North Star

12. Voting

We spent a good two days hunting together. There were a few hours where we were split up and then we came back together in a clearing, sitting on the ground and basking under the light of the full moon.

We're all sprawled across the clearing, our skin glowing softly in the moonlight.

Seth and Leah are in their wolf forms. They're softly wrestling with each other with a carcass, seeing who can get a bigger chunk of it.

Esme and Carlisle sit, leaning against each other, hands intertwined, staring up at the moon lovingly.

Jasper and Alice sit criss-crossed across from each other, tying flowers together to form flower crowns. Jasper already had one on his head.

Rose was gently brushing through Nessies long locks, who was asleep in her lap, and braiding a few strands without disturbing her sleep. I notice how she looked sad as she combed her hands through her niece's hair. I wonder what's on her mind, I don't hear from her much, at least, not around me.

Bella sits in between Edward's legs as he hums a soft lullaby into her ear.

I lay on the grass, looking up at the sky, staring up at their brilliant lights, making out a few constellations that I recognize.

"Emmett! You ruined your shirt. Again," Rose complains to Emmett when she sees him come through the woods from his hunt.

I turn away from the sky and look at what mess Emmett had made this time. Yeesh. There's no saving the shirt. The right sleeve was torn off and blood was spilt down the middle of it. Jake's wolf trots into view from behind him and laughs.

Seeing Jake's wolf is still a huge shock to me, mainly because of his size; he is ginormous. When he raises his head all the way, it passes Emmett's head by at least a few feet. His wolf is pretty to look at, though, the color of his fur is a nice russet brown.

"Sorry, Rose. I got a little too into the game with Jake. The shirt had to be sacrificed," he apologized to his partner as he sat down next to her.

"Another bear?" I ask.

"Of course. And I was able to beat Jake." The smile on his face held more pride than I have seen since I met him. That was what he would have looked like if I let him win the arm wrestling. I hated the face already.

"Nope. Don't you dare. Over there. Way, way over there," Rose demands Jake, swatting her hand at him when he comes closer to Nessie.

He huffs and lays his big body behind her and Emmett so that his face is right next to Rose and hovering above Ness's legs.

"Ew! Alright, fine. Here. Take her."

Emmett laughs at Rose's face, but moves away with her.

Rose lifts Ness up with no struggle and gently, as to not disturb Ness from her sleep, lays her on Jake's side. She scoots away from Jake, closer to me, and sits in Emmett's lap.

Ness jostles a little, pulling her knees up to her face and relaxes. Jake cradles her lovingly, blanketing her with his big bushy tail and hides her body from view with his huge head. He soon falls asleep, too; the snores are hard to miss.

Leah and Seth walk their big wolf forms over to Jake and lay next to him. They stay awake and keep their ears perked in case of some unexpected danger. They're making sure their alpha and their alpha's mate stay safe and watched over.

"This was a good idea, Esme and Carlisle. It was good that we did this together before we headed off," Bella says.

Head off? Oh, no! I forgot we're leaving. When are we leaving?