✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter forty three

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

A week. That was all it took for Aniya to feel like she was going absolutely mad from being under house arrest. It wasn't that she didn't understand why her family was acting the way they were—she did—but the constant confinement was slowly wearing her down. She hadn't been allowed to go anywhere, not even out of the house, not since she'd woken up in the hospital. It felt like she was being suffocated by concern, and for someone who had always valued her independence, the feeling of being locked in was driving her insane.

She didn't even know if anyone knew that she had woken up by this point. Her siblings had kept her cut off from the world, even going so far as to not let her have access to her phone or the internet. For all she knew, everyone else still thought she was unconscious, unaware of the fact that she was more than capable of being alert and aware of everything around her. The days seemed to stretch on endlessly in this forced isolation, and it wasn't helping her state of mind.

Her siblings meant well—she knew that. They were just trying to keep her safe, but the constant vigilance, the hovering, the questions—it was starting to feel like a cage. And the fact that they had completely cut her off from the outside world wasn't helping. She was starting to get restless, to the point where every little thing seemed to set her off.

As she lay on the floor of her bedroom, staring up at the ceiling, she heard the familiar sound of her brother-in-law, Nick, entering her room. He'd been doing that a lot lately, checking in on her and making sure she was okay. But his presence, while comforting at first, had begun to feel more like a reminder that she was still trapped.

"You doing okay?" Nick asked, his voice carrying that typical, concerned tone. Aniya turned her head slightly, letting out an exaggerated groan.

"No, not really," she muttered. "I mean, it totally has not been a week since I actually left the house." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, the frustration that had been building inside her for days finally spilling over.

Nick perched himself on her desk chair, crossing his arms as he watched her. "They're just worried," he said, trying to reason with her.

"Worried?" Aniya repeated incredulously, her head turning to give him an incredulous look. "More like they are paranoid! I let it go for a few days, but an entire week? Come on, Nick. This is insane!" She pushed herself up slightly, sitting on the floor as she ran a hand through her messy hair, clearly frustrated with the whole situation.

Nick shrugged his shoulders, his expression softening. "I guess they're still trying to process the whole supernatural stuff," he said, his tone quieter now as if trying to smooth things over. "They're just worried about you."

"Locking me up won't make it disappear," she argued, her voice sharp with irritation. She let out a sigh, leaning back against the floor with her hands stretched out above her. "Sorry," she added after a pause, "the anger isn't really for you. I know you've been trying to get them to loosen up."

"Someone's got to be on your side in all this," Nick said with a grin, clearly amused by her frustration. "Which is why I came in here to tell you that I managed to make a deal with them. But, only if you come to an agreement too."

Aniya shot up from the floor, her eyes wide with interest. "What deal? I'll take it!" she exclaimed, almost desperate to get out of the house, to do something other than sit and stew in her own frustration.

Nick held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Hold on, hold on," he said, clearly trying to manage her expectations. "First, hear it out, because I feel like you won't be happy with it right away."

"Come on, Nick!" Aniya nearly begged. "Anything to get out of here!"

Nick sighed, clearly knowing this wouldn't be an easy sell, but he sat back in the chair and began to explain the terms of the deal.

As he laid out the conditions, Aniya's heart sank. The terms weren't great—she would have to adhere to certain rules and restrictions, including being closely monitored when she was allowed to leave the house. It wasn't the freedom she wanted, but it was better than the complete confinement she was currently enduring.

"Fine," she muttered after Nick finished explaining. "I'll do think about it." The words felt like they left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she was willing to make the sacrifice if it meant being able to leave the house, even if it was just a little bit.

Nick gave her a satisfied smile and stood up, heading out of the room to give her some time to think it over. Aniya was left alone with her thoughts, her mind buzzing. She paced around the room restlessly, her eyes landing on the various drawings scattered around her desk. They were images she'd drawn in the past—pictures of the people she cared about, the places she wished she could be, and the things she feared. Most notably, there was the last drawing in the pile: a picture of her and Jacob.

Every time she looked at it, a wave of pain washed over her. She could feel his suffering, the weight of the guilt and helplessness he was probably feeling. And every time she let herself think about him, it made her heart ache more. There were nights when she lay awake in bed, tears streaming down her face, thinking about him and how much he was hurting. It made her feel like she couldn't breathe.

Then, one night, as she lay there in the dark, she heard his voice. It wasn't just a memory of his voice, but like he was actually calling out to her, his words floating in the air, clear and real. He was reaching out to her. It wasn't the first time it had happened. His voice had been there in her dreams, in her waking moments, calling her. It was a constant reminder of the bond between them, a bond she didn't fully understand but couldn't ignore.

She closed her eyes, her chest tightening as she put the drawing of them back down on the desk. A long breath escaped her lips as she fought back the urge to break down. The decision she had made felt heavy, but it was the only choice she had. If it meant being able to see her friends, to live her life even a little bit, she would take it, no matter how much she hated the terms.

Taking one last look at her room, she walked out of the door, heading toward Nick, who was in his office. He was sitting at his desk, typing something on his laptop, but he stopped when he saw her approach. His expression changed the moment he saw the determination in her eyes.

"Nick?" she said softly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.

"Yes?" he replied, looking up from his laptop, sensing the shift in her mood.

"I've made my decision," Aniya said slowly, each word weighted with finality. "I accept the terms."

Nick's face softened with relief and a small, approving smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He stood up, crossing the room to give her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You sure?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Yeah," Aniya replied with a resigned sigh. "I'm sure."