Jacob's point of view:
The first few hours of the car ride was nothing below intolerable. We'd ended up leaving around five in the afternoon. The silence was unbearable; this is, until Edward heard something from my thoughts that he found amusing. His quiet laughter was even more unwelcome than the awkward silence.
At eight, I was grateful that I could conceivably justify going to sleep for the night, anything to get away from Edward's constant probing and unnecessarily smug glances. Although he could still 'see' my dreams- which was slightly more embarrassing on account of the fact that I couldn't control them- I wouldn't have to look at him anymore.
I slept restlessly, but that also meant dreamlessly. To my surprise, we were nearing Washington when I awoke.
"You're very easy to drive with you know." Edward apparently had gotten bored with the silence. I hadn't and I wasn't going to play along with his game.
"Bella still hasn't gotten comfortable with my driving so fast. I honestly can't see why. I mean she san outrun my car easily. She has gotten quite fast. Last time we raced she'd almost won . . ." So now he was trying to provoke me. That's low even for him. Is he trying to start an argument? We still have several hours left before we reach La Push, raging testosterone wouldn't do either of us any good.
Edward rambled on about Bella and what has become of her and their relationship. I tried to tune it all out, but bits and pieces penetrated the wall of ignorance I hid behind. Every time something got through a thread holding my tolerance snapped until it all came crashing down on top of me.
". . . she said she hadn't really minded the pain that much, we had given her enough morphine that she was sedated for the majority of the three days."
"You . . ." I couldn't think of a word horrible enough to describe him at this moment. "Why the hell do you think I want to hear about you sadistically stealing away Bella's life and soul?" I'd lost it. He smiled as he watched my carefully crafted composure unravel.
"How you could take away another person's life and future away is beyond comprehension. And it's not just any person, it's Bella! You've damned her to an eternity of blood and lies." I knew this had once been a sore spot, but it seems that he has gone over this argument so many times with himself that it was no longer a weakness.
My whole body shook with anger and my temperature soared with the adrenaline rush. Then, I just snapped. Everything went dark; a burning fire rose up from the darkness and engulfed my mind. I wasn't unconscious though; I knew that. Through my closed eyelids everything became clear to my senses. The back of my head throbbed like my scar would burst open and leave nothing left inside me. I screamed in agony, but all I heard was a weak growled from inside my chest.
I opened my eyes to realize that I was looking up into the sky. My back was against the damp grass on the shoulder of the road. I turned my head to see Edward leaning against the car looking at me incredulously with his nose scrunched.
I rolled over to my stomach and groaned. I heard a pained animal near by. Maybe it had sense my pain and cried with me. I tried to lift myself onto my knees, but my legs refused to cooperate. I looked down to see tow scrawny paws where my feet should have been. I gasped, "Impossible," was all I could think.
After several tries I had managed to get to my feet- all four of them- and walk towards Edward. My fur was lighter than I remembered, wispier than my normal hair. The color had also faded. My coat was more of a faded rust color as opposed to the vibrant, warm reds and browns the colored my fur before. I felt different on the inside too. I was smaller, I could feel that, but also weaker. I really shouldn't complain though, this was what I wanted after all.
"Jacob?!" The voice sounded muffled and distant, but I'd recognize it anywhere.
"Quil, I'm back," I barked enthusiastically. He thoroughly dumbfounded, but he agreed to tell the others. We must not be too far from La Push.
Edward stilled glowered at me from the side of the car.
"Take my car to the borderline and leave it for me with the keys in the ignition, it'll pick it up later." I know he hated taking orders from me, but he simply nodded his head and drove off down the desolate road.
As soon as he'd left I ran off into the trees to find the others. All the scents were overwhelming. It was like being able to smell for the first time. It's amazing how easily you can forget the sensation of being a wolf. The clarity and speed were exhilarating.
I found my way easily around the forest. As I ran my old memories from before the accident flooded into my mind. The ancient myths, scouting for hours with no sleep, and running by Bella's house every night.
By now the rest of the pack was joining in on my party. Various forms of "welcome back" seemed to cloud my thoughts. I found Embry and he took me to the others.
I was intimidated the second I looked- up- at the others. They were all at least a head taller than I was. Their dark eyes bore into me analyzing my pitiful excuse for a wolf. I urged those thoughts from my mind although they already knew. I couldn't help but hear a few of the tactless remarks. A low growl escaped Sam's chest as he overheard the comments as well.
Sam invited us all back to Emily's to celebrate. The others shifted back quickly once we had arrived, but I was having more difficulty. I wasn't angry any-more, in fact I was elated, but I couldn't remember how to phase back. Sam stayed with me for support; it was embarrassing especially since I had been "a natural". Several minutes passed before I was finally able to return to my human form. As I did so the scar on the back of my head throbbed again. "This better not become a regular thing," I growled under my breath. Sam let me borrow some of his clothes and we went to join the others inside
The welcome was warm and the gesture was kind, but I was sure many of them didn't really care that I was back; they just wanted an excuse to party and to gorge themselves.
After we were sure that there wasn't a scrap of food left in the house, we all went our separate ways. Sam offered to drive to the border to pick up my car; Billy was bound to be waiting for me with a ball and chain in hand. The drive wasn't far, but anxiety always speeds up time.
I pulled up to Billy's house in less time than it should have taken. He was waiting for me in the hall with his hands folded across his lap patiently. I didn't even need prodding; I went strait into the story. He was furious that I hadn't turned around when I forgot my medicine, but remained as unemotional and still as stone for the rest of the story. His mask wavered slightly when he heard of me staying in a house full of vampires especially with one being so new, but he quickly composed himself before I had time to question what I saw.
The first sight of true emotion came when he heard I could phase again. He completely forgot about my punishment and nearly jumped out of his chair; with that motion he fell to his knees. It was true, I was excited to be back, but how Billy reacted seemed slightly dramatic.
Within no time things were back to normal. The mundane averageness continued on; the revival of my wolf-self only a small consolation for losing my best friend and my first love.
A/N: Jake's a wolf again! I didn't want to do it, that's the way it had to be. Sigh this is the last chapter; all that's left is the epilogue which will be done my tomorrow.
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