I wondered around the house picking up after my tiny tornadoes. Christina was neat, but the twins were just as messy as their father used to be. I glanced quickly at the clock. I had a few minutes before everyone would be barging into the house. Rachel and Paul lived a mile away from us. The kids liked to take the trail back and forth. When they were old enough, Jacob, Paul, Sam, and Jared made a trail that led from Rachel's backyard right into our front yard. The wolves constantly ran that trail to make sure no new scents crossed it. Rachel, Emily, Kim, and I didn't mind that. We knew all of the kids traveled that trail without an adult, but they all knew to never walk it alone. They walked it in a group, oblivious to their silent protectors lurking around them.
I smiled when I heard the distant laughter of the large group of kids. It amazed me that we were raising the next generation of Quileutes. I opened the front door in time to see Asherah perched on Alexander's back with Ethan poking at her sides laughing when she squirmed. Brody walked with Sarah on his back and walked close beside Natalie, while Amber skipped along pushing Ethan. Then dodging his weak punches.
Asherah saw me first and she waved, sliding off of her brothers back. "Hi, mom!" She yelled as she ran over to me.
"How was school?" I asked.
"Fine," she answered quickly.
"No it wasn't!" Alexander said from behind her. He looked up at me and opened his mouth to speak, but Asherah pushed him. He pushed her back, but Ethan caught her, helping her to steady herself
"What happened?" I demanded.
"This kid keeps trying to mess with her. Mom, seriously he's just a stupid bully. I could knock him into the ground, but--"
"No," I cut him off. "I'll talk to your father."
"That's what I figured." he rolled his eyes.
"What's his name?" I asked Asherah.
"He's a senior, his name is Jason." She shuttered at his name. "He's always so angry. I didn't do anything." Tears filled her eyes and Ethan wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Don't worry, we wont let it happen again." He told her. His face just as angered as Alexander's.
She smiled up at him and nodded.
They turned to go play with the others. I looked up at the sky when I heard a distant rumble. "As soon as it starts raining, I want all of you inside." I insisted.
"Ok!" They all said in unison.
I figured I'd call my mom before the storm hit and I had a bunch of kids screaming and running through the house.
Just as I was about to hang up the phone a bright flash of lightning flashed through the room, followed by a loud clap of thunder. I dropped the phone and ran towards the screams outside. The boys tried to scramble the younger girls together to help them inside. Asherah had a hold on Natalie's hand as they ran. I hurried over to them and took Natalie in my arms. Asherah wrapped her arms around my waist as we rushed inside.
"How long has it been raining?" I asked a little annoyed. I asked them to come inside when it started raining, but all of them were soaked and full of mud.
"It just started." Alexander said quickly.
"Ok, I'll believe that… never. I thought I said come inside when it started to rain! Go get changed before your father gets home."
"He's home." Jacob said as he stepped through the open door. Christina walked in behind him, both of them dripping.
Christina weaved herself through the crowd in the living room to her bedroom.
"Since when did we hold mud wrestling in our front yard?" Jacob pulled at Alexander's muddy shirt.
"Since it was raining and we were having fun." Alexander shrugged.
"I think I just heard your mother saying she's asked you to come inside when it started to rain."
Alexander bit his bottom lip and looked down at his muddy shoes.
"Go get changed and cleaned up."
"Me first!" Asherah yelled and went to run passed Jacob, but slipped on the mud that dripped off of Alexander.
I sucked in a sharp breath and waited for her to hit the floor, but Jacob easily reached out and caught her arm. "He's dirtier than you, let him go first." Jacob told her, and let go of her arm. She turned to walk back towards Ethan, but slipped again. Jacob reached out once more to catch her. "Ok, slip-n-slide, sit down and don't move." Jacob pressed down on her shoulders and she sat in the middle of the mud. I was happy he didn't put her on the couch.
"But I wanted to go over there," she pointed towards where the rest of the kids were drying off with towels I handed them.
"Brody, catch her." Jacob smirked and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know what he was thinking.
He bend down and placed his hands on her back, pushing her. She squealed with delight as she slid across the floor. She reached out for Brody and he grabbed onto her hands to stop her.
I groaned and covered my eyes. "My hardwood floor!" I wined.
"What?" Jacob asked innocently.
"Nothing," I sighed. "How was your say?" I asked, perking up a little when his arms wound around me.
"Better than I though. We'll talk later, but I don't think I'm going out tomorrow." Jacob smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Leaving Christina in charge of the pack made him nervous. I knew it wasn't because he didn't think she was ready, she was his daughter. He knows she has to be fist in line to lead her pack into a fight--if it ever comes down to that. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. "Welcome to my side," I smiled up at him. He rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I guess it has its advantages." His lips were at my ear, but he suddenly pulled away from me. I wanted to pout, but then remembered the kids standing in the room.
"It's almost time! If you want to get there before dark." Christina said, shaking Jacob's shoulders.
"Thank you, honey." He said and turned back towards me, my favorite smile lighting up his eyes.
"Come on," he took my hand and I stared at the group of kids in the corner of the room.
"Emily, Kim, and Rachel aren't here yet. I can't leave them!"
"That's why Chris and I are here." Edward said when he walked through the front door.
"And how much experience do you have with babysitting?" I asked him.
"I've never been around kids before these guys, but how hard can it be?" Edward shrugged.
"Ok then," Jacob smirked, and looked at Christina. "They should be getting picked up soon, keep an eye in your brother and sister. No outside in the rain."
"Have fun!" Christina kissed both of us and Asherah waved from the floor. I laughed and walked over to her.
"Be good, please." I begged her. She nodded and I kissed the cleanest spot on her forehead.
"Shower's free!" Alexander said and hurried over to us. "Bye! Have fun," he wrapped his arms around my waist.
"So, they all know where you're taking me?" I asked once we were outside. The rain slowed, but didn't stop. I could see the break in the clouds over in the distance.
Jacob nodded and shrugged out of his shirt.
"Are we not walking or driving to wherever you're taking me?"
He nodded again, a smile playing on the corners of his lips.
He took my hand and we walked towards the forest. We stopped when we came to the beginning of a mountain. "We're not climbing up there, are we?" I wondered aloud.
"Yes," Jacob placed his hands on my shoulders and slid them up my neck, and onto my cheeks. His warm lips touched mine softly. "You have been here for me since the very first time I phased. Even though I wouldn't allow you to be there. You never stopped fighting for me. I couldn't do this without you," Jacob shifted uneasily. "Look, I know I'm no good at the gushy love talk, but I wanted my last time I phase to be with you. The sun will be setting in a few hours and I thought we could go up the mountain to watch it."
I blinked away the tears in my eyes, but more clouded my vision. "The last time?"
"She's ready, her senses are sharper than mine were. This is going to be hard on me not being able to follow her when danger is around. But she has to do it, she was born to lead. I want to grow old with my wife. Nothing is more important than that." Jacob's lips met mine, then he kissed the tears streaming down my cheeks. "Will you go running with me for my last run?"
I nodded, unable to form words.
Jacob stepped away from me, tears in his own eyes as his arms started to shake. I wanted to look away from him and let him have his last moment of ever becoming a wolf, but his eyes kept mine on his. It was then that I heard the rustling in the woods. Jacob's eyes kept mine where they were. When the reddish-black wolf walked into view I immediately knew who she was.
"She's here with the others. I'm letting go of the alpha inside of me." Jacob informed me. His voice shaking. I couldn't tell if he was in pain, or upset. I glanced towards my daughter.
She was now the largest wolf standing there. The rest of the pack filed in at her flanks. They stood tall as they watched Jacob. I forced myself to look away from Christina when the giant tear fell from her eye and landed on the ground below. This was hard on both of them, but I believed Jacob when he said she was ready. We have to let her go sometime, but this letting go wasn't like dropping her off at preschool for the first time. We were setting her off to lead her pack.
Christina's eyes closed along with Leah's, who was standing behind her right shoulder. They were going to let him phase. Paul, Jared, and Sam were there, but they weren't in their wolf forms. I stepped back while they silently walked up to Jacob. The three of them shook Jacob's hand. I didn't realize I wondered close to Christina. I reached up and touched her fur. She leaned into my touch, but stayed with her eyes shut.
Once Jacob was standing alone I walked back up to him. He kissed me before stepping away. I watched his body shift into his wolf self. Christina threw her head back and howled. The others followed her. Jacob bend down and Paul helped me onto his back. We watched Christina closely. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be looking for, but I knew Jacob did. She shook her head back and forth and a shiver ran through her body. She gave in to the alpha, letting it become a part of her. Without looking back, Jacob took off running. The sounds of the howling faded behind us.
"Jake, I feel like a teenager again!" I smiled. The wind on my face felt good.
Jacob laughed his deep wolf laugh.
We slowed about an hour after we started running up the mountain. I slid off his back and he phased back. I waited for him to put his jeans back on, but he wrapped his arms around me instead. "I love you, for everything that you do." He smiled down at me.
"And I love you for everything that you are." I lifted my hand and laid my palm flat on his chest. I would miss him always feeling so warm. But I would have my Jacob, he would never have to leave me again for something dangerous. Although I could never win. Instead of having to say goodbye to my husband, I'll be saying goodbye to my daughter. I couldn't decide which one was worse.
Jacob's lips found mine hungrily. Mine moved with his perfectly. Jacob and I tangled ourselves into each others body. My clothes were off before we both hit the ground.
