Into the Woods
By: Everleigh Allen
Chapter 34
Jake could hear her laughter echo through the forest with the breeze as it danced through the trees and ruffled through his fur.
His fur instantly stood on end.
Suddenly, Jake jumped forward to get a better view of Bella, but the movement startled the nearby birds and they launched towards the sky, cawing their warnings to others.
Namely, the bloodsucker who instantly hissed and hunched over as if that was threatening at all.
He watched the sparkly vampire stiffen, his head tilting to the side toward Jake's position and listened for several moments before he draped his arm around her torso in a display of defense and entitlement.
How dare he touch her! Jake growled, low and menacing as he watched the male grab the girl from around her waist who giggled happily when he spun her before helping her down on her feet.
Didn't he know that she was his? Jake thought darkly. He felt it in his soul that she was to be his. She just had to be.
There was no one else.
After all, he had searched everywhere! He had gone to parks and movies and date but no one caught his eye the same way Bella Swan did!
She just needed to get away from the bloodsucker long enough to feel the connection!
Jake's claws reached deep into the soil as the bloodsucker suddenly stopped and looked around, as if he knew Jake was there. As if he could hear him.
"Go home, Jake." the bloodsucker whispered into the trees, unnoticed by the beautiful brunette.
Jake snarled out a growl. "Not until you give me what is mine!"
"She's not something to be possessed, man cub." Edward snickered.
With a growl, as menacing as he possibly could, Jake bounded through the woods toward them, jumping past the thick tree trunks and over the ferns and moss. But then he suddenly turned right before the tree line and headed back into safety of the darkness.
"Ugh! I totally just got chills! I can feel the hair on my arms stand up!" Bella said, showing the evidence of her gooseflesh.
"My skin doesn't do that anymore," Edward sighed dramatically causing Bella to giggle. He seemed lighthearted but he was really trying to not startle Bella and keep her attention away from the woods around them. "Vampire skin doesn't do much other than crack like rock and then heal."
"How boring you are," Bella teased, "Mine changes colors, does the heebie-jeebies thing, and it even prunes!"
"Ha ha," Edward chuckled, "The gooseflesh is actually an instinct remaining from our ancestors. When the body was covered with more hair- the hair would stand on end when a predator was nearby to make them seem larger, as well as a warning of threat. Humans don't have all the hair that they used to, but still have the warning of a possible threat or danger. It also happens with a shift of wind or some say a ghost or other such entities, music, a slight touch, etcetera."
"Is something out there that I should be worried about?" Bella giggled.
"Yes," Edward said solemnly causing Bella to gasp and still, looking at him in question. Her eyes seemed to dart around her, but there wasn't anything she could see.
"What? What is it, Edward ?"
Edward frowned, looking toward the area he knew Jake to be hiding. The wolf-boy was hunched next to a fallen tree watching the couple quietly. Edward knew that the other wolves weren't as close but could be there in a matter of moments if needed.
Bella's eyes landed on Edward imploring him to tell her. He gave her an suppliant look back as if he was trying to decide if or what he should tell her.
Edward stopped and Bella stilled. He looked into her wide brown eyes, seeing such love and trust within them. He knew he couldn't keep things from her if they were going to be in a progressive relationship.
Finally, not wanting to keep anything from her, he relented. "Right now, Jake's presence is worrisome but not threatening. I don't even know why he's even here." Bella frowned at his words and almost instantly tears started to form in her eyes.
"Jake is out here? How did he know we'd be here? Is he stalking me?"
"Perhaps? I don't know, Bella. I'd know if he's close, though. He's kept his distance, but that doesn't mean the other wolves will, too. They can also hear over great distances, so it's probable that he was far enough, yet close enough to hear the plans.
"We're in a precarious position, Bella. I don't want to say too much since Jake can hear every word that we say. He is watching you very carefully- from a distance- as he still feels as if he has some kind of claim to you."
"The imprint?"
Edward sighed, "I believe he thinks so. He wants to think you are his imprint, as you know, and when people start telling themselves something it becomes easier and easier to believe it until it becomes their truth. But I can see the difference between what Jake believes and what a true imprinting is from the minds of the other wolves. They seemed to have had some kind of shift in perception of sorts- toward their imprint, whereas Jake is going purely on hormonal coveting."
There was an audible growl within the trees causing both Bella and Edward to look in that direction, proving Edward's word to be true.
"Would you please get on my back now, Bella?" Edward said, but his narrowed eyes were searching the tree line. "My family has already beaten us to the meadow and it is nearly time."
Bella nodded before Edward hunched down for her to climb on.
Once she was securely on his back, he was off sprinting through the woods toward the light greens of the meadow.
Jake followed.
.
"It's about time, lovers!" Alice smiled widely when Edward and Bella stepped away from the trees and into the grassy meadow as he put her down on her feet. He held onto her, letting her get her equilibrium before they stepped toward his family.
"Hello Edward, Bella," Esme cooed, swaying forward and taking Bella's hand in hers and giving it a small shake. She smiled softly, "So sorry things got out of hand before. We were not ourselves."
Edward rolled his eyes with a laugh, "You'll came unhinged- you made Charlie blush!"
If Esme could flush she would have. "Well, humans tend to bring our, uh, succubus and incubus out, you know that. It's only natural." There was a collection of agreements and nods from the Cullen's.
"Especially on full moons," Rosalie added seductively as if that would help the cause, her red lips pouted into a kiss as her eyes drifted over Emmett for a moment. Bella looked away as the woman sauntered over to her mate.
"Well," Bella sighed, "Luckily neither Charlie nor Renee are here now, then. Let's try to contain the crazy while we try to figure out what is going on, hmm? I'd like to get back and check on Renee-"
"Hey, who invited the wolves to the party?" Emmett interrupted and gestured a hand into the area that the wolves were sitting right behind the trees. Bella still couldn't see anything but they were obvious to the vampires.
"They've been here. Jake is feeling very protective of Bella, still-" Edward sighed. The exasperation in his voice was not lost on anyone. "Yet he is abiding to the court order and staying the 500 feet away exactly as per the requirement, at least… for now. He almost broke it earlier."
"Well, the sun is high in the sky; shall we open Pandora's- eh, Bella's box? Renee will need medication soon." Carlisle asked, looking to the heavens and then at his watch with a small frown.
"Um, Bella's box has been opened! And in more ways than one! Edward took care of that!" Emmett snickered and was promptly smacked upside the head by Rosalie.
There was a huge growl in the distance. Jake, undoubtedly, was abhorrent to the news.
"Bella," Carlisle gestured toward the bag that was on the ground at her feet. "Let's get this over with, dear. Hurry."
Bella leaned forward and grabbed the bag. She rooted through it and pulled out the little wooden box and then stood up with it. She looked around her, seeing each face before she looked toward those hidden in the shadows of the trees.
She looked back down and let all of the air out of her chest. "Here goes nothing," She said quietly as she opened the box.
A/N: Ending it here… you're welcome. Let me know what you think will happen!
Mancub: The main character, Mowgli from The Jungle Book, was nicknamed Mancub. Very perfect fit for Jake.