Chapter 7
Best Friends and Enemies
Jake squares off with his opponent, deciding to catch him unaware. His fist sails into Paul's jaw with a satisfying crunch. The first punch catches Paul by surprise and his head snaps back with a snarl. Paul's fists clench and the dance begins as they circle each other. A short, hard jab to Jacob's ribs produces a loud crack, but Jake doesn't feel the pain through the numbness.
The dark smirk glaring back at Jake disappears as an unexpected left hook to the chin connects with Paul's face. Paul growls and shakes his head. Pretty boy's blood smears across Jake's knuckles from his split lip. Jake's features contort to sneer the smirk back at his adversary. They bare their teeth as they begin to circle each other.
How many times can a person live through betrayal from the same person until their heart crystallizes with hate? Jake asks himself the same question every morning when he looks into the mirror. He snorts, because the answer is - he can't ever hate her. Worst of all, he'd forgive her if she came back to him. Which is why he's even doing this tango with Paul in the first place.
Paul lands a few more body shots, but Jake is a quick thinker. He leaves himself vulnerable and Jake pounces. Jake's fists unleash the pent up fury one Isabella Marie Cullen created with her disappearing act. Two fucking months and not a single word from her. It hurts to know his best friend would treat him so coldly by having sex with him and promising she loved him, then disappearing like fucking Houdini.
Blood runs from the split on Paul's bottom lip and his left eye is swollen shut. Jake can't bring himself to feel sorry for the playboy. Usually it is Paul who needs to exhaust some energy to balance out, but today is different. Wolf and man are unsettled, though Jake could blame the wolf for this one. The wolf hadn't put up much fight when Bella needed to leave. As a matter of fact, the smug bastard was oddly quiet during the quarreling exchange.
Not anymore it seems, as the beast claws at Jake for freedom - consequences be damned. The wolf wants to break free, tear apart the restless vampires circling the treaty line like vultures, and take his goddamn woman back to his den. Fuck her, maybe even dole out a punishment, but mostly show her she belongs with him. He loves her, he always will, and it rips him apart to know she'd still choose the bloodsucker over him after everything. Jake's eyes flash with intent and his mouth contorts into a vicious sneer as he pummels Paul into the ground.
The fine hairs on his neck stand at attention as he feels another wolf close into his arena. Another victim, he growls, halting the advancing wolf's steps. "Think he's had enough, Chief?" Embry asks from the sidelines.
Jake looks up from his handiwork on Paul's face A sinister grin crosses his face as he buries his fist one more time in the bloody mess. Fighting Paul in wolf form while deranged isn't fair. The experienced wolf never had a chance. Jake got an eerie feeling Paul knew he wasn't going to win the fight.
He looks back to the winded wolf who hasn't moved. Paul's chest heaves up and down with his exaggerated breaths; at least he is still alive. "Yo, Paul, you good man?" Jake asks.
Jake bites his lips against the weak groan. "Yeah. Think I'll chill for a minute."
Jake's ears perk and he glances to the brush in front of him. A brown wolf sits a healthy distance away... watching, always watching. "Jared's here," Jake informs the limp form in the dirt before departing. Embry tilts his head in respect before he falls in step to Jake's right.
The concern and anxiety rolling from his right hand man crashes into him in waves. Embry is going to have to get a grip on his emotions. Jake isn't sure he can handle any more of the other wolf's inner turmoil. It's taxing to be emotionally attached to the pack human. He briefly wonders if Sam ever felt the weight of imbalance during his short reign.
Jake points to his eyebrow. "He got me right here," he says, hoping to loosen the suffocating band around his chest Embry is creating.
Embry squints his eyes as he studies the indicated area. "Yeah, yeah," he says nodding his head. "I see it! It musta hurt," he exclaims.
Jake throws puppy eyes to his right and pokes out his bottom lip. "It does," he whines. The band loosens and leaves a dull ache in its wake with Embry's chuckle.
Embry punches his shoulder. "Dick, you don't have to beat the shit outta Paul like that, man. It's shameful," he says, hitching his thumb over his shoulder.
Jake nods his agreement. It is indeed shameful, and though Jake enjoyed taking out his aggression, he'd rather not - especially on a brother. "Yeah, but a worn out, unaggressive, mildly angry Paul is a happy Jacob," he says with bite.
When all else fails, deny, deflect, turn the situation into something else. Truth is he sought Paul out this time needing to unleash. He wasn't heartless, he told Paul the deal, his rage. Paul agreed knowing the weight of his decision. Jake refused to phase - it wasn't about pack dominance. However, had he found Paul earlier, the older wolf might not have suffered - as bad, Jake smirks.
Embry chuckles, "Touche." Jake offers a stiff shrug.
Besides, Paul would be healed enough to use his blemishes to his advantage with whatever favor is available at the local pub. As long as they didn't start any shit, Jake doesn't give a fuck what the other wolves do on their own time. Fighting and women were Paul's forte - his own way of coping. Jake's fantasies of domestication fled over the treaty line months ago, essentially leaving him without his own mechanism to cope.
Embry pushes Jake, making the anger he worked off moments before resurface."Yeah, but did you have to beat him until he forgot his own name?"
The band of Embry's conscience tightens Jake's chest. A low growl hums in Jake's throat. "Embry, take your 'let's hold hands and talk' bullshit elsewhere. It's not appreciated here."
Jake slams through the back door of the red mecca to stop dead where he stands. Anna, the girl from the powwow, stands in his living room accompanied by an older gentlemen and his dad. His eyes roll over the girl before him, taking in her frumpy clothing. "Jacob, meet David White and his daughter, Aiyanna," Billy says.
Jake narrows his eyes and grasps the offered hand from the man. He doesn't say anything to Anna, only nods in her direction before looking to his dad. "I've invited David and Aiyanna for dinner."
"And Sue," Jake mumbles as Sue rounds the corner, wiping her hands on a dish rag.
"Oh," Sue gasps and clenches her chest. "Jacob, you scared me. Go clean up, dinner's almost ready," she says with a smile.
The lines edging Jake's eyes wrinkle. A dinner party, perhaps a shirt would be needed - he stomps into the bathroom, not caring about the rather forceful announcement of occupation. Pipes moan and groan their protest before bowing to his will and sputtering a hard spray of steamy water from the shower head. Jake's forehead falls to the tile wall of the shower with a thud as his muscles relax under the jet stream. His eyelids bounce as his mind continues to process.
He had been fucked up the night he met Anna - Aiyanna, whatever, and vaguely remembers the details. Obviously, he forgot a major one, but his wolf didn't sense ovulation. His wolf didn't seem to mind, but he thought he was with Bella; yet, it was Anna he was with most of the night. So, it couldn't be his, right?
Jake's fist cracks the ceramic tile as a growl rumbles in the shower. Bella, predictable fucking Bella, ran back to her bloodsucker to hide behind her leech family. Pure coincidence running into the no-brain, brawny parasite and the Cullens' trained Vet pet the day after Bells was supposed to be home - waiting, like she promised. When a pattern is formed, the warning is received. She or her tick didn't want Jake near her. It unsettles the wolf to know Eddie is hiding something important.
The water runs cold moments after Jake finishes rinsing off the skin crawlies. His towel dries most of his hair before he hooks it around his waist. He walks from the bathroom and shakes the excess droplets from his shaggy mane. A small gasp and a sweet scent invades his senses as he rakes his hands through his hair. Jake clenches his jaw against the telltale tightening between his legs.
Fuck it all if his wolf isn't content for the moment. "Jake." His eyes snap to the timid voice in the corridor. "I'm-".
Her eyes bulge as his hand cups over her lips, hushing her confession faster than she is ready. He peeps around to make sure shadows don't move. His eyes twitch as he picks up three strained voices in the kitchen before meeting her bewildered gaze. "Who'd you tell?" Jake asks as he removes his hand.
Her throat jumps as she swallows and her tongue darts from between her lips. "No one," she whispers.
Jake looks around the hall one more time before nodding. "Good, don't," he says and turns from the girl and shuts his bedroom door behind him. He jerks on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Fuck this shit for a joke - he picks up his cell phone from his dresser. The picture of him and Bella crashes face down on his nightstand as he scrolls through the contacts on his phone.
Em, need u to cover me.
Seconds later, his phone vibrates in his hand. Sure, sure Jake. He tosses the phone on his bed before flinging the door open. Jake walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table as Sue finishes plating their meal. Sue blesses the meal before they dig into their supper.
Aiyanna gazes at him from under her lashes and glances towards her father to make sure he isn't paying attention to her. Otherwise, her chin remains tucked into her chest as she picks at her food. Jake rests his right forearm on the table as he continues to eat. Sue pushes her food from side to side before taking a tiny nibble. His shifts his weight again, Billy carefully cuts his bites before leisurely bringing it to his mouth for a taste.
David is the only one relaxed, which makes the muscles on Jake's back tighten. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stand erect. This is a set-up and whatever the plan, both Sue and Billy know Jake isn't going to like it. Jake's fist clenches, turning the knuckles white, as he scoops another forkful into his mouth. His jaw obliterates the casserole particles before he swallows.
Jake gulps down his ice water to cool his simmering temper. Small talk falls onto his shoulders. Might as well lure the prey in with comforting conversation. "So, how long have you guys known each other?" Jake asks, as his eyes ping-pong between his dad and David, before settling on his next bite.
Billy clears his throat and wipes his mouth with his napkin. "David and I go back a long time," he says.
Funny, he's gone his whole life without once hearing his father utter the name David White. Jake nods and scoops another heaping helping onto his plate -pulling teeth it is, then. "What brings you to La Push from Utah, David?" The disdain is hard to mask, but at least he is being polite.
David wipes his mouth and places his napkin into his lap. He smooths the wrinkles before resting his weight onto the table. Jake meets his cool stare -ah, a straight shooter. At least now he doesn't have to ask meaningless, coded questions. Aiyanna's eyes dart between him and her father so fast, Jake is getting dizzy.
She is scared, but why? Her father seems to treat her distant and cold. Hell, the very air he breathes is spiked with fear. Jake wants to smack the smug smirk from David's cool facade. A slimy smile stretches his lips thin. "Billy and I were discussing tribal business."
Jake's ears twitch as Aiyanna's fork clatters onto her plate. She brushes her hair behind her ear. Unsure of how to present herself, she settles her chin on her fist and grips her middle tightly. Her rigid posture stiffens Jake's spine, but his eyes never leave David's. "David is chief of the Shoshone tribe. He invited us to the powwow this past August," Billy offers.
Jake hums in the back of his throat. He drops his eyes to his plate, putting Anna -Aiyanna in his line of sight. She shrinks back into her chair and both arms guard her stomach. As if on cue, Sue stands from the table and Billy crushes his empty can. "Thank you for dinner, Sue, and I hope you can come to a conclusion on your tribal business," Jake says and makes to stand up.
Billy's hand on his forearm halts him in mid-stance. "Wait, Son, sit," Billy says.
Jake seats himself as Billy continues to talk. "David and I would like to form an alliance of sorts."
Jake snorts and shakes his head. "That doesn't have anything to do with me."
Billy clears his throat as perspiration beads along his hairline to accompany his fidgeting. "Well, we were discussing a bond between our tribes. A blood bond, joining the Blacks and Whites with the first-born grandchild. Yours and Aiyanna's first child."
The rest of Billy's rant goes unheard as Jake fades from the conversation swirling around him. Bella dances to the center of his attention. If she loved him, wanted him, she'd would've come back, but she didn't. Instead, Anna sits across from him pregnant with a teenage mistake, but it is still his. He can't abandon the child, but marriage is extreme.
Did they know? Jake looks over Anna's tiny hunched frame trying to become one with the chair. Her chin is tucked and she avoids eye contact - scared. Billy and Sue are coiled tight with anxiety, ready for him to spring vengeance and fury against the idea. David fucking White is relaxed - the smug bastard. The beast inside perks with Jake's uneasy feeling crawling along his spine.
The urge to keep Anna close and his pup closer plagues his protective instincts. If he disagrees - the prospect of that if makes him swell his full height in his chair. David White isn't trustworthy. At least he can keep his eye on Billy and Sue, they are always close. By separating the threat from the equation, his child could escape the corrupt claws of White, and Aiyanna will be his double agent, regardless of her feelings.
Glasses rattle and the wooden frame of the table groans as Jake slaps his palms on the surface. The chair he occupies scrapes against the floor as he propels himself backwards. "I'm assuming you have bags, Aiyanna," he spits the venomous remark towards the girl. She flinches and the gruesome grin altering David's face unmasks his black soul - a calculating man. The entire table just became his best friends.