Chapter 9: You're my beginning and end
"Do you like the bracelet that Jake made me?" That bracelet was the bane of my existence. Seriously, if I was supposed to be his imprint why is he giving her sweet gifts? Oh right, he doesn't want me. "It's great Bella."
"It should be yours you know." She said matter-of-factly. I raised my eyebrow. She hurried on, "I mean you are his imprint, you two are going to be together it's only a matter of time." She shrugged. Huh, I guess she was on my side now. "You're his perfect match."
Perfect match my ass.
We were getting dressed to head over to the Cullen's; it was the first training session between the wolves and the Cullen's. Sam had agreed to a truce with them, so they could fight side by side when the newborns came to Forks. We only had a few days. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, something I never did, and let side pieces and bangs fall out. I put on a black T-shirt, black skinny jeans, and black combat boots. I tied a black ribbon in my ponytail and walked downstairs. Bella stifled a laugh behind her hand, "What the hell are you wearing Lynn?" Edward shook his head laughing. I frowned and looked at my clothes, "It's my battle outfit. I'm a ninja." I stuck my tongue out and finished bouncing down the stairs. "You two go ahead, I'm going to have Leah come pick me up. I'm staying with her tonight since you two are going to be at Edward's and doing…things I'm pretty sure I don't want to think about." I shuttered. Edward laughed loudly on my way out the door. I texted Leah and she said she'd be here in ten. Edward and Bella went ahead and left and I waited outside on the stoop. Dad had gone over to Billy's to watch the football game.
"Come on girl, we're burning daylight!" Leah yelled from the driver's window, her radio blaring 'Machine Gun Kelly'. I recognized the song 'Swing Life Away' with Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens, her favorite band. Seth was in the backseat, and I slid into the passenger seat. I threw my duffel bag in the bag with Seth and Leah turned up the radio as she backed out of the driveway. "I came from nothing but fucking unsupportive father." Seth and I rapped while Leah drove laughing. It felt good to just let go for a few minutes and be normal. We weren't two shape-shifters and an unwanted imprint; we were just three teenagers goofing off. It was brief but it was beautiful.
"…never go for the obvious kill, they'll be expecting that." Jasper lectured. He looked exactly like his past persona: Major Whitlock from the Texas Calvary and Confederate Army. I was impressed with the way he commanded everyone's attention. I sat with the wolves, Sam had opted them out of fighting so they were merely watching, as Bella sat close with Jacob. Bella looked worried for her adoptive family, I thought they all looked bad ass. I looked down at the sketch pad in my arms. Nobody wanted me home alone, so I tagged along with my sister. I knew I wouldn't be doing anything so I brought my sketch pad and charcoal sticks. It was a secret hobby of mine, I loved to draw. I was sketching my sister and Jacob, the way he curled around her happily and protective. I sketched the faraway look in her eyes and the way her hand absentmindedly stroked Jacob's fur. I looked down at the rough draft of my picture. If someone else were looking at the picture it would be easy to mistake my sister for me. Since the picture was black, there was no color to distinguish between her and me. For one moment I let my mind wander, where I was the girl curled around Jacob.
I shook my head and starting shading. Leah had gotten a kick out of my outfit, and I drew the girl in the picture with combat boots.
"Engaged?" I repeated as Bella flashed me her engagement ring. We were walking around the clearing where Alice saw the battle starting. The idea was to spread our scents around to drive the newborns in the exact place we wanted them. It was both Jacob's and Edward's idea, a smart one I'd admit. I cut my hand with the knife I was carrying without flinching and spreading my blood on any nearby rocks and branches. I smiled over at my sister and Edward,
"Congratulations." Jacob is going to go ballistic. I added silently for Edward, he nodded grimly. I was glad my sister was getting her happy ending, but I knew it was going to kill Jacob. The idea that Jacob would be hurting soon killed me, I cursed the imprint for forcing me to care for him. I'll be damned if it makes me love him too. I'd never give my heart to him only for him to drop it carelessly.
"You're very cynical." Edward observed. I gave him the finger and continued my path until we made it back to the clearing. Jacob and Embry were waiting for us; I noticed Bella hid her ring in her pocket. Embry would carry me and Jacob would carry Bella, their scents would cover ours. We were staying at a campsite a little ways away from the battle. "I can't believe you convinced Edward to stay behind with us. You need to tell me your secret." We giggled like school girls, Bella had Edward wrapped around her pinky finger. I ran up and jumped on Embry's back, "Ready to go…" He laughed and turned to face me. "Hey Abs…" He hitched his hands under my thighs and hoisted me higher on his back. Jacob picked Bella gracefully up bridal style. I got a twinge in my heart but I forced a hard smile on my face. We walked through the forest until we got to the campsite; two tents were set up side by side. The fight was to take place in the morning; it was cold but not freezing yet. Embry set me down and hugged me, his body heat I readily welcomed. Jacob set Bella down and they went off to talk. Edward would come up a little bit later after we helped his family. I looked up from under Embry's arms, "Promise me you'll be okay Bry…" I bit my lip and closed my eyes. The idea of any of my wolves getting hurt made me want to pull my hair out and scream. They were my family, my adopted family. I loved every single one of them. Embry and Leah were my best friends, Seth was my little brother, Jared and Paul were my big brothers, and Sam was like my second dad. I wouldn't survive if they got hurt.
I felt Embry's hands whipping away traitor tears, "We're all going to be okay Abs, okay? We were made for this." I nodded. "Come on, no more sad talk. I have a few more hours before I have to get back."
"Why are you doing this to me?" I panted, holding the stitch in my side. "Keep your hands up!" Embry replied and got a light punch to my right temple. I groaned. To kill time Embry thought it was a great idea to teach me how to defend myself.
"It's a great idea, given the situation." He had defended.
Jacob growled every time Embry's fists touched me, finally he got up from his sitting position next to Bella as our audience and stepped between us, "That's enough Embry." Embry rolled his eyes. "Calm down Jake, I would never hurt her. Are you okay Abs?" Embry nodded at me in question.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I groaned in response. Embry laugh and bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, "Don't you think it's about time you earned your nickname 'Abs'?" He jabbed the air twice like he was Mike Tyson. I giggled; I knew he was trying to take my mind of off what was going to happen soon. I was very thankful for him.
"Alright, let's go." I put my hands back up and landed a surprise kick against his ribs. He had to constantly remind me not to put much power behind my blows because I'd only wind up hurting myself. Like Bella when she punched Jacob.
A howl pierced the air and Seth's wolf form entered our little oasis. That meant it was Embry's time to go. He smiled at me apologetically and hugged me tight one last time. "Please be safe…" I whispered to the air as he left. Jacob looked at me, "Why are you so worried about him?" I looked at him like he was stupid, "Why is Bella worried about Edward?" I knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as the words left my mouth. Jacob's entire frame started shaking, his growl broke through the cold and his body was blurring between human and wolf.
"You love him?" He ground out between clinched teeth. Edward came to stand in front of me protectively, "You need to calm down Jacob or you'll hurt her."
"Get away from her leech!" Jacob screamed. He looked ready to kill. I think everything has gotten him wound too tight.
"It's okay Edward…" I moved out from behind him and approached Jacob cautiously. Emily told me her story; I knew how her face got to be the way it was. I was heading to the same fate, but I didn't stop walking until I right in front of him. I was his imprint, which means if anyone had any shot at calming him down it would be me. I put one hand on each of his cheeks, "Not like that Jake, okay? I love him but I'm not in love with him. He's my best friend…nothing more. Okay? Look at me. We're just friends." The last thing I needed was for Jacob to kill Embry during battle and then blaming it on a newborn. I heard Edward laughing at the image I pictured.
Jacob slowly stopped shaking and wrapped his arms tightly around me, he took deep breathes full of my hair. "Mine…" he growled out softly. He was inhaling my scent. I wasn't entirely sure now was the time to remind him that I was most certainly not his, but one look at Edward's shaking head, I stayed quiet. I let him rock me side to side until he was completely calm and then ducked out of his embrace. I would help him, but that was it. I just being a good person, no I most defiantly did not like how it felt being in his arms.
I was curled around Seth at the opening of my tent, Bella and Edward in the one next to me. Seth was majorly bummed that he was put on watch duty versus out in the fight but he was slightly happier when he found out I would be there. He was currently keeping me warm since the sun had gone down. It had gotten indefinably colder, I was wearing three layers. Emily made sure I packed extra thick clothes and she loaded me down with hot coffee and tea and extra heavy wool blankets. She was going to be a great mom someday. Bella on the other hand, didn't pack nearly enough clothes to keep her warm. I could hear her shivering from over here. I shook my head at Seth. I was lucky I had Emily…and Seth. I ran my fingers through his fur. I made sure to keep the tent flap open so Seth was still outside and standing guard, while still being curled around me and blocking the frigid cold wind.
Jacob came up from over the cliffs and made his way over to me. He crouched in front of me, and looked confused when Seth growled at him. His fur was standing on end; everyone knew Jacob was on my shit list. Jacob frowned and regarded me, "Are you okay? Are you warm enough?" I nodded my head, "You better go save the day with my sister though, she's freezing and Edward isn't much help with that." When he went into her tent I got the insane urge to stab him in the heart with an ice sickle, would it melt before it hit his heart? If not it would be the perfect murder, the murder weapon would melt and leave no evidence. My night had come down to imagining killing Jacob Black for doing something I do him to do.
Just because this was for the best, didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell.
Author's Note: I want to say a BIG thank you to: griezz. You're awesome! I'm splitting this chapter into two parts. I'm on break from Uni for another week and half so I'm trying to turn out as many chapters as possible until then. This story is slowly coming to an end and another wolf's story is going to begin. But don't worry several chapters before the epilogue. Next chapter is the battle. Cheers, Lottie
