Jake

"Breathing dreams like air." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Every time the phone rings, my heart thuds. Emily was due three days ago, and there was still no baby. The second she went into labor, I officially became Alpha, and the packs were united again. It was sort of exciting, but I was also scared as hell.

My phone rings, and I scramble to pull it out of my pocket, not bothering to check the ID. "Hello?" I scream into the receiver.

Nessie's laugh fills my ear. "Jake, relax. It's me." Her voice instantly calms my racing heart. "Do we have a trash can?" We. I smile.

Nessie was in Port Angeles with Leah, picking up some things we needed for the cabin. Tonight was her first night here with me. Edward had, surprisingly, not protested. Maybe he finally realized that she was a grown adult. Or maybe he didn't want to get on her bad side again, having just finally returned from it after Christmas. Regardless, I was grateful. I'd been here for a week already by myself and I felt like I was in limbo, waiting to start my life with her.

I walk to the kitchen, taking a look around. There were boxes, bags, and containers scattered everywhere. "Yes, we have a trash can. What we don't have, though, is a bottle opener," I realize, eyeing the bottle of wine that Tina and Dad had dropped by earlier. She says she'll grab one while they're out, and rattles a few more things she's gotten. I hear Leah's muffled voice in the background. "Leah!" she gasps, giggling. I wait for her to continue, and when her lyrical voice reaches my ear again, it is quieter. "She wanted to make sure we had plenty of condoms."

I gulp. I think to the box I'd shoved in the drawer of my nightstand last week, not wanting Nessie to see it, or even know it was there, until she was absolutely ready. "I have that under control." I imagine her blushing on the other end of the phone. I find my neck getting warm as well. "Be careful coming home. I love you."

"Love you too, Jake."

I spend about an hour unpacking boxes, trying to think about where Nessie would want things. I find myself just moving stuff around from room to room before giving up. I decide to leave the decorating to Nessie, and find something I can actually do – put together a shelf. Nessie had only brought her "most favorite" books, but they were still bound to be shoved into every possible nook and cranny of this place. And I couldn't wait.

A few hours later, I hear Nessie pull up. She walks through the door, hands full of more bags. I go to greet her, taking them out of her hands and setting them on the counter before turning to her. "Welcome home," I grin, holding out my arms for a hug.

She returns my smile, but when my stomach grumbles, it turns into a smirk, and she pushes me into the kitchen instead of embracing me. We clear off the counters and make dinner together. I know that when the baby comes that we won't have this time, this privacy. It's hard not to miss it prematurely. I grab the bottle of wine and some cups and dig through the bags to find the opener before settling next to her on the couch. "Dad and Tina dropped this off for us. To celebrate."

"That was nice of them," she says, watching me open it. The night is simple; we spend it on the couch, we eat dinner, and I watch her drink wine. After we clean up from dinner, she turns to face the disaster behind us.

"Do you want to do this tonight?" My voice echoes off the empty walls and barren floor.

She shakes her head. "That's a tomorrow problem."

So instead, we curl up in bed and read together. She's wearing one of my shirts and an old pair of sweats, and it swallows her. It's adorable. I don't make any moves, though, because I don't want her thinking the only reason we moved in together was so that I could get her naked. And that definitely wasn't the only reason. But I'd be lying to myself if I said it wasn't a reason at all.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" I say, turning off the lamp and plugging my phone in to charge.

"Have you seen our house? It's a pigsty."She giggles, and I realize her choice of words. Our house.

"I'm sure you'll make it look amazing. I love you. Goodnight, Ness." I lean around her, capturing her lips in mine.

She pulls my arm around her tightly, nestling in against my chest. "Night, Jake. I love you, too." Her voice is dripping with satisfaction. Content. And in minutes, we are both asleep.

I wake earlier than Nessie the next morning, well rested from the sound sleep I received by having her snuggled into my side all night. My attempt at stealth is ruined by her superhuman hearing, and she stirs as soon as I've stood up completely. "Hey, I'm heading to the shop. It's early. You should go back to sleep."

She shakes her head, throwing the covers back. "I don't think that's going to happen." Nessie stands, and my heart thuds. At some point in the night, she'd taken her pants off. She notices me staring at her bare legs, and shrugs. "I got hot."

But there is something in her tone, or maybe the twinkle in her eye as she bites her lip innocently, that is leading me to believe she's not being honest. "You got… hot."

She would have been believable if I didn't know her so well. But she nods anyway, stretching her arms over her head, and the t-shirt rides up. "Do you want some breakfast before you go to work?" She asks, crossing the room and stopping to look back at me from the doorframe. My eyes narrow as I catch onto her game. She was trying to seduce me. And if she got to do that, then so did I.

I shove my shorts down my hips, the brisk air doing nothing to suppress my morning wood. "I'm going to hop in the shower, but breakfast would be nice," I say, daring her to look down at me. She takes the challenge, and I watch her eyes scan me, completely naked in front of her for the first time.

A dark red blush colors her cheeks, and she looks away, hiding her smile behind her shoulder, before shaking her head vigorously and heading to the kitchen.

I return to the cabin around 5; as the day drug on, I became more and more anxious to see Nessie again, soak in our last bit of privacy before the baby came.

I walk through the door, and am only half surprised to see it not in a mess. Nessie had unpacked the remainder of her boxes, the empty cardboard stacked neatly by the door. There are rugs out, curtains hung, pictures displayed, candles lit. It was warm – this was a home now, not just a house.

She's at the stove plating dinner. "Something smells delicious," I say, wrapping my arms around her and placing a kiss on the back of her neck. Her curls are swept up into a messy bun. It suits her.

"It's just pasta," she retorts, leaning back into my embrace. "How was your day? Did you finish the car for Mr. Roberts?" She spoons a large serving of pasta onto a plate for me, and a much smaller, more reasonable one for herself.

"Yeah, the part finally came. And I'm glad – he's been calling every day." We sit on the couch; I think the actual table may end up getting neglected. "I'd ask what you did today, but it's obvious. It looks great."

She laughs, taking a small bite. Through her food, she says, "I'm trying to wolf-proof it."

"Fat chance," I say, mouth full.

I notice she isn't eating much of her dinner. "Something on your mind?" I ask, pausing between forkfuls of noodle.

Nessie struggles with how to answer my question, and finally sets her bowl down. I abandon mine as well, worried that something happened today. Instead of answering me, she sits up on her knees, leaning over to show me a memory. She shows me her view of this morning, of me. And then, before she can drop her hand, my lips are on hers, hungry for something else now.

I pull her onto my lap, cradling her neck as I knead my lips against her. She pushes her tongue into my mouth, and I accept it, fighting it with my own. She slips a knee on either side of my lap, pushing herself closer to me. Her lips pull away from mine, finding my neck. She licks at the skin there, and moans into me. I'm sure I taste of sweat. I remember back to the day in the shop, when she'd reacted the same way to tasting me. Note to self.

I hold her close against me before moving my hands down her back and to her butt, squeezing tightly. "Bed," she whispers against my throat, and I waste no time in standing, desperate to give her what she wants.

I walk us blindly toward the bedroom, banging my shin on the coffee table. She giggles against my throat as I curse, giving me a small bite there. Eventually, I find our room, kicking the door shut behind me. I lay her softly on the bed, crawling between her legs. The spring dusk light filters through the windows, and I am suddenly thankful she'd wanted them so badly.

She fumbles for the bottom of my shirt. I have just pulled my shirt overhead, discarding it on my floor, when my phone rings. I groan, trying to push the sound out of my head. I reach into my pocket and silence it blindly, tossing it onto the bedside table. I give her a devilish grin, settling back down on top of her. I kiss her hungrily, my lips kneading hers with as much passion as I could. I wanted to show her how much I loved her. How much I wanted her.

I snake a hand under Nessie's shirt, squeezing her chest lightly. She moans at the sensation, and the sound makes me grunt, my hips grinding involuntarily down to meet hers. I push her shirt up her stomach, and she leans up to allow me to pull it overhead. She has just settled back down into the pillows when her phone buzzes.

She reaches over to her nightstand, glancing at the caller ID. "It's just Leah." And then my lips find her neck and her phone clatters to the floor. I take a moment to take in the beauty laying underneath me. These shorts – I've seen these shorts. These were the shorts she was wearing when I told her Emily was pregnant, and I had to make an abrupt departure. I like these shorts. But not as much as I would like them off.

Nessie seems to read my mind, pulling her hands off me to shove the shorts down her hips. I help her, and before the shorts hit the floor, my hand is around her thigh and pulling her leg up around my hip. This new angle has opened Nessie's legs wider, and the smell of her arousal reaches my nose. I growl with desire, kissing and nipping eagerly at every inch of skin I can reach. I make my way down her neck, chest, and stomach. I place a kiss at the top of her underwear – and then someone pounds on the front door.

I still to see if whoever is on the other side will go away, maybe think we're not home. The knocks get stronger, and I growl, this time out of anger. Nessie's eyes fly open; I think I've scared her. I mutter an apology as I hastily stand to my feet and stomp through the house to the door. I throw it open with a furious, "What?!"

Quil eyes me head to toe, and I realize I am shirtless. And tight in the crotch. He gives me an eyebrow, but pushes past me anyway. Claire waves up at me as she passes through the door and drops her backpack on the table. "Why did you make a phone tree if you're not going to answer the damn phone? Emily's in labor." His voice is quiet enough for Claire not to hear as she heads toward the couch, but I hope Nessie did, and that she doesn't come to the door how I left her, nearly naked.

And then I comprehend his words. "Shit, sorry. I was –"

"Otherwise engaged?" He asks, smelling what's on the stove like he's settling in. And then I realize that he is. The plan was for the inner circle to come here and wait out the arrival of the baby so we weren't overrunning the hospital. Soon, the house will be full to the brim. And my heart sinks as I remember Nessie in my bed; what little window of privacy we'd had was gone.

Nessie emerges from our room, wearing one of my t-shirts and some leggings. Although I am grateful that she's opted not to wear the shorts, seeing her in my shirt doesn't do anything to help my problem. She comes over to me, slipping her hands around my back and into my back pockets as Quil serves himself a helping of pasta. "To be continued," she says, loud enough that Quil certainly heard, and then heads to turn on the TV for Claire.

"I need a shower," I groan, probably a little more annoyed than I should have been. I hear Quil snicker, and I lean over and smack the back of his head before heading to the bedroom.

I check my phone, and sure enough, Jared was the one who'd called me earlier. I send him a text – Sorry I missed your call. Quil is here. I'll spread the word. I call Paul, and Rachel picks up his phone. I tell her that Emily's in labor, and she says they'll be over after they finish dinner. When I'm telling her not to forget to call the others, I hear her giggle as Paul says something very close to the receiver, and the call ends abruptly. Not dinner, then.

Cold shower it is.

By the time I am done with my thoroughly chilling shower, the small cabin is filled. Seth and Embry are on the couch eating pasta. My bowl from earlier still sat forgotten. Katie was splayed out on one side of the kitchen table, surrounded by books and papers. She had finals in a few weeks. Claire and Quil occupied the other side, but her homework looked to be much less stressful. I think Quil was helping just a bit too much. Kim is working tonight – she was a nurse – and Jared is at the hospital with Sam and Emily.

Nessie and Leah are in the kitchen, hunched over the island discussing something in hushed tones. Leah straightens up when she sees me, giving me a quick, "Hey, Jake," and discomfort pricks my skin. She's hiding something.

I simply give Ness a quick kiss in her hair and say, "Hey, Leah." I go to sit down on the couch beside Embry, picking up my bowl of cold pasta and continuing where I'd left off. I try in vain to push Leah's secret out of my mind.

Paul and Rachel arrive around thirty minutes later. "Nice of you to join us," I say, giving my sister a pointed look. She flushes and, glancing to make sure Claire wasn't watching, flips me the bird. Paul grabs his own bowl of pasta. Nessie must have made more while I was in the shower.

"Thought you just had dinner, Paul." I say indifferently. The least they could do was look a little sorry for showing up late, smelling like sex.

He shrugs, taking a big bite as he leans against the counter. "You know me, Jake. Can't get enough." He winks, and I roll my eyes, turning my attention to the TV.

After a while, Leah slips out the back patio door, and at the last second, she looks back, moving her head in a come on motion. I follow her outside, shutting the door behind me. The outside of the cabin was still heavily wooded, and I'd have to spend some time here this summer cleaning it up, getting it livable, clearing a path to Dad's land. But for now, it provided privacy.

I find Leah perched on top of the old picnic table abandoned by the previous owners, wood splintering and nearly rotted out. She's staring out into the dark woods. I take a seat next to her wordlessly, the wood creaking under me in protest.

"Adam wants me to come back with him. To Seattle." She says quietly, chin resting on the one knee she's pulled up toward her.

"For how long?" I ask, even though I know what she means.

She doesn't answer.

I take in a slow breath. If I was being honest, I saw this coming. "When do you leave?" I ask, looking over at her.

Her head snaps to me in surprise. "What?"

"Of course you're going, Leah. What, you'd thought I'd say no? How would that be fair?"

"But the pack, the tribe—"

"I thought you couldn't wait to get out of this place. And now that you have an opportunity, you're going to turn it down?"

She chews her lip, and then says, "It was just a fantasy when he was still married. And now he's not, and he's begging me to start a life with him, and I'm so terrified to screw it up. It's safe here. I'm safe here."

I chuckle. "Didn't Adam say the same thing before he left her? That it was scary to leave, and he stayed because it was safe? What would have happened if he hadn't done it anyway?" She stays silent. I continue, "You deserve a chance. To just see what's out there. To try. And if it sucks, and you can't find yourself or whatever, then come back. We'll be here."

She takes a deep breath, staring into my eyes. I watch her make the decision, her eyes changing from troubled to calm. And then she nods, breaking into a small smile. "Okay, yeah."

I pull her into a side hug, rustling her hair with my other hand. She shoves me off quickly, groaning. Turns out, she only liked affection when Adam was the one showing it to her.

We hear noise erupt from the house. "Jake! Leah!" Embry calls from inside. We break into a smile, and I rush back to the door, sliding it open.

Nessie has my phone in her hand, having just ended a call. She must have picked up when she saw Jared call. Everyone waits with bated breath, and she tries to build the suspense but can't contain her excitement any longer. "It's a boy!" Cheers erupt around the room.

I scan the room. Embry and Seth are grumbling as they pull out their wallets, and Quil waits expectantly open handed. Katie is leaning down to tell something to Claire, and I see the young girl's face light up. Paul and Rachel are huddled on the couch, and Rachel's whispering something in his ear – I try not to listen but catch the words 'we could be next'. Paul's face goes gray, and I have to stifle a laugh.

I lean against the wall, studying these people. They were my pack now; I was responsible for their safety, and really, for the safety of the whole reservation. Leah walks to Nessie, standing by the table, and tells her something quietly. Nessie smiles. "I told you," she said. "When are you leaving?"

Although I'd asked Leah the same question, hearing Nessie ask her made my stomach drop. Because, logistically, Leah couldn't be my Beta if she was done being a wolf altogether.