A/N: Sorry for the delay in this update - I've been working on a one-shot for Halloween. It's not done yet - I took a break to update this story - but if you're interested, it should be up in a few days, so put me on Author Alert! Also, thank you SO much for all of the wonderful reviews! I'm so sorry I didn't respond personally this time, but I appreciated every last one!
Warning: This chapter includes the use of an illicit substance.
Chapter 7
Emily POV
My house was packed to the gills with massive wolf-men, as per usual. They sat around our small kitchen table in mismatched chairs, scarfing down the hearty, but simple meal of beef stew and baked potatoes I'd prepared for them. Sometimes, they ate so fast I wasn't even sure they tasted it. They always showered me with compliments and gratitude when they were done though, so I guessed they must enjoy the fruits of my labor. Sam and I didn't have much - no one on the reservation did. We went without the luxury of new clothes and technologies. We didn't go to the movies or out to Forks for a nice dinner. We had a duty to the pack to make sure they were taken care of, and that meant well-fed, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My mothering instinct was a strong part of me, and caring for the pack was an excellent outlet.
The normally animated boys (and girl) were eerily quiet today. This had been building gradually over the last week, but they had tried to remain light-hearted - up until now. One of our group was missing and everyone was worried about him, even Leah. Jacob hadn't been seen or heard from in two weeks. The last any of us knew, he had been on a solo patrol - a patrol he never returned from. The rest of the pack had organized a search party the following day. They caught his scent, co-mingled with the sickly sweet scent of vampire. They followed the two scents up to the border, but it continued into Cullen territory. Sam decided not to pursue the scents further, for reasons he did not explain, except that the Cullens had proven themselves trustworthy to the pack, and thusly, it had to be a new vampire they had smelled. Patrols tripled and they searched high and low for Jacob and the vampire that may have tussled with him, to no avail. They were giving up hope. Calls to Jacob's phone went unanswered, and we all began to suspect the worst. Jacob hadn't phased in two weeks, and it was unlike him to leave Billy unattended for so long. We had to assume that Jacob had lost the fight with this unknown vampire. There really was no other explanation for his sudden disappearance.
"Hey Em, got any more bread?" Jared asked, his mouth impossibly full. I couldn't help but smile.
"Of course." I rose to get the loaf and pop it in the oven to warm. I stared into the rapidly darkening dusk outside the window about the sink as I waited for the bread to warm. And then, coming out of the treeline, I saw him. His head hung low, staring at the ground, his hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, his shoulders were slumped, but he was there.
"Jacob! Jacob's back!" I cried, surprise and relief washing over me.
Sam POV
I smelled him before Emily said anything. Jacob had finally returned. And I was gonna let him have it for worrying us like that. I stood up so fast that my chair knocked over, but I did not stop to right it before I rushed outside to meet him. The rest of the pack followed me, but kept a little bit of distance behind me as I approached my beta, who was looking a little nervous.
"Jacob, I'm glad to see you're okay," I began. He nodded, looking a bit relieved. I would not let that feeling last too long for him though - I was about to invoke the power of the Alpha. "Now, I demand you tell me where you've been."
Jacob's face scrunched up as he tried to resist my demand, but we all knew it was futile. He had to obey me. He took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eye. "I've imprinted," he said, calmly.
Well, that certainly did explain his disappearing act somewhat. But that was still no reason for him not even to contact us. "We feared you were dead, Jacob. We caught your scent mixed with that of a vampire here on the reservation just after you disappeared. We've been searching tirelessly for you or the leech for the past two weeks! Imprinting is a wonderful thing, and I understand the pull is strong, but it is no excuse for you to ignore our calls and forget about your family and your responsibilities to this pack!" My skin was rippling with anger - I was desperately trying to hold the wolf inside.
Jacob looked down, scuffing his shoes in the dirt. "I'm really sorry, Sam. You're absolutely right. I am so sorry I scared you guys. I wasn't thinking clearly."
I softened a little at his apology. It was hard to stay mad at him when I understood how strong the pull of the imprint is, especially when it was brand new. "So, tell us. Who's the lucky girl?"
Jacob shook his head. "I'd rather not say."
"What?" Paul said from behind me, his voice incredulous. "Why the hell not?"
Jacob waffled, "It's...delicate." I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Why can't you tell us, Jake? Is it a pale-face?" Seth teased lightheartedly.
Jacob's lips turned up at the corners slightly, "You could say that."
Leah crossed her arms indignantly. "You might as well just spit it out, Jacob. It's not like we won't find out next time you phase anyway."
Jacob chewed his lip for a minute, then mumbled something almost unintelligible. "It's imn."
"What? It's Iman? The supermodel? What was she doing in Forks?" Quil laughed.
"What will David Bowie say?" Embry chimed in, and the whole pack had a good laugh.
Jacob was not amused, and his face remained stony. He spoke loudly, emphasizing his words. "IT IS A MAN."
"Oh shit." Paul gasped.
There were murmurs erupting behind me. I held up my free hand to silence them and squeezed Jake's shoulder with the other. "That's okay, Jake. I've heard of that happening in the history of the tribe. It's rare, but it happens."
"I doubt that," Jacob said flatly. I gave him a questioning look and he continued. "I doubt that this has ever happened in the history of this tribe. It's not just any man. It's a vampire. I imprinted on Edward Cullen."
My hand dropped from his shoulder. My head swam as I tried to process what he'd just told me. A vampire? Our mortal enemy? Edward Cullen? His own personal mortal enemy? The rest of the pack was whispering amongst themselves as Jacob stared at me, waiting in fear for an outburst of anger. But I wouldn't do that to him, not now. It wasn't as though he had a choice in the matter.
I composed my thoughts enough to ask, "Does he accept you?"
He nodded, "In friendship, yes, he does."
"Alright, Jacob. Thank you for telling me. I understand it was very difficult for you. I am going to have a discussion with the elders in the morning about this, but for now, why don't you come in and have a bite to eat."
Jacob smiled gratefully, and I led him inside, shooting a warning glare at the others that could only mean 'Keep cool.'
Embry POV
After the most awkward dinner ever, I decided to walk Jacob back to his father's house. I felt bad for him. It was obvious that everyone wanted to shun him, but they couldn't per Sam's silent order, so they settled for the barest hints of acknowledgment. I knew how that felt, to be different from everyone else. I had to contend with my own dark past. People still speculated who my real father was. Everyone wanted to believe it was Sam's dad, since he was a well-known cheater already. But personally, I thought it was Billy. I always felt an unexplainable kinship with Jake - it would make sense for us to be half-brothers.
Our walk was silent but not uncomfortable. As we approached the house he shared with his father, I could feel the tension rolling off of him. He stopped at the bottom of the path to the front door and took in a shaky breath. "Em, I don't think I can face him, man. He's going to be so angry with me that I just up and took off without a word."
"Come on," I said, grabbing his arm and nodding towards the garage. He followed me inside and leaned up against his Rabbit. With a devilish grin, I slid a joint out of my breast pocket and modeled it for him like a QVC product. His smile widened to match mine and I took that as a sign to spark it up.
I lit the joint and pulled deeply, holding it in my lungs as I passed it on to Jake. He took a couple of long pulls before passing it back. The mellow bud was taking the edge off already.
"Hey bro," I said, between puffs. "How'd you come to imprint on a bloodsucker anyway?"
The weed was definitely working for him, because he told me the whole story about how he'd found Edward comatose in the woods. When he told me Bella was dead, I said a silent prayer for her. Sure, she'd damned herself to become one of the walking dead, but I'd known her when she was a normal girl too. I felt sorry for Chief Swan and wondered when or if he would ever find out.
Jacob continued to tell me all of the mundane details of their budding friendship as we finished the joint. When he was done, he stared off into the distance like a lovesick puppy.
I chuckled to myself. "How can you stand the smell?"
He smiled slightly, "Well, at first, it was horrific - made me constantly want to hurl. But, you get used to it. And Edward smells great."
There was that dreamy look again. I rolled my eyes. "So, is this buddy thing going to be enough for you? I mean, besides Quil and Claire, all the others want to fuck each other's brains out."
We both laughed heartily, a side effect of the bud. Jacob stopped abruptly, his face getting far away again, but not dreamy this time. Pensive. "I don't know, Em. I have to be whatever he wants me to be. The wolf inside me desires him, but it scares me a little. I mean, I never thought about guys before. I'm not gay."
"I know," I assured him.
"But, yes. I want him. Badly" He sighed heavily. "And he can read my mind, so I have to be careful what I think about around him. Cuz all I want to do is touch him and be touched by him..."
"Okay, spare me the gory details!" I cried, in mock-horror.
"Sorry," he replied, sheepishly. "But if he doesn't want that, I have to respect him. I'd rather just be his friend than nothing at all, ya know?"
"Aw, I'm sure he'll come around." I punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Come on, you're a catch, Jake! He won't be able to resist you for long."
He chuckled at that, then his face grew serious. "Hey man, thanks for being so cool about all of this."
As if I wouldn't be. He was always there for me when the rumors were at their worst. "That's what friends are for right?"
He smiled and looked down at the floor. "Yeah. Well, I should probably get inside and see the old man. Thanks for the smoke. I think I would've chickened out without it."
"No problem bro." He headed for the door. "Hey, Jake, wait," I said, stopping him. He turned back towards me as I fished a fresh joint from my pocket. "Hang onto this. You never know when you might need to chill."
"Good lookin' out, bro." He slipped it into his back pocket. We exchanged goodbyes before branching off - he to face his father's wrath and me to try to sneak back into my house without mom noticing.
Meanwhile in Volterra
Aro beckoned his most subversive lackey to approach him on his throne. Giovanni stepped forward and knelt before his Master in deference.
Aro questioned him, "Are you prepared for your mission?"
"I am, Master," Giovanni breathed, willing to do anything for his Master.
"Excellent," Aro purred. "Go now. Remember, you must wait until no one is home. Retrieve a hairbrush, toothbrush, stained bedsheets if you must. Remember that these vampires live as humans do. Bring me back anything that might have venom on it. I care not who's venom it belongs to, so long as it does not belong to the one I wish to acquire."
"Yes, Master. I will not disappoint you."
A/N: Please review! Reviews will encourage me to update faster!
