Chapter 23

Jacob

I watched silently as she got out of the Italian sports car. Just by the smell from the open door, I knew that two bloodsuckers were still inside. I had not understood why Sam had told me to come and see this, and I still don't. Pawing at the mushy moss beneath my pads, I whined a little. Sam turned his head at me and bared his teeth. I shut up immediately.

Why am I here? I thought cruelly. She's only coming to tell me that she's choosing him over me.

You do not know that, Sam growled. I huffed and turned, watching Max walk slowly, as if in a daze, through the streets.

At one point, she whirled and saw Sam standing between two trees, watching her. She frowned slightly but I saw her chest retract as she let out a small sigh. I cocked my ears and listened, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence. She didn't. She just turned and continued walking, a small frown on her tight lips. A little later, she whispered something that I didn't catch and neither did Sam.

I lost sight of her as she turned a corner on the opposite side from the trees where Sam and I were hiding. Embry and Quil were on that side and as I cautiously crept across the street, I heard the soft howl from Embry, letting Sam and I know that she was in their sight. I caught up with them quickly and watched as she stopped at the bottom of my lawn.

Go around back and meet her, Quil suggested. I shook my head.

I don't want to talk to her, I responded gruffly. Quil bared his teeth at me.

Don't be an ass Jake. She's here to talk to you. She's here, on her own, to let you know something important. The least you can do is let her speak.

Jeez Quil, have you been reading your mom's chick magazines or something? Embry thought snidely. That was really deep man! Quil snarled quietly at him.

Shut up. He turned to me again. Seriously dude, do not just leave her there like that.

I ignored him and watched Max take a deep breath before walking across the grass to my front door. She raised her hand and almost knocked, stopping right before her fist touched the door. I pulled my lips back in a silent triumph.

Obviously it's not too important if she can't even knock on the door, I thought harshly. Quil snapped his teeth at me to hush.

Max drew her hand slowly away from my front door and put both hands by her side. She was trembling a little as she walked swiftly away from the house, her face tight. I lowered my shoulders, angry with her for not having the guts to come and tell me that she was going to break my heart.

Suddenly, she stopped and spun around, facing my house again. She put her hands to her head in frustration and looked around, as if for someone to pull confidence from. I watched, a stunned, as she moved her hands over her eyes and lay on the ground just off the grass. Her chest moved up and down not with breaths, but with silent sobs.

Obviously she cares enough that it makes her cry, Quil commented dryly. It was my turn to snap at him to shut it.

It was a few minutes before Max sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes roughly with the backs of her hands. She looked around, sweeping her eyes right over me and the rest of the trees nearby, and let out a harsh bark of a laugh. Sighing once more, she rose slowly, pushing herself off the pavement. I heard her mutter a swear quickly before striding up to my front door.

I streaked behind the house, moving as fast as I could. I heard her hand knock once on the front door… twice. I shifted and climbed through my bedroom window. Yanking my sweatpants on, I opened my door, grabbing a sweatshirt and tugging it on at the last moment. I did not particularly want her to know that I had seen her.

I strode through the front room, stopping at the door. She could probably hear me from the other side of the wooden slab, but I didn't care. I hesitated, my hand hovering on the doorknob. I tried not to think about how much this would hurt as I steeled myself and flung the door open.

Max blinked in surprise when I was suddenly in front of her. I leaned against the doorframe and glared down at her, my arms crossed over my chest. She took in my expression and the semi-hostile positioning of my body with practiced eyes. I noticed with a little pang that her lip quivered a fraction as her brown eyes slid over my face.

"What," I said harshly. She hung her head, refusing to look at me.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. My eyebrows shot up. I knew that this was coming, and yet I was surprised? Yet my heart broke seeing her standing here like this before me? It just was not right.

"Then get lost." She looked at me, her lower lip trembling more noticeably now. I fought not to show sympathy. I must have made myself even more intimidating and cruel because fresh tears slid down her cheeks and she turned, walking hurriedly away, her posture revealing that she was frightened.

She had just reached the edge of the grass again when all the members of the Pack leapt out of the trees and formed a circle around her. She stopped in her tracks and began backing away, right over the front yard. I don't think she remembered that she could snap out her wings and fly away if she wanted to. Maybe she doesn't want to, a small part of me hoped foolishly.

The Pack took turns lunging and clicking their jaws at her, not getting close enough to harm her, but close enough that she got the message and took a few steps back. I frowned a little as they herded her to stand in front of me, her back to the house. Her foot caught the step and she fell backwards. I reached out and steadied her instinctively. She regained her balance and shied away from my hands, which I pulled back immediately, glaring at my Pack brothers and Leah until she turned.

When Max looked back up at me, her face was broken, tears still coursing down her cheeks. I softened my glare a little, but I couldn't let her see how much this hurt me. I leaned against the doorframe again, resuming my previous stance. She bit her lip and studied me for a few seconds.

"I came to apologize," she whispered. I clenched my fists and waited for her to continue. Our eyes met and her gaze begged me to understand. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"What for?" I asked, urging her on gently, if a little roughly. I needed to hear her say it.

"For Fang coming back when he did," she said softly, tearing her eyes from mine. She looked out to the forest beside my house and gazed at it for a few seconds before she spoke again. "I didn't—he was dead. How was I to know that he would come back, just when I started loving you?"

My breath caught, and I'm sure hers did as well when she uttered those last few words. She did love me, I thought, a little incredulous. I had thought so, but to hear her say it made it that much more real. And it would make it that much more painful when she ended it in a few minutes.

"He was my best friend," she said, repeating her words from earlier. "How can you not love your best friend? If not as a friend, then as something more?" It sounded as if she were asking my permission. I didn't respond.

She took another deep breath and continued. "He took me by surprise. He isn't usually so… publicly affectionate," she said, a small blush forming on her tanned cheeks. It was only a little color, but I noticed wryly that it made her even more beautiful. "I tried to go after you, but he held me back."

"But you didn't fight him," I said accusingly. She nodded, not meeting my eyes.

"It had been months since Fang held me. The last time was just minutes before he was taken from me. It—I couldn't leave him. Not again." She looked up then and met my eyes. "But I did come to you. And you pushed me away." That last sentence was spoken in a different tone, as if she were accusing me!

"What was I supposed to do," I snapped, getting angry. Sam's low growl from somewhere behind Max made me narrow my eyes. They were defending her!

"You could have let me explain!" she said. "But no! You jumped the gun and told me to get the hell out of your life!" It was her turn to glare at me. Our eyes met and we stood, glaring at each other, for a few minutes.

Suddenly, her face broke and a small choked laugh escaped her lips. Her eyes watered again and she broke eye contact. "Came to explain and we're already fighting," she muttered angrily. I narrowed my eyes.

"Well maybe if you weren't so—." I stopped, unable to find the right word to describe her. She looked at me again, her face furious.

"No, don't even think of putting all this on me," she snapped, pointing her finger at me. "You wouldn't listen to me then, and you aren't listening to me now!" She stabbed my chest with her finger.

"Well I'm listening now!" I said, louder than I had meant to. She knew just how to get me riled up!

"I came to tell you that I chose you!" she shouted, the tears pouring from her face as she glared at me through tear-soaked lashes. I froze, my face going from pissed to stunned in a split second. "I came here to tell you that I chose you, Jacob! But since you hate me so much, I might as well leave!" she yelled, her temper flaring.

Max turned and started back down the front yard, stomping away from me. I watched, rooted in place, as she stalked down the street. None of the Pack tried to stop her. Either they were all just as surprised as I was, or they were waiting for me to make a move. When she turned the corner and was out of sight, I came to my senses.

Racing down the grass, I ran as fast as I could down the street. In the distance, I saw Max, her blonde hair blowing in the breeze, as she ran away from me. Even through her distress, Max gave me a run for my money. I pushed myself faster, trying to catch up to her. I don't think she heard me chasing after her. At least, that's what I told myself as she raced away from me.

I have to catch her, I thought frantically. I cannot let her get away from me. I pumped my legs faster and finally noticed that I was gaining on her. She turned corners, running through the streets as if she were headed somewhere specific. I realized with surprise when she turned yet another corner that she was doubling back, heading back towards my house. I thought that was where she was going until she blew past the turn and kept running.

Her feet pounded across the small rocks that outlined the beach. She had just reached the surf when I caught up to her. The force of me knocked her over. I went down with her, pinning her body to the wet sand. She wriggled quickly and righted herself, laying flat on her back beneath me.

We were both breathing a little hard as we looked at each other. The water came up and surged around her head and upper body and I felt the cold seawater on my forearms. She shivered a little and I lowered my body so that I was barely pressed against hers. I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers.

Max reacted instantly. She kissed me back with such force that I was a little surprised. Then the only feeling I felt was happiness when she reached up and wrapped her arms tight around my neck. We ignored the ocean as it beat against us methodically, holding each other close.

"Sorry," I murmured when our lips parted. She smacked the back of my head lightly, but her small smile told me I was forgiven.

"It's ok; I always knew you were an idiot." I rolled my eyes at her and pushed myself up. She sat up, holding her arms out so that I could pull her to her feet.

"So what now?" she asked slowly, not meeting my eyes. I sighed and was about to say something when she shivered violently.

"You're all wet! Max, it's freezing out here!" I said, surprised. She gave me a look.

"Yes, moron, it's cold out on a beach at night in Washington," she said snippily. "What are you doing?"

"Giving you my sweatshirt," I said as I pulled said sweatshirt over my head.

"But I'll just get that soaked too," she said, gesturing to her own wet clothes. I raised a brow at her and she blushed. "You—fine, gimme that." I laughed and she grabbed the sweatshirt out of my hand.

Max started pulling her own sweatshirt off. I took my sweatshirt back and held it for her, waiting until she had her hands on her t-shirt hem before smirking. She raised a brow at me and pulled the wet t-shirt over her head.

"What, never seen a girl before Jacob?" she teased. I blushed a little. Sure, if you count Leah… and that was completely unintentional. She noticed and laughed, reaching for the sweatshirt in my hands. I pulled it out of her reach. "Not funny. I'm freezing."

"Then let me warm you up," I said in a low voice. I pulled her into my arms and she shivered a little.

"This isn't helping all that much. You aren't that warm," she teased, reaching up to kiss my jaw. "I still want that sweatshirt."

"Fine, but your bra is wet." She smacked me lightly and stepped away, turning her back to me. She reached her hands around and tried to unhook the clasp but her fingers fumbled with it.

I stepped in and put my hands over hers, gently moving them aside. With one hand, I swept her long hair over her left shoulder, the other flicking the clasp open with my thumb. She held the front of the bra in her hands, trying to move away from my touch.

Max

His warm hands on my back, right between my soaking wings, sent shivers up my spine. I knew I was a little stupid for letting him undo my bra for me, but hey, I couldn't do it without turning it around to the front, and that would be worse. He leaned over and pressed his lips to my shoulder, flicking his tongue out to gently brush against my bare skin. I shivered and he smiled against my skin.

"I think you got it," I breathed. He chuckled and slid his hands around my stomach. "When did you start to become such a manwhore?" Jacob laughed, bringing his lips right beside my left ear.

"When I met you." I tried to suppress a smile, but he saw it anyways.

"Can I have that sweatshirt now? I really am cold," I said, clearing my throat. Jacob chuckled and handed it to me, taking a short step back. I slipped it over my head and breathed in the scent of Jacob. It smelled so good.

"Hey, I didn't wear it that long," he said defensively. "It should smell just fine." I shook my head, my wet hair dripping around my shoulders.

"It smells good," I murmured, snuggling into the warm material. He grinned and took my hand in his. I intertwined our fingers and walked up the beach with him, my wet clothes dangling from his other hand. My wings felt a little shut in, but I didn't really care. I was warm, comfortable, and with Jacob, so they could just wait.

The Pack was waiting up ahead, sitting calmly in a semi-circle across the open road. I was a little surprised that they weren't worried about being seen… then I remembered that it was like 2 a.m. They all showed toothy grins when Jacob smirked and held our intertwined hands in the air above our heads. I blushed and looked down, shaking my head slowly.

"What, embarrassed?" Jacob whispered with a laugh. I stuck my tongue out at him and grinned.

"You're a loser," I muttered. "Did I tell you that?"

"No, no you did not." His face got serious all of a sudden. "Did I tell you that I love you yet?"

I was silent. But only for a few seconds. "No, no you did not. And I like it." I reached up on tiptoe and kissed him quickly. "I love you too."