Seth
The wolf howl is long and piercing, but what is most jarring about it is that it is a howl I have not heard in at least two years. And I suppose that is my fault for feeling complacent in the fact that Forks and La Push are safe. Because they aren't. And I didn't think they ever would be.
I spring out of bed.
Vampire.
Jessica is still sound asleep.
Do I wake her up and tell her I'm leaving? Do I wake her up and ask her to...I didn't have anywhere to ask her to go I realize. Is it possible I can leave and be back before morning and she'll never have to know? ...yes. I only allow myself fifteen seconds to contemplate my next move. Waking her up would be a mistake. I decide. I don't have time to explain to her what is happening or where I am going. And the last thing I need is for her to try to follow me.
I don't have a choice. I have to tell her tomorrow.
I pull off my boxers and pull on a pair of basketball shorts that have a pocket so I can hold the keys to her building and I am outside relocking her door in another thirty seconds. I knew a lock wouldn't stop a vampire but it made me feel better that at least it was locked. I rush to the tree line, strip off the shorts and hide them with the apartment key. My only thought as I phase into the pack mind is that Jessica is definitely going to kill me.
The thing with the pack mind is that, even though there are a lot of us, it is still very easy to understand what is going on. We all slide into sync with each other, especially when we have a common goal. There is only one vampire — a male who I catch glimpses of through Jacob and Paul's mind. They had been on patrol tonight so they would have been the ones to first smell the intruder. I realize very quickly that the pack is not the only ones hunting this vampire. Carlisle, Edward, Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper are chasing him as well.
The leech was sniffing around the Cullen's first. They chased him this way. Embry let's me know.
The vampire is weaving back and forth between the Forks and La Push line, not that far from where I am. It doesn't take me long to catch up with my pack and join in on the hunt.
"Jacob." Edward calls. "Have everyone fall back. We will corner him and force him back over the line to you."
The treaty line was more symbolic now than anything. Once the Cullen's turned Bella, it really all was void anyway. They didn't mind if we crossed over occasionally now but I do notice how Sam, Paul, and Jared carefully remain far enough back from the treaty line. Some habits never fade.
Everyone falls back per Edward's suggestion and Jacob's order. Except Leah. She leaps forward and, for a second, I think she's going to catch the vampire but her teeth only graze his leg before she falls to the ground. The space allows the vampire to circle back and take off in a sprint towards town and firmly on Forks land, no longer along the border.
Dammit, Leah. Jake growls. We all swing our direction of running and chase after the vampire.
"Fucker loves the chase!" Emmett calls, running along side us. "I'll race ya Rosie." I don't hear a response from Rosalie but I do see her speed up and whip past us.
We need to cut him off before he reaches downtown. Jacob's main focus drills into us which is why it takes me a second to realize what else is downtown. The fear that course through me is instantaneous.
Jessica's apartment building is downtown. If he catches my scent, it will lead him right to her.
"Shit." Edward curses out loud and I know he, like the rest of my pack, can hear my panic as well.
We're not going to let that happen. Sam promises me.
"You guys catch the vampire, I'll get Jessica." Edward calls, already changing his direction to run a more direct route to the apartment complex.
Thank you. I think.
Jessica was really, really going to kill me.
Next chapter will be much longer and from Jessica's perspective but I wanted you guys to see a little from Seth first. Do we think Jess is really going to kill Seth? ;)
