Chapter 19

• After Edward's interruption, it takes a little while for our group to return to the festivities. Michael keeps his distance, not even making eye contact with me, and Eric is much more hesitant than before. The rest of the group try to pretend nothing has happened. Jake, Quil and Embry do their best to help lift my spirits. However, I find myself pulling back, distancing myself from my new friends. Maybe it's the events of the day that are beginning to hit me, or the lack of sleep. All I know is that I'm suddenly feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. The only thing I want now, is to escape into the solitude of my cottage and get a good night's sleep.
• I decide to grab Jake to let him know my plans, but stop short when I see him dancing happily with a short and very cute red-head. Quil and Embry are likewise distracted by a few new girls who have joined our group. Seth went home earlier, Rose and Emmett are making out heatedly, and Leah and Alice are dancing with Eric and Michael. Turning my head, I see that we aren't far away from the path leading to my cottage. The walk home is a short one, that will probably only take about 5-10 minutes tops. Without giving myself time to overthink it, I grab my jacket and sneak away.
• Walking quickly, I notice that the evening has turned cold and very dark. Wrapping the jacket tightly around me, I walk as quickly as I can. In the back of my mind, I realize an uneasy feeling is beginning to spread through me. I feel as though I'm being followed. An urgency spreads through my limbs and I pick up my pace. There are almost no stars in the sky and the ground is difficult to see. Usually, this would be a good time to phase, my wolf's eyes being much more accustomed to the dark and her presence much more threatening if I indeed am being followed. The amount of unfamiliar shifters, however, cause me to pause.