✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter thirty four

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

"Wait a second," Embry said suddenly, pushing himself off the wall where he'd been leaning. His expression was tense as he stepped forward. "Riley Biers—you mean the guy who's been missing?"

Edward gave a curt nod, his eyes still fixed on Aniya, his focus unwavering as he tried to discern more from her fragmented thoughts. He visibly tensed when her voice echoed in his mind again, calling out to him directly.

Jacob frowned, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why is she saying Riley Biers' name?" he demanded, his tone edged with suspicion. Edward's brows furrowed deeply, his mind processing what he'd heard. As Aniya's fragmented words began to form a clearer picture, realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

Alice's voice broke the silence. "Edward," she prompted, her tone urgent. "What is it?"

Edward exhaled sharply, his words slow and deliberate. "Riley Biers... and an army. He's the one who was in Bella's room," he muttered.

Both Jacob and Embry stiffened, their attention snapping to Edward at the revelation. "Hold on—what army?" Jacob barked, the mention of Bella's room momentarily unimportant to him. His single-mindedness almost made Embry smirk, but the weight of the situation quickly sobered him.

Edward turned his gaze to Alice, ignoring Jacob's pressing question. His refusal to answer made Jacob's scowl deepen. "Hey! I said, what army?" Jacob growled, his voice rising.

Jasper stepped forward, his calm demeanour a stark contrast to the rising tension. "It's an army of newborns," he explained, his Southern drawl faint but clear. "They're gathering them—vampires newly turned, young, and full of uncontrollable strength. Alice saw it."

"Why would they come after Bella?" Embry asked, his brow creasing in confusion. "What does she have to do with it?"

"Because," Emmett interjected, his voice carrying a heavy note of disdain, "we killed the redhead's mate. Now she's out for revenge. This whole thing—it's all Victoria's doing."

Edward's head tilted slightly, his focus returning to Aniya. Her voice came through again, clear yet strained.

"Cullen, the next things I say, don't repeat them to the wolves," her voice instructed firmly.

Edward hesitated but responded silently. "Okay."

"You need to convince them to work with you. You need their help to fight the army."

"We don't need their help," Edward replied, his pride unmistakable.

"You do," Aniya insisted. "The pack is the only way you can win this."

Edward's mind raced, conflicted. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I've seen it," she said, her tone resolute. "If you don't get their help, think about how many humans will lose their lives. As much as I dislike your kind, you all signed up for this the moment your family returned to Forks—the moment you fell in love with a human."

Edward was silent, her words hitting their mark. His gaze shifted briefly to Bella, who was listening intently to the conversation around her, unaware of the mental exchange. The weight of Aniya's plea was undeniable. Finally, he nodded to himself. "I'll convince them," he said. "But I need to know—why were you repeating 'Help me' earlier?"

There was a long pause before Aniya's voice returned, softer now, tinged with fear. "What makes you think this wasn't it?"

"Because," Edward replied, his voice firm, "you didn't sound distressed over needing us to work with the wolves. There's something else, isn't there?"

Aniya's voice trembled, and Edward could feel her fear through the connection. "I don't know what's wrong with me," she admitted. "My main consciousness is stuck in a dream. It stopped for a few years, but now... now I don't know what door to go through to get out. Before, there was only one door. Now, there are countless ones. I'm afraid—afraid that if I choose the wrong one, I'll be stuck forever."

A soft whimper broke through her words, quickly escalating into quiet sobs. Edward's face tightened, his hands balling into fists as he listened to her despair. When her crying subsided into faint sniffles, Edward turned to Jacob, his expression grim.

"She's right," Edward said aloud, his voice low but resolute. "You need to convince the pack to help us. It's the only way." He folded his arms and glanced back at Aniya, his mind replaying her haunting words about being lost in her own dreams.