First Imprint [Book 1] ✔️

28 • Bad Idea

SAM'S POV

Without Jacob around, the pack was different. Although he usually brought the rest of the pack's emotions down with his constant anxiety and depression over Bella Swan, he also brought with him a strength that was sorely missed. Quil and Embry mourned his absence the most. They talked to Jake all the time through our wolf connection though he was hundreds of miles away in Canada somewhere.

Jacob, however, wasn't talking back. He didn't want anything to do with life in La Push or Forks. He was letting his wolf side take over. I knew he surviving off the land, hunting whatever nature provided.

But as hard as Jake tried to pretend that none of us existed, he couldn't completely tune us out. He was aware, for instance, that his sister Rachel had come back to town and that Paul had imprinted on her. He didn't say anything about it, but we knew he was pissed by the constant growling we heard in our heads for several days after it happened.

Jacob also knew that Bella Swan kept calling Seth for updates. She wanted to know where Jake was and how he was doing. That infuriated him. When he found out, he actually spoke to us for the first time in weeks, swearing for a good fifteen minutes straight. He didn't understand why she didn't just leave him alone. We didn't understand either. After all, she had chosen the bloodsucker over him.

Leah summed it up best. "Bella's a tease. She gets off on trying to hold onto as many guys as she possibly can."

Upon hearing Leah's opinion, Jacob stopped communicating with us completely. So it came as a surprise to me one mid-August afternoon, when Jake spoke to me while I was patrolling.

I'm on my way back, he stated, urgency in his voice. I've got to make it to that wedding.

Jacob, do you really think that's a good idea? I questioned.

No, but I'm going to do it anyway, he replied. I need to say goodbye to her and get some closure. And...I need to be there for Bella.

Do you want me to do anything? I asked.

Yeah, I don't have any clothes on me, and my coat's a mess. Could you meet me near the Cullen house with something for me to wear and some scissors? I need to cut my hair and make myself presentable before I see Bella.

Sure, no problem, I told him.

Thanks Sam, Jacob responded, relief evident in his voice. I don't know if I'm going to make it to the wedding, but I should be able to get there in time for the reception.

Okay, see you in awhile, I said.

I switched my direction and headed towards the Black residence, phasing as I got closer to the edge of the forest. Pulling on my shorts, I headed to the house and knocked on the front door. After a few moments, I heard Billy's wheelchair approaching.

"Hey Sam, what are you doing here?" Billy asked when he saw me. He was wearing a formal suit and was in the process of fixing his tie.

"Am I catching you at a bad time?" I wondered.

"Nah, I'm just getting ready for Bella's wedding. Charlie would kill me if I didn't attend, even though he knows I'm not incredibly fond of the Cullens. But the doc really helped Jake when he was hurt, so I figured let bygones be bygones. At least for today anyway."