Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

"It wasn't your fault."

 "What were you thinking?!" My father explodes once we are all back in the living room after placing Mike in the spare bedroom with the pack Healer.

 "Daddy, I-" Nich starts, her voice small in the face of his rage, but he cuts her off.

 "Nichola, don't try and defend your brothers actions." He growls, his eyes a murderous red. "He should've known better."

 "Francis, calm down." My mother says curtly, from her place beside the fireplace.

 Father ignores her, staring at me, livid. "Well?" He says. "What do you have to say for yourself, boy?"

 I take a deep breath. Miraculously, I am unafraid of my fathers rage. "I did what I had to."

 "By saving a human life?" He spits contemptuously. "Let me tell you something, Jacob. All humans are the same. They will kill us, as soon as look at us. What you should've done is let that house, and everyone in it, burn."

 "No!" I say, angrily, surprising Chyenne, who stares at me in shock. "I would never do that! He's my friend."

 My mother closes her eyes, sighing and my father freezes. "Say that again?" He growls, stepping forward.

 "He's my friend." I say, staring into his eyes.

 I expect the slap and when it comes I'm not surprised, though it was hard enough to make me fall to my knees. I touch my face, my nose is bleeding.

 "Francis!" My mother yells, stepping in front of me and pushing him backward several feet.

 Chyenne immediately crouches next to me, wiping away the blood with her sleeve.

 "Back away from him, Chyenne." My father says to her, as he begins to pace.

 "No," She mutters under her breath, making him freeze.

 "Excuse you?"

 She looks up at him then, utterly unafraid. "I said no." She says.

 Chyenne, no. I say to her through the link. Don't make him angry. I'm okay.

 She glances at me. I'm not moving.

 My father stares at her for a second more before he goes back to pacing the living room.  "You befriended a human, you saved said human, you went into a burning building," He says to me. "What were you thinking, Jacob. Your smarter than this."

  I stand slowly. "Its not about being smart." I say, staring at him. "Its about what was right." My father looks at me then but I don't back down. "You always take care of wolves who need help. You protect them, you give them a home, you keep them safe. Why are Mike and his family any different? Because they don't share our gift? Because they haven't pledged loyalty? Not all humans are Hunters, father. Some are just like us, they just can't do what we do. So, you're right. I wasn't thinking about the rules. I was thinking about what was right. Because if it had been a wolf in that house, you would've gone in just as fast as I did."

 My father stares at me dumbfounded. "You wanted to protect them?"

 "Yes."

 "But you only saved him." He says, obviously confused.

 I shake my head. "His father was dead before I could find him."

 "And his brother?"

 I blink and look away, fighting back tears. "He was the one Mike was whispering to when you showed up." I say quietly. "He didn't make it."

  My father sighs. "You did your best Jacob. It wasn't your fault."

 I nod. "I know.."

 Mother touches my arm and turns to him. "So what are we going to do with the boy?"

 "You have to turn him." I say, without thinking.

 My father looks at me. "What?"

 "He doesn't have family," I say, quietly. "And his wounds will kill him eventually, once they get infected. He needs the bite. Without it he'll die."

 Everyone in the room stares at my father until he sighs. "You do realize the bite may very well kill him, correct?" I nod and he shakes his head. "Alright, but if he lives you're in charge of his training. I want him caught up with the other betas his age. How old is he anyway."

 "Same as me," I say. "14, human years."

 My father nods, walking past me towards the guest room. "Well, I hope you're right about this one Jacob."

 So do I.