✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chaper thirty nine

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

The sun was high in the sky, just as Zahra's mom had promised, casting a golden hue over the beach. The plans were in full swing, and the group had gathered to enjoy a rare weekend of relaxation and fun. Aniya stretched her arms out, taking in the warmth of the sun.

"I never thought I'd wake up; I had a long night," Maya groaned as she stretched out on her beach towel, making herself comfortable.

"Okay, May, we don't need to picture what you and Seth were up to last night," Aniya teased, making Maya flick some sand in her direction. Aniya immediately retaliated, and before long, the two were chasing each other around the beach, throwing sand back and forth in playful combat.

"And there they go again," Juliet laughed from where she was sitting next to Embry, both of them watching the antics with amusement. "Seth, Jake, looks like you two have your hands full."

Jacob and Seth just laughed and leaned back against a log, enjoying the spectacle. Their carefree laughter blended with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

After a while, Maya and Aniya stopped their sand-throwing chase and made their way back to the rest of the group. "Oh, look, the Cullens are here," Maya said, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"And that must be the infamous girlfriend everyone keeps talking about," Aniya whispered, eyeing Bella Swan with mild amusement. Maya snorted in response.

"Sorry we're late," Edward called out sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "Had a tough time waking up." The Cullens walked over, and Edward gestured toward Bella, introducing her with a smile. "Guys, this is Bella Swan. She's Chief Swan's daughter."

"Oh, look at you, Edward. Pretty daring if I say so myself," Aniya teased, making him laugh. "Hi, Bella! I'm Aniya, and these fools can introduce themselves."

Bella gave a shy wave, her awkwardness clear, though she managed a small smile. "Hi," she said, her voice soft. Aniya didn't point out how stiff Bella seemed but couldn't help but notice it. Instead, she chose to brush it aside, letting the conversation move on as the others introduced themselves.

Once the introductions were over, the group dispersed to enjoy the beach, the warm sun and the cool breeze giving everyone a sense of carefree joy. Aniya found herself wandering off toward the water, where Jacob was sitting on a rock, gazing out at the ocean. She joined him, sitting next to him on a nearby rock, and they both fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments.

"That Swan girl is so awkward," Jacob chuckled, glancing over at Aniya with a mischievous grin.

Aniya snickered, nodding in agreement. "I thought I was the only one who noticed."

"Nope, I think everyone did," Jacob replied, a grin spreading across his face. He shifted to face her more fully. "Are you feeling okay?"

Aniya raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean?"

"You've been kind of distant," he said softly. "Like something's bothering you."

She folded her arms and tried to brush it off. "Really?"

Jacob nodded, his expression growing serious. He reached for her hand, his grip firm as he pulled her attention to him. "Aniya, I need you to listen to me."

His voice had changed, becoming more urgent, more intense. Aniya was taken aback by the sudden shift in his tone. "Jake?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"I need you to wake up," Jacob's voice was now sharp, loud in her ears. His words seemed to echo through her mind, cutting through the haze that had settled around her.

"What? What do you mean?" Aniya let out a nervous laugh, but the uneasy feeling in her chest only grew stronger as she tried to make sense of his words.

"This isn't real, Aniya," Jacob insisted, his tone becoming more insistent. "You need to wake up."

Before she could respond, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. The air seemed to thin, and her chest felt tight as if something was pressing down on her lungs. She gasped for breath, her vision starting to blur as everything around her began to fade into darkness.

"Wake up, Aniya," a soft, unfamiliar voice whispered in her ear. It was calming, and soothing, in stark contrast to Jacob's urgent plea.

Aniya's eyes snapped open, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog in her mind. She was no longer on the beach. Instead, she found herself standing in a dark, unfamiliar place. The ground beneath her was soft, almost as if she were standing in some ethereal, dreamlike space.

And standing before her was a woman. A woman she recognized.

"It's you..." Aniya whispered, her voice catching in her throat as she stared at the woman before her, her heart racing in her chest.

The woman nodded slowly, her expression calm and knowing. "Yes," she said softly, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable weight.

Aniya's mind raced, trying to process the overwhelming flood of emotions and memories that the woman's presence stirred up. Something deep inside her told her that this encounter was no accident, that the woman standing before her held the answers to the questions she had been struggling with. But what was it all leading to?