Sam eased back from the group. Careful to remain unnoticed, he watched as tensions grew and the vampires communicated with no words. The peace that had been allowed he and Emily to start their family was broken. He wasn't sure what to think of the new vampires that had come. He knew, even without having the ability to read their minds, that they were more like Nessie then the Cullen's. Their heart beats gave them away. Their eyes were the same dark color, not red as blood drinkers, but still there was just something about them that he didn't trust. He watched as the whole scene changed without words. He felt the tensions ebb and flow but never recede all the way.
Sam met Paul's eyes and gave a slight nod. Paul and the others of the wolf pack closed rank, but remained listening to every word. He knew they wondered what these new bloodsuckers would mean and where their appetites would truly lay.
Once outside, Sam phased on the run. He knew that something big was going to happen but he wasn't sure what. Too important to let any other member of the pack go, he darted between the trees heading to the North. With no particular destination in mind he headed for the one person who understood the Cullens and the pack.
With the others in their human form he was free to think without them hearing his thoughts. All vampires were a threat. The Cullens kept themselves in control and appeared to want to keep from the evil of their nature, but it didn't change what they really were. He had tolerated the visits from other covens as long as they adhered to the Cullen's way of hunting. Alice was always kind enough to pass the warnings on such visits to Edward, and then Edward to Seth.
"Seth," he thought and felt his shadow running parallel to him before he could see him there. "Go back," he commanded without the timbre of the alpha behind it.
Seth's mind touched his. The excitement, confusion, and eagerness to see Jacob all blasted through in rapid succession.
Some ADHD meds might help with your sketchy thinking, Sam shot back. He leapt over a snow covered bush, his feet clearing it with ease. He saw Seth putting things in order in his head.
So we are going to find Jacob, cool. Been wanting to see him. Was wondering too why he ever left. I mean, he can be with Renesme sooner than our bro is going to get to be with Claire. How do you just up and leave your life mate? Oh, and why are we getting him now? I mean, aren't we jumping the gun a little bit? Seth rolled his eyes nervously toward Sam, waiting for Sam's response.
Sam kept his eyes to the trail. Too much trust Seth. Too much trust in their kind. Sam felt that Seth's friendship with the Cullens had always given them and all their vampire friends too much lee-way. Sam knew Seth could see his thoughts of his deflection from the pack and how Sam felt about it. It had been the trust in the Cullins that had broken the pack to begin with. The only reason Seth had returned to the pack had been Jacob leaving. He knew Seth had read his thought's as Seth's steps faltered.
Sam clamped down on the jealousy he had born over the loyalty of the pack to Jacob Black. Jacob was the rightful leader of the Quileute pack. He had never wanted the power or leadership. He had only used that power when it had come down to taking the life of someone he loved. The others in the pack had deflected on their own, against Jacob's wishes.
Sam was also careful to keep his thoughts away from thoughts of Seth's sister. No need to touch on that subject. They had relived it every day she had been part of the pack. Though he had felt guilt over her leaving, it had eased the way for Emily and Sam to finally start their life. Now that life felt like it was in danger again by this new turn of events.
Your way too suspicious, Seth thought as he followed Sam's thoughts. Sam lunged forward, breaking from Seth and forcing him to stop thinking and keep up.
Leah lifted her nose to the wind testing. Hunger bit at her stomach and twisted it tight. She put her muzzle to the ground, smelling the fresh trail of the elk. Her eyes found Jacob hidden in the brush to the right. The slightest shift of his weight had been the movement that had given him away. Their eyes met briefly and he turned his head a fraction in the direction the trail led. Slowly Leah eased through the snow, her nose to the trail. She paused letting the scent tell her the age and health of the animal. An older male.
She paused in mid step, cocking her ears to the South west. The elk was just over the ridge to the North but she could sense something coming from the other direction. Jacob was ready to circle around. There was no need for mind-reading. They hunted almost as one now. But still there was something…
What do you hear Leah? Jacob grumped. His voice in her head so unexpected after so long made her jump. His impatience jolted her as he shared a vision of the kill and his need for the meat.
I don't know exactly. I can't smell it or hear it yet. I can feel it though. She moved out off the trail to the brush with Jacob and jerked her head. It's coming from there.
Mighty inconvenient time to develop women's intuition, Jacob snorted, obviously annoyed by her distraction. That elk is the best of the season. Typical. Don't get squeamish on me now.
Leah snapped at him quietly, her teeth catching air as he sidestepped. Whatever. We would have had this elk a year ago if you hadn't jumped so early last time. They continued the banter, allowing it to lighten the tension between them.
The three years they had spent in the wilderness together had forced them to forge a friendship neither had expected. Jacob's shared pain of having to give Nessie up had allowed Leah to soften to him. His leaving of Nessie and breaking the binding of imprinting had earned him her respect. His acceptance of her with no question of her reasoning had earned her loyalty. Jake was just glad of the company to keep him from completely letting his animal side take over and never returning.
It hadn't been easy. Leah enjoyed the freedom of the wolf form, but still sought time to be a woman. Once in a while she would just leave Jacob to wander and howl her frustration over the hand she had been dealt. As time passed this became less and less.
Jacob nosed the trail once again, unafraid of whatever approached. Nothing could take us down together so I'm not particularly worried.
Leah came to his right shoulder I wasn't afraid either, she sniped. I was just being cautious I'm still not sure what it is…"
Jacob's whole body tensed and his ears twitched to the sound Leah had missed. What? Leah asked, her ears straining to pick up on the sound she had missed.
Sam.He stayed where he was, his head turning in the direction of approach. He felt Leah stiffen, but felt no other signs of distress over his answer.
He's coming, closing in quickly. Seth is with him. Driving him crazy. Excited to see us. Seth wants to try to sneak up and ambush us. It's odd that I can hear his thoughts. Jacob turned to Leah then.
Her eyes held the shock and helplessness she had hidden from him. Why? she thought sharply. She dropped her eyes and whined. Jacob saw how much this time away had meant to her. It was the healing she had never had time for in La Push with Sam and Emily's love choking her. He saw through her façade and that she was afraid of that pain returning. Would those feelings come back when she saw Sam? He felt something else too…
Leah. We have bigger things to think of. I feel your pain, and I mean literally. But it has to be something pretty big for Seth to come all the way here to find us. Push past this. Let it go, it's time. He turned from the trail of the elk and waited.
There was a brief moment of hesitation as Seth skidded to a halt on sight. Both alphas stood tall, measuring each other. It had been a long time and the animal spirit in Jacob was strong. He knew this was his friend, yet the animal was ready to fight for dominance. Sam waited as if he understood Jacob's inner turmoil.
Seth, however, had no reservations over the reunion. He jumped and pranced over to Leah, taking a snap at her hind leg. Hey, sis. Long time no see, your looking a little long in the tooth.
Leah visibly relaxed and wrestled with her brother. I'll give you two a moment, she said leading Seth a bit away.
Sam phased into his human form, pulling on his ragged shorts in haste. Jacob phased too, but without the convenience of clothing for modesty. The time he and Leah had spent together had been revealing, there was no need to hide himself now. After the initial sly glances, now it was just an inconvenience they chose to ignore.
"It has been too long Jacob. You should have come back to check up sooner. Your father ages faster with you gone. Charlie, too. They both worry about you. Sometimes I catch Charlie standing at the edge of the woods, just searching, as if he's lost his dog but is afraid to call for it." The joke fell flat as Jacob stood waiting. His sharp eyes remained focused straight into Sam's, no guilt or shame.
"Why did you come?" There was no emotion in Jacob's scratchy voice. Sam wondered what he was thinking.
"The Cullins are fine." Sam carefully avoided speaking of Nessie. "There have been some changes, though. Some new comers that have made things a little more tense. They are suspicious. I do not believe that the Cullins even trust them completely. And then there is the claim on Renesme…" he had Jacob's attention now.
Eyes flashing, Jacob demanded, "What about Nessie? What has happened? Have they tried to take her? Is it the Voltourri?" Jacob's disguise of calmness was gone. His obsession with Nessie was laid bare for Sam to see as he fought to get himself under control and allow Sam to answer his questions. His eyes shifted once to the South and Sam briefly wondered if he would even wait to hear the rest of the information before racing off.
"Nessie is fine, Jacob. It is only these others we have fear of. For the past few years it has been almost peaceful. We have been able to get our phasing under control enough to continue with our lives." He gave a smile that turned to a grimace. "But I can feel the change coming brought on by these newcomers. I fear for the tribe. I fear for the pack. These new ones cannot be trusted, you will see."
"Explain about Nessie", Jacob replied impatiently, not wanting to hear of Sam's latest witch hunt.
"Nessie is 16 now, or that is the age she is assigned. Most of the time that is the way she behaves, Jacob. Like a teenager." He smiled, remembering the party. "She is beautiful. The aging has slowed now. Maybe even stopped, as she looked the same as when I had seen her a month ago."
Jacob looked pained. He wished he could have seen her grow and change. It was hard to think of her as more than the little girl he had left. He wasn't ready to think of her as becoming a woman. She had been alone. He wondered if she would forgive him for leaving her. He had known her loneliness and tried to help her fight it. He looked at Sam again, willing him to continue.
"The other's are from the Amazon. The Cullins seemed pleased to see them, but though there was some immediate tension over the male's intentions." Jacob lifted an eyebrow as Sam hesitated.
"They are hybrids like Nessie, Jacob. The same kind. This Nahul has come back for Nessie. He wants her for his mate."
Jacob quivered before him. He couldn't imagine what Jacob could be feeling. Noone had ever challenged his interest in Emily. Perhaps because Jacob saw Nessie as a little girl, his feelings would not be so passionate. Somehow he doubted it.