Lunar Dusk

Chapter Two: Jacob.

   As I padded between the mossy pine trees and slipped through the undergrowth of the forest, I started to feel restless about not finding the little cabin. I supposed I didn't know what I was looking for, really. Some old, run-down log cabin, covered in moss and bushes, almost camouflage with the rest of the forest? A quaint little sanctuary like you'd see in a Bed and Breakfast catalogue? I was sure the vampire's sweet rotting scent would hit me first, but I'd come up dry. I knew these woods very well, and had never seen any suitable housing beyond the Cullens' modern mansion.
   It was probably hopeless. I shouldn't have expected Carlisle to tell me the truth about where Bree was staying, he'd want to protect his family. Understandable, I'd do the same for my own, but infuriating for me. But along I crept, careful to use my heightened senses to not step on any twigs or crunchy leaves. Shape-shifters were the only creatures stealthy and powerful enough to hunt vampires. The only creatures they would not see coming from miles away. Even if there was no one around, I had to stay upwind, and be as silent as a breeze.
   Coming around a large rock formation, my tail swishing from side-to-side, voices suddenly crashed into the back of my skull. Not my thoughts, I realized, but the pack's.
   Jake! Jake, you're back on your pads!
   Jake!
   I halted. Answering would reveal where I was. Not only to my brothers but to the Cullens as well. Edward was no doubt at his place cozied up with Bella, but if I answered, he'd know I was on their land. I knew I didn't have to be sneaky. Carlisle told me I could come, but they could warn Bree...
   I decided not to answer, circling the rock again looking for scents. Nothing but grass and damp stones.
   "Jacob."
   I whipped around toward the male voice. It was just my name, but arrogance laced his tone. Edward thought he had caught me with my hand in the cookie jar.
   What?
   "What are you doing here?" As if he couldn't search my damn head and figure out why. I evaded.
   Carlisle told me I was well enough to visit.
   "Right." He smiled, putting his hands in the pockets of his jeans. The sun peaked through the trees for a brief moment, rays of light bouncing off his skin, giving him that unnatural glow before disappearing behind the clouds once more. I fought back a snarl. He was a predator looming before me. "But what are you doing here? I thought you'd be by to visit Bella by now. She's upstairs." 
   You already know why I'm here. Where is she?
   "With the Denali Coven, detoxing with Tanya." Nice job not mentioning where the Denalis actually were.
   You know how pointless this is, right?
   "Is it that pointless? We've all tasted human blood before becoming part of this family." Almost all. Edward began to circle me slowly. I knew he wasn't trying to get me to turn my back on him, Bella would be devastated if he were to physically attack me. No, he had just been too still before. Vamp fidgeting.
   But isn't that what you all wanted? Do you even know if she wants this? Edward's smile faltered a bit.
   "She doesn't have a choice. She can live off animal blood here, or she can do it with Tanya and her sisters. Either way, we can't ignore Jane's orders and set her free. It'll work, or she will die. She doesn't deserve a fate like that."
   Doesn't she?
   "She never had any intention of hurting us or Bella. I read her thoughts. She planned to surrender as soon as she entered the clearing."
   Is she under your protection?
   Edward stopped walking. I felt like I was waiting an unnaturally long time for his response. He was clearly wondering if he was willing to go to war over this stranger.
   "She's only a child. Fifteen years old, Jacob. She can learn. She can... change. Carlisle wants to teach her to live among humans. To live as normal a life as she can."
   Right, a child. Teenagers aren't really known for our great self-control. Never mind the fact that I was running on sixteen myself. That made me the leading expert, right?
   "I think the best thing to do is treat her as innocent until she does something to provoke us. I don't like this any more than you do, but I'm not going to sentence the girl to certain death, and I'm not going to let her anywhere near Bella. At least not for a few years." Another shut-down. A growl almost came through my clenched canines, but I held it back.
   If she puts one toe out of line, we will kill her.
   "From what I understand, you don't get to make that call on your own, do you?" I turned tail and trotted away from him. The soft forest floor yielded to my paws as I weaved through the trees. I didn't want to answer Edward's taunting question. It really wasn't up to me. My threat meant nothing. Dark feelings stirred in my stomach thinking about that. It was my choice not to lead my pack, due to how young I was, and inexperienced in leader-type roles. Sam was a good leader. But his inability to be proactive infuriated me. I wouldn't be a one-man army right now if he took charge of this situation. After a few minutes checking to make sure Edward hadn't followed me, I stopped and sent a thought to my brothers.
   Bree isn't here. She's off with other leeches learning how to live without killing humans. I don't know where. They didn't tell me.
   I made sure Sam heard it. I had no idea how he'd feel that she wasn't here, but I knew he'd be pissed I was out here at all, after he'd ordered me to stay home. I refused orders from Sam a lot, actually. I could usually find loopholes in his wording, but I often wondered if I could ignore some of them because he wasn't the true Alpha, I was. He was often a force impossible to reckon with, even me. Old magic kept me from doing anything but following some of Sam's orders to completion, but I figured he knew he couldn't always tell me what to do. Not like the others. I began the long run home, letting the pack's thoughts filter in slowly as they cried out their disbelief.