Anastasia

~The past

I couldn't stand being here and listening to them. I had been avoiding looking over at Gisele and Jacob for over ten minutes now, trying to watch the movie playing in the background. They seemed to have forgotten the movie and my presence as she sat on his lap. His arms

wrapped around her as their lips find their way back to each other every few minutes. Gisele's giggles fill the air as I try not to let my irritation of having to sit and endure this torture show.

Instead, I roll my eyes as I try to focus on the movie.

"Jacob," she squeals. Making me lose my focus on the movie as I chance a glance over at them. I see Jacob leaning over Gisele, his hands on her waist as he tickles her. Her giggles fill the room again as they become lost in each other.

Not noticing me. I sigh, getting up to go get a glass of water and before things get more intense between them.

"Where are you going, Ana?" Gisele asks.

I look over my shoulder at them. Seeing her sit up on the couch as both she and Jacob stare at me, goofy looks on their faces.

"I think I'm gonna go," I say, focusing on my feet as I avoid staring at them.

A blush on my cheeks at the fact that I was watching them practically eat each other's face a few minutes ago.

"Why?" They both ask at the same time, before looking at each other and laughing.

My mind provides me with the retort - because I don't want to sit here and watch you two practically fuck on the couch.

But I say, "I'm bored." Hoping they will accept my answer and let me leave.

"So then let's do something else," Gisele says, standing up and fixing her shirt as she does.

"Like what?" Jacob asks as he walks past me, going to the kitchen, taking an apple out of the fruit bowl and biting into it.

Gisele and I stare at each other for a few minutes. Her lips forming a smile at the same time mine does, both of us having the same thought.

"I know. Why don't we have a race like old times?" I say, turning around to face Jacob now. "It could be like old times, girl's vs boy."

Jacob stares past me, most likely looking at Gisele to see whether she agrees with this. Still eating his apple as he thinks my suggestion over.

"Come on babe," she says, "Are you scared we beat you?" she teases.

I watch as Jacob throws the apple core away, before finally looking at us and nodding his head. "To where?" he asks.

"To the edge of the border, like old times," I say, a smile gracing my lips as I remember all the times we used to race there. Jacob and I had tied in a few of them when we were younger.

"Get ready to lose," he says, with a substantial amount of confidence.

We make our way outside, ready to start the race once we reach the forest. As soon as we get outside, Jacob takes off sprinting. His laugh filled the air as both Gisele and I stared at each other in shock at what he had just done.

"Hey, that's cheating!" she screams after him. We both start running, chasing after him as we try to not catch up to him. His Alpha training has strengthened him and he has become quicker.

I stop, allowing Gisele to catch up with me as she has fallen behind, confusing me as she is a Beta.

"I know a shortcut," I say, as we stand there catching our breath.

"I don't know, Ana," Gisele says as she looks worried.

"Live a little, besides he is way too fast for us and it's not like he will know," I say, trying to convince Gisele, wanting to do everything to ensure for once we beat Jacob.

"Let's do it," she says and within seconds, I am running off. I can hear her footsteps hitting the ground as she follows me. Our feet are hitting the ground in a welcoming rhythm. I let my instincts take over. My body embraces the feeling of being free as the trees rush past me

in a blur of brown and green, an occasional vibrant burst of color as we run past an exotic flower or two.

I hear Gisele's giggles in the background, letting me know she is enjoying this as much as I am. I run faster at the sound; the leaves crunching beneath my feet as the fresh air fills my lungs.

I hear rushing water and I know we are close. I rush forwards towards the edge of the tree line. I wait for Gisele to catch up to me before I walk towards the ravine's cliff, staring down into it and seeing the water rushing between the ravine's bank.

"I don't know about this, Ana," Gisele says, her voice shocking me as I move away from the edge.

"It's not that far," I say, before taking a few steps back, getting a running start as I jump over the ravine. I feel the wind rushing past me, thrills me as I let out a joyful squeal. A smile on my lips as I land on the other side.

"See Gisele, it's not that bad," I say. I can hear something hitting the water, but I pay it no mind, thinking it is nothing.

"I don't think I can do it," she says, as she takes a few steps back.

"Gisele, if I can do it, your Beta should be able to make this jump seem like nothing," I say, knowing it will be easier for her stronger Beta compared to my Omega form.

She stares at it for a few minutes, thinking my words over as she takes a few steps back. I watch her chest rise and fall as she takes a few deep breaths before nodding her head.

I watch her run towards the edge; the world slowing as she gets closer to the edge, her feet hitting the ground, pushing her into the air as she jumps.

A joyous scream leaving her mouth as her lips twist into a smile, showcasing the happiness she feels as the air breezes through her hair.

Her feet land on the ground and I can feel the breath I was holding leave my lungs as she stands there in front of me.

I take a step forward, Gisele's blue eyes shining triumphantly and a smile on her face from being able to make the jump.

I take another step forward.

Her face changes.

Her eyes are widening.

Her arms come out, swinging as she tries to regain her balance.

My feet are stuck, as if they are in quicksand, not being able to do anything as I sink further into the ground.

Gisele's body moves backwards, as if an invisible hand comes up and pulls her over the edge.

I hear screaming as she disappears.

The world returns to normal as I rush towards the edge, falling to my knees as I continue to hear the screaming. The sound makes me hope Gisele is okay, but as I search the river, even looking

towards the hidden bank, I realize the scream is coming from me as I grow panicked.

I hear a painful howl, surrounding the forest. The sound of it drowns out my screams as I lean over the edge, hoping to see her blonde hair in the water. My eyes stare at it, searching, hoping.

A hand roughly grabs my shoulder, pulling me back. I don't take my eyes off the ravine as the hand grips my arm tighter.

"What the fuck did you do, Ana?" Jacob growls at me.

I look at him, shock on my face as I see the tears streaming down his face. His voice is full of anger as a mask of agony forms on his face. He grips my other arm, forcing me to look at him.

"Why didn't you help her?" he asks, shaking me slightly as his grip on my arms tightens.

"I didn't- I tried – I just." I try my mind, confused and in shock about what just happened as tears stream down my face. His hands dig into me at the lack of an answer.

"Ow, Jacob, you're hurting me," I say, trying to get his arms off of me.

I see guilt flash behind Jacob's blue eyes, but it quickly disappears. He growls at me before pushing me away. I lose my footing, landing on my ass. I stare at him in shock. I watch him turn around, his body morphing as he shifts into his wolf.

I look back towards the ravine as I lose sight of Jacob. I crawl towards it, looking over the edge like I did before. Hoping Gisele would be there, her blonde shining hair, a calling beacon to find her. But I sob as I see nothing.

I stay like that as the sun sets, my eyes never leave the water. I don't move when another painful howl pierces through the forest. Or when my body shivers and my tears run dry. I just sit there staring down at the ravine, hoping she will resurface.

But I know I lost her.