A new beginning

Pack Party

Jake's POV

There is only quiet and the sound of the burning wood from the bonfire after Nessie storms out. I can't stop staring at the door. She was so upset, and so eager to get away. My mind is still trying to process everything I heard. There is a prophecy... a prophecy about her. About us. And she clearly hates it. I really want to go after her, to comfort her, but I know she needs space right now.

My attention snapes back to the old man next to me when he clears his throat.

I am sorry Jacob, I didn't know this would go down like this. - he says solemnly. Alex, who is still standing where he was a few minutes ago before Nessie runned out snorts. Really, abuelo? You didn't think she would react like this? She found her soulmate, that changes things for a person. And I thought she was ready to accept the prophecy. - he looks at me with a frown. - But she doesn't know, does she? What do you mean? - maybe I could play dumb. There is no way he knows.That she is your imprint. - okay, or not. I sigh. No, she doesn't know. - but as I look around the garden it's clear on everybody's face that they all know. I know Alex realized it, and Leah and Seth always knew it, but how does everyone else know about it? How? - I whisper. The old man just smiles at me like I am an ignorant child.It's very obvious from the way you look at her. They way you touch her. And I thought I saw the same look on her face, that's why I assumed she knew already. No, I didn't feel like she was ready for that. She went through a lot, she is afraid of commitment and I don't want to push her into anything. I want to take it slow. Understandable. She carries a lot of scars. But she is strong, and I think this will give her more stability and clarity, this knowledge would help her to be able to trust a man again, to love again. She knows how imprints work, she always admired my relationship with her grandmother, and there was a time when she liked the prophecy too. Maybe liked, but she never believed in it. And you pushing it on her doesn't help. - Alex murmured, but the old man had a good hearing. Deep inside she believes in it. She is just terrified to be disappointed again. I think she's been through a lot more than just simple disappointment. - Alex says dryly. This prophecy would make her happy. Why are you against it my grandson? I am not against it. - he sighs. - I just agree with Jake here. She needs time, he should take this slow. Just because she admired your relationship with grandma, doesn't mean she will instantly believe that she could have the same. She is guarded, has her walls high up because of her pain, and I am not saying those walls couldn't come down, but they won't just because she knows about the imprint. The imprint bond is not as strong for her as for Jake. She is not a wolf. - he takes a deep breath but keeps eye-contact with his grandfather. - And If it's already difficult for her to imagine herself in a committed relationship where she is actually loved and appreciated, why do you think she will take it easy that one day she will have six sons? That is too much, even if deep inside she craves it. And I also know that if she feels like she is being pushed or forced into something, she will close off entirely.

His grandfather lets out a long sigh.

I want the best for her. I know. - Alex says. - But you tend to forget that I knew her better.

There is a few minutes of silence after his little speech. For a second I feel jealous again, that he knows her so much better than I do. But deep inside I know he is right. And I am happy that she has him as a brother. Alex and his grandfather share a look that tells me that this is a discussion that happened before. The moment is broken by Carl.

Man, I hope I don't' imprint' if I shift. It sounds so complicated. - everyone laughs at that.How do these prophecies work exactly? Do you have more of them? - I ask because I am confused, I never heard of this before. He smiles at me. It's a unique gift of our tribe. The alpha gets the power to see prophecies, but they don't come often or easily. Is it like seeing the future? A little, but not really. There are images that I see and know will happen for sure, but I don't know when or how. And sometimes there are images that are from the present to guide me towards something. I got my first prophecy twenty years after I first changed. It was a mixed picture about different shapeshifters, and I knew I had to look them up and form an alliance with them. That's how I found your great-grandfather as well. I had one about my wife as well, way before she was born. It was always from behind or from an angle where I couldn't really see her face, and she was always old. That's how I knew that I would find my imprint and we will grow old together. I had a few others during the years, but I could count all of them on my two hands. They are quite rare, that's why I know they are important and true. What did you see exactly about Nessie? It was right after I met her. Alex brought her home with this little one. - she pointed a finger towards Izzy, who gave us a shy smile. - I knew a year before that we will have two granddaughters. It was very hard after the battle which destroyed almost all of us, where they took Alex from us. Where they killed my son. It almost broke us entirely. We concentrated all our energy on the town and on our remaining little grandson, Carlos. But I saw a picture of Alex coming home with two girls, one teenager and one little girl. And that gave us hope. He will survive, and our family will grow. It made my wife very happy that we will finally have girls around the house as well. - he smiled at the memory and I wondered again how lucky we are that she ended up in such a loving home after all the torture she endured. Since my wife knew about the prophecy too, we didn't need much explanation from our grandson, we were just happy that they were here. And after meeting them, I had a vision during the night. It was about Nessie, she was older, which was confusing of course because at the time we didn't know she could age, and she was running on a beach... on a very different beach than the one we have. I assume it will be the beach in La Push. - my heart started to beat faster while he described it. - And she was chasing children. Six boys, all different ages. She was happy and beautiful, and then she was snatched up in the arms of a man. I never saw the face of the man, just his arms and I heard his voice as he yelled after the kids to wait for them. Now that I met you Jacob, I know you will be that man.