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CHAPTER ?: JACOB POV
"Dang. Speak of the devil." Quil said. His hands flew up to touch Claire, as if making sure she was still there. "I don't know where her mom's at!"
"I'll see what it is." I ventured cautiously. I had been assigned three chaperones a day, to ensure I didn't phase and disappear into the shrubbery. Of course, that didn't stop me trying. It hadn't worked so far. Not one of the attempts had seen me past the border of Washington State. The problem was that the more tired I got the more Sam's edict took over me until I caved.
Today was Paul - who was in my house, Quil, who stood uncertainly next to me, and Leah, who prowled around my house in wolf form. She would have already gone to see what was happening with Sam.
"Okay - get outta here, Jake!"
I took off running, not for the dirt path through the weedy hedge, but in the shortest line toward the forest. I hurdled the first line of driftwood and then ripped my way through the briars, still running. I felt the little tears as the thorns cut into my skin, but I ignored them. Their sting would be healed before I made the trees.
I cut behind the store and darted across the highway. Someone honked at me. Once in the safety of the trees, I ran faster, taking longer strides. People would stare if I was out in the open. Normal people couldn't run like this. Sometimes I thought it might be fun to enter a race - you know, like the Olympic trials or something. It would be cool to watch the expressions on those star athletes' faces when I blew by them. Only I was pretty sure the testing they did to make sure you weren't on steroids would probably turn up some really freaky crap in my blood.
As soon as I was in the true forest, unbound by roads or houses, I skidded to a stop and kicked my shorts off. With quick, practiced moves, I rolled them up and tied them to the leather cord around my ankle. As I was still pulling the ends tight, I started shifting. The fire trembled down my spine, throwing spasms out along my arms and legs. It only took a second. The heat flooded through me, and I felt the silent shimmer that made me something else. I threw my heavy paws against the matted earth and stretched my back in one long, rolling extension.
Phasing was very easy when I was centered like this. I didn't have issues with my temper anymore.
I drifted casually in the direction of Texas. To tell the truth, I had no real interest in what Sam's big announcement was. The only thing that mattered was getting back to Chrissy.
JACOB. Come straight to us, Sam ordered, in the strange double timbre. No member of the pack could disobey the Alpha. Even if the entire pack disagreed with what he had decreed.
There's no point fighting it, Embry whispered.
That was true. I tried one last time, straining tentatively at the mental boundaries. It didn't work.
I resigned myself to meeting the rest of the pack.
I hardly enjoy sitting outside your window while you sulk, Leah thought. So self-absorbed all the time.
Yeah, no hypocrisy there, Leah, I thought back.
Where's Quil and Jared? Sam demanded abruptly.
Quil's got Claire. He's taking her to the Clearwaters'.
Good. Sue will take her.
Jared was going to Kim's, Embry thought. Good chance he didn't hear you.
There was a low grumble through the pack. I moaned along with them. When Jared finally showed up, no doubt he'd still be thinking about Kim. And nobody wanted a replay of what they were up to right now.
Sam sat back on his haunches and let another howl rip into the air. It was an order and a signal in one.
The pack was gathered a few miles east of where I was. I loped through the thick forest toward them. Leah, Embry and Paul were all working in toward them, too. Leah was close - soon I could hear her footfalls not far into the woods. We continued in a parallel line, choosing not to run together.
Well, we're not waiting all day for him. He'll just have to catch up later.
'Sup, boss? Paul wanted to know.
We need to talk. Something's happened.
I felt Sam's thoughts flicker to me - and not just Sam's, but Seth's and Collin's and Brady's as well. Collin and Brady - the new kids - had been running patrol with Sam today, so they would know whatever he knew. I didn't know why Seth was already out there, and in the know. It wasn't his turn.
Seth, tell them what you heard.
I sped up, wanting to be there. I heard Leah move faster, too. She hated being outrun. Being fastest was the only edge she claimed.
Claim this, moron, she hissed, and then she really kicked into gear. I dug my nails into the loam and shot myself forward.
Sam growled. Jake, Leah. Cut it. Seth?
Neither of us slowed.
Charlie called around till he found Billy at my house.
Yeah, I talked to him, Paul added.
I felt a jolt go through me as Seth thought Charlie's name. I had barely thought about Charlie or Bella or Edward since I met Chrissy. I was practically an invalid around her. Entranced by her smile; her laugh; the light, horizontal creases across her forehead when she was concentrating.
So he's all flipped out. Guess he went to see Edward and Bella the other day. She was so excited to see him that she jumped on him before Edward pulled her off. Apparently they never stopped touching the entire time he was there. He said that they were like those stereotypical newlyweds.
The mental silence when Seth finished was profound. We all understood.
What we need, Sam said. Is for someone to go check this out. Bella's obviously a vampire now, but our problem now is whether or not we let it slide. We need to evaluate the situation. Seth?
Leah and I entered the clearing at the nearly the same time. She was sure that her nose led the way, though. She dropped to her haunches while I trotted forward to stand at Sam's right hand. Paul circled and made room for me in my place.
Can I go too? I asked suddenly.
Sam's voice was that of the Alpha. The only way he ever spoke to me now. It was almost as if he was afraid that his orders would fade off if he didn't reinstate them often enough. Fine. Go to the Cullen house. Find out what's happening. Then come back here.
I turned on my tail and sprinted for the Cullen mansion. Behind me, I heard comments exploding from the others.
Are you sure Jake's the right one? Embry said, worried.
You know what he was like about Bella. Brady told Sam. That boy was on the dim side. I didn't give a damn what Bella chose to do with her mortality now.
The soft impact of big paws against the ground followed me.
Wait up, Jake. My legs aren't as long as yours.
I let my paces grow shorter. I started to think about exactly what I was going to do now. March in through the door and . . . and what, exactly? Listen, Bella. I'm here for the pack. Tell us you're not gonna slaughter the townsfolk and we're gone. And by the way, I don't love you anymore. I've imprinted on a girl called Christina Amanda Preston.
Nice, Jake. That'll go down well.
I ignored him. Knowing they would hear us coming, human or wolf, I stopped suddenly and phased. I tugged on my shorts again.
"Hurry up, Seth."
"Yeah, coming." He stumbled as he tried to catch up to me while getting dressed.
Seth grabbed my shoulder. "Hey, we're together here, Jake. Don't walk in front."
"Sorry." I took one big gulp of putrid air and leaped up the porch stairs in one bound.
The doorway opened before my fist touched it, and the doctor stood in the frame, his eyes grave.
"Hello, Jacob," he said, calmer than I would have expected. "How are you?"
"Uh. Okay, I guess." I took a deep breath through my mouth. The reek pouring through the door was overpowering.
"And you, Seth?"
"Great!" He chorused.
"Er, Jacob, it's not really the best time." The doctor seemed uncomfortable.
"Come in, please, Jacob," a musical voice asked. It wasn't very familiar.
Carlisle's eyes tightened.
I wondered if Bella was thirsty. My eyes narrowed, too.
"Excuse me," I said to the doctor as I stepped around him. It was hard - it went against all my instincts to turn my back to one of them. Not impossible, though. "C'mon, Seth."
Then I saw Bella. She was one of them now, definitely. If her white skin, graceful pose on the stairs and new voice didn't tell me that, the crimson eyes did.
"Bells, you're a freak show." I wrinkled my nose as I drew nearer. "And you stink."
"Thanks." She chimed, frowning and then clearing her face, so quickly I could hardly believe it had happened. "Hi Seth!"
"Hi Bella." Seth turned to me. "You wanna make your speech or should I?"
"What-?"
"Listen, Bella." Seth said. "I'm here for the pack. Tell us you're not gonna slaughter the townsfolk and we're gone."
"What?" Bella asked.
"Well, yeah. It might not have been the best speech, but it got straight to the point."
"Hold it." I interrupted. "Why am I feeling entirely left out here? Firstly, kid, I was being freaking sarcastic. And Bella, seriously, what's up with your newborn status? You might think that Charlie should be your first choice for a tasty-smelling snack, but I don't."
She sounded unimpressed. "Snack."
"And by the way, I don't lo-" I clamped a hand over Seth's mouth as he carried on.
"What?" Bella snapped.
"Nothing. So, what's going on?"
I watched her indecision. "Edward," she finally said.
Then he was standing next to her in all of his charming beauty. A leech-hater I may be, but I could admit to him being a pretty bugger. That was one of the things that I hated about the parasites.
"Really, Jacob. Your wording leaves much to be desired."
"Bella?" I said, ignoring him.
"We went on our honeymoon." She stared into Edward's eyes momentarily, softening. Gross. Thinking about that was worse than seeing Jared and Kim. It was a contrast with his taut jawline. Weird, considering the whole marriage thing was his idea.
"And he didn't kill you? Nice going, Eddy."
"We decided that the change might go better on Isle Esme, rather than here, so Edward bit me." Bella shrugged her hair off her neck to show the pale, silvery scar. Looking at it, I had a sudden mental image of Edward leaning down to press his lips to her throat, then sink his teeth slowly into her soft flesh.
"How long was your honeymoon? It's been months since the wedding."
"We got back last week. But I was changed a month before that."
"Bella, love." Edward said suddenly. "I think Jacob has something important to tell you."
I planted my feet firmly apart and folded my arms. "What's going on, leech?"
"Seth just thought something very interesting. Something about happy endings. With everyone ending up with their soul mate. Care to tell Bella about Christina?" His voice was deadly, velvet.
I spotted the small female and the blond male circling the edge of the room, sights fixed on Bella, who was alternating between staring at me and Seth. Then she fixed on me, wearing a mixed expression.
I ignored her. "I don't have to tell you anything."
"Christina. Or isn't she important enough to merit a description?" Edward said.
"She likes to be called Chrissy. But Jake and Caleb call her Chris. Caleb is Chrissy's boyfriend."
Nice, Seth. That's going to go down well. Jacob the girl-stealer in another love triangle. Just kill me now.
"Bella might."
"What did I do?" I asked, sincerely confused.
"Blood." He whispered. "It smells repulsive, feral. But it's flowing, and it would be so easy to ..." He leaned forward.
I was aware, then, of the heat oozing down my fingers. The cut - inflicted by my fingernails as I furiously clenched my fists in order to not lunge for the leech's throat as he blatantly slandered Chrissy - had already healed, but a single drop of blood had escaped my flesh. It spattered onto the ground. Oh, great. Bleeding in a house of vampires.
"Seth. Get out of here. You've seen that she's fine. That's all Sam wanted."
He frowned and stepped cautiously towards the door.
"Go, Seth!" I yelled, and to my great relief, he ran. "Bells? You're not going to kill me. I'd make you physically sick with all these unnatural toxins in my blood. Just cool it so that we can talk. Hell, I'll even tell you about Chris."