✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter thirty five

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

After Edward had managed to convince Jacob to agree to work together, he reluctantly shared the last thing he had heard from Aniya before the connection had abruptly cut off. It was as if she had severed the mental link with him completely. All he could hear now was a low, unsettling static, nothing else. The silence was deafening.

"She said there are countless doors?" Embry asked, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief. He was leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed as he took in the gravity of the situation. Jacob, however, was seated by the bed, his hand gently holding Aniya's. His eyes were fixed on her, his expression a mixture of concern and longing.

"Yes," Edward responded, his voice steady but tinged with the worry he felt. He stood on the other side of the room, Bella awkwardly positioned beside him. She kept glancing at Jacob, watching him hold Aniya's hand with such tenderness. It didn't go unnoticed by Embry, who observed the dynamic between the two with a raised brow.

After a tense silence, Bella excused herself from the room, claiming she needed a breath of fresh air. She made her way outside, the crisp air filling her lungs as she walked toward the edge of the property. But as soon as she stepped out, she was startled by Leah, who was leaning nonchalantly against a tree, her arms crossed.

Bella froze for a moment, nearly jumping out of her skin. She quickly composed herself, offering a hesitant wave to Leah. Leah rolled her eyes in response, the disdain clear in her posture. Bella, however, didn't back down. She spoke softly, her voice betraying the awkwardness she felt. "I know you don't like me..." she began, her words trailing off.

Leah let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Oh, we're far from that, Bella. I think the word 'hate' is more appropriate. Or maybe 'despise' would fit better," she spat, her voice laced with venom.

Bella shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her arm. "Right," she muttered, feeling the weight of Leah's hostility. "I've been pretty awful."

"Aww, 'awful'?" Leah mocked, her eyes narrowing with irritation. "No, Bella, that's not even close to the truth. But I'll give you credit for at least admitting it. I might not know the whole story since I didn't come into the picture until later, but after hearing Jacob's thoughts, I can confidently say I absolutely despise you."

Bella's brow furrowed as she tried to understand. "Is it because of the Cullens?" she asked, her voice almost pleading for some kind of understanding. Leah looked at her as if she had asked the most ridiculous question.

"That's not even the main reason, Swan," Leah snapped, her voice cold and sharp. "Sure, it's natural for me to hate their kind, but that's not why I despise you. It's because you continue to associate with them, even when it puts your father's life in danger. I couldn't care less about your safety, because you've done nothing but prove that you don't even value it yourself. You're human, Bella. For god's sake, I'd do anything to go back to my old life. But I can't, because I turn into a giant wolf at will."

Bella didn't know how to respond to that, her mouth going dry. But Leah wasn't finished.

"You have no idea how hard it is, do you?" Leah's voice trembled with frustration. "To be near your ex every single day of your life. I could've left this town, but no, I stayed because you kept playing 'Snow White' with the Cullens. You've caused half of this pack to lose their normal lives. Some of them act like they enjoy it, but trust me, Bella, there's nothing enjoyable about watching someone who could have had a normal life squander it. You had a choice to walk away from it all, to end all of this. And you still do, but clearly, you've made your choice. So, stop dragging Jacob along with you."

Leah's words were biting, each sentence sinking deeper into Bella's chest. "You're not just dragging him down, Bella. You're bringing all of us down with you."

There was a long, heavy silence between them. Bella stood frozen, unable to find words to respond. The harsh truth of Leah's words hung in the air, and it wasn't just Bella who heard them. The others in the house could hear every word. Even Edward, who had been about to rush outside to defend Bella, froze. The words Leah had spoken weren't just harsh—they were the cold, hard truth.

Jacob didn't turn his gaze away from Aniya, his grip tightening on her hand. But deep down, he knew Leah's words had struck a chord. Bella was caught in the middle, torn between the two worlds she'd chosen: one that tied her to the Cullens, and the other to Jacob and the wolves, who could never truly coexist.