✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter five

CHAPTER FIVE

Aniya's initial reaction was disbelief, her eyes widening as she responded, "No, absolutely not. No way."

Emily persisted, looking at Aniya with a hopeful look in her eyes, "Oh, come on, Aniya. It would be a nice change not to always meet here. Besides, my fiancé really wants to meet you."

Aniya couldn't help but be skeptical, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms in protest.

Emily leaned in closer, her expression eager and earnest, "Please, Aniya? It would mean a lot to both me and my fiancé. Plus, it'll be fun!"

Aniya paused, studying Emily for a moment as if weighing her options. She let out a deep sigh, still uncertain about the idea.

"I don't know, Emily. I mean, meeting your fiancé? That's a big deal."

Emily smiled reassuringly, her voice soft and reassuring, "I know it might seem like a big deal, but I promise it'll be fine. My fiancé is a really great person, and I think you'll like him. Besides, I really want you two to meet."

Emily kept her reasons for the desire for Aniya to meet her fiancé a secret, knowing that it was also a way to put Sam's obstinate thoughts aside. Deep down, Emily valued the friendship she had formed with Aniya, a rare connection she had made without being introduced by someone else.

Somehow, convinced. A few weeks later, Aniya never would've imagined in a million years that she would one day find herself in the very spot where Sam Uley supposedly lived.

The rumors about the cottage deep within the woods had been circulating extensively around school, and the place had been portrayed as a dark and foreboding spot. However, the moment Aniya laid eyes on the charming cottage, she was struck by its cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

The only thing racing through Aniya's mind was the upcoming encounter with Emily's fiancé. She had already experienced internal panic when she learned about his identity, and now, as she stood in front of the cottage, the reality of meeting him was causing her inner turmoil to spiral out of control.

Aniya had always felt somewhat out of place on the Rez, given the strong sense of family and familiarity that she perceived among the residents. Her sister had insisted that they moved there to make a better life, but Aniya couldn't help but suspect there was more to the story.

Reservations held immense significance, particularly to the Native people. Aniya was certain she had no ancestral ties to them, so the question that often lingered in her mind was why her family was permitted to reside there in the first place.

Billy Black, one of the esteemed elders, had consistently treated her with warmth, likely due to her friendship with Jacob. However, Aniya couldn't quite put her finger on the way he often looked at her. She sensed a connection, possibly inspired by her drawings, though she couldn't quite articulate it.

"It's beautiful, Emi," Aniya mused as her fingertips grazed one of the verdant plants adorning the porch.

She turned to Emily, who beamed in response, "Thank you. I don't work, so I spend most of my time nurturing this place. You should have seen it before—it was truly simple."

Emily fondly recounted, "It was justa bare plot of land before Sam and I moved in. Over time, with careful care and attention, we transformed it into the lovely home you see now."

Emily chuckled, nodding in agreement as Aniya added, "Simple."

The sound of Emily's laughter caught the attention of her fiancé, who was ensconced within the home. Following their argument and Leah's heartfelt words,

Sam had come to understand the positive influence Emily's friend had on her. With this realization, he had asked Emily to extend an invitation and arrange a formal introduction.

Emily and Aniya shared a laugh, the sound of their amusement filling the air. It was at that moment that Sam abruptly halted in his tracks. An unexplainable feeling washed over him, a powerful sense of maternal energy emanating from Aniya.

He cautiously made his way out of the house to greet her, yet the instant he set his eyes upon her, his breath hitched. For an instant, he could swear he saw a ghostly figure standing beside her.

Upon glimpsing the spectral figure, an icy shock coursed through Sam's body, sending a shiver down his spine despite his higher-than-average body temperature. He had only caught a stark black-and-white image of the Third Wife, whom the elders revered as an integral part of the pack's history, particularly significant to the Alpha.

It dawned on Sam that if Jacob had taken the role of Alpha, he too would have been granted the privilege of viewing the portrait, as it held immense significance. The realization hit him hard—Aniya was not merely a random individual; she held a large meaning and purpose.

Billy's words echoed in Sam's mind as he reflected on the implications of Aniya's significance. The elder had only spoken a few cryptic phrases to Sam when he revealed the Third Wife's portrait - "Once the Alpha knows, the entire pack shall grow stronger, for she embodies the act of restoration. You shall experience the undeniable pull of the primal force."

The pieces were falling into place, and Sam could feel the gravity of the revelations unfolding before him.

Despite the reference to a primal pull by the elders, Sam was left perplexed, for he did not feel any such sensation. Instead, he sensed a profound maternal yearning towards Aniya, yet he remained utterly confounded.

It was possible that the elders were referring to the act of imprinting, but Sam could not comprehend the feeling, as he was already committed to Emily. He briefly considered the possibility of the elders' words pertaining to the true Alpha, but Sam knew of Jacob's complex feelings towards Aniya, leaving him completely bewildered.