Heal Me | Jacob Black

Chapter 8 - Jacob Black

As Selene gazed into a pair of dark orbs, she felt herself becoming utterly transfixed. His eyes were like dark, swirling pools that threatened to pull her in deeper with every passing second. The rich, warm hues of his irises only served to accentuate his striking good looks, making him appear all the more handsome and captivating.

The intensity of his gaze made Selene feel as if she was the sole focus of his attention, the only thing that mattered in that moment—as if she was the only thing he could see. It was an intoxicating feeling, being the singular object of his undivided focus.

When Selene finally remembered her manners, she broke the stalemate with a gentle clearing of her throat, her lips curving into a polite, if slightly shy, smile. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, her eyes darting briefly to the family photos she had noticed earlier in Billy's living room. The realization clicked almost immediately; this young man was the same boy in those photos.

He must be Billy's son, Jacob.

"Hullo," Selene greeted softly, her voice melodious and calming. "You must be Jacob. I'm Selene, a friend of your father's."

Jacob, however, seemed rooted to the spot, his already dark eyes appearing to deepen even further—if such things were possible—and locked onto hers with an intensity that made her feel both seen and slightly self-conscious. He didn't respond, his chest still heaving as if he were catching his breath. The silence stretched on, and Selene's cheeks began to flush with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment.

Oh—how stupid of me!

She shifted slightly, assuming that Jacob was waiting for her to move out of the way so he could enter the house. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said quickly, stepping aside. "I didn't mean to block you. I was just on my way out. So sorry."

Despite her efforts to move and apologize, the man in front of her remained silent, his eyes following and unwavering. Selene's embarrassment deepened with each passing second. Was there something on her face?

She tried again, her voice becoming a bit more flustered, "I really didn't mean to—I will just—"

Just as she was about to squeeze between him and the doorframe to leave, an arm swiftly blocked her way, and she finally heard his voice—firm but with a hint of desperation.

"I'll take you home," he stated.

Selene blinked, taken aback by the sudden...offer? Was it an offer? Because it sounded like he already decided that he would take her home, regardless of whether she consented to it...? She stared at him, unsure of what to say.

Jacob, seeming to realize her hesitation, quickly elaborated, "It's getting dark soon. I'll drop you off."

Her mind raced, trying to process his insistence. Jacob continued, almost as if trying to convince himself as much as her, "I saw the bike outside. I'm guessing it's yours? It doesn't have any kind of headlights, and the roads from La Push to Forks don't have many streetlights either. It's not safe."

The earnestness in his voice, combined with his rather awkward delivery, softened Selene's initial surprise. She found herself slightly amused by how such a large, imposing figure could be so genuinely concerned for her safety. It was endearing.

Jacob, noticing her still silent, added one last assertion, "I'm not a bad person—really, I—I'm Jacob. Jacob Black."

Selene's lips twitched into a more genuine smile.

"Thank you for the offer, Jacob. That's very considerate of you," she began, her tone soft but firm. She had always been careful about not imposing on others more than necessary. "But I think I'll be fine. I've made the trip back home by myself before."