✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter twenty seven

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Jacob leaned back, his usual defiance muted as he stared down at the table. The remaining drawings Aniya had left behind lay scattered, but one, in particular, caught his eye—a sketch of him and Aniya, side by side. Something about it kept him transfixed, stirring an emotion he couldn't quite name. She wasn't his imprint, and yet, something deep within him—a connection beyond the wolf, beyond reason—seemed to tether him to her. It wasn't instinctual; it felt like his very soul was pulling toward hers.

He didn't realize how long he'd been staring at the drawing until the door creaked open and the others returned, bringing the girls with them.

The moment Serena stepped inside, her expression was a mix of anger and exasperation. She marched over to Jacob without hesitation and smacked the back of his head hard enough to make him wince. "Why is it always your fault?" she snapped, scowling as he rubbed the sore spot, his expression sheepish.

"Guessing you heard?" Jacob muttered, avoiding her glare.

"Heard?!" Maya groaned as she plopped down onto Seth's lap, draping an arm around his shoulders. "We didn't just hear, Jacob. We felt it. All of us. Do you even realize what Aniya's going through right now? She doesn't deserve this—not from you, not from anyone."

Juliet, standing beside Embry with her arms crossed, glared daggers at Jacob. "I've got a colourful vocabulary locked and loaded," she said with a mocking sweetness. "But I'm letting your sisters take the first swing. Trust me, though, they won't run out of ammo."

Rachel folded her arms, her gaze sharp and cutting. "Don't worry, Jules," she said with a smirk that carried venom. "We've got this covered. And if it takes all night, we'll call Rebecca to help pile on the shame. She'll love the chance to roast him."

Jacob swallowed hard, his usual bravado failing under the intensity of their combined fury.

From her spot by the counter, Zahra spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "I don't even know much about what's going on, and I haven't met Aniya yet. But somehow, even I feel angry at you, Jacob." She leaned against Quil, who wrapped an arm around her protectively.

"You've really done it this time," Quil added, grinning despite the tension. "When you've managed to get Zahra angry—someone who's never angry—you know you've messed up."

Zahra rolled her eyes, giving Quil a playful shove. "Don't make me sound like a saint," she said, though her tone remained serious. "Aniya didn't deserve what happened, Jacob. None of us deserved to feel that kind of pain, either."

Leah shifted uncomfortably, the only one in the room who wasn't tethered to an imprint. She crossed her arms and spoke up, her tone neutral but edged with curiosity. "All right, enough piling on Jacob for a second. Can someone explain what's going on with Aniya? What's her part in all of this?"

All eyes turned to Sam as he stood, his expression calm but resolute. He placed his hands on the table and addressed the room with authority. "As Alpha, I've been told certain things—things that the rest of you wouldn't know until the time came. Our elders—Billy, Old Quil, and Harry—shared with me the story of the third wife, Ahu Mala. Her name was kept hidden from us because, until recently, we couldn't speak it. According to their teachings, a woman would come to our tribe, one whose presence would strengthen our bond as a pack and tie us together in ways we can't yet fully understand."

"You're saying Aniya is her?" Jacob asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Sam nodded. "Yes. Every one of you has felt a strange pull toward her, haven't you? Something you can't explain?"

The room echoed with murmurs of agreement, even from the imprints. Serena, Rachel, Maya, Juliet, and Zahra nodded as well, their expressions showing they understood the feeling Sam described.

"That's because Aniya carries the spirit of Ahu Mala," Sam explained. "She is the next residing soul in that line, fulfilling the role Ahu Mala once did. It explains her dreams, her drawings, and the deep connection we all feel toward her. We'll need to call a meeting with the elders to confirm the specifics, but this is why her presence affects us so strongly."

"Wait," Embry said, his brow furrowing. "So what we're all feeling—it's like a... maternal pull? Like we're drawn to her to protect her?"

Sam nodded again. "Exactly. Her role isn't romantic or territorial; it's foundational. She binds us together and strengthens our purpose."

Most of the group nodded in agreement, their expressions shifting as the explanation settled over them. But Jacob's frown deepened, his confusion growing. "Maternal?" he echoed, glancing around the room. "I... I don't feel that."

The others turned to him, their curiosity piqued.

Jacob hesitated, his gaze dropping to the drawing on the table again. "What I feel... it's completely different. It's the opposite of that." His voice was quiet but heavy with unspoken emotion, leaving the room in stunned silence.