Purple Sky by A. Teller (unputdownable books .TXT) 📕

“Are we looking at…an army?” I asked cautiously.

“Alice thinks no, but she does think that those three came from some sort of...other group.”

I stared into the night. What had I done? Was it me they were after? Or something else?

But I couldn’t focus on that right now. Jake had returned from his agonizing re-breaking. No tears Renesmee. And no shaking! I thought. My hands ceased their annoying tremble just as Jake wrapped me in a hug. His warmth illuminated my fingertips, flushing them with pink. The rest of my body following, practically glowing to life. I realized how cold I truly was.

“Merry Christmas, right?” he said sarcastically. I laughed.

“When will you be better?” I asked in an almost childlike voice. But more tender than child.

“Eh, about an hour. It doesn’t hurt much. Kinda like a paper cut.”

“Well, I have one more surprise for you. So get better!” I commanded his hand. He laughed, then I caught Alice in the doorway. I flinched at what I had just done. Alice was standing there, listening to me telling Jake about my “big surprise”, that I hadn’t really thought about fully. But I’d told Jacob.

“Alice!” I shrieked. She giggled, and the life that was once in her eyes regained. Like a rock against another, sparking the blazes of golden fire in her eyes.

“He’s awake,” she explained.

We walked inside, Jacob holding my hand, to see Jasper. He was up and running, finishing off a glass of O negative. After Emmett and Edward held him where he sat, waiting for the blood urge to go away, Jasper was his normal self. He rushed to Alice’s side. He didn’t kiss her. He didn’t hug her. They just stared at each other in a connection that no one could ever understand. The moment felt so private between them, I looked away.

“Well, we got to go,” Bella and Edward agreed. They left, and Jacob spoke up. “We do too.”

Rosalie was livid with objections. “What! But…but you spent last night at Jacob’s! Come home Nessie! Please?”

“Well…I…” I started to give. Jake squeezed my hand. “I…I have all my stuff back at Jacob’s. I’ll just stay one more night.”

Rose’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. Emmett came up behind her and start tickling her. She laughed carelessly, like a child even. Carlisle smiled, and left with Esme. Jake practically pulled me into his car, and we drove down the road. It was cold, but I kept close to Jake’s side most of the time. I felt his warmth radiating. My heart pounded, uncomfortably.

“It’s happening again,” he said victoriously.

“What?” I was skeptical.

“Your nervous heartbeat. It sounds like a bird hitting a wall over and over. Refusing to give up.”

“Poor bird,” I said. His face widened in a grin. Then sunk.

“Are you afraid of me Ness?”

I was stunned silent. Pain closed in on my heart. My mind fell into a dark abyss of memories. It was spring, and I was almost eight. Seth and I made it down to the meadow in time to catch a herd of whitetail deer that had wandered onto the territory. Our pounces led to little success. We howled with laughter (Seth literally howled) at our attempt. It was a bright, sunny morning. Unusual for Washington in the spring. Jacob suddenly bounded through the wilderness, pinning Seth to the ground snarling at him. I doubt he knew I was there; his aggression was at dangerous levels. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but as I tried to reason with Jacob, he snapped at me. His teeth bared, I fell on the ground, crying quietly. Jake suddenly jumped off Seth, who huffed in annoyance. Jake’s rules were always too much for Seth to obey every day. Jake came over to nudge me, and for the first and only time in my life, I lurched away, shaking. For a whole week, Edward demanded Jacob leave me be. After the first two days, I recovered, begging to see Jake. But Edward was firm. It was the longest week of our lives. Jacob was especially irritable, I was informed. Seth was happily updating me over the phone, making me laugh. But when that receiver clicked, I burst into tears, wanted Jacob back. After the week was up, which felt like prison, Jacob was the remorseful, happy person I’d known before. And now, his question that I realized I hadn’t answered yet, seemed silly.

“Jacob, no. I’m not scared of you. And you couldn’t scare me away now,” I said, pecking his cheek. His muscles softened, and his jaw unlocked in a mouth-closed drop.

“I could try.”

My heart turned to putty in Jacob’s hand. He really did want me the way I wanted him. More than a friend, more than a boyfriend. Boyfriend was not the right word. Soul mate. That’s better.

As we passed town, I watched delicately. The faces of the town never faded. Everyone was the same, though I hadn’t been out much. After you get so big, people ask what’s up. The café had tons of people inside, restaurants were filled, and movie theaters were lit with color and light. We pulled up to the convenience store, to my bewilderment. Embry and Quil waited for us, smiling casually. I’d remembered I hadn’t seen them in weeks.

“Hey Jacob! Hey N—”

Quil stopped up short as I stepped out of the Volkswagen. I glanced at a small section of ice laid neatly on the concrete. My image on the ice seemed from another dimension. My face reminded me of a poem Rose wrote. She’d read it to me to try and cheer me up while I lay in my painful depression. She’d said I had the appearance of a statue that reluctantly came to this world.

Jake’s arm tightened around my waist as we walked. He sucked in a quick, sharp breath. His warm hand that was wrapped around me shook. I flicked him, and he seemed to calm down.

“It’s me Quil. So you were kind of asking for that,” I assured as he laughed off Jake’s punch. Jake rolled his eyes at Quil, who was still giggling a little.

“You look so different! Your all grown up!” Embry said cheerfully. He hugged me with his giant arms than covered my shoulders and back. I was so small compared to the wolves. My little hands wrapped around him in a tight grip. I never realized how opposite I was compared to the wolves. Embry smelled like cinnamon too, but with a chlorine smell that soured my face. Embry chuckled a little. I was confused until I looked at Jake, who was now standing behind Embry and facing me.

Jake’s muscles tightened on instinct. I couldn’t blame him, it was a natural thing for a wolf to get edgy when their imprint was being touched in any way by another wolf. I released my hug.

“So…” I began as Embry set me down. “Why are you two here? Where’s Sam?” I retreated to Jacob’s side, which helped him relax. Real wolves are always guarding their mates, making sure no competition of any kind arises. It’s the same with werewolves.

“He and Emily are on vacation.”

“Wolves take vacations?” I asked skeptically.

“Still part human,” Jake said, turning away to lean against the run-down convenience store. I rolled my eyes sarcastically and sat on the stone bench attached to the side of the building, listening to Embry intently.

“Well, he left Paul in charge,” Embry griped.

“Anyway, we came across another scent.”

If Jake was in his wolf form, he’s ears would have perked up from the information. He growled as a substitute.

“The two males are back. They keep sneaking across, but we’ve been chasing them off. But, you guys should see this.”

Quil handed us a newspaper, headlined:

“Two Hikers killed by Unknown Animal”

It sent a shudder through my spine. The vampires had already killed people? On Sam’s watch!

“Why hasn’t Sam done anything?” Jake said through his teeth.

“He’s…doing his best,” Embry struggled to say. He was forced to say those words. Alpha’s orders. Ugh.

“Right…” I mumbled to myself. Quil wanted to growl, but he swallowed hard instead.

“These vampires are different. One of them tried to rip Jarrod apart. He got away unscathed, but these bloodsuckers are more daring than I’ve ever seen. Their careful, in the most standard way. Besides the basic safety, they’ll do anything. Like kids.”

“Almost worse than you guys,” I said, nudging Jake. He shot me a warning glare. He was in pack mode. Business mode.

“Red eyes?” I asked. Embry nodded angrily. Another growl slipped through Jake’s clenched jaw.

“I’ve got an idea,” I spoke up. They all looked at me. Embry and Quil were excited to hear, but Jacob was…concerned. Or suspicious, either one. I filled in Quil and Embry of our daily events, with exact detail on Kila. Embry and Quil paid close attention, grinning when I described Kila’s final destruction.

“So, my idea was this. I go hunting on my own, and lead the vampires onto the reservation. It’s a win-win. I give you your vampires, you give me the peace of mind.”

They laughed at my last words, but agreed with my plan. Of course, Jacob’s objection was inevitable.

“No,” was his only reasonable argument. It was the coldest, hardest “no” I’ve ever heard.

“Yes, Jake,” I contradicted. “It’s the only way. I’m the only one that can go between the rez and my family’s territory.”

“We can go on your land,” he informed me coldly.

“Not in your wolf forms. Your powerless on our turf and we’re not even allowed on yours.”

He frowned at my obviously right information. Jacob’s pout was so cute, it was hard to stay mad. But I stomped on my left foot using my right foot, keeping my hard skin tough.

“Jake, your scent will give you away,” I reasoned, my voice more thoughtful and soft.

“No,” was his only response. I frowned this time. My eyes begged him, but he simply focused on his breathing. His hands had a faint tremble, and I knew he was thinking of those vampires. He couldn’t stop me. I wasn’t going to let people get hurt.

‘Don’t you mean his stench?” Embry asked sarcastically. Quil laughed with him.

I walked over and buried my face in Jacob’s neck, inhaling. “Nope. He smells like cinnamon,” I said happily. Call it a bribe, showing off Jacob’s manliness in exchange for my plan to go to use. Jake was stunned for a moment, but his ego kept him quiet. He smirked. In his mind, “Alpha’s the man.” Embry and Quil looked lost for words, but Jake grinned triumphantly. I flicked his shoulder.

“But to everyone else, he stinks,” I shrugged, happy to admit.

The men continued their strategy talks before parting ways. We went back to Jake's house while the September winds began to batter the powerlines. The car was plenty warm as we parked.

Jake stared into the darkness beyond the house’s lights. I opened my mouth to speak, but my vocal cords stayed silent.

“I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt. It wouldn’t just be you getting killed Nessie. You don’t know what I’d do. I don’t know what I’d do.”

“I know what you’d do,” I said, running my fingers through his hair. His spiky, black hair was sifted by the wind, but his head was