Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter 29 - A New Wolf

I was sitting at the kitchen table, lazily peeling an orange and half-listening to the boys argue about whether bear meat actually tasted good or if Sam was just trying to make them eat leftovers. Emily was humming while stirring a pot on the stove, and the place smelled like cinnamon and chili powder—comforting, warm, safe. Almost like nothing could touch us here.

That illusion shattered the second Jacob's name was mentioned.

"Jake's on his way to your house," Jared said as he came in from outside, wiping rain from his face with his sleeve. "He's bringing Bella."

My stomach dropped. I hadn't even known she'd left.

"What?" I asked, standing up so fast my chair screeched. "Where was she?"

Jared glanced at me, hesitating. "She... jumped. Off the cliffs."

Emily froze mid-stir. The room went quiet except for the bubbling pot.

"You're kidding." I wasn't asking.

"No," Jared said, voice low. "Jake pulled her out. Barely made it. He's pissed—won't say much on the phone."

My throat tightened. Bella. What the hell were you thinking?

I was already reaching for my jacket when Embry came in behind Jared, his face somber in a way I hadn't seen before. "There's more. Harry Clearwater... had a heart attack."

Emily gasped. She covered her mouth with one hand, the other still gripping the wooden spoon.

My heart stuttered. "Is he...?"

Embry nodded once. "He didn't make it."

The world shifted under my feet. Harry. Leah and Seth's dad. Kind, gentle, always smiling Harry. I thought about Leah instantly—how she'd smiled at me a little more easily the last few times I visited. How she'd quietly sat next to me on the porch some nights when the noise inside got too loud.

I was moving again without realizing it, grabbing my shoes, fumbling to get them on. "I need to go," I said to Emily, my voice rough.

"You can't—Tiff, you should wait," she said gently. "Jake's almost here, he can bring you with them."

"I know." I hesitated, eyes flicking to the door. "But Leah shouldn't have to hear it alone. I need to be there."

Emily nodded, like she understood exactly what I meant.

The air outside was damp and cold, biting through my sweatshirt like it had teeth. I didn't bother asking for a ride—being still felt impossible, and walking helped me think.

Well, "think" was a generous word. I was stewing, spiraling, and stomping down the road like it owed me an explanation for everything going wrong today.

Bella nearly drowned.

Victoria was still out there.

And now Harry Clearwater—steady, strong, reliable Harry—was gone.

I'd never been close with him, not like Bella or the Quileute kids. But I saw the way he looked at Leah and Seth. Proud, protective. Like he knew they were meant for something more. And now he was just... gone.

A pit opened in my chest.

And Leah—Leah was going to shatter.

She didn't have many people. And I wasn't exactly on her "trusted" list either. But maybe that didn't matter right now. Sometimes, when you're hurting, you don't need someone to fix it—you just need someone to sit beside you and not leave.

I reached the edge of the reservation, where trees grew denser and the quiet felt different—thicker, watchful. I wasn't stupid. I knew the boys kept eyes on the borders now. Patrols. Guardians. Whatever.