TRAUM.

chapter eleven!


Thank you LadyAmazon, XxMichyBabyxX, Jayn, ReaderWorm101, and Smileysam for reviewing the last chapter. I apologize for the fact that I could not get you this sooner.


We can rest here for the night.

Rest? I would have expected him to be eager to get home. His home, not mine.

You're part of the pack... He didn't finish that trail of thought, but he gave me a beseeching look nonetheless. And why not? I'm tired.

Lazy, I teased, feeling bold as I looked at him from over my shoulder. I could still run. The darkening sky felt more like a dawn than a real dawn did, for me.

A real werewolf... He mused, flopping down on his belly with all the grace of a tank. I resent that! What's with you and vehicles?

They take me places. Although I really, really would prefer to keep going, I force myself to sit down after turning to face him again. And some of them are pretty.

You're such a girl.

I... don't resent that, actually. I aim for some kind of wolf-grin by opening my mouth and letting my tongue loll out a bit.

You look silly. I snap my mouth shut, letting the click of my teeth be my oh-so-eloquent response. He's apologetic as he stands up again, seeming to have forgotten his supposed tiredness. I like silly.

Do you now? I regard him coolly as he takes a step toward me, then another, and another.

I always have had a tendency toward silliness.

Have you now? As if I'm some puppy dog, I can feel my tail swaying behind me, broadcasting my amusement (even if the whole shared-mind thing already took care of the projecting part).

I bet I could look sillier than you any day of the week.

Could you now?

When he bows down, points his ears out sideways, curls his lip and sticks out his tongue and crosses his eyes and – I can't even take in all of the details because I burst into shocked laughter. Wolves were supposed to be graceful and regal and grandiose! He looked like some kind of mutated coyote-moose-bear-thing!

Dropping the goofy face with ease, Jacob stands straight again, watching me with laughing eyes. Mutated coyote-moose-bear-thing? Was that supposed to make any sense at all?

Was your face supposed to make any sense at all? He gives a halfhearted growl of disapproval, a low, rumbling sound, at my weak comeback.

Belatedly, I notice how close he is. It makes me uneasy: I would not be able to defend myself effectively at such close range; it'd take too many precious seconds to even try and gain any distance on him to–

Oh my GOD, Naomi! The sheer vehemence in his tone and the whole "OMG" part makes me wonder if he's the girl. What? You think I'm just going to randomly bite your nose off? Really? The growl that accompanies these thoughts is so much fuller and deeper than the playful one he gave only moments ago that my hackles bristle. Tell me, when have I ever made like I was going to hurt you? You're part of the pack. You and your whole "instinct" and weird... he tries to find a suitable word, weird thoughts... You should get that.

I haven't survived this long blindly trusting everyone I meet! I retort, backing up a step. He doesn't give any space, though, for he only advances another in swift reply. And I'm not... I'm not trying to undermine any... I'm not trying to insult–

Well, thinking that I'm going to attack you, of all things, is insulting, Naomi. This complete 180 on tone that the last two-point-eight seconds is leaving me breathless. I'm sorry. How quickly, and genuinely, he can say that surprises me more. He whirls around and starts stalking off, leaving me blinking stupidly for a second.

Wait! I sprint forward, catching up with a few fluid strides. I'm sorry. Really. I nudge his shoulder with my forehead, as Nata sometimes did when I got short with him. It feels awkward after, though, as if the gesture was too friendly. Trying to shrug it off, I leap forward to cover two strides and block Jacob's path. I don't... it's not that I really think you're going to... but... I'm paranoid, okay? I can't help it, dammit!

Well try. I'm not your enemy.

No, I agree. The emphatic response with zero hesitation seems to give Jacob pause. And I'm not your enemy, either. Nata wouldn't be, either. The thought comes out of nowhere, but it makes my heart sink.

We'll help you. We can–

No. I cut him off. No. Don't go making any promises. I don't expect anything of you, I don't. But... But I need to... I need to try. He's my brother. Please. I think of turning-tail, of trying to find those vampires and going in, guns blazing, to rescue–

No fucking way. He shakes his head, but keeps his eyes locked on mine. Not alone. We'll help get your brother.

I don't even know that he's alive.

Then we find out. But not now, not tonight. Not with just us two. I can even go to Sam. I'm struck by the fact that he's completely serious.

Jacob... I shake my head helplessly. This doesn't involve you.

It involves you, he counters, you're a part of my pack, so yes, it does involve me. And Leah. And Embry, and Quil, and Seth.

It is too selfish of me to–

to not give us a chance to help. His gaze is suddenly too intense and I have to look away. Blinking, I realize he feels guilty for using too much of the control that came with being alpha.

Even if it's not even totally related: there is nothing shameful. Only in the fact that I resisted for so long.

You have free will, Naomi. We all do. And I want to help you, and I know the others will, too. I don't believe that, not fully, but I don't want to argue anymore.

A twig snaps.

Both of us jump to our guard, instantly tensing and bracing for anything. He spins around, turning his back to me. I pivot slightly so that my back is to him as well. What was that?

We might be overreacting, he points out, but I'm not convinced. I sniff the air and catch the faintest (but still sickeningly obvious) scent of a vampire.

I told you! I told you they would follow–

Not now! He is straining to pick up any sounds that might betray where the scent is coming from.

Without warning, a blur comes ripping out of the shadows and everything goes black.