Discovery
I strode to the door as calmly as I could and yanked it open. My eyes widened in surprise. Towering over me were Sam and the rest of the pack, panting and shirtless as always.
"Where's Jacob?" Sam asked in an authoritative voice. I was too intimidated to answer. I couldn't think of what to say fast enough. He nudged past me into Carlisle's office, pushing me in the shoulder with enough force to make me gasp. Sam was angry, really angry.
"What were you thinking! You could have been killed! Why did you have to engage her? Why couldn't you have just followed her until we got there?" Sam was chastising Jacob like he was a little boy. It was embarrassing. I could see Jacob's face flush. Jacob just stared at the floor, knowing he deserved what he got.
The rest of the pack slowly edged their way into the room. They didn't want to miss Jacob getting chewed out, especially because of me. They formed a semi-circle behind Sam, their arms crossed over their chests. I glanced at Embry. He looked perfectly normal. I guess that shiner that Edward had given him that morning was all healed by now.
"Will you please explain to me what was going through your head!" The screaming seemed to be making Sam angrier. It was obvious this was not a rhetorical question. Sam's chest heaved with frustration as he waited to hear Jacob's response.
"I thought I could take her," Jacob finally whispered so quietly that it was barely audible.
"Yeah well you can't! Thank God that bloo-I mean boy came in time to save your sorry butt." Sam walked over to Jacob and put his hand on his shoulder. "We were all so worried about you. I mean you could have been killed." Sam looked into Jacob's face. Jacob rose his eyes to meet Sam's.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to be done with her once and for all. I wasn't expecting her to be so tough." Jacob sighed. He looked at me, and his eyes filled with tears. "I wanted Bella to be safe. I didn't want her to have to worry anymore. I wanted to take care of it for her."
A lump filled my throat. I hated when the people I loved put themselves in danger because of me. It made me feel like the bad guy, like the dangerous one, like the killer.
At that moment Carlisle walked in. The atmosphere in the room was surprisingly calm. The pack felt comfortable around Carlisle because they knew he was different from other vampires. He was on their side.
"I need to talk to Sam in private, please." Carlisle motioned for everyone to leave the room. As we all filed out I looked back at Carlisle. His face looked troubled. He rubbed my arm as I walked past him out of the room. I sat down on the stairs and put my face in my hands. This cannot be good.
Rosalie was waiting outside for us. She walked up to Jacob, not even noticing the others even existed. Her pale hair shone in the setting sun. Her perfect arm nestled its way into the crook of Jacob's muscular arm. Her lips searched for Jacob's ear. She whispered conspiratorially as she leaned in closer to Jacob's side. Jacob shook his head. "No I deserved it," he explained somberly, looking down at Rosalie's hand as it grabbed his. His brows furrowed. He slowly pulled himself away from her. He gave her an apologetic smile and made his way to the stairs. He leaned on the banister and looked down at me. I would have given anything to be with Jacob alone. All I wanted was to feel his warm embrace, his lips on mine, his hair between my fingers. I wanted him. I felt like an idiot. I had so many more things that I should be thinking about, should be worrying about, but none of those things were anywhere close to being on my mind. Jacob consumed every thought in my head. I took his hand and pulled him down onto the stair next to me. I laid my head on his shoulder. I nuzzled my head into his neck. A new thought popped into my mind. Rosalie. What was possessing Rosalie to act in such a peculiar way?
I heard the front door open and looked up, the chilly night breeze blowing in and brushing my face. Edward, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett elegantly strolled in, taking in the presence of the pack with understanding. I seemed to be the only one out of the loop. Of course Carlisle would have told them that the pack was coming.
As soon as Emmett saw me crumpled on the stairs he rushed towards me and pulled me into a crippling hug. He spun me around, quietly chuckling in my ear. He set me down, and I caught a glimpse of Rosalie's face. It was contorted in a sneer.