Heyyy there guys! I'm very very sorry for the long time it took me to update! It was really a series of misfortunate events... hehe... ^_^" First of all I had to focus on graduating with an 'A' (which I did! Woot!), then when I fdinally finished the chapter I had a family emergency and had to go visit my grandma who lives out of town (granted it's only a 30 minute drive) and when I finally came back with the full intention of uploading my i-net decided to disappear! It's very tricky these days! One moment it's there the next it's gone and I have no idea when it will be back...Anyway, it's Summer Break now and I have all day and night to write and upload so uploads will be more frequent (I hope)!
Last chapter, I got a review from EC and since it was annonymus I couldn't reply so I'd do it now: I use many point of views in certain chapters because I want you (the readers) to get the point of view of certain characters that would have an important role in the future of this fic. I know that sometimes repeating certain events can be annoying, but it's all for a good cause! Having said that, your criticism isn't mean - it's constructive and if anything I'm greatful you're being honest!
I saw Eclipse the other day! The movie totally rocked on all accounts! I loved Kristen's version of Bella so much more than SM's! Also Rob was brilliant in his role as Edward this time around (perhaps because he wasn't so sad and anguished all the time!) The proposal in the movie was sooooo much better than the one in the book and I loved Bella's speech at the final scene explaining Edward what she has gone through (although I have a feeling they took that part from the BD book)! The Cullens were so badass! Go Major Jasper Withlock! He was so dreamy! All in all the movie was freaking awesome and knowing myself I'll be visiting the movie theater to watch it again in the very near future!
Okay enough chatter, I can talk about this all day long, but I'm sure you want to read this chapter!
Let the drama begin!
"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." ~ Marc Brown
Jacob Black POV
I reached the reservation only a couple of minutes after I burst out of the damned house. I couldn't believe what had gone in there.
My Bella has been brainwashed. She was so different, but she was more beautiful than ever, even with the freaky red eyes. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven when she descended the stairs walking as if she owned the world.
When she greeted her family though, and especially after she greeted him I wanted to hurl! How could she kiss a bloodsucking leech was beyond me.
She isone too now you moron! A small voice in my head said.
No! She's my Bella! She's not evil! She's…
A knock on my door interrupted my train of thought and I went to get it.
My pissed off mood returned as soon as I saw who was at the door – Sam bloody Uley!
"What do you want?" I growled at him
"We need to talk, Jacob" he said calmly, but his voice was dripping with authority. The bastard was using his Alpha voice on me.
"Fine" I knew that we needed to talk sooner or later.
I also knew that he wouldn't be using his alpha voice on me much longer. If anyone was to use this voice it would be me forcing it on him! I was the righteous Alpha! The only reason and he knew that! The only reason he was the leader now was because I didn't want the power and responsibility of being an Alpha.
Too bad I changed my mind… For him and the filthy bloodsuckers that is.
We reached a small clearing in the woods where we usually had our pack meetings. It didn't surprise me to see that everybody was already there, waiting.
"The Cullens and I have reached to an agreement" Sam said calmly. How could he be so calm when my Bella was in that madhouse was beyond me! "Now I want you to listen to me carefully and let me finish, then we're going to discuss any disagreements or comments on the matter" while saying that his eyes roamed between me and Paul.
"What is there to agree about?" Leah exclaimed "The leeches broke the treaty! That gives us the right to attack!" she barred her teeth at Sam. I had the feeling that we were not going to like that 'agreement'.
"After I asked you to leave, Isabella Cullen,"
I growled at Bella's new name. "It's Bella Swan"
"She's married, Jacob, and she has decided to take her husband's name" Sam was talking to me as if I was a mentally challenged infant. I growled again. "As I was saying Mrs. Cullen approached me and explained some details that Jake missed to share with us" My brothers – and sister – all turned to look at me with raised eyebrows.
"I told you everything! I saw that Devil's Spawn and I was given confirmation that Bella was bitten!"
Sam POV
"Yes, but Isabella presented me with a point of view you didn't." I said.
Jacob was acting like a madman! We told him ever since he became one of us that he should forget about Bella, but did he listen? Nooo! He thought he imprinted on her, but it was obvious that he hadn't. Everything that went out between him and Isabella in the Cullen house proved it. Isabella had made a few very good points back then.
My pack quieted down. All of them were curious to know what I was going to say next. I'm sure it would be the last thing they expect.
"Isabella pointed out that the treaty forbade them to turn or bite a human that they saw fit to become one of them" my brothers nodded their heads silently.
"We already know that, Sam. What are you getting at?" Leah snapped at me.
I sighed in my mind. Working with her was getting harder with each passed day. I think I understand now why people forbid romantic relationships between co-workers. Although in our case it's all backwards… Anyway, that's a moot point right now.
"None of our ancestors ever discussed the issue of said human wanting to become one of the cold ones." I tensed waiting for their outrage.
"Excuse me? What the Hell does that mean? So just because some human wants to become a bloodsucker we have to sit there and watch? That's sick!" Paul was on his feet and he was trembling with rage. Damn it, I was hoping it wouldn't get to a fight.
"Since when do you trust a leech's word, boss?" Jacob's voice was dripping with sarcasm when he addressed me as 'boss'. He was so concentrated on his hurt pride and vengeance that he didn't notice that he called 'his Bella' a leech – something, an imprinted wolf would never call his imprintee!
"Yeah how do we know that she really wanted to become one f them and was not brainwashed?" Leah was standing next to Jacob and was trembling as well.
"Damn it, you all! Are you for real? Would you stop?" that annoyed shout came from the one person I least expected – Seth. He turned toward Jake
"We can trust the Cullens since the Doc took care of each and every one of you that got hurt during the newborn fight! We can trust them because it's been nearly a century since the treaty was made and they have not broken it! They are different than the cold ones in our legends! You would know that if any of you ever bothered to have a civil conversation with them!" then to my surprise he turned toward his sister "Leah, you're my older sister and all and I respect you, but are you damn blind?" I couldn't believe my own eyes! 15 years old Seth was going against his own family to defend his friends and to defend the truth. I would lie if it didn't make me proud. "Have you not seen Bella and Edward together? Didn't you see her when she befriended us all? Didn't you see the mental pictures of her when the Cullens left her? She was freakin' devastated, Leah! You didn't even come close to what she was like!" suddenly the entire clearing went dead silent. Seth had just crossed a major line
Leah's trembling increased "You fucking traitor" she hissed and then she exploded. Shreds of fabric flew everywhere and Leah stood in front of her brother in a crouch.
"Leah, stop!" I ordered her. "Don't do anything you're going to regret later!"
She growled at me with all her might, but obeyed me.
"Isabella presented me with one more thing to think about" I said, knowing they were going to be even angrier. "She gave me another perspective on her change and on the reason why vampires change certain humans to begin with." The pack quieted down and sat back on the logs, Leah stayed in her wolf form.
"She told me that when vampires mate they mate for life" my conversation with Isabella gave me insight on some parts of their existence that our people don't know about. I really understand Seth's friendship with them now "When we imprint we imprint for life. Are we that different in this aspect? Isabella might have not been a cold one when she met the youngest Cullen boy, but she connected to him. Our imprintees are humans too; they are not werewolves like us. But does that make the connection between one of us and another human girl wrong?" I knew that only the imprinted men would understand me. But it's better to have them on my side than no one at all.
I looked up towards my brothers and saw that my assumption was right, or at least partly so. Quil, Paul and Jared – the only ones who have imprinted beside myself – were torn between interest and confusion. The others though were staring blankly at me and probably wondering where the hell I was going with this.
I hesitated, knowing that I had to choose my words very carefully and phrase them in a way that would make them understand the situation rather than transform and go rip the Cullens apart.
"Stop dancing around the issue, man, just spit it out!" Embry said. Huh, I guess that when you have a telepathic link to someone you get to know them pretty well… I wonder how the mind reading cold one was dealing with hearing stuff all the time.
"Alright." I sighed I decided that the best way to say this would be just to be honest "Isabella presented me with a point of view that was entirely different from ours. I'm sure all of you can see the obviously strong bond between her and her husband." Jacob, Leah and some of the others snorted. "From what she told me, I gathered that she sees her transformation as a way of being with her loved ones forever or at least for a very long time…" I trailed off at this point knowing that there would be comments.
"Bullshit! She's only gonna stay with her new family – if you can even call them that – and that devil child of hers forever. Her parents and normal friends will die eventually." Paul sneered.
"Yes," I nodded "This was exactly what I was thinking when she told me that. But then she said something else. She asked me a question…"
"Oooh so the tiny little human turned big bad vampire asked you a question? How terrifying!" I turned my head to the left to see that Leah was back in her human form.
"Some of you won't understand the significance of this question or the reasons behind my answer…" I trailed off again. This was the part I was dreading.
"Just spit it out, Sam, it can't be that bad" Brady, our newest addition said a bit impatiently.
"She asked me to put myself in her and Edward's shoes for a moment… "I took a deep breath "You know that those of us who possess the 'wolf-gene' would not age as long as we're transforming right?" They all nodded, I could tell they were getting irritated "She asked me if I would rather live my life with Emily while she aged and I didn't or if I would spend forever with her were I able to give her that. All in all she asked me if I would rather have one human life or forever with my soul mate" I avoided Leah's eyes as I said this last part. Her cousin may be my soul mate, but Leah was my first love and as much as I hate myself for hurting her, I was never going to forget the time we spent together.
"Isabella told me that this was the way she envisioned vampirism – as a way to be with your beloved forever. "
"That whole thing is a load of crap, Sam! Bloodsuckers are monsters! And you could simply grow old with Emily and stop transforming and then you would not have to face the problem of her aging while you're stuck in a nineteen year old body!" Jacob growled.
I hoped that perhaps with time he would understand his mistakes and regret some of his actions. Jacob's transformation was very hard on him; it was obvious to this day that he struggled with what he was – with what we all are. But I knew that deep inside her was a good kid and had a good heart. I hope that once the pain of his broken heart fades he will go back to normal, somewhat… But even though I was compassionate towards his pain I've had enough of his attitude!
"You mean to tell me that if Bella was your imprintee and you had the power to give her immortality so you to could spend forever with her you would deny her that; that you would deny yourself that?" As soon as I said this I knew it was a low blow and that I was only adding oil to the fire, but as I already said – I've had enough of him.
"Some of you have found their imprint, think about guys, I mean really think about it – doesn't the idea of spending forever with your destined person appeal to you in the smallest, tiniest bit?"
The tension in the small clearing was heavier than ever. I was starting to get really nervous when suddenly Paul – of all people – nodded
"I would spend eternity with Rebecca if I could, there's nothing I'd like more" For a moment there I thought I was hallucinating. Paul, the most violent out of all of us was actually agreeing with me. In this moment I saw just how much true love can change a person.
Jared and Quil nodded their heads in agreement with Paul's words each thinking about their own girl.
"After this conversation I decided not to declare war on them, but to let it slide…" Three, two, One…
"YOU WHAT?" Leah, Embry, Collin and Brady shouted at once. Jacob's outraged shriek was the loudest of them all.
"Calm down!" I shouted out using my Alpha voice – the only way to make them calm down. "I gave Edward and Isabella my word that neither of us will harm them or their coven. In exchange I asked them to keep an eye of… their youngest member…" that was the best phrase I could think of to describe their… child. "They gave me their word that they would control her and take responsibility for her"
"Oh and you're going to trust his gentlemanly word is that it?" Collin of course had to put his two cents into the argument…
"You know what? I'm sick of it! I say we vote!" Jacob said suddenly, looking calmer than I've seen him for a long while now. He had a strange glint in his eyes though, I didn't like that. I had a gut feeling that whatever was going to happen in the next couple of minutes would not be good at all…
"Let's have a vote. All of you, who think that the Leeches broke the Treaty and should pay for it, raise your hands." Jacob said and raised his own hand. Leah raised hers a second later, followed by Collin and Brady. Embry was the last one to raise his hand and I couldn't help but notice the way he hesitated when he did that. The way I see it, if it were up to Embry alone he would not take sides. He was a peaceful kind of guy that did not resort to violence unless he had any other choice, but he was also loyal to a fault and I didn't expect him to go against his best friend…
"All of you who support Sam's decision raise your hands" Jacob said again.
I of course immediately raised my hand up, Seth and Quil had their hands up as well, next was Jared.
Paul turned to look at me, asking me with his eyes whether I was sure about my decision and if the cold ones could really be trusted. I only nodded reassuringly at him. He gave me a tight smile in return and raised his hand.
"Paul, what the Hell?" Leah exclaimed "I thought you of all people would want to fight them, especially after that big idiot could have killed you!"
"Fighting them would be fun!" he chuckled "but," Leah groaned "If Sam's words are correct and their connection is really as strong as mine and Becca's then good for them"
"That's not an excuse! Right now you're supporting him" she pointed at me accusingly"and he supports them so this means that in the end you support them too! You are turning your back on your friends to support our natural enemies!"
"But," Paul emphasized loudly "if their bond – of all of them – is really that strong, then I don't want to fight. A few months ago I would have jumped the opportunity without second thoughts…"
"What's stopping you now?" Brady cut in.
"Well I might tell you if you stop interrupting me, don't you think?" Paul growled. Everyone quieted down immediately "A few months ago I did not understand their bond, but then I met Rebecca and was lucky enough to have her return my feelings for her. Right now, as cheesy and clichéd as it sounds, I cannot imagine my life without her. The pain of living without her would be indescribable; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies, especially not on ones that lived through it already." We were all silent as he was speaking, neither of us expecting him to say words like these, because well, it is Paul. "Besides," there's more? "I think this goes for all of us who have found their imprint."
"I never thought you'd turn into such a sappy date, Paul" Jacob sneered with a smirk.
He then turned to face me and his smirk grew. "Not many of you know that, but Sam is not your rightful leader"
The pack looked at Jacob as if he was insane, only Paul didn't look surprised, because he knew of the situation "I am the descendent of Ephraim Black – the person that created this treaty with… them – therefore I am the rightful leader of this pack! Up until now I didn't want the position since I thought that Sam was doing a good job, but it seems that he doesn't anymore!" Jacob was speaking with the voice of a true Alpha, something that even I couldn't bend. "But desperate times call for desperate measures! That's why all of you who voted in favor of preserving the treaty as if nothing happened are no longer part of the pack! I banish you!" Everyone was shocked at Jacob's words. Yet no one dared to disagree with him
"Jacob, you're too angry and hurt right now, you're not thinking straight, don't do something you're going to regret later!" I tried to reason with him but deep inside I knew that there was no use.
"Angry or not, I am the true leader and you will obey my orders. Sam, Jared, Paul and Quil, you are no longer our brothers" he pointed to the rest of the pack – or should I say his pack" you are no longer wanted among us! The rest of you will go back to the reservation with me, we have to tell the council about the situation" And just like that Jacob, Leah, Collin and Brady transformed and ran out of the clearing.
Embry was the only one left of them and he cast us a brief apologetic glance before transforming himself and running back home.
I looked around my brothers, my true brothers, and sat down on the nearest log. I was still in shock of what just happened.
"Oh, well, there's one plus to all of this the Leah/Jacob angst fest is finally over!" Jared chuckled.
In case you're confused or something there are 2 wolf packs now:
The first consists of Sam, Jared, Quil, Seth and Paul (the imprinted wolves, apart from Seth who joins them because he's a friend with Bella and Edward)
And the second one that consists of Jacob, Embry, Collin, Brady and Leah!
So yeah, this chapter is all wolf drama! What do you think of the little twist of Jacob being the bad guy instead of Sam? I was afraid that this chapter would turn out to be very short because I'm not used to writing anything wolf-related! That's why I ask of you to review and tell me if it turned out alright! If you have any questions about the chapter PM me and I'd be more than happy to answer you! I Paul will be different than his book self.
Is there anything in particular you would like to read about in future chapters? I don't really know how this story will develop - I'm making it up as I go, so if you have any ideas I would take them into consideration! :) :) :)
Love you all for your loyalty and support!
Mimozka
