British Columbia
July, 2006
He remembered running.
He remembered trying to rid himself of the defeat that he couldn't save his friend, the love of his life, from the fate that would surely impulse him to kill her. Even so, at least he would be able to kill the person responsible for it if he did.
He couldn't remember how long he had run or how long it had taken him. Only that he knew he had been on four legs for a while. He barely remembers the last time he was on his two feet.
And then, something stopped him, and his leg felt like it was on fire.
He should've phased back into a human to get whatever the hell it was that stopped him from moving. But he was too exhausted from his journey and too distracted by his broken heart to even move. Like a coward, he cried and let the pain consume him. His pain was so excruciating that he was reminded of the time when a newborn crushed his bones, and Carlisle had to rebreak them into their rightful place.
He cried as he felt his blood flowing out of his body.
And as if the universe answered his prayers. An angel of death appeared before his final moments. He growled without thinking, mistaking her for an unknown threat. However, the moment her eyes met his, Jacob felt a peace that he never knew he was capable of. He gladly let death take him away when he closed his eyes.
But they opened, and he was in a room on a bed instead of the afterlife. He groans lightly and lifts his head to get a better look at his new surroundings. Daylight filled the room through the window, and the summer breeze flowed in, moving the thin white curtains slightly away from the window frame.
Jacob slowly sat up and shifted his weight into a comfortable position. His eyes narrowed curiously at the room once before he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He suddenly noticed the pair of pants that he was wearing. They were a bit snug but fit nonetheless.
Taking careful steps, he is able to regain the muscle memory that will allow him to walk on two legs rather than four. It was clear that it had been too long since he was in his human form.
He looked out the window and saw a mountain, or two, over the horizon and a spacious field. The land was surrounded by lots of trees and shrubs.
Where was he?
"Awake, I see." A voice greeted him from behind.
Startled, Jacob turned around and saw an older man with dark hair that was showing grey, and his eyes were filled with such wisdom from years of living and feeling. He was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room with a book. He showed a warm smile in welcome, and his eyes held nothing but sincerity.
"Good morning. Or should I say good afternoon?" His baritone voice caused Jacob to become weary but also calm.
"Where am I?" were the first words he said instead of thinking or howling. His voice was raspy, but he guessed it would be expected after such a long time of not using it.
"You're in Daunt Manor. My home. British Columbia to be exact."
Jacob's widened at the statement. He ran for so long that he didn't even realized that he had crossed the Canadian Border.
The older man stood up from his chair and extended his hand. "Oswyn Daunt. My granddaughter found you passed out on our grounds. Gave me and my son quite a scare when she brought you in through the front door."
Jacob frowned. He was pretty too heavy to be carried around, so how did this man's granddaughter manage to bring him here? Hesitated, Jacob didn't take the handshake but gave his name either way.
"Jacob. Black."
Oswyn grins and ignores that Jacob doesn't want to shake his hand. "Nice to put a name on that face."
The tanned teenager didn't want to say anything to mislead Oswyn into suspicion.
"And how strange it is for a werewolf to change without the full moon. Very strange."
Jacob's jaw twitched slightly as his eyes widened.
Or not.
"You- you know. . ?" He stuttered.
"About your oversize wolf persona? Yes. Although, I shouldn't use the term werewolf. That wouldn't be right, would it? But if your mortal enemies are vampires, then I would have to do more research." Oswyn didn't let go of his smile. Knowing that he caught the boy off guard pretty well.
Jacob was still surprised at how calm the man was—and disturbed by how Oswyn knew the existence of the supernatural.
"How do you know that?" He asked again.
Oswyn then smiled coyly.
"You think you and the vampires are the only monsters on earth?"
Again, Jacob didn't answer. He only continued to look at him cautiously as he tried to figure out who- or what- the hell he was dealing with.
It wasn't until another breeze came through the window that he noticed the lack of scent this man was giving.
Then it hit him.
This man had no scent at all.
"Come," Oswyn says as he places his book on the chair. "My family is eager to meet you."
He opened the bedroom door and walked out.
Not knowing what else to do, Jacob followed him.
But before he could even step out, a green shirt was thrown in his face.
"Put that on. A little decency wouldn't hurt."
Jacob looks down at the shirt, then at Oswyn's back, and swiftly puts it on.
On the way, Oswyn gave him a pair of boots as well. It still surprises him how he was able to have clothes on his body again. And how well they fit too.
He followed Oswyn through the manor, and his eyes kept bouncing from wall to wall and room to room. It was much larger than the Cullens' glass castle, and the decor was more vintage.
They passed through a hall filled with portraits and floral wallpaper.
As they walked, they came across a pair of doors where voices could be heard from behind.
And they didn't sound happy at all.
"-I still don't see why he can't be welcomed here?"
"He's a stranger!"
"Yeah, a stranger that walked past the wards. Can you even remember the last time someone did that without permission."
"No. Do you know why? Because they died before they could even step a single foot in it! And the only creature that ever did was a mosquito!"
The angry voices continue.
Oswyn sighs, almost embarrassed. "Prepare yourself. They're having a quarrel."
Jacob looks at him. "I thought you said they were eager?"
"Eager can go both ways, son." Oswyn replied.
He pushed the doors open loudly to announce their arrival.
All at once, Jacob was being stared at, but continued walking with Oswyn. He felt uncomfortable, especially with the death stare he was getting from a man in his mid-forties with dark hair and brown eyes.
Others looked at him strangely, and he shifted his feet nervously.
"Everyone," Oswyn started. "This is Jacob."
He turns to Jacob. "Jacob, this is my second oldest, Henry." He gestures to the man across the room who was glaring at him while two girls were hiding behind him. One of them had a baby on their hip. "His daughters, Analee and Maya. And their brother, Lucas."
One of the girls waved, and he waved back out of politeness.
Oswyn then pointed at a young woman, in her thirties, with brown hair and blue eyes sitting on an armchair boringly but smiling at him. "This is my daughter, Valerie." Then to another woman with dark hair, standing next to a boy in his preteens. "My daughter-in-law, Nicole. And her son, Matthew."
"Hello." Nicole gave him a motherly smile while her hands were on Matthew's shoulders. He had brown hair, and his eyes were green.
"Hi." Jacob returns awkwardly. Not knowing what else to say since he can feel the tension in the air. A tension that was created by his arrival.
Oswyn looks around the living room. "Where's Frances?"
"Franny stepped out to the orchard to get some air. Someone was pushing her buttons." Valerie emphasizes the word someone as she looks at Hank.
"I only told her 'no,'" Hank said, but his eyes never left Jacob.
"You told her a lot more than that," Nicole argued as she shook her disapprovingly at him.
"This doesn't concern you, Nicky-."
"Quiet." Oswyn stops the argument. "It is neither of your concerns." His arms fold behind him. "Only mine."
Hank was about to argue again, but the look he received from his father stopped him. Jacob could tell that his sudden arrival had created tension between the siblings and their in-law. He immediately felt guilty for causing a rift in their relationship and quickly decided that he should leave.
But Oswyn had other plans.
"Let's get you something to eat." The old man gently pulled Jacob away from his family. "You must be starving. Valerie, get some food going and get a few of Frances' apple fritters."
Jacob looks back at the family and sees their faces individually.
Hank still looked livid while Nicole gave him an encouraging smile to follow Oswyn and Valerie out.
The minute the food was set in front of him. Jacob took his fork and began to eat like he had been fasting for months. Which was understandable, considering he had only been eating the game he hunted to keep himself full and survive.
After the meal, he went for the fritters that Oswyn had requested and he practically moaned as he took another bite of the apple fritters given to him on a plate, the sweet flavors that invaded his tastebuds were rich and overwhelming. Whoever Franny was, she definitely had Emily running for her money.
Valerie watched in fascination. "You certainly put up quite an appetite."
"Mmh?" Jacob looks up from his meal then swallowed and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Uh, yeah. It's a wolf thing. High metabolism."
"Really?" Valerie says and rests her chin on her palm.
"Val," Oswyn says in a soft, warning tone.
Valerie looks at her father. "What? Only curious." And she went back to the sink to wash off Jacob's plates.
He wiped his hands with a napkin. "Thank you." He said and noticed that Oswyn was still looking at him with a cool look that he couldn't read. The old man sat back in his chair.
"Being all quiet now. Curious about how we know about your kind and the vampires. Don't you?"
Jacob leaned his elbows on the table and tried to form a careful question. "What are you?"
Oswyn raised a brow slightly.
"You said I wasn't the only monster on this earth," Jacob said. "What did you mean by that?"
Oswyn did not respond. But after a short moment of silence, he folded his sleeves to his wrists and looks at the flower vase that was at the center of the kitchen table.
Jacob turned and followed Oswyn's eyes which landed on the vase. The flowers were droopy and had seen better days. They had lost their color, and the petals had dropped.
Oswyn lifted his hand and turned his wrist so ever gently. Once he did, Jacob watched in astonishment as the flowers began to change back into their healthy color and rose more from its fetal position. Now the droopy dead flowers became alive and well.
Jacob looks back at Oswyn, slightly terrified of what he could possibly be to do such an illusion.
"Many names we are called in many countries. But my family preferred the old word 'Witch.'"
Oswyn smiled and set his hand back on the table.
"I never knew they- you existed," Jacob confesses.
"Neither did I of you," Oswyn stated. "But, you aren't a werewolf. So tell me. . . what are you?"
Jacob closed his fist. He looks down at the table in quick thought. Making a quick decision to reveal his family's secret, his tribe's secret, to a man whose granddaughter saved his life and confessed that he was one of the most know mythical creatures in the world. Finally, he made up his mind and looked up again at Oswyn.
"We called ourselves 'the protectors of the tribe.' Our magic comes from the gift from one of our chief, who wanted the power to save his people from an evil man who stole his identity. To achieved that, he asked a wolf's permission to use he his body to that he could save his tribe. We're like. . ." Jacob couldn't find the right word.
Valerie helped him though with an offering word. "Shapeshifters?"
Jacob was surprised, but hearing the word, it fit perfectly. He nods.
Oswyn blinks. "'Shapeshifters.'" He rephrased it in thought, muttering. "No wonder."
He heard of shapeshifting beings before but none of them were as close to Jacob's. Some witches are gifted to alternate their face and body to imitate the person they see or touch. But when he felt Jacob's magic, it was fairly new. Almost awoken from a deep slumber. Urging to protect. But he just couldn't figure out why. Jacob said it was a gift, but the magic Oswyn was sensing was laid dormant for what seemed like years. There must be some kind or explanation to why the boy's wolf had suddenly decided to become active. He decided he will let it go for now since there was still much to do at the farm.
Then he tapped the table and stood up. "That's enough for now. Walk with me, Jacob." He said to the boy as he walked around him to the door.
"Sir?" Jacob asked as he turned his head.
"It's time you met your Savior."
They left the kitchen and walked out of the manor through the back door.
"Come on now. The orchards aren't far."
Jacob follows him into the yard. His admires the beautiful scenery of Daunt's land was exposed to him. He even stopped just a bit to sink into the view. A big barn was nearby with a couple of horses standing next to it. Far behind the barn was a field that had just been plowed. From what he can tell, the manor has been built on top of a hill where they can see a big river nearby and a few mountains over yonder. And just as Oswyn said, an orchard lay not far from where they were.
He noticed the look on the young man's face. "Beautiful, isn't it? This land has been in my family for a long time now."
"Yeah," Jacob nodded, not taking his eyes off the view as they walked side by side.
"So, tell me, Jacob." Oswyn replies. "How is it that you find yourself across the border all the way here? Ran away? Gone rogue?"
Jacob looks down as they make their way to the orchards. Expecting to feel the pain of sadness return to his heart. But it didn't come.
It's strange. He didn't feel any pain or any anger as he thought of the vampire that took away the girl before he could. It's almost as if he thought he was actually at peace. But why?
"It's complicated," Jacob admitted.
"Ah. A girl then." Oswyn smiled.
Seriously, is he a mind reader like the parasite?
Oswyn catches the expression on his face and said. "It's always a girl." As if it was normal.
Jacob wanted to deny it, but it seemed hard to keep a secret from Oswyn. "Kind of."
Oswyn continued to look at Jacob until the latter sighed in defeat.
"She was just a girl I grew up with as a kid. And even after everything I did to take care of her. Loved her. She still chose a vampire over me. She's practically going to destroy her life and hurt the people around her the moment she's going to say 'I do.' "
They stopped, and Oswyn placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Is she happy?" He asked.
Jacob looked away. Questioning himself about why he was opening up his problems to a stranger. A witch at that. Either way, he answered.
An answer he never knew he would ever confess to.
"Yes. As much as I hate it. Yes, she's happy with him."
Oswyn tilted his head. "Isn't that important? And as for the vampire." He shrugs and guesses. "There seems to be more to that issue."
Jacob sighs again. "My family and I had this treaty with the vamps long ago because they claimed to be different. In writing, the treaty becomes void if there is a moment or chance that a vampire from that coven bites a human."
Oswyn then understood. "That girl is planning to turn, isn't she?"
Jacob pursed his lips. "If she turns. . . I have no choice but to kill her too."
The witch shakes his head. "What a predicament. And Ironic."
Jake agrees with him quietly. "Yeah. Ironic."
He was still pissed and angry. But why can't he feel heartbroken? He howled at the moon just days ago to let out his frustrations about Bella's choice, for Christ's sake. The invite triggered it. But why
Oswyn turned to him with a smile. "Well, let's not keep Franny waiting." He nods in the direction of the orchards, and Jacob follows him.
The orchards were in the full bloom of white and pink flowers. Petals started to fall all around and danced with the breeze. Jacob looked around in appreciation of its beauty. Even some men, who were some of the Daunts' farmers, were enjoying the scenery on their break. They looked at the young lad next to their boss with curiosity and whispered with each other.
"Frances!" Oswyn called. "Look who's up!"
He turns to Jake. "I need to talk to some of the workers over there. Go on and say hi." He patted the boy's chest in good luck and went to where the workers at.
Jacob looked back to where Oswyn had called out to Frances. Or was it Franny? But he saw no one. He tried to pick up any scent that would lead him to the person who saved his life. And when he caught it, it was the most exotic thing he's ever smelled.
He closed his eyes as he took a big whiff of the scent. He couldn't describe it really. The sweetness of vanilla that lingered within it blended perfectly with what he could assume was sandalwood, then it suddenly changed to a citrus scent of tangerines. Then to salt water with pine wood. He opens his eyes and frowns. How could someone's scent change and smelled so good?
He closes his eyes and concentrated on the scent. After a few seconds, he finally caught it and what centered all those scents was an aroma of a sweet and musky smell that was. . . euphoric. It made his soul sing. Wolf and man.
Jacob followed the scent blindingly to see who could've produced such fragrance. Forgetting why he had come here, to begin with.
"It's you, isn't it?"
A voice calls from above him, and he looks up. Looking for the owner of the voice as he does. Finally, he spotted the person but the sun behind them hid their appearance, so did the branches.
Suddenly, something was thrown to him and he caught it with ease due to his supernatural reflexes. It was an apple. It was red and ripe and plucked freshly from the tree.
But shouldn't the orchard be filled with apples then?
"Take a bite, it's the best I could grow."
Instead of taking a bite, Jacob asked nervously. "You're Frances, right?"
Frances hopped from one branch to another as she climbed down from her hiding spot. Jake followed her around to try and get a better look at her.
"Franny, actually," She remarks. "What's your name?"
That's right, she left before he could even see her because of her uncle.
"Jacob Black," He introduces himself. "Jake, if you want." He added.
"Hmm. You know you drool when you sleep?"
"What?" Jacob raised his brow with a bemused smile.
"Whenever Gramps sent me to check on you, I'd see a bit of drool on your chin sometimes." She smiles at herself and laughed internally as she remembered having to wiped his drool.
"Okay," He looked down, irritated as he tried to stop smiling but couldn't. Why is that, though? "Clearly, I've had some bad habits."
"It's not that bad," Frances consols as she lands behind the tree on her feet. Jacob was on the other side. "But if it makes you feel any better, I bite my nails sometimes whenever I'm anxious."
Jacob leaned over to the side of the tree to see her more clearly but was disappointed when another branch with blooming flowers blocked his view. Her face was just behind it.
"I guess we're a couple of weirdos then." He jokes as he grabs the branch, pulls it away for her to duck under it, and he pauses. The apple from his hand dropped and tumbled on the ground.
Oh.
He was then in another world.
A world that only revolves him and her. Nothing else.
He could see them walking at the coast of La Push, smiling and holding hands.
He sees them again where they were sitting closely together and her head was laid on his shoulder, staring at the violent waves of the ocean.
Suddenly the beach became a forest, and he saw himself chasing Frances through the trees. And once he caught her, he dips hers low in his arms with his nose nuzzling her neck as she leans her head back and laughs happily.
They then had their foreheads pressed together. Content was written all over their faces, just by being with each other's presence.
Finally finding each other.
And then it escalated to more intimate images.
Loving each other.
Marrying.
And there was a child. A perfect combination of their image.
And then finally growing old together.
It became clear to him now, why he was thinking and feeling differently than before. Why he couldn't think about Bella without his heart aching and didn't feel hurt when he talk about her with Oswyn. Why he felt so trusted towards the Daunts and their open hospitality. Why he continued running after so many days of traveling and eating nothing but the animals he hunted with his bare teeth.
Whatever ties he had with Bella. His pack. His friends. Billy and his sisters.
They don't matter anymore.
The world didn't make sense before because he was lost in the abyss of chaos where he lost his freedom to choose, ever since he first phase that night when he went to the movies with Bella and whats-his-face.
But now he sees the world more clearly.
Because it wasn't gravity that was holding him to the earth anymore.
It was her.
"Yeah," She smiled, and he could've sworn her eyes sparkled.
"Weirdos."
Fork, Washington
August, 2006
It was beginning to be a bit much for her.
Even if it wasn't complete, Alice really went all out for the big day. Bella tried her best to convince Alice for a simple wedding, but the pixie would only argue and say "You only get one wedding. As a human that is."
Mindlessly, Bella walked down the porch of the Cullens home with her heels in her hands. Going over the plans and following Alice's order for beauty rest. Like she'll sleep tonight. Just even thinking about walking the aisle makes her stomach squeamish.
She suddenly felt something- or someone, bumped into her and she gasped at the impact then the person caught in time before she could fall.
Bella looked up, it was a girl her age or so and shorter than her by an inch. She wore a green dress with black high tops and her black hair was pulled back by a hair clip. In one of her hands, a violin case was clutched in her grip as the girl tried not to drop it and Bella at the same time.
Bella looked into her eyes and was captivated by the girl's unique blue hues. The girl smiled and she set Bella back to her feet.
"I'm sorry." Bella apologizes but the girl shakes her head to reassure her that there wasn't any problem.
"No worries. At least you didn't hit the floor." She eases a joke and they both chuckled.
Bella then raised a brow. What was the girl doing here? No one other than herself visited the Cullens' home.
"You must be the bride-to-be." The girl beamingly stated.
"I'm uh, sorry. . .who are you?" Alice told her that she hired a team of servers and caterers for the reception, but she didn't think that they would come this early. Especially since the wedding is tomorrow.
"I'm the violinist for the bride march."
"Alice didn't mention she hired a violinist."
The girl didn't lose her smile. "It was a last-minute decision. She told me how much you love music. Especially whenever your fiancé plays piano for you. Don't worry though, your fiancé gave me a list of your favorites including the ones he wrote for you."
She leans forward and cups her hand like she was sharing a secret. "Also, I draw the line on classical genre for the bride march, kind of a downer. Don't you think?"
"Uh. Yeah."
Bella's frown deepens. It was weird how well this girl knows what she likes and what she doesn't, how she listens to Edward play his piano for her constantly whenever she visits. She didn't understand why, but she felt like she needed to be wary of her at the wedding. But then again, she barely remembers anything that Alice had planned for the big day. She even forgot what flavor the cake was.
"What song are you playing?" She asked, hoping it wasn't something too exaggerated.
"It's a surprise. Not even Edd- Edward knows."
I doubt that. Edward would've read her mind at some point to have known the song.
He's amazing.
"Aren't you a bit young to be playing for a wedding?" Bella asked. Genuinely curious of how a girl her age would book a gig at one of the most important events in Forks, as Angela would phrase it.
"Well, I just turned sixteen and don't worry about it, I played a few weddings before. This is nothing different." The girl gave her a hearten look.
"I DON'T HEAR ANY ENGINE!" Alice shouted from the house and both girls turned.
"You should probably go. I've faced many wedding planners and she is a . . . challenge."
Bella couldn't help but feel embarrassed. "Sorry."
"It's not your fault, and she's right. You should go home and rest. Don't want any crow's feet on that face on the big day."
Bella found herself chuckling at her joke. This girl was very charming. And extremely beautiful. In fact, she's never seen a girl with her hair color so dark and her eyes so brightly blue. If Bella didn't see her face, she would've mistaken her for a vampire from a different angle.
Before she can ask the girl's name Alice calls out again.
"ENGINE!"
"Bye, and really, relax. Everything's going to be perfect." The girl kindly said and went up to the front door.
"Hey, I didn't get your name." Bella said.
"Call me Franny."
Bella looks back one final time before heading to where she parked her car. Franny was rather interesting; she did her research and was very considerate of what Bella would've wanted for the bride march. She must've talked with Edward for a recommendation of what song she should play. Maybe she'll see her before the ceremony.
The nerves then came back when she thought of the ceremony. Just when she was starting to feel calm, she thought anxiously of what would happen tomorrow.