Welcome to the pack, Xander. It was Sam's voice I heard first, but it was more powerful than before.
Z, you okay? Jake asked, sounding worried, there was a sniffing noise near my head. I tried to open my eyes. It stung at first, and my vision was blurred, but I could see light and some shapes.
It'll get better, just give it a minuet. Sam said, I tried to reply, but there was a whimpering noise.
Don't try to talk. Just, erm, think the words. Jake instructed. Was he serious? Yes I'm serious, just trust me. What the hell, was he in my head?
All part of the deal. Sam said.
So, like this? God I feel like an idiot.
You'll get used to it, I already have. Jake muttered. I was starting to get my vision back. I could see leaves in different colours of golds and browns, I could see the fallen tree benches, and I could see two massive hulking grey paws in front of me. I tried to scramble away from them, but the followed me.
Xander calm down. I turned to my right, where the two wolfs sat. The larger one didn't seem to take an interest in me. The other, the Jacob-Wolf, cocked his head to the side like a curious puppy. The moment I saw his eyes something changed, something deep and primal. It felt like suddenly the sun had died, and he was what I revolved around, he was my source of light and warmth.
Oh boy. Sam muttered, just as the bigger wolf stood and walked away. I'll give you two some time.
I'm sooo not a puppy.Said Jacob voice, then the wolf showed his teeth, as if smiling
J-J-Jake? Seriously?I fell backwards, my body feeling different.
Yup, it's me, you should see you, your... Beautiful He replied in a bashful tone. Oh, wait, I can show you!
Suddenly my vision changed, like I was looking from somewhere else. There was the circle of trees where I was sure I was, and right in the middle was a big, light grey wolf laying on its back. It looked confused, maybe shocked? Then it hit me.
Is... Is that... Me?
Yeah. Jake said as my vision went back to the way it was before, with him standing right in front of me. I tried to stand, not sure of how to work this body. Jake stuck his head under my ribs and pushed me over.
Heh, thanks.I looked around, searching for Sam and the remainders of my clothes
I'm here, there's two pairs of shorts inside the hollowed out trunk behind you, there's shoes too. Sam's voice echoed in my head. I stood up, my legs shaking a bit, then turned my head. I spotted the tree and started walking, well, stumbling towards it. I heard Jakes paws falling behind me. Now that I thought about it, I could hear everything. I could hear the waves breaking near the beach, I could hear an egg hatching above us, I could even hear the fur on Jakes side brush against mine. It felt electric.
Erm, not to sound ungrateful Sam, but I don't think these are gonna fit. I mused as I fished out a pair of the denim shorts from the trunk, moving to the side to let Jake get his.
No shit. Sam sounded annoyed. No shit again Sherlock
I'm sorry, is there any way for you not to hear my thoughts? I asked, mildly pissed
Nope, not really. Now, I want you both to think about your bodies very carefully. Sam instructed. Not these bodies, you human bodies. I want you to remember how it felt when you flexed your hands, what it was like to stretch your legs.
I focused on it, and I could hear/ feel/whatever Jake doing the same. I closed my eyes, really concentrating on it, then I felt myself crumple to the ground. I opened my eyes just in time to see Jake fall on top of me, starting out on his hind legs as a wolf before landing on my chest naked.
"Well, this is... Awkward" He chuckled.
"Just a bit" But not really, it felt right. He sat up, grabbing my shorts and throwing them to me before putting his on. It was weird, I could still hear insanely well, and my vision seemed more precise. Once we were decent we stood, searching for someone, anyone, when Sam entered the clearing, wearing exactly what he had been before.
"Not bad, for beginners." He smirked, this time not nastily. "Sorry for the comment earlier Alexander, it was the only way to make you both Change."
"Sure sure" Jake sneered. I placed my hand on his shoulder, keeping him from shaking again. Dick. I hushed him, but he gave me a confused look.
"Come, the other elders wish to speak with you both." Sam motioned us to follow him, and we did.
Mr. Fucking Perfect gets to be a bloody elder, gets to boss us around...
"Jake, would you seriously shut up, he's just trying to help" I said, stopping him in his tracks.
"I didn't say anything" He looked at me, eyes wide. I gave him a scornful look. "Seriously!"
"I just heard you." I gave him a deep look. Why was he lying?
"I'm not lying. Sam, did I say anything?" He looked to the elder
"Not that I heard, what did you think he said Xander?" Sam asked
"Erm... heh, if you didn't hear it I don't think I should repeat it"
"That's because there's nothing to repeat" What the hell is with him?
"Nothings 'With Me', I heard you speak!" I glared at Jacob. He looked back at me, shocked.
Can you hear me? Jacob asked
"Yes?"
Genius, look at my lips. And I looked, nothing, except open in a shocked expression.
"Well, that's new" Sam muttered, seeming slightly amused.
"Are you serious?" Jacob asked Sam. I decided to try something
I think he's serious. I said to Jake
"Oh my god." How can you hear me and he can't?
No clue
Awesome. SAMS A FUCKING TOOL!
Wow, immature much? I giggled out loud
"The others are gonna love this." Sam said as he started walking back to the town hall.
When we got there mostly everyone was gone. The only ones left were Billy, the old guy and two boys about my age.
"Xander, this is Paul and Jared. Jacob, you already know them." Sam said. I waved shyly at the boys, both of whom were stunning. Paul smiled and winked at me, which Jake growled at, and Jared waved back at me.
Stay away from Paul, he'll eat you alive. Jake warned
I think I can handle myself. He seemed nice enough. Jacob scoffed at my thought.
"The others, Quil and Embry are running a patrol. Checking the leach is gone."
"Leach?" I asked.
"Cold one, vampire as you know it." Billy indicated.
"There are some things we need to talk about Billy. In private." Sam pointed to a little door that led to another room. Billy nodded and rolled himself towards it, closely followed by Sam. I sat on a table near the door, Jake sat beside me.
"So, you two, huh?" Jared asked
"What do you mean?" I asked
"Well, its just I've never seen anyone imprint that quickly, or in that way..."
Imprint? I asked Jacob
It's part of the legend of our people, I didn't think that's what it was... His thought trailed off.
What is it?
Well, it's supposed to be a way of us carrying along the blood line, like a fail-safe to protect our tribe.
What does it mean? I don't understand.
I don't know. I've never heard of, well, 'This' happening before. I left him to think, instead I tried to listen through the door, but it seemed to be too thick to hear through from here. I curled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. We waited for a few minuets before the door finally opened. Sam emerged first, followed by an angry looking Billy.
"I'm so sorry." Sam whispered to Jake, who just looked as confused as before.
"Jacob." Billy sneered, "I want your belongings out of my house by the end of today."
"What? Why Dad?" Jacob asked
"Don't call me that, just do it." Billy snarled before rolling out the room, followed by the others. I turned to Jake, his face an empty shell until the door closed, when the tears started to build in his eyes. I stood up and wrapped my arms around him as he started to sob.
What did I do? Kept running through his head
"It wasn't you honey." I muttered in his ear before kissing the top of his head. I realised I had tears rolling down my cheeks too. It killed me inside to see him like this.
I held him for what seemed hours until the sobs stopped. He had come down to the floor, laying his head on my lap, my back against the wall with my stroking his hair. He seemed to be asleep when the back door opened and my Mom walked in. She looked at us before sitting next to me.
"Sam called me and told me what happened." I flinched at his name. He's the one who told Billy, he's the one who did this.
"I'm sure wonder boy did"
"He thought he was doing the right thing."
"Look what thought did." I snarled
"I'm not agreeing with him, Billy's never been the most open person in the world." She said softly. I wouldn't mind rolling the gimp off one of the cliffs
Please don't
"I wont Jakey, it's okay" I whispered in Jakes ear. My Mom looked startled
"He wasn't kidding." She murmured to herself.
"What time is it?" I asked
"About 7, why?"
"Did you bring the cruiser? Billy said we needed to get Jakes stuff tonight"
"Sure honey, I'll go start it up. You gonna be okay with him?"
"Yeah Mom, he may look huge but he's seriously light" I said, cradling Jacob in my arms. Hayley looked mildly shocked again before turning and walking towards the door.
"Wolves" She muttered. I followed her out, she had opened the back door so I lay Jake on one of the seats and sat beside him, still stroking his raven black hair.
She drove gently towards Billy's, where a large pile of boxes sat outside. Jake was out for the count, so I opened my door quietly and started packing the boxes up. Once they were in the car, I walked around to the makeshift garage at the side of the house. There was metal and plastic everywhere, and the car was still under the sheet. I removed it, looking inside to see what was there. It looked fully functioning, all pedals and leavers and buttons that I knew were there. I opened the front, checking it had an engine, which it did. I found a few boxes and started packing away all the scattered pieces away, then putting them into the Rabbits trunk. Once everything was in the car I found the keys. Hoping to god this thing started, I turned the key in the ignition. It started, spluttering slightly to begin with before I drove it off the Black's land. Mom was waiting against the cruiser.
"Is that thing gonna make it to ours?" she asked, one eyebrow raised
"No clue, but I get a funny feeling Billy might let them torch it if I don't move it." She nodded at this. "I'll take him in this car, then I'll get mine in the morning." I said as I opened the door, switching Jake between the cars.
"You know, you could always run back." She smirked as she re-entered the cruiser, "Just a thought."
I smiled as I thought about the idea, placing Jakes head down gently on the back seat of his car. I got in the drivers seat and Started making my way home. I watched out my window, flipping Sam and the rest of the so called pack who ran along side us in the dark of the forest. Anyone who didn't have the higher senses that had come with my recent change could have mistaken the wolfs on miracle-grow for bears. As we neared the border between the res. and Forks, I noticed the others slow down, but then wondered if Sam had just told them not to bother watching us.
I pulled into the drive and up into the garage where Hayleys Jeep was already parked, then got out and walked round to the door at Jakes head. I opened it, then sat down on the ground next to him, watching him sleep. I could hear the mumbles of his dream in my head, he was scared of something, running from it, some mutated wolf. I stroked his head, trying to lull him into a nice dream, then rested my forehead against his. I was shocked when I fell to the forest floor, landing beside a young boy, crying and curled up next to a tree.
"Hey buddy, you okay?" I asked, trying to figure out where the hell the garage went.
"He's gonna get me, he hates me, what did I do?" The boy looked up to me, and as he did I recognised the familiar glint in his eyes.
"Jacob?" I asked, only to be replied to by the boy nodding and laying his head back on his knees, sobbing. "Jake, it's gonna be okay, lets get you home" the boy looked back at me.
"I don't have a home any more, He threw me out" he cried as he pointed to a lurking shadow to the left of us. It was big, about 8 foot, the only things visible were the hulking silhouette of a wolf, two fierce glowing red eyes and it's giant snarling teeth. I backed away, cradling the boy to my chest.
"You can't have him, you'll have to take me first" I growled at the wolf.
"That can be arranged." It snarled in a familiar voice, though now filled with evil and malice. The wolf came closer, moving very slowly, and with every step there was a squeak.
As it drew closer, it started to circle us, showing it's full form in the dimly moonlit forest floor. It was as huge as I thought, now only a few feet from us, jet black in colour with hackles raised, purely evil eyes and two wheels attached to it's hind. I should have pieced it together before that, but now I knew I had to wake Jacob up. I looked down the the child sobbing into my chest.
"Jake, it's aright sweety, I'll protect you, just open your eyes" I whispered to him, kissing him on the forehead. The forest slowly turned around us, things in the far distance fading into black. I watched as the spinning got faster, as the Billy-wolf got dragged into eternal darkness along with the moon, then as it slowly engulfed us, I closed my eyes.
As I blinked then back open, moments later, it was bright. I looked up to see a florescent tube of light, then back down to see a sleepy Jacob.
