What a day.
Work had been a bitch. I spent most of the morning in my office running the numbers for the shop and they still weren't adding up. I would have to call Kim again to help me straighten out the books. I still had to figure out payroll for Embry and Ms. Call, but I was getting a pretty bad headache and so I decided I was done for the day.
My passion for flipping cars and bikes is what made me open the shop in the first place. Billy and I put all our savings and took out a couple of loans and I poured my blood sweat and tears into it and now it's finally paying off. It's taken a couple years to pick up, but now everyone in the area knew I was the best mechanic around. I had to take on auto repairs for additional income and it took over 90% of my day but I wasn't complaining, it was good money.
Little did I know that it would be so much work to keep it running.
I hired Ms. Call to deal with the front desk and customers, booking appointments and handling invoices. I also had Embry in the back to help me with small repairs and towing. He needed some work while his own programming startup picked up momentum, it seems all that all that time he was stuck in his room when his mom kept grounding him paid off.
Embry and I had a busy afternoon, working on three cars needing minor repairs when we got a call for a tow. I sent him since I was almost done with my job and could finish his easily. By the time I finished, Embry was back and asked me to take a look at the tow he picked up, make sure everything was good.
"Did you check out the girl I picked up? She's freaking gorgeous." Embry mooned. "I swear she's the prettiest thing I've ever seen."
"Yeah?" I asked as I inspected the bumper and fenders. "I must have missed her, is she inside?"
"Are you kidding? How did you miss her? She's like a freaking goddess. They don't make them like that around here." He was basically drooling.
"Sure, sure. Listen the car looks fine, a little dirty, but nothing a wash can't fix." I stood up, heading towards my own car.
"Hey Jake," Embry stopped me, "You won't mind if I ask her out right? It wouldn't be seen as unprofessional or anything?"
"Uhm, just don't make us look bad, alright? I get it, you're in love with the girl but don't be a pig. I'm still hearing it from what you did to Lorene's friend."
He laughed sheepishly, at least he had the decency to look ashamed. "Don't worry, I'll be a perfect gentleman. Thanks man, see you later."
"Cool, see ya." I waved at him over my shoulder.
I couldn't wait to relax, drink a nice, cold beer and spend the rest of the weekend with Lorene and my family. Rachel and Paul were driving up from California with the girls to spend Thanksgiving with us tomorrow so tonight was going to be the last real night of peace I'll have for the next four days. I decided to close the shop for Thanksgiving break, giving everyone a nice long weekend. Why not? They deserved it.
The pack has been working a lot between pack duties and their own jobs. It turns out protecting the town from bloodsuckers doesn't pay the bills, so everyone had to find some source of income. The pack was mine now. Sam and Paul had dropped out over ten years ago, and Jared not too long after. It made sense to them, they had imprints they wanted to grow old with.
I was the Alpha, something I never really wanted, but the extra responsibility of being in charge helped me shape up. If it wasn't for that and the pack, I don't know if I ever would've come back from the darkest time of my life.
Bella.
I don't think of her often. Only sometimes, when I randomly see a woman with the same color hair, or shape of her smile, or her chocolate brown eyes I'll feel a pang of pain. A reminder of everything I've lost. I try blocking out the memories, reminding myself that she's gone, or as good as. She chose this life and there was no turning back for either of us. I had held onto hope for as long as I could after the Cullen's disappeared. Charlie was still in contact with her, speaking over the phone but never allowed to visit. Then one day Charlie came over and said that he saw her, like actually saw her in person. I knew then that it was too late. He said she had changed; she was a bit different now but still the same ol' Bells to him. Poor guy, he didn't know any better. He didn't know his daughter was a monster now.
The worst part was the next piece of news Charlie had told us; he was a grandfather. Apparently, they adopted Edward's niece from his estranged, dead brother.
It made me sick. The lies the bloodsuckers fed others. And now they dragged a baby into their little charade. Who knows what they would do with it? Raise it like a pet and then turn it once it's convenient for them. Suck the life out of it once they've had their fun. Maybe they already turned it so they can play the perfect little family forever with the little bloodsucking demon.
That was the day that I'd decided she was dead to me. I would stop hoping and wishing and loving her. I was done.
It took a while for me to get my head on straight. Figure out what I was doing with my life if it didn't include loving her anymore. There were so many times I wanted to run away again, but I knew I had to face the pain. Sucking out the poison was the only way.
Slowly I got back to my old life, and as the vamps stopped coming around it was easier to balance pack duties and school. I was able to go to community college and get my degree while working as a mechanic. I stayed with Billy all these years to help him out. Once Rachel and Paul left and started their own family, I couldn't leave the old man on his own. It's not like I was aging or going anywhere while I still had the pack to run.
But I had a feeling things were about to change soon. Now that Claire was full grown and finally dating Quil, he was seriously considering dropping out of the pack once he proposes. Seth and Embry had no real reason to keep phasing other than loyalty to me and the pack, but they kept on. And Leah… well who knew what Leah's reasons were but I'm sure she wouldn't mind having the rest of us out of her head for good.
As for me, I hadn't really thought much about leaving the pack until I started dating Lorene. I met her a little over a year ago. It was kind of a blind date. Embry was dating a girl from the Quinault reservation and had begged me to go on a double date with her friend. I only really agreed to get him off my back. I had dated girls on and off the rez and it was fine, but I hadn't had any real love connections. But Lorene was nice and sweet. I gave her a chance and we hit it off. I took baby steps with her, and she stuck around, allowing me to set the pace. It was hard having to keep a big part of my life a secret from her, but I figured soon that wouldn't be a problem once I stop phasing.
We haven't had any vampire activity in over ten years, and I hardly made them go on nightly runs anymore. I think we all knew our time as a pack was coming to an end soon.
After work I spent the rest of the evening getting ready for tonight and watched the end of the University of Michigan game with Billy while I waited for Lorene. She was driving up from Taholah and then we would meet up with the pack together.
I could hear her car before she even turned onto our street, so I got up, bidding Billy goodnight. "Don't wait up, old man."
Her face was awed as she pulled in the driveway, lowering her window. "How do you always know when I'm just about to get here?"
I smiled, leaning down to kiss her. "Let's say it's my Spidey Senses." I winked. "Come on, I'll drive." I opened the driver's door.
"Nah, let's just go in my car. I already have the heater on, you know how cold I get."
"Fine," I conceded, "But let me drive, ok?"
"Ok, Mr. Control Freak." She chuckled, getting out of the car. "Be my guest."
Most of the guys and Leah were already there when we arrived. Everything was going fine until Embry arrived and Lorene bristled up. She and him were still on rocky terms ever since he and her best friend broke up. I had decided to stay out of it. The guy was an idiot, but he was one of my best friends and pack brothers, I couldn't give him the cold shoulder just because he dumped her friend.
Lorene turned away from the group, pulling me aside. "I didn't know he was going to be here." She whispered, unaware that all the other wolves could hear her perfectly, including Embry.
"Lorene," I sighed "He's my best friend, do you expect me to just drop him?"
"Yeah, maybe then he'll get a taste of his own medicine. I can't believe he treated Caitlyn like that."
"I know, I'm sorry, we're still trying to train him." I teased. "Let's just finish up here and we can leave soon, go somewhere a little more private. Sound good?"
She smiled. "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea."
We ate and ordered a couple more beers, catching up after being away from each other all week. It kind of sucked living in different towns as your girlfriend but at least the reunions were good. At some point Embry's new little obsession joined us, filling up the table. I overheard her chatting with Claire and looked over, noticing how small she looked sitting between Seth and Embry. I chuckled to myself, poor girl, doesn't know what she's getting herself into with Embry.
Just as Lorene and I were about to get up and leave, I overheard something that made the whole table stop talking immediately and look over to the bar.
"Here you go, Miss Cullen, would you like to close your tab?"
What.
A Cullen. What the hell was a Cullen doing here? Before I could even think I was already on my feet, marching over to the small girl Embry invited. The guys and Leah got up as well, I wasn't sure if they were following to back me up or hold me back.
"Hey." I demanded her attention, my voice deepening to that double timbre. "The Cullens aren't welcome here." I whipped her around.
I looked straight into her eyes, searching for the blood red or pale gold of a bloodsucker. Instead, I saw warm brown eyes. I would have found them familiar but suddenly my mind was wiped completely clean.
I hadn't realized I was shaking until I abruptly stopped. Looking down into the porcelain face staring up at me, I felt a sense of weightlessness, like I was floating and there was nothing holding me down to this earth anymore. It was hard to explain, the strange, warm feeling in my chest. It felt like I was glowing. I lost sense of everything. Where I was, who I was. I had no home, no family, no name. All I knew was her. And suddenly, I wasn't floating anymore. There was a new source pulling me to them. Stronger than gravity. Stronger than anything I'd ever felt before.
The center of the universe.
It was her.
I wasn't aware of the concept of time or space so when someone pulled my hand off her shoulder it felt like I was jolted back into reality. The girl, Renesmee I think her name was, looked terrified. The five of us were hovering over her, pressing her back into the bar. I immediately took a step back, giving her the space she needed.
"Are you ok?" I asked, unaware of anything else in the world but her. I wanted her to feel safe. Needed her to feel safe.
"I- I- I'm sorry." Her eyes bounced back and forth between mine; her head craned all the way back to look up at me. Sorry? What could she possibly be sorry for?
"Hey Jake, are you good?" Seth came around, almost stepping in between us. "Do you need to take a minute?" His eyes darted to the door, silently asking me to take this outside.
I probably should get some air right now, get some room to think. But I wouldn't leave Renesmee unless I was sure she was alright. "In a minute." I gave him a look that conveyed the message: 'Back off'.
"I should go." She turned so quick I almost didn't catch the movement and headed straight for the door, faster than a bat out of hell.
"Wait!" Both Embry and I said at the same time. I turned to glare at him. What the fuck did he think he was doing? I growled, low and menacing, a firm warning for him to back the fuck off her.
I chased after Renesmee without a second thought. I couldn't let her leave without at least apologizing. "Wait! Please!" I reached her right as she opened her car door. "Please, give me a second to explain."
She turned; her posture was defensive as if she was ready to attack me if necessary. "Please, just leave me alone. I don't want to cause any trouble."
"Look, I'm sorry. What happened back there was… a misunderstanding. But there's a reason I came up to talk to you."
"I'm sure." She looked skeptical. "But I'm sorry, I really need to go."
"Can I see you later? Tomorrow?" I couldn't just let her leave like this, I needed to see her again.
"No, I have to get back. My family is waiting for me, and they'll be upset if I'm late."
"I promise, I'll explain everything. And I promise, I swear, I would never, ever hurt you." I would never let anything hurt her.
She considered me for a long moment, not that I could blame her for being cautious with me. I did almost attack her. "Ok." She said slowly, "But don't you have a girlfriend? Why are you out here trying to talk to me?"
Shit. Lorene is probably so confused right now. The pack must be keeping her inside to give me and Renesmee some space.
"I did- I do." I stuttered. "I'm sorry, I just- please. All of this will make sense if you just hear me out. Please?"
"Maybe some other time. Sorry Jacob, but I'm leaving now." She quickly got into her car and sped away. I didn't try to stop her again, knowing I would just be digging myself into a deeper hole at this point. The thought of being away from her hurt so bad. It was painful to let her go but she needed time to calm down and I needed to clear up some things before we met again.
Seth and Quil were beside me in the next second. "What happened?" Seth anxiously put a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know." I said blankly, staring at her car in the distance. My whole body was shaking, it took everything in me not to run after her.
"He imprinted." Quil announced. Looking at me like he knew exactly what I was going through.
Yeah. I guess this was it. I truly believed it would never happen to me, but it did. I've imprinted.
"Are you ok, Jake?" Seth squeezed my shoulder.
"I think so, yeah." I nodded, still looking in the direction Renesmee sped off to. I was anxious to see her again. "I need you to do me a favor, Seth." I told him the make and model of the car she was driving. "Can you follow her and make sure she gets home safe? And then stay there until I find you."
"No problem." Seth immediately ran into the woods to shift. It wouldn't be hard for him to catch up to her. It helped calm my anxiety to know that someone will be watching over her while I fix this mess.
"Listen Jacob, Lorene and Embry, they're still inside. Do you need me to say anything?"
"No, no. I got it. Thanks, Quil." Lorene didn't deserve what was about to happen, but it needed to come from me.
Embry came bounding outside when he heard his name. "Jake, man, If I had known. I would have never- you know that I wouldn't- I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." I sighed. "How would you have known." Hell, even I had been in the same room as her for over an hour before I knew. I suddenly got very serious. "You didn't do anything with her though, right?" Cause then I'd have to kick his ass.
"No! No, Nothing, I swear."
"Good." There was awkward silence. "It's alright, man. It wasn't your fault. You're still my brother."
Embry grinned and hugged me, pounding me hard on the back. "Congrats Jacob. I never expected this to happen again, but I'm glad it did, and I'm glad it was you."
"Thanks." Everything was still kind of a mess. Renesmee probably thought I was a psycho and I still needed to break things off with Lorene, but still… she was perfect. Her beautiful face was burned into my brain, those big, brown eyes. She was an angel.
"I have to go. I need to talk to Lorene and figure everything out."
"Good luck... I'm just glad it's you and not me this time."
It was an awkward drive home with Lorene, she had so many questions I couldn't answer. I decided to take her all the back to her home in Taholah, not wanting her driving after I break her heart.
I pulled into her driveway and turned off the car. I wanted to get this over with and go to Renesmee, but I wouldn't do that to Lorene. I would give her the time and respect she deserves.
"There's no easy way to say this but, I don't think this is going to work out anymore."
She stared at me in disbelief for a long moment, whispering, "What?"
"I'm sorry, I never meant to end things like this. I don't want to hurt you, but I can't do this." I motioned between her and I.
"Why?" Tears spilled from her eyes. "What happened?"
I felt like a complete ass. She didn't do anything wrong, yet she was the one getting hurt. "It was nothing you did Lorene. It's just me. Some… things came up and it made me realize that I'm not the man for you. I can't give you what you need, so it's best if we end this now."
"What things? What the hell, Jacob? Does this have to do with what happened at the bar? That girl who you were talking to?"
I wasn't sure how to answer that. I know it would hurt, but I couldn't lie to her. So, I closed my eyes and nodded my head. "Yes."
"What?" she asked in disbelief. "That girl is like 15! I could see someone like Embry dating her, but you? Have you lost your mind? You would throw away everything we have for some hot piece of ass?"
I clenched my fists to keep from shaking. "That's not how it is. I'm sorry, but this is over."
"Fine, get out of my car!" She got out and slammed her door. "You're not the man I thought you were. You're a liar and a fake and I never want to see you again."
I stayed silent, knowing there was nothing I could say to make it better. She turned and ran inside, shutting her front door. I sighed, It was over.
I ran all the way back to Forks through the woods. When I reached Seth, I found him lying under a tree in the forest behind a house I thought I would never step foot in again. Charlie's house hadn't changed in all the years since I'd seen it last, still the same small, little, white house.
Thanks, Seth. I owe you one.
No problem. It's been quiet here all night. I think she's asleep now. He got up and shook the rain off before disappearing into the forest.
I got comfortable under the same tree and listened. Being this close without being able to see her was like torture, but it would do. I could hear Charlie's snoring and when I listened carefully, I could hear her soft breathing. Her heartbeat was quick, like a hummingbird's wings. I laid my head down and listened to it as I dreamed about seeing her tomorrow.