Both your left hand and upper arm were bandaged, the pretty, if uncharacteristic, dress you were wearing was quickly soaked by the torrents of rain and you looked distressed. Jacob processed those things within moments of seeing you stumble out of your familiar pickup truck, and a mixture of panic, anger and protectiveness flared up under his skin like someone had frayed all of his nerve endings.

“What did that bloodsucker do?” Jacob gritted out.

He ran towards you and gathering you into a crushing hug within a few strides, loosening up when you winced. You’d been having a birthday party at the Cullen’s, the vampiric stench of death was still clinging to your skin and it made his nostrils burn. Jacob breathed out against the crown of your head, backtracking in a measured, calmer voice.

“Hey, you’re with me now, you can relax, shh, breathe for me,” Jacob said quietly, cradling you against his bare chest despite the cold, biting rain, something he didn’t feel as much as you. “I need you to breathe, I can’t understand what you’re trying to tell me. I need you to tell me what happened, okay? Just relax, talk to me.”

You were babbling against his chest, trembling. ‘I didn’t know’. ‘I’ve never seen them like that’. ‘He didn’t mean to’. Every word amped up the fear swelling in his chest—fear that those bloodsuckers had hurt you, that something had happened to you. The bandages on your hand and upper arm indicated that something had. “Let’s get you inside. It’s raining, and you’re freezing, c’mon.”