Jacob

I throw myself on my bed, groaning from all the duties I had to deal with, and hoping to get a few minutes of relaxation before it all starts again.

I close my eyes, hoping to be met with darkness. Instead, my mind is full of images of Ana, her red hair blazing behind her as she stares into my soul with her emerald eyes. Her exquisite eyes glisten as the light catches them. The way she bites her bottom lip as she teases me.

My arms wrap around my pillow, imagining it is her as I hold her close to my chest, breathing in her scent, but as the smell of my pillow causes me to come crashing back into reality.

I roll over onto my back, sighing as I stare up at my blank ceiling. I need to do something physical to work through the pent-up energy. My mind constantly drifts to Ana. I can't stop

thinking about her in different scenarios. And when I try to fight them, my mind brings them back in full force. I'm drowning in my desires for her. My head spins and my eyes glaze over as I focus on her.

I sit up slightly, my arms supporting me as I look around my room, wanting- no, needing to do something. I need to focus on something else. My eyes quickly skim over my desk, knowing the

boring paperwork would only make me daydream about her more.

I continue to look around my room before my eyes land on my closet, staring at it as I finally decide to go for a run. That is the only thing I can do to make my mind focus on something else.

I am quick to change out of my jeans and black shirt, replacing them with a pair of gray basketball shorts and a white shirt. My black running shoes are on my feet and in seconds, I am out of the house, my feet pounding against the floor as I let my instincts take over. My feet carried me to my destination.

My breathing falls into a rhythm with my footsteps, my lungs burning as I push myself, embracing the fresh air on my sweat stricken skin. The sound of the leaves blowing in the air relaxes me as I delight in the feeling of being alone.

My mind focused on my muscles as all other worries fell away. With every step I take, the further I get from the pack, the more at ease I feel. My muscles, although burning, relax at not having to be the Alpha they all need. Their expectations fall away as I embrace the loneliness of the forest.

The feeling of not having eyes following my every move empowers me and drives me to push harder, my mind racing at the feeling of being free.

My lungs scream at me, needing a rest, and as I see a clearing coming up, I decide to take a break.

I place my hand on one trunk, breathing in the fresh air as I take deep breaths, trying to even my breathing. I pull the hem of my shirt up, using it to wipe the sweat off my face. I am

quick to pull my shirt off, tucking it into the waistband of my shorts as I stand there, the sun warming my skin as I look at the trees blowing in the wind, surrounding me in their welcoming embrace, making me a part of their world.

A sweet smell catches my attention, causing my head to spin as it implores me, calling for me to come towards it. But as quickly as the smell comes, it disappears and with it, my breath.

I stand in the clearing, my head tilting from side to side as I sniff the air, hoping to catch a hint of the smell. After doing this for a minute or two and failing. I continue running, my muscles burning again as my feet carry me forward.

As I run, the sweet smell keeps coming and going, every time entering my nose from a different direction. My senses go haywire as my feet trip over each other. My vision becomes slightly blurry, sending me on a high as I rush to chase it.

I can hear the water crashing as the trees slowly thin out. My feet come to stop as I realize where I am. I know it's not the exact spot she had fallen, but the sight of the ravine makes my body go rigid. Memory flashes of that day fill my mind.

I look across the ravine towards the other side, my mind providing me with a picture of Ana standing there, her body still as she just watched. Her mouth was open and screaming as she stood watching Gisele fall, unmoving.

I remember her screams filling the air mixing with Gisele's.

I walk towards the edge, like I had on that day, and I look down, remembering how Gisele's body was carried away as it hit the river.

The feeling of her body slowly giving up as it is pulled under the water. I remember how my bond with her faded slowly as I rushed towards the water's edge. Hoping to find her before it was too late.

My body fills with the searing pain of having lost her. The same pain I had felt on that fateful day when we pulled her body out of the water. Her limbs bent at unnatural angles as I saw her face.

I felt it break. The snapping sensation sends me to my knees as I stare at her lifeless body. My hand came up to caress her cheek as the tears poured down my face. Landing on her bruised skin. I remember leaning down to kiss her forehead as a hand squeezes my shoulder.

The sweet smell enters my nose again, making my mind go haywire again. As my wolf savors the smell, a growl escapes my mouth at the realization of a female in heat.

My body acts on its own as my wolf takes over, carrying me towards the smell, needing to claim the female and lavish her while she is in her heat. My feet pick up, carrying me towards the smell as I run along the edge of the ravine.

My footsteps grow faster as the smell becomes more notable, more enticing. I can sense the female is close, her smell is getting more prominent, and it drives me to reach her before any other wolf does.

A painful howl slices through the silence, piercing the air. My feet stop moving as the familiarity makes me try to calm my wolf down enough to focus and figure it out. I slow down, following the smell as I become more in control of my senses.

My wolf still drives me forward. I stop when I see the familiar hair. Her hand reaches for something in her boot as her sobs fill the now silent forest. Ana's sobs break my heart. I realize the scent is coming from her and as much as I want to let my wolf go wild and embrace its natural instincts; I know it's futile.

I close my eyes, taking a few heavy breaths as I try to control my wolf, focusing on steadying my heartbeat. I remind myself of Ana and Derek being mates, and even though Derek might not want to be with her during this time, I can't betray either of them like that.

My eyes never leave her as I take control of my wolf, watching her as she stares at her phone as it rings again.

I watch with bated breath as she stands up and throws her phone over the edge. I take a few steps forward.

I watch her fall.

It seems like time has stopped, as I rush forward. My feet seem to be stuck as I try to move forward, but don't get closer to her.

"Ana!" I scream as I rush towards her.

The world comes back into motion as her body disappears over the edge. I don't wait for her body to hit the water. I hear rushing water as I run towards the edge of the cliff. Muscle memory is the only thing I can rely on.

My hand fishes my phone out from my pocket as my feet hit the ground. I dial Derek's number without a second thought, knowing that I will need his help.

"Dude, I'm in class! What's u-?" he says after answering on the third ring.

"Fuck Derek, it's Ana. She fell into the ravine," I say, trying to get the words out while running towards Ana.

"Shit, shit, is she okay?" Derek asks.

I hear movement on his side, knowing he is most likely getting ready to come and help.

"I don't know, but we need help," I tell him, fighting back the sobs forming in my throat at the thought of Ana being gone.

"We'll be there as soon as we can," Derek says.

My hand shoves my phone into my pocket as I run harder, trying to get to her before it is too late.

As I approach the end of the stream, I see Ana's hair floating in the water, surrounding her lifeless body.

I rush towards her, reality and my memories blending together as her hair becomes lighter. I ran through the water. I eventually got to Ana. I place my hands under her body, lifting her and carrying her towards the shore.

Before gently placing her down on the bank. Her body morphs into Gisele's bruised body, her limbs at unnatural angles.

I shake my head, trying to focus.

Relief and dread fill me as I see Ana, instead of Gisele, in front of me. My eyes scan over her body. Her body is covered in bruises, but her arms and legs are all okay. Nothing seems to be broken. I notice the scratch along her cheek, and I gently touch it.

"Fuck!" I say as I feel her cold skin under my fingers. Dread fills me as I think she is gone.

I shake my head, trying to get those thoughts out of my mind. The adrenaline flooding my veins is the only thing keeping me from just staring at her. I gently pull her body into my lap as I caress her face, moving her wet hair.

"Come on, Ana," I say softly, my voice breaking. My hand falls to her neck as I search for a pulse. Not knowing how I will cope with losing another person causes me to focus on the feeling of her in my arms. My heart won't be able to endure that torture again.

I can't lose Ana; that will finally break me.