✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter thirty two

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

"Wait—if Aniya's been stuck in her dreams, does that mean it started when she was five?" Seth asked, his voice cutting through the tense silence in the room. The question seemed to hang in the air, striking a chord with everyone. "I mean, she was drawing these things back then, right? And the messages... they were already there."

Juliet nodded slowly, her fingers twisting together as she processed his words. "She told me she started drawing again a few years ago," she admitted, her tone hesitant. "But she only told me. It was... right after she and Jacob stopped being friends."

Jacob's head snapped up at her words, his jaw tightening. "She said that?" he asked, his voice low, the weight of her revelation hitting him squarely.

Juliet turned to him, meeting his gaze with a steady nod. "Yes. It was the same night you two fought," she added softly, her words carrying the weight of unspoken guilt and regret.

Zahra abruptly stood, her brow furrowing as her thoughts raced. "Hold on," she said, her voice sharp and filled with urgency. "I might be grasping here, but what if—what if Aniya only starts drawing when she's... I don't know, not okay with Jacob? Or maybe when there's distance between them?"

"That's a massive leap," Serena chimed in, sceptical as she folded her arms across her chest. "Think about it. There was a time before she even met Jacob. Was she still drawing back then?" All eyes turned to Juliet, their unspoken question pressing heavily on her.

Juliet frowned, her mind reaching back into old memories. "Now that I think about it," she said slowly, "Aniya used to carry this little notepad around all the time. I didn't think much of it back then, but maybe..." Her voice trailed off as she rummaged through Aniya's bag, her movements growing frantic.

Her hands froze when she pulled out a small, worn-out notepad, its edges frayed from years of use. Her breath caught as she flipped it open. Page after page bore the same two words scrawled in jagged, bright red ink: WAKE UP.

Juliet's hands began to tremble as she turned the pages, her eyes wide with horror. The words weren't just written—they were gouged into the paper with such force that many pages stuck together. Jacob noticed her shaking and stepped forward, gently taking the notepad from her hands. The moment he did, Juliet collapsed into Embry's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

The room fell into a suffocating silence. All eyes were drawn to the notepad in Jacob's hands, the violent repetition of the words screaming the desperation Aniya had felt. Leah pulled Emily into a tight hug, trying to steady her as tears slipped silently down her cheeks. The magnitude of what they were seeing left them all shaken to their cores.

Maya's voice broke the silence, though it was barely above a whisper. "We might have to ask that Cullen for help after all," she said, hesitating as the thought of working with their sworn enemies lingered uncomfortably in the air. "Aniya... she really needs us." Her small frame trembled as she turned away, leaning into Seth, who wrapped his arms around her protectively.

Jacob opened his mouth to argue, but Serena stepped forward, her hand landing firmly on his shoulder. "Jacob," she said firmly, cutting him off, "just take her to them. Bring a few of the guys. I know you won't let any of us go, so we'll stay here."

Sam sighed heavily, his role as leader pulling him into action. "Jacob, you'll take Embry and Leah with you," he instructed, his voice steady. "Paul and Jared, you're coming with me to the elders. We need to explain everything we've uncovered. Quil and Seth, you'll stay here and watch over the girls."

Everyone nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. No one argued. The sense of urgency and the shared fear for Aniya's well-being unified them in their silence.

As Jacob moved toward Aniya, Juliet stepped in his path, grabbing his wrist. Her tear-filled eyes bore into his, her voice trembling with desperation. "Take care of her, Jacob," she pleaded. "Promise me."

Jacob's expression softened, his usual defensiveness melting away in the face of her raw emotion. He nodded firmly, his voice steady and sure. "I promise," he said, his tone carrying the weight of a vow. "She'll be safe. I'll make sure of it."