Enchanted | Jacob Black

nineteen

He loosened his grip to pull back and look at me. His eyes scanned my face.

"Let's not talk about this. This fight isn't happening soon; the tiny leech says they most likely won't come for another week."

My eyebrows furrowed. "A week?"

My voice rose with disbelief. "When you say not soon, I'm thinking like a month, and you're telling me in a week you'll be doing this?" I couldn't believe how calm he was being.

He gave a half-shrug as if it were the most normal and insignificant thing. Like this wasn't something that could end with someone getting hurt or dying.

"There's no time to panic," he said quietly. "No time to be scared. The pack is doing what needs to be done. That's it."

I stared at him, trying to find any trace of fear in his face, but there wasn't any. I looked away. This conversation wasn't going anywhere. There was nothing I could do or say to change his mind.

Suddenly, I felt him gently grab my chin and pull my head up to face him again. A smile now on his lips, his eyes gazing into mine.

"You look beautiful tonight, by the way," he said quietly, voice full of warmth.

My heart fluttered like it always did around him.

He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine. It was a soft, lingering kiss that still gave me butterflies no matter how many times it happened.

I knew he was just trying to distract me from what was happening, and I hated how well it worked.

When we pulled apart, Jake smiled. "I need to meet with the pack, but I'll come tonight, okay?"

I sighed, "Fine."

He kissed the top of my head, arms tightening around me one more time before stepping back. Then, without another word, he took off into the forest, fading between the trees.

Inside, the house was quiet except for the low hum of the television. My dad had fallen asleep on the couch, his mouth slightly open and the remote still in his hand. I paused, a smile tugging at my lips. I grabbed the throw blanket from the arm of the sofa and gently covered him.

I made my way down the hall and into the bathroom. I took off my makeup and stepped into the shower. Warm water rushed over my skin, and I leaned into it, letting the heat wash away the tension in my shoulders. But it didn't wash away the worry. Not even close.

-----

I wasn't sure what time it was, but I moved as the bed shifted behind me. A warm arm slid around my waist, pulling me gently back into his chest. I knew who it was before I even opened my eyes.

His body molded against mine as if it had done so a thousand times. I sighed softly, still half-asleep, as he buried his face into the crook of my neck and kissed my neck.

That woke me up.

I blinked and turned over, now facing him in the faint moonlight. "Hey," I whispered, "How'd the meeting go?"

He rested his chin against the top of my head. "Sam agreed to form an alliance with the Cullens."

I blinked, trying to fully process the words. "Seriously?"

Jake nodded, brushing a few strands of hair off my face. "Yeah. The Cullens can't take on a newborn army without backup. They need us if they're going to stand a chance."

My brows furrowed. "So what happens now?"

"We start training tomorrow," he said. "All of us. With them."