking our kiss just long enough to gasp out the words. "I mean…if you want to. You don't have…"
"I want to," I interrupted him, searching for his lips again.
His helpless sigh of anticipation warmed my mouth as my fingers drifted closer, closer, finally brushing over the hottest, softest skin on his body. His hips bucked against my hand, and I ventured another gentle stroke along the length of him, curious, but completely unsure of what I was doing.
"Tell me if I'm doing it wrong, okay?" I whispered timidly, letting my fingers wrap carefully around him.
"Not possible," was his instant reply.
Mustering my confidence, I stroked him lightly, incrementally increasing the pressure as his responses told me he was enjoying my touch. I pressed my forehead against his neck, trying to be stealthy as I stole a glance down between our bodies. He was bigger than I had imagined in my naiveté, and so much more beautiful.
My rhythm faltered as he slowly slid a second finger into my core. The slight stretching sensation was foreign, but also incredibly satisfying. Watching my face intently for any sign of pain, he ventured deeper, curling his fingers until he hit a spot that made me see stars.
"Oh, god!" I cried, catching a fleeting glimpse of his self-satisfied smirk before his lips were on mine again.
The heat coiling where his fingers continuously brushed the sensitive place inside me climbed higher still. I writhed beneath him, my body searching for something I couldn't put into words. It was almost like I might…
Oh.
He shifted the position of his hand a little, and his thumb brushed the spot I knew from my own tentative explorations would send me over the edge. The heat climbed higher again, higher.
"Jake!" I cried suddenly, losing my grip on his length as ecstasy flooded my body. Every ounce of my attention was focused on where his fingers still stroked inside me. Nothing else in the world existed in this moment. I didn't care if I screamed loud enough for the world to hear. No release I'd ever given myself had ever felt so incredible, so satisfying.
I lay like a boned fish on the ground as ecstasy faded into perfect, blissful contentment. I hadn't expected that to happen, not on our first try. But my body had been crying out for it for so long, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised.
"Wow," I heard Jacob breathe next to me, his warm fingers leaving a damp trail along my inner thigh as he stroked me there, letting me slowly calm. "Did you…?"
I nodded my head, smiling up at him as I began to feel desire stirring inside me again. My fingers hooked under the final scrap of material that separated us, and he quickly covered them with his own, guiding the lace down my legs before tossing it aside.
Jacob captured both my hands in his, pinning them to the damp moss over my head as he nudged my thighs apart with his knees, positioning himself between them. Little aftershocks of pleasure rocked me as the smooth heat of him brushed against my center.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice a tremulous whisper.
Unable to find my own voice, I nodded in response, and Jacob released one of my hands, using his free one to hitch my leg over his hip.
I trembled as his hand disappeared into the small space between our bodies, positioning himself at my slick entrance.
"Let me know if I'm hurting you," he managed to gasp out, and I nodded, though I wasn't afraid of any pain that might come. I needed this, needed him.
I used my free hand to grasp the nape of his neck, pulling him down for a deep, thorough kiss.
"I love you." My voice was clear and strong as I breathed the words. I wrapped my legs more firmly around him, pulling him closer. I was beyond ready.
"I love you, Bella," he replied, kissing me lightly once more before pushing forward, sinking slowly into me.
We both gasped at the new sensation of being intimately joined like this, and, even though there was a little pain, it was nothing compared to the perfect wholeness I felt.
The back of my trapped hand pressed deep into the spongy moss as he continued filling me until our hips were flush against each other. My sigh and his groan mingled with the roaring of the waterfall. The air around us was growing colder by the second, but I didn't feel the cold. I was on fire.
I bucked my hips up against his, the friction of even a slight movement sending little tingles of pleasure zinging along every nerve in my body.
"God, Bella, you feel so good. So good," Jacob breathed against my hair as he finally released my hand, freeing it to find the slick skin of his shoulder, where I held on to him as if my life depended on it.
"You feel amazing," I gasped, meeting his every movement with one of my own as we found a rhythm that felt right.
My face was level with Jacob's chiseled chest, so I kissed him there, tasting the salty sweat on his skin and inhaling his woodsy scent. Nothing existed in my world right now besides Jacob. Besides this. It was all-consuming.
"Bells, I'm close," he whispered against my hair, his movements losing a little of their grace as his body trembled in my arms.
My only response was to hold him tighter with my arms and legs, arching against him as the sweetest, most blissful cry I'd ever heard tore from his lips. I felt the warmth of him flood into me. It was so shockingly intimate, I couldn't imagine ever sharing this with anyone but Jacob.
I stroked my hands up and down his back as he panted above me, obviously struggling to hold himself up. After several seconds, he carefully rolled us over. I nestled against his heaving chest and tangled my legs with his as he draped my coat over my bare back.
"That was…"I breathed against his now even more heated skin, at a loss for words.
"Amazing," he finished for me, raising his head just long enough to kiss the top of mine.
"Yeah," I agreed, smiling against him. "I can't imagine that life gets any better than that."
Jacob's hand found it's way under my chin, tilting my face up to his.
"But it will," he spoke confidently, stroking my sweaty cheek with the backs of his fingers. "This is only the beginning for us."
"The beginning," I echoed, loving the sound of that. Each day we were together would be better than the last. I knew it deep inside with absolute confidence. I had fallen in love with my best friend, and we had found our way, against all odds, to this incredible moment. Life was such a beautiful thing, it seemed ludicrous to me that I had ever wanted to give it up.
We lay entwined together for several blissful moments before little white flurries started to dance in the icy air around us.
"Is that snow?" I asked, astonished. It was only June.
"We'd better get you home," Jacob said with obvious regret.
I didn't want to move, but he was right. Even pressed against the heat of his body as I was, I was starting to feel the chill of the unseasonably cold night as the sweat started to cool on my skin.
Jacob stayed close as I quickly dressed, and, all too soon, we were flying through the dark forest towards my house.
I entered through the front door so Charlie would know I was home, suspecting Jacob would already be waiting for me in my room.
We curled up together under the warmth of my quilt and watched the snow fall faster and faster outside my window, stripping off layers of clothing until we were, once again, skin to skin.
With a blissful sigh, Jacob rolled onto his back, pulling me on top of him as he angled his head to reach my lips.
I sat up briefly to tuck my hair behind my ear, and I suddenly thought I caught a slight movement outside the window from the corner of my eye.
"What is it?" Jacob asked, pushing up on his elbows as he followed my gaze to the snowy landscape on the other side of the glass.
I peered out into the darkness, but all I could make out were more snow flurries blowing like little white tornadoes in the howling wind.
"It's nothing," I concluded, returning my attention, once again, to Jacob's lips.
A/N: Sorry, Eddie. You're too late. *author laughs maniacally*
Well, there you have it, folks. That's the "official" end of the story, though I do have at least one more mostly-finished epilogue up my sleeve, possibly more. When I do have more snippets from this universe to share, I'll post them here instead of as individual one-shots. That way, you'll be notified.
What did you guys think about this ending? I would love your thoughts! MAJOR thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing this story. It's been such a fun journey thanks to you guys! 3
