In the days after Albion's death, we fall into a pattern of normalcy again. Alice and I still keep up pretenses at the high school and we all still hunt regularly. Even so, there's an unspoken tension in the air. What happened with Albion cannot go unaccounted for and despite all of the effort we put into removing him, ultimately, we are not the final authority in our world. They have to already be on their way and I'd rather not have them dissect whatever this new, fragile thing is between me and Jacob Black under a microscope.
"The house smells like dog," Rosalie says, wrinkling her nose.
"It was old the third time you said it," I say, placing down my backpack. Jacob's only been here twice since coming back from Canada-I tend to spend most of my nights at La Push now much to the chagrin of Billy Black and the rest of the Quileute elders. We have a fragile truce now, however. After the pack testified on our behalf, it seems they have no choice but to accept me and my family as allies. Though even so, that doesn't seem to have assuaged Billy's concern over my relationship with his son. Understandably so.
"Is he coming over for the game?" Alice asks, appearing behind me. I told her about James. I don't think she's quite forgiven me for it yet, but I know she's trying to. Jacob's presence seems to help. She's slowly becoming accustomed to the hole in her visions where he and the pack are concerned. "Should we be stocking up on food?" That was something that I hadn't accounted for- now that he's not stressed at every waking moment, Jacob eats enough for four people. Feeding him both worries and thrills me.
"Might be too late," I say. I can hear him, and I can't prevent the smile that crosses my face. Just knowing that he's near is enough to make me want to abandon whatever it is I'm doing and find him. If I could find a way to keep him here forever, I would, but there's nothing on this earth that would keep Jacob from his pack-not even me. And I'm okay with that. Jasper raises an eyebrow at me and smiles. Of anyone in the room, he knows exactly what I'm feeling, and for once, I wish he didn't. This feels like something that should remain private.
"Hey!" Jacob says, bounding through the open door in just his jeans.
Rosalie makes a face like she's just smelled something sour, but Emmett is suddenly barrelling past her to sweep Jacob up in a hug. It's a good thing Emmett's my brother and thoroughly taken, or I'd be tempted to give into my more unsavory thoughts and rip his head off.
Jacob laughs and shoves Emmett away. His face is shining with sweat from his run, but he's looking at me like I'm the only person in the room and it...does things to my emotions that I can't seem to find the words for.
"Hey," he says, almost breathless.
"Hello." I tilt my head up and peck him softly on the lips.
"Can you do that when no one else is watching?" Rosalie says, shrugging on an old baseball t-shirt over a much nicer shirt.
"Please, as if we can't all hear you and Emmett all night," Alice says. Jacob pictures us making similar noises, and it takes all my willpower to remain stoic and not pull him upstairs. I bought a bed for my room two nights ago and I'd love for us to break it in. Instead, I wrap my fingers in his and give his hand a small squeeze.
"We should get going," I say. "Storm's coming in fast." Thunderheads gather in the distance, shrouding the landscape in muted greys and blues. Several of the summer storms landed late this year, migrating into fall, meaning that baseball season has lasted much longer this year.
"Since Edward won't tell me, where are we going, Shortie?" Jacob asks, his eyes wide, almost innocent.
Alice giggles, looping one arm around Jacob's massive bicep and the other around Jasper. "Come on! You'll see."
Carlisle and Esme meet us there. The field is already set up, and as soon as Jacob sees it, I can hear the excited stream of babble pouring from his mind.
"You are absolutely not," I say after a mental comment about how he's going to kick my ass.
"Bet." His smile is so beautiful that it almost makes my undead heartbeat again. "Why during storms?" he asks.
"The sound of striking sounds like thunder. First time we did it without a storm, it alerted the locals."
There's a puzzled expression on his face, but before he can comment, Carlisle rallies us, assigning teams.
"Emmett, Esme, Alice, and Jacob versus Rosalie, Jasper, Edward, and myself."
"How's that fair?" Rosalie teases, the game already brightening her sour mood. "They get Alice and Emmett and we have Edward?" Jasper rolls his eyes, but he's grinning.
"Sucks to suck," Emmett says, already taking his place at home plate.
Alice pouts. "Man, Jake. I can usually tell who's going to win as soon as Carlisle picks teams, but I can't see anything because of you."
"You don't have to see the future for this one," Jacob says, throwing an arm around Alice. With the pack, I still feel a bit like an outsider-something that will probably take time for all of us to get used to given our history, but every time I see Jacob around my family, it surprises how easy it looks for him. "Our team's going to win for sure," he says with a grin.
"Cocky for a mutt," Jasper jibes, though there's no malice in it.
"Baseball's just fetch with more steps right?" Jacob responds as he moves to take his place in the outfield.
At first, it's almost endearing how much he's trying to win. By the fourth inning, it becomes just irritating given we're three runs behind even though I'm by far our fastest runner. The bat is firmly in my hands as I ready myself to hit the ball. Jacob's teasing me with images of our previous night and how his tongue felt against me.
"Strike one!" Esme calls out from behind me.
My family looks at me in surprise, and if Jacob could laugh in his wolf form, he would. I've never gotten a strike before. It's almost impossible with our abilities. I've always thought of my mental powers as somewhat of a useful nuisance. Now, they've suddenly become a hindrance.
"The dog is cheating!" Rosalie screeches from second base.
"How?" Esme asks.
Even from this distance, I can feel Jacob's embarrassment. Seducing me in front of my mother, adopted or not, is beyond acceptable.
"He's not," I mutter, clearly a lie, as I raise the bat once again.
That's when I hear it. That's when I hear them . Not just one, either, but all three of them and Jane, Alec, Eleazar, and Dmeteri. I lower the bat just as Carlisle throws the ball.
"Strike two?" Esme calls out, a bit confused.
"That's it!" Rosalie says, stalking towards Jacob.
"No. Wait. There's coming," I say, dropping the bat and sprinting so that I'm right next to Jacob. I don't have to offer any other explanation. My family surrounds us. Jacob shifts back, the confusion clear on his face.
"The Volturi," I said. He nods, remembering our conversation, though I know he's wishing that Sam and the others were there with him.
When Aro, Marcus, Caius, and the other four appear out of the woods, we're ready for them.
"Carlisle," Aro says, softly. I can feel Jacob's curiosity heighten next to me. I resist the urge to touch him, to reassure him.
"Aro," Carlisle answers. "What brings you here, old friend?"
"Rumors have been churning, Carlisle. They say that an old English companion of the Romanian coven set roots down in these parts."
"You're a bit late, Aro. We have taken care of them. Albion and his children remain no more." Aro raises an eyebrow and moves closer to our group. "You understand why I cannot just take your word when it comes to this, yes?" He reaches out a hand, and Carlisle gladly offers his when suddenly, Caius snarls an order and Jacob crumples next to me. The pain radiating through him almost brings me to my knees.
" Child of the moon !" Caius hisses. "How dare you ally yourself with such vile creatures?" I launch myself at Jane, and suddenly, I'm gasping on the ground. It feels as though I am being crushed into the earth. Pain blooms in my head like a flower and wraps its tendrils around my limbs.
"Enough!" Carlisle says. "Jacob Black is not a child of the moon. He is a shifter of the Quileute people!"
Caius looks toward Eleazar and the young vampire nods in agreement. With a flick of his wrist at Jane, the pain stops.
"How interesting," Aro says, side-stepping Carlisle and walking around Jacob. I know he's thinking of adding Jacob to his own family. Guard dogs of his size and ability would be invaluable. I can't help it-I snarl.
"It seems as though my interest in...Jacob, was it? In Jacob has irritated one of your own coven members. I wonder why that is, Carlisle."
There is fear in Jacob's mind. Fear that this powerful trio will rip him away from all that he's ever known. They'll have to tear me apart and burn me before I let that happen.
"This one," Marcus says, pointing to me as I am still on my knees before them, "And the shifter are...intimate with each other."
I know they are the sole enforcers of order in this bloody, hidden world, but at this moment, I hate them for laying my only source of comfort in the world bare. I hate myself for exposing Jacob's existence like this, knowing that these creatures are collectors.
"And how," Aro begins, stepping towards me with an amused glint in his eyes, "Did you know what I had planned for Jacob?"
I can hear Carlisle's alarm at this. Never had I thought that I, myself, would be considered an oddity.
"Eleazar?" Aro asks the young boy.
"Touchless telepathy," he says, looking at me, almost bored. His gaze shifts to Alice. "Subjective precognition." Then to Jaspar. "Pathokinesis."
Aro's eyes light up and he turns back to Carlisle. "My, my, Carlisle. I see you've also become a collector of sorts yourself, haven't you?"
"I didn't seek out Edward, Alice, or Jaspar for their abilities, Aro. They're part of my family." A look passes between the three Volturi, and I know that they wish they had brought the one who can manipulate relationships.
"I understand you came here to see if we had disposed of Albion," Carlisle continues. He holds out a hand. Aro pursues his lips. He's trying to figure out how to shift back to the topic of me, Alice, Jaspar, and Jacob, but eventually, he takes Carlisle's hand. In the briefest of moments, Aro takes in all that has happened in the last few months and sighs in contentment.
"Yes. I suppose you have disposed of Albion. Though I'm glad we came to check, Carlisle-an alliance between our kind and shifters whose powers so clearly align with those of the children of the moon is unheard of."
"Unheard of does not always mean a problem," Carlisle ventures, hesitantly.
"Clearly you can see how it would be dangerous , old friend." Fear settles into my gut, but I trust Carlisle. I always have. "Perhaps we should take one or two shifters back with us to see how they behave differently from the children of the moon?"
I feel Jacob tense, but before he opens his beautiful mouth, Carlisle speaks. "With all due respect, I think their involvement in taking care of Albion alongside is proof enough. You saw how the Quileute and we worked together while you...gathered your troops to come all this way."
There's a thinly veiled threat there, and Aro knows it. He also knows how well Carlisle is liked and the strength of the pack. It's a battle that may not be worth fighting given that the Volturi have lasted this long by playing it safe.
"Yes. You do make a fair point. Just know that we'll be keeping a close eye on this area in the coming few years to ensure that your...treaty stays intact."
He wants me, Alice, Jaspar, and the wolves to join him. All it will take is one slip up to have them descend on us. But it's better than them taking us away one by one. We'll just have to lay low for a while. Aro turns, his deep red robe looking out of place in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. "It was good to see you again, Carlisle. Let's not go three hundred years without seeing each other again, shall we?"
With that, the Volturi disappear once again.
After that, none of us are in the mood to play baseball again, so Jacob and I head back to La Push. He races me there and I'm content to let him win since as we approach his house, he sweeps me up into a hug, planting a kiss on my lips in a way that makes me want him to take me right there. Instead, I push away, keeping a hand on his burning chest.
"I thought I'd have to fight them tooth and nail to get out of there," he says, still breathless.
"No. You'd be dead before they let you put up a fight. We'd have both gone willingly if they had brought the right people." Jacob frowns at this. "But Carlisle's been good at avoiding them. We just have to ensure that we don't catch their attention for a while and wait until they find something else to occupy themselves with."
Jacob grins. "I think I can find something to occupy us with."
After a quick hello to Billy, who is on his way out to see his friend in town and is thoroughly not thrilled to see me, I throw Jacob on his bed. Wolves-probably the pack-howl in the distance as he takes off my shirt with such force that a button rips off.
"Easy," I say with a laugh.
"That's not what I want to hear," he teases, pawing at my pants.
"Jacob, wait," I say, sternly, holding his hands in mine. His eyes go wide and I touch my forehead to his. "I want you to know that I'd have killed them before I let them take you."
He kisses me gently. "I know. I've seen it. But also, just know that whatever this weird, protective thing you have going on is cute, but I can take care of myself and my pack-that includes you and your family. Don't get too caught up in saving me, okay? Whatever we do, we can do together. As a team." He kisses me again, harder.
"Speaking of a team," he says, pulling away. "Sam's making dinner tonight, so we have about a half hour before we have to leave."
"I wonder what we can do in a half hour," I say, pushing him down on the bed.
"I don't know, but if it's not fucking, the pack's going to get several, vivid and detailed descriptions of what I want to do to you when I shift on the way to Sam's." I unbutton his pants, running a cool hand down his flaming chest and rippling abdominal muscles.
"Speaking of vivid images, don't think I forgot about the games you were playing during baseball."
Jacob grins and my unbeating heart almost bursts with joy. "What're you going to do about it?"
I grab his throat with force and lean down to whisper in his ear. "Quiet, dog."
His breathing goes shallow.
As we take each other apart and pull ourselves back together again, lost in each other's touch, I know Jacob's thinking it too-this is what it feels like to not be alone. To be whole in some unspoken, carnal way. I've seen Jacob with his muzzle bloody and with rage in his eyes. I've killed and almost been killed. We're both monsters in our own way, but where Jacob is a protector, I am what I am as a result of Carlisle's last attempt. For the longest time, I didn't think I could feel this deeply ever again. I thought that monsters like me couldn't love. But that is what this is, isn't it? Love.
Jacob coming undone on top of me, pulsing in me as I reach up to pull him to my lips, reaching my own release. Me, racing to save him from his own desperation. Him, undoing years of mistrust with an arm around Alice. Both of us diving off the cliffs of La Push together into an unknown sea.
"I think I love you," I whisper, so quietly that I'm not sure he hears it. There's a dread in me, even though I know his own mind as well as mine at this point.
He pauses, uncertain of what he's heard, and I almost wish I hadn't said it. Then, the image of me staring back at him when we fought one another in the woods the day before saving Seth reaches me. It is that image of me, bloody, broken, furious, and worried out of my mind for him that cemented his own feelings for me in my mind.
Jacob grins and he doesn't have to say it, because I already know, but because he's Jacob, and he's laying with his chin on my chest, looking up at me with those dark, dark eyes that he does. "You're so formal it's almost stupid. I love you too."