JACOB'S POV
"How could this happen to my girl," Leah says, her eyes are red and puffy from crying, "she was going to get out of here, Jacob. She was going to go to college and have a real life. Not be a fucking pack wolf!"
"I'm sorry," I don't know what else to say to her. I know that this is not what she wanted for her daughter. I don't want this for my son. His disability may very well protect him from ever having to be burdened with pack life.
Leah looks out towards the ocean from her deck, she is curled up in one of the wooden deck chairs, wrapped in a blanket.
"This is all Nessie's fault. You realize that, right?" Leah says spitefully.
"What?"
"She came here. Stayed all summer… Probably got all her vampire vibes all over my daughter. That's probably why she phased…" Leah growls.
"You do realize that your brother is in a long-term relationship with a hybrid, as well… remember Kat?," I reply, defending Nessie. Though I am not certain why.
"This is the worst possible thing that could ever fucking happen… Oh but Sam is delighted!"
"Really? Why?" I cross my arms and lean back against the rail.
"Because they finally have something in common," she scowls.
"You know you're a wolf too, right?" I cock a brow.
"Yeah… and he's a fucking Alpha. He's feeding her all these bullshit lines about how she is going to be his successor or some shit," Leah takes a tissue out of her pocket and blows her nose. She can't stop crying about this.
"She's been avoiding River, you know," I say quietly, "skipping school, won't take his calls… he's miserable."
"That's your fault… you sheltered that kid from everything. What's she supposed to say to him?" Leah says.
"I… don't know," I look down. She's right. I've kept all the wolf and vampire business from him. I just didn't see the point.
"How's the baby-mama drama?" Leah asks, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself.
"Ugh, don't call it that. Makes me feel like I'm on Maury," I sigh, rubbing my face with a palm.
"You are getting a paternity test, right?" Leah asks.
"It's mine, Leah," I sigh.
"Are you sure?" She asks. Leah's words aren't exactly planting the first seeds of doubt. I have been wondering if there might be a chance that it could belong to someone else. That would be too good to be true. Very unlikely.
"What would she gain by lying to me? I'm not rolling in money, Leah," I reply.
"No but you're a leader in this community," Leah says, "having your baby is kind of a big deal."
I consider it for a moment. Asking Brielle for a paternity test… that might not go over too well. I stand upright and take my truck keys out of my pocket.
"Where are you going?" Leah asks.
"The Switchyard," I reply.
"Looking for Embry again?" Leah asks. I've gone to The Switchyard every day looking for him. He also isn't at his trailer.
I clench my jaw, "he's hiding from me," I look to Leah. She looks away immediately. I keep staring at her as she avoids my gaze. "You fucking know where he is, don't you?… Tell me where he is, Leah."
"I'm not getting involved in this," Leah replies, "I've got enough of my own shit going on."
"Now," I reply angrily.
"What does it solve?" Leah sighs.
"One of my pack fucks my imprint and I'm supposed to just let it go?" I'm fuming.
"You got another girl pregnant!" Leah retorts.
"Leah, I swear to god, if you don't tell me where that son of a bitch is hiding…"
"What?" Leah asks.
I stare her down intensely, using my alpha status to try and influence her. She, hunches her shoulders, cowering a little as all the pack does when I show intense disapproval.
"... Fuck… fine!" she grumbles, I know that she hates it when I use my status on her, "just don't freak out."
"Where is he?" I cross my arms.
"Seattle," she replies.
"Seattle?" I repeat, deadpan.
"At Nessie's."
"Okay," I reply and walk to the door.
"Where are you going?" Leah sighs, "Jake… Jacob!" she calls after me.
Seeing red. I never really quite understood that expression until now. Having a pack member. My brother, basically, put himself in the bed of my mate is a special kind of betrayal. The drive to Seattle was long. The entire time I obsess over what I will say. My knuckles, pale, as I grip the wheel. Maybe I won't say a thing. Simply grab him by the collar and throw my fist in his face, see how many teeth I can break. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand the betrayal that this is. He's never imprinted. How could he?
It isn't until I drive by the sign welcoming me to Seattle that I realize that I don't even know where Nessie fucking lives. However, I do know where she works. River mentioned how impressed he was with his mother. She's pretty fucking smart, it's true. And beautiful. My heart starts pounding with excitement when I realize I'll get to see her beautiful face today. However, it's short-lived. Because all I can see in my mind when I think of her is that bastard, Embry.
It becomes pretty clear that this is not going to be so easy. I have been driving around the Physics campus for an hour. What did I think? She'd just be standing outside? It's pretty late too. It's beginning to get dark. I find a place to park the truck so I can rest and try to figure out my next move. My phone vibrates. I look down and see that it's our home phone.
"Yeah?" I sigh, expecting it to be Brielle asking me where I am.
It's River, "Dad, where are you?"
"Oh… hey," I sigh, "look, I had to go do something. Sorry I didn't call," I glance around hoping for a little dumb luck and that Nessie will just walk by… Not so much.
"Dad, Brielle's pretty sick. She's been throwing up for like an hour," he says.
"Yeah, well… It's called morning sickness but it happens any time of day," I mumble into the phone, "it'll be fine. Berta will take care of her."
"Berta picked up a shift, she's not coming home until midnight, now."
Fuck. I contemplate just leaving. This was a waste… But there isn't much point. Berta will be back by the time I make the 4hr trip home.
"River… I'm sorry. I don't want to put you in this position but can you just take care of this for me?" I lean my forehead down on the steering wheel.
"Yeah. Okay. What do I do?"
I'm surprised, "really?"
"Well, yeah… I don't want anything bad to happen. It's my little brother or sister, right?"
He's such a good kid. I sigh… Now I feel guilty for all this responsibility he's taking on while I'm here on a revenge mission.
"Uh… okay. Maybe ginger ale… there are these crackers she likes, I think… I think she mentioned something about peppermint tea?" I realize that I haven't really been paying attention too hard. "You know what… Can you just ask her? I don't know… If things start getting bad and you need help, call Leah, okay?"
"Okay…" River sighs, "is Misty okay? You went to Leah's earlier to check on her and then never came back."
"River… I know you care about her, she's going through something… You just need to trust that once she works it out for herself… it'll be fine. I promise," I reply. I shouldn't promise him that but I do have experience in that department. Eventually, the wolf thing isn't so tragic. "You don't need to worry, okay."
"Alright… I'm gonna go," he says.
"Wait? Has your mother called yet?" I ask, feeling a spark of inspiration.
"She can't, tonight," he says, "she told me that she was attending some orchestra. Something about a charity for some kind of endangered rhino… her life is something else."
"You're the best," I hang up.
Locating a charity orchestra for rhinos that's happening today was not hard at all. Finding parking in downtown Seattle… impossible. I had to park so far away that I was worried that by the time I got there it'd be done and Nessie would be gone. However, now that I am waiting for the building to empty, I am worried that I won't be able to find my truck. Across from the orchestra building happens to be a bookstore. I wait inside, continuously looking out the window. I'm sure it doesn't look suspicious at all... 6'7" tall, jacked Native American guy who hasn't had a haircut in years… yeah… I've gotten some looks, already. I tie my hair in a low ponytail and hide it down the back of my jacket hoping to draw less attention. It doesn't work.
The orchestra must be finished. I see many people start to filter out of the doors. Shit, there are too many people. They're all wearing long black coats too. Cabs start to pull up to the doors. I feel nervous that I won't see her. Just when I am certain that I will be leaving Seattle without finding Embry, I see Nessie. My heart feels as though it has taken a pause. I watch her walk down the sidewalk with an older man. She looks beautiful, her hair is done up nicely and she is wearing a white coat, unlike the sea of black coats around her. They're chatting. Then they stop, shake hands and he gets into a cab, leaving Nessie on the sidewalk alone. I watch as she glances up and down the street and then elegantly jogs across in her stilettos when there is no traffic.
I exit the book store cautiously. I'm in danger of being seen. I stick out like a sore thumb. I stay far back as I follow her down the sidewalk. Following Nessie in her natural habitat is kind of thrilling. A cool breeze rolls down the street and I catch her scent. My entire body warms. Where is she going?
I watch her stop at the end of the block and go into a department store. I follow carefully, stalking her every move as she wanders around the store looking at handbags. I feel a strong yearning to be standing by her side. I fantasize about how it could have been. She would be admiring the handbags. I would be admiring her. Afterwards, I would take her out to a bar or something for a glass of wine in one of her fancy glasses she likes. I'd listen to her talk about her day… Instead, I am standing way over here wishing that it was all different. All I have are the fleeting memories of that one magical night we spent together last summer. I revisit that night as often as I can. Wishing that she would be mine once again.
She wanders from the bags and moves on to cases with jewelry. I feel a pit in my stomach remembering that her moonstone ring is currently on the finger of Brielle. I watch as she looks over all the pieces behind glass, admiring them. Nessie was never one to wear a ton of jewelry… I would find a way to adorn her in all of the gold and diamonds she desires. My mouth feels dry thinking of all the precious time I wasted and how much I regret not going to her and begging for her forgiveness.
Nessie waves to the shopgirl behind the counter and points to the case. The girl pulls something out and holds it out for Nessie to inspect.
"That's lovely. Can you wrap it up? It's a present for my daughter," Nessie says and then pulls out her phone, "excuse me."
The shopgirl nods and starts to wrap it up.
"Hey, Dad," Nessie smiles, "how's high school?" she says with a chuckle as she hands over a credit card to the shopgirl. "Sounds awful….. What houseguest? … Oh, Embry…... Yeah, no it's great. It's like having a personal chef," she laughs and then rolls her eyes. I listen intently, "no, of course not… The guest room…... Fox doesn't care…. Because he's not possessive and lets people live their lives" Nessie smirks. "….. Alright, I'm hanging up the phone now. I love you," Nessie says putting her phone away.
My blood is boiling. So not only does she have Embry in her guest room but she is living with Foxworth. Unbelievable. I feel intense jealousy. I'm almost shaking with rage.
Nessie thanks the shopgirl and leaves the department store.
The cab driver looked at me suspiciously when I instructed him to follow the cab Nessie got into. I don't care. I'm going to find Embry and end him.
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