The Consequences {Jacob Black}

Chapter CXXVII

It was the last day of our camping expedition. It seemed kind of crazy to be upset that I was going to go home. I mean, I hadn't showered in like five days. But it was nice out here; there were no problems to distract us from each other. We were able to tease and laugh and joke without the rest of the world interrupting us.

But now it was time to return to reality. And it sucked. We spent so much time worrying about everyone else. I was not excited to go back to the world where we were in charge of everybody; where we were everyone's parents. At the same time though, we were only seventeen and just barely. All the stuff with Nessie had over shadowed my birthday. I hadn't said anything to Jake about it because he'd had enough on his plate after all the shit with Nessie. I didn't want him to think that it was some big thing. I understood that there were more important things than my birthday.

"Hey babe? What's the date?" Jake asked as he shook his hair after our dunk in the river.

"20th of June," I replied. "Why? What's up?"

His face was stark white like he thought that he had just committed the ultimate crime and gotten caught. "Like today's the 20th? It's not coming up or anything?" he begged. I just chuckled at him and shook my head. "Why didn't you tell me that I missed your birthday?" he snarled at me. "Shit, Annie. I had a whole bunch of shit planned for us to do on your birthday. I - shit!"

"Jake, it's not a big deal. You're overreacting," I replied calmly. "It's just a silly birthday. Not even a big one." I know that some girls say stuff like that so that they can get the apologies and all of that. But I honestly didn't care. It was just another year to tally down. It wasn't my sweet sixteen or my ascent into adulthood. It was just that awkward in between year.

"Not a big deal! Not a big deal? Ryanne it's your birthday! We're supposed to be celebrating the fact that you're alive."

"There were other things going on that were more important than my birthday, Jake. You're being ridiculous." He was still growling, clearly not happy with me and my response. "I swear on both dads lives that I'm not upset about the fact that you forgot my birthday," I sighed.

"I did not forget!" he shouted back defensively. "I just didn't know the date. I could never forget your birthday," he said, hurt that I would even think that he could forget the day. "If I had been keeping track of the dates and not just the days, I would have remembered."

"It's honestly not a big deal, Jake. Like I said, we had other things going on."

He jumped to his feet. "Hold that thought," he said. I watched in amusement as he sprinted from his spot to the truck , yanking the cab open and rummaging around. Even from my spot some ten feet away, I could hear him muttering. "Forgot the days," he breathed. "Stupid, stupid. I know it's here. I left it right..."

"Jake, what are you looking for?"

"Hold on," he said, sticking his hand out behind him with one finger up. I regarded him with a slightly amused expression. "Got it!" he shouted. A emerged from the truck with a small bag in his hand. It was crumpled and looked like it had been hiding in the front seat forever. "I got it."

"Good job, Jake," I said approvingly. I patted his head like I would an obedient puppy. His eyes darkened with distaste for my humor. "What'd you find?"

Your birthday present. I'd been hiding it in my he car so you wouldn't find it. I'd be screwed if you actually liked to drive." I laughed at him. "I really am sorry that I forgot your birthday, Annie. It's one of my favorite days of the year." I snorted at him in disbelief. "I'm being serious. Even when you weren't my imprint, I loved your birthday. It was the one day a year you would allow yourself to be pampered and spoiled." Excuse me for wanting to work for things a little. "Here," he said, thrusting the teal bag at me.

I pulled the crushed tissue paper away from the bag, taking caution should Jake have bought anything that I could break. Finally, all of it was gone and sitting at the bottom box. I guess you would call it etching, but to me it looked more like it was burned in. In neat script, the words Ryanne Swan glared at me. I lifted the metal latch on the wood and pulled it open. A woven bracelet that look too large for my wrist sat next to a tiny wooden sculpture. A silver chain was delicately draped inside the the velvet lined box. "What is this?"

"Why don't you take it out and see?" he suggested. I could see him bubbling with anticipation. There was a part if me that wanted to make him wait, do draw out his torture. But curiosity got the best of me. I gripped the chain between two fingers and lifted it until the wooden wolf was dangling in front of me. "I thought that it might be time to update him," he said, reaching out to take the crudely fashioned one in his hand. "Or give him a friend; whatever you like." I smiled at him, lifting my sopping wet hair in one hand and turning my back to Jake.

His fingers whispered across the back on my neck before he'd even dropped the chain over my head. I heard the clattering of the two wolves hitting each other. I waited until Jake's hands ghosted over my shoulder to turn around and face him, my hand coming up to finger the small wooden beast. "I never meant to forget your birthday, Annie."

"I thought you didn't forget," I teased.

"Don't start with me," he warned. "No matter what's going on, Annie, it will never be as important as you. I didn't mean to forget about you. You should never be the one that slips through the cracks."

"It's honestly unit a big deal," I repeated for what felt like the millionth time. "There were other things going on. Besides, it seems like you were well prepared." I lifted the wolf up to my eyes, looking at all the details that were there. "It's beautiful, Jake." He beamed at me. "So, I'm curious as to what this is. I'm mean," I held the the woven band up to me, "it's stunning." I got another smile from him.

The cords were leather, different darknesses. On them were glass beads that mixed our two favorite colors. He pulled the leather bracelet out of my hand and stooped to swing me to his chest. He placed me on the tailgate of the truck and took my ankle in his hand. The heat seeped through my skin and muscles, warming my bones as he pulled my leg straight. His thumb whispered over the knot of my ankle. "I know that you're not a big bracelet person," he began, pulling my leg until I had it flat against his sternum and was holding it up myself. His fingers worked on the knot until he had it undone and lying against my skin. "But you always said you would wear an anklet. Remember the bracelet my mom had?" I nodded, fighting another round of chills when he finished tying and had his forearm along my calf, stroking the smooth skin of my outer thigh. "It's a Quileuete thing. Like a promise ring or something. More or less, it's a mark to the rest of the tribe that you're no longer up for grabs."

"Pale face, remember? I'm never up for grabs."

"You have more tribal pride than some of the people that are in the tribe. You're a part of this tribe Annie. Everyone, even your dad, knows it," he said. "Let me finish my explanation please." I glared at him amused. "The bracelet takes you off the market. Forever. You're mine, Rye." I smiled at him, glad that he had done this; glad that this was what he wanted. "I love you Annie."

I dropped my foot from his chest and wrapped my leg around his waist, pulling him closer until he gave in. "I love you too," I murmured. I pulled his mouth down to mine, kissing him happily. I was glad that he got all the lovey nastiness out of the way before we went home. No body needed to see that.

After our kiss, we packed up and I drove home, singing along to the radio loudly. Dad's cruiser was parked in the driveway, like it was all the time now that he understood how dangerous it was for him to be away from us. "Go on inside; I'll be right there," Jake said when I was bouncing in the seat. I loved our time away, but I missed my family. I bounded up the porch stairI and into the house.

The look on Dad's face stopped me as soon as he looked at me. I skidded to a stop, Jake crashing into me as he came to a stop as well. "What's wrong?" he asked. At least one of us was still brave enough to speak.

"Nessie's gone."