Moonrise | Paul Lahote

18

Jenna wasn't sure when the change happened.

One second it was ice that seared its way through her veins, and then it was fire. And although it hurt just as much, these flames felt familiar to her in an almost comforting way. Like it was something intrinsic, something that had been in her nature since the start.

The fire burned away at the ice, starting from the ends of her body and working its way back until it reached the spot on her neck where the coldness seemed to evaporate into nothing. After that, it was just heat.

And the cracking of her bones.

"W-what," she managed as she felt her leg twist under her. What the hell??

"It's okay," a voice murmured in her ear, low and soft. "Just breathe, Jenna, it'll be over soon."

"Paul," she sighed.

He said something else, but it was lost in a blur of 'what the fuck's and 'holy shiiiiit's that erupted in her mind as her body contorted in ways that shouldn't have been possible, emitting another stream of loud cracks.

Through the haze of it all, Jenna could feel Paul's warm hands on her back, running soothing circles along her skin as he cradled her against his chest. She clung to the feeling like a lifeline, relying on his warmth and safety to pull her through.

And eventually, after what could've either been a few minutes or years later, Jenna opened her eyes.

Damn, was her first thought. It's so bright.

Her second thought was that it stank. Aghhh, what the hell–

A quiet snicker sounded from her left. She turned to stare, confused, as a pale yet amused face peered down at her.

"That's the vamp you're smelling," the dude explained. His voice was slightly shaky, but after clearing his throat, it leveled out. "She was here just now."

Oh. Jenna scrunched her nose. So vampires smelled like sickly sweet flowers, rotting fruit, and molding sugar, got it. A disgusted shudder ran through her body.

And then a thought hit her. Wait, since when can I smell them?

She glanced back at the guy, who looked really stupidly familiar. But every time she started to grasp what his name was, it would slip away, like water through her fingers.

It was pissing her off.

He just looked like he wanted to laugh, but also cry. "Hi, sis," he said with a grin. "You look just like me."

Jenna glanced down at her paws, which were colored a deep russet, along with little tufts of white fur at the very bases. She did suppose she looked like Jacob, only she was smaller, slighter, and a lot more–

Wait.

The fuck?

All the memories slammed into her at once. The beach. The cliff. Bella. The water. Victoria. Venom, coursing through her. Pain. Bones cracking, Paul's voice, his hands, the phase–

Oh my god, the phase.

And with that thought, Jenna did the one thing she knew to do:

She bolted.

***

It was more of a stumble at first because she had four fucking legs, not two, but eventually she managed to break into an all-out sprint for the trees. She heard a multitude of loud whoops from behind, but they only made her heart beat faster, paws scrambling for ground on the muddy forest floor.