Aurora - A New Dawn

CHAPTER 5 | RAVENOUS

Jake closed the gap between them, softly meshing his lips with hers. He was tentative in his approach, worried that too much affection too fast would scare her away. Little did he know, it led to a polar opposite reaction. Dormant feelings stirred within Bella, trickling in slowly, and then all at once, a simultaneous flood of comprehension washed over her.

She didn't just love him—she was in love with him.

With her newfound clarity, she came to the conclusion he was her soul-mate. As much as she tried to fight falling in love so soon, there was no stopping this. The connection between them was potent, blissfully inescapable. It could not be broken, no matter the distance, and no matter how much time passed. Even when apart, they were intertwined, always holding space in each other's heart. It compelled them, drawing them back to one another. Home wasn't a place, a feeling, or between four adjacent walls, under one roof. Home for her was a person, and not just any person. Him. Jacob.

Alone, Bella was a capable young adult. She could do anything she put her mind to, but with him, she thrived. He was everything she needed—sunshine incarnate—lighting up all the dark facets of her past and present. Jake was attentive; he listened to her, valued her thoughts and opinions. He may have had different viewpoints toward some of her decisions, but he didn't express them with passive aggressive judgement or angry resentment. They were completely in sync, like cogs within a finely tuned machine.

Bella adored his kind, genuine, albeit optimistic nature. It was refreshing. He didn't tiptoe around her, and he didn't treat her like she was a doll. Jake made her incredibly happy. When they were together, Bella's face stung from smiling. She couldn't help but laugh at his seemingly endless wit and cringy dad jokes. Not a quaint little giggle, either. She'd be laughing so hard she gasped for air, stomach muscles cramping as happy tears streamed down her face, unable to do anything except wildly clap her hands like a seal.

A prominent memory from the past eclipsed Bella's train of thought...

Jake's rich copper skin contrasted against the wrinkled, cream-colored dress shirt he wore. It was a size entirely too small. The top three buttons remained undone, thin material clinging to every curve of his muscular upper body. Black jeans hugged his toned yet lean legs, haphazardly laced boots completing his dress attire. His long raven hair was tied into a low ponytail, several loose strands framed his piquant face. The outfit didn't seem very fancy, but Bella knew it came out of the hard earned money from his savings.

Bella was dressed in her bridal gown: a satin, form-fitting, silver-white dress with delicate lace details adorning her wrists. The style boasted a modest v-neck, an illusion cut out that displayed her back and transitioned into a row of perfect silk buttons. The bottom of the dress billowed freely around her ankles in the wind. Its sweeping silhouette gathered by a singular loop attached to the bottom of her train for ease of walking. Sadly, she did not choose her dress; it was picked for her.

An ornate hair comb added sparkle to her waist length, chestnut brown hair. It was drawn into a bun, a simple braid following the circumference. Typically, she abhorred makeup, but Alice forced her into complying to her demands. Blush on the apples of her cheeks, a light coat of mascara, and some matte lipstick that gave her full lips a slight pout. She was positively radiant.

The sun had set; thick bands of pink, orange, and crimson lingered, eventually dissolving under the shroud of nighttime. Darkness blanketed the sky, brilliant and sparse starlight speckling the heavens above. Strings of fairy lights now dimly illuminated the makeshift dance floor, wedding reception and around the house perimeter. While discussing her unknown honeymoon destination plans with another guest, Seth alerted Bella of Jake's late arrival. Sam allowed him to forego patrol, if only for a little while, in order to say his goodbyes.