Pov ??
The forest pressed in around me, thick with scents and silence. My throat burned like acid, my body coiled tight with hunger. It had been too long. Too much restraint. Every heartbeat I heard felt like a drumbeat in my skull.
Emmett glanced back at me, grinning. "You're vibrating, man. Let's get you fed before you start gnawing on Jasper."
Jasper didn't flinch. "He wouldn't be the first newborn to try."
Jasper's eyes were sharper. I could tell he was focused on my every move. "Stay focused. Hunger makes instincts louder than reason."
I nodded, barely hearing them. The scent of deer hit me like a punch to the gut, warm, alive. Yet when the smell hit me, I still wasn't sure I could actually eat it. Briefly, I thought this might be one big joke, even as the burning in my throat urged me on.
I moved; I had promised to try after all.
The first kill was messy. I lunged too fast, tore too deep. The blood was warm, but mostly spilled everywhere. It dulled the edge, but didn't soothe the ache. I needed more.
I ran after another deer.
This time it went down cleaner. I drank more slowly, trying not to spill. The taste finally hit me this time. Rich in a different way than human blood, with an aftertaste that was gammy and bitter.
The flames slowed some, but by the third, the burn finally eased. My mind was clear, much more than with human blood, as I drained the last drops from the deer. I wasn't sure I liked it, but it was an interesting change from the adrenaline-filled high that was human blood.
I wiped my mouth, breathless. "It's… definitely different.."
Jasper stepped beside me, his voice low. "It's never enough at first. You're rewiring instinct. That takes time."
Emmett tossed me a towel like it was a football. "Wait until you try a bear, there my favorite."
I laughed, but my thoughts were already drifting back to Jacob.
Would he be waiting when I got back? Would he look at me the same way, or would the blood between my teeth change everything?
Jasper caught my expression. "You're worried about him."
I nodded. "I keep thinking… what if he's not there? What if this—what I am now—is too much?"
Emmett slung an arm around my shoulder, nearly knocking me off balance. "Dude, he kissed you in front of a house full of vampires. That's basically a declaration of love."
Jasper smirked. "Quick kiss, but not subtle. Trust me—he's not going anywhere. I can sense his love for you."
I blinked, slightly embarrassed, but another part of me was still happy about the show of affection. "You saw that?"
"Everyone saw that," Emmett said. "Rosalie almost dropped her phone."
I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest despite everything. "I just… I don't want to come back and find out he changed his mind."
Jasper's voice was quieter now. "He won't. You're trying. That matters. And he sees it."
Emmett slung an arm around my shoulder. "And if Jacob's not there, we'll drag his furry butt back ourselves." I couldn't help the smile that bloomed on my face, but quickly hid it as Emmert started to tease me.
Eventually, Emmett had spotted a bear and, with a gleam in his eye, took off after it. Like it owed him money.
"Don't wait up!" he called, voice echoing through the trees. "I'm about to teach this bear some manners!"
I could still hear him taunting it as he disappeared into the underbrush—something about it being "barely a snack" and "not even worth the cardio."
That left Jasper and me alone, walking side by side at a human pace through the woods. The silence between us wasn't awkward—it was easy. Comfortable. We talked about small things at first: hunting technique, the weird taste of elk, Emmett's complete lack of subtlety.
But eventually, the conversation shifted.
Jasper's voice was quieter when he spoke again. "You know… I was changed in a situation not so different from yours."
I glanced at him, surprised. "Really?"
He nodded, eyes distant. "I was a soldier. Young. Ambitious. I thought I understood war. Then I met her. Maria. She turned me, used me to build her army. I spent years fighting newborns, training them, watching them burn out."
I looked at the scars that lined his arms and neck—faint, silvery reminders of battles long past. "That's how you got those?"
"Yes," he said. "I was like you once before I was put in charge of keeping them in check... and putting when they were no longer useful."
I didn't know what to say. I'd felt alone in this—like no one could understand what it meant to be made into something dangerous without consent. But Jasper did. He'd lived it. Survived it.
"I'm not gonna lie," he continued. "It won't be easy. The thirst, the instincts, the guilt—they'll all try to define you. But you're free now. You get to choose who you become."
I swallowed hard. "And if I mess up?"
"You won't be the first," he said. "But you won't be alone. If you ever need to talk… I'm here."
The words hit deeper than I expected. Not just because they were kind—but because I could feel his desire to help me.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "For everything."
Jasper gave a small smile. "You remind me of myself when I first started out on my own. But you've got something I didn't back then."
"What's that?"
He looked at me, eyes steady. "People around you to support you. So rely on us, and I'm sure Jacob feels the same way."
I felt my chest tighten. I'm sure I would have cried if that were possible. Instead, Jasper moved the conversation back to something light as we made our way back. Soon we were re-joined by a happy Emment, giving Jasper the chance to do his own hunt as Emmet and I walked.
Pov Jacob
I stood just outside the Cullen house. As I pressed the borrowed phone to my ear, I could help but grip it. The forest was quiet, but my thoughts weren't. I could still feel the warmth of his imprint's kiss lingering on his skin. I had to push those thoughts down. I need to focus.
The line clicked, and Sam's voice came through first, going straight to the point. "We're all here. What's going on?"
I took a breath. "It's about my imprint. I felt there were things we should talk about before moving forward."
There was a pause. Then Sam said, "Go on."
" For starters, he confirmed he was a newborn. Turned by Victoria's crew. About three days ago. It seems she is planning to make more, so we all need to be on high alert. There is a chance she may create an army and march here. The Cullens have proposed that we team up in such an event." I let the information sit for a moment before continuing.
"They would like us to have a meeting and to explain the kind of danger we would be in if that were to happen."
"That's fine, but were won't make any promise," Sam stated, even though I could hear some lingering voice of discontentment through the phone. "Now get on to what you really want to say."
Sam always had a way of getting to the heart of the matter, even when the words made me freeze.
" He is still adjusting to the change. I ask that you not interfere and let me handle this. I'll keep him off the Res … So please give us some more time." The last part was quieter as nerves took over. I was able to hold them off from coming here yesterday, but I know Sam wouldn't stand to have a blood-drinking vampire so close.
The silence on the other end stretched long. Jacob could almost hear the pack processing it.
"He's trying," Jacob added quickly. "He hunted animals today. He didn't even know-"
"Jacob, Stop." Sam interrupts, " I know this is hard and may be unfair to you, but I must do what's best for the pack. If he becomes a threat to humans, we will have to put him down. Don't forget he's still a monster that will kill people if given the chance. It's in his nature."
"He didn't wan–."
"I know, none of us did. But we can't just let him go if he harms people," he sighed.