Chapter 20: Close Call

The next day I stood outside Emily's. I didn't even want to go in. They're all trying to cheer me up when they really shouldn't. Why are they even bothering? They're the ones who were constantly on me about telling her and now...but they're my friends too I guess. They just want the best for me. But I don't want to be cheered up. I shouldn't be happy about this. Kelly never called back. No texts either. Silence. I sighed. Why am I surprised? She's not going to want to talk to me. Her hurt is more than mine. At least I think. That's why she's not calling. Though I swear that my whole damn world is cavin' in. Why can't I stop being a complete idiot? Do I have something programmed in my damn brain to make me like this? Isn't there a way to fix this-

"Jake."

I turned around to come face to face with a fist. However, the person who threw the punch clutched his hand as my nose bled for about two seconds. I wiped it just as if finished healing. Damn wolf thing. For once I probably deserved to bleed a bit more.

"Told ya you should've let me, babe," Leah said, putting her phone away before caressing Eric's hand.

Eric seethed, "You could've told me his jaw was like rocks!"

Leah shrugged, glancing at me, "Told you he's mad."

"Mad doesn't even begin to cover it," Eric gritted out.

"It's okay," I said, "I deserve it."

"You're damn right!" Eric said, "What were you thinking? You know how she feels about you and then you do that to her? God I hate you right now!"

"You should," I answered, then sighed, "You just can't hate me as much as I hate myself."

I heard him say something but I just got outta there. I couldn't stay. The guilt was already eating at me. Both Price siblings hated me. Geeze. I walked. And walked. And walked some more. Normally, I'd phase but the last thing I want is others in my head. They don't need to see this. Probably don't want to. Bad enough they saw me mope around about Bella, heard all those damn thoughts. Now with Kelly...no. Part of me wishes I could have their anger back from when I did think about Bella. It's better than this. Pity glances and crap like that because they feel sorry for me. Because she's my imprint. And they don't want to see a wolf without their imprint. Because that's not how this is supposed to go. It's supposed to be wolf gets imprint and then happily ever after. Not for me. But they can't change it, what happened. I can't even change what I did, no matter how much I wish I could.

I ended up at First beach, climbing on the same driftwood I always found her on. Makes sense. It's as close as I can get to her right now. We're so damn similar. Come to stare at the waves and think. And it works. We think, we calm down. Why didn't she just come here...like normal? Maybe being on a beach after what happened on the other one...God I missed her. Her face, her smile, her laugh….all of it. It's only been two days. Two days but it might as well be years. It feels like the whole world is less bright...especially here where it's pretty crappy year round. At least with her here with was brighter, happier. Now she's not and it's back to being dreary. And then there's me. The one who screwed it all up. Now I'm just...lost. Never thought I'd ever feel this way. I've always known what to do. But now...I got nothing.

I heard sloshing sand and caught sight of him with my peripherals. Hmm he didn't bring her. Wonder why not. They're never apart.

"If you wanted to do damage," I said, "You should've really brought Leah. Don't want you to hurt yourself again."

"I come in peace," Eric said, climbing up.

"How's you hand?" I asked as he sat down.

"Hurts," he replied, "But I feel a whole lot better…. Sorry."

I sighed and glanced away, "You got nothing to be sorry for. I had it coming."

"Yeah I do," he said, "I don't hate you. I can't hate anybody. I'm sorry I said that."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not," he said, "It's just-she's my sister."

"I get it," I replied, "I'm protective of mine too."

"It's more than that," he sighed, "Before...before you came back, when we just got here...we both were the new kids and nobody really wanted to talk to us. Kelly & me, we were close before our parents died. After-well we've been close."

"I know," I said, "She talks about you a lot. She's protective of you too."

"Same," he answered, "She talks about you too."

"Sorry," I shrugged.

"For what?" he paused, "Yeah sure I was mad earlier but...damn Jake, seeing you like this, right now...I've never seen you like this. You're not you. That's why I'm here."

"You don't need to try and cheer me up…" I said, "I don't need that right now."

"I'm not great at that anyway," he said, "No what I came for is...did Kelly...did she tell you about Dan, her ex?"

"Yeah," I said, "More or less. Not every detail."

"So you know how serious it was?"

"Yeah...then he cheated on her."

"Yeah and the day it happened…"

"...your parents died."

"Yeah, it was bad enough he was a jerk but-," Eric sighed, "When she told me...she tries to hold it together all the time and I know she does that a lot cuz of me. After that day, she just kinda felt like she needed to be strong, for me. She never really lets on how she's really feeling if she can help it."

"She does," I said, "sometimes anyway."

"Around you?"

"I guess," I shrugged.

"Look, the point I'm getting at is-She put up walls. Even to me. But never with you," he said, "Whatever ones she had, you tore them down. I don't even know if she put them up with you at all until...," he paused a sec, "You know, we talked that night….after she told you how she felt."

I glanced at him. I gulped. Oh man. I was such a jerk. I wanted to tell her so bad then. But I couldn't.

"She told me how scared she'd been to tell you. She knew it would probably wreck things," he said, "but she told me she never felt anything like it before."

She was scared? Why...oh right. Because she thought I was head over heels for Bella. And I was at that time...still a little bit...wasn't I? Or was it just because I was too big of a coward to tell her how I felt? And now she's never felt anything like how she does for me...

"W-why are you telling me this?"

"Because I have no idea how you can feel the same and not go after her," he said, "You really have no idea where she went?"

"She's back home," I said, "Where you both used to be. Makes sense she'd go there."

"If you know-"

"I can't," I said, "I can't go. Your dad-he told me she didn't want me to know to follow her. She needs her space and-no matter how much it kills me-I'll give it to her. After what I did...I've done...she deserves it."

"Be straight with me Jake, you're gonna make this right-when she comes back-right?"

"Who knows if she even will."

"You're kidding right?" he raised a brow, "After what I just told you? Besides, we've all seen you two. You make each other smile and that kinda happiness will bring her back. She wants to be happy and even if she's mad, she knows she's happy with you."

"I want her to be too."

"I know you do," he smiled, smacking me on the shoulder, "Can't wait to have you as part of the family."

I smiled, "One thing at a time."

Eric jumped down, "We should probably head back."

"Yeah…," Suddenly I caught a whiff of a scent. "Don't move," I said.

My nose scrunched from the stench. Drake. Then a chuckle came from behind.

"To think," The leech said, "You think you deserve her."

I turned, coming face to face with the bloodsucker.

"Stay away from her," I hissed.

"Dog, you do not frighten me," he replied as two other leeches flanked him.

"Is this who I think it is…?" Eric said to me.

"Ahh, the brother yes?," Drake grinned, "Well well, how convenient."

"For what?" Eric glared at him.

"To get my prize back to me of course," his teeth gleamed, "Your capture and then death will bring her home."

"You knew," I gritted out, "You knew she left?"

"Of course, nothing she does escapes my notice."

"Then why let her leave?"

"Because she must come to me on her own," Drake grinned, "She's so strong-willed...and now she will come to me. She will never allow anything to happen to her brother, or father...or friends."

"You'd take away everything she loves?," Eric spat, stepping forward but I held him back.

"She won't love you for much longer," he replied, looking straight at me, "She will only see you for what you are, a snack."

"Eric-run!"

I phased and lunged for Drake. He darted off to the side. I lunged again and he moved again. This time he burst away and I pursued. "Guys Eric is being taken! Get here quick!"

"On our way!"

I turned back, heading for the other leech grabbing Eric's arm. I ripped apart his torso with one huge bite only to have the female jump on me. I tore off her arm, eliciting a loud hiss. The pack joined me in tearing both to shreds. I lunged again for Drake as he made his way back toward Eric.

"Foolish mutt," he snarled, "You cannot stop me!"

This time, Drake lunged at me, teeth bared. I moved out of the way and came up behind, sinking my teeth into his calf. He hissed, grabbing me by my fur. He slammed his other arm down into my back. I hit the ground, feeling a crunch. As I went to get back up he hit me again, sending me a few feet away. I saw Leah running toward him as he grabbed for Eric.

"You won't make it in time!"

"The hell I won't!"

"I got this!"

"No!"

I lunged at Drake again right as he grabbed Eric. Eric toppled over to the side. Drake got out of my grasp and ran. I chased after him until he disappeared into the water. I followed into the water for a little bit then came back. I phased back, my broken rib already healing.

"I had him!" Leah yelled at me as I approached her and Eric.

"You wouldn't have made it in time."

"He's-He's my imprint," she said, pulling Eric tight to her, "It's my job to protect him."

"I know that," I said, "He's also family to me. So my job too."

"Thanks...both of you," Eric said, "Still sitting right here."

I turned, starting to walk away when I heard, "Jacob."

I turned back, "What Leah?"

She paused a second, glancing at Eric who gave her a glance, then turned back to me and said, "Thank you."

I nodded, walking away again. This time I fell into step with Sam.

"Don't we have patrols by their house?"

"Yes and I've upped them," Sam replied, "You alright?"

"I'll be fine," I said, glancing back toward Leah, "Is Eric…?"

"A few bruises, that's it."

"What about Joe?"

"Your Dad's had him in sight all day."

"Who's patrolling first?"

"Me" Jared replied, "and Paul. You and Embry can have second. Go get some sleep. We'll call if we hear anything."

I nodded, heading for home. If I can't be with her, at least I can protect her. Her, her family, they will all be safe. The leech's words echoed in my brain. He's using her loved ones as bait to lure her back. He thinks killing everything she holds dear will make her be his...his prize. I gritted my teeth. Never. I've lost one girl to a bloodsucker but not Kelly. They'll never touch her. I will never let it happen. At least for now, instead of being depressed I can shift my focus to one thing I don't mess up...protection.