Chapter 4 – Wolf Lodge
Carlisle:
I sent Jacob and Seth to bed since it was late. The rest of the wolf pack had also turned in. Billy and Sam were sitting with me and my vampire boys, Edward, Jazz and Emmett. I can't believe we could have been indoors instead of sitting out in the woods. Jacob and I are not through discussing that. That boy.
"So, do you like the lodge or did you like being outdoors at night Carlisle?" Billy asked laughing. Sam couldn't hold back a grin either.
"I was just thinking that Jake and I need to have a little talk on this subject," I said to them shaking my head.
"Talk, Dad you need to tan his wolf hide for this. Look how much nicer it is in here and he knew about this," Jasper complained.
"I'm not going to spank him for not telling us about the lodge, but I am going to tease him about it just to make him sweat," I said to them.
"I'd tan his hide," Billy said. "He was one of the first ones to suggest we build it because he didn't like being outdoors so much," Billy said.
"Why that little snot, he kept telling us we needed to camp out in the outdoors like campers. Wait till I get a hold of him," I said shaking my head.
"Ah ha, Jake wolf's gonna get it and he hasn't got a clue," Emmett laughed.
"What did Seth say," Sam asked.
"Nothing cause Jake told him not to mention the lodge to us," Edward said. "Dad you have to get Jake for this!"
"Yeah Pops! If we would have been in this lodge, that vampire owl wouldn't have attacked me and tried to carry me off," Emmett said.
"Did he say a vampire owl?" Billy asked.
"Sure did, he believes it too," Jasper said.
"Is he on something, Carlisle?" Billy asked me.
"Nope, what you're seeing here is a full dose of Emmett in his purest form," Edward said laughing. Jasper chuckled along. "Too bad Jake isn't out here to add his take on Emmett."
"Hey, I'm one of a kind. Right Pops?" Emmett asked.
"Thank heavens for that," Jasper said. Sam and the rest of us laughed.
"You know Billy, I was thinking about this lodge. Why don't we make it a project for the wolf pack to fix up and be a place for them to stay. Then they wouldn't have to be so careful where they phase," I suggested.
"What do you mean Carlisle?" Sam asked.
"You know, make it a lodge for the wolf pack to live here instead of just camp here. You guys are always together anyway. You could improve the living arrangements to make rooms for all the pack members and visitors and make a nice living area and kitchen space. We could make the clinic here also," I added.
"That would be great but there's just one problem. We could barely afford to build just the space we have now. That's why it's so sparse and more rustic," Sam said gesturing around the bare walls.
"I would be willing to pay all the costs for this and my boys will help construct it also. We will have a builder come and help instruct the boys and teach them how to build the addition and how to put the roof on, and so on. It will be a great learning experience for them," I said with excitement at my idea.
"We can't ask you to do that, Carlisle, but that was a wonderful gesture," Billy said.
"You're not asking me, I'm offering and I want to do it. It is a way for us to thank you and the wolf pack for standing by us these many times these past few years. Plus, it will keep the boys out of trouble and they will actually learn how to build in construction and whatever else they learn. They will have to take turns cleaning, cooking, laundry, maintenance, etc. Doing it themselves will help build their confidence and make them feel like they contributed and accomplished something big," I told them hoping they would agree with me and take my offer.
"That's a lot on your part. You realize how expensive this will be," Sam said. He did seem like he was interested though.
"I have the money, it's not problem. Besides, this way we could put the clinic here and that way we could do the checkups here also. Sam you and Emily could even move in here and live here. Of course, the pack doesn't have to live here if they don't want to, they could still come here to be with the others when they wanted to. Billy you should move in here also," I said.
"I have a place, what would happen to my house or Emily's house?" Billy asked.
"Your roof leaks terribly Billy. With your current health issues, you need a nice place to stay. We could build separate living quarters for you and for Sam and Emily," I offered hoping they would at least think on it.
"Hey, we could put a gym in and I could give the guys lessons on exercise and keeping in shape," Emmett said with enthusiasm.
"You make it sound very tempting Carlisle, but it is just too much for us to accept this generous offer of yours," Billy said to me smiling.
"Billy, think of it this way, winter is fast approaching and with it comes snow and bad weather and bored teenagers. Boy teenagers, wolf shape shifter teenagers. Need I remind you what Seth, Embry, Quil and Jared came up with to keep themselves occupied when they were bored? Dirt bikes on the highway with phased wolves riding on the backs of them," I gave Billy and Sam a knowing look. Their faces said everything.
"He has a point," Billy said looking at Sam.
"Yes he does. Plus we have more wolves since the Volturi visit. Maybe this is something we should accept for the good of all around," Sam said thinking about it very seriously.
"Then I'm taking that as a yes. Esme can get with you and Emily and design and decorate the lodge for the boys. This will keep their minds off of cliff diving also. I caught Jake and Seth diving off these smaller cliffs yesterday and they are in trouble when Jake's poison and Seth's foot heals," I informed them.
"What? Diving off these cliffs? They know better than that. They were all told never to dive off these cliffs because there are too many boulders and rocks that slide down these cliffs. There could be rocks under water that were not there on a previous visit. They need their hides warmed up," Billy said a little angry. "Wait till I see Jake and Seth tomorrow when they get up."
"Uh oh, the wolfies are in trouble," Emmett said chuckling.
"Sam you should have never got them into cliff diving," Billy rebuked him.
"You're the one who got them to dive off the cliffs?" I asked Sam with a little irritation.
"Uh, guilty as charged," Sam admitted.
"You're not too old to be put over the knee, mister," I said to Sam as he suddenly became embarrassed.
"Hey Sam, just so you know, Pops isn't kidding," Emmett let him know. Sam looked a little sheepish.
"No, I'm not," I said glaring at Sam.
Sam suddenly became very uncomfortable and moved closer to Billy and away from me. Edward and my boys were laughing at Sam's sudden desire to be as far away from me as possible.
"Come on Carlisle, we don't do it any more since you are so against it," Sam offered.
"You better not or you know what's going to happen if it cliff diving makes a reappearance," I said with a smirk and glint in my eye.
"Are you just teasing me, Carlisle?" Sam asked a little unsure.
"Somewhat, but not really," I said to him. He once again stepped back.
"Don't ever try to deny anything either cause Pops always finds out and then you'll really get it," Emmett said.
"Speaking from experience Emmett?" Sam asked.
"You bet," Emmett said. Everyone laughed.
"Maybe we should build a woodshed also," I suggested.
"That might not be a bad idea," Billy said smiling.
"Oh that they like," Edward said shaking his head.
After that Billy and Sam turned in. Sam for some reason was very anxious to go to bed and leave this conversation behind him. The others and I stayed in the nice lodge for the evening waiting for morning when our wolf friends awoke.
The next morning:
I made a huge breakfast for the sleeping wolves with the massive amount of food that Esme had packed for Jake and Seth. There was enough food there to feed the wolf pack for a week. I made scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes and toast. The smell of the food was waking up the hungry pack.
"Hey, something smells good," Jake said loudly.
"Who's cooking like that?" Jared asked.
"Chef Carlisle du Cullen," Jake said as Seth laughed.
"Man, you two are lucky," Embry added.
"Let's go eat before the rest of the pack wakes up," Seth said scurrying out the door to the kitchen.
"Oh man, jackpot!" Embry whooped.
The four of them eagerly came to the table and began taking heaps of food on their plates. Seth and Jake were helping themselves as Embry and Jared stood back not sure if they should join in or ask permission. I stood there smiling at them.
"Help yourselves boys," I said waving my hand at the banquet. Edward and Jazz helped make the food.
"Thanks Dr. Cullen," they both said as they began heaping massive amounts of food on their plates to match Jake and Seth.
"Save some for the others," I said to them.
"We better make more, Dad," Edward said as he began fixing more since a lot had been taken.
Little by little more of the pack woke up and finally Sam and Billy came out. They were surprised at the scene that was laid out before them but happily joined in and ate their share of breakfast also.
"You can come and cook for us anytime, Dr. Cullen," Embry said.
"He might just do that," Billy said. The wolf pack looked at Billy with wonder.
"Carlisle suggested we add on to the lodge," Billy explained.
"Add what on?" Quill asked.
"More bedrooms, a kitchen, large common room, even a gym," Billy added.
"With what, we're broke," Paul said.
"Carlisle has generously offered to foot the bill. He thinks it would be a good thing for all of you to build the additions and he will arrange for a builder to come and supervise. This way you will be building your own place and learn how to do it. Also, you will take care of the chores and keep yourselves busy during the winter months. What do all of you think about this?" Billy asked.
"Hey, you mean we could live here as a pack?" Embry asked.
"Yes, if we want to. Sam and Emily would move in and maybe me too," Billy said.
"You would leave our house?" Jake asked Billy.
"Yes, Carlisle will add the clinic here also," Billy told them.
"Hey, sounds good to me," Seth said.
"Emmett will come and help with the gym," I said.
"You mean the leeches will be part of this too," Paul asked a little surprised. "I knew there was a catch."
"Paul, you will treat Carlisle and his family with respect. They are our friends and they are welcome here. This will also help our bond between our families to grow," Billy said to Paul.
"Not sure I like this," Paul added.
"Paul, mind your manners. Besides, you don't have to be a part of this if you don't want to be," Sam said to him.
"Yeah, watch it Paul. That's my dad and my brothers and family you're talking about," Jake said to Paul.
"You call them leeches," Paul reminded Jake.
"That's different, they're my family," Jake said. "Don't disrespect my Dad like that."
"Billy's your dad," Paul said to him. "Not him." Paul said motioning toward me.
"Paul, you apologize to Carlisle. He is too Jake's father. You will respect him, or leave, the choice is yours," Billy said to him sharply.
"I'm not leaving so I guess I have to apologize. Sorry Doc, didn't mean to be a smart ass. Just a little taken aback by all of this," Paul admitted.
"You were born a smart ass," Jake said to Paul.
"Watch that language, you two," I warned them.
"By the way Jacob and Seth. What's this I hear about you two cliff diving on these short cliffs around here? You both know better," Billy scolded them.
"We were just having fun, we were being careful," Jake answered. "No harm came about."
"Not yet, but it will when you two get home and heal," I said to them giving them a look.
"Aww, come on Dad, we didn't get hurt or anything," Seth complained.
"You could have. You were told no cliff diving and what did you two do?" I asked waiting for their response.
"We dove off the cliffs and were almost drowned by King Neptune here," Jake said waving towards me.
"What? Neptune?" Billy asked.
"Dad saw us diving off the cliffs and went into the water and was waiting for us to dive again and then yanked us both under water. We looked to see what grabbed us and he was standing there. They don't have to breathe you know. Scared the shit out of us," Jake said.
"What did I say about language," I reminded Jake.
"Well you scared us," Jake said to me.
"I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap if I hear one more foul word come out of your muzzle," I said walking up to Jake.
"Okay, I hear you Your Highness," Jake said teasingly.
"I'll your highness you right on your rump," I said giving him a playful smack on the bottom.
"So is my spanking over then," Jake asked with hope.
"Oh no, there's more where that came from," I said to him.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Jake said smirking.
"You deserve it. Both you and Seth need your hides tanned for jumping off those cliffs. You better never do it again. Let them have it, Carlisle," Billy said.
"Don't worry, they know what's coming to them," I said giving them my 'dad' look.
"Let's move into the lodge now," Seth said.
"We're not moving in the lodge, the pack is," Jake said.
"Is everyone in agreement with adding on to the lodge?" Sam asked the pack. They all agreed.
"Hey, you mean we have to come and work too," Jake asked me.
"Yes, we're part of this too," I said to him.
"I can't Dad, I'm allergic to work. I'm a growing wolf, I need my space and freedom," Jake kept on.
"You're about to get all the space and freedom you want by being grounded to your room," I warned him.
"This is unfair. This has already been decided and we're all the slave labor. This is unfair to wolves everywhere," Jake growled.
"I think it's cool," Seth said happily.
"You would, cubbie," Jake said.
"Jacob, since you are so uncertain about this, I think you need time to think it over. You may do all the clean up after everyone is done with breakfast. Do the dishes and clean up the mess," I said motioning to the dirty counter.
"What? No way. That will take me all day," Jake complained again.
"Then you best get started son," I said clapping him on the shoulder.
"See, this is how it starts! Everyone be wary, this could happen to all of you. Open your mouth just once and they pounce on you. This is going to be great. We'll be doing all the clean up with the building too. Probably make us count the nails for punishment too," Jake grumbled.
"That's a great idea. Billy, write some of this down so we have a good list of punishments to hand out. You know there is going to be rough waters through this," I said to him.
"You're right Carlisle. But know this now; Carlisle has the right to punish any of you in the pack. He is equal to me," Billy warned them.
"Same goes for my kids, regarding you Billy," I said looking at my brood.
"We're doomed," Jake said. "This is a find how do you do," Jake griped some more.
"How do you do Jake? Let me introduce you to Mr. Sink," I said pointing toward the sink that was piled up with dirty pots and pans.
"Ugh, this is so unfair," Jake griped getting up and heading toward the sink.
"You know, I think Paul should help Jake since he was such a rude host to our guests. Paul, help Jake out," Billy said to Paul.
"Aww, come on, Chief Black," Paul grumbled also.
"See, it's starting already," Jake said as everyone but he and Paul laughed.
To Be Continued…
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