"Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood." George S. Patton
Chapter 6 Mixed Emotions, and War
Waking up I found that someone was holding my hand. Opening my eyes I saw that it wasn't Sam. It was no other than the likes of James.
"Your awake I see. Now be a good girl, and tell me where my daughter is, and no one will get hurt!" James demanded.
"She's not your daughter! You raped me, and as a matter of fact I don't know where she is. I don't even know where I am." I said irritably.
"You're in the La Push hospital. You almost lost your baby. Not that I care though. Next time we meet again you better have my daughter with you!" James said.
"You will never get your filthy hands on her! She's my daughter! MINE!" I screamed as he left. James just laughed and kept going.
A few minutes later Sam came in. Looking at him I noticed the tears on his face, and the unadulterated rage in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" I worriedly asked him.
"I saw the tape. Our elders talked to the Macah's elders. James is the panther alpha. We can't touch him without declaring war between the 2 tribes. The elders voted. We can't touch them unless James physically harms you, or Sapphire. They also decided that if he attempts to take Sapphire we destroy them. When he rapped you he lost all custody because he was not in soul the true father. We learned something though. You've been infected. There tribe can infect others with the panther gene by sharing blood, saliva, having sex, or giving birth. You are now a hybrid. Meaning you are both werewolf, as well as werecat. Sapphire, and this baby will be the same. We are now both ordained alpha. Long story, but they think we all can learn from what you can bring to the floor so to speak. I love you, and you know we will protect you, and Sapphire from whatever comes. I promise you that!" Sam said protectively.
I was worried and scared, but Sam didn't need to know that right then.
"It's ok. I trust you, and more importantly I love you Sam!" I calmly said.
Sam looked relieved, but worried.
"What does it mean to be alpha?" I asked
"It means the pack comes first. Humans besides our elders and inprints must never know we exist. If the travelers found out they would kill both werewolf, and human to protect our race. Travelers are like our judge, and jury. They travel from place to place to make sure our secret is kept. We only have 4 rules.
Humans must not know we exist.
Excluding our inprints we must not fall in love with humans.
We are a pack and we must conduct ourselves accordingly. Since we have a pack mind link we must be respectful of others thoughts.
You must never threaten another's inprint in any way.
Don't worry you will do fine!" Sam explained.
I quickly got up, and climbed out of bed.
"I need to talk with the rest of the pack. Are shapeshifters, and vampires the only supernatural creatures?" I asked curious.
"No. There are witches, and demons. Kim, Jared's inprint, is a witch. The travelers hold court for all." Sam said calmly.
I walked to the door with Sam beside me, and left. The car ride was silent. My thoughts were all on the pack, and what I could possibly teach them. I could teach them some fighting techniques instead of just relying on strength they could rely on finesse.
Sam interrupted my thoughts with saying, "We're here now Bella."
I got out of the SUV thinking about everything still. I guess it's a shock when you change in position so fast. I was one of the alphas out of two. I was completely responsible for a complete pack of wolves, and protecting La Push. Someone grabbed me up in a big hug. Oh, it was Seth, the baby of the pack.
"I know you will protect us Bella! Don't worry either about your babies and yourself. No one will touch you guys! We won't let them!" Seth vowed.
"Slow down pup! You'll give her a heart attack!" Paul quipped.
All of the wolves seem happy to have me excluding Kim. She looked angry, and extremely jealous. All inprints besides her seemed genuinely happy for me to be in this position.
"OK, I don't mean to disregard what you have had them doing Sam, but I think we need to learn to fight decently without just throwing our weight around hoping to kill something. We need fight training." I said gently.
"What do you have in mind?" Sam asked.
"I think we should have personalized training. At all times we have 2 wolves on duty checking around the borders to La Push. The 2 wolves on duty during training can come in an hour before their duty for training. Duty is from 9am-9am. This wolf will have a half our food break at noon, and at 4 pm for dinner. When said wolf gets off of duty they go home, and go to sleep for a few hours. Then comes in say 9pm for training that day." I suggested.
"That actually sounds like a good idea!" Sam said enthusiastically.
"Ok training starts today, in an hour or so. Jared, and Paul you guys are on duty. No one from the Macah's tribe is allowed onto our territory. Use force if necessary. Be careful! Stop by at 4 pm for dinner I will cook. Kim you are welcome to dinner here as well. While Paul, and Jared are on dinner break Leah, and Jacob are on duty. Before going on duty you 2 will eat as well. Does this sound good to everyone? Oh tomorrow I want Quil, and Embry on duty. So be here 8 am for training! While on dinner break Leah and myself will be on duty. I will have dinner in the fridge already prepared for you both. Just pop it into the microwave and heat it up." I said.
"Alright can we get to work on training?" Sam asked.
"I need you to think of a place that will work for our training." I said.
"Ok I know of a place!" Sam said instantly.
Jared and Paul both left. Sam didn't take us to anywhere I expected. Instead he took us to the beach. Saying something about learning while being at a disadvantage with the sand.
"Bells your sitting this one out. You tell us what to do, and we'll do it, but with the baby, and just getting out of the hospital it's just better for now." Sam said calmly.
"I understand." I said.
After that I explained different moves, and techniques as my pack committed them to memory. Just as we finished Paul came jogging toward us. I knew it wasn't good from the sad look on his face.
"Sam, Bella I caught the scent of a Macah on our land. Jared is following the scent. Don't worry about Sapphire though. She is highly protected. Sue Clearwater took Sapphire over to her house, and all the elders are gathered there to protect her." Paul said worriedly.
Instantly Leah and Jacob came to my flanks. Quil and Embry to Sam's. Seth guarding in front of me. Obviously the battle lines were drawn. If anyone hurt Sapphire, Sam, or I there would be hell to pay! Suddenly something struck my ribs, and I realized that this baby while growing as fast as the other had was making its first appearance.
"I hear the baby's heartbeat!" Seth said in awe.
"Don't worry Bells no one will touch you, or Sapphire! I will personally rip them to pieces if they do!" Leah growled.
"The Macah's have no business with this pack. By threatening our alpha it's here by decided we no longer have loyalties to the Macah tribe. If any Macah pack member crosses into our land they will not be granted safe passage or allowed off. They will promptly be destroyed!" Sam ordered using his alpha voice.
Every wolf present nodded their heads in agreement.
'This is going to turn into a civil war, and a bloodbath. It is a necessary civil war though.' I thought.
"At least do me one favor. All pack members fight as one. No one dead or alive gets left behind. Until this mess is over inprints, and pack members sleep at Sam, and my house." I pleaded.
They all agreed, and so the war would begin.
~~~ Please review this chapter!!!
What will happen with the war? Will someone innocently be destroyed? Will a new person join the pack? Loyalties will be tested in the next chapter, and friendships will be strengthened. Love will prove above all to last through anything, and everything!
