Chapter 2
La Push
Early Morning
Sue and Charlie sat uneasily at their kitchen table, not talking, while outside their cozy little house regular yips from the patrolling wolves reminded them of the danger lurking in the shadows. Suddenly the night was rent with heartbreakingly agonized howls. Sue shot out of her seat, and Charlie dashed right behind her, wrapping his arms around her tightly to stop her running out into the night. He drew her gently into the living room and settled her in the armchair beside the telephone. She looked at it, then at him in mute thanks. She knew she would hear from someone soon. Charlie shouldered his hunting rifle and went to the window. Outside he saw huge dark shadows streaking past and his heart clenched. They were heading for the town center.
La Push had recently remodeled their town square. In the center of the freshly paved area, stood a statue of Taha Aki; a great wolf entwined between his legs. It was carved from a rich dark wood and mounted on a low stone plinth. Carefully tended flower beds squared off the corners and neat wooden benches sat at right angles to the new street lamps in each corner. Clever lighting illuminated the statue setting it off at night. Tonight it also up lit a dreadful sight. Pinned to the statue was the mangled body of Stephen Frazier. His mother was the sister of Sam's absentee father and a gentle, loyal woman. She had married then divorced, returning to La Push alone to raise her three children. Stephen was her eldest son and his loss would tear her apart. The Shadow Warriors had struck again, leaving a pointed message to the town at the same time.
Later that Day
The Cullen cavalcade arrived in front of Sue and Charlie's new home in La Push at noon that same dreadful day. Edward's gift had overwhelmed him as soon as he was within range of the thoughts of the Quileute nation. He'd put his head in his hands in anguish. Sam pulled his battered four wheel drive up to the curb, followed by the Cullens. He looked up the road towards the town center. "Something has happened, hasn't it?" He asked Edward. "Another one of my brothers has gone, I can feel it." Tears of sorrow and rage filled his dark eyes.
Edward simply nodded, patting his shoulder gently. Everyone turned towards the house, as the door opened and Sue flew out, right into Sam's arms, sobbing. The news poured out of her and overwhelmed them; Jasper taking the brunt of it. Charlie stood on the steps of the house, his eyes on Edward. He knew everything about the Cullen's and the Quileutes now. Sue had explained it all once they were out from under the Volturi radar. He allowed his memories of the past horrendous weeks to flow through him to Edward. The sharp grief he felt at the loss of his dearest friend was painfully fresh… his rage at the 'cowardly' murder of a crippled old man boiling beneath it all. Ex-police chief Charlie Swan wanted justice for the families and he didn't care anymore about the useless human law. Edward met his eyes and nodded just once before hurrying to Sue's side.
"Let's go inside. We need to talk first and then convene a council meeting away from the reservation. We need the ability to plan without other ears."
She nodded once and Charlie wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders as they re-entered the house. A wedding gift from Bella and Edward, the single story modern abode was all Charlie and Sue could have ever asked for. Edward had sifted thru their minds and Alice her visions to build the little house in time to surprise the happy couple as they returned home from their honeymoon in Hawaii. The living room was cozy and comfortable, with a big flat screen TV mounted on the wall. To appease Charlie's initial 'don't want charity' reaction, they'd ensured that a Mariner's game was playing when Charlie initially crossed the threshold, cinching the deal. Sue's pay off had been the modern kitchen and a luxurious bathroom. Like almost every woman alive, Sue loved a bubble bath.
Alice had foreseen that there would be hip and knee issues in their futures and that had determined the single story, three bedroom layout. Esme successfully created a warm, comfortable feel that Sue had loved, and the female elder had since added her own touches as well. The spare rooms had been converted into a craft room and study respectively, but could quickly revert to guest rooms thanks to top quality sofa beds. Alice had wisely put in a lot of storage. Sue loved arts and crafts, and now that she didn't work, liked having time to make all sorts of things. Charlie was happiest puttering in his little shed at the back of the house or fishing, but he also spent time on the computer chatting with Bella and Renesmee, who had taught him to use Skype and Facebook. Sue also used the computer to chat with Leah, Seth and her family and friends all around the world.
This was far from their minds though as they settled about the kitchen table. The roomy kitchen was swallowed up by the press of bodies. Jasper, Ben and Emmett dipped their heads politely and removed themselves to the living room while Garrett and Kate slipped out to stand sentry. They would hear every word anyway. Quietly, Edward quickly explained what they had done to ensure Emily and Leah's safety, careful not to disclose any locations. He arranged with Sue to meet later with the council members at the Cullen's old house. He knew it would be after the ritual howling for the dead on the cliff tops, which gave him and his brothers a little time to make sure the house was secure.
Sam, Seth and Embry excused themselves to go talk with the rest of the pack and Edward and his brothers took their leave of Sue and Charlie to head back to the old house. They were careful to avoid the town completely and arrived to find things pretty much as expected. The great white house looked sad in the encroaching shadow of the forest and Emmett set to work clearing back the vegetation that had been creeping forward. Inside Edward and Jasper prepared just the main room, a sleeping place for the wolves, and the kitchen. They completed the preparations by switching back on the power and water.
With such a powerful threat Edward didn't feel comfortable with Seth and Embry being away too long, feeling anxious until he heard them running in. The young men phased and dressed before throwing themselves at the food Edward had ordered for them. The four large pizzas disappeared in record time and both Seth and Embry decided to take power naps before the howling that night. They disappeared into Edward's old room that had been converted long ago to a wolf den.
Later, standing high on a different cliff, Edward, Jasper, Emmett and Ben watched and listened in awe to the Quileute lamentations. Kate and Garrett took the time to hunt, and then they all ran back to the house. They were joined shortly by about half the La Push pack, then half an hour later by the senior members of the elder's council. Charlie went into the living room to watch a game on the TV that had been left. He wasn't privy to the meetings, but he wouldn't leave Sue without knowing she was safe. Old Quil Ateara had died peacefully in his sleep a few years previously and now his son, David, led in his place.
Emmett lowered the security shutters and closed the great door, sound proofing the white house. Here they held their war council. Rage and grief emitted from the Quileute's like a spreading blackness, forcing Jasper to send waves of calm into the air so that they could talk rationally. They went over the murders in detail ending with Stephen's. His had been the most brutal yet. Edward rubbed at his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose at the onslaught of images. Stephen's young body had been all but torn in half. He'd died in wolf form, but had phased back with his very last breath. The remains had been almost beyond recognition, but for his face. This was true of all the others…their faces remaining mostly untouched.
Having analyzed the deaths, Jasper noted that the Shadow Warriors had not taken on more then two wolves at a time and pondered their numbers.
Sam answered this, "More than two I'm sure. Paul felt two attackers and his son and daughter were killed by a third. The speed of the children's demises suggests a fragment of compassion."
Edward noted slowly, "Billy was killed quickly too. From the coroners report Charlie showed me, his death was a direct result of having his neck snapped, all his other injuries were made after he was already dead."
Sam nodded, and said, "Kim and Rachael too. The reports said the same of them…snapped necks. They were left untouched as the children were. These warriors or whatever they are, are interested in hurting us by killing our families before our eyes. There is no intent to torture them, just the wolf himself."
Jasper mulled this over. "You're right, Sam. These are powerful beings. They can kill a shifter in seconds, yet they do not destroy the humans, they just end them. That they do it before they kill the wolf is just to torment him…weaken him perhaps, because for an imprinted wolf, there is no life without your mate." He paused and then said "They seem to know who is wolf and who isn't. No one else has died?"
David Ateara shook his head. "No one else. Yet, I fear for my people."
Edward nodded. He understood David's feelings. The group continued to talk, discussing options and planning. Edward, Ben, Jasper and Emmett would patrol in pairs with a wolf at night. Edward knew they could cover more ground solo, but David and the other elders had insisted that each of the vampires be accompanied by a wolf for the safety of their people. Edward understood their fear and he also privately thought that they might have a chance at keeping a few more members of the pack alive that way. Like Emmett he desperately wanted a shot at the murderous Shadow Warriors. The pack had long since become a part of their family.
