The La Push Pack
Chapter Nine – Alpha Order
I threw the apple core away and focused on becoming a wolf. Warmth spread through my body and I rolled my shoulders. I smiled and flexed my snow white paws in the grass.
"Bella? Damn it Bella, that's not fair. I wish we could choose what to share like that."Quil complained.
"That's not what I'm worried about."Jarred thought seriously.
"Now that she's on level footing, can you imagine the pranks she'll pull? She was trouble enough as a human, now..."He trailed off with a shiver.
That's right boys.
Be afraid.
Be very afraid…
"Oh shit, she's going to be such a bitch to live with now."
"GUYS!"I thought-yelled, scaring the shit out of them again.
Quil was nearly hyperventilating, Jarred's heart was racing but he was laughing.
"Stop talking shit about me and get back to patrolling will you."
Jarred was still laughing when he ran up to Quil who was panting, still trying to calm down.
"See? What did I tell you?" Jarred asked as he used his head to push Quil.
"Come on buddy, run it off."
I watched through their eyes for a few minutes.
"Do you think she is still listening?"Quil thought-whispered.
Honestly, he must have been dropped on his head as a baby.
"Just shut up and run will you? You've already called her a bitch. Let it go!"Jarred advised.
"Well she is technically a female dog-"
I howled loudly and then sighed in contentment. Damn that felt good.
It only took thirty seconds and I felt Sam shift.
"Who was that? What's wrong? I couldn't pick the voice." He rushed out, already sprinting towards Jarred and Quil.
"Don't bother running to the boarder Sam, Its was me. I need you to come to Jake's please."
Annoyance coloured his mind and is thoughts showed me that I had interrupted him and Emily again. He emphasised 'again' as he changed directions heading towards me. The last thing I saw was a very satisfied looking Emily and the frustrated feeling of Sam not getting his yet, before the thoughts of Jarred and Quil took over, filling Sam in. Once he had seen Jarred, Quil and my conversation his thoughts turned towards me with a feeling of expectancy.
It felt strange, feeling someone else's feelings.
I wonder what would happen if one of the others got hurt.
Would I think that it was happening to me?
Frustration leaked into my mind. Sam was waiting.
"Sorry. Lost in thought. If one of us gets hurt, do we all feel it?" I asked.
Because that could be a real issue. Dangerous even, in a fight.
"Yes. We feel it too. Its not the same though." Sam continued, understanding where my thoughts were heading.
"We can differentiate between our pain and a brother's pain. I still hurts but our minds can work around it."
"Now, Charlie?" he questioned as he came into the clearing where i was waiting.
"I think we need to tell him about me."
I breathed deeply and closed my eyes, letting Sam see my memories about what Charlie had seen and heard earlier. Being as brief as I could on the episode I had in the shower.
Little good it did though, their responses were instant.
Unprepared for the pain, Quil and Jarred collapsed to the ground, whimpering and gasping for air. Sam grunted, his mind immediately fighting the feelings that didn't belong to him.
He couldn't stop the fear he felt that something had happened to Emily to cause the pain though.
Already knowing that losing her was the only thing that could make him hurt that way.
He recognised what the pain meant.
"Bella… we all knew… I suspected… but… I could never have grasped how bad, how much…"
I felt instantly exposed and wanted to take it all back. I didn't want them to know. I felt lost and vulnerable and I hated it. Hated being open like that. I didn't want pity. I don't want anything.
"I don't want to talk about it. Forget it." I snapped.
I could feel an echo of the emptiness inside me from the others but Sam mercifully brought our attention back to Charlie by replaying each odd thing Charlie would have witnessed not long ago. His instincts were telling him not to break the secret. It is a rule to keep everyone safe. He had to keep everyone safe. That's what he was made for.
"I don't think that is a good idea." He finally thought to me.
I half listened as his mind ran through different ideas and plans.
I don't want to lie to Charlie. I don't think I could.
He's not stupid. He'd see straight through any lie we tell him.
Even if he was safer kept in the dark…
A horrible feeling flooded me.
This was exactly what Ed- what he would do to me.
Lies, half truths or simply nothing at all.
He'd make the decision because he felt I was just a weak human that couldn't handle it.
If he thought he was protecting me, my feelings didn't matter.
I don't want to do that to Charlie.
He deserves to know.
He deserves to be able to make his own choices.
"Bella."Sam called to gain back my attention.
"You will not tell him. He'll be safer not being involved."
I could feel that Sam truly did want what was best but I think he is wrong this time.
"Safer or not, I don't want to lie to him. He'd never say anything to anyone Sam. You know he wouldn't."
Sam sighed.
"I'm sorry, I know it'll be hard but we must keep the secret.
You will not tell your father."
I gasped as I felt a strange pull from his words. Memories flashed through Quil and Jarred's minds, who had been silently listening in. Two words and a choking, binding sensation were all I could make sense of. 'Alpha Order'
Jake had told me about this.
The alpha of the pack could enforce certain orders.
They literally had to obey. They didn't have a choice.
Jake said it was different with him though. That the words couldn't take hold of him completely. That he could fight them if he really tried.
He assumed that it was because he was the true alpha by birthright.
He didn't like to dwell on it though.
My decision firmed as concern of having my choices taken away from me again grew. I would make sure Charlie has his choice.
Even the thought of telling Charlie caused my throat to constrict.
My blood is Jake's blood.
My blood is alpha blood.
"I will not have my choices taken from me ever again!" I growled and pushed hard against Sam's binding orders.
A burst of energy came from me that spread out and away.
The grass rippled but not from the wind.
Sam felt what his mind registered as power.
It might have been my shield, it might have been my blood, either way I did not feel bound anymore.
Relief was my first thought.
Annoyance was my second.
My eyes snapped to Sam, probably holding more hostility than necessary but I couldn't help it.
"Your words have no hold on me Sam. Alpha blood runs through my body, not yours. Never try to take my choices away from me again."
I took a deep breath and let my wolf body slip away.
I thought about the sensations in my body for a minute and realised that I felt just as comfortable in my wolf form as I did in my human form.
Weird.
I opened my eyes to find Sam staring at me. It only took a few seconds for me to realise something was wrong. He looked frozen.
I waved my hand in front of his face but he didn't even blink.
"Um, Sam?"
Nothing.
"Sam?" I questioned again, softly tapping his snout.
His mouth opened and his tongue licked my hand. He moaned and I could smell his lust.
Shocked, I reacted instinctively, yelling and shoving him backwards with my shield.
"SAM! What the hell?!"
I watched him shake his head and get back on his feet.
I suppose I shouldn't have pushed him so hard.
I couldn't help but feel wrong. The thought of Sam wanting me….
I quickly looked away rolling my eyes as Sam burst into an apology the second he shifted as he fumbled to redress.
"I'm so sorry Bella, I don't know what happened. I don't see you that way. I didn't mean to … I don't know what happened." He rambled on, clearly upset and a little freaked out.
"I mean, you're gorgeous of course and sweet but- I just- you're like a little sister to me. I've never thought of you…."
It only took a second for me to realise that Sam must have been affected by my lure. Just like Jake had. This could actually cause trouble if its strong enough even at this distance to affect Sam, who thinks of me as a little sister.
"Sexually?" I offered teasingly.
I felt instantly better knowing he wasn't really attracted to me.
That would have been awkward.
"I'm really sorry." He said with a blush.
"Hey it's fine, I understand. It happened with Jake earlier too. He said it was my scent."
Sam shuffled his feet. He looked uncomfortable.
"It's kind of different Bells. Jake has had a crush on you since forever. I'm a happily taken man."
If I could blush I would have. Poor Jake. When will he accept that I'm a lost cause. He's too good.
"So, lets hear your plan about Charlie then. Since I'm not stupid enough to think I have a chance at changing your mind on this. But for the record this is a dangerous situation. Protecting the tribe is our most important priority.
You are one of us now and this is your responsibility too now."
"I know. I will." I said seriously, before starting off in the direction to Jake's house.
I felt the weight of that promise but it was comforting. Like suddenly I had a home. An urge to wrap La push up in a big shield and protect it from the rest of the world made me smile.
"Oh but I don't have a plan with Charlie."
Sam's step faltered briefly.
He eyed me suspiciously before continuing.
"Great." He muttered, rolling his eyes.
We jogged in silence for a few minutes. The closer we got the more nervous I became.
Charlie was smart but simple. I was about to turn his world upside down.
He would want to know, to have choices but this will be so much over his head…
I was worried.
What if he doesn't want to see me ever again?
What if he was scared of me?
"Ok."
Sam's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"We'll play this by ear. It'll all depend on how Charlie reacts. He might only want to know the basics. He might want it all."
"And he might want nothing to do with me anymore.
But I know he wont say anything to anyone no matter what he decides." I promised.
We stopped at the truck which Bill and Harry were just getting out of. Sam helped Billy and as soon as he was in his chair he faced me.
"I think you are underestimating just how much Charlie loves you Bella." He said knowingly.
I couldn't help but hope. I smiled at Jake as I followed the others inside.
