Jacob's point of view, everybody!
The other line clicked off. I didn't move.
Heat rolled off my skin and screamed through my bones. My skin crawled and my hands trembled. Fury hung over my eyes like a thick, disconcerting red veil. No. The word echoed off the walls. Had I screamed it out loud? Away in the distance, I heard a faint snap. I glanced down through the haze. Black plastic splinters clattered to the floor.
Someone entered the room. I looked slowly up at them, not fully seeing.
"Aw, Jacob, not our phone." It had been Dad who rolled into the room. He started to complain, and then took one look at my face and rolled backwards. The cord bounced to catch the mess of black as it thunked to the linoleum.
"Go."
He didn't need to tell me. I slammed the door open, cracking the wood on the wall outside. Dad looked out at me, his face solemn. I kicked off my shoes and started running, not even bothering to rip off my clothes.
Then, I exploded.
My skin flipped inside out, tearing horribly, although it didn't hurt. It felt good. Like finally inhaling after holding your breath. My hands expanded into immense paws and my mouth stretched into a broad muzzle. My muscles flexed and coiled to spring.
A part of my mind noted vaguely that it had begun to rain again. The wet, glistening drops glided down my fur.
Without even realizing I had started, I burst through the clouds of ferns and tore through the thick undergrowth. Murmured, indistinct thoughts buzzed throughout my mind. I ignored them and kept flying, anger propelling me faster than I've ever gone before. My nails ripped up the mossy forest floor.
Jake? Where are you going? Sam's voice was appalled in my head. I snarled. I didn't want to hear anything.
Leave me alone. I spat, pushing my legs harder. I knew I shouldn't disobey the Alpha, but technically, he hadn't given me any orders. I exited the forest onto the sharp rocks beside the beach.
No. Slow down.
Shit. The forest was no longer a green blur beside me. I slowed involuntarily, a stream of profanities reeling through my head. Paul snickered.
Sorry, Jake. I had no idea you were so impressionable. I'll start watching my mouth.
Shut up.
You really should leave the outbursts to me, you know. I'm way better at them.
I growled harshly, effectively ending that conversation.
I heard four loud sighs in unison and then the soft clicking of paws running along the cliff behind me. The cliff. The one Bella jumped off of. I howled in pain. I could almost see her frail frame spiraling through the air.
The cliff? Sam stopped, skidding on the rocks. I knew she was depressed, but not suicidal. Jesus, Jacob. When did this happen?
I wheeled around. Rain pounded against the smooth rock. The sky was a menacing black-blue. Screw it. They're going to find out one way or another. I trotted up to where Sam stood, his coal black fur slicked with rain. Paul stood on his left side, and Embry on the right. Embry cocked his head and huffed in frustration.
Wait, if she jumped off the cliffs in La Push, how come we didn't hear about it?
I grimaced at his insightful question, trying to pick out the perfect answer.
Honestly, I didn't even hear about it until today.
How did you know then? Paul prodded sarcastically. I glared at him. This would be so much easier if he weren't here. He snorted and rolled his eyes.
Dream on, Jake.
I sighed flattened my ears against my head.
Just shut up and listen, Paul.
He dipped his head in mock apology. Ignoring him, I turned to the others and began to explain.
Bella called me today, I started.
We look for her for four days and she has access to a freaking phone?! Where the hell was she?
I growled at him impatiently and started again. Embry and Sam leaned towards me uneasily.
She told me she jumped off the cliff while she was waiting for me. She got caught up in the currents. She was… drowning.
Then I edited reluctantly.
Dying. The tiny female leech was visiting and saw her in the water. She pulled Bella out. She wasn't breathing.
I swallowed and a nervous whine escaped my throat. Embry nudged my shoulder encouragingly with his nose. Sam leaned farther towards me, urging me on.
And then, Jacob?
Horror washed through their minds, each of them wishing I wasn't going to say what I had to. I closed my eyes and did it anyway.
She bit her.
Sam, Embry, and Paul all howled in unison, the hair on their backs stiffening. They paced around eachother and shook their immense heads. Disbelief clouded the bellowing in their thoughts, making it impossible to distinguish the different voices.
No! That's against the treaty!
What about Bella?! It wasn't her fault. She was dying.
It doesn't matter. She's one of them now.
But it wasn't her fault, Paul, we don't know what she was thinking.
Like it matters what the idiot was thinking, Embry, she wanted to be with them anyways. She deserves whatever she gets.
I snarled in outrage and launched myself at Paul, tearing at his silver fur mercilessly. He wasn't allowed to talk about Bella that way. No one was allowed to talk about Bella that way! I spat out a chunk of flesh onto the ground in disgust. Lighting flashed and reflected off of his teeth as he howled in pain. Baring his teeth, he slammed me against the rocks. I heard the crunching of bone as my rib cracked. I heaved myself upright and prepared to spring.
Embry yelped on the sidelines, begging us to stop. Sam watched in disgust.
STOP!
His order caused me to freeze mid-air. I dropped. My rippling snarls faded to protesting whines. Paul growled and licked at his wounded shoulder, glowering at me.
You two are unbelievable. You're brothers, for God's sake. Bella Swan may not be responsible, but the ones she calls family are. This makes her one of them. The treaty is broken.
Horrible silence filled the air at Sam's next final, ominous words. Thunder crashed overhead, adding to the effect. The contents of my stomach heaved and gurgled. I howled and sank to the ground.
This means war.
Whoa, intense, right? This was so fun to write. I especially loved doing Paul's dialogue. He's so funny. I'm expecting tons of reviews, cause this was the most climatic chapter yet. Plus, it's in Jacob's POV, and I want to know how I did at it. So review. I want lots and lots of 'em!