Mimic | Jacob Black

45. Not So Different

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River suddenly felt very cold.

Bella really was going to die. It felt impossible to believe otherwise. After all, his own body was letting her go.

But why could he hear the thoughts of the wolves? Something to do with his ever so lovely situation, no doubt.

"What are you thinking?" Edward blurted out. "I can't hear your thoughts anymore."

"That I don't have peace anymore," River said. "But I guess there's another problem to deal with."

So Jacob was... a lone wolf now? River didn't know.

"He continues to surprise me, all the time," Edward said. "So do you. And Bella. I don't think I've ever met more unpredictable people for as long as I can remember."

"A fat lot of good that's doing us now."

"I'll let the others know." Then Edward disappeared back inside. River was alone for a couple minutes before Edward came back, this time followed by Jasper and Emmett. "Jacob's on his way."

Soon after, Jacob's wolf form came into view, running towards them. River was surprised to see another wolf flanking him. Was that Seth?

"We know, we heard," Edward said. Jacob would be able to hear him even from that distance.

"Well..." His eyes moved to River, and so did everyone else's. "Through him... No, we aren't really sure why."

The other wolf started moving away.

"Will you be in danger, Seth?" Edward asked.

A silent conversation seemed to happen for half a minute, before Seth darted away.

"This isn't the first time I've owed you my gratitude, Jacob," Edward whispered. Jacob huffed.

"Jacob, would you mind switching forms? I want to know what's going on," Alice asked. River didn't know when she got here, but she was standing beside Jasper now. Emmett was muttering into his phone.

"He needs to stay linked to Seth," Edward answered as Jacob shook his head.

"Then would you be so kind as to tell me what's happening?" She was evidently frustrated at not being able to understand what was happening the way she normally could with visions.

He explained swiftly. "The pack thinks Bella's become a problem. They foresee potential danger from the... from what she's carrying. They feel it's their duty to remove that danger. This situation has brought wariness to River's condition, too, but they seem to be indecisive with him. Either way, they're planning to attack tonight."

Emmett and Jasper exchanged a glance, then their eyes scanned across the trees.

"And I can't see any of it. Great," Alice spat.

Jacob was still watching River curiously, but he made no move to come closer.

"He could hear you and the other wolves telepathically," Edward explained. "We don't know how. No, he can't hear them anymore."

"Carlisle and Esme are coming back," Emmett said. "Twenty minutes, tops."

River must've made a puzzled face, because Edward said, "They planned on hunting."

"We should take up a defensive position," Jasper said.

Edward nodded. "Let's get inside."

Jacob was still looking at River, but River couldn't tell what he was thinking. Confused about this new development, perhaps. Surely he was still angry–maybe even more so, since now he had been pretty much forced to turn his back on his family.