CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

(JPOV)

Her skin was translucent and her breath gone from her as she laid there, her face changing before my very eyes. I watched her in utter fascination, sensing the weight of her change in my arms as the venom quickly erased the warmth from her body again, still stunned by how this was even possible. Her face was contorted in pain and I winced at the thought of her discomfort, imagining what her change back would feel like.

I waited there with her on the floor, carefully studying the stillness in her body and watching as she further relaxed into me, her eyes soon flashing open to meet mine. Her face was full of a tangible sorrow when she spoke.

"Are you alright?" She asked, her voice sounding hushed to me.

"I'm the one that should be asking you that." I replied, helping her sit up, and noticing how weakened she appeared to be.

"I tried to shield you and then- your mother-"

"You did shield me. It worked, Rana. Your spell was successful. The spirit warrior is gone. I saw her, too. My mother... A vision of her."

"She was with us. In this room. I could feel her. I couldn't stand seeing you like that, Jacob."

"I'm taking you back to La'Push with me." I replied, getting to my feet and pulling on my torn jeans, before handing Rana the white sheet she had given me.

"I can't come back with you." She sighed, turning away from me in a hurry. Her movements much faster than before but unsteady. She stumbled and I caught her by the arm before she could fall, her eyes near glowing when they met mine.

"Of course you can. I can keep you safe, Rana."

"Jacob- our kind... are not allowed on your land. I had hoped that I would stay human- but"

"That doesn't matter, Rana. You're... family to me."

She stared at me in disbelief, her small frame retreating further from me as the silence settled in around us.

"I wouldn't be accepted - or welcomed there. The wolves- and the pack... they wouldn't understand-"

"Yes they would. I'm alpha. They would accept you. Protect you. Like one of their own. We share a mind, Rana. A pack mind- and once they saw you through my eyes-"

"They would be quick to react and slower to reason, Jacob."

"At first, yes... but I'd talk to them. You deserve to have something in this life, Rana. You deserve to be with people who care for you- like family. I want to give that to you. You've done so much for me. I wouldn't be here without you. So please- let me do this for you."

She stilled by the cabin door, her expression unreadable for minutes as she considered my offer.

"Your father... Billy- He is a good man. One of a kind and with so much kindness and love for others, but- I am part of the reason why your beloved mother was taken from him, Jacob, and for that, I don't think he would ever accept me back - or want me around."

"You're wrong, Rana. My father is forgiving and he would want you with us if he knew you were all alone like this. He wouldn't want that kind of life for you- because of how close you were with my mother. Please come back with me. We'll make the trip back together. You're one of the only parts of her I have left ... You knew her... before my father and before she became a mother. You loved her and I know what she would want me to do. She would never leave you here alone the way you have been. It doesn't have to be that way."

She glanced down at her hands seeing the sun touch the tops of them and casting the diamond shadows along the walls. Her face falling from the sight of it.

"If I were human still-"

I crossed the room, placing my hands on her shoulders as she flinched back from me, her eyes widening in surprise when I remained where I was.

"I. Want. You. With. Me."

Her hand reached out and touched my cheek then as a sad smile touched her face. "The more time I spend with you, Jacob- The more you remind me of her and the more you make me want to return to the place of my childhood. I do want that- what you speak of- to be part of something- somewhere. To belong-"

"You do belong. You belong with me- with my family."

"You and I both know that the elders will never go for-"

"Billy is on the council. He will take care of it. I know he will."

She nodded to me with worry still on her porcelain face, her gaze full of a tangible sadness.

"I've always respected your father, Jacob. He is a wonderful man and I should have listened to him from the start. Maybe if I had... I would still be human. It's something I'll regret for the rest of my existence."

"How many times have you changed back like this?"

"These have been the only times. I don't know what's happening- or what's causing it, but I feel weaker each time I come back. It takes a toll on me. I'm afraid they'll be a time when I won't."

I nodded to her, noticing the deep circles that had rapidly formed under her eyes, her cheeks appearing more sunken in than before.

"You should hunt-"

"I don't feel strong enough to be able to."

"I'll go with you. We can hunt together. I don't prefer it over a home cooked meal but eating in the raw is a hell of a lot better than starving."

She glanced up at me with a weary expression, her gaze lingering out toward the sunny forest.

"You may have to take an extra deer down for me..."

"I think I can manage that." I replied.

Her look grew mischievous suddenly as she darted out the front door, her words echoing out behind her as she flitted up into the closest tree.

"Try to keep up."

I tore off my jeans and ran full tilt for the forest, phasing mid run and gaining fast ground on her. She was tired before we had crested the rivers edge, her idea of fun swiftly changing when she struggled to catch me. I slowed my run, hearing her laughter fade when she appeared beside me, her skin becoming more translucent now. A whine left me when she leaned against my side for support, her face laced with worry. I nudged into her, pushing her to sit and wait for me while I hunted down something for us both. To my luck, I came across a herd of deer about a mile away and was quick to take two bucks down without much effort. I hurried in taking my fill before dragging the other back to Rana. A smile spread across her face when she saw me coming and I laid the lifeless buck down in front of her, retreating back into the cover of the trees so she could drain what she needed from it and have the privacy to do so.

She would require all the energy she could get for our long trek home.

A/N: Time for another update! I hope you like this short chapter! Time for them to journey home! Tell me your thoughts and thank you as always for your reviews and support! Till next time...