Chapter 21

Epilogue

They congregated high on a flat, overlooking the cliffs against the deep ocean background, waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was a miracle they could drive up there. They'd all piled into the backs of 4X4 pickup trucks and then hiked a bit.

There was no decorated arch. She said she wanted nothing artificial ruining the landscape's natural beauty. It was another miracle she allowed them to set up chairs. The decorations consisted of an abundance of strategically placed wildflowers native to the area.

Jacob stood, fidgeting by the flowered arrangements in front the familiar crowd of local guests. He was already sweating, making him itchy and even more impatient. All they needed now was the blushing bride, and they could get the show on the road. Jacob ran his fingers under his collar as he glanced up at the sky. Everything looked precisely as it should.

She'd planned this for an entire year, almost exactly to the day of the proposal. The season had to be the same to get the very image she desired. Free from overcast, so a person could see the clear sky, which was a feat. They had all been on standby for the past month and a half. She chose early sunset as the time of day for the perfect outcome.

A lot of planning and weather watching went into the ceremony. She was certain she could pull it off. The rest of them weren't as confident. Her mom rented the ballroom at the resort for the reception and secretly made them decorate it for the wedding just in case it rained. She'd kill them if she ever found that out.

To the west glowed the sun. The sky was fiery amber weaved with several shades of lavender. The east held the moon, nearly full, surrounded by a pale and a darker dim blue. That was the biggy. She wanted to see the sun and the moon sharing the sky, each showcasing their individual beauty and wonder on opposite ends of the spectrum. That's the way it was when she said yes.

Jacob had to give it to those girls. They knew what they were doing for planning the day of their dreams.

The horse-drawn carriage arrived, and Brady and Collin eagerly performed their duties with honor. Holding their hands out, they elegantly escorted the bride down from the carriage. Her brother stepped down. They latched arms and walked down the aisle. He looked so proud to be giving her away. He fulfilled his father's responsibility perfectly.

The Quileute singers gathered around the drum, singing Harry's favorite Quileute celebration song in their native tongue.

The stars shined from her eyes as she approached the front of the section outlined for the occasion. She was mesmerizing in all her beauty and radiance. Jacob turned to look at the groom.

River gaped at her, stunned as she approached. "Wow," he uttered, gulping.

He had to be the luckiest man in the world, Jacob thought. No. Wait a minute, Jacob was. His eyes combed over Raven. She smiled at him unaware of what she did every time she looked at him that way. He knew nobody should outshine the bride on her wedding day, but he had to admit Raven was still the most gorgeous girl, even without trying.

He bet River would disagree. Glancing at the audience and glimpsing his boys with their girls, he laughed to himself, realizing Paul would disagree, so would Jared, and so would Sam.

Sam! Scanning him, he saw on his expression this was a little tough for him. Not that his heart hurt or anything, but just knowing Leah once belonged to him and if things were different, or should he say, if things had stayed the same, it might be Sam who stood beside him for such an occasion. He had his sweetheart Emily though, and all was well.

Jacob sucked down a yawn. It sure was funny how things worked out. His mind drifted to the night he discovered Raven was his imprint, and what Billy had to say about it.

"The Cullens and especially your bond with Nessie caused the major division between you and Sam. Once the link no longer existed, the barrier between your packs dissolved with it. So when your packs chose to work in unison, the connection re-forged.

"Because your imprint attachment with Nessie wasn't allowed to develop and evolve, creating the persistent, constant bonding between you two, it gradually detached, starting from the one imprinted on's side. They don't feel the magnetic pull the wolves feel, and humans do not automatically fall in love with the wolf just because the wolf wills it to be so.

"When the Cullens left, they placed Nessie on a new path, separate from yours. Your situation and Quil's differed from the others, because of the young age of the imprints and because a romantic attachment has not yet been formed. This makes the bond more vulnerable and in need of constant attention on the human end.

"The same transfer that happens when a couple separates by death, eventually happens should a wolf's imprint reject the wolf. The wolf will not be allowed to pine for too long. That would be detrimental to the species. Because Raven and River came from one of the great Quileute blood lines, they made for strong genetic matches. Although, not too close of a match, which was most likely the case with Leah and Sam. When the detachment began to occur, your focal point began to shift. We could see a connection drawing you toward Raven. Didn't you feel it?"

There was an illumination surrounding Raven, and Jacob felt a powerful desire to be with her he couldn't make sense of. "I did, but I thought it was my imagination," he replied, noting how his mind couldn't control his actions. "I think I'd always known it subconsciously though."

He now knew it was the wolf inside him who kept pushing him deeper into a relationship with her against his mental judgement. It was the wolf inside of him who kept interfering whenever he was on the verge of breaking it off with her.

"Now, had the Cullens stayed, or you had gone with them, you would have remained bound to Nessie. At least until she was old enough to choose whether she would accept you as a partner. As for Raven, I suspect she would have made a strong partner for one of the other wolves. Events just unfolded how they did, and you found her in your time of need."

Upon hearing those words, Jacob pictured Embry, wide-eyed, with his hand on his heart, the day he first introduced him to her.

"What's wrong?" Raven mouthed at Jacob from across the aisle, yanking him out of his daze.

He shook his head and mouthed, "Nothing. Love you!"

"Love you, too," she mouthed back, a grin appearing.

As much he enjoyed a good wedding, these things always took too damn long. He was ready to get out of his suit in a hurry. It was way too much clothing for him.

He glanced over at Rachel, concerned with her visible exhaustion he heard Paul thinking about earlier in the morning. Jacob thought she seemed preoccupied, and she always looked as if she was hiding something. In fact, she hadn't been the same since they rescued her from the vampires, and it had been over a year.

Jacob had overheard Paul talking about her with Jared a few days before.

Paul said Rachel behaved more distant lately, besides the constant nightmares she's had since then. He hardly noticed it at first and if he didn't have the senses he had, he probably wouldn't have noticed it all. When something affected her though, no matter how small it might be, it affected him.

Now it had gotten to where they could all see that something was up.

Jared didn't have the same problem with Kim and never did. She behaved the same as always, except for an occasional nightmare or two and being terrified to be alone. Which was a normal reaction. Especially, since they never found the vampire that wanted to change one of them.

Rachel didn't like them following her around. She wanted freedom from the wolves' watchful eyes. Considering everything she went through, Jacob thought that was weird. He tried to talk to her about it, but she refused to tell him anything about what went on in the building. He didn't understand why. Hell, he wasn't the enemy.

He had asked Kim what she knew about Rachel's ordeal. Kim was no help. She told him she blanked it all out and didn't want to remember anything, ever. She thought maybe Rachel did the same. But Jacob wasn't so sure about that, and he would find out what was going on with his sister, one way or another.

He would also find the missing bloodsucker and put an end to his existence, particularly because of what he planned. Jacob didn't know what they would have done if he had bitten one of them before they'd arrived. Topping it all off, the coward ran away.

He'd be back though, take it from Jacob. A vampire with a fixation wouldn't give up. It didn't matter that it had been a while since the incident. Jacob and the pack knew time meant nothing to the leech kind.

Rachel felt the uncomfortable prod of Jacob's suspicious glare but refused to glance his way. She snuggled closer to Paul. She could enjoy the ceremony much more if Jacob wasn't staring at her through most of it. What's his problem?

He just refused to leave her alone about the time they took her and Kim. He thought she was in danger. They all did, but she knew for a fact she wasn't. She didn't care what Brady thought he heard. She felt certain he'd misunderstood whatever he thought they said, being under the influence of drugs.

She glanced up at Paul. Their eyes met. She drowned herself in the most intense deep brown eyes she'd ever seen. The corners of his lips curled into a half smile revealing the tiny dimple just above the right side of his mouth. She squeezed his hand, and he lifted hers to his lips and kissed it. Leaning her head on his broad shoulder, she rested against his strong, warm body, and gave a soft sigh of comfort when he put his head against hers. She loved him deeply and felt the strong connection between them, just like always, from the moment they'd bumped into each other on the beach. Tracing her palm with his fingertips, he sent a shiver down her spine.

He worried about her a lot these days. She felt bad about it, but some things, she couldn't tell him.

He knew she didn't want to talk about it, so he never asked. How can she tell him the vampire they're all searching for was kind and caring? How can she tell him his worst enemy was her friend? He protected her. He was her hope. She spent three days and nights with him, and they talked a lot. If he had wanted to change her, he would have. He'd had more than enough opportunity.

Kim should have been grateful too. Though Rachel understood she was so frightened and completely out of it the entire time, she really wasn't aware of what went on, but she owed him her gratitude.

A piece of duct tape covered her mouth as she sat bound in the back of a van. Beads of sweat trickled down her back. Terrified, her knees knocked together unfailingly. Though she didn't understand what was happening, she tried to remain calm and keep her sanity. That seemed the most beneficial thing to do.

Two men sat in front seats hardly speaking, and when they did, she could hear their uneasiness reflected in their voices.

"He said he would find us. I don't how he's supposed to do that. Seattle is a big city."

"If we could wait anywhere, this place is probably more than adequate. At least it's far enough out of the way nobody will hear screams."

Tears streamed down her face, her stomach convulsed and she gagged, but there was no way she could throw up with tape over her mouth. Inhaling and exhaling through her nose, she tried to control her shaking body.

A crunching, snapping sound grew louder as it neared the van. She realized another car approached them on the gravel road. Three doors slammed shut.

Boom, Boom, Boom... Someone pounded on the side of the van, causing her heart to jump out of her chest. She automatically slid to the van's center. The two men in the front jumped out of their seats, appearing just as frightened as she.

"Wait here!" A man with an accent instructed the men in the front seats.

She heard three voices talking. "I know you've been around long enough to know the crimes Caius and his brothers have committed against our kind. Trust me. Things will be a lot better when they no longer exist."

"And your people can do that?"

"Yes, they can. The arrangements are coming along fine, but we could always use more help. So, what do you say?"

"Come on, Nekoy. It sounds like this thing will get done with or without us. We might as well get in good with the new power while we have the chance. It'll add some excitement to a boring, monotonous existence."

"You should listen to him, Nekoy. He's got the right idea."

"My answer is no... Tony, you can help them if you want to, but I'm gone. I intended to pass right through this city when we got here, and my plans haven't changed."

"Ah... I think I'll hang around here for a while."

"I guess I'll see you around then," the Nekoy voice said, with an irritated tone. "Oh, and your family coven won't like you doing this, but I'm not your sitter, kid. You should probably tell them, so I don't have to."

"At least sniffing you two out wasn't a total waste of my time," the thick accented voice gloated, as the back van-doors ripped open.

One of them yanked Rachel out effortlessly and dropped her onto the ground. Falling to her back with her arms squished beneath her, the rocks pinched her skin, denting the palms of her hands when she rolled to her side, scraping her face on the gravel.

Pulling a wad of money out of his coat pocket, the man threw it toward the front seats at the abductors. The van spun out with the back doors swinging wide open, kicking dirt and dust all over her.

As soon as she saw them she knew what they were. Ivory skin, lips wine red, their dismal, odd colored eyes gawked at her. One looked like a teenager. The other looked like a man in his mid-forties.

"Get her up, Tony."

That's when she saw him. He stalked away as Tony lifted her from the ground, busting the ropes from her ankles and standing her upright. "I know you know better than to run, Miss." Tony the teenager gave her a warning glare, before snapping the bands from her wrists.

She stood frozen with fear, blinking back tears and trying not to breathe too loudly.

Tony turned toward the one walking away. "Hold on, Nekoy. We'll take you back to your truck."

"Nah. I know the way," Nekoy replied, not looking back.

Him being Native American held her attention. Faded bronze skin covered the athletic arms of his broad physique. Dark, retro-styled hair dangled long below ear-length. Dressed fairly modern, he wore a light-colored t-shirt and dark blue denim jeans. A medium-sized backpack hung over his shoulder, resembling any random college guy... or Calvin Klein model.

As if her eyes were burning a hole through the back of his head, he whisked around and caught her stare.

Shuddering, she closed her eyes and dropped her head. He suddenly stood beside her. Shaking, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to catch her breath and praying that when she looked again, he wouldn't be there. She inched her head up and opened her eyes, peering through the hair covering her face. His eyes fixed on her, and he bore them into hers, soothing her somehow. They were strange, golden amber. Not the same as the ringleader's eyes, which were crimson red, or Tony's, which were a fiery shade of amber.

"I thought you didn't want to be part of this?" the older vampire asked.

"Changed my mind," Nekoy replied. "Could be interesting."

"All right. Take the girl. Be careful not to hurt her. She's part of the plan. We've got a couple more human chips to collect, and then we'll get to where we're going."

Nekoy took hold of her arm with a gentle hand, leading her to the vehicle. To her surprise, he pressed his lips against her ear, causing her to flinch from fear and shiver. His hand was ice cold and so was his mouth. "I'll help you," he whispered.

She couldn't bring herself to look away. Deep inside, she knew he spoke the truth.

Now, Paul, Jacob, and all the rest of them are searching to destroy him. If they only knew the truth, he kept them safe by guarding and defending them. Nekoy was the real reason she and Kim still lived. He even saved her from her nightmares, eventually.

She covered her head from the breaking glass as her dark-silver wolf crashed through the window, crouching protectively in front of her. At the same time, Nekoy left the building like he promised, knowing they were safe.

It relieved her, because she didn't want him to die. How does she tell her Perfect Paul the vampire who should be part of her worst nightmares haunts her most vivid dreams? And, not in the way anyone would ever expect.

A/N If you made it hear and loved the story, please follow, comment and/or and share. Thank you for your support. The sequel is posted Sickly Sweet Dreams. When Rachel obsesses over a handsome rogue vampire the pack is hunting, she embarks on a journey of strange dreams, confusing her reality. Their mysterious connection threatens her bond with Paul, potentially placing her life in danger and sending Paul to the fight of his life. The RedMoon Promise Sequel Romance/Mystery/Mature

And check out Time Won't Let Me Go (Twilight Jacob Black Fanfiction) You will grow up with the characters, and won't be disappointed. It's the Twilight cast like You've never seen them before.

Time Won't Let Me Go ( Twilight Jacob Black Fanfiction) Its on my page.

Summary: A talented fighter with Olympic goals, Jacob only has two loves, boxing and Bella. When he is forced to make decisions to obtain his dream those passions collide. Follow Bella and Jacob through them turbulent teenage years. It's my second completed fanfiction, and I poured my heart into it.