Jacob had randomly vanished for a week, no phone call, no texts, no contact at all. Absolutely nothing.

Then he was back. He was different. His hair was cropped, and anytime he's without a shirt a Quileute tattoo was visible on his right shoulder.

It was as if he was actively avoiding his best friend now with how he hadn't reached out yet. Jacob hated it. Hated not being around them, one of his closest friends.

But he had to do it. It's for their own safety.

What if I hurt them? He couldn't bear the thought. Damn this curse! Damn the cold ones! It makes his blood boil with an unending rage and he has to fight to control himself again as his wolf blood runs hot all over again. His emotions forcing him to shift against his will once more only making him anger further. It's a struggle to control it. Control this curse. Control himself.

Another week passes and the two of them still haven't spoken a word to one another. He can't even handle looking in his friend's direction, let alone meet their gaze with how much it hurts him to know he's hurting them with the silence and distance. But, then his friend catches him when he least expects it.

He was working outside on his motorcycle when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Jacob's eyes widen as his head whips around to find his friend standing there. He gulps hard as he stares directly into their eyes for the first time in a long moment, for a very long stretch of time and awkward silence, his breath catching in his chest and he hardly recognizes the gasp escaping his parted lips. He swallows thickly as a faint flush rises to his russet cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles standing up, stepping away from his bike, pulling his friend into a tight hug. His eyes squeeze shut and his chin hooks over their shoulder, head tilted with his nose near the curve of your neck, "but, you have to go. You can't be here, it's... it's not safe... I need you to be safe."

Jacob huffs as he reluctantly let's go of his friend, giving an anxious and guilty look as he pulls away from them.

It physically hurts him to step away. Makes his inner wolf whine. Every part of his being screams to keep his friend close. Safe. Happy. No matter the cost. His jaw ticks as his gaze flicks over them briefly before flitting back up, not quite meeting their gaze, "I'll explain everything, eventually. I promise," Jacob mutters rather weakly. Knowing he can't simply out himself and the rest of the pack to just anyone for any old reason, even if the thought of making them leave and recreating that distance he's been fighting to maintain for completely normal-ish reasons before, makes him want to fall to his knees and apologize a million times over and beg them to stay instead now.

Perhaps being his imprintee would be reason enough to tell them about this whole... thing. But he also dreads the idea of bringing his friend into this life... this supernatural mess that he was drug into without a choice in the matter.

And now to make things even worse his stupid newfound instincts were trying to do the same to his friend, drag them in without a choice in the matter. Honestly it made him hate himself and this stupid curse even more.