~ Chapter 20 ~

They had not even left the crude forest road when their path were blocked by a pack of gigantic wolves. Edward hit the break before they hit the living wall of fangs and fur. His mind was assaulted by the on slaughter of murderous thoughts and revenge.

Jacob opened the door and stepped outside. Edward stayed where he was because he knew the moment he stepped outside his life would be forfeit.

"Get out of the way?" Jacob growled.

Out of the bunch, only Sam shifted back with a sour look on his face. "Not until we have the leech who hurt our friends. Imprint or not, you can't stand against the whole pack, Jake."

"If you so much as touches one hair on his body I will tear you apart." Jacob promised, his eyes shifting from his dark color to the yellow of his wolf. No one harmed his chosen one.

The wolves circled the car while continued to stalk their prey. Jacob didn't let anyone of them out of sight or sense. A big brown wolf stepped a little too close to the door where Edward sat and Jacob flew over the roof and landed between them and growled.

Then it was like all hell broke lose.

The wolves attacked the car all at once, two jumping Jacob at the same time.

Jacob didn't have time to even shift so his reflexes made him grip one of the wolves and threw it at the wolf closest to harming Edward.

Edward knew he was cornered and could only hope that some miracle would save him. Or maybe he didn't want to be saved.

He felt it like a stroke of luck that his little pet wolf couldn't read his mind, otherwise Jacob would see that he truly felt empty inside.

The revenge and hatred that had filled his whole undead life had been fulfilled by his revenge against Carlisle. He had nothing left. Nothing for him to live for.

Maybe it was time he left this earth.

Sam shifted and jumped the front, his paw hitting the glass and shattering it. The black wolf's huge claws scratching the paint as its target were just within reach.

Jacob snapped around at the sound and his whole world narrowed in on Sam about to rip Edward's head off. He jumped up on the roof of the car and let out a terrifying roar. One that made all the wolves freeze.

In the blink of an eye Jacob shifted into something that wasn't a shape shifter's wolf. It stood on two legs, clearly larger their largest wolf, claws on finger instead of compact paws, and the same russet color.

Truly a werewolf from the tales of old.

It growled at them to back off unless they wanted to die.

None of the pack was ready for this change of events. Sam who still stood on the front of the car stared up at Jacob and saw in him the true reason why Jacob had been different from the rest of them. He couldn't go against this creature.

With his tail between his legs, Sam backed away with a small whining sound. Then he, together with his pack, stepped aside to give the car space to leave.

Edward sat under the metallic roof and didn't see Jacob, but he could hear everything and his heart was racing. When Jacob jumped down, human once more, and jumped into the car, not minding one bit that he was naked now. Edward looked at him but didn't have to read his thoughts to know that they should go while they had the chance.

Thankfully, the engine hadn't been damaged during the little turbulence but it still didn't go as it should as they rolled away from a petrified pack of wolves.

Jacob looked behind them and saw that they weren't following. At the same time he saw the jacket in the backseat and grabbed it, putting it over his nakedness.

"What happened back there?" asked Edward.

"Hell if I know." Jacob answered, trying to put his seat belt on. "I thought I was shifting but it was different."

"How different?" the vampire inquired.

"Dunno. I was just so pissed and scared of loosing you that I snapped. Somehow we got out of it."

"Hmmm." Edward looked at him before focusing on the road.

" 'Hmm' what?" Jacob looked at his mate who were giving him the most curious look. Somehow it freaked him out.

"You are full of surprises." Edward mussed. "I like you more and more."

Jacob gave him the hairy eyeball. "I hope so." he snapped. "I'm leaving my whole life to go with you."

With a hand on the wheel, Edward reached out with his other and wrapped it around Jacob's head and brought him closer for a kiss. Tongue and all.

Jacob's head were spinning and he felt happy, but then he realized where they were. "Dude, keep your eyes on the road." and pushed against his chest.

Edward chuckled. "First we have to do is find you clothes. As much as I would enjoy the view, I can't say that I want to share it with others."

Jacob nodded, feeling the need for some real cover now that he took in his surroundings. He was sitting naked in a damaged car with a broken front shield. If they got stopped then he would get put away for improper behavior. At least.

"What then?" he asked. "Where are we going?"

"New York." Edward said. "I have an apartment there that we can crash until I figure out our next move."

"Hey!" exclaimed Jake. "There are two of us now."

"Yes." Edward said amused. To him there had never been two of them. There had been him and the other. This was new even for him. He glanced at Jacob and saw the edge of his ass that the jacket didn't cover and his thoughts went to the content of his trunk with an evil thought being born.

"Jake." the shifter reacting to the pet name that the vampire had never used. "Are you up for something naughty?" he looked at him sideways.

"Like what?" He couldn't deny the thought was appealing.

"You'll see." was all Edward said as he drove over the bridge leading to town where they could buy some small things. Clothes and a new car among other things. He no longer could deny that Jacob might prove to be just the thing that he needed in his life. To keep him going and keep his long unnatural life interesting.

"You'll see."

The End