I was sprinting towards the forest as fast as I could.
What had happened? My temper was getting the best of me, then – poof – I turned into a freaking wolf! A wolf! Why the hell would I turn into a damn wolf?
Then I remembered – the legends. I'd never really thought much of them. I had known – or thought – that they weren't real. I mean, seriously! How is it possible to turn into another animal when you get mad? All the Indians had their old legends and stories, but they never came true…or did they?
I stopped flat in my tracks to observe my wolf body. I was covered with a thick blanket of russet-brown fur, similar to the color of my skin. My spine was arched in an odd angle that I wasn't used to. Plus, I could actually balance and run and walk on four legs. I also had sharp claws. Something red and wet dripped from my nails like an annoying faucet leak.
It was Ali's blood…from when I scratched her. She'd been screaming at me to stop, but at that point I couldn't have listened to her. I felt like a mindless wild animal. My heart skipped a beat. I hoped that Ali was okay.
Identify yourself.
I jumped as that thought entered my mind – that wasn't my thought. It sounded deep and huskier than mine, like it had authority. It wasn't anything I recognized, though. I must be going crazy. This was probably just a dream, then. But the voices and the awkward feeling of being a wolf made it very vivid and realistic.
I repeat, identify yourself, the voice ordered again.
Uh…Jacob Black? I thought. It seemed more like a question, though. But then again, I wasn't used to thinking like I was speaking in a conversation. Now tell me who you are, I demanded.
But whoever had been talking to me had ignored me. Suddenly, another string of voices popped up in my head, like I was standing in the middle of a huge sea of babbling people. I was beginning to feel sick.
We have to explain to him.
We should all phase back, then.
No, we have work to do!
But Jacob should know.
Yeah, he's probably really shocked right now.
I know I was when this happened to me.
I couldn't concentrate; I couldn't think. The thoughts were swirling around me like a tornado. When I took some deep breaths, I picked out a familiar voice.
Jacob?
I knew that voice. Embry. We hadn't spoken in weeks, but it was nice to know someone in all this chaos.
Embry! What the hell is going on? I asked.
Before Embry had a chance to explain, I inhaled some air through my big black wolf nose and began choking. The scent of the air around me had suddenly began smelling like sickly sweet bleach. It burned the inside of my nose.
Aaagghhhh! What is that? I thought.
Vampires! Embry exclaimed.
Before I had a chance to object, that there was no such thing as vampires, another voice cut in.
Quick! Everybody follow the scent! It was the voice that had asked me to identify myself.
But, Sam! What about Jacob…? Embry thought.
Sam?!?!?!?! How could that possibly be Sam? He was just some stuck-up guy with a huge gang that acted like a bunch of amateur police officers. Like hall monitors on steroids, I recalled telling Bella that long time ago, when everything made sense.
Hey, watch it! Sam scolded me. You don't think that way about the Alpha of the pack. We're brothers now, whether you like it or not. Now, stay where you are. I'm going to have Embry come and accompany you – you two seem to be acquainted.
I wanted to say, "Well, duh! We were best friends until you came and stole him away!" But I didn't. Something about Sam's tone made me listen to him. It almost kind of scared me.
I sat there, alone. I could hear other wolfs' thoughts, but I didn't pay any attention to them. I was starting to get used to them more, and besides, I had some thinking to do of my own.
So this was where Sam's little cult ended up. Now I knew why they missed school and avoided their old friends, who didn't know about the wolves. That's what Embry'd had to do, and I no longer blamed him now that I was in on the secret.
A gray wolf with dark spots splattered on his back approached me, than nudged me with his nose.
Hey, Jake.
Hey, Embry. Long time no see.
Yeah, about that…well now you know why I had to do what I did. I'm glad you're in on the secret, because I felt bad about avoiding you all this time. His wolf lips curled into what looked like a friendly smile.
Yeah, I totally understand you now, I assured him.
Wow, Jake. You're really furry.
I studied my bushy fur, then Embry's. Embry's was really short and clean.
What am I supposed to do? Go to a pet groomer? I joked. But I seriously had no idea what to do to fix it.
Embry threw his gray head back and cackled. No, I mean cut your hair. Like when you're human.
Aha! So that's why you all have short hair, I realized.
Yup.
Our little conversation was broken when I heard a fierce, bloodcurdling scream. I looked around us in all direction, but I saw was just forest.
What was that? I thought.
I don't know…sounds like a human. We're closest to it. The others went the wrong direction. C'mon! Embry took off running, and I had no choice but to follow him.
Within a few seconds, we were at the place where we'd heard the scream. There was a freakishly pale teenager with fiery red hair, poised for battle. She bared her teeth at us. There standing before her was a girl with straight hair the color of caramel. Blood slid like a waterfall down her forearm. Her jaw was dropped. She must've been the one who had screamed. As Embry and I got closer, I recognized her. It was Ali.
"Jacob," she gasped.
Embry leaped over to the redhead and began snapping his pointy jaws at her. What was Embry doing, trying to bite a human girl? But there something wasn't right about that girl, as I studied her features. As she danced around the trees, she became just a blur. No one – not even a really good Olympic runner – could possibly be that fast. She also had that burning stench that irritated my nose. That was definitely what I had smelled earlier. To match her red hair, her eyes gleamed a stunning bright red, nothing I'd ever seen on another girl. Her skin was even whiter than snow. I'd never seen a human who was the pale. Except…
The Cullens.
What had I been missing out on?
The redhead pivoted around and ran through the forest. Embry sprinted after her.
Huh-lo? What am I supposed to do, Embry?
Just stand there. Protect Ali, he panted.
I slumped into an unfamiliar sitting position. My legs bent in a way I'd only seen on dogs. Oh wait – I was a dog. Or a wolf. Whatever.
Ali rushed over to me and intertwined her fingers in my fur. "Oh, Jacob…" I wanted to pull away, bad. Her arm wasn't gushing blood anymore, but it was still caked with it. She was getting her blood all over my fur. But I just sat there, determined not to hurt her feelings. "Listen…" She had to lift her head all the way up so she could stare into my eyes. "Whatever you do, don't tell Embry about our little relationship."
My eyebrows – if I had any in this form – knit together in confusion, as if to say, why not?
"Um…well…it's complicated. Embry's in love with me, but I love you." She grinned at me. "But I don't wanna hurt Embry's feelings. I don't know how to break it to him just yet. Please, please, promise me you won't think about it."
I nodded in agreement. But now that she'd planted those thoughts of us making out in my mind again, how could I not think about it? Hopefully Embry wasn't listening. Besides, I felt so guilty about scratching her that I was willing to do anything.
But, wait a second…how did she know us wolves could read each others' minds?
I stared at her, hard. Was she hiding something? It seemed like everyone was keeping secrets these days.
Before I had a chance to think about it anymore, Embry returned, along with the rest of the pack.
The vampire girl ran across the border. We have others patrolled there, just in case she's planning on coming back, Sam informed me.
Wait…vampires? I cut in. Vampires weren't real. Whenever I thought of vampires, I always thought of Count Dracula with fangs and a big dark cape.
Yes, that girl was indeed a vampire. And have you heard of the Cullens?
Yeah, I thought nervously.
They're vampires too.
My heart sank. Does Bella know about this? What if the Cullens were planning on killing her soon? But they left…
Yes, she's completely aware, Sam thought.
And she didn't tell me.
Sam ignored that one. He seemed not to be very interested in my silly little everyday dramas. Ugh. Life with him was going to be a drag.
Keep those thoughts to yourself, he scolded me angrily.
I stopped thinking immediately. I decided it wouldn't do me any good for Sam to be holding a grudge against me.
Embry, phase back and bring Ali back to the village, Sam ordered. I saw Embry disappear behind some bushes. He reappeared with some shorts on. He grinned at Ali, and she sighed. He didn't seem to notice, though. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Ali managed a smile, though it seemed more like a grimace. It wasn't like the smiles she gave me.
Even so, I grew jealous. How could he be that in love with her when Ali showed she wasn't in love with him back?
What the hell are you talking about, Jacob, a random voice thought. I didn't recognize it, though.
Then I remembered Ali's plea for me not to think about our relationship. I struggled to keep my mouth shut on our way back to the village.
We all phased back and walked to Sam's house when we reached where the houses popped up again.
"Um…where are we gonna get clothes?" I asked to no one in particular. They all seemed to have shorts stashed in the bushes.
"Here," Paul said, whipping some shorts at me. "I have a spare."
Hmmm. He had some attitude.
We all walked the rest of the way to Sam's house.
Emily was in the living room waiting for us as we all piled in. She led Ali upstairs where she would treat her scratch.
I began to feel self-conscious with my long mane of hair. But at least no one could read my mind anymore.
"Apparently, Jacob and Ali have kissed," Paul announced out of the blue once we were all settled. Every pair of eyes turned to look at me, some glares, some looks of surprise. I was going to have to remember to give Paul a punch in the mouth sometime.
"What?" Embry practically shouted.
They all closed in on me. I was cornered.
Embry shoved his way through the pack. "You have some explaining to do."
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