The meeting at the boundry line had went well. All except for the fact that Jacob was gone. Rayna played over the image of the stoney expression Sam had on his face when he found out that Jacob had left their ward in a house full of vampires alone. To say he looked like a tomato didn't do it justice. Jasper had used his power to lighten the mood so they could talk. At first Sam and Billy seemed incredulous but as Rayna helped to put the pieces together and she saw their minds click.
"We wouldn't need your help," Sam protested, "we are built to kill your kind."
Rayna shook her head in irritation,
"This isn't going to be three or four vampires, Sam," she pleaded, "There is going to be dozens of them! They are going to be brand new and alot more powerful than any you have faced."
Jasper stepped forward,
"She is right. I have experience in dealing with this sort of thing and if I don't teach you the right way to defeat the enemy then most of your pack will die."
The gravity of the situation sat heavy on Sam' shoulders. He chanced a glance at Billy, who gave a curt nod.
"Okay, but we pick the area we are going to train in and I swear if you pull a fast one I, nor my pack, will hesitate to kill," Sam warned.
Jasper hardened his eyes, but his smile was filled with delirious excitment.
"You've got a deal, partner." He muttered. They both shook hands and departed from on another. Rayna was exchanged like a kid from a broken home and ushered to the cab of an old truck. She was stuck in the middle between Sam and Billy as the drive seemed. to take forever. She was antsy to get back. She fantasised about seeing Jacob and laying him out with a bat to the head. She reasoned that with all the their super human abilities he would be fine.
As they crept into Billy's drive Bella's faded red truck came into view. Rayna's hands began to sweat profusing with the up coming confrontation she had planned. When the loud engine roared to a stop, however, Rayna climbed from the truck, suitcase and bag full of soup and medication in hand and began to walk to Sam's house. The garage door was opened and she heard their laughter and saw how close Bella and Jacob were.
"This is not who you are,"she chanted as she averted her eyes and kept walking. She felt him, though, his eyes boring into her body as she passed by. His spirit called out to her. It needed to feel her, check to see if she was alright, but they both fought the urge. It took about 15 minutes to walk to her new home. Emily was waiting for her on the porch and dashed out to embrace her. Rayna dropped everything and grabbed her too, breaking down into sobs. Emily helped her into the house after a few minutes and they went to her room. Emily helped her unpack and commented on the pretty clothes that were given to her. Then, when they had finished, they sat down at the table, coffee in hand.
Rayna filled her in on what the Cullen's house was like and how well they had treated her. Emily smiled politely, but she could tell it made her uncomfortable that Rayna had been so close to them. They had reached a lull in their converstaion when the door open and in came Paul and Sam. Rayna leveled her eyes at the asshole who had started the fight that had almost killed her again. If he had, had a tail right then it would have been tucked between his legs.
"I have already punished him," Sam said trying to appease the situation, "He's got extra shifts for a month." Rayna stood up from her chair coffee long forgotten. She stalked over to Paul and in a flash she connected her knee to his crotch. Both went down together. Rayna held her leg that was surely going to be bruised and Paul held his fruits and berries. As they laid there Rayna rolled over to look at him in the face,
"If you ever disrespect me like that again, I will cut it off, you hear me?"
Sam and Emily were silent not quite believing what they just saw. Rayna was the first to hobble up from the floor. She reach over to the table and took the last swig of coffee fron her mug and asked Sam for some ice. Sam broke from his stupor and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer behind him. Paul was slow to get up, but eventually he did, apologizing and cursing the whole time. Things settled down and Sam mentioned that there was going to be a meeting at the house later. Without asking Emily sprang up to prepare a large supper, He made hotdogs and chili. The house smelt heavenly and was getting warm. Rayna excused herself to change into some else and hobbled to her room.She carefully undressed and saw the large purple bruise on her thigh. the pain didn't drown out the dull ach that was starting to build in her head, however. It was getting worse as time went on so she took out her bag of medications and read the instructions. She took two pain relievers and an antibiotic then neatly hung up her clothes from the day. She rummaged through her new things and settled on an oversized sweat shirt and black cloth shorts. She gently placed a loose messy bun in her hair and walked back out to the kitchen. more people had arrived by this time so Rayna helped Emily serve the food. Paul kept looking her up and down, but she shook her head and mean mugged him. He stayed distant though, not wanting to repeat the incident that had happened earlier and she was grateful for that.
One of the last to come in was Jacob with Bella in hand. In that moment Rayna could have crawled under a rock to die.
"Oh, who is this, Jacob?" Bella asked when their eyes met.
"She's just a friend of the pack," he commented off handedly. There might as well of been a brick thrown at her chest as the two walked through and filled their plates. Bella did stop as they got to her,
"Hi, I'm Bella Swam," she greeted extending her hand. For a second Rayna just looked at it, but with a heavy hand she gripped it and began to shake,
"Nice to meet you, I'm Rayna." she supplied back. Her smile was forced and she knew Bella could see that, but she hoped that maybe she would take it as an awkward first meeting type of thing instead of a, 'Hey, Hussy,' kind of thing. Rayna felt sick as Jacob didn't even spare her a passing glance. Emily came up to her after the other two had went through.
"Sam will have a talk with him," she whispered, "He is pretty mad that he just left you at the Cullen's house." Rayna's lip quivered as she looked down at the floor.
"Don't worry about it," Rayna muttered, suddenly needing to get out of there. She slipped on her boots not caring how she looked and grabbed a random coat from the rack. Emily tried to stop her but she had just fled anyway out the back door. She made her way toward the crashing waves. It was starting to get dark but she kept up her pace until she was on the smooth round pebble beach. She hastily gathered drift wood and found a well loved fire pit along the shore. She pulled out a lighter she had found in one of the pockets and made quick work of a fire to keep her warm. As it roared and crackled she sank down on to the cold ground and wrapped the brown jacket around her legs. She sat dazed at the blue flames that spouted from the bone white logs. What had her life become? Evidently, being a jealous monster was apart of it. Such highs and lows in one day was she becoming bi polar? She wanted to be home, getting ready to pick out her bedding for college and sunning on the boat dock with her friends. She was happy with her old life. In an angry rage she stood up and threw a rock at the water. She sank back down filled hopelessness. She never heard the foot steps come up behind her.
"Bella had to leave," the familiar voice said as it broke the silence. Rayna didn't look at the intruder.
"So?" she answered in defiance. Jacob sighed in frustration,
"So... come back in its freezing out here," he answered.
"I'm not going too," she spoke again, "I would rather freeze to death then go anywhere with you." She voice was dark and foreign to her. Jacob growled and pulled her to her feet to atleast face him.
"Stop saying things like that," he demanded. Rayna furrowed her brow.
"I can't live like this, Jacob. Because of this imprint, I have become someone I'm not. I am fighting it, but..." she paused and looked back out at the ocean, "Everytime I see your face, hear your voice... I'm loosing the fight, Jacob." He stood in silence at her admission. Rayna continued however,
"The biggest slap in the face is, it's only been two days, how much more is it going to hurt in month, two months, a year? I can't Jacob." His strong arms pulled her close. They embraced, the heat between their bodies multiplying. One look is all it took as their lips crashed together like the waves infront of them. Neither one knew if it was pity or actual need but the kisses became more forceful. Jacob's hands were cordial at first but as time past they found their way underneath the jacket. Rayna's hands were just as needy. She ran her fingers under his shirt touching his hot skin. Jacob's gutteral moan brought Rayna back to her sences. She broke off the kiss and pushed away to Jacob' protest.
"We can't do this," she said as she shook. Jacob grabbed her again pulling her close. He placed kisses on her head moving down her jaw line. Rayna melted into his arms again, all reason gone from her mind. They had been at the beach for a while and she didn't remember who had suggested it or if it was just her imagination, but they had climbed back through her window. It was now quiet as they settled on her bed. Things heated up from there as shirts and pants flew to the floor. Niether one wanted it to stop as they explored one another' bodys. Fullfiling a craving that they both knew they needed. Any thoughts of Bella were a faded memory to Jacob as his inhuman side took over. No one could ever compare to the red headed woman below him. Her hands gripped his hips has they went forward. Pure bliss filled her and stomach tightened and towered higher and higher as they continued. Before she knew it stars filled her eyes as Rayna came down from her high. Jacob tucked in beside her just as satisfied. Their breathing was labored in the dark room as they laid by one another. Jacob pulled her close, almost as an apology. Rayna didn't move as a realization hit her.
"This doesn't change anything does it?" she whispered suddenly feeling over exposed.
Jacob kissed the top of her head,
"No," he answered regretfully. Rayna numbly laid in the bed as Jacob let go and started to climb out and get dressed, "I have loved Bella for a long time," he explained, "I can't give up now," Jacob pulled his sweat pants up and grabbed his shirt. Rayna felt vaunerable as she pulled the covers closer to herself,
"Jacob, will I ever be good enough for you to choose me?" Rayna's voice cracked. Jacob simply kissed her forehead again and climbed out of the window, with no good bye.
Rayna cried the rest of the night ashamed and heart broken. She was sure that what had happened tonight, no matter how wonderful wouldn't repeat its self again.
