Chapter 2
"Something's wrong." Sam Uley stated, bolting upright in bed, his fiancée Emily instantly going with him.
"What is it, Sam?" Emily asked softly, worry instantly entering her eyes, and watched as Sam nearly leapt out of bed to dress. "Where are you going this late at night?"
Sam looked back at his fiancée, pulling on a black beater, a smile spreading on his lips. "Just rest, Em. I'll be back shortly." He walked out, though Emily wasn't backing down that easily, starting to follow him.
"Sam, wait…" Her voice faltered, stumbling after him, gasping in surprise at who stood in front of them in the kitchen. "Oh my god, Jake."
Jacob slowly turned around, having grabbed bottled water from the fridge, soaked from head to toe even though his body temperature kept him warm. "Hey Em." He greeted solemnly, grunting when she nearly tackled him with a hug, catching her with ease. He knew he worried the entire pack when he decided to leave, but Jacob had to get away from everything for a little while.
"I'm so glad you're safe." Emily whispered, pulling back, trying to be stern with him even though she knew it was pointless. "You had us all worried sick."
"I know I'm sorry." Jacob whispered, slowly looking back at Sam, who had his arms folded in front of his chest. "Sam…"
"Forget about it, Jake. It's in the past. I'm just glad you're back home where you belong." Sam stated in a deep voice, having felt emptiness within the pack ever since Jacob decided to leave. "When did you return?"
"A few hours ago." Jacob answered, chugging the water, and tossed the empty bottle in the garbage. "I haven't even been home yet."
Before Sam could ask a really stupid question, Emily decided to intervene, smiling from ear to ear. "You look starved. Sit down and I'll make you something." She immediately busied herself in the kitchen, shooting Sam a warning look that simply stated if he asked Jacob anything uncomfortable, she would have his hide.
Sam chuckled softly, knowing Emily thought of Jacob as a son, and nodded at her discreetly. "How was your trip?" He asked, sitting down at the table with Jacob, knowing none of them would be getting anymore sleep that night. "If you don't want to talk about it…"
"No, it's fine." Jacob leaned back against the chair, trying to figure out how to go about explaining to Sam what happened over the past month. "I owe you all an explanation and I want the entire pack to hear what I have to say, if you don't mind that is." His voice had considerably changed, sounding almost drained, though Sam knew he still had the fire inside of him. His hair was much shaggier, though still short, having looked like Jacob chopped it off himself a few times.
"That's perfectly fine, Jake." Emily assured, sliding some toast on a plate, handing it to him. "I'm going to make a few phone calls and get the pack over here. There's a lot to be discussed and what's been happening."
Jacob smirked, shaking his head. "Some things never change." He devoured the toast within seconds while Emily made phone calls, cooking at the same time. It didn't take long because the entire pack had felt Jacob's presence in La Push.
"Definitely not. You have no idea how worried she was about you; don't do that to us again, Jake." Sam ordered in a low voice to where Emily couldn't hear him, his dark eyes locked on Jacob's, who simply nodded in understanding.
"I won't, I'm back now Sam and I'm ready to follow any order you give." Jacob assured without hesitation, though no smile came to his face, knowing they all wanted to know where he'd been, what he'd been doing, and what he felt now.
"Jake!" Seth Clearwater was the first one to greet him, tackling him out of the chair with a hug, having looked up to Jacob like a big brother. "Man, I'm so glad you're back!" He had the biggest smile on his face and Jacob couldn't help returning it, giving the youngest pack member a noogie for good measure.
"Good to see you too, Seth." Jacob looked at the door, hearing bickering and already knew who it was, shaking his head.
Some things indeed never changed.
"Man, just shut up already!"
"No, you shut up!"
"No you!"
"Both of you shut up." Sam ordered, seeing Jared and Embry were at it again for the umpteenth time.
"Face it, I'm bigger than you." Jared growled, eyes narrowed slightly at Embry.
"Well I'm bigger than BOTH of you so knock it off." Sam growled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, those two have been at it for the past month ever since you left."
"And it's starting to get ridiculous." Leah piped in, walking alongside Paul, both of them stopping short at the sight of Jacob Black. "What the hell are you doing here outsider?"
"Leah, cut the attitude now." Sam ordered, wondering if he actually led a bunch of children, which in truth most of them technically were.
"Nice to see you again too, Leah." Jacob grunted, standing up from the chair, Seth already by his side like always.
"Whatever." Leah rolled her eyes, wanting to sock Sam in the face, though she knew she couldn't because he was the alpha. "What is this about?"
"Jacob's homecoming of course!" Emily grinned, walking over to the table, setting down a plate full of French toast, the sun just barely coming over the horizon. "You're happy about it just like the rest of us even if you don't want to admit it, Leah."
"Whatever." Leah refused to admit anything, folding her arms in front of her chest. "If this is the reason…"
"No, that's not the only reason." Jacob stood up at that moment, his sheer presence making everyone fall silent, knowing he was supposed to be the alpha of the pack, though he'd relinquished that title and responsibility to Sam. "I wanted you all here because I had to explain why I left."
"Jacob, that's not necessary…"
"Actually it is and I'm very curious to hear what he has to say." Paul cut Emily off, ignoring Sam's glare, eyebrows narrowed slightly. "So let him have his say and then we can have ours."
Jacob sighed heavily, knowing it would be hard to get back in the pack's good graces, at least when it came to Paul. He was the bully of the pack, always keeping them in line whenever Sam wasn't around. Leaving betrayed them, but at the time Jacob was in too much pain both physically, mentally and emotionally to really care or think about the consequences. He just had to get away for awhile, to recollect himself, to heal from the deep inflicted wounds his heart had at the hands of Isabella Swan.
"I know that it's going to take time to trust me again, to let me in the pack, but I did what I had to do." Jacob stated, clearing his throat as he walked over to the door, staring out of it into the still night sky. "What happened with…Bella…was painful and I had to get out of here for a little while. I couldn't think, breathe, eat, sleep…I was in constant pain and didn't know how to deal with it besides leave. When I got her wedding invitation, I simply snapped…I didn't think just reacted and ran as fast as I possibly could through the forest. By the time I stopped, I was all the way in northern Canada and I didn't want to stop or come back to the pain…"
"And how do you feel now?" Sam asked quietly, watching how tense Jacob became throughout his explanation, wrapping a gentle arm around Emily's shoulders. "Jake…"
"Glad to be home." Jacob answered honestly, slowly turning around to face all of his friends, his family, the people he left behind. "I'm sorry for leaving the way I did, I just had to escape and get away from here for awhile."
"It's alright, Jake. We're just glad to have you back, man." Quil said, walking over to grab Jacob in a hug, glad to have his best friend back. "Sometimes getting away for awhile is the best thing."
Emily smiled when Embry and Jared joined Quil, along with Seth, though Leah and Paul stood steadfast. "You two get over there." She ordered in a harsh whisper, sighing when they shook their heads.
"Not until he proves he's really back." Paul stated, flat out refusing to forgive and forget just like that. "Sam, I think since Jacob decided to take a vacation, he should do the patrolling for a few nights and give us some rest."
"Done." Jacob stated, having overheard that, squaring his shoulders. "I'm not tired anyway."
Sam sighed, knowing Paul did have a point. Jacob did have to be punish somehow for leaving the pack high and dry, though at the same time he understood why Jacob left. It was hard being the alpha and Sam absolutely hated choosing sides, especially when Jacob was supposed to be the alpha to begin with.
"I think Jacob needs to rest first." Emily intervened before Sam could say anything, folding her arms in front of her chest, refusing to back down. "I think we all just need to calm down and cool our heads for a little while. Paul, you can act macho all you want, but I know how much you missed Jake while he was gone. And you too, Leah. I know you hate me and I don't blame you, but Jake is a part of this family and we support family no matter what they do. He left to get away from the heartache Bella caused him, much like you did after finding out Sam imprinted on me."
Leah scowled angrily, really not wanting to relive that painful memory, looking as though she might attack Emily. "You need to shut your mouth and mind your own business since you're not officially apart of the pack, Emily." She spat, not believing the audacity of Emily to say something like that to her in front of everyone. "I'm leaving now and, just so you know, we were better off without Jacob Black." She then stormed out of the front door and took off running into the woods, phasing instantly.
Emily groaned, hating it whenever her and Leah argued, shaking her head. "I'm sorry…" She whispered, Sam instantly pressing his finger to her lips.
"It's not your fault." Sam murmured, kissing Emily softly, feeling the pain radiating from her. "You're right, I shouldn't punish Jake."
"Sam, I want to earn my way back into the pack. I don't want it handed to me." Jacob stated, walking past Paul to stare into Sam's eyes. "Paul's right, I shouldn't just be offered a spot back in the pack. I caused you all a lot of pain when I left and I want to try making it right."
Sam sighed, knowing Jacob wasn't going to back down from this, and nodded solemnly. "Patrol until dusk. Check around Forks to make sure no funny business is going on, you know the drill." He ordered, seeing the pained look on Emily's face, which nearly tore Sam's heart apart. "Em…"
"I know, I hate it though." She grunted, walking away from him toward the kitchen to clean up, wiping a few stray tears away.
"She missed you and doesn't feel you deserve to be punished for trying to make yourself better." Sam stated, seeing Jacob watching after Emily with worry in his own eyes. "Just eat something first, make her happy somehow. She's been through hell since you left."
Jacob nodded silently and proceeded to eat ten pieces of French toast before heading out, not before thanking Emily for the meal. He phased instantly, after removing his shorts and shoes, racing through the woods. He couldn't hear anyone's thoughts from the pack, which meant they were all still in human form. He stopped running and started walking, his thoughts going back to what he saw earlier prior to coming back to La Push to face the music.
Why he even bothered going back to the Swan residence was beyond him, but Jacob knew he had to do it for closure purposes. He wasn't sure what to feel or think, though no heartache and pain came like he thought it would. He knew Bella was marrying Edward Cullen, the bloodsucker, and that he would suck the life out of her in less than twenty four hours. Jacob accepted it and moved on, though he wasn't sure how Bella would react once she found out. Hell, he wasn't sure if anyone would understand what happened, but he'd been lead to the Swan's for a reason. And she'd been standing at the window staring out at the rain, tears sliding down her cheeks, feeling the pain radiating from every pore of her body.
Selene Swan.
He knew exactly who she was; though he'd been so consumed with Bella he hadn't even noticed her…until now. She was truly beautiful with long flowing brown hair that reminded him of Bella, though her deep seeded green eyes completely stole his breath away. Jacob had amazing vision, especially when phased, and they reminded him of emerald stones. Selene was Bella's half sister, though Bella refused to talk her that much. She didn't have to because Jacob was finally noticing her for the first time and knew she'd be at the wedding that evening.
'Maybe I will make an appearance.' He thought, remembering the letter Edward had sent him a month ago with the wedding invitation, sighing heavily.
Edward had asked Jacob to come see Bella for her wedding, that she was missing him like crazy. One thing Jacob could say about the bloodsucker was that he would do anything, absolutely anything, to make Bella happy. Jacob stopped as he stared at the Swan residence again, having been lead here once more, and knew what had happened. The way the rain pelted her face, her hair becoming drenched along with her arm and hand…she looked absolutely breathtaking and damn near made Jacob phase back into human form just to climb the tree to her room like he used to with Bella.
The moment his eyes landed on Selene, everything changed for Jacob and he wasn't sure how to feel about it. It wasn't gravity holding him to the planet anymore, it was her. He just wanted to be there for her for everything, anything she needed, and Jacob would do just that regardless of how anyone felt about it. She was Bella's half sister, he realized it, but Jacob couldn't help what happened or change it. He wouldn't want to either; he deserved to be happy just like everyone else in the world.
One thing was certain and that was Jacob Black had officially imprinted on Selene Swan.