Verdict

"Dad," Jake called motioning everyone into the foyer of Billy's home. Jackets were removed and hung upon the coat rack just inside the door so that they could dry from a downpour provided by a sudden thunderstorm. The tension within the home was palpable even though the reason for Billy's phone call was still mostly unknown.

"In the living room," Billy's voice came after a few minutes and beneath it was the sound of low snarling—a sound that Jake recognized almost immediately.

"Sam," Jake hissed his muscles instantly tightening as his mind replayed the earlier confrontation. "Damn him."

Lucien put his hand on the young alpha's shoulder and gave a calm squeeze. "Relax, remember control is the key."

Jake gave a half-hearted nod, his muscles still tense with pent back irritation, "He better not have…"

Lucien shook his head in warning, "Not here," His tone was calm but firm and the warning was enough to get Jake to at least breathe a bit easier if nothing else.

"Carlisle," Billy greeted motioning for all to take a seat. "How goes it and how's the family?" He smiled cordially.

Carlisle returned the smile, "We are fine now that things seem to have settled down at least temporarily. I am still concerned for Jared and Paul as their injuries were quite serious but both seem to be for now resting comfortably with only minimal complications." He took a seat in the only vacant chair across from where Billy had situated his wheelchair.

The instant Sam realized that he was going to have to sit close to someone; he stood up and moved, taking a knee at the far end of the coffee table closest to the only exit that led from the room. He clutched his wrist and raked the room with a stony glare.

"I see you have injured your wrist, Sam," Carlisle mentioned watching Sam's demeanor shimmer with simmering hatred left over from the earlier confrontation.

Sam nodded, his cold glare shifting onto Billy briefly before once again sweeping the room. "That was one of the reasons I called, his wrist needs to be treated," Billy explained. It was obvious that Sam was refusing to be even the slightest bit social. "Please ignore his attitude, he has chosen to disobey and as a result required some disciplinary action."

Carlisle moved to examine Sam's wrist without any hesitation or even the slightest notice of Sam's current moodiness. A few minutes later, there was a muffled pop, as he reset the joint, followed by a string of hissing curses from Sam, "It will require immobilization as besides being completely dislocated, it is very likely fractured."

"Well then," Billy looked at Sam, a look that warned him not to give Carlisle any lip or any complaints. There was a long silence as Carlisle retrieved his black case from the SUV and began immobilizing Sam's injured wrist.

"Do not use or try to move your wrist or hand for the next couple weeks. You will need to be re-examined and possibly have an X-ray taken of it at that time to decide if it has healed and set enough for you to begin some therapy. Until then, I'd suggest remaining in human form." Carlisle handed Sam a sample bottle of tablets and placed his arm in a sling, fixing it so that he could not remove his arm from the pouch. "Take the tablets once a day until they are gone for swelling and discomfort. Do not take your arm out of the sling for any reason until it is re-examined at the end of the period."

Sam cursed under his breath and everyone present knew without hearing the words that he was not happy with the verdict on his arm. He glared at Billy whose dark return gaze did nothing to smooth the already ruffled fur. "You will do as Carlisle commands as he is your physician," he then turned to Jake. "As of this moment, the rest of Sam's pack is to follow your command no matter what their loyalties or feelings may be about the Cullens or you for that matter. This will continue until Sam's arm has completely healed and he can learn to control not only his temper but his actions as well." He turned first to Sam whose current foul, sulking mood only worsened and any complaints that might have been brewing died under Billy's withering stare. "Jake, I will assume that you are capable of handling this extra responsibility?"

"I'll manage," Jake answered looking over at Lucien for silent support, "I'm sure there are going to be some complaints from members of Sam's pack considering he has instilled his own views of myself and the Cullens into them to the point that they are willing to see nothing else."

"I don't foresee any problems that Jake and I cannot handle together," Lucien spoke before Billy could decide how to answer his son's concerns. "Being an alpha of a wolven pack that is five times the size of this, I have a great deal of experience in handling even the worst of the worst. I have already offered my services to Jake as you are going to need both myself and Theron if Ulysses is to be defeated."

Billy nodded in acceptance of the agreement before turning his attention back to Carlisle. "I was told, Carlisle, that one of your boys was injured, was the injury serious and how is he doing?" Billy questioned after what seemed like an hour worth of dead silence.

"Jasper is back to basically normal after being bitten by one of Ulysses' newborns. The poison carried in their bite is usually lethal and would have been so for Jasper if not for the timely aide of a couple of old friends." There was a brief pause as Carlisle allowed Billy to process the information before beginning the proper introductions which had been overlooked in the midst of tending to the injury to Sam.

"Ulysses hmm…" Billy mulled over the name in his mind as he shook hands and spoke briefly in greeting to both Lucien and Theron.

"Ulysses is a rogue ingrate, Vampire, who has been the reason for the rash of killings upon these lands of late," Theron explained his voice calm but strong.

"Told you it wasn't the Cullens," Jake hissed more under his breath than aloud. Even as a whisper, it was within hearing range of Sam and most everyone else in the room as well. "If you weren't so damn bull-headed…"

"Jacob, enough," Billy's firm tone not only interrupted what Jake was saying but also stopped the obvious berating of Sam completely. Jake, unlike Sam, didn't argue the point with his father; he merely gave a slight nod and instantly fell silent even though it was apparent that his inner thoughts were still resonating rather loudly inside his own mind.

Sam, on the other hand, didn't speak but the glare that he gave Jake could have very easily punched holes through steel. "So bloodsucker, do you have a reason for the actions of Ulysses or is that beyond your skill?" The tone of his voice was enough to remind everyone of his feelings and thoughts about Carlisle and his family.

Carlisle took a deep breath and allowed his anger at the accusation to flow outward along with the air. "The only detail we are certain of at this point is that Ulysses is looking to avenge the death of his sister, Victoria, in the same way that she avenged the death of James." His gaze locked then upon Billy and then Jake before finally falling upon Theron.

There was a brief, stale silence before Theron cleared his throat, "Unfortunately Carlisle is correct. It would seem that Ulysses' has threatened to end the life of Edward, Bella and their child in an effort to avenge his sister. The most we can hope for is that the coming confrontation does not end in his favor." His voice carried a warning to all of the consequences if they should fail in defeating this foe.

"Jacob," Billy's gaze turned to his son, "Should you choose to involve the pack in this upcoming confrontation, there is no need to request my permission. You are, as of this time, the Alpha so the choice is ultimately yours just please choose wisely so that all of your current members retain their lives when the battle is over."

Jake gave a nod, the weight of his father's words settling on his shoulders like a well-fitting, well-worn cloak. "I will." He agreed turning a hard stare upon Sam. It was a stare that warned him to keep his distance and keep his thoughts or opinions to himself until he was allowed to return to his post.

"Carlisle, if there is anything that I can do for you in the near future, please don't hesitate to come and speak with me. Be safe," Billy insisted as everyone stood then, except Sam, as he shook each of their hands. The meeting was dismissed and Billy escorted everyone but Sam to his door, allowing them to go their separate ways once more.