Alissa Swan

Part 68

I drove through the darkness. I pulled off the road and drove into the forest.

If I was going to lose someone else, I needed to know why.

I parked and climbed out of my car. The moon eerily illuminated the clearing. Forest noises encroached. I heard a rustle amid the trees. Spooked, I froze. I saw Jacob emerge from the trees. Our eyes met.

Sam, Paul, Embry and Jared stepped into the clearing. They were half-clothed, movements almost synchronized. Their expressions simultaneously altered into fury when they saw me. Paul spun on Jacob.

"What the hell have you done?!" Paul asked, yelling at him.

"I didn't tell her," Jacob assured Paul. "You'd know if I did."

"She's here, isn't she?" Paul asked, not calming down.

"Alissa," Sam said to me, "there's nothing to see here. You should go home."

"Not until I know what you did to Jacob," I ordered.

Paul advanced on me. "What we did?!"

Jacob stepped in front of me protectively, facing Paul.

Sam started to speak. "Both of you, calm down-"

"Sam," Jacob said, "she knows things about the bloodsuckers. She's been on the inside. She can help."

"Like a leech lover's gonna help us," Paul glared at me.

"Watch what you call her," Jacob stepped up to him.

Embry spoke for the first time that night. "Get a grip, guys."

Paul and Jacob were so angry, their bodies began to shake, nearly convulsing. It unnerved me.

"It's alright, Jacob, I'll go."

They didn't hear me.

Paul stepped up. "All you care about is her."

"Paul," Sam commanded, "back off."

"And she doesn't give a crap about you."

Jacob pushed Paul, hard. Paul flew backward.

"Jacob." Sam tried to stop them, once again.

Paul rose, outraged. He threw his head back in a growl, vibrating violently.

"Too late," Jared said to Sam.

"Alissa, get back!" Sam yelled to me.

Paul fell forward, but halfway to the ground there was a loud ripping noise and Paul exploded in silver-gray fur, becoming a massive wolf crouched and ready to spring.

Horrified, I grabbed Jacob's arm. "Run, Jacob!"

Jacob yanked off my arm. He ran directly at the Paul-wolf.

"Jake, no!" I yelled. "Stop!"

Jacob dove headfirst into the air. With another sharp tearing sound, shreds of cloth blasted into the air, fur bursts from Jacob's skin. He landed on the ground a gigantic russet-brown wolf, charging the Paul-wolf.

I reeled as the two wolves crashed into each other, snarling and ramming one another. The sound was deafening. Their teeth flashed at each other's throats. I stumbled backward as the fight carried the two wolves beyond the clearing and into the woods.

They fought deeper and deeper into the darkness. They disappeared. The horrible sounds from the fight still echoed.

Sam started after them, kicking off his shoes. He looked back at Jared and Embry. "Take Alissa to Emily's place," he ordered. He went off into the darkness to follow Jacob and Paul.

"Guess the wolf's out of the bag," Embry shrugged.

I was stunned. I know I say this a lot, but what the hell just happened?