Moonlit Guardians

5.

The rest of the morning zipped by as I listened to the stories flying around the breakfast table. Each tale brought more laughter and warmth, making me feel more at ease with everyone.

Once we all finished eating, Emily started to clean up, and I jumped in to help. After all, she had put together this whole spread by herself. But she quickly waved me off. "No, it's Seth's turn to help today."

I raised an eyebrow, curious about their dish duty rotation. I couldn't help but giggle as Seth groaned, dragging himself out of his chair like it was the end of the world. "Guess I'll just have to suffer through it," he mumbled, rolling his eyes while he started grabbing the empty plates.

The playful teasing made the whole scene feel cozy and fun. Watching them interact, I felt a warm glow inside—this place was really was a home. But just then, a pang of sadness hit me, pulling me back to my own memories. The laughter around the table reminded me of my once bright and fun home, where everything felt safe and carefree. I missed my mom and brother more each day, their faces popping into my mind like shadows.

I tried to shake off the heaviness, reminding myself that I was surrounded by these new friends who seemed eager to welcome me in. But for a moment, the warmth of the breakfast table couldn't quite fill the gap left by the people I loved. I took a deep breath, hoping the ache would fade as I focused on the lively chatter around me.

I wasn't sure how, but Jacob seemed to sense my sudden wave of sadness. Before I knew it, he stood in front of me, blocking my view of the bustling room, his face the only thing I could see. Concern etched itself across his features as his eyes scanned my face, searching for answers.

"What's wrong?! Is it your wrist? Your head?" he rambled, his voice filled with urgency. Before I could respond, he gently lifted my wrist, inspecting it with a careful touch.

I was taken aback by his attention, the way he seemed genuinely worried. It pulled me out of my thoughts and back to the moment, and I realized I didn't want to worry him. "No, I'm okay," I managed to say, forcing a smile to break through the gloom. "Just got a little lost in thought."

His eyes softened as he realized I wasn't hurt, but instead of pulling away, he kept holding my hand and pulled me a bit closer. His chest radiated warmth, like a heater on a chilly winter day, and I couldn't help but feel the heat seeping into me.

I felt my body shiver slightly at the closeness, a mix of confusion and something else I couldn't quite place. What on earth was this feeling? My heart raced, and I tried to focus on the comfort of his presence instead of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

"Annie, you can always talk to me, okay?" he said softly, running his calloused thumb reassuringly over the top of my hand.

In that moment, I could really see what Emily meant—Jacob was genuinely sweet, despite the tough exterior. He looked like he could take on a train with how ripped he was, but here he was, showing a tender side that made my heart flutter. It was comforting to know that I could lean on him, and I felt a little weight lift off my shoulders.

I nodded, a small smile creeping onto my face, afraid that if I tried to speak, my voice would betray me.

"How about I take you home?" Jacob suggested, his excitement palpable. "I'm sure you'd like to freshen up, and I want you to join us for the pack meeting tonight. There are some people I really want you to meet."

He gently pulled me toward his truck parked outside. I glanced up at him, feeling a rush of gratitude for his kindness and the chance to dive deeper into this strange yet welcoming world. The mention of new people made me feel a wave of nerves wash over me. Seriously? Hadn't I already met enough people in the past day and a half? It felt like I'd been tossed into a whirlwind of faces and names, each one blurring together. The idea of jumping into another round of handshakes and awkward small talk was exhausting. Couldn't I just take a break and catch my breath for a minute? But I couldn't help but feel bad as I remembered the look of how excited Jake was as he mentioned this pack meeting. He saved my life.. I owed him this much.