My breathing was shallow as I stared at the phone on the bed, its screen still lit with the last message:
"See you soon, Swan."
I'd been replaying those words over and over in my head for the past ten minutes, waiting for my heart to slow down. It didn't. The man on the street — the one who'd tipped his invisible hat at me — was gone. I'd checked the window twice since then, peering out through the smallest crack in the curtain, but he'd vanished like a ghost. No trace of him. No sign that he'd ever been there at all.
But I knew what I'd seen.
I picked up the phone again, my fingers hovering over the screen. Every instinct I had screamed at me to call Jacob. I knew he'd answer. He always did. But I also knew how this would play out. He'd panic. He'd come rushing back here like a wrecking ball, ready to tear through anyone who got in his way. And if whoever sent that message was still watching, it would be exactly what they wanted.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. Don't panic, Bella. Think.
The phone buzzed in my hand again.
I flinched so hard I nearly dropped it. A new message flashed on the screen.
"I see you."
My heart stopped. This time, I didn't hesitate. I called Jacob.
The phone only rang once before his voice came through, sharp and alert.
"Bella?" he said, his voice immediately tense. "What's wrong?"
"Someone's watching me," I said quickly, my voice shaking as I paced the room. I glanced toward the window but kept my distance from it. "They sent me a message. They know where I am, Jacob."
The silence on his end was short but heavy. I knew that silence. It was the moment before a storm broke.
"I'm on my way," he said, his voice like steel. "Don't move. Stay inside. Don't open the door for anyone but me."
"Okay," I whispered, gripping the phone so tightly it hurt. "Please hurry."
"Always."
The call ended, and I sat on the bed, my heart thudding in my chest. I glanced at the door, checking the lock again and again, turning it to be sure it was secure. My eyes flickered to the window, but I didn't go near it. I stayed as far from it as I could, my gaze darting toward it every few seconds.
I felt like a caged animal.
Calm down, Bella. Don't make it easy for them. I closed my eyes, inhaling slowly through my nose and letting it out through my mouth. I'd read somewhere that breathing like this could trick your nervous system into calming down. It wasn't working.
Minutes felt like hours. Every creak of the building, every distant honk from the street outside, made my body jolt with panic. I kept expecting to see the door handle turn slowly, to hear footsteps outside, to hear another buzz from my phone.
But nothing came.
Jacob's POV
I sprinted through the back streets, my duffel bag hanging off my shoulder as I pushed my legs to move faster. My chest burned with every breath, but I didn't slow down. I couldn't.
Bella's voice was still fresh in my mind. The way it shook when she said, "They know where I am." That wasn't fear. That was terror.
I ducked into an alley, weaving between dumpsters and metal staircases. The motel wasn't far. I'd already spotted two cars parked too close to it for my liking. Suspicious. Not normal.
My teeth gritted as my jaw tightened, and the familiar heat started to rise in my chest. The anger, the protective rage. It called to the wolf inside me. I felt it under my skin, that pull to shift, to hunt, to protect. But I held it back. Not yet. Not here.
When I reached the street outside the motel, I slowed down. My breathing was fast but quiet. I crouched behind a parked car, scanning the area. Two men stood across the street near the corner, smoking like they were just killing time. But they kept glancing toward the motel. Too many glances. Too much interest.
I knew that look.
Hunters.
They weren't dressed like vampires, and they didn't have the vibe of locals. They were too stiff, too aware of their surroundings. One of them scratched the back of his neck, shifting his stance like he was ready to move at a moment's notice. The other had his phone out, typing something.
Not happening.
I darted across the street, using the blind spot of an old truck as cover. My feet made no sound on the pavement. They didn't see me coming.
I reached the man on the phone first. My hand clamped down on his wrist, yanking the phone from his grip, and before he could shout, I slammed him against the wall. His head hit the brick with a dull thud.
His friend moved fast—faster than I'd expected—but not fast enough. I spun around, driving my elbow into his chest. He staggered, gasping, and I drove him to the ground, pinning his arms behind him.
"Who sent you?" I growled, leaning in close enough for him to hear the edge in my voice.
He spat at the ground, his face twisted in a snarl. "You think you're the only one with orders?" he hissed, his voice thick with venom. "You're nothing, mutt."
I shoved him harder against the pavement, my hands trembling with the effort to stay human. "Who sent you?" I repeated, my teeth clenched so tightly I thought they'd crack.
He laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. "You'll find out soon enough."
That was all I needed to hear.
I slammed his head into the ground, not hard enough to kill him, but hard enough to knock him out cold. His body went limp, and I rolled him off the sidewalk, tucking him out of sight behind the car. His partner was already slumped by the wall, unconscious.
"Stay there," I muttered, stepping away.
I sprinted toward the motel, my heart pounding harder with every step.
Bella's POV
The knock on the door was soft but deliberate.
"Bella, it's me," Jacob's voice called through the door, low and steady.
I moved so fast I nearly tripped. My hands scrambled to unlock the door, and as soon as it was open, Jacob stepped in, his eyes sweeping the room like he expected to see someone hiding in the shadows. His chest was heaving, and his hair was a mess, but his eyes were sharp, laser-focused.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his hands cupping my face, his gaze searching mine for any sign of harm.
"Yeah," I whispered, my throat tight with relief. "Yeah, I'm okay."
He stared at me for a moment longer, then pulled me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. I didn't care. I clung to him, my fingers digging into the fabric of his jacket as I buried my face against his chest. His heartbeat was fast, like mine, but steady. Constant.
"They're outside," he muttered into my hair. "Two of them. I handled it, but I don't think they're working alone."
I pulled back to look at him, my eyes wide. "What do we do?"
Jacob's eyes flicked toward the window, his jaw tight. "We move. Tonight. No more waiting around."
I nodded, my stomach knotting with fear. But I knew he was right. Staying in one place too long had been a mistake. They'd found us. And if they'd found us once, they could do it again.
Jacob stepped toward the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to peek through. His body went rigid, his eyes narrowing.
"What is it?" I asked, dread pooling in my chest.
He didn't answer right away. He stayed completely still, his breath slow and deliberate, his muscles coiled tight.
"Jake?" I pressed, moving toward him.
He glanced back at me, his face grim. "He's back," he said quietly. "The guy from last night."
I froze, my heart dropping like a stone.
"Pack your things," Jacob said, his voice sharp and sure. "We're leaving. Now."