✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter twenty four

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

"That's where the dreams start to go off-track, right?" Jacob's voice was filled with scepticism as he glanced over at Aniya. His words made her sigh inwardly. She knew that responding to Jacob's anger with more anger would only escalate the situation, something she desperately wanted to avoid.

"It's not," Aniya replied calmly, her voice measured, trying to keep the peace despite the rising tension. Jacob, however, wasn't satisfied. He narrowed his eyes, his frustration palpable.

"Sam said you know everything, so you know that we will never, ever work with those leeches," he shot back, his tone bitter and unyielding.

Aniya's fist clenched tightly beneath the table, her nails digging into her palm as she fought to control the urge to shout. She knew getting into a heated argument with Jacob was the last thing she needed at this moment, but the words still stung. "I know that," she said through gritted teeth, keeping her voice steady. "But it just happens, okay? I can't control my dreams."

Jacob let out a scoff and a bitter laugh as if mocking her words. "Maybe that's it, then. You were right about most of it, but this... this is where it just goes too far," he said, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Jacob," Sam interjected, his tone warning. He looked at his friend with a mixture of concern and frustration, but Jacob wasn't ready to back down.

"No, Sam, this is ridiculous!" Jacob snapped, shaking his head as if Aniya's words were nonsensical. "It's just a dream! You can all agree with me that her telling us about the Cullens working with us would never happen!"

"I'm sorry that you don't like what I'm saying," Aniya retorted, her voice rising slightly, but she still held back from losing control. "But you don't need to act like that." Her gaze held Jacob's, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with tension.

"Act like what? Normal?" Jacob shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sorry if I'm just stating the obvious here, but there's no way in hell we're ever going to work with them."

Aniya pressed her hand to her forehead, rubbing it gently as if trying to soothe the mounting pressure building inside her. "I'm just answering Jared's question, okay? Again, I'm sorry if you don't like it, but it's what happens in my dreams," she said, her voice faltering slightly but still trying to stay calm.

The room was thick with tension. Jacob's gaze never wavered from Aniya as he gritted his teeth, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. But something else lingered, something more primal—something he couldn't quite ignore.

Despite his frustration, Jacob couldn't seem to tear his focus away from her. There was a pull, a strong, undeniable force that drew him to Aniya. He could feel it deep within himself, gnawing at him, making him restless. He wanted her. His mind screamed for her, and yet, at the same time, his body resisted.

Seth, breaking the heavy silence, spoke up cautiously. "So... you said we work with them, but why?" His voice was filled with curiosity as if he was struggling to understand just how all of this could fit together.

Jacob rolled his eyes and scoffed loudly. "It's never going to happen," he muttered under his breath, still visibly irritated. He crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to consider anything that might suggest an alliance with the Cullens.

"Jacob, just let her finish," Sam sighed, his voice laced with exhaustion. He was clearly tired of the back-and-forth, sensing that they weren't going to get anywhere if Jacob kept interrupting.

Aniya, seizing the opportunity to continue, took a deep breath. "You'll work together... to battle an army of the cold ones that have red eyes," she said slowly, each word deliberate. As soon as the words left her mouth, the room seemed to freeze. The pack went completely still, their eyes widening with a mix of disbelief and concern.

"An army?" Leah whispered, her voice barely audible, her face reflecting the same disbelief. Aniya nodded solemnly, her gaze sweeping over the group, gauging their reactions.

Jacob's scoff came almost immediately. "See? Now you know it's not real," he said, his tone thick with contempt. But his dismissal only pushed Aniya to the edge.

This time, she stood up abruptly, slamming her hands down on the table, making everyone jump in surprise. The room seemed to tighten around her, the air growing heavier as the tension reached its peak. Sam, usually the calming presence, didn't speak up this time. He could feel the weight of Aniya's energy, her aura so strong and intense that it made it hard for anyone to breathe, let alone speak.

"I'm telling you what I've seen!" Aniya's voice rose sharply, her frustration now boiling over. She wasn't going to back down, not anymore. Her eyes locked with Jacob's, and for a moment, the intensity between them was palpable.

The room held its breath, waiting to see how this moment would unfold. Would Jacob continue to deny what Aniya had said, or would he finally accept that the truth was beyond his control? Sam, who had seen so much already, wasn't sure which direction the situation would go, but he knew one thing for sure—it was only a matter of time before everything changed.