Daunt Manor
July 2006
Two days before the Wakening
"Dark magic?"
Franny hums negatively. "No. Magic is kind of like an object. You either use it as a weapon or a tool."
Jacob and Franny decided to spend time together by the orchards after their shift at the barn. Since Lucas' snack time, Jacob has been exchanging knowledge of supernatural abilities with Franny. Recently, they've been hanging out more at the tree where they first met. During the past few weeks, it had become his favorite tree. He learned that it was the first plant she ever grew back when she was a kid.
She made herself comfortable on the branch that's nearest to the ground as Jacob sat by the tree's trunk. He leaned back to find a comfortable position, the tree bark against his back wasn't bothering him as he admired her.
He admired the bright blue dress she was wearing that has a long skirt length that flows by each step, making her look like she was floating through the grass like fairy as she decided to be barefoot today due to the hot weather. She was also not afraid to show a bit of skin here and there. He, of course, was not one to complain. The looks from estrange men in town however made him want to rip out their eyes and shove them down their throats.
"Silver bullett-I'm kidding!" She quickly excuses then laughs when Jacob burst out into laughter, despite knowing that he wasn't an actual werewolf.
He got a small lecture from her at the Daunts' enormous library and brought out one of her ancestors' journals based on werewolves, Children of the Moon to be specific. From what they gathered, her family had encounter them a few times in the past but identified themselves as human, seeing as it was still dangerous to roam around the globe as a witch after the rising reign of the Volturi.
"Nah, haven't tested the theory either.
"Well, the bullets had to come from somewhere." Franny said and then waited for his next question.
"Black cats?"
"Hey!" She says in a jokingly aggressive manner that which made him laugh. "You see a black cat anywhere?"
Suddenly, a barn cat with a grey coat ran past them, Maya and Matthew were chasing it from behind.
"Come on, Maya! We gotta get it back before aunt Val noticed!"
"I'm coming!"
When they were out of earshot, Jacob gave her a sly grin then she lifted a finger to silence whatever remark he was about to give.
"My turn."
He smiled out of politeness.
"Wolf bite?" She smirks.
"You know this!" He couldn't contain his laughter as they continued their game.
"Alright, Alright! Fun over, ask me something different this time. No jokes." She gave him a warning look before waiting.
"Okay. . ." He thought for a moment asked.
"Love potion?"
Franny gave him a stink eye. "I said something serious!"
"I am! Like, is that a thing or just something invented?"
She sighs, albeit to answer his question. "Something invented. Most potions are either used to heal or kill a being. But we do have something close to it."
She took a leaf from a branch closest to her.
"In essence, we'd put people with easy minds in a trance like state. Kind of like mind-spacing, but they would obey silently and unconsciously follow the enchanter's orders and words because they are deep within the spell. 'Captivation.'"
"Like hypnosis?"
She hums affirmatively. "Close"
The witch then lays in her stomach on-top of the branch, born a being of an actual force of nature has made her into a perfect agile creature, she stretches her body a bit like a cat. Never in his entire life that he has ever met such an adorable person. In their past time in the town, whether it was for deliveries or a regular outing, she was a down-to-earth girl that never hesitated to spare her time to stop and talk to the people of the town, mostly store owners or the vendors at the market.
He remembered one afternoon she had been talking to one of the workers at the crops and was speaking to them in Tagalog.
She lets the leaf go, letting it dance in the summer breeze.
"My turn, why are you so warm? Your skin felt like you have a fever, yet you looked fine. Why is that?"
The leaf landed on Jacob's lap.
"This is actually the first symptom before first-time phasers become the Tribe's Protectors. We'd break into an emotional state, anger, grief, then we'd become too hot to touch."
"It happens when vampires started appearing near your town, right?"
"Yeah. The recent one to phase was Seth, he's the youngest one out of all of us."
He remembered the energetic boy. How he was so excited to become something important and took his responsibility as a protector seriously, as serious as he can match up to, he still has lots to learn. But overall, he was a good kid, the last he saw Jacob was a few weeks after he ran away, begging the older boy to come back, telling him that he and his brothers were worried about him. He went farther than he should have that Jacob managed to hide his trail when he crossed the Canadian Border. He hasn't seen the knucklehead ever since.
Maybe he could go back one day and apologize for disappearing.
Right after he apologized to his dad, that is.
"Do you miss them?"
He looked up and saw her staring down at him. Her hair curtained the side of her face and over her shoulder. "Your friends, your family?"
He'd lied and said he didn't. Being with Franny helped him forget sometimes. She was his sole focus, but his mind would wander occasionally to the health of his father and the absence of his best friends. He missed hanging out with the pack and patrolling with them. His dad`s fry bread and watched baseball games with him and Charlie.
La Push beach was a haven that he missed these past few weeks. It was a place that gave Jacob solace right after he distant himself from Forks, away from Bella after their fight with newborns. Seeing those waves back then was an escape from the reality of what he couldn't have, of what he couldn't prevent.
He misses home.
Though. . . how can he leave after he just found the one person who completes him?
Despite sharing their secrets, Jacob has yet to tell Franny of the imprint.
He knew that it would be a matter of time before he could ever leave.
He didn't want to scare her away. He didn't want to admit it, but Franny`s future is here, with her family, with the farm and the coven. Telling her about the imprint, that his soul was bound to hers was terrifying enough to think about, but to convince her to leave everything she knows behind to come with him to the rez, to be with him, was something he couldn't offer carelessly or even mention once he tells her the truth. Her place is here.
And when the opportunity was given, he would gladly leave everything he knew to stay with her, here in the orchard.
"I do." He reveals. "A lot."
"What's stopping you then?" She asked.
"Isn't it my turn?" He quirks a brow at her which made her humps and lets him ask his question.
"Animal sacrifices?"
She snorts. "You're asking the wrong person." She said. "That's more of Aunt Val's expertise."
He bit his lip. Not wanting to ask further on the subject.
"What's really stopping you?" She asked again. "Why won't you just go? Don't you want to go back?"
He looks up at her once again.
"You. . . you are what's stopping me."
Was what he wanted to say, but he felt the timing was not right. They were still new to each other, regardless of how much time they spent together in the past few weeks.
"I need some space. Away from home for a bit."
She smirks again. "You mean away from Bella?"
He rolled his eyes. If she only knew how far away from the truth she was.
Her face then turned earnest, and she bit her bottom lip briefly before asking.
"I know it's not my place to judge, but I'm sure your dad must be worried. Why won't you call him? Let him know that you're, okay?"
A reflective expression on his face, he thought about how much trouble he didn't just bring upon himself emotionally, but to his dad as well.
He did his best to go on and do his duties to his parent. Making sure that Billy took his medication, morning and night, along with chores and such to keep their life stable and healthy, especially when he first phased and a whole new routine was made. He was so thankful that he had much support from the elders and his pack, volunteering to help his dad when he was too exhausted from late night patrols, almost sleeping throughout the day, unable to attend to his role as his father's caretaker and son. When he was still on fours, wandering in the woods and moped on Bella's decision, he thought about Billy, how he was doing and what did he thought of him.
He must be so disappointed.
"I haven't been the best son to him for a while. After I . . . after I got the invite, and I left him alone. No note, no phone call. I just ran."
He went silent again.
"I have no excuse, I just needed to distant myself from trouble."
He didn't see the conflicted gaze that was plastered on Franny's face before sitting up.
"And look where it got you."
Franny huffs amusingly and climbs down the tree with a jump, Jacob had to force himself to not jump in worry. The thought of a single harm to her body was something he wasn't fond of.
His heart fluttered as she sat next to him.
"Yeah. A house full of witches, getting to work for witches with people who worshipped witches."
"Stop!" She snickered as she nudges hard on his arm, aware that it did nothing due to his strength. "You're the one that said you didn't want to get soft!"
Jacob was proud of himself by getting a smile from her and the laugh felt like finding a gold mine. A single smile can even cure his problems away.
The way they spent their time together was bliss for him and it was also a chance for him to observe the faint looks that she tried to hide from him.
The same doe-like look he had seen many times in the form of the face of Sam and Emily before they got together, especially the accident. From Sam's mind, when he explained how it felt to imprint, he saw the image of the same doe look on Emily's face whenever Sam leaves with a very much in-love Leah hanging by his arm.
Curious, Jacob asked Emily once how she felt during those times when Sam would leave.
"I just felt this ache in my stomach. That I had to see him again, otherwise. . . I would probably go insane. You'll never feel such a connection with anyone else. It'll make sense once you imprint yourself, Jake. Just be patient."
He was nice enough to hold his tongue back then, when he was convinced that he'll only ever love Bella. But now, he wonders if the imprint was having the same effect that Emily felt for Sam is the same Franny was feeling for him.
They were still not done with their game. "Alright. My turn."
"Shoot."
He decided to ask the one thing that had been bothering him for a while. "Why can't I smell your family?"
It was something he hadn't noticed the first time he woke up here. But every human had their own distinguished aroma individually for each person.
His dad smells of oak trees and rain.
Seth smells of salt water and wet sand.
Hell, even La Push's old hermit, Mr. Homa, who reeks of old fish from working at the docks, smelled of moss and seaweed.
The scent of human odor was everywhere around the manor, outside and in, but the first time he noticed was when he was helping Franny by carrying Lucas as she was cleaning up their plates. He had no scent.
Other than the lingering scent that Franny left on Lucas clothes, he notices that he hadn't smell anything on the toddler. Nothing specific, no sweat or anything. To make sure he wasn't crazy, he discreetly smelled each member of the Daunts at dinner time. From their point of view, he was eating casually, but he was taking his time to make sure to get a good whiff of the family.
But nothing.
Not a single fragrance or scent.
Only his beloved Franny's heavenly aroma filled the room.
He can hear her breath, clearly hesitating as a summer breeze rolled through the thick leaves.
She shifts in her spot next to him. "Ever read 'Perfume; A Story of a Murderer?'"
"No, but I heard that there was a movie about it. I've never seen it though." He saw the title once at the showings when he went out to the movies with Quil and Embry.
"It's a sad tale of a man who was born with no scent of his own but was given an incredible ability of smell so powerful that he could even smell the scent of a single drop of water in a pond from miles away. But instead of using it for good, he uses it for his own gain and murdered countless women all so he could produce his own scent."
"Since the dawn of the first witches we have a similar trait to him. Never producing a scent of our own. We called it 'Witches' Pheromones.', we've never developed a scent to the supernatural's nose."
She went a bit grim before she cleared her throat. "You know. . . I'm not supposed to tell you this. It's a secret that shouldn't be shared outside of family, or family and close friends."
"Technically, I'm not supposed to tell you these things either. You get an exception though."
She made a face. "How come?"
He stood up as well.
It was, again, self-evident to Jacob that he couldn't tell her.
Not yet.
Not yet.
"Come on," She nudges him. "We're practically forming an alliance with your pack and the coven, tell me!" She asked in giddy anticipation.
Adorable.
"I'm not the Alpha," He shakes his head. "I gave it up, remember?"
"Still, though, why the exception?"
He gazed at her with a shrewd grin. "Am I your friend?" Using the term that she had chosen for those she had trusted with her life.
Another smile was earned, then she drops it to look like she was thinking about it.
"Maybe."
He took a careful step, closing the distance between them and looks down at her, his smile curved by how surprised she look. He was overwhelmed by her alluring scent that tantalizes his senses. He wanted to so badly to take her in his arms and hold her close to him as possible, never wanting to let go and to confess to her there and now.
". . . Am I your close friend?"
She gazes at him softly this time and answered after a quick moment of silence. "Haven't decided yet."
"When will you?" He asked, hiding the desperation that was latched on to the question.
With a smirk, she leans away from him and walks away. "When I decide."
That was the end of their game.
"Come, we're going somewhere." She started walking away to the south.
He follows her. "Where?"
"I have a friend that wants to meet you." She informed. "Have been for a while now."
He displayed a puzzled expression. "How come I haven't met them yet? It been almost three weeks"
She stopped and turned to face him. "It's not that she wants to, she's been too busy trying to keep our farmers and security intact."
He then caught the slightest anxious look on her face before she hid it. "What?"
Biting her lip, she answered. "The night you first came here, when you broke our barrier, the coven has been. . . a bit relentless about it. About you."
A flash of understanding came over him. "They're scared of me. Aren't they?"
She shakes her head. "They're afraid of what you'll bring. I don't know if you know this, but the workers here, our staff and friends. They all have one thing in common."
"Which is?"
She looks up at him dead in the eyes. "Sanctuary."
They walked to the house that Franny mentioned where it was, Jacob followed her behind and looked around the property. The house was built to fit only three people, it had a bright yellow roof with white shiplap walls. The porch was decorated with flower baskets and a rocking chair was placed by the corner left side next to a window.
As they made their way, the front door opened, and an old and dark-skinned woman appeared with a watering can in hand, came out to the porch. Jacob assumed that this was Maggie. She was humming a soft tune and started watering the flowers until she noticed the guests on her front lawn and her face filled with merry.
"Franny, you need to stop these surprise visits." She exclaimed in elation.
"But you love them." Franny sang and skipped to hug the old woman.
"I do." She hums as she welcomes the younger and taller girl in her arms. It was when they pulled away that she noticed Jacob standing awkwardly a meter from them. She points at him. "This him then?"
Franny nodded as Jacob walked over. "Jacob, this is Maggie. She and her husband own a part of our territory, they and a few others' are in charge of the security in the area. They're also close friends of the family."
"Hi." Jacob greeted, almost intimidated by the old woman.
"Hello. You know, you're a lot taller than Franny describes you to be." Maggie notes as she gave him a onceover. "Let's head inside, I'll make us a cup of coffee."
They both smiled and followed slowly behind.
"You talked about me?" Jacob whispered as he looked at Franny in mild surprise.
"Everybody talked about you since you came." She deadpanned. "Not a lot happens here at the farm."
He grins. "You talked about me."
Casting a 'really?' gaze at him, she sped her walking, he follows closely behind either way with a wicked grin on his face.
"She talks about me." He whispers to himself.
Maggie sets the tray of coffee and an assortment of milk and sugar on the coffee table in the living room.
The living room was generic as it can go with pictures of Maggie's family on top of the fireplace, hand crochet doilies on the arms of the couch and a reading lamp next to an armchair.
"I was in a fright when Oswyn had announced that we had a bridged, a sudden guest, normally we would get a notice to avoid any troubles. Poor Jim was even anxious."
Jacob gazes her apologetically, "I'm sorry I put you through that."
She waved him off and sat next to Jim, whose eyes never left Jacob. "It's fine, nothing but a shot of Irish whiskey couldn't help."
Jacob grins at her statement, liking how jaunty she was as Franny gave her a smirk.
"Now, I hope that Franny has told you of our troubles?"
He shot a glance at Franny, sharing a quick look of comfort before he nodded. "Yes."
Maggie takes her coffee and drops a sugar cube in it before stirring. "I want you to know that it is nothing against you, Jacob, it is just that our whole lives have been under the protection of the Daunts, if not, longer before my family found refuge in Solomon Daunt. Your presence here made an impact on that peace, but we see now that you mean no harm."
Jacob would've been at ease with that information, but he knew there was more.
"But. . . I can't say the same for the others who do not feel the same way."
Franny displayed a puzzled expression. "What reason do they believe that he is a danger to us?"
Maggie looks at the young witch. "You and I know very well how powerful this territory's barrier is, Frances. Not even a human who is uninvited can pass through without a hex attacking them."
"Hex?" Jacob frowns.
"It's an effect of the barrier." Maggie stated. "For humans, it's swaying their thoughts away from the territory as if they are told to not step a foot in it. For vampires and other creatures as such, it's different."
Jacob clenched his hand nervously as the old woman continues.
"Once someone touches the barrier, they are immediately affected by it. It is not something deadly, but it gives the Daunts and our security enough time to deal with them."
"What does it do exactly?"
Maggie sighs. "It lulls the trespasser into a haunting stage, manipulating them with echoing voices. Voices of their deepest fears and regrets. So loud that it could make them to the point of insanity."
Franny plays with the rim of her teacup at the touch of her finger, circling it.
"It is not an experience any of us would want for anyone we know and love to go through." Her eyes laid on Franny. "You of all people know can understand that Franny."
Jacob frowns and turns back to the girl.
Has something happened to Franny to feel such pain? How?
He looks down at her hands, twitching slightly to fight off the urge to bite her nails. Slowly, he reached out to take one of her hands into his and her eyes then looked up at his, their eyes locked within shortly before she gave a heavy sigh.
"When I told you that the staff were not just people and looked to my family for sanctuary. What I meant was just as that. Sanctuary. For a long time, many lost witches, descendants of from those who were taught to be perished from the Night War, every being that hides in the corners of the Earth from any threat comes to the Daunts' doorstep."
"Night War?"
"A story for another time." Franny diverted the question.
Jim sighed and spoke to the boy for the first time. "Again, it's nothing against you, Jacob. You bring no threat."
Then, a perplexed gaze settled on Franny's face as her posture straightened. "I'm guessing Simon is saying otherwise?"
Maggie made a displeasure sound under her breath. "That man may be wise, but he is often a stubborn fool."
"Simon's part of the security detail of the Daunt territory." Franny fills in any blanks for Jacob, seeing the still confused frown.
"He and Oswyn are close, as brothers even." Jim explained. "And he has a lot to say about you." He turns to Jacob.
Jacob was still beyond confused. "I don't' understand. What did I do?"
Maggie and Jim convey silently through a look, a wavering hesitation to answer his question.
But abruptly, something came over Franny as a pensive notion appeared on her face.
"The barrier."
All three pairs of eyes turned to her, but her focus was on Jacob, staring at him as if she was seeing him for the first time.
"Jacob." Maggie asks calmly. "When you came here through the woods outside the property, did you hear anything?"
He reflected deeply, trying to remember the night he entered the territory, the night Franny found him, but he couldn't remember anything after his leg was caught in the bear trap.
"No." He conceded softly.
Maggie asked once again. "You didn't hear a voice of any kind. Or a shadow of your fears?"
Jacob shakes his head slowly. Not remembering anything of their description. Hearing it was unsettling enough but to relive it would've been something he should've remembered. But all he could remember was Franny saving him.
"No." He said. "I didn't hear anything. Maybe the barrier had a fluke?" He said without thinking.
A jeering laugh left Jim. "You think the Daunts would've live this long if there was?" He scoffs. "Please, this barrier was made by Solomon himself, nothing can get without a Daunt's permission. Nothing."
"Until now." Franny proclaimed in a soft tone, gazing at Jacob for a moment before turning to Maggie. "Has that ever happened before?"
"Never." Jim said in a grim. "Throughout all our years since Solomon first planted his home here, no one has ever trespassed the barrier."
"So Simon is using this as his leverage to persuade people?" She asked.
"Failing, actually." Maggie notes for her. "But that still doesn't stop the tension within the farm."
Franny scorned by the situation and gestures to the wolf beside her. "What do you want him to do?"
"Nothing." Maggie concludes. "Jacob, I didn't ask for you to come and do anything. I only want to warn you. The Wakening is only two days away. There will be people who will view your stay differently and you need to prepare yourself for that."
Jacob finally understood the purpose of this conversation and his eyes widened slightly. He met the staff, the family and many of the townsfolk from Franny's outings. But there were still a lot of people he had yet to consider meeting due to his concentration on Franny.
"The guests."
Jim nods. "Witches from every corner of the world will come here to witness Franny's Wakening, some will be curious, some will be offended. You have to be careful once you encounter these folks, Jacob. Not because they want to survive but because what they're willing to do."
Jacob and Franny said their goodbyes to Maggie and Jim and went back to the trail that leads back to the Manor. Jacob was still in a daze after his meeting with Maggie and Jim. Despite what he knows about the existence of witches, there was still a lot of stuff that he doesn't know about, especially Franny's family.
"-okay?"
He blinks up to Franny, whose head was tilted in a questioning manner.
"What?" he said in a daze.
"Are you okay?" She asked, again, with a worried expression.
His hands rested on his waist, sighing as he did, wondering if he was okay.
From the time he arrived here, he was aware that his presence would cause a silent ruckus within the small community of the territory, and he's noticed as well. The looks that the staff he hasn't talked with very much, the judgement in their eyes hit him on his back whenever he turns around, like darts on a board. However, he's been building good relationships with most of the workers who were fine with him, especially the ones who needed his superhuman strength to carry the heavy loads for the deliveries.
He wanted to let out those frustrations somehow, but when he saw the concerned features in Franny's delicate blue eyes, all those worries. The images of the judgmental looks didn't matter to him.
Still frowning, he manages to gesture a nod. "I'm fine. . . your family, are they bad as Maggie said?"
He had to ask. If he wanted to be a part of Franny's world, he needed to prepare himself, just as Maggie and Jim ordered him to.
Franny stood there, frozen by the question that would've been simple to answer if this was a normal family. Unfortunately, normal was not defined within her family, nor his if he was being truthful.
She swallowed her hesitation and blinks down. "I would be lying if I said that their objective isn't to look out for our kind, they are. Out of everything, the survival of every witch, every coven is our top priority. They're just not fond of any alliances outside of our society. But most of them are wonderful people."
He looked away for a moment before looking back at her. "So, they're not going to like it that a stranger knows a witch exist."
She sighed. "Look, they may have the same values as the workers who don't think you belong here, but they're wrong."
"How can you know that? You heard what Maggie said, they're afraid of me."
She steps forward. "You forgot what Jim said." Her hand placed on his arm. He tried not to shiver by her touch.
"No one has ever gotten into our territory without permission. Ever."
"He made it sound like that's a bad thing." He muttered and was about to walk away but she stopped by stepping in front of him once again, moving her hand to his chest. A small gap between their bodies, so close yet so far away.
"Or a good thing." She steered. "Jacob, it doesn't matter because you're here now. It might not make sense to you, but I believe that you were sent here for a reason. No amount of magic could break through the barrier until you came."
He saw her eyes shone with nothing but pure sincerity, truly believing that he has place here in her home, in the place where she grew up and was raised by many people who she called family just like her blood relatives.
Without any hesitation, his hand grabbed onto her left one on his chest. Just holding it, like it was the most precious thing in the world. Her eyes landed on their hands in a split second, Jacob hoped that she was feeling the same fiery yearning that he is experiencing whenever she is around him.
Instead of exploring further, her eyes lit up. "Come on."
His brows furrowed and he found himself being pulled by his hand. Started to follow her as she walked down the hill.
"Where are we going?"
"To get our mind off these things."
Jacob waited by the stables as Franny told him, quickly explaining that it was part of the process. When she emerged a beautiful black stallion with a white diamond on its forehead and hooves followed behind her as she pulled gently on its reins.
However, before it got close to Jacob, the horse suddenly neighed a loud scream as their ears bent back and it lifted its front hooves high in fear. Franny quickly shushes it and pets its necks to ease the creature's nerves. She looks at Jacob apologetically.
"Sorry, I think it's because your. . ." She looks at him expectantly.
And he nods, quickly understanding. "Oh."
Ever since he phased, he noticed the little changes that animals had acted around him, mostly the dogs back at the rez.
She smiled either way and pulled a small bottle out of nowhere. "Luckily, I knew this was gonna happen." She hovers it under the horse's nose and their neighs began to die down. She looked up at him and saw his puzzled gaze. "Aroma therapy. Helps them calm down." She turns to the horse. "This is Pepper. My pride and joy."
She lifts her hand and beckons him to come forward.
He walks, almost stalking slowly to her, not wanting to frighten the horse more than he already has. He felt Franny taking his left hand and held his fingers in a position. "Tap his forehead. Lightly."
He sent her a frown but does it anyway. Slowly, the horse fully calms down.
"There," She whispered. "Now he's comfortable around you."
They hiked their way to the fields and Jacob found himself near the forest where Franny had found him and the moon's light glittering the great open fields of the Daunts' territory. The manor was so far away that only a dot of light was seen.
"You still haven't told me what we're doing here."
She smirks. "Isn't it obvious?"
She pulls on the reins and walks through the paved grass. "We're going to run."
"There's only one horse." He points out.
"Yes."
"There's two of us." He points again.
She pulled one of her coy smiles again. "I'm not the one running."
It took a moment of silence before he realized what was going on and figured out why she took him out here near the forest and the open fields in the night.
"Come on. I know it's been a while, but I think you deserve a good run after everything."
He still didn't move.
She waited patiently and he huffed a breath. "I can't."
"Can't or won't? 'cause there's a very big difference between them." She remarks.
He blinks as he briefly purses his lips. He looked at her again and a new emotion which she had yet to see was displayed on his face as clear as the night sky above them.
"I don't want to scare you." He confesses in a whisper, but she heard him loud and clear.
Her wicked smile went down a bit before an honest expression broke. "I've seen it before. You won't scare me."
She then looks away. Giving him some privacy to phase, already knowing what he needed to do if he wanted to keep his clothing in one piece. Though as a witch, she has no trouble nor unfamiliar with the human body. Having to grow in a witch's life have that effect especially with certain rituals and events where the young generation would freely dance around the fields underneath the moon and her stars. But she still has tact and lets Jacob have his privacy.
Jacob watched as she looked away and he frantically looked around the area, using his supernatural scent and vision. Slightly relief that there was nobody for miles and miles. Getting back his confidence, he unbuttons his shirt and swiftly pulls it off over his head. Neatly folds it and places it on the grass before he unbuckles his belt.
Through it all, he couldn't see Franny's flushed face. Her heart started a thumping pace only by the sounds of him getting undressed. She was thankful that he couldn't see her blush.
Another silence has pass and she calls out to him in gentle tone. "You done?"
No response was made. Only the quiet wind greeted her ears.
It gave her the right signal to learn that he had done his part, and she took a soft breath in before she turned around, then her eyes widened.
He was as massive as she couldn't imagine, almost the same size as Pepper. His russet fur glistened underneath the pale moonlight. His eyes. . . they were the same as his human ones. A feature that she had made sure to implant into her memory. Never wanting to forget the kind emotion that was shining within them.
She lets go of Pepper's reins, trusting the horse to wander not far as she walks over to Jacob, her eyes never leaving his form as she got closer. But before she could close the distance between them, he took a step back as he whines.
Franny could see his hesitation but walked to him either way. "You're okay. . . You're not going to hurt me."
The feeling she has on Jacob's capability to control his temper was a bit doubt, but she's seen the way he was being careful with her whenever there were moments that could trigger the wolf inside him. The harsh scolding he get from the farmers whenever he did something wrong during his first week and the amount of pranks that Matthew orchestrated on him, she was sure it was enough to bring out the wolf in him. Literally.
She thought it was because he felt the need to repay the debt that was set between them after she saved his life in the forest. But something more. . . intimate was building up inside him that she couldn't uncover. Though lust and attraction could be listed out within his emotions, there was something else that just didn't quite fit into that description.
Whatever it is, she would find out regardless in the end. All she could do was wait and let him decide whether he was smart enough to reveal it.
She takes her hand out and carefully holds it out to Jacob.
He almost flinches away but stops, seeing that there was no way out of it.
Her hands finally touched his snout and forehead. She caresses up and smoothly pets his head. A sudden purr-like sound erupted within his body, making her smile.
"Puppy." She teases and was earned a huff from him.
She caressed his neck a bit before she pulled her hand away and moves back a couple of steps.
She went to Pepper after picking up Jacob's discarded clothes and put them into the satchel of Pepper's saddle. She easily mounts her horse before taking the reins in her hands.
"Try to catch up." She calls and kicks away in a gallop.
Jacob stood there in shock and then huffs before he followed.
As if.
Franny had Pepper pick up their speed and they rushed into the open fields. She grins energetically as the wind hits her face and hair. She looks aside and sees Jacob running beside her and giggles. She knew that she wouldn't be fast enough to outrun him, but at least he was enough of a gentleman to run at the same length of speed that she and Pepper were galloping.
She watched as he zigzagged her left side switching around the back to her right. They ran farther away from the manor and into the woods where the trees were less and open.
A worn-out path was broken in between, Franny could see past through the pin trees that Jacob was following closely, and above her as their paths differ when Jacob took a route. Suddenly, he jumps above her and then landed next to her others side.
They didn't break their pace as they went deeper into the woods.
And for the longest of time, Jacob began to feel free.
Forks, Washington
August, 2006
The Reception*
"Where have you been?"
This was a surprise indeed. She ever thought that Jacob could be here. After all this time.
He was dressed in a white t-shirt and black trousers. Small facial hair was showing on his face.
"We were gonna put your face on a milk carton." She tries to kid, but she was beyond happy now.
"Mostly Northern Canada." He replies as a distant look appeared on his face.
She needed to ask. "Are you okay?" Concern was clear in her question. "Being here?"
Jacob laughs as his face breaks into a wolfish grin. "Why? Afraid I'll trash your party?"
He took her in his arms and twirled her around, trying to lighten up the mood and it worked as she broke into a fit of giggles.
They stopped and he swayed them into a dance, she laid her head on his shoulder as happy tears were beginning to fall.
Jacob noticed. "Come on, you're not supposed to be the one crying, Bella."
She managed to smile a little. "Everyone cries at weddings."
Bella was content.
Here she was, dancing in the arms of her best friend.
"I'm sure. . . I'm happy for you, Bella. For you and Edward." He tells her.
She was so glad that he was here, alive and well.
Too well.
It wasn't that much of a big deal, but she noticed how . . . glowing he was. Like he was actually happy to be here. Outside of her wedding reception, dancing with her, knowing that Edward was somewhere nearby.
She couldn't understand, nor complain about it, but there was something that shifted in her stomach when Jacob smiled.
It wasn't forced. He was genuinely happy for them.
"What?" He asked, smiling at the weird look on her face when he caught on to her silent stare.
She thought for a moment. What was it? "Nothing. It's just. . . you seemed different."
He tilts his head, smiling. "Should I be offended?"
She shakes her head. "No."
What is it? The way he smiled down at her was so true and genuine that she couldn't really believe that this was her Jake. The same Jacob that declared his love for her, which she rejected for the man who is now her husband, was now different and happy.
Truly happy.
But why?
"Good. Because I didn't come all the way here to be criticize right after I just congratulated you on your wedding."
She frowns a little, not understanding what he meant.
"I came here. . . because wanted to say thank you."
Her frown deepened and they stopped swaying. "For what?"
He takes a moment to take a breath and croaks out words that she would have never thought she would hear from his mouth. "For breaking my heart."
She blinks, confused, not understanding why he would say such a thing. She knew that she had broken his heart, but she would never imagine that he would thank her for it.
Their hands dropped slowly, and he bit his lip and a small smile appeared. "I know it sounds. . . crazy. But there's a reason why I'm thanking you for it."
She steps back, almost as if she was preparing herself for whatever he was so thankful for her to something she had not regretted yet felt so guilty of.
"After that invite. . . I was so angry. That I lost myself until I go to the woods and just ran and ran until I couldn't anymore."
Bella places a hand on his bicep, trying to see any display of emotion that might lead her to comfort him. But she saw nothing, only the look of a boy- No. Of a man, with those dark eyes that she loves so much, in peace and in love.
And she understands.
Those longing feelings were not for her.
"I thought I was gonna die." The haunted gaze was replaced quickly by a look of bliss. "But I was saved by an angel."
"W-what?" She muttered before swallowing.
Suddenly, his gaze turned to look above her head, and she heard someone coming from the back where the Cullens home was. Bella turned, assuming Edward had returned for them.
But who she saw was not Edward, but the violinist that saved her from anxiety.
Franny walks towards them until there is a short, good distance between them. Bella then felt Jake's warmth leave her side to walk over to the ravened haired girl's side. She saw them share a quick look of adoration before turning back to her.
"Bella. This is Frances Daunt. My imprint."
. . . Oh.
Bella blinks and turns to Jacob then to Franny again, all the pieces of the puzzle were coming together, fitting a perfect image of the answer.
It was her.
She is his reason for living now.
"Hi." She stepped forward and grabbed Bella's hands before she could even utter a word. "I just want to say congratulations again. I know we met, but Jacob has told me so much about you."
Bella's mouth opened and closed it again.
She sighs in realization and, before she even knew it herself, she voiced out her thoughts.
"You're beautiful."
Jacob smiled in pride while Frances blushes and ducks her head briefly before clearing her throat. "So are you."
Once again, the bride looked at Jacob and Franny. She couldn't help but ask without thinking of the safety of the Quileute's secrecy. She had to know.
"Do you-do you know?"
They looked at each other, their smiles almost dropped but Jacob wrapped an arm around Franny's shoulder. Bella's heart tugged and she didn't know why either.
Franny smiles softly. "The first day."
Bella's mouth opened and closed again, before she forces a smile.
"That's. . .That's wonderful."
She somehow found herself hugging Franny as a stinging heart of realization hit within her.
Jacob was no longer hers.
He never was.
Blinking back the tears that were threatening to show in her eyes as she hugged the girl tightly in her grasp.
When she pulled away, she was about to say something in hopes to ease herself from this unwanted pain until a voice broke through the air.
"Bella."
She turns around to see Edward standing a few feet away from them. Her breath caught in her throat, remembering why she didn't regret making this decision.
Because it was all worth it if she gets to be at his side.
For all eternity.
"We should head back."
She nodded then turned back to the perfect pair. Taking in the image of her best friend and the person he was supposed to be with. No matter how painful it was, the sight of them gave her a soothing reassurance that he was gonna be okay.
Taking a breath, she steps in front of Franny and holds her hands, stares deeply into her eyes.
"Take care of him."
Franny lights a radiant smile and nods. "With all my soul."
After letting go a shaken breath, she hugs Franny. Once they pulled away, she looks at Jacob and places a hand on his cheek. Dreading that this could actually be the last time she would ever see him again. But she needed to do this.
Not just for him. But for her.
"Be happy."
He takes her hand and nods. "I will."
They wrapped their arms around each other, saying goodbye one last time.
When all was said and done, Bella went back to her husband.
They watched as the newlyweds drove out into the road from the cliffs.
"I'm proud of you." Franny says happily next to Jacob. "You handled it with grace."
His gaze was still stuck on the car until it disappeared from their view.
It was weird, all those times to be near Bella was easy as it was walking. He practically planned the life they could've had together if she had chosen him instead of the leech. He would've rage on the day if he would truly lost her.
But he didn't. He didn't lose her.
And he didn't rage as he thought he would.
He felt. . .serene.
A hand suddenly took hold on his right and he turns to look down at the one person who had completed his life, now and forever.
"How do you feel? Really?" His imprint asked, not hiding the slight apprehension she had for him.
Despite the positive outcome with the reunion, Franny heart still worries for him. She knows how much pain he felt by Bella's choice. She couldn't blame the girl, but the hurt that comes after must've been unbearable for him.
He looked back at the view and squeezed her hand comfortingly. His eyes reflecting an honest feeling as he breathes through his nose loudly and says.
"Free."
Smiling, she pulls his hand so they could leave together.
"Come on, Sam's waiting for us."
