*DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to the Twilight Saga and it's characters. This is purely artistic fiction drawn in inspiration from Stephanie Meyers words.
*This story features dark Edward.
* Jacob maintains his pre-wolf personality, but a little animosity with his transformations.
*Includes a stronger Bella arc.
*The timeline begins after the infamous cliff jump incident in New Moon and divulges from the original.
*Quileute wolves do not imprint on anyone unless both parties are at least 18. There are NO huge age gaps (ex. 4 and 16), and it happens between anyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
*Quileute wolves also do not cut their hair out of respect for their personal and spiritual beliefs. It does not affect their transformations.
*There will be warnings for certain chapters that contain disturbing imagery that some may find triggering.
"Friendly reminder, one-hundred-and-eight degrees over here," his gaze softened, and he patted the tiny middle seat that separated us. I stifled a laugh and enthusiastically scooted over, moulding myself happily to his side.
"Thanks, I'm so cold. That water still feels like it's cutting into my bones."
The temperature difference between us was paradise. The heat register no longer interested me. My mind wandered, and I swallowed hard. Jake had been there for me all these past months...even when I deluded myself into thinking I didn't need him.
I could let it all go for him—to actually live and be human. It would be stupidly easy. No compromise, no permanent changes, no complicated thirst for human blood. He might even convince me to start a family, in enough time. An image of a little girl or boy with Jacob's complexion and my eyes flitted through my mind. The thought of children made my skin crawl. I had been forced into being a parent to Renee all my life. Why would I want to go through it again? I silently shook my head and hid a timid smile. It wouldn't make the list of my top ten desires. I'd still want to go to college first.
"Well, it's a good thing I'm always warm, huh?" His gentle sarcasm yanked me to the surface of the unending chasm of my mind.
"Yeah. Must be nice never getting cold. Wish I had that superpower." I wrapped my arms loosely around the bulk of his right bicep, careful to not impair his driving. My head came to rest on the shoulder that connected to the arm I latched myself to. I hid my mouth with the sleeve of his jacket.
"Superpower? It's definitely a wolf thing," he puffed his chest, straightening in the driver seat.
"Nah, it's a Jacob thing. You're just warm," I rebuffed, mumbling a little.
His smirk turned into an even wider, proud grin before curling into a tame smile. A light blush painted his dark, russet cheeks. I could hear his heart steadily beat through his arm. I was unaccustomed to the constant sound, but it was something I could eventually get used to. A new variation of lullaby to help me sleep. My eyes closed in contentment. It was peaceful, safe beside him.
"I can honestly say that I don't try," his voice was low and velvety, the rumble from the sound reverberating deep in his chest caused my own heart to skip a beat. I blinked slowly, observing my unexpected response.
"Wow. Modesty suits you, Jake," I teased, actively ignoring my reaction.
We pulled into the driveway, still sitting in my warm truck in denial. I wondered how late it was and stared into the darkness that encompassed everything in the idle of the Chevy. As easy as it had been to relax next to Jake, it was even easier to worry about the next danger hiding around the corner. Was Victoria secretly watching from the shadows? An image of her lunging at Jake in human form made my stomach nervously churn. My mouth formed into a hard line. I wouldn't put him in danger.
"I should go inside. I'll see you later. Thanks, Jake." I slowly backed away from him and started for the door handle when he wrapped his too huge hand around the entirety of my forearm. The gesture startled me at first. It was a gentle pressure and felt wonderful on my icy limb. He wasn't locking me into place but I listened intently.
"Bella, wait—can we please talk a little longer? I know Charlie would want to make sure you're safe, and I miss spending time with you. Like we used to do before all this mess."
His expression was so soft, my feelings got tangled in the pit of my stomach. Or were those butterflies again? The ever-predictable sound of my heart fluttered in my ears. Whatever the feeling was that devoured my insides, it had been a long day and I was ready to sleep forever. I pushed my feelings away with forced nonchalance. It's just Jake, I didn't understand what had incited the change in me.
"Sure. We could probably watch a movie on the couch and chill. Charlie probably won't be home for a while. I know he'll be hungry, and speaking of, I'm starving," I admitted as a low growl escaped my stomach. A warm chuckle escaped Jake's parted lips.
His fingers relaxed and lingered on my arm a few more seconds before he turned to open his door. I followed suit and we shuffled into the house, placing our shoes onto the mat by the door. My eyes panned directly to the clock on the wall. It was only 9 PM. Springtime and constant rain really made daytime a brief luxury. I gently folded his jacket over the back of one of the kitchen chairs on my way to the living room.
A pizza would have to suffice tonight, standing in front of the stove was not feasible at this time. I was absolutely in no mood or physical shape to cook. Jacob offered to pay as he was three times my size and could easily eat enough food to feed a small village. I declined, I had a savings built up from working at Newton's. Spending a few dollars on pizza wouldn't spoil my college fund. I found positively annoying that he wasn't that much younger than me, but still he towered over me. We were only a few begrudging months apart in age. I turned eighteen last September and he just turned eighteen in January. It was a week into May, the end of my last senior semester. I felt like a dusty relic.
I called and ordered, specifically requesting half cheese to cater to my vegetarianism, and the rest pepperoni for Jake. Thankfully, despite his wolfy tendencies, he never bothered me about my choice to rebuff meat. It only took one time to explain my decision and he let it alone. It was refreshing considering I was constantly bullied about it at school by Mike and Eric. I typically never ate at school anyway, it reminded me too much of sitting with the Cullen's.
We retired to the couch in the living room to wait for the pizza. Flipping through the channels on the flatscreen, I didn't care what was on and let Jake decide on what to watch. I was much more preoccupied with sapping as much heat as I could from him. An old TCM movie flashed across the big screen in front of us and I could sense Jacob starting the tried-and-true process of putting his arm around me. To my chagrin, his hand was planted firmly on the back of the couch and his fingertips were already grazing my shoulder.
I peered at him briefly and then magnetized my eyes to the screen, trying and miserably failing to think about something else. New thoughts about the assortment of feelings I harbored for him swirled around my mind. At the top of the list, I had questioned why my body responded unpredictably to Jacob. Certainly, it was a new development in my world. I was determined to unravel this new abundance of attraction and ultimately rationalize it into oblivion like I did with all of my feelings. I hid them for the moment, mentally preparing myself for any other physical contact. For a little while, anyway.
"So, about that talking? You're doing a terrible job. You really should practice." I had to say something, the monotonous drone from the TV was deafening. He defeatedly relaxed the arm he had been attempting to put around me and slouched even further into the sofa. He knew he'd been caught, he definitely wasn't the most covert with his advances. I appreciated that about him though, because it meant even I would see it from a mile away. I wasn't the best at seeing attraction. In fact, I was often painfully oblivious.
If he was anything like a normal teenager, mentally at least, that wouldn't be the end of it. A part of me liked the idea of snuggling on the couch with him. A hidden part, that was gradually emerging, where I stowed all of these unsolved feelings for him. This place coincidentally was where I attempted to hold on to any lingering feelings for Edward. Those memories were evanescent, burning away like paper-thin moth wings against a hot lamp the more time passed. It felt more like lifetimes ago.
I repeated an absolution to myself: Edward didn't want me anymore. He had coldly extinguished any hope when he left me alone. Abandoning me without true causation. He listed the fragility I couldn't possibly help and undesired humanity I wanted to be cured of. Edward had shattered my soul into millions of shards with his contrived absence. Jacob had placed me back together again, piece by little, annoying piece. The dozens of hours I spent in the counselor's office at school seemed to help, too. Almost the entirety of my senior year had unknowingly dissolved under my deep depression.
Everyone had agreed—it wasn't healthy. I had vehemently denied my actions and behavior, unaware of just how badly I had fallen apart inside. It was Jake that reinstated my will to live. My long-standing issues surrounding abandonment still plagued me. I might always have them. They had been tested when Jacob unfortunately disappeared from my life after his initial transformation and Sam forced his silence. I crumbled harder. The final, proverbial nail in my coffin that lead me to seek out a nonexistent version of Edward. One that lived rent free inside my memories.
I could maybe—eventually—come to terms with losing Edward but not Jacob, too. Not after everything I had lived through. He was here now though, undeniably taking up all the space on my sofa. Wanting to worm his way into every aspect of my life—including my deep-rooted traumas. I would let him, in time, as it was so easy being around him.
"Hah, my bad. You caught me slacking. Care to enlighten me on proper social etiquette?"
When he shifted his weight, his musky smell filled my lungs, and my heart completed several somersaults. His scent and heat mixture intoxicated me, I forgot my determination to ignore his advances and glimpsed at his expression. Even though we were barely touching, I quietly enjoyed the immense warmth radiating off his body. He was definitely not watching the TV, his head was craned tilted towards me. I surveyed his features. I never truly realized how attractive Jacob really was. I had once been addicted to perfectly sculpted Edward. Jake held my favor the more I stared.
I tallied the differences between the two men in my life. While Edward was stoic, angular and more akin to an Adonis sculpture in almost all respects, Jacob was just as impeccable physically but his personality and touch were sunny. Edward had short, disheveled bronze hair, and Jacob had long, straight black hair. Edward's eyes were a golden, honey hue, and Jake's were so dark they exacted an absence of light. Edward was frozen, to the touch, and in time itself. Jacob was the personification of a tropic paradise and ever changing the more time went on. Two sides of the same coin, opposite in many ways. They both were chiseled perfection, more so Jacob, but he was soft. His eyes, his cheeks, his lips...I tried not to think too deeply about the last word. Too late. I swallowed uneasily.
"Maybe, it would take a while. It's too bad you have to be gone all the time." I blinked rapidly, tapping my fingers against the material of the couch.
I would attempt not to think at all now. A difficult premise indeed. I rejected the idea of romance to silence my anxiety. I wasn't good at this. I never knew what to do or when. I didn't even know if it was my crippling loneliness that drew me to Jake, or a lingering platonic affection that was transforming into something else. Something deeper and impassioned. A new and timid reality, perhaps a turning of the tide; a new moon.
"It only seems that way, but it's for the best. We're trying to protect everyone. I'm more determined to protect you," he savored the last word as if it were water and he were stranded in the desert for years. "I would never let her come anywhere near you. Bella, I will keep you safe."
I closed the gap between us, and I leaned gingerly against his chest. My body was inward facing him, but my head was still directly facing the TV. I hoped it would alleviate the chance of any expected teenage impulsivity. He rested his head against the top of mine in return. A small action that pleasantly surprised me. It was a tiny gesture, but it meant very much to me. My hair was still lightly damp which made his contact even more relaxing. His ring finger boldly retraced along the seam on the shoulder of my tee-shirt until the rest of his hand came to rest against my arm. I had another sense that he was staring at me, and I was tempted to peek yet again. My curiosity was rampant.
I was the type of warm that sleepiness began to take hold of me. Being snuggled up on the couch with an old movie as white noise was an unusual first but the norm for people my age on a Saturday night. It was a fresh, human form of blissful ignorance. A time to remember to be my age and not be worried about death or monsters or being hunted. I easily forgot I was still in high school most days. Not for much longer, I was thrilled about that. A particular scene flashed on screen, and I recognized the audio immediately. Jake shifted his weight, instantaneously reaching for the remote on the coffee table to change the channel. He wasn't quick enough. I had already heard far too much in those brief seconds.
Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula reflected on the screen and my face mirrored the white, pallid hues, draining of all color. He changed the channel to some romcom, which unfortunately didn't quell the new nausea strangling my stomach. A wave of bile rose in my throat. Vampire this, vampire that. I couldn't escape the pull of them, even now with their blunt betrayal and disappearance.
I found myself comparing my life to movies. Maybe, if Dracula hadn't been so alluring and devilishly charming, it would have been easier to fight his affection. To let him go. Perhaps the wolf-man made a more suitable partner. My analogies weren't perfect, but it helped me visualize. The differences were that Jacob didn't exclusively turn underneath the full moon. He also didn't forget who he was in the moment, like the ones in horror movies. He wasn't fighting his inner monster just by being near me. That and it was more of a genealogy, less so a sickness that plagued him. He could wear silver, he didn't seem to have any weaknesses. I had gazed into his much larger, melancholy eyes when they rushed by me in the meadow. That was the day the pack saved my life by killing Laurent. All I saw was a protective instinct and raw emotion. Edward's cold, topaz eyes flashed in my mind and the breath hitched in my throat.
"Man, you really can't even watch TV now with all those filthy bloodsu—uh, I mean, this is a good show. Have you seen it, Bells?" Jacob had done his best mental maneuver to avoid discussing the topic of his disdain and my recent, past obsession.
"Yeah, I've seen it. That's all Jessica talks about at school."
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat, rolling my eyes. I stared at the clock ticking away in the kitchen with irritability. I fondly recalled going to see a movie with Jake a few months ago. Picturing the gore and violence in the cinema helped reel me in. I would have been happier with that option than a romcom at this moment. Anything overly sappy and romantic was too much on my conscience.
I still hadn't decided if this was right. Was now the right time? Was Jacob right? Deciding what my heart or head wanted anymore was tedious. They were waging a silent war inside, just like the Cullens and wolves. Treaty or not—there would never be peace between those two parts of my life. I never felt as though I truly belonged in either scenario. I wasn't a vampire, and I wasn't a wolf. I was painfully boring; a simple, pathetic human. Drawn smack dab in the center. Why Jacob saw any interest in me was beyond my sight.
Jacob interjected my inner monologue— "You don't sound very enthusiastic. Should I change the channel?" He was genuinely confused and I could feel his eyes searching my face for possible clues.
"No, that's okay. This is fine." I purposefully lied, romcoms and any romantic movies were just as lackluster to me as the other movie he skipped. The laugh track to the show was too loud to ignore and my attention flitted back to the flatscreen.
"Okay...man, I'm starving. I hope the pizza gets here soon," he pursed his lips in thought, his free hand rubbing his stomach.
It was both unnerving and refreshing that I didn't have to worry about much around Jake. How he managed to be one-hundred percent relaxed, no matter the situation, escaped me. His behavior helped fight my mental and emotional turmoil. I found the steadiness of his heartbeat in his chest under my head. I silently and mentally counted the repetitive sound as a coping mechanism.
"It should be here soon, we just ordered it. It's only been a few minutes, you chow-hound," I chuckled and covered my mouth a little too late after the irony of my statement. Jacob seemed to mind the jest and straightened his back, puffing his chest out again.
"It may have escaped your notice but being a wolf is a part of who I am now. It's not something I can change. I can't help how much I eat. Or my new physicality either. I'm nearing seven foot tall, so I have to have a lot of fuel to keep firing on all pistons." He made the last sentence seem so formal; he flashed another playful grin in contrast, letting me know he was kidding around.
"Oh, I've noticed that. It's kind of hard to miss when you have to actively duck under most door frames. But don't forget, you're still younger than me. So, we're pretty even in the grand scheme of things despite my inability to exist without somehow hurting myself," I argued lightheartedly.
I leaned back enough to gaze at him and lightheartedly poked my index finger into the softness of his cheek. I traced over one of his dimples and as my hand dropped, he caught it before I could fold my arms across my chest in defiance. His hand was so large that I found myself comparing it to bear paws. His fingers were long, and their strength was substantial compared to mine. His engulfed my hand entirely. The scars that were etched into his palms were rough, but his skin was surprisingly soft. They were the hands of a mechanic. His hand determinedly held mine, the heat working into my tendons.
"Not that much younger, Bells," he crooned.
His voice was deep and thoughtful. I didn't dare look at his face and acknowledge that he was moving closer. My eyes flitted back to the clock again, watching the second hand move. He gave a very gentle squeeze to my captive hand, and it was impossible. My eyes darted to his face. His eyes were full of a seriousness that was new to me. All of his usual playfulness was gone, and in that instant, he appeared so much older than he was.
The old Jacob, my Jacob, and this one were remarkably interlinked. What I had perceived before as a set of masks, were less finite and semi connected in multiple ways. I think I was starting to understand that. This Jacob was bolder, unshakeable, more absolute in his decisions with me. But he still held the same feelings as my Jacob, before the wolf gobbled him up. I was beginning to accept that he had evolved beyond being safe—I couldn't just lean on him for support anymore. I was falling for him. Maybe before he transformed too...but I was certain in this moment.
Being with him came with new vulnerability and familiar territory. I was no idiot—I knew what would happen. What was happening as I willingly stared into his soulful and tender eyes. I was falling into them. Lost in the dark, vastness of his irises. This time was different, I didn't want to be found. I pictured his face in different ways. As he was now, as he was before when I first moved to Forks, twenty years from now and even when he was grey and old. The love he held for me was rock solid. It would only become stronger. He looked pensive for a moment before continuing.
"Bells, it's okay. It doesn't mean what you think it means. You're not that much older, and to me, age will never matter. I see your soul."
The hand that held mine squeezed again, his digits tightening until they threaded with mine. His other arm completed the circuit, and it encompassed my shoulders. My heart rate skyrocketed the moment I felt his breath on my face. The gravity of the living room shifted. His breath was cool, unlike his fiery body, and surprisingly minty in scent.
"Well, it should bother you, because I'm ancient..." I muttered, my eyes fluttered away to the screen to see that the romcom had ended and a late program had begun. It was some channel for products and had music playing as the advertisement ran. I gave my all to focus on the distant sound of jazz and Jake let go of my hand. I glanced hurriedly at him and then I felt the startling, searing warmth on my cheek. His hand had moved to gingerly cup my face.
"Bella," he spoke sternly.
My heart shot through my chest like an arrow. I turned to look at him with the pressure of his hand and he was a few inches closer now. The flat plane of his thumb caressed against my lower lip. My eyes closed tightly as a reflex. I was terrified and yet, oddly ready for what came next. It would ruin all plans I had previously made to stay alone forever. I was semi okay with that. I think I was ready. Yes.
He continued, "Bella, look at me, please."
His voice was a pleading whisper now, and I let out the gulp of air stuck in my throat. My eyes met his and his expression startled me. He appeared sullen. His brows were knitted, and he was frowning ever so slightly. I blinked rapidly, both from nervousness and to steady myself.
"Yes, Jake?" My breathy voice quivered, my heart took to playing hopscotch in between my ribs and collarbone. I inhaled a deep, shaky breath and finally swallowed my fear. I stared straight at him, trying not to allude to how I felt internally.
"I know how I make you feel—physically. I make you nervous. And you're not ancient. You're beautiful, kind, and hilarious. You're...well, you're my loca," he mused.
He was watching me for any sign, he sounded exactly like the romcom we watched earlier, and it made my stomach do another uneasy flip. I never noticed how genuine he was. Jacob was not a man of many words, but the ones he said mattered.
"Oh, do you now? I'm not nervous. And you...You're my Jacob. You'll always be my Jacob." I lifted my hand to mirror his, my smaller one came to rest on his left cheek. He moved into my touch. His movement helped finish thawing my fingertips. A few more moments and my icy heart would have finally leapt from my mouth.
We both jumped at the sound of the doorbell. I rocketed off the couch first, running towards the front door. My legs moved involuntarily, a driving force. I couldn't help it. I was expecting the pizza delivery person but instead I was greeted with a small shadow in a red trench coat and gloves. Wait...Alice?! She rushed forward on the stoop and crushed me against her tiny, stone frame in a desperate hug. What? Now I knew I was dreaming, there was no way. The smell of her expensive French perfume filled my nose.
"Bella!! Oh my god, Bella—you're alive!" She gasped, releasing me from her hug only to look at me in pure anger. Her usual angelic face was matted with ferocity. "Would you like to explain to me how you're alive?" She demanded, shaking my shoulders, "I thought you were dead," she trailed off, her nose crinkling.
She continued, "Bella, what is that god awful wet dog smell?" Jake was behind me within a moments time, his towering figure shuddering with burning rage. A low, throaty growl emanated from deep inside his chest. While he made me feel small, Alice was even more insignificant in his shadow. I never underestimated her strength.
"You better take your hands off of her, before I break them off, bloodsucker." He leaned more forward; his presence was intense and utterly intimidating. Alice let me go reluctantly and I turned to put my fist against Jake's chest in protest. He wouldn't take this away from me. I hadn't heard from Alice—my other best friend—in months. I missed her terribly. Even her incessant shopping trips, forced fashion advice, and knowing visions sometimes.
"Easy Jake. It's just Alice."
"Yeah, I know, just another harmless Cullen. Wait, are there...how many are here?" He spat his hateful words, a barb of ice in them. Jake was struggling to contain his emotions, but my contact helped mute his growing enmity. I glimpsed past Alice's shoulder and saw Carlisle's car in the dim, yellow rays of the streetlamp.
"That's Carlisle's car. Did he come with you? Are you all back?" My mind went blank, I couldn't process this information correctly. Was he here, too? My nausea returned in full force. What if he had read her mind before she left? Would he be angry?
"Is he with you?" Jacob hissed.
His body vibrated, his jaw was tightly clenched, and his stare was full of indignant hostility. I forgot how to breathe next. He had beaten me to the punch. I couldn't even fathom seeing Edward's face. What if he'd realized that I'd gone back on my word? Why would he even care? They left...he left me behind. He abandoned me and my boring life as a human for his prolonged, beautiful one as a vampire. He didn't want me anymore, or the responsibility of keeping me alive. He never will. It didn't matter. Just a spec of insignificance in his unending immortality.
"No, it's just me. I saw you jump but I didn't see anything else. I didn't see you get pulled out of the water either," Alice glared at Jake, folding her arms across her chest with an exasperated huff, "I can't see past you and your pack of mutts."
She was visibly displeased, "I wanted to make sure you were okay. You promised you wouldn't do anything like this. What about Charlie? What about Renee? Have you thought about how it would affect them?" Her voice was biting, I recoiled into Jake's arms.
The concern in her tone sent me spiraling into another pool of deep regret. I had been reckless in my last-ditch attempt to bring Edward back into my life. Instead, my wish was partially granted, and I had gotten a small piece. Alice. It made me thankful for all of the dozens of emails I had sent to her over the last year. Maybe she was keeping tabs on me all this time.
"Alice—I wasn't trying to kill myself. I was cliff jumping. Recreationally," I stuttered. I felt the blood leave my face and suddenly the room was spinning.
"Are you alright?" Alice's features smoothed, her sprite like face full of worry, but Jake held me tighter. His arms came over my shoulders and chest in a protective 'x' shape. His touch felt similar to a heating pad against my bare skin, and he was trembling worse now. His arms were locked around me, an immovable hug but in reverse.
"She would be if you had stayed away. All you Cullens' do is ruin everything. You couldn't just stay away a little longer."
"Jake, it's alright. I feel very lightheaded is all. I need some water. And Alice can come in—she can stay as long as she'd like. She's my friend, too." I pushed out of his hold and held my head, the sting of what I had implied replaying on loop.
"Look, Bella, I can't be here then. I can't protect you if a Cullen is here. This is neutral territory but if Victoria attacks now, I can't help. I won't break the treaty," he was desperate, his words smashed into each other precariously.
"Jacob, slow down. Everybody just needs to relax and take a second. Nobody is fighting anyone," I faced her, "Alice. Is he...does he know? Did you see?" I murmured coolly.
My thoughts went around my mind at Mach 9, the bile lapping the back of my mouth. I paced into the kitchen, hastily grabbing a ceramic cup from the cupboard and one for Alice too. I poured cold water into them, immediately downing a large gulp to push back the acid that burned my throat. Alice followed me immediately; Jake was just as quick on my heels.
"No—only Carlisle and Jasper know I'm here. He wants to be...alone. He is in Rio right now. We check in on him every couple of months." Alice took the cup with sincerity, and held it for the novelty, as she obviously couldn't drink the water. Jacob interjected our conversation again.
"Good. He can rot there for all I care. Better there than here." His eyes hardened, narrowing to slits. I'd never seen him this way before, a shiver rocketed down my spine. Alice shot a look at him that could have killed. Twice over.
"Don't—" I directed, looking back and forth between them, "I wouldn't want him to worry about me, I guess." I sighed, feeling the relief of knowing I wouldn't cause Edward more grief and disgust.
My words tasted bitter. The phone rang and I slammed my cup on the counter out of nervousness. Thankfully, it did not break. My precognition forced the dread I guarded inside to surface. Jacob was directly next to the phone and picked it up instinctively. I had a bad feeling the call wasn't from Charlie.
"Swan residence... He's not here right now." Jacob slammed the phone back against the receiver so hard I was surprised it didn't break the wall. The drywall buckled with his force. It was a miracle the phone's plastic didn't shatter on impact. I flinched uncontrollably.
"Who...who was that?" I shivered. Another chill ran down my spine. I had a knowing suspicion.
"Bella, that was Edward, Rosalie told him that I came here. He was checking to see if you were ok because I didn't share any details before I left. He's going to try to reach out to Carlisle next, let me call him first." Alice urged, immediately pulling her cellphone from her pocket and speed dialing, quite literally as her fingers were a line of smooth, unseen motion.
Alice disappeared into the next room, and I couldn't contain my irritation any longer. I directed an icy, unforgiving glare at Jacob. A soft expression of remorse painted his features for a split second before Alice came back into the room and his pointed disgust returned. My hands furled into my hair, wishing to pull chunks out from frustration. I balled them into tight fists and dropped them to my sides.
"Rosalie told him I came back because something happened to you, and when he couldn't reach Charlie, he was going to ask Carlisle to come because he didn't know I already had. I told him everything was normal—he will believe me," she paused, "I won't lie—I've missed you."
"Oh God," I stifled a quiet sob, "good, and yes, I miss you more. Are you...going to stay long? Are you going to be at the house?" I croaked.
"Yes. That's where I'll be. Jasper is meeting me soon. I'll be there if you want to talk. Until then, make sure you put the dog out. Werewolves are not good company to keep," she crushed me against her small frame again, "I'm glad you're alive, Bella."
Then she was gone. Her red trench coat was another blur, and I heard a soft click of the door on its' latch.