Authors Note: It sucks when people dont review :(
I stared, transfixed at the roaring fire before me.
Orange sparks danced with leaping red and yellow flames, licking the crackling wood and sending a wispy, whimsical thread of silvery gray smoke high into the air.
Glinting, winking stars dotted the sky like a handful of silver beads thrown over a black velvet curtain, as the moon shone, cold and white as polished marble above us.
A group of no more than twenty people sat around the fire, some on strategically shaped rocks, some reaching towards the fire to toast food.
The wolves, in human form, laughed uproariously as they ate, joking and shoving each other. A more sedate group sat at the head of the circle: Billy Black and his prestigious elders.
I snuggled into Jacobs's arms and surveyed the scene before me.
This felt so much like home, like I belonged here. Even though half those in attendance were savage wolves; to me they were my brothers, my friends.
"Is everyone here yet?", I asked Jacob.
His eyes seemed to sparkle even more in the firelight; the orange embers cast a mellow, romantic light over his dreamy, content face.
"Almost, I think Sue and Harry and still on the way"
I nodded in recognition.
"Sam and Emily?", I asked, suddenly realizing that my favorite 'wolf girl' was not seated in her usual spot next to Sam. I frowned. Sam was absent as well.
"I'm not entirely sure, I think they went on a holiday or something", Jacob said absentmindedly, scratching his chin.
"Sue's bringing Leah and Seth tonight, so you'll finally get to meet her"
I saw a shy smile flash across his face, and frowned.
Did I need to be worried about my wolf's blossoming friendship with this Leah?
He caught sight of my narrowed eyes and grinned.
"Don't worry Bells, s'all good"
He flicked a glob of burnt marshmallow in my direction. I ducked and squealed, warding off the gooey mess.
"Jacob Black, don't ever do that again!", I said sternly.
He smiled at me, his warm eyes boring deep into mine.
"I love you Bella Swan", he murmured, kissing me hard on the mouth.
"Sue, Harry! And how nice to see you, Leah and Seth", barked Billy from his wheelchair, motioning them to come closer.
Jacob wrenched himself out of my arms, bounding over to the four figures in the darkness.
A sudden cold seemed to bore into my bones, and I wrapped my arms around myself, squinting into the darkness to see the newcomers.
My attempts were futile.
I sighed, and with a furrowed brow, turned to warm my hands on the blazing fire.
But my veins seemed to fill with ice.
Sue and Harry Clearwater strode over, throwing packets of chips at the laughing boys, before greeting Billy.
A gangly teen sat down across the circle. This, I assumed, was Seth.
Jacob returned to my side, a huge grin across his face.
"Where's Leah?", I asked, wincing at the unintentional frost evident in my voice.
He turned to me, confused by my tone of voice, and a wary look took over his smile.
"She left something in the car…Are you okay Bella?"
I forced a smile to my face
"Sure I am "
"Good", he said, holding another marshmallow over the flames.
I watched the goo bubble and contort, dripping sugary liquid that sizzled in the fire. A black crisp started at the edges and slowly inched towards the center, like a disease taking control of an organ.
"Hi everyone", came an unmistakably female voice from the darkness behind us.
Jacob stood up to embrace the girl still hidden by darkness.
He sat back down and she stepped forward, the light from the fire suddenly throwing her face into horrifying focus: a gasp left my lips as I recognized the tall, beautiful girl from my dream. Or was it my nightmare?
"I'm Leah", the girl said, and my heart sped ito overdrive.
Jacob stared at her, his admiration openly showing, like a man seeing the sun for the first time...
My heart ground to a shuddering halt, faltered, then died.