Enchanted | Jacob Black

twelve

Jake and I had been talking on his couch for the last hour.

It was almost no surprise that we had fallen right back into how things used to be after such an emotional conversation, except this time, our conversations consisted of vampires.

"Hold it." I sat up. You're telling me that they are not only vampires, but they have powers, too?"

Jake chuckled, his smile illuminating. "Yup, but they call them 'gifts' or 'special abilities.'"

"How is that even possible?" I blinked.

He shrugged, "hell, if I know. All I know is they're a bunch of bloodsuckers." His sentence sounded like a growl. "Who knows how many of them are out there, just killing people."

"And Bella doesn't care?" I gasped.

He turned away and sighed, "The Cullens don't drink human blood. They only hunt animals."

"That's right. I forgot you mentioned that."

He nodded.

"Still, that's insane to be in love with something like that. Not human."

"A monster?" Jake mumbled. But the way he said it caught my attention. As if he were upset by my choice of words. I immediately knew I'd struck a nerve.

I turned toward him, watching him stare into the trees.

"That's not what I meant," I said quickly. "I didn't mean you."

He didn't look at me, but his voice was low. "Maybe not. But it's how I feel sometimes."

"Jacob Black, you're not a monster," I stated.

He laughed dryly, sarcastically, "I turn into a giant wolf with claws and teeth. I've nearly hurt people when I couldn't control my temper. I live to hunt vampires. That's not exactly normal."

"No," I said, scooting closer to his side. "It's not normal. But it doesn't make you a monster."

He finally looked at me, and something was behind his eyes, as if he were scared.

"You don't know what it's like," he said. "To feel like a part of you isn't yours. That's always just... waiting."

I swallowed, feeling the weight of what he was saying. The way his voice cracked. I reached out, hesitating for a second before gently placing my hand over his.

"You come from a line of spirit warriors who watched over the tribe and protected them. You're a descendant of Taha Aki; it's in your blood to be a protector! That's not what I would call a monster."

He lifted his head slowly before our eyes met, like he was afraid of what he might see. He wanted to believe me but didn't know how. Then he turned his hand so our palms touched, his skin warm and rough against mine. He didn't say anything. His brows furrowed. He didn't look dangerous or wild. He just looked like a boy tired of being afraid of himself.

And I wanted so badly to make that go away.

"You make it sound easier than it is," he said finally, voice rough.

I squeezed his hand. "Maybe it's not supposed to be easy. Maybe it's just supposed to be worth it."

Jake looked at me again, and I felt my heart race.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured.

Something in my throat tightened. I wanted to tell him I wasn't going anywhere, that I'd always be here.

But instead, I leaned my shoulder against his and let us sit in comfortable silence. He continued to trace slow circles against my wrist, and my heart picked up as I realized how intimate this felt.