The Turning of Jacob Black

15 March, 1695

Edward awoke, tendrils of light playing across his dishevelled face. As ever, in the morning, the lightning-scar across his face ached. The pale morning glow was painful in his wrecked human state. The warmth of the Newest, Seth Clearwater, still in his wolf form lay against his side. All around, his brethren lay spooning, both in human and lupine form, exhausted but sated.

Spying the Alpha Wolf, Jacob, standing in the shade, he stood and went to join him.

“My Lord... Jacob. The initiation was a success,” Edward smiled softly as he glanced back to the slumbering form of the new wolf. Jacob nodded, pleased at his choice. The decision of the Alpha Wolf to change a human was not one taken lightly. Many did not survive the first turning. The change twisted the minds of some, and forced the clan to destroy them.

“Yes, Edward, the wolf is strong – he will thrive with the Joyning.” Jacob’s deep velvet tones caressed the words, as he took Edwards hands in his. Edward watched, fascinated as Jacobs tousled hair glistened in the sunlight. His beauty, radiant while human, shone ever more brightly since his own Joyning. Edward was glad he had taken off his shirt.

“Should we wake him?” Edward asked, seeing that Seth had regained human form. Drawing Jacob after him, he walked toward Seth, carefully stepping over the sleeping bodies on the parapet floor. As the molten chocolate spheres of the Newest fluttered open, he saw Jacob smile and heard him think Welcome, Newest, were bruthers now.

This mental message of welcome echoed through the minds of all their clan, and was joined by a hundred more. The howls of their Family rose up in the morning air, as they all greeted their new brother.