✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter twenty three

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

"Why am I drawn so much?" Jacob's voice broke the silence as he stared down at the sketches of the pack in their wolf forms. Everyone in the room, including Leah and Emily, stopped talking and turned their attention to the drawings, their expressions ranging from curiosity to concern.

Aniya glanced at Jacob before casually shrugging her shoulders, her response coming effortlessly. "I've asked myself that same question a lot," she said with a natural ease, making everyone around the table continue their meal, though the hushed murmurs and sidelong glances made it clear they were all still listening intently to the conversation.

Seth, trying to lighten the moment, spoke up innocently. "Maybe it's because you're Ephraim's great-grandson?" He looked at Jacob with a playful grin, causing Aniya to chuckle softly.

"Yeah, maybe that," she said, keeping her tone light, though she could feel Jacob's tension building, his eyes narrowing slightly at the suggestion.

Jacob, however, didn't seem convinced. "Yeah, I highly doubt that," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with scepticism. Aniya could sense his frustration, and internally, she braced herself for what she knew was coming. She had already tried to come up with explanations for everything, but the truth felt too complicated to explain, especially to him.

Just as the air thickened with Jacob's barely concealed irritation, Jared decided to change the subject, his voice breaking the moment of tension. "Hey, Aniya, remember when you were here last time?" His tone was casual, and he looked at her expectantly. "You mentioned that your dreams always ended the same. What did you mean by that?"

Aniya blinked a few times in surprise, caught off guard by Jared's direct question. Emily, noticing Aniya's discomfort, shot Jared a stern look, but Aniya quickly reassured her. "It's okay," she said with a small smile, appreciating the concern. "Actually, now that I know everything, I feel comfortable talking about it."

The others exchanged glances, some nodding as they waited for her to elaborate. Jacob, however, seemed more focused than ever. "Wait," he said, his brow furrowing in confusion. "So, besides seeing us, there's more to these dreams?"

Aniya met his gaze, her expression softening as she nodded. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice steady now that she had gathered the courage to share the full story. "I'll re-tell it now that I know the truth."

She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "At first, the dreams were just random drawings of all of you in your shifted forms. But after everything started to make sense, things started to connect." She looked down at her lap, her mind tracing back to those vivid, haunting dreams. "I saw each of you the moment you phased into wolves, and after that, I caught glimpses of everything. Then, it came to the redhead. The one you guys are always trying to catch but never can."

As soon as she mentioned the redhead, Jacob's expression darkened, his lips curling slightly. "Victoria," he sneered, the name dripping with animosity. The others' reactions were immediate: small growls rumbled in their throats, a clear sign that the mention of her name stirred something deep inside them, a primal instinct that they couldn't completely suppress.

"Yeah," Aniya said quietly, her voice a little softer now. "Victoria. But then the dreams shifted. I started seeing you all in a clearing with... others. I don't really know who they were, but they all had these golden-yellow eyes. I couldn't quite make sense of it."

"The Cullens," Sam interjected from across the room, his tone firm, though Aniya could see the hint of worry in his eyes. She turned to him, surprised by his quick recognition of the description.

"Wait," Aniya said, her brow furrowing. "As in the Cullens from the treaty? Are they back?"

"Yeah," Jacob replied bitterly, his voice thick with frustration. He looked around the room, his face darkening. "They just showed up a few days ago."

The room fell silent as Aniya processed his words. She could see the weight of his bitterness, the tension in his posture. The Cullens had returned, and whatever they were planning, it was unsettling for Jacob, especially considering the history they all shared.

"What happens in the dreams?" Embry asked, his curiosity cutting through the quiet. His eyes were intense, as if he knew this was an important piece of the puzzle.

Aniya hesitated for a moment, her chest tightening as she recalled the scenes in her mind. "You were working with the Cullens," she said slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. As soon as the words left her mouth, a stunned silence overtook the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed on her, waiting for more.

The weight of their gaze felt almost suffocating, and Aniya instinctively recoiled, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as the silence stretched on. Her fingers toyed with the edge of the muffin she had been nibbling on, avoiding the stares of the pack.

Jacob was the first to break the silence, his expression unreadable but his voice sharp. "What do you mean, working with them?" His tone was cold, and she could see the anger building beneath the surface. The others exchanged uneasy looks, their discomfort palpable.

"Yeah," Sam said, his voice steady but with a hint of concern. "What exactly did you see, Aniya?"

She took a deep breath, steadying herself for the storm that might follow. "I'm not sure what it means," she replied cautiously, "but in my dreams, you and the Cullens were together. It's like you were aligned with them, working toward something. But I don't know what it is."

The room was quiet again, and Aniya could feel the tension thickening in the air. It was clear that no one, least of all Jacob, was ready to hear this. But the truth was out now, and there was no going back. She could only hope they'd be able to make sense of it all before things got even more complicated.