✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter twenty six

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Jacob slumped back into the chair he had been sitting in before the confrontation began, the weight of what had just unfolded pressing down on him. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched into his features. Around him, the room was silent, but the stares of everyone present were heavy with judgment and disappointment.

"I know," he muttered finally, breaking the quiet. "I shouldn't have said or done any of that."

"Yet you still did," Paul snapped, leaning back in his chair with a scoff. "And now? Thanks to that mess, I've lost my appetite. Jacob, you know everything she said was right. Every damn word of it."

Jacob's jaw clenched, and he glared at Paul. "She doesn't know Bella like I do," he retorted, his voice sharp and defensive.

Paul let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Bella, Bella, Bella!" he mimicked sarcastically, leaning forward as his voice rose. "Dude, you need to pull your head out of your ass! Everything Aniya said about her is the truth. Bella ran back to him, Jacob. Without a second thought, without even looking back. When are you going to get it through your thick skull that she'll always choose him over you?"

Jacob shot up from his seat, his fists clenched. "You don't know what you're talking about, Paul!" he snapped, his voice nearly a growl.

Before things could escalate further, Leah stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Will both of you shut up about that leech-loving human?" she snarled, slamming her hand down on the table with a resounding crack. "I'd rather not hear another word about her. My ears are bleeding as it is. Right now, what we should be talking about is what Aniya said!" Her voice wavered, and she gritted her teeth. "Her d-dea—" She stopped, her hands trembling as she gripped the table. "Damn it, I can't even say it because it physically hurts!"

Across the table, Seth placed a hand over his chest, his expression pained. "It does hurt," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "It hurt when she said it—twice. That word." He hesitated, unable to bring himself to say it. He turned to Sam, his brow furrowed deeply. "Sam, can you explain why it affects us so much? Why does it hurt this bad just thinking about... about something happening to her? Is this what it's like, the connection with an imprint?"

Emily, seated quietly beside Sam, suddenly pushed her chair back and stood. Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head. "I—I can't... I need a moment," she stammered before rushing from the room. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the house, followed by the sharp slam of a door. The weight of her absence was palpable, and it was clear that her pain mirrored their own, even if it wasn't as intense.

Sam's gaze lingered on the closed door before he exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging.

"We talked about this earlier. She didn't need to hear it all again." He turned his attention back to the group, his tone serious. "First things first. I think it's important for you all to check on the girls. Even if they weren't here to hear Aniya's words, they might still be feeling the same pain."

"Even if they didn't hear it?" Quil asked hesitantly, his brow furrowed.

Sam nodded solemnly. "Your souls are connected," he said. "If you're feeling the pain, it's possible they are, too. Don't ignore it. Go to them."

The pack exchanged uneasy glances before rising from their seats, one by one, and leaving the house in silence. Only Jacob and Leah remained seated, tension hanging in the air between them.

Sam waited until the others had gone before turning his gaze to Jacob. His expression was firm, but there was an undertone of disappointment. "When I address the pack tonight," he said, his voice calm but commanding, "I want you to apologize to Aniya."

Jacob's head snapped up, his face twisting with resistance. "But—"

"Oh, grow up, Jacob," Leah interrupted with a scoff, crossing her arms as she leaned against the table. Her sharp tone left no room for argument. "You owe her an apology. You practically called her insane for something she can't control. How do you think she feels? She didn't ask for any of this. She was living her life, completely unaware of our world, and now she's stuck in it—she can't even sleep without fearing what she'll see. And as for Bella?" Leah rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with disdain. "I still can't believe you're pining for her. It's not love, Jacob. It's obsession. And it's pathetic."

Jacob opened his mouth to argue but found himself unable to respond. Leah's words cut deep, leaving him sitting in stunned silence as the reality of what she said settled over him. Sam remained quiet, watching Jacob with a knowing look as the younger man wrestled with his emotions.

The room was quiet now, save for the faint creak of the old wooden chairs and the steady hum of the distant ocean outside. It was a silence that felt heavier than anything Jacob had experienced in a long time.