The rubbing of cricket feet was apparent in the silence, inaudible firefly wings flap around bushes in the back lawn. One decides to rest on the back palm of my hand. I look at it carefully and don't move an inch. I observed the tiny phenomenon. They were always so beautiful to me. I raise my finger in the air and it flies away.

It's Allie's birthday today. She's one and I am so happy but I'm also a bit drained. My day had been long, with all the preparation and shopping and everything else. I lean back on the garden swing and watch the gathering going on inside through the glass back door. I had get away, be in the quiet only if for moment, out here in the back of Kaitlyn's parent's home. So much is going on in there, for one tiny girl—she is surrounded by love.

I decided to separate myself from the gathering if only for a moment. Just for me, to pull myself together. I know that makes me an introvert, how I like to be alone most of time, but I enjoy my peace of mind and this gives me that. Especially after seeing Jacob a couple of minutes ago. It was a small short encounter, as always he couldn't stay for long.

He came by with some gifts for his niece and found me in hiding, conveniently in his old room. He kept his distance and I could barely look at him. Not without feeling the urge to burst out my emotions. As fluent as I am being, I'm having a hard time keeping it together. It's just with school and everything, Jacob is always, constantly on my mind. When I wake up, when I eat, when I don't eat, even as I cancel all communication with him it's like I'm still in a relationship with him and I can't seem to let the thought of my feelings for him go. And when I saw him, I couldn't help but to listen to what he had to say. The presence of his voice, his love, his warmth. He's sorry.

"Hi," I said as focused on his heart throbbing eyes. I realized my desperate attempt to avoid him had failed and he had found me. He dressed in all white, thick sleeved shirt, dusted white jeans, and classic white Nike. He folded his hand in front of his torso as he just barely approach me. On his wrist was his gold and black Rolex watch, above his buff chest was his silver gold chain he almost never took off.

And his cologne, I inhaled him from the window, keeping a few feet between us.

"Baby girl." His voice was rugged low. Just how I liked. Just as I remember. I practically roll my eyes in accordance. I missed him. I missed my baby.

I took a deep breath in and walk up past him to head for the door. His arm landed just above my waist, he pulled me closer into him. My hands landed chest. For a second I give into him and feel better, less alone. Safe.

Not security though, I felt he wasn't mine and that's just not right. He belonged to me. He supposed to mine. He's supposed to love me and I him. But that wasn't the case because we aren't together any more. He had no right over me and I had none over him.

"No Jacob." I resist. His fingertips pressed against my back as my body stressed under his touch.

"Why no?" He stared at me directly in my eyes and I almost fell out.

"We can't do this anymore."

"Do what, I haven't seen you in months."

"Who's fault is that? We live in the same city, I'm pretty sure if you really wanted to see you could have."

"I didn't think you wanted to see me."

I pull away from him, I just can't have him touching me like that; not while I'm so exasperated. "The first couple of weeks, of course not. I just found out you cheated on me with your ex and you didn't tell me about my mother being alive. I needed some time as any one would. . .and after that you could have convinced me. . ."

"Convinced you?"

". . .How's Ella? After, you know. . .her cousin dying, and you being there for her. I never got the chance to ask you."

"She's okay."

"Right? Did you have to fuck her so that she might be okay or was that for you?" My emotions were creeping.

"Scarlett," he began walking closer to me, he took my hand, "I don't know what came over me. I love you." His eyes.

My heart began to beat aggressively, and I felt a wave of sentiment. "Stop, you don't get to do that. You don't get to say that and expect everything to be okay."

"What do I have to do?"

"Love me. . ." I whispered, my hand rested on the side of his face. He lowered his head to gradually press his lips onto him. I kiss the underlying of his chin, then his neck. I tip toe on the front heel of my black shoe and pull deeper, in remembrance of some scarce felt memory; this sweet passion he always provided.

In spite of everything, I could never really hate him or stop loving him. I can be angry but never really stay angry. I don't want to admit but that's truly how I feel. He's my mate, but I can't let him know that. Or else we'll never be in a position to understand each other. I genuinely believe some time off is the best we could do for each other, even if I felt most of the time we'd be better off together. And despite what I say, he should have been there. I'm glad he wasn't, I understand some things better now.

After seeing him, I refused to make any plans to meet up in New York, but I'm sure he knows where I live. I'm almost positive, some one has been following me these past couple of days. I'm sure Jacob's the cause of this.

I went back downstairs to join everyone else as they celebrated Allie's birthday. Her family, her friends, some people from the pack—I have personally never met.

Kevin and Katie— the hosts, made the most of everything. They socialized, accepted gifts and praise. To some one who doesn't know them personally would assume they are the perfect couple and most of the time they truly are. Their dynamic, who they truly are to each other and baby Allie in the midst. They seemed good, but I'm not entirely sure, something between them seems wrong and fake. Can't put my finger on it though. Katie insists that they are fine, and I have no choice but to accept that answer. But I'm still allowed to wonder if my best friend is okay. It's not a crime.

Before all this, in high school they were the closest friends. I personally, never for a second doubted their love for each other, but I don't know. Right now, that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm not suggesting that relationship are supposed to stay the same—but I expected to see a bit more love and chemistry between them, like before.

My best friend just genuinely doesn't seem happy, like she's putting on a show, for me, for today. Maybe I wrong. Maybe I've just been gone too long.
Maybe.

I look up at the bare night sky. My thoughts trace the lights together and the love of my life came to view.

This being is warm and kind. Everlasting. Wonderful. The best taste of truth. No more lies, no more heart breaks. Consistent.

I don't have a lot of people I call my family or even that I am relatively close to, and the friends that do have their cool, their nice, but they don't really know. I feel alone most of the time and I always think back to the last time I didn't feel this way.

It was with Jake. He has such a warm feel, I get cold easily and is. . . just so. . .warm. Not in the scorching hot way, in a way that feels like a love. A true love. My true love. A shed of liquid falls onto my cheek as the sky began to cry. Then I look in a distance of the gathering inside through transparent back door. The lights were off, and so inside is virtually pitch black. It must be an idea for some game so for a moment I ignore it. Then the ground begins to shake. I place a firm feet firm on the ground and stand from the unsteady swing.

I walk towards the glass door, I look inside to see the area everyone was in, is now empty.

For a millisecond, as I open the door to get a better view, there is no movement. Then what seems to be a large white figure flies across the air. It was a werewolf. After it was, what I'm guessing flung across the room, essentially badly damaging a ceiling; the wolf it didn't get up. I look up to where the wolf could have came from and see another with pitch black fur and blood red eyes. He growls down at the motionless wolf, then at me. My heart practically stopped as began to feel trepidation. Jacob? Is that him. I couldn't move.

"Kevin," Kaitlyn shouted, appearing out of nowhere. "Jacob, no!"

Kaitlyn confirms that the black wolf is in fact Jacob.

The wails of frightened children shocked my senses. "Kaitlyn? Where's Allie?! Where are the kids? " My first concern was the babies.

"She's okay, their okay—their gone. But Kevin isn't. Jacob-" She cries, at the top of the stairs, she diagonally stood from Jacob.  And Kevin, the white one, laid there on the ground. His pure white coat was dripping in blood, his eyes stores this glossy look until this life in the wolf's eyes fade away.

Kaitlyn screams uncontrollably, and next thing you know she was in front of me trying to help what was left of her mate. Jacob stood aggressively above us, and Kaitlyn begins to shake violently. She screams so loud I felt my ear drums begin to bleed. All the glass around us shatters, including the one next to me.

Before I knew it Kaitlyn was no longer human, she turned wolf and she challenged Jacob. Her eyes flared orange and she took Jacob head on. She ran and her body jumped in the air for him and Jacob leaps in the air for her.

They begin to fight in a way I've never witnessed before. They tossed and turned everywhere, breaking everything in their path. Noah comes into view and he shouts, "Scarlett! Move back!"

And I hear but I-I can't seem to move. My best friend and my mate, they are fighting each other to what seems like: death. Noah rushes for me and carries my immobilized body back out the now broken glass door.

Jacob and Katie follows out. Noah shifts into his wolf and guards me. My inclination runs high in anticipation.  "No. No. No! Please! Stop!" My body trembles and I fall to the ground. I watched precariously behind Noah. "Why won't you do something?!" I scream at Noah, but he just snarls and ignore me. I try to crawl away so that I might see the two more clearly but Noah just kept blocking me with his body.

I hit the ground frustratingly, feeling so helpless as Jacob dominates the fight. He bites and pushes her to the ground viciously and violently, Kaitlyn whimpers—her leg impaired.

Noah goes to her aid, leaving me on the floor, Jacob's wolf turns toward me and growls defensively. I shake my head and hold out my hands to him. "What are you doing?! Please, stop." I sob. I crawl submissively to his vicious demeanor and I stand holding his neck as if subduing him. "Jacob." I cry.