Disclaimer: This story is rated T/ M (Mature) Content may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Will most likely contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and strong language.
Author's Note: This chapter may seem like a filler, but it's building to go somewhere. Thank you for your patience and words of encouragement.
Jacob's Pov
I found Layla replacing her colored contact with a spare from Syd's truck.
Layla's hands were still shaking as she did. "Are you alright?" I asked.
"You weren't supposed to see that." She blinked the dark disc in place. "Why not?"
"It's horrendous." "No, it's not. It's you, and you're beautiful."
"Not everyone thinks so, " she muttered. Does everyone else matter?" I argued. For whatever reason, I didn't like her hiding this from me.
It was like finding out that yet another piece of me, of us, was missing, and she was somehow withholding the last piece to lock it in place.
"Maybe not, " she whispered. At least you don't have to hide it around me anymore."
Layla made a disgruntled face. "Let's get back. I promised Claire I'd watch her dance." She hopped down from the seat.
"No, I said you were dancing with me." Claire came to collect Layla; she glanced back at me once more before joining the others.
It was the first time I'd seen her dance. Like me, she had to watch the other girl's feet, but unlike me, Layla didn't lack grace and picked things up quickly.
Sure, she had several missteps, but she spun and shuffled in time with the beat. Before long, Layla was enjoying herself and swung along the circle, spreading her arms like she was soaring in front of me. No, Layla was flying, spinning in a rainbow of color.
Encaptured and enraptured by the trance of her dance, it abruptly ended with the drums.
Layla's Pov
When the beat stopped and the audience clapped, I turned around to see Claire running back to our group.
Quil was leaning over to Jacob, whispering something. Jacob's face changed when he glanced in my direction.
It made me nervous all over again. Did they see the contact slip? Or did I screw up the dance?
"Did you see me?" Clare asked Emily. "You did wonderful Claire bear." Quil cut in.
"So, what's the verdict?" I asked Jake. "I can see why you miss it so much." Jacob's warm black eyes drifted from my face to my chest.
"Who gave this to you?" he asked, taking the necklace pendant in his hand. I told him, and Jake pursed his lips in thought.
"I don't like it, " he stated. Why not?" I brushed his hand away. It's not right to accept a gift from some guy you don't know." He went to take it off for me.
"But I like it. It matches the dress." I took a step back, but that didn't make a difference.
Jacob's long reach had already grasped the clasp; when I moved, the necklace broke. I gawked at him, upset by the action.
"It's the principle." Jacob stuffed the accessory in his pocket. "I'll make you a new one." He tried to amend things.
"I don't want a new necklace." "Too bad. The one I make you will be better, something less gaudy."
There was no sense in arguing with him. "So how about we bury the crowbar, and you go on a date with me?" He asked.
"I think you traded it for a kiss," I commented. "Come on, Layla."
Jacob's Pov
"Throw in keeping my contact a secret. If they hadn't already seen everything." "So that's a yes?" I asked.
"Yes." She tilted her head and smiled. I threw my arms around Layla and spun her around.
Syd passed us, eyeing Layla's left hand, making sure it wasn't some class ring proposal.
Sunday
Layla's Pov
I metaphorically found myself in one of those deadly sandpits you'd only see on old TV specials. I've agreed to go on a date with Jacob Black.
Every time I let an inch of my guard down, he slipped past my defenses and stole another piece of my heart.
I'm left scrambling for boundaries and more excuses when I'm alone.
My less rational side is telling me to let loose and enjoy the date for what it is. That and I'm young and should be out having fun, and if I liked Jacob so much, I should enjoy the time I do have with him.
But both parts of me know how dangerous this was. Because when I truly cared about someone, a friend, a family member, or whoever, I never stopped loving them.
I didn't know how to dress for our date his afternoon, so I kept it simple.
The knock on the door was Jacob, earlier than expected, with an array of colorful wildflowers wrapped up in a bouquet.
"You said flowers." "I did, didn't I?" I passed them off to Syd, who put them in a vase for me.
They were the pretty kind you would only see in the deep wood this time of year.
"Where to?" "There's nothing too fancy in Forks. How about we start in Port Angeles?"
Jake took his motorcycle on a scenic route out of town. The autumn trees against the evergreens glowed against the patchwork clouded sky.
"How does dinner and a movie sound?" He asked as we parked. "Sure." My stomach was in knots with the anticipation of the date.
We were too early for the showing, so we wandered the pier, grabbing some ice cream.
I didn't know what to do on a date, and I'd never been on a real one before.
I tried to summon all my friends' knowledge about their dating experiences. I remembered Ashely saying something about a 'no kissing until after the third date rule.'
Well, I ruined that already. I frowned. "What are you thinking about?" Jacob asked. "Nothing, brain freeze." I lied.
Jacob suggested we check out the record store nearby. Wedged between two brick buildings, The Twisted Disc.
It was wall-to-wall with records, CDs, tapes, and other music accessories. A short man with long base player hair greeted us and shared the discounted items in the corner. After sifting through the new CDs, I found a few I wanted.
"Aren't you getting anything?" I asked. "We listen to the radio in the auto shop, " He shrugged.
When I proceeded to check out, Jacob nudged me out of the way to pay. I protested until he reminded me this was supposed to be a date.
It's not that I didn't feel like this was a date; it's just that dating in LA was different, and being around Jacob felt natural, like stepping out into the sun and letting the rays warm your skin.
I tried to imagine Jacob in LA treating me like the other boys I saw my friends with. Making out at the movies, flaunting them at parties, going out to expensive dinners, and toting around shopping bags while we spent our allowances.
I bit the inside of my cheek. Just because that was what my friends were doing, did that mean I had to do the same? I wondered what made dating special for them if they did the same things with different people. Was it a whole new experience, or was dating all for fun until something serious stuck?
I studied the bulletin board beside the cashier. The manager said, "You should check out the Portland dance club if you like the artist."
"Yeah? The warehouse rave in Seattle was great." "You went? I heard that exclusive opener was sick." Jacob frowned having a very different experience of the night I hardly remembered.
"Going somewhere more accessible and legal might be better," I mumbled. "Well, yeah, but what's the fun in that? If you want more options, then..." He listed off a few more places. My eyes roamed over the same picture of a missing kid: seventeen, with brown curly hair and wide features. "Who's this? He looks familiar."
"Caleb Reed. He's been missing for almost a year. Have you seen him around? His parents are worried sick, and he owes me big time for some expensive equipment I lent him." I studied the picture again. "I'm not sure,"
The picture shared so many similarities with the musical artists I met in Seattle. It could have been Caleb if he had a significant glow-up.
When we left the store, Jacob asked me, "What's up?" I said, "Nothing." If I saw Caleb again, I'd have to ask him. He did say he was from Forks.
"Believe it or not, I can tell when something is bothering you," Jacob informed me, taking my hand.
I told Jake that the poster reminded me of the Caleb I knew, the one who met me at the coffee shop the day I ditched for a new set of contacts.
He didn't seem too happy about that, but he listened on our way to the theater.
For the show, Jacob picked a neutral action movie. I appreciated him not trying to set the mood with a love story or some horror flick to manipulate me into clinging to him. We shared a bucket of popcorn. I didn't pay much attention to the movie; it was a sequel to some drag-racing gang. Jacob seemed enthralled by the cars, so I was content that he was happy. Afterward, he gushed about the wild speed chase and emphasized the realism or lack thereof.
"I'm boring you, aren't I?" "No, you're good." I liked listening to him talk enthusiastically.
Most restaurants were booked with a waiting list longer than an hour, so we went bowling instead. We were both bad at it, but somehow, that's what made it fun. I couldn't guide the ball anywhere, whereas Jacob was slipping and sliding but managed better aim with his strength. During our game, we placed empty bets with the prize to be determined later.
"You win. So what's your grand prize?" I laughed, placing the questionable bowling shoes on the counter. "Hm, I'll get back to you on that one."
The sea breeze greeted us on the way out to his motorcycle.
The only sound between us was the caps of waves slapping against the dock as we walked.
Jacob reached for me, intertwining his fingers with mine. I swung our joined hands to keep the tone playful, though I felt he was about to change that.
"I only want one thing." He spoke, breaking the silence. I waited for him to finish his thought.
"I wish you would stay and not go back to LA." Jacob slowed his pace so that I would stop to face him.
We moved out of the way of passing patrons and leaned on the guard rails.
"Would you give up being a mechanic for me?" I questioned rhetorically. He looked at me, confused. "If I had to…"
"You wouldn't, and I would never expect you to. You see, I don't want to give up on becoming a professional dancer. There aren't as many opportunities here, and every day that I stay…" I trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought because every day I stayed with Jacob made me want to give up on everything else, including searching for my mother, and that was wrong.
"You're getting behind, " he finished. "I don't want to hold you back. My offer still stands," Jake continued.
I smiled solemnly. I couldn't imagine Jacob in Los Angeles. It felt like telling a fish to climb a tree.
"Can I have something else instead?" He asked. "What's that?" "Can we hang out as much as possible before you might have to leave?" I winced at the word might.
"What? Do you expect to hide up in your room until the time passes?"
I was afraid to make promises to Jacob for my hope and his. The inclination to want to please him was impossibly strong, and it worried me.
"Layla?" "If you promise not to make things more difficult." I peeled away from the ocean view."Wait, why would it be difficult?" He linked us once more.
I let out a heavy sigh. "Believe it or not, Jacob Black, you are very likable."
A true statement, a genuine compliment that earned me a squeeze and a smile that almost shattered my defenses.
On the ride back to La Push, Jake showed off on the bike. I was a little worried a cop might pull us over or that my nails were digging into his core too hard.
I didn't know how to end the date with Jake. Was I supposed to kiss him, or not? Things were complicated enough, so I ruled it out as a bad idea.
"I'm sorry," I dodged Jacob's attempt to kiss me and planted a small peck on his cheek. "For what?"
"I don't know how to date. I hope you had a good time but in the end...I'm not sure if that's crowbar-worthy." I stumbled over my words.
"Then we'll have to go on another one until we get it right," Jacob hugged me, and I leaned into his warmth.
Ever since that day, I have had difficulty monitoring my feelings and diverging my thoughts from Jacob or my situation.
I poked at my food at lunch, and I scolded myself mentally. I should be in the library taking advantage of the internet- if not for my upcoming papers but for the names on the invitation from Logan's car.
"It seems like you made it out of the woods alive," Daniel snickered, admitting his crime.
"You." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hey, it was all in good fun. If you hadn't run off like that, I would've let you back in."
"For a joke to be funny, both people have to laugh; otherwise, it's bullying." I stabbed my salad violently.
"Sorry, bad timing. How did you want to finish Acts 2 and 3? Do you want me to initiate, or will I be doing that?"
Daniel was playing the part of the big bad wolf. "I guess it depends on the lines or stage directions?" I waved my fork, not understanding his concern.
"It will probably be easier if I kiss you," He noted, getting up. I struggled to swallow my food.
Talking about this in front of Jacob wasn't something he was comfortable with; no wonder he moved.
"What about a kiss?" Jacob's sharp hearing caught it anyway. He slid me in my chair away from the drama table and towards him.
"It's just a stage kiss. Not a real kiss," I explained, taking a swig of my water bottle to remove the food lodged in my throat.
"How is it not a real kiss?" He grumbled, sulking. "Because Daniel will be kissing the back of his hand, not my face." "That doesn't make sense."
"It's hard to explain." I waved for Jacob to lean in closer. "It's like this-" I place my hand on the side of his face and wrap my thumb over his full lips.
I leaned in, pecking a kiss over my thumb that was covering his mouth. "That's what I mean."
When I pulled away, I realized my demonstration was a mistake. The rest of the pack of boys approaching the table couldn't see I was faking a kiss, and the way a few girls in the cafeteria glared at me, they didn't think it was fake either.
"Shoot," I whispered. "What?" Jacob asked.
"Um, how about everyone thinks I just kissed you." I frantically started collecting my things. "So?" Jacob laughed, amused.
"What do you mean 'So'? We're not going out, and you're not my boyfriend." I whispered in a rush. Jacob didn't seem offended, as he was frustrated.
"How many dates does it qualify to 'go out'? Technically, we've already been a few places-" I shushed him so no eavesdropper could misinterpret that.
I thought it over in my head. What were Brianna and Ashely's other dating rules again? Two weeks of 'talking' and hanging out with friends. Check.
"Well?" He wanted an answer. "Four." I blurted out the random number.
"Four? So three more." He continued following me to the library. "If I say yes," I whispered timidly.
I set my things at a library computer and then proceeded to rummage through the limited shelves.
I should have hit the bookstore again when we were in Port Angeles.
Jacob tiptoed behind me. "What do you mean if? What did I do or didn't do?"
"I already told you. It's not you that's the problem." I pulled out a random, irrelevant legends book and flipped through the pages.
'Shapeshifter, Silkie, Skinwalker-'
Jacob put it back on the shelf. "Hey!" I whispered. "That's stupid, " he said.
"Is it? Or do you not care about how that would make me feel?"
"What do you feel, Layla?" Jacob's question heated my face. I didn't respond and turned on my heel.
"You like hanging out with me?" "Sure." I sat down at the computer and opened the browser. "Yes or no," Jacob demanded in a whisper.
"Yes," I admitted. "And you like me." He said this gloatingly. "More or less." I wouldn't gratify him with a yes to feed his argument or ego.
"Then do you more or less like kissing me?" Jacob whispered in my ear. My mouth gaped open at his audacity.
"More or less?" He asked again. His hot breath made me shiver. "Stop it, Jake." I was getting more embarrassed by the second.
"Just answer the question." "Which one?" I asked, typing Helzberg and Hammerstein in the search box.
"Both." I stopped to read a couple of links, and Jacob read over my shoulder. Nothing significant was coming up on the feed.
I leaned back in my chair, defeated. "None of the names looked familiar to you?"
"Aaron Hammerstein, Helga Helzberg... I'm not sure." My brow furrowed as I tried to remember the faces of my mom's guests that night.
She knew so many people, and too many people were there.
"I'll have to ask Bethany. Hide me while I text her." Jacob used his long torso to block me from view from a librarian as I did.
"Now we wait." I sighed. The bell rang for biology.
As usual, my mother's assistant wasn't very helpful. Bethany was asking too many questions and was concerned about the Logan thing; granted, I hadn't called her with any updates about La Push.
I played the game, offering up bits of information here and there. Inevitably, the date with Jacob came up in conversation. "That's great. Are you being safe?"
"Bethany, you know me." She was assuming things like Brianna or my mom would all of a sudden. "I just thought I would ask. If you need me to send you anything-"
"No- actually, could you mail me the birthday gifts I didn't get to open? They should be out of evidence by now." I lowered my voice as I caught sight of Jacob approaching across the asphalt.
"Of course! Call me if you need anything else. Also, Ashely got in touch with me about possible future dance competitions."
"I'll get back to you; send me the info." I hung up on her. "Talking about me?" Jacob leaned against my car. Damn, this kid had killer hearing.
I briefly explained who I was talking to. "What did she say?" "Nothing much."
"Doesn't sound like nothing if evidence is involved," Jacob pointed out. Fine, I guess there was no getting around it.
This was the last thing I was hiding from Jacob and the last deterrent I had to wedge between us.
"Let's go for a walk." Now that Logan was locked up, everything was fine to share, right?
I chose a path on First Beach that wasn't too far away. We walked down the shore, much like we had before.
"What's up?" We encroached on the familiar bleached-out twisted tree. I wondered if it had been some unique truth-telling tree in a past life before it fell off the cliff.
I patted the wood next to me but sat on the ground so I could play with the rocks as I spoke. Jacob sat on the ground with me.
"You want to know the real reason I came up here?" I started with a question. "I thought your mom and dad' settlement-"
"That's part of it..." I described to him the night of my sweet sixteen. My mom threw a big bash with a multitude of people I didn't know.
The friends involved spin the bottle. I was roped into the first round but ditched them for my drink left out in the kitchen. After a while, the drink made me feel weird. Wanting a minute to myself on my balcony, I retreated upstairs. I hesitantly described the blurry depiction of Logan following me to my room.
I spilled rock fragments from my hand, unable to look up at him. "What did he do?" There was a catch in his voice muddled with an icy anger aid never heard from him before.
"Honestly, I don't know everything. I was drugged up, and he had a knife. I remember it cutting into me and him not getting very far..." I didn't want to think about it.
I squeezed my thighs shut and ran my hand down the seam of my jeans to stroke over the raised scar.
"Brianna stopped things, and Ashely called for help. Before Ash could reach the police, they had already arrived for something else on the adult end of the party. I have no clue what could have happened. Everything is all blurry." I shook my head from side to side.
The sounds of the distant shore ate up the silence between us. I still didn't have the confidence to look at Jake.
He hugged me, silently pulling me into his lap. Jake was all the comfort I ever needed.
Jacob's Pov
"I would've done so much more to him if..."
"It doesn't matter. He's put away for good now." Layla mumbled, leaning her head into my shoulder.
"I told Bethany to send the seized and searched gifts. Aside from the car, I never got to open anything." Layla tried to laugh it off.
"I'm not going anywhere." I stroked up and down the side of her arm. Layla half smiled, then tried to push herself off me.
When I didn't budge she gave up and made herself comfortable in my side for a few minutes.
"Thanks, Jake. Well, now you know. I should get going, though; I need a study sesh with Iris."
"Why not have her come here?" She looked at me in curious suspicion.
"I guess she could; I'd have to ask," She stated, pulling out her phone to text Iris.
We waited for a response. "Aren't you getting behind? After running off with Embry the other day... you guys were acting so weird."
The phone beeped, calling her attention from me.
"Nope, her mom won't let her remove the texts from her house." Layla stood up. I walked back with her.
"She can't take textbooks?" "No, they're Celtic family heirloom legends or something." She brushed off her jeans.
"Can I go with you then?" "You want in on girl time?" Layla asked, skeptical. We were almost to the path where her car sat.
"Do you remember Embry and Quil interrupting us the other day?" I asked. "Oh, how I wish I could forget." Layla ducked her head and pulled up her hood to hide her forming blush.
The overcast sky spat its gloomy precipitation on us. "Charlie called the other day. There was a jailbreak...Logan was one of the few missing." I admitted.
There was also the vampire who could camouflage himself crossing over into our land. With a power like that, we were on high alert.
I watched her face fall in horror. "I wasn't going to say anything. I didn't want to worry you, and I'd be there to protect you."
"You weren't going to tell me?" She blinked furiously. I hadn't planned on telling her because Layla needed a break from everything out to get her.
"Jacob!" "You were grounded so-" I fumbled an excuse. "That doesn't matter. I deserved to know."
Just then, Embry ran out of the forest. The look on his face meant there was a bloodsucker.
"You got to go, don't you?" Layla marched around her car to get in. "Yeah, but I promise, I'll be right back."
"I feel so stupid, " she muttered under her breath. I'm going to Iris's house to study."
Layla's Pov
I opened up to Jacob only to find out he was hiding something major from me.
He said it was for my safety, but what about his safety? Who said Logan would fight fair the next time they crossed paths.
I should have stopped to see what Embry wanted from Jake. In my anger, I didn't stop to think if it was related.
I groaned, parking in front of the Turstin house, and called Jacob's cell phone to ensure his safety.
It went straight to voicemail. I left a message asking Jake to be careful and if it had anything to do with Logan not to do it.
God, I hope Jake was being careful. Iris noticed me sitting outside and waved me inside.
Jacob's Pov
The slippery blond male was fleeing, and this time, we chased him to the brink of the bridge before Seattle.
With the best eyes, Jared watched him cross the park and head inland into the city. We were as close as a wolf could go.
"Do you think we should scout the city?" Brady asked Sam. "We might have to." Sam prowled the hills behind us.
"Or we can send a group with Jake if Layla decides to see her father again." He leaped off a boulder, and the pack circled back to join him in the cover of woods.
"I don't want her anywhere near those things." I snorted in the chilled autumn air.
"And with the vamp who can camouflage himself, if he knows we're hunting him..." Collins continued.
"It might be best to sit tight and protect our lands." Jared strategized. "I still think we should call Carsisle," Seth spoke up.
"I don't want any more vampires knowing about my imprint." I stepped towards Seth, growling in warning.
"Who says we have to tell 'em? The vampire crossed our land it's only fair to ask." Seth made his point.
"True," Sam noted. "It's my imprint. I'll go into the city to track it." I leaped up the rock face.
"I'll come with you." Quil followed me.
"You can't be serious, Jake; you can't fight them human. Do you plan to wolf out on the middle of the sidewalk?" Embry questioned.
I knew this was going to be tricky. "We have to start somewhere. I'm tired of not knowing what I'm working with." I answered.
"We'll need to draw the bloodsuckers out." Collins considered using Layla as bait to pull them out.
"I'm not going to traumatize Layla like that. Would you guys seriously consider putting your imprint at risk? Get real," I snapped, sprinting to La Push for my clothes, and asked Embry for his ride.
"She's already in danger," Collins retorted. "And there is plenty of us to take them down." Seth thought optimistically.
"All I need is for you to watch Layla while I'm gone. Quil's coming with me, so it's up to you or Embry." I shifted back into my human form.
Layla's Pov
Iris showed me the translated pages she and her mother were working on. The pictographs in her Celtic legends book were making more sense.
I didn't mention it for fear of going crazy, but I couldn't help but notice how the twisted knot edges lining the pages seemed to move the more I stared.
I must have been in the books too long. Mrs. Turstin fed us dinner, and I filled up on potatoes before I returned to the village.
The pitch-black night already made me nervous, and the shimmering nocturnal eyes that lined the woods didn't help the feeling of being watched.
I called Jacob from my car again, hoping he would pick up. With no answer again, I called Billie's home instead.
He verified that Jake was still out with the guys and told me not to worry. That was easier said than done.
The following days, they were missing from school.
Seth was the only one who would talk to me from the few left at the lunch table. He was no better a help than Jaocb's dad.
On day one, their excuse was that they were out too late having 'fun'; on day two, they were out sick; and now, we were working on day three, and I was preparing to stop by Billie's place for answers. I hated feeling like I was being a needy, overbearing girlfriend, but Jacob left me no choice.
"Jacob's sleeping and needs to rest." It felt like Billie was lying to me, but I didn't want to burden them if Jacob wasn't feeling well.
"Please have him call me." I left him with my deflated plea. "Of course."
Jacob's Pov
Embry, Quil, and I scouted Seattle, taking a map to mark with us.
We swept the City West to East, North to South, and back again, memorizing the streets and walking places until we got in trouble by the docks.
Layla had mentioned a club she had gone to in one of the warehouses, but every place we passed was locked or completely empty.
Then, a sharp vampire scent grew stronger. It led us to an old bank renovated to join the conference building beside it.
Embry went to scout the perimeter while Quil and I climbed the cement steps.
"Can I help you, gentlemen?" A vampire with short, dark hair questioned us. He was dressed in an all-business attire and wore shades on this cloudy day.
I gritted my teeth. Confusion swept his face at our animosity.
Quil and I glanced at each other, not that we didn't expect to find a cold one here we didn't have a plan for when we did.
"Are you here to make a charitable donation? Or should I escort you to level 3 for the student tech conference?"
"Neither. We're lost; come on." Quil grabbed my arm to leave while I glared at the man. Was this the master vampire the other one spoke of?
"Hold on." The vampire tilted his sunglasses down to reveal a twisted crimson color. Under his gaze, I couldn't move my feet, and from how Quil trembled, he couldn't leave either.
"Anthony?" A tall, platinum blond, ghastly pale vampire in an all-black suit appeared beside him. "Do you recall seeing these two, Vitaly?" The first male questioned.
"No. Why? Are they to be escorted in or out?" The blond's pale red eyes glided over to us. "Passerby, apparently."
Quil stumbled down the steps when Anthony blinked.
The palest one, Vitaly, shut the glass door and locked it without another word, with a face that encouraged us to get lost.
"Let's go." We met Embry on the sidewalk. "You guys have to check this out." He spoke low and quick.
"You'll have to tell us on the way back. We ran into company." Quil informed him. "What?" His eyes widened, alarmed.
Quil marked the map, and Embry divulged his findings on the road.
"So I hopped the fence and found an incline leading down into a cellar. At the end was this large metal door. The handle was loose, but I didn't go in because of nearby noises."
"What kind of things did you hear?" I questioned.
"It's not just what I heard. I smelled a lot of blood from multiple people. Whatever is going on in that basement isn't good." He shuttered.
This sent a ripple down my spine. I didn't think I could stand staying inside the vehicle, so I dipped out of the Embry's truck and ran for the woods.
Of course, some of the pack minds were on shift waiting for us. We had two new vampires to worry about, one with a gift to paralyze in place and a hub location of leeches on the Fifth Avenue conference building.
Sam scolded us for getting too close, and Brady was mad, saying we could have been followed.
I hope they do so I can rip them apart in a place I could shift.
Sam informed me that he caved to Seth's request and called Carsisle. Dr. Fang didn't know about the blond male vampire with purple eyes who had crossed our land.
They were grateful for our information and told us about warding off the female vampire hunting hikers—useless leeches. I thought bitterly.
"They'll keep in touch if anything else crosses their path." Sam finished catching me up to speed. "See what I mean? They're still our allies." Seth chimed.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be babysitting Layla." I scolded.
I was going on day three with little to no sleep, so I was irritable, to say the least. "I'm running to Port Angeles now. She forgot to pick me up."
"Did you make it too obvious?" "You know she's worried about you, Jake. Maybe you should tell her what's going on." I ignored Seth's comment and ran for the port town with him.
Corner Cafe in Port Angeles
Layla's Pov
On my break from theater practice, EJ and Iris came to surprise me.
"Hey, bean sprout! You let you out?" I ran up to EJ first, nearly plowing him over with a hug. Relief washed through me when I did.
"I've missed hanging out with you guys." "That's why we're here," Iris affirmed.
EJ squeezed me until my back popped. "Better?" He asked, "Yes." I grinned, sitting with them on the canopied terrace.
We chatted about the play production, their werewolf papers, and future plans when an overarching shadow blocked the dim string lights competing with sunset.
I twisted around in my chair to see a disheveled Jacob. "Wait up!" Seth caught up with him sucking wind.
"Um, hi?" I would have been upset spouting off questions if I wasn't so stunned. Instead, I took the nonconfrontational route or tried to.
"Who's this?" Jacob eyed EJ with disdain, who stood up to greet him. "My friends. EJ Mason and Iris Turstin." I gestured appropriately.
"Nice to meet you." EJ held out his hand politely. He seemed nervous meeting Jake. I chalked it up to his intimidating height and stature.
Jacob's unprovoked attitude wasn't helping either. My heated expression made him reconsider snubbing EJ.
He shook his hand. Too hard. "Ouch." EJ hissed, narrowing his eyes; he pulled his hand away.
"Cool it, Jake," Seth muttered. "I'm Seth Clearwater. It's nice to meet you guys." Seth piped in, not to make things awkward.
"Likewise. Come on, EJ, let's look for some books. We'll keep our eyes open for any you may need Layla." Iris parted with me thoughtfully and gave the newcomers a size up.
"What was that about?" I brushed between Seth and Jacob. My break time was up.
"Wait." Jacob reached for me. "Why? Because you finally have time for me now?" I snipped.
How I wished my legs were longer to outpace Jake. "I was...busy." "Busy," I repeated his limp excuse.
He didn't answer me, glaring straight ahead or looking down at the ground. His clothes looked disheveled, and the circles under his eyes were concerning.
Both of their brows glistened in sweat. What were they up to? Did they run a marathon, or were they up to no good?
"If you don't have anything to say, I'm heading inside." My words, meant to sound harsh, came out pleading.
Seth looked in between us anxiously. "Okay, " Jacob said, walking away towards the auto shop. "What are you doing?" I heard Seth reason with him.
"Ms. Moon, we need you inside." The teacher called for me.
My thoughts swam with regret, and I considered turning around when I ran into a disapproving Tiffany and Paige, who lingered at the entrance eavesdropping.
I could interpret their faces easily. 'Told you they were troublemakers.'
Then, the red flags flew back into view—the ones I've neglected because of Jake's character and sweeping heroic actions.
Jake was still a member of Sam's gang. Tiffany used to say they would disappear all the time last year. Was that starting back up again?
Something was going on, and I wasn't sure if getting involved was a good idea.
What was I to do? My busy schedule was in full force, and I now felt like a mouse trapped in a maze, gleaning over my shoulder and around every corner for Logan.
Saturday, Practice was grueling again, with the show creeping closer. It wasn't a good night for remembering lines.
Daniel and I had to keep repeating the same scene leading up to the fake kiss, making me increasingly uncomfortable.
"You have to lean into him, Layla. That's how this scene works." Mr. Thompson pointed out.
"Right." I gulped down some water on our break.
"I want to see more chemistry. Be Little Red, she's scared, then relieved to know Wolf's identity is her friend, and when she realizes he'd been protecting her and the town the whole time, she's smitten. Daniel, what did I say about being less feral and more mysterious?"
"Come on, people! Let's see the passion." He clapped his hands, and we all took our places.
"You're father's not the monster city hall is after, are you?" I stepped closer to Daniel, grasping his shirt.
I was probably overdoing it, but I didn't know what our director wanted.
"I've always wanted to tell you, Red, but it wasn't safe." Daniel ran a hand down my face like he'd seen Jacob do at lunch weeks ago.
My heart sped up thinking about Jacob and how much I missed him. I guess I could pretend the wolf in this play was Jacob.
"What do you mean?" I pretended to move out of his grasp and trip.
"I may be the wolf, but I'm not the monster terrorizing the town. I won't hurt you or anyone else." "Then who's killing people?"
"The mayor and his son. He's after you now that you've broken the engagement your father made." Daniel helped me up, and we pretended to run.
"I know a place deep in the woods where you can hide." "What about my grandma?" "I'll protect her." He assured me (Red).
"Promise me you'll come back. That you'll be careful." I waited for Daniel to make the first move so I could crane my head. I would thin my lips, and he would plant his hand over my mouth for a fake kiss. Instead, he moved quickly and kissed me roughly.
"Ow! What the hell, Daniel?!" I shoved him off me.
"I'll drop a letter grade if you do that without Layla's consent again. Do you hear me?" Mr. Thompson marched up between us.
I glowered at Daniel, who didn't seem that remorseful. "How am I supposed to fake chemistry without connection?"
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. He tasted like a chapped roast beef sandwich. Totally gross.
"He probably tastes like Arby's the guys went over on break." Tiffany pulled out her pack of Tictacs and dumped some in my hand.
"Don't you ever do that again," I threatened him. "It couldn't have been that bad." "Daniel." Mr. Thompson called his name in correction. "Sorry."
"I'm not doing that scene again tonight." I marched off stage, and they moved on to the next scene without me.
Boiling mad, I continued to march outside. I sat on the steps, taking in a deep breath of the night autumn air.
How was I going to tell Jake? I told him the kiss was fake, yet Daniel went ahead and did it anyway—no doubt the drama club wouldn't keep this to themselves.
A sleek black car stopped in front of the stoop where I sat. I kept my head down in my hands.
"Miss Layla Moon? Your father has sent for me to collect you." A high-pitched feminine voice called for me.
When I stood too long to respond, a tall, limber woman with short blond hair pulled me off the ground.
"Excuse me?!" I struggled in her vice-tight grip, and she yanked me into the car. "We don't have all night."
Seattle
Layla's Pov
I felt motion-sick as soon as I stepped out of the black car.
"This way." The strange blond woman, who called herself Greta, grabbed my upper arm and walked me toward the basement of an old building North of the park.
We descended down the stone steps. A door bolted behind us; it sounded heavy.
My eyes had barely adjusted to the darkness when hissing and screeching erupted around me. I screamed. The woman laughed as the sound terrified me to my core.
Limbs shot out from behind the bars, reaching for me. "I want her!" "I'm so thirsty." "Please!" "Let us out!"
I pressed my back against the wall. Many hungry red eyes gleamed at me, moving in quick, blurry movements.
She swung the keys in her hand. "Shall we have a test?" The strange red-eyed people backed up from the cage as the woman walked toward me.
Greta leaned in close to whisper in my ear as I cringed into the wall. "You are nothing but a mere human trapped within my nightmare. Understand?"
Her ice-cold breath made me shudder. "One more thing, Niccolo is mine."
The bolted door flew open, and she removed herself from me immediately.
Whatever Greta was, and these monsters were, they were similar, if not the same.
"Caleb. Did you bring me what I asked?" She sounded relieved.
I opened my mouth to cry out for help, but a dry gasp came out instead. Caleb's eyes widened when he saw me, but then he stepped aside.
The blinding light surrounded the following shadowy figure becoming clearer as he stepped into the depths with us.
"Niccolo," The woman made her voice more babyish and appealing for the man. "I was training the new ones when she followed me."
"Greta, I would prefer you tempted the newborns with less precious prey."
The intimating business partner of my father's eyed me with a look that sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't seem to uncurl from the wall.
Greta shot a glare at Caleb, who spoke next. "I was on my way to see you. Master Foscari wanted to view your progress." He explained.
"I see." "And Justina told me you volunteered to pick up my singer." Niccolo's loafers clicked as he walked.
"My dear." He held out his hand for me to take. If this was my way out I was grateful to leave. My reach trembled into his freezing grasp.
"Let's see the progress." Niccolo pulled me into his side, walking me alongside the cage too closely.
"Go on. One at a time." Greta snapped her fingers.
Pale people of different ages and walks of life approached the bars; some were still as statues, and others seemed not to be breathing at all.
Some twitched and glowered. Others snarled. I turned my head into Niccolo's arm. What were they? What was wrong with them? Why were they here?
Niccolo kept our pace slow while I wanted to run up the steps.
One person gritted his teeth at us. I thought I heard a low rumble in Niccolo's chest, like a laugh. "It gets easier," he assured the person.
As we were about to pass onto the steps, one I didn't see lunged from the back of the cage.
An arm snatched out to grasp my ankle. In one swift movement, Niccolo stomped on the arm and twisted his heel so hard it crunched the bone.
The man hissed in pain.
The sound that ripped from Niccolo had them and me screaming.
"You all do not touch her. You all do not breathe when she is near. She is mine. No one here will cause harm to her in any way. Do I make myself clear?" His order wasn't above a whisper, but the venom dripping from him sealed a promise of death.
I cowered into his side, shaking so hard I forgot how to walk. It didn't seem to matter as Niccolo moved us. There was another hiss in retaliation behind us.
"Dismember the one who reached and the other who hissed," Niccolo ordered. "My pleasure." Greta sounded all too happy.
Screaming and pleading proceeded behind us. "Caleb," Niccolo noted in passing. "I have the lighter," Caleb assured him. "Good."
"No! No! Wait!" The metal door shut behind us, blocking all sound.
I think, I was in shock. I didn't remember being moved into this lush dining space or recall if I was in the same building.
I wasn't fully coherent until a cold hand pressed into my forehead, and a prick was pulled from my arm.
A stunning woman wheeled a cart away. Then I noted my father sitting across from me and Niccolo at my side.
"Thank you for your donation." He explained. "Am I helping people?" I blinked in a daze. "You're keeping one person alive." Niccolo's smirk twitched up into a smile.
"Can I go home? I promise not to say anything about before-" "Shhh—my Bella." Niccolo placed a finger over my lips. I regretted mentioning the recent event.
"You are always safe with me. We will have dinner together, and you'll get to go home like usual."
"Okay." What did he mean like usual? I had a strange feeling of deja vu; this had happened before.
My father seemed totally unbothered, eating and working on his laptop. Did he know of the horrors downstairs?
I got up from the table too quickly, feeling light-headed.
"I told you you've been tapping her too much lately," Justina reappeared, lecturing Niccolo. "Perhaps you should stay overnight," Niccolo conceded.
"No, I'm good." I proceeded to leave. After one step, I fell, taking the tablecloth with me.
I woke in another strange, unfamiliar room. It was strange because all the tall rectangular window panels stretched high to the ceiling, reminding me of a birdcage.
I got out of bed and rushed over to the glass. The night was gleaming with city lights and tall buildings.
I was still in Seattle; the nightmare wasn't a dream. I looked down, dressed in a silk nightgown and matching robe.
What was going on? I turned for the bed again, wondering if I fell asleep again and would wake up in La Push.
"How are you feeling?" Justina appeared out of the darkness. "Confused. Where am I? And what am I doing here?"
"You're in the same building as your father. He's two floors below us. Niccolo disapproved of your accommodations, so you will be staying here for the duration of your visits. If you wish to know more, he's in the next room; otherwise, you will remain here until morning."
I deliberated for a moment. "I wish to speak with him." Justina nodded and led me out to a dimly lit sitting room where Niccolo was reading by the fireplace.
"You are well?" he asked, closing his book and joining me on the couch. "Sure."
"During each visit, I usually ask you what you would like in return for your charitable donation- anything you can think of."
"I just want to know what's going on here." Justina handed Niccolo a folder as I spoke.
"Your last request was to find your mother. It seems like Lily Moon left the country in September. Her trail ran cold in the Atlanta International Airport. I presume she had a private escort on a jet or something of that nature."
I gawked at the camera's pictures and traces they had found in the file. But why? I thought to myself.
"What donations do I owe you?" I asked. He twirled a strand of my hair around his finger as his crimson eyes bore into mine.
"Blood." Niccolo's perfect smile was nothing short of amusement. He studied my reaction carefully.
"I don't know what you mean." "Now, what would you like, my Bella?" "I want to know who you are and why I'm really here." I didn't speak above a whisper.
He flipped over to the last page of the folder. It looked like a copy of a contract.
"Read this. If you wish to know more or have your memories restored, there's still time to do so."
My eyes widened as I read over the contract. My gaze lifted from the page and slowly drifted up to Niccolo's eager face. "You can say it." He mused.
"You're a vampire?" I wanted to laugh it off as some practical joke, but a chilling knowing and a physical shiver down my spine told me this was all real.
"Undoubtedly." Niccolo raised my hand to his lips and kissed it. I jerked back when he did. "You want my blood? You have been drinking my blood!"
Disgust twisted in my guts.
"More than any other, that's why I call you my singer." I stared at the contract. There was no way out of this arrangement.
"I can answer any questions you may have, but you'll have to wait until morning for your memories. I'd rather you had a full night's sleep."
"Okay." I paused to think of what I wanted. "Can you move my father across town to another building? Closer to his friends and colleagues." I requested.
"Away from us, monsters, huh? Is there anything else for you? I have burdened you more than I should this month." Niccolo saw through the plan to keep my dad safer.
I shook my head no. "Then I have something for you." Niccolo glided across the room for a velvet green box.
"To be clear, you have decided to know the truth, and in doing so, you are fully aware you belong to me." "I-I want to know the truth. I'm not sure about the rest."
"Ah, but in time, you will see that you couldn't have been bonded to a better vampire." Niccolo stood behind me and opened the box so I could view a pair of small ruby stud earrings.
"That's true," Justina noted in observation. "They're pretty, but I don't think I need them. Ah!" Niccolo had pierced my ears with the earrings without warning.
His cold fingers rubbed like soothing ice cubes. "Perfect, " he said, licking his fingers when he was done. My fingers flew up to the pain.
"Do not take them off, and do not lose them. They were my mother's." Niccolo ordered. I bit into my lower lip as my earlobes throbbed.
Justina concocted a drink to put me to sleep, and I retreated into the birdcage bedroom. Consciousness slipped from me before my head hit the tacky satin pillowcases.
Jacob's Pov
"What do you mean you lost her?!" I lashed out at Seth.
"I'm sorry! We haven't slept in days. I dozed off in the back of the theater. It's my fault. We'll find her, Jake, I swear."
"She probably doesn't want to be found." Paige, passing by, scoffed. "Why the hell not?" I demanded.
Tiffany let Daniel get into his mom's car before answering, "There was a mishap on stage. I'm sure Layla wants her space. Relax."
"Come on, Embry, take us home." Tiffany and Paige waited by his white truck. "What mishap? Did you see where she went?"
They were unhelpful, so I relied on my nose, tracing her scent to the front steps. Then it mixed with the sweet, icy scent of the blond female vamp.
"Fuck." I sprinted towards the woods. "Jake!" Seth ran after me.
Layla's Pov
Groggily, I woke up to my phone buzzing non-stop. I picked it up to see several missed calls from friends and family. Jacob was the most frequent and recent log.
The foggy morning masked the sun, so I couldn't tell what time it was. "Good morning, please follow me." Justina startled me by moving like a ghost.
She led me into a lavish room, which I assumed to be Niccolo's walk-in closet, to a vast bathroom with a freshly drawn bath. Clothes and a towel were draped on a free-standing towel rack.
"Take your time." "I have to be in Port Angeles at- "9 am. " She finished my sentence and closed the door. I awkwardly stripped and paced across the marble tile and climbed into the wide basin of a tub. My own reflection stared back at me in the metallic ceiling. If not for the hot water and the soft musk of almond and honey radiating from within, it would've been impossible to relax. I was in a vampire's lair.
I felt more awake when I finished up, and though my shoulders still ached. Justina returned to assist me in getting ready to keep the timetable.
"Breakfast is on the terrace. Niccolo and Vitaly are waiting there." She finished pinning my hair up in a messy bun, letting loose strands drip in front of my face.
The clothes I wore weren't something I would choose for myself. The cream colors of the sweater dress washed me out, and the tawny brown boots laced up to my knees, swallowing me up. I dawned my own old maroon zip-up hoodie over the outfit for familiar comfort.
I met the vampires on the plant-filled outdoor terrace surrounded by green glass. "Please sit and eat," Niccolo ordered.
It was as if I had no choice; my body moved at his order. "Are you sure about this?" Vitaly questioned Niccolo.
"Yes. It will be less complicated this way. However, this may become more difficult for you, Layla. You have told me before that you'd rather stay in the dark about this." Niccolo turned to me.
"I changed my mind," I answered. "There's no going back." The pale Russian vampire approached me.
"And finish the water," Niccolo instructed me, and my body moved to complete the action.
"I'm certain." I wasn't, but after yesterday in the basement with Greta and everything with Logan, I knew my ignorance would kill me or could harm others around me.
"I do have one question before...whatever it is you are going to do." I inquired Niccolo, who looked at me with keen interest. "How do you do that?" I asked.
He laughed musically and then answered, "A few of our kind have other special capabilities. I have the power of compulsion, as you have already witnessed. Vitaly can wipe minds and restore memories, given a limited time frame."
I looked at Justina standing off to the side like a small statue. She frowned and shook her head no, for she had no gift.
"One more thing," I mentioned timidly. "Yes, my Bella?" "Do you plan to kill me?" I questioned quietly.
"No, not today." Niccolo gestured Vitaly forward. My heart rate raced as the vampire knelt before me.
"This might hurt," Vitaly warned me. He looked into my eyes with his sharp crimson gaze and touched my temples with his fingertips.
His pupils widened like a gaping hole and became all-encompassing. Electricity pulsed through his touch.
I gasped in pain when I felt him reach for the white veil of fog in my mind. He disintegrated the mental blockages like acid rain.
"She will be fine, Nicco." Vitaly sighed, despondent. "Layla's waking up now," Justina spoke.
My back was touching the couch, and my head throbbed. A cold hand stroked my forehead.
When my eyes fluttered open, I saw that I was lying across Niccolo's lap.
"It will take time. Do not overwhelm yourself by searching for past memories all at once. Give yourself one night's rest." Vitaly instructed me.
"How long was I out? I need to leave." "First things first." Niccolo propped me up.
"I must remind you on the night of our contract, I have already compelled 'you will not speak of our kind or our contract to anyone'."
I gave one tight-lipped nod. He stood up and held out his hand. "And as I've also said before. Anything you want within my power and reason you may have."
"Okay." Overwhelmed and disoriented, I let him manhandle me to the exit.
"Please, compel me to stay calm and not to cry until I get home alone."I trembled in his grasp.
"Very well. You will stay calm and carry on like normal today. Do not dwell on this until you are well-rested tomorrow. See you soon, my Bella." He kissed my temple and passed me off to Justina.
Port Angeles
I was dropped off at the place of my frequent abduction and carried on about my day like I was supposed to. I had theater practice until noon.
Jacob, Seth, and Embry forced their way into the auditorium in the middle of the scene I was having trouble with yesterday.
"Can I help you boys?" Mr. Thompson asked. Embry gripped Jacob's shoulder and shoved him forcefully into a seat.
"No, sir. We're a part of the carpool coordination." Seth covered for them. Embry hushed a whisper in Jacob's ear while the teacher instructed us to continue until our lunch break. That's when Jacob yanked me off the stage and had me scrambling to keep up. He stopped us in the lobby, the double door to the auditorium swinging shut behind us.
"What are you doing?!" I struggled in Jacob's grip. "You can't just disappear on me like that." He spoke frantically.
I scoffed a laugh. "That's rich coming from you. Don't you have your internship to get to?" "I skipped because of you." He spoke through clenched teeth.
"Because of me? You chose that." "Syd was worried sick until your dad called." Embry stepped closer, removing Jacob's hand.
I rubbed my wrist where circulation was cut off. "Are you okay?" He asked, worried that his grip hurt me.
Jaocb's tired, bloodshot eyes became my main concern. "Are you okay, Jacob?"
"How about we calm down and get some food? Maybe we can talk things over?" Embry cut between us.
"You guys do what you want. I'm going back in." I turned on my heel and marched back towards my confused cast members.
Jacob didn't leave with Embry, which made it hard for me to concentrate on acting, but that's what I did.
The kissing scene was skipped for obvious reasons. Mr. Thompson compromised, and we didn't have to until the final rehearsal.
When I went to leave for the evening, the guys were right there with us. I didn't want to be alone with Jacob, so I offered to drive Tiffany and Paige to La Push.
They declined and were staying out for a late-night movie and offered for me to join. But I was too exhausted from the theater lights and the Seattle trip for any Saturday plans.
It was inevitable. Jacob, Seth, and I climbed inside my ride. I went through the motions, pulling up to a drive-thru, hoping the food would help elevate the silent tension. It helped some, but I could feel the wheels in Jacob's mind turning.
"If I ask you a question, will you answer honestly?" "What's the question?" He waded up his burger wrapper and shoved it in the paper bag.
"Are you really going to see your dad in Seattle?" He asked, pressing."Yes." Every time Wren was there... along with the vampire.
"Willingly?" Jacob studied my profile intently. "I don't have much of a choice, you know that."
"And you haven't run into anyone strange? Like that Caleb kid?" He asked again. "No, Jacob. Why are you being so paranoid?" I brushed off his question as casually as I could.
"What do you know about Logan that I don't?" I jumped topics, putting pressure on him.
This argument was giving me a headache, and I didn't want to think about the vampires until I was alone to sift through everything.
"I want to keep you safe." His anger flared from before, and his bloodshot black eyes flickered over to me again.
So he wasn't going to tell me everything, yet I was supposed to spill my guts to him anytime he wanted? I pulled over on the long dirt road by his house.
"Good night, Jacob." "What? No. We need to talk."
"I'm going home and getting rest." I could feel my eyes becoming more gaunt and the cold sweat collecting on my brow from fatigue.
I didn't have much time. I've pushed myself too far.
"Get some rest, Jake." Seth's voice made me jump; I almost forgot he was here in the back seat. Jacob caved into his request and stood trembling outside.
"I need to drive you home, too," I sighed, putting the car into drive. Don't worry about me. You look tired. Head home and I'll walk back," Seth assured.
"Jake's worried about you." He vouched for his friend. "I'm worried about him too," I mumbled, hitting the gravel road.
"What I mean is, so much has happened since you moved here—dangerous things. You can see why he'd be overprotective, right?" Seth reasoned.
"I know what it looks like, but those things are out of our control. What am I supposed to do?" I glanced over at Seth's concerned face.
When he looked like that, it reminded me of a gentler Jacob or a worried EJ. He let out a deep sigh.
"Unless I want to cower up in my room, my only other option is to believe things can't possibly get worse," I whispered hopelessly into the silence when my engine cut off.
"Things will get better, Layla. We'll make sure of it. If you ever need to talk, you know you can rely on me, right?" Seth reached over and hugged me tightly with one arm.
"Sure, Seth." I cleared a catch in my throat. When I hugged him back, my fingernails dug into his sweatshirt.
I knew then how difficult and isolating this journey would become.
I tried not to think about Seattle. Vitaly said to get some sleep to protect the integrity of my mind.
Syd tried to get me to talk and pulled me aside to watch Family Feud. When my eyelids wouldn't obey me anymore, he released me to my room.
Exhausted, I stripped, removed my contact, and ripped out the pins in my hair the vampiress Justina had placed.
I tugged on the first thing I could find. Then I crawled into bed. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for sleep; stray tears slipped out one by one until the blackness twisted my consciousness into something else.
The nightmares that I knew to be memories were horrendous and relentless; for whatever reason, I couldn't stop the speed at which they were coming.
And I couldn't fully wake up.
My body was heavy, unable to move an inch from the bed. I wanted to scream. I hope that I was. Then maybe Syd would hear my cries and wake me.
The first night after the rave where, Brianna and I were led away to the basement blood bank. So many people were getting bloodtapped in the wine cellar.
The goons at the gas station. Human traffickers that had nothing to do with the vampires. Jacob saving me.
The next time in Seattle, Niccolo claimed me as his singer. The way he compelled a vampire who had tasted my blood to dismember himself in front of his coven.
How Niccolo abducted me to a warehouse in Port Angeles when he couldn't resist obsessing over my blood.
Then there was this time.
Greta shoved me into a basement of newborn vampires hissing and twisting their limbs through the bars in the darkness.
"Granddaughter!" I was being shaken so hard that my torso was lifted from the sheets and back again.
I woke up mid-shriek with tears streaming down my face. Syd pulled me into him and muttered a prayer in Quelluet.
"Grandpa?" "We're going to smudge." He removed himself from me, and I sat there waiting for him to come back.
Jacob's Pov
I was curled up under a tree in Syd's yard, listening to Layla's heartbeat in order to get to sleep.
Quil was out here with me to ensure that I would. Hours later, her erratic pulse and piercing cry cut through my slumber and restarted my heart fearfully.
I ran towards the house and scratched the siding with my claws. 'Don't, Jake!' Quil called out to me. 'At least shift back first; you're going to break the house.'
He circled around, sniffing for signs of the enemy. 'All clear.' Quil notified the others on watch.
I leaped down, pacing back and forth as I listened to Layla cry and Syd shake her awake. Those minutes felt like ages. But my imprint was awake. She was okay.
It was a nightmare. Only a nightmare. I calmed down a bit, though my hackles were still raised.
I retreated to the brush, waiting to see if Layla would get up or go back to sleep.
"Can I go by the river?" "Okay, granddaughter."
I followed along to see Layla swing open the back screen door. She picked up the pace when Syd could no longer see her. Layla had slipped on chunky hiking boots and a bulky jacket over her short nightgown. The cold air pinched her cheeks pink, and the damp dew from the grass didn't phase her.
Her long, tangled dark brown hair flew out behind her as she raced along the river. Layla gasped lightly, like she was crying, and dropped to the dirt along the bank, breaking into sobs.
It broke something in me to see my imprint like this. Unconsciously, I moved closer so I could be near her. Too close, though, so I took a step back.
A twig cracked under my large paw. She lifted her head slowly, not bothering to stifle her cries when she looked over at me. Layla looked too forlorn to be afraid.
She stared at me for a long moment her silver eye glistened against the redness. I held still, not wanting to make things worse.
"Are you here to harm me? If you are going to eat me, can you make it quick? Please make it quick." What? No. I had to show her that I would never hurt her.
As I paced closer, Layla turned toward me on her knees, letting the coat drop. Exposing sheer lace covered her chest, and baby blue silk covered her upper thighs.
Layla leaned forward, dipping her head and pulling her hair to the side like I was a guillotine or submitting herself as a sacrificial lamb.
I stopped sitting before Layla slumped over in a sad mess. I leaned down and licked her exposed flesh. She let out a yelp and flinched at my course tongue.
I licked her again, this time chest to hairline. Stunned and bewildered, she started laughing.
So I did it again, licking away her tears until Layla was flat on her back, gasping for breath in a better way.
"Okay, okay!" Layla's tiny hands grasped my jowls as she sat up.
"So you're not a bad wolf." She adjusted the straps on her dress and wiped away my spit in disgust. I snorted a yes.
'Waiting for her to tell you you're a good boy? That's so sick.' I heard Jo, one of the youngest pack members, comment. 'Get lost.' I thought, snapping back.
"They say you're protectors. Our brothers still." Layla stroked my paw with her hand and compared the tremendous size difference, then looked at me with hopeful eyes.
I resisted the urge to lick her again. "It's good to know." Layla pulled away and stood up, collecting the jacket in her arms.
"These nightmares have been too much." She whispered.
I followed her at a distance for several minutes to a place where the land slopped into the riverbed. Remaining on the hill, I watched Layla descend toward the water.
"A nice cold swim might clear up my head and get the slobber off," Layla grumbled the last part.
Layla lugged the coat over a thick sloping branch, and she kicked off her boots.
Hold up. What did she think she was doing? Skinny dipping?
Before I could blink or think to look away, she pulled off the dress behind the tree and draped it on a branch.
Then I saw the backside of Layla's silhouette running off into the water before she could change her mind. "So cold!" Layla dunked herself in the river.
The golden sunlight crept over the mountains and glistened the river water she was in. I couldn't pull my eyes away from her hourglass form, blurred by the current.
Layla dipped down again, submerged, swam around, and then turned back around.
"You're still here? Make sure no one sees me, wolf." She poked her head out of the water, and her smile had me falling to pieces.
'I hope Jake moves around the tree so we can see everything.' Joseph's thoughts snapped me out of my trance. 'Shift back now.' I alpha-ordered him.
This alerted me to the pack's access to my thoughts. 'Dang, Jake. Did you have to do that? He's going to have to walk naked to his house, ' Seth said.
'Should I order you to do the same?' I growled. 'Hey, we didn't see much.' Seth defended.
I growled again. 'Those of us with imprints don't care, Jake. We're not the ones who are going to think about it later.' Quil qualified.
I grumbled, disgruntled, low and long. "What is it?" I heard Layla get out of the water. It took absolutely everything in me not to look over at her.
Quil laughed at my struggle, and Seth, being the nice guy he was, shifted back to help the new kid.