LANA
When Lana called Quinn the next afternoon, she got the same story Jacob had given her. That the cop had to calm her down when he saw her in that state. She'd never been so scared before. Still, Lana had gaps in her memory...
—I saw you go into the woods—she said, losing her patience.
Quinn sighed through the phone.
—I already told you, no. Why would I go into the one place that terrifies me? I'm not suicidal like you.
Turned out, she'd just gone to the bathroom. Said the heat made her dizzy and she needed to cool off. So who the hell had Lana seen?
—And your hands?—she asked, remembering she'd shown up at school with bandaged hands—Did you fall asleep and wake up with stigmata?
—Yeah, you're hilarious. Thanks for the compassion. —Quinn complained.
—I am compassionate! I'm worried about you. —Lana shot back.
—I already explained it to Morgan. I fell on a beer bottle. Lucky I'm still not picking glass out of my hands—she explained, exhausted—. Can we talk about something else? This whole thing really messes me up.
Maybe Lana was just freaked out by her dream. That feeling of something waiting. Watching. Of course, it was just a nightmare; no way a vampire had actually fed on her friend. At least not in real life. That was ridiculous. As for the wolves... that was another story.
The wolves were real, and she hadn't forgotten Officer Swan's words.
"They've already caused too much trouble for the town. We have no other option." She remembered. Meaning they really were going to kill them.
After pacing circles in her room for a while, trying to calm her nerves, she ended up back in the woods. A frantic, stupid impulse, and she wasn't even sure why she'd listened to it, but she couldn't help herself. So she grabbed her flashlight and her phone in case she got lost and needed to call someone; assuming the signal even worked out here.
—What are you doing here?
Her first instinct was to scream before turning around. Jacob Black was standing right there with a look that meant business, and, as always, shirtless. Lana clutched her chest and tried to breathe.
—Jesus, Black! You almost gave me a heart attack.
—Did I scare you?
—Like you didn't do it on purpose.—He just stood there, serious and unmoved—And then you say I'm the immature one.
—You can't be here, it's dangerous. —he barked, turning and starting to walk. She followed behind him.
—I could say the same to you. —she fired back.
—I'm a volunteer with the forest rangers—he lied smoothly—. That's why I'm saying you can't be here. Go home.
Lana furrowed her brow. Unlike her, he looked totally chill.
—So you're okay with them killing the wolves?—she asked.
Jacob turned around, and noticing the hint of worry on her face, he looked surprised.
—Why do you care? Wasn't it you who told the cops about them?
Lana snorted and looked away.
—I'm not so sure they're the ones causing all this anymore—she crossed her arms—. And even if they were, I'm against them killing any animal.
He blinked, thrown by her answer.
—What's with that face?
—Nothing. Just didn't peg you for a tree hugger.
Lana rolled her eyes.
—Shut it.
—Yeah, and you go home. —He looked at her intensely; like he was trying to warn her of something through his eyes—This isn't a game.
—And who says I'm playing? I'm serious, Black.
Jacob glanced up at the sky, stopping.
—Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do? Take a bullet for them?
She clenched her jaw before looking away again. The moon glowed over a sky starting its slow shift from gray to black.
Jacob sighed.
—Look, I get that you're worried. But what you're trying to do is still dangerous and stupid. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to make sure they don't get hurt, but in exchange, you have to get out of here.
Lana narrowed her eyes, reading between the lines.
—You're trying to blackmail me.
—Yeah, but I meant every word I said. —This time, he moved closer, so close that she froze in place because of the proximity—Lana, go home.
Somehow, hearing him say her name gave her a feeling of greater intimacy than she'd ever had with him in her entire life. Lana blushed and got tongue-tied. Much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't agree more with Mary Kate: Jacob was... hot. That magnificent chest; every muscle perfectly chiseled. She shook off that thought; she didn't want to go down that road.
She wondered if she should leave or stay. Though she wasn't planning on spending the night in the woods after everything that happened anyway. In the end, she gave in.
—I'll leave. Only because I don't want to be here. And you better keep your word. —she warned, finger pointed at him.
Jacob smirked.
—You got your phone?
His question confused her.
—Why?
—I'm gonna give you my number.
Lana blinked.
—And why would I want your number? The fact that we haven't insulted each other for two minutes doesn't mean I suddenly like you, Black.
He looked up at the sky again.
—I was gonna keep you updated on the situation. But if you don't want it, that's fine.
She hesitated for a minute. Without a doubt, Jacob was a weird guy for a lot of reasons, but deep down she appreciated that he'd offered. That way she could know what would happen to them.
She dug in her jacket and found her iPhone. Then, she handed it over reluctantly.
—Five, six, eight, two—she offered.
—You're giving me your passcode?
—You can't get into the phone without it. —she pointed out.
—Aren't you afraid I'll know it?—he asked curiously.
—You planning on stealing it?
Jacob blinked.
—No, of course not.
—Then I'm not worried.
He took it and typed on the screen before handing it back.
—There you go. Now get out of here before it gets even darker.
Lana took it and put it away.
—I don't need you giving me orders, Black. I'm not staying another minute.
With that, she left. For a split second, she decided to look back. Their eyes connected. And Lana forced her legs to keep moving to get as far away from him as possible. Damn hormones.
●●●
She hadn't taken a single step when her mother appeared at the front door to block her path.
—Where were you? I've been calling you for hours—she demanded, frowning.
—I had no signal. And I highly doubt you actually care where I was.
Her mother let out a sigh.
No matter how hard Lana tried, it was never enough to please her mother. One day, she just stopped trying. No more perfect Lana, no more model daughter. Just Lana Caldwell being herself. And that was what bugged Susan the most. She wanted the golden child she thought she had back, but that girl didn't exist anymore. It was a sham, and her mother didn't get it.
After a long lecture, a list of orders, and a reminder of the rules she had to follow, Lana retreated to her room. Ten minutes later, her phone buzzed. When she saw the name, she felt a shiver run through her. She opened the message:
"The wolves are safe and sound. At least for now."
Lana typed back.
"And how do I know you're not lying to me?"
"You want me to take a pic?"
Jacob sent a photo of himself. There were no wolves in it. Just him, grinning. Lana let out a giggle that confused her. Had she seriously just laughed? She shook her head to get a grip.
"Ha ha. Very funny. I don't know why I agreed to give you my number..."
"Because you trusted me. So now you have no choice but to trust what I'm telling you. They're fine."
His response left her perplexed by a truth that was eating at her brain. Since when had she started trusting him? Even though she didn't want to, she kept ending up relying on him, and somehow, she felt safe by his side.
Their relationship had shifted; she didn't know when or how it happened, but it had been a gradual change. If he wasn't so annoyingly hot, none of this would be happening. Lana shook her head. He really wasn't her type, but every time she saw him she felt something inside her that she couldn't identify. She started wondering if that was even important, after all.
When she'd tested him, he'd held his ground; actually, more than once. She had to admit she liked his reaction.
She bit her lip before typing on the screen.
"You better, Black."
She wasn't sure what else to say, but she didn't want to drag this conversation out too long. For the first time, Lana was scared about what she felt for him. Because honestly, she didn't understand it.